Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire was a master at what he did. His elegance and grace have never, and could never, be matched by another dancer. Astaire brought charm to film and a delightfulness to song. Fred Astaire was a singer and an actor, but most of all an dancer. The fluidity to his dance numbers is awe-inspiring. The key to Astaire's success was that he made his dances look easy. An incredible amount of strength is necessary to dance like he did, but Astaire made each number a masterpiece. Watching his movements, the perfection of each step, the grace of his hands, is something so beautiful it's hard to take in.

If you're interested seeing beauty interpreted through dance by one of the greatest dancers to ever set foot on a stage, I would encourage you to look into Fred Astaire's collection of movies. I highly recommend his films with Ginger Rogers, but especially "Top Hat", "Swing Time", "Shall We Dance", and "Follow the Fleet". With a signature smile, and his regular top hat and tails, Astaire is astounding in each of the above films.

Tap and ballroom, ballet and swing are encompassed in his dances. In "Shall We Dance" a scene that took 150 takes, in which Astaire and Ginger tap with a twist-in roller skates. In "Carefree" A scene in which Astaire taps-with golf balls. Two weeks and six hundred golf balls later, the scene was finished. In "Follow the Fleet" Astaire and Rogers raise the roof with the song-and-dance number "Let's Face the Music and Dance". In "Swing Time" both a gorgeous tap tribute to Bojangles and one of Astaire and Ginger's most amazing dance numbers ever choreographed, which appears effortless after 350 hours of rehearsals. Each one of Astaire's performances is utterly delightful and, as always, incredibly beautiful and astoundingly choreographed.

In tribute to one of the greatest performers to ever grace the screen, I salute you, Mr. Fred Astaire.

"Can't act...can't sing...balding...can dance a little"-review of Fred Astaire's first screen test

I'm Speaking Out

Dear Teachers, Staff, and Administration of Albert M. Lowry High School:

I feel that my classes are not fair in grading students. I put in about twice the amount of work as my fellow students, yet even those who put in no effort to their projects receive an equal or better grade.

Some classes (ie. Spanish classes and social studies classes) are ridiculously easy. This allows students who do not understand the material to receive a passing grade. This passing grade sends the student on to the next level when the student has not really learned anything from the class at all.

Cheating at Lowry is rampant. Teachers know it, but are often incapable of proving the fact, or they do not care. Students know it and see it, but never speak up to tell someone. As a student, I have often been approached before a test and asked if I will allow someone to cheat off me. I have always replied to the negative, but that doesn't prevent the student from cheating off of someone else. I know students who regularly copy homework from someone else and cheat on tests, but I don't know what to do about it or who to say something to. If teachers really want to make cheating more difficult, they should appeal to the students.

Winnemucca has a reputation. It's town of drug-abusers. Most of these drug-abusers are students. Teachers often see this and do nothing. Or, in most cases, students walk across the street to smoke their pot, putting them off school property and out of the school's jurisdiction. I opt for a closed campus. Not only will this allow the school to benefit because students must eat on campus and most will buy their lunches, but a closed campus would also keep drug-abusers and smokers from leaving campus for their habits.

Fighting is common at Lowry; there is at least one everyday. Teachers are often not privy to the information of the whereabouts of the fights, but I don't know how they could possibly be blind to the fact that there is fighting. Oftentimes, teachers respond slowly, and arrive on the scene long after a fight is over. Other times, teachers are afraid to come between two students because they are afraid of being hurt. If this is the case, teachers should get help, not just stand there and watch helplessly. If the teacher believes the fight will be over by the time he or she comes back, the teacher should send a student.

Less fighting, fewer druggies and smokers, and less cheating will make for a better learning environment for students such as myself who would actually like to learn something in school. Teachers must take the initiative and make some radical changes. I don't know if this means interrupting your lives to help students, or changing the system, or employing a closed campus, but something needs to be done. The students of Lowry High School, and I, depend on you.
I appreciate a chance to voice my opinions.

