Marching band is dumb.
Ron Nelson is cool.
Practicing is awesome.
So go jump in a pool.
::golf clap::

Me: Stop being angry and jealous
Brain: Okay

well, well, well look who has finally decided to join us...
The final Interlochen CD!!!
Including Ride of the Valkyries (Wagner), Les Preludes (Liszt), and Huapango (Moncayo).
Huapango is the funnest song to play or listen to ever in the world ever. I cannot listen to it without smiling. It's just one of those songs.
Yayyyyy!

My piccolo in Amsterdam is rockin ethereal and out of tune but oh so beautiful. Piccolo should be treated as a real instrument. Because it is one! I'm going to prove to the world that the piccolo can be beautiful.

Practicing is the magic medicine to cure a bad mood. It really is.

It was a fun night.
I need to practice.
Think happy thoughts.
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

Haha Leroy

Last night would've been one of those nights where Rebecca was over and we all hung out in Craigs room playing or watching Craig play video games. We would've started out with a little Smash Bros. and maybe some Animal Crossing. Then Rebecca and I would shout "Play Resident Evil!" and Craig would flounder around trying to figure out what the last thing he did on that game was. I would act all stupid making fun of the scary looking monsers. And we would've laughed a lot and gone to bed happier than we were before.
I do so miss those nights...

Good news! I'm bored and I'm going to do a stupid quiz (stolen from our very own Katiemania). But that's not the good news!

// series one - as usual.
-- Name: Ash(ley)
-- Birthdate: 03/29/year
-- Birthplace: Buffalo NY
-- Current Location: computer room in ma house
-- Eye Color: brown lookin green
-- Hair Color: brown blonde gold thing
-- Righty or Lefty: righty
-- Zodiac Sign: aries
-- Innie or Outtie: innie

// Series two - describe
-- Your heritage: half german quarter french quarter czech-slovakian (i dont think thats how you spell it but TOO BAD)
-- The shoes you wore today: barefoot
-- Your hair: it is in tiny strands and it comes out of the top of my head
-- Your eyes: they help me to see things
-- Your weakness? weakness haha being distracted from practicing by doing things like this
-- Your fears: not practicing enough haha, no really snakes I guess and tornados and aliens and boys and other stuff
-- Your perfect pizza: extra cheese but still protein hey protein isnt I before E well maybe I spelled it wron0g too
-- One thing you would like to achieve: world domination

// series three - what is
-- Your most overused phrase on aol: lol
-- Your thoughts first waking up: what time is it?
-- The first feature (thing) you notice in the opposite sex: general presence
-- The best Name for a Butler: Jeeves
-- Your best physical feature: nothing! I'm an ugly hag!
-- Your bedtime: it tries to be 10:00
-- Your greatest fear: I will do something completely wrong and not even realize it
-- Your greatest accomplishment: being happy
-- Your most missed memory: what else? Interlochen!

// series four - you prefer
-- Pepsi or coke: Pepsi because it tastes like acid
-- McDonald's or Burger King: I don't know...Burger King because they give the THS band money on Wednesdays
-- Single or group dates: group I suppose
-- Adidas or nike: Nike
-- Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: ewwwwww tea yucko. I really don't know how anyone can like tea it tastes toally disgusting to me. Ewww
-- Chocolate or vanilla: vanilla but chocolate aint too bad either
-- Cappucino or coffee: ummm not to fond of either
-- Boxers or briefs: dont know!

// series five - do you
-- Cuss: no
-- Sing well: no. well sort of but not really
-- Take a shower everyday: yes
-- Have a crush(es): crushes...what is a crush again?
-- who are they: what?
-- Do you think you've been in love: I dont suppose so
-- Want to go to college: yeah I guess so if I really have to
-- Like high school: I used to, its getting old
-- Want to get married: yeah
-- Type with your fingers on the right keys: no
-- Believe in yourself: yes! I have to! If I dont believe in myself, then who will?
-- Get motion sickness: only if Im being hypoglycemic at the moment
-- Think you're attractive: what would make me think Im attractive? crazy
-- Think you're a health freak: hahahahahaha no
-- Get along with your parents: yes most of the time
-- Like thunderstorms: sure as long as nobody gets hurt
-- Play an instrument: I try to

