Another Step...

...Towards the Edge

The senior slideshow and yearbook distribution were today. The end really is near. I only have one more full, regular day left. But how regular will it be with yearbooks and review packets flying about the classrooms and hallways? Tuesday is senior send off and a lovely thing called an AP Psychology exam. Wednesday is mine, but then Thursday I must return to tak Macro and Micro exams. I have two banquets left: one for track the other choir. In 12 days i will walk across the stage of the USF Sun Dome and the culmination of these past four years shall occur. Today was just another step towards the edge.

Currently Reading Heart of Darkness and the Secret Sharer By Joseph Conrad see related

Heart of Darkness

This was going to be an entry about the highlights of my high school career, but instead it is in honor of the novel my english class has been reading. As usual, I enjoy  the literary experience, whilst my peers loathe it with a passion. Conrad is, at times, difficult to read and interpret, however, some of his passages are fairly interesting. So, I thought I'd post some of my favorite ones. I think maybe one or two will find it interesting, and if not, tis all right because this entry could be classified under "Not Enough Time To Do What I Really Wanted To Do" category. Of course, that name is way too long, so I shall merely call it a substitute or filler.

"It's queer how out of touch with truth women are.  They live in a world of their own, and there has never been anything like it, and never can be.  It is too beautiful altogether, and if they were to set it up it would go to pieces before the first sunset.  Some confounded fact we men have been living contentedly with ever since the day of creation would start up and knock the whole thing over."

"Watching a coast as its slips before you--smiling, frowning, inviting, grand, mean, insipid, or savage. and always mute with an air of whispering, 'Come and find out.'"

"Beyond the fence the forest stood up spectrally in the moonlight, and through the dim stir, through the faint sounds of that lamentable courtyard, the silence of the land went home to one's very heart--its mystery, its greatness, the amazing reality of its concealed life."

"There si a taint of deeath, a flavor of morality in lies--which is exactly what I hate and detest of the world--what I want to forget.  It makes mne miserable and sick, like biting something rotten would do."

"...No, it is impossible; it is impossible to convey the life-sensation of any given epoch of one's existence--that which makes its truth, its meaning--its subtle and penetrating essence.  It is impossible.  We live, as we dream--alone..."

"No, I don't like work.  I had rather laze about and think of all the fine things that can be done.  I don't like work-no man does- but I like what is in the work--the chance to dins yourself.  your own reality--for yourslef, not for others--what no other man can ever know.  They can only see the mere show, and never can tell what it really means."

"Their talk, however, was the talk of sordid buccaneers: it was reckless without hardihood, greedy without audacity, and cruel without courage; there was not an atome of forestigh or of serious intention in the whole batch of them, and they did not seem aware these things are wanted for the work of the world.  To tear treasure out of the bowels of land was their desire, with no more moral purpose at the back of it than there is inburglars breaking into a safe."

"When you have to attend to things of that sort, the mere incidents of the surface, the reality--the reality, I tell you--fades.  The inner truth is hidden--luckily, luckily.  But I felt it all the same; i felt often its mysterious stillness watching ,e at my monkey tricks, just as it watches you fellows performing on your respective tight-ropes for--what is it? half-a-crown a tumble-----"

Okay, so there are several more, but I don't have enough time to type them all. Well, This was my filler entry, there may be another soon. I dunno. God Bless.

Mick Inspired!

YOU MIGHT BE A RUNNER IF...

• hearing the soundtrack to "Rocky" gives you goose bumps.
• you wear a black, plastic sports watch with your dress clothes.
• you can remember a time from a race 4 years ago, but you can't remember your friend's birthdays.
• you are not embarrassed to show someone where your hamstring "really" hurts. 
• you know your resting heart rate, maximum heart rate, and exactly what your heart rate is at all parts of your run. 
• you wear your running shorts underneath your work clothes so that you can quickly get running after work.
• you love shoes...running shoes.
• you won't drive by any running store without a quick look inside. 
• you know exactly how far a kilometer is. 
• you have more old dirty shoes piled by the door than a farmer. 
• you've seen Chariots of Fire at least 5 times. 
• you read each month's issue of Runner's World cover to cover within 24 hours. 
• you get excited when you hear that there is a new Gatorade flavor. 
• you not only know how you did in a race, but you know exactly how every other runner finished. 
• you spend at least 25% of your income on running stuff. 
• you drive by a golf course and think what a nice place it would be to run. 
• you know splits are something that not only cheerleaders care about. 
• your friends know to never call you after 8:30 at night. 
• you get up earlier to run on the weekends than you do for school/work. 
• you think that the inventor of Powerbar should have his likeness engraved on Mount Rushmore. 
• you have hundreds of safety pins scattered around your house. 
• you have more T-shirts than a souvenir shop. 
• you would stand in line for Bill Rodgers autograph. 
• you know that there is no such thing as too much pasta! 
• you install hooks in your shower for wet running clothes. 
• you can't wait for your next birthday so you move into a new age group. 
• you check out the running stores for the new styles.
• you know that cotton is not the best fabric for running! 
• someone asks you how your run was, you go into a 10 minutes description of every factor of it. 
• you can use endorphins in a sentence. 
• you could watch a whole marathon and not be bored. 
• you enjoy running in the rain. 
• you think of distances in terms of mile repeats.
• you are from the US and you think in terms of meters not feet or yards
• you can say/hear fartlek without erupting in a fit of giggles

