A few things i have learned about being happy

1. Being happy is an active decision. It takes work, but it's worth the effort.
2. Some days will just be downer days. This doesn't mean there is something wrong with you, just know tommorow will be better if you set your mind too it.
3. Working towards a goal is always more rewarding than mindless work
4. Surrounding yourself with good friends goes a long way.
5. Eating right and getting exercise (as well as sleeping long enough) really makes a difference!
6. Taking the time to compliment, or express your thanks to others is one of the best things you can do in a day.

Personal Spotlight #2 Ethan Taylor

It has been some time since i have written one of these spotlights, mostly because it is so hard to choose people to write about. I have so many great friends that are so deserving of praise, it is hard to single out one and write only about them! But ultimately my decision came down to i want to spotlight someone who others may not know as well as i do. As always, i doubt Ethan will read this, and perhaps that is preferable, but regardless let me tell you about the next amazing person i know.

I don't remember the exact day that Ethan and I became friends, in fact i'm having a hard time remembering the grade we where in. Our friendship started in the early grades where we instantly became friends, our shared love of dinosaurs, fossils, and Nintendo 64 quickly gave us a limitless number of activities to justify hanging out. As time went on, we both stayed friends, but through change in teachers as we progressed through grades, we soon didn't see a whole bunch of each other. Years went by, and the next time we met up was in Mr. Woods TLC class at Timberline Middle School. We got right back into the grove of things, messin around with computer games instead of working, drawing funny pictures, and occasionally flirting with the cute girls our age. Ethan and I , from then on, ended up being in the same tech classes throughout our middle school years. We made a bunch of fun stuff, and we made fun of a bunch of kids who thought they where cool, so overall it was a success. However, as these classes ended, we again became super busy and didn't see each other for another summer.

Sophmore year we both took Drafting with Mr. Sanderson, which was probably the best class ever! Noone else in our class really talked or did anything because they where afraid of Mr. Sanderson. Ethan and I, who got his sense of humor, however loved him! We sad by eachother and every day made jokes with the teacher and worked together to produce quite spectacular pieces of drafting art.

It was in this drafting class, where i began to really see how much of a great person Ethan was. In that class, through our whispered conversations, i learned that Ethan is the type of kid who will give everyone a chance, regardless of what social tier they come from. Ethan is happy, because he is sure of himself, not because someone told him he's cool. His happy enthusiasm coupled with his search for knowledge makes him the ideal person to talk to whenever your feeling down.

If you do not know Ethan Taylor, i recommend you get to know him, i promise you that you won't find a better friend out there.

My thoughts on the Harry Potter 6 Movie

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is by far my favorite book of the Harry Potter series, so going into the movie i expected to be disappointed. While this may not be the best attitude to go into a movie with, i believe i actually enjoyed the movie more because my expectations where set so low.

First, lets get my one complaint out of the way, the burrow scene where the Weasleys house catches on fire? Totally made up.I have no idea why they put that scene in there! If one thing ruined the movie for me, that would be it. Other than that though, i was surprised how close the director stuck to the books. Although there was some liberties taken to shorten a 700 page book into a movie, generally i was impressed.

The art direction of the movie is what really drew me in, the lighting and stylistic camera angles really helped create a dark atmosphere indicitive of the bad things going on in the world. The scene where Dumbledor and Harry use the pensive to visit Voldemort in the orphanage was really beautiful. The washed out, grainy, filter used to potray the darkness of the situation stood out to me more than anything in the movie.

Visuals aside, the most suprising part about the 6th installment in the Harry Potter movies, was the realization of some core characters. Malfoy's actor was never my favorite character, but in this movie he finally seemed to begin emoting his tortured choice of fufilling his task vs facing his own death. Another actor who suprised me was Proffesor Slughorn! In the books i imagined him as a rather bland character, and ultimatley ended up disliking him. The movie actor however, brought life into the character! So much in fact, that he became one of my favorite characters!

**note** this post isn't completed, i'm working on this in a kind of free flow way as i remember my experiences with the movie :) :)!

My Love of Taylor Swift

Everyone who knows me, knows of my love of Taylor Swift. Often i get teased about my infatuation, because i have never been known to love country music.

So let me set the record straight about Ms. Swift

I was first drawn into Taylor's music because i found her to be a very attractive woman. For all those who went to the Hannah Montana movie with me got a little taste of my excitment when Taylor showed up on screen! However, my love for the pop/country style of T-Swift goes farther than just her attractiveness.

:)

Never being a country fan before (except for George Strait) i was hesitant to listen to the cute country singer, but i decided to give her music a chance. As i listened, i realized how relaxed i felt when i heard her songs. Instead of the loud, curse happy music played on most radio stations, Taylor Swifts songs seemed to have an earnest story driven quality to them. Through continued listening to her songs, i found that i just felt better about myself when i heard her music. As i have continued to listen, i keep finding new favorites, but i will include a list of my top songs i listen too at the end of this post. Before i do that however, i'll post a couple fun memories i have with Taylor Swift.

First, driving home from work at midnight with my windows down blasting her music

Second, having my mom buy me a magazine of Taylor Swift when i jokingly told her that she never bought me twilight magazines like my sister.

Third, taking a sunday nap while listening to Taylor Swift as my cute puppy snuggles down into my chest

Fourth, Playing her songs on guitar (not singing, cause she sings decently high)

And finally, cranking my ipod when i pull up next to some looser blasting rap!


ps. As promised a list of my favorite TS songs

-Fifteen
-You belong with me
-The Best Day
-Fearless

The Woes of shaving

Since i was old enough to grasp the concept of men growing hair on their faces, i wanted my own beard. My father, who has, on occasion, grown a pretty tough looking beard, has always inspired me on my quest for growing the ultimate scruff.

The first time i shaved was the night before the 6th grade valentines day dance! I thought i was pretty cool because i was actually using a razor! It wasn't until years later that i realized it was mere peach fuzz i was removing, but even still, it was pretty awesome.

The next time i really remember shaving was when i was just about 16. I was sitting in math class in 9th grade when some girl leaned over and was like WHOA! you have a crazy beard thayne! As i thought this girl was pretty attractive, i was rather embarassed, so that night i shaved again. How little did i know that looking presentable to ladies would turn into such a chore.

Now at 17, on the brink of 18, i must shave every day with a full razor and cream if i want to keep my face presentable to the public. While some people tell me its so awesome how they think i shave daily, i find it rather annoying.

While i would never want to stop shaving, i could do without the razor burn and the constant chore of adding 5-10 min to my shower each morning. (side note) Men who get laser hair removal are gross.

The Worst part of shaving is that i get super lazy in the summer! i usually go 2-3 days between shaves, and then i just look goofy. Last sunday for example, i blessed the sacrement with a full flippin beard cause i was too busy to shave.

Not sure where this rant is coming from, but its oh so fun to do so anyway :) :)

Bottom line,

-Shavings manly
-Laser removal is gross
-Electric razors don't work well for us with thick hair
-Neck beards are worse than mustaches, but only slightly

<-- Gross neck beard