// series six - in the past month, did/have you
-- Done a drug: no silly
-- Have Sex: no
-- Made Out: no no no
-- Go on a date: nooo
-- Go to the mall?: yes. I think.
-- Eaten an entire box of Oreos: no way man
-- Eaten sushi: no
-- Been on stage: maybe
-- Been dumped: frneoghgtre no
-- Gone skating: nnooooo
-- Made homemade cookies: actually, yes! well I made the ones that you bake yourself but it counts to me so THERE
-- Been in love: yes I mean no TRICKED YA
-- Gone skinny dipping: haha no
--Dyed your hair: nononononononono
-- Stolen anything: no thats a lot of noos

// series seven - have you ever
-- Played a game that required removal of clothing?: yeah well there was this one game that we played at my cousins birthday party a long time ago where we all took off our shoes and put them in a pile and it was a race to see who could find theirs and put them on the fastest. I lost :(
-- If so, was it mixed company?: no all girls I believe
-- Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: haha for some reason that question makes me laugh
-- Been caught "doing something": doing something oohh you mean "doing something" in that case then no
-- Been called a tease: no I really dont think so
-- Gotten beaten up: well unintentionally to the beater-upper. But nothing serious.
-- Shoplifted: no
-- If so, did you get caught: NO
-- Changed who you were to fit in: I probably have but not conciously

// series eight - the future
-- Age you hope to be married: I dont know. Time will tell
-- Numbers and Names of Children: I dont know. Time will tell
-- Describe your Dream Wedding: in a huge cathedral like St. Patricks and a choir or orchestra like in a movie yeah that sounds good
-- How would you like to die: laughing
-- Where you want to go to college: college is for dummies. But I'm the exception
-- What do you want to be when you grow up: ::little kid voice:: I want be a magician in a orchestra!
-- What country would you most like to visit: I dont know. Australia

// series nine - opposite sex
-- Best eye color? it dont matter
-- Best hair color? no matter
-- Short or long hair? gotta admit long hair usually gets my attention
-- Best height: whatever
-- Best weight: I dont know
-- Best articles of clothing: dude
-- Best first date location: something comfortable
-- Best first kiss location: I dont know

// series ten - number of
-- Number of guys I have kissed: 2
-- Number of boyfriends you've had: its debateable
-- Number of people I could trust with my life: I wouldnt know until I had to
-- Number of piercings: two, one on each ear

YAAAAYYYYYY

You know what....BLAH! WhyIaughta

For a while in my childhood I had one of those toy parrots that repeats whatever you say. And for some reason, me and Craig always said to it in a vampire voice, "I want to suck your blood blah blah blah blah," and it would repeat it back and it would be funny. That was one of the best toys ever, I think I could've played with it all day. Even better than slinky.

This morning, as I lay (lie?) in bed trying to think up an excuse not to get up yet, what should pop into my head but memories from book battle! I was once told that book battle team was the lowest of social classes, and if that's true, then I'm pretty dang low on the social ladder. I participated for three years straight: 5th, 6th, and 7th grade (or was it four including fourth grade?), and every single year, my team obliterated the competition at district level but failed to win even a single battle at state level. The idea was to read about 10 or so books that were "sunshine state reads" that year and learn as much about them as one possibly could. Then at the competitions, questioners would ask the two battling teams questions about the books. With two battle losses a team was eliminated. A team consisted of eight students, all from the middle school age group (6-8) or the elementary school age group (4-5) (depending on which age group you were currently in) and each team member was a "specialist" on two or three of the books. A specialist meaning that that person read the specializing books three or sometimes four times to try to remember all the stupid little details in the plot. And at book battle team meetings, the team members and the coach (usually the librarian) would make up questions and quiz each other. Ah book battle. How fun it was!

