Music for Peace (Fox Elipsus)

Fox Elipsus is a musician from the UK. John Lennon's "Imagine" inspired him to get what he believes, his message, across through music. He sings about many things, from love songs, to the environment, to religion etcetera. I saw him preform here in Saint George a few nights ago. From a family (who all attended Cambridge and Oxford University, including himself) who are millionaires,billionaires and lawyers he's kind of the "black sheep."

He doesn't actually have a record deal, though he has 3 CDs, he puts them all out own his own and the help of about two dozen people. He tours and everything off the sales he gets, doing his own promotions and what money he gets doing that.

All the same, his music is beautiful, so I thought I'd share with a few of you.

First his is a classic, his rendition of Imagine:



An environmental song, that's kind about global warming how the glaciers the Polar bears rest on after swimming for 150 miles are beginning to dissapear.




And one of my favorites, he explained he got the idea for this song whenhe saw the frightening statistic that 6% (probably less) of the population in America own 96% of the money, and that this statistic is still pretty high in England and other places as well.

Set Us Free:

Things have been better

Well, I know its been a long time (again) since I've updated...and it probably would have been even longer but I had the urge to write something, that'll hopefully 'calm' me down, so to speak.

Things have been really crazy at my end of the world. I suppose they could get worse, but things have definitely been better. For starters, McDonald's (Where I work) reopened and this one is kind of a double edged sword I guess. I have a job again, and that's a great thing..but this week I've only worked two days and next week I'm only scheduled for one. I don't know if the scheduler just doesn't know what he/she is doing or that they just hired on too many people.

It could be both.

The low hours make me worry about my financial stuff. Rent, phone bill...grocceries! Granted, I can probably keep getting whats left of my unemployment benefits if I keep getting low hours at least, but that only lasts till the end of March.

On top of all that, things have been crazy around the house too. Everyones down everyones throat. At least we're moving out in a few days...Le sigh.

At least I'm in school, and have a family and best friend who love me right? Here's hoping things start looking up soon.

Happy New Year

Well...its the new year, I guess its fitting enough to do a new blog, I've been slacking off on this again. I don't know exactly why, sometimes maybe it is just hard to put things into words sometimes. Or maybe once its written you don't have it to cling to anymore, I don't know really. But it doesn't matter.

My youngest sister has been home for a few weeks, with her boyfriend from sweden who's staying with us as well. THey have less than one week here. Sometimes looking at them I feel a little lonely, sometimes I really miss having someone of my own who loves me just for me and will look at me like he looks at her. It really isn't a big deal, I guess. I've proven these past few months that I don't need a guy, but to put it bluntly; sometimes being single is awesome and wonderful. Sometimes it sucks.

Like everything in life I guess.

This holiday season I had a few melancholy moments, tearing up and crying some. This is one of the last years we'll all be together like this, it'll be harder and harder as Solveig and I get older and go on with our own lives. Solveig will be in Sweden next year, and may go back after a year back home after that. Who am I kidding, May? She will. She most definitely will. Not that anyone blames her, Sweden is a much better option than the United States these days.

After I get my bachelors degree, however long that may take, I'll be joining the Peace Corp and will be spending 27 months (over two years!) in a foreign country away from home. It's an exciting prospect, no matter how far it may be at this point. But its also a little scary.

Speaking of school, having stupid financial aid problems. Due to my immaturity and naiveness back at my first college attempt in '06 my financial aid has been suspended for the time being. We're working on appealing to that so I don't have to wait another semester to continue again. Especially now that I've got everything on track, and I'm going where I want to go. It is my own fault, I admit that and acknowledge that. I'm not going to deny that. It's just a little upsetting, now that everything was going good.

Ah well, we'll see where things go. But I'm not going to let this deter me too much. I'll achieve my dreams, however long it takes. I'm determined now.

And for fun some pictures from the end of the year:

I miss

I miss having time with my sister, without her attention somewhere else...

I miss old friends, who may have stopped talking to me for numerous reasons...but none are good enough

I miss people I "grew up" with who I never see anymore, and who some never talk to me at all anymore...

I miss having someone that loves me for me..

I miss a lot of things...

If you don't like me..

Disclaimer: This is not directed at anyone in particular. It's just something I had to get out. I've encountered a few people who had been very rude and insulting to me, and thought I didnt know. But thats in the past, this is just something I'm going to put out there for putting out there. Hopefully it will help some people know me better. take of it what you will and please read.

I mentioned it to my dad not long ago that I've actually found it harder, not easier, to make genuine friends as I got older. At least, when it comes to people around my age. He responded, "Well, thats probably because you become less flexible. Flexibility is a good thing, but if you're too flexible you're like water. And you're more comfortable with yourself as a person, and you want some of those same things in friends."

So this is to anyone...

If you don't like me because I can be quiet, shy, and reserved before I'm completley comfortable around you...

