More Papers

I'm too lazy to expound on some of these topics right now, so here is just an excerpt of a paper done for a demanding professor. But I did feel like getting some things said about racism, because it is just totally bogus.

Just to throw you for a loop, can you actually define race?

Diversity is an issue that mankind has been struggling with since the beginning of time, and is still evident in our modern day society. From the slavery of the Hebrews by the Egyptians to the genocide that is being practiced even this day in the case of the country of Darfur. It seems humanity is destined to continue a battle that will never be resolved.

What would be the reasonable solution? We have studied the way government works its new ideas into the brains of the American psyche. It seems the best way to make all the changes happen in the shortest amount of time is to get the idea across at the most basic of levels, the educational system. And the logic behind this is not flawed at all. What other institutions are all Americans made to pass through for a mandatory part of their life?

The numbers behind school diversity do not simply reflect on the school itself. If you simply follow the money, it is quite easy to see. The higher percentage of minority students there are in the school, the lower amount of funding that particular school seems to receive. It is also reflected in the surrounding community; for again, the higher percentage the minority in the community, it will also reflect on the school at hand.

Yes, this seems too barbaric to be true in what we like to think of our enlightened society. Should the quality of education be subject to the amount of melanin in a persons skin? Should the community be subject to that type of prejudice? But we are not to be so harsh on them, for it is not very far off where the fabled white man, the one who has been the majority in America for so long is to become the minority. The U.S. Census Bureau projects by the year 2040, the majority of school-age children will be members of minority groups.

on abortion

just a couple of things I found:

If you haven't seen what abortion does, then you will never understand what abortion actually is. - Clenard Howard Childress

Between 1882 and 1968, 3,446 Blacks were lynched in the U.S. That number is surpassed in less than 3 days by abortion.
- Clenard Childress

It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish - Mother Teresa

I've noticed that everybody that is for abortion has already been born. - President Reagan

Only half the patients who go into an abortion clinic come out alive. - Unknown

If it isn't a baby, then you aren't pregnant, so what are you aborting? - Unknown

If we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people to not kill each other? Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. - Mother Teresa

If the anti-abortion movement took a tenth of the energy they put into noisy theatrics and devoted it to improving the lives of children who have been born into lives of poverty, violence, and neglect, they could make a world shine. - Michael J. Tucker

Abortion is inherently different from other medical procedures because no other procedure involves the purposeful termination of a potential life. - Judge Potter Stewart

The product, abortion, is skillfully marketed and sold to the woman at the crisis time in her life. She buys the product, finds it defective and wants to return it for a refund. But, it's too late. - Unknown

Every woman I have seen who has had a termination has a difficult time subsequently. They have a grief process and sorting out time to go through. It certainly doesn't leave them unmarked and I have never met a woman who has had one who would want to go through it again of her own free will. - Dr. Christine Forster

The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill her own child what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between. - Mother Teresa

If a man doesn't want a child, he is a dead beat dad. If A woman doesn't want a child, she is pro choice. - Unknown

I do not believe in abortion at will. I do not believe that if a woman just wants to have an abortion she should...I do believe if you have an abortion you are committing murder. - Nancy Reagan

And from the other side . . .

In fact many women will come to me considering abortion, and I have been personally told that I am to turn the monitor away from her view so that seeing her baby jump around on the screen does not influence her choice.

Shari Richards, quoted from the John Ankerburg Show on 3/7/90

I hated putting babies in strainers and rinsing them off and putting them in zip-lock bags.

--former abortion clinic owner Eric Harrah


"There is no difference between a first trimester, a second trimester, a third trimester abortion or infanticide. It's all the same human being in different stages of development. I finally got to the point I couldn't look at those little bodies anymore."

-- Dr. Arnold Halpern, former director of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic

They [the women] are never allowed to look at the ultrasound because we knew that if they so much as heard the heart beat, they wouldn't want to have an abortion. -- Dr. Randall

Every woman has these same two questions: First, "Is it a baby?" "No" the counselor assures her. "It is a product of conception (or a blood clot, or a piece of tissue)" Even though these counselors see six week babies daily, with arms, legs and eyes that are closed like newborn puppies, they lie to the women. How many women would have an abortion, if they told them the truth?"

