Who knows where we'll be tomorrow, what if we're never here again?

I haven't written on either blog in a long time... mainly because I haven't had anything to write about, or the time to write it. But now the semester is over, and I'm working all week because I need the money, and working means sitting at a desk with my computer for 7 hours. So, the least I could do is update one of my blogs... or both, if I get around to it. 

One of the first things I've done is put together this collage (I know, I'm so unpredictable! ha) that, to me, symbolizes having fun and spending time with friends.

I think that I [subconsciously] like the idea more than the act itself. I say that because I'm really terrible at making an effort to be a friend to anyone other than my best friend(s), and I'm even guilty of negligence in that area; I know, because Clayton tells me so. Apparently, if she didn't talk to me, she'd never hear from me; and, it's true. I don't know why; maybe it's a product of my unthoughtfulness/inattention, but I just don't ever think of seeing how someone is doing or asking how someone has been or looking at a calendar to see if it's someone's birthday (that's a specific, yet regularly occurring incident)... it's not that I'm inconsiderate because anyone who has ever lived with me would tell you that's not the case (I'm a surprisingly considerate roommate), but I'm just semi-antisocial and I hate small-talk. Maybe that's the real reason; but honestly, the only people I make an effort to stay in contact with, are people that aren't trying to stay in contact with me... There's that "thrill of the chase" again... (One day I swear I'm going to put it to use chasing bad guys... eventually.) And usually "those people" are of the X and Y chromosome-carrying, male species... Aaaand by "usually" I mean "always"... I guess they're my weakness, my kryptonite... O well, I don't really feel like dealing with that character flaw right now.

Anyway, I want to have bonfires and big dinners and go camping and take long walks and do all kinds of other fun things with my friends... I'm going to work on it and try to spend the time I have left in college making memories with my friends... 'Cause it don't last forever! 

Like Crazy Is Making Me Crazy...

Ok, so I was already crazy...

Basicallyyyy, it's VITAL that I see this movie, stat.

I don't usually gush like a starry-eyed, lovesick teenager (especially about romantic movies), but.... this trailer has me weak-at-the-knees, heart-fluttering, anticipating, and, frankly, intoxicated on love. Ew. 

Oh, well. What can I say... when you subliminally enchant me with background music like Star's "Dead Hearts" (one of my favorites) and Ingrid Michaelson's "Can't Help Falling In Love", you leave me defenseless and, alas, my usually jaded facade falls. 

Anyway, PARAMOUNT, if you don't play this movie in a theatre near me on Oct. 28th, you'll leave me no choice but to do some less-than-legal things to get my greedy, love-crazed eyes on this movie. Don't put it past me.

This and That

I'm really surprised Shelby has not kicked me off of this thing yet as I never blog. I did however write a post about New York that I thought I had posted but apparently not. But it doesn't really matter anyway. Shelby stole all of my good pics and put them on hers and she wrote what I would have written anyway.

But anyways... school started for me a few of weeks ago. I FINALLY decided on a major yall. I mean it only took me 4 years, no big deal. I chose Sociology. However, I still am not exactly sure what I want to do with it yet. I've been thinking though that I would like to help kids who are sick (cancer mainly I guess). There is a lady I know that was a Sociology major and she got a job where she helps counsels adults with cancer and she said that she could never do that with children though, and this was before I had even thought about it. I didn't really think anything about it when she told me at first but now I can't stop thinking about it. So, maybe that is a sign or something.

On a different note, we have received a new girl at work. I wanted to bang my head into a wall nonstop on her first day. First of all she talks to herself CONSTANTLY. She also says things like "howdy partner" and "okie dokie artichokie". OK, I know I am weird. People tell me all the time that I am the weirdest person they have ever met. Which is fine because at least I am funny. She told me several things that she thought were hilarious and I had to force something that hopefully resembled somewhat of a smile, at the same time I was thinking about running in front of the next car that drove by. Oh, and did I mention that I will be working with her EVERYDAY? She also told me that she was "planning on working here for the next 2 years but hopefully even longer, it just all depends on her school schedule that third year." Are you kidding me? She already has it planned out? SHE HAS BEEN HERE FOR A WEEK. The other day she asked me if I would like to see pictures of her lizard but before I could even respond she was forcing her phone in my face. She then said "her name is Lucy! but, I like to call her Lucymclucerson or Lucyfer!" Anyways, I am sure that a lot of my next posts (if I ever get around to it) will be what ridiculously things have come out of her mouth.

I don't have time for this title crap.

Well, somehow the words got messed up, but it's supposed to say "about halfway through" and
"[something I can't remember blah blah]... Finally in Amelia's room."
It's also supposed to be a "before and after" of some furniture I painted for Amelia and Tyler's apartment, but since I always forget to take the "before" pictures, it's really just a "half-way through" and after picture.

Y'ALL...

... That title for that last post was supposed to say "I just came to say 'hello,'" but I'm an idiot and can't do two things at once... like apparently type and think... So I'm just going to stick with simple titles like "Y'all..." so that my brain doesn't collapse under the pressure of having to use more than one word.

