Unbreakable

I'm sorry I've been so inactive for a while. There is so much life happening right now it's absolutely crazy! But today I was on Facebook and ran across something that I knew must be shared.

It's called Project Unbreakable.

Grace Brown, a photographer, started a small project that grew into something unstoppable. She took pictures of sexual assault victims holding posters of what their attackers said to them during the assault. Her project became so much more than what it was originally intended to be. Project Unbreakable is now a place for victims to speak out. It is a place of hope for those who have been attacked and others who will be attacked. The statistics are horrific. The posters are unthinkable. But this is not a dream. It is real and we need to wake up.

Many of the quotes are from family members and friends of the victims saying that it was somehow their fault. Rape is overlooked and commonplace. Project Unbreakable shows people what rape really is. It gives power and a voice to victims everywhere. It gives perspective to those of us who (thankfully) have never had to deal with that kind of abuse. It is a powerful tool that I believe has the power to make a huge change in this world. I plan on donating toward the cause.

I encourage all of you to take a few moments and visit Project Unbreakable and read the stories. These men and women are some of the most courageous people I've ever seen. They refuse to be victims any longer. They are fighting for change and for justice. They are survivors and they are

UNBREAKABLE.

We Will Never Forget

Today is September 11, 2013.

Twelve years ago today, something happened that would change history.

We were attacked.

Let me make something perfectly clear:

The Twin Towers were not attacked.

The city of New York was not attacked.

The state of New York was not attacked.

The Pentagon was not attacked.

Not even the USA was attacked. 

What was attacked was:

HOPE

FAITH

ACCEPTANCE

PEACE

and

HUMANITY

itself.

While it was our great country and the great state of New York (as well as Pennsylvania and Washington D.C.) that was attacked physically - Osama bin Laden and the Al Queda attacked something much bigger than ourselves. That day was a blatant attack on all the values we should be striving for in this world.

They attacked our hope for a better world.

I continue to hope.

They attacked our faith because they thought theirs was right, and ours was wrong.

I still have faith.

They attacked acceptance of other races, religions, and nations.

I still strive for acceptance.

They attacked the idea of "World Peace" with four jet-sized bullets.

I still want World Peace.

They attacked humanity by throwing away human life for their pride.

I still believe humanity will prevail.

On days like 9/11 it's hard to see the good, but good can always be found. Twelve years ago, when tragedy struck, our nation came together like never before. We really were the UNITED States of America on that tragic day. That day will be etched in my memory forever. I was in the sixth grade. I walked to school that morning. When I walked in my homeroom, I was confused because the TV was on. Usually the TV was only on for the school news and that didn't happen till later in the day. I asked the first person I saw what was going on. A boy named Dallas said, "That plane just crashed into that building!" He didn't seem sad or scared. I think he sounded impressed, like it was some cool action movie. I don't blame him. Neither he, nor I, nor many of my classmates (I assume) really understood what was happening. I was more confused than anything. I'm sure the only one in that room who really got it and was horrified by the images flickering across the screen was my homeroom teacher, Ms. Eisler. I don't remember this now, but based on the timing of the attacks, I'm guessing my class watched as the second tower was struck. After that, I don't remember much. I don't remember what we did in each class, but I'm pretty sure the TV's were on in every classroom, all day long. I'm pretty sure I went home and my parents and I sat and watched the news that evening. They probably explained to me what was going on. I probably cried.

I was not directly affected by the events on that day like other were. I didn't know any of the victims and I'd never even been to New York, but that day affected everyone in this country as well as many across the world. The events of that day still bring a lump to my throat twelve years later, as well it should. Many people like to argue about the repercussions of 9/11 and the war and violence that followed. I don't care about any of that. The events of that day were a tragedy regardless of what happened afterward, which is why I choose to never forget. I choose to remember the victims that day and what they must have suffered through before their untimely death. I choose to pray for a better world where there is no hate, only love for every other human being on this planet. Even the terrible ones! I believe love is the one thing that will conquer every bad thing in this world.

On Saturday night we went to a concert up at Weber State University. The concert was "A Night with Audra McDonald" who is a big Broadway star. She sang many beautiful songs that evening, but one in particular really stuck out. It is from a new musical called Ordinary Days and as she sung it our faces began to mirror each other as tear after tear streamed down both of our faces. After the song was over we both had to take a moment to wipe away the evidence of the pain that song caused us as, as well as (I'm assuming) many other audience members. I sat in the front row and I saw every tear she shed. I hope you will take a moment and listen to the song below.

I hope you will take a moment today to remember - to pray for their victims and their families. Because even though twelve years have past. The pain still hurts like it happened yesterday. I hope you choose to never forget. 

I know I never will.

Rain

Rain is poetry.

Rain is art.

Rain is music.

Have you ever noticed how much art is based on the rain?

Music

Poetry

Paintings

Maybe that's because rain can be anything you need it to be.

Rain is versatile.

Rain is change.

Rain is infinite.

Rain is an expression of so many emotions we feel every day.

Good

Rain is love.

Rain is joy.

Rain is faith.

Bad

Rain is depression.

Rain is hate.

Rain is fear.

And everything in between

Rain is peace.