-- Carol Everett, former owner of two clinics and director of four
"A Walk Through an Abortion Clinic" by Carol Everett ALL About Issues magazine Aug-Sept 1991, p 117

We tried to avoid the women seeing them [the fetuses] They always wanted to know the sex, but we lied and said it was too early to tell. It's better for the women to think of the fetus as an 'it.'

-- Abortion clinic worker Norma Eidelman quoted in Rachel Weeping p 34

Sometimes we lied. A girl might ask what her baby was like at a certain point in the pregnancy: Was it a baby yet? Even as early as 12 weeks a baby is totally formed, he has fingerprints, turns his head, fans his toes, feels pain. But we would say 'It's not a baby yet. It's just tissue, like a clot.'"

-- Kathy Sparks told in "The Conversion of Kathy Sparks" by Gloria Williamson, Christian Herald Jan 1986 p 28

Now, the baby I aborted was eleven weeks old, and can you imagine what this did to me when I saw this baby with the hands and face, sucking his thumb? And they told me it was a cluster of cells!"

-- Carole K. State Director of Women Exploited By Abortion. From Women Exploited, which is a sampling of the stories of WEBA (Women Exploited by Abortion) chapter members.


I have always believed that the decision to have an abortion generally should be between a woman, her doctor, her conscience, and her God. - Bill Clinton

I have met thousands and thousands of pro-choice men and women. I have never met anyone who is pro-abortion. Being pro-choice is not being pro-abortion. Being pro-choice is trusting the individual to make the right decision for herself and her family, and not entrusting that decision to anyone wearing the authority of government in any regard. - Hillary Clinton

lookie what I found...

Yeah, so I was cleaning out my jumpdrive last night, and I came across something that looks like it was the beginning of a paper or something. I guess I just wasn't feeling it with this subject, so I changed it. But the cool part was that I completly forgot I wrote this, so its kinda like finding money in your pocket!! cept you cant really spend it . . . .hmm

Race. The vary word conjures up an idea in the mind which would seem harmless. An image of the youth of our nation competing in a simple footrace in the neighborhood, seeing who will have bragging rights for the next five minutes, until everybody is recovered, and ready to start the next race. Just harmless fun, entertaining activities. Even providing an activity that creates a bond amongst friends, in the innocent. This is a race. Humiliation, disgrace, degradation, shame, hardship, angst, torment, suffering, affliction. These are words which we conjure when we hear the word race used in a different manner, concerning the amount of melanin in our skin, or the country from which a person has originated.

Okay, so its two forty-two in the morning. I have no idea why I cannot sleep. I spent a good eight or nineish hours out in the sun today, so youd think I would be able to get a really good sleep, seeing as how the sun is supposed to drain your life away or something like that. Idunno, maybe its something else. I dont know what it would really be. I just finished one of my two summer classes, and Im feeling pretty confident about it my grade I mean, I have yet to receive it so it cant really be that. The grandparents are over, but that is always a good time, and its no different now. Luke is doing pretty well in the summer baseball thing hes got going on right now. Yeah, I get antsy just being a fan after playing for soooooo long. I dont think that is going to leave me any time soon. Kinda like an itch you cant really nail down to a specific area. Its there, bugging you, but you dont really know how to take care of it. I get my little selfish dose of it every now and again when I get to go throw with Luke because he wants to keep his arm in tune. (have to say, after two years of not playing in a league, I still throw pretty well just to toot my own horn ;) ) Work? Im loving it. I get paid to play with kids. I dont think it can get much better than that. Plus I have the best flip-flop tan going, except for my neighbors, but she just sits on a chair outside all day, so she automatically wins that competition.

Ahsodeska. Ive nailed it.

Blogs.

That is what it all comes down to. Not that Im losing sleep over it, but just the fact that its been in the back of my mind for the past few days, because go figure), I read a persons blog. Hey! Talk about putting tow and two together.

So, this person is talking about relationships, and she is almost feeling like something is missing from her life, and she mentioned boyfriend. So that means she must have had some sort of previous relationship ( I dont know her all that well, which is a real shame, because she just lives right up the road, and I just figured that out).

And whaddya know, being the selfish person I most certainly am, I focussed on myself, and this whole relationship thing. Or lack thereof would be the proper term I do believe.

