Ok, about the chickiebaby thing. You know, the word just clicked with Chick-fil-a. But where did I get the word, you ask? Well, a couple years ago, I went to a drama camp, and part of our final presentation was an improved play. Our chosen set was on an airplane, and I was going to be the captain. Well, one of my passengers was a hippie girl from the 60's(yeah, tie dye shirt, sunglasses, peace symbol necklace, the whole enchilada). I was walking around to each passenger, introducing myself, and making small talk. When I reached her, she stood up, threw a flower at me, and said, "What's up, Chickiebaby?". I almost lost it, but thankfully, I was to keep a steady voice and face, and we got through the rest of the play. I still see her from time to time, and that's the joke we always share. Then eventually, we just started calling Chick-fil-a "Chickiebaby" in honor of the occasion. Yeah, we drama people are just a little weird, but you come and see us anyway, right?
(Yeah, I know it's a spin-off a HSM song, but you know what?)
Finally, we're back home! I enjoyed warm Florida and Thanksgiving and my grandparents, but I missed my busy life back in cool Atlanta. Plus, how could anyone not miss all you beautiful people back at home? Anyway, just wanted to let you all know that I'm back, and that I had a really great time. Last night, we all went to a boat and fireworks show in downtown Jacksonville. It was really great, and the fireworks were amazing! We had donuts and hot chocolate while we watched the colors flash and shook at every "BOOM!". It was a great way to end our Thanksgiving in Florida.
Finally, we're back home! I enjoyed warm Florida and Thanksgiving and my grandparents, but I missed my busy life back in cool Atlanta. Plus, how could anyone not miss all you beautiful people back at home? Anyway, just wanted to let you all know that I'm back, and that I had a really great time. Last night, we all went to a boat and fireworks show in downtown Jacksonville. It was really great, and the fireworks were amazing! We had donuts and hot chocolate while we watched the colors flash and shook at every "BOOM!". It was a great way to end our Thanksgiving in Florida.
Just wanted to post really quick! I'm on a Mac inside Best Buy!
According to Wikipedia, the letters GED stand for either "General Equivalency Diploma" or "General Education Diploma". But to us homeschoolers, a GED means something a little different. For us, a GED is our Graduate Early Diploma. Yeah, I know. It's lame, but it works! And that's all that matters, right?
Enjoy your day after Thanksgiving! Hope none of you got sick. Now, how many of you got up at 5AM this morning to go shopping? Be honest!
Enjoy your day after Thanksgiving! Hope none of you got sick. Now, how many of you got up at 5AM this morning to go shopping? Be honest!
Just wanted to post about this real quick. So Kassie and I were the only ones in the house, and we were deciding whether or not to pig out on the uneaten desserts. She picked up a knife, covered in thick pumpkin pie, and asked what it was. Unfortunately, her quick movements caused the big glob of pie to slide off the side of the knife, and it fell, fell, and fell thousands of feet(ok, the three feet to the floor), and the great glob "kerplopped" onto the floor, and sent tiny missiles of pumpkin everywhere. She went completely crazy, and started freaking out, crying out in hysterics, "JONATHAN! Jonathan! They are going to hate me! What am I going to do? Jonathan! Jonathan! Help! Help! Jonathan! Jonathan! Hurry up!". Yeah, it was pretty awesome, and I wish I had had a camera. I sure would have posted it. Thankfully, a little water on a paper towel and a little elbow grease(provided by yours truly, of course) made it all better. Anyway, just wanted to share that. Now, we're off to cow race on the Wii. Enjoy the rest of your Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving everybody! Since this year's Thanksgiving falls on the 27th, I have compiled a list of 27 things I am thankful for. Don't worry, I won't be annoying and write "I am thankful for...." 27 times.
I am thankful for:
1. Kassie being able to come to Florida with us. It has been absolutely crazy and amazing and completely random, and it's going to be great.
2. God being ever-present. Without God, I have no idea where I would be.
3. the continued support of my parents. They are always right there with me, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
4. the ability to breathe on my own. Yeah, some people aren't as fortunate, so I'm glad I was blessed with it.
