iVent Vol. VII

Surroundings.

Your surroundings determine who you are, your actions, and your overall mood. Think about it, it's true. If you are in an enviroment with smoking parents and siblings, you will probably smoke. If you're in an enviroment where your family controls every aspect of your life, you might live with it, or be rebellious. I'm thankful for my surroundings.

I got the lucky chance to spend an evening with my Seth's parents and his friends. We had an amazing dinner (mood=satisfied) of pasta, pita bread, and salad. Soon after, all the non-adults piled into a Prius and took an adventure to Movie Gallery. The car ride to and from was entertaining to say the least (mood=humored). We got a movie based on our friend Collin's man-crush on Russle Crowe...and Christian Bale was in it too. The movie is called 3:10 To Yuma. An action movie i was skeptical about, but pleased with in the end. Throughout the movie, people would say random things to the actors and what was going on that kept the mood flowing. (mood=chill). I left after the movie grateful for such a wonderful night.

Before i went to Seth's house, i went on a "target run" with Sarah. Target Runs are what Sarah and I are known for. Whenever we go to Target, we wreak havoc. Doing stupid and crazy things such as building snowmen out of toilet paper and alluminum foil or buggy races. Either way, we ventured to Target (mood=pumped). My camera died as soon as we got there and we were not pleased. We usually record our mischief and post it for the world (of Facebook) to see. So what did we do? We bought a desposable camera (and 2 pretzel combos). With 27 picture oppertunities, we went crazy. We took pictures with umbrellas, hats, and sunglasses. We took pictures of us climbing into ceramic pots, buggy jumping, building things, biting snuggies...the list goes on. Those pictures WILL be on Facebook soon. Mood=accomplished.

Before the Target Run, I went to lunch to the greatest mexican resteraunt in town, Los Mex, with Sarah and our friend, Ben. (Mood=hungry). After 45 minutes of chill conversations and mexican feasts, we drove to The Bridge, mine and Ben's church. Ben and i were going to work on some music we are trying to create. It was a success for sure. (Mood=energized) Sarah, in the middle of playing, came and explained to us that there was "a river in the upstairs of the other building." We went to see what she was talking about. Apparently, the water fountain in Wesley Hall went haywire. The stream of water was shooting all the way up to the ceiling (no exxageration) and was flooding the hallway. It was amazing to see, but a mess. We fixed it shortly after. (Mood=amazed). Ben and I went back to the music stage where we met two members of the Youth Band which Ben and I are also apart of. We played Grace Like Rain. I was surprised i remember the drum part, but happy i did. It sounded pretty great. Mood=passionate (for music).

All of these different surroundings changed my mood several times throughout the day. Have oyu ever kept up with that factor? Maybe you should. Maybe you can find the source for any negative moods, and maybe you can fix them. Peace and Grace.

iVent Vol. VI

Spring break 09. A big deal to some, but just another trip tot he beach this year to me. I traveled to Gulf Shores on Monday and arrived back home yesterday (Thursday). The wind was terrible, my brother complained the whole time, and i honestly missed Anniston a little. I loved the trip though, i found so many shells and i have a new project to work on because of all the shells i found. I got to ripstik with the harsh wind, which was fun. I dominated my dad and brother go-karting at The Track. Overall, it was a fun experience, but just another trip to me. I learned a few things though:
-Do not ripstik with wind, because you will eventually have to ripstik against it.
-Don't step on rocks in the lagoon, for some may be sharp.
-Wear your hair up when it's windy.
-Robert doesn't like to be beaten by a girl.
-Dad plays dirty when it comes to go karts.
-When you miss someone, tell them.
-Don't "wish you were home" when you are away. Find stories to bring back.

iVent Vol. V

"It's 46 degrees outside. I'm in shorts and a tanktop. I'm still going."

That was my train of thought 30 minutes ago. Anniston, Alabama is a very boring town. We have close to nothing to do here, so i make my own fun. I can go to the creek, take pictures, stay inside, ripstik...that's about it. Tonight, i can't go to the creek, there's nothing to photograph, i've been inside all day, so i wanted to ripstik. Sure it's cold, and i'm not dressed properly, but i could care less. It's all about the surroundings, that's why i love this town.

