"I write, therefore I am."

A good friend of mine made a facebook post on December 5th, asking people's opinions on two questions. She specifically tagged me, asking my thoughts. I had to mull on it for a while, but I felt like my thoughts were important enough that I didn't want to share with just her. I've discoursed before on bullying in other forums, including my experience when she invited to go visit the kids in detention with her. Knowing that she's going to weigh heavily my response and have it help shape her discourse with them made me feel like these next words would be even more important. The questions to consider #1-- What is the difference between "unique" and "odd"? #2-- What makes someone an "original" or a "freak"? Alot of people gave the standard, sort of knee-jerk reaction answers. Two of the words are how we define ourselves and help build us up, while the others are negatives other label us with to tear us down. That sort of thin...

We've survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Now, I would like to invite you to consider participating with me in #GIVINGTUESDAY. This is an opportunity to share some of the blessings you have received with those in need. Please take a moment and consider donating to either of the wonderful non-profits I work for. SADS Foundation - By supporting the SADS Foundation, you are helping save young lives. Your generous contribution supports the mission of supporting the families and saving the lives of those affected by SADS conditions. Your financial contribution to the SADS Foundation supports awareness, medical education, family support, and directing public policy. https://www.sads.org/Donate?honorOf=Name#.Up4TmCclhB4 House of Hope - Our mission is to provide addiction recovery, and behavioral health services that help reclaim and rebuild lives, strengthen families, instill accountability, and promote personal growth. https://www.houseofhopeut.org/donate.php #GivingTuesd...

So I connected my blog to my google profile and then it erased my description... I went back and found the cached version just so I could have it. I just didn't want to lose the wonderfulness that was my description. "I am smitten with esoteric wanderlust. I am plagued by an imagination that forces my hand to eke out pithy pontifications on parchment. I am hopeless, I am nothing, I am everything. I am brilliance, I am dumb apathy. I am evinced and cowering. I have surmounted challenges, effaced difficulties, thrived through struggles, and embraced victories. I do not know what my future holds, just that is rife with adventure, spontaneity, and happiness."

Langston Hughes had a number of thoughts on A Dream Deferred . I don't have answers to all of his questions, but I've finally arrived at what I feel is a suitable answer for me: A Dream Deferred is Not A Dream Defeated. It took me some time to wrap my fingers around that place of clarity and hold on for all I was worth. I'm still clutching kind of frantically. In those first moments, I felt like I was back in 2006, redefining everything about myself and my world. How was this possible? These plans... my entire life had been marching solidly in one direction for the last 18 months and then all of a sudden... just like that... snap of my fingers... and it's gone. The overwhelming reality mocked me, and everything fell away. How had I been so misled? How had I not seen this upfront? How could it spiral so far out of my grasp in just seconds? The sense of loss, overwhelming. The disappointment, crushing. The stark reality, just black. One of those moments you never ...

2012 is over. So I should probably be over it. As usual, I don't think this list is comprehensive, but it shows I am clicking on things. Actually, this list seems really, really, really short. Like seriously...oh well. Usual disclaimers: No guarantee any links will work. Not a comprehensive list. Don't read if there's going to be something that offends you. One teacher’s approach to preventing gender bullying in a classroom What's the 'gayest' U.S. city? Not necessarily the most gay friendly I have a letter to read from the Stake Presidency Ender's Game hitting big screen with big names Proof that Utah isn't the only state with insane politics 'Firefly' returning to cable; Fillion says he'd play Mal again Settlers + Star Trek = Nerdgasm You'll only appreciate this if you watch The Walking Dead... Same thing here Racism is alive and well and The Hunger Games proves it BYU’s Gay Mormon Panel a Huge Success, Overfl...