Is this part of your master plan to destroy all joy from the universe?

Today is a dismal day in the life of Rebekah Jon Whittaker. I love Halloween, but I went to school as a Newsie, and all day I've been fighting to keep my hat, for what's a Newsie without his (or her) hat? But I can't contend with this many people, and I have surrendered. For the time being. I still want it back, but it's not in my power to get it right now. So my entire day has pretty much gone down the drain because I don't have my hat.

I don't even know if I want to go to this party tonight. Oh, I know I will, and I know I'll probably have fun, but I just don't want to be around people anymore. School is enough socializing for me, and then I'm ready to just go home and read a good book or watch a good movie or take a nap. Anything where I don't have to talk to people. I have fun for a while and then it just gets tedious, trying to make everyone happy and trying to keep up a cheerful act, when all I want to do is hide in my room and doodle and listen to music. Music has that amazing quality to calm me down. Or hype me up, depending on the music.

My head hurts, from people grabbing the hat off my head, but accidentally grabbing hair with it.

What I really want right now is a big bag of candy corn, a big cup of ice water, and to watch Newsies. Well, I can do the last one, I guess.

"Sometimes I just think-man, I could sure use a tuque right now!" ~Jen Lee

Today's subject: Tuques!

Here's a lovely little entry from Wikipedia on tuques that I recently found. It's quite amusing, actually. My favorite phrases are in bold.





"Tuque: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

A tuque (Canadian French: tuque) is a knitted hat, originally usually of wool though now often of synthetic fibers, that is designed to provide warmth in winter. Sometimes considered Canada's national hat, all tuques are tapered and brimless, and they are often topped with pompons.
The word tuque is not etymologically related to the name of the chef's toque, although tuque is sometimes spelled "toque" (though still pronounced /tuk/) by assimilation. The word is also sometimes spelled "touque"; while this is technically a misspelling, it's a quite common one.
During the 1837 Patriotes Rebellion a red tuque became a symbol of French-Canadian nationalism, a symbol that was briefly revived by the Front de liberation du Quebec in the 1970s.
Today some consider tuques to be somewhat lacking in sophistication, though they are indispensable in cold climates. The most famous media characters to sport this kind of hat are the SCTV characters, Bob and Doug McKenzie. Michael Nesmith of the Monkees also wore this hat in his television series.
In the United States, this type of hat is usually referred to as a knit hat, knit cap, sock cap or stocking cap, and sometimes as a ski hat. In the U.S. southern states, it is sometimes called a toboggan.
There is also a town known as La Tuque, Quebec, named after a nearby hill that resembles a tuque.
A beanie is a similar type of hat."

Tuques are fun. I wore one to the football game, cause holy flippin Ice Age, it was cold. I had on a hoodie, and a jacket, and gloves, and my knee-high socks, and I was still cold. My toes were freezing. I left early to go buy milk and the heater was very welcome. But now it's really cold down here and I'm still all bundled up.

I really think that this tiredness thing is more than it seems. Take last night for example. I went to bed at nine, and got up at nine thirty, and I'm still exhausted. I'm taking vitamins, and they have iron, so who knows. I hope it's not anything serious. I doubt it, but I'm sick and tired of being...tired.

We bought this movie that I'm still contemplating if I want to watch it or not. It's about dance, so I think I'd like it, but from what I can see, it's pretty much like Center Stage, which I hated, cause it was all about this girl who danced who was trying to decide between the hot guy and the nice guy. Which is what this movie is supposed to be about. Big whoop. I'd like to see about a girl, or guy, who just has to work really hard to dance with no stupid romances cluttering the story.

Have you ever felt like there was something missing in your life? Like there could be something more? Not necessarily something spiritual, but something else to occupy your time. I don't know. But lately I haven't felt like socializing with anybody, even more than usual. The last two football games I've just sat by myself, but I wanted it that way. I didn't want to talk to anyone, I just wanted to watch the game. I wouldn't really have minded if someone just came and sat with me, but most people seem to think that when you're with someone you have to talk, which isn't the cause. You can just be together without having to talk. It's rather nice actually.

I really can't think of anything else to say, so I'll leave you. Love to all, and an especially big hi to me mum and Liz, who happen to be in the same place. Shalom

Why are you looking at me like that? Haven't you ever seen a monkey before?

Ha, do you remember that Liz? That was when we were on the tour bus in Germany and we were both sleeping and we both woke up at the same time to the tour guide saying, "Why are you looking at me like that? Haven't you ever seen a monkey before?" You can imagine the confusion.

