OFC


"What's that?!" is the first response I heard from anyone when I told them I was writing a blog about Oly Free Choir. Well, that's why I'm writing it! I said the same thing. I saw a poster on the window of Dumpster Values in Downtown Olympia and it sparked my interest. I decided to make a visit, and did not know what to expect.

The poster told me they met at The Northern on Tuesday evenings, and I honestly expected to meet a ton of people with sheet music in hand, singing something they had all been rehearsing for months. I expected to be a bystanding reporter, silent and survelant. However, what I encountered was nothing of the like.

I walked in to a circle of people, mostly college age and some older, and was greeted warmly. They were happy to have their pictures taken, then invited me to sit down and sing with them. After a while, I played a song on guitar while they sang along and others did the same. There are no specific leaders in OFC, just people who gather to sing songs together.

The OFC sings out of a book of random songs contributed by members who wanted to sing them. They range from classic rock to contemporary pop to the Power Rangers' theme song. There is no sheet music, just lyrics and whoever volunteers to play an accomanyment. Guitar, recorder, and tamborine were the weapons of choice on Tuesday. I was not the only first-timer, and long time members said that Free Choir is on a fairly drop-in membership. Joining their group on FaceBook will inform you of their news and events.

I don't have any readers

So there's this asshole who tries to talk to me all the time, but I mostly ignore him. His name is Nick, and he's my ex-boyfriend's friend...kind of. My ex calls him Packwood, because he's from this scummy town in the mountains called Packwood. Anyway, I never really liked him, so I never talked to him unless he was with my ex and it couldn't be avoided.
So, somehow, he got my phone number and always texts me, and he's my friend on facebook because I couldn't bring myself to deny his fifth friend request. This guy is so annoying, and always talks to me when it's incredibly obvious I'm not interested in talking to him. So he brings up my ex, trying to talk crap..which is fun, but I try to avoid it. I'm trying to find some music on a separate tab while he's harassing me on facebook chat and I'm replying minimally, and I don't answer him back for like twenty seconds and all of a sudden, he's flipping out on me calling me a floozy and a bitch and saying all these terrible things to me...when really all I want is for him to leave me alone. It's not my fault he can't take a hint! He spends all this time trying to get me to like him and then flips out. I just don't get it. Why's he gotta go there? Doesn't bother me, it gave me an excuse to delete him from my friends and block him as a user, so no complaints here.
Just made me want to text my ex and let him know his friend is crazy. But my ex is into this whole thing where when I talk to him, he acts like he's just WAY too cool to talk to me, and like I'm a crazy stalker ex girlfriend because I'm nice enough not to just throw his shit away when I find it in my closet. Like, really? You don't have to act like I'm negotiating a reunion because I found your sweatshirt. I'm definitely not desperate, and I'm definitely not interested in replaying that miserable year and a half of my life. Admittedly, there are times when I miss the comfort and security of a steadfast relationship, but there were hardly any times during which I felt we were steadfast. Either way, his friend is a freak, and I'm grateful I don't have do deal with him anymore.
I'm pretty fresh off a hefty cup of coffee, so I'm just spilling it out right now. I feel like writing. My wallet is so empty. I don't have a job. Well, see, I had a job at Ruby Tuesday, but I was fooled into thinking I'd make more money at Red Bike...so I moved over there, and they gave me like two hours a week and I never made any money. I got frustrated and tried to talk to my boss but he always shut me down. One day, I was so fed up, I went to my brother's house and pretty much downed a whole bottle of wine before I went to work. I told my boss off at work, pretty much quit, and I've been basically unemployed ever since. It's been nice, always having free time, but it hasn't been nice never having any money to spend on that free time. Either way, I'm glad to have an element of spontaneity in this life.
I want to move out of my parents' house, but the face that I don't have a job isn't really conducive to that goal. Maybe I'll meet a handsome young doctor who will rescue me. Dare to dream. I'm happy in school, learning to be a teacher and all, but at times I'm just ready for it to be over. And at other times, I just want to pack up and take off. I feel like that for the majority of the time, actually. I just want to get all my stuff and take off. The glass is half full, but the gas tank is always half empty. That's a little bit clever sounding. Maybe I'll take my chances as a singer/songwriter. Not like that isn't the dream of five million and one other girls and boys.
I'll tell you what, right now I'm down for some tasty food, some good people, and for some amazing, handsome, exciting man to come bursting into my life and make me smile till my cheeks hurt. Not neccessary, that last part...It'd just be nice for a while unitl I get too caught up in my own stuff to pay any attention to him, he'll realize he can do better, just like I always do. Maybe that's why I don't treat guys that well...in the back of my mind, I always feel like they haven't done enough to deserve me. Idk. I want to be pursued. I want to be the one the guy chases and begs until she finally agrees to go out with him. I don't chase boys, but really, they don't chase me either. At least none of the good ones. Ugh. I'm obviously too confused to have any kind of healthy relationship. I don't know what I want, and I probably won't until I see it. Dangerous living, I'd say. Shouldn't I have like a list? A list of attributes I won't compromise on? Christian, driven, attractive, smart, funny, into music, non-smoking, friendly, encouraging, SINGLE, athletic or at least works out, loves his family, has goals, likes spicy food, and never stops being interesting? That'll work. I'll use that as my list. :) Alright, later. Aaaaand, I'm sorry this blog isn't as lingustically awesome as the previous two...but hey, I don't have readers, so who cares? "Not I," said the fly.