Sincerely,

Katy

Letter to the President

Dear Sir:

I am seriously concerned for the future of our country. Just the other day I was informed that you had signed a new space policy stating that the United States has given itself the right to deny people access to outer space if they deem said people to be hostile to U.S. interests. Sir, the United States cannot own space. It is space. One doesn't own it, one can shoot astronauts into it, orbit satellites in it, or launch probes into it, but one simply cannot own space. The other day a man paraded an elephant an a mariachi band back and forth across the mexican border, and didn't get caught. How is it possible for the United States to regulate who enters and exits outer space, Sir?

By saying that space now belongs to us, the United States is displaying a dangerous amount of arrogance. This arrogance is exactly what makes Americans believe that everyone in the world speaks English, rides in airplanes, and drinks from the faucet. This arrogance, therefore, is also a pathetic show of ignorance and a ridiculous grasping of straws. The United States government has trouble controlling its own country, let alone many other countries around the world. We cannot also govern space.

Ignorant people make for a country of ignorance, Mr. President, that should be pretty self-explanatory. Sir, please make an effort to reduce the amount of blind ignorance that shrouds this country. Please attempt to be a leader in humility instead of arrogance. Practice peace, not warmongering. Show respect in place of condescension. Model leadership, instead of idiocy. And please realize, Sir, that I mean this letter with all due respect. And please realize that the respect that is due you, Sir, is draining into the hole you've dug yourself.

Sincerely,

Me

Abracadabra

"The Prestige" will dazzle you. It will show you the impossible and you'll love it. It will impress you. It will flabbergast you. You will sit in the theater after having seen it and try to figure out what you just saw. You will want to run back to the ticketbooth and buy another ticket to watch it again. You will want to watch it again, to catch it. One question will haunt you. Was it magic?

"Prestige" is certainly movie magic, there is no doubt about that. After having waited in anticipation for many months for "Prestige", I was pleased to have it exceed my expectations. Starring Christian Bale ("Batman"), Hugh Jackman (Wolverine from "X-Men"), Scarlett Johansson (The Island), Rebecca Hall, and Michael Caine (Secondhand Lions, Alfred from "Batman"), "Prestige" is certainly filled with prestigious people. The cast also include Piper Perabo, Andy Serkis (Gollum), and David Bowie.

Chris Bale and Jackman play two magicians who begin as friends, but the friendship turns to obsessive rivalry when tragedy strikes. Bale is obviously the better magician, but Jackman has flair. When Bale performs "the greatest magic trick he's ever seen", Jackman decides to get even and the make a name for himself at the same time. Their hatred for each other puts Bale's wife and child and Scarlett Johansson in the middle of it all. The danger increases and the intensity rises as the men make attempt after attempt to outwit the other.

Chris Bale and Michael Caine had the most impressive acting, and I loved every minute they were on camera. That's not to say that Johansson and Jackman aren't great too. Surprisingly, Bowie gives a pretty good performance, not at all reminiscient of "The Labyrinth", which is a relief.

According to Caine's character, "Every great magic trick consists of three acts. The first act is called "The Pledge"; The magician shows you something ordinary, but of course... it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn"; The magician makes his ordinary some thing do something extraordinary. Now if you're looking for the secret... you won't find it, that's why there's a third act called, "The Prestige"; this is the part with the twists and turns, where lives hang in the balance, and you see something shocking you've never seen before."

The magician of this movie is the director, and the actors who make his film come alive. When you see "The Prestige", you will see something shocking you've never seen before. You will look for the secret, but you won't find it. Because of course, you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. Interestingly enough, movies, just like illusions, consist of three acts. "The Prestige" converts a film into a magic trick. If you think you have it all figured out, think again. Because the only parts you've seen are the Pledge and the Turn. The Prestige is still to come.

Survey #10

Survey Question 10-3-06: The real reason we invaded Iraq was terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), neither, or both?

