So, I really don't have anything super exciting to report. Not that my blog is ever truly exciting, but let's say something of minimal interest for you. Let's do point form of things worthy of note...

- The Screwtape Letters is a very commendable book. Woot woot for it.

- Skinny Dipping? Bahahahahaha!

- Back to school shopping. I mean binders and paper, not clothes and shoes. See, I believe (and maybe this is just the mother of which is not a mother yet coming out in me) that clothes/shoes/etc. all get pulled out of the back in this late August time, and marked to a normal, or in some cases higher price, yet sold as a sale item. SCAM! Yes, you heard me. And you were all blind. You are welcome for opening your eyes to this terrible conspiracy going on nation wide. Anyways, this friends, is why I believe in buying clothing and shoes year round!! Or maybe I just buy too much too often? Shoot...

- I really miss hanging out with this kid, what happened? Like...what's goin on.

- Youth is looking soo awesome for the fall. I met with Andy this morning for a couple hours, and honestly I'm excited about it. And I really haven't had anything to look forward to being a part of or anything like that for so long.

- Overall I think Fall is going to be so good. Getting back into routine, and being busy again. feeling like I have purpose and a brain, these are good things. As much of a nerd as this may make me sound....I am SO EXCITED for English class!! Bring on the essays baby... okay, I'm a nerd. Being back in school though will be sweet, just cause I feel so like...not outgoing right now...even though I am, if that makes any sense. Just no random opportunities to plan slumber parties in the hall. I just really wanna get back into having plans for each spare second.

- Meagan and Brittany are going away to school, and I am going to miss you guys so stinking much.

- I tried wakeboarding. HAHA!! Let's just say... I hurt. And it was so funny. And inhaling water isn't good for you. Oooh, annnd, I make a good starfish! Pretty sure it looks easy and fun. Maybe this will teach be about not judging things by how they look, but what's inside.

- So, actually said something, feeling good and bad about that.

- I'm gunna find me a posse one of these days. See...I have friends, no, I really do! It's just they're like random select people from numerous different cliques. Which makes it difficult to have a joint posse. This is the year though kids...this is the year.

The rich and the poor

I was watching Oprah today, as I do most days, and what she spoke about actually got me thinking about some things, maybe even pushed me to do more? Anyways, she spoke about the rich and the poor of America. How you have the elite of whom make up just 1% of the country's class sections yet holds 40% of the country's wealth (something like that, don't quote me). Then there's a bunch of other stats I could give you, but I won't, because numbers don't mean much to me on this type of subject. Here's a few of the things that got me about this matter...

- Guests on the Oprah show talked about they classify people according to how they look without bothering getting to know them. For example, if you are overweight, have bad teeth, and aren't dressed very fashionably it is assumed you are of the lower class. Okay, it makes sense, but isn't there more to that person than their class? What about how hard they work? I'm betting a lot of the lower class work their bums off (harder than those rich kids playing golf every friday). Like one family, where their was a mom, dad, and 2 young boys. He worked two jobs, they went to public school, and she can't get a job because then all her money would simply go to daycare. They're decent people, just not rich. They work hard too.

- This man who's a family member of the heirs to the Johnson and Johnson company has made a film called "The One Percent" (based upon the elite percent of people). I respect him for questioning his money, why they are rich, and looking at the lower classes as human beings as well. When it all comes down to it we are human beings each coming from different backgrounds which I believe ultimately decide how we will live when we are older. Why is it taboo to make conversation of wages, when we all make it too obvious that we will not make ourselves comfortable with a lower class, and not permit ourselves to be put down by the upper?

- What is middle class? I'm very confused by this. My neighborhood has a golf course, elementary school, lake, and good neighbors. The house I live in has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 living rooms, a kitchen, office, laundry room, storage. Am I middle class? Am I lower class? Am I lower middle class? Upper middle class? Why do we even have all these stinking labels!?! Does my label affect the other labels I associate with? Do the other labels associate with affect the value of my label? What the heck am I talking about?

