Word to Your Mother: The Rants You Would Expect from a Liberal Teenager

So I typed out this rant.  Because that what I do when inspiration strikes me, I write about it.  I almost posted this on Facebook but something about that didn't seem right.  And I know nobody reads this livejournal...nobody that I'm close to anyway.  But I had to post it somewhere...I needed to know it was out there.  I feel like my friends should read this.

 

I’m learning stuff about friendship lately. I mean, usually I’m a pretty good friend. I listen to my friends when they need to rant; I’m always there if they need a shoulder to cry on. I’m the go-to girl for family angst. I appreciate it when people confide in me; I like to feel helpful, I like to feel essential. When people have problems and they don’t tell me about them I get kind of pissed off. Don’t make your Facebook status angsty or send me some super sad text and then not be willing to talk to me. Because I’m a neurotic psychopath. So I start thinking “oh, well, if they aren’t talking to me, who are they talking to? And furthermore, why can’t they tell me? How is this other person anymore trustworthy? Am I not a good enough friend? I want to know what’s going on. I can help. That’s why I’m here. Why are we friends if we can’t talk? What good do you do me and what good do I do you if you don’t even trust me enough to tell me what’s up?”  I believe in the power of old-fashioned friendships. We confide, we don’t lie, we’re honest, we don’t spread shit, we don’t have to make the other person promise not to tell, we don’t stab each other in the back, and we share an understanding. I believe in an old-fashioned friendship policy called Trust & Honesty.

I believe if you have a problem and you’re willing to let the world know in a Facebook status, then your friends have every right to ask you what’s wrong and be offended if you don’t want to talk about it. Why the hell did you publish it for everyone to see if you don’t want to talk about it? Why worry people who care about you like that? Why put facetious quotes and sentences all over your Facebook and have emo statuses if you’re not going anywhere with it. If you’re upset, then why aren’t you fixing it or talking about it? Why are you putting miserable song lyrics all over your page instead of solving the problem? Why aren’t you ranting to someone? What the hell are your friends for if they aren’t there to help you?

I believe if you have a problem and you’re willing to say to your friends “hey, look, I have a problem” and then simultaneously not willing to trust them with the details, then you’re full of crap. You pretty much just freak them out more, make them worry, and make them guess. What did your friends do to deserve that? Don’t say you’re not ready to talk about it, you brought it up. And don’t not talk about it if it’s going to make you unhappy. And don’t act like a little bitch just because you think you’re the only person in the world who has ever had a problem. Maybe I have a problem, too. And you’re my friend, so you should be willing to talk about it with me. It’s one of the basic principles of friendship.

I believe that nobody (yes, nobody, that includes me) has the right to ignore their friends or treat them bluntly or take out their anger on the world and then expect to be forgiven just because they have “omigod angst”. If that’s how you handle problems, you need help. I might not be a religious person, but I’m pretty sure God didn’t put this many people on the Earth and expect us not to interact. This goes back to the main topic: Trust & Honesty. If I say “hey, you’re being kind of a bitch to me tonight, did I do something to you?” and you say “no” then you better damn well mean it. And if you did mean it, you still owe me an explanation for the way you’re acting. And don’t say “I have a problem but I don’t want to talk about it. But it’s not you, don’t worry.” Awesome, then why are you talking to me at all? Why are we friends if we can’t talk about it? Are you seriously that easily willing to waste my time?

I believe that friends stick up for each other, defend each other, and trust each other no matter what. Friendships are not convenient, they are important. I believe that if I ask my friend what’s wrong, they are obligated to explain it to me. And if there is some kind of circumstance that bars them from explaining it to me, they better explain it well so I’m okay with it. And they better reassure me that they trust me and appreciate me. Because I love my friends. And I will listen to any of them talk about whatever problem. Because that is how friendship works. Don’t deny your friends the attributes of friendship. Don’t deny them your trust. Don’t be dishonest or facetious with them. Don’t dig yourself into a hole like that.

Friends want to help, and don’t spit on the name of friendship by not letting them. Trust & Honesty. Try it sometime.

Currently sitting in EnCor with Claire, Ashley, and Kari.  Good times.  Anyway, American Idol update:
- Down to the Final Four!  Adam Lambert is the obvious front runner, giving fantastic performances.
- Allison Iraheta is very good as well.
- Kris Allen bores me.
- Danny Gokey...well...PUT THE 'GO' IN GOKEY!
- I support Vote for the Worst's blog, but not the movement.
- I also support the hardcore badassery of Idolatry.  Kristin Baldwin, Michael Slezak = HEROES.

Awh, American Idol.  Alexis?  Really?  That's sad.  She was far better than Megan or Michael or Blind Scott.  Oh, dear.  Tonight was Motown.  BLEH.  Adam Lambert = BRILLIANT.  So beautiful.  Front-runner for sure!  Allison was wonderful, as well.  Such powerful vocals for someone younger than me.  No one else really stood out, especially the plants Lil and Danny.  Anoop was fairly good.  Really the rest just kind of blend together for me, though I think Matt and Kris are both okay, they just don't have an POP that draws me toward them.  Oh, well.  Until the results show!

