Rambling and Musing and Debating On and On and On...( In Other Words, Vote for Summer!)

The funeral went well. Well over 50 people attended the service, and about 20-30 at the dinner. I learned quite a lot about my grandpa that I didn't know during the main service. I only cried when the military people did their farewell. Nearly everyone did at that point.
I find people's perspectives of me to be rather ironic. Although I have an artist's mentality and exsuffocate unimportant stuff, outwardly, I'm rather unemmotionl, and my friends and family tend to assume my behavior reflects my thoughts (this isn't altogether an illogical or uncommon assumption). I am, perhaps, one of the most overly-sensitive and dramatic people I know, but it is rarely reflected in my actions or expressions. I'm not complaining about all this; just ruminating.
Whether or not there is a solution to this--if indeed it is a problem worth the effort to solve--is debatable, considering so fiercely independent. I rebel when others pry, even when I know they have the best intentions. Of course, if I want to change, it will take initiative on my part, and self-motivation isn't really a strength of mine.
I also find it interesting that people (specifically old family friends) always comment, upon meeting me, about how much I am like my mother, when in fact, we are complete opposites. Go figure.
I used to fear eccentricity and being known as an eccentric. I don't mind it so much anymore. I like being different, thinking differently. Oh dear, I'm sounding like such a teenager. "You're unique, just like everybody else," my cousin once told me. *sighs*
Concerning the daily grind of school, we had an interesting debate class this afternoon. Beforehand, I was slightly apprehensive because I knew we would be having a spar today; last year when we did this, it was always over current events; as I haven't been keeping up on the news much lately, dread was predominant on my mind. Turns out, the resolution we were debating was a little different:
In accordance with the established rules, Summer should win. (Yes, we were arguing over Napoleon.)
We watched the speeches and skits by the two noble and fictitious candidates, wrote our rough cases, and sparred for about ten minutes. As affirmative, I won, but there were many, many improvements I could have made. It was a good excercise, though; I kind of missed the point, but it was more because of timing issues than lack of attention. Mr. H told us afterward that the mid-term test will be much the same as what we did today. We'll fill out a worksheet, make a case, and spar. Hmm. Again, I'm both apprehensive and excited about this.
Anyroad, this post is just getting longer and longer and not saying much, so I'll shut up.

"...So firm is the deep root, so established underground,
That its lone lofty boughs can dare the weight of winds..."
-Tu Fu, from "A Song of an Old Cypress"

As the World Turns...

My grandpa passed away this morning. It is an ending for him, as well as a beginning...a relief, more than anything. For him, the shadow of agony is gone; glory awaits.
For those of us who remain, it is our obligation and privilege not to stop, and have to start over, but to persevere and continue through life's hardships here on earth. We must daily continue to seek beauty and truth while on the long journey toward eternity.
Though bittersweet, funerals (or graveside services, as the case may be) always have the advantage of bringing family together. It will be nice to see the many loved ones traveling the distance to bid farewell to an old friend, or brother, or grandfather...

Concerning more trivial matters, I realized today how little I watch television anymore. Except for an occasional movie, I really haven't even turned the contraption on for several weeks. Maybe it's just because of school. Who knows.

Because my aunt was down to visit this summer and was staying at our house, we borrowed a twin bed from the Autodaughters (editor's note: the name of the relatives heretofore mentioned has beeen changed to protect their identities) whereupon she could sleep. Being that I was having trouble getting comfortable at night, I decided to sleep on the aforementioned bed in hopes of actual rest. I found it quite comfortable and slept marvelously well, so I had the mattress moved to my room. Now that guests will be coming for the graveside service and likely staying at the Autodaughters' house, we have decided (most nobely) to return the property to its proper owners. So my dad and I went mattress shopping today (being that my box-spring is still fine) and found the firmest/most comfy/cheapest mattress in the store. Lo and behold, when I went to strip the bed, I found the same material on the Autodauter's bed set as the matress we had just purchased. So I ended up with the exact same model. A right fair coincidence (or providential gesture), if you ask me.