Rain is comfort.

Rain is truth.

Whether you love or hate the rain, you love it or hate it for a reason.

Rain is the past.

Rain is the present.

Rain is the future.

Rain is something different for everyone and it can mean something different from one day to the next.

Rain is life.

Rain is death.

Rain is hope.

Take that leap. Step into the downpour and find out what the rain is for you.

Rain is anything.

Rain is everything.

Rain is God.

Blog Swap!

I had an idea the other day that would spread the love to other blogs and maybe get more people to check out this blog as well. I'm calling it Blog Swap! I took some ideas from the Liebster Awards and contacted my friend Kelsy over at Up in the Bibliosphere. She was game! She told me some random things about herself and answered some questions I threw her way. Check out the results below and make sure to head on over to her blog and give it some love!

Name: Kelsy

Blog: Up in the Bibliosphere

Subject: Books

I have an unhealthy obsession with the written word. I have read over 500 books in the last three years. 

I am a Mormon Feminist (and general feminist). 

That scene in The Avengers where Bruce Banner epically turns into the Hulk and then punches the alien worm in the face and kills it MAKES ME CRY EVERY TIME. 

The Catching Fire trailer also made me cry. Apparently I have a low emotional tolerance for awesome. 

I am a huge Marvel geek, but i have never read any of the comics, for which many people would disqualify me from Marvel geekdom, but the amount of time I have spent on Wikipedia reading about the Marvel multiverse says otherwise. 

I am a crazy cat lady with a pair of Siamese kittens named Dr. Quinn and Medicine Woman. 

I am descended from Scottish nobility. We have a family castle and everything. Hunter Clan all the way! 

As a general rule, I love animals more than people. 

I write YA fiction, and hope to begin the query process at the beginning of 2014. 

I have my own library, aptly called the Kelsbrary. 

I dream (like those things that happen when you're asleep, not a metaphor for goals) more often than anyone I've ever met. 

Here is the Q&A with Kelsy:

1. I know it’s like choosing a favorite child, but if you could only pick one favorite book, what would it be? Ah! Ask me something easier! That is an unbelievably hard and really unkind question to ask, but if I HAD to choose I guess my favorite book would be Cinder by Marissa Meyer.

2. What would you do with one million dollars? Buy all the books on my Amazon/Goodreads wish list, pay off my debt, pay off my family's debt, go on a few fun vacations, donate a portion to my favorite charities, and stick the rest in savings. Woot!

3. If you could be any book character and live their life in their world, who would it be? I don't know that I would ever want to be a fictional character, but like countless other children across the world I maintain in my heart a dream to attend Hogwarts.

4. What is your favorite quote? Ooh that's a hard one too. The first one that comes to mind is, "I would always rather be happy than dignified." - Charlotte Bronte.

5. If you could have a lunch date with five people, alive or dead, who would be joining you? Jane Austen, Jesus, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Colin Firth, and J.K. Rowling.

6. What is your biggest fear? Mediocrity.

7. What is your biggest goal in life? Becoming a novelist. 

8. How many pairs of shoes do you own? Probably somewhere around nine.

9. What would your Patronus be if you were not a Muggle? Obviously a cat. 

10. If you had an endless appetite for one meal, tell me everything that would be on the menu. Coconut Crunch sushi rolls with ginger, a strawberry vinaigrette spinach salad, pepperoni pizza from Little Caesars, Andes mints, and an iced chai latte. Man, now I'm hungry!

11. What is your favorite movie of all time? The Avengers and When Harry Met Sally are currently brawling over this title. There is no clear victor. 

Thanks for letting us pick your brain, Kelsy! Don't forget to go see my answers to Kelsy's questions as well as a few random things about myself here! Kelsy has also asked me to send some book reviews her way so I told her she can feel free to write about whatever she likes and I'll feature it here on The Crazy Shark Lady. Keep an eye out for fun things to come!

Chill Out and Have Some FUN.

Man, oh man, I love a good concert. But what makes a good concert a great concert would have to be the person/people you share it with. Like this one right here!

How adorable is she? Am I right?

On August 23rd Katrina and I went to the FUN. concert at the Great Saltair. It was amazing! So much energy and singing and jumping and laughing and LIGHTS!!! Obviously we had a blast!

I'm just so clever!

See! I told you! Pretty lighting!

We had to do something to pass the time, so we started face dancing. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, face dancing is when you move your face all about making all kinds of weird faces and then you snap a picture in the middle of it all. The results are often hilarious. Let me show you:

We also saw this little gem during the concert:

While the concert was amazing, the best part was spending time with one of my best friends, catching up, and having some girl time. Just being together was the most FUN. part of the entire evening.

One more reason to love FUN. and then I will let you go. I knew that FUN. support LGBT rights, but I didn't realize how much they did. Nearly half of their merchandise was all about supporting gay rights including a particularly awesome shirt that said, "It's all FUN. and Gay until someone loses their rights." Awesome right? AAAAANNNNNDDDD. One dollar from every ticket went to the Ally group. So keep on rockin' on FUN. You've got a fan for life in me.

P.S. I heard on the radio today that their next album will be released by Christmas......2014.