from boredom is born art

I procrastinated homework and decided to create three different album covers for three different bands I invented. Here's what I did:

Made it to MSU and love it so far and have much to say, but will have to write it all later, when I have more time.

Great Excitement and Abject Terror

Leaving for Bozeman on Sunday. I was excited until my mom sent a "mom nag" email warning me against "pervs" and thieves and other dark, depressing things. I am now worried.

Playing Frantic Catch-Up

Much has happened in the past few weeks. My dad got married so now there are three new people in the immediate family, not to menion the numerous extended family members. Then my brother went through the temple for the first time. Next came the inevitable missionary farewell talk. Sidnee conned herself into the program a well, and proceeded to give the most redneck speech I have ever heard in my life, where she claimed Christ was a cowboy. (A good analogy, but quite unexpected.) Shay's talk was phenomenal. And so the day arrived, when we all had to drive to Provo to drop him off. Luckily I am completely incapable of driving in traffic, so I got to ride in my dad's car, where Shay's luggage is, so I got to sit next to him as we drove through Provo to the MTC. Me and Sid also got to dragg his luggage to wherever and walk with him into the building. He got his name tag with a fluorescent sticker labeling him a greenie. My dad was tearing up as we entered the room where they have the little devotional, but he soon became more excited than anything. My mom, however, slowly crumbled. The siblings remained strong. I didn't cry, though when I turned around and looked behind me and saw a little boy clinging desperately to his brother, I got a little choked up. Shay was on his way out and gave Sid one last punch. With lightening-like reflexes, she whacked him in the arm. He looked as though he were sorely tempted to get the last punch in, but the missionary in him won out and he walked through the doors and out of our lives for the next two years. A few weeks later Kendra got her endowments out (and was really overwhelmed) and a week later, she got married to Zac and became a Lanier. Weird. Things settled down for a while, then I got accepted to school and my mom is off to Australia for a month to visit my grandpa. Hmmm, Bozeman during the winter or Australia during their summer, no contest. I'd rather go there.

Bozeman here I come

I GOT ACCEPTED INTO MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY! As long as the federal loan comes through in time, I'm good. If not, I'm totally hosed.

No One

This is a poem my friend Shannon wrote after a high school classmate committed suicide:

No One
NO ONE should be a NO ONE
NO ONE should hurt that bad
Or feel that heartache from their heartbreak

NO ONE should understand that kind of pain
NO ONE should see themselves as nothing
NO ONE should get to that point

NO ONE can understand the NO ONE
NO ONE can ever see
Or fix the fragile shattered life

NO ONE should feel they are NO ONE
To every NO ONE there is an inner SOMEONE
And to God every NO ONE is His

He can understand the NO ONE
He’s the only one to ever see
Or comprehend the pain and heartache of the NO ONE

NO ONE should be a NO ONE
NO ONE should hurt that bad
Or feel that heartache of bitter pain

God sees the potential of the NO ONE
He bought each NO ONE with a price
Through His son the NO ONE finds the SOMEONE

But what if the SOMEONE can’t be found
How can the NO ONE get so lost?
How did the NO ONE forget the Father’s love?

NO ONE should feel alone
NO ONE should see their life as wasted or without use
For it’s the NO ONE’s who change my life every day

The NO ONE lights the way
The NO ONE who smiles despite unfriendly stares
The NO ONE who laughs

NO ONE sees the NO ONE cry
NO ONE could ever comprehend
Or imagine the hopelessness of the NO ONE

Who in my life is a NO ONE?
How can I help them to see the way
To find their way to the SOMEONE

What will happen to the NO ONE,
The one lost and so alone?
Only through God can the SOMEONE be found.

Shannon Christina Malan

Today I have the flu and want to crawl into a hole and die...