What are the Chances.

prop·a·gan·da

  [prop-uh-gan-duh]

noun

1.

information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement,institution, nation, etc.

urban legend

noun

a modern story of obscure origin and with little or no supporting evidence that spreads spontaneously invarying forms and often has elements of humor, moralizing, or horror: Are there alligators living in the NewYork City sewer system, or is that just an urban legend?

ru·mor

  [roo-mer]

noun

1.

a story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to facts: a rumor ofwar.

Sound familiar? One of the reason's it it so hard to place a Pit in a home is because people are clueless. Not sure of their own formed opinions over the news over using an attack by a Pitbull chained up in someone's back yard with no food or attention. Who is really at fault? Who says they are to blame for their behavior when they were brought up knowing nothing about love and affection. Walking through the humane society knowing that all these amazing dogs are going to have a harder time finding a home just because of all the prejudging. 

It is so sad that no only the dog is being looked down upon, but even I get rude stares and comments just walking my dog. There is no reason to assume any dog is a bad one. Weren't any of these people taught basic rules to seeing any dog? Always ask the owner if it is okay to pet them, never run towards a unfamiliar dog, always put your hand out for the dog to smell you? Pretty positive I learned this at the age of five. 

Take it from me, I honestly could say I was hesitant about getting Amoeba Pit just because I knew I was going to have outside opinions and judgement. But getting to know this dog and just over the months of having her how loyal and affectionate. Maybe we have had our struggles of her aggressive stick and grass eating, I wouldn't trade her the world. Challenge you non-pitbull people who are on the edge, go to a shelter and you'll see that a Pit will be more willing to love five minutes of your time compared to a smaller, loud dog... But really, I love all dogs and can't tell you how much I love to see those animals grow to realize that there is much more to life than being left on the side of the road...  

Finding a Home.

Seems to me that finding a home has become harder and harder with a K-9 friend with all these breed restrictions. Even to be completely honest, I have had to claim my dog is a mixed mutt to my apartment complex because only 'american staffordshire terrier' and other breed that falls under the slang term 'pitbull.' You know the worst part about this, that even certified service animals that happen to be part pit are not even allowed.

Maybe they don't people prejudging their complex? Ironic. 

Being just a college student, even finding myself roommates to be able to afford it. So this is narrowed down, now let alone having a Pitbull in my life. It's getting to that time to find another, much bigger place but I don't know how to get around the breed restriction, let alone trying to find a house to rent. Any dog owner can run into this problem, and if that's the case I have found this link through the humane society for any one that is in this same boat

. Here is the article that seemed uplifting; link.

"Six states are considering bills that would put an end to laws restricting dog ownership by breed. Called "breed-specific legislation" -- or BSL -- these laws most often target pit bull type dogs (which are said to have been called "nanny dogs"), often forcing people to choose between their pets and their homes. And most Americans think they're bad laws. Bad laws!

Opposition to BSL comes from sources as diverse as the American Bar Association, animal rescue groups, the Center for Disease Control and even President Barack Obama, who said in August that the laws are largely ineffective while doing nothing to improve public safety, and are often a "waste of public resources."Best Friends also emphasizes the cost of enforcing anti-pit bull bans; the group commissioned an economist to put together a tool that calculates the costs by city. And here's a sample calculation: In Baltimore, there's an estimated 151,105 dogs, of which 10,918 are assumed pit bull type dogs. The costs associated with enforcing laws against pit bull ownership would be $992,606 per year.

Even though her jurisdiction doesn't have breed restrictions, "people have heard the stories about beloved family dogs being taken from their owners in places where there are full bans on pit bulls. That is every dog owner's worst nightmare," she said. "People don't want to risk it."Getting rid of these laws would not just let people adopt without fear of their animals being taken away, she said, but would also help counter negative stereotypes."

These are the most well put thoughts into uplifting this band on breed restrictions. Just the idea of the city, state and even country with no restrictions could save so much money that we are always complaining about. Maybe this is what we need to get these poor dogs up and out of shelters and into real loving homes. 

Who is the bully now?

Let's take it back to what my original topic, the loving Pitbull breed.