So today is the first day of school, but I'm at work right now, you know, trying to make the "monties" to support my spending habits. Work, by the way, is where I'll be spending every minute of my time that I'm not in class until 4:45, when my place of occupation officially "closes" for the day, which prevents me from being able to get overtime... But alas I cannot challenge the bureaucracy of such a giant institution... at least not on this topic (you know you have to pick your battles, and I have too many other ones that need tending to first).

I returned from New York last Thursday, and this time I finally convinced my aunt that it was absolutely dire that I see Brooklyn. Unfortunately, it did not result in my seeing Andrew Vanwyngarden or any other famous person; but, I think I've decided that if I ever actually did meet him or any other famous person of my fancy, it would shatter the illusion that we could ever be friends in real life and would take away from my whimsical fantasies. So, I'm okay if I never meet him; besides, in the grand scheme of things, thats probably somewhere like 3rd lowest on my list of priorities.
Now, God really must feel empathy for my intolerance of hot weather (which usually includes anything above 80 degrees), because somehow, Katie and I brought the mild weather with us to New York. It was so much cooler than the suffocating, oppressive, hell-like conditions that besmirch the name of the South. There was actually a good breeze, and it was mostly overcast (which I, for one, thoroughly enjoy), not to mention that it was generally 15 degrees cooler than it had been before we got there. Now, for some reason Grand Central and the subway system apparently were not built with the inclination that an air conditioner would be a good idea, because it was definitely 30 degrees hotter in there than it was outside. But nonetheless, it was very agreeable weather for August.
Speaking of the subway, I had a unique experience on one returning to Grand Central from Brooklyn. See, what had happen was, there was this guy, Edwin, selling candy bars on the subway. He went from car to car announcing to everyone that he was selling them for 1$ to help him "do something good" with his "time." Now, naturally, I assumed that probably meant buying crack or whatever, so when he looked at me directly and asked me if I wanted to buy one I said "Ehhhh, not really...." But to my credit, at least I treated him like a human being and showed him some respect by answering him and not completely ignoring his existence like the first people he asked did. But ooohhh no, that didn't matter to Edwin, he wanted me to buy his dadgum candy bars, so he said,
"... These are anti-racial candy bars,"
 and I said "Whattt?" (probably with my head cocked sideways)
and he said "... anti-racial candy bars... means they'll make you not hate anybody no more..."
So I said "Oh, well I hate everybody..."
And he said, "Oh, yea well white people always hate everybody."

WHATTTTTTTTT????!!!... Let that sink in for a minute....

First of all, I'm pretty sure what he was meaning to say was that they were "anti-racist" candy bars, not anti-racial. But nevertheless, it was all I could do to pick my mouth up off the floor as he walked to the other side of the subway car (apparently, I had really pissed him off...?) then I whispered to myself "I'm telling!" as if there were some authority figure there that could scold him for calling me a racist in front of everyone on the subway and walk away leaving me confused and speechless, wondering what had just happen, hindering me from being able to respond properly. [See, I told you my brain can't do two things at once!] I've gotten over it, but I'll admit, it stung for a while.

Lastly, I would like to officially, publicly announce that I now have another blog that I contribute to with Clayton about all our episodes and antics that come from living with each other for the first time. I'll also update any projects/crafts that I do for the apartment on that blog, but my regular crafts will stay on this blog.
Here's some pictures from New York:

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge (I would have rather driven)

At a cool Italian cafe in Brooklyn. I can't remember the name of it though.

I Just Want to Say "Hello"

It's August, yayyyy!!! Not that I especially enjoy August's ever hotter/sticky-er weather, but it is one month closer to the FALL, which I do especially enjoy [it's my favorite]. I would love it even more if Alabama were capable of experiencing more than a collective week of the whimsical spectrum of colors, brisk winds, and crisp airs that are normally synonymous with autumn. You see, I'm one of those people who likes to wear clothes... So, living in a place where the temperature is generally so high, that being completely naked wouldn't help cool a person off, is kind of uncomfortable. Today also marks the 7-day countdown to Katie and I visiting New York again. I don't know about Katie or our Aunt Kristy, but I plan on visiting CUNY's John Jay College of Criminal Justice to investigate where I might consider getting my graduate degree, and do some celebrity stalking, because I haven't seen one famous person any of the times that I've been there, and it's getting ridiculous. I mean, I'm trying to see some Andrew Vanwyngarden and Emma Stone and Max Minghella and Ryan Gosling and Andrew Garfield and a lot of other people who I'm not sure actually live in NYC but whatever.
Also, Clayton and I are moving in soon, the actual day, depending on how well we can pester the last tenant and the realty company into getting out so we can get it. But before we "get in," I have to finish a seemingly incessant amount of furniture that needs to be updated.

Look at this hot mess. And that's not even all of it.

Hopefully, this distance has made your heart for me grow fonder...

