Hana Yori Dango

It is normal for a person to identify with a character in a book. In fact, it is expected. Writers form their characters in such a way that their readers will identify with them. Then the authors make more money.
However, every once in a while can someone relate so completely to a character, that the relation goes far beyond the typical surface relations.. and becomes a relation of the heart. And in that moment, the heart is opened and the reader suddenly sees inside their heart clearer than ever before. It is as though you are put up on a screen and all your thoughts, feelings, and actions are displayed clearly and transparently. When the person on the screen is feeling sad, you can't help but cry because they are you! When they are happy, you feel like you can fly because they are you. For the moments you read about that character, you become one-inextricably intertwined inside and out.
Often the reader is unsure how to deal with such a suddenly honest epiphany and they bury it away and forget it, going back to the way they were before.
I, on the other hand, refuse to do that. I may not know what to do with what I have learned, but I'm going to find out. Today.
I've realized something.. I can't keep denying who I am. This is who I am! Yes, I know that I will undergo a lot of pain because of this.. but that is the way it must be. And, if anything, it only means that I need to be stronger.
The title of this post is the name of the book I found myself in. I wouldn't suggest any of you go read it. None of my regular visitors here would like it. I just want you all to know that I have found myself. And now I will do my best not to lose myself again. And I'm sorry if someone gets hurt because of who I am.

"Women are always hiding behind vagueness! Why can't things just be simple?!"

In My Own Little Corner

"In my own little corner in my own little chair
I can be whatever I want to be.
On the wings of my fancy I can fly anywhere
and the world will open its arms to me.
I'm a young Norwegian princess or a milkmaid
I'm the greatest prima donna in Milan
I'm an heiress who has always had her silk made
By her own flock of silkworms in Japan
I'm a girl men go mad for love's a game I can play with
cool and confident kind of air.
Just as long as I stay in my own little corner
All alone in my own little chair.
I can be whatever I want to be.
I'm a slave from Calcutta I'm a queen in Peru.
I'm a mermaid dancing upon the sea
I'm a huntress on an African safari.. it's a dangerous type of sport and yet it's fun
In the night I sally forth to seek my quarry
And I find I forgot to bring my gun.
I am lost in the jungle all alone and unarmed when I meet a lioness in her lair
Then I'm glad to be back in my own little corner,
All alone in my own little chair."

Carl Rogers

“If we value independence, if we are disturbed by the growing conformity of knowledge, of values, of attitudes, which our present system induces, then we may wish to set up conditions of learning which make for uniqueness, for self-direction, and for self-initiated learning.”

What will it take to provide a quality public education in America? (3 concrete points)

I suppose it would be too easy to say that it would take God to provide a quality public education in America, but it is the truth. As civilizations turn away from God, crime rates rise. As musicians turn away from God, their music becomes increasingly discordant and painful to listen to. In the same way, when you take God out of a school’s education system, it slowly loses all its quality. By returning God to the education system and making him an important part of it (unlike CCS where Bible class is more of an inside joke) America can provide a quality public education. Another thing that would greatly help would be to remove the practice of tenure. By guaranteeing those teachers a job, they do not work as hard. Some do not even teach at all because they know they cannot be fired. This greatly detracts from the student’s education. I suppose the second biggest problem is the politics involved in schools. Politicians love to argue about how students feel and what students want, but has anyone ever bothered to ask students how they feel and what they want? If the politicians would stop bickering just to make themselves look good, maybe the education system could actually do some good. Return the control to the parents and the board of education. No, I don’t mean just say that the control is there, but really give them control. Then leave them to do their business. Thank you.

What makes a good teacher?

First, a teacher must care for his/her students. If a teacher does not care about his/her students, that teacher will be grossly ineffective. Students can sense when a teacher does not care about them, and they immediately close themselves to that teacher. It is difficult to reach a closed person, and impossible if you do not truly care about them. Also, a teacher must treat students as human beings. Too many teachers nowadays talk down to their students. The truth is some students know more about most subjects than their teacher! Students are not dumb. Students are not blind. Students really can think for themselves. In all things we are equal to teachers except in age and education and position placed in. Just because someone has been placed in the position of teacher, however, does not mean they are worthy of the title. A good, effective teacher treats the students as they want to be treated. Yes, discipline is necessary in the classroom, but a good teacher is not only a teacher, but also a friend and mentor. In the movie, none of the students respect Erin at the beginning. However, by the end (yes, I cheated and rented the movie over the weekend) all the students have the greatest respect for her. Erin earned their respect by showing that she respected them. I know many teachers that I would like to show this movie to and say “see? That’s the way to do it!” Too many teachers like to strut around and tell their students that we have to respect them because they are the teacher. That’s ridiculous. The basics of a good teacher are all found in Erin Gruwell who not only won the respect of her students, but their love.

