So... I'm in FL with all 15 of my relatives (on 1 side) and besides the fact that I didn't want to come (I wasn't supposed to be able to, but I managed to get off work, which also hasn't been going so well as of late... only 1 more week to go @ least!) now I'm stuck here with my brother too! He was in Berlin on work stuff and wasn't supposed to have this week off but suddenly he did and my parents up and bought him a ticket to FL!!! I was trying to talk my mom into leaving in time so I could go to my friends slumber party friday night - friends that I haven't seen in months and won't be seeing like, ever come school time and I miss them so much!!! - and I almost had her, but now with H.W. here there's no way we're leaving before Saturday. It really sucks. He controled so much of my life before and now that I've had awhile without him that hasn't been the case and I've LIKED it, so suddenly being restricted again just because he's around has put me in a sour mood.
But... on to other things. So I've been riding some rollercoasters with my dad (much easier to do with 2 rather than the 3 it will b/c b/c of H.W.) but today I did something extra special that I've been waiting awhile to do. Are you ready?
I GOT MY EARS PIERCED!!!
yaaaaaaay!!!!!! Exciting. They're 3mm white gold Cubic Zirconiums or howev u spell it. They're really pretty and they match the white gold cross necklace that I've always worn since I got it on my b-day this year. It has 5 real diamonds in the middle though, instead of CZ, but it doesn't really matter much.
My parents haven't really said anything, although I know they're not particularly happy. I kept telling my mom that she has hers done so it's no fair that I couldn't, but she just kept saying "Yeah, and I was 25, out of the house, working and paying my own bills!" Well, ya know what? I paid for it myself and I just don't care. My brother was seething that I got it done, but I certainly don't care a bit about what he thinks. I've been wanting to do this for awhile, but stupid academy wouldn't let me. Technically I have 1 more week of work, and work doesn't allow jewlery, but Pastor Buz is just going to have to get over it if he wants me to work my last week, b/c it's a bit too late. lol
So anyway, I could use some lovin from my homies!!! lol. I miss all of you terribly. Thanks for listening to my slight rant. ttyl.
~ORANGEE
The Obituary of Common Sense...
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.
No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and Maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies: Don't spend more than you can earn; and reliable strategies: Adults, not children, are in charge.
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place -- Reports of a 6 -year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; Teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get Parental consent to administer Calpol, sun lotion or a band-aid to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as The Ten Commandments became contraband; Churches became businesses; and Criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by His parents, Truth and Trust; His wife, Discretion; His daughter, Responsibility; and His son, Reason. He is survived by his 3 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
Blognapped from addicted2pjs
I have something new to update on!!! Are you happy Squishy???
So I totally went to this concert last night and it was absolutely amazing!!! It was Celtic Woman, a group that I really love! I was so excited when I found out they were coming to the Bi-Lo center I almost immediately bought my ticket! hee hee. But my mom wouldn't let me go alone so she ended up getting a ticket for herself and coming along too. It was really nice. My mom and I never really do anything together. Two weeks ago we went out to see "Because I Said So" (which if you know my mother was not the best movie to see with her, but I didn't know that at the time. I mean, it was a great movie, just a bit embarrassing/nerve-wracking to watch with my mother beside me, lol) but before that I don't think we've actually had like, one of those "mom/daughter night out" things since I was 10 years old and we spent the day at the American Girl place in Chicago on our way to Oshkosh for the Pathfinder camporee in '99. Yeah, exactly. So it was nice to spend some time with her, and a bit sad too. I'm not quite sure why it was sad exactly. It's hard to explain. Just like, I wish we were more like that, but we're definately not and I get tired of pretending that we are. *sigh*
But anyway, so I totally didn't mean to get off on such a depressing topic! So back to the concert! We got there pretty early, about 6:10 or so, and it didn't start till 7:30, but my dad had to drop us off before pathfinders (even though I'm not in it anymore my parents are still the leaders of the club at my church). Oh well. No big. My mom let me get a program!!! That was cool. We never really spend money on that kind of stuff, but I'm glad I did! I got an autographed picture of the fiddler too.
