Oh My Gosh...I'm almost Twenty!

Less than two weeks until my twentieth birthday! This is both exciting and scary.

I had a low period last weekend when I found out a friend of mine is engaged. That is a total of three friends who are either engaged or married under the age of 21. I'm not in any rush to be married or engaged, but if you had asked me around this same time last year I would've said I expected to be engaged by the time I turned 21. Oh how things change in a year.

Anyways, another reason I felt a bit low was because I'm 20 and I don't feel like I've accomplished much. After I wallowed in sorrow for a bit, I thought long and hard about what I've managed to accomplish in twenty short years. Here is what I came up with.

1. Key note speaker at my high school graduation.
2. I've been a mascot for a hockey game.
3. I'm a manager.
4. I've had the same job for 4 years.
5. I've won medals competing in figure skating.
6. I got a 93 on an algebra test
7. I've written two complete novels.
8. I took dual credit classes in high school
9. I've been in love.
10. I finally got my license!

I figured 10 is a nice whole number. I'm sure if I asked my parents they'd list over a million things that I've done in twenty years, but I feel these are my Top 10 accomplishments for the last twenty years. 

Some of these are unique, such as being a mascot and a key note speaker, others are kinda silly, like getting my license. Still, these are things I've done. 

Countdown to turning Twenty! 

T-minus 12 days and 16 minutes!

Who Do You Respect More, A Solider or a Boyband?

Good Morning everyone. Today's post is a rant, so fair warning. This is my personal opinion and experience. You don't have to agree with me, nor listen to me, but I value my right to freedom of speech. 

You know who works to keep that right available to me? No, the answer is not Congress, who can't even manage to pass a budget. No, not our president, who only serves for eight years. Have you figure it out yet? If you said our soldiers then bingo! 

As the granddaughter of a Marine and an Airman, I have respect for the military. I've also had three uncles who served in various branches, and I have cousins who are currently serving. I believe that if you have been overseas in a war zone, or even hostile territory you have earned my respect. That's not to say that all service men and women do not deserve our respect, but those who have faced dangerous situations have just a tad bit more from me. 

Why am I all about respect for our military today? Is it because of the news, where Syria is being investigated for weapons of mass destruction? No, it isn't. It's a rather simple thing, actually. I saw a story of a Georgia man, who is a retired marine, that has been told by his retirement community that he must take down one of his two flags, as it breaks the rules. Neither flag is vulgar. One flag is the American flag, the other the Marine flag. Both flags represent America and this man's service to our country.

I understand how the community must keep rules, other wise every lawn would be loaded with flags, from the American flag, military flags, confederate flags, flags of other countries or even club and organization flags. Still, the residents polled had no problem with this former Marine having both of his flags, but the HOA of his retirement community notified him that he had to take one down or face fines. 

It wasn't just the injustice of this situation that bothered me, it was a comment that someone felt this man didn't not deserve special treatment because he served our country, and they are of all the military worship. 

Military worship? These men and women willingly are signing away their lives to serve our country. Many die in that service. Am I not allowed to consider how much of a sacrifice that is? 

So this man can't fly both flags, according to the story he won't fight the community, he'll just move. He isn't pulling the "I served our country card" and demanding they allow him to fly both flags. 

I do think that maybe the retirement community should look into adjusting its by laws, as it didn't seem that the residents had a problem with this man flying both flags. 

I leave you with this thought, how do you treat the men and women who serve our country? Do you throw things and spit at them as people did when soldiers returned from Vietnam? Do you wave flags and cheer when they come home? Or do you just pay no attention and spend your time thinking about the VMAs? 

~Laney

                                          

How Easy Is It To Follow Your Digital Footprint?

Monday night my mom and I randomly decided to go see a movie. So being the cool techie I am, I asked Siri what was playing. The only movie my mom and I both really wanted to see was Paranoia, staring Liam Hemsworth and Harrison Ford. The reviews for it were alright, but mom and I never judge a movie by reviews. Case in point, One For The Money had awful reviews from critics, but we loved it. Never believe someone else, see for yourself if you like it or not. That's my mom's philosophy.

Anyways, so we get to the theater, get our tickets, popcorn and large cherry Pepsi's, then find our theater. It was completely empty! Which is cool, and a bit scary too. Mom and I always check the emergency exits. Can't be too careful in this crazy world. Before the movie began a gentleman came in, which was a bit comforting, and still a little nerve wracking.

Movie poster for Paranoia, featuring Liam Hemsworth, Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman.

Now for my opinion of the movie. NOTE: MAY CONTAIN PLOT SPOILERS

The movie was decent, in my opinion a mix of Oceans Eleven, Abduction and Now You See Me. Liam Hemsworth was hot! But he isn't just a hot, young Hollywood actor, he can act. All I have to say is that if Miley Cyrus loses him she is crazy. With that body and those eyes?! I'd marry him in a heartbeat. Plus he's Thor's brother! I mean how much better can you get?

So I did enjoy the movie for more than eye candy. The story was decent, could've been better, but it wasn't the worst thing ever. Though it did make me more paranoid about all my technology. The main plot is these two major technology guys competing against each other, and they use each other's weaknesses to try to get back at each other. Using Liam's character as a pawn between them. The part that made me nervous was how easy it was to follow, track and find everyone because of their digital footprint. Everyone is always talking about leaving a carbon footprint on the environment, but what about the digital footprint we leave behind us in the virtual world?

