ugh...

ugh...that's all I have to say...

Things are hard enough sometimes, and you tell yourself it's ok, they'll get better, and in the meantime, you have some positive things to focus on...yeah right, who are you kidding...annoyingly, they just keep getting worse too...

Well, whatdya do right? Tell yourself it will all get better...sometime...eventually...and keep yourself as ridiculously busy as you possibly can...some of these things are not worth the time of day or night...

Idol Gives Back...

I believe strongly in trying to help out those less fortunate than us, and those in developing nations or nations struck with poverty. Sure, it's not going to be possible to help all of them. But even the smallest effort makes a bigger difference than we know. Ever since I was in middle school, I've done quite a few different things as volunteer work/charity work...I think it's a great way to spend your time, and the gratitude those who are being helped showed gives you such an amazing feeling...

I've recently gotten into watching "American Idol", the 'singing talent' show. Tonight was their two hour special, "Idol Gives Back". It was basically a charity show to raise money for the disadvantaged children in the world - be it abroad or right here in the United States. It's unbelievable how much a dollar can do for impoverished.

I know, this is not anything new. Most of you already know this. But the effect it can have on you when you see it first hand, before helping or after helping, is really something that cannot be explained.

I cannot emphasize enough how much someone can help just by donating ten dollars. It takes two seconds...

If you want to donate through American Idol, donate here: https://www.idolaid.com/

If you want to know what will be done with that money, visit this website: http://www.americanidol.com/idolgivesback/

I really think it's the least some of us can do...

No more marriage proposals

All right. For every single one of you who keep sending 'eligible bachelors' my way, I have a request. Please stop. I am officially taking myself off the market I sort of involuntarily got thrown into. Capiche? Excellent.

Harder...

I thought it would get better...but it's not...it's harder...so hard...

Beautifully 'perfect'...

A night and half a day to myself in a very nice hotel room followed by a fantastic evening with a very good dinner and watching the movie '300'...

A big, filling breakfast followed by hiking and rock climbing in the mountains of Arkansas, a great view at the top of the mountain, climbing back down and racing against time/darkness, coffee at Starbucks, driving around, 'the departed'...

And, not to mention, very, very, very good company, amazing sleep in a really nice, warm hotel bed, two free nights of accomodation, good conversation, lots of laughs, lots of memorable moments, and overall, the absolute most amazing weekend since I came here in January...

Beautiful...

Then reality hit, and brutally so...

Except...

Everything I just said was a reality too...and that realisation is so damn satisfying...

What do Fifth Graders do?

5th grade is made up of a bunch of 11-year olds and 12-year olds who are in general, quite carefree. There isn't a whole lot to worry about as an 11-year-old. Kids usually spend their time goofing around with friends on the playground, riding their bikes, or hanging out at home doing homework or spending time with their parents, brothers and sisters.

Of course, 5th graders wouldn't have sex...or so I thought. I read an article this week which talked about four 5th grade students who were having sex with each other in a classroom at school, in front of other 5th grade students in the class. Two girls, both 11 years old, one 12-year-old boy, and one 13-year-old boy were caught for the act.

The article is located here.

It's really quite sick in my opinion. I don't understand the necesity for a 5th grader to have sex, or a 6th, 7th or 8th grader for that matter. It's absurd. I didn't even learn what sex was until the end of 5th grade through a required educational program in my school. We didn't learn about safe sex practices until 12th grade, where we had a routine Health class during which we "raised" a fake baby with a "spouse", someone assigned to us in class. This is because it's expected that teenagers wouldn't even think about indulging in such an act prior to that age. I understand people have had sex in high school; in fact, I personally know people who have. But 5th grade? There's something wrong there...

Apparently a teacher was not present in the classroom, and when nobody showed up, the kids decided to have sex. There have been times in grade school when a teacher hasn't shown up, and of course, we all have "goofed off", walked around the hallways even though we weren't supposed to, chatted instead of doing our work, and other fairly harmless things. Never once, not in 5th grade, not in high school, did anyone decide to have casual sex because a teacher didn't show up.

I heard about a 12-year old girl last week, who was the youngest girl to get a DNA exam. She had a baby, and at the time of conception, she had been having sex with two different guys, both a year or two older than her. It's just sad to know that there are kids who dare to do such things and put themselves in such positions. How can a 12-year-old be capable of being a mother or a father, when he/she himself/herself is just a child?

It's pathetic.