Paparazzi

This weekend was the debut concert of the band Paparazzi. Of course Tom and I went; the lead singer is not only completely AWESOME but she is also one of our closest friends. It was nice to be able to get out of the house and do something other than work. Last week Tom and I worked almost every night (there was one or two that I didn't work), so naturally it was nice to be able to get out. Tom spent the night with the guys and I was off with the girls dancing, singing and cheering on Crissy and the band. There was a photography that kept taking pictures and we are in a few of the fan pictures because well we were in front of the stage and the photographer was being creeper towards Rena.

Being in the group of friends was great, so was being able to be there and support my friend and see her dreams coming true. It was simply amazing. You never know how thrilling it is to sit (or stand) and watch someone's dreams unfurling and being reality until it happens. It also helped the crowd anxiety as well. When I was in the middle of that crowd I didn't feel the anxiety I felt nothing but excitement for Crissy. I don't think it even dawned on me until the end that I was in the middle of the crowd with my friends and didn't panic. Maybe it was because I was a group of friends, knowing I had a small escape route beside me or just allowing myself to be in the moment and not worry about where I was and what was around me.

Just maybe I am beginning to overcome this anxiety thing. So I got to see an amazing band, see one of my closest friends make her dreams come true, but I also made progress on me getting over my anxiety attacks.

Friendship Thanks

Every week I have been doing a post on thanksgiving. Looking at the things, and lately the people in my life who I am most thankful for and the things about them that I am thankful for. This week I picked someone who means a great deal to me. I've known Melissa for about 2 years now I think and we have become so close. Maybe it was because we basically have the same mind or that we worked together in some of the most stressful situations. Whatever it was that made us this close I am thankful for Melissa.

Basically saving my life several times

Showing me how to "have some balls"

Not sugar coating things, being honest

Crazy goofy nature that makes any time with you fun

Random text messages throughout the day

Inside jokes that no one else understands

Gummie Bear and Shark Orgies

Being easy to talk to and share things with

Playing with sidewalk chalk, blocks on my parents sidewalk

Trusting me with your thoughts and feelings.

Being a wonderful friend

Knowing that sometimes all I need is to just veg and make a fool of myself.

Throughout the years I have learned that sometimes friends come and go. People who you were once close with fade and go a different path. And while its sad, its a way of life. I know I have chosen a different path then some friends and that when friends start a new chapter in life we just naturally drift apart. Melissa is one of those friends who will be at your side no matter what. She is my sister from another mister LOL

Too Dependent

So my laptop has been shutting itself off and there is a possibility that I may need a new one or spend lots of money to try and get mine fixed. While its down and shuts itself off while I try to use it I am starting to realize that there are things we have become too dependent on. How many of us can say we can live without the cell phone? I can't. I go through withdraw when Melissa gets deployed somewhere that she can't text, or if my phone dies, or when I leave it at home. The other night I had a small accident, drove into a snow bank and I didn't have my phone to call anyone and Tom's was dead. We had to wait for someone to come and help me out.

This past week I have been thinking about that we have become too dependent on technology and other luxuries. We cannot live our lives with these things. I think back to Biblical days, what would we do and how would we react if we need to live the same lives they did. Or even when our parents were younger. I know my mom didn't have half the things that I did, and I didn't have half the things kids today have. Sometimes I wonder if our dependencies on these things help fuel the attitudes of kids today. At the schools I go to half are listening to an ipod, some have psps out, all have cell phones. Kids don't need these things, and they fact that parents allow them to have them helps fuel the attitude and dependency.

I was beginning to think I will take a few days away from my laptop and ipod. If I want to listen to music I will find another way other than the ipod and Pandora. I will use a desktop for only certain things like checking email and writing blogs, no facebook. Maybe I'll start that in March ;D

The First Apostle

I am in the process of reading a book called "The First Apostle", actually I am almost finished with it. It was one of those books I seen on the shelf and wondered if I would like it, so I picked it up for something to do, something to read and maybe I will like it and the author: James Becker. It's one of those books about codes and things and something super popular: the church and church's secrets. I already told Tom that I can see people going overboard and saying it's truth the way they did with The Da Vinci Code.