Something amazing I have recently stumbled upon was this article addressing the general idea of what's really going on. Link here. Rose Frosek puts this myth at rest were it should belong. One statement being;

“Pit Bull. Two simple words, but so very charged, the reaction to which varies wildly. There are their fearful detractors, those who would have them demonized, having fallen prey to the dogs’ misrepresentation in the media. And then there are their champions, who are struggling to change the tide of public opinion.”

This is what I have been trying to say since I started talking about this breed, just summed up much nicer. You either love or fear them and this breaks my heart. Visiting the Oregon Humane Society frequently to help volunteer, all you see are these poor dogs who just want a home to be loved and snuggled. This is hard when you are the bully breed. Mostly what I see are these awful people that neglect their dogs, and when it comes to most Pitbulls, their sensitive. Being neglected might alter their way of life. They have no idea what they ever did wrong and just need a family that wants to show them what a good home really is. Unlike other breeds it might be easier for them to adjust and I believe this creates a problem in comparison.

The idea that this dog in the UK is considered the ‘nanny dog’ doesn’t surprise me one bit. Despite their goofy personalities, this dog has the tendency to be insanely loyal to their families and would do anything to protect them. I know my dog senses when I am feeling nervous when walking her and a man approaches us in the dark. She is not being vicious, she just wants to protect me and this is what I love. In the previous week a man tried breaking into our apartment in the middle of the night. I wasn’t sure if it was drunken neighbors confusing our apartment from theirs, but once the noises continued and got louder I could tell someone was trying to get in. Amoeba was barking and not her normal, an angry one. Trying to calm her down she finally ran to the door and barked like I have never heard from her. Already calling the police, the man had disappeared. After that she put her 65 pound body over mine and didn’t hesitate to growl whenever she heard a noise outside. Granted I didn’t sleep but there is something so amazing about what she did. I don’t even think my lanky boyfriend could make me feel that safe, (no offence Joshua.)

What I am trying to get at is that there are millions of good and bad articles about this breed. You’ll never know the full truth until you befriend a Pit for yourself. I could never talk a person into believing me about my views and that’s not my plan. Everyone needs to take a moment and go to a local shelter and visit all the dogs that need a home, no matter the breed. All dogs are good dogs.

Who Really Gives a Damn.

I have recently come to realize how awful our health care system is. Being one of the luckier ones, my parents have seem to always have a job providing out family with insurance. So never had I have to worry about paying anymore than a co-op fee and leaving it at that. But some are not all so lucky to be able to even go to get a simple check up from a doctor without having to give up all you savings just for one visit.

My boyfriend of almost five years is one of those strange specious that has never seen a doctor since being a toddler. Since us both moving out of our parents and getting a place of our own, he had lost all insurance privileges through his step mother, being the only care giver he has ever had. We didn't think anything of it until this past year. He has fainted four times this past year out of no where, most damage is done when striking his head upon impact of the fall. Seeing at his job at the time didn't offer him any insurance options, we chose to finally go to an Affordable Health Care Clinic. They did simple test yet found nothing, this place may I remind you didn't even have the equipment to even conduct a simple blood test. Nothing was wrong, he was perfectly healthy just probably dehydrated according to them. This was two months ago.

Just last week in our Health class we have together, it happened again but worse. It was as if a mini seizure as he just dropped in his chair, hitting his head violently on the table and the floor. Thank God the teacher was a doctor and seemed to know what he was doing. As soon as he regained consciousness he was just deadly pale and looked lifeless. Paramedics were called and they ran as many test as they could, nothing was wrong it seemed. Worrying more about how much an ER visit was going to cost, I took him myself to a public health clinic in down town Portland that our teacher recommended being in our situation. We weren't even able to get, waiting hours just to see someone that could tell us if he was safe to come home.

What I'm trying to get at is that just a month ago my boyfriend had plenty of money saved up and quit his job. In which doing so, we found out he was eligible for Cover Oregon because now his income was zero. According to them you need to be making under one thousand dollars to get it for free. Is this what is keeping people from getting jobs? I am so thankful that we are trying to get health care to everyone, but my boyfriend making decent money, working forty plus hours a week and attended school full time couldn't even have a way to see a doctor without paying his life savings out of pocket.

There is a gap here, and I'm not saying that the health care system has bad intentions. I just want to know where these loop holes come into play and how they are affecting out society. It's so sad that it's come down to being afraid to ask for help.

More updates soon on how he is doing and what I dig up on this.      

