Top 2010.

So I’m gearing up for ringing in the new year, but I don’t want to forget about 2010 just quite yet. I’m going to recap some of my favorite things/moments, I’ll include links and everything cool like that!

 

Top clothing brands:

This year I fell in love with I <3 Ronson. It’s a clothing line found at JC Penny, which is even greater because its not so pricey, the designs are hard to explain, they’re pretty much me, if that helps at all lol

http://www.glamour.com/fashion/blogs/slaves-to-fashion/2009/04/i-heart-charlotte-ronsons-i-he.html 

 

And not that its any different from years past but Victoria’s Secret PINK line is a total favorite. I’m such an easy going, relaxin’ kinda girl and these sweats are the absolute best.

http://www.flirtcosmetics.com/index.tmpl?ngextredir=1 

 

Top Make-up/scents:

As far as make up ive become addicted to FLIRT! found at khols and Victoria Secret make up.

http://www.flirtcosmetics.com/index.tmpl?ngextredir=1

http://www.victoriassecret.com/beauty

 

In 2010 I wore so much Love Rocks from VS, see link above. It smells….. hot. It’s not sweet its more of a “spicy, I could kick your ass” scent. I love it.

 

Entertainment:

I loved NBC’s “Outlaw” but that was cancelled…. so no link, but the show was amazing. I miss it.

 

Tons of huge movies came out: Eclipse, Harry Potter, Inception…. but I actually loved “Last Three Days” it was a good one, Robert Pattenson’s sex hair is hard to beat, but this movie kept me on the edge of my seat so the award goes there. ha!

 

Random TOPS!

Top social networking site goes to……… TWITTER. Because I talk to ta select few on my page and its all so random. I can let the truth be free and announce when im tired of sluts, and nobody comments me all concerned like kara, that’s bad, kara calm down. Because they’re probably tired of sluts too, that’s why the jumped over to twitter.

http://twitter.com

 

Top concert I attended: Gym Class Hero’s….. only because I snuck in…. and got a contact high. LOL but really, energy was great, music was amazing, touched Travie….

 

2010 brought lots of adventure, I mean LOTS. But my favorite was road trippin’ to Kansas with my best friend Kamryn. Getting lost on an amry base (sort of) random hardcore techno in the middle of KS. Good times.

 

Best memory of 2010 goes to…… New Years Eve… yes, that counts, and no my memory of that night isn’t the greatest. JK! There are probably more amazing memories than I can even begin to list, but that was the very first one.

 

My top obsessions throughout the year included my snuggie, henna, anything made from hemp, plaid, candles, Gandhi. I didn’t think I was that indi-hippie, guess so.

 

2011 is going to be full of so many new changes. New school, new friends, new place, new life. I’m so glad to look back on 2010 and see how worth it was. I had awesome friends help create unforgettable memories, an awesome family supporting me through everything I did, a little love…. 2010 is a year I’m proud of, I learned a lot about myself and was me the entire time. Too many people to thank for how fabulous my life has been these last 12 months.

 

My year in silly photography! 

		2010 Rewind VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

You Can’t NOT be Happy at Christmas Time

It is almost Christmas! I am soooo excited! This is probably the first year in a long time that there are presents under the tree that I have no clue what they are.

 

This break came at exactly the right time, and so far its been awesome. I’ve really been in this place lately where my close friends and family are most important to me, and I want them to know that. For my family for Christmas I found a huge picture frame that holds like 24 photos and I’m filling with pictures of my parents before they were married, pictures of my brother and I when we were little, and current pictures. Its awesome, best present I’ve ever given. For my friends, with everybody's present is a card. So far I’ve gotten more compliments on the cards rather than the gifts, that makes me so happy because they weren’t generic at all, I put a lot of meaning into cards when I write them.

 

Christmas has a way of making people think differently, and I wish it were the same way all year. I’ve been channeling into everything that’s good in life: my family, friends, laughing, NOT stressing. For a while I was sorta down over a person… but why when the best is to come? I’ve got everything I need right now, and it all makes me very happy.

 

Are you sick of that word yet? “Happy”. Well, I so am, and I hope you are too!

 

Something weird happened this past week, and I feel the need to share. There is this new music venue I’m totally into right now. The people who own it are pretty much the coolest people I’ve ever met. Any way, one of my best friends and I are telling another friend about it and he asks us if they’d do a rap battle. So we go talk to them at an open mic night. We walk in and ask Aaron (the sound guy) if we can talk to Kevin (the owner) so he takes like up these back steps into this apartment, I totally felt apart of the mafia, it was cool. So we pitch the idea and he tells us, “yeah, yeah, we’d be down for a rap battle, we just don’t really have an audience for hip-hop. We really need promoters, do you guys want to be our hip-hop promoters?” Turns out we get a cut of whatever they make from the turnout. So what am I now? Yes, I am in fact a hip-hop promoter. Never would have guessed, huh?

