Ho HUM. Sometimes the rules just aren't fair.

I have come to the concluusion that not all crimes are equal and I am a firm believer in the punishment should fit the crime.

Case in point: Monday I got called to the AP's office. As I was sitting in the office waiting a bagillion thoughts were running through my head and I was trying to determine exactly why I was there in the first place. By the time I sat in front of the principal I was already tearing up. I was scared. :(

Turns out my bus driver had written me up for my third offense. But until Mr. P told me what they were I had absolutely NO idea what I had done to warrant a trip to the office. So, as the principal explained what I had done I am not ashamed to say I cried...like a baby. It just so happens I'm not such a tough chick afterall. When faced with punishment I caved and begged  forgiveness of my crimes listed below.

1. First check: I was not sitting in my assigned seat on the bus.
2. Second check: I was being overly loud.
3. Third check: I was busted eating a pop-tart from my backpack.

Here is the thing...I don't remember the bus driver ever warning me before on the first 2 counts. The third thing I fully admit to doing --I woke up late and was trying to eat before I got to school. Anyway, are any of those things worthy of being called to the principals office? NO. But rules are rules, and my punishment is one day of solitary suspension. In other words- I will spend the day in a room with other rule breakers and completely cut off from my classes, teachers, friends even lunch is served in the room. I am horrified and a little scared. I feel like Tracy Turnblad from Hairspray when she has to go to the office because of her hair.

I guess what I am getting at is that I think our principal had more important things to deal with than a pop-tart on a bus, but because there is protocol that must be followed, I am punished unjustly.

Is there any real justice in the world?




 

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Sometimes having too many options isn't a good thing...

I think I have shared before how much I hate (and fear) being left out. I really can't stand the thought of missing out on all the fun, it is one of my greatest weaknesses and insecurities. But, what happens when three very different opportunities for fun come along and you can only choose one???

Case in point: This weekend I was invited to go camping with one of my BFF's. I really want to go and am super excited. I love camping, and going with this friend- it is bound to be uber fabulous- laugh a minute- good time. So what's the problem? Good Question. It should be a no brainer decision, but a couple curve balls got thrown my way.

Another friend (that I am hoping to get to know better but I enjoy hanging with all the same) invited me to go to the carnival. I LOVE CARNIVALS!!! Carnival food, like Carmel apples, corn dogs, cotton candy, roasted corn on the cob, strawberry crepes, Indian tacos...Oh and the rides! Can't forget about the rides, I love scary rides!!! Going to the carnival with a group of friends is totally my style of a good time, so you see, it's not such an easy choice to make between the two options-without adding another to the mix!

Option three is the emotion factor. A friend, that I used to be close with but not so much anymore, invited me to a movie and sleepover. A big part of me wants to go just to try to be better friends again, but the other part still feels uncomfortable spending that much time with her by myself. It might be a different story if there were other "buffer friends" that would be there to take the pressure off of me feeling like I had to act a certain way. It's tough because I am just starting to be friends with her again and don't want to hurt her feelings.

So...now do you see my dilemma? It's times like these when I actually appreciate having a parent that has the last word. As my mom so plainly put it "who asked you first? And, if you aren't comfortable going then that is your first clue that you probably shouldn't. Of course, you can always stay home and help move." That settled it for me folks. When all else fails sometimes my mom knows exactly what to say to either nudge me in the right direction or shine the light on the alternative.

Guess I'm going camping amigos!

Books make me happy!

Despite all the crap and bad stuff going on in the world, I just wanted to say that I have such a feeling of well being going on right now-at this very moment.

It is Saturday, I am still wearing my pj's, I had gooey cinnamon rolls and bacon for breakfast, the sun is shining and I have some new books to read!

Yesterday night we boxed up nearly all of our books...with the exception of one book shelf in my mom's room (So it's a good thing my friends came before 5pm to borrow books for Springbreak vacations). What we didn't box up were the books that we were planning on reviewing soon or going to giveaway on Paperback Dolls. But there are some that came the past couple days that are just for me (okay, my mom too, but me first!). The books I am most excited about having in my paws are the following...

Wither By: Lauren DeStefano

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children.

When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape--before her time runs out?

Betrayal by Lee Nichols

Emma Vaile is the most powerful ghostkeeper in centuries. Which is great when she's battling the wraith-master Neos, but terrible when she's flirting with fellow ghostkeeper (and soul mate) Bennett. When ghostkeepers fall in love, the weaker one loses all power, and that's not something Bennett can handle. Heartbroken and alone, Emma tries to lose herself in school with fellow ghostkeeper, Natalie. When a new team of ghostkeepers arrive-one a snarky teen boy, the other a British scholar-Emma finds solace in training for the battle against Neos. But as the team grows stronger, they are threatened by an unknown force. One they thought was good.As chilling and page-turning as Deception, this sequel will grab readers and hold them to the last page. No one is safe from suspicion as Emma closes in on the traitor.

Look good, don't they? Having books on hand that I am excited about reading can really make me happy!

BTW- I am jamming to REM 's Shiny Happy People (holding hands) which probably has something to do with my happy fuzzy feeling:) And, Kate Pierson is another rockin' red head!!!

