Did you know that 63% of students in Manatee county receive free or reduced lunch? 63%. Wow. I knew the percentage was over 50 because I had researched earlier this year as I've A) been curious and B) included the information in my Golden Herald application because I felt it important to explain why what "Backpack Club Inc." does is so important. But 63%. 63 percent. I know, many of you are probably unimpressed because you think we live in a worthless hell hole and yes, it is Florida, where the economy crashed first and the hardest, but seriously. There are worse places, this is far from a hell hole. I understand that not all of those eligible to receive free and reduced lunch are living these horrifying, devastating, cardboard box lives but still, the majority of students in our county live in homes where the household's income in below the point at which the state feels is enough to provide lunch and breakfast for the children in the family. In all reality, the state's not all that generous.
Like I said before, not all of these students are in serious situations are but are a few who only eat when they're at school. There are kids who don't eat between noon and 7:30 the next morning. Kids who don't eat on Saturdays and Sundays. Their malnourished which caused their immune systems to not be as strong, causing them to be sick more often, causing them to miss more school. When little kids get sick, their parents don't go to work...and that's if they have a job. It's an aweful chain and cycle.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Women of Distinction and Queso
I will honestly tell you that I learned more than I could have imagined today. I simply love being around adults with values and characteristics I admire. For the most part, today was wonderful. It was amazing to see someone who in the past year or so I've come to love like an older sister be honored for the work that she has done throughout her life for her community and her passion to make everyone's life happier, easier, and better. I've been inspired by her. To see all of the women being honored today, to know that I'm not crazy for being passionate about helping others, and too see what amazing things they have done...I can't explain how it makes me feel. I think it may have been reassurance that all of my time and energy that other people have told me I've been "wasting" really is not a waste. While honoring was of course the theme of the day, learning was yet again the theme of mine. Unfortunately, I couldn't pick out just one thing I learned. They're all so important and while I wish I could, I can't type all night. So, I think the lesson I'll report on today will have to be a funny, seemingly unimportant one.
Here goes. I learned today that I should really just stop eating queso with my chips on taco Tuesday. I never fail to make a mess. I always to a lovely job eating when I have silverware or any sort of "civilized" food but chips and queso, that's a whole different hell. I went almost all day without embarrassing myself...and then the queso. Only I can master the art of routinely dripping queso on my collar bone. Go. Me.
Here goes. I learned today that I should really just stop eating queso with my chips on taco Tuesday. I never fail to make a mess. I always to a lovely job eating when I have silverware or any sort of "civilized" food but chips and queso, that's a whole different hell. I went almost all day without embarrassing myself...and then the queso. Only I can master the art of routinely dripping queso on my collar bone. Go. Me.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Learning
I'm constantly claiming that I love to learn and that I enjoy nothing more than learning. That I love to take every opportunity and experience in life as one of learning. I know I'm always learning but I couldn't always tell you exactly what I was learning. Therefore, from now on I'm promising myself that I will learn and retain at least one thing every day and report it here on my blog. Hopefully, the few random people that actually read my blog will learn something too. So here's the first entry.
P.S. Some days I will report on new knowledge of real value and others I may explain something dumb and absurd that only I or my friends really need to know. Just a warning there.
Today, I learned that Emily Dickinson wasn't simply a sad, mopey person. Yes, she was rather introverted and reclusive but she had a warm, loving family and was madly in love with someone for the greater part of her life. Actually, those who knew her well claimed that she was quite eccentric.
We often try to hard to dissect her poems and find a meaning in them that is beyond just what is presented but the thing that actually makes he quite charming is the fact that not all of her poems had a deeper meaning. Yes, I am telling you that she was really just talking about snakes. It wasn't an extended metaphor. Just snakes. The beauty is in how she describes not in some hidden meaning.
P.S. Some days I will report on new knowledge of real value and others I may explain something dumb and absurd that only I or my friends really need to know. Just a warning there.
Today, I learned that Emily Dickinson wasn't simply a sad, mopey person. Yes, she was rather introverted and reclusive but she had a warm, loving family and was madly in love with someone for the greater part of her life. Actually, those who knew her well claimed that she was quite eccentric.
We often try to hard to dissect her poems and find a meaning in them that is beyond just what is presented but the thing that actually makes he quite charming is the fact that not all of her poems had a deeper meaning. Yes, I am telling you that she was really just talking about snakes. It wasn't an extended metaphor. Just snakes. The beauty is in how she describes not in some hidden meaning.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Lessons and Resolutions.
I've decided that while it's very important to make resolution as a new year sets in, it's also important to look back. So I think I'm going to look back on 2009, remember what was good, what was bad, what went well, and what went terribly wrong.What have we learned?
Lessons learned from 2009.
