Take Your Time...

...and let's remember how fortunate we all are to be alive.

Let's all take a moment to think of every single person around us. Every person we walk by on the street is going through something difficult that we are unaware of. There is no one in this world who has nothing he or she is struggling with. Yes, we can all be GENUINELY happy but still have more negative thoughts going on in our heads that may never see the light of day.

You never know how much one interaction or even a smile can become a memorable moment in someone else's life. SO LET'S DO THAT!!!

Toodle-oo!!!

RY

Even Teachers

In celebration of school starting, watch this video of teachers from a school district in Iowa singing a parody of One Day More from Les Miserables about school starting! 

Dat Writer Life Tho

Dating a writer is pretty cool. Is that a good enough adjective? Super cool? Hella cool? I don’t know.. I’m not as advanced of a walking dictionary like he is. But yes, it’s cool to witness the full writing process from a little lightbulb idea to a full-length novel. Before all this, I knew that writing wasn’t simply sitting by the beach sipping a daiquiri with a leather-bound journal, but I suppose I never fully realized the heavy lifting that aspiring authors put themselves through to even have a small glimpse of success on the other end.

It’s not something I used to really think about – when I walked through a Barnes and Noble, I saw zillions of books on the shelves; enough to make it seem like publishing a book is easier done than said. Now, after plenty of lengthy conversations with my writer-boyfriend, I’ve been schooled with a host of do’s and don’ts for writers, long lists of potential barriers, and an inside view of what makes a writer’s mind tick. It’s absolutely fascinating to stand on the brink between the unaware outsider and the life of a budding writer. All of his successes and insecurities become my successes and insecurities, and all I can really do is keep believing in him – which isn’t too hard because he’s the best doggone writer I’ve ever seen (and no, I’m not biased….).

I think the most interesting thing about all this is watching him try to balance his life and make time for everything even when all he wants to do is sit at his desk and pour all of his ideas onto a page. He does a good job – sometimes he needs a pep talk to get him to breathe some fresh air outdoors, but he really is good about knowing that the real world needs him just as much as his characters’ worlds.

All this is to say, I can’t wait to see where his dreams take him. He spends hours and hours researching what he should expect and what will get him further in the industry. He spends even MORE hours creating complex worlds in his stories and tweaking them to make them perfect for him. He’ll probably get super embarrassed that I’ve said all this so I think I’m going to stop now……..

Tooooooooodles

RY

Cheers!!!!

TO A NEW SCHOOL YEAR!!! I wish I were participating. I miss having all my friends live an arm's-throw away and sleeping on that tiny bed. Cherish it!!!! HAVE FUN!!!! DO GOOD THINGS!!!! I'll see you on the other side!


Oh and don't forget to prepare something good for this...

Toodley doo

RY

SCHOOL school sChOol

School is about to start! I'm ready to have a schedule again. I've only been truly on vacation for a week, after taking summer classes, working with a camp, and working with a pre-orientation program, but just this one week has