You Made a Rebel of a Careless Man's Careful Daughter

I have to be completely honest.  I LOVE Taylor Swift.  I love her music, her hair, her fashion sense and her honesty.  I relate to her music because she is singing about my life.  She is going through the same things I do every day; she just puts it to music.  She sings the soundtrack to my heart. 

Ok, that is a little cheesy and stupid.  But I really do love her music.  Its the sound that just makes me happy.  I can't explain it, and don't really care what anyone else thinks.  Taylor is a sweet and amazing person who serves as a role model for so many.  It is refreshing to see a honest, moral, decent person be praised for her worth in a world where all to often these are mocked and belittled. 

Though much of her music is about fairy tale love and princesses, the high school experience and first loves, what really speaks from her music is LIFE.  She sings about the trials of love, heartache, dreams and family.  The songs are not just picked by her "people" for her to sing.  She writes them all and sings them all because she lived them all.  This is far more real than some popstar who sing music someone else wrote, that they have to fake emotions for.  When Taylor sings about something, she believes every word and makes you believe as well. 

Her latest single "Mine" is probably my new favorite song and I can't wait for her new album Speak Now which comes out October 25th.  Power to the cute, innocent and happy blonds of the word.  Thank you to Taylor for inspiring us!

Bookworm

There are times when I feel I act like a normal person and do normal things.  And then there are the times when I know that I am a crazy nerd.  Sometimes these "nerd moments" catch me by surprise because it never occurred to me that other people don't do some of these things.  I had a moment such as this yesterday.

I am a total and hopeless bookwork and bibliophile.  Books are my one true love in this world.  I have amassed a fairly decent collection over the last few years and have completely run out of space on my one bookshelf; this is even with the books stacked two rows deep and sideways on top of each other.  Since I would be mortified if my bookshelf broke, I decided it was time to temporarily store away some of my books that I don't read as often.  Although this was a painful process, I managed to to put a way a good stack, leaving my bookshelf unbroken and with a little more room for future additions. 

After I had this stack of books to put in storage, I pulled out my computer so that I could document what books were where.  As I was doing this, my brother walked in the room and immediately began to tease me.  Apparently, as I was informed, it is not a common practice to catalog one's book collection and to label them with a label maker (with my name on the front inside cover).  This second thing is really just a formality as no one besides myself is allowed to remove any of my books from the house.  I was unaware that other people did not take the same care and organization with their books!

I explained the system to my brother, who just laughed and told me I was a nerd.  I then proceeded to show him that I had to keep it organized so I could keep everything in line with my book list.  This is a particular pride of mine.  It is close to 15 pages now of book titles, organized by subject, predicted cost and immediate desirability, that I want to buy/own for my own personal collection.  This presentation was also met with laughter and a smile. 

Moments like these remind me how very different I am from most people in the world. 

Life as you do NOT know it

For a great majority of my life, I have assumed that I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing.  I followed all of the rules, and I made sure to do as I was told.  I have always been a firm believer in rules; seeing exactly why they are implemented and agreeing with their logic.  However, I have come to understand a simple truth that transcends this.  Following the rules teaches you discipline, strength and moral courage.  But not all rules are meant to be followed.  Some are there to teach to you reach beyond them and decide who you are.  Are you willing to put yourself out there and reach for what you desire?  Or will you let yourself meander in the maze of mediocrity for the rest of a pathetic existence?

I declare a bold challenge to the world:  I know who I am.  I know what I stand for.  I know who I want to become--So try and stop me.  I dare you!

Look out world, cause here I come!