 

I’m taking this opportunity as a chance to possibly change my life. I know, drastic. But never in a billion years would I have guessed I’d be asked to promote hip-hop music for an alternative venue. So maybe this is telling me that there is more to life than what I’ve planned out so far. What if I decide I want to manage music or own a venue? And never before in my life would I have been okay with that decision, but right now, I could totally see myself doing something like that and feeling like I have everything. why not? For too long I’ve had a definition for happy, but what’s wrong with finding it? Right now, everything that is going on in my life makes me happy. I’m in love with it.

 

Things happen how they’re supposed to, truly! Just put everything aside and you’ll figure out what matters.

 

I wish everybody a very Merry Christmas and entire holiday season. Be safe! I hope Santa brings it all

I want:

1. A better ACT score

2. Musical talent

3. Things to keep on goin’ where they are headed!

4. oh and a new digital camera (lol)  

Black Friday–Makes My Heart SO Warm!

I hope everybody had an amazing Thanksgiving! I spent mine with my close family and friends, and it was a wonderful kickoff to the holiday season.

 

It seemed like everybody that I talked to had a huge family gathering for the holiday and it made me a little jealous. I wish I had a huge family. It was just my parents, my brother, my 2 aunts and I. We’re the only family in Colorado and the only family on my dad’s side. They are great, I just with there was more of them. BUT I had a good time, because we’re all very close. Our dinner was more of a lunch because my mom had to work, which worked out well because I spent the evening with my best friend at her friends restaurant.

 

Of course, we braved the cold and wee hours of the morning to hit those Black Friday deals! Jennifer and I started out at midnight. yes, midnight. Old Navy had $15 jeans, there was no way I was passing that up. We got there about 1130 and the line was already 2 stores down. Despite our numb extremities, we had a blast!

 

My favorite part of Black Friday is the people that I meet in line. The people behind us this time were actually shopping for a family that they had adopted for the holiday season. They told us about how it was a family of 11, many of the children were adopted. The family had been doing well until the mom had been bitten by a rattlesnake and then the medical bills put financial strain on the family. They were there buying 5 dollar t-shirts and other clothes for the kids. How inspiring, huh?

 

And the funny thing is, when you meet cool people in line, you keep seeing them throughout the day! We went to Old Navy and then slept in my car until 3 when Kohls opened. While we were waiting to check-out we saw them again, of course we all had to update each other on where we’d been and what our mission was. It’s fun meeting other people in line, I love it.

 

Then you have the crazies, the real ones. We were in Old Navy and there is this guy running around with a Chihuahua in his jacket. 1.) it’s midnight and you feel the need to just throw your dog in your shirt? 2.) It’s cold waiting in line, Chihuahua’s have that weird shaky thing goin’ on any way, really is that a good idea? and 3.) people go nuts on black Friday. taking care of a yappy little dog: not on my priority list.

 

We got home around 5:30 and I slept until 1pm. By that time my mom had gotten home (I usually go with her, I was bummed that I couldn’t this year ). So we ended up hitting the mall in the afternoon. So in total, I made it to Old Navy, Kohls, Dillard’s, Victoria Secret, and JC Penny. Definition of a girls perfect day.

 

Christmas music is playing, lights are being put up all over the neighborhood. It makes me so excited and happy!

 

Some photos from my holiday:

 

Line at Midnight!

Bearing the cold! Not a pretty picture of me, but that’s just everybody at 230, in the cold. haha

Sleeping in my car.

Making up for that bad photo! haha

Don’t Mention Connie.

It’s break. whoooo!

 

Okay, not so much. Today I still had college classes and a dentist appointment. I don’t do so well at the dentist. But let me tell you about today’s experience.

 

So the dental hygienist at my office is awesome. We only schedule our appointments with her because she is just the best. She has never ever hurt us and even if she has, I haven’t noticed because she is so enjoyable to talk to the entire time (well listen to, I can’t talk much while in the chair).

 

Any way, I get there today and the desk lady tells me she had to go home because her son was sick and that I could have Connie. 1st off, Connie is a bad omen for me. When I was maybe 6 or 7 I had this dream where I went into my basement and this lady came out of the bathroom and said, “Hi, Im Connie!” and then she killed me. Ever since then, haven’t reacted so well to the name Connie, weird, huh?

 

Turns out I have to go back to the dentist next Friday because of a few small cavities, which is so unfair! I brush and floss and my brother doesn’t and who gets the cavities? yeah, me! I didn’t have cavities for like the first 16 years of my life. And knowing that my teeth aren’t perfect makes me cry. After I left I cried as I drove around town for a little bit. I hate drills and I hate the sound the drill makes (that is the WORST) I told my mom she has to go with me that day, no excuses!

 

So my Tuesday? Not so great. I’m still in need of a hug.

 

On a different note: I went and saw Harry Potter on Sunday. It was good, I guess. I never read the books, I just go because I like the way Harry Potter is filmed. I posted it on facebook, but I seriously loved loved loved Emma Watson’s wardrobe throughout the entire movie. She’s always been so classic in my mind and this just added to it. It was very Brit-autumn-relaxed.

 

I also saw the preview for Red Riding Hood coming out in March of 2011. Definitely not a kids movie. Its like sexified, hot Red Riding Hood:

 

REALLY excited!

Tell Me: Am I Addicted to You?

If bullshitting had an Olympics category, im pretty sure id qualify to compete for the United States. Yes, I know, that sounds cocky. But, at the core, this is me.