You know what I just realized? I could write lies in here and totally mislead people. Not that I'm going to, just that I could. It would present so many possibilities...
That seldom happens though, and I think I know why. One reason is that many people, like me, are very slow and haven't thought about lying yet. Another reason is that the truth is just so wonderful. Truth is one of the best things in life. And why would someone just spontaneously lie to unsuspecting readers? I wouldn't want to. When I feel strongly about something, I want to express it. Writing the opposite of what I feel would be very difficult. And if I don't want people to know about it, I don't write about it, which is still difficult! If it's so difficult to prevent written expession of emotion, imagine how hard it would be to write the exact opposite of what is true!
---------------------------------
Today I went over to Katie's house to play duets. The great thing about doing that is that I'm hanging out with a friend and getting better at the flute at the same time. And I feel good about my flute playing because the sounds of the two flutes merge and create the SUPERSOUND! "Ain't nothin wrong with that!"

Also, I read more of The Scarlet Letter and all I can say is wow. While I was reading, I forgot that I even existed. How can a book be so good? I wish I could put into words what this novel does for me, but I can't. It's just perfect...
---------------------------------
Okay so a number of things happened and there's a feeling that I can't describe. I know what it's not: it's not bad, it's not good, it's not happy, it's not sad, it's not amused, it's not agitated, it's not angry, it's not relieved, it's not stressed, it's not proud, it's not confused, it's not...anything. I don't know what it is. I wish I were a better writer...
and that's the truth.

Happy happy happy bunnies and flowers Interlochen

Interlochen on the radio:
"Something done well once at Interlochen is a tradition"

Hehe. Today I talked online with a friend from Interlochen/Cannon and he sent me the link to the final Interloch. concert. Listening reminds me of the feels, the smells, the sounds of Interlochen. The wonderful joy felt while playing such works with such quality. I don't miss anything about Interlochen more than the music. I miss the music. I MISS THE MUSIC!

That piece of music used to remind me of my blessings. It used to be a symbol that I once desired something--badly--and that I had recieved it, never to be taken away until age washed it away with many fond memories. It used to remind me to have gratitude for what I had recieved. But now, pride, igrorance, and experience tell me to SCORN what I once desired, mislead me into thinking that I am no longer blessed. And you know what that music whispers to me now? It says that the part of my life that it represents is STILL a blessing. That no matter the lengths I go, these many days will always hold a special place in my heart. Perhaps someday I will look back on them and think, "Yes, those were the good old days."
Indeed, I need to learn not to bite the hand that feeds, to appreciate what I have. For it will never occur again...

I need to practice.

Have you ever been in a situation where you seriously don't know what the "right" thing to do it? You can try and debate with yourself and ask for heavenly consultance (is that a word?) but in the end you are as confused as ever. You wonder if there is a right thing to do at all. Is there a right thing to do all the time? There must be. But what is it?

Sometimes people amaze me...
thank you, if you see this, you don't know how much it means to me...
and I don't know how much it means to you...

Lots of stuff just happened and now I feel all mixed crazyish.
and my teacher's husband passed away, that adds some fuel to the fire.
He's in a wonderful place now, so I'm not worried about him.
I am worried about my teacher...

Pray for all of us, readers. We all need it.

And to ruin the mood of this post, I heard woodwind quintet music in the background of a commercial the other day. And I was happy.

I'm dumb, you're dumb, we're all dumb! Seriously, though. We're all a bunch of dummies who are dumb and do really dumb things. Join the CLUB.

I got some new flute CD's includin Julius Baker Limited Edition and Jean-Pierre Rampal Bach Sonatas! And William Bennett is currently out of stock, but he will be here soon! Oh boy oh boy my first Baker or Rampal CD!

Often I hear person number 1 talking badly about person number 2. And person number 1 knows very little about person number 2. It makes me very sad to see this happening. After all, how much can you really know about person number 2 from the little time that you see em? You see actions, and you can dislike actions, but can you really see the person inside? NO! Unless you know somebody very well, do not pretend to know what kind of person he is. If you took the time to get to know person number 2 well, you might be surprised.