I find it interesting that it would play such an important role in some peoples lives. Oh yeah, there are certain cases where its going to come much much sooner than would be proper, say in a broken home, where a parent is gone, so they would go out and find a person to try and fill that void. It could be just a person of the same age, where they would heavily depend on that person for pretty much anything. But then there are the ones where a kid would hook up with a much older person, and unfortunatly, this is where that said older person could take advantage of them, and horribly scar them. That is not cool, but the sad thing is, it happens quite a bit. Im sure most of you have heard of the radio show Loveline. Yeha, if you have, then you know exactly what Im talking about.

But hey, that is getting way off topic. Remember, Im selfish? So that means we have to talk about me, and in turn, you get to read about me.

So, me and relationships. Earthly relationships. First off, allow me to clarify some things. I have been homeschooled for my entire school life. Well, except for college, go figure. But all the way from preK to 12^th grade, thats been my story. My dad was employed by the navy for all of my life, so that means we move every three years. So it would be pretty hard to maintain any sort of close relationship under those conditions. Yes, Ive played baseball, and teammates have had some pretty cute sisters, and the teammates would bring their girlfriends along, and so on and so forth. But believe it or not, I have actually not had that much contact with those of the opposite gender. Yes, I mean girls.

*gasp*

Did you just say the G word??

Yep. Sure did.

Yeah, there has been the crushes here and there. Everybody has those.

But the weird thing is, I dont feel as if anything is lacking from my life right now. In fact, with the summer equinox already past us, that means the school year is coming. And I dont really see how it could be possible to maintain a relationship through a college load. Oh yeah, people do it, dont get me wrong, but I know for a fact that people admit it is hard. Especially if both of the people live in the dorms. If something comes up, then there is drama. And if youre taking an 18 credit load, that is the last thing you need on your mind. Hey, even if youre not taking any classes, conflict with your significant other is never wanted.

Hey, were still talking about me here, lets not forget that.

So no. I can honestly say I am content with my whole lack of a girlfriend thing. Yes, I have friend girls, you know what I mean. But I kinda like where I am right now. As for the whole social scene, last semester was pretty nice. Can I say I actually opened up to a few friends, even actually started conversations? Whoa, now there is a mind bender. Me instigating a conversation. I know, that comes as a huge surprise.

Okay, my mind is starting to fall apart here. It is past three in the morning after all. And look at this. I wrote over a page. That is way cooler than filling out some stupid survey made by twelve yearolds asking if youve ever had alcohol and such.

Yeah, so Im going to bed now. I have to wake up in like four hours to do the church stuff, so people can get their weekly dose of religion as they sleep in the pews and keep checking their watch to see how long the pastor is going to go over. You notice so much when youre sitting in the sound booth

Why do we do this?

Just a really quick thingie here. Why do we put up different fronts when we are around other people? Are we truly that ashamed to let people know how we really act? Oh sure, there are some things that Im sure I dont want to know about you, but that is pushing it a little too far. I mean, when a new person is around. Weve had friends spend a few days over before, and when we take them out to visit some of our other friends, the mood is changed. Is it just because we are that unused to change? Are we too stubborn to be the least bit malleable?

Now this is a cop-out, but I consider myself having an excuse. We moved every few years, so in order to stay from being social outcasts (not like we arent already), we did take on a slight variation of the persons persona. Just to make them feel that much more comfortable. But I also think that is one of the ways to make friends in that book how to win friends and influence people or something like that.

So yeah. I shouldve spent more time on this and really fleshed out some more ideas, but my mind is pretty slow right now. Maybe because I was pulling weeds last night. You know how that weed gets to you after a while ;)

Thsoe we consider different

Okay, on my other blog site, two of my friends were giong back and forth about homosexuality. Right or Wrong (from God's perspective)? This comment was originally supposed to be short, but I guess I got going. This was left on the supporter of homosexuality's site. Maybe not supporter, but protagonist of.

As follows:

Just some thoughts (sorry, I couldnt resist):

Yes, there are verses in the Bible whrere it blatently points out that homosexuality is wrong.

Seeing as homosexuality is a sin, I dont remember quite where, but it says that all sins are viewed equally in Gods sight, so yes, as both of you have mentioned, we are just as much sinners as they are, there is no difference there.

God loves us, His creation, correct? Would He purposly put it into our genes to make some (which you say are born this way) having the power to end our species? In your comment to sarah, you said something about us (heterosexuals) being the minority. IF we were the minority, would life on earth continue within th next few generations? put a group of homosexuals on an island bye themselves. No, actually, give them all the comforts of modern life. Better yet, empty a city and let them reside there. Give them about eighty years or so. What would you see? You would see an exponential fall of humankind. Lets face it: when a man and a women have sexual relations, there is the power of life being created. When two people of the same sex get together, there is no chance in this reality they are going to produce a child.