 

I just finished my best friends AP Environmental Science homework about a movie, I have never watched. AND I kicked everybody’s ass on that forum, including the teacher’s. I love me at times like this. My best friends computer was acting up so she asked if I could just log on and write a couple of sentences. We all know this is not how I do things. I wrote three paragraphs. Yes, three! Told you I kicked ass.

 

That seriously makes me the coolest nerd EVER. I would take being me over anything any day. I was thinking about it the other day and my days are made when I have a really intelligent conversation with somebody. In Botany one day we were talking about the Bermuda Triangle and all the discovery shows we watched about it… This had nothing to do with my science class, we were actually very off topic. The rest of my day was amazing, just because I talked about magnetic fields for 15 minutes.

 

I don’t know if it’s because I’m in the middle of possibly my best debate season ever, or what… but I’m so on top of the news, foreign policy issues, science, politics. YET, I can barely make it to school for a full week. You know what I say? Fuck the public school system. I would be so much smarter if I didn’t have to deal with all this stuff. The teachers, the students, the homework. I just want to sit in a class and learn. If you other kids don’t want to… then they can leave. I could really care less if they’re having babies or smoking nutmeg, or whatever they’re doing these days.

 

I’m so addicted to being with smart people. And not like smart dull people, like quirky, weird, eccentric, smart people. I strive to be that person every day!

Am I the Only One? Yeahhhh.

Today…. I took what my best friend and I like to call a “mental health day”. It’s sort of funny because, I take these a lot, and they never seem to have quite the effect I hope they’ll have. Though sometimes they do put some things in perspective for me.

 

I thought a lot about the people in my life today and you know that saying that goes a little like:

 

Don’t worry about the people from your past, there is a reason they didn’t make it to your future.

Well, I’m starting to really believe it. My best friend and I talked about how all throughout high school we’ve always been each other’s best friend even when other people would come and go. I’m so grateful for her. All of my really good friends are my really good friends for different reasons, and I think that is really good for me. Some of them I love because they push me to do better, some are there for support, others I have a lot in common with. I’m not sure what I would do without them, and right now I’m just very thankful they are all in my life.

 

I call Jennifer my best friend because she isn’t afraid to tell me I’m a nerd, or speak her mind, even if sometimes I don’t want to hear it. Today my mom, her and I were watching VH1 and one of the classic songs was from the 90’s. I was like what the heck?! I am NOT old, im from the 90s!

 

Long story short we found an old Backstreet Boys CD and a Dream Street CD (for those of you who don’t know Dream Street, that would be Jesse McCartney’s first music project) and I thought that was like the greatest thing that has happened all week, seriously! Jenn just made fun of my music tastes from a decade ago. In fact, I’m pretty sure she took her own car to town just to avoid the fact that I said we were listening to BSB on the way there. haha!

 

I think about when I was IN LOVE with that band, and my god how things have changed! Regardless, I think my music taste has always reflected my personality… and therefore, my music taste is pretty awesome. Basically, I’ve concluded from the music I listen to that I am:

 

- part of the main stream.

- pretty mellow.

- a total sucker for piano because its so classic ==> id like to think im pretty classic.

- reluctant for change but give it a chance.

- have a decent sense of humor

- and a little crazy, but only sometimes.

 

With that being said, I leave you with my song of the day! haha You know you loved them too.

Getting There.

I’m sitting here desperately trying to study for my criminal justice test tomorrow, but I can’t stop thinking about other things.

 

I’m so scared. I’m scared about not knowing what I want. Mostly in the terms of college but other things too. What’s even scarier: the person that I trusted for advice told me that I didn’t have to know what I want yet, and they still don’t even know what they want. That can’t ever be me.

 

I mean there are plenty of things I know I want… nice cars, a law degree, the security of knowing I made it in this world. But the bulk of things I want, aren’t tangible, and most of the time I think that is a problem, but sometimes I don’t… which REALLY is a problem.

 

Everybody tells me I’m so ambitious.. but I don’t even know what I’m ambitious for. For being that person I know I’m capable of? For proving that I can do everything I say I’ll do? Does it even mater?

 

In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever felt the slightest bit ambitious. I’ve felt motivated. Those aren’t the same things, by the way. I do what I do because that’s what I’m expected of, that’s how things are supposed to work.

 

I also consider myself a very strong person. I don’t tolerate people who aren’t strong very well. But lately, it’s easier to see that more and more people that I surround myself with are not as strong as I thought they really were. I walk around school and I hear comments like, “how does she get a boyfriend and I don’t?” Well, it’s because you have standards and you know what you deserve. don’t ever tell yourself you don’t. Then I have the friends who rid themselves of people that have wrecked havoc on their emotions, did nothing but play with who they were and because that feeling of love or lust or hate or whatever was “real” they can’t get over it. They’ll go back. I’m told I don’t understand, and I don’t want to. I’d rather know what I deserve and keep walking than resort to the past just to get back a feeling.

 

I know I don’t have all the answers… obviously. I’m so scared of what I don’t know, but what I do know is that I’ll keep working really, really hard for what I don’t know and maybe learn something on that journey rather than harness something I don’t believe in.