The sunsets here beat the beach sunsets by miles. The stars live in clusters and shine brighter than any city streetlights. I love the Anniston nights. I could sleep under the stars here. I have many times actually. Whenever i question my place in this town, why i ended up here, i can go outside and see billions of reasons why i should stay. I've been to DC, i've been to Seaside, i've been in other countries. Still nowhere compares to what i see here. I ignore the temperature.

"When i look at the stars, when i look at the stars...when i look at the stars i see someone else. When i look at the stars..the stars...i feel like myself."-Switchfoot.

If you want to witness this, i invite you to Anniston, Alabama. Come to my backyard and you'll see for once the reason i love this place.

iVent Vol. IV

Cubicle: a partially enclosed workspace, separated from neighboring work spaces by partitions that are usually five to six feet tall.

Since i was little and understood that one day i will have to work for a living, i swore to myself that i would avoid "cubicles" at all costs. An office where you sit at a desk...surrounded by borders. I couldn't imagine being able to sit still and be content in that little enclosed desk. This is another post about my intercession experience. Yes, it may be boring, but this is just my iVent.

As stated, i have been shadowing a professional photographer for a week who works at a newspaper. We have our own room, not a cubicle. It's a small 25 by 15 ft. or so, with a huge deadbolt door and two Mac computers. The room has boxes everywhere with files and discs, old newspapers, the works. Outside our little world, are cubicles, cubicles and more cubicles, where the reporters and editors and everyone else works. The first day of work, i stayed in our photography room and away from The Land of the Cubes. But as this week has progressed, i found myself going all over that land, visiting the editors and reporters, and being comfortable there. I know it isn't the cubicles that i like, i think it is just the environment. Everyone here knows everyone, about their kids and their home life. Everyone talks to one another like long lost friends, and they all care. It made me realize i wouldn't mind working in a little cube for the rest of my life as long as i was happy. Every employees cube is different too. Some have pictures of their families, some pictures of cats. Some have sticky notes galore, and some have wooden carvings of their name. I could tell everyone's personality before i even met them just by their little 5 by 5 cube. This intercession week was a great experience. I'm asking the boss later today if they have summer jobs.

The people at this newspaper aren't all "normal" and some people are probably turned off by that, but I'm not normal in the least bit! These people are so much like me and what i see myself being in my future. Later in life, i hope i don't judge a job by it's cubicle. I hope i judge it by the environment. I believe that is a good philosophy to live by. Metaphorically speaking, "Don't judge a job by it's cubicle".

iVent Vol. III

iVent Vol. III

As i said in the previous iVent, i am shadowing the chief photographer for the Daily Home in Talladega. This morning, i awoke at 6:47 A.M., running late. We sped to the Crisp's house and only a few minutes later, Mr. Crisp and i were on our way to the "Salt Mines" (that's what he calls it to freak me out). We arrived at the headquarters around 8:25 A.M. and i received one of the greatest surprises of my life. 

Last year, my freshman year, i got one of my poem's published. It started out as a class free write assignment and turned out to be a victory for my writing career. It's called "A Teenage Dream" (go to google, type in: "A Teenage Dream" poetry. It should be the first link.) It was published in an actual book and that made me feel like an absolute celebrity. Something i'm good at was noticed and appreciated. The surprise i was given this morning, however, was very similar to that published poem i wrote. 

Mr. Crisp dropped the morning paper that we pressed yesterday onto my desk. I gazed at the front page and there, on the cover of The Daily Home for so many people to see, was my trophy picture. The one of the bridge covered in water reflecting that little sunlight in the water with the reeds all around. That picture that was my definition of tranquility, was on the front page. I was published again for my photography. What a way to start off a day of work. 

I don't see why this great event happens to me. Anyone could have been there with a camera, but i got the shot. It was enough for me to just be there in that tranquil setting, but to be known for being there is so much more than i had hoped for. 

To see the picture go to www.dailyhome.com and look for today's paper. Click on the picture. 

iVent Vol. II

iVent. Vol. II

Today, i woke up at 6:30 to meet Mr. Bob Crisp for my intercession shadowing. He's a photographer, a CHIEF photographer, and a baller at that. It was very foggy.

