Getting Older

Today was my 18th birthday and I had a spectacular time. It ushered in a new time of life for me, one that I look forward to and yet dread at the same time.

I find it odd that today, the US government considers me an adult. Now when I drive way to fast I get much harsher penalties, if I get caught with drugs I go to real jail, I have now become “responsible”.

I understand there has to be a cut off at some point but it still is a lot to comprehend. It really started to settle in when I got my draft card and realized the easy and fun part was kind of over.

I am not intimidated by having stricter punishments and more responsibility. Maybe a little bummed but I also look forward to it.

We in this country still treat turning 18 as a big deal although I don’t see it that way. All I am looking forward to is voting for Obama, not buying cigarettes (which I find disgusting along with cigars) like some of my peers.

I still don’t understand how I can vote, serve in the military and purchase pornography yet I cannot drink alcohol for another three years. It seems absolutely ridiculous to me but what’s new?

As I get older, I see more and more oddities in our society. But I also accept them more easily and find ways of getting around them in a quicker and more efficient manner.

So here is to being an “adult”!

Time flies

Dang. It’s already spring break. Which means, 6 weeks already passed since the last break. I can’t believe it.

After this 10 day break and 6 weeks of school, I’m going to graduate. I feel like it’s still the middle of the year.

It’s so sad to think that this is my first and last year at Ojai Valley School. I really wish I could’ve come earlier.

I believe in destiny. I think I was meant to meet thebrownguy, krapyrres, therightliberal and other great people here.

Every time I listen to Samson, which my roommate krapyrres sang at the begging of the year, it makes me miss OVS.

You have no idea how much fun I’ve had here, and how fortunate I am to be a part of OVS.. I wish I could stop time, so I could stay at OVS longer. People are just way too nice.

, But Never Doubt I Love

Doubt thou the stars are fire,
Doubt that the sun doth move,
Doubt truth to be a liar,
But never doubt I love.

An excerpt from Hamlet by Shakespeare.

Currently, I am reading Hamlet in my AP English class. Now, Shakespeare hasn’t always been my strong suit. But sometimes, I find myself getting lost in his beautiful wording.

This quote says it all.

People will always question the heavens above them and the ground that they stand upon. Even more so, people will question the words of those they know, even those that they are very close to.

However, there are a few sure things in life. One of them is love.

Whether this love is directed towards family, a close friend, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, a pet, a picture, a passion, or a song, love is always there.

Sure, love can be a confusing thing at times. Especially for those near my age, when awkward teenage love is beginning to mature and we are just figuring out who we are and what we are capable of. But for the most part, people can clearly identify love.

This is a universal feeling. It’s something that Shakespeare knew clearly hundreds of years ago and it’s something that holds true today.

I say, trust in love. Trust in your mother and your father. Trust in your best friends and your enemies. Trust in your boyfriend or girlfriend or whoever your special person may be. Trust in that feeling. It is one of the few sure things that will persist throughout time.

Love is timeless.

Save the dogs and cats of Japan

In Japan, all the street dogs and cats, the ones that get lost are picked up and sent to public animal health centers. Some of them were sent because their owners couldn’t handle them anymore.

Moreover, the dogs and cats never know what’s going to happen.

Normally, they have 3 days to wait for their owners’ call, or to look for new owners.

If the dogs and cats can’t find a new family or their old owners, they get killed. It is brutal. But the way they kill is more cruel. They put them into boxes and make the boxes full of carbon dioxide and wait until they die… More than 1000 dogs and cats are killed per day.

How brutal is that? United States protect animals very thoroughly and they can arrest animal abusers. However in Japan, it is easy for animal abusers and shelters get away from being arrested …

I wish Japan was more protective and caring towards animals especially dogs and cats. I hope the number of pets being killed will decrease in the future.