Who knows where I am going with this. I believe I am so blessed to have grown up where I have, had the opportunities which I've had, and lived in the house I live in. If we're counting blessings I consider myself quite rich. See, I was sitting there watching this show and thought, I am living very comfortably. How can people who have so many piles of money just sitting there not give a thought to it? Not that I'm saying we all need to go live in mud huts and eat racoons. We deserve what we make according to how hard we work. Don't you think though that those of us who have gained more than others should give those others a step up?
The point of Oprah today, I believe, was to bring home the point that the poor are getting poorer, the rich getting richer, and the middle class struggling for which end they will fall to. Everybody seemed so surprised by this, but take a look at Africa and there is no middle class. There's the rich and the poor. So where did they go wrong with that? Could America perhaps take a lesson from Zambia's mistakes?
Not sure what I think about any of this, I just know it bothers me that some people have to live so poorly, and others in such disgusting unneeded wealth. What do you think about the "disappearing middle class?"

Crackers, lots and lots of CRACKERS

Here's a slideshow (of googled pictures) of my life the past few days...







Drugs used include, but are not limited to: Nyquil, Tylenol cold and flu night and daytime drugs, vitamin C tablets, Halls, Cod Liver Oil pills, oil of oregano, zinc lozenges.

If you haven't figured out by now, first of all I recomend you get some common sense, and second I will inform you I am quite sick. It all started Thursday night when I was in Sidney. I was feeling a bit of a soar throat coming on, but didn't expect much to develop out of it. Well, I was very wrong. Very, very wrong. Friday morning I went to go swallow, and let's say I've never experienced so much throat pain. AH. I had a killer head ache, my head was all plugged up, and I felt like death. So lame. That was also the day I had to take the ferry by myself going back home. Since I didn't know what to do I bought some halls and plenty of hot chocolate on the ferry. When I got to Amanda's house she gave me this really awesome drug, I forget the name of, but it definately relieves symptoms like it says it does. Saturday I awoke feeling like I had been on a plane (the whole ear thing) and didn't have a great vibe. Saturday night I was in the car going home with my Dad and I was going mental. I was moving back and forth, delirious, sick, out of my miiiind. As soon as I got home I went straight to bed and slept (no thanks to the 20 drunks teenagers sitting on our driveway). One am rolled around though, and that was the end of that. I sat in my doorway first, then in the bathroom, then walked around. My stomach was basically exploding, I felt so siiick. Finally at 3 I began puking. Dinner at Earl's had been good, but I really didn't want to taste it again. 4am the episode (this included, but was not limited to: puking, shaking, falling, crying, coughing, blood, fever) toned itself down enough so I could sleep until 8am. All day yesterday I hung out at home dying a slow death, taking lots of pills, and eating nothing but crackers (I can't taste anythign anyways). Today I am slightly better, but still not good. Blach. I HATE being sick...

On another note, my trip went well. Made some awesome memories, saw some great people, and realized a lot of things. Slowly, I think I'm starting to get a grip on life. When I came back I really had no idea who I was, not to say I know now. It's about realizing certain things have happened, but rather than let them consume me, I need to accept them and move on. So they have affected how I think and act, but that's who I am, and I only recently realized its those situations that made me me. Cool. Time for Oprah.

Oh yeah, since I really don't change locations a lot due to the dizzy feeling that follows, I have made a myspace. yaaay...

Fire and Belly Button Sand

Note before I begin: Demon spider was taken care of. Mwahahaha.



To add to the beach feel, I shall do the post in blue! Everybody say "Yaay! Blue!" That picture above was taken in Malawi at this resort called club makakola. That was their amazing pool, it was probably about January 3rd or something, and that is Lauren from Kitwe. I couldn't find any beach pics from here for you.

Today Olivi-A (olivia but I put emphasis on the A) and I frolicked on down to the beach in HER car since she is know a Novice driver. Whilst playing our flailing game (it basically involves going underwater and...flialing...its fun okay? Frick) far out in the water we were approached by two men. Now, when they approached, I am really not sure what they were thinking seeing as how Olivi-A had her head underwater and her legs flailing above, and I was laughing so hard I kept choking on the water of every wave that hit me. Continuing on. The one guy (we will call him...Arnold) asked me if "we were from around here." Not really interested in trying to be picked up (we were at THE famous pick up beach, gyro) I simply answered "yes." Olivi-A then popped up staring back at the two men. I began feeling akward with the silence and finally asked "you?" No, they're from Calgary. So Arnold and Arnold's friend continued talking to us, trying to make "conversation" (the lead to the pick up so it doesnt sound as badd). Shortly after the doomed question of age came about. When we answered they appeared shocked, and slightly embarassed. However jail bait was no stop for them. "So what are you two doing later on tonight?" arrived with a sly smile from Arnold. Olivi-a then replies "Um..going to bed." Haha. Oh yes. Tres funny. Anyways the two eventually left, when we burst out laughing at the two too old men who tried to pick us up. Seriously...what is wrong with you?
As we got back to Olivi-A's car, she couldn't find her keys. 2 treks back and forth to the beach later she spots her keys....INSIDE the car. Dang. The windows were open like that much, so we tried to push them down. Once that attempt failed, I came up with an idea. Lets go to somebodys house and ask them for a hanger. 2 mins later we approached an old guy on his driveway who kindly assisted us and in the end saved our day. TADA!! And now I have sand in my belly button. Shoot?