She complained about me, saying I wasn't trying. Why should I try, when she wouldn't?

She complained about me, saying I didn't want to learn. Why should I want to learn, when she didn't want to teach me?

She demanded respect from me... why should I respect her? She didn't respect me.

Life Goes On

So, the play is over. Supposedly, I make a really good old person. ;] And the weather is unbearably hot.

My dad said that we performed a miracle. ;] Though, we all did know that it would take a miracle to pull this thing off. But it went marvelously nonetheless. <3

"Wake me up inside....
Wake me up inside..
Call my name
and save me from the dark.

Save me from the nothing I've become...

Bring me to life."

Theatre

I am so upset I am almost to the point of not caring anymore. >.< The way we are being treated is ridiculous.

We have only one person as director.. producer... everything! And they have decided to take him away a WEEK before performance to go to a science convention.

Do not talk to me about devotion.. you have none.
Do not talk to me about loyalty... you have none.
Do not talk to me about commitment.. you have none.

Talk to me instead about selfishness, blindness, and disrespect.. for that is what you have.

A Return to Randomness

"Well, the pretty damsel in distress couldn't be you, because you're the scientist that needs defeating. As to who it is, that is depends on who you decide to dangle over a river of flowing lava, or send to Mars, or tie her to train tracks,... etc." ~Addison

"Please count me in your taking over STL.( i can pull a inside job )
luv your posts
JON"

""WHO DOES ADDISON LIKE???" You'll never know Ruth!" ~Addison

"See harrison, I told you she had a brain!" ~Addison

"Now I'm really convinced she has a brain.
Potent comments, Ruth." ~Addison

"YOU CAN HAVE A HEAVENLY EXPRESSION ON YOUR FACE??!!! WOWWW!!!! =0" ~David

"I don't look down on anyone's silliness. After all, I'm the king of silliness. ;-)" ~Addison

"See, I told you I'm a gentleman!" ~Addison

"Who know's harrison. Perhaps we are in over our heads with this one. She indoctriniating the whole world with love filled peace nik speech..." ~Addison

"whatsup? y dont u bring this up at school where i can actually do something w/o having to look at blogs for it [which i dont usually do...] =\" ~Dave on "...My Heart..."

"AMEN SISTER!!! THATS THE TRUTH!!! SING IT OUT AGAIN!!!
sorry... xDD but what you say is true!! ==>remember God in all that you do<== ^_^" ~Dave

"Water fountains, Dave? Please. She needs to post about something high and intellectual like... the mysteries of bouncy balls. (That's for you, Joy.)" ~Harrison

"What I really want to know, is who you think of when you think of Gollum. ;)" ~WallJM

""What do you fear, lady?" he asked.

"A cage," she said, "to stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance fo doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire."
One of my favorite Eowyn quotes. :)
You know who I see when I see you?
Yavanna, who would mourn for the lost Spring of Arda.
Melian, whose hand would be the one that Finwe the Great could not function without.
Elwing the White, who gave all she had to journey to the Undying Lands with Earendil.
Valar, Mair, and Elves. Can't think of a good human one. ;)" ~Deborah <3


"I dreamed that I found my PE bag in my little brother's closet yesterday.
*scratches head*
And no, it wasn't there. Where is it, dangit? -____-" ~Deborah

"'Sadly, I will have to wait for the summer before I can carry it out...'
Do I detect a evil plan in the works...? Perhaps one that involves vicitmizing all of us poor St Louis people who want to live in peace with all men...?
*Vows to destroy all evil plans*" ~Addison

"I am woman. Hear me roar: Meow!" ~Joy

"Evil? Ruth? Never!
*grins and throws a pillow at Ruth*
'Course we don't think she's evil, she just loves scheming. :)" ~Deborah

"great posts... ^.^;;
ooh! pillow throwing!! *throws pillows at everyone present*
oh boy, its gonna come back soon" ~David

"Not sure what to say about all of this.
Though I do love the fact that you admitted to torturing me..." ~Addison

""and wuv, twue wuv, wiw fowwow you fowever and ever . . . "
--The Impressive Clergyman from The Princess Bride
Just had to write that!" ~Joy

haha.. I need to stop this time-wasting and get my work done. I just went through part of my archives... I got up to April 2005. *laughs* and here I posted comments that made me laugh. Most of them are said by Addison... I wonder what happened to all his wit... it seems to have disappeared. *laughs* Enjoy.