[Letters]

“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.” 

[Galileo Galilei]

Alto Dance Party Sidekicks

Dear Dad- Today Beetlejuice was on TV, one of your all-time favorites. To be quite honest, it always kinda freaked me out. If you were here, I'd be curled up on the couch annoying you with questions the whole way through. Miss you forever. Dear Synesthesia- Today I found out that my weird habit of giving numbers and letters personalities is just because I have a form of you called ordinal-linguistic personification (and I swear this is not hypochondriasis!). How cool is that? I love learning about interesting disorders. Dear Little Girl In Choir- Sometimes you little dumplings are SERIOUSLY too cute to handle. Your ending of the ABC's was so adorable it brought tears to my eyes! The Alto Section can testify! [Insert Alto Dance Party here]


P.S. I have yet to watch The Da Vinci Code, because I am currently reading it(I got halfway through, had to read for English and had to start over). Today, I looked up who the actors were in it, because I needed to picture Robert Langdon as less of an idiot american and more of a superhero. I was SEVERELY disappointed when I found out that TOM HANKS and some random lady were Langdon and Sophie. So obviously, to clear my mind of that catastrophe, I had to recast the movie in my mind. Langdon and Sophie are now played by: Robert Downy Jr. and Catherine Zeta-Jones! I now have a much more satisfying image while I read. 

[Letters]

"If one advances confidently in the direction of one's dreams, and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined, one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” [Henry David Thoreau]

Dear Dad- I wish you could be here for the compassion project, so I could come home and tell you all of the exciting things that are going on in our community, and tell you that there IS hope in humanity. Dear Man I Volunteered With Today- I loved spending 2 hours working next to you! You reminded me that there are good men in the world, other than teachers and relatives. I was enthralled with our discussions on the American Education System, travel, college, and of course music and art. You told me what 2 other great men in my life have told me before, to study abroad, and to take non-major-focused classes just for the heck of it. Thanks for the reminder! Dear C-Aams- Your carpentry is as awful as my thumb jokes are good. Thanks for putting up with "Hey Mr. Aamot is it harder to not hit your thumb with the hammer because it's so big?" and (when you said you weren't very good with carpentry) "It's because you're all thumbs!" Thanks for giving my lame jokes a big thumbs up and for being a good sport. In all seriousness though, thank you for organizing(okay I use that word loosely) a volunteer project for us, one that we are actually connected with, and thank you for staying there and giving it your best longer than any of us. It really shows good leadership. 

P.S. Its interesting, in America, we're so worried about being ahead of China, and we're fretting because our science and math scores are lower than theirs. However, in China, they look at American schools and they wonder how our students are so creative. They literally have asked how they can make their students creative like we are. So America, don't lose sight of the importance of the fine arts. Creativity is essential for nearly every profession, and art is extremely important when making connections with other people. It is my hope that in our race for intelligence, we don't let art and music fall by the wayside. 

[Letters]

“If you see a friend without a smile; give him one of yours." [Proverb]

Dear Dad- While planning my road trip to Cali this summer(pipe dream), I decided we'd stop in Wyoming to stay overnight. I almost called you at work to see what hotel to stay in because I forgot. I miss you every day in this last hard, hard month. Dear Scariest Gang in the City- Thanks for coming over tonight and shaking things up a bit. You made my day. Dear Smile Box- Between you and listening to the best pump up song ever, my day and my mood were significantly brightened! [For those who don't know, a smile box is a box filled with pictures, cards, letters, and note cards with favorite texts/quotes that make you smile!]


P.S. Isn't it interesting that your expectations can frame your whole day? If you are expecting to spend time with someone lively and spunky, it comes as a shock and a disappointment when they are morose and melancholy. A few of us had that experience today, and it wasn't much fun at all. Pretty sure everyone was emotionally drained after that study sesh today. 

[Letters]

"You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead." [Isaiah 26:19]

Dear Dad- Today we went down to Peven Stoint and spent Easter with your family after a lively morning of egg/basket hunts and CEO service. It was good to see everyone, but being with family made me miss you even more. Dear Vivian- I think you are my new favorite person. This is probably due to the fact that you are adorable, you seem to love me, and you are 3 months old. I still like you even when you vomit and cry! Dear Jesus- Thank you for allowing me to celebrate your resurrection, and your sacrifice of yourself to save me. 


