Day of Silence

A few weeks ago, I tried to not talk for the entire school day. When someone would ask why, I would simply point to a note I had written to someone in my planner "to see if I can". I failed a few times but I decided to keep going. I kept a tally of how many times I messed up. Unfortunetly, by lunch, I had enough. I decided to start talking again.

Tomorrow, I will again try to not talk all day. What's different this time? Three things.
1) I'll begin when I wake up in the morning, and I'll stop at 5:00pm.
2) I won't tally how many times I talk. I'll just forget about it and continue to be silent.
3)I'm going to be silent for a REASON.

Yes, this is an actual day. This time, when someone asks my why I'm not talking, I will take out a sheet of paper and show it to them.

This sheet...

Day of Silence
What is the Day of Silence®?
The Day of Silence (www.dayofsilence.org), a project of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), is a student-led day of action when concerned students, from middle school to college, take some form of a vow of silence to bring attention to the name-calling, bullying and harassment -- in effect, the silencing -- experienced by LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) students and their allies. This year’s Day of Silence will be held in memory of
Lawrence King.

Who was Lawrence King?
Lawrence King was a 15-year-old student from Oxnard, California, who was shot and killed in class on February 12 by a 14-year-old classmate because of King’s sexual orientation and gender expression. The hate crime received little media attention but has served as a rallying cry for the need to address anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment. The goal of the Day of Silence is to inspire change so that such a tragedy and others like it never happen again

What is GLSEN®?
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established nationally in 1995, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
Has the Day of Silence been successful?
In past years, more than 500,000 students at nearly 4,000 K-12 schools, colleges and universities organized Day of Silence events. These numbers make the Day of Silence one of the largest student-led actions in the United States. The event has drawn significant attention to LGBT issues in schools over the years. For example, GLSEN spokespersons have appeared on national media outlets and there has always been extensive local media coverage from coast to coast, with numerous interviews with students.

Why do we need a Day of Silence?
GLSEN’s 2005 National School Climate Survey found that 4 out of 5 LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and more than 30% report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety. The Day of Silence helps bring us closer to making anti-LGBT bullying, harassment and name-calling unacceptable in America’s schools.The Day of Silence is a call to action. Students can use this day, as well as other GLSEN Days of Action, as a means of achieving an “ask.” An ask is a very specific action that calls for a change in school policies, climate, and culture to achieve a larger goal of safe schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Some examples of an ask include: adding sexual orientation and gender identity/expression in your school’s non-discrimination or anti-harassment policy, or training teachers to respond effectively to anti-LGBT bullying, harassment, and name-calling.

Cup of Joe

This past Saturday night, I had the most fun I've had in a long time. Well, I suppose it wasn't as much fun as it was...enjoyable? I'm not sure if that was the right word...

For those of you who weren't there, Followed by Ghosts had a show at Cup of Joe. Addison Payne, Mark, and Evan also played. Everything was kind of cramped because the coffee house was so small, so there weren't really enough seats for the number of people that showed up. A lot of people just stood against a wall or shared a seat with a friend. Addison was first. I was not only surprised by his talent, I was also very impressed. He has an amazing voice. Then, Mark and Evan did some songs together. They were really funny, but what else would you expect from Mark and Evan? They also did some stuff by themselves, and they ended with a song together again. Then, it was time for Followed by Ghosts. Andrei had to videotape parts of it so we went and stood where it was easier to see.

Listening to Followed by Ghosts, I got this warm feeling. That sounds really stupid, but it was amazing. Everything just felt... right, perfect even. Crowded into a small coffee house, filled with friends, acquaintances, even strangers, the scent of coffee wafting through the air, the music... it was incredible. If I could do that every weekend, I would, with the hopes that the feeling I got last night would come back. That calming, perfect feeling.

I can't really even put into words what I experienced at that show. I hope everyone there enjoyed the night as much as I did. As for those of you that missed out, you should try comming to a show sometime. Maybe, you'll get the same feeling I did.

Happiness Challenge

So, I realize this was something Nicole challenged Faithe to do, but I think it would be good for me to try to do it too.

So here it goes...
Things that make me happy. (in no particular order)
Hugs.
Chirping birds.
Long phone conversations with Jordan Thomas.
Hugs.
Smiles.
Sunshine.
Sam Niles. Somos panecillos.
Juno.
Hugs.
Green grass.
Laughing with Elizabeth Paladino.
Hugs.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Realizing how awkward the talks I have with Nicole Mittelstadt actually are. ;]
Hugs.
Rain, in most circumstances.
Knowing I'm Sam Brooks' teddy bear.
Hugs.
Colors.
Seeing Andrei Migunov actually smiling.
Hugs.
Being outside.
Hanging out with my church friends Wednesday nights.
Love.
Religion.
Kidnapping Jerod Botts after school.
Hugs.
Making new friends.
Playgrounds.
Fareway runs.
Becoming better friends with people I already know.
Hugs.
LOL cats.
Giving Tarryn Gritzner and Faithe Guyer their hugs. Apparently they're amazing...
Hugs.
Music.
Seeing Lynda Kohls is happy.
Hugs.
Orange.
Knowing Heidi is only a couple houses away.
Love.
Friends.
Family
Smiles.
<3

I have a lot of things to be happy for.

Defining one’s self.

I believe there is no one defining point in our life, but life is a process in which we find ourselves. It begins with childhood and continues on until our death.

Childhood is a crucial time in which we develop right from wrong. Everything seems black and white as a child. There are two ways to do things, the right way and the wrong way. By our parents’ guidance, we are taught to rely on a certain set of morals they’ve lain out for us.

As we grow up, we learn that not everything is how it seems. Things are much more complicated than black and white, right or wrong. Some begin to question those morals our parents set for us. Some rules we break, some rules we continue to follow.

During the teenage years in when you really become to shape who you are. You take everything you’ve learned from your childhood, and you decide how you are going to use them in your life. This is when the most crucial mistakes are made. You learn that some seemingly unimportant rules really are needed. Luckily, you eventually learn from your mistakes, however many you may make. Your teenage years are when you find out what works and what doesn’t.

Now, it’s after this that things become fuzzy. I haven’t actually experienced this process any further, but this is how it seems to work.

As a young adult, you are put through the final test. You discover whether or not the morals and guidelines you’ve adapted for yourself throughout your teenage years actually work in the real world. You still make quite a few mistakes, but because you’ve learned so much throughout your teen years, you know how to deal with it. You continue learning from these mistakes. You come up with what seems as a fool proof set of morals. They work for the person you are, the person you’re happy to be.

Not to say that set of morals won’t change slightly as you mature in adulthood, you’ll surely discover new things, but for the most part, you have developed who you are as a person. Adulthood now gives you time to discover who you’ve become, how you work. You become very wise and can pass your wisdom down to others.

I don’t think you ever truly know who you are. Some people have a much better idea than others, and you will come to know yourself better than anyone knows you. All of this reminds me of something Mr. Nichols said to our class at the beginning of the semester. He told us we didn’t know who we were yet. He also told us, he had yet to discover who he really was. Now, some students had quite a problem with this. They couldn’t quite grasp the fact that they didn’t know who their own self was. This sort of confused me as well, but I knew these were words of someone much wiser than myself. After thinking about it, I’m come to the conclusion that he’s very right, and I’ve began to discover what his statement actually means.

I’m not saying I’m right about any of this. I’m not saying that at all. This is more of a theory I’ve come up with. I’m sure this theory will change and develop over time, but for now, this is what I’ve come up with.

Everyone says I’ve changed.

I deny it. I’ve even tricked myself into thinking it’s a lie. They’re wrong. Everyone’s wrong. But, deep down inside, there’s an oh so familiar voice, “They’re right you know. There’s at least some truth in what they speak.” It’s times like these when I question myself.

