I am Who I am Because

Everyone is original,
But not why you think.
We are conglomerates of the people
Who've toughed our lives.

You wouldn't be who you are
Without these influences.

You wouldn't
Shouldn't
Couldn't
Be who you are.

Subtle or otherwise,
They've each left their mark.

People enter our lives for a reason.
Those who leave fingerprints
On our hearts
Should never be forgotten.

They become a part of us.

I am who I am
For many reasons.
My family, friends, loved ones, heroes, and teachers.
Those who have been there,
Listened,
Trusted,
Directed,
Believed in me,
Cared.

All they have done
Can never be repaid.

The influence they've had
On who I am today
Is a wonderful gift.

A product of their time,
Love,
Compassion,
Kindness,
Dedication,
Generosity:

Me.

Just a Note

     So if you have read my blog semi regularly, you will have discovered three things: I am a bit random, I LOVE Johnny Depp, and I adore the City of London (not necessarily in that order).  If you couldn't guess where I am going this summer, I am going to LONDON!  Well, I told you I would be going back, and now I am (I like to go after what I want, and was fortunate enough to get back there...only took everything I had).

     I just wanted to let you know that during June and July, I will be studying abroad in London.  Depending on Internet access, I plan to blog about what I see and do over there during that time.  In August I will return to my characteristically random blog posting, fear not.  That is of course, if I decide to return to the US. ;)

Movies I Cannot Wait to See - Frankenweenie

Let's face it.  I would watch anything by Tim Burton.  But there is something about this movie (even though Johnny Depp is not in it).  It was one of his first projects he ever did (it was done with real people, is about half of an hour long, and can be found on YouTube).  He was also working with Disney in his past, but since his drawings are not "Disney type," he was let go.  Now that Tim Burton is such a well-known name and is making movie for Disney...I just think it is a nice turn of events.  It shows we can do anything we set our minds to (as long as we have the talent).

Jejune - Word of the Moment

Jejune - adj.
     Lacking significance; immature

The next jejune book we read in school was "The Scarlet Letter."

More Questions

When was the last time you told someone:

• I love you
• I hate you
• I'm proud of you
• I'm disappointed in you
• I forgive you
• I'll never forgive you
• You're amazing
• You're worthless

We should think about what we say before we say it.  Once something is said, it can never be taken back.  Make the most of what you say, and try to build people up, rather than taring them down.

Happiness is contagious.  So is hatred.  If you are kind to others, they are more likely to be kind in return.

Some Questions

When was the last time you:

• Laughed uncontrollably?
• Had tears of joy?
• Could not stop smiling?

These are wonderful and beautiful experiences.  Each one is not something to be embarrassed by, but to appreciate.  Seize the moment to be happy.

Dark Shadows

     Dark Shadows is a movie based on the gothic soap opera of the same name that ran from 1966 to 1971.  In this movie adaptation, Tim Burton (director) puts his own spin on the much loved drama.  We quickly learn the story of Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), who upset a witch by the name of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) by not devoting his love to her.  She then turned into a vampire before burring him alive for nearly 200 years (196 to be exact).

     Barnabas is unearthed while the area is under construction, and finds himself lost in the world of 1972 (appropriately the year after the original show ended).  The coastal town of Collinsport, Maine, which the Collins family built with their wealth and cannery business when Barnabas was a youth, has fallen into the hands of Angelique.  Needless to say that Angelique still has hard feelings for being scorned by the man of her dreams, she does not take lightly to the fact that Barnabas is once again roaming about.  She is also enraged to find out that he has restored his family business to its former glory, which is competition for her cannery and a threat at her power of the town.  When she offers herself to him once more…well, you’ll just have to watch it to find out what happens.

     Out of 10, I give this movie and 11.  This movie is EXCELLENT.  I am not just saying that because Johnny Depp is in it (my favorite actor if you haven’t gathered that much yet).  The entire cast is phenomenal.  The movie blends humor, horror, romance, drama, and darkness perfectly together.  The props, costumes, sets, music, and make-up are equally as amazing.  Barnabas sounds as if he just awoke from the 1700’s, as his concepts and English are stuck in an era none of us have lived through (unless you too are a vampire or are somehow immortal, in which case you might have). 

     As Burton and Depp’s eighth collaboration, it feels like the first.  Dark Shadows is exciting and keeps you guessing until the end.  This is definitely one worth seeing over and over again.

     Dark Shadows is rated PG-13 and runs 113 minutes.  It opens everywhere on Friday, May 11, 2012 and is available in IMAX.  

$20 A Day

     What if you had $20 a day for food?  For some people this might be a lot, and for others it would not be enough.

     But what if you had $20 given to you every day to spend on food, and you could not spend one penny over it?  There is a method to this madness: each calorie will cost you 1 cent.  That means with $20, you can purchase up to (but not over) 2000 calories a day.

     Healthy food would not only be more affordable, but more desirable.  Suddenly a salad will cost you $1, whereas a bacon cheese burger could run you $15.

     Water would be free.  Diet drinks would be free, to possibly $0.15 per serving.  Our basic needs would be affordable, and obtainable.  If this was done all over the world, hunger could be eliminated.  Spreading the surplus to the areas that need it most.

     You could not over-eat.  After your $20 was gone, you'd have to wait until tomorrow.  If you were hungry after eating that double chocolate cheesecake (the only thing you could purchase that day), then perhaps the following day you would try to buy as much food as you could for $20: fruits and vegetables.

     You could eat healthy, or not.  The choice would still be yours.  But what would this be like?  Is it even possible?  I'd like to see it be tried.

     One other thought, is to give certain people different amounts of money, based on their needs.  Maybe a teenage girl would have $15 (1500 calories a day).  And exercising could earn you money.  For every calorie you burn (possibly 2 to keep it beneficial), you would have one extra penny to spend on food for that day.

     Just something to think about.

Guess Where I'm Going This Summer?

Did you get it?