Brain: Ashley that's quite enough
Me: SHUT UP, BRAIN. NEVER TALK TO ME AGAIN.
Brain: You really are losing it, aren't you?
Me: quiowhfrnjgktrhoer

"If Only We Understood"
by Rudyard Kipling

Could we but draw back the curtains
That surround each other's lives,
See the naked heart and spirit,
Know what spur the action gives;

Often we should find it better,
Purer than we judge we should;
We should love each other better,
If only we understood.

Could we judge all deeds by motives,
See the good and bad within,
Often we should love the sinner
All the while we loathe the sin;

Could we know the powers working
To overthrow integrity,
We should love each other's errors
With more patient charity.

If we knew the cares and trials,
Knew the efforts all in vain,
And the bitter disappointment,
understood the loss and gain--

Would the grim eternal roughness
Seem--I wonder--just the same?
Should we help where now we hinder,
Should we pity where now we blame.

Ah! we judge each other harshly,
Knowing not life's hidden force;
Knowing not the fount of action
Is less turbid at its source--

Seeing not amid the evil
All the golden grain of good;
And we should love each other better
If only we understood.

NONSENSE

I have a lovely bunch of coconuts. One looks like a giant head. So does a head of lettuce. I would like to go ahead with that. With what, you ask? Cellphones ringing all around the world. What if squirrels carried cellphones? They are almost the same size. Hello? Operator? I would like to dial the number to BUST THIS JOINT! Yeah, you heard me! BUSTED!!! One time I said busted and my mouth busted. No saliva at all. Only the sweat of the backs of labor. Backs of labor. Hahaha. Well you know what I think? Trick question! I don't think at all! Well, only certain times. And then you have to be veeeery careful not to wake the nightie-nights. Or should I say knights! Knights in shining armor? How does it shine, anyway? Is it steel? That would be pretty heavy. Maybe they should have some energy drinks. Like red bull. Or red full. Or red mull...et. Isn't it just not a haircut? Haircuts are for losers anyway. I know that makes me a loser, but you know what? I've lost it altogether. I've had enough of your shenananananagans. Grapevines are full of shenanagans. They like to dance in hot mustard! Salsa-style, that is. That would be weird to dance salsa in some mustard. Or...custard. Mustard custard. Late at night gives a fright! To the fighting flight in the right might. In the moonlight. Internet. Maybe Innernet. I'll have to think about it. Flowers and bunnies! What a jerk.

My flute lesson today was quite outstanding.

ewuiqojiodfsmvtrohprtkopak

Have you ever wondered if your life is just a dream? Oh, speaking of dreams, I gotta tell you about the one I had last night. A bunch of my friends and I were all shopping at this really huge mall. Suddenly, everyone in the mall started running to one side and I heard people mumoring why: a murderer was on the loose, and he was now on the second floor. This person had killed people in the mall already, and I had to get out. I thought I was pretty safe, though, since I knew the murderer was on the second floor and I was on the first. I started blindly running with Erin, trying to find an exit to the mall, but none could be found. We ran into a room currently being renovated, ya know, with the ventilation and everything hanging out. Inside the room there was a door leading into a different part of the mall, hopefully away from the murderer. We ran to the entrance of the hallway leading to the door, when suddenly a very close elevator door opened, and out stepped a female teacher from THS, holding a handgun. We froze and looked away as she said "This will be so easy." I was sad, because I knew I was going to die. She walked up and pointed the gun to my head, but I did not react. She shot the gun and I died, and I still did not react. In fact, I didn't even feel the shot or anything. I knew I had died, but I felt exactly the same as before. Then she shot Erin, and then I woke up. Strange...

It's exciting but not to you so I'm not gonna write about it. And I am the ruler of the world so there.

I keep Ruddigore in my car at all times now, and anytime I listen to it, I end up at my destination feeling very happy.

That is all.

Forgotten

This is what life looks like through my eyes:

Ashley's Life

I'm happy now but it's definitely not because of my audition. It's because I'm eating (drinking) a milkshake, made with mint choc. chip ice cream! OH BOY!

