“Yep, life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Life does move fast, and I have loaded myself up with plenty of responsibilities and activities.

-classes monday through thursday
-work at Latch Key 3-6 monday through friday
-I help with the basketball practice on friday mornings
-Every other Tuesday I put together a bible story/class for the latch
key boys
-Sundays and wednesdays: church
-an occasional night on saturday working at M and M
-I’m also preparing the lesson for the 6-12 graders at Family Retreat
-all the while, I’m doing homework, reading ‘A Tale of Two Cities,’and writing songs for Mount Olympus.

fun times though.

I’m young, so i think i should put on as much as I can and learn as much as I can.

I’m not going to school to pass tests and get a degree; i’m going to school to learn as much as I can, so i can pass on my knowledge to others.
I totally have a baaaaad craving to play some hockey and to watch some hockey. My Maple leafs are first in their division which makes me happy!

On the music front:

Beirut is killing it on my ipod and so is Onerepublic

on the girlfriend front:
completely justifiable to speculate upon

on the western front:
…………..all is quiet.

-r

I have not given up on you, my friend, Mr. Blog.
you are like the exercise bike, dusty in the corner. It’s going to take a while to get back to regular use with you. just be patient. i will keep your wheels greased.

I get to bike to classes today @ PJC, which I am excited about!
today I have Biology and Learning Frameworks (LF with @HannahVaughn)
Yesterday I had Sociology, History, and Intermediate Algebra.

I am so pumped for this semester. I am totes built for the college life.

I’m working at Latch Key every school day (which is a blessing) and I still get my evenings to study and my weekends to goof off.
Not to mention, watching kids is like a super fun job.
Wednesday nights we are starting up simple supper, and afterwards, church as usual #cool beans.

But seriously. Banana muffins. They are one of those things that the person who invented them had to look at them and say: “I see Potential here.” Because who in the world would think that bananas would EVER work in bread-form???
This, I believe, is how God views us. He sees the potential that we don’t see in ourselves.

“I wish you’d see yourself as beautiful as I see you
Why can’t you see yourself as beautiful as I see you?”
-The Avett Bros.

Oh and I also get to help coach/ come to most of the home games for the homeschool warriors. sweet.

I have Mr. Jerry McClour in Sociology with me (and also Alex Salas :/)
I have Miss Connie Ball and Mr. Zach Zant in history with me.
I want to think I have Lora with me in Biology, but I could be wrong..
and learning frameworks I have Hannah, Lora….and maybe a few more…idk

So. before class today what am I having for breakfast? yep. Banana bread muffin. maybe I’ll grab some coffee at the cozy cappuccino as well, idk.

God blesses people who change the way they do things not just for their happiness, desire, or selfish ambitions, but for His glory. I think Daniel recognized that eating and drinking in this unhealthy way was not what God wanted for the young men. So Daniel changed the system, and for that he was blessed with abundant knowledge and wisdom. Also the gift of Vision and dream interpretation–pretty sweet. Dan is now outfitted to be like an X-men man.
God wants us to be a different brand–genre of people. When we change how we live and influence others to change how they live, God’s going to bless us with knowledge and wisdom. Maybe some cool superpowers, idk…
Now after we have these gifts and blessings, we need to, like Daniel, use them to help others. Dan told Neb’s what his dreams meant. good boy.

also. If you eat Veggies and water, you will be a lot healthier.

be selfless–be different–be cool–be awesome.

-r

Valentine’s Day

Plymouth

The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance (Vampire Weekend Cover)

Sailboat

Meriwether Lewis

Head Over Heels (Tears for Fears Cover)

Too Hot To Wear Socks

Shadows

(encore, if needed, surprise cover hint: it’s a realllly old song)

-r

everything we do, do as if we are doing it for God. don’t just do what is asked–do more.
That’s really what has been running through my mind today. How do I go one step further?

The new prospect for the Youth minister (ironically named) Jared came tonight. he led a great worship, and then some…by some I mean a brillz lesson.

We played some basketball (that is, the youth group) with him and his daughters.
overall it was a pretty fun night.