This is very interesting. My anthropology class just had a guest speaker who is a transgender induvidual. Female to male. you can see my blog for that info, but what I wsnted to say was this: I came away with mixed emotions. Yes, what both of you have eluded to is correct. These people are living beings, with a sould and such, etc. That much is undeniable. And I realize God loves them just as much as He loves me, as much as He loves the homeless heroin addict. There is no difference.

And I also come to the realization (as I do with every tough Biblical issue I face) that this is no accident. This is not something that has taken God by surprise. He has planned for this person to become just what he or she has chosen to make themself. What are we to think of that? Are we goig to pull a job and be so bold as to question God, and make an attempt to point out His faults?

This is a topic I have been wondering about since we had that speaker. When you actually get to know someone who leads their life in their chosen manner (GLBT), you go from just being an outsider criticizing. That is easy to do. But when you hear them talk, about the pain and abuse they have undergone, you realize this is a creation of God.

How are we to treat them? It's been said that the best way to see how your Christian life is led is to examine how you treat those you most despise.

How then shall we live?

very short on transgender

Okay, so I just got out of anthro class, and today it was not so boring. I know, I know, it just seems really weird that such a thing could happen, especially with our teacher. Well, that is the only way it could happen. Without our teacher J.

Today we had a guest speaker, a transgender individual.

Very odd. You could really feel it in the mood of the class. This was a female to male person, and he has been the way he is for about two years now. He started taking the hormone stuff about six months before his actual operation. Ill try to list off a few details if I can remember:

You have to declare yourself (and sign papers saying so) mentally ill, with your condition being gender identity issues.

It is way easier to go from a female to a male, because (get this) testosterone overpowers estrogen. Plus, if you were a guy and went to a girl, then you would have this girls body on a guys frame. Weird.

There are some things that are inappropriate to put on here, but they were kinda interesting.

He has a girlfriend, and she has been with him for two years strong now.

He underwent surgery when he was about twenty, and he is twenty-two now.

He finds that guys are actually more receptive of the fact that he is a trans-gendered individual, as opposed to the women.

Pretty interesting. If you just saw him on the street, you would really have no idea that he was a girl at one point. He just looks like a normal guy. A little small (not really, but compared to me he is), but indistinguishable to tell from other people.

My nose is stuffy.

Yet another look

Before you read this, take note. Some might consider this a little LONG and BORING, but I guess I am just in one of those moods. I warned you.

I greet everybody who makes the time to read this otherwise dull entry of my life.

How I greet you I leave totally up to you. You could make it seem like a great joyous “Hi!” as I saw you from afar, making it a point to talk to you. Or if you are thinking on the pessimistic side, or if you are having a day you would rather pass you by, you could make it seem as if I was mumbling a “hey” with my head down as I walked pass you. It is totally up to you. Don’t you like being able to make your own choices?

That was interesting. Now for something completely different. (you should know what that is from.)

That is a break from what I normally type. Not because I am lazy or something, I am just thinking tonight that my life is not totally interesting. I do not have a job, so I cannot give you any interesting stories about people who are slightly deranged. I am not really deep into hobbies at the moment, so I cannot completely bore you with something you have no interest in. My social life is laughable. I have no tales to tell you from hilarious situations with other people with whom I choose to spend my time.

So now that a semester of school has passed, what do I think about it? Collage. Ages ranging from 16 to 52. Do not take me wrong, I have no issues with mixing it up in the age range. I have been doing that since I was in sixth grade. It is the fact that I am going to be out of my comfort zone. Yes, it is a human attribute, to have any type of unease in an unfamiliar situation and/or atmosphere. And yes, I am one to adjust to different situations. That is one advantage to moving every couple years. You have to learn to adjust quickly. Yes, you could choose not to do so, but what would be the point? You would probably choose not to have a life where you are lonely, with no companionship. We are Humans, God has made us to according to a specific plan. We are meant to socialize. With some of us it comes with the utmost of ease. Others need to be dragged around by other people. It goes back to comfort zones. We would probably rather have people come up to us. That does not require us to step out of our zone, putting ourselves in an unaccustomed situation.