On the way to the office, he pulls a quick U-Turn and says i need to shoot something (photographic term for "i need to take a picture of something"). We went onto Jim Pruitt's land (yes the senator) and he found this one spot that amazed me. It was the definition of tranquility to me. We slipped past a fence, found a bridge, coated in dew so it shined along with the sunlight that managed to escape the dense fog. Geese appeared out of no where, and i took the greatest picture in my life. I saw that picture through my lens, i snapped the shot, then i looked up to the beauty i would never be able to describe to any person, even with photographic evidence. I was tired, i was not awake, my medicine hadn't kicked in yet. There was mud everywhere, wet grass tickling my legs all the way up to my kneecaps...and yet for a split second, i seemed to have forgotten all of those factors. I could look at the sun because the fog was pair of sunglasses. The geese didn't run, they were content. The water seemed to have caught the sun light and thrown it at me. It was beautiful and i was happy.

I questioned soon after, why there can't be more things in life such as this tranquil setting that seemed to hand its beauty to me on a silver platter. I wondered why God can make things so beautiful, but He seems to throw them around every "now and then". For the rest of the day, throughout my photographic adventures with Mr. Bob that i took, i thought about that one question. Why does God hide these beautiful things from us?

After a days worth of thinking, i think i have come to a conclusion. I believe God hides such amazing factors from us and saves them for that special "every once in a blue moon" moment so we WILL question that. I think He wanted me to not question why that was so beautiful, but question why He doesn't show me that more often. After coming to that conclusion, i've also created a theory. Maybe, these settings and wonders are always right in front of us, but God only opens our eyes when He knows we will give credit back to Him for the beauty.

My picture is a trophy to me now.

iVent

It took one hug from a sister to make me realize so many different things at once. About 72 or 73 different feelings entered my being at once. You will not finish reading this note. If you feel like finishing it, save it for a day where you have nothing to do and you want to know a lot about me. I am going to write everything i am thinking and everything i want to say right now. My iPod is on shuffle right now, i will let you know by putting in parentheses what song is playing even in mid sentence when it changes. (Brighter Than Sunshine-Aqualung).

I have so many people in my life who influence who i am and how my life for one day will turn out. Today, i could have played in a St. Patrick's Day tennis tournament. Instead i had to work on a spanish project with my close friends Bryce, Nisha, Tyler, Diana and Melissa. (Not Ready To Love-Rufus Wainwright) It was a productive get-together nonetheless, but i was a tad upset about not getting to play in the tournament. Shortly after, I went to see the movie "Madea Goes To Jail" with Bryce, Sarah, Nisha, and Zach. It was hilarious, i am going to the doctor tomorrow to see if i broke a rib from laughing so hard. After seeing this movie, i had this urge to make T-shirts that say FREE MADEA on them. This idea came about because of a scene in (Hey! Is That A Ninja Up There?-Minus The Bear) the Madea movie we saw. We embarked on an epic journey to target, we being the two St. Clairs, Sarah and myself. We were unsuccesful in the end, but Sarah and I will make these Tshirts before the break is over. Bryce dropped Sarah and me off at Sarah's place where we devoured chicken and goofed off. As we got in the car to take the 45 second journey to my house, we both realized at somewhat at the same time, she was leaving for New York City the next day while i stayed in the little town of Anniston, Alabama. (Where The Story Ends-The Fray) Our intersession starts tomorrow. There is a 7th and 8th grade trip, a 9th grade trip to DC, and the sophomores and juniors and seniors all have the option to shadow a profession. This year, instead of shadowing, you could go to NYC or Germany. Both trips were too expensive, i didn't get to go. Sarah is going however, to NYC. The last time i was away from Sarah for a long period of time, this one being a week or possibly two, was two summers ago. (Let It Out-Starrfadu) Most people know that Sarah and i are practically attached at the hip, where she is, I am. Where I am, she is. We are sisters. As i got out of the car to go into my home and not see Sarah for a while, i realized how much not only her, but so many other poeple who influence my life. I gave Sarah a huge hug and we did our loud, fake cries together. She drove away. (Bohemian Rhapsody-Queen [this is depressing because Sarah loves this song]) Sarah and i have done too many crazy things together. For those of you who don't know, here are some:
-Harrassing a pizza delivery guy
- Buggy Races in Target
- Bowling with frozen food
- Skateboarding in places of business.
- Ordering a box of fried rice, just a box.
- Making Shadow puppets in the movie theater from the projector.
- Shouting at golfer's on cider ridge: "Where'd you get that shot? THE THRIFT STORE?"
- Finding new trails on Private Property where we were banned from.
- Baking things with meaning
- Cooking Shows
- Building snowmen in target out of toilet paper and aluminum foil
- "Being Psychotic" Those are only a few. (Stars-Switchfoot [definitely mine and Sarah's theme song]) In summary, Sarah is the Sidewalk to my Chalk, and she is traveling 5 states north of Alabama, therefore depressing me. Sarah, one word: Buckets. (This Ain't A Surfin' Movie-Minus The Bear)

