Supernatural Aid Reflection

After reading about the Four Great Powers of the Medicine Wheel I decided that my starting place was The South. Its medicine color is green and The South is a place of innocence and trust and for perceiving closely out nature of heart. I think that this was the most accurate starting place for me. I think that I understand myself and I try to see the good in things. I think that knowing myself is a helpful thing to have on my journey. Though I have found my starting point, I still have more things to learn. I am still a “partial” person. I think that I have some of the characteristics that the other powers of the medicine wheel include, but I need to understand them more. Because of all this, I chose to look for my medicines from all different directions in order to get a balance of the powers.

On my journey, where I was helped by my supernatural aids, I picked up seven medicines that I thought could help me. The seven medicines that I collected were: Courage, Compassion, Humor, Joy, Perserverance, Strength, and Integrity. When I first started collecting the medicines I was just finding the ones that I knew the awnsers to the clues, but now looking back at them, they seem like great choices to help me on my journey.

I think that courage is one of the most important things to have. With courage you can conquer almost anything. The supernatural aid that had the courage token, taught a class where courage was something you needed to succeed. Compassion is another important medicine because it helps you to branch out and understand others. I hope that I am already a compassionate person, but one can never have too much. Humor was another medicine that I think is important because even when things get rough, it is good to have a positive and light view of things. Again, I hope that I already have humor, but I think that is such an important thing to have. I chose to find joy because it seems to tie in with so many of the other medicines. If you are not happy and content, then the other medicines do not mean as much. It would be miserable to go through a journey without joy and I think this is why joy is the most important medicine to have. Perseverance was an interesting medicine to find because the supernatural aid that had the token told us about how he had persevered and had us talk about what it meant to us. Integrity was another fun medicine to find. The people that helped us find the token had hidden it in their office and made us use a clue to find it. I had to dig out my freshman religion knowledge… The final medicine that i found was strength. Though I have never had the teacher that was keeping the strength token, she seems like a perfect person to have it. For me, strength was important because combined with some of the other medicines, such as courage and perseverance, you could get through just about anything.

Overall, I thought this was a great way to learn about the supernatural aid. It was a fun way to take a small journey and see how people help you along the way.

Whoo Pandora!

Yes, it is true I am addicted to this amazing invention called Pandora. So, I am probably late and everyone is already been jamming to this Internet radio site forever, but hang with me.

If you aren’t aware of Pandora radio, like I was a few weeks ago, let me fill you in. Pandora.com is a free music site. All you do is type in an artist or song you like and BAM a “station” is created. Every song they play in that station has something in common with the original song or artist. You can have as many stations as you want and they have pretty much everything. I have discovered so many great songs and artists through this site. You can see detailed descriptions of why a certain song was chosen and can rate songs you like or dislike. It makes normal radio seem boring. Why listen to songs you don’t really like when you can have millions of stations tailored by you for FREE!?

Right now, I am loving my “Matt Nathanson Station”, “Kings of Leon Station”, and “Tegan and Sara station”. The other things that I am enjoying are the live performance recordings that the site keeps playing. I never used to really pay attention to those, but I am really warming up to them now. The live Jason Mraz songs are amazing!

So far I have only encountered one problem…I have basically spent a small fortune on iTunes because of all the new music I have found.

Seriously, go check out Pandora if you haven’t already discovered it:

www.pandora.com

Four Day Weekend!!

Having that four day weekend last week sort of made my life, but honestly, I think I am the least produtive person when it comes to extra time on these long breaks. I had a mental list of all these things I would accomplish over the four days. I was going to clean out my closet, catch up on my homework, study, get my verrry dirty car washed, and do some of my community service hours. I did one thing on my list. only one! That is sad.

Instead my weekend went something like this:

I spent Thursday night walking through Target and Marsh at 9:30pm with some friends buying food that we didn’t even eat. Just a note, you see strange things at Target on Thursday nights….