That said, I have always been up to the challenge. Yes it is easier here, typing on a keyboard. One is able to think, at his own pace, not having the pressure of keeping a conversation flowing. You can present yourself however you like. The lack of a visual and auditory point of reference makes one feel more at ease. Encountering the world at large is a different issue. We normally take on a public persona. Being with others we know helps put that at ease. You have somebody to put your focus on. You still have the nagging thoughts that you are in the world, putting the pressure of trying to impress, or just blend in, on yourself.

Sorry for the sudden stop, but I realize that I have the choice of letting my emotions determine my moods. I should have more control then that. Alas I have my work cut out for me. I should not have put you through that. I was just thinking, and letting my fingers do the expressing.

Whitney - that beast

Okay, so some of you know that I hiked up Whitney awhile ago. And some of you dont. This is a paper that I did for my eng 101 class, so that is why it is soooo long. This is the story of that.

Matthew Feiler

Ms. Snyder

English 101

September 25, 2005

Mt. Whitney

Start: July 14. Mom left two days earlier for Las Vegas. We left home on the 13, drove 2/3rds of the way. Stayed overnight. Early bedtime. Early rise. Pass the turnoff. Backtrack and get on the turnoff. Get to Lone Pine. Feel the impending doom as we approach the range. Pass Movie road. Start the ascent, in the car. Get nervous about the height of the car when going on the switchbacks. Think about how crazy it is for some people to actually have houses up in the mountain. Start to feel ears popping as approaching the trailhead. Base of lone pine is 3733. Base of trailhead is 8360. At the trailhead, there are quite a few cars there, making us wonder if we left early enough. This, Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous states, is what we had plans to scale and defeat

Start out, and twenty-eight switchbacks later, there is a couple coming down; they ask us how far we are going. After we give our answer, they look at us with aghast, for they started at four, and did not make it all the way due to altitude sickness. So that put a little scare into us, but we had already read about that information, so we were as prepared as we could be. Of course, there is not really a whole lot you can do about acclimating yourself to the altitude, unless you have a few days to spend just meandering around. We came across a rather large campground, I would say a few acres in area. There were not a huge number of people there, but the signs of people who had camped there were defiantly present. Crossed a river over a bridge, we did not have to ford it, and continued on our trip. When we had passed this camping point, we probably thought that our trip was going to continue as it had previously. Obviously, we did not know the first thing about our Whitney hike.

After the camp site, there was a trail that lead to a small lake. As we followed the trail, we were not really able to look ahead, for the undergrowth at this point was well above our heads. When we started down this trail, the ascent continued on our left, and from it was a steep incline, which was increasing in length and in its angle as we continued down the trail. The trail took us between the edge of the lake and the incline, which led up to the top of the ascent. Then we found out that the trail ended at the base of a wall of stone. We had been following this, the wrong trail, for nearly fifteen minutes. We made the decision to head up the incline on our left, instead of backtracking, which would probably have been the smarter choice. So, we started the actual hiking part of our trek where we had to climb off the trail. It started out as an easy enough climb. Big stones, with a surface potted enough for easy hand holds. That lasted all of two minutes. Then it nearly became a cliff. We did not really take the time to measure, but I guessed it to be 60 degrees steep or so. While I was climbing and thinking, it did not seem to be too bad of an incline. But then I would get a grip, and look down and behind me. Right when I did, I wish I hadnt. I was able to see Luke and Dad below me still climbing. It seemed as if I was back home on the second floor, looking down at them over the railing. It just seemed as if I could drop a rock and hit them, without hitting the wall. I thought that I could actually die here if I did not stay focused. That thought alone put me in the right frame of mind to continue onward. Needless to say, none of us ended up falling and killing ourselves.

Once we reached the top, we took a breather, and looked back on where we were supposed to have gone. It looked spectacular, with majestic pines arcing far overhead, and a view of the valley from whence we had started. Once we looked back, we realized that we had ended up saving time on our accidental shortcut. We continued up the mountain. A short time later, we were able to get to a small peak of not only our cliff, but on the other side of the proper path. Invisible to us at the time was another lake, this one far more pristine in nature, with sparkling blue waters, and lush, tall trees surrounding it from all sides. Nearly circular in shape, with its blue hues growing deeper as your gaze approached the center, it was just a beautiful site to behold. While we took the sight in, we knew we had to keep pressing onward.