Lions, Tigers and Bears.

In the last post, I let my emotions get the best of me and took out my anger for people who don't understand. This I know is wrong. 

But the idea of keeping my dog out of apartments and even some cities seems naive to whats really going on behind closed doors. Being an animal freak, I came across this documentary The Elephant in the Living Room. This takes place following people that are keeping wild animals in their homes as pets. In case one, a man is keeping a lion in his backyard since receiving him as a cub. For a few years it's like keeping a large kitten in your home, but once hitting full grown, he's put into a small metal cage just behind the man's home. Shortly after he gets a female lion to join, leaving only the only obvious to come next, she becomes pregnant and forms a pride within this cage. 

At some point they do escape and heading towards the freeway of this small town, scaring locals and only for police to arrive shortly after. Even then, the man refuses to give his 'pets' up. The owner of these lions is disabled mentally after his truck accident years ago, leaving him unemployable and lonely with no close family besides his sister. I can see where some reach is for giving affection and striving for belonging comes into play. Never has a documentary taken me on such a emotional up and down, messing with all sides of feelings a person can have. You want to feel bad for this man, but the director takes you to the other side as well. 

All sorts of exotic are being sold all around the United States and nothing is being done to stop this, mostly because there are not many rules against it. Taking you into exotic and deadly animal expos where people are selling verminous snakes and spiders, not only that but their are children in there carrying around these animals like puppies? How could you do that to your own child. At this point I was angry that this was being allowed to continue to happen. They follow around a trained animal control, specialized in taking house calls to rid of deadly animals (mostly snakes.) These people will have them as pets and usually break loose, I mean how can you keep a hundred pound python controlled? So many cases of them braking out and killing house hold pets and even children.

What mostly happens is when the wild animal becomes too out of control to keep as a 'pet' they are thrown away and more likely just thrown outside. These animals have no idea what they are doing or where they are going because small homes USA aren't where they are from. People in other countries are hiding and fighting off these animals while we bring them into out homes and name them? Is there something about the thrill? Or is it because we shouldn't have them, then we have the desire to do so.      

Thinking about those lions and cubs still gives me the chills. That man is not a horrible person, he is lonely and not in the right mind set. Once his male lion dies in a freak accident, he finally realizes they could be happier in a lion sanctuary. It's not Africa but it's a start. I would like there to be some sort of laws be put into place with the owning of wild animals, until then people are going to be stupid and I hope they will see the wrong in it.   

What to Believe?

Here I am on side of being the owner of a Pit bull mix. Her name is Amoeba (Meeba for short,) and I adopted her about three months ago. Now here is the problem I have run into, people are surely awful. Getting comments that my dog should be muzzled and not allowed into dog parks because of her 'aggression,' which consist of licking and sucking on people's hands. I find this ridiculous because even before owning her, my boyfriend's parents owned a dog rescue, mostly for Pit bull. They all were rescued from neglect and abuse, leaving them to be more timid and scared of people. Just like if you beat a kid to near death and expect them to be completely normal, then maybe you should be the one locked up.

I recently watch a documentary on the myth behind this breed to find out so many things I personally could live without knowing. Making me sick to my stomach as these cities posted a banned on the breed, barging into people's home and taking a family member. Once taken, they were to be killed letting the owners take the lifeless bodies back, but were not allowed to berry them? These people apart of the city council deciding this are ruthless bastards and deserve nothing more than their own kids being taken away. Officers, that are getting paid to be trained in the field of identifying pretty much a broad aspects of characteristics of the American Staffordshire Terrier.

Please someone agree wit me that this is insanely wrong? I feel alone in this. The documentary showed people's views on this breed of dog. Contradicting that every person for this breed to be allowed all owned or previously owned at least a Pitt mix. Unlike the people against ever had even been around one, just knew of them because the head lines in newspapers about devastating dog attack. So there was bi-ism in this debate, does this mean I shouldn't voice my opinion either?

No one wants to hear about a Cocker Spaniel attacking the families five year old? Which did happen. Even searching the internet every site about dog attacks in the U.S. are all different. Not one of them have their resources listed on their page. It's easy to point out and blame a breed. But wasn't years ago the Rottweilers the most vicious dog? or Huskies?