I'll be honest (what's new), I've been avoiding this again because I didn't want to write another alf-hassed post just to say I posted something. [Speaking of "alf-hassed," one of my teachers is really funny and likes to say "bass-ackwards" instead of... the alternative. She said her grandfather used to say it. Gotta love grandfathers. *Wow!, Dang!, Dadgum your hide!, Dagnabbit!, and so many more] Anyyyywayyyy, I don't really feel like I have anything important or pertinent to lecture about or get off my chest, soooo, I'm just going to do a "craft update." You know me, always craftin' somethin'. But before I do, I would like to clarify that despite what you all may think, no, I'm not a creative genius or virtuoso (Blogger just tried to tell me that "virtuosa" isn't a word. Really, Blogger? Look it up! It's the feminine version of "virtuoso" you incorrigible imbecile!... Always tryin'a tell me how to spell. I'm the English Master!) But, I digress, again. Regarding my creative endeavors that I display on my blog, I must make sure you know that almost all of my ideas are stolen. *GASP*... I know. But before you renounce your interest in me, call this an abomination, and promptly close out of this window in sheer astonishment, calm down. I assure you I don't strictly copy anything. I just know what I like and I would rather make things myself than buy them; and, I like to "tweak" them until I get them the way I want them. Everything I've done is in some way different than what I got the idea from. For example, one of the following cork boards has a "definition" of the South, which I took from something I'd seen in a store, and I edited/altered parts of the "definition" to relate it to my South. Ok, enough chit-chat. Here they are:

The cork boards, which (according to Clayton) might go in our kitchen, and will probably be used to display some pictures, notes, lists, etc. After all, I didn't do them on cork board for nothing. Oh, and "The South" one isn't done yet, so I'll probably put a picture of it up when it is.



And the dresser for my room, which will be followed my the "refurbishing" of a side table for the den and the kitchen table and chairs.

"Britain shoulda just left us alone..."

This weekend (God bless America) I hung out with some friends that I hadn't seen in a while, so that was nice. Also, Clayton and I bought a couch! for 200$ less than it originally was! and it's a sleeper sofa so we can have over-night guests from out of town or whatever. Also, Amelia, Clayton, and I went for Round 2 of our photo-shoots in which we take pictures of really cool places around this town and nonchalantly make our way into 90% of the shots. What can I say, the camera loves us... HA. Anyway, it started raining and even though I insisted that those conditions would make for a lot of neat pictures, the other two took off running for the car before I could spit it out... [that happens a lot because I stutter a lot]. Also, my dad informed me that the band he and his friends created in high school had two different names depending on the venue/occasion: one was "The Saddle Tramps" and the other was "The Choosey Mothers"... (as in "Choosey Moms choose Jif.")  Wow Dad, those are the kind of revelations that remind me I never had a chance... I was destined to be a ridiculous human being.

My friend's lake house has a
murdered giraffe on the wall.
That poor thing never hurt
nobody... :( 

Our couch!!!!

I'm actually starting to enjoy laughing
at how miserably I fail every time I take
a "candid" picture...

This is a desk I just finished for my room. It was my brothers and I didn't like how "modern" it looked so I decided to "crackle" it.

More project updates to come.

This is about to get REAL sentimental y'all...