 

This post is really more of a cheer to a new chapter. I know I'll keep walking and though there’s people who I really do love… I can’t wait, and I don’t have the guts to say that I can’t wait, because if they asked me to I would… but they won’t, so…..

 

on to the next.

Competition? I’m There!

This weekend has been like, super long! I’m sitting here yawning (even though I slept 12 hours last night haha) but it was pretty good, nonetheless.

 

Friday night was the big football game against our newest rival, South High School. I had a blast. I was on the field taking pictures for newspaper and its so different on the field than in the bleachers, I have to say. The energy is incredible, but at the same time it’s a lot less tense than most people would think. At one point I was standing in front of a bunch of players and they were talking about how the dude standing next to them looked like an Avatar. I had to laugh. We lost, in overtime and it sucked! Such a good time, such a good game.

 

However, I did come to the conclusion that I am too much of a fan to be a photographer. I would find myself getting really into the game and then telling myself, “oh crap, kara, take pictures!” I haven’t had a chance to see the pictures I took, though. Tomorrow! Hopefully, they turned out pretty well!

 

Saturday was the first, official tournament for Speech and Debate. I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t as prepared as I have been in the past. My partner and I did pull off a third place, despite the lack of preparation. I’m super proud of her! She’s a freshman and placed third in a senior category, I think she’s goin’ places. We didn’t make the final round by just points, how lame, huh? We plan on creaming everybody next week though. IT IS ON.

 

I think the gist everyone should be getting from this blog is that im uber competitive. haha!

 

After the tournament some of the varsity members and I went out to dinner. It was nice. Speech meets are so loud sometimes and rowdy, plus these are the people that will make me better so we try to recap the day a little bit.

 

This weekend has been all over the place and I’m ready to start a new week, im rarely ever ready for that. lol.

Top three Senior PF teams

I Stand Here

I’m taking a short break to blog, I feel I need it. I should blog on a more regular basis because I always have a lot to say but it seems like a lot of the time things just all happen at once and my thoughts go about a million miles a minute.

 

My weekend started a little early with a High School Journalism Conference on Thursday at CSU-P. The speakers were not what I expected, and truthfully, I thought I was above most of them, however, it was a good place for me to get excited about my newspaper again. Yes, I call it my newspaper. I feel like its my senior project almost. The paper used to be so good and it was just let go. Even though it isn’t, I feel like its my duty to get it back up and running again. It’s special to me.

 

There is another thing about newspaper… I’m finding it harder than ever to draw a line between being friends and being a boss. One of my best friends is a staff member. She’s wild and crazy and I love her to death but I really want things to work out for the paper and I feel that because she has a grudge against the teacher at the moment and isn’t planning on sticking around next semester she’s in no way benefitting my job. I’m sort of at a loss, because this paper isn’t just for me, its for future students. I don’t know really what to tell her, or if I should tell her at all.

 

Among other things on my mind, my social life has been much different lately. I’m not sure I like it either. I’ve always been so introverted and cynical and nerdy, but lately I’ve been going out and hanging with some new people (wanting to hang with a few others… trying to make that work) but the more I do, the more I realize why I am who I am.

 

Example 1: Went to haunted houses this weekend and met this guy, who I wasn’t really interested in but he said he could maybe hook me up with a paranormal investigation, which id be all over in a heartbeat. But now, he txts me all. the. time. and oh yeah, calls me beautiful. what the hell? And mind you, this is the second guy in a row to throw that clingy shit on me! I am SO not about that.

 

Which leads me to the next thing on my mind: The moment a person (guy) tells me they admire my ambition and keep feeding me compliments, it is over. It sounds weird, but I never want to be the person in a friendship/relationship/etc. that is the best. I want some sort of competition and that other person to make me work harder at what I do. I thrive in that environment.

 

It seems like I just keep getting deeper into my projects and become more okay with it. Today I totally felt like an assistant. I had to create a budget, and ive been taking/transferring calls all night. Right now I feel really balanced, and I’m just taking the punches as they come.

 

2 college apps down, and I'm really proud of myself for that! Things are feelin’ really good right about now! I’m really scared for college, but somebody told me yesterday that its okay if things change, and its okay not to know the next step, and I took that with as open mind as possible. I worry, but I feel a little bit better now.

 

So I suppose this break is over, I feel better writing (well duh, journalistic instincts) The rest of my night consists of more assistant work and texting my best friend about the soap opera shes watching on telemundo. love her!

catch UP

Woah! I have been uber busy, and haven’t blogged in forever.

Life… is… interesting. I have a ton of homework to do but I really don’t feel like doing it. I never feel like doing homework when I’m sad.

Tonight was the kick off to my speech and debate season, and I busted out as superior speaker, not too shabby.

This weekend I went to my bff’s homecoming with  a huge group and had the best night in a long time. Somebody told me the other night I was growing up too fast, and at first I sort of took offense to it… I really have no clue why. Maybe because I haven’t been a kid in so long or because this particular person I was always afraid would look at me differently because I’m younger than they are. Either way, I’ve always acted like I’m 24 (even before knowing this person).

