WOW!

I am terrible at keeping this blog updated! I just guess nothing has majorly happened that was "blog worthy"...hahaha.

Well, I got back from a 2 week vacation to Disney World last Friday! :D I had a great time, and I've got to say that the best rides there are:
--The Rock'n Rollercoaster
--Tower of Terror
--Haunted Mansion
--Splash Mountain
--Expedition Everest
--Pirates of the Caribbean

My family also went to Typhoon Lagoon the 2nd day we were in Florida, and I, being so pale that I could be mistaken for an albino, only wore SPF 30. And guess who got 2nd degree burns? Yup...me. I should post a picture of it; it looks more like a gash than a burn...it's pretty nasty. Needless to say, I wore SPF 70+ the rest of the time there.

On our way back from Florida (did I mention we drove? 22 hour car drive, baby.) we stopped at Logan's Roadhouse in Nashville. At each table, they have a bucket of peanuts, and after you eat a peanut (or not) you can throw your shells on the floor. This was a new experience for me; in Iowa that sort of thing is illegal...some health code violation or something...and I ended up starting a peanut shell war. (Very mature of me, right? Ha.) It was a blast! We also stopped in St. Louis and went into the Gateway Arch. I've been to the Arch before, back when I was 9. The only thing I remember about that experience was hyperventilating in the elevator and refusing to look out the windows at the top of the Arch. This time, I clung to my seat as tightly as I could--the elevator was rocking back a forth a bit--and when I got to the top, I looked out the windows. The view was beautiful (I even took some pictures) but I was still extremely nervous about the whole thing. As soon as I looked down--BIG mistake--my legs started shaking and I almost took out a few people trying to get back to the elevator as fast as possible. Now that I think about it, I can see why my mom was laughing at me at the time, but I don't think I'll be going up in the Arch anytime soon.

I thought the rest of my summer would suck after coming back from a fantastic time at Disney, due to the fact that my parents wants me to work as much as possible & get a 2nd job, but I was COMPLETELY wrong about that. (Thank goodness!) Here are the reasons why:

1) I bought tickets to the Metro Station/Boys Like Girls/The Maine/Good Charlotte concert at Val Air Ballroom on July 10th for myself and my closest friends of 12 years.

2) A huge group of my friends are planning on tubing sometime next week.

3) I'm going to spend a day at Adventureland ("Iowa's Premiere Theme Park" is what they say in the advertisements) with a good friend of mine.

4) I'm going to participate in RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Bike Ride Across Greater Iowa...or as my father says, "Register's Annual Beer Ride Across Greater Iowa") during the last week of July. I've been training for that by riding my bike at least 20 miles a day, which is kind of tough, but I have a good time doing it.

Those are just the "main" things I'm doing; there's a lot more, but I really have to get laundry done & shower; I have to work tomorrow morning from 9-12 and then 5:30-8, but I'm not complaining. I love my job; I'm currently the champion at air hockey (I always ask the person I'm playing, "should I play with my right hand or my left?"--I'm good with both; I switch off after every other goal... :D...and the most common answer is, "I don't care! Let's just play!" and I can play a mean fooseball game, but I'm totally getting off topic.) :)

Peace and Love!

"American Dream"

This is prolly one of my favorite songs currently. I thought I'd share the lyrics for anyone who reads this blog (thanks, Matt; your one of the bestest online friends I have! :D) because this song is absolutely amazing. It's off of Switchfoot's 2006 album 'Oh. Gravity!' It's a great album; search YouTube or listen to a clip on Itunes of songs from this album...I guarantee you'll love it and find that you can relate to their music...some of it is pretty deep...it's nice. :)

Okay, enough advertising from me, lolz. Without any further ado--or sidebars--here are the lyrics to "American Dream":

When success is equated with excess
The ambition for excess wrecks us
As top of the mind becomes the bottom line
When success is equated with excess

If your time ain't been nothing for money
I start to feel really bad for you, honey
Maybe honey, put your money where your mouth's been running
If your time ain't nothing but money

I want out of this machine
It doesn't feel like freedom

This ain't my American dream
I want to live and die for bigger things
I'm tired of fighting for just me
This ain't my American dream

When success is equated with excess
When we're fighting for the Beamer, the Lexus
As the heart and soul breath in the company goals
When success is equated with excess

'Cause baby's always talkin' 'bout a ring
And talk has always been the cheapest thing
Is it true would you do what I want you to
If I show up with the right amount of bling?

Like a puppet on a monetary string
Maybe we've been caught singing
Red, white, blue, and green
But that ain't my America,
That ain't my American dream

The power of words.

Since when has it been okay for words--or even a simple "I'm sorry"--to be replaced by money and materialistic items?

Yes, money and materialistic items are all fine and dandy--and in today's society, whether we like to admit it or not, the key for survival--but words are so much more powerful than that. 

Words have been able to move and inspire people for centuries. They are used in self-expression and a lot of our favorite songs involve words (shocker, right? lol) which, in some way or another, connect to our feelings at a point in time.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather have a heartfelt apology than a new outfit.

1st blog post EVER!

With this being my first ever blog (whoot!) I decided to start it off on a positive note with something I wrote over a year ago when I was going to an extremely rough time (details on that later in the future). Bear with me, it's kind of a long poem thingymajig...well, if you're impatient of have any form of ADHD...lolz, I kid, I kid. :)
~~~~~~~

Live life to the fullest. Smile every day. Listen to soft music and feel the breeze upon your face. Spend time with friends and laugh about anything and everything. Don't linger on the past; just remember the good times. Stop to watch life go by and breathe in all it's wonder. Change with your surroundings and don't be afraid to explore new ones. Follow your dreams. Kiss those you love. Let your voice be heard, yet listen to those around you. Make up a goofy dance when you're happy. See the simple beauty in even the smallest thing. Don't worry about the future. Focus on positive things to allow yourself to heal from the negatives. Slow down and take time to treat yourself. Set realistic goals and celebrate your achievements. Love yourself! Question everyday life. Wear comfy clothing. Sleep under the stars on a cool summer's night. Try your best at everything. Always have a place to call home. Learn something new. Open up to others and express your true feelings. Live your life to the fullest!

~~~~~~~

So, yeah...not my best work, and you may be wondering, "Why is it typed in purple?" (or maybe you're not, but I'm going to tell you anyways. lolz) I originally wrote this in a purple-ish gel pen color like that...and I truly hope these words may speak out to anyone who is down or hurting...they really helped me in my time of trouble. :)