5. the healthy dose of stress I get from my little bro. You know, even though he can get on my last nerve and annoy me to death, I love him and he really is one cool kid.
6. the little extra craziness added to my life my twin friends who don't really fit my created system. Sometimes those two boys just drive me insane, and I have no idea about what to do. But they have some of the biggest hearts in the world, and they know exactly what to say to make you feel better.
7. God's constant encouraging word. It's always there to get me through the day. It's amazing how when we are going through stuff, and we'll remember a verse that helps us along.
8. my ability to entertain people with my writing. It feels great when you are able to make something that makes people laugh or cry or just feel better. It's pretty awesome.
9. trials that I have gone through. Yeah, I know they still hurt, and when I'm going through them, this thought is extremely far away from my mind. But then I realize that the trials make me a much better person, not only before God, but to others.
10. the ability to work with the school system. There are a lot of people out there who just hate school or they are continually failing in it. And so, those people are considered dumb/stupid/lazy/come up with your own word. But not all those people are what others think they are. Sure, there are some people who just hate school period. But a lot of students just don't work the school system's way. The school system is designed for literary learners only. God has blessed me with a gift there, but not all are designed that way.
11. the courage to get up on stage. There some statistic out there about how many people would get up on stage. All I remember is that 90%+ said no. So, I'm glad I'm in the smaller percentage. There's also a saying my director says all the time. "If it was so easy, everyone would do it!".
12. grandparents who are overflowing with wisdom, kindness, and love. I'm so glad that I still have all four grandparents around. They are a great help during this life.
13. the ability to feel. Yeah, things are going to start getting pretty random/crazy here. It's weird, but after about ten, you have to really start thinking. You have to get on the simple level. So I wonder, "What would it be like if I couldn't feel love, heat, anger, or cold?". Something to be thankful for...
14. my amazing friends. Wow, I could go on and on about that. God has placed me with some absolutely fantastic people, and I am so thankful for each and every one of you!
15. the person who started the concept of homeschooling. I looked it up on Wikipedia, and it didn't say. But God knows, so you know.
16. my love for reading and learning. A lot of people just hate both, but because of God and my parents and grandparents instilling that into me as a child, I hunger for it.
17. the wonderful teachers I have had all my life. Yet again, another amazing group who increased my thirst for knowledge.
18. time and the organization is brings about. Yeah, I know we have gotten overtly concerned about what time it is, and being completely controlled by time. But I think the original idea of being more organized by time is something we all need.
19. not having to go through the pain of being a girl. I'm not going to spend too much time here, seeing as how I am no expert. But just from what I hear from my friends, it's just another reason it's great to be a guy.
20. the excitement of something new. Yeah, by now, it's just trying to fill in the blanks. But I mean, it is something to be thankful for. Without the excitement, everything would be pretty mellow.
21. the simplicity of pen and paper. Well.....I mean....it's true! I love my computer and technology and all, but there's just something about the good ol' pen and paper.
22. our free will. Life just wouldn't mean the same without it, that's for sure.
23. the feeling of you using your mind and body to play sports. It fascinates me to think about all the processes our body goes through just to shoot a basketball or hit a homerun. It's truly amazing.
24. the beauty of babies. Well, it's true! I mean, who can resist smiling when they see a sleeping or smiling baby? Sure, it's pretty easy when they are screaming their brains out, but you know.
25. the ability to go to the bathroom by myself. I was desperate, all right?! Seriously, some people have some issues there. Just trying to look at the simple things in life.
26. music and the inspiration it brings. There's just something about music. I just can't explain it. For some reason, it affects people in so many ways, it just draws you in.
27. each day.
I hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving, and God Bless!
P.S. If you want to, send me a comment about 27 things you are thankful for!
I am thankful for:
1. Kassie being able to come to Florida with us. It has been absolutely crazy and amazing and completely random, and it's going to be great.
2. God being ever-present. Without God, I have no idea where I would be.
3. the continued support of my parents. They are always right there with me, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
4. the ability to breathe on my own. Yeah, some people aren't as fortunate, so I'm glad I was blessed with it.
