Celebration Of Sanctity Of Life Sunday

Celebration Of Sanctity Of Life Sunday

So, what you're thinking is correct.  I am going to talk about abortion, but I believe a lot of people have taken the wrong angle of sharing the word on being pro-life.  

I'm going to tell you a story.  Whether you want to read or not, that's a choice.  Not like what people think it's a woman's choice because in all honestly, it may be in her body, but it's not her body she's destroying.  That baby has its own DNA and sometimes even a different gender.  It is not a part of a woman's body.

Moving on, gotta get to the story.

Okay.

It's 1993.

My mom had just discovered she was pregnant not a few months before when all of the sudden she began to bleed.  She knew that it could possibly mean that she was having a miscarriage so my mom went to the doctor.  The doctor told her that having a DNC would be the best solution.  The doctor was very vague on details about me, only saying that the baby had no heart beat.  

My mom knew that if this was a miscarriage, then it would happen naturally.  She refused to have the DNC because it was against what she believed in since it was very close to having an abortion.  

My mom called my aunt, who is a nurse, for advice.  My aunt told my mom to lay on her left side to stop the bleeding.  The bleeding did stop and eventually everything went away after my mom prayed hard and long about it.

My mom went back to the doctor later for a check-up to see if the miscarriage had taken its course, but when the doctor placed his stethoscope on her belly, he heard a heart beat.  A baby's heart beat.

On February 8th, 1994 at 11:58 P.M., my mom gave birth to Makayla Marie Baker.

That's me.

If my mom had gotten the DNC, I would not be here today.

Sometimes, my mom calls me miracle child.  

But sometimes, she calls the incident an opportunity.  

I value my life, and it hurts me so deep when people say abortion is okay.

I know my story is only a small minuscule compared to the horror stories I have grown up to about people surviving abortion and becoming important people in the world.  

It's only a thought, but it's my story. 

Books of 2011

Books Of 2011

This might be a little boring, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.  

This is the list of books that I read this year and what I thought of them. I did not include any books that was part of a series, but to let you know ahead of time, I read The Vampire Academy and The Luxe Series last year. So, I guess, enjoy, if you 

like to read.  P.S. All of these books have been rated of out five stars.  One being bad and five really good.  And the star means I had to read it for AP Literature or College English.

*Death Of A Salesman by Arthur Miller- 1 1/2 Stars

  

Jane Austen by Peter Letheit- 5 Stars

I Walk In Dread by Lisa Rowe Fraustino- 3 1/2 Stars

*As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner- 1 Star

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis- 2 1/2 Stars

The Ordering Of Love by Madeleine L'Engle- 5 Stars

*The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka- 1 Star

*A Raisin In The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry- 3 Stars

*A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams- 3 Stars

The Secret Life Of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd- 3 Stars

Stardust by Neil Gaiman- 3 Stars

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams- 2 1/2 Stars

She Walks In Beauty by Caroline Kennedy- 3 Stars

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw- 4 Stars

The Importance Of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde- 3 Stars

The Awakening by Kate Chopin- 3 Stars

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood- 5 Stars

*Frankenstein by Mary Shelley-  1 1/2 Stars

*MacBeth by William Shakespeare- 2 Stars

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury- 5 Stars

Lucky by Alice Sebold- 2 Stars

Kneller's Happy Campers by Etgar Keret- 3 1/2 Stars

*Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton- 2 Stars

The Life Of A Teenage Girl In An Organic Home

The Life Of A Teenage Girl In An Organic Home

Many people have asked me, "What's it like to be raised organically?"  

Well, to begin, my family wasn't always organic.  My mom used to fix meals just like anybody else, using the same products, etc.  Though, she always been extremely thrifty and money smart about food.  My mom only went shopping once a month to Wal-Mart and she only bought what was necessary.  Any "snack foods," Mom would usually skip over.  The only snack foods we would eat (and this still applies even today) are pretzels, Oreos or Chips Ahoy, Fudge Rounds or Swiss Roll Cakes, and tortilla chips.  Mom's belief has always been if you want something sweet, fix it yourself.  So, if I'm craving something sweet and we're out of the snack foods, I have to bake a batch of cookies.  Personally, I think Mom made that policy so she doesn't have to bake herself.  

Around the time I was in middle school, Mom read this book called The Maker's Diet, and she really got into it.  Like really into it.  I didn't like it one bit.  What kid would like it?  She was talking about spelt flour, spinach noodles, and the new word...organic.  What kid would even know what those things were?  So, then the food began to change in the house.  White bread became grain bread.  Creamy peanut butter was replaced by almond butter.  Organic milk.  Almond milk.  Soy milk.  Yogurt.  Olive oil.  Spelt everything.  More greens.  Sometimes no meat at meals.

WHAT?!  

That's exactly what I thought for several years. 

WHAT?!

Then, my sister got into it.  She became a vegan, but we like to call her a flexitarian.  She'll eat meat if it's local, and it was raised organically.  