So, I've been looking at pictures on Facebook, which almost never leads to any pleasant feelings. Honestly, I rarely look at Facebook anymore because if I get a "notification," it's sent to my phone (on which I don't like to look at pictures/profiles because it's slower than molasses) and if I'm on my computer, my time spent on FB usually doesn't last more than 2 minutes after recollecting that I either don't care to brief myself on other people's lives or I don't want to look at pictures that will undoubtedly awaken in me any suppressed resentment. BUT, today, on my "news feed," I saw that a friend, Holly, recently got engaged; so, naturally, I had to attempt to vicariously experience it through the pictures. Looking at these pictures inevitably led me to explore other mutual friends' profiles/pictures, which all led to a catharsis of sorts over the displacement of all of these people I love.
I've never been the type to have a lot of friends, always just a few close ones. I think this is partly because, when it comes to purely platonic friendships, I'm always really bad at keeping in touch. Honestly, if it weren't for Clayton being my connection to the outside world, I would probably forget there is one. I'm probably the least "thoughtful" person I know, which I find too ironic because seemingly all of my time is spent in an incessantly intricate stream of consciousness. I don't know what I'm thinking about all of the time, but apparently it isn't about maintaining healthy relationships with the people I love. In essence, if you're my friend (platonically), you will probably almost never get a phone call or text message saying "Hey, how are you?... What's been going on?... What's new..." etc. [On the contrary, if you are of the male race and you've ever ignored me or "accidentally" forgotten to answer me, then I can attest that I probably relentlessly continued trying to contact you until, finally, my "out of sight, out of mind" mechanism kicked in; and if it didn't kick in, well, I'm sorry... I guess. I seem to be one of those who "likes the chase," although I've been informed that is usually a male characteristic, so I can't explain the source of that.] I also cannot for the life of me explain the aforementioned phenomenon, but I can assure you (friends) it has nothing to do with how much I love you.
I say all of that [which was probably unnecessary] to emphasize how much I care about the friends that I do choose to have, despite my lack of correspondence; and, lately, most of my friends have been leaving {to go on trips, or get a job, or get married, etc.}. Seriously, I could give a relatively long list. But the ones that won't be coming back are the ones that I'm writing to today. So this is my attempt at "thoughtfulness."
It all started with Meagan and Anna being the coolest people I knew in high school. Yep, I remember my first YL and getting to know you two over that next year and a half. You always made us feel special even though you both are the type of people who know everyone and constantly have someone competing for your attention because everyone loves you. You and all the other leaders showed us that being the person God made us to be (which means not sinning like a impulsive, uncontrollable heathen) is the way to live. Soon, we were all right there with you in college; and, when I did my whole attempt at YL Quest and found myself realizing how truly horrible I am at talking to people and making friends, Holly was right there to make me feel like less of a socially inept loser. And when Meagan, Anna, and Holly were all moving away, they didn't just abandon me; they gave me Hannah, because they knew I would need someone who's as awesome as they are to be a good influence on me.
Well now all 4 of you are in super serious relationships {married, getting married, or on your way to it} and you're all grown up... and it's weird. But seriously, Anna, I remember when you started dating Brian and when I got to hear about the newly romantic little details on the way to watch Hannah F.'s tennis match. And Meagan, I remember feeling privileged in knowing the ups and downs of that certain relationship you had that certain time... well now it seems that you got yourself a real winner! Woo! haha. And Holly I don't know your newly acquired fiance but he looks awesome, so congratulations :). And Hannah, well, I guess I kind of like Marc, I mean, he's okay. :D hahaha
This probably would've gone a lot better/shorter if I had just written each of you separately, but I don't think before I do things, so I'm gonna wrap it up. In conclusion, the time I had with y'all wasn't enough and never will be. I could never get enough of all of your wonderful selves and you'll always be "the coolest people I know." I'll always wish I had gotten more pictures with you and always wish I had known you even better, but God only gave us a certain amount of time and I thank Him every time I think of you guys because I wouldn't be the same person if I hadn't known you. You and I will probably never know how greatly you impacted my life but I'm just glad to be able to say I know you. : )

LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!!!!!

It's Happening Again...

One of the tactics Satan uses to try and break me down when I'm doing my best to walk along the straight and narrow is bitterness. This bitterness, which I'm easily susceptible to,  has also been known to subsequently cause other defects in my behavior or sentiment. It's little whispers like "it's not worth it," "even the good ones suck at being friends," "this is boring me to death; there's nothing to do," etc., and I used to give in to those fallacies and go back to the "heavily traveled, wide road" where at least there was seemingly always something to do and someone to see. But not this time, Satan, because, yes, I am the "live and learn from your mistakes" kind of person; but, the thing is, I have "lived" and, more importantly, learned, more than enough times, and for this particular lesson, I think I'm good and done, thanks.

This has taken me a while to write because I couldn't decide what I actually wanted to write and what was probably best to leave out... And believe me, I've left out a lot, mostly words that would only come from that bitterness I was talking about; and, even if those words are true, it would probably only hurt people. But I will say this: I've never really been one to have to "swallow my pride" because I've never really had a problem with pride, which I consider a relatively good thing seeing as how God hates pride; BUT one thing that I have consistently lacked throughout my life is self-respect, and that is one thing that I am probably going to be working on for the rest of my life.
So how about we let this be my first official example of my initiative to actively demonstrate respect for myself:
I'm not putting myself "out there" with this certain "group" of people anymore, because after trying time and time again to establish my own relationship with you and not continue relying on the mutual one we have through my actual friends, I'm done. I know I won't see you or hear from you until our mutual friends return home from their summer missions. I'm sure we'll all inevitably end up at the same place and I'll try to pretend like I think you're amusing or interesting at all and like we have anything in common other than the fact that we're Christians and are doing our best to be good ones. But clearly you're not interested in me or my friendship since there has been no effort to communicate on your part, therefore, I'll stop trying to establish one.

P.S. I know (partly from your lack of concern for me) that you won't even read/see this, but I feel better just having written it down. See ya when I see ya.

In conclusion, this is not bitterness and, no, I have not given into those temptations. Things are not black and white, and just because people aren't perfect doesn't mean I should give up on trying to live my life the way God has intended. People will never be perfect and they will always let you down, but God won't, because He is perfect. So I'm continuing this relatively well behaved streak that I have going and I'm doing it for God, because I want to please Him, not people.

Lions, and Tigers, and Bears...

... OH!.......... and elephants, and maned wolves, and chimpanzees, and snakes... But I digress...

They were pretty lackadaisical...

But who wouldn't be in this
forsaken heat.

Two of the shenanigans that Clayton and I got into this weekend were a visit to the zoo and a visit to Redneckville, or, more specifically, shooting guns with Clayton's brother and his friend. I had never shot a shotgun before, so that was a new experience. They're not kidding when they say it kicks... Say I did have good aim and did know what I was doing, well by the time I pull the trigger, that's all gone to crap. It kicks me so far off balance that the chance those little pellets have of even grazing that skeet is so remote, it's unfair. Where they're going and where that little soaring skeet is going are so ghastly transverse, it's kind of scary. Now, to clarify, I was made aware about 3/4 of the way through that I had been looking through the wrong eye (closing the wrong one). Upon correcting this, I was astonished at how much easier it was to aim... but I still missed, despite shooting 3 consecutive rounds at the same fleeting target... But hey, Clayton got one!... using that same overkill method, I believe... At least it worked for somebody.

