(DA) Expressive

I've always been amazed by actors such as Jim Carrey. He is able to contort his face in so many different ways. I feel like, although it may not be a valuable life skill- or something you put on a job application- I've always wanted to be able to be as expressive as possible. Why? Fun.

I'm not an actor, I'm not super talented, I'm just a goof who likes making people laugh, and my silly faces make people laugh. I love it. 

I'm not as talented as Jim Carrey, and probably will never be able to contort my face like he can, but I'm trying, and I've already got quite the "Gallery of Silly Faces."

It's good to have goals.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Hauntingly Beautiful

There are many things that I would classify as 'haunting' and many things I would classify as 'beautiful' but 'hauntingly beautiful' is a new descriptor for me; or at least, if I've ever used it before, now I actually know what it means.

Today I heard a singer who's voice will haunt my best dreams. His voice was rough and smooth at the same time and gave me chills as I listened to him sing. I had goosebumps popping up on my arms as he serenaded the auditorium; the cello and double bass complimenting his voice just enough to compliment, but not enough to overwhelm.

Hauntingly Beautiful. Later, I described this man's voice and music like the thin layer of fog that hovers over a perfectly calm lake in the early hours of an autumn morning.

Haunting, and yet so beautiful I will never be the same again for witnessing it.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Negativity Breeds Negativity

Standing in the Express Checkout line in the grocery store, holding 4 items. The line is HUGE. I've never seen it that long, but it was moving surprisingly well and I was in no rush, so I was content.

The woman behind me however, was not. She pushed her cart, of 14 items, in line behind me and started grumbling to anyone around about how this line was ridiculous and slow and how it would only take her 3 minutes to get through a line at her normal store. "This isn't even my food! I'm shopping for someone else." She grumbled and grumbled, until she got to the cash, and grumbled some more about the slow service.

The people around her were immediately miserable, and once she left, I saw the grumbling trend continuing through the line up behind her.

There was no need for that. Just be happy you could do a favour for a friend by getting their groceries, be happy the line wasn't longer and be thankful that you are able to afford your groceries.

Please lose sight of the big picture when small things alter the way they thought events would go.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Never Ever

Stopped at train tracks with the guards down, lights flashing and waiting for a train when a young man drives his car around the flashing barricades, across the tracks and stops his car beside mine. He rolls down his window and tells me "these lights go on all the time and there's no train. You'll be stuck here forever."

My jaw dropped. Just because 'sometimes' there's no train, does not mean that there won't be a train next time.  There is NO excuse for reckless driving and no excuse for putting other people's lives in jeopardy because of an assumption 'there is NO train'.

Ridiculous.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Make-up and Self Worth

I rarely wear make up.

Most people don't question it, but the few that do suffer from poor self esteem. They very obviously struggle to love themselves as they are: without make-up.

I'm not confident about everything about myself, but I am confident enough in my own skin to be comfortable in it.

This video combines the use of make-up and the importance of confidence and self esteem.

I love it and thought I had to share it.

http://sfglobe.com/?id=1283&src=share_fb_new_1283

-Brandolyn

(DA) Cycle of Conversation

I find it interesting; if not sometimes frustrating, that conversations with the same group of people inevitably circle back to one topic.

I don't mind circling back to nerd culture; I can reference Doctor Who all day, but I struggle to keep calm when conversations circle back to topics like: ignorance about rape culture. It's a hot topic and needs to be talked about, but I can only say so much without losing control so many times in one day, nevermind every time I see the same people.

Did you know that 41% of highschool females and 53% of highschool males surveyed said it was OKAY for a man to hold down a woman and force himself on her if they had been dating a while?

28% of females surveyed said it was OKAY for a man to hold down and force himself on a woman if she was drunk or intoxicated. While 36% of the highschool males surveyed said it was OKAY.

-Brandolyn

(DA) Sun and Rain

The weather this year is very different than in previous years, but I guess I should have seen that coming from our abnormally brutal winter. This summer has been rainy.

It's sunny during the week; while you work, and it rains on the weekends when you want to be at the cottage.

At least I'm creative enough to keep entertained when it rains. If I were alone I would write the day away, but when people are around, OUT COME THE BOARD GAMES!

I find board games are underrated. I hear friends complain "No, board games are for kids." No. Actually, most board games are made for adults. The strategy and cunning required to make these games highly competitive, is usually beyond the grasp of children.

I guess the friends that complain about board games have only every played Monopoly (improperly, I bet). I should introduce them to better games.

-Brandolyn