Words of the day--not found on m-w.com, curiously:
1.) fantassin (n. An infantry soldier; a foot-soldier)
2.) exsufficate (adj. Inflated or exaggerated; windy)

"It don't matter where you bury me/ I'll be home and I'll be free...When I go don't cry for me/ In my fathers arms I'll be/ The wounds this world left on my soul /Will all be healed and I'll be whole..." Emmylou Harris, from 'All My Tears'

A Reason to (not?) Wear Flip-Flops

Today as I was meandering down a hall of an althzeimer's unit at a local nursing home where we are considering placing my grandpa, I had a brief and interesting encounter with an elderly woman named Ruby--
Me: "Hello."
Her: "Hi. You have beautiful feet."
Me: "Thank you."
I don't think she actually looked at my feet. Her loss, apparently.

Pet Peeves

I don't usually get annoyed easily. I seem to have more control and tolerance in that area than many people I know. But there are certain things I dislike and avoid as much as is reasonable, due to their disguisting, ridiculous, unrealistic, or feigned characteristics. Perhaps these are my "pet peeves." A list of the major offenders follows:

1. Emo (teen angsty) blog poetry.
2. Politics
3. Reality Tv (like, say, the Real World)
4. Stereotypical cheerleaders
5. Hip-hop
6. Overfull garbage cans
7. People who don't wash their hands after using the bathroom
8. People who don't appreciate good literature
9. Lists of pet peeves--Seriously. If I saw someone else post this, I would probably think he or she was an imbecile. Yet here I sit, typing in my hypocrisy. Oh, well...

And Today's Word is: exacerbate (trans. verb--to make more violent, bitter, or severe)

"I walk the streets of Japan til I get lost 'cause it doesn't remind me of anything." Audioslave, Doesn't Remind Me

Treasures from the Past

Argh, somehow my entire post got deleted when I tried to publish it. *sigh* Time to rewrite. Confounded technology...

I bought some sweet jewelry at an antique store down the street from school today. Originally, I went with some friends just to look around (it's going out of business and all), but then I saw all this stuff and decided I could invest in some new ornamentations for myself. The man who co-owns the shop with his wife is quite friendly, though nearly deaf, and gave us plenty of options, even several (as in many dozens) that were not on display. After much indecision, I chose two coppery bracelets (one with black, the other with blue) as well as a silver and blue necklace. My mom came in and found some earings she liked, also. Interestingly, as I was rumaging through the box of copper jewelry, I noticed a bracelet identical to one I have that was my aunt's; I love it, though I have always assumed it to be somewhat worthless; however, I was surprised to see the price tag read $45. Go figure...

My dad is psyched up about his upcoming camping retreat. Consequently, he is rather edgy and distracted, too. He started this retreat about three years ago for fellow "Christian businessmen." They go deep into the outdoors and cook huge meals and fish and study and worship and build uncannily large fires (or so the tale goes) and no doubt belch and do all the other "the women and kids are at home and we can do manly and Christian reatreat-type things." I'm not sure who I'm quoting. But I am.

Word of the day: finical (adj. fastidious; detailed or precise; meticulous)

"The hope of the Christian is not an anxious wish for a carefree life but a thing that is active and unthreatened even in the furnace of life's worst trials." --Joe Stowell

chemicals and me

I burnt myself in chemistry lab today. I was using a bunsen burner and got a little too close to the flame. I've been expecting this all year. I've always been somewhat of a closet pyromaniac.

Old age is probably the one thing that scares me more than anything. No, I don't fear it anymore, though I dread it. But I won't waste my life in anxiety over the uncontrollable. If God takes me before I reach fifty or sixty, though, I won't complain. There's plenty to live for, but I'm not afraid of death and have no desire to live in a mentally unstable and physically weak state.

My grandpa is in decline, health wise. Has been for several years, actually. The doctors screwed him up. Again. But we're fallen humans, what can I expect? No, perfection is not for this world...

I'm cursed genetically. Seriously. I have no doubt I'll be mad by thirty. Well, perhaps that is slightly mendacious and overdramatic...

Back to homework...