Her name's Mairead (don't know how to put the accents in) Nesbitt (check out her solo album if you get a chance, I'm listening to it now, FANTASTIC!!!) and she is so amazing! I already knew I liked her music, but cds cannot do justice to the energy she puts into her playing! Every time she came out onstage I was blown away. The best word I can think of to describe her is flighty. Literally she just flitted all about the stage - while playing! There is definately a reason her dresses are so light and specifically tailered to fly about her. lol. Most of the time she did it in heels too, but one song she was barefoot, which really added to the mood of the piece. All and all it was just beautiful. She would move every which way and leap down steps and run across stage and just wow!!! One time she even spun around in circles! Kudos to the light guys for keeping up with her. lol. Oh, she also did this really cute thing with her bow all the time. Literally she would like, command the drummers or the singers or the pianist or just the music in generally, using it like a conductor's batan or a prop for affects and it was just so neat. She had a great stage presence. Okay, so I really payed attention and you're probably bored right now, but it was so cool! My mom knew not to ask for the little binocular like things (I got them forever ago, like in 6th grade as a prize for selling something, but hey, they work!) when she came out! heh heh.
But overall the concert was just so awesome. My fave singer of the group is Lisa Kelly (her song - The Voice - is absolutely incredible, definately listen to it sometime), but all of them are truly deserving to be in the group. The youngest, Chloe, is only 17! She was 14 when she made her first solo album (I think...) and 15 when she joined Celtic Woman. Orla and Meav are not my favorites, but still fantastic. The group got a new girl recently too, Hailey, but for some reason she wasn't in the show last night at all. I'm wondering if it's because she was sick or because she's not actually tourning with them in the states or something (just on the cd, you know?) but she was in the program, so idk. Regardless, the songs she was supposed to be in or sing solo were still performed, so either each girl understudies the others or they had enough time to prepare in advance. But seriously, the harmony of the girls' voices is pristine. They have a version of Over the Rainbow and it's just four of them (Lisa, Chloe, Meav, and Orla - who plays harp!!!) a capella and the harmony literally just makes my heart melt every time I hear it. Even if I didn't particually like the song, I would have to love their version of it.
Oh, and the interplay between all the girls, including Mairead, plus the chorus/musicians is so fun to watch! It's obvious that Lisa is the actress in the group (she did a bunch of broadway plays before joining Celtic Woman) as she is just more generally expressive, more graceful in the dance moves and more open to interaction during all points in the program. But they repeatedly go back and forth with other members of the group, giving each other looks, or hand gestures, or body movement. In one song, Lisa, Meav, and Orla all grab hands and spin around in a circle. They did this about 3 times and each time I was just waiting for one of them to fall b/c that's what I'd do! lol. But you can tell they really do love what they're doing and it's obvious they put their heart into it, which is so important and really shows through in any time of performance.
It was actually kinda funny because I was looking at the program before it started and I got all upset when I found out they weren't performing one of my favorite songs. I complained to my mom that Spanish Lady wasn't on the list and got telling her about how it's a great upbeat song with fun lyrics and gives the girls another chance to interplay with each other and the chorus (at the end they all have a male vocalist behind them who wraps his arms around them - except for Mairead because she's playing of course! - and they move together with the music, and then to finish the girls all sit on the guys' bended knee, it's really cute). Then at the end after Chloe said goodnight I kep saying, "Aww! Please do Spanish Lady for an encore! Please! Spanish Lady!" and then BAM! The music started up again and... guess which song it was? Yup! Spanish Lady! I was so happy. My mom laughed that they'd heard me and I was like, "SCORE!" and pumped my fist since they listened. lol.
But anyway, I do technically have work I need to be doing and I'm sure you're all bored of my long descriptions by now, so please just take my word for it and if you get the chance to attend a Celtic Woman concert, GO!!!!!!!! lol. Luv to all.
~ORANGEE
Okay, so I've been an absolute HORRIBLE blogger as of late. I don't know what's wrong with me. I mean I've had tons of stuff to update on since this summer but I just haven't and... idk. I apologize. It's like, even though everything's been going on and it's been crazy, nothing really mattered? Or not so much that I wanted to think about it and dedicated time to writing about it. I haven't even been journaling much recently. It's been a hard few months, but still, no worse than normal I suppose. I don't know if that's supposed to make me feel better or worse. :-P
Anyway, so how was everybody's Christmas? Mine was okay. Went pretty much how it always does. We opened family presents on Sat night (23rd), which actually was a rarity. But we spent Sunday down at my grandparents in GA with the extended fam (YUM for bbq chicken!!! lol) and then went to my greatgrandmother's in Norway, SC on Monday. That was ok. I don't really know many people from that side of the family, so it was kinda weird. Plus, over Thanksgiving we gave Motney (my g-grandma) copies of my Senior pictures and she had all 5 (yes, FIVE) set up in a prominent place on the kitchen counter. So it was a little strange for everyone (that I don't know) to be like, "Oh, you're the girl from the pictures..." lol and having to see myself every time I went in there to get something. But oh well. No harm done I suppose.