5. the healthy dose of stress I get from my little bro. You know, even though he can get on my last nerve and annoy me to death, I love him and he really is one cool kid.
6. the little extra craziness added to my life my twin friends who don't really fit my created system. Sometimes those two boys just drive me insane, and I have no idea about what to do. But they have some of the biggest hearts in the world, and they know exactly what to say to make you feel better.
7. God's constant encouraging word. It's always there to get me through the day. It's amazing how when we are going through stuff, and we'll remember a verse that helps us along.
8. my ability to entertain people with my writing. It feels great when you are able to make something that makes people laugh or cry or just feel better. It's pretty awesome.
9. trials that I have gone through. Yeah, I know they still hurt, and when I'm going through them, this thought is extremely far away from my mind. But then I realize that the trials make me a much better person, not only before God, but to others.
10. the ability to work with the school system. There are a lot of people out there who just hate school or they are continually failing in it. And so, those people are considered dumb/stupid/lazy/come up with your own word. But not all those people are what others think they are. Sure, there are some people who just hate school period. But a lot of students just don't work the school system's way. The school system is designed for literary learners only. God has blessed me with a gift there, but not all are designed that way.
11. the courage to get up on stage. There some statistic out there about how many people would get up on stage. All I remember is that 90%+ said no. So, I'm glad I'm in the smaller percentage. There's also a saying my director says all the time. "If it was so easy, everyone would do it!".
12. grandparents who are overflowing with wisdom, kindness, and love. I'm so glad that I still have all four grandparents around. They are a great help during this life.
13. the ability to feel. Yeah, things are going to start getting pretty random/crazy here. It's weird, but after about ten, you have to really start thinking. You have to get on the simple level. So I wonder, "What would it be like if I couldn't feel love, heat, anger, or cold?". Something to be thankful for...
14. my amazing friends. Wow, I could go on and on about that. God has placed me with some absolutely fantastic people, and I am so thankful for each and every one of you!
15. the person who started the concept of homeschooling. I looked it up on Wikipedia, and it didn't say. But God knows, so you know.
16. my love for reading and learning. A lot of people just hate both, but because of God and my parents and grandparents instilling that into me as a child, I hunger for it.
17. the wonderful teachers I have had all my life. Yet again, another amazing group who increased my thirst for knowledge.
18. time and the organization is brings about. Yeah, I know we have gotten overtly concerned about what time it is, and being completely controlled by time. But I think the original idea of being more organized by time is something we all need.
19. not having to go through the pain of being a girl. I'm not going to spend too much time here, seeing as how I am no expert. But just from what I hear from my friends, it's just another reason it's great to be a guy.
20. the excitement of something new. Yeah, by now, it's just trying to fill in the blanks. But I mean, it is something to be thankful for. Without the excitement, everything would be pretty mellow.
21. the simplicity of pen and paper. Well.....I mean....it's true! I love my computer and technology and all, but there's just something about the good ol' pen and paper.
22. our free will. Life just wouldn't mean the same without it, that's for sure.
23. the feeling of you using your mind and body to play sports. It fascinates me to think about all the processes our body goes through just to shoot a basketball or hit a homerun. It's truly amazing.
24. the beauty of babies. Well, it's true! I mean, who can resist smiling when they see a sleeping or smiling baby? Sure, it's pretty easy when they are screaming their brains out, but you know.
25. the ability to go to the bathroom by myself. I was desperate, all right?! Seriously, some people have some issues there. Just trying to look at the simple things in life.
26. music and the inspiration it brings. There's just something about music. I just can't explain it. For some reason, it affects people in so many ways, it just draws you in.
27. each day.
I hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving, and God Bless!
P.S. If you want to, send me a comment about 27 things you are thankful for!