Number of surveyed: 84

Guys: Terrorists 5%
WMDs 5%
Neither 39%
Both 50%

Girls: Terrorists 10%
WMDs 15%
Neither 23%
Both 52%

Totals: Terrorists 8%
WMDs 11%
Neither 30%
Both 63%

Unfortunately, considering that the Iraqis do not have WMDs, never had WMDs, and never will have WMDs, and the 9/11 tragedy had nothing to do with Iraq and everything to do with a terrorist network called Al Qeda, our country really invaded Iraq for no reason at all. Very few people who said neither actually thought our invasion was for good reason. Most of them just hate Bush, but a few said, "We went to IRaq to set up a new government for them."

Just think about that for a minute. It is any of our business what other people's governments are like. It is not our business to replace all monarchies, dictatorships, etc. with democracies. If we were going to replace a government with our own, why not Cuba's? Cuba's DICTATOR, Fidel Castro, has been ruling in that country for how long? Here's another example: Darfur. Darfur is a region in Sudan, which is in Africa. An ethnic cleansing is going on in Darfur. FOr those of you who don't understand the term "ethnic cleansing", think Hitler and the Holocaust. A radical Muslim group is forcing the Christians and those who practice traditional African religions out of the country. The key word there is "force". This force involves raiding, burning and pillaging defenseless villages. Kidnapping children and forcing them to watch their parents be killed. Giving the kidnapped orphans guns and forcing them to shoot people. Using children as sex slaves.

The whole world has just sat back and watched this atrocity go on. And America, the self-named "peacekeepers of the world" have ignored it too. We can't just leave Iraq, it's too late for that. But doesn't this speak volumes about the US priotities and values? Doesn't this make you think twice about our government and our goals as a country?

Is anyone else crying for Darfur? Is anyone else speaking out? I am.

Survey #9

Survey Question 10-2-06: Do you think our country is doing the right thing in Iraq or do you agree with the Iraq War?

Number of surveyed: 98

Location: Lowry

Guys: YES 38%
NO 49%
NUETRAL 13%

Girls: YES 19%
NO 53%
NUETRAL 28%

Totals: YES 30%
NO 51%
NUETRAL 19%


At last, survey results that please. Most of those who voted neutral didn't know enough about the Iraq War to choose anything different. Many people said yes and then when I asked why told me that the Iraqis had bombed our towers, so of course we were going after them! I would close my eyes and slowly shake my head and then inform them that no one bombed us, and the Iraquis hadn't produced those terrorists, nor harbored them. Confused, they would attempt to argue, but it was no use. "Why did we declare war on them?" They'd ask, and I had no answer for them. Is there an answer to that question? A justifiable, reasonable answer for the war in Iraq? You tell me because I can't think of one.

Survey #8

Survey Question 9-29-06: Can you name the 8 continents?

Number of surveyed: 52

Location: Lowry

The Results:

Guys: YES 48%
NO 33%
There's 7 19%

Girls: YES 32%
NO 23%
There's 7 45%

Totals: YES 48%
NO 27%
There's 7 35%

Does this make any of you think twice? Considering that there are only 7 continents (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica) it should. Girls spotted the trick question from a mile away, but it took guys forever to figure it out. I had to tell them to count those continents again. Usually they said Africa twice. Or named the North Pole or India or Canada. Sadness, eh?

Survey #7

Survey Question 9/28/06: Of these three actors, whose autograph would you get?

Number of surveyed: 67

Location: Lowry

The Results:

Guys: Johnny Depp 30%
Samuel L. Jackson 63%
Orlando Bloom 7%

Girls: Johnny Depp 60%
Samuel L. Jackson 8%
Orlando Bloom 30%

Grand Totals: Johnny Depp 50%
Samuel L. Jackson 30%
Orlando Bloom 20%

This survey proves that guys will choose the macho action hero over everything else. Girls on the other hand will choose the cute, smooth, and romantic. AKA, Johnny Depp. Poor Orlando Bloom got slammed by all the guys I talked to. He ended up getting about 14 votes in all to Johnny Depp's 32. I voted for Mr. Depp.