About a month before we took the hike, we looked up what people had to say about the climbing of Whitney. Accounts varied, but one thing everybody had in common was the beauty of the hike itself. People who had successfully made the trip said that the easiest way to make it was to bring adequate supplies for a few days hike, staying at two places designated specifically for that purpose. There was no way we were going to take a few days to climb some mountain. Then there were the people who said that you could make the entire trip in the amount of sunshine of one day. That was more our plan. Again, accounts varied, but times ranged from ten to sixteen hours in length. People had said that this was an extremely challenging hike, and only those who were in above average shape should do this.

Onward we went. While nothing out of the ordinary happened for the next few hours, the hike itself was still a great thing to partake. Although not out of the ordinary, we did pass the tree line during this point. So the only plant that we were to encounter was low shrubs and grass-like vegetation.

We came upon a running brook, no more than two feet across in width, but it was also near two feet deep, which I though somewhat surprising. Now, if we were experienced wilderness hikers and experts, we would have brought the iodine tablets, or whatever they tell you to put in the water to purify it. We were not experienced wilderness hikers and experts. Yes, we knew the risks of deer-fever and the like, but we tried to reason them. We knew that we were going to be hiking very high, where most life forms did not make a regular existence. And we knew we were going to be among snow that does not melt throughout the year. So knowing those facts, and paired with some other form of not quite right logic, we decided that we were going to drink the water straight from the babbling brook. And were we glad for it. All I am going to say is this. The bottled water you buy from the stores, claiming to be from the mountain springs, at no point, would be able to compare with this water. This water was straight from melted snow, that has remained untainted from any outside source. Running along a bed of fine grain sand, visible from the surface, this is quite possibly the most refreshing and purest water I have ever tasted. After four hours on the trail, we had exhausted our water supply. So we decided to refill our two liter camel-backs. It is surprising to think that added weight on your back would be a welcome feeling.

Onward we trekked. At this point, although we did not know it, we had traveled about two-thirds of the way up the mountain. In four hours, we were more than half-way to the top, but we had experienced only a few of the choice jewels Whitney had to offer.

As we traveled, we met up with our first victim of altitude sickness. Although his symptoms were relatively minor, a headache and shortness of breath, his age was what really caught us off guard. While not a small child for his age, his willingness to make an attempt at completing a feat that few would ever want to do made me really toss aside any judgment of age or size. A ten year old making a climb this far is admirable in my eyes. After regretting his need to go back down, we continued upward. Now is when we encountered one of our highlights of the trek. After climbing upwards and around a bend, there was a small straightaway with a bend at the end. Once we cleared the bend, I was taken back.

Here was a small valley, a picture taken directly from an artists conception of a winter transforming to spring. Here was a field with green grass as a backdrop, and purple flowers, bejeweling the landscape with a timeless grace. Over 100 feet in length and forty wide, with a stream running through the middle, it was a small paradise in the midst of our journey. Towards the end of the valley, there was a snow bank, reaching up and back as it came down into the valley, yet yielding to the sun as it melted and gave forth water. While preparing to leave, we spotted a small animal, and although we were able to get closer, we could not confidently figure out what it was. So on we went.

When time had passed, we approached a huge face of the mountain, easily fifteen hundred feet high. At the base of this wall, there was a lake, easily the largest we had seen on the mountain. This lake was also the base site of another campground, the last of the two on the mountain. This one, while smaller, was obviously more popular then the first one.

Once we were closer to the base of the seemingly impassable cliff, we were able to make out small etchings on the face of it. These were the switchbacks, ones of the like that I had never had the chance or desire to surpass. At switchback ninety-nine, I knew that I had to really take my time and cautions while making my way up these. While easily tiring, once you made it one third the way through or so, your legs quickly lost their fatigue and you just had to make up your mind to be done with them. Needless to say, our legs felt as if they were going to give out from under us once we had reached the top, and we made our way quite slowly to our next marker. At the end of the switchbacks, the wall was still going upwards, but the trail went off to the right. As we traveled along the top, we were able to get our first real look at the valley from where we had come. What a site it was.