We are finally here! Gosh, six hours sure is a long drive, but we are finally at my grandparent's house in Jacksonville, Florida. It was long, uneventful, but still good. One of the good things about the trip was Kassie taught me how to angle the camera to compliment people's faces. I was super excited, and as I was playing around, I looked at some of my shots, and I was like, "Hey, I have brown eyes!". Yes, I always knew I had brown eyes, but the camera never told anybody about it, till now. So it was pretty cool to finally see my brown eyes stick out against my brown hair. Anyway, back to the trip. Nothing really happened much. We had brunch at ChickieBaby(Chick-Fil-A, I'll post about it sometime, note the word sometime), of course. After a few hours of sleep, a few games of Hangman, a few of seconds of attempted reading, and quite a few minutes of The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, we finally reached the old, columned home of my granny and gramps. They both greeted us, including Kassie, all as we piled out of the car, with open arms. It was really great, and I'm glad that Kassie is feeling extremely comfortable and safe, and that she thinks their house feels "homey". Anyway, just wanted to let you all know we made it safely. I hope you all stay safe this holiday! Talk to you later!
So Kassie and I had finally gotten bored here at my grandparent's house(story coming soon!). I had given her the grand tour, we had eaten chili, and played cards. And so we were trying to figure out what to do. Then we were like, "Hey, let's blog and check our email." So we both got out our laptops, but there was no wireless, our cards wouldn't work, and there was no other way to get internet access. We sadly logged off, shut down, and sat with our head in our hands. It was pretty sad though, seeing as how we were upset about not having internet. But there before us, on the table, lay two sheets of paper and two pencils....You know those moments where you say, "Great minds think alike!"? "Blogging on paper!", we shouted and got to work. So here I am, typing in while Kassie's upstairs, catching a few Zzz's.
Teenagers are known for their interesting quality of randomness. Seeing as how I meet the "qualifications", I have great experience with such qualities, and have been known to exhibit them myself. However, even extremely scheduled parents(like mine) can sometimes get out of the groove. Today was a crazy example. So tomorrow, I'm leaving for Florida to celebrate Thanksgiving with my mom's side of the family. (Don't worry. My grandparents are not afraid of technology, and I'll be able to use their computer to continue posting interesting stories for your enjoyment:)) I was talking to Kassie about it, and I asked about her plans. Unfortunately, she was going to end up spending Thanksgiving alone! I was like, "That's awful!". She seemed disappointed, but content to drive somewhere for the occasion. After we hung up, I told my mom about it, and she was like, "That's so sad!". Then my brother spoke up, "She can go to that lady's house!".(A friend of ours from church is opening her home to anyone who is alone or wants to be with friends on Thanksgiving.) But we were like, "She's not going to know anyone there." And then I said the magic words, "You know, it would be really cool if she could come to Florida with us.". That, surprisingly, started everything! My mom got into the idea and my brother got excited. We called my granny and she said, "The more the merrier!". And my dad gave us the thumb's up. So I called Kassie back and the following....followed:
J: So we have a little proposition for you. We know it's only one day and we'll be gone five, but we wanted to know if you would like to come to Florida with us?
K: You're serious?
J: Yes.
K: YOU'RE serious?
J: YES, Kassie.
K: YOU'RE SERIOUS?
J: YES! Totally serious!
K: That's awesome!
J: I know! Now you know we're leaving tomorrow, right?
K: I don't care! Let's go!
And so it all played out. Her mom said it was ok, and she started packing. And tomorrow morning at 6:15AM, we'll meet her at the tennis courts halfway between our house, pack her stuff into the minivan, pile in till we're packed in like sardines, and set off into the sunset...well, sunrise in our case. Now if that's not completely random, I don't know what is.
J: So we have a little proposition for you. We know it's only one day and we'll be gone five, but we wanted to know if you would like to come to Florida with us?
K: You're serious?
J: Yes.
K: YOU'RE serious?
J: YES, Kassie.
K: YOU'RE SERIOUS?
J: YES! Totally serious!
K: That's awesome!
J: I know! Now you know we're leaving tomorrow, right?
K: I don't care! Let's go!
And so it all played out. Her mom said it was ok, and she started packing. And tomorrow morning at 6:15AM, we'll meet her at the tennis courts halfway between our house, pack her stuff into the minivan, pile in till we're packed in like sardines, and set off into the sunset...well, sunrise in our case. Now if that's not completely random, I don't know what is.