With that in mind I had a blast Saturday night, I acted like I was in high school. And I know that is what high school is supposed to be like all the time, but it’s not me all the time.

After tonight, despite my winning, I feel sad and calm and lonely and sick. I think maybe because with every speech/debate event that takes place I’m that much closer to being done, I really do love it. But at the same time I’ve always hung with my older teammates and now I don’t really have any friends, so I’m lonely. I work hard and I’m drained. All I wanted to do was come home and talk to somebody (specific) but they are nowhere to be found in cyber space.

There are also two people from this weekend I would really like to talk to… but I might have to give that a little time.

Until then, I will mope and let my autumn scented candle burn away the bad feelings as I TRY to finish my dreaded Macbeth study guide.

Seeking Change.

 

Today before I went to my college class I stopped at Starbucks to grab a coffee. As I was leaving with my grande pumpkin spice latte in hand a man approached me in the parking lot.

The first words out of his mouth were “This is so embarrassing”. Before even telling me his situation he swore he didn’t drink, and he was practically in tears. He said that his daughter needed a prescription and he didn’t have the money to pay for it. He told me a lady had given him four dollars but the prescription was $ 17.00.

He didn’t look homeless. He definitely wasn’t Mr. Business, but he was clean enough.  I gave him the thirteen dollars he needed.

You’re thinking SCAM, right? I’m not so sure. He asked what my name was and grabbed my hand. He told me that he worked at a place down the street and that if I came in on Tuesday he would pay me back. I told him not to even worry about it.

Maybe he did scam me, but what if this was true? How many Americans can’t pay for medicine? I mean, it’s not out of the question that this was true.

I don’t think that I could have set through my class with my $ 4 coffee knowing that this guy was struggling to even provide for his child. The more I thought about it, the more I didn’t care if it was a scam. Sometimes you have to trust a stranger. That’s what is wrong with society. We’ve got so used to not trusting anybody that people think it is ok to lie. This guy could have been the best actor I’ve ever met, I mean I willingly handed him over my lunch money. But I refuse to be that person who turns into what society is making everybody out to be; cold, untrusting, and selfish. 

If he was lying, I hope he realized that there are so many people that are willing to help people in situations like his, but more importantly, there are more people who would have no trouble shrugging it off.

I don’t feel like I lost $13 today. I feel like I took a step in some right direction.

What would you have done? Honestly. 

9/11.

 

9/11. You remember where you were. I know I do.

I was in third grade. My teacher let us know what was going on very subtly during a snack break. I was in the bathroom and I didn’t get to hear what happened. I remember watching the news with my dad when I got home that night. I remember sitting on my parents bed and watching the planes fly in to the twin towers. I was 10 and that image will stick with me for the rest of my life.

It’s sort of crazy. It’s been 9 years since the attacks and it seems like time stood still on September 11, 2001. The whole world was watching while our country fell to its knees.

Tonight, I’m watching Remember Me, feat Robert Pattinson, (spoiler alert!!!). I cry every time. Everybody that died had a story, a family, a life, a meaning. I think that is what saddens me so much.

I want to take this chance to thank all of the service men and women who are fighting as a result of the terrorism attacks. That event forever changed your lives. It changed the course of America. We can fight about the reason why America is in Iraq and Afghanistan. We can stick to our party lines. We can blame and point fingers. But we can’t deny the fact that because of our military we are a safer, stronger nation.

I also want to thank the firefighters and police officers that responded that day. Dealing with disaster isn’t easy. What they put on the line is more than anyone could ask for and the police officers, especially, will always hold a special place in my heart. I can’t help but think that even 9 years ago, my life decisions were being decided by what I was witnessing.

I finally want to acknowledge the families of the victims of September 11. Their strength is part of what kept America together, in my opinion. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain. I don’t know anybody close to event but I wish them ease and comfort. It’s hard to find the words to describe these families because they are so strong.

9/11 isn’t an event that should be forgotten. It should be respected, by all walks of life, all religions. While unfortunate, its an important lesson, and continues to shape life as we know it.

Thank you.

Every Time I Hear That Song

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Outasight! This is from his newest album and it’s all pretty amazing, but when I wake up to this song it makes my entire day.

The lyrics, the beat, the laidback style. Each album has been a little bit different, but I like when artists do that.

This particular song (Never say Never) has pretty much been my mood lately, which is why I decided to share it.

I can’t really put my finger on it, but I’ve been in such a good mood lately. Everything is falling into place it seems like, and in all the right ways. Things that I’ve wanted for a long time are happening.

The only thing I could ask for is not being in high school? haha Don’t get me wrong, I’ll probably change my mind later but for now my number one goal for my few college classes im taking is that nobody find out that I’m in high school. LOL. Oh and I’ve put passing the classes on my goal list too, but that doesn’t seem as nearly as important at the moment.

Otherwise, things are good, feelin’ independent, feelin’ unusually chilled, and doing my own thing no matter what’s being said!

Tell me you love this as much as I do!

 

-- Kara <3

The Pieces Are Fitting Together Nicely

It' is 11 o’clock and I should be reading… or maybe sleeping?

But I don’t think I can.