I do believe people have made it surely made it a stereotype, because people like drug users and addicts tend to be attracted to these dogs. This could be for any reason, dog fighting or even just to look tougher. People take these dogs and neglect them, then someone somehow wonders into the backyard of one of these owners and you can guess what happens. It is understandable if you know a loved one or of anyone that was attack and hurt by this breed, my heart goes out to you. But I truly hate being judged for the dog I own, I saved her to bring her to a great home where I tend shower her with love and Petco toys. If someone was to come take my dog, I might get violent. Ever since owning this amazing pup my Anxiety has decreased traumatically. She gets me out of the house, which was difficult for me to do. I am truly a happy person when she is with me and take her everywhere no matter what people have to say.

I have a lot more to research about the history about the breed, there is more than to bread to fight.    
   

This is the hardest choice to make next to what to eat after you just went grocery shopping. One topic for three months to research and blog about, that's some dedication.

Here are some ideas I have come across, and yes some of these are serious topics that I'm considering. Judge me. 

One, ever since I was a kid I have always wanted to go out in the middle of the desert where those crazy people set up UFO stands. Swearing up and down they were abducted and they know the answers to the universe now. Or they have just smoked a lot of weed, man... But I love anything doing with UFO's.

Two, I recently adopted a year old PitBull mix name Amoeba (we call her Meeba.) Since having her I have some got a little bit of negative responses... I was told she should always where a muzzle because she is 'vicious' and unpredictable. She certainly is a bit unpredictable, she has an obsession with sucking on her stuffed toys as if it was an infant with a bottle. But the history of these breeds would be helpful to know. 

Three, I have a huge interest in the original 'Dog Town' boys. They start of the skateboarding scene, when suffers needed something else to do. Breaking into suburb houses with empty pools to skate. I have seen movies and documentaries about them and would love to look into even more. 

So if you have any other ideas, I'm open minded and would love suggestions. 

Paper Towns - John Green
Part 3

So the ending of this book, pretty much changes my opinion overall. The one thing I'm not fond about blogging my books is spoilers, so forgive me for being careful on what I say.

Here is the countdown, they got an idea of where she might be (not saying, sorry) and basically leads them up to New York to a town that may not even be real. Yet again his friends are right there behind him. From here on it's a count of hours which makes getting to the end more suspenseful. They boys basically had to explain that they would not be there on graduation day and that they are driving up to New York from Florida. Seriously this is the best ending, and couldn't have had made it end any better than that.

This leads them to finding Margo, (either dead or alive, still not telling. So don't ask.) Overall I do enjoy John Green's writing and all fun he puts into his writing. Just there is always that one obsessive boy in all his books that just can't get over a girl. Granted it is sweet and moving, but let's be real. If I was Q, I would have been so annoyed with Margo and gave up after a couple days. But again this book is great and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys that kind of story lines.

Looking for Alaska is still my favorite by him, and don't even get me started on The Fault in our Stars. That book made me cry and cry when I saw the preview because the guy is not as good looking as I imagined. Guess that's the problem with movies after the books, your idea of what you thought this world looked like is completely changed and you almost forget what your world looked like.

Paper Towns - John Green
Still Part 2

Obsessing over Margo's disappearance. Q goes home as the rest of his friends and there he realizes that if the clues were meant for him, why wouldn't she put them where he can find. He took down his door from the hinges and there was a folded up piece of paper with an address. Quickly he gets a hold of his friends to tell them of his discovery. Wanting to go at that moment to this place of unknown, his friends talk him out of it and decide to all play hooky from school.

Eight o'clock on the dot the boys meet up and in search of this place. It was around 34 miles away, and the whole time Q starts wonder if they will find her alive or not. He takes it to an extreme and thinks that he has taken too long to find her and she might be dead some where.

Arriving at the address given, it looks like a beaten down old building that's been sealed off from the outside world. Trying to find a way in, they manage to get in to the dark and dingy space. All three of them search for any clues that Margo was once there, but no such luck without a flashlight. They make there way in another room and with a small key chain flashlight, there is writing on the wall in Margo's hand writing;

YOU WILL GO TO PAPER TOWNS
AND YOU WILL NEVER COME BACK

Freaked out about the whole ordeal, they all decide to leave, but leaving behind all they unknown truths about where she could be.