The principle tuba player at Interloch lives in Florida, but he's not trying out for allstate this year because he told me "It's bogus." I asked why he thought that. He said "Really good players don't make it and...well...really bad ones do." I suspected that he didn't make it one year and just had contempt for the system, so I asked him if he had made it before. It turns out he's made it every year that he's tried out. How about that? He's judging the system not by his results but by other's results. That's a smart man right there.

So what? I don't need to prove myself to the state. (I'm really just saying that because I'm not going to be in allstate this year.)

Whatevah!

Mmmm milkshake....

I was wandering through the poem blog again, and I found this old poem I wrote last year:

Saturday, November 22, 2003

"Zounds!"
The gnomom tells me
a quarter outflanked of twelve
a juncture to launder
my cranium and to delve
into the profound, abysmal, and subaqueous
macrocosm of metrical composition

"Whatever shall I formulate?"
Oblivion are my intimations
of a metric, perspicuous entity of verse
Which promulgates locution but not affrications
The cognizance of my quandary
buffalos even the sinewy intelligentsia

But I indubitably desiderate
a virtuoso work of oeuvre d'adroitness
or a admirable proficiency
of evoking phantasmagoria in zoitness

Zounds!

-Ashley "I made up the second to last word to trick ya" Stahl

posted by Ash
at 1:17 am


Why was I so awesome before?
And why doesn't anyone post on the poem blog anymore?

RANDOMNESS!!!

Yesterday at marching band I was really hyper and I made a lot of people laugh by acting really stupid. It was fun.
I've noticed that the more I act stupid, the more people end up smiling when I'm around. AND the more I act stupid, the more fun I have. Funny how that works.

Something is picking at my nerves, but I'm afraid to say what it is. And afraid to do anything about it. Afraid of the consequences. It would be the right thing to do. Now I understand why people sometimes have to get hurt if you do the right thing. If you want to help them.
UUUGGHHH I don't want to make anyone mad. Help me out and examine your life right now, readers.

Also, I miss Rebecca.

The freshman string players in fourth block are really funny. They're not afraid of anyone or anything, and they all have really defined and distinct personalities. It's fun to watch them in action...

Jesus was tempted by sin everyday just like we are, but he never fell for it. Can you imagine not ever sinning, ever? That's just plain amazing. Don't know what made me think of that. But man.

In other news, all-state auditions are tomorrow. And then a football game. Yay.

Rock the hula!

Yesterday I was looking at pictures for the senior page, especially the pics from a long time ago when I was really little. I was so happy and so cute. My favorite pose was to smile realllly big practically ear to ear. Those picures make me smile. Not only are they funny and cute but they remind me of being a child with complete innocence again. Kids don't worry about anything, now isn't that a wonderful life to have.
Makes me think about how much I am not a child anymore...and I should be. Everyone should be a child. No fears about life, no worries about the earthy things we say we need. No cares at all, just complete faith that things will work out allright. I don't think any child was worried that he wouldn't have a house after the hurricanes. Because they don't care. Where do worries get you? Nowhere. Nowhere at all. So why do we worry, especially about things that are out of our control? Why not just have trust, as we once did?

I remember those days. They were good days.

Tomorrow I am going to be a happier, healthier, holier, funnier, and more spontaneous person than today.

I just recieved three more of my Interlochen CDs, including the WYSO concert with Gerard Schwarz/the Sibelius and the concerto competition concert! Now those are CDs to show off if I've ever seen any. Right now I'm listening to Samuel Jones Variations on a Theme of Howard Hanson (the Interlochen theme). These make me so happy that I'm gonna...I don't know...jump around and act like a fool.
::Jumps around and acts like a fool::
Ohmanohmanohman

Homecoming is in two weeks!! It really snuck up on me. Is snuck a word?
Okay so should I go? It's only 12 dollars I think. But if not, I could have another non-homecoming party, and that would be fun. Eh.
It's amaazing to think that someone as intelligint and smrt and talentad and beuteyful and so perfact as MY FRIENDS and ME could not have a dayte!