Guess what happened today? I got a letter, from Peter! Huzzah! It was very happy. And it was doubly wicked, because yesterday, I got a letter from Liz which contained seven CD's! Oh the jubilation! Not only was it mail for me, that wasn't college-ness, but it had wonderful CD's that I am now addicted to! What fun! It was amazing. In fact, I'll go as far as to say that it was naked. I love mail. Please send more.

I don't really have much to say.....it seems like I already said it all before, which I probably did in my letter back to Peter, so I guess he'll know it all and you won't. Ha ha! Actually, it was mostly about friendship and jedi boots and homecoming, so I doubt that you would all be interested anyway.

So what else? I seem to have been writing quite philosophical messages of late, so this will be a...relief? A change? A breath of fresh air? Who knows? I'm cold but I want ice cream. My hands are warm but my head hurts. You obviously don't care about any of this, cause I can just picture Steven skimming over this trying to see if there's anything of worth. Well, you know what, my fine fair-haired friend? There's NOT! So ha! Write in your own blog once in a while and maybe I'll write something interesting in here.

I miss me mum. She's a wonderful person, and we have such fun. I wonder when she's coming next...

There's a stake dance tomorrow night, and I haven't been able to find anyone who can tell me what the theme is or whether it's casual or dressy. We have to practice our song for Sunday and we have to plan the November dance. I have to make a poster for Psych, mend pants, clean the house and try and get some sleep!

Oh! One last thing before I go and leave you to continue drooling all over your keyboards. Mr George Winston is coming here, to La Grande of all places, for a concert on Sunday! And guess who's going? Not me. Actually, that's a lie, I am going, with me papi, and it's going to be great fun and lovely and amazing. So yeah. Be jealous.

I will leave you now, I love you all, and hope to talk to you (*cough cough* Liz! *cough cough*) soon! Shalom!

I'll tell myself that I never needed anybody anyway

The power of dance-Dance can fill you with such joy and comfort. When you become one with the music and it moves you, and you are no longer a part of the world. You become a spirit, a whisper of nature. The cares of the world are lifted off your body and you float, lifted by the passion that controls your movements. Your body has become a testament of your joys, your sorrows, your fears. All of your feeling has become movement. Dance can express what words cannot.
"We dance for laughter, we dance for tears
We dance for madness, we dance for fears
We dance for hopes, we dance for screams
We are the dancers, we create the dreams."
~Anonymous

The power of peace-I went to a peace rally this last weekend. It was quite interesting. There were many things said that I agreed with, and I was glad to be there as an advocate for peace. There was a wonderful band there called Trendy Indies, and they had some good, clean, peaceful songs that I quite enjoyed. But while I (and the other members of SFT present) was there to promote a peaceful attitude, there were many high school students there who were campaigning against the war. I agree, I don't wish the war to continue, I want to bring peace to our nation by bringing our soldiers home, but what they were doing was completely counter-productive to our message. They held obscene and offensive signs and were promoting anti-Bush attitudes. All that is accomplishing is making the community non-sympathetic to our cause. You cannot fight war with war. We are demonstrating for a peaceful attitude, which includes peaceful actions and the goal to unite as peacemakers to change the world. It is pointless to offend others.
"We cannot change the past, but we can change our attitude toward it. Uproot guilt and plant forgiveness. Tear out arrogance and seed humility. Exchange love for hate-thereby, making the present comfortable and the future promising."
~Maya Angelou

The power of friendship-Steven and I don't really get to see each other very much anymore, because we have such conflicting schedules. The times when we see each other and talk to each other most are those wonderful Sunday evenings when I go help him with the racks. I look forward to that time, when we actually get to talk and learn more about each other. This Sunday, for example, was probably one of the more enjoyable evenings we've had together. After completing the racks, we drove up a lonely dirt road and sat on the hood of the car and gazed at the stars while talking. We talked of many things, of our hopes and dreams, of fears and comforts. It was nice, just talking together after hardly seeing each other, being so busy with other things. What tremendous gifts little evenings like that are.
"What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies."
~Aristotle

The power of song-We went singing again this Sunday afternoon, 2 1/2 hours this time. It was so amazing. I griped a bit, it's true, but I was grateful for the opportunity afterward. We sang to many different people, some in need, and some just to brighten their day. It's so nice to know that you're helping someone feel better, just by doing something that you enjoy. I know I appreciate the beauty of music, and the calming peace it gives you. The simple pleasure of listening to a beautiful voice, a melodic piano, or a soothing guitar can change your mood and day within an instant. It's not a coincidence that the Lord gave us the gift of music on this earth, to share and to uplift others. Music can be harmful, of course, but the overall benefits of good music are astronomical.
"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
~Berthold Auerbach

The power of life-We should live each day better than the last, constantly striving to do build our character and filling our minds and hearts with knowledge and experience. Life is a gift. Take it, enjoy it, use it. And show gratitude for the small and simple things that are given you.
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
~Albert Einstein

Shalom

Hey howdy hey!