The night of prom comes along and his two best friends already have dates, but Q decides to go back to that building where Margo could have been instead. Irritated with his friends, he goes out with some supplies with the idea to stay the night there. While there he managed to find Margo's nail polish and one of her blankets, curling up with it, he manages to fall asleep.

This is when Ben calls him (drunk out of his mind) and ask to come and pick them up from the party before the times they were told to be home. Agreeing to this, even still annoyed he manages to talk to a few people there about Margo. Some of her friends have actually been really concerned about her, mostly Lacey. It was probably nice to connect with other people that knew her, probably making her feel like she is alive and well.

I just want to know where the hell she is at and if this is just some attention thing.

Paper Towns
Part 2

As days pass there is no sign of Margo. With graduation right around the corner and their senior prom, it becomes out of the norm for her to be gone this long. Q begins to obsess over any clues he believes that were left for him, with his friends support right behind him. Lacey one of Margo's best friend and the school hottie begins to help the group with any information she can provide about her disappearance. She goes on to say that two days before she left, Margo was claiming that New York was the only place a human can live a half decent life.  Hey, but his best friend Ben got a date with Lacey to prom. He doesn't mind talking about prom for hours, so it works out for both of them.

The boys search her room a second time thinking that a song she circled on a record could have been a clue. The song talks about talking the door off the hinges, so they literally did that. No more than just a door with difficult hinges, they proceed to keep looking through all her books and records that no one knew she had. Time crunching because of her parents getting home soon, Q and the boys log into her computer to see if there is any information leading to her. (Radar is a computer nerd and can hack into anything.)

You can sense Q getting frustrated (as would I,) and really getting worried. He seems to feel like he really owes it to Margo to find her because she did show him going outside your routine can be actually fun and exciting. Q is one of those people that doesn't find being bored all that boring. The way he is rereading the book on her night stand over and over again is really showing that he feels like she really did leave him clues only he could figure out. Seeing as she always leaves clues for her parents, and they claim seem to go nowhere and it's just a never ending cycle. This is what I am not enjoying so far, he has become so obsessive over a girl who didn't talk to him for four years through high school, the kid can do better.

Paper Towns - John Green
Part 2

As Quentin returned home from his night of adventures with Margo only getting a half hour of sleep. He goes to school to see how Margo reacts around him, as he has been admiring her from a distance for years. As the day goes by with no sign of her he begins to worry, luckily he has his two best friends with him so he could share his amazing night of nairing off the school jerk's eyebrows and breaking into sky scraper business buildings. (Personally Radar, Quen's friend, is so far my favorite character and wish this story was about him.) But they all go the whole day without a sight of Margo. 

Returning home Quentin was greeted by Margo's parents and a detective. Apparently Margo has run away and this isn't the first time. According to her parents, fed up with her behavior, this isn't out of the norm for her. The detective asked him as many questions that he could have thought of but them proceeded to explain that she is now eighteen and not considered a missing minor. Basically her parents sound like assholes that are not considerate of their daughter. 

He begins obsessing over her disappearance, (which is getting old fast) and his friend seem to be into helping him find Margo. But knowing her, he knows that she is trying to tell you him something, or trying to send a message to him. 

Again I am liking this book, but mostly because of his sassy best friend Radar.  

Paper Towns - John Green
Part One

I have read other John Green books before, my first was eighth grade and it was Looking for Alaska. Tears were no stranger to that book, it was one of my favorites at the time. But now reading some of his books lately and I can sense the "geeky nerd falls in love with the pretty girl, but you know how the good guy never wins right?" This is something I have noticed with all his writing, it has a pattern. 

Yet I have always just sucked it up and read them anyways. So far Paper Towns is about a nerdy kid Quentin Jacobson who has the same group of friends in high school and the girl next dour, Margo Roth Spiegelman. So far he goes to tell how they were the best of friends as kids and the event of coming across a dead body, which gives them a bond no one could understand. As they got into high school they grew apart (typical) and he is madly in love with her, in hot Orlando, Florida.

Here in the first couple chapters she breaks into Quentin's room and ask him for a favor, he continues to follow her and they take his parents car in the middle of the night. She claims there are eleven parts to her plan of revenge. This night consist of him going out side of his comfort zone to break some rules, and have some fun. Giving him a list of instructions to get things from the store and the times and directions to get to each different place.They break into people's homes, leave fish in people's cars and drags along him as she goes. All because her boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend, granted any girl would do the same thing...