We got home late Monday night. I had a dentist appointment Wed and we had family pictures done yesterday afternoon (joy, I looked like crap as usual, *gag* but I've got some new stuff I'm trying on my face that'll hopefully clear things up a bit *crossing fingers*). It was actually really funny because H.W. kept having problems taking pictures for some reason (whereas I only had to have mine taken once and I was done, heh heh, I'm the model in the family - not to be conceited, I'm serious! I've always taken good pictures, even when I was little and a modeling agency actually wanted to put me to work when I was a sophomore but I choose my music over a modeling career - for the moment anyway, lol, anyone want my autograph? j/k) and the 20yr old girl taking the pictures (who made sure I knew she was 20) was totally flirting with him. lol.
Other than that not much unusual has been going on. Family crap as always, but I'm used to that. It hasn't been as bad as normal, so I've managed to escape from most of it (except when I kinda went to this movie I wasn't supposed to go to last Friday... *cough cough*). Basically I've been getting up to watch ER from 10-12, practiced instruments (I got an electric violin + amp for christmas, can anyone say cool? lol) and been on the computer until 4 when I watch Melrose Place (don't laugh, it's a good show as long as they've got Amanda in it, she's played by Heather Locklear). Then I do some more average things you do on break until after supper when I watch Alias until bedtime at 12 and usually get to bed about 2ish. lol. And don't start lecturing me about being unproductive. I haven't been able to relax like this (yes, this is relaxing for me) in years, so I deserve to be a little lazy for... *calculate* 4 more days.
I'm not counting tomorrow in that figuring because I have church and then ice skating with the youth that night. Fun fun! I'm actually really excited. I haven't gone ice skating since this summer in Australia (their winter) and I really liked it. I'm just hoping it doesn't hurt my toe very much. I broke that in July, as Squishy and everyone well remembers. It's supposed to be "healed" by now but something's wrong with it. It won't bend at all. I've got to set up another appointment with the podiatrist. They might actually have to break it again and/or put me in physical therapy. YAY!!! *sarcasm*
Anyway, so after this very long unimportant rambling about useless crap you didn't want to know, I'll leave you fellow bloggers be. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and I'd love to hear from you all! tty again in another 5 or 6 months when I decided to update. lol
Oh, The Stories You Told
by Orangee
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You always told such good stories.
If I close my eyes now,
I remember the excitement,
The movie playing out in my mind.
I can still feel the warmth of your words,
I can still breathe them in deep.
------------------------------------------------------------------
You told stories of time,
Full of wonder and beauty.
Lovely fulfilling stories
Of Compassion and Forgiveness,
Friendship and Romance,
Growth and Acceptance,
Stories of love.
You controlled it all in your hands,
Painting a world beneath your fingertips:
A world of peace and happiness
Where all girls were Princesses
And all boys were Princes.
Everyone was loved and respected
And all obstacles were overcome.
Not always with ease as if they were mere trifles,
But by the goodness of the human spirit.
The rules were few and uncomplicated.
In the end, the good guy always won
And the bad guy became good.
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I listened to you as
Your words danced across my skin
And I gave into your voice,
Feeling the words settle deep in my heart.
You made me believe
In the world you created,
Laying it down before my eyes
For me to fill myself up with.
But instead of making me full,
They have choked me and left me
EMPTY.
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You didn’t tell me the true stories.
The stories of shattered lives:
Of Fear and Pain,
Heartache and Loss,
Anger and Revenge,
Confinement and Denial,
Stories of hate.
A world of war and sadness:
Where all girls are used,
And all boys are toys.
Everyone is seen as enemies and destroyed.
All obstacles never budge
And are not overcome by the pure of heart,
But by those with the power
To trample and control the weak.
The rules are numerous and undefined.
And in the end,
Nobody wins.
We all just die alone.
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I look around me now
At the disaster your storm has left behind.
You have made me broken and alone.
Your words do not sustain me anymore
And I realize now they never did.
Neither do I still put any faith in them.
But oh, the stories you told…
In life we often find many things annoying, but if we looked closer we'd instead see some of life's little miracles. I know it's different than most of my others, but I just got thinking about it and POOF! there was this poem. Tell me what you think!
Annoyances? Think Again.
by ORANGEE
A newborn's wail,
Means her lungs are working.
A toddler's tears,
Mean his nerves still feel.
A child's "Why?",
Means she's using her brain to discover her world.
Constant tattling,
Means he's learning control and compromise.
Kids fighting one minute and hugging the next,
Means they're learning how to interact with people.
An obsession with pink unicorns or toy trucks,
Means they're accessing themselves.
