There aren’t too many reality shows that catch my interest.  There is something about a show where people do anything possible to get money.  Sure there are some good reality shows out there that change lives like the Biggest Loser and Extreme Home Makeover.  VH1 has jumped on the reality show ban-wagon and seem to have the most reality shows than any other network.  From shows like Flavor of Love and Rock of Love to Charm School and The Pick-up Artist.  I have to admit some of their shows has caught my attention and I don’t miss them for anything.  The two that I watch each week are Rock of Love Charm School and The Pick-up Artist.  Both are come on on Sunday nights Charm School at 9 o’clock eastern and Pick up Artist at 10 o’clock eastern.

The Rock of Love Charm School is hosted by Sharon Osborn, no one is better to whip rocker chicks into shape than her.  They take the girls who acted the worst and could use the most help from the show Rock of Love where girls compete to win the love of rock star Bret Michaels.  These girls get lessons each day from people from the business teaching them different things such as style and grace to how to manage a band which is what many of these girls want to do.  After the lessons, they have a task to complete and of course the winners get immunity while the losers are on the chopping block.  Each week as they learn new things someone goes home and less girls get to move on a learn how to become better women and how to act like women with class and grace while working in the rock and roll genre.

Rock Of Love Charm School is a great show to watch because you watch these girls grow from what some circles would call trash or other inappropriate words for an article.  Sharon takes them from dressing like strippers to dressing like fashionable women.  Sharon said it was a place where women could change themselves for the better and become the women they need to be.  There is everything that makes a great show great: drama.  There is honestly more drama than in a soap opera.  Girls are constantly fighting with each other, trying to manipulate each other without even trying to change their lives.  Some don’t even want to change and see this as an opportunity to either get on television or earn money at the end of the show.  Sharon makes the show one of the best shows on this season.  She sets the rules and doesn’t take crap from anyone.

The Charm School had another season, which was done with the Flavor of Love girls that really needed the work.  One girl didn’t even really make it to the show because she got into a fight with another girl.  The girls that come on the show surprise you and shock you at times because they do not act like women.  One even admits she wants to be a trophy wife and wear bikinis everywhere she goes while her friend wears lingerie wherever she goes.  Sharon does her best to whip these girls into shape.  If you like shows like Jerry Springer where there is a fight at every corner, then Rock of Love Charm School is a good show for you to check out.  There are one or two girls that may not need the charm school because they seem like they have grace and class already, but don’t let looks and sweetness deceive you.  It’s the quiet sweet ones  that need to be looked out for the most.

Another show that has caught my attention is The Pick-up Artist hosted by the pick up artist himself: Mystery.  The basis for the show is Mystery takes ten men who are relationship challenged, meaning they have a hard time getting close to women, getting them to talk to him let alone getting their number or even a date.  He gives them lessons of course to teach them different things about picking up women.  Mystery shows the guys how to gain the confidence they need to be able to walk up to a women they find attracted to even talk to her and open up the possibility to get a phone number and a date.  These guys are shy, awkward and so many other things.  Some would call them geeks or freaks but by the time Mystery is done with them they are master pick up artists.

The Pick Up Artist is probably my favorite reality show because it isn’t all about playing a game.  It has more to it.  You see the guys growing and becoming more confident and better men through the experience.  It is fun seeing how they react to different situations and some of the tasks that Mystery has them do throughout the weeks.  Some can be a little rough while others seem to the viewer something so simple.  I first caught The Pick Up Artist in a marathon of the first season.  They take the guys and give them makeovers to help them look their best and I have to say, they do a great job, some of the men I wouldn’t consider dating, then the makeover happens and many of them get cuter and don’t look as creepy as they did when they came into the show.

The end of each show is the final task, the task where if they win they get immunity.  They go into a club and try to pick up women.  The change the guys have from the first show to the fourth show is drastic.  They go from constantly being shut down to getting numbers and even a kiss from a girl or two.  When the guys talk in like a video you can see the change and sometimes the pain in their voices.  One of the guys even cry when he realizes he is failing a little or when he gets frustrated.  I honestly think he could go far as long as he is able to get past his own insecurities.  Another guy is too energetic that creeps women out and then they turn him down.  This is a great show because other guys who are in the same situation can learn from them and see what they can do to change things and become men that women would want to be with, and be interested in at least getting to know better.

Reality shows seem to be the big thing in television.  As they start to lose their cool and go to more change based shows like Biggest Loser, VH1 keeps the cut throat reality show alive with all of their shows.  If you like shows that women or men compete for the love of someone there are shows like that, if you like shows where people learn how to better themselves them Charm School and Pick Up Artist are for you.  Even if you like seeing celebrities doing something different and tough, Celebrity Fit Club is a good show to watch which is something like Biggest Loser, but for celebrities.  Vh1 has seemed to start stretching for shows to keep their audiences entertained and they are really keeping them entertained with shows like these.

After being diagnosed with cancer I needed to work out more.  I needed to find something that would help me get the exercise he wanted me to have, but not over exert myself too much which I was still going through chemotherapy.  It didn’t take much for me to get really tired after a chemotherapy treatment, but I knew that exercising just a little would go a long way for my recovery and helping me maintain some weight after the treatments were over.  Exercise can help regulate weight, and most importantly help keep you healthy and strong.  While my immune system was weak and barely there exercise helped give me energy and I could feel better the more I do it.  The energy exercising gave me allowed me to be able to do the things I loved more.  I was able to walk down the aisle when my best friend got married, because I exercised a little each day.  Exercising can give you that extra boost to do more and try to be more of the person you used to be before getting diagnosed with cancer.  I remember feeling like a part of me was lost, but when I would exercise I felt like I got a little more of myself back.  But the point was I needed to find something that would work for me.

So what did I start to do?  I started to do yoga.  It was the perfect thing for me to start doing because I was able to do some of the poses while I was sitting or laying in bed.  I didn’t need to really exert myself all that much, but I was still exercising and stretching and toning my muscles even though I was sick.  It didn’t take a lot of work and strength to do different poses.  I was able to lay in bed and use my arms to pull my legs closer to my chest in an effort to stretch my hamstrings.  The more I did yoga the better I felt, the better my appetite came back.  The more I ate and worked out the less sick I felt.  I felt like I was able to conquer anything because I was feeling so much better.  Sure I was still sick and I still got tired and weak a lot, but I still felt great because I was able to do more than I normally would simply because I tried to do yoga, even a little bit each night before bed or in the morning when I woke up.

There are poses that help your respiratory system which was good because my doctor told me that certain medication in my chemotherapy treatments would effect my lungs, so the stronger my lungs were the easier it would be for them to fight against the toxins that could have damaged them.  Doing yoga didn’t just make my lungs and muscles stronger, but my whole body.  It was easier for my body to fight against the toxins from the chemotherapy, the infections from the cancer as well as just strengthening itself.  I honestly think that I got better quicker because I was working out a little bit.  I think the more I worked out, I was helping my body be able to attack and respond to the cancerous cells within my body.  I did try some of the standing poses that are a little harder than sitting and laying down poses.  When I did poses like downward dog, I could feel my blood pressure getting better and I saw it when my nurse took my blood pressure.

Since I was working out throughout my treatments it was easier to step up the workouts after the treatments were over.  It was easier to get into a routine and I found my body wasn’t being so resistant to doing different things like walking a long while.  Granted I felt some pressure and pain after walking say a mile, but it still felt good, I was able to do it and now after several months I can walk farther without the pain.  I was able to focus my attention on working out more because I had already started a little while I was going through treatments.  I maintained a healthy weight throughout the treatments and was able to increase it and maintain it afterward.  Exercising more helps give me an edge and helps keep me healthy as it brings oxygen and stuff to my muscles and organs that they need.  The more you work out the more oxygen and things get to your body and the better it functions through daily activities.

Yoga is such a great exercise because you can do so much without straining your body.  You can tone and strengthen your body without causing pain to yourself, unless you do a pose wrong, which I did and it can be painful.  While I was working out I was able to get rid of body fat and create muscle fat, so the weight that I put on was all good fat.  I look and feel a lot better than I did before I was diagnosed and I think that has to do in part because I have been doing yoga and some other exercises.  Yoga makes your body stronger and tone.  It also has other benefits such as bringing oxygen to your muscles, strengthening different bodily systems and opening different areas that might be tight.  Because there is a focus on listening to your body, I learned how to listen to mine and realize when something was wrong, or when something got better.  I knew what kind of foods I needed to eat and what I needed to drink: milk, water, teas, because I became more in tuned with my body and how it functions.

Another thing that yoga has helped me learn was how to focus on breathing and regulate it more.  The more I did yoga and breathed a certain way I was able to hold my breath longer for the pulmonary tests as well as when I needed to hold my breath for the CT Scans.  Also when I was getting the treatments, I learned that if I breathed a certain way, I felt less nausea and I was able to block out the pain when I got shots and blood work.  Doing yoga through my cancer treatments had so many benefits.  One of the big things was I was able to sit still during radiation and I learned how to hold still and not move which could have been dangerous.  Because I strengthened my arms and shoulders as well I didn’t get pains in them when I held them above my head for fifteen minutes which was how long my radiation treatment was.  I felt strong and I am stronger because of the yoga that I did throughout my treatments.

Now that my treatments are over I am still doing yoga, going for walks on the treadmill as well as Pilates each day.  The more I do the healthier I feel and I think I improve my chances of not having a relapse.  Sure cancer is unpredictable, but exercising and eating right help reduce the risks.  I find myself with a better energy and a healthier appetite.  Yoga has helped my life so much and helped me deal with the stress and emotions related to having cancer.  I still need to exercise and keep myself healthy, so I will keep doing yoga and of course add some extra things into it.  I told my doctor I have been doing yoga and he was very happy.  For anyone who needs to deal with the stresses of cancer, yoga might be the exercise for you.  There are moves you can do while laying down or sitting, so you can do them in bed and you won’t overexert yourself while doing it.

In Thoreau’s third chapter he talks about reading and the importance of reading.  Too often now a days reading has become something that we see as boring and un-entertaining.  We don’t want to read a book when it rains and the sale of books seem to have gone down a little, especially if the book is a collection of poetry.  We don’t want to read anymore because it seems to take to long.  We want things now at this very moment and it is so hard for us to get entertain with a book.  Novels don’t seem to hold our attentions anymore which is why it is so hard to get teens to read a good book like Walden.  That is why too many people think Walden is boring that it is hard to understand.  Thoreau sys many different things about reading and what reading can do for us.  His ideas in this chapter are just as powerful and thought provoking as the past two chapters.

The very first line in the chapter is one that makes you really think about what it says.  With a little more deliberation in the choice of their pursuits, all men would perhaps become essentially students.  What Thoreau is saying is that we are all students no matter if we are in school or not.  Everyday we live we are actively learning new things.  Whenever we decide to do something we learn everything we can about that thing.  We become students to that specific thing.  For example I know someone who has been studying tuba playing for ten years or more and one who has been studying pipe organ performance for longer than ten years.  We chose or pursuits in things and we become students of those things.  We are always students no matter the age, gender, income level, or occupation.  We are students of the world.  Students of life and no matter what there is something more us to learn each day and there is a saying that follows that idea: you learn something new everyday.  Learning is something we constantly do.  Learning doesn’t end when we graduate from high school or college.

With more deliberation we can become better people based on the things we decide to do or not do.  We can decide to take time a hike through the woods and learn about the different trees and see how different animals act in the wild.  We need to take an active role in learning, but even if we don’t we still learn new things just by talking to the people around us.  We are deliberate in our choices of what we want to learn and pay attention to, even if we don’t think about it.  We still make choices about what we want to do and what we want to learn.  We need to be deliberate in our learnings and the things we allow to take up our times.  When we become students of the world we pay attention to different things and the dependence on the luxuries like computers and televisions wouldn’t matter and would become less important.  The quote continues to say and observers, for certainly their nature and destiny are interesting to all alike.  Is Thoreau saying when we make it a point to learn more we become more interesting?  I should say so, because we will be able to have more to talk about on many different subjects.  We become someone interesting to talk about because of our ideas and theories based on what we learned.

Another quote that can make a difference is A written word is the choicest of relics.  It is something at once more intimate with us and more universal than any other work of art.  It is the work of art nearest to life itself.  When he says the written word is choices of relics means that the written word will be around forever.  No one can stop the written word from being produced as long as we have writers and we always will.  The written word was seen as a way to preserve a person, making them almost immortal because they were written about.  Literature is more intimate with us because we need to think and form our own ideas with it.  It provokes our imagination and makes us imagine the setting, characters and time.  Nothing else can make us do that, sure art is thought provoking and makes us think about the work itself.  But it doesn’t make us think of other things the way literature does.  A written word is the choicest of relics.  The written word is something that people will keep going back to in order to learn about the past.  We read classic literature to help us understand things of the past.  Thoreau’s book, even if he didn’t realize it helps us understand the thinking of transcendentalists in his time because the movement was big then.

Literature, according to Thoreau is the only form of art that is closest to life because it is life itself.  People have written about life no matter if it is non-fiction or not.  Even if a story is fiction, there are still some non-fiction elements to it.  “The Awakening” for example is a great work of art that displays the norms and values place on women during the time that Kate Chopin wrote it.  While it is a fiction novel the expectation of women were still true.  When an author writes something they put a little bit of themselves into it, making it life itself.  No matter who you are, you will find something to relate to in almost any story that you read whether it is a mystery, romance or Christian fiction.  While artwork (paintings, sculptures) have reallife aspects, it doesn’t come to life the same way literature does.  He says that it is the work of art is the nearest to life is because it makes us think about life the most.  There are books and novels that provoke emotion in our hearts and makes us pay attention to what has happened in the past.  Books like Eli Weisel’s novel “Night” help us understand what it was like to survive the Holocaust, Malcolm X’s biography helps us understand why he did the things he did and why he believed what he did.  Langston Hughes’ poetry makes us think about the struggle African Americans had to endure to get the rights the so deserved.

This reading, in a high sense, not that which lulls us as a luxury and suffers the nobler facilities to sleep.  What Henry David Thoreau is saying in this part is that reading no longer is a luxury.  It puts people to sleep because they see it as boring and many do not give it half a chance.  It is already in the mind set that it boring and will put us to sleep so it does.  Reading was once such a luxury, something done as a past-time and it was seen as a high honor if someone read your work.  It was a desired quality in women to be readers and read to their husbands or children.  Now a days there aren’t too many men who would want a woman who reads a lot.  It is even rarer to find a man who reads for the fun of it.  Reading is no longer seen as a great quality; no longer a luxury for some, but a hinderance and burden for some.  Students in high school or college groan and complain when they need to read and then write about what they read.

As we see reading can have great advantages and helps us form ideas about things we wouldn’t normally think about.  Going back to the quote about the written word being the choicest of relics, it should be seen as a luxury and a accomplishment to be well read in many genres of literature.  Instead of reading a book we turn the television on.  Television and computer softwares have taken the place of luxury that books once had.  Reading was once considered something that you did to show you education, and standing but now a lot of people think reading is a sign of geekdom or being a shut in.  People relate reading to something that like their grandmother would do or something that “old people” do.  It is rare for someone in their teens to want to read and then really discuss what they read the way it was done in the time Thoreau wrote “Walden.”

When it comes to our level of reading, Henry David Thoreau is a little harsh.  He says yet we learn to read only as far as Easy reading, the primers and class-books, and when we leave school, the “Little Reading and story books, which are for boys and beginners; and our reading, our conversation and thinking, are all on a very low level.  He basically says that our reading level has become the equivalent to grade school.  He thinks that we learn to read only for the basics, only the minimum of what we would need to get a job or something.  He thinks we don’t increase our reading level to read more challenging books other than beginner books and story books that young children would be reading.  He says we learn easy reading and don’t really challenge ourselves with something harder than say Little Red Ridinghood.  And honestly how many of us can say we read and understand Shakespeare?

When our reading is on a low level, Thoreau says our thinking and our conversation levels become lower in level as well.  Which would make sense because the lower your reading ability is, the less you will be able to talk about.  It takes us back to the quote about being essential students.  When we read we learn and our reading level increases as well as our thinking and conversation levels.  So as students we learn to increase every level which helps us grow as people; but when we spend too much time focused and dependant on the so called luxuries of life like watching television all the time or spending the day on the computer instead of reading we don’t really grow higher.  We are stuck at a certain level and it is possible that the level can decrease as well.  I mean the more you read Shakespeare, Thoreau, Emerson, Euripides and others the easier it is to understand them.

Thoreau talks about so many different things in his novel.  He goes from luxuries hindering us, to us needing to cut back on things in our lives to the importance of reading.  And we are only in the third chapter! What else could this man talk about simply from spending two years in nature.  He thought about everything he dealt with on a daily basis and how the things in oure lives effect ourselves for good or for bad.  It is how we use the things we have in life that matters.  Sure computers are a luxury and they can help us keep in touch with friends and family, some use it to earn some money, others use it to shop, but it can also hinder  us because we can spend too much time on it and waste away the day doing frivolous things like watching videos on youtube.  It has become so difficult for us to sit down with a book on the porch to read.  We cannot spend two minutes away from the computer or television, so our cell phones have internet capabilities and video messaging so we can watch different things via our cell phones and other hand held things.  We need to get back to reading more.

One thing we can do to help inprove those levels, is we can <gasp> read more.  We can pick up different books and read them.  We can read a little Emerson, then a little McCourt.  If we really want a challenge try Dante’s Divine Comedy and something easier with John Grishom.  There are always things we can read to learn more and improve our reading levels and the more we read the better our levels in everything can become.  When we read the newspaper we can improve our knowledge in politics, economics and more.  We need to be more well rounded with the things we read and have for conversation purposes.  When we read more we can develop our ideas and theories more.  I have noticed the more I have read the more developed my theology has become.  Read more and become more well rounded.  I know we all have something we find interesting to read.  We can be deliberate as Thoreau said and become well versed in mystery novels.  Read.  Develop those conversation skills and thinking levels.  Thoreau was harsh, but for a reason.

Henry David Thoreau did something we today would cringe to even think about: he spent two years living in the woods, away from any civilization.  He spent those two years almost as a hermit living off the land and learning how to survive solely on the things that nature provided.  Why did he do such a thing; and then write about it?  He wanted to learn all that nature could teach him and he wrote about it so that future generations could understand his ideas.  Many of his theories and ideas came to him while he spent those two years in the woods.  He talks about different things in his book: “Walden.”  But barely anyone reads his work.  I hope to be able to help people understand his purpose more, and see into a mind that is long gone.  With his quotes we can understand why nature was so important to the transcendentalist movement, and the importance nature still has today.  Let us take a look into the world of Henry David Thoreau and see what he was talking about.  I have already talked about what he was trying to say in his first chapter of the book.  In the second chapter and on he talks about being changed and how nature could be what helps a person change.  He talks about different things in each chapter as we go through each chapter we will see the difference and similarities between his time and our own.

Throughout the book of Walden, Henry David Thoreau has many quotes that are powerful and will stick in your mind.  One of the first quotes that makes an impact is not far from the beginning of the second chapter.  Thoreau states We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake.   What he is talking in this quote is that we need to reawaken ourselves to not relying on modern conveniences not just to wake up in the morning, but to generally live our daily lives.  Thoreau already thinks that modern conveniences hinder us from advancing and really appreciating things.  He thinks we need to stop relying on things and learn to do things on our own.  Somewhat of listening to our bodies.  When I think of that quote and what he talks about, I think of the Amish and how they live their lives with no modern luxuries.  They provide for themselves and they are happy and entertain themselves without the need for cars, movies, television and the such.  Why can’t we do the same thing?

In the very next paragraph Henry tells us why he went to live in the woods which he says he did deliberately.  I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.  Henry David Thoreau went into the woods to see what nature could teach him about living the simplistic life.  He wanted to be able to think that he really lived a full life, which he thinks can be done by living simplistically.  He wanted to learn the essentials of life, the basics of living life almost like survival of the fittest.  How many of us can say that we would know how to survive without certain luxuries if we had to?  I mean if we didn’t have stores to buy our food, would we be able to go out and get it ourselves?  Many of us don’t even know how to us a gun to hunt for our food, or know which kind of plants are poisonous and which aren’t.  These are the kind of things that Thoreau basically learned during his two years in the woods.  We should learn everything that nature has to teach us no matter what it is.

Thoreau didn’t want to die and learn that he really didn’t live his life to the fullest, and I think he felt that succumbing to the luxuries of life meant he didn’t live it to the fullest.  I see it in my life and the lives of others.  Instead of going out and taking a hike in the woods, we would rather stay in and sit on the couch.  We walk on treadmills while watching television instead of going outside getting fresh air and seeing the nature around.  That is one thing we can cut out of our lives the exercise equipment we don’t need.  Who needs a treadmill when you can walk around your block, or go to the part and walk the track, or better yet, find a hiking trail at the park and hike in the woods.  Save the money and go outside and see what nature has to teach you while you are getting the exercise that you want to get.  There are always ways we can find something to help us learn everything we can through nature and the educational system.  I am like Thoreau, I don’t want to die and then learn that I didn’t live my life to the fullest.

The chapter goes on to say that we need to simplify, simplify, simplify.  By that he means we need to cut down on things.  We need to cut down our expenses, instead of having twenty purses ladies should have at most five.  He says we should have dealings with two or three companies instead of ten or more.  That can be done today; there are companies where you can have your cable, telephone, and internet in one instead of a different company for each one, but Thoreau would see all those as luxuries that we don’t need.  We need to limit our portions of everything we acquire in life; Thoreau uses the example of food saying instead of three meals a day eat one, or instead of five meals reduce it to five.  He says that everything in our lives can be reduced so that we can become more sufficient on ourselves and not the modern comforts of the day.  We need to make our lives more simplified and easier.  Too often we complain of things being hard and busy, yet nine chances out of ten; we are able to make things simpler by limiting certain things in our lives.  Making smaller proportions in our daily lives with everything we can see things changing.

Simplify, simplify, simplify.  Just one word repeated, this could be one of the most powerful quotes in the book, there are plenty of them.  Simplify…simplify.  It seems like he is answering a question not in the book.  It seems so easy doesn’t it.  Simplify.  Make things easier on yourself.  Cut out things that you don’t need, stop buying knick knacks that are useless.  People complain about being in debt, but we use credit cards and buy things on credit instead of just using the money we have.  I have heard a motto that I agree with and if Thoreau heard it I am sure he would agree as well: If you don’t have the money don’t buy it.  As I stated Thoreau was saying we needed to have smaller portions in things that we don’t need.  I look around and wonder do we need everything within our lives/homes.

Why should we live with such hurry and waste of life.  This quote comes from near the end of the second chapter which was called Where I Lived.  Thoreau asks many questions throughout this chapter and the entire book for that matter.  He asks us why do we waste life by being in such a hurry.  Why do we live lives that are so crammed with busy-ness?  We busy ourselves with things that he considered fruitless.  Many times we get up and are don’t stop until the end of the day when we get to bed.  When is it that we have time to enjoy the fruits of life?  Do we know the fruits of life?  Thoreau thought many things in life helps us waste our time, and I am sure if he lived today with these same ideas he would have a slew of things that he would see as time-wasters such as television.  In fact many people think watching television together is a good thing to do for quality time.  But according to Dr. Gary Chapman, author of “The Five Love Languages,” it could take away from the relationships in life.  What Thoreau and Dr. Chapman would say we should do is spend time talking to each other and finding ways to connect.

Henry David Thoreau had his ideas and theories based on what he learned in while living in the woods, and we haven’t cracked the surface of the book just yet.  His ideas and thoughts can be applied to how we live our lives today and even further into the future.  He talks a lot of living a simpler life and that is something we all need to try and do.  We are too focused on having the newer things and the best of those things, and that is what Thoreau says we can do without.  He went as far as to say that he could do without the post office because he didn’t receive letters often enough and he didn’t send letters often enough. We can access the internet with our desktops, laptops, cell phones, blackberries, palm pilots (do people still use those or is there something bigger and better?) why do we need to access the internet with our mobile phones?  Can’t we go a few hours away from home without access the internet?  Not to mention that instead of using a phone to call people, we use it to text message each other even if we are in the same house!

We can learn so much from Henry David Thoreau’s words and ideas.  He was so insightful and when you are reading “Walden” you feel like you are reading something that is talking about today not at least one hundred years ago, “Walden” was published in 1854.  You cannot read his words and not think about your own life and wonder if there was something you can do to make things easier on yourself and simplify things to live a better life and not waste your time as Thoreau asks.  “Walden” is such a powerful piece of literature that needs to be read.

Much like Ralph Waldo Emerson, many people haven’t even thought to read Henry David Thoreau, or they won’t because he is “too boring.”  Thoreau did something we today would cringe to even think about: he spent two years living in the woods, away from any civilization.  He spent those two years almost as a hermit living off the land and learning how to survive solely on the things that nature provided.  Why did he do such a thing; and then write about it?  He wanted to learn all that nature could teach him and he wrote about it so that future generations could understand his ideas.  Many of his theories and ideas came to him while he spent those two years in the woods.  He talks about different things in his book: “Walden.”  But barely anyone reads his work.  I hope to be able to help people understand his purpose more, and see into a mind that is long gone.  With his quotes we can understand why nature was so important to the transcendentalist movement, and the importance nature still has today.  Let us take a look into the world of Henry David Thoreau and see what he was talking about.

Of course the first place you need to start when looking at any work of literature is in the beginning.  In the very first chapter entitled Economy, Thoreau talks about people putting emphasis on minor things.  He states Most of the luxuries, and many of the so called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind…the wisest have ever lived a more simple and meager life than the poor.   I know what you are thinking: “what in the world does that mean!”  What he is trying to say is that luxuries of life things we consider the comforts of life hinder our own advancements.  How often to people say kids shouldn’t spend so much time on the computer or playing video games?  They should be outside or reading a book, this is a long the lines of what Thoreau is saying.  We have become too dependent on the luxuries in life.  We don’t NEED to computer to survive, sure some people make a living on it, but is it a necessity to survive?  Also we don’t need a television to survive.  I have heard a pastor say it perfectly “without a television I am forced to spend more time talking and interacting with my wife and kids.”  The so called luxuries of life takes away the personal contact, not just with our families but everyone around us.  Too often we are sitting in the house watching television instead of going out to the museum or catching a free show.

He goes on to say that the wisest man to ever live, lived a life of simplicity and a more meager life than those who couldn’t afford the “luxuries” of life.  Meaning the wisest of men knew that one of the richest of life would be to live simplistically because you are not focused on the luxuries and too drawn to them.  When we live by only the necessities of life, we learn more and learn to appreciate things more.  When you spend two years in the woods having to  hunt for your food and chop your own wood you appreciate the warmth and the taste of the food more.  When you need to work for what you have and earn you value it more.  We take for granted that the television will always be on, and too often when the electric goes out people are unsure of what to do.  Grab a book, light candles or camping lamps play a game of cards by the camping lam por just sit around a candle and TALK to each other.  Oh goodness we need to talk to each other sometimes.

We are led oftener by the love of novelty, and a regard for the opinions of men, in procuring it than by true utility.  These words also come for the first chapter of Thoreau’s book, several pages after the previous quote I used.  In this section Henry David points out that when we buy something whether it is a car, clothes, or even a computer (he used clothes but it could be applied to everything) we pay attention to the novelty of the thing, and then what others would think about the certain object.  When the iphone came out, how many people lined up for hours just to get one?  Why? Simply the novelty of it.  A phone should be something we use to keep in contact with people and cell phones in case heaven forbid, we get into an accident on the road.  Why do we need the iphone, the razor, venus, chocolate, chocolate mint, balckberry, etc I am more than content with a phoen called Sch-U500; a small phone that doesn’t do too much, just call and take pictures and I really don’t need to take pictures with it.  All these features on a phone in Thoreau’s eyes are so unnecessary and would be luxuries that we could do without and hinder us.  Too often we don’t care about having something for the utility of it just what others would think about us if we had it.

Thoreau emphasises this idea just a few paragraphs later when he says who can wear a patch, or two extra seams only, over the knee?  Most behave as if they believed that their prospects for life would be ruined if they should.  How many people out there would admit to wearing patches on their jeans or sewing up a pair of shorts because the pants got too short?  People often see things like that as a sign of poverty, when that isn’t the case.  People think that if they don’t have the latest fashions then they can’t make it or that they aren’t “in the know” or “cool” anymore.  Shouldn’t our clothing protect us from the elements and keep us covered?  Does God care about what we wear, of course not, so why should so much emphasis be put on how you dress?  Too often, in high school mainly, people will not even talk to some based on how they dress or even do their hair.  That is shear silliness!  It goes back to what Thoreau said about so called comforts hindering us.  It hinders our accepting others on the basis of who they are.  He adds fuel to the fire by saying We don’t worship the Graces or Parcae, but Fashion.  He is saying Fashion becomes such a high priority that we place it higher than God’s himself.

We are too quick to buy things we really don’t need, but struggle with things like tithing to church, or pay the minimum possible on our bills.  The country is too far in debt and I have to wonder why.  Could it be like Thoreau said and that we spend too much on luxuries and things we may not really need and not spend money on the important things?  We put too much emphasis on things that don’t have importance like our electronics.  What we need to do, and this is what Thoreau was getting at, is simplify life.  There is no need to have everything bigger and better than the next person.  Material things aren’t what makes us happy…it’s the relationships in our lives.  Well that ends part one of Taking a look at Walden.  Thoreau brought up so many different ideas throughout his book.  Each idea and theory can be applied to today just as Emerson is.

Almost every girl wants her boyfriend to do different things to make her feel special.  Things that are a surprise, something she won’t expect to happen or get from her boyfriend.  Some girls want something from his heart not some gift bought in the store.  Dr. Chapman stated in his book “The Five Love Languages” that one language is the language of gifts.  While some people have a primary language of gifts, others don’t, but a surprise gift can still mean and say a lot.  Some of the best gifts are the ones that don’t cost a thing, the things he creates on his own to express how he (or she) feels.  A good idea that he mentioned that I like is each person write down a list of surprises that you would like and each person try to do each of the surprises on the list in random order at random times.  Here are some ideas of random surprises that you can do off of a list.

Read a poem:  Poetry is one of the best ways a person can express their love, and back in the day of the classic literature (Brownings, Dickenson etc) poetry was one of the main things a man did to try and woo a woman.  Shakespeare is most known for his love sonnets “Shall I Compare Thee” is probably his most famous.  What you can do is pick a poem that you feel expresses your love the best: for me it was “How Do I Love Thee” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.  For an added surprise and effort you can write a poem and then read it.  From a girl’s perspective having a poem read to you that your boyfriend wrote is one of the highest forms of feeling special.  To see that he took the time to write you a poem says a lot.

Love Letters:  This day and age writing a love letter doesn’t happen all that often, unless a girl writes one to her boyfriend.  But honestly men: how many of you write a love letter to your girlfriend?  Seeing a guy’s feelings on paper shows passion on love because it takes a lot to be able to put your love into words; sometimes it can be impossible, but even simply saying “words can’t justify how I feel for you” can go a long way.  Even in an email getting a note that says something like “i appreciate you” or “you don’t know how special you are to me.”  But what I am talking about is an actual letter in your handwriting, that may be more than one page.  Put it in envelope with her name on it and leave it on the pillow or in her lunch to find.  Think of how special that would be.

Draw a cheesy picture:  Okay I know this may sound a little high schoolish, but it is still cute to find a little picture of a heart with initials in them.  I know some girls do that a lot, heck I am one of them.  But to have a guy draw a cheesy picture for you is so cute and sweet.  It meant a lot to me when my boyfriend drew an eye, then a heart, then a sheep (ewe) to be a pictogram for “I love you.”  You can draw a picture in the paint application on the computer and then send it in an email something like your own personal e-card.  Some of the love e-cards can be so impersonally and generic that making one of your own could be cute even if the pictures don’t move and it doesn’t have sound that goes with it.

Creative “I love you”:  Simply saying “I love you” all the time may not be enough all the time.  I love you can be overused sometimes.  I think coming up with unique ways of saying I love you could become a new game: like who can come up with the most creative way of saying those three little words.  You can use foreign languages like “Je T’aime” or other languages.  You can like I said before draw little pictograms or even a play on words somehow.  You can use your own personality and interests to make it more interesting.  Some guys would write a song, while others would cook a romantic dinner.  There are other ways you can come up with like little cut out letters spelling it out and you can leave it on the pillow or in the kitchen.

Surprise Dances:  When it is raining outside take her hand and lead her out into the rain for a romantic dance in the rain.  Of course you only want to do this when the weather outside is warm, you don’t want to dance in the rain and get sick right?  Dancing in the rain can be so romantic especially if you do it under the stars.  You can also drive to an empty lot like at a high school and dance under the stars.  I have always had the dream of being taken to the parking lot of the school, where a picnic is set up and a radio.  As we dance he places a crown on my head and tells me it’s my prom and I was his prom queen (I never went to prom).  Guys could always do that: every woman wants to feel like a queen and giving her a special prom where she is the queen would be something special.

Unexpected hugs and kisses:  Sure everyone expects hugs and kisses when we part and come together again.  Getting an unexpected kiss or hug is a simple surprise, especially if it is done around friends or family.  For example you could be out with a group for friends and while in a conversation you can lean over and kiss her cheek, it is the smallest way to say “I love you and in this crowd you are important to me.”  We ladies want to feel important and special and doing different thing while in public helps us feel special and important.  It doesn’t have to be a big display of affection, but something simple like hugging her from behind or a small kiss on the cheek.  Whisper in her ear that you love her and how beautiful she is will almost always put a smile on her face.

Pick Wildflowers: While on your way to see her you can stop by the side of the road in the spring or summer and pick her a handful of flowers.  They are as wonderful as store bought flowers, but also more special because you took the time to stop and pick her flowers.  It shows you were thinking of her and could also say that you are always thinking of the woman in your life.  Many times the wildflowers that you pick can’t be bought in the store, so it would be special and unique because many guys can go out a buy a dozen roses or so, but to take the time to stop and pick roses says a lot.  When my boyfriend pulled the flowers he picked from behind his back I couldn’t help but smile even though I don’t like flowers all that much.

Make Time For Her: This may not sound like something big, but some guys are so incredibly busy that there may not be a lot of time to spend together.  So making time for her makes her feel special and important.  Don’t go to that band practice one night in order to take her out to dinner, or don’t go to that game so you can sit under the trees and watch the leaves fall.  Some couples take a day out of the week and make that night their “date” night where no one and nothing else can interrupt them.  No other plans are allowed to be made for that night because that is their time together.  That shows that both parties are invested into the relationship and willing to do what it takes to make each other feel special and loved.  Instead of doing something on a normal ‘date’ day, take time off some other day and surprise her for dinner or something along those lines.

Be interested in her interests:  Every one has their own list of interests and things they like to do in their spare time.  It could be writing, sports, cards, dancing, whatever you name it.  One way to make your spouse feel special is to show interest in the things that interest them.  If she likes poetry, go with her to a poetry reading, or if he is in a band or male choir go to his concert with him.  If he plays in a sport go to one of the events and cheer so loud for him, show him your support.  If she loves to dance suggest taking a dance class together.  Interests and hobbies are important to everyone and when someone you love and care about shows an interest in your interests and hobbies it shows they really care and want to know more about you and be with you whenever they can be.

Many of the things you can do as a surprise could cross many languages like quality time and words of affirmation.  Surprises are always great when they come from someone you love.  Sometimes people can feel like the love has plateaued or things are getting strained or that it just got too comfortable.  When you do different things to surprise the one you love with different things like poems, letters, and small gestures of love go a long way and help keep the passion there and help keep the love strong.  Different things that you do help ignite the passion and keep it fired.  Having a relationship can take work and time, you can’t just let it be and take things for granted.  Every girl needs to feel loved and special.  These things and the surprises that you can come up with will help keep your girlfriend (and boyfriends they like to feel special too right?) feel special.

Langston Hughes is one of the best poets in the world of poetry.  His work says a lot about life as an African American and the struggles the culture had to go through to get where they are today.  Langston Hughes words leap off the page and make the reader think and contemplate what he has said.  He has many different types of poetry; one of which is called a blues poem.  Blues poetry have a strict pattern: one long line, repeated, and a third line that rhymes with the first two.  Sometimes the second line is repeated, but altered slightly.  The theme of the blues poetry are the same: being in the midst of trouble, friendliness, hunger, and disappointment in love.  Langston Hughes is probably one of the best blues poet I have ever read.

Hughes’ poem “Po’ Boy Blues” has every one of the themes mentioned above.  He talks about the troubles he finds and struggling to make it in the North.  Then he talks about meeting someone and falling in love only to have her leave him and “almost lose ma mind.”  He uses the dialect that African American’s may have used during the Harlem Renessaince.  He starts the poem out saying “When I was home de sunshine seemed like gold.”  To him everything seemed good and happy when he was home.  Where home was in this poem we are unsure of he doesn’t say, but it was probably in the south since he mentions the North being cold.  To him just having another day in the sun brought happiness and light to a world of darkness.  Sunshine is a symbol of happiness of gold of course a symbol of riches so when he was home with families and friends the narrator could have felt like a rich man.  When he was home the sunshine felt as abundant and as precious as gold.  Then being in the North or even simply America it didn’t seem as abundant or clouded by hatred and other things that would make the world around seem cold and heartless.

After the lines about the sunshine being gold he says “since I came up North de whole wide world’s turned cold.”   This line gives the sense that the world seemed completely different from what he knew at home.  It was cold and dark something that he wasn’t used to.  At this point the reader could always speculate why the world seemed cold; maybe he seen new things, things he never wanted to see probably more of how segregated everything was and the African Americans were being treated, not better than he had hoped.  The next stanza starts out saying “I was a good boy never done wrong….” and ends with “..But this world is weary an’ de road is hard an’ long.”  The reader gets the idea that the narrator did everything he was told, everything he was supposed to do and never did anything wrong or to get himself into trouble.  Now he is wondering why the road is so hard now.  It is like all of life is a struggle.  It goes with the idea that the grass isn’t always greener.  One could think that being free wasn’t really “free” after all because there was more struggle now than before.

Saying that the road is long and hard gives insight to the long road ahead to finally finding equality.  It will take years for the African Americans to get the equality they deserved and Hughes most likely saw how long and hard it would be which could be what this whole poem is about.  The struggles to find equality and that everything wasn’t always better as people may have thought.  His poem could have been a way to make people listen and see the struggle that was going on a take interest and try to make things better.  Hughes knew the struggle and pain his people would face in the future.  I think his saying “I’ve been a good boy” makes me think that he felt that doing as he was told and working hard to get to a certain point meant he and others deserved the equality for the work the did, and he was right!  His third stanza tells of how hard it was to get that equality and some of the consequences of trying hard to fight and get what he deserved.

The beginning of the third stanza “I fell in love with a gal” makes me wonder if the gal is really a gal and not a symbol for the idealistic American so many people look for everyday.  Many have referred to America in terms of a woman, saying “she is a powerful country” or “her people” so why wouldn’t one fall in love with a gal that is represented of America and the dream of the perfect American life.  The last line of the stanza he says “an’ almost lose ma mind.” Could it be that trying to achieve that perfect American life as an African American was such a struggle he almost lost his mind.  Or that realizing that almost no African Americans could achieve that dream during that time was possible could make one lose their mind.  I think Hughes was trying to make people see the damage the struggle had not just in a physical way, but also mentally and emotionally.  Struggling for your own equality for work, education, and more had to have been draining in all aspects that would make anyone lose their minds.  The third stanza as well as the whole poem could have been full of symbolism which is the point of poetry isn’t it?

Langston Hughes ends the poem saying “I’s so weary I wish I never been born.”  Could he be saying the hatred and pain he saw day in and day out for himself and his people made him just not want to exist, to never be born.  I have to wonder if Hughes knew of the impact of his poetry as he was writing it.  The last line is a powerful one, probably the most powerful of the poem.  He talks of struggle and falling in love with the idea of a perfect America, yet the struggle and hard work to get there and fight for what’s right was so draining, he felt it would have been better if he just had never been born.  What a feeling to have while struggling to achieve the rights and equality not just for yourself, but an entire culture.  The beginning of the stanza is simply “weary weary, weary early in de morn.”  Morning is supposed to be a time of being refreshed and rejuvenated.  A time when you feel reday to take on the world, but when you are really taking on the world or what seems to be the world, morning isn’t a time of being refreshed, but a time of being so weary of having to face it all over again.

Langston Hughes’ poem is one of many powerful ones he wrote contained in the book “Dream Keeper.”  His work made such a difference in the world; he changed the mindset of so many people.  He made people see what was right and what needed to be done.  Langston Hughes may not have know the power his poetry had, but he molded the future and made it a better place and opened the doors for many young people.  He showed with hard work and determination, anything and everything is possible.  Reading Langston Hughes’ poetry takes you into a world you have never known and seen.  You will see poetry at it’s best and what it should be, Langston Hughes is one of the best poets and his work will be remember for a long time.  Take the time and read at least one of his poem, you will never think the same and you will want to read more.  I guarantee it.

Do you like mysteries that make you think and have an ending you would never expect?  Do you like to have a storyline that will captivate you and hold your attention?  Lastly do you want a book that would have minor classical literature elements?  Then the novels written by Matthew Pearl the books for you.  Right now he only has two novels on the market: “The Poe Shadow” and “The Dante Club.”  His novels are based on different literature elements.  “The Dante Club” is a murder mystery that revolves around the gruesome details Dante uses to describe the different circles of Hell, and “The Poe Shadow” revolves around the mysterious death of Edgar Allen Poe.  They will undoubtedly hold your attention from the beginning to the end.  You wouldn’t want to put the novels down until you finish them.

“The Dante Club” is a book that goes into exact details of the murder.  If you have a weak stomach, it may make you a little queasy.  The suspects are the men who were translating the Inferno from Italian to English so that more people could read it: Lowell, Longfellow, Oliver Holmes, and J.T. Fields.  While they are the prime suspects, they spend their time trying to find the real killer.  The novel will take you all throughout Boston as more murders are committed as they would appear in the Inferno according to the sins of the person.  “The Dante Club” was said to be “Captivating…Pearl keeps this mystery sparkling with erudition.’  That was from the New York Times, and The Wall Street Journel said “A page turner…Pearl’s book will delight the Dante novice and expert alike.”  Many have said great things about this novel, and there is plenty of reason for  it.  Pearl is said to be one of literary fictions newest shining stars because he seems to have a gift to weave such intricate plots and keep his audience captivated through those intricate designs.