Me: Marching band, I hate you.
Marching band: oh now I'm sad

Hey hey, whatddya say? Let's P-L-A-Y play!
What the heck is that from?

There was (was or were? There was an amount. There were an amount. I think it's was. But I'm not sure.) an extrordinary amount of mosquitos in the bandroom at zero block today. And they all bit me and it made me sad :(
And then I got to line the field instead of practicing in third block and that made me sad too.
But then someone and it's okay.

Someone at Interlochen who went there the previous year said that when you come back after it and you're having a bad day, your mind goes back to Interlochen and the people and the places and you can re-live the feeling of it and it makes you feel better, like the memory is a safe haven from the world or something. That's good and stuff.

I am starting to understand why Alex acted the way he did all year last year. Many things after camp seem very boring and normal now. But I shouldn't write that because I'm being a jerk. But oh well that's the price you pay for going to Interlochen.
I know that there's blessing in boring and normal, I just have to find it.

Bright cheery smiles make my day!

Hey I should be practicing but I'm not hey what's new.
Allright, it's easy mac time.

Oh man I got some of my Interlochen CDs and it makes me SOo happy!!
I'm listening to the operetta CD right now, Ruddigore by Gilbert and Sullivan. I played in the pit orchestra, and it was one of the funnest thing I did there.
Oh man it makes me happy.

"You have no idea what a poor opinion I have of myself!...and how little I deserve it."
-Ruddigore

What I really want to know is why am I not practicing right now?

I am very lucky and very happy for it.
Thank you, God.

I love you.

Once upon a time in a faraway land there was a girl and her name wasn't Ashley or Ashlee or Ashely or even Ashleigh because those names are oh so overused. Indeed this girl's name was Lashley. One fair day she was wandering along an extremely straight road when suddenly she tripped over a toaster. Though quite puzzled that a toaster lay in the middle of the lonely road, she thought nothing of it and and proceeded to walk over it. That is, until the toaster grew and grew. The toaster then sprouted legs and arms and it picked Lashley up and ate her. As if that wasn't bad enough for the poor girl, the road moved and twisted in such a way that she no longer had any idea where she was anymore. And as if THAT wasn't bad enough, the toaster started to turn on the heat. Inside of the toasters toaster, Lashleigh struggled to free herself but to no avail. She was stuck, it seemed, to her her death. But then something miraculous happened. A blade of grass from the neighboring lawn unrooted itself and began punching the toaster. The other blades of grass noted this action and soon the whole lawn was punching the toaster, demanding that it free Lashley. The toaster, quite perturbed, sprouted a mouth and demanded that the blades of grass perform a talent show before it freed Lashely. So they did. And indeed the grass had a lot of talent: one group of blades performed a rock concert, one blade calculated high-level Calulus problems in its head, another blade recited the entire dictionary from memory, and another troupe put on an entire circus for the toaster. And those listed were just some of the amazing acts in the show! The toaster grew increasingly astounded as it observed the shining talents of the grass. Of course, it had no idea that the lawn possessed so much talent. In return for such an amazing show, the toaster freed Lashlee and diminished its size. The blades of grass, who were ever-giving to the girl, showed her the way home, as the road had changed and she was rather lost. When Laashley arrived at her home, she snuggled into her bed, satisfied that she actually survived the whole ordeal. When she awoke the next day, she swallowed a spoon for good luck and the toaster never bothered her again. She later married the lawn, and they lived happily ever after.
The end.

CHANGE OF PACE
I'm having more fun than you

This is exactly like summer except for one thing that's missing. I can't quite figure out what that one thing is but I know that its absence is making me sad and nostalgic.
So there's my random thought for the day.

IN OTHER NEWS
I have no other news. I feel so boring. I don't even know what I do all day anymore. Time just sort of passes by, unnoticed. Like I said, something is definitely missing.
BUT IT'S OKAY because I'm going to take a bike ride and you can't stop me. Okay you could stop me but by the time you read this I'll prolly have been longgone already so unless you are fast and really determined you can't stop me.
And then I'm going to practice in my living room where it's nice and echoey and try to make myself feel secure about my tone and control again.