I can't rightly say, sir. Just us feeding
our narcissism's appetite.

Anonymous

I don’t want to say that I hate you or that I’ve wasted my time, because I haven’t really wasted any of my time, nor do I hate you. If anything, you know that I love you, but not the way that one would probably assume, rather the only way I can, the only way you've allowed. People ask me, “What do you see in [this person]? Why do you like [this person]?” and I honestly can never give a definitive answer. All I know is that I do see something in you.

I would not characterize myself as an especially intuitive person, because I think that if I were, my past “relationships” would have more to show for it. In fact, I would even suggest that I deceive myself of certain, relatively obvious truths by maintaining a little too much “hope” (even if just subconscious) and having watched a little too many Disney fairy tales growing up. Unfortunately, the fact is, most girls fall victim to that same misconception of “happily ever after,” so I’m not so unusual in that way.

Therefore, I’m not saying that I see something in you that no one else does or that can’t be found unless looked for. What I am saying is that, somehow, I know you are capable of great things: great love, great change, great motion, great importance, and great influence. I’m not referring to this "greatness" in a general sense like “everyone has a purpose and can be great if they follow God’s will.” No. I’m being explicitly comparative when I say that you have the capability of being greater than a lot of other people.

But, no, for some reason, you refuse to get out of your own way. You revel and wallow in your self-hatred because it gives you some sort of ridiculous “excuse” to remain pseudo-apathetic/vacuous and immobile. “Oh, I’m a bad person, so you can’t expect me to behave with decency/respect and act right” is, in effect, how you are living your life. You avoid anything that you don’t want to face, even if it’s not truly frightening. You run away from and ignore something so easily fixable, consequently creating more of a mess than if you had just faced it to begin with.

It’s pathetic… pitiable really, which I would argue is why I haven’t let you be for all this time. I couldn’t stand by and do nothing while watching you dig yourself deeper and deeper into that frustratingly avoidant hole of yours. Even if I risked looking foolish, psychopathic (the accusation of which would render my inherent exoneration upon applying the definition), obsessive, pathetic, delusional, or completely lacking in any self-worth or respect, I had to do something. I had to communicate this truth to you.

However, during this time, I’ve also been habitually trying to communicate to my own self that I would not and will not be able to save you from yourself.  That’s between you and God, which I’ve been trying to acquiesce. I’ve prayed for you over and over again, imploring that He not leave you alone no matter how far you run, and that His voice in your head will not be silent until you have surrendered.  I know your soul is saved, but the quality of your life isn’t. Don’t settle.

I swear that I have not said any of this out of spite, but only out of the interminable and relentless burden I feel concerning you. Most of the time, I wish that I didn’t care at all, because it would make a lot more sense for me not to care considering our “relationship,” if that’s what you would call it. But no matter how much time passes without any reciprocated correspondence or face-to-face interaction, it never softens the sting and never dulls the distress I feel when I'm reminded of you.

I didn’t get to know you near as much as I would have liked to nor as much as the privileges I’ve taken in all of these assumptions would suggest. But I know what you allowed me to know and that is what has haunted me. 

This Magic Moment...

So, last weekend (Memorial Day Weekend) Clayton and I volunteered to work at this camp called Magic Moments which convenes this time every year on Lake Martin at Children's Harbor. I was told that the camp was established as a place for children, who have had their wish granted through the Make-a-Wish Foundation, to vacation every year with their families until they are 18; if any of this second-hand knowledge is false, don't blame me for it. Anyway, needless to say, it was an amazing 4 days during which Clayton and I both made a lot of new friends and got to spend ample amounts of quality time with our two favorite 3 and 6 year olds. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera; so, the only pictures I have are from my phone or from our Texan friend's 1980s camera (love you Nathan)... (you too Timmy). Here are some captured moments:

1-3= Me, Bailey, & Virginia
as Batman and Wonder Woman
4= Virginia in Timmy's glasses
5= Clayton with a baby that
she almost legitimately abducted.

That dashingly handsome young man
is Brett, our eager/willing, not-at-all
reluctant prom date.

I almost learned how to "Dougie" andddd I won my first DJ Ozz t-shirt in 20 years, at which point I was made aware by the words "Good effort" that this was indeed a "pity prize" and was probably aimed to be some sort of bribe to get me to stop dancing and making a fool out of myself. But making a fool out of myself is what I'm good at; so, did I take that unsolicited advice to heart and stop dancing?... NO, because these boots were made for dancing and that's just what they do... ( n.b. I was wearing cowgirl boots).
*Libel Disclaimer: "The views expressed by this author do not necessarily reflect the views of this website..."and the content is irrefutably an opinion. I hereby declare that I have no "malice" towards anyone mentioned heretofore and may have embellished most of my accounts for an effectively climactic denouement.