These past two weeks I’ve been hatin’ on senior year and today, it all changed. Why? I am not sure, but I’m very, very excited about things. I’ve worked for a long time to get to the places I am, and maybe to a lot of people it’s not anywhere but I’m proud of myself. I’m in positions where I’m in charge, where I have a lot on my shoulders. Later on, I will complain about the stress but to me, it is all worth it.

During the summer, after my night shifts at the lake I would go to Liberty Point and I could see the lights from the campground and I knew that somebody in that campground was happy because of me. Now, that sounds so egotistical, right? but I’m serious. That’s sort of the feeling I have now. Like I’m doing things that matter to a lot of people, that matter to me. Best feeling ever.

I’ve never been told I couldn’t do something. I think this is all due to the fact that I would prove that person wrong in a relatively short amount of time, but I’m definitely doing things I didn’t imagine I’d be doing.

I also feel like the relationships that are most important to me are getting so much better. (well most of them) but I’m so proud of my brother these days. I’ve been supportive to the people that mean a lot to me. I’ve found people that I don’t want out of my life and I’m doing my best to keep them here. Other relationship(s) I feel are receding but it’ll all work out, right? Well, let’s hope.

My mom has been awesome lately. We’re currently making plans for fall and going and visiting a couple of colleges. It’s a good thing I always made my parents proud because none of this would be happening otherwise.

It’s a good life. It’s my life. And it’s fabulous!

<3 Kara

Can’t Quit!

I’ve been thinking. hard. And its like one of those thinking moods where you really don’t realize what is going on around you, and then you become all paranoid about stuff because you weren’t paying attention. yeah, it’s weird.

Any way, I started school (duh, all i talk about) and my job is seasonal and I’m supposed to be ending around the beginning of October. It’s super hard to balance everything I have at school not to even mention work. Tonight, I sold over a thousand dollars and it’s not even labor day weekend yet. crazy, i know!

So I’ve seriously been considering ending my job earlier. And for most people it’s like yeah no big deal. But for me it’s a huge deal! It’s all I think about. During the middle of the season I wanted to quit because I was so unhappy and stressed and nothing was going right, but things sorta turned around and I really like it out there, overall, I’ve always loved working at the lake!

But it’s senior year, I have college applications, scholarships, school work, extra curricular stuff (that im in charge of =] ). I really want to just focus on all of that but my boss is one of the people I just can’t let down. You know those people who you’d do anything for. He’s always been super patient with everybody, even when I was new and hadn’t a clue what I was doing. He is very flexible with my schedule and when we were texting last night and I was asking about our end date and perhaps ending early he was like “yeah, whatever makes this burden easier to bare”. It makes me feel so guilty! I don’t know what to do! oh, it’s so hard to decide. My problem is I’m so dedicated to everything I do, and I think I do it all well.

AHH I don’t know what to do!

Kara Mason: Senior Year.

Senior year. It’s here.

It’s too soon to tell but I think (hope) its just going to go SO fast. I have five classes at the high school and two at Pueblo Community College. I know I’m going to love my AP Language class. It’s pretty much rhetoric and I love that!

My schedule is so weird though. I don’t know how that’s going to go. I go in at 730 have Botany followed by AP Lang and then Weights. I get 4th, 5th, 6th hour off for PCC classes and then back to the high school for Adv. Speech and newspaper (which happen to be the same hour). But having those three hours off in the middle of the day is sorta nice! Like from 11-3 im free so I can shop… or go eat lunch… or take a nap!

I was talking to my friend Breanna at lunch today and I decided that I don’t really like being a senior because all throughout high school I always fit in better with people who were older than me and now that I’m the oldest its like a lot of the people I identified with are gone. Just one more year, its what I keep telling myself.

I’m excited to rock out debate again and FBLA. Those always get me excited! But a couple of girls I know want to start a Young Republicans club at our school and I told them I’d be totally down for helping but now I’m sort of wondering if that is what I really want because even though I relate to a lot of republican ideals… I’m pretty open to other ideas and more liberal thinking. So, I don’t know what I’ll do with that yet.

Some of my senior pics are finally up on facebook! Check out Looking Glass Photography. I had a little bit of a meltdown that day but I think my pictures are going to come out good!

More to come!

-Kara

Bring It, Baby!

So.

You know what’s crazy? I’m a senior in high school. It sorta just finally just hit me. It’s always been that I hung out with the upperclassmen but now I’m the oldest. I’m not sure why, but the whole idea just seems so foreign to me, like I never anticipated being a senior myself.

I’m literally sitting here blogging in the middle of the night thinking it is too crazy that time is flying by so quickly.

And I have to say, I am so glad that it is for now. I don’t think I was ever meant for high school, and it just needs to be over with already. I have had some really good times the last four years but honestly…. most of it was not for me.

I really do think that the only thing high school was good for, in my case, was for me just to grow more comfortable with who I am. Cliché, right? haha. But seriously, the more I looked at the people around me the more I realized I love who I am. I don’t ever want to fit in if it is with those people. The few friends I have are the absolute best.

Now, I say what I want, I wear what I want, I think what I want. Thank God for that realization!

I just have this whole new feeling of change, and I’m so excited about it. 

The Passion of Anything.