Hello to all my wonderful friends, and an especially big hello to Raage! Please go to

www.littlewheemindmisfires.blogspot.com

for the next piece of the puzzle! Have a wonderful day! Love to all!

Hi to all those I love!

Hey howdy hey and a great big hello to all my friends out there! I especially wanted to say hi to Raage! Hi Raage! What's up? Here's the next peice of the puzzle! Go to

www.littlewheemindmisfires.blogspot.com

Have a wonderful day and love to all!

Death kills 5 out of every 5 dead smokers.

I offer no explanation. I leave you to speculate.

Life has been interesting, to say the very least, of late. As a warning, this is not a "oh, my life sucks and terrible things keep happening to me" kind of blog. I do not want your sympathy. This is merely a blurb of feelings and speculations. I also did not allow for new comments on this blog, because I don't want to know what you think. This is what I think, and I need to allow some integrity for my blog. Not that what you think isn't important, it's just...inappropriate for this entry.

Actually, I really want a glass of milk right now.

How typical. Society is so bent on filling its material needs that it can't even reflect on its individual's lives without fulfilling physical desires first. Why is that? Was Maslow correct when he established the idea of his hierarchy of needs? Do our bodily needs outweigh our spiritual ones so much that we can't fill our spiritual needs until everything else is taken care of? Of course not. We've gotten so used to instant gratification that the time we have spared is not used for meditation, but for fulfilling more needs. I just want to step back and let the flow carry on without me, so that I can observe it from the sidelines and figure out what I'm supposed to do before diving back in to be swept along with the tide of life. I wish I had time for that sort of pondering, time to just sit back and learn through observation, and not in a school setting. I want to change things. I want to change people's lives, influence them for good, help someone back on their way, make people think!

I've noticed a lot about myself lately. I used to think that I really depended on someone to help me through the hard times and to give me advice and to just be there for me, to hold me when I needed it. But people move, people change, and sometimes you can't even count on your best friend. I always knew I was solitary, but it was mostly at home, to avoid arguments or conversation. But lately, I've noticed that I'm not so sure about people's company. I like to be with people. No. I like to laugh. And people sometimes do that. But more and more I've curled deeper into my books and away from the blaring, blinding bedlam of life. I don't enjoy company like I used to. I don't want to talk to people. I want to watch. And listen. And learn. I don't want to interact. I want to be done with public education and travel. Travel to different states and learn about different dialects. Travel to different countries and learn and imitate their culture, their language, their politics, their games. I'm not content with what I have. I want more, and then I want a way to share that information to wrest ignorance and prejudice from the close-minded. I want to share the peace I have found from the scriptures and the gospel. I want freedom to do what I want when I want. I want to learn tennis. I want to dance. I want a lot of things. And that opportunity just isn't here. Where to go? It seems that all fantasy stories involve a journey of some kind, a quest to rescue a maiden, or an adventure to find your true identity. That's what I want. I want to pack a backpack and start walking up the hills, and keep walking and walking to see what I'll find. Mountains seem to call to me. It seems that whenever I'm around mountains, I feel a pull, beckoning me to climb, climb and climb to see what's on the other side. Maybe there is no other side. Maybe I'll just keep traveling over hills and vales until I find a nice quiet spot to finally lay down my pack and settle down. Maybe if I'm really lucky, I'll find a young man on the way, to accompany me and share stories and ideas. But not get in the way. Be a constant companion who knows when to be quiet. Like an imaginary friend, but one you can actually hold. Words can enhance and they can hinder, and I feel that this is one of those hindering times. I can't really say what I want to. I can't express it in words, or pictures, or even colors. Touch maybe. That sense is used so rarely, and it has become a controversial action. It is also not entirely truthful. It can be, if the intentions behind it are well. People distrust each other so much now, that nothing can be taken seriously anymore. The brushing of hands, a casual hug. Innocence is not naivete. It is purity of intent, excellence of character, honesty of heart. It is so easy to lie. But to have truth emanate from every fiber of your being, till people know that you are true and honest in your dealings, and that everything from you can be trusted. It's hard. Which is why it is so unpopular. Chivalry has lost its place in this world. But there's always something better. There's always that beautiful sunset, that moonlight on you face, that whisper of wind through your hair. Beauty is not lost, just the appreciation.

Remember, this is not fact, nor even opinion. Speculation, nothing more. My intent was not to offend, but to broaden. You may disagree, but you now have the glimmer of another idea, another mind. Shalom. Peace be unto you, my friend.