I play music. Today, i downloaded a software where i can record what i play and edit it how ever i want. I recorded a few things i made up for the piano. I love to think i can play the drums. I can keep a beat, but i am no professional. I am working on a musical project with my good friend, Ben Coleman. According to our youth pastor, we will be the next Beatles. Music is really my life other than being psychotic. I play 1st trumpet for my school. I want to learn guitar so badly. I play little bass. I can express myself so easily through music, whether i am playing it or i am listening to it. I love to sing. Without boasting, i do not think i am a HORRIBLE singer. I will not sing for other people or in front of other people. With a large group of friends, maybe. If anyone ever needs to find "an escape" and they have no money to travel or are too lazy, sit down at a piano, press a key, and follow it. Take a guitar and strum it until it makes you smile. Hit a drum so hard that the drum head tears. (Prayer of the Refugee-Rise Against) A few people in this world know how to "calm me down" if i am scared or i need to be held back. If you are ever in this position, sing to me, play me music, put headphones in my ears and blast music. I will instantly go into my "calm place". The greatest musician i have ever met (so far) is a tie between Mr. Dude and Seth Kennedy. Mr. Dude is my nickname for Mr. Harris, my former band teacher. He taught me everything i know about reading and writing music. He taught me everything i know about the trumpet. He gave me a true love for music in the 7th grade. Seth Kennedy is a role model to me in the music world. He plays every instrument known to man. I call him the guru of music. He taught me whatever it is i know on drums, he taught me bass, and he is still teaching me. (Philosophy-Ben Folds) Seth is a great influence in my life, i am "quite into him". He is in Colorado right now.(Rules and Regulations-Rufus Wainwright)

I like to play tennis. I've been playing tennis for about 6 years. I've learned all that i know about tennis from Raphael Rodriguez. I've seen Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, James Blake, and Swiss guys play live, but none compare to how cool i think Raph is. He just always is smiling when he plays, he knows what he's doing. He gave me the coolest nickname out of any nickname i've ever gotten: Lil Smit. Raph has taught me a lot about life, not only tennis, throughout our 6 years of his teaching me. (Pieces-Sum41) I always remember John Fraser in my first year of playing. He would let us play in any condition, too hot too cold raining, you name it. If we utterly shanked a shot, he did this "monkey noise" that always let everyone around you know that someone just screwed up. He was a cool guy. (Washed By The Water-Needtobreathe).

I am a strong follower of God. I attend First United Methodist Church in Anniston. There, i am known by many. There are probably around 30 people in my youth group, and it is a family. Everybody Loves Everybody. I've been on many trips with that youth group to many places. Kentucky, Tennesee, cold places in Alabama. I was a Christian for a while, or so i thought. I always belived in God and i trusted His word with my life. But two years ago at a church retreat in one of the colder places in Alabama called Behold, i gave my life to Him. I was brought to my knees and filled with tears. Since that night, i've been completely attached to Him and His works in my life. I don't like trying to "convert" people to Christianity. I've never been "called" to go up to someone and scream Jesus into their face. If someone does not share my beliefs, i respect it and i keep quiet about it. You believe what you believe, i believe what i believe. iPray. (Holiday-BLG) William Murray, my youth director is someone i admire above all. He is a strong Christian with a past sort of like mine. He loves music and the same kinds as i do. He's effected many things i do in my life, where i try my hardest. He has many "words of wisdom". He's like a teenager my age and is a lot like me, i find it easy to talk to him. If you are ever in trouble, he will help you no doubt.

