Maybe it's just me...

Sometimes I wonder if people are truely frightened of people who are kind and friendly.  I know that last fall, I thought it was almost unreal when the people in the marching band at a school I visited were friendly enough to provide dinner, provide water and all made at least one friend in our band.  I practically expected a monster to jump out at me at any second.  It was kind of unnerving. 

I like getting to know people and making new friends.  Even if I have only met a person once or twice, if I think they're a good person or have traits that make them a good friend, I will keep in contact with them.  I will send them friendly texts and try to talk to them.  If they're doing something, like maybe they have a band, or they play a sport (that sort of thing), then I try to go out and support them. 

Yet when people don't return my messages, I feel like the awkward, over-friendly freak.  I start to think that they think I'm weird and embarrassing and awkward.  Then it just spirals into my own paranolia from there.  I worry a lot about what other people think of me.  When people make remarks about me, they have no clue how much it affects me. Is that normal, or is it just me? 

My opinion on the Dream Act

I would like to share my opinion of the Dream Act, a bill that basically proposes that if an unregistered immigrant graduates high school and/or goes in the military for two years, they can automatically become an official US citizen.  This would give many young immigrants a chance at citizenship.  I think this is a good idea because if they are educated, they will not be tricked as easily by con-men and other shady characters who would try to fool undocumented immigrants into joining their schemes, stealing money from them and such.  Even a simple GED or high school diploma opens up far more jobs and better pay than any job that could be offered to those without diplomas.  I also think the military service idea is good because if you are willing to serve in the military to become a citizen of the country whose military you will be in, it shows you are loyal to that country and are serious about becoming a citizen.  Plus, for those whose families otherwise could not send them to college, the military would give them a valuable, higher education.  They could prove their loyalty and learn at the same time, which is a great concept if you ask me.  
   It's terrible that undocumented immigrants are being made the scapegoats for the recent recession.  People are always looking for someone to blame when things go wrong.  Any talk of closing our borders or limiting immigration into the US is hypocrisy, because America is a melting pot of ethnicities and cultures.  We are a country formed from immigrants and descedants of immigrants.  America has always been the place that is veiwed as a haven for all.  That's how it's been since the beginning of our nation.  People came here as immigrants for religious, ethnic, economic or political reasons, because they thought they could make a new life in this place.  We're appalled when we learn about how African-Americans and the Irish were treated when they came here, but we are treating Hispanics and Middle Eastern immigrants in a very similar way.  They deserve a shot at citizenship just as much as the rest of us.  I think in some ways they deserve it more because they work for it.  We must remember not everyone is lucky enough to be born in the United States and automatically become a citizen.  Those who come here in search of freedom, of jobs and for a new life truely believe in our country and may be more dedicated to it than we are.  Therefore, making it easier for dedicated, good immigrants to get citizenship is a good thing.  It could greatly increase patriotism and American pride, which seems to have run low lately.

Prom Night: Fun, Friends, Memories,

Prom nights are infamous in this day and age as nights where a lot of car crashes happen because of alcohol and texting.  Prom season is the time during the year when the most teens die in car crashes.  Well, tonight is my first prom night.  I can't wait.  For me, dances are a time to hang out with friends and have fun just goofing around.  Not so much the romanticized versions of dances that you see in the movies.  No date for me, unless the guy I asked who stupidly didn't just say "yes" or "no" decides to turn up.  I'd be partially happy, partially really mad.  I have my dress, shrug and shoes ready and I might get my aunt to help me with my hair.  I usually hate wearing dresses because the majority of them are uncomfortably itchy, frilly, etc, etc.  I'll need to make sure I have time to do my makeup before prom. (This is one of the rare occasions when I think it's ok to wear makeup.)  Tonight will be a night to just hang out with friends and dance till I forget my troubles.  I don't need a boy to be hapy at a dance.  I don't need to obsess over a dance that I probably won't remember who I brought with me by this time last month.  I don't need slow dance drama.  I don't need jealousy issues.  I don't need worrying that I'll be ditched.  I don't need to make sure a tux goes with my dress.  I don't need to cling to a boy all night and not do what I want.  Heck, I do what I want when I want.  I don't tolerate being bossed around. I don't want to deal with the pain of being ditched, or being jealous of another girl because she's caught some boy's attention.  I don't want to deal with the loyalty issues some guys have.  I don't want to deal with some guy asking me to grind, which I think is disgusting.  I don't want to deal with the awkwardness of slow dancing, because I'm a klutz and I always get tongue-tied and awkward around guys I like.  I don't want to deal with guys and their wandering hands.  I don't want to deal with worrying about what some boy thinks of my dress.  I don't want to deal with afterparty drama.  I don't want to deal with awkward dinner dates.  I don't wanna deal with embarrassing wardrobe malfunctions.  I don't wanna deal with awkward texts and stuff like that.  That's why for once, it may be a good thing that I'm going stag to a dance.  Normally, it would just depress me, but this time it may save me from a ton of stressful things.  I'm growing into my own person, realizing that lack of a boyfriend doesn't need to be taken personally.  Enjoy prom season, everyone!