Survey #6

Survey question 9/27/06: Beatles or Rolling Stones, which is better?
Number of surveyed people: 122
Location: Lowry

Guys: 36% Beatles
29% Rolling Stones
11% Both
25% Neither

Girls: 47% Beatles
24% Rolling Stones
10% Both
18% Neither


Making for the grand totals of:

40% Beatles
27% Rolling Stones
11% Both
22% Neither

Sadly, classic rock has lost much of its appeal. And just as sad, the majority of the girls had no idea who The Beatles were. When I mentioned Paul McCartney they understood, but they didn't recognize The Beatle's name. How unfortunate, how much they're missing out on.

Survey #5

Question: Do you think Timbuktu is a real place?
Number of surveyed people: 121
Boys: YES 73%
NO 27%

Girls: YES 72%
NO 28%

Total: YES 73%
NO 27%

Well at least we know something about geography. Timbuktu, also spelled TOMBOUCTOU, is a city in the West African nation of Mali. (source: http://thesalmons.org/lynn/wh-timbuktu.html just in case you'd like to read more about it)

Survey #4

Question: Of these three TV shows, which would you rather watch, Simpsons, 24, or Lost?

Location: Lowry H.S.

The Results:

Boys

Simpsons: 72%
24: 4%
Lost: 8%
None: 16%


Girls

Simpsons: 44%
24: 5%
Lost: 34%
None: 16%


Totals

Simpsons: 56%
24: 5%
Lost: 23%
None: 16%

This most scientific over surveys serves to point out that teenagers are much more interested in the rude and crude than in the suffering of others, or government or politics. And just think, in a few years these teenagers will be voting for our next President, signing papers, driving cars. You parents and teachers out there: These are your kids. I sometimes feel responsible for the education of my peers. But in reality, that's your responsibility. You are sending your kids out into the world knowing everything there is to know about crude jokes, fashion, and movies, but without any opinions of their own. Children go out into the world, not knowing anything about politics or our government. As Happy Bunny says: "Kids are the future. Frightened?"



Because you should be.



Am I the only one who sees this disastrous future looming over us?

Be afraid. Fear for the future. And use that fear to do something constructive. Teach us something. Please.

I am ashamed of my fellow students, of my peers, of my generation. Will we learn nothing? And go out into the world to do nothing?

Your blushing blogger,

Katy

Survey #3

Survey question 9/21/06: Do you know the first Disney Princess, Cinderella, Snow White, or Sleeping Beauty? Number of peopled surveyed: 92. Location: Lowry H.S.

Guys:

24% Cinderella
42% Snow White
33% Sleeping Beauty


Girls

47% Cinderella
34% Snow White
19% Sleeping Beauty


Making for the grand total of:

39% Cinderella
37% Snow White
24% Sleeping Beauty.

My very scientific survey proves that because of Cinderella's media coverage and the numerous rehashes of the Brothers Grimm's story, it has become most famous. Sleeping Beauty was thought by a few, very passionate believers to be the first, but as it turns out, the majority of voters were wrong. Snow White was in fact the first Disney Princess, being released in 1937. Cindrella followed thirteen years later in 1950, and Sleeping Beauty nine years after that in 1959.

Tomorrow's survey question and its result will be posted tomorrow on this blog as well as on my myspace blog. See the sidebar links to go to my myspace.

