Some picniking

RIP Grandpa

Memoriam In Loving Memory Of Carney L. F......, JR 5/28/1921 - 5/28/2005 It's now five years since God has taken you to Heaven. It seems like it was only yesterday. Certain memories of you ... the sound of scissors clipping ... picking dandelions ... your weather-beaten, yet warm and protective hands ... your silly laugh will forever remain in our hearts & minds. To our favorite angel, up in Heaven, we miss you dearly. Happy Birthday! You will always be a celebration for us. Love and miss you, Your beautiful wife, Your children, Grandchildren and Great-grandsons.



Published in Connecticut Post on May 28, 2010

Letter to America

Funny Twilight Article

By Sterling White

Humor Columnist, Franciscan University of Stubenville

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Few books in the past decade or so have sought to eclipse (Twilight pun) the popularity of Harry Potter. I mean, it’s hard to wage war on the scrawny little unkempt kid with his facial deformities and his flashy stick.

But Stephanie Meyer, in writing her own twisted vampire fantasy, has somehow managed to make her particular desires resonate with those of 12-year-old girls everywhere. I know when I was 12, I was still into action figures, but apparently girls at that age long for a romantic escapade with a 100-year-old vampire. To each his own, I say.

But Twilight has certainly garnered a massive following. My own sisters went and saw the first movie roughly eight times … in theatres. Now let’s count that out: $9.00 a movie x 8 viewings = $72 to see an angsty teen try to come to terms with her epic love for a blood-sucking child predator. I can see how this appeals to the younger generation. It’s like watching Dateline’s: "To Catch a Predator: The Untold Love Story."

Yet, is this really love? I mean, how many of us can look back on our high school relationships and actually say it was love? But for some reason, when that love is with undead sparkle boy, it’s as true as biblical Scripture. Sparkle, you say? Yes, these vampires, unlike ALL their demonic peers, when exposed to sunlight don’t scream as they char like your mom’s thanksgiving turkey (Oh, burn! (Pun!)). Instead they sparkle like a humanoid disco ball at a Village People concert.

When Bella first sees this, she is mesmerized. I have to tell you, the first time I see my significant other glowing like plutonium, I’d be more scared of radiation poisoning than taking the time to sit and admire her lethal glow.

But who really thinks Bella Swan (Stephanie Meyer’s avatar) is a particularly bright character to begin with? It seems this girl is too clumsy to survive getting milk for her cereal, much less a love life involving her boyfriend, señor twinkle toes, and a shirtless werewolf. Whenever his role in the movies is referenced, it is only mentioned that he got rock hard abs for the second movie.

Now, I’m not part of “the academy,” but if the most interesting part of your acting is that you worked out, don’t expect the Oscar nominations to be overflowing from your mailbox.

Mrs. Meyer also loves Edward Cullen. And I don’t mean she likes her character, I mean she loves him. I’m positive if Edward were as real and sparkly as she describes, she would leave her husband for him immediately. And who could blame her? After all, she describes his Adonis-like features, his marble skin and his apparently attractive chagrin expression.

First, Adonis was an extremely attractive Greek god born from incest and mauled by a wild boar, so I totally see the resemblance between him and glitter prince.

And Edward has marble skin, just like a statue! And we all know how awesome statues feel: cold and covered in bird poop. I don’t know what woman is actually fixated on the idea of her lover having marble skin but it’s about the same as if she said she was attracted to a streetlamp. And hey, at least that produces heat.

Finally, she loves to point out his chagrin expression. She seems to think this means his sallow face that sees deep into Bella’s beautiful heart as he tries to fight his deep love for her. Now, here in reality land, according to dictionary.com, chagrin actually means: “a feeling of vexation, marked by disappointment or humiliation.” So when Edward looks at Bella with this expression, the words actually mean that he’s feeling a little less like “I love you so much it hurts,” and more along the lines: “I’m passing a kidney stone.”

And when you really think about it, chagrin probably best describes the feeling anyone who’s not an angsty teenage girl would get from reading this book. I think Robert Pattinson, the actor who played Edward, put it best when asked about what he thought of the crowd at a convention. Here is his answer: “It’s terrifying. It’s like the sound you hear at the gates of hell.”

But don’t worry girls, I’m sure Edward wants to marry each one of you. He sparkles just for you.

TWLOHA

Posted By: Chris Youngblood

To: Members in To Write Love on Her Arms.

You matter very much. i hope you know you're not the only one who feels the way you feel. You are not the only one who struggles. You are not the only one with questions. You are not crazy. You deserve to be heard, to be known. You deserve love. You deserve love. You deserve a place that feels like home. You deserve some hands to hold. Hands to pull you past the broken moments, hands to catch you when you fall. Eyes to see you. To say you're there, that you exist, that you change a room, that your presence is significant. Ears to hear you - hear your stories, hear you laugh. Ears to hear your questions and to say they matter. Your questions matter. Maybe call a friend today or invite someone to coffee. Tell someone they matter or tell someone you could use a conversation. Write a letter or ask someone how they're doing. Like a song too much. Feel the drums or get lost in the chorus. It means that you're alive. It's good that you're alive. Who else could play your part? i hope you get to a place, wake to a day, where that feels true. You deserve to know it's true. To Write Love on Her Arms is a community of people with questions and struggles. It is for broken people and it is led by broken people. Life is heavy and light. Life is both. Beauty and pain, aches and dreams... We are saying that it's okay to talk about those things. We are saying that we need to. We are choosing to believe that stories deserve better endings. That hope is real, that help is real, that people need other people. You are not alone today. You matter very much. Peace to you. jamie  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~* For those who don't know, I've been struggling with depression for a loong time. I'm a firm supporter of "To Write Love on Her Arms", a non-profit organization that helps teenagers with depression, or self destructive habits. This is an email I received today.

Love Like Crazy by Lee Brice

They called them crazy when they started out
Said seventeen's too young to know what loves about
They've been together fifty-eight years now
That’s crazy

He brought home sixty-seven bucks a week
He bought a little 2 bedroom house on Maple Street
Where she blessed him with six more mouths to feed
Yea that’s crazy

Just ask him how he did it; he'll say pull up a seat
It'll only take a minute, to tell you everything
Be a best friend, tell the truth, and overuse I Love You
Go to work, do your best, don't outsmart your common since
Never let your prayin' knees get lazy
And love like crazy

They called him crazy when he quit his job
Said them home computers, boy they'll never take off
He sold his one man shop to Microsoft
They paid like crazy

Just ask him how he made it
He'll tell you faith and sweat
And the heart of a faithful woman,
Who never let him forget

Be a best friend, tell the truth, and overuse I Love You
Go to work, do your best, don't outsmart your common since
Never let your prayin knees get lazy
And love like crazy

Always treat your woman like a lady
Never get to old to call her baby
Never let your prayin knees get lazy
And love like crazy

They called him crazy when they started out
They've been together fifty-eight years now

Aint that crazy?

~~~~~~~~

This is my favorite song at the moment. I LOVE IT! Such a great message. Guys out there. Listen to Lee Brice. Okay? "Treat your woman like a lady."

So?

I totally redid my blog! (Duh)

Whatcha think?

It makes me kinda sad that it's not "Makes Me Smile" anymore, but I kept using the lyrics from "Belle" from Beauty and the Beast. Maybe I'll post a video and lyrics later...? Hmm... Anywho, basically the song is about me.. hehe.

Blog recommendations...

WORD for Teens - - - I love reading this blog. She always has really great book recs. We have a similar taste in books, so if I'm feeling bored and in need of a good read, I check out WORD.

Books & Brownies - - - This blog is written by my bestest friend, Katie. Or, "The Other Katie". Who needs phone calls when you can just creep on each others' blogs?

The Sound of Life - - - It's a song recommendation blog run by three of my friends. They have some great song recs, some of which I've heard, some of which I haven't. Which is cool.

A True Word: A Blog of Beautiful Poetry - - - Another one of my friends is the beauteous author of this great blog. She always picks some great poetry!

Whimsy. - - - Love this blog! Miss Whimsy writes with charm, grace and humor. About simple things, too. Like what she gave her mom for mothers' day, and most recently, which also happens to be my favorite, how her voice is bipolar.

The Daily Painting - - - This is written by the author of A True Word. Instead of a daily poem, there's a daily painting. She picks beautiful paintings, and although I'm not a big fan of art, I LOVE the art she posts.

Artisan of the Shire - - -  I'm friends with Margaret IRL, and I'm a big fan of her graphic designs. We were in the same homeschool group and Shakespeare group for a long time. Last year, she was a big help when I was made editor of our homeschool group's yearbook. She's very talented and I love her dearly! =)

It's a Fine Life - - - This is Margaret's personal blog.

Nine (+) Texans - - - This is Katie's mom's blog. I've known Katie, Karen and the rest of the K's for over ten years now. When I first met them, they were the six Connecticut-ians! Yep, that means I've seen four K babies born (I haven't really SEEN seen them born, but I've been around.) and number five is due quite soon!

It's the little things...

Like reading Macbeth in English class.

Honestly, I don't think I've ever been this excited about anything school related. I've litterally been bouncing in my seat. Way to make a good impression in a new school.

Oh Robert Pattinson...

On Oprah, when she asked Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart if they were dating, RPattz says, "Kristen's pregnant!" Cue awkward silence. Kristen's witty response? "He really loves to shock people because he thinks it's funny. No, we've actually had this conversation. He's having the baby."

I personally love how they skate around actually answering if they're dating or not. Quite creative...

On Ellen, she asked him why he cut his luxurious locks. His response: "I got a terrible infestation of nits, and I had to shave it all off."

I KNEW HE DIDN'T SHOWER!

Thank goodness Ellen told him that "nits" were actually called "lice" here in the US, and asked him to please not start that rumor.

The anti-climatic truth?

He's doing a movie. *yawn.*

The Winter's Tale

Tonight is the opening night of the Winter's Tale! No, I'm not in it, but a good portion of my friends are, and so is my baby sister! Okay, okay. She's fourteen.

Sarah and I have been involved with this group (The Junior Shakespeareans) for three years now. This is my first time that I am not performing in the play with them. I was too stressed with starting school and my bajillion therapy programs. So, I'm gonna be creeping around backstage in black instead. AKA, stage managing. =)

Reading Habits Meme

Do you snack while you read? If so, favourite reading snack:
Sometimes. Not very often. Only when I'm in a rush or something.

 What is your favourite drink while reading?
Tea =)

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
WRITING IN A BOOK?!?!?!?!? NOOO!

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?
I don't really dogear anymore. I used to. Now I use anything nearby.

Fiction, non-fiction, or both?
Fiction.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?
Yeah...

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates  you?
I've matured past that. Now I just talk to myself.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?
I just ignore it and keep reading. Usually I can figure it out.

What are you currently reading?
Marked by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

What is the last book you bought?
Iiiidk

Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?
I like reading one at a time, but at the most, three at a time.

Do you have a favourite time/place to read?
My bed. Anytime!

Do you prefer series books or stand alones?
Both! But I love series.

Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. Just today I recommended it twice at school...

How do you organize your books? (by genre, title, author's last name, etc.)
Sometimes by Author's last name, but currently, the one's I've read on one, and the ones I haven't read yet on another.

Happy Mothers' Day

a special prayer for all the mommies, or the mommies of my readers.

Loving God,
as a mother gives life and nourishment to her children,
so you watch over your Church.
Bless these women,
that they may be strengthened as Christian mothers.
Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we, their sons and daughters,
may honor them always
with a spirit of profound respect.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

Abigail Lee

Congrats to my friends, Dean and Gia, who were married last August, on the birth of their beautiful daughter, Abigail Lee!

I know Gia and Dean through youth group, and have grown close to the both of them. Abigail was born on May 7th. Congrats <3

Live Like We're Dying

Something to think about and inspire you... =)

Live Like We're Dying 

Sang by Kris Allen

Sometimes we fall down, can't get back up
We're hiding behind skin that's too tough
How come we don't say I love you enough
Till it's to late, it's not too late

Our hearts are hungry for a food that won't come
And we could make a feast from these crumbs
And we're all staring down the barrel of a gun
So if your life flashed before you,
What would you wish you would've done

Yeah, we gotta start
Looking at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that's ticking
Gotta live like we're dying

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying

And if your plane fell out of the skies
Who would you call with your last goodbye
Should be so careful who we live out our lives
So when we long for absolution,
There'll no one on the line, yeah

Yeah, we gotta start
Looking at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that's ticking
Gotta live like we're dying

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying

Like we're dying, oh, like we're dying..
http://www.elyricsworld.com/live_like_we're_dying_lyrics_kris_allen.html

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying

You never know a good thing till it's gone
You never see a crash till it's head on
Why do we think we're right when we're dead wrong
You never know a good thing till it's gone

Yeah, we gotta start
Looking at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that's ticking
Gotta live like we're dying

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying

Like we're dying, oh, like we're dying..

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying..

Time Capsule

2009 and 2010

Someday in the future

We'll remember when...

Kanye stole the mic

From Taylor Swift.

Everyone gasped 

And threw a fit.

Everyone was paranoid 

About Swine '09,

But when the Spring came,

Everybody was fine.

Fist Pumping was epic,

Snuggies were win.

Have a few silly bandz

And kid, you were in!

When Michael J. died

Everyone was in shock.

Poor Farrah Fawcett

Everyone forgot.

Vampires were the rage

Along with Twitter and iPhones.

Everyone had Beiber Fever,

So if you were a fan, you were pwned.

Tiger Woods became hated

The Yankees won the World Series (again).

We got the first black pres

And he is legit, according to some. 

Gaga was on the top of the charts,

A volcano exploded,

A TV show about singing outcasts

And the weirdest of all: The oldest Jonas was wed!
The earthquake in Haiti

Sent America into shock.

A movie about blue people

Was the must see movie. 

When the Cullens appeared...

It became "Potter, who?"

A werewolf with a six pack

Was on the cover of tween news.

Teeny boppers' faces were on the covers of tabloids,

KStew and RPattz: Dating or Not?

Demi and Joe: They're finally together!

It made people laugh: Is that all they got?
Big families were hot

In Hollywood

The Duggars and Gosselins,

Rockin' their hoods.

Yeah that's my life,

Crazy as it seems.

We got a front row seat

To some history.