“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion”

- Georg Wilheim Friedrich

My topic for today? you guessed it, passion. Although, today I think that I’ve widened my view on what passion is and what it can do.

Earlier I got a camping drop from some people who were preaching to the prisoners. On their camping permit they had written bible verses and at first I thought they were sorta crazy, but after talking with some people I work with I have decided that these people weren’t crazy. They had a whole lot of passion. And here’s the thing, I’ve always seen passion as something you care about. I’ve never really considered religion a passion…. until I started thinking about it today. Passion is something that drives you forward, right? For me it’s success. What I live for is to be even better the next day. But really, passion can be anything. To say you’re not passionate about something is a lie.

I guess the reason why I’ve never really considered religion or God a passion is because I’m more for relationship… I don’t buy into the church scene and the weekly youthgroup gatherings. BUT if that’s what gets you out of bed and that’s the reason why you live your life, then so be it. Sing to God as loud as you want to.

I do think that this Friedrich quotation is off though. I think it should read “without GREAT passion” because everybody is living for something, but without great passion you won’t accomplish anything. These campers had a lot of passion for God, obviously. They wouldn’t be preaching to federal criminals without it.

Upon the visit of these campers a coworker and I started talking about religion and he asked me why I wear my Gandhi necklace…

I said I didn’t really have a reason except that I thought he was a cool guy. I mean I enjoy quoting him as much as possible. His outlook on life is amazing, no matter what religion you are. I’ve read parts of his autobiography and I don’t think you have to be Hindu to achieve the same kind of views he had. Just reading about him made me realize how diverse things have always been, and that it’s such a good thing.

Any way, I guess how I’m trying to relate the 2 stories together is that it’s always made me mad that people who claim to be close to God and avid church goers aren’t very tolerant of opposing views or other religions, but today maybe I figured out that sometimes it’s not that, it’s just that they are so passionate about their religion that they get a little caught up in it. I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing at all. After all, that’s why you wake up every day.

Our GREAT passion stems from different things. If we were all stimulated by the same things we wouldn’t have made as big of scientific discoveries as we have and we wouldn’t be the same civilization we are.

My Party

I got back from “vacation” last night. I thought I was going to have more time to blog throughout my trip but I was pretty busy the entire time out. My trip pretty much broke down into three main parts: Camp. Wichita. Denver.

Camp:

I went to camp for speech at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS . It was amazing. I met some new amazing people and got to work with some people that have taught me so much already. I thought the great thing about camp was that it totally fired up my passion for speech again. I’m such a nerd, but I really love it. In the short time I was there I really do feel like I had a mini family because everybody was so supportive of each other the whole time. I never felt like I asked a bad question or did something horribly wrong. Their team seemed close which caused the whole group to be really close too. I hope that my team takes that whole feeling back and this season we are stronger because of that.

We also learned new warm ups which ive found myself singing randomly. haha. Only a speech nerd would relate a real situation to a warm up.

                 My team!

 

Wichita:

So we took off from Manhattan and drove 2 and a half hours to Wichita. We only got a little lost but we stayed on the purple line (GPS) and made it all in one piece. It was funny, we were in the middle of Kansas, like nothing on either side of the road but corn and we come across this hard core techno station. Kam and I were both like “what the heck?” then proceeded to jam. haha. We stayed with some really good friends of mine that used to live across the street from me but work took them to KS. We shopped and ate good food, just chilled and played legos with the kids. It was nice to just chill for a bit.

The original plan was to leave from Wichita Tuesday morning and get to Denver that night but we decided that we’d split it up into two days and drove from Wichita to Garden City Monday night and stayed there. I don’t recommend it. The whole city smelt horrible and the kids at ihop were snobby. haha. However, the Holiday Inn did have free cookies….

Denver:

We got back home around 11 o’clock which gave us a little bit of time to rest before Denver. What were we doing in Denver, might you ask? Well, we saw Kings of Leon at the Comfort Dental Amphitheatre AKA Fiddlers Green. The concert was AMAZING. If you ever get the change to see KOL live, do it. They’re so good live. The weather decided to not cooperate and rain the whole time so we were both drenched the whole night but it was worth it. The Features opened for KOL and they were pretty legit. We got a pic with the drummer. haha.

That is pretty much my trip in a nut shell. I’m wicked tired but decided to come to work today because I reallllllllly need the hours. haha. I’m sure I’ll be telling random ks stories for a while though.

I’m Young, Not Stupid.

It is easy to believe whatever you want. It is easy to say you know how things are. Unfortunately, when I know for a fact that you are full of crap and I’m 15 to oh… 40 years younger than you, I feel that you should not even talk to me. Call me cocky, call me arrogant, but if you don’t have anything intelligent to say to me then don’t say anything at all. I love hearing different view points and I simply like to learn but it’s not quite the same thing when I know that what you’re saying only has a small amount of truth to it.

For example: I work at a campground and most of the customers I deal with are retired and traveling in their campers. I think because they see me and I look young they think they automatically know more than I do, because they complain about the government A LOT. And it’s even at like the smallest level. “Prices went up, camping costs two extra dollars, our government just doesn’t understand” Um hello, you’re old didn’t you live through the depression? Sorry, I thought you would recognize an economic downturn when you saw one.