Friday: I managed to spend a good amount of my money at the mall on things I really didn’t need, but at the time seemed like a good idea. By the way, this did not help the “clean out my closet” goal for the weekend. Though, while walking around the mall my friend and I literally saw about 50 Brebeuf kids so my not being productive attitude was not alone.

Saturday: I sat at home. Now, this would have been a good time to, gosh, I dont know STUDY. but, no. I sat around watching Greys Anatomy and Ben Stiller movies in my sweatpants. I felt pretty darn cool.

Sunday: I got up on Sunday all ready to be productive. I knew I was going out that afternoon so I was going to at least get my car washed- one of my top priorities on my mental list. Unfortunately, I forgot what time it was and then realized I was very late for a movie and had no time to stop at Mikes Express, but have no fear I had Sunday night!…yeah, right. I definitely hit my head on the car door and got a really bad head ache causing me to simply go home and go to bed.

Monday: Now, by this point I had given up on the majority of my goals, but I figured I could get in a few hours of community service at the Blind School. Well, no. I sort of forgot about Presidents Day and all and that if Brebeuf is closed other schools are too. So, I drove back home and finally got my car washed on the way there and that was the end of my epic weekend. one final note: it snowed today and there must have been salt on the roads because my car is dirty again.

My Dog Ate My Homework

Wow, what a cliche. But honestly, you would think that since you hear this saying enough you would actually think about it, but nooo I never thought my dog would eat my homework.

So the other day I was working on my pre calc homework on the floor in my room. I was in the middle of a big assignment and was more than half way done with it when I realized I had to be somewhere and I was late. I threw down my pencil and ran out the door. Two hours later, I come back upstairs to my room and just see little bits of shredded paper all over my floor. I could make out the occasional cos and f(x), but there was no saving it. I stood there, surrounded by my confetti homework, not sure what to do when my puppy, Cleopatra, walked in the room. I knew she was the mastermind behind this, but she could have been a little more discrete! Hanging from her tail was lots of little pieces of paper that had gotten stuck in her fur during the crime. To add insult to injury, as I tried to clean up the mess Cleo had made, she kept trying to chase the paper I was throwing away. After that, I just gave up on the assignment. My teacher didn’t ask for it, but if he had, I am sure he would have been impressed with my original reply.

The Criminals Mug Shot:

Slumdog Millionaire

This past week the Oscar nominations came out. Usually, the movies that get the most nominations are seriously depressing, but for once a front runner isn’t a movie that has you crying by the time you leave the theater.

Slumdog Millionaire is one of my new favorite films. It proves that a good movie can still have a happy ending. For those who have not heard of the movie it is about a poor Indian boy from the slums who becomes a contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire. The movie isn’t a thriller about whether or not he will win the money, but how he wins it. Each answer corresponded with a moment in his life and through flashbacks he tells his story.

I first saw the movie over winter break and then again  a week or so ago and it was just as good. If you haven’t seen it-GO! It really does have everything- fast action, a love story, and suspense. And if for no other reason, go for the random bollywood dancing scene during the credits.

Here’s the trailer!

NSYNC

So, today has been a pretty good day so far and I think I know what started it. Driving to school this morning I heard “Whatever You Like” one too many times. I cursed at my radio and longed for those days when songs came with a group of dudes doing synchronized dance moves. Then out of nowhere my prayers were answered! Hiding in between the seats of my car was treasure: NSYNC Greatest Hits. Without a glance back, I said goodbye to TI and put in the old CD.

After the CD started, my ride to school became one giant 90’s dance party. I still remember all the moves to “Bye Bye Bye” and was not afraid to demonstrate them while waiting at the Meridian St. intersection. It was me, JT (pre SexyBack days), and Tearin’ Up My Heart. It was the perfect combination at 7:30am. You may be wondering, how I will to this tomorow, well, my mission tonight: find where my old Backstreet Boys CDs are.