With concerns of the NSA keeping track of our conversations via text messages, phone calls and emails, it's enough to make me start questioning how easy I'm making my digital footprint to follow. Not that I have anything to hide, but I do believe in personal privacy. If I wanna search crazy things on Google for the fun of it, that's my right. If I wanna post a crazy picture of myself to Facebook, it's my right not to have it shared publicly with the world.

I'm not say to go crazy about your technology and that you're being watched by the government, but I am saying to be aware that it is possible. Also here are a few tips. Turn off your location services on apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, even just for your camera. Even if the picture doesn't give away location data visibly, it's possible to get location data from the picture's properties. Also apps that are public like Facebook and Twitter, make it possible for people to track you, which makes stalking a real threat. These apps can collect data about you, making it easy for someone else to obtain this data and that is a threat to your safety.

I feel like I've been a real bore, but be prepared! It is possible to make it difficult for someone to victimize you. Pass on these tips to friends and family.

~Laney

P.S. At the end of the movie when the credits started to roll I had a major fangirl moment. It wasn't until the end of the movie that I realize that Liam's best friend in the movie was played by my favorite cowboy, Lucas Till! He looked so familiar, but the glasses and long hair made it difficult to recognize him until I saw his name. He's still so cute! Major fangirl moment! <3 p="">

UPDATE: Thank you, daddy for texting my at 3:45 to tell me that even if the NSA isn't watching me, you always are. Also thanks for finding my typos. I love you! :)

Beat This Summer

Summer is coming to an end, though in Charleston we'll have summer life weather for many more months. Especially because it seems like all it has done this summer is rain! We had a very long rainy season.

This summer has been a change for me. In many big and many small ways. I took two summer classes, Probability and Statistics, and World History. I passed my Probability and Statistics class with a C, which for me is a miracle and a major improvement from my grade during the spring. I passed my World History class with a B, so I did well overall. I've also gotten back into skating and I preformed for the first time in two years! It was a great experience that I haven't lost everything when it comes to skating. I still have potential, I just have to utilize it. 

Another change this summer has been my efforts to try to date. That's been going interesting to say the least. It's very different and very scary. Even after being out of a relationship for about 10 months it's still scary the idea of putting myself out there no getting close with someone again. I'm doing it though. 

I've also been trying to branch out and make more friends. That's beyond for me because I get comfortable with specific people and I hate having to adjust to new people. I've done it though and it can be fun. I've also gravitated towards people who are/were homeschooled, which probably helps because we have common ground. Homeschoolers are more accepting of others, at least the ones I grew up with. There are judgmental ones, but everyone group of people has the judgmental mean ones. You just learn to ignore them.

The biggest change of all is my switch from Trident Tech to College of Charleston. I had orientation this week and it was awesome! One of the best parts was that by the time we went to lunch and noon I had made 3 new friends. That's what I call success!

I'm excited about my classes at CofC and the atmosphere there. It's like I fit. Only downside, and this is a downside to Charleston living in general, is the humidity and heat! I'm super excited for it to cool off , then I will be able to wear cute scarves, jackets and boots! I've always been a fall/winter kinda girl.

This summer has been hard, with so many changes and all, but I don't think I'm gonna beat this summer.

Definition of Insanity

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

This quote is used often when referring to doing crazy, and seemingly ridiculous things when you know what will happen. Especially when the expected outcome is not good. To me, though, I have a different view of the definition of insanity.

"Insanity isn't when you do something over again, hoping for a different outcome. It's when you do it again and know it'll probably have the same outcome."

Why do I think this? Well here's my example. Love, that endless, usually difficult and unattainable thing that most people spend their whole lives dealing with.

For me, love isn't very kind. I've been single for almost nine months now, after being in a serious relationship for two and a half years. It was a very intense and destructive breakup, leaving me a bitter, angry and very moody person. Even now it's hard to say his name without feeling like someone is slowly turning a knife in my heart.

Still, a tiny part of me is hopeful I'll find love again. I'm not blind to the fact that I'll probably face a lot more heartache in the process, but the end goal of some true form of happiness with a person who values me, even with my million quirks, is worth it. At least in my mind it is.

So, I'm going to continue on living with my insanity and enjoy it!

Dealing with Death

This past weekend a close friend of our passed away. He was only eighteen. That's just mind numbing to me. He was only eighteen. Eighteen. I'm nineteen and I have never lost someone very close to me, especially not that close to my age. It's a shock.

I now have death on my mind. Not in a morbid way, it's just that I can't stop thinking about it. My mom and I have been going back and forth this summer about death, most about how to handle and prepare for it. This just was an awakening for us. 

I've never been good at dealing with death. I've only been to three funerals in my life. My grandmother's, my baby cousin's and my best friend's great grandmother's. Talking, even thinking about death upsets me deeply. I just don't have the ability to deal with it, but I don't want to be unprepared for it either. 

How do you prepare for death? How do you accept that people die? How do you deal with losing someone close to you?

These questions have always plagued me, and they still do. It'll probably take me a while to find the answers, or at least comfort in the fact that there isn't one set way or answer to death.

I'll probably never be okay with death, but I do find a tiny, tiny bit of comfort in the fact that maybe somewhere up above there are guardian angels who are looking down and protecting us. 

That's the bright side view on death. 

I leave you, dear readers with this quote from one of my favorite authors. 

“That was the thing. You never got used to it, the idea of someone being gone. Just when you think it's reconciled, accepted, someone points it out to you, and it just hits you all over again, that shocking.” 

― Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever