don't trust me.

You know when you blog stalk people? So you start by reading one person's blog that you actually follow but then end up reading like 3 people's blogs that you really don't know, or do know but if they knew that you read their blog that would be creepy. Welp, I just did that. I read Bronwen's blog (which isn't creepy) but then on Bronwen's blog I stumbled upon Matt Woodruff's blog. (which is borderline creepy) Well both of their blogs had a reoccurring theme. They both told stories that made me laugh out loud. Bronwen getting stuck outside and her sister hanging up on her was pretty classic. Matt and crew trying to get Usher to play on their Disney Station, what dorks. (But in a good funny way) So pretty much, I hope that this story makes someone laugh. Or just be creeped by it. I don't know, it's story time.

Once upon a time I was in Potomic Book Store in Maryland.  They had a section of books that were used. I found a few that I might read on a good day and decided to buy about $12 worth of books. As I was there, some freaking lady kept staring at me. I was SO confused. I mean, I know I just came from work and that I probably smelled like Seneca Creek. But so did Becky Miller and Hannah Putt. So this lady just keeps randomly being on the same row that I was and I was starting to get freaked out. I just decided to rub it off, even though Hannah and Becky were making fun of me. So I got in line (which was a pretty long line for some reason) and the lady is a few people in front of me. All of the sudden the lady comes up to me and goes "I'm sorry, you just look so much like my daughter" Ummm... okay? She quickly got back in line. 30 seconds, a minute goes by. She comes back. "I'm sorry, you look so much like my daughter who died in a car crash. She was mad at me the night she left and I never got to say goodbye."  Me: um? I'm so sorry. Can I help you? The lady with a dead daughter, "Could you, could you just say 'Bye Mom' as I walk out? It would just give me some comfort and peace?" Well, what was I to do? Of course I said I would. So the lady walks out, and I nicely say "Goodbye mom". As I reach the counter the clerk guy man told me that I owed $72. I was a bit confused. I told him I got all of the books out of the used book section. He told me that my mom had said that I had the credit card and would pay for it. WHAT THE HECK?! The freaking lady scammed me. So I set down my books and chased the lady down. Oh did I. So I chased her down through the deli that was under the book store, through the parking garage. But I couldn't catch her. She just had too much of a lead. The lady seriously lied about her dead daughter and wanted me to pay 50 bucks for her stupid books, probably about cats and ruining people's lives.  So I never went to that book store again.

The moral of the story is to not trust people when they say that their daughter is dead and they want reassurance. They probably just want to make you feel bad and pay for their books.

You can say that again.

this is home.

So this is what home feels like---

• Realizing that my phone is sitting on my bed more than half way to the airport
• 5 hour flight, watching the Titanic for the first time in one sitting
• Jensen and Meliosa dancing and waving welcome home signs
• Little Caesars
• Maddox and Walker seeing me, riding really fast and BOTH of them run to me and give me the biggest hug ever. 
• Surprising Sarah, Paige, Lauren and Emily on my arrival. I don't know who's reaction was best. Sarah's was freaking hilarious but so was Emily's.
• Going to a party and meeting boys who just started growing armpit hair. Interesting.
• Banana Grams with Momma, Tanner and Lydia late in the hours of the night. 
• Watching videos, facebook stalking and talking with Lyds until 3AM.
• Tanner and CJ's homecoming.
• Eating so much fruit and food.
• Talking with the Bozo Hart and Lydia about Stud Gov ideas 
• Taking an Sunday afternoon nap
• Dinner at Grandma's house
• Going Tunnel Singing with Lydia. Seeing McKann and predicting Izsy's mind and her requests without even knowing it!
• Staying up til 1:00 playing games with my mom, eating more fruit. 
• Talking to Sarah on Facebook til 3:30 AM. 
• Getting my schedule for school. 

All I can say is that it's been eventful. Also that it's been real, it's been fun and it's definitely been real fun. (Kelsey Dorsette, Arts and Crafts instructor at Calleva)

I LOVE BEING HOME!!!!!!

blonde hair with a gentle curl.

Fellow followers, I need some advice.

I need a change in my hair. Something different. See, I don't want to do something drastic like cut it off because last time I did I hated it. I don't know what else I could do with it. Bangs? Layers? Both? Perm? What should I do? Please tell me. I'm serious, I need some serious advice.

TELL ME. Thanks.

Where do you want to go? Where do you want to be tomorrow? Where do you want to be in a week, in a month, in a year? What about the long run? Where do you see yourself in 5, 15, 20, 50 years? Where do you want to be in heaven? 

Figure it out so when your Cheshire Cat asks you where you want to be, you know--  

Then get there.

sitck to the status quo

The boy who played with barbies and had more girlfriends then guys was labeled "gay"
The girl who was pregnant at age 16 and now raises a child on her own was labeled "teenage mom"
The man in the cell who killed a family drunk driving was labeled "drunk"

The woman who was married 3 times and now has a boyfriend that she lived with was labeled "slut" 

But why?  

Sure he's gay, she's a mom, he made a mistake and she can't figure out love. But that's not who they are. It's apart of them but it's not as we should view them. It shouldn't be the one word we use to describe that particular person.  That's the thing about life.

Everyone has bad in them. We all have our sins, our trials, our difficulties. Some are more visible than others. 

But would you want to be labeled as yours?

i'd be so happy i could melt.

I had amazing seats

View from the Kennedy Center

The music started and I already wanted to cry. I was in the world I belonged in. Out they came, "Good news! She's dead!" the citizens of Oz were celebrating the death of that Wicked Witch of the West. Words don't describe my excitement and joy during that first song. I just knew that I was in for one of the best nights of my life. Then Glinda came flying in her bubble and started telling the story of the witches of oz. The night went on and I didn't want it to end. When Elphaba, the witch of the west, sang "The Wizard and I"-- I literally got chills. It was beautiful.  During "Dancing Through Life" I was amazed at the dancers. There were some seriously talented people in the cast. As the play went on, I realized so much more then I had the first two times I saw the play. This was definitely my favorite performance. "Defying Gravity" was the most astounding thing I have seen in years. We seriously had a dazzling cast. The second half didn't surprise me at all, it was just as wonderful. I loved watching the development of each character and really thinking about their situations. I have a list of things I learned from the show. It's wonderful how much one can get out of 3 hours of watching a play. The tears finally came when Elphaba and Glinda reunite and sing "For Good". Not only was it absolutely beautiful, it was just such an emotional scene. Saying goodbye forever is such a hard thing. Then, of course, that ending is amazing each time I see it. I love it.

Somebody move to Oz with me. 

no one cries they won't return

Call in sick. You aren't getting any better as the day goes on Mayson. You feel like crap. Maybe it's the 5 hours of sleep. Not maybe, probably.  Go to bed. EXPLOSION. My head hurts. Hurts is putting it lightly.

I hate my job sometimes. I need a day. One day. To hopefully regenerate and feel better. Being in the heat all day doesn't help.  I can handle headaches. I get them often. This is one that I really feel like will never go away. 

Please don't make me go. 

On the bright side, I see Wicked tomorrow.  Words can't express my excitement. Also, I completed number 51 on my list of things for this year. Hello 4 on my AP test. I know it's no 5. But it's a 4 and I passed. Thank the heavens above!

These are the thoughts that crowd my throbbing head.

with glowing hearts we see thee rise

In a fantasy world-- no one would be skinny, no one would be obese. Also the idea of Women Presidents, Women Refs or Women Professional sports is simply not acceptable. Good looking men flock to places like these. People have the same sense of humor. Everyone agrees. We all do yoga on Tuesdays and game night on Thursdays. As society, when it rains we all dance in it. McDonalds isn't invited to my fantasy world. Everyone does as everyone does. There aren't wars, problems or daytime soap shows.

Honey, back your bags. We are moving to Canada. 

let the rain fall down

Dear Diary, oh wait, this is my blog,

Today it rained. You see that picture above, oh yeah, I didn't take a shower! I ran around in the rain. Okay, understatement. It was more then a rain. It was a hurricane ball of wonderful happiness. See that horse, Sophie, I rode her today, in the rain. It was so much fun. I ran around in the rain for seriously 20 minutes  (by myself might I add) and just went up and down my yard "Wahoo! Wahoo!" It was splendid.

Now I am keeping Becky up. She wants to go to bed. I tell her, too bad.

Love,

Mayson

how's it gonna be?

Have you ever thought about death? 

Every once in a while.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

I am sorry, I lied, I think about death every day.

I am not suicidal, I love my life but often, I think about death. I hate that talking about death makes someone seem suicidal. Not because I want to die, but mostly because I want to make sure I am living my life ready to die. After seeing the oddly sad inspiring movie "Seven Pounds" the thought came to mind a little bit more. 

Nobody is guaranteed tomorrow. 

And that's why I think about it.  We just don't know. So I think of every day as a miracle to be alive. I am sure many of you have been asked by me if you will come to my funeral.  I just wonder. Sure I have more than half my funeral planned, it's mostly a "joke"--but not really. But at the same time, it is. After a long run, or a hard day, I check up with the people I have planned for my funeral to make sure they are still up for it. They always say yes.  But I don't think about death because of what happens while your dying, or what the plans are after. I think about it because of the way I live my life while I was given the time to live it.

Am I doing the things I need to be? Is my life in focus? Are my priorities straight? Did I make good choices? Did I help others in need? Could I stand before God and be proud of my final hours on Earth? 

Is checking in with yourself really such a bad thing? 

God has only given us so many seconds.

my world's on fire, how 'bout yours?

Meet Becky. Pretty much my only friend here.

She came over yesterday around 1:30. We took many pictures. I mean many. Those were just a selection of them. She really is a good photographer. She is going to teach me the ways so I can pretend like I know how to work a camera.

I like Becky. She is a pretty cool person. So I slept over at her house because it was late, we had church the next morning anyway. This resulted in me going crazy. (Who would have guessed?) And her thinking I was funny. (I crack myself up)

After church, (well after I went home, and took half a nap) we went to the visitors center at the temple, these are the results of that. . .

Typical Mayson. Typical Becky.

we matched at church. :)

we learned about service

eating the grapes. :)

i'm going there someday.

like literally, that temple, on saturday. haha

love my new necklace

It was an eventful weekend.

when hopes were high

I know that Susan Boyle is old news. But this video continues to inspire me although it was years ago. 

With my recent feddish with Les Miserables, I rediscovered the talent and shocking story of Susan Boyle.

She appeared to be something. But her talent showed us otherwise.

I think the people in the world who are most misunderstood are those who appear to be different. 

Society doesn't want change.  It wants to blend. Society can't handle differences. 

I love the theme of this year at Calleva. 

Dare to Be Different.

I dare to be exactly who I am. 

I dare stay true to my values. I dare to stand for what I believe. 

And out here, that's daring.

People look at me funny sometimes. I don't say the same words as them. I don't do things on Sundays. I don't watch the same movies as them. 

But that's how I dare to be different. 

I dare to be different in the way I dress and present myself.

I dare to be different in my beliefs.

I dare to be different in the way I view others. 

I dare to be different in the way I act.

Each of us needs to dare to be different. 

I mean, it's never easy to stand apart from the crowd. 

But I think it's worth it.

At least for me.

I believe in myself and my values.

I believe in good things to come.

I believe in a bigger picture.

Therefore, I am different.

Unlike most the people out here, I believe there are consequences to my actions.

I believe in being the best I can be.

I dare to be different.

Do you?