Prom Prep...

Well, there are two days till prom and a lot to do in that time.  The most important thing, at least in my mind is to work out so I feel better about myself when prom actually happens.  Second, I need to find comfy shoes that will go with my dress.  I may have to enlist some fashion help from my aunt to pull that off (money included).  I'm not gonna bother with makeup.  I think I look perfectly fine without it, thank you very much.  Plus, makeup is too much of a hassle.   There's no hope of me learning to dance better before then, and the guy I asked has made it pretty clear he's not interested in coming in the group to see what it's like.  In the meantime, there's ironing to be done, becuase my dress and shrug look really wrinkly.  I also need to figure out what the heck I'm gonna do with my hair.  ( I swear the stuff has a mind of its own!)  I'm definitely not letting my mom drag me to Great Clips like she did before homecoming, because I walked away with a million bobby pins, crunchy curls and a two day case of helmet head.  I also need to find a way to get some sleep in before getting ready for a concert the next day and possibly seeing a play.  Man, it looks like I'm in for a heck of a time, one way or another.

My solution to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy debate

I think it's stupid that openly gay people can't be in the army.  I mean, there are some great people who were in training for the military who had to leave the army because they revealed they were gay.  It's not fair to gay people that they have to stay closeted if the want to serve their country.  I think that goes against the  Constitution because it says all people have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  What if simply being allowed to be themselves without having to keep part of them in the closet is their pursuit of happiness.  Some opponents of the repealing of "don't ask, don't tell" say that having openly gay military members housed with other soldiers their own gender is as awkward as if you put the opposite genders in housing together.  Well, if that's all their worried about, then the solution is simple: straight girls with straight girls, straight guys with straight guys, gays with gays and lesbians with lesbians.  Then everyone could feel comfortable and be themselves. 


I say this because I have several friends who are gay, and who would be happy to serve their wcountry but can't because they don't want to go back into the closet after working so hard to come out of the closet in the first place.  They are passionate about protecting the US and are proud Americans, yet this policy is barring them from military service simply on grounds of sexual orientation.  This policy is blatantly anti-gay and prejudiced.  It's terrible that they cannot do what they want simply because the armed forces have homophobic policies.  A lot of homosexuals who have "mission critical" skills like speaking Arabic are turned away simply because they are homosexual.  Think how much more sucessful and/or larger the armed forces could be if all those homomsexual people were allowed to join!  We would have more manpower, more translators, more intelligence.  But as it is, we don't.  It's time to change America's homophobic policies like "don't ask, don't tell" and also allow gay marriage.  Homosexuals deserve happiness and the right to the jobs of their choice just as much as heterosexuals.

A week in the life...