I leave tomorrow morning to go to San Antonio for Allstar Weekend (not a reference to the band).
I think it’s going to be lots of fun hanging out with the great homeschool people. I love having fun. I’ve kind of grown up out of my mopey-groaning stage of my life. Optimism, in me, is in it’s prime (see what I did there?????). I like being around great people, and sharing stories and experiences. cool beans

Our summer interns are also here! Andy and Alex!
They are great, and I’m supa pumped for the rest of this summer!
Alex has already told me that we are totally doing some open mic night @ Journey. sweet.

sometimes I kind of wish I was a protestant pilgrim. I mean, how cool, intense, and eye-opening would building a civilization in a “new” country.
I don’t know, that’s just my favorite period of history. The pilgrims and colonies and whatnot.

I watched my favorite movie today: into the Wild. Such an amazing story and film.

enough for now. bye bye

-r

It will be coming soon, baby.
IDK how, but my font got changed. Fonts are like people. They change like people change clothes, and different “clothes” give off different attitudes or vibes.
I bet the beach boys had good fonts for their good vibrations.

I had THE BEST dream last night, ever. it was awesome.
I usually do evening blogs, but today I just felt compelled to do a morning one.

Yesterday I got on my bike, hit the trail and it was SUPA hot!

well next weekend I’m going to be in San Antonio for ALL Star weekend. I hope I will kill the competish, well not literally.

This is a really pretty song, Ra Ra Riot is great!

that’s enough for now I guess, bye bye

-r

I am extremely excited to graduate. Somewhere in the bible something is said like: live your life to the fullest while you’re young, and don’t take your adolescent years 4 granted, because you will be old before you know it.

I have enjoyed my time as a high school student, but my lifestyle is contoured more towards college life.

As a homeschooler, I have had the comfort of my home as a school place, and I have also had the comfort of slacking off a bit on some subjects. I think college will help straighten me out (or use these talents for my benefit) to become a better student.

It’s a big time in my life, my fellow senior’s lives, and my family’s life.

I’m going to take advantage of this maturation point to…mature. A clean slate is a good thing. All of the screw-ups are forgotten. I want to be looked at differently; i’m a different person.
sarcasm, gossip, and language are things all teenagers struggle with, but it’s time for people to straighten up. I was not, and you are not put on this earth to cuss and hate on people.
I think all of those rappers have it right (…to a certain extent) nobody likes haters.

With my graduating and Matt + others graduating, I feel (and he probably does too) that there needs to be more people, I don’t want to say like us, but…like us. Kind of the way we had to become who we are after people like Matt, Joel, and Aaron left. Jered and Tammy leaving wasn’t easy either for LACOC.
pray for the kids.

On a lighter note (of the lightsaber) I am about to send in some demo CD’s to record labels!
Only Very rarely (very, veeeeery rarely) do bands get signed on straight from a demo cd, so I’m not really expecting a contract, but I am hoping for some feedback. Most likely I will hear stuff like “play some shows and build up your fanbase,” and “work on your sound, and make it your own.” Which I am cool with. I just want some professional opinions, and who knows, if I get lucky I just might get a really cool offer and/ or scholarship! IDK!!?!?!?!?!

my stuff is going to labels like: 4AD, JAGJAGUWAR, subpop, and maybe XL and Rough Trade records.

Btw, The music of James Blake is the ultimate chill-out music. Long car drive, walks outside, and morning coffee-time music.
He’s truly awesome.

Yours truly, rapper, songwriter, leader, follower, teacher, Totem-spirit house cat, and Jedi knight…

-r

This.   is “the Monitor” by Titus Andronicus

Jersey punks + Irish alcohol + Distorted guitars + Depressing, poetic lyrics + Folk-Rock + Marching Band Snare drums + Civil War stuff + a Shakespeare character = Titus Andronicus

This is one of the most beautiful albums ever, personally.

when you first listen to it, you may have quite a different reaction, but look at the lyrics, and then listen to it again.

Melancholic-holics here

-R

….I don’t understand why someone who can create mediocre music, like myself, can not be making any income at all, and then there are chicks like my friend Rebecca Black…..
She is probably covered in millions of teenage girl money, and all she does is throw down a beat and sing about the days of the week and what she had for breakfast?

“gotta make my mind up, which seat can I take?”

…I think I may like Nickelback more than this…Oh my gosh, what am I saying? This girl is making nickelback sound good Oh my gosh!!! aAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!HH!H!!!H!HH!H!H!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!patyin’ partyin’ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(and yes, I do understand the irony I have created by posting this on Friday, Friday) AHHHHHHH NOT AGAIN AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

-r

Go away Rebecca….please.

it’s like you’re pulling me in like the tractor beam on the Death star in episode 4. I just hope I can fly out of here like Han Solo.