You Get What You Give

The following is an excerpt from the play “Tartuffe” by Moliere. The context of the dialog is this: Mariane loves Valére; but, the hypocrite, Tartuffe, has deceived Mariane’s father, Orgon, and Orgon is trying to force her to marry Tartuffe after he had already set the date for her and Valere’s wedding. So, Dorine, Mariane’s hand-maiden, is upset with Mariane because, after coming to her defense against her father’s ludicrous demand, Mariane said nothing and sat idly by basically having a pity party in the corner. In essence, Dorine is about to light into Mariane.

M: “I’ll kill myself, if I’m forced to wed that man.”

D: “I hadn’t thought of that recourse. How splendid!

Just die, and all your troubles will be ended!

A fine solution. Oh, it maddens me

to hear you talk in that self-pitying key.”

M: “Dorine, how harsh you are! It’s most unfair.

You have no sympathy for my despair.”

D: “I’ve none at all for people who talk drivel

and, faced with difficulties, whine and snivel.”

M: “No doubt I’m timid, but it would be wrong…”

D: “True love requires a heart that’s firm and strong.”

M: “I’m strong in my affection for Valére,

but coping with my father is his affair.”

D: “But if your father’s brain has grown so cracked

over his dear Tartuffe that he can retract

his blessing, though your wedding day was named,

it’s surely not Valére who’s to be blamed.”

M: “If I defied my father, as you suggest,

would it not seem unmaidenly, at best?

Shall I defend my love at the expense

of brazenness and disobedience?

Shall I parade my heart’s desires, and flaunt…”

D: “No, I ask nothing of you. 

Clearly you want to be Madame Tartuffe…”

(Later:)

M: "Dorine, I beg of you..."

D: “No you deserve it; this marriage must go through.”

M: "Not Tartuffe! You know I think him..."

D: “Tartuffe’s your cup of tea, and you shall drink him.”

Now, obviously, Dorine was being melodramatic, because she wanted to show Mariane that if she wasn't even going to try to do anything about it then she couldn't complain about the outcome. Don't worry; Mariane ends up with Valére and Tartuffe goes to prison and they all live happily ever after because it's a comedy. 

I decided to write about this because something has persistently been on my mind, and after I read this I thought it was the most perfect illustration that I could use where everyone that it reminded me of would remain anonymous. 

I have become thoroughly convinced that people who are their "own worst enemy" and are always at war with themselves and don't like who they are or the situation they're in, are actually just scared... to death... or at least scared to inactivity (like Mariane) and lifelessness, which one could say is equally detrimental. Mariane was scared of opposing her father (who epitomizes "bark worse than bite;" he's harmless; a paper-tiger), and if it weren't for Tartuffe being exposed at the end, she would have been stuck with that nasty scum bag for the rest of her miserable life. And how easy would it have been to fix that situation if she'd only "rubbed some dirt on it," "manned up" or what have you and told her father "No! I will not marry Tartuffe, because he is a nasty piece of scum that I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole, and you won't be doing yourself any favors if you don't get your head out of his rear end, and open your eyes before he really robs you blind!" Luckily for her, it worked out; but no thanks to her whiney butt. Folks, that was a comedy, but real life is rarely as merciful on people who are too scared to try and change things. You may be scared of you father (or whatever appropriate authority figure), or scared of failure, or scared of yourself and what you might become if you fail at changing. Whatever you're afraid of or avoiding (whether you realize it or not), just stop it. No offense, but stop being so pathetic... It's really hard to feel bad for you when you just sit there and whine about how much you suck at life and how much your life sucks, while never actually putting forth real effort to change yourself/your life. Don't be your own worst enemy, or you'll get what you deserve. 

I could rampage in much more detail, but I'll shut up.

So here is an update on the window/art/picture-holder/welcome-sign that I made for my and Clayton's apartment. :D

This was before the welcome sign.

This is the welcome sign... inspired
by "southernness" 

Again. Might change things later
but this is it for now.

 

who reads titles anymore

This was supposed to posted at the beginning of last week, so, sorry if some stuff is a little off :/ Alright so I always suck at starting these posts off soo I am just gonna jump right in there. Sunday was Mother's Day, just in case any of you non decent folks didn't remember. S0, most of the family went to Summerville (that fantastic town in GA that is the size of my bathtub). My parents and I went on Wednesday. Thursday we went to pick up my GPS hating Aunt Kristy at the ATL airport. The trip for the most part was fine on the way there but when we picked her up is when my GPS decided to stop speaking to us and then we were basically just guessing where to go. I think it knew how my aunt felt about it. BUT ANYWAYS, we finally just stopped and got directions. By the way, Atlanta is crazy and I will never ever live there. Thursday night my BFF/cousin Shelby finally arrived. The next day we went to see Something Borrowed. Now, I particularly do not go for "chick flicks" as they are extremely predictable and non realistic. HOWEVER, this movie was awesome, for a chick flick anyway. So everyone should go see it. Then Saturday some other family members came over for lunch. They mainly consisted of cousins that I am not close to and have nothing in common with, but don't you worry I was still forced to talk to them. They aren't THAT bad, I am just a horrible conversationalist so I tend to make things awkward and what not. It isn't a pretty sight. If you ever meet me in person and I'm acting a little strange don't take it personally. I am just socially awkward. I am trying to work on it though, so we'll see how that goes.