What is it that defines who we are?
Is it who we are? Who we were? Who we strive to become? I’m not really sure. What I do know is, I’m not quite sure I like who I was. Although, I’m not sure I like who I’m becoming either.

They blame him. I blame myself.
These changes inside me, some good and some bad, I believe they’re my doing. After all, I am the one who controls my inter-being. Have I been influenced by others? It’s probable, but I am the one who allows their influences. It wouldn’t be right to blame others. It would only be a lie.

So, what now?
Well, it seems I have a lot of thinking to do, a lot of questions to answer. I may just simply be for a while, until I figure out who it is I’m being…

Hate.

So, earlier this year, I made a decision. I decided I wouldn't hate, or even strongly dislike, anyone that I didn't know. Now, the exception to this rule is if they give me a good reason not to like them (such as, my least favorite, really hurting one of my friends). But generally, I don't just don't like someone because of how I see them.

Example One: Billy. Everyone either loves him, hates him, or really doesn't care for him. I have yet to say anything to him. He has yet to say anything to me. Therefore, I don't hate him or even dislike him.

But yeah, that's how it works.

I've found it to work really well. It prevents me from judging people before I get to know them. Actually, it helps me keep an open mind. I've actually ended up talking to a few people I probably wouldn't have if I would have judged them before. To my suprise, I found that they're actually really nice people.

So, my advice to you is to give it a try. Talk to someone you usually wouldn't. Or, get to know someone you don't really know. You may just be suprised.

Get to know someone before you judge them.

more lolcats

well, liz mentioned that i didn't have a lolcat that reminded me of her
so
i am finding some that remind me of people. mhm.


see more crazy cat pics
jordan and sam <3


see more crazy cat pics
so this one doesn't remind me of anyone... it's just cute


see more crazy cat pics
Jerod no can haz camera!


see more crazy cat pics
This reminds me of Liz. yay!


see more crazy cat pics
sam... no more being emo


see more crazy cat pics
teddy bear! (i love my sammy!)


see more crazy cat pics
blake ran over this poor squirrel right after this picture was taken... <3nicole


see more crazy cat pics
faithe, my mathcountsbuddy

lolcat bible! Genesis 1

Boreded Ceiling Cat makinkgz Urf n stuffs
1 Oh hai. In teh beginnin Ceiling Cat maded teh skiez An da Urfs, but he did not eated dem.

2 Da Urfs no had shapez An haded dark face, An Ceiling Cat rode invisible bike over teh waterz.

3 At start, no has lyte. An Ceiling Cat sayz, i can haz lite? An lite wuz.4 An Ceiling Cat sawed teh lite, to seez stuffs, An splitted teh lite from dark but taht wuz ok cuz kittehs can see in teh dark An not tripz over nethin.5 An Ceiling Cat sayed light Day An dark no Day. It were FURST!!!1

6 An Ceiling Cat sayed, im in ur waterz makin a ceiling. But he no yet make a ur. An he maded a hole in teh Ceiling.7 An Ceiling Cat doed teh skiez with waterz down An waterz up. It happen.8 An Ceiling Cat sayed, i can has teh firmmint wich iz funny bibel naim 4 ceiling, so wuz teh twoth day.

9 An Ceiling Cat gotted all teh waterz in ur base, An Ceiling Cat hadz dry placez cuz kittehs DO NOT WANT get wet.10 An Ceiling Cat called no waterz urth and waters oshun. Iz good.

11 An Ceiling Cat sayed, DO WANT grass! so tehr wuz seedz An stufs, An fruitzors An vegbatels. An a Corm. It happen.12 An Ceiling Cat sawed that weedz ish good, so, letz there be weedz.13 An so teh threeth day jazzhands.

14 An Ceiling Cat sayed, i can has lightz in the skiez for splittin day An no day.15 It happen, lights everwear, like christmass, srsly.16 An Ceiling Cat doeth two grate lightz, teh most big for day, teh other for no day.17 An Ceiling Cat screw tehm on skiez, with big nails An stuff, to lite teh Urfs.18 An tehy rulez day An night. Ceiling Cat sawed. Iz good.19 An so teh furth day w00t.