1. Working retail is more than likely the 9th circle of hell. But it builds character.
2. Boys often make the best friends.
3. Aprons are the second greatest personal storage accesories next to purses.
4. Finding the right university is hard but possibly the most important decision for me to make right now.
5. Music is often the greatest escape.
6. Falling in love with your best friend is a very bad idea.
7. College guys are often no more mature than high school guys.
8. Taking time to breath can do a world of good when trying to battle difficult tasks.
9. My dad is the greatest person to vent to but the worst person to go to for homework help.
10. Being a leader is a challenge but it's character building. You have to learn quickly that not everyone will end up as your best friend.
11. Always backup all of your files! All of them!
12. Nothing can be done right when you're stressed and or overwhelmed.
13. Screaming at me to calm down and relax only stresses me more and makes me cry.
14. Patience is very important in every situation.
15. Stoves are hot and so are ovens.
Resolutions
1. Go to dance at least 2 times a week.
2. Limit the energy drinks to 3 a week and don't drink any after 8pm.
3. Actually take all of my medicine and vitamins every day. No wonder I keep getting sick.
4. Call Emma at least once a month.
5. Learn to cook. (At least try.)
6. Take more bubble baths. They're good for your soul...and for your back.
7. Stay more organized when it comes to my homework and school related stuff.
8. Stop putting up with other people's bull shit. I don't need those kind of people in my life.
9. Take more photos. Learn more about photography.
10. Generally take better care of myself.
11. Try to get transfered to the University store.
12. Relax more. Few things are really THAT important.
Lessons learned from 2009.
1. Working retail is more than likely the 9th circle of hell. But it builds character.
2. Boys often make the best friends.
3. Aprons are the second greatest personal storage accesories next to purses.
4. Finding the right university is hard but possibly the most important decision for me to make right now.
5. Music is often the greatest escape.
6. Falling in love with your best friend is a very bad idea.
7. College guys are often no more mature than high school guys.
8. Taking time to breath can do a world of good when trying to battle difficult tasks.
9. My dad is the greatest person to vent to but the worst person to go to for homework help.
10. Being a leader is a challenge but it's character building. You have to learn quickly that not everyone will end up as your best friend.
11. Always backup all of your files! All of them!
12. Nothing can be done right when you're stressed and or overwhelmed.
13. Screaming at me to calm down and relax only stresses me more and makes me cry.
14. Patience is very important in every situation.
15. Stoves are hot and so are ovens.
Resolutions
1. Go to dance at least 2 times a week.
2. Limit the energy drinks to 3 a week and don't drink any after 8pm.
3. Actually take all of my medicine and vitamins every day. No wonder I keep getting sick.
4. Call Emma at least once a month.
5. Learn to cook. (At least try.)
6. Take more bubble baths. They're good for your soul...and for your back.
7. Stay more organized when it comes to my homework and school related stuff.
8. Stop putting up with other people's bull shit. I don't need those kind of people in my life.
9. Take more photos. Learn more about photography.
10. Generally take better care of myself.
11. Try to get transfered to the University store.
12. Relax more. Few things are really THAT important.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
A portion of my Wake Forest Application.
On the application for Wake Forest University for students applying for the Fall of 2010 there are some of the strangest essay questions I have ever seen.
About half way though the "Thoughts" part of the application it says, "Your Top Ten List"
Top Ten what? Favorites, ambitions, colors. Who knows. I suppose the challenge in this one is that there really isn't a guideline. It's your top ten whatever.
So I decided that I would make mine a top ten list of things I wanted to do with my life.
Here goes. Now these are in or order of importance. Well, they are in the order I thought of them in...but that doesn't really mean anything.
1. Spend some time in the Peace Corps or with Teach for America.
2.Expand Backpack Club so that we are able to help at least 1,000 students.
(Come on. I think that's possible. I've got how many years to do this in? Well, unless I get by bus, but that's not something I need to lose sleep over.)
3. Adopt an American child.
(I know that international adoptions are amazing and yes, I'd adopt every child who needed a home if I could but really, think of all the children in your own country, in your own town, in your own community who need a home.)
4. Have a career where I'm actively helping people and improving the quality of lives everyday.
5. Have an art exhibit entirely of my work.
6. Teach free dance classes to children who can't afford them.
7. Go on a dig in the middle east.
8. Save enough money so that all of my children can go to the colleges of their dreams.
9. Learn American sign language.
10. Always remember that everything is a learning experience.
About half way though the "Thoughts" part of the application it says, "Your Top Ten List"
Top Ten what? Favorites, ambitions, colors. Who knows. I suppose the challenge in this one is that there really isn't a guideline. It's your top ten whatever.
So I decided that I would make mine a top ten list of things I wanted to do with my life.
Here goes. Now these are in or order of importance. Well, they are in the order I thought of them in...but that doesn't really mean anything.
1. Spend some time in the Peace Corps or with Teach for America.
2.Expand Backpack Club so that we are able to help at least 1,000 students.
(Come on. I think that's possible. I've got how many years to do this in? Well, unless I get by bus, but that's not something I need to lose sleep over.)