Coveteous (Listening to: Half of My Heart - John Mayer)

Grr. I hate really cute, taken men.
Especially Christian, funny, clever, brilliant ones with great minds and good hearts. Why would I hate these sorts of men? Only becuase other women found ALL of them before I did. Forget stealing them away, I couldn't do that. My stealing them would compromise their goodness, and the purity of the relationship I want with one of them.
I have a guy, but he's just cute. He's not brilliant, good hearted, or wittily comedic in any way. And he cuts me down when I try to be those things. Try? I am those things, I just supress it while I'm with him, because he doesn't like me when I act like myself.
AAaaagh, I just want one of the funny, clever, brilliant, really cute Christian men with great minds and good hearts. One of the ones who spells "tomorrow" correctly, and uses the appropriate form of "to, two, and too" for his statments. Can it be that much to ask? Must I have a crush on my young, married professor, just because he's the only attractive man I've ever met who is also smart and actually cares about something real?
Coveteous is the wrong word. It implies intent to take. I meant to call it envy. Wanting something that isn't yours, but not planning to do anything about it.
I don't have to have that specific person. Obviously, I'm not going to become a homewrecker so I can date my college professor. I'm going to break up with Dodo who doesn't like me for who I really am, and wait for someone like my cute professor. But I promise, I won't go after him. I'm not that low.

Gravity, stay the hell away from me.

With him, I'm dull, but cute. I'm not smart. I don't use my vocabulary, I'm usually quite loquacious, for fear that he'll feel I'm condescending. I'm careful to the point that I'm also trying to make sure he doesn't think I'm patronizing him, though what seems patronizing to me is perfectly natural for his limited understanding. I am condecentious at times when I'm already irritated, but he doesn't seem to realize it, and that idea in itself is condescending! I don't like patronizing, it's laborious and irksome in the truest sense of the word. I do like, however conceited I may seem for the fact, being intellectually superior in most cases, but when my intellectual superiority becomes an obstacle of communication and a conductor of strife, I fail to see its advantages in this relationship. So, sure, everything is fine while I'm forbidden to think analytically or express deep thoughts about anything, but as soon as I speak my rampaging mind--which has been screaming inside my head, growing angrier and more restless the longer my mouth mutes it--the shit hits the fan. Once, then, I find myself in the company of intellectuals, the veil between thinking and speaking is torn top to bottom, and out comes a clusterfuck of all my passionate arguments about life, love, culture, religion, politics, anything which has merit. It's then that I suddenly remember that I have an identity separate from the happy relationship bubble on the couch cuddling, he saying, "I love you," without even the capacity to understand me--to know me enough to say the three little words that crush the world they're supposed to complete. I remember that I believe in God, the resurrection of Christ, the intelligent design and seven day creation of the world, the principles of honesty, of integrity, and of hard work as a virtue, not just the means to an end. This is, by no means, to say that he is a bad influence on me, or that I would definitely be a better person without him, but it is to say that with him, the possibility--and especially the guarantee--of being or becoming a better person is nonexistent. I have no doubt that I have the personal capacity to exhibit my fullest intelligence, be an example of Christ, and apply more than the neccessary energy in school and work, I have only guarantees that said capacity is to remain potential and is never to be realized while I'm intellectually, spiritually, and occupationally stifled by my intermittent happiness in the restrictive, though at times elatious, relationship. The person I want to be is unattainable while I'm with him.

American History Parody

" the griffin family history"

this is the "popular" history source I chose to compare and contrast to a scholarly source.

managing time

The differences between high school and college time management for me are pretty vast. In high school I was in school for much longer hours,I had dance team practice for almost 3 hours each day, and I worked about 15 hours a week, so most of my time was managed for me. College is much different. I have class for 2 to 3 hours per day, I work about 20 hours per week, and the rest is free. It is also different because my homework is different. It's all reading and writing as opposed to worksheets and book assignments. Granted, I'm not taking a math or science course as of yet. I don't live on campus, so I don't have quite as much of a social life as most of my friends, so that's not hard to manage. Popularity has never been an issue for me...haha.
Love ya Sandra!!!

Goin to a Better Place..

2. If you could do one thing today to make the world a better place, what would it be?

Well, I would probably use that one opportunity to make drugs disappear. All these efforts people put forth towards ending drug problems seem almost futile. A difference made in saving a single life is a major difference, but if I had the power to change the world today, then a lot of people would stop suffering and dying for stupid reasons. My uncle Toby has been strung out on drugs for most of his adult life, so I've seen firsthand how destructive they can be. A month ago, my uncle Mike bought a $3,600 Gibson Les Paul guitar--basically the dream instrument for any guitarist, it isn't even about the money, the thing was priceless to him. He's one of the most generous people I've ever met. My uncle Toby stayed at his house for a couple of weeks, and he was about to leave, so my uncle Mike gave him $100, filled his gas tank, and bought him a few packs of cigarettes, and sent him on his way. Hours later, Mike comes out to his truck to find his Les Paul gone, and the words "Sorry. -Me" scratched into his rearview mirror in Toby's handwriting. Drugs drove my uncle to take advantage of and steal something precious from his own brother. Drugs ruin relationships, goals, dreams, ambitions, and ultimately, lives. My one opportunity to change the world would be well spent to abolish the world of drugs.