P.S. When you love someone let them know it. Whether it be to buy them coffee, give them a hug, say a few kind words, or just simply telling them "I love you." It can never be said too much. 

[Mission: Prom Date]

With the help of some friends, I asked the wonderful Finnigan to prom on Thursday via scavenger hunt. 

Clue # 1: "Finn Look In Gabe's Pants! (left back pocket)"

Clue #2 led Finn to Jamie's house, where he obtained Clue #3. 

Olav with clues 4 & 5. 

Clue #4, buried in the snow. The yellow ribbon peeking out was on all of the clues. Its the left over fabric from altering my dress. 

Clue #5 (no image) was up in the tree at the BOSS(naturally), which led him to City Park.

Where I was waiting with the MOST AWKWARD cookie cake of all time. (He said yes.)

Dear Dad- I think you'd approve, mostly because you did when we went to homecoming this year. Also because you would have gotten some leftover cookie cake out of the deal. Dear Finn- Thanks for being my date, and for putting up with all that prom has and will entail. Dear Gabe- Thank you for putting up with Finn throughout the scavenger hunt, it sounded like it was pretty rough. 

P.S. Lifeguarding is basically like being paid to people watch, especially in the kiddie pool. What I've observed from the past 6 hours of guarding, is a simple pattern. Kids act out when parents are inattentive, so parents get angry and kids misbehave even more. Parents, if you want a night out with your friends, hire a babysitter, don't go to the pool and ignore your kids. 

[Earth Day]

"Till now man has been up against Nature; from now on he will be up against his own nature." [Dennis Gabor]

HAPPY EARTH DAY HOMIES! 

In honor of this incredible holiday, I am veering off of my usual blogging format to bring you...


22 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day! (In no particular order, and in varying levels of seriousness)


22. Plant a garden, or even just a flowerpot. For those of you who live in Wisconsin, that day may not be today, but do it soon! Eating fresh fruits and vegetables from your garden is so rewarding! If that's too much work, go to ace hardware, pick up a small planter and some soil and flowers and create a pretty planter for your front step! Come on, Michelle Obama did it!
21. Ride your bike! If it is a nice day, forget the clunker, grab your bike, and start using those legs for something other a gas pedel. CHALLENGE: I am planning on riding my bike to work at least 3 times a week this summer! Anybody with me?  
20. Take shorter showers. Remember those videos we used to watch about water conservation in elementary school?
19. Turn off the lights when you exit your room or house. Same goes for turning off your ipod dock. 
18. Unplug your cell phone charger from the wall. Even when its not plugged into your phone, it still wastes electricity. 
17. Compost! Its a great way to cut down on garbage, and it makes GREAT soil. Read more by clicking here.
16. Fix leaky faucets. Before we fixed our bathroom faucet, it was leaking over 2 gallons of water a day!
15. Reuse wrapping paper for gifts. Bonus points if you use newspaper!
14. GO GREEN online. Opt to have letters instead sent as emails. Instead of getting the daily paper, look on the internet for your news. 

13. Paper or plastic? Neither! Either bring your own bag, or go without one! 
12. Donate. Instead of putting old clothes, toys, or books in the garbage, send them to goodwill, savers, or another local resale shop. Bonus points if the store assists local charities in some way!
11. Recycle. We all know to put our soda cans in the blue bins, but what about computers and batteries? They may cost a little extra to recycle, but its well worth it. Go to http://www.recyclethatstuff.com/ to learn more. 
10. Recycle paper. Stick recycling bags or bins around your house, especially in places where you clean out your backpack and throw away those NHS agendas you never look at again. Make sure to put one by your computer so you can recycle your messed up essays or when you print in greyscale instead of color. Bonus points if you reuse the back of printed on paper!
9. Buy energy saver/water saver appliances. Even though our laundry now takes twice as long to do, it uses significantly less water and energy. 
8. Plant a tree. Remember when in elementary school, they used to send us home with a mini evergreen on earth day? 
7. I'm pumped to see this movie and learn more about our earth and its inhabitants! Bonus points for going on earth day, because part of the cost of your ticket will go to help Africa's cats and wildlife. 
6. Watch Disney Channel, they usually have some pretty great ideas. 
5. Head on over to starbucks with a reusable coffee mug and receive a free cup of coffee! 
4. Get creative. Turn an old T-shirt into a headband, or vice versa! 
3. Take a neature walk and see all of the neat things outside!
2. Bake an earth day cake.
1. Remember the beautiful earth and the precious resources it contains. Respect the earth. Its earth day. 