I love having a history with people. For example: Bryce St. Clair. Bryce has been like my brother since Kindergarten, and we are still going strong. I can tell him anything, and he always has my back. Somewhat of a sophisticated bodygaurd. (Give It All- Rise Against) We love telling people that we've been best friends/siblings for forever. "It all started at the doll house, we had no one to talk to so we sort of paired up." Mattie Crisp and i have been like sisters since 5th grade at Oxford in Mrs. Hughes's class. She's the "brains of the operation", as in when i do stupid stuff, she keeps me out of trouble and tells me why all of my "genius" plans won't work. I admire that of her because she has always been able to make sense and still have a blast in every crazy adventure we go on, whether it's just the two of us, or us plus Sarah, or all of HiFi.TAYLOR BELLIN. I had to put his name in caps so he could find it, since i told him i would put him in here. I've been pretty tight friends with Taylor since "diaper days" which is code for "we don't know how long we've been best friends, but it's been a long time." Taylor and my dad work together so we would hang out a lot more back in the day. Now we talk a lot more on FBIM and any other random times we see each other. He could be the (Show Me What I'm Looking For-Carolina Liar) most random person i know.

I like being funny. When people laugh at something i do, even if it is embarrassing, i find it as an accomplishment. I have recieved the nickname "Jester" from being funny. There are a lot of funny people in the world. Dane Cook is funny. Demitri Martin is funny. I think when people make me laugh, i will never forget them. I smile when i see people who make me laugh. Laughter is the coolest natural high. I love how every person in the world has a different kind of laugh. That is a good way to tell people apart. Mr. Moore has the "joker laugh" which i can guarantee no one who hears it will ever forget.

One of my biggest goals in life is to spray paint a mural on the side of a brick building in the historical downtown region of a small town. Such as an old building in Downtown Anniston. I would go all out with it, with the gas mask and cool graffiti tagging clothes. Scaling down the side of the building would be a lot of fun. The mural would be famous. It would be abstract art in some areas, then full on Michaelangelo style on another. Just diverse in every area. (Confines of Gravity-Playradioplay!) If i could build a city, everything would be awesome. The city would be named Diverse. Diverse City. The main town would be a surrounding circle, it would circle around the homes where people live. The exits would not be at a North, East, South, or West point but in between all of them. All shops, stores and resteraunts, will be different. No two places will be alike.

I love being different. I hate being the center of attention, but i love being different and i love standing out. It's like going into a crowd of 1000 people wearing black and blue and wearing neon orange. That would bring a smile to my face. I hate being a statistic. As much as i hate it though, i've realized i will always be a statistic. For example, i got the gardasil shot to be out of the statistic of women with cervical cancer, but by getting the shot, i became part of the statistic of those preventing it. I will always be in a statistic, no matter how much i hate being grouped together with others.

I am part of the coolest support group ever. We call ourselves HiFi Society. (Satellite- Guster) HiFi stands for High-Fidelity or high faith. The support group is for those in my school who want to have someone to talk to about being around friends who smoke, drink, etc. or those who are pressured to do such acts. The support group is to talk to each other about why we shouldn't partake in that stuff. We named ourselves that, because there are only a few of us that we know of and we need each other when we are all surrounded by that kind of pressure. We even signed a sheet promising to abide by the rules of rejection to such acts. When i am around those people i feel safe and secure in the fact that no crap like that will enter my life. If you want to be apart of this group, tell me, i'll be glad to help. Or if you are a friend of mine at a different school and want something like that, i'll be glad to help you get something started. (Heard the World-O.A.R.) I am afraid of thunder. I am afraid of clowns. I hate being isolated and i hate being in freakishly large crowds. I hate it when people look down on me in a demeaning manner against my vertical challenges. I HATE HATE HATE being lifted. When someone lifts me off the ground, i feel like drop kicking them. Very few have been successful, and those who have, i will never forgive for that act. If i could change anything about myself, i would definitely be a few inches taller. I love 1900s history. Anything before or after is in my disintrest.(Looking For Angels-Skillet) I love painting and writing. I am very artistic and musical, and i love that. I love hugs, i really love hugs. I love being loud. I love running when i can breathe. I love to breathe, and trust me you take it for granted. I love sharpies. I am very skilled with sharpies. For christmas, Sarah got me sharpies, and it made my day. I love to ripstik. I hate being stereotyped and i hate stereotypes. I really hate research papers. I love poetry, especially writing it. I love songs that wake me up to reality. I love Switchfoot and Jon Foreman with an unhealthy and obsessive passion. I really love the ichthus sign and what it represents. I love surfing and skimboarding. I am afraid of being hated. I love taking pictures. (Raw Sugar-Metric) I could be a photographer when i am older. Or a musician, or a painter. Or something of that nature.