There's another fire. Anoooother. And it hasn't rained in sooo long, I think we're screwed. It's in mission area, so I'm pretty sure I'm pretty dang safe. Still those people sat through that horrible fire 3 summers ago, don't let it happen to them again. It just started tonight but its too later for bombers to be out, and its so into the mountain in this gulley Im not sure hooow the crews will get in there. Lame.

In conclusion, please do not freely toss flaming things into dry desert forests, and keep on guard for creepy 20 somethings trying to pick up young easy women.

Quote of the day: "Holla at me wave. Thanks fo the break in flow." (Olivi-A brings out the gangster in me).

News of the weekend: LAUREN DROVE! YUS! I have also learned when driving I talk about myself in third person saying such things as "Whoa Lauren, hit the gas a little too hard there, dont go killing us now" and "Oops, now now Lauren...the brake is supposed to be eased on, not slammed." Who knew it would bring out the crazy in me?



Malawi Lake - Take me away...

Embrace the Inner Hippy

I looked for a while for a good hippy picture of me on the computer, however I was unsuccessful. So settle for my google image search hippy picture...



I could go all deep on us here, talking about love and war. But I won't, I will simply say - Make love not war. And when you are making that love make love and not babies, unless of course that is your intent. Thankyou wisdom of my eldest brother.
Recently I discovered I truly am a hippy. Not in the weed smoking way. But I really think I am a hippy. And apparently Daniel has always known this, and I have always been in denial. Cutting my hair did tone down on the hippy style a bit. But I have still got the long skirts, flowy shirts, and (what rhymes....what rhymes!?) ...heart hurts? Whatever. What brought my to this realization? I've become a tad obsessed with all natural products. Just cause. I'm gunna start taking green tea extract pills (no, I'm not so hardcore that I'm going to drink ten cups of that stuff a day) because they're INCREDIBLE. Reduce the risk of cancer, lower cholesteral, lower blood pressure, umm...and lots of other cool stuff. Also, I would recomend tea tree products to all of you. I have tea tree oil and I use it on all my piercings, it's INCREDIBLE as well. There's also toothpaste (yes, I own it, and its great), and shampoo/conditioner (oh what? I own that too). Tea tree shoes and make-up I haven't come across, but when I do, you can count me in. OH almost forgot, tea tree HANDWIPES! Mmm. You know it.
I now encourage you all to embrace your inner hippy find peace, love, happiness (not drugs and sex) and use those oh so great all natural products.

Oh sorry, forgot, just a little side note...
I CAN DRIVE. OH WHAT? LAUREN PASSED HER L FIRST TRY? YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT GANGSTER. THAT. IS. RIGHT.
Watch out veteran wheel wielders, I'm one of you.



My west coast party trip is planned. I spend a day in Ladner, then a few in Sidney, then back to Ladner for a day, and then to Abbotsford for a couple days, then home! The one bummer about travelling by myself is that I have to take the bus, and I'm a little skectched about the lonely ferry ride, but I've done that before so it should be all good.

Books to add to my list (I definately won't be finished by the end of summer):





Peace and love folks.

Edit at 5:23pm (later that day...)

So um, went to go pick up my lip gloss and there was a spider next to it. *Scream.* Then I proceeded to pick up an envelope to squish the spider with. *Careful maneuvering.* Demon spider decides my finger looks goood and hops on for the ride. *Scream and finger fling.* Hell on 8 legs then goes flying...somewhere....in MY room. Not fair. Am I sleeping in my room tonight you ask? *Laughs histerically* and put myself at risk of demon spider attacks? NO THANKYOU!