What bugs me a lot...

I hate it when people express some interest into a topic that I'm happy to explain, and then once I'm half done, my audience clearly loses interest.  I mean, I'm not a really long winded person (even though it sometimes feels like I am.) I won't give you an hour lecture on how Mozart influences dubstep.  So when my father asked me what dubstep was, I tried giving him a good explanation.  I couldn't really give a great answer, so I decided to show him once we got home.  The thing about my father is that he's a very busy man whether he is working or not.  I tried showing him a good example of dubstep (Skrillex).  Literally not 3 seconds after the bass drop, he left to do something else.  Like hello?  I remembered that you were interested, but you gave me a slap to the face as an audience just by leaving in the manner you did!  I get it that it's around dinner time and the table needs to be set.  I'd understand if he just said that.  However, he didn't.  He just left, without a word.  He does this consistently.  Not just him, but my mother too.  I wonder if other parents do this to their kids as well.
They say the older generation can not stand the culture the youth are creating because they don't understand it.  I'm just trying to show them the culture I enjoy.  But if the older people don't even try to appreciate it, they never will.  The same goes for the younger generation.  If we as children and teens do not try appreciating older culture then we never will. 
If you're interested in someone else's hobby or interest, don't just leave and give up silently.  At least have the courtesy to say that you've lost the interest in the topic.  At the very least do that.  Otherwise you seem really offensive. 

In summer school, we don't learn about the teacher's lessons.

My summer school teacher is the definition of routine.  He seems like a very predictable guy, so much that it makes observing him rather interesting.  Every morning he shows up with a large coffee from either 7-11 or McDonalds.  He also has a parfait, a bottle of water, and a coke zero.  He always buys and drinks another coke in the afternoon.  He always wears a Lacoste golf shirt that is a solid color, along with a pair of shorts and sandals.
Also, he has a tattoo with a date on it that might be his birthday.  It interests me but I don't want to ask him.  It would be a little awkward.  

After realizing how much I learned about him rather than learning what he's teaching, I came to the conclusion that I need to get a life. 

A special way of ending the summer (sort of)

So yesterday was Canada Day.  Being a Canadian citizen myself, I am rather proud of my nation for our general reputation... you know, being the people who are seen as kind, not too noisy, and pleasant. Of course, that's not true for everyone in the country.  Regardless, Canada is (currently) the only country that I would want to live in.

Anyways, something special happened last night that made this Canada day stand out a little more than the rest of the ones I've celebrated throughout my life.  Canada day was kind of like my last day of real free time for the rest of the summer.  Today I have summer school starting, and once that is done, I am leaving the country for the rest of the summer performing with my musical theater class from school.  I could have tried to enjoy my last day the most I can by being an anti-social hermit and playing video games all day.  It was a good idea to me at first, and then I realized that if I had done that, it would have been a complete waste of the last day of summer for me.
I recently made friends with a group of classmates in the grade below me.  They are all great, friendly people, all with good personalities and flaws.  They really are the definition of what I admire in friendship.  When I see them all together, I just can't help but smile inside because they have what I wished for: friends that could seem to help you out with everything; those who are not afraid of sharing there most embarrassing secrets, and those who are willing to help in any sticky situation.  Even though we didn't hang out for really long, they are really precious to me.  I kind of want to keep an eye on them, observe what makes these group of friends tick together so well, and find out how they pass their happiness along to other people like me.  That, and I think they're just awesome and I want to be around them.
Just be patient, I'm getting to my point.
One girl from the group of friends invited everyone to meet up and hang out around the local fair/event/whatever you call it that the community had set up.  It turns out that very few of us actually showed up, but I had a lot of fun.  But by far the best part I think was watching the fireworks at night.  I didn't notice it until it was over, but I realized that I have never watched fireworks with anyone other than my family.  The fact that I got to watch fireworks with 3 people I consider important in my life makes me feel all kinda weird (in a good way).  When I first realized this I got a shiver of goosebumps. It was a special thing, watching a brilliant light show up close and sharing it with friends.  I need to do that more.

Anyways, I totally think that that experience was a fantabulous ending for a summer.  I totally am grateful to my friends who invited me to save myself from wasting the days away on video games!!

Stupid riddle

So I was asked a riddle recently, and I can't figure out the answer.  It has only been about 5 hours, but its killing me not knowing the answer.  I think I'm not going sleep tonight, just because I can't figure it out. 

"It is smoother than silk, softer than rose petals, stronger than a wall, more resilient than a forest, desired more than diamonds, and scarier than the darkest pit."

...I think I'm going to come up with a really obscure riddle just to mess this person up. 

What is strength?