20 An Ceiling Cat sayed, waterz bring me phishes, An burds, so kittehs can eat dem. But Ceiling Cat no eated dem.21 An Ceiling Cat maed big fishies An see monstrs, which wuz like big cows, except they no mood, An other stuffs dat mooves, An Ceiling Cat sawed iz good.22 An Ceiling Cat sed O hai, make bebehs kthx. An dont worry i wont watch u secksy, i not that kynd uf kitteh.23 An so teh...fith day. Ceiling Cat taek a wile 2 cawnt.

24 An Ceiling Cat sayed, i can has MOAR living stuff, mooes, An creepie tings, An otehr aminals. It happen so tehre.25 An Ceiling Cat doed moar living stuff, mooes, An creepies, An otehr animuls, An did not eated tehm.

26 An Ceiling Cat sayed, letz us do peeps like uz, becuz we ish teh qte, An let min p0wnz0r becuz tehy has can openers.

27 So Ceiling Cat createded teh peeps taht waz like him, can has can openers he maed tehm, min An womin wuz maeded, but he did not eated tehm.

28 An Ceiling Cat sed them O hai maek bebehs kthx, An p0wn teh waterz, no waterz An teh firmmint, An evry stufs.

29 An Ceiling Cat sayed, Beholdt, the Urfs, I has it, An I has not eated it.30 For evry createded stufs tehre are the fuudz, to the burdies, teh creepiez, An teh mooes, so tehre. It happen. Iz good.

31 An Ceiling Cat sayed, Beholdt, teh good enouf for releaze as version 0.8a. kthxbai.

http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Genesis_1

lolcats

these made me smile.
hoping they do the same for you. =D



tickle rape!


awwww.


heidi... =P


teh kittehs are hardcore!


for some reason, this reminds me of jordan... ?


and this one reminds me of sam brooks...


poor kitty... =/ but he's really cute. =D


this reminds me of sam niles house...


lalala.


*huuuuug*


rawr.




awwww

i could go on for quite some time, but you can just go to icanhascheezburger.com or lolcats.com

All-State

All-State was a lot of fun. I wish Nicole and SamN could have come because it would have rocked with the whole posse, but I suppose the abundance of speechers kind of made up for it.

I saw some AMAZING performances, I mean, it's all-state they're all amazing, but some definitely were much better than the others. My favorites were the ADS's I saw. One of them was a girl who was supposed to be a soap opera star, who was telling a group of future soap opera stars how to be a great soap opera star. You needed: the hair-flip, the serious/seductive stare (that can be used on enemy OR lover, but don't worry. they are VERY different.) the big gasp (I can't believe you did that to your own brother *GAAAAASP*), and finally, the ..............................(and fade).. long pause. Another funny ADS I saw was a psycho-ex-girlfriend talking to Psycho-Ex-Girlfriends Anonymous. She was perfect for the part too. Her voice, her appearance, etc. it all matched up with her character.

The performances were amazing, but I actually didn't spend all that much time watching things (like I was supposed to...). A lot of it was spent just wandering around looking for things to watch (mostly unsuccessfully), sitting in the food court place, looking at their cool radio station thing, and (the most fun, in my opinion) hanging out on the roof. The roof was fun: the circle of friendship, random photo-ops, and breaking glass bottles... Jerod...

I just realized I haven't even mentioned anything about who was there. Besides for the amazing W-SR speechers, JORDAN THOMAS!!!!!!! As well as, Katie Mallon, Jordan Crosser, and some other random people. But most importantly, JORDAN THOMAS!!!!!!! (And yes, her name IS permanently stuck in caps lock with a bunch of exclamation points placed at the end)

All in all, all-state was REALLY fun.

Besides for the whole Nicole and SamN missing out.

Oh yeah, the rain kind of sucked too...