So far its really interesting and kind of funny, I can dig her badass attitude about everything. Something I could't take on like she could. Just wanting the boy to stand up for himself, but we shall see! 

Adulting -How to Become a Grown-Up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps
Kelly Williams Brown

I can't even begin to explain how much I adore this book, so heartbroken that I am done. Kelly needs to become my best friend asap because I'm usually a mess. The amount of people that I have in line for this book is insane, because this is all I talk about. Spilling all the information I have learned, and giving others advice (I love sounding wise beyond my years.) 

The last couple chapters get a little touchy to anyone, going over personal relationships and dealing with crazy family. Sure enough everyone has had a hard breakup (and not handling it in a decent manner, hence not like an adult.) Or you have the one family member that tends to get under your skin at any family dinner... I know I do. 

But at last I am so overall happy with this book and would recommend it to anyone, no matter age or gender. I think you can learn at least one thing useful, if not the whole damn thing. A guest at my work actually bonded over this book with me and she let me know that she actually lived here in Salem, Oregon! Now I can accidentally run into her and become the best of friends. I'll keep a look out to see if she does any book reading at a book store or something along those lines. 

Now I continue to read her blog because she is a blogger I really admire, and aspire to be like her. 
Plus not to mention her adorable cat.

Adulting -How to Become a Grown-Up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps
Kelly Williams Brown

Maintenance, the forbidden word in my books. There is something so painful about putting money or time towards boring things like oil changes, new tires or even the act of hanging your clothes. I mean sure, I get the car one. I depend on Old Betty to get me from point A to point B. So reading this chapter was like my family and friends gathering around for an intervention to tell me I suck and need help with life. Putting maintenance towards all the basic things that need it can suck, but lead to non-exploding cars and bigger bills in the future. 

This doesn't mean just towards your piece of junk of a car, there is also pets and your personal health. Looking for those signs as soon as possible and getting help right away so this doesn't lead to a large chunk of change later when your simple cold turns into some rare foreign disease. When you could have simply gone to a doctor for a check up. Yet I am one of those people that will put off check ups and oil changes until something bad happens. 

Recently adopted a pup, and I knew the cost were going to be expensive, but puppy? I like the idea of putting a $100 in an envelope and putting it aside for an emergency (predicting a really nice pair of shoes eaten and will need a vet,) this way it helps for that vet bill in the future. They need so many check ups and hardy bags of dog chow. Otherwise I expect the out come of this to not be too painful. 

I have neglected to mention the discussion questions at the end of the chapters, here's one from maintenance:
Why are healthy things so boring? Why are comfy shoes so ugly? What is the meaning of all this? 
My answer, because life is cruel and heartless. I'd give anything for a pair of comfy shoes that would not be an embarrassment. 

Adulting -How to Become a Grown-Up in 468 Easy(ish) StepsKelly Williams Brown

Money... The biggest downfall of being an adult. If only I could go back to living with my parents and saved all the money I made through out high school making pizzas for three four years. But you'd guess I've learned my lesson, right? Oh no. 

I took the best advice I could have ever received about my uncontrollable spending habits. I froze my credit cards. Oh indeed, I stuck them in a huge mixing bowl of water and put it in the freezer. Thanks Kelly for making me think before I spend. Now when I want to go shopping and put it all on my cards, because you can pay those off whenever, I have to think about what I'm using my cards for while I wait for a huge piece of ice to melt. Is it really worth it? Can't wait for guest to come over to the house and go to my freezer for ice... 

Thus bringing us to Advanced Adulting, dealing with all other adult things that have to do with money and saving. But don't worry! She uses drawings of cute animals to talk about all the different adult things you need to know about money. Personally my favorite is the Savings Sloth, how adorable?

Granted the humor, I feel like this makes a great book for anyone to read, no matter the age. Hey, remember an elderly man suggested this book to me because it's one of his favorites. I'm sure he and others have taken in a lot of good tips because really, do we really grow up?

Adulting -
How to Become a Grown-Up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps
Kelly Williams Brown

Chapter 4: Fake It Till You Make It.