We call it inflation, did you complain when milk was no longer 4 cents a gallon too?

You have got to be kidding me.

I also had a “co worker” tell me today that if we were in Iraq for oppression then we should also save Tibet. That’s funny. As far as I’m concerned, I like having an economy in the States exist. We go to war with China and who the fuck is going to buy our debt? T-bills, anyone? Does nobody understand foreign policy…? This coworker also is one of those who has jumped on the “blame Bush” bandwagon. “Housing crisis, oh that was Bush” Really?

And then its like she sits on a pedestal because she has been to college. *rolls eyes* A major in psychology and theology and a minor in ethics does not make me believe Bush is solely responsible for the housing crisis.   I’m not saying he had no part but while we’re at it lets blame aids on him and the California condor being on the endangered species list. 

I really do get a kick out of these people. It adds a bit of comic relief to my day and boosts my ego, which I can’t say I really need but I do enjoy the feeling.

-- Kara.

I am Kara.

Finally, blogging time. I’m sitting in my serene, black and white room listening to the last few fireworks go off and thinking about what I should be writing about tonight. I haven’t blogged in a while because I haven’t had really anything to talk about, and I’m kinda in the same position tonight. lol.

As always I’ve been thinking a lot about life lately and this time I’ve been contemplating not caring what people think vs. caring about other’s opinions. My conclusion? I’m going to be me. And I guess this is all coming from a possible minor health scare I’m going through. I really don’t want to expand on it yet because it may just turn out to be nothing…. but in case it’s not I don’t wanna regret not being me to the fullest.

I’m Kara and I like peace signs, and recycling and things made from hemp. I’m Kara and when it comes to politics i sway to the right, I’ll register as a republican, I believe in raeganomics. I’m Kara and I like plaid, crocs, and antique jewelry. I work at the lake and hate camping, never have been on a boat, and can barely tell you what the fishing is like. I’m arrogant and it’s because I think it’s funny, my cockiness is a joke. I’m Kara and I work my butt off in debate and newspaper and FBLA because I am the definition of a nerd. I’m independent and will never need anybody else but me, even though there are many who I want in my life. I don’t like bright colors, unnatural light, or loud noises. I am Kara.

So I’m going to wear red just because I want to, even though it doesn’t compliment my hair. I’m going to wear my hippie peace signs and still keep my conservative beliefs. I’m going to continue to think that religion is ridiculous because I don’t need a church to pray. I’m not going to change my attitude because I like who I am.

I’m Kara, take it or leave it. I don’t care what you think of me because I’ve always known who I am, and it’s not changing. 

Twilight Madness!

Call me crazy. I stood in line for over two hours to see Eclipse last night. And despite the waiting, lines, and crazed fans, I actually thought that the movie was pretty decent.

Now, I have never read the books and I don’t own a single piece of Twilight merchandise. So for me to go to the midnight premier seems a little odd, or maybe that’s just me. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of glitter, Wal*Mart “Team Jacob” apparel, and chatty high school freshmen (and way younger). And to tell you the truth, I have no idea why there were so many guys there. Girlfriends? Checking out girls? Which, that’s how you know that guys are automatically the less intelligent of sexes. They go to a movie premier where women go to watch the perfect, less than human, man on a giant screen. We will pay no attention to you because there is a wolf boy with a perfect body right there. I’m just sayin’, guys probably should have planned that one out a little more.

I think the reason why I enjoyed the experience so much is because I am not a crazed fan. Funny story: the people in front of us were slightly hypocritical. The young girls couldn’t have been older than 7th graders and they were with their mothers. Anyway, they’re all dressed up in Twilight Shirts and they have glitter on all over (sparkly vampires) and they’re snapping pictures left and right with their tickets, by the Eclipse poster. Just the totally crazed fans. My friend and I are standing there a little overwhelmed because these people are just all over the place and then they start talking about their friend who last time threw popcorn at the screen and so they get on the subject of how crazy some fans are. (Ironic, right?) They literally said, “and then there were these girls and on one girls shirt it was just a big E and the next was a D and when they stood together it spelt EDWARD”. Shelby turned to me and said “are those twilight freaks making fun of other twilight freaks?” I just nodded and laughed because they so were.

The other thing that I noticed was that ever since the original movie came out everybody has hopped on this blood sucking bandwagon, but I think what entertainment companies and writers fail to see is that we aren’t obsessed with Twilight because Edward is a freakin’ sexy vampire with a thirst for mortal blood, it is because of the love story behind it all. I mean the fluff of the Newborn Army coming to battle is all very interesting…. (okay who cares) but what we wait for 2 hours in line for is the love story, the hopeless romantic in us all wants to be in Bella’s position. That’s why we are all segregated into Team Edward and Team Jacob. duh.

So, I don’t call myself the next Mrs. Edward Cullen, I don’t wear glitter, and I definitely don’t letter my shirts so they spell out EDWARD, but I do believe I enjoyed the crazy people, long lines, and big screened abs last night. Although no more mid night premiers when I have to work the next day, that is for sure.

The line that stretched all the way around the building two hours prior to being seated.