American Idol is weird and long and not very entertaining this season.  I'm going to cry.  Anyway, break down and thoughts:
-  You know something?  I found Anoop Desai's vocals, while not impressive or life-changing, to be enjoyable.  I thought his performance was fun.  The judges will hate it because he's not a plant.  Lame.  He's a good kid, I like him.
-  Lil Rounds is so...weird.  I just...don't get it.  And her butt gives new meaning to "Baby Got Back".
-  You know something?  Jorge Nunez was a cutie pa-tootie and shouldn't have left so early!  Megan Cockrey and her complete lack of talent should have gotten the boot!  I hate that bitch.
-  Matt Giraud...Michael Sarver...Blind Scott...you all bore me.  Go away, please.  And Jasmine...well, sorry sweetie, but we won't miss you.
-  Kris and Alexis can sing!  Holy crap!  They were both so great, especially Kris,who really worked it out, I thought.  I'm glad they're proving to deserve their spots.
-  Allison and Danny were predictable and trusty, but Danny Gokey seems to lose his appeal when he loses his dead-wife name-dropping.
-  Two words:  Adam.  Lambert.  This man is a revelation.  We've never seen anything so polished and fantastic on AI.  Good for him!  I can't wait to see what he keeps doing.

In other news:
-  Grease.  Saw it.  No comment.  Claire was utterly fantastic, though, and completely stole the show.  Also, shout-out to Jacob, who made Act II worth it as the Teen Angel!

- Adam Lambert made it to the top 12!  Hells yes!  His performance of Satisfaction wowed me.  Definitely worthy.
- Allison Iraheta showed up out of nowhere with fantastic vocals.  Good job.
- Kris Allen is so cute, he's like a weetle baby puppy!  He's going to need to pull out some serious singing chops to get my vote, though.
- Why, Kai Kalama, why?  Such a wonderful voice but no stage presence and horrendous song choice.  Tis a shame...
- Megan Corkrey and Jesse Langseth (Obligatory Single Mothers #2 & #3) are awful and I hope the Wild Card Round does them no favors.
- Mishavonna Henson has an awesome first name, is beautiful, remind me of the Misha I know, and deserves a second chance.
- Idol is so boring this season.  Somebody bring back my cheese factor!  The best part of the season so far has been Ryan saying "I think that's the first time someone has ever gotten to second base with our logo" after Nick Mitchell/Norman Gentle's sadly-not-all-that-funny rendition of And I Am Telling You, Jennifer Hudson style.

Let's hope it gets better.  But in other news:
- Saw Keaton star in The Wedding Singer at East.  So effing good.  I'm so proud of him.
- Got a good supporting part in Radium Girls playing two mothers.  Can't beat that!
- Grease is this weekend - hooray for Claire!

American Idol is back and better than ever!  Or, at least, that's what they want us to think.  Actually, it is no more or less spectacular than last year's Idol, which actually hosted some good talent (as showcased by Carly and Michael's awesome performance on tonight's episode).  I don't have much to say right now, except this:
- Alexis Grace is boring and not a very good singer.  The hype is not legit.
- Michael Sarver is adorable and likeable times ten, but he isn't Idol material.  How disappointing.
- Oh how I love thee, Danny Gokey!  Again, the hype doesn't quite make sense, but there's no doubt he can sing and he has genuine star quality!
- Poor Anoop Desai got robbed!  It should have been him instead of Michael.  Here's to the Wild Card Round!
- Tatiana Del Toro...annoying as shit, but very talented.  I hope she gets another chance at the Wild Card Round and doesn't blow it.
- I don't care if he's Nick Mitchell or Norman Gentle, I love him.  Such a good voice and a great performer.  I wish him well.
- Two words: Adam.  Lambert.  He is absolute perfection!  I have very high hopes for him!
- Oh, Nathaniel Marshall, how you humor me.  Can't wait to see what song he pulls out in two weeks.
- I'm not buying the Lil Rounds hype.  I just don't like that name.
-  Kara can't judge, Paula is still drunk, Randy still doesn't know what "pitchy" means, and Simon remains the only one with any legitimate commentary.  Oh, and Ryan is still awkward.  Now this is the Idol I know and love!

Hooray for next week!

About 5,000 years ago, in a galaxy very near to this one, I last updated this blog/live journal/thing.  I haven't really missed it but I was randomly inspired to post here for no other purpose than I want some kind of archive of my feelings on the going-ons of my life at this moment.  What I loved about keeping this blog that nobody read was that I could look back on old posts months, even more than a year later, and laugh at the way I worded things, my reactions, etc.  So, here we go!  Since my last post:

- Joseph is over!  It was a hard show to survive but I had great fun with my part, got to do some awesome dances, and hung out with some of my best friends.  It was one of the best shows I've ever been in and I'm proud of it.  My dad said it was his favorite, right behind Aida.  So it must have been good.
- I didn't audition for Grease at MTYP.  Partly my parents decision, and partly mine.  I can't wait to see it and support my friends (Claire got Marty!!), but I hope I don't regret too badly not auditioning.
- I plan to audition for MTW this summer and do teen choir and possibly be in High School Musical 2.  I'm already preparing and I'm very excited.
- I have auditions for the school one-acts tomorrow!  And then Radium Girls is fast-approaching.
- The new semester began.  I have a crazy chemistry teacher who needs to chill the hell out, the always-dependable Mrs. Prater teaching me the ropes of choir (I'm in Women's, and I sing Alto II along with 6 other girls with man voices), a bubbly little lady who wasn't meant to teach lecturing me on history, and a very scary man named Mr. Frye intimidating me in English Honors 11, a class I might not survive.
- I'm frustrated with a handful of people right now.  I hope we work through it.  And I've grown closer to some of my friends and come to love them so much more.  I'm very grateful for that.
- I hate my home life.  What's new?
- My cat is now 30 pounds!  Yes!
- I still haven't seen Doubt. 

So I'm officially "Friends Only" by parents demand.  So you should friend me if you want to read my ramblings, :)  I will friend anybody except for Barack Obama, Satan, and Ben Affleck.  Other than that - it's anybody's game!