feeling lacking expression

The endless labor that drug on late into the night proved to be regrettable when the incessant beeping sounded at six the following morning, indicating yet another day’s beginning. The alarm, despite the numerous smacks the snooze button received, sounded in its shrill tone, signaling the morning, which had come entirely too soon. Even with the grogginess that accompanied my newly awakened body, the multiple deadlines and the infinite load of work bearing down upon my shoulders materialized instantaneously. Along with the flooding of light into my eyes came the flooding of reminders of the countless “things” that must be done. The number of hours in the day progressively grows shorter. Each evening, the already limited moments of peace decrease as work fills the time previously devoted to relaxation. Around every corner, hiding behind each nook and cranny, looms the threat of failure due to overlooking or forgetting a deadline. Hours of rest dwindle away. Working under the shine of the sun no longer occurs, as the moon becomes the new source of light.

Simple--> Complex

The board is white.
The board is large.
A "mini Poe" hangs from a string on the board.
There is a silver tray on the bottom of the board.
Snowflakes hang from the top of the board.

The board is large and white.
The "mini Poe" hanging from a string on the board is black.
The lights in the room glare on the board.
The silver tray on the bottom of the board has things on it.
The snowflakes hanging on the top of the board are made of paper.
There is a silver metal boarder around all four edges of the board.

The board is white, but smudges stain it due to the erasing of the marks on it. The large board reflects the light shining from the ceiling above. The figurine of Poe hangs from the right-hand corner from a white ribbon. He is clad in a black suit and on his hand rests a black Raven. There are two markers, red and green in color, resting on silver tray at the base of the board. Three black erasers disperse themselves amongst the markers on the tray. The identical snowflake pattern hanging from the top of the board contains minute details. The creator was meticulous and careful as he cut each excerpt from the paper folded before him. Within the snowflake, there appears to be deer and the top and snowflakes themselves on the bottom. A strip of bulletin board material streches across the entire length of the top of the board, with about a width of half an inch, accompanies the silver border of the board. Above the board hangs words of wisdom. One paper warns of the "Big Six" errors and the other provides a slogan, "Ad majorem Dei gloram," by which to live. The signs remain in place due to the five variously colored tacks that adhere them to the wall. The "Big Six" errors are printed in black ink on purple paper. The slogan however spreads across a series of white paper in much larger black print.

The large, white board, while covered in smudges, serves to prove the vast amount of knowledge that it has displayed over its years of existance. The depth of intellect and understanding contained by the board is immeasurable. Daily, massive quantities of information appear on its surface, only to be erased at a later date in order to allow room for more. Each time the erasers "cleans" the board, it simply causes the words to be absorbed into the glossy white surface and retained in the enormous memory bank of the board. The lights from the ceiling attempt to draw attention to the board's extensive knowledge. It provides a spotlight proving that an almightly power wants there to be emphasis on the board. Mr. Poe serves as an intelligent figure who looks over all of the students in the room with a watchful eye, infusing them with knowledge. The snowflakes demonstrate each students wish for the snow this coming winter season. While the purper paper displays great writing rules, the white slogan serves as a guideline for life. It is a great idea to live while carrying out ones life.

8 Things I CANNOT do Without

1. salad from the ACC
   
2. cell phone (especially text messaging)
   
3. macaroni and cheese
4. sweet tea (without lemon)
   
5. sweat pants (particularly my Washington & Lee ones)
   
6. i-pod/i-tunes
7. a friend that I have fun with even when we're doing nothing
   
8. my pillow
   

Resisiting Compliance to Popular Belief

"It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude" (423).

