A+ for a B effort!!!

Okay, well, maybe it's not something I sould be proud of, but considering the circumstances... I'm pretty proud.
It started 8/28. My history teacher gave us a partner assignment. The objective is to try to be an archaeologist 12,000 years into the future digging up artifacts from today, and trying to guess what they are. It seemed easy until we were told that we couldn't use the ritght answer... kinda defeats the purpose of actually being an arcaeologist, but...
So, my partner and I were given a stop-watch... how many uses can you think of for a stopwatch that doesn't include, well, a stop-watch? There weren't many we could think of. Then I realized that it didn't fit on my head, it couldn't fit over a five-year-olds head. So, my partner and I concluded that this "artifact" was obviously used by pygmies, a.k.a. "homo minimus."
Later, we concluded that the pygmies used this device to "wrangle and domesticate snakes." Yes, that's right. They were snake-wranglin', wrasslin', ridin' pygmies. Yeehaw!!!
We established that they worshipped the anaconda as cheif snake-god, and whichever man was courageous enough to mount such a beast was considered blessed and sacred. Now, we built a whole ancient culture... based... on... a stop-watch. Pretty sweet!
My friend Adam was having some trouble too. Given a magnifying glass on which to build his imaginary civilization, he was very perplexed. He finally got it though. He decided that his race of people worshipped a deity named "Tofusia." He ruled the land of the Tofunians. Yes, tofu. This had nothing to do with the magnifying glass until he mentioned that the revered deity could concentrate his mystic powers through the lense in order to turn his victims into clam chowder.
His people later enslaved my race of snake-ridin' pygmies, and forced them to use their snakes to plow their vast fields of tofu. ;)
Adam and I got best in class on that project. Go us!!

A Petty Story with Petty People

I thought of this story in my Geometry class today, after I finished my test. A lot of thinking goes on in that class.

Captian Jacob took a furious look at his first mate, Samuel, after being told they should turn. Jacob didn't take kindly to that. That was his decision to make. It was his idea to go on the submarine expidition, his funding that made it possible, and his research that would make it profitable. There should be no reason someone would be telling him what to do.
"Samuel, don't tell me where to go. I'm steering this submarine!"
Samuel looked down. "But, sir, I haven't told you why you should turn."
"I don't care. I'll turn when I need to!"
Suddenly, the submarine's contents and passengers were sent flying towards the front of the vessel. They had struck an enormous rock. Pressure alarms sounded, crew members panicked. No one made it to the surface of the water.

The sad part, Samuel only wanted to tell Captain Jacob to turn away from that rock.

The worse part is that Captain Jacob was going to turn until his actions were interrupted.

Phrases for life.

I'm sure that the ears accompanying the eyes of my dear readers have probably heard the phrase "wow, that smarts" and never known why the user of that phrase decided to utilize the word "smart" instead of "hurt." Well, after some deliberate thinking, and some personal experiences, I found out why.
Imagine some cheery farmer slicing his own skin while sharpenning a blade. He then withdraws his hand in pain, and considers the mistake(s) he has made. He then learns the best way to do it next time, and says "that smarts." You see, this man, instead of cursing and screaming in pain, takes a step back, and decides to use his pain as an opportunity to learn. This, readers, is what will work every time you experience pain. In order to get the fullest experience, you need to learn from it. I think that's how God intended for us to use pain. That's how I'm learning to handle pain.
So, there's a history in a well-known phrase, and something I hope you've learned from this remarkably small post. Pain is good... it just doesn't feel that way at first.

And once again...

...A beautiful sleep interrupted.

Ohh, it was truly the best sleep I'd had in a while. With my alarm finally set for 6:15, I was reassured that it would wake me up no later, and no EARLIER than was necessary. I... was wrong. Let me tell this story from my sister, Jessica's perspective. It might make more sense...



She woke up at around 5:45. Reluctantly getting ready for her second day of her second week of her fourth and final year of highschool. As she was just finishing her daily preparations, she heard the phone ringing, which in her house, happens 24/7. She picked up the reciever, pressed the button at the top labled "talk" and pressed the phone to her ear. On the other end, her mom spoke to her about a rare asrtonomical event... a lunar eclipse. They were both excited about it, and Jessica was told to wake up Josh (who was staying there that night) and Jonathan (that's meee!!!). She hastened to the door of Jonathan's room, and forced the door open with a twist of the knob and a thrust combined into one motion.
"Wake up," she said sticking her head in the door, "it's a lunar eclipse outside!!"
Josh barely stirred on the couch he slept on across the room from Jonathan's bed, the couch covered in a thin sheet, and a genuine llama wool blanket from Peru. He was awake enough to utter "What?!" thinking the hour was 2:00 A.M. He got up anyway, and went with Jessica to look. Jessica looked at Jonathan, not stirring in his bed. Sleeping like a log, she thought.

The truth was that Jonathan was not asleep. He was rudely awakened by one who was excited about astronomical events over a good rest. I know what you're thinking... "OOOH, poor Jonathan has to wake up fifteen minutes earlier than normal. Poor poor him... wahhh!!" Sarcastic people, well, just think about this. You may wake up an hour or two before I do, you may work all night. However, whatever your hours are, I'd like you to consider... whenever you rest, wouldn't you like an extra fifteen minutes to continue resting before you wake up? Just fifteen minutes? Come on people, it's a great amount of time... to... *yawn*... rest...
You're probably also thinking "OH, he missed out on a lunar eclipse because he wanted fifteen more minutes of sleep? No way!!" Well, let me ask you something... why did you miss the eclipse?

Well, today in school, I was bored...

... and incredibly tired, but holding to my self-made promise to make the best of every situation, the only way I could make the best of boredom was to find some way to entertain myself. I decided, before my first class, that I would be more observant in my classes. I was, and I discovered some things...
1st period, the first thing I observed was my teacher, and the strange way he carried himself. Back straight, which is good posture. But then, it occured to me that the front of his head was making an effort to be even with his back heel. Not only that, but he held his arms abnormally tightly to his side, for reasons I can't really decipher. Go figure... good teacher though.
I noticed 2nd hour... nothing new. That's the class I'm most alert in, so if there was something strange, I would've noticed... but I didn't.
3rd hour, I observed something that I didn't need to be at all alert to know about. Mr. (Coach) Jackson (mentioned in previous posts) would hold strong to his word as a kid's cell phone rang.
The boy had exited the room with a borrowed hallpass, telling Mr. Jackson that he had to use the restroom. He re-entered with his cell-phone making every possible noise known to humans (and some known to platipi... platypuses... platypus... you guys gotta help me out on the plural of platypus.) The phone restlessly made the noises in a formerly silent classroom, and Mr. Jackson did neither look up, or say a word. Until... the phone... stopped. He immediatley looked up as his calm tone of voice betrayed his expression of acute anger, and said,
"Bring it here."
The boy looked up, and replied "I'ts my mom calling."
"I don't care if it's Jesus calling," he said "bring it here."
The boy came to the front of the room, and handed the teacher his phone.
"You lied to me didn't you?" asked Mr. Jackson, staring the accused down. He was only speaking of when the boy said he was going to use the restroom.
The boy mumbled an inaudible rebuttle, but it was lost even further when Mr. Jackson interrupted
"I asked you a yes or no question. It's as simple as that, tell me yes or no."
The boy thought more about the consequences of talking like a smart-alec, and said "Yes."
Mr. Jackson took the cell phone from the boy and said, "Get back to your seat."
In my fourth-hour class, I looked at one strange thing, my World History teacher. A greuling combination of bad posture, and high-heels made her walk resemble that of a chicken's. I'll never be able to un-notice that. By the time I had noticed it though, my boredom was over, and there were friends in my other classes so I didn't have to observe every little detail in my next classes... though it's not a terrible habit, some things are better left unnoticed... and I get to relax some when I'm not trying to look at so many details.
Anyway, that's the strangely interesting... sort of...
And that's life, and all that comes with it.

First time here?

I wrote this a couple Sundays ago. As the Holy Spirit filled the house we were worshiping in (that day it was my friend Josh's), I couldn't help but write this down. I felt it was the first time I had experienced this feeling, (even though I had felt it before) and felt compelled to write it that way.
Even before we "begin," by the standards of many, all the people, all beautiful, gather their vioces in many chords. Without anyone truly intending to, there is a beautiful song that comes. This is called communion, or common union, a truly spiritual experience that many not experiencing it could easily mistake it for regular conversation. It sounds beautiful, truly, if you listen closely.
After communion, someone reads from a leather-bound book that has, for centuries, been called the Holy Bible. Holy it is, indeed. Every word has monumental significance to what one's spirit might feel at the time. The reader finishes, and someone calls out the name of a song. Such euphonious beauty flows from every spirit around, and harmonies echo in everyone's hearts. Knowing we worship a worthy, caring, loving God, beyond description, we praise ferverently, not sparing one section of our heart from God. Everyone feels His touch. His presence is more potent than anyone can fathom, but despite our inability to imagine
His power, we know He's there. We are His. All our possesions are His. We are here for Him. He loves us. His Spirit touches ours. A touch which has unimaginable power, and gives indescribable feelings, forcing us toawe and marvel at His beauty. He is God. Even before we "begin," we are His. Join the Kingdom.