It was nonsense. 

Hours and hours, I've heard so many conversations and lectures about eating healthy, living longer, etc.  

But then one day, I thought.

One day, I'll be having kids.  I'll have to make a decision.  

Do I want my kids to eat healthy?  To be smart?  To not be a part of the 33% of people who are obese?  Yes, I'll raise my kids organically.  I want the best for my kids just like my mom wants the best for me.  

So when people do ask that question, I answer them simply.

"It's different, but I wouldn't change it for the world."

<3

Two To Tango

                                                                                                    Two To Tango

        a thought short story by Makayla Baker

Dorothy Parker calls it "Unfortunate Coincidence."  I call it "crap out of luck."  The wondering what goes on in a man's mind or when a man wonders about a woman's mind.  Curiosity is too big of a word to cover it.  

     The constant mystery lies in our minds because of this nameless epidemic.  Is he thinking of me?  Why would she even think that?  Is it just miscommunication?  Or is it too much communication?

     I met this boy once, and since he's a real guy, I'm changing his name to Howard, even though he knows who he is.

     It wasn't love at first sight, heck no, I never go for that.  It was more like "here, you guys dance together."  Okay?  And then it began.

     "Aren't they so cute together?"

     That's the other epidemic.  I never really like a guy immediately unless he's Johnny Depp's look-alike (in which I would probably fall on my knees and automatically ask for his hand in marriage), but then someone says something.

     "Do you like him?"

     "You're such a cute couple!"

     "You mean, you're not together?"

     "Where did you bag such a hunk?"

     That's when the butterfly effect (not the movie) happens.  That's when the "crap out of luck" begins. 

     "Does he like me?"

     "Why is he with her?  She's not attractive at all!"

     "Why isn't he talking to me?"

     It's like paranoia except people like to use an euphemism for it by calling it "puppy love."  Sure, we're all guilty, so it's okay to admit it, but dude, seriously?  Who came up with that phrase?  Puppy love?  But it's like admitting that you really don't the Beatles because, believe me, there's a lot of people that don't like the Beatles, myself included.

     Back to my story, I tried to be stealthy.  You know, doing the girl stuff where we ask around, steal glances once in a while, play our little cat and mouse game.  

     But I'm tired.  I'm tired of this game.  How many times have we played this game in our lives?  Five, six, maybe more?  We like someone, we dance around a little, we finally admit to liking each other, we date, we're happy, we're mad, we're bored, and then we're done.  So begins the cycle all over again.  

     So, this is my story to girls and boys alike.  To the boys in this world: just explain what you're thinking.  Make it simple, you are all good at that.  Make it sweet.  To the girls in this world: don't dance around, acting like you don't know the steps.  You know the steps, so tango.  You have one chance, and if you get shot down, there are others because he's just not a worthy dance partner.  

    So, Howard, are you going to tell me what you're thinking or are you going to leave me in the dark?  I know my steps.  Tango with me.

Cultural Consideration: Elders And Obsession With Youth

How Society Treats The Elderly 

     I just recently wrote a paper in my AP Literature class about Cultural Considerations: Ill-Treatment Of The Elderly, and I thought, what a great topic to write on Live Journal!  Yeah, I know, I can have my moments.  Anyways, I'm just going to start out with this: WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?  There.  That was great.  Okay, moving on.
     I have always had respect for my elders.  They're the best people to know to take advise from, great or small and they always have the best stories whether they are true or not.  So, I just don't understand why here in the United States, we send our elderly to the nursing home and only visit them occasionally.  I'm sorry, but I am NOT looking forward to a nursing home, and I'm sure you aren't either.  So why do we stick them in there?  You wanna know why?  Because we're too busy.  Yeah, seriously.  That's the answer.  We're too busy to take care of the person who helped take care of me when I was little.  Have some compassion, people.  It is so sick to think that parents sacrifice so much for their children, and then they end up being dumped in the death camps (because that's seriously what they are) to be forever lonely and treated like a child.  Majority of the problems like Alzheimer's and such are caused by medicines and the things that we put into our bodies.  Even so, if the person has such diseases without the cause of medicines and the foods we eat and such, then you need to realize that the best place in the whole world is with their families.  Putting them in a nursing home is just like sending a kid off to an asylum.  And of course, I have heard rumors of abuse happening in the nursing homes.  The nurses abuse their patients which if we hear about a child being abused, we'd all be hopping mad (which we should be), but if we hear about an old person being abused, eh, who cares, right?  WRONG ANSWER, SPANKY!  My grandma was telling of her sister (my great-aunt) and she is in the nursing home, and nothing has been seriously wrong with my Aunt Evelyn except that she has diabetes and a few side troubles with remembering things, but since she's been in the nursing home, she can't remember who died, who hasn't died, who is alive, it's just crazy.  And grind up all of her food.  She does NOT need her food grinded up and yet, they do it anyways.  I'm sorry, but if you grinded up my food and handed it to me when I know that I am capable of eating it, I'm going to be throwing some stuff across the cafeteria there.
     The other reason why society avoids the elderly is because of the obsession of youth.  Since the 1950's, media has hit the teenage world majorly which media affects everyone.  So, naturally, this obsession with being young came about.  I was just watching an episode of Castle on the Internet when a commercial for a surgery came on.  Now, if you get this surgery done, you could have no wrinkles and look ten years younger, though the side effects include, and I quote from the website: "Complications of laser surgery can generally be divided into short term and long-term side effects. The short term side effects include transient erythema, pruritus, milia formation, acneiform pustules, transient scarring, and long-term problems, such as hypopigmentation and, occasionally, permanent scarring."  I don't know about you, but I would NOT risk my skin even though I have oily skin, I would not risk it just to get the wrinkles off my face.  Personally, I believe that's why there's an obsession with vampires because of this obsession with youth.  To stay young forever, that's the new American dream.  And then, I saw on Time magazine, this:

    Not even kidding.  It's the Matrix all over again.  Who wants to be immortal?  Dying is only a small part of what the journey lies ahead.  If you change that, then you have steered destiny waaaaay off track.  It's sick to think that our world is turning into things like the Matrix and Brave New World.  All because of the "little" obsession with being young.  Treat the elders the way you want to be treated and love yourself no matter what age because no matter where you go, good honest people will only love you for being you.

Housewives And The New Age Of The Female World

Housewives And The New Age Of The Female World

     I had an......interesting conversation with my friend, Rachel, while we were in Italy about housewives.  Rachel was raised in a home where it was just her and her mother so obviously, she feels the need for females to dominate.  I, on the other hand, have been raised in a house where my parents equally share everything.  And yes, my mother is a housewife, and you know what?  I'm not against them.  I believe being a housewife in its self is a job, a hard job, too.  I don't have a problem with it at all until the man demands it.  Then you have some problems, but in any relationship, if you demand anything, you're not going to have very good results.   So, I've come to realization that the housewife's duty is a lot different from the 1950's.  When you think of housewife anymore, I'm sure you think of the Real Housewives Of Beverley Hills or New York City or whatever.  Anyways, these shows make me so hot under the collar.  I hate them so much, you have no idea.  All they do is provide the rest of the world an image what a "typical" housewife in America does: argue, bicker, and plan parties.  Really, they're terrible role models, mother wise and wife wise, and they're just bad news.  My mother should be in the reality tv shows to come kick their butts because my mom can do anything.  She can cook, clean, mow, grow, make soap, can, play the piano, sing, decorate, and she doesn't even have to break out in too much sweat.  A woman has to realize (especially a working woman) that her family comes first.  They are to teach their children the good things in life.  Career should always be last in both a man's and woman's world because if the wordly things disappear, what do you have left?  The man and woman are to be equal in everything, and I believe that's the way it should be.  Men should not bow down to their wives nor should the wife bow down to their husbands.  The point of marriage is to SHARE a lifetime together.  That's all you're really doing.   The role of the woman should not be dissed, but embraced.  If females keep rising and rising from where we are now, we will no longer have marriages, pregnancies, and men will be quite the lonely creatures and then they'll soon have to fight for their rights.  I am a feminist, but I believe men and women need to share their level of power.  Human beings are extremely dependent in their nature to begin with, so why try?  It just boggles my mind of how this society is so obsessed with "independence" that it makes my stomach do flip flops.  

One Day Without Shoes

     

One Day Without Shoes

So, a couple of months ago I received a request to do this "One Day Without Shoes".  When I typed it in, I watched the video and pretty much was not impressed by it.  Then, my sister sent me the link just today telling me she was doing it.  So, this is for you, dear sister, on why I believe "One Day Without Shoes" is completely POINTLESS.

     This "idea" of "One Day Without Shoes" is that everyone not wear shoes to promote awareness among people about the millions of people who get diseases from not wearing shoes in third world countries.  Well, let's point out some major flaws in this idea.   You are promoting an idea by not wearing shoes about people who can't afford shoes.  Number one, if I was a person in a third world country, I would probably laugh at this idea.  If you have shoes in those countries, you WEAR them.   Promoting awareness is WONDERFUL, but the way they are doing is not the way to do it.  By not wearing shoes, you can contract the diseases that are all over our streets and in turn, you'll receive the diseases that you are trying to promote awareness of.  Not only that, by doing these things, you're not helping the people at all.  All you're doing is not wearing your shoes.  Heck, I never wear shoes around my house, so does that mean I'm promoting awareness of diseases in third world countries for feet diseases?  Not likely.  I believe if you really want to help those people out, you would go down to those countries and buy shoes for them.  Why not promote awareness by BUYING shoes?  Good idea, eh?  So, that's my opinion on the "One Day Without Shoes".  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BitShRujoeA