Man, I'm just glad I got to miss two marching band practices and a football game. Hey, maybe we even missed a pep rally too! This hurricane had so many hidden blessings. But if I have realized the blessing then I guess it isn't hidden, huh?
Brain: Time for Ashley to stop talking
Me: Hey thats what all my friends say to me! Good old friends.

Sorry guys for pretending to be online when I wasn't. My away message mysteriously dissapeared ::eyes mom suspiciously::

!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i
It looks cool
!i!i!i!i!i!i!i!i

Does anyone know if there's Bible study tonight?

Sad post...
Do you ever look into your past and wish things were somehow the same as they were before? I'm sure you do, everybody does. But you know what? Things will never be the way they were before. Never ever again. So you know what you gotta do? You gotta live with it. Make the most of things. Yes it's fine to look back and say "indeed those were good times ye bonnie lass" (what?) but its not okay to dwell on it forever. Where does that get you? Nowhere, that's where.
I have many memories that I don't want to forget and often I think of them and how happy I was. Not that I'm not happy now, but it was different. And sometimes I even wish that those times were present again. But they never will be. So maybe I'll try something new. Spice things up a little. Maybe I'll make some new memories to look back on someday.

Okay so today is song lyric day so sue me but these lyrics are really really good especially if you have heard the song.

Caledonia (Dougie MacLean)

I don't know if you can see

the changes that have come over me.

In these last few days, I've been afraid

that I might drift away.

So I've been telling old stories, singing songs

that make me think about where I came from,

and that's the reasons why I seem so far away today.

Oh and let me tell you that I love you

that I think about you all the time.

Caledonia, you're calling me, and now I'm going home.

If I should become a stranger,

you know that it would make me more than sad.

Caledonia's been everything I've ever had.

Oh and I have moved and kept on moving,

proved the points that I needed proving,

lost the friends that I needed losing,

found others on the way.

Oh and I have tried and kept on trying

stolen dreams yes there's no denying.

I have traveled far with concience flying

somewhere with the wind.

Oh but let me tell you that I love you

that I think about you all the time.

Caledonia, you're calling me, and now I'm going home.

If I should become a stranger,

you know that it would make me more than sad.

Caledonia's been everything I've ever had.

[cool Irish flute solo]

Now I'm sitting here before the fire.

The empy room, a forest wide.

The flames couldn't get any higher

then withered now they've gone.

But I'm steady thinking,

my way is clear,

and I know what I will do tomorrow.

When the hands have shaken and the kisses flow,

well I will dissapear.

Oh and let me tell you that I love you

that I think about you all the time.

Caledonia, you're calling me, and now I'm going home

If I should become a stranger,

you know that it would make me more than sad.

Caledonia's been everything I've ever had.

Oh and let me tell you that I love you

that I think about you all the time

Caledonia, you're calling me, and now I'm going home

If I should become a stranger,

you know that it would make me more that sad.

Caledonia's been everything I've ever had.

I LIKE THIS SONG, YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT?
I didn't think so.

"The Whistler" (Jethro Tull)
I'll buy you six bay mares to put in your stable
six golden apples bought with my pay.
I am the first piper who calls the sweet tune,
but I must be gone by the seventh day.

So come on, I'm the whistler.
I have a fife and a drum to play.
Get ready for the whistler.
I whistle along on the seventh day
whistle along on the seventh day.

All kinds of sadness I've left behind me.
Many's the day when I have done wrong.
But I'll be yours for ever and ever.
Climb in the saddle and whistle along.

So come on, I'm the whistler.
I have a fife and a drum to play.
Get ready for the whistler.
I whistle along on the seventh day
whistle along on the seventh day.

Deep red are the sun-sets in mystical places.
Black are the nights on summer-day sands.
We'll find the speck of truth in each riddle.
Hold the first grain of love in our hands.