With the surrounding mountains forming a V, our view was framed. Along the center was a winding body of water, making its way from the base of the mountain. But the best sight was just ahead. After we had passed from the cliff with the switchbacks on it, there was a saddle, where two inclines had met in the mountain. We passed through this, on the other side of the mountain where we were finally able to see the other side. And this side was by far the most desirable view. This was the side that had Sequoia National Park, where trees over three hundred feet high resided. At our point, we saw more mountains, yet these paled in comparison to Whitney. At the base of one of these was a lake. In the rough shape of the body of a violin, it winded along the roots of the mountain. At that moment the sun was reflecting off half of it, so that it seemed to be as a sword being drawn from its sheath, with the sun reflecting off of its hilt. This sight, along with dozens of smaller lakes surrounding it, the sun also glistening off these, made it seem as if sparks were being discharged at the point where the sheath and sword met. While we did stop and take in this sight, we knew we had to keep moving, as we were trying to meet our goal.

This leg of the hike was probably easier than the rest of the hike, as far as the difficultly of the terrain. What made it so hard was the fact that the path was extremely narrow, often with nothing separating you from the side of the mountain, and the side of the mountain you did not want to approach. For more than half of the trail, you were less than two feet away from a sheer drop down three hundred feet of rocky precipices. And for that reason alone, you had to keep your eyes on the trail directly in front of you. If you did not, then you would probably have something bad happen to you. At one point on the trail, there was a ten foot length where you had the drop on both sides of you. This was undoubtedly the scariest part of the climb. The trail crossing it was no more than three and a half feet wide. I wanted to gather myself before I went across, so I stopped and caught my breath. I was almost scared that I did. My view had been accustomed to looking directly down in front of me while walking. When I looked up and around, everything seemed as if it was making its way towards me. I had to sit, as I did not really feel like falling off of the trail. We passed that point with nothing bad happening.

Ever since we passed the switchbacks, the altitude and lack of proper oxygen started to get to us. It affected my dad most of all. Once he was getting closer to the end he was having to rest every twenty seconds or so. Luke and I were not as bad. Although I did not have to rest as much as Luke, we still could only last a few minutes without resting. That is weird also, because I was the one most out of shape, but the one that required the least amount of rest.

Once I approached the top, my head was throbbing. Every time my heart beat, I would feel it ten times as strong in my head. As I got closer and closer I had to rest more often. But I would not let that overcome me. I knew I was less than five minutes from the peak. I had to keep on going. When I reached the top, I knew it had all been worth it. Pictures do not do the view justice. The best way I think I could describe it was the scene from Return of the King. When the camera has a view from the top of the White Tower, and you could see the entirety of the plains for miles around. That is what it looked like from atop Whitney. I was up there for about five minutes, and then Luke appeared over the hill. Ten minutes after that, Dad decided to make his appearance. After we had our sandwiches there, we had to get back down. This was the fun part.

After we made our way back to the top of the switchbacks, we basically ran the entirety of the path back to the car. I think we took one break back at the meadow, but we knew we were pressed for time. And we were. Once we got to the point where we scaled the cliff face, we were on the correct trail, which was really good for the running part. It was a gentle descent, and was composed of nice iron-rich dirt. When we got to the beginning set of switchbacks, we could not see twenty feet ahead of us. We made it to the base just in time. At that point, we had to look indirectly at our intended object just to get a clear view of it. And when we got to the parking lot, we saw three guys going up the trail with their lit helmets, and I just thought good luck. We got in the car and tried to stay awake for dads sake. If we were tired, then imagine a forty-seven year old making the climb, and not being able to sleep immediately afterwards.

When we got back to town I was able to take off my shoes and take a shower. But before I hobbled to bed I took a look at my feet, and wished I hadnt. Three blisters on the left foot and four on the right. And I was wondering why I felt bad running down the mountain. This was a great experience, and since I have been recalling it while writing it down, I am thinking it would not be so bad to do again.

This is just depressing

Okay, I just got out of anthropology class, and I must say I am extremely disappointed. I knew, before going into the class, that it was going to be based on evolution, but not to this extent. She was talking about what separates us from primates. After a number of reasons were brought forth, and somehow the thought that intelligent design did not belong in public education, or any education for that matter came from her lips.

I was stunned.

Yes, I knew that people do not believe in the fact that we came from a being that is in control of everything. Admitting that would be to admit your inability to control the things going on around you. And although we all know that we are unable to do that, we still try to mend things in any way we can. And what better way to get the Devine presence out of your life then saying that he did not make you at all. So I guess it is better for some people to say that they came from primordial slime, rather then by an intelligent creator. The THEORY of evolution is only that, a theory. Why it is being taught as hard fact in nearly every school of all kinds is beyond me. I would hate, no, abhor, knowing that my ancestor is that monkey, or better yet, the scum you get from the bottom of the bird bath. And a funnier part came later on, when she said something like ‘a recent survey was taken about the beliefs of evolution. And it came back as something like 60of the American population believes that evolution is nothing but crap.’ And the way she said it was in disgust, thinking that only 40 percent of the population in America believes in the only way we exist.

