Attack of the Family

There are currently four people in my house that do not live there. They came with swiftness, eating our food and installing a new toilet. Yet, now they remain. They interrogate about college and have strange naked woman bumper stickers on their vans. They abhor church and are too busy paying off their motorcycles anyways. They wear Harley gear from all over the country. They prefer pop and pizza to milk and salad. This is my extended family. Like me they are not. But I tolerate, and sometimes even like them. They keep me from Quiz Bowl, and yet, it is okay.

Alien or not, I can relate to them. Sexist bumper stickers or not. Family is family, and blood is thicker than water. I guess.

Rules are Made to be Broken

I've never given myself a set of rules to live by. Not permanent ones anyway. I suppose there are the basic ones like not killing your neighbor and eating their dog and stuff like that, but I think that's kind of a given. Maybe that's why I have such a problem with the Commandments and religion. To me, if He really is an ever loving God, then why would he care how I live my life as long as I'm happy and not harming other creations? I suppose I get it, but some of the inferences from the Bible are dumb. I'm not going to go to hell if I become a lesbian. And certainly not if I take the Pill instead of having ten kids (no offense to those that want that many).

I don't get along well with rules that affect how I personally live my life. School has rules, society has laws, those I'm okay with. But when someone starts telling me what to do, things get more sticky. I have a mouth, a lot of people say. Some tend to use some more colorful words before mouth. Maybe it's just because what they are suggesting is stupid/nonsensical/racist/sexist.

End of story, I'm not going to listen, at least not without offering my opinion on it. Leave me alone, or put up with my mouth. It's been with me for 16 years, and it's not going away any time soon.

QB Summer Camp

A Quiz Bowl Camp. I had no idea such thing even exists. Well, I guess I did. But it didn't really occur to me. I may go, to the one in June in Missouri so my mom can visit her family I dunno. I already have a lot of things going on. And then Costa Rica. Okay, unless I come up with the money myself, maybe not.

Anyone else thinking about it?

So I Found...

Many eggs at Easter. Because they are awesome, and I love them. And I kicked my cousins' asses! Yay.

I found a website. Kinda like Threadless, but for bags. And it looks pretty cool too. Bagstab!

Other than that, I'm just waiting out this scheduling issues. I don't understand how three elementary schools got millions for additions when the entire district is millions in debt now. Well, actually I do know, it is a special mileage that was passed. But it still seems so stupid. I want to be on the Board of Ed. Or there should at least be a student rep on it. Or a teacher or something. They're all old, I don't think they know what's best anymore.

(Trying to Find) The Good in Good Friday

So I didn't wake up thinking "oh, it's Good Friday! Yipee!" like it was Christmas or something. In fact, I didn't even remember it was Good Friday until my mom reminded me that we had to go to church. In all honesty, I keep forgetting about Easter too.

I don't understand the "good" part of the name. I mean really, what is good about Jesus being killed? Sure, the being saved for our sins and stuff is pretty great, but his actual death? Not so much. Besides, the celebration comes on Easter. So maybe it's just "good grief Friday". "Good grief, why is he being killed?" I don't know. I don't understand it.

And then today, itself wasn't that great of a day. Maybe it was good in the aspects that the three hour church service went by fairly fast because I was using these books we got that were in English and Spanish to translate the words between the two languages. One of the Spanish names for God is actually el Señor. And the Pope is el Papa. Which, to me, is kinda interesting. Funny how things get changed in the translation, isn't it?

The Facebook Family

I just created a facebook...for my mom. Who doesn't really understand the concept of it anyways.

But then, I started looking up family on Facebook, and I was amazed to see how many had them. And I noticed different generations connecting more so than I ever had with some of my adult relatives. Some which I've never either gotten to meet.

But it makes me wonder if my adult cousins (who are technically the same generation as me) are closer to my aunts and uncles and stuff because they have Facebook, or just because they're closer in age?

Aside from my brother, I am the youngest grandchild on my mom's side of the family, and I never felt like that meant I was any different. But the next oldest grandkid is now 24, and married with two kids. It makes me wonder what would be different if I was in her place. What if I was Facebook friends with those relatives? Would we be at all closer? It'd be nice to know, I think.

Return from Chi-town

So I'm back. From Chicago. And I don't think I can handle paragraphs today. So let's try bullets!

• I'm really liking Loyola University. I was a little surprised.
• The city of Chicago is better than I gave them credit for.
• I saw Oprah at the Chicago Institute of Art.
• I went to church with the French members of the IOC (International Olympic Committee).
• I think it would be amazing to be a member of the IOC. (Where do I sign up?)
  
• I found an amazing art supply store (BLICK) across the street from my hotel. That alone is enough reason to go back there.
• Even better, there's a BLICK in Dearborn! Yay!
• I'm starting to give myself a little bit more credit, and it feels good.
• I have decided that I'm okay with spending all my money on art supplies and beading stuff.
• I never got to see Northwestern, or U of Chicago.
• Which means I'm gonna be back there within the next year. Squee!