I think I posted something like this already but eh...
Sometimes bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it. Should you give in to the situation? No! As the saying goes, nobody can make you mad except you. No situation makes you sad, it's your reaction to it that that changes you. You know how some people are, how you could spit in their face or punch them or something and they would still ask God to bless you? That's not giving into circumstamces. I don't think any person can do this on his own. The power to fight circumstances must come from elsewhere. At least it does for me, though I neither fight very well nor can see very well into the brains of others. But whenever I feel myself moping about something stupid I catch myself and say "Stop feeling sorry for yourself. What are you doing. You don't deserve pity, especially from yourself." Granted, it's easy for me to say this, I've had an easy life. But just remember that however bad things are, there is someone else out there worse off than you. And things could always get worse. So appreciate what you have. If you are anything like me, you don't deserve pity, not from yourself and not from others. So don't give into it.
Sorry if I'm a bit of a hypocrite on this one, I'm trying to amend that flaw.

Living in the dark is driving me crazy! At least we have electricity though. But still. I need to get out into the sunlight. But how to do it? Spider solitare is keeping me captive. I need an excuse to go out.
Spider solitare, you will be my downfall.

Rod Stewart is A-okay.

Me: You know what is one of the hardest things to do, brain?
Brain: I'll humor you. What is one of the hardest things to do?
Me: To wait patiently
Brain: Waiting is tough
Me: Not many people can do it well. Maybe that's why patience is a virtue.
Brain: Maybe. Now go practice.

Your favorite person is back in town
And by back I mean BACK.

Hehe I'm writing in the hotel lobby computer and it's very slow. Yay I'm safe from Frances.

I ate lunch with Mr. Schwindt and all the former THS band members who ended up at FSU. That was interesting.

Kay I gotta go now so bye.

Well, today was a-okay. I spent the day surfing the web, practicing, watching T.V. and playing spider solitare. Mostly the last one, though. I also took a walk outside so I could see the sunlight, for my house is tightly boarded up with no light allowed through. It was a lazy day if I've ever seen one.

My dad and I are leaving tomorrow around 6 AM. Wish us luck, and Godspeed to all (though I don't think anyone really knows what that means. Well, I don't at least.)

H. Frances, I hope you die. Very quickly.

Things are looking a lot better than they did yesterday. I think I was freaking out because I was so hungry (hadn't eaten from lunch till 9 at night).
We still don't know exactly what we're going to do. My dad and I have a hotel reservation for Tallahassee, but as time goes on, he's thinking more and more about just staying here. My mom, unfortunately, has to work at the EOC, "the bunker," which is apparently the safest building humanely possible. I still wish she could come with us. And then Craig's in Tallahassee, on his own.
In preparation for a power outage, we are attempting to eat everything in the freezer. My dad made about 20 chicken wings and we drank about 2 gallons of milkshake made from the ice cream in there. I am so full right now, but it was fun to make.

I will prolly write again before I leave, if I leave. But if I don't have a chance to, you guys just be safe. Don't take chances, and don't stop praying.

OK, so we're all scared about the hurricane. Is it okay to be scared? Answer me.

There were a bunch of funny things on the band whiteboard about H. Francis today. I'm glad people can joke about it. The thing is, there are worse things in life than hurricanes. Don't believe me? Think about it.

My family spent a lot of money this summer, and each person in the family got something they wanted. Craig got a piano (which he paid for half of it, but oh well), my mom got new carpet, my dad got a new bigscreen television, and I got to go to Interlochen. (For the record, mine costed the most. Therefore, I win.) And you know what? If this hurricane decides to destroy everything, all that money spent on posessions will be WASTED. From all that spent money, the only thing that will last is what I did at Interlochen. No hurricane can take that away. Nobody can. Unless they hit me really hard on the head and I get ammnesia.

Here's a verse that hit the nail on the head:
"[Job] said, 'I was born with nothing, and I will die with nothing. The Lord gave, and now he has taken away. May his name be praised!'"
Job 1:21

You guys who read this, just please stay safe. Please. I love you all to pieces.