[Letters]

"We are the heirs of a legacy of creative protest." [Martin Luther King, Jr.]

Photocredit:http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=U0&Date=20110223&Category=APC01&ArtNo=102230815&Ref=PH

Dear Dad- The other day one of my teachers went on a political rant, and it made me think of you. The next day I found this email from you in reference to my protesting(see above): 

Way to go girl - I'm proud of you.  Not because of what side you are on, but the fact that you stood up for your beliefs. You are also learning some important lessons about our government and how it can get out of hand with too much money.
  

I miss you a lot kiddo - hope to see you soon. I really miss our nightly, suppertime, one-on-one arguments, I mean discussions.

Love,

Dad

I miss our nightly, suppertime, one-on-one arguments too. I miss this so much, I have learned so much from you, even if it is just how to hold my own in an argument. I miss you. Dear Mister- I have a really fantastic surprise for you tomorrow, and I'm really excited. I hope you'll like it. Dear Worker at Great American Cookie- I hope you enjoyed our phone conversation tonight as much as I did. Between changing the frosting color 5 times, figuring out how to spell what's on the cake(me: F as in... wait... what the heck starts with F? F as in fog) and putting a toboggan on our cookie cake, I think you deserve employee of the year award. 

P.S.[Philosophical Speculations] Isn't it funny how in April we decide it's no longer necessary to do any of our homework? There's nothing really to speculate about with this though, is there? 

[Letters]

"The sun, it rises slowly as you walk away from all the fears and all the faults you've left behind" [Mumford & Sons]

I conquered my first day back at work and my killer work out! HOORAY for climbing everyday mountains.

Dear Dad- I got a 99% on my social psych test! I studied really hard for it, and okay, there was a curve. (Warning: you may not be so proud of me when I get my calc test back.) Dear Swim Workout- I was ready to count you as a failure, considering the fact that I struggled with a fairly simple set. However, I FINISHED and thats what really counts here. Dear Fears of Yesterday- Thats just what you are. Already, I am comfortable again in my job and my role, and I'm even EXCITED to go back tomorrow. 


P.S.[Philosophical Speculations] It is April 19 and a thick layer of snow coats the ground. Earlier today, I caught the grouchy attitude of everyone around me, as the "stupid dumb wet snow pelted to the ground." But as I was driving home after work tonight, I was caught by surprise. I was driving down a non-plowed, power-outed, deserted road, and as I turned my head down a side street, my breath was taken away. There really is nothing like a first snow. The beautiful way it clings perfectly to every branch of every tree, making the whole world still and peaceful. So although I'm not the happiest that we don't get to experience spring this year, the beauty of the "first" snow tonight almost made it worth it. 

[Letters]

Dear Dad- I think you'd be proud of me.  I'm finally using the camera you worked so hard on for me. Luckily, I have friends who know what they're doing and can help me figure everything out. I miss you. Dear Lars (my sweet ride)- Sometimes your "check engine soon" "low fuel" and spontaneous "Brake(!)" lights all light up my dashboard at once, making it look like a pretty christmas tree. This makes me smile, but it also makes me a bit wary when I'm driving on the highway. Dear Lifeguarding- Tomorrow will be the first time we meet in four months. I'm a little bit scared, but I think we will start to be friends again. Especially when I get my next paycheck. 


P.S.[Philosophical Speculations] After not doing something for a while, is it normal to be scared? What is the fear of, failure? Not being accepted?  Is it a simple fear of the unknown? 

[Letters]

"Moreover, I, on my side, require of every writer, first or last, a simple and sincere account of his own life..." [Henry David Thoreau]

Dear Dad- Thanks for keeping that belt from the seventies you obviously never wore after you turned 25; it fits me perfectly. I miss you. Dear Snow in the Middle of April- Thank you for letting me sit inside doing nothing, but seriously, move on. I'll see plenty of you next year. Dear Today's Letters- Thank you for being my motivation and my inspiration. Also, Happy (early) Birthday to your blog! Congrats on a whole year of crazy goodness. 

P.S.[Philosophical Speculations] I wonder if Thoreau knew he would be so influential 157 years after he wrote my favorite book. As reflects the title of this blog, Thoreau once wrote "Moreover, I, on my side, require of every writer, first or last, a simple and sincere account of his own life..." and that is what I plan to do. I plan to give, through daily letters and P.S. a simple and sincere account.