ANYWAYS.. My aunt sent me an article earlier this week and one of the last paragraphs stated "The more you love the Universe, the more it loves you. You can sulk, mope and despair about what's not right in your life, or you can look at what you do have and find something there to value and appreciate. Changing your attitude changes everything." I love that.

Irrelevant Title. (Supreme Double Entendre)

Sometimes I have the overwhelming desire for my blog to mean something substantial and only write things that are serious, intellectual and/or thought-provoking. But, then I'm reminded that a lot (sometimes too many) of the things in life are serious/intellectual/thought-provoking, and I that's why I do things like habitually leave my t.v. on Comedy Central, avoid all things dramatic except for my crime shows, and attempt to blog about things only from my whimsical perspective in order to avoid slipping into the labyrinth of melancholy. Don't get me wrong; I'm not advocating denial or apathy or pollyanna-esque behavior, because I do believe that, sometimes, just like Claire Colburn (Kirsten Dunst) said in Elizabethtown,

you need "to get into the deep beautiful melancholy of everything that's happened;" because, sometimes, it's good for you. Besides, if you don't, and you just suppress it and bury it deep down inside, like statistically most middle-aged white men do, then you'll eventually erupt and go on a crazy, homicidal rampage and ruin your life. And no one wants that. Also, if this melancholy is a product of your own foolishness and its consequences, then, if you let Him, God can/will help you learn something from it and eventually get you back onto the narrow path you deviated from, with some newly acquired knowledge to apply this go-around. Believe me when I say this, because most of my significant life experiences have consisted of this, because God knows that my "spirit is willing but the flesh is weak". Jesus actually said that in Matthew 26:41 but Paul knows a lot about it too, and he wrote 2 really good chapters on it in Romans, hence I linked them. Anyyyyyway, all of this was sort of an unintentional lead up to a let down, because what I was supposed to blog about was Rob Bell's new book "Love Wins." I honestly don't even want to italicize it because it's so blasphemous, I fear drawing any attention to it; but, I guess that's inevitable seeing as how I'm writing about it. I wanted to wait until I had the chance to listen to my own pastor's sermon addressing this issue, but it seems that isn't going to happen due to "technical difficulties." So here goes my personal epistle on the matter.
  
     When I was in high school and participated in Young Life, one of the things we did was watch these Nooma videos by Rob Bell. Bell is artsy/hip/cool and very alluring with his thick-rimmed glass, platinum blonde/trimmed hair, trendy clothes, and intimidatingly precocious demeanor. So when I thought he was the coolest preacher ever and wanted to show my parents one of the videos we had watched, I was sort of surprised that they were not as captivated by him as I was. No, they didn't really like what he said at all, because they knew that I hadn't noticed what they had: a subtle, hidden deviance from truth. My parents knew 3 years ago that there was something shady about Rob Bell and the things he acts so sure of. From then on, if I watched one of his nooma's, I did so skeptically. I would like to clarify, also, that I don't think Young Life or my leaders at the time had any perception of Bell's clandestine nature and certainly did not foresee him writing a book that forsakes the basic principles of Christianity. I like that word (forsake) here, because it's eloquent in its divinity.
  
     The idea in this book that is under the most scrutiny is that of the notion that hell does not exist, which is absurd (it's in the Bible more times than I can count). The title itself is misleading and irrelevant to that specific (asinine) concept. Yeah, love does win: if you love Jesus, you won't lose your life (perish), but you'll win everlasting life. But that's not what Bell was trying to convey when he titled his book. I don't actually know what he was trying to say, because I can't possibly imagine what sadistic, twisted paradox he was trying to apply to that title. (Also I haven't read it, nor am I going to.) All I know is that he knew what he was doing when he named it that because he is gifted in the art of rhetoric and knows how to grab people's attention. I'm not trying to make Rob Bell seem like the anti-Christ because God loves him too, and I'm sure, is very upset about Bell's unfortunate divergence from truth. But I'm not going to let any pity I might have for him overwhelm my scrupulosity of his deceitfulness.
    Honestly, this is all just very sad, and I hope that if you were unsure before you read this, now you know.

Well, I'm still not readily "equipped" on the topic that I was planning to blog about today, but hopefully I soon will be. I'm also hoping I won't simply forget to talk about it at all because of a lost enthusiasm due to time delay. But, fortunately, I do have other things to talk about today.
  As you all [hopefully] know, this weekend was Mother's Day weekend, which, for me, meant that I got to spend a good 3 days away from most civilization in the little treasure of a town called Summerville, GA (right next to Snuffyville, if that helps you out). It also meant that I spent good, quality time with my family, including my cousin/b.f.f.a.e.a.e., Katie (the other author of this blog, which I would hope you know by now). Also included was an out-of-the-ordinary, non-Christmas visit by my Aunt Kristy, all the way from New York. Anyway, to pass some of the time, Katie and I took a little trip to Rome to see a movie. Unfortunately, Rome in this instance, is only that of Floyd County, GA (for those of you who aren't aware of this charming north-Georgia town, either), and not that of Italy, which I would love to see some day. But I digress. The movie we chose was Something Borrowed.