As a singular entity, each individual must take it upon himself to formulate his own set of values and beliefs. In times of meditation, one is able to compose his own ideas in the absence of exterior influence. It is in these times that ones true thoughts and opinions develop. The fear of rejection and criticism does not weigh heavy on the mind as it does in the presence of others. The comfort level that one feels with himself allows the individual to think without the worry of how others may perceive their ideas. The nurturing and maturation of ones beliefs is phenomenal during the alone times in which they commune with their inner thoughts. However, when one finds him or herself mixed in with the crowd, it is not always as easy to stay true to their own views. The thoughts and ideas of others easily influence their own. In many cases, the apprehension concerning exclusion and acceptance by a certain group of people dictates the views of the individual. Society today thrives on trends and fads. The community as a whole falls into a false confidence in the popular principles. The “in thing” holds esteem to all other ideas. In order to receive favorable acceptance into the general population, people modify their ideas to conform to the fashionable ones supported by the modern culture. People wrap themselves in the contemporary views and lose their own in the hustle and bustle that accompanies everyday life. While complying with dominant views is simplest, it is the most regrettable. One adheres to his own views in times of solitude and to the views of the multitude in times of assembly with the masses. The commendable individual is one who clings to his own opinions while all around him try to steal them away. The one who stands strong against the negative influence of others and endures the torments that result from his resilience is the one that deserves praise from us all. He who establishes his position and remains committed to it is an example worthy of follow. The sharing and discussing of ideas amongst people is respectable and encouraged as long as one does not stray too far from his own point of view. It is common for individuals to slightly alter their opinions, but it is important to carefully consider and contemplate the new ideas placed before them prior to any adjustments they feel compelled to make. Staying true to ones own outlook proves most beneficial in a world that constantly strives to cultivate the majority into a single group that is just known as common. This collective nature contradicts prized characteristics such as individuality and uniqueness. The miscellaneous personalities, beliefs, and ideas of people compose the illustrious world that we know and love. Without these differences, the world would deteriorate from this eminent diverse quantity of people to a humdrum, uninspired mass.

The Sky is not Blue

Have you ever wondered if the perceived conception a certain color is truly that color? This idea is perfectly applicable to instill doubt in the seemingly obvious statement that "the sky is blue." Have you ever thought that maybe when you were just a wee child, you were incorrectly taught your colors? Have you ever considered the possibility that your mind was manipulated and molded to believe that the color we know to be “blue” was blue when in fact, it is just as likely that that same color be called red, green, or pink? What makes us all so sure that we have correctly labeled our colors? Is there a color committee out there that spent hours perfectly matching the color with its corresponding name? There is no way to concretely prove that the color we identify as blue is actually blue. As a pre-schooler, one of the main concepts that we, as children, learn is our colors. In that regard, I mean matching what we think to be red as red, green as green, pink as pink, and so on...but why could the color that we see as red not actually be any other name? Children, especially when they are young, have very impressionable minds. In addition, they are naïve and gullible. However, they cannot be to blame for this because they simply have not experienced a number of things. These characteristics make them a prime target of deception. They believe most of the information that adults tell them. For this reason, they adamantly think that “blue” is “blue.” The color they know as “blue” is the same color as the sky. Therefore, from a young age, we associate the two by concluding that the sky is blue. However, that could very well not be the case at all.

What is an American?

What is an American?
Those who serve our community...

US Military Forces

Firemen

Policemen


Those who compose & support the community...

Children


Family



Business Men

**Patrotism**

Foreign Affairs

Found Text Post

The hidden manna i do eat, the word of life it is my meat (1). Do good to all, especially to the household of faith (2). God Almighty in his most holy and wise providence, hath so disposed of the Condition of mankind, as in all times some must be rich, some poor, some high and eminent in power and dignity; others mean and in subjection (2). Therefore let us choose life, that we and our seed may live by obeying His voice and cleaving to Him, for He is our life and our prosperity (2). Thy love is such I can no way repay; the heavens reward thee maifold, I pray (1). Oh, I may see the wonderfull power of God, that my Spirit did not utterly sink under my affliction: still the Lord upheld me with his gracious and mercifull Spirit (3).

1--Anne Bradstreet
2--John Winthrop
3--Mary Rowlandson