I could create a super human by taking characteristics from so many people in my life. Example: I would take Sarah's ability to be loud and care free. Mattie's ability to stand out and love life. Bryce's philosophy and train of thought. Diana's genius music skills. Devin's amazing music finding habits, wit, sarcasm, and the ability to be cool. Seth's ability to play every instrument, be chill, be himself, and love so many things. William M.'s love for God. Jon Foreman's mind as a whole. Alyssa and Katherine's ability to survive without my in Birmingham (haha)! (I Saw The Light-David Crowder Band) Ansel Adams's photography skills. Shel Silverstein amazing poetry skills. Jim Davis's cartooning ability. Taylor Bellin's randomoscity, and yes, that is a word. Neil Armstrong's memory of walking on the moon. Mrs. Senter's excessive happiness. The ability to fear nothing. And much much much more.

I have this pretty odd family. All families are odd, so i guess we are just part of that statistic. My family can be compared with a Kindergartener's art project. My dad is a general surgeon at RMC and he's pretty cool. He works a lot so i see him every now and then. He makes wooden crosses that are so beast. We always joke saying he should open a table at the Lobsterfest one year and sell them, but i think he really should. He is a genius. My dad is the paper for our "Art Project" because he really is the base of our family. Without everything he works for to keep us going, we would be shredded paper on the classroom floor. My mom and my dad were highschool sweethearts. They both went to donoho, and had Ms. Wingo (Dead!-MCR). Creepy to think about. Anyway, my mom is the one who got me started in tennis. Even though my dad makes the money in our family, she is really the Elmer's glue of the operation. I will now call her my glue from now on. She makes the food, cleans, washes clothes, puts up with my siblings and myself, and she STILL loves us, as does my father. She is very funny, even though she knows she is but thinks we don't know she is, SHE IS. I can see myself being like her even though we are polar opposites in most cases, but because she cares so much about so many people and hasn't killed us yet, i admire her. I have an older sister, Margaret, who is 21 and goes to Alabama. She is one of the coolest people i've ever met. She is the smartest person i know. And she can balance being smart and successful with being beautiful and social. I see my sister having this freak awesome future that i could never live up to, but i have defininitely grasped that and i'm ok with it. She cares a lot about me. When she comes home for a day or two, i actually love it, whereas when she was in high school we couldn't stand each other. I remember crying when we drove home after unpacking with her at her dorm her freshman year of college. I'm honestly excited to see what she becomes. (Drive-Incubus) My sister is the glitter that adds to the beauty of our collage. I have a little brother too. His name is Robert and he's 14 now. Robert is an interesting story. He has ADHD and is more a handful than our new puppy Bailey is. Robert and i used to be like toast and butter when we were much younger. But i started to mature and he started to have issues. Our family i think has accepted that he is difficult, and we still love him for that. Even though my brother is a flame most days, i don't think i've ever met someone who could care so much about anyone. I can tell when he truly loves someone, and i know he loves all of us. He loves his friends and he loves who he is, and that's just fine with me. My brother is the paper shreds that will be glued to the paper for colorful effect. Then there's me. I'm the "different" one in my opinion. My dad and sister are brilliant, my mom is a superhero, my brother is a bi-polar ball of wonder, and i'm the signature at the bottom of the collage. The kindergarten signature, barely able to be read. I am the one who people question when they see me "all grown up". People know how successful my sister is, people have heard the stories of my brother, but not many people know who i am in the Smith clan until they meet me. I'm the "drummer girl" or the "artist". I'm different from all 4 of my family members, but i love that so much. I think my family appreciates who i am and that i am different. It is all part of our collage. (Awakening-Switchfoot)

More to come in later notes, but tonight i sleep, depsite the piece of insomnia i hold. Peace and Grace.