All I can do is feel sorry for her. Yes, I am going to learn in the information as I should, but while keeping in fact that this is all based on mans reasoning, not God’s purpose.

Girls, what a topic

My goodness. Appease the masses. That is what I am here for.

This is a topic I have held in confusion for a good amount of time. Hitting on, Flirting, brushing up on, etc. All these terms are used to describe it when a person (normally male) is talking to another person (normally a female). It is in this area that I have struggles with.

As I am sure some of you know, I have been homeschooled for my entire life. But that does not really have anything to do with it. Well, it might, but it is more my parents then anything else. Have any of you heard of the book ‘When I kissed dating goodbye’ by Josh Harris? If you have, then you can basically find me in that context. Lets just say that I have not had much contact with girls for most of my life. Now there are the few exceptions that we have. Friendships founded in childhood, friends of our parents, girls that work same ministry we are, and so on. ------ interlude start ------ One of the questions eventually asked when I tell people I homeschooled was ‘how do you get your social interaction?’ And I know there are homeschoolers reading this, I know you will be able to agree with me: Depending on what choices you make, a homeschooler can have as much interaction, if not more, than a public schooler. I am not going to get really deep into it right now, but you can guess what can happen. But what I am getting to is one of my sources of socialization. God blessed me with a good amount of baseball skill, and as such, I have played baseball basically for ten months out the year, ever since I was about 12. As I got older, the discussions among the guys changed from what birthday party did you go to over the weekend, what did you get on that one test, to talk about what type of bong is best used for what amount of weed, and what happened at that party at that girls house. I have always been raised to treat anybody, but especially girls, with the utmost respect. When I hear talk such as that last example going on, I just shake my head and wander to someplace else. Now would that be anti-social? I am sure you could classify it as that, but would that also be moral? To even listen how guys my age and even younger treat girls just gets to me horribly. But this is getting off the subject.

------ interlude end ------ Now due to my very limited time spent with girls my age, I have no idea really how the whole ‘hitting on’ thing goes. When I do spend time with girls my age, they are normally ones that we have known for a good while or at church. And I like to know about people. If I just met somebody, and they are not mean or anything, I have no problem just sitting there as if we had all day just getting to know then better. And this is what I am getting to. Where does the line stop with getting to know somebody and start with flirting or hitting on. Example. My baseball team in MD was away on a tournament. Two of my teammates brought their sisters along. We all went out to a sports pub and started ordering our meals. After we finished, we all went sit down at the looong table. And of course, all the ‘cool’ guys got on one end and the rest on the far end. So of course, I went to the far end, where both the sisters also were. So I just started talking with one of tem for a while, and I found out that she tried to attend church as often as she could, but her parents really did not make it a point to do so. Church. I can talk about that. So I made conversation with her, just talking about random things throughout the night. So when we got back to the dorms, one of my teammates said something like “Man David (what I went by at the time) you sure were practicing your skills tonight, flirting with ____ for long enough.”

? I don’t get it. This teammate was good kid, one that I normally talked to when everybody else was off at hooters for the night. But at what point did that conversation turn from just trying to make that girl comfortable and getting to know her to hitting on her and flirting? I guess it is just one of those things that comes from being in public school. I dunno. I have friends that are girls at collage now, and given a choice between talking to a girl or boy, I will probably talk to her. It seems as if a girl is far more willing to make idle chatter, and if she gets somewhat warm to you during that time, and you approach the right subject, you can be talking for quite a while. And I think I can hold up my end of the conversation well enough, which sometimes seems unusual for a guy. Hey, even writing about this topic for everybody to see would seem unusual, by I guess I have never normal.

I hope this blog has given you some glimpse into the way my mind works, and if you are totally freaked out about it, then go ahead and do that. I just feel as if I have had to get this out for a while now. If you actually read all the way down here, congratulations, and I hope you leave a comment, because this is a topic I am sure at least most of you can give an opinion on.

Most assuredly yours,

Matthew