So a little while ago I was reading through some really old Facebook messages.  In one of them, I was told that I was the strongest person to the person I was talking to.  I thought, "That's interesting. To this person, my strength is valuable.  So what makes up my strength?"  I couldn't completely figure it out (obviously) because I'm not them, and I can't read minds.  But I got a general idea on my strong and weak points of my personality.
I got curious as to what people's opinions on what internal strength is.  So I asked a couple friends.  One of them thought that it was the ability to be consistent or even excel in times of heightened stress.  In that case, I guess I'm pretty strong.  I have a pretty hectic life, and it always somehow works out.  But I don't really think that internal strength is just simply being able to handle millions of things at once.  There must be more to it. 
I asked another friend.  They thought that it was the ability to come out of anything with their head held high.  I gave it some thought, and I think that it's an add on to the previous point.  If you can handle lots of stuff, that doesn't mean that you will come out of it looking victorious.  You could finish a race looking defeated.  So I thought, yeah, its a good answer. But can we go deeper? (Inception BWAAAA)
The same person who gave the previous answer added that you must have passion and purpose to have strength.  I didn't really get it at first, so I though how it applied to me.  Do I have passion?  Yeah, music.  So I have purpose?  Sure, my purpose is to pass on my passion.  So how does having these two items make a person stronger?  I guess the answer is sort of within the question itself.  By having a goal (purpose), and a passion for it, you create yourself a determination to finish things, to accomplish, to create, to dream, and to inspire. 
I asked of yet another opinion.  This person said that strength was discipline.  I completely agree.  I kind of watch in envy of those people who can do stuff immediately, get things done, the ambitious people who achieve great things because of their practiced discipline.  I may have a little, but there are certainly people I look up to for their discipline. 
I got one more opinion.  This person said that strength was the ability to know what is more important, and give up things for others.  I thought this was more of wisdom rather than strength, but after giving it a little thought, I figured that in order to have wisdom, you need to have strength.  On more than one occasion in your life, you will need to sacrifice something.  It takes wisdom to know what to give up, and it takes strength and courage to actually give it up. 
This person also said that strength was being able to do things that scare you.  When I read this, I thought of our band teacher.  He just joined our school two years ago, having no idea how our school uniquely functions.  He just kind of closed his eyes, wished for the best, and jumped in the water.  And he did good!  Right now, our Jr. High band program is one of the best in our province.  If I were him, I would show a little more hesitation.  I mean, that's scary, doing what he did!  He just got a new job, which included taking on 90 kids, learning with a new set of coworkers, the responsibility of being a teacher, and the the job of learning about 90 kids.  How did he come out of this huge change in life with such positive results?  The last person that answered added on to their previous answers.  Strength is having confidence and faith in God.  This completely goes right in hand with Phillipians 4:13. "I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me!"  I have witnessed that if God asks you to jump into choppy waters blindfolded, you don't have to worry too much!  Because there is a protecting force around you that is stronger than death itself. 

My wonderful and irritating brain

I was recently asked what is the hardest part of composing music.  My first response was "finding a title".  Seriously, for me, it takes waaaaay too much effort.  More than it should, at least.  If I spend 4 days working on a song, I usually spend the same amount of time looking for a title.  My brain just lacks creativity with words.  I suck at poetry.  It usually seems too casual, or awkward in some way.  I rarely have been satisfied at my work titles. 

The other really frustrating thing about composing is getting ideas on paper (or some other way of remembering ideas). I have actually thought of hundreds of musical ideas that would create pieces that last at least 3 minutes long.  They all sound so good on my head!  But as soon as I get to the piano to plunk it out, *poof* it's gone.  I can't retrieve it.  Most of my good ideas go down the drain in less than 30 seconds, and I have no idea how. 

Aaauuurrgh so frustrating!!

Bus ride!

So I'm sitting here on the bus, a little bored.  We just finished watching the Hobbit, which I half watched, and half slept through.  My friend beside me is playing a card game in which I have no interest, and the people on my right are playing matchmaking.  And they look like they are enjoying it waaaaay too much.  I can't lie, I would probably enjoy it too.  And as much as I wanted to say something, it didn't really look like they were interested in including anybody.  I thought a little to myself, "what makes topics like these so interesting?"

It took me a while.  It's matchmaking.  Who wouldn't want to share their opinions on other's compatibilities with another person, and giggle on how good or bad it would be?  I gotta admit, it's actually really fun to mess with or imagine other peoples love lives and discuss it with others.  Its like discussing shipping.  (Google it if you don't know)
Then a different perspective hit me: it's fun to imagine these things.  But what if you actually try to put it in motion?  Is that really okay?  You're manipulating two peoples emotions to satisfy your imagination, it's like playing god (sorta).  So is it really for the better or the worst?  What if its well intended?  What if two people would be really be good for each other, but you as a friend thinks they need a little push?
I happened to be one of those people in a couple that "needed a little push".  So we were given one by a common friend.  But right now, I'm still not really sure whether it was a good idea or not.  We had started the relationship, and the best and worst times of my life occurred.  When it was still going on, I thought it was a really bad thing.  But now, I'm not so sure.  Was my past (and only) relationship a more positive relationship, or a more negative relationship?
So when I heard the people beside me discussing how they can start couples going together (just theories)  I kind of went into a down mode of tuning people out so I could think of an answer. 
I couldn't think of one, so I decides to write this down.  I still don't have an answer.
Why does love have to be such a simple yet complex drama-inducing topic?