If you don't like me because I have morals...

If you don't like me because I put school work before "hanging out"...

If you don't like me because I can have with out using obscenities...

If you don't like me because I can have fun that isn't at the expense of anyone elses self esteem...

If you don't like me because I don't have the perfect, thin, body...

If you don't like me because I'm not going to put up with you if you're not anything I deserve...

If you don't like me because I stand up for what I know whats right...

If you don't like me because I get good grades (mostly) ...

If you don't like me because I know what I want in life...

If you don't like me for any of the reasons, but not limited to, listed above I've got a newsflash for you. I. Don't. Care. Am I perfect, no? But I'm happy with myself. There's things about me I'm working to change, but if all you're going to do nothing but insult someone, I'm not going to stoop to those levels to make anyone happy. I'm mature enough to be polite, and friendly and honest even if someone is not my favorite person but I don't hate anyone.

So think of me what you will, but I'm not going to let it deter me.

:)

Its beginning to look a lot like...

Happy Holidays, the holiday season has officially started (tomorrow!)...okay maybe some people start considering it the Holiday Season once November starts the day after Halloween but it really kicks into effect on Thanksgiving. We have our dinner, then we turn on the Christmas music and set up the tree, and that's really w hen things get into full swing.

It has been cold though, and by cold I mean really cold. I thought my hands might fall off when I was biking to school yesterday, I really need to find my gloves. It didn't even hit 50 yesterday in St. George...which is really cold for St. George. And I walked into the Gardner center after printing off my essay, and there were Christmas decorations EVERYWHERE. Wasn't exactly expecting it, but okay.

I woke up this morning, at my parents house here in Apple Valley and its WHITE outside.... Pictures to come later, Happy Holidays everyone!

Some thanks

I was thinking (and while its not quite thanksgiving yet, these thoughts may have been spurred on by my research on Pilgrims today)... that no one says what they think of someone enough. No one says 'I love you', or says 'thank you' or 'I admire you', or 'I respect you' as much as they should. I'm certainly guilty of this charge, and so is everyone else. I think its important that we let people know, you never know how it could make someones day, cheer them up, or a multitude of other things.

So I want to give that to some people.

Alex Knapton. We've been friends for a long time (1st grade!), and while we lost contact there for awhile I'm proud to say we're still friends. We've both grown and changed, as has the friendship, but its still intact and that means a lot. Thank you so much for being there for me. I hope to see you again soon. :)

Bellenie Black. I haven't seen you in years, but every time I talk to you your quirky personality never fails to cheer me up. Thank you!

Cassie Orman, I'm so proud and happy to call you my best friend. You have literally been there for me through thick and thin and I probably don't express this as often as I should. I wish there were a better way to say it than just thank you. I know I can be kind of ridicoulous at times, so really thank you. I hope I've given the same to you.

Julise (Jager) Nelson. This is another of those cases where we've lost touch over the years. I dare say we aren't as close as we once were, and I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your wedding. But please know I have great memories with you, still considere you a friend,and want you to be happy.

Lizzi Sims, Ashlee Neilson, Jessica Butterfuild, Jenny Brown, Amanda Hansen and anyone else I'm missing... we've all grown and become different individuals, certainly...but I have a lot of fond memories with all of you. Thanks for making middle school, and the other times we spent together, great!

Crystal Beecher. I know I can be a bit erratic and disorganized at times (or maybe a lot? ^ ^) And that we have a lot of different views on things. But thank you, to you and Robert, for allowing me to live here and 'putting up' with me. Most of all, thank you for being a friend.

Dorothy Englman, Cyril Noble,Mark Setser, Jerry Howard and probably a lot of other people I'm forgetting.... You guys are awesome. I'm so glad I've gotten to know and work with you guys and consider a lot of you my friends. Most of all,thank you for giving me oppurtunites to work with you all and make a difference.

Bethany Coyle, Jason Benno, Logan Hunt, Sala and so many others who are younger than me but have figured out how to take a stand and fight for whats RIGHT already. That's especially difficult in Utah. I admire you guys for it, keep it up!

Solveig, my dear sister... I love you. That about says it all...but you're not just my sister, you're my best friend. you've always been there for me. Thank you.

Morgan, my other dear sister! You never fail to cheer me up! I LOVE how happy you always are, never stop! Love, love, love you!

Mom and Dad, I don't know how I can put this in as little words as possible and still be efficent in saying what you mean to me. Thank you for never really giving up on me. I realize I was a heard headed, stubborn, naive teenager and young adult for a long time and I must of caused you a lot of grief. I still have a lot of things to learn, but I love you both, so much. I don't know how to say it other than that,I don't know of a more efficent way... and I mean every word of it. Thank you, and I love you.

I'm probably missing a lot of people I didn't give specifics to, but if you're tagged it means you mean SOMETHING to me...so guys, I love you all.
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