Time for a Change

New Xanga!

xanga.com/mousikos

It's still under a little construction.

See you there!

Currently Reading The Four Loves By C.S. Lewis see related

Okay, here's my actual post.

I'm really starting to hate conformity. I've always said I hated it, and I've to some extent made a point of acting like it, but I don't think I've ever just straight up hated it as much as I do now. Probably because lately, I've seen more of it than ever before. I don't know why people dislike individuality. I'll probably never understand the concept of fashion (but most of you already knew that ). After all, why the heck would someone by a certain type of clothing so they can be wearing what everyone else is wearing? Why would you spend money to look like everyone else? I don't really get it at all. You guys can comment your opinions.

One of these things that really ticks me off - PET PEEVE ALERT, PAY ATTENTION IF YOU SEE ME OFTEN - is when people say "C'mon, who does that?" (as in an idiosyncratic habit or method) or "Who says that?" (as in a phrase or word that's not commonplace) or "Who wears that?". It's not like I care at all. I'm not going to censor the things I do, say, or wear, so that they look like what everyone else does, says, and wears. In fact, when people say things like that, it just makes the whole idea of trying to make people think you're cool by shallow things like that more repulsive. This sounds cheesy, and you hear it all the time, but really, who wants friends that care about what you wear, say, or do? It's funny how I always believe these simple cliche phrases, but I never really understand them, until I discover them in my own life.

I've had times in the past where I've said I don't care what people think of my clothes, or idiosyncracies, or phraseology, but all the while tried to impress people by the things I do. But now that conformity has become so blatantly irritating to me, I really don't care. It's nice. It's like... release. On a small scale.

This whole subject kinda fits into a bigger one. The very idea of trying to impress people by doing/wearing/saying specific things is in itself quite irritating. You know, there's a difference between trying to impress people, and genuinely doing things that will make them like you. I don't try to impress my elders, but I try to respect them. I don't try to impress my friends, but I try to be nice to them, and treat them well. Basically, I'm saying that while impressing people is more centered on what you do, the Christian alternative is focused on the other people. I've come to this realization over a long period of time, but I never really realized that I realized it. Yeah. It's becoming a coherent thought just now. And I don't think I would've ever realized it unless I was around so many Christian people who were humble and focused on other people than themselves. God shows us things in so many different ways.

I'm gonna end this now, it's gotten kinda long. Hopefully I'll be able to keep this xanga alive with school and all.

Currently Reading The Four Loves By C.S. Lewis see related

I just started to get back into xanga, and it ate my post. I'll have to find time to write it some other time.

I'm pretty ticked at xanga right now. But I'll still update. For you guys.

Now, now, no need for applause.

Currently Listening The Imposter see related

What a Day.

Sunday night, my brother Chris, my neighbor Sam, and I spent the night at Micah and Zach's house. It was fun. I watched Hero. That was a pretty sweet movie, but I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. Maybe I just don't like watching weapon fights. But it was still sweet.

Anyway, the next day, Micah left for work, so I was stuck with Sam, Chris, and Zach. Since Zach and Chris are basically partners in crime, and Sam just likes to mess around, I ended up being the butt of all the jokes and pranks and everything. So this is what happened. Everyone wanted to go swimming in Zach's pond, but I said I didn't want to 'cause I wasn't feeling good. So they went for a while, then came back later, saying they were finished and everything. So I went outside with them, and they said they forgot their clothes over there, so went over to the pond to get them. Then the three of them all jumped on me and tried to throw me into the pond. Being deathly ill, I wasn't able to fend them all of successfully. Maybe it's a good thing. If I had been in good health, it would have been a very dangerous situation for them. As it was, I ended up getting thrown in, but I pulled two down with me. *Flexes*

So I was basically really ticked off when that happened, so I raided Micah's room for some clothes, and then decided I didn't want to be around them anymore, seeing as it's never been proven that stupidity isn't contagious. So I stayed in his room and played guitar for a while. Then the three of them came back and told me we were all going to someone else's house, so I went with them. I walk outside and - my car's gone.

So I'm standing there, looking behind the trees and stuff, making sure my car didn't fall into a crack in the road, and the other three come out.

Chris: "Uh, Paul, where's your car?"
Me: "..."
Sam: "Dude, what happened to your car?"
Me: "..."
Chris: "Did you leave your keys in your car?"
Me: "Uh... yeah."
Chris and Sam: "STUPID!!"
Me: "Well, I thought someone might have to move my car, since it might've been in the way. And I didn't think it would get stolen out here in the middle of nowhere at my friend's house..."
Zach: *Walks outside* "...Dude, where's your car?"
Me: "..."
Chris and Sam: "He left his keys in his car!"
Zach: "You did?!?"
Me: "..."
Zach: "Idiot! Dude, you suck."
Me: "Don't get mad at me, I'm the one who just got his freakin' CAR STOLEN!!!"
Zach: "..."
Chris: "So, what do we do now?"
Me: "I don't know. I just got my car stolen."
Sam: "Do you think we should call someone?"
Me: "I don't know. I just got my car stolen. I'm having a bad day."
Chris: "Let's go inside."

So we go inside, and sit down.

Zach: "I can't believe how calm you are."
Sam: "He's in shock, dude."
Me: "Yeah, kinda."
Zach: "But... his car is stolen."
Me: "Oh, is it?"
Sam: "Dude, I'd be freaking out if I were you"
Zach: "Yeah, me too."
Sam: "At least he got his car for free."
Me: *Opens mouth to say something, but thinks better of it, and just leans back in chair*
Sam: "So what are you gonna do now?"
Me: "I'm going to call the police. Zach, get me your phonebook."
Zach: *Sits there*
Me: "Zach, get me your freakin' phonebook!"
Zach: "I can't."
Me: "Why not?"
Zach: "I'm in shock, remember?"
Me: "No. What happened to you?"
Zach: "Your car got stolen."
Me: "Yeah, my car got stolen!"
Zach: "Your car got stolen."
Me: "Fine, I'll get the phonebook myself."

So I get it, and Sam says "Let's go outside, away from Zach and Chris, so they won't be retarded and make it sound like a prank call." So I agree, and go out back, and - what do you know, my car's in the backyard!

So I'm sitting there, scratching my head, wondering why my car's in the backyard, and Sam goes, "You just got PUNK'D!!"

So I was pretty happy that my car wasn't stolen. The end.

I'm slightly short of time, so I'll just recap. Give you guys something to comment on.

Okay, I just got back from camp. Good stuff. It's always good to be refreshed, as far as Christianity goes. Helps get stuff into the right perspective. Now to keep the correct worldview during my everyday life... that's the hard stuff.

Spiritually, this week has helped me out a lot, but physically, it totally beat the crap out of me. I mostly ran on Mountain Dew and adrenaline. I wonder if there's even a difference.  But I spent all day running, jumping, just doing everything as hard as possible. It's actually nice to just go all-out for a week, but the aftermath isn't so enjoyable.

So I'm just sitting here recovering. Don't have enough time to conjure up something thoughtful or even funny to tell you guys, so you're stuck with this.

Go to purevolume.com/astallaslions. They're good. Especially Ghosts of York.

Goodbye.