Pearl starts out with the first murder, it is something that you are unsure of what to expect.  The details that Pearl uses to describe this and the subsequent murders are wonderful.  It is almost as if you are the chief of police right there at the scene seeing it all.  The first murder is probably the most grossest one because Pearl goes into detail about the maggots and other things crawling on the dead body.  Right at the beginning you wonder where the author is going to take this story and if the murders will get all the more gruesome as he proceeds.  As the club investigates the murders you start to have ideas of who you think committed the murders.  I found myself to be wrong with every turn.  He takes the novel in so many directions that keep you on your toes.  “The Dante Club” is really like no other murder mystery that I have read.  Pearl had to have really done his research on the Dante images because he was right on the mark with how Dante describes the punishments in the Inferno.

The interesting thing Pearl does is instead of naming the chapters: chapter one or chapter five, he uses the words canticle which reflect that Dante used the words Canto to separate different parts of his poem.  Even though he chose to mimic the murders after the punishments Dante talks about, Pearls words are easy to understand and well read.  He doesn’t go into using big words or even some of the words that the original Inferno was based on.  Pearl takes a classic poem that many people have heard of but never read because of the difficulty and made it something of interest for all readers a like.  He makes The Inferno an all new story that is familiar, yet different and new for those who pick up this Pearl novel.  He has such a passion for his writing, and it shows throughout this novel and his first: “The Poe Shadow.”  The reader can tell he has a love and desire to read and write about the classics that no one seems interested in anymore.  He brings them into a new light.

“The Poe Shadow” is the first book Pearl has written.  This novel as the title suggest revolves around the father of the macabre: Edgar Allen Poe.  The main character is enraged that the local papers do not go into more detail of the authors death and he begins his own investigation on how and why Poe had died.  While Edgar Allen Poe’s death is still a mystery Pearl puts his own ideas into this story to make a thrilling argument.  His main character spends most of his life searching of the man who could have been the person Poe modeled many of his characters around.  He thinks he found the man and tries to persuade him into helping him investigate Poe’s death and find out the real reason why no one has written a more in depth story about and why no one else seemed to be dishearted that this genius of literature has passed away.  As well as why his funeral was empty with only three men in attendance.  Quentin Clark (the main character) soon gets himself into more trouble than he bargained for.

The story starts out with a “letter” to the court written by Clark explaining the book.  It draws the reader in and makes them interested in why he would be considered an “outcast, a liar, a criminal and a clever, vile murderer.”  Pearl got highly ingenious with this novel because he mixed fictional characters with real ones who were a part of Poe’s life.  While it is ingenious and a remarkable idea, it also shows that Pearl knows about the subject he wrote about: Poe himself.  One would need to do an extensive amount of research to find out who was a part of Poe’s life and more importantly HOW they were a part of his life.  Pearl also talks about events that happened during his final days, such research: Pearl really knows his stuff and that is part of what makes his novels unique.  He doesn’t only take the time to write them, but also to do research into the subject and know everything he possibly can about it.

He separates different parts of the novel into “books.”  This helps separate one plot of the story from another, the first book he is in Boston working on a plan and thinking about why no one cared about the death of his favorite author, then the second book follows him across the world to Paris in search of the man he thinks Poe modeled one of his detective characters after.  The book three he heads back to Boston to put things in action more and really go in search of the events of Poe’s death and find out the men where at his funeral and why they didn’t have more in the papers.  Pearl keeps you captivated this way and the different books helps the reader from getting too confused about what is going on.  He works hard to make sure the readers don’t get lost.

Matthew Pearl is a phenomenal author and has the ability to captivate his audiences with stories about classic literature.  The cover art for his books are wonderful and is what draw your attention into the book and makes you wonder what it is about.  The sides resemble old fashion books with old school fonts of the side, “The Poe Shadow” has P’s on the “The Dante Club” has a D.  If you enjoy mysteries then Matthew Pearl is the author for you!

Every genre of music has their top singers that seem to have all the greatest hits.  Christian music is no different there are plenty of artists who are considered among the top artists within the genre.  They have songs that make the audience think and want more from them.  There are artists like any genre that could be one hit wonders, and there are others who will have hit after hit that top the charts as soon as it comes out and holds that position for many weeks.  These artists are ones that know what makes people think and will tug at their heartstrings, not to mention making them want to have a better personal relationship with Christ.

Jeremy Camp: His songs come from the heart and you can tell as you listen to them.  His words pierce your heartstrings and makes you really think about your relationship with God.  His song “Walk By Faith” can be a song of redemption for many, it could many make it through a hard time they are dealing with.  I know it has helped me.  He has ballads like “Walk By Faith,” and then he has rock like songs such as “Take My Life.”  Whatever your tastes in music are, Jeremy Camp has it and he will become one of your favorites as you listen to his music.

Natalie Grant:  Her voice is like an angel’s.  She has ballad like songs and can bring tears to your eyes as you listen to the words.  The melodies of her songs are soft and tender almost mimicking the personality of God, soft and tender.  Her song “Held” is an amazing piece.  The chorus goes “this is what it means to held how it feels when the sacred is torn from life and you survive this is what it is to be loved to know that the promise is when everything fell we’d be held.”  Gives hope to the audience because it helps us remember that we will be held and carried through some of the hardest moments in our lives.

Casting Crowns:  This group is probably one of the most popular.  Many people who listen to Christian radio will hear at least one Casting Crowns songs.  Their song “Who Am I” is another powerful song.  It talks about who am I that God would send his only son to die on the cross for us.  It really puts into perspective why Jesus died for us and the feelings and emotions the revolve around knowing that Christ died for our.  They are another group that has any form of music that people would be interested in such as pop like songs to ballad like songs which is what “Who Am I” is.

Nicole C Mullen: Nicole seems to be newer to the Christian scene, but I could be wrong.  She has a wonderful soprano voice that is unique from many others.  Her most popular song would probably be “My Redemeer Lives,” but she has many other wonderful and powerful songs.  I know I keep saying powerful, but how else would I describe these songs?  Her song “One Touch” is about the Samaritan woman who had so much faith that if she just touched the hem of Christ’s garment then she would be healed.  There are many people listening to her songs that feel the same way.  If we could just touch Christ’s robe, then we would be healed.  The first time I heard it, it made me cry because the song described how I was feeling.

David Crowder Band:  This group has a song that my church sings called “Undignified.”  It is such a fun song, and there are times when a Christian can be undignified when we praise God because we get moved and start to dance around and sometime jump in place.  Many people would think that non-conventional churches that promote dancing, tambourines and jumping that they are “undignified.”  The band is saying they are proud to be considered undignified if it means they are getting excited and energized about praising God.

Rebecca St. James:  St. James is probably the most known female Christian musician.  I know she was the first female artist that I have heard when I started listening to Christian music.  Her voice is very distinguished; you would be able to tell that a song is from her.  You can hear on of her songs on the Chronicles of Narnia soundtrack, the song is called “Lion.”  It’s a great song I play it all the time as I am getting ready to go somewhere.  She is probably most known for her “wait for me” campaign which is about saving your virginity for marriage. She has a book about it and a song where she is asking her future husband to wait for her as she waits for him.  It is a great song to help encourage teens to wait for marriage.