Pondering natural disasters, praying for Japan...and questioning stuff

Like many Americans I woke this morning to the news of a major earthquake in Japan and a tsunami caused from the quake.

The footage is depressing.

Watching all the fires blaze and the debris being pushed inland makes me sad on many levels. For starters, the thought of how many people that may have been caught in the tsunami and dragged away in its wave is horrific. I mean, I look at the debris and the sheer volume of it and I cant help but wonder if there are bodies inside. It is pretty gruesome. Not to mention the lives that are turned upside down because of loss from the damage. Whether it be homes, cars, jobs, injury or life...there is no doubt that many will be impacted by the destruction.

The next thing that goes through my mind is the destruction itself and the effect on the environment and ecosystem. Where does all the debris go? Does it wash away to sea? If so, what about the ocean life?

Right next to where I am sitting is my copy of Sea Voices by Duffy and Elizabeth Healey. I often look through the book and read the interviews with people who love the ocean like I do. People from all different walks of life, parents, musicians (like Jason Mraz), actors (like Pierce Brosnan and Daryl Hannah) Scientists, teachers, doctors, surfers, businessmen...they all express their love for the sea and why they think it's important to protect it. As I look over at the book my thoughts can't help but cut from "OMG all the poor people in Japan" to "WOW, what does this mean for the ocean".

Without natural disasters humans have already done a pretty good job of destroying the ocean with garbage, pollutants and other junk. When I see the pictures of what is happening in Japan right now with the tsunami, I can't help but wonder how it will impact all the life in the ocean.

I don't know where I am going with all of this exactly. I just know that when we create lifestyles and build their foundations where they are at risk of being hit by natural disasters then maybe steps should be made to ensure that the lasting influence of them is minimal. I know, I know...even as I wrote that I realized that steps must be made to help protect human life and that technology was key in warning people of the tsunami. I guess part of me just wishes things were simpler and less complicated. With all the great advances in technology we are getting farther and farther away from the heart of things.

Our ancestors did not have all the modern things we have and were still able to live rich and full lives. Sometimes I wish we could live like that again. But of course, if that was the case, I wouldn't be able to share my thoughts like I am right now...

I am praying for Japan and all my friends in the Philippines. My heart goes out to you all.

I have to go to school now.

Peace & Love
~D

Life is too short to put up with mean people....

So, HATE is such a strong word to use on someone that has done nothing to you...other than share the same air. As I write this I am wondering why it is so difficult for people to stand up or come to the defense of a person who is being mistreated. Why do so many people just stand there and say nothing. It is really sad because I long for friends that are strong enough to do that for me, but what I find more often than not are people who are too scared to defend someone else. Maybe it's because they agree with the person bullying, or maybe they are just too insecure to stand up and say..."Don't say that." or ask "Why do you have to be so rude?". I really feel that if more people would make it known that being mean and rude is not ok, that less bullying would happen.

But, sadly...this is not the case.

Once again I was thrust into a vortex of mean people the other day. Not just mean people, but cowards too. It seems like there is always one person that decides I am their verbal punching bag for whatever reason. Probably because I can be outspoken at times and am not afraid to say things...most of the time. But, the difference between me and them is that I try my very hardest to not be hurtful or needlessly rude. What happened to manners?

I get that not everyone will always like you...I seriously do. You can ACT right? At least have the courtesy to use common manners. Yes.. It's possible, Friends. I act every day. Pretending I'm not bothered by the dirty looks. I don't understand why people make it a priority to make people sad. "I'm two feet away... I can hear you...Shut Up... Please"?  So you don't like me, I'm sorry. Can't you just ignore me? Why go out of your way to say or do something mean...if you give me a chance I'd probably be a really good friend to you...just sayin.

The other thing I hate is the rumor mill vendettas. I stood up for a kid that was being bullied because he was more feminine than the others. He was in drama and art and had zero desire to hang with the jocks, yet still people went out of their way to be mean. Then...as if being jerks to him wasn't enough they had to try to teach the people who were strong enough to say something a lesson by implying that anyone who defended this person was gay...or going to hell because God hates them. Seriously? What church do these supposed Christians go to?

If God hates me for showing kindness to another person, and speaking out against mean people then he isn't the same God that I studied and got to know in Bible school. God says all sin is equal. And last I checked he said to "Love one another".

“A new command I give you: Love one another, as I have loved you. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

But, keeping religion out of it...isn't it just all around easier to be nice. Isn't it better for your health not to hold on to anger? I think so. After all life is just too short to spend it being mean to others.

There are some really powerful books on the market right now that deal with the topic of bullying. One of them is "13 Reasons Why" by Jay Asher. This book is a heartbreaking story about a girl who did the unthinkable and killed herself due to the way her fellow classmates had treated her. In the book she leaves behind messages for the people who touched her life for better or worse and gives 13 reasons why she felt she had no other option. It is such a depressing book. If anything it really shows how much harm we do to others by being so self absorbed. If more people had reached out to the girl in the book, she would have realized that she had hope. Instead she died unaware and it is heartbreaking.

Wow. I didn't mean to get so preachy on this. It just really bothered me. I wish more people had the courage to be nice and kind. Standing up for others doesn't mean that you have to love everything about them, because well...that's impossible. It just shows others how strong you are. And, if more people stand up and do the right thing...there will be less hate.