So far I have gotten the most our of this part, here she explains that faking it is actually needed for any person to survive. No one can hear our thoughts or know that we might have been crying earlier that day, but they only see the most outer part of you. She goes on to say this and never have I found anything more true, 
"Besides, a little bit of faking is necessary to keep us all sane. If we were all our most real and raw selves every moment of the day, things would be just awful. The world would be full of man-size toddlers."

Here she also address something I struggle with on a day to day basis, Never Say Maybe to a RSVP. No one has ever been so blunt about this and I guess I never thought anything of it because it's either I answer with maybe, or just never respond at all. I'm just one of those people that enjoys my own company and never can commit to anything that has to do with leaving my apartment. You either need to give a Yes or No or let them know that you need to check your schedule and within 24 hours give a yes or no. This leading to at least attending parties and events and then bouncing, this gives you social points and that way you don't look like a fake. "Talk to at least three different groups of people," so this way people know you were there at least, if you have to, bribe yourself to go. Such amazing advice.

"Step 107: Don't tell strangers about your problems."

Then this chapter goes on to tell you about how to handle rude people, and this is something I think no one really learns how to handle it, some people are just not going to like you and it's whatever. Don't let that get you down and this is another problem I have run into with adulthood, I spend a lot of time trying to figure out why they don't like me, what I did to them and how I can change their mind? Literally will run those questions through my head all night. But here kinda liked the idea of these steps;

"Step 119: Accept that some people are jerks."

"Step 120: Try to pity them a little, for your serenity."

"Step 121: It's probably not you."

"Step 122: Just accept that some people won't like you, and never will."

Overall I love her humor, voice of reason and ideas. You kind of need her in real life to be that one best friend but this book will do for now. 

Adulting -
How to Become a Grown-Up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps
Kelly Williams Brown

Where do I even begin, basically this book is a self help guide into becoming a real grown person, full of sarcasm (which I adore) and some basic steps on pretty much everything possible. Each chapter has its own theme with steps on how to better yourself. Not only do I feel this book is amazing for young adults, it's just too funny and should be read by everyone, couldn't hurt to learn something new.

The first chapter is entitled 'Get Your Mind Right' and this was so perfect because the first step goes like this "Accept that you are not special." sure, it's harsh but what she writes is that you aren't the only people on the planet also saying "you are not a special snowflake" which everyone's parents and best friends always try to make you feel unique but that's not going to happen in the real world, people aren't always going to bend over backwards for you and that is okay, you are a small time now, but you are so young.

It's ironic because yet again a seventy year old man at Powells Book Store recommended it to me and told me 'ITS A MUST READ' so of course I bought it (what else would you do?) I've been meaning to start it but I finished my second book for class (literally had no idea what to write as you can tell) but I seriously cannot wait to read more when I get off work.

Again I just recently moved out of my small hometown without my family trying to live on my own with two other college students, so so far it has already made me rethink things and how to become more organized. I cannot wait to tell you more great steps.

After being snowed in the past four days with no internet, I am finally able to let you know how the last part of my book went. I've been trapped with my two lovely roommates and we actually ended up not killing each other over the past 72 hours in our small apartment.

Aimless Love - Billy Collins
New Poems Sections

Here I am at the end of a wonderful book full of various poems, in which at the beginning I was dreading on reading and posting how I felt about it. The last section was full of more wonderful poems just like I thought it would be, this has really again changed my outlook on poetry and poets themselves, even Mr. Collins pokes fun at typical coffee shop poets.

And now that this is over, I have already let a friend borrow the book (which I have a hard time letting people borrow my books, I hate when the spine gets too bent or the pages too,) and now I am on to the next book, Already half way though I set that one down to start this one and need to get back to where I left off. That tendency has always been a problem of mine, I feel like I need to have multiple stories going on just in case a character i'm in love with happens to die tragically or decides to get some form of unknown disease and/or even falls in love with the wrong person... You just get too attached and look what happens, so I must always have a backup just in case.

I hope this proves a point to not judge a genre of book if you have never tried to read one. With that note I am off to finish up my next book.

Aimless Love - Billy Collins

No Things
"So why bother with the checkered lighthouse?
Why waste time on the sparrow,
or the wildflowers along the roadside

when we all should be alone in our rooms
throwing ourselves at the wall of life
and the opposite wall of death,

the door locked behind us
as we hurl rocks at the question of meaning
and the enigma of our origins?"