I think I'm in a reflection/inspiration mood tonight. I was talking to my best friend(Kassie!), and we were having a really deep conversation about life, and she asked me how life was(in a detailed paragraph). So here's my response:
My life is like a unfinished puzzle. I'm always trying to find the right pieces, to do the right thing, but my puzzle has thousands of pieces. So it is a challenge. I get excited when I find a match, when life seems to be going good. But I get a little blue when life isn't that great, and the two pieces really don't fit like I thought they would. Yet, I still press on, with the excitement of seeing the picture completed, knowing that in the end, it will be beautiful.
Wasn't that totally wow? Aren't the things God gives us to share with others completely awesome? It's great stuff.
My life is like a unfinished puzzle. I'm always trying to find the right pieces, to do the right thing, but my puzzle has thousands of pieces. So it is a challenge. I get excited when I find a match, when life seems to be going good. But I get a little blue when life isn't that great, and the two pieces really don't fit like I thought they would. Yet, I still press on, with the excitement of seeing the picture completed, knowing that in the end, it will be beautiful.
Wasn't that totally wow? Aren't the things God gives us to share with others completely awesome? It's great stuff.
Something I got from a forward. Pretty powerful stuff...
What an insane night out. Yesterday at drama practice, we decided we were all going to got to this barbecue place down the street. Only about half of those people went tonight, but it was still fun, and boy was it an adventure. To start, we all decided to walk down to the restaurant. I mean, it was 50 feet away, so no sense in driving the short distance, right?...Wrong. Have you ever walked with wild girls wearing heals through moist ground, pitch black outside, cars wizzing by, centimeters from yourself? Yeah, it's an interesting experience in itself. The girls were screaming and yelling and laughing, and it was just complete insanity. Me and the only other guy were just like, "Girls.". Finally, we made it to the restaurant, and I was like, "This place better be good after all that." When we got in, the waitress sat us all down, and took our orders. The whole time, the girls were being completely random and loud and just wild. I felt so bad for the people at the nearby tables. The girls must have been on something because when our waitress came back with our orders, they were like, "Hey, can we do karaoke?". And the waitress was like, "Sure.". Then the little trio got up, got everyone in the whole restaurant's attention, and started singing God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen in weird voices. The rest of us were so embarrassed, and we finally got them to come back to the table. After that, the rest of the meal was pretty good. Still a little wild, but definitely on the controlled side. I've definitely learned my lesson. Never go out in public with people you don't really know. It can be quite an experience.
My parents favorite argument against getting a dog. Boy, they sure didn't count on all my cat's....spewings. Yeah, he has some serious tummy issues. For some reason, he can't hold his food down very well. We took him(Teegra) to the vet and they were like, "Oh, for some cats, that's just normal.". I was thinking, "What? You mean we just have to live like this, cleaning throw-up everyday?". I mean, I love my little man, but sometimes he isn't the nicest cat in the world and I really hate getting really close to his...excretions, both from the mouth and behind, every single day, sometimes more than that. It's hard to care for someone who shows no appreciation, and only loves on you when they want to be fed, you know? But I guess that's true love, huh? So I'm wondering how many more spots on the carpet it's going to take for my parents to see the light. Hopefully, it will sink in soon. And hopefully, my buddy's stomach will settle.
You know those times where you just have to hang out with somebody? Today was one of those times. Kassie and I have wanted to get together for a while to hang out, so we were finally both open today(really yesterday now). Guess what we decided to do? We went and played tennis, outside, on one of the coldest days of the year. Yeah, real smart. But we had fun anyway. Sure, it was freezing, but we didn't really care. We got a bunch of pictures(if you want to check out a few, check out her blog) and a bunch of laughs. What was really funny was the whole getting-hit-in-the-head experience. Oh boy. So Kassie and I were passing the ball back and forth, and talking about our schoolwork. Then she was like, "Ok this is pretty random, but have you ever been hit in the face with a tennis ball?". My response? "No, I haven't had the privilege yet. Note the word yet." Then we laughed. A little while later, we still passing the ball, and my brother was playing by himself nearby. All of a sudden, his ball shot off his racket and flew in my direction. Kassie shouted a warning, and I turned toward her voice, POP!. The ball hit the bill of my cap, and bounced to the ground. She was like, "Oh my gosh! Are you ok?". I was laughing because it hadn't hurt at all, and she was like freaking out. But then, we remembered out discussion earlier, and we burst out laughing. It was great. And warming up at Starbucks later with hot chocolate definitely made the day even greater. Next time you want to get together with your best pals, don't be afraid to go to the extreme. It's always worth it.