Monday: Drumline, parade rehearsal
Tuesday: Thankfully nothing
Wendsday: Drum lessons
Thursday: Drumline, parade rehearsal, band concert
Friday: Linworth Prom
Saturday: play, We Followed The Giant concert
Sunday: Band extravaganza 
Busy week, that's for sure!  I'm not quite sure how I'll manage all of this stuff that's going on, but I want to be part of everything.  I also wrote a song shortly after midnight, so I have some achievements for the week done already. I have some big projects I have to work on to get finished on time to turn in next week. The weirdest thing I have have ever done for a school project is officially making a hippo out of clay.  I thought it would be easy because their bodies are just kinda lumpy, but it actually took more shaping than I thought.  Time to be a homework ninja and get as much as possible done so I don't have to worry about the stuff later in the week.  I have my hands full, between band and school and personal interests.

All things band blog #1

Marching band and drumline: 
Got assigned to pit today.  They haven't placed us on definite instruments yet (keyboards) but I will be playing cymbals in the Memorial Day Parade.  Our cadence this year is called "Dur". I will be playing four-mallet keyboard music, and already have blisters from practicing that.  The show this year for marching band is "Cirque du Soliel". 

Friends' Bands:
Blame It On Yesterday 
A local metal band.  They put up the audio for their song "Questions, Answers?" the other day and have shot from #94 on the metal charts for Columbus to #23 as of the time this was posted, within a period of four days.  They are hoping to professionally record the song soon, as the version on YouTube right now was recorded using a Guitar Hero microphone.  Go like their Facebook page!  They have shows coming up soon.
We Followed The Giant 
A local post-hardcore band.  Their single "Avert Your Gaze" will drop on the 19th on iTunes and Amazon.  "The Little Perc Who Couldn't" is expected to release soon as well.  They are having a concert at the A & R Music Bar on the 14th of this month.  They are currently #18 on the alternative charts for Columbus.  They hope to release their EP this summer.  Go like their Facebook page, and you'll be helping all of us fans get "The Little Perc That Couldn't" sneak peek sooner.
Gentlemen
Yet another local band, made up of Kilbourne students.  They have two songs up on their Facebook page and would appriciate it if you listened and gave feedback.  (Oh, and like their page.  That helps.)
Go support them!  

My band:
I am an independent singer, guitarist (crappy), piano player and drummer (intermediate).  I write my own songs and will be posting some soon.  Check out Anna Laird (band page) on Facebook and ReverbNation soon for songs and/or video.

The Death of Bin Laden: Good or Bad?

With many people celebrating the death of Osama Bin Laden at the the hands of Navy Seals Team 6, I find myself once again outspoken on the topic of his death.  Many people are celebrating in the streets and saying things like "We got him!" and "I'm glad he's dead."  Yet I feel this is the wrong reaction.   What good does it do to celebrate the murder of someone, regardless of who they are and what they have done?  It does nothing.  Murdering him in the frst place would have been enough reason for the jihadis to hate us even more, but then we go celebrating his death on top of everything else?  I'm horrified by how boodthirtsty this makes Americans look. 


Even some of the people who lost family members during 9/11 have said it only gave them a grim sense of satifaction.  Not real happiness.  Nothing can really "avenge" the deaths that happened that day.  There is no way that killing him could have brought those thousands of people back. 


I don't think we should have killed him.  As bizarre as it sounds, I think they should have offered him the chance to be taken alive, and then when he rejected the offer they should have told him they would kill him.  Better for them to warn him and have him take his own life than get more blood on our hands.  But as it is, we murdered him. 


Some people are refusing to call it murder because they think he did so many terrible things that it should just be said that we "killed" him, "disposed" of him or "finished him off".  I think that by refusing to call it murder that we are lowering ourselves to the level of the terrorists who were as happy as we are now when the twin towers went down.  No matter how many terrible things he did, it still remains that we caused his death intentionally, which makes it murder. 


I think we need to remain vigilant because there is the possibiliy of jihad attacks in retaliation for Osama Bin Laden's murder.  By murdering him, we have simply given them a justified reason to hate us.  We have made their hate and accusations of Western Civilization real.  We have given them a reason to hate us that we cannot deny.  We are now equally to blame and may have even gotten ourselves into more of a mess.  Anyone who thinks we will not be attacked just because we've taken Al Queda's leader away is a fool.  You know a cunning person like that surely knew the day would come when he would be found and surely made arrangements for leaders after him.