Survey #2

Today's survey question was, "Can you name the current vice president of the United States?" Out of 204 people, here are the results: Men: 58% YES 42% NO Women 45% YES 56% NO Making for the grand total of: 51% said YES 49% said NO Tomorrow's survey question and its result will be posted tomorrow on this blog as well as on my myspace blog. See the sidebar links to go to my myspace. Your favorite surveyor who still faithfully blogs, Katy

Survey #1

For the last few days, my sister and I have been taking a different survey everyday. It started out pretty silly. We asked about 15 people throughout the day if they knew where Genovia was, or if they were afraid of sunlight. By the way, Genovia is a nonexistent country in the movie Princess Diaries. Anyway, today I decided to ask people if they considered themselves to be beautiful (or good-looking for the guys). I approached around 163 people and asked them the above question. I received 162 "yes"s, "no"s, and "not sure"s. And one, "What the heck to I care?". But anyway. Here are the results:

Men:

58% YES
32% NO
9% NOT SURE


Women

54% YES
32% NO
11% NOT SURE


Making for the grand total of:

57% said YES
32% said NO
12% said NOT SURE

I'll post the results of tomorrow's survey tomorrow. Please leave comments on whether or not you consider yourself to be beautiful or good looking, and especially ideas for other survey questions.

Your blogger-and-now-recent-surveyor,

Katy

My Dream Guy

Do you guys out there want to know what women want? Are you dying to understand the woman's psyche? Would you kill for a chance inside a girl's head, to figure out exactly what they want from you? Well here's you chance. A look inside my head. Your chance to find out what I'm looking for.

My perfect guy has a great personality. He is funny and charming, he always has a comeback and he loves to tease. Dream Guy is sweet and romantic. He buys me a dozen roses on my birthday and signed the card, "with love". This Guy cares about me. He's not just looking for a pretty face, but he actually cares about me.

When we cuddle on the couch and watch a movie, he puts his arm around me and we eat popcorn, and drink sodas, and laugh at all the right parts and cry when the hero dies. When we watch something scary he lets me hold his hand and laughs when I close my eyes. When I get scared, he holds me tight as I clutch his arm tightly and bury my face in his shoulder. This guy knows when to talk and when to be quiet during a movie. If he was one step over perfect, he might even watch The Notebook with me. :)

Dream Guy is well-read. Reading might not be his favorite past time, but he has read a wide variety of books and knows who I'm talking about if I say C.S. Lewis or JRR Tolkein or Orson Scoot Card or Victor Hugo. Dream Guy will let me retell the entire storyline of the book I just read.

When I come to school in the morning, he's there with a coffee in his hand. He knows that I like it with plenty of milk and sugar, and that even though he may prefer it black, I don't. He hands me the coffee and asks me how I am. He tells me how great I look, even if I don't. Whether I've showered or not, he'll tell me that I smell nice, and we'll smile at each other.

This Dream Guy takes care of me. He knows my favorite foods and my favorite kinds of movies. He knows my favorite color and the title of my favorite book, the name of my favorite authors, my locker number and combo, and any other details about me. This information doesn't come from Dream Guy becoming my stalker. We've gotten to know each other over time, and I tell him secrets and things about me because I trust him.

I know his locker and combo too and we leave messages for each other inside. On my birthday, he comes to one of my classes with a cupcake and a candle and singshappy birthday to me. That day is awesome. He has decorated my locker and gives me a roses and a box of my favorite chocolates. I grin and know I've picked a great guy.

He's willing to embarass himself for me. He stands up for me and holds my hand. If I'm having a bad day, he knows how to comfort me. If I'm depressed he knows how to lift me up. If I'm angry, he can calm me down.

This guy is no ordinary guy. He is probably taller than me and he probably has beautiful eyes and a cute nose. Most likely he dresses well. But I don't really know. This Dream Guy, this Mystery Man is just that. A Mystery. I don't know when I'll meet him or if I already have met him. Maybe I talk to him everyday in the hall but don't know who is is quite yet. Like I said, I don't know. I might find him now, or I might find him later. But what I do know is that he is out there. And he's looking for me.

Life

It's going okay lately, I'm not too swamped with homework, although my English teacher gives me enough homework for six classes.