3. Adopt an American child.
(I know that international adoptions are amazing and yes, I'd adopt every child who needed a home if I could but really, think of all the children in your own country, in your own town, in your own community who need a home.)
4. Have a career where I'm actively helping people and improving the quality of lives everyday.
5. Have an art exhibit entirely of my work.
6. Teach free dance classes to children who can't afford them.
7. Go on a dig in the middle east.
8. Save enough money so that all of my children can go to the colleges of their dreams.
9. Learn American sign language.
10. Always remember that everything is a learning experience.
Sometimes...mommies like mommies.
So I'm sitting on the couch, watching Under the Tuscan Sun with my family. The scene in the restaurant where Sandra Oh's character and Kate Walsh's character (the lesbian couple) announce that they're having a baby just passed.
Now, many times has my family watched this movie but my nine year old sister is getting to the stage where she can pick up on a lot more than one would think.
Gina: "Wait...are they both going to have babies?"
Mom: "No, just one of them, but they're both going to be it's mommy."
Gina: "How does that work?"
Mom: "Well you see..."
So now here I sit paying more attention to my mother trying to explain homosexuality to my little sister than to the movie.
Honestly, I never remember having a conversation like that when I was younger. I suppose I grew up just always thinking that some boys liked girls, some girls liked boys, some girls liked girls, and some boys liked boys. I grew up knowing both gay and straight couples. The dinner parties my parents would hold always had Brent and Ryan, Jolene and Grace, Kurt and Nancy, and some other random couples. Perhaps it depended on the drama in the work place but aside from those three couples, all others were just strangers. It never crossed my mind that anything was too different about our guests. It didn't matter. I didn't care. I had no need. I was just the cutie in the tutu that everyone loved. My mind was not yet tainted with the bull shit of too many rude people in our culture. Yes, I was raised Catholic but...how do I put this? We're a little...unorthodox.
Now, many times has my family watched this movie but my nine year old sister is getting to the stage where she can pick up on a lot more than one would think.
Gina: "Wait...are they both going to have babies?"
Mom: "No, just one of them, but they're both going to be it's mommy."
Gina: "How does that work?"
Mom: "Well you see..."
So now here I sit paying more attention to my mother trying to explain homosexuality to my little sister than to the movie.
Honestly, I never remember having a conversation like that when I was younger. I suppose I grew up just always thinking that some boys liked girls, some girls liked boys, some girls liked girls, and some boys liked boys. I grew up knowing both gay and straight couples. The dinner parties my parents would hold always had Brent and Ryan, Jolene and Grace, Kurt and Nancy, and some other random couples. Perhaps it depended on the drama in the work place but aside from those three couples, all others were just strangers. It never crossed my mind that anything was too different about our guests. It didn't matter. I didn't care. I had no need. I was just the cutie in the tutu that everyone loved. My mind was not yet tainted with the bull shit of too many rude people in our culture. Yes, I was raised Catholic but...how do I put this? We're a little...unorthodox.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Kelsey Wild
So about 2 years ago I came across this singer, Kelsey Wild on myspace. (Yes, I know, no one uses myspace anymore, I don't either, like I said it was 2 years ago.) She was honestly a friend of a friend. However, it's myspace friends of friends so... Well anyways, I absolutely fell in love with her music. The first 4 songs I was able to get (downloaded from myspace of course. remember when you could do that?) were Meaningless, Fall Down, Let Me Go, and Lightning. "Meaningless" became one of my favorite songs and still is to this day. Last year at my dance studio, in our teacher Lexia's class we frequently did improv. Like, legit, one person gets up infront of the class at a time, the music comes on and you dance. It took everyone a while to really get comfortable but before long it had become the best part of our week. We wanted nothing more than to dance every worry away infront of each other. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever be able to do that outside of my own kitchen. Anyway, "Meaningless" was a song that I put on one day as my ipod was often the source for music in that class. It almost became the theme song of our improv. time. Everyone found a way to make it their song. Everyone heard something in it that they could connect to. I felt rather awkward about it at first because honestly, I thought it was rather suggestive but apparently I was the only one who thought so. Everyone else heard something else in it. I suppose I was the only one who heard it that way. Hum... Well, once again, ANYWAY, I've recently found a new(ish) piece by her and suprise, it's incredible. It's called "Drunken Sailor" I would try to explain to you what I've gotten out of it and what it means to be but I can't say I'm up to that challenge tonight.
How incredible.
Well, I'm off to finish editing photos from dinner with Julia and Jenn, Christmas Eve at the Covey's, my family's christmas, and our trip to seaworld. I promise to get some photos up here as well as the rest on facebook soon!
How incredible.
Well, I'm off to finish editing photos from dinner with Julia and Jenn, Christmas Eve at the Covey's, my family's christmas, and our trip to seaworld. I promise to get some photos up here as well as the rest on facebook soon!
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