This stupid computer just won't understand will it? Okay, I'm trying to tinker with my practice blog's template, the other one, not this one. Okay, so I go where I'm supposed to go, click where I'm supposed to click, tinker with colors, banners, blinkies, lettering, the normal stuff. Okay, then I save it, go and look at it.... Turns out, the blanking thing saved it for THIS blog! So, I'm venting on my sister. She deserves it anyway. Now, I'm having to dig out that pretty template Nimrodel made for me, and fix the blanking things. And every time I fix it: it ends up doing it AGAIN. *mutters incoherently* I'm lucky if this post doesn't end up on the practice one too.
Jennifer

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'Ello again! I've decapitated three poor photos and am now posting them for the world to see.
Before::
After::
Don't ask me why I put that "I want to cheer her up" bit at the bottom. Sudden rotten impulse that ruins it.


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After::
And yes, this is the banner at the top.

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After::


And I'm doing more as we speak. New hobby.

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And yes, all I do is surf HSB for tags...

Are you related to any famous people? I don't think so. I've never really looked into things.
Do you know any famous people?  James Knox, I met an astronaut once, but I forget his name, and Mark Sanford, an Archie Comic book illustrator.
Have you ever published anything? Only a newspaper article on a writing website, only 20 people read it though.
Have you ever owned a reptile?   A snake, but it was wild, and doesn't really count.
Would you try out for American Idol if you could? NO!
Do you play any intruments? I play the piano and once took voice. I want to learn how to play the guitar
Can you speak any languages besides English? I know a bit of Latin and Greek. A bit of Spanish, I want to learn Elvish and French. I used to be able to read and write Runes and Eoin Colfer's Elvish fluently, but that was a while back.
For those under 18 only: If you could vote, who would you vote for president? I. Like. Mike.
Have you ever been in a major car accident? No, not even a fender bender.
Have you ever taken part in an exreme sport? Does dodge ball count?
If you could meet any famous person, who would it be? Tolkien; Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson; and that guy that played that fat assistant coach in Facing the Giants. Also the black assistant coach.
If you could meet any famous historical figure, who would it be?  Eleanor of Aquitaine. Elizabeth the First of England.
What is your favorite fantasy creature? Centuars; Faeries; Elves {Big elves, Tolkien, not stupid little Santa.}
If you could buy any one thing (not abstract), what would it be? A laptop with a WIRELESS ROUTER, and an all expense paid trip to Neverland. ((See Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson for more information. It is NOT two stars to the right.))

1. You & your ex: Are you kidding? I am 12, I don't do BOYS period.
2. I am listening to: I was listening to "Jesus Freak" (dc talk) and "You Raise Me Up" (Selah), but then we got home from the Spelling Bee. I'm the one after the next to last.
3. Maybe I should: Wash my face like my mom tells me.
4. I love: Neverland, Faeries, Didn't we just go over this? Sarcasm, funny pictures, music, ...
5. I don’t understand: Why there's a school shooting almost every week.
6. I have lost my respect for: Orlando Bloom
8. The meaning of my display name is: I've got brown hair, and eyes, and even though I'm not that pretty, they are.


IS YOUR/ARE YOU


1. Is your hair wet? Was, a bit ago.
3. Do you miss someone? Ranguvar. Her website, where we chat, is: Storyboard
4. Are you wearing Chap Stick? No, Pina Colada Lip Gloss. Don't ask.
5. Are you tired?  Yeah, kinda.
7. Are you mad? Mebbe a little bit, at a certain J. F.


HAVE YOU

1. Recently done anything you regret? Does missing a word on a Spelling Bee that I KNOW count? Sheesh, all I did was switch the two back letters 'cos I was nervous.
2. Have you ever kicked someone? I kick someone at least once every day. It helps to relieve stress, you know?
3. Ever tripped over your own feet? I did it today, in fact.

TODAY HAVE YOU:

1. Have you cursed? I. Don't. Cuss. Period.
2. Have you gotten mad at someone? J. F.

RANDOM

Q: Is there a person who is on your mind right now?
A: Does a bag of chocolate chips count?

Q: Do you have any siblings?
A: Mister Brave {He ain't}, my nine year old brother. He doesn't do writing, so he doesn't have a blog. Pink Princess, the royal pain in my rear. And lastly, but not leastly, Ernie. My two year old baby sister.

Q: Do you want children?
A: Yes, when I'm married, say around six!

Q: Do you smile often?
A: I smile when I'm sleeping.

Q. Do you smell your shoes every time you take them off?
A:   Most of the time.

Q: Do you like your handwriting?
A:  No, it's chicken scratch times 50.

Q: Are your toenails painted?
A: Nope.

Q: Whose bed other than yours would you rather sleep in?
A: My parents'! It's SO comfy!

Q: What color shirt are you wearing right now?
A: A stretchy short sleeved, with pink, blue, and white stripes. There's a unicorn on the front, rhinestones.

Q: What were you doing at 7pm yesterday?

Q: I can’t wait until:
A: I get a dog, Callie has her kittens, and co-op day.

Q: When did you cry last?
A: A few nights ago

Q: Are you a friendly person?
A: Depends on what mood I'm in.

Q: Whose bed did you sleep in 2 nights ago?
A: Mine.

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: Yup, my baby sister! Also a cranky calico cat, Callie.

Q: Do you think that someone will repost this?
A: What kind of question is that?

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When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single
light in a ground floor window.

Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice,
wait a minute, and then drive away.

But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as
their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of
danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who
needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself.

So I walked to the door and knocked. "Just a minute", answered a frail,
elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood
before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil
pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no
one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with
sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the
counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and
glassware.

"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase
to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. "It's nothing", I told her. "I
just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated".

"Oh, you're such a good boy", she said. When we got in the cab, she gave
me an address, and then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"

"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.

"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a
hospice".

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. "I don't
have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I don't have very
long." I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

"What route would you like me to take?" I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the
building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived
when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture
warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a
girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or
corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said,
"I'm tired. Let's go now"

We drove in silence to the address she had given me.It was a low
building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed
under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were
solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been
expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman
was already seated in a wheelchair.

"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.

"Nothing," I said

"You have to make a living," she answered.

"There are other passengers," I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me
tightly.

"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said.

"Thank you."

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind
me, a door shutIt was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost
in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that
woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his
shift?

What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven
away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more
important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what
others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID,
~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

You won't get any big surprise in 10 days if you send this to ten
people.

But, you might help make the world a little kinder and more
compassionate by sending it on.

Thank you, my friend...

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might
as well dance.

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