As I was reading it and coming to my own conclusions about the storyline and the code within the book. I started to wonder about the secrets hidden throughout the region. They may not have been hidden on purpose but through time and changes, things become hidden such as the real location of Christ's tomb or even if there are other things that the apostles wrote. Im not saying there are or if there are that they could alter everything we believe, but the contrary: prove the truth within the Bible. Im sure if such a thing existed people would debate it they way humans tend to debate everything we find.

I know there were periods in history when Christianity was illegal; heck still is in some places. What if there are things hidden throughout the world. Maybe not even with Christianity, what if there are druid relics hidden in Ireland or Buddhist relics in India. Im sure there are relics hidden throughout the world for every religion. I just think it would be awesomely cool to be the person to stumble on something from Jesus' time. This book has been making me think more about it, even if it is something as small as a dish used in the time or tools used to farm or do carpentry. Does this make me odd?

Old School

The other night Tom and I were talking about some of the old school shows and cartoons that we used to watch like David the Gnome, Fraggle Rock, Snorks and so many others. This actually a common conversation we have now that I think of it. But anyway when I think about the shows and cartoons I used to watch as a kid, it was way better then what kids today watch. I know they are bringing back some of the old school shows like Care Bears, but its all computer generated and there are some new bears, its not the same. There is nothing like the old animation where the color isn't all that bright.

Even the storylines are different. With most shows today the storylines are done when the episode ends. Back in the day we had to wait til the next episode to find out what happens to the characters. Sure it wasn't every show but a lot of the best ones had the continuing story line. Shows have no shame showing things that young kids shouldn't see. The worst we had was Bugs Bunny smoking. Things cartoons did couldn't be re-enacted like dropping an anvil on someone, now there are so many news stories of kids trying things and hurting each other because of it.

While I know some shows are coming back for a new generation, stations are making all kinds of alterations which makes the show different and not like it was. What needs to be done is bring the actual show out of the vault or archives or wherever and allow kids to view them they way we did. Maybe if kids had better cartoons that held the childhood innocents when they got to be teens they would have attitudes and a sense of entitlement. Hmm just a thought.

Faithful Thanks

Normally I do my thanksgivings on Friday, but its going to be a little bit different and I am going to do one today. Sunday is perfect day to do this thanks or so it would seem. Many people may not have a close relationship with their pastor, I am thankful that I have a wonderful friendship with him. My Pastor is an extraordinary man who will do anything if it meant helping someone out.

Being the kind of Pastor God intended

The prayer and support you gave during any time of need

Being non-judgmental

Being a prime example of a gentleman

Caring about every one of your church members, non church members and campers

Willing to listen no matter the time

Making sacrifices for those you love

Making my family feel welcomed at the church

Introducing us to amazing exchange students and igniting the desire to host one myself

Pastors are extra ordinary people who put themselves under a microscope, maybe more so than celebrities. Pastor Paul has handled every gossip, every attempt to bring him down with grace and dignity. He has been a great example of how a man treats his wife and friends. I consider Pastor Paul like a second father. And I am more than thankful for him every day.

Growing Up Too Fast

I have been subbing in the Pittsburgh schools for about a month now and while I knew kids today are growing up too fast, I was hit with that fact while subbing in a middle school. When I was in middle school I was still attached to certain things like my teddy bears and “dating” meant simply saying a guy was my boyfriend. I think I was the same for most girls I knew. Today its different. You can see the kids growing up way to fast and becoming concerned with things that are too old for them.

There was a middle schooler when I subbed that told her friends that she had a credit card. Now what would an 11 year old (or so) need with a credit card? Or even a cell phone for that matter. Whenever these kids what responsibility they get cell phones, credit cards or whatever else they want. When I was younger if I wanted responsibility my mom gave me more chores to do. Higher expectations that needed to met before I was able to do anything I wanted.

i needed to show responsibility before I got my cell phone at 18. Kids these days throw a fit an get what they want. Back in the day we threw a fit and mom just let us tantrum but that didnt get what we wanted. No was no and there was no way around it we had to accept that. Kids are to spoiled and expect things to be handed to them instead of actually working for it. That needs to change.