I like almost all of my teachers. Mrs. Dawson. my English teacher, is (surprisingly) a woman after my own heart, and I really appreciate having a kindred spirit near. Mrs. Grady is my Spanish teacher, and she's pretty awesome. We both share a pet peeve: the incorrect pronunciation of Spanish words. Then for Art II I've got Mr. Anderson, who's totally the best art teacher ever. I learned so much and improved so much last year that I made sure I signed up for a class with him. Fourth period is Biology, and Mrs. Doyle teaches that. She's pretty laid back and she's not big on tests or quizzes, so Biology, which I expected to be hard, is actually pretty easy. I have Algebra 2 for fifth with Mr. Conner. Mr. Conner is a different sort of teacher, with a lazy, comfortable classroom atmosphere. It's a nice break really. After lunch, which is after fifth, I've got World Geography, taught by a Mr. Stotler. I find him to be one of the most irritating teachers I've ever had. Half of the time he calls me Kathy, which drives me mad, and he calls the girl I sit next to "izzle" when her name is actually "Izell". Anyway, I won't go on, but the list of complaints about Mr. Stotler is sadly quite long. Seventh is PE, which is not fun. All we do is run around and do stretches and play weird games. Plus it's taught by Mrs. Millikan (I'm not even gonna go there) and there's a bunch of incredibly annoying guys in the class.

I'm going to be helping at WCF with an overnighter girl's discipleship event. It's called Girls Growing Up, and it sounded cute. There's a different theme every year, and this year the theme is Girls on a Mission. So I get to dress up like a spy and run around to Mission Impossible music. Cool, huh?

My brothers filmed a movie lately, and I got to meet some people and make some friends. Hi to Vance aand Brett! Brett and I were joking at the soccer match yesterday (The first soccer match I've ever seen) and so now my friends call him my fake husband. I'm not really exactly sure why. But that's okay.

I can't believe how much better I'm able to handle my homework load this year. I think I have way more homework than last year, but it doesn't seem like it. I'm able to work faster in class, and I get some of it done at lunch or right after school while I'm waiting to be picked up.

I've got to do my health now, so I'll catch ya later, my word-starved readers!

Katy

School

School starts t0morrow. I'm excited, nervous, and pretty blah-ed. I'm excited to start in on my English class again, and I'm nervous about Biology. I'm blah-ed/annoyed that school is starting again though, I wish summer could go on forever.

I need to finish my online health class from BYU, and make up a log to log 90 hours of Phys. Ed. that I did last year, 60 of which I spent skiing. 10 days of skiing, 6 hours a day. Another 30 hours and I'll be done with that.

Registration was last Wednesday, and afterward Mary, I, and a few friends met at Burger King for lunch and to hang out and compare schedules. I'm really looking forward to seeing the drama team's work this year, because a couple of my friends are on the team. I think I'll try out next year, but I don't know if I can think of a two-minute monologue, let alone memorize it. Actually, I think I could, I just don't know if I could perform it.

I'm also taking a couple of classes I didn't know I was taking. Scratch Advanced Web Design and put in World Geography, and instead of Art I I'll be taking Art II. Apparently, Mr. Anderson, my art teacher, recommended that I be advanced to Art II and completely skip Art I! So that's pretty cool.

This is the end of my entry about school. I don't even want to think about it until tomorrow morning. I'm getting up at 6:15 so that I can take a shower and do my hair (which I had cut on Saturday) and eat a donut and some coffee, and do my make up and get dressed and get out of the house by 7:15 so that I can walk my sister to her first class, and drop my stuff at my locker and get to my first class on time. And that's that.

Your absolutely favorite blogger who needs a lot of sleep tonight and a lot of prayers tomorrow,

Katy

Camp

Wow, I haven't written in a while. At least this time I have a good excuse. The last two weeks have been insane. On the 11th, I got up at five o' clock in the morning, my mom drove me to the airport at 5:30, we arrived around six, I walked through security at 6:30, and was on the plane by 7:00 AM. The plane took off right on time, I had a wonderful flight, and arrived at SeaTac at the projected time of 8:35. A couple of friends of mine, who happen to be the nurse and his wife of the camp I was going to, picked me up and drove me to Lacey. We met up with the rest of the Christiand and Missionary Alliance Camp (CAMA Camp) staff at Lacey Community Church, had a meeting about policy and rules and such, got our pictures taken for our IDs, and basically got to know each other.

