Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward All Men. And Women :)

I'm so glad it's finally Friday. I've been looking forward to Christmas break since we got back from Thanksgiving three weeks ago. :) I've been thinking a lot about Christmas, esp as people keep asking me what I'm hoping to get. What am I hoping to get? Oh, I want all these things I know I can't have. I want someone to finish my online classes for me. I want someone to pay the $9,000 I'm short from being able to pay for Westminster. I want a laptop. I want to get my license without having to take stupid Driver's Ed, and I don't wanna have to get my learner's again. I want my mom to have a good Christmas, and to stop having to worry about money. I want my brothers to be excited for whatever they get, regardless of it's what they initially wanted. I want Tyler to do well in school, and to drop some seconds off his times, so he feels all his hard work and effort has paid off. I want my friends to get into the schools they wanna go to, and to have good relations between them and everyone they come in contact with, so that they don't have to worry about people and college and money all at the same time. I want the economy to bounce back, so my mom stops losing money on her investments. I want Americans to stop buying things they can't afford and don't need. I want the troops to all come home for the holidays, and stay home. I want the world's population to be at peace, one with another. I want a lot of things for Christmas. But most of all, I want all of you to find joy, and for everything you're worried about to work out the way that will most benefit you and make you the happiest in the long run. I hope I can be of some assistance :) and let me know if I can help in any way. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and wish you a fantastic, eventful, and productive New Year! :) Much Love to you.

Les Miz

I've been listening to the Les Miserables soundtrack. This is my favorite Broadway show of all time; the message is so powerful, the music is so phenomenal, the combination of the two gives me goosebumps every time I listen to the soundtrack, and especially when I see the show. My favorite part of the show is the Finale. If you're not already bawling by the time the Finale comes around, you will be quickly. But I wanted to post the lyrics to the end of the Finale, after Fantine and Eponine enter to bring Jean Valjean home. I first posted the lyrics to Do You Hear the People Sing. The Finale lyrics follow those. Anywho. Maybe you'll take something from these lyrics, maybe you won't. It's mostly for me. :) If you have never seen Les Miz I'd definitely encourage you to see it done by a professional company if you ever have the opportunity. Just look past the sappiness coming from Marius and Cosette, and focus on characters like Fantine, Eponine (she's my favorite character), Gavroche, the School Boys and Javert, and the journeys they take individually as presented through the life of Jean Valjean. It's incredible.

Do You Hear the People Sing?

ENJOLRAS

Do you hear the people sing?

Singing a song of angry men?

It is the music of a people

Who will not be slaves again!

When the beating of your heart

Echoes the beating of the drums

There is a life about to start

When tomorrow comes!

COMBEFERRE

Will you join in our crusade?

Who will be strong and stand with me?

Beyond the barricade

Is there a world you long to see?

COURFEYRAC

Then join in the fight

That will give you the right to be free!

ALL

Do you hear the people sing?

Singing a song of angry men?

It is the music of a people

Who will not be slaves again!

When the beating of your heart

Echoes the beating of the drums

There is a life about to start

When tomorrow comes!

FEUILLY

Will you give all you can give

So that our banner may advance

Some will fall and some will live

Will you stand up and take your chance?

The blood of the martyrs

Will water the meadows of France!

ALL

Do you hear the people sing?

Singing a song of angry men?

It is the music of a people

Who will not be slaves again!

When the beating of your heart

Echoes the beating of the drums

There is a life about to start

When tomorrow comes!

This song is the cry of the School Boys who want to start a revolution and rid their community of the corruption brought on by the...police...for lack of a better word. Needless, all of these school boys, and many others, die in this effort. Well, all accept Marius, but that's a different aspect of the story. What makes the Finale so powerful, is all those who die in this effort re-enter the stage to sing this last song. Their message is one of hope for their future, and one they hope to instill in the hearts of those listening to their story.

The Finale

CHORUS

Do you hear the people sing

Lost in the valley of the night?

It is the music of a people

Who are climbing to the light.

For the wretched of the earth

There is a flame that never dies.

Even the darkest night will end

And the sun will rise.

They will live again in freedom

In the garden of the Lord.

They will walk behind the plough-share,

They will put away the sword.

The chain will be broken

And all men will have their reward.

Will you join in our crusade?

Who will be strong and stand with me?

Somewhere beyond the barricade

Is there a world you long to see?

Do you hear the people sing?

Say, do you hear the distant drums?

It is the future that they bring

When tomorrow comes!

Will you join in our crusade?

Who will be strong and stand with me?

Somewhere beyond the barricade

Is there a world you long to see?

Do you hear the people sing?

Say, do you hear the distant drums?

It is the future that they bring

When tomorrow comes...

Tomorrow comes!

The English Language

I've been thinking lately about how liberally we, as speakers of the English language, use certain words and phrases. Words such as: hate, kill, die, starving; phrases such as "best friend" and "I love you." The English language is a fascinating linguistic tool. Each word has a specific meaning, and yet can be interpreted in so many ways. This puts pressure on us, as English-speakers, to use words appropriately and meaningfully. If you tell someone they're your "best friend", they are apt to believe that there is no one else you would rather be friends with. If, after you tell someone they're your "best friend", you ditch this person and blow them off, they will inevitably conclude that you are a liar. You may never have meant that you would never choose anyone over them, but that's what came across, and now your word is in shambles. Like I said, the English language is a fascinating linguistic tool; let's all try to use it wisely, shall we?