Let it Snow….Part 2

So i know that my last post was all about how wonderful winter is and all that jazz, but now I think I have changed my mind. After a few weeks of bitter temps and gray skies I am done with all this. Bring on 80 degrees and sunny! As I was scraping my car off in the parking lot yesterday I realized snow and winter are not all they are cracked up to be. Sure, in that winter break/ holiday season mood winter seems filled with snowmen and festive winter walks, but once January hits your mood changes. Instead of a frolic through the snowy woods, we are shuffling as fast as possible across ice covered pavement trying not to fall down. Its all really a bit of a bummer.

The Call Reflection

After taking notes, listen to the lecture, and completing the craft activity about The Call I think that I am now much more aware of the moments in my life where I have been called to so something. Before I started to really think about it, I didn’t think that I was really called for anything. I thought that if I was called to do something I would most likely embrace the call and go on the journey it allowed me to take, but I didn’t see myself doing anything so heroic or amazing that it deserved to be recognized.

Now that I have thought about all of this, I do think that I am starting to be called to do something. I have always been interested in travel and other cultures and I think that this could lead to my call. Traveling can lead to many new opportunities and chances to meet and help new people. It has always been a passion of mine and I think that it is something I would find fulfilling. This love of travel and seeing the world seems like a good place to start when thinking about my call. I don’t really know what sort of journey this might lead to, but I think that since it is a passion of mine and it is something I am always drawn to and interested in it may lead to something bigger.

Though I have recognized this and would except it as my call, I do not think that I have had that moment in my life where I have been summoned to fulfill this desire. I think that at this point in my life I am just starting to understand my call and I am just starting to see the signs and except them, much like Harry when he first begins receiving the letters from Hogwarts. I don’t think I have had my “Hagrid moment” yet and I don’t know that I would be ready for that moment quiet yet either, but I feel that now that I have started to see the signs that I might have some sort of call I will one day be able to accept whatever journey I need to take in the future.

Let it Snow

With the first semester coming to a close and winter break right around the corner its time to start getting excited for the holidays. I love the holiday season, all of the decorations and lights, snow, family traditions, and even the cheesy holiday movies. I decided that I would list a few of my favorite things about the season.

1. The smell of the Christmas tree: I love being able to walk into the room where we decorate our tree and being able to smell the fresh pine smell.

2. People who go all out with decorations: There is nothing better than those houses that are so covered in lights and bows you almost get into a car accident gawking at them.

3. A Christmas Story: Christmas movies are perfect for getting you in the holiday season mind set, but nothing beats “A Chistmas Story”. If you have not seen this movie, you should. It is not the typical holiday movie filled with cliches and hugs, but it will make you laugh.

4. Chirstmas music on the radio: Who dosen’t want to hear Jingle Bells 50 times in two weeks?

5. Snow: I hate cold weather, but when there is alot of snow on the ground its ok.

You Found Me by The Fray

Many of my friends know that I am a BIG fan of the Fray. Basically every CD I burn has one of their songs. Needless to say I was thrilled when I heard their new single a few weeks back, but sort of bummed because it was just a taste of their new album- which won’t be out till feb!

You Found Me

I found God
on the corner of First and Amistad
Where the west
was all but won
All along
Smoking his last cigarette
I said, where’ve you been?
He said, ask anything.

Where were you?
When everything was falling apart.
All my days spent by the telephone.
And all I needed was a call
It never came
To the corner of Firs tand Amistad

Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me
Lying on the floor, surrounded, surrounded
Why’d you have to wait?
Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late.
You found me, you found me.

But in the end
Everyone ends up alone
Losing hope
The only one who’s ever known
Who I am, Who I’m not, Who I want to be
No way to know
How long she will be next to me

Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me
Lying on the floor, surrounded, surrounded
Why’d you have to wait?
Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late.
You found me, you found me.

I’ve been calling for years and years
and you’ve never left me no messages
Never sent me no letters

Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me
Lying on the floor, surrounded, surrounded
Why’d you have to wait?
Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late.
You found me, you found me.

Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me
Lying on the floor, surrounded, surrounded
Why’d you have to wait?
Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late.
You found me, you found me.