A preteen rolling her eyes and sighing,
Means she's being smart and biting her tongue,
A teen's attitude,
Means he's becoming his own person.
An argumentative personality,
Means they have an innate sense of fairness.
A youth's sarcastic wit,
Means she understands irregularity.
A debating college student,
Is setting his own morals and boundaries.
A 24yr old moving from city to city,
Is finding her place in the business world.
A 28yr old working constantly,
Is saving himself for that special someone.
A 32yr old avoiding home,
Is worried about starting her own family.
A 36yr old with too many wallet pictures,
Has just discovered the joy of a new life.
A 40yr old experiencing a minor breakdown,
Is relearning how to deal with stress effectively.
A 44yr old penny pincher,
Is preparing for retirement.
A 48yr old protective parent,
Is struggling to let their child be independent.
A 52yr old that's clingy,
Doesn't want to start over with an empty house.
A 62yr old spoiling the grandkids,
Teaches them about the sweet things in life.
A 72yr old arguing about nursing homes,
Still feels confidant and loves life.
An 82yr old reminiscing constantly,
Is keeping her mind agile.
A 92yr old holding his breath,
Wants to stay for just one more day and love once more…
Like the fact that I was in IPA (Independent Practice Assignments, aka Study Hall) with Mrs. Lewis in the corner room sitting on the left side facing the door when Mrs. Bledsoe came in and whispered something to Mrs. Lewis, and watching her face fall as she realized what was going on and what she had to tell us. All the middle school and high school kids had an emergency chapel prayer service thing (none of the elementary students got told as the school decided that should be the parent's decision/job). We stayed in there for 2 or 3 hrs.
There was so much conflicting information coming so fast. Everyone seems to forget that fact. Like, nobody ever seemed to know exactly what was going on, we were getting three sides to every story. It was this got hit, no, that got hit by this, or was it that? It was an accident, somehow the pilots got off track and couldn't correct it. Wait, the other tower just got hit? By a helicopter or another plane? So it was definately a terrorist attack? How many more planes? What happened at the Pentagon? Are they evacuating everything? What about the President? Are the schools in danger? Am I in danger? Are there any more hijacked planes? And now a piece of the first has blown-up and fallen off, no, the whole top fell into the other tower, actually it's collapsed on top of itself? There were 40+ people on each plane, unless that other one was smaller or... and 100s of people were still trapped in the Towers, but the death toll is in the 1000s...
That's what was scary, not knowing or being able to fully understand what was happening. I was in 7th grade, 13 years old, and I still remember everything. I knew from the look on Mrs. Lewis' face and how she was addressing the whole class that either one of the teachers or staff or something had died, or there was a serious threat somewhere affecting a lot of people. I just knew that even as I was living it, this event, this disaster, would go into the history books.
I'd been to NYC the previous April, when I was 12. I walked the streets around the Towers, when just about everywhere you could look up and see them. I stood in the ground floor of the building, holding my dad's hand so as not to get lost in the business. When we flew home, as we were exiting the plane, the cockpit was open and visible. The pilots let me sit down in the seat and hold the wheel, pointing out buttons and dials and telling me what they meant or did while my mom took a picture. My kids won't be able to do that, at least not in the near future. I went back, the March I was 14 with my youth orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall, and we visited Ground Zero. I couldn't recognize anything. It was so... dismal. I don't know how else to say it. It was depressing and gray, so dirty and unmaneagable, so heavy that I felt like I was suffocating. I'm going again, this March-April with my youth orchestra to do the Carnegie Hall thing again, and I'm just wondering if we'll stop by Ground Zero as well, if it's still the same or if it's changed.
It's weird, how our memories get us that way. I mean even now, 5 years later, how much do we know about everything that went on that day? Sadly, not much. Not enough. I guess all we can really do is remember our experiences, whether from inside or out, and pray for the victims, their families, the soldiers, news reporters, and medical workers still overseas, our President and country leaders, and America as a whole.
And now that I've had my trip down memory lane and had this chance to muse over it all, what about you? Where were you???
spicy pork* dominant or submissive
* logical or intuitive
* social or loner
* kinky or vanilla
* cute or sophisticated
* kitten or puppy
* warm flannel sheets or sleek satin
* leader or follower
* quiet or talkative
* spontaneous or planned
* teddy bear or porcelain doll
* hiking or window shopping
* tequila or vodka
* top or bottom
* bare foot or shoes
* jeans or slacks
* tender or rough
* aware or dreamy
* nerd or jock
* brains or brawns
* common sense or book smarts
* pretty or sexy
NB: Feel free to skip some, most or however many you like if you are being sweet enough to do this me. ;-p