Jay Menendes:  I read about Jay in a magazine called “Relevent,”  they were talking to him about his own campaign called “I Am Constance.”  He is trying to get the word out about human trafficking and that it still occurs and how horrible it actually is.  He is different from the others on this list because he is a rapper.  I think too many people have the mistaken idea that rap music is just about using swear words and talking about violence.  Jay is one of the artists that proves that stereotype wrong, and that rap music can make a difference in the world.  He has a soft voice that makes  you think he has felt some hardships within his own life to add to his songs and the words that he is singing.  You can tell he sings them from his heart and that he is truly invested into his work.

Pillar:  Pillar is a rock band.  Many of their songs can deal with fighting the addiction to pornography.  That is a subject that many people will not be so willing to sing about.  They have a sound that will keep you wanting more and the music really gets into your head.  You will find yourself bobbing your head to the music and after you hear a song, you will most likely be singing it.  ‘Frontline” is a great song about serving on the front line in the army of God.  Meaning that you are not afraid to declare you are a Christian.  Our battle cry is our faith and our songs.

Listening to Christian radio can help you hear some musicians that you haven’t heard before, but it also can help you know who are the most popular.  When you are starting into the Christian music, you want to try listening to some of the popular artists then looking for ones that may not be as popular that fit your musical style.  I think  everyone should listen to at least one song by everyone of the popular artists.  That way you will get a good idea of whose music you like and you can find people who have similar sounds.

When you are planning a trip to Washington DC you know there are places you need to see.  Everyone tells you which places to go and when such as the going to see the monuments at night or going to the Air and Space Museum first.  Everyone is different and wants to do things differently or only go to certain places.  Though not knowing what to expect when you are going into the city can make it hard to decide where you want to go and what you want to see first.  Sometimes you may want to do a lot of research trying to plan the trip in advanced instead of just going into the city and making up plans as you go.  There are always things you can do and honestly you cannot do it all in a week, some say it could take months others say it could take years.  No matter what you plan are doing there are a few things that’s everyone should see.

Holocaust Museum:  This is the most powerful museum in Washington D.C.  No matter which ones you go to, this one NEEDS to be on the list.  While it can be difficult to make it through, it is far worth it.  You are taken through different floors talking about the history of the Holocaust.  It is a self guided tour so you go at your own pace and you and just bypass certain things.  Along certain walls are quotes from US Presidents, Authors like Eli Weisel and Adolf Hitler himself.  With his quotes you can see the evilness of his mind.  The Auschewitz section is probably the hardest section to go through.  They have an area called Voices of Auschewitz which is a room with audio recordings of survivors of the concentration camp talking about what it was like and the things they needed to endure.  The windows were etched with the names of those who survived the Holocaust and there was also a wall of Rememberance where you can light a candle in remembrance of the horrible things that happen during this time period.  We need to remember what happen and look to keeping it from happening again.

Natural Museum of History: This was a great place for families.  There are so many things to see and do.  You can touch certain items, play games, and take little quizzes about some of the things that you have seen and read.  One of the greatest things to see in this museum is of course the Hope Diamond.  It is so mesmerizing and holds your attention for as long as you let it.  If you can pull yourself away from the Hope Diamond there are exhibits on ocean life, mammals, dinosaurs, gems and rocks, western cultures and Korean culture as well as other things.  There is a new exhibit: the live Butterfly exhibit where you can go in and see butterflies in a man made habitat.  They can and will land on you and you can watch them eating, and hatching from their cocoons.  This is one exhibit that you would have to pay for but it is way worth the six bucks you are charged.  There are also special exhibits; different ones at different times.  When I was there (October 22) the special exhibits were photography of the Amazon and space things like meteors and things like that.  I’m sure in a few weeks the exhibits will be something new.  It also has a place outside the museum that is a little garden, there the squirrels are so friendly they will eat from your hands.

Museum of American Indian:  This museum is fairly new and another great museum in the Smithsonian Mall (The Holocaust Museum isn’t a part of the Smithsonian).  You will see different plants on the outside that are native to the area, so are still around others are just in that area.  Outside the main enterance is an obliesk that has many different designs significant to the American Indian culture.  Once inside you are flooded with amazing artifacts from the native Indians from the area.  You will see the bead work and learn of the significance of each one, as well as the different axes and what they were used for.  As you go on you will see the Native American culture from past to present.  It is great to see how a culture can evolve and the significance of different things like a mask used for celebrations of the creator.

Hirshorn Museum of Sculptures: The Hirshorn is an interesting museum of sculptures that make you think and sometimes wonder why they are considered art.  Some things just didn’t make sense and didn’t look like it could be art.  Other things were simply genius and I loved seeing the different sculptures in different forms like marble, sand, bronze etc.  There is also an observation deck on the third floor which gives you perfect view of the Smithsonian Mall.  You see the Natural Museum of History, the Sculpture Garden, National Gallery of Art and a few other things which make for a wonderful picture.  There is also a great fountain in the center of the building which changes height at different times, it is fun to watch sometimes.

National Archives:  Everyone has seen the movie “National Treasure” when Nicolas Cage steals the Declaration of Independence; this is where the Declaration is held safe.  There are many different documents that show the history of the United States, some I admit can be boring while others can be really neat to see.  There of course is a line to see the Declaration, Bill of Rights, and other important documents like Madison vs Monroe documents.  As you come into the room you are met with the Magna Carta which I was so amazed at how well preserved it was.

War Memorials:  These are always wonderful.  You can go to the museums during the day and visit the memorials in the evening.  The World War 2 memorial is amazing and awe-inspiring.  It makes you remember how special it is to be in the military and the risks that have been made to help keep this country safe.  Tucked away in the trees to the left of the Lincoln Memorial (as you are walking down) is a World War 1 Memorial to remember those who served in the war who lived in and around Washington D.C  Farther up from this memorial is the new Korean War Memorial.  It is a beautiful memorial and the stone soliders seem lifelike.  On the opposite side is the Vietnam Memorial.  The amount of names on this memorial brings tears to your eyes and heart.  Even if you don’t have a friend or family member on the wall it is still special to do a rubbing of one or two of the names.  Also near this memorial is one of three soilders and one for nurses that helped heal the wounded from the war.

National Gallery of Art: Sculpture Garden:  This is much like the Hirshorn Garden; it has many different sculptures, so cool looking and others somewhat confusing.  One of my favorites in this garden is a bunny on a rock which is made to mimic Roudan’s “The Thinker.”  It was really cute and differnt.  The cafe in the garden is a little expensive, but almost all the museums cafes are, so nothing new there.  It is just a nice place to sit down with a good book or take a walk with that someone special.  It helped make my trip with my special someone more special.

There are so many different things you can do and see within Washington D.C.  These are some of the greatest things you can see, but not everyone would agree, they are what I thought was the greatest parts of the city that I have seen.  Sure there were other things and some have more significance to me such as the Navy Memorial behind the archives building.  Next time you are planning a vacation for the family or for yourselves, you should really consider checking out Washington D.C.  Though I suggest getting a hotel outside the city and riding the metro into the city for less confusion and cheaper prices.