This has been stuck in my head for days now, something about the irony, the word choice he uses really makes me question things. I mean the irony in the fact I picked a book I would normally never pick up is now one that I can't put down. I love that and I love this part of the poem.

I actually took the time to write out Mr. Collins an email, just simply letting him know how he has really changed my outlook on poetry. I've even been looking for some other poets that are slightly similar to his. And now I'm sad to say that I have one more section of his book to read, the last one entitled "New Poems" so I'm sure I'll painfully read through them tonight knowing that I'm coming closer to the end.

Here I feel like so many can relate to this little piece, part of human nature is questioning ourselves and where we are at that very moment, it seems like life is all one big question and no one has the answer sheet. There are those people that like to believe they know, or just simply pretend to feel greater of themselves. I enjoy the not knowing part of what comes next, but to just take a step back and enjoy those little things that make you feel whole as a person, as I mention in another post on how Mr. Collins points out and falls in love with, I aspire to be even more like that.

Aimless Love - Billy Collins
Pages 38-87

“… I am the sound of rain on the roof.

I also happen to be the shooting star,
the evening paper blowing down an alley,
and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.

I am also the moon in the trees
and the blind woman's tea cup.
But don't worry, I am not the bread and the knife.
You are still the bread and the knife.
You will always be the bread and the knife,
not to mention the crystal goblet and—somehow—the wine.” 
― Billy Collins, Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems

This Poem has to be my favorite so far in this book, something about it makes me happy just reading over it. I swear Billy Collins makes me want to become a poet of my own kind, I love the way his word choice all flows together, not to mention what he notices, and describes things makes me feel like I am there with him. The way he finds beauty in everything, and anywhere he goes, there always seems to something or someone to write about. 

I admire this poem, just the last three lines really seem to get to me, making me think about people I love and that's how I think I should feel reading poetry, it is nice to be reminded of those good people and good memories. 

So far I am really enjoying this book, I tend to try and sneak a few reads at work when we are slow, i'll be so sad when this book is over, but all the more reason to find another book to fall in love with and maybe another poet. 

Aimless Love - Billy Collins 
First 37 pages

I kind of switched it up a bit, I can't seem to stay on one book for that long without picking up a new one to try and read as well. I was at Powell's Book Store in down town Portland last night, on I guess what you can say a date, when a stranger suggested this book to me, so I thought why not?

I don't read all that much poetry, throughout high school they made it sound so complicated, like poems are like math equations and you have to find the right answer on how the author wanted it to come across as. So therefore I chose this book as the genre I would never normally read.

So far, I think I have fallen in love, ironic. The poem Aimless Love is one of the most accurate pieces I have ever read. He talks about falling in love with everything in his daily life, from the seamstress to the dead mouse brought in by the cat. Just the fact he points out all the things you can fall in love with, not just lust, but love. I feel like I do that way too often, with just my coffee, the beautiful boy at the coffee shop making my coffee, even to the way my crappy apartment has the prettiest view if you just stand in the right spot, pretty much need to press your face to the window to see it.

His writing is making me want to carry around a small note pad and write down notes to myself as I notice them, (totally might by the way.) There is beauty in things and I really am happy I picked up this book, I've been in a slump that I can't seem to quite figure out but this book, I feel like I can make the best out of it.

As for now, I'm calling this a night.

A Common Pornography - Kevin Sampsell

Tonight I started a book that was suggested by my best friend that I admire the most, the book is titled A Common Pornography by Kevin Sampsell. The author was actually born and raised in the North West, and even got the chance to meet him at Powell's book store, (friend took me because she wanted to meet him and talk about his new book released not that long ago.) So I thought it was the most ideal book to choose at this time!

So far, about twenty-five pages in, its been a page or so of memoirs with simple titles detailing his life, starting at an early age. Seems to be vivid memories of his childhood, each one showing some small idea of what it was like for him as a kid. He seemed to believe his life was normal, but it was a little more unsettling at most. Details on how his mother has children with three different men, so he has a lot of half siblings, the youngest out of them all.  But so far I really do enjoy his way of writing, for being such short stories of memories, it really feels like I was there watching it all, which makes it more interesting to read.

Granted future notice, I'll find better ways to update you on this book!
With that, I grant you a goodnight.