Another "revival"...

I've decided to revive this blog again. Using my logic, I decided it was better to continue using this blog rather than start a new one. One example: I'm already indexed in some search engines and submitted in some blog indexes. Overall, I just thought it was better to stay with this blog because it is already established. I can't really find the right words to describe the thoughts and reasoning behind my decision.

Yesterday, (Friday, May 25th, 2007), was my last being a pupil in the public K-12 school system. It was my last official day of "school", ever. (Although, I will be going to college in the fall, but I don't consider that "school". Yes, by technical definition it is "school", but I mean the public institution that one attends until approximately 18 years old. In my opinion, university would be the appropriate term.) I just had to go in for the afternoon and take my pre-calculus exam. But, that is in the past now. I'm done!

As for now, I am going to be playing in a soccer tournament this weekend. That is why I am ending my blogging for the day. I need to go catch some Zzzz's so I can be somewhat rested for my game tomorrow.

Insanity

At the moment, my life is insane. It will continue as so until a week from today when I will be arriving home from my trip. Yesterday, I finished the last of my exams. I got 100% on my German orals, I'm sure I got an A on my Pre-Calc exam, and I hope I got an A on my English paper. If all goes well, I will have four A's weighing in this Trimester, which should put me in the top 10 (class rank).

Well, I need to go to bed. I have to work at 9 a.m. Plus, we are leaving in 24 hours and 45 minutes from the high school. Hopefully, we'll get the whole cell phone fiasco figured out, and, then, I'll be ready to rock and roll. Washington D.C. here I come!

I probably won't be able to post for another week, but upon my return everything should be back to normal. But, oh well, it's not like I have anyone reading this regularly, yet.

Quote for the Day

"A wise man's questions contain half the answer."
-Solomon ibn Gibriol

"Sidewalk Philosophy"

[Photos: babasteve]

Quote for Today

"Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destorying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end."
-Author Unknown

Love

[Photos: Shahril Affandi, Neil Wykes, _Gabri_, La Petite Gourmande]

The School Year at a Climax

Right now, I am the busiest I have been all year with school. Within the next two weeks, I have more homework than there is blue in the sky, I have about three tests, all of which are difficult, and, then, to complete all of the fun, I have exams. All of this is on top of having a life!

The good side to all of this is that after these two weeks, I am practically done with high school. Then, class rank is locked, letters of intent handed out, and scholarships turned in, which means the rest of the year is a flight in clear skies. No more bad weather to complicate any more of my days. After this, in order to ensure I can walk on graduation day, the only thing I will have to worry about is avoiding trouble. Everything else will be set; it will just be a matter of passing time. Once graduation passes, I will be free. I'll be sailing the oceans of college, exploring the new world waiting for me.

This rant has been rather nice, but, as one would presume, I have work to do and places to go. No time for blogging. Ironic that I am writing about how I have no time to write, huh?

Essentially, this whole mess will be over in two weeks, but until then, I most go make use of my time...

P.S. For the above reasons, quotes, pictures and links will probably be favorite items for posting because of the minimal effort and time required.

"He's a big boy"

I am sick of hearing this type of talk from my Step-Dad.

Who he is (some background information):
He is a total old-fashioned conservative. He grew up subordinate to the Baptist regime and had little money. Consequently, his views of raising a "man", as he calls it, are distorted. He is a huge fan of tough love, natural consequences, harsh discipline, and independence. He thinks he knows everything and is always right. I've never met someone more stubborn or arrogant. In addition, he may have you believe he is a psychologist or a political scientist. One positive thing I can say is that sometimes, when I'm in the right mood, he can prove to be entertaining; his political lectures and cognitive analysis' are rather amusing at such times. The rest of the time listening to him talk is down-right torture; it makes you wish you were deaf. As you might suspect, he and I don't get along very well. The fact that he is a confrontational kind of person doesn't help. Anyways, that should be enough of a background.

The Story:
At the time of the crime (tonight), I was in the entry way, which doubles as a laundry room. I needed to do a load of laundry. Like I always do, I got side tracked talking and doing who knows what. Anyways, I started walking out of the laundry room to go take a shower because I had forgotten that I was doing laundry. My mom stopped me and said "The detergent is right here". I was like "Oh, woops, I forgot that I was doing laundry. Thanks." Of course, my step-dad then had to butt in and say "He's a big boy" followed with something to the effect of "He'll figure it out", which is his way of telling my mom not to help me.

My thoughts on this:
It’s not as if I don't know how to do laundry. I know the reason he intervened is because he thinks I should be extremely independent since I'm off to college this fall. His logic is extremely ridiculous. First of all, for the majority of peoples’ lives they live with someone, which is how it will probably be for me, too. In a future scenario, the person saying “The detergent is right here” could have been a friend, roommate, girlfriend, or wife. The idea of total independence is irrational to me. I am not the type of person to seclude myself into the dark, lonely corner of society. Therefore, it is likely someone will be there to help me out sometimes in my life. Notice, I didn’t say all of the time, but, yes, sometimes people help people. What a novel idea, only if my step-dad knew…

Regardless of all the aforementioned, the most frustrating thing of it all is that he is such a hypocrite. I am more independent than he is. The next time my mom does anything for him I am going to have a hard time not saying "He's a big boy". In regards to my step-dad, making a list of what my mom doesn't do would be quicker than making one of what she does do for him.

The Conclusion:
To keep peace and sanity in the house, I am going to try and avoid confrontation with him because it’s not worth the fight. It’s just that sometimes he makes me want to scream. In the end, all of this just makes me look forward to college that much more. As much as I love my mother, getting away from him will be nice. Only six more months...

Fast Four

1. George Orwell has 12 writing tips that you may find useful.

2. Ever have the rude, loud, and obnoxious passenger sitting next to you on a plane? Following these steps will quiet almost anyone down on a plane. (Take note of the disclaimer at the bottom)

3. Bungie releases their Halo3 Teaser.

4. These thought-provoking explanations of numerous countries' flags will have you think twice and question your view of the world.

Quote for the Day

“Hope is the pillar that holds up the world.”
- Pliny the Elder