Amish Everymen and British Royalty

I'm reading a series called "Abram's Daughters," about an Amish family living at the close of WWII. It's very enlightening as to the religion and lifestyle. My friends and I have always joked about going on a road trip to an Amish community for our senior trip. I wouldn't mind doing it, actually; I'd like to see how the live, up close and personal.
Hmmm. I'm still debating whether I believe Prince Harry (who I really don't find all that attractive) has truly grown up, or whether he just has a new speech-writer. We shall see...
My grandpa's in the hospital. He was unresponsive for a couple of days at the nursing home he was put in just last week; we think the doctor gave him too high a dose of the medication he's experimenting with. He's definitely responding now, but we're not sure what to do next.
And now, with no further ado, a scene (taken only slightly out of context) from my life:
Me: "I'm thinking."
Mom: "Why?"

"Words, words, words..."

I was reading an article yesterday about the possibility of Katrina causing a national depression. What a different America that would be; I wonder what that would do to our largely apathetic and materialstic culture. Not that I really want to know. A depression is one of the phenomena I have no desire to experience, perhaps seconded only by civil war. *shudders*
After rejecting the pop-up offer a centillion-vigintillion times, I gave in to my curiosity and took an online I.Q. test. It wasn't too difficult, albeit perturbingly long. Apparently, I have an I.Q. of 127, and apparently, that's good. I didn't know, so I did some research. Go figure.
I have decided if I ever become a published author, my pen-name shall be....oh, crap. I can't say what it's going to be, because I would be telling part of my real name. Never mind. *sighs*
I have determined, as of last night, to respond, when asked to define a word I use, with the classy "go look it up." 1.) because I may know the concept and definition of a word, but putting it into a coherant definition for someone eles is somewhat difficult for me; 2.) because it's easier; and 3.) it might actually get people to pick up a dictionary (yes, I do sometimes read them in my spare time, although I prefer a good thesaurus).

“You can't make up anything anymore. The world itself is a satire.” --A. Buchwald

Same River Twice

I love the philosophy course I'm doing this year. It's a basic overview of all the important philosophers, and the consequences of their ideas. It starts with Thales back in 480 B.C. or whenever. I find philosophy to be prodigously fascinating; it is an art--poetry of the mind, really--and, in my opinion, seconded only by the art of language.

Quote of the Day~ "Out of the quarrel with others we make rhetoric; out of the quarrel with ourselves we make poetry." ~W.B. Yeats

I'm Nobody! Who are you?

by Emily Dickinson

I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us -- don't tell!
They'd banish us, you know.

How dreary to be somebody!
How public, like a frog
To tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!

Heehee, I like this poem. (:

Happy Hands: The Beginning

Okay, my sign language class is technically called "the Last Hour," but I was having some Napoleon nostalgia. The first class went well, I suppose. There are quite a few students this year (about 15), a good number of them 7th grade boys (which is better than the usual 6th grade majorty); however, there are more highschoolers this year, which is a pleasant change.
I went to the fair twice this last week; mostly, we just walked around, looking at the exhibits and merchant buildings and animals--they had the cutest little saddled pony in the petting zoo (I would have petted it, but it was really shy, standing in a corner looking sleepy and human-weary). I only went on a few rides this year (partially due to the ridiculous price of tickets), the highlight being the Zipper, of course, which can't possibly be safe. Toni and I nearly screamed our heads off. It was awesome.
I have a butt-load of homework to do this weekend. Signing off...

And the Crowd goes Wild

The volleyball team swept their match against our cross-town rival last night. All three scores were within three points of each other. I think the crowd had as much fun as the players.
My debate class is very small. Only two other people are in it right now; when football season ends, two more guys will join. So far I'm the only girl. I like the teacher this year; the class is much more organized and productive.
It looks as if I'll have to do Lincoln-Douglas this year. I'd rather do policy because that's what I did last year and I like the resolve; however, LD will be more of a challenge because 1.) I have to write the case by myself (which I basically did last year anyway); 2.) I'll have to do all the speaking; and 3.) I won't have anyone to blame if I lose. LD focuses on opinion and analysis whereas policy is strictly fact-based. It should be interesting...