So, I'm not that good with being organized. I bought a Franklin Covey planner, and it should be shipped here soon. I love the idea of being diligent and writing in a planner, but somehow I always fall off the wagon after a week and stick to remembering everything I need to do. Invariably, I forget some things. Sometimes they are REALLY important too. Gah.

I want to be more organized in general. I know I'm supposed to be keeping copies of my bills and such now that I'm in college... but can anyone give me any hints about good ways to stay organized for all this? Or tactics to keep me from falling off the wagon? I'd love to hear what you guys have to say.

Nature and Wildlife: My take

I’ve seen some pretty amazing things in the wild. I’ve raced against horses on a four-wheeler. I’ve wrestled hunting dogs and saw those same hunting dogs go after cows like they weren’t huge and dangerous. I’ve been 40 feet under water, swimming with sharks, stingrays and other people. I’ve seen a lot of nature thus far in life, and I feel sorry for people who haven’t. I mean, most people that live in suburbia don’t have a chance to see nature. Kids raised in suburbia actually say that meat and milk come from the grocery store. The first few times I saw this, I thought it was for shock value. Now I’m actually starting to think that kids believe this. And why shouldn’t they? Aside from what their teachers tell them, all they know is what they see at a neighborhood grocery.
Am I the only one who finds it sad? I am not a zealous PETA activist. I have raised 6 hogs, 13 chickens, 200+ cows, and 6 horses. It wasn’t fun all the time, and when I did all that, I was a redneck. I absolutely loathed going out every morning to feed the pigs. I hated washing them in 60 degree weather while they squealed and stepped on my feet. But them piggy were clean after words. I on the other hand, was soaked, annoyed, horribly smelly and thoroughly exhausted. The horses weren’t much nicer. We had an old green broke horse named Hammer-Head. He decided that one day, on a calm ride, he wanted to take my happy 10 year old self and GO. He galloped at top speed all the way to the gate. I was so scared…. But it was exhilarating. It has made who I am. It has changed who I am. I am no longer a redneck, but living in the middle of the boondocks will always be a part of me.
Why don’t other kids get to experience that? Probably because they’re smart. But… humor aside, wild life has so much to offer, to everyone. Now we live in concrete jungles. Oh!! Wait! We have parks! I forgot about the parks. That’s our little bit of nature nestled among the hustle and bustle of the city...

[ Continued ]

Well, it's that time of life, ... the Winter Games are here, and I, for one couldn't be more excited. I love all the sports and competitions they have at the winter games. It amazes me that people can do so much in the snow. I've never even seen snow... and if you told me that strapping two skinny peices of plastic on my feet and going down a mountain was cool or easy... I think I'd lay down and cry. The people that compete here, from all corners of the world, are true athletes and I wish them all well. I am going to cheer for Germany, USA, England and Canada. Canada is more of a hopeful vote... I heard they never won a medal on their own soil during the Olympics... so I really want them to win a few medals. Go Canada! Go Canadian BACON!
A note on competition. I was born and raised that first place is what matters, and that second place is the first loser. If you're going to compete, why settle for 'just your best', if the best you can achieve is first? On the 18th I have a district competition for Public Speaking. I haven't prepared at all. At. All. So, I think I'm diving into this head first, with my non-speech in hand, and I'm going for first place. Wish me luck

Okay, so this is my first official blog entry and I don't have to time stamp this. Haha. Well, I think about Valentine's Day a lot, esp. now when the holiday is looming over over heads. I always thought it was a commercialized Hallmark Holiday, and I still thnk that, though I have someone to celebrate it with. Why do we need a special day, just to show someone we care? Why do we need to pick out a day to write a heartfelt letter or buy a box of chocolates for someone? Granted, these occurences shouldn't be an every day deal, but I think that Valentine's Day shouldn't be the only time we express our love. Anyone could die tommorow, so why not tell someone you care today?
Valentine's Day reminds me of other holidays I'm not too keen on, like Veteran's Day. I support our troops wholeheartadly, and I think that we should dedicate more time to them. Not just more days, I mean more of OUR time, as people. Maybe instead of going to the mall you can help spruce up a soldier's house while he's in Iraq. Mow his yard, or even give his family a nice gift card for a decent resturant. These people are sacrificing so much.
Maybe I'm just in a weird holiday mood. Who knows? I don't dislike all holiday's by the way. I love Thanksgiving and a lot of other one's. Okay, well here's to a Happy Valentine's Day to all Mizaharian's and those they cherish.