Bits and Bobs (Yes that's a British Phrase)

  I know I have slacked on blogging lately but I have a relatively good reason why. You see I have been busy with school, French studies, and lots of writing, just not here on my little blog.  Even though I don't have enough information on a single subject to give you a delightfully long and juicy post, I have have a sufficient amount of information on multiple subjects to give you a delightfully fluffy post consisting of Bits of Bobs.

  If you are wondering what is up with my strangely confusing choice of wording today, I have a very simple explanation. This morning after school I watched several re-runs of Good Eats. Need I say more? In fact I could give you lengthy paragraphs on how Curry is actually only a stereotype Indian food but I shall refrain.

  Now because I went and named this post "Bits and Bobs" before I even started writing I suppose it only makes sense that I should now divulge some Bits and Bobs of information from my life.

  A few weeks ago my second cousins came over to visit and everyone (other than my Mom and Diane who stayed home to prep dinner) went down to a nearby trail to hike. The vehicle that we were using as our means of transportation (My Dad's F-350) didn't have enough room to fit everyone inside so my second cousins, Eldon, and I were left to climb into the back of the truck. It doesn't sound like much of a problem at all, and actually kind of even sounds like fun, right? WRONG!! I was wearing a black skirt so having to hunch in the back of a dirty truck surrounded by a bunch of your guy second cousins was no picnic trying to remain properly ladylike. Once we left for the trail I thought I would be fine but naturally I wasn't. The wind was strong so my hair came out of its neat little bun and starting flying all over my face making that I couldn't see a thing, and because of all the excessive wind, my cheeks were flapping around like an old hound dog.  Besides that all of those guys I spoke of earlier immediately launched into a lengthy discussion of what kind of truck they prefer, and how many horsepower they guessed a certain truck had and other utterly boring factoids.

  Yesterday while walking to our barn across the road I stepped on something on the grass that popped like a large pimple. Curious, I crouched down, pulled the grass apart and went screaming all the way up to the barn after seeing I had just squished a little frog.

  Do you know what my friends? I feel victorious because I have finally finished The Fellowship of the Ring but 'ere break of day' I had started reading The Two Towers. Who am I kidding, I don't feel victorious, I feel helpless. As much as I love Lord of the Rings movies, and I do enjoy a lot about the books, they are heavy, slow reading.

  On the subject of school I have an interesting tale to tell. My Vocabulary Professor, upon looking at him, appears to the average person as a normal, middle aged, kindly, guy. So picture this. There I was at my desk, notebook and pen in hand, ready to become the next genius of the century, and he begins his half hour lecture. He opens his mouth and begins yapping about Procrustean people, factotums, and various other horrors I truly don't care about. You know how the average person gestures with his hands for emphasis while speaking? Well he starts talking about how his teaching will broaden my mind and then BAM!! His legs bend, and he half lunges, half squats. Not sure if that really just happened I straightened my back and opened my eyes a little bigger and then BAM, once again his head disappears from view. One hundred and eighty five times did he bounce across his classroom. I wasn't sure I could possibly stand another one of his cardio sessions this school year but then he goes and says his love for words first began when his father read "Lord of the Rings" to him as a boy, and then my friends, all was well and I shall continue enjoying his class.
 

Beauty, It is Found on the Inside....

   Though I am pretty much known for writing things on the "fluffier" side, considering that recently a few negative things were said to a person very dear to me I have decided to bring up the subject we have all heard about time and time again, true beauty is found on the inside.

   I have a few pretty solid beliefs about what beauty looks like and because I have the opportunity as of right  now, I shall tell you what I believe...

   There are plenty of different opinions on what is considered to be really pretty, but have you ever noticed that the girl with braces, braids, and a lisp  but is always smiling and offering a kind word to every person she meets, she cares for everyone and has quite the reputation for being sweet tempered and friendly, is really beautiful. The beauty in her soul oozes out and to anyone who knows her, sees only beauty. She lights up other people's lives where ever she goes. While on the other hand the pretty person has a vulgar tongue, bitter heart, and doesn't think twice before saying something hurtful. When worded bluntly like that it is quite obvious who the most beautiful person is and too many people forget what true beauty looks like.

   My Mother, in my eyes is very beautiful, not because of her physical appearance but because of how she cares for all of my siblings and I, and always has a ready smile for my Dad when he comes home from work, she makes a wonderful listener and advisor, she cares for us, always helping us through every trouble we might be having, and has quite wisely (with the help of my Dad)  taught us all about God so that when anything ever goes wrong we can not only turn to our parents but to God as well. Her laughter, her love, her kindness, and really everything that she is, makes her one of the most beautiful people in the world.

   I have developed a list of how I view people.

It doesn't matter how thin a person is if she doesn't have a big heart.

It doesn't matter how sweet a person looks if their words are rancid.

It doesn't matter how much a person diets if she doesn't restrict her tongue.

It doesn't matter how clean-cut a person is if God views her soul as dirty. 

It doesn't matter how often a person works out if she stores bitterness within.

It doesn't matter how stunning a person looks if she sports an ugly, displeasing attitude.

   And always remember that God made you just the way you are and in His eyes you are viewed as beautiful, and in heaven you shall be as exquisite beings.

Awk+Awe~July

  I am a few days late with my Awk+Awe post, but for a relatively good reason.
  On Monday we started school again so I have been very busy with Inductive reasoning in Geometry, and various other atrocities.

  Some how I didn't really have any awkward moments this last month so in place of Awkward, I will have "Awful" instead.


Awful

Sitting down to Geometry with high hopes that are immediately bashed when the phrase "Inductive Reasoning, Egyptians/ Babylonians" fills the computer screen.

(This is not as awful as it is creepy) Turning around outside to see a cat's brilliant green eyes glowing out of the darkness.

Having to go to bed at 9 so that I can get sufficient sleep, it's like constant crunch time around here.

Burning my thumb while removing Blackberry Cobbler from the oven.

Having only half of my earbuds actually working. (It makes for a terribly strange experience.)


Awesome

Finding out that some of my favorite french songs are sung by the Chipmunks.

Getting to walk out onto our waterfall ledge with Diane.

Watching "The Avengers" with one of my friends.

Discovering a pretty amazing, relatively unknown french artist, Louane

Being evaluated in my French studies and being told I am now 24% fluent.

Finally being happy with my handwriting.

And last but not least, I didn't really know what to mark this as because it wasn't awesome, it wasn't awkward, and it wasn't awful... Walking about a mile to deliver mail to our Amish neighbors. (Their little boys that had been playing outside and leaped through their windows when they spotted us coming. It was one of the funniest sights ever!)

Sticky Notes