Now, I don't normally rant or rave over romantic comedies due to the (typically) completely false view of life/love that they subliminally give women of all ages; but, this one was really good. Maybe it's just because John Krasinski is one of my many celebrity boyfriends or maybe it's because this romantic comedy was particularly more comedic than most (thanks to John no doubt); but either way, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Aunt Kristy also brought her own selection of movies for the family to enjoy together. One of which was The King's Speech. I had been wanting to see this, mainly because it won some awards and I wanted to see what was so good about it. Well, it won those awards for a reason, because it was superb. I used that word because it sounds British to me and I thought it was appropriate.
And last but not least of the movies I saw this weekend is Water for Elephants, which I fully expected to be just like another one of those Nicholas Sparks books-turned-movie (despite the fact that it was definitely not written by Sparks). I guess that just shows my severe lack of insight into the world of literature (probably due to the fact that I don't read). Anyway, suffice it to say I was very pleasantly surprised. There were even a few action sequences that actually did have me on the "edge of my seat" saying "Get him! Get him!"... Oh and Rob Pattinson didn't hurt, either. 

Here are a couple pictures of the card I drew my mom for Mother's Day, by the way.

I suppose they're kind of personal, but I'm pretty proud of this since I'm not typically the best at hand-lettering.

Mi Cumpleaños Feliz

So basically Clayton is The Best Gift Giver in the world. Maybe it has to do with being thoughtful, or maybe it’s just a gift God gave her. But either way I’m lucky to have her as a friend because I got the best birthday presents EVER, and I don’t deserve it because I’m probably the least thoughtful person ever. I’m not saying I give bad gifts; it’s just that they look that way when you compare them to Clayton’s gifts because hers are so perfect. She knew what I wanted before I even knew it. Monday’s gift was an e.l.f. eye makeup palette, which, for me, is basically the equivalent of getting a professional art kit with every color acrylic under the sun. Tuesday’s gift was the movie Easy A because we love it and are infatuated with Emma Stone. Wednesday’s gift was my “Night Y’all” sleep shirt/gown because we’re southern (thank God) and we’re proud. Thursday’s gift was a ticket to see Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors who literally become the most magical couple/musicians/spectacle all over again, every time I see them. And Friday’s gift was the most marvelous pillow I’ve ever laid my eyes on: my Fruit Bird Opera Singer pillow named Frederica Von Stade. 

Yes, it was quite eventful; I even involuntarily screamed and accidentally woke up her slumbering stepfather. Anyway, it was definitely the best birthday ever, from the fact that I'm officially not a "teenager" anymore to being held against my will and forced to stay up until 12 a.m. the night of my birthday and while simultaneously enjoying the little verbal absurdities of my friends including "So, is your mom cute like you or what? What's going on there? What does she look like?"  Well, William, she's beautiful, that's what. 

     Anyway, I spent my real birthday at my Papa's house. (You know, the guy who's the cat's meow of everything cool?) So, needless to say I accumulated even more awesome old pictures, which I will be sharing in a post soon to come.

I'm not going to talk about anything else in this post because I am waiting until I'm equipped with all of the necessary information for my next post, which will probably come pretty soon...hopefully... 

A Lot of Nothing

How the heck has everyone been? I know I have been slacking on the whole blogging thing, which I know is really letting my dedicated fans down. Shelby has about 5 posts to one of mine. But whatever I’ll try and do better. Well, school registration started um… YESTERDAY. Yeah, I still have no idea what I want to do with my life. At times I am interested in everything but then at others I don’t care about anything. But maybe it will come to me in the next few hours. But on the bright side of things I get to move out of this hell hole in August. I actually really love my apartment I just REALLY don’t like my roommate. I seriously cannot wait to be away from her. I will definitely be throwing a celebration. Question is though, where will I be living next? I guess I don’t care just as long as I am not living with a psycho anymore. And if anyone is thinking I am being too harsh, you obviously don't know her...........

ANYWAYS… other than that nothing exciting has been going on in my life (not that that was exciting). I went to Auburn a few weekends ago with some of my friends to celebrate my friend Holly’s 21^st birthday, well, and to see my cousin of course. It was nice to get away. Maybe eventually I can be there for good. Well not for good but a little while at least.

My nephew turned THREE a couple of weeks ago. He is seriously the cutest thing ever. The other day we tried to get him to say helicopter because there was one in the sky and he called it an “appledoctor”. He also showed me how to use a fork the other day because apparently just because I don’t like to eat chicken nuggets with a fork means I don’t know how to use one. He definitely gets that from his great-grandmother.