Ok, so I mentioned that I had drama practice. Yeah, I'm in A Christmas Carol this year! It's definitely a little crazy. It was my first audition at this new place, but the director gave me like 7 PARTS! I was like "Whoa now!". Thankfully, a lot of them are simply understudies. But I still have to learn them all, and get fitted for the costumes, and everything else. It's a lot of work, but it's worth it. I really enjoy it, and it's loads of fun. Plus, you can meet some pretty interesting people, and make some great friends.
Wow! Ok, so at drama practice tonight(I'll post another post bout that in just a minute), my friend brought her iPod and she had the Wicked soundtrack on it. I had wanted to go see Wicked at the Fox Theater, just for some exposure to the theater, but it wasn't extremely high on my list, and I missed it. But when I heard the soundtrack, I was like, "I missed out BIG TIME.". It is totally awesome, Defying Gravity being the best! If you want to check it out, go to their website at http://www.wickedthemusical.com/. If you can, listen to Defying Gravity on the Music Player. It's great stuff.
So my birthday is almost here! Score! Just 20 days, 1 hour, 20 minutes, and 45 seconds left until the big day. I'm almost past the "party age", so I'm just going with the presents instead plan this year. For years now, I have wanted a camera. Photography has always been interesting to me. I always liked the sound of the photo being snapped, the expression on the person's face, the laughter at the horrible shots. So I talked to my friend(KASSIE! Here's your five minutes of fame! Do check out her blog, guys. It's pretty awesome.(http://ascendingfate.blogspot.com/)) about SLR's, but since I have had about zero experience, she's shown me a couple cameras that will get me ready for the SLR. I'm super excited! I just hope my parents, the gift-buyers, will get into the idea, too.
Have you ever wondered why life can't be perfect? I mean, for me, life is complete insanity. There is not a week that goes by where all is well. I'm either having schoolwork issues, issues with my friends, or my friends are having their own issues. Ugh, I hate being negative. I'm trying to learn to stay on the positive side, but at times like these, when life just seems a little whack, it's hard. But then you get those moments where you are like, "Gosh, life is awesome.". You get an A, you are getting closer to your friends, or your best friend's trials are finally over. Don't we all wish life could be a little more consistent? Nope, it's just got to be a little insane.
Well, what do you think of the new digs?
Ok, so everyday, my family and I try to have a bible study. It may not always work out, but we try. It's a a pain sometimes, but we definitely need it. Anyway, right now, we're in Proverbs and we came upon this verse right in the middle of our chapter for the day: "A bowl of soup with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate."Proverbs 15:17, NLT. Is that not true or what? I mean, I don't know if I could stand having a three course meal with someone I hate, but I can enjoy anything with a friend. See? The Bible's not that boring.
I'm super pumped now. I was talking to my best friend earlier today, and we started talking about online stuff. Eventually, the conversation got to blogging. She didn't have a blog, but when we started tossing ideas around and I told her about mine, she became really excited, and she logged on and started her own. So I'm pretty proud of my accomplishment for the day, bringing another into the new world of blogland. Anyway, you should all check out her blog. She's still trying to perfect it(as am I), but from what I heard, it's going to be pretty cool. She's a photographer, so she's going to have some awesome pics soon. Check it out!
I know the template I have right now is awful, but I'm working on it. I'm brand new to the whole fixing up part of blogging, so humor me.
Well, here I am! Finally out in the online world. It's awful big, and slightly weird and creepy, but I think I can handle it. I'm a homeschooler, right?