Currently Listening Arriving By Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman see related

How Great Is Our God?....Unexplainably So!

PLANET WISDOM WAS A-MAZING!!!  I had so much fun with my friends that I rarely get to see. I've started going to youth group at Cornerstone Baptist again, but hanging out with those kids for non-stop 24 hours was fantastic!  I didn't clash with people that I normally have problems with.  Twas a great indicator that we've grown up and time has changed our relationship. I'm not saying we're best buds or anything, but, well, we used to despise each other. Now we understand where the other was coming from.  Plus, I got to know the kid who sorta kinda took my place in a way.  He's cool.  I think we got along fairly well. We're really different when it comes to certain things, but we're both p.k.'s and there's just that understanding that occurs.  I guess you have to be one to kind of understand it.  I dunno. 
The speakers were great.  Mark Matlock and Sean McDowell really did a great job presenting the theme. Plus, Addison Road was really good. I'd never heard of them, but they did a great job.  They played all of our favorite worship songs, and their cd's are just as great. I'm glad they were doing the music.  Now, this brings us to the Skit Guys.  They were hilarious, as usual, except some people kind interrupted on some of the skits and threw off what the Guys were trying to convey.  The coolest thing about them is the fact that they've been best friends for about twenty years.  Their skits were funny, but at the same time presented a great message. 
All in all, I'm glad I went on this trip.  This weekend'll help me a lot in the future. 

Now this past week has just ended with some amazing news.  But I'll get back to that.  Okay, so I'm in the ensemble for Footloose, but I'm okay with that.  It means I can still have a major focus on track. I'm trying (I think) the high jump or (I also think) the long jump. I s'pose tis what I receive for beign tall.  Today I got an 86 on my psych test, found out that I got a 98 on my Spanish report and had a fantastic date. A date with some bubbles and a whirlpool tub.  Ah, was it soothing.  Finally, I found out that I got accepted to Warner Southern.  This made me fell o-so much better about 2007 and my next step in life. Isn't God amazing?

Currently Listening Singing Back to You By The Swift see related

Singing! That's what I spent my entire weekend doing. It was absolutely amazing! It was my first year on All- County Choir, and apparantly we were the best they've heard in a long while. The songs we sang were A-Mazing as well! Beautiful! Gorgeous! And I'm not just talking about the pieces, the voices were phenomenal as well. O, when just the guys sang....it was... I can't put it into words. It was just FANTASTIC!!! There were about 140 of us total in SATB. Half of those being guys. Every time they alone were singing their parts almost every female shut her eyes and listened. I'm in an all women's choir at school, so hearing those boys singe bass and tenor. O me o my...well, I guess you had to be there.

Track season officially begins Monday! To honour my second season as a mile and 2 mile runner, I would like to post a quote. I can't remember who it's by, but it is amazing...just like running. "In my mind, I'm a Kenyan." Is that not one of the most amazing quotes ever? Well, as long as I like it...and this is my blog... I suppose that's all that matters.

Well, today wasn't exactly the greatest day to be had, yet I discovered that contradictory to my foolish notions, I actually have really good friends at school. The kind of friends who would do anything for me. Those who make me laugh. Those who'll give me the biggest bear hugs. Those who'll call their girlfriend and tell her that her firend needs her. Who( the girlfriend) will then proceed to run in from the parking lot and show that she cares. That no matter what stupid and non-stupid stuff that happens you'll be fine. And they are there for you.

In youth group we're discussing what God Wants From Us because we're going to the Planet Wisdom Conference this weekend. (Skit Guys=Good Times) In our discussions we have talked about what He has done for us. We've hit the basics. You know, He sent His only son to die for us, He saved us from our sin, He has mercy upon us, He loves us, He is always there for us. These points shouldn't be taken lightly...not by a longshot. Yet, today I realized that he has actually given me friends in every single place I am. It was just an amazing realization. I mean, I can't completely convey what I'm trying to say. Tis unexplainable epipheny I suppose.

I'm praying for you all1

In His Grip,
Rhonda