Well, it's official, I am loved.

That's right people, I am surrounded by people who care about me, and love me, and am loved by a God mighty enough to make that happen.

I moved to Florida about three years ago. I had turned thirteen the summer that we left, and was pretty upset that we were leaving. I had doubts about how much God really did love me, but the reality was that He was using this oppotunity to prove just how much He really cared.

When my family and I first got life in Florida off the ground (and out of the moving truck) it was time to start school. In fact, we had shown up in Florida two days late for it. It was my first year in a public middle school, and my experience that day told me that public middle school totally bombed!!!!

However, on my course back home, I met who I would call my first friend in Florida. We got along great. His name is Justin, and we hang out pretty much every day. We're there for eachother, just like everyone else God would send to me.

A year later, a friend I had known for my whole life came to visit from my home state, Louisiana. Josh. Someone who would've found a way to back me up even from three states away if I had asked him. Not only did he visit, but his family ended up moving here, on God's will.
Yeah, so the second year of public middle school got alot easier.
Earlier that year, my family and I (thanks to my dad, Mike) found a group of great people who had grown tired of the religious pomp and circumstance in the church (and a couple of other things in the church) and were meeting as brothers and sisters in Christ without a building. Things were (and still are) awesome there. Now we meet at our own house, and worship the Lord in every way. The only hierarch there is Jesus, the one who loves and cares for us all, and thus the reason that we all love and care for eachother. It was in this place that the number of those who care about me (and that I really care for) multiplied, more than doubled!! We meet tomorrow (sunday) and it'll be just as awesome, new, and exciting. I love it, I love them, they love me, God loves us, and for me, he's proven that... alot more times than I've mentioned in this post. Life is great.
That's the really good part.
That's life, and all that comes with it...

Sesame Street Trauma

Once again, the hour of 6:00 A.M. ... I was peacefully sleeping, having found a perfect spot on the bed, hoping to enjoy it for the next fifteen minutes I had to sleep. Then, my vague dreams were interrupted by a noise I couldn't make out. Then, it came again. Such a deep, irritating, ominous noise... clearer... clearer... the noise was stripping the sleep from me... clearer... what was it? I could make it out now... the horrible sound! It spoke again...
"I feel GREAT!!!! I feel GREAT!!!! Ifeel GREAT!!!! I feel GREAT!!!!"
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was Ernie. Stuffed in a basket outside my room. Sleeping blinds on exclaiming his joy of today. It was 6:15... Dog on!!!
"I feel GREAT!!!!"
We have to get rid of tha- "I feel GREAT!!!!"
That mons- "I feel GREAT!!!!"
That monster in our house. EEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's life, and the lack of sleep that comes with it...

1st Day O' School!!!

Well, it happened. I saw it comin' since the beginning of summer. I went to school today.
It wasn't bad for the first day of school my second year of highschool. Let's reminesce...
It was six-fifteen A.M. when I woke up. I hadn't set my alarm, so I was lucky I didn't oversleep. I got out of bed, almost looking forward to the rest of the day in school. Meeting my teachers, seeing old friends, being able to share what my friend Josh and I learned this summer. I took the rubber bands from my braces, and brushed my teeth. Afterwards, I came out to the smell of pancakes. Yes, my dad's delicious pancakes. They normally included cinnamon and bananas, but that day I couldn't taste them. By the time I finished, Josh was at my house ready to carpool with us. We talked about how we were pretty much the only two who were'nt panicking about the arrival of the education train. My friend Justin showed up later with a binder full of paper, and a brown bag that contained his lunch. Ah, the upperclassman brown-bagging his lunch. I didn't think much of it then, but now it's kinda funny.
All ready, we loaded into the car with my sister behind the wheel, all liscensed and prepared to drive us away from home. Justin didn't seem too worried either, but Jessica was about as close to looking forward to it as she was to acknowledging me in the hallways.
We drove up to the parking lot after taking unneccesarry turns to enter the main gate to it. Jessica parked pretty well, and we unloaded from the car. Josh said something about beating up freshman. After that, I pointed to a stout, dark-haired kid getting out of his car and said, "Like that kid!" As I smiled. It was our friend Drew, who we hadn't bothered to contact all summer, so this was the first time since the last school year we had seen him. We walked together towards the school which had an appearance slightly resembling a prison. I had once believed it was a prison, but the survey said it was worse, a survey I actually disagreed with.
When we approached the iron bar fences, Justin and Drew went separately to check and see what their first calss was, (an objective Josh and I completed the night before.) We hardly had time to meet together before the first bell rang. A sound which I had pretty much gotten used to since last year. Everyone moaned as they lolligagged on the way to their class.
My first class of the day: Journalism 1 with Mr. Diroberto. I had this teacher for half the year last year. He was tall, and had a long, thin nose that was rounded at the peak. He talked with a nasally voice, and assured me that I didn't get some left or right-winged biased Jounalism teacher like the kind my sister had when she took the course. He had remembered me as well, which made me feel better, being reminded that some people actually take time to remember me. He handed us our schedules for the rest of the day, and talked about his requirements for the course this year. He handed us papers for us to sign until the bell for the next class rang.
Second period, French 2 with Ms. Phillips. I had her for French 1 the year before. A lady with an optomistic dispostion, and good skills at teaching foriegn languages. And yet, another teacher
that remembered me.
Justin was already sitting in the classroom. Yes! Someone besides the teacher that I knew in one of my classes. Alright! Later, a comrade form the lacrosse team walked in. Anthony. We talked until the tardy bell rang.
Ms. Phillips began to talk about assigned seats. I knew I wouldn't be sitting next to Justin or Anthony. Just a feeling, and it was true. I didn't. Oh well.
She followed the same procedures that Diroberto discussed, and later, asked us questions in French to see how much we remembered form last year. Not much for most of the class. Many students babbled strange-sounding words, and had a few English words mixed in. I participated the best I could (mostly by avoiding eye-contact so she wouldn't ask me questions) and did pretty well. I took out my schedule, and looked for my next class. Crud... Geometry.
Coach Jackson: a tall, dark-skinned man without hair on his shiny head. It was so well polished, it reflected the light form the ceiling. He started out kindof funny, but then became very stern.
"If you are late, there are NO excuses." He said that before three kids showed up late. He accepted no excuses, and sent them to the office. I don't want to get in touble with this man.
"I will accept late work, only a day after it is due! If you talk at all, and aren't doing what you're supposed to be doing, I will throw the consequenses in your face, and embarrass you in front of the class. If you give me any trouble, I will not hesitate to kick you out of the class, and send you to Remedial Geometry! You do things my way. NO EXCUSES!!!!!!"
After the bell rang, I looked at my schedule, and tried my best not to look like I was leaving in a hurry.
Period four: World History Honors. I won't bore you any more than I already have. I met an old friend there, Adam.
At lunch, I managed to find my friends Anthony and Dylan to eat with. I didn't talk to them much. I saw a girl that looked pretty lonely. It turned out that all her friends had a different luch. I tried my best to give her company, but she wasn't much for conversation, so I let her be. None of the lunchers that hour heard the bell ring, so we were told to move to our next class.
Biology 1 Honors with Ms. Colbert... never mind.
Pre AP English II with Ms. Stowe. I had Drew in that class, and he ended up being seated next to me. Woohoo!! Someone I know in my class. Good. We had a summer reading assignment for that class. Drew didn't do it, and he only had a few days to complete the book which he had to borrow from the teacher at the end of class... good luck Drew!
Period seven, last class of the day. Wold Culture and Geography. There I realized... I have two social studies classes, the one I was in... was a freshman class. He babbled for the whole class about things that hardly applied to the class, and I lost interest more and more. I put my head down, and closed my eyes, but tried not to fall asleep. I went to talk to him about switching out at the end of the class. He accepted it. I just needed to talk to my guidance counselor.
The end of school. I met up with Josh and Justin at the lockers, and we walked home telling eachother the good and the bad.
So, it wasn't so bad, in fact, I kidof liked it. School, prison. I'm glad I could actually draw the line between them. Took the good and the bad today. That's life, and all that comes with it.

Starting over.

This blog is getting a makeover. It is no longer about the end of the world, but the constant discovery of the world around me, which I am constantly amazed by.