Just driving through Washington, seeing the trees, it was awesome. More than that, I felt alive again. I hitched a ride with Darin, who was also drving Andrea and Malia. It wasn't too far from the church. We mostly talked about nothing. When we got to Millersylvania, where CAMA Camp is, we all got ready for the next day.

Tami and I had 7 girls in our cabin: Michelle, a small girl with a gigantic vocabulary; Molly, a girl from my old church, SPCC; Amy, an outgoing and take-charge kind of girl; Carli, the daughter of my old music pastor; Jackie, who accepted Christ at camp; Mariah, a shy, homesick girl; and Megan, the talkative one. They were all great. We only had one fight between two of them, and it was resolved with a simple apology.

I had an amazing time at camp. Bill, the music pastor from SPCC, was there to lead morning worship and staff devotions. Two of the children's pastors from SPCC were there, Harry to do chalk talks, and Duane is the camp director. Kelly from HomeLink was there to lead evening worship for the kids. There were so many people from SPCC there, it was so awesome to see everyone again.

I've been to CAMA Camp twice as a camper, once as a kitchen staff, and now as a CIT. I hope to go back next year as a counselor. CAMA Camp has always been a huge growing experience in my faith. And this time was no different. I thought about God every second of every day. I thought about being an example to these young kids at camp. I thought about shining God's light and about loving my girls. I thought about making good decisions quickly and keeping my kids safe. I thought about praising God and thanking him for such an opportunity as this. CAMA Camp was an amazing experience for me. And it will continue to be.

The schoolyear is fast upon us and I pray that as we go into our schools and classrooms, as we walk the halls and chat with our friends; I pray that as we sit in the cafeteria, as we answer questions in class, and as we write research papers and essays, that we would be mindful of our actions and thoughts. Think about what God would have you do. Think of every minute as an opportunity to be a light in a world that is fast decending into darkness. Be a light in this dark world. Be a sparkler among matches. Strive for exccellence in every area of your life. Put your priorities in order. Put God first. Keep your eyes on the goal. Let people see the difference between you and others. Be careful in what you say. Be cautious in what you do. Be strong in standing up for yourself, for others, and for God. Be persevering in reaching others. Be defiant in resisting Satan.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, stand firm.


Your sister in Christ,

Katy

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
-Philippians, 4:8

Books

Here's a list of books that I've read lately:

The Client, by John Grisham
The Runaway Jury, by John Grisham
Hart's Hope, by Orson Scott Card
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, by W. Shakespeare
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

NOW READING:
Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky

NEXT ON THE LIST:
Hart's War, by John Katzenbach
Twelfth Night, by W. Shakespeare
As you Like it, by W. Shakespeare

I'll update this list every once in a while. Every month or six months or something. I just finish Huck Finn and Mice and Men, which I was reading as summer A.P. English work. Just to let you know, both are insanely good. Steinbeck is so great at creating characters. If you like his stuff, I'd also recommend The Pearl, because it's a great story; short, too-you can finish it in two sittings max. Mark Twain is incredibly funny. As you read Huck Finn, the plans and plots become so elaborate, so ridiculously convoluted, it's hilarious. Actually, the best part begins when Tom Sawyer shows up. Kind of ironic, considering it's a book about Huckleberry Finn.

Beauty

I've been thinking about beauty a lot lately. Here's what I've decided:

Beauty has nothing to do with perfection

Beauty is found in the extraordinary

Sometimes the extraordinary can be found in an ordinary shell.

Sometimes the ordinary masquerade as something extraordinary.

Everything and everyone has the potential to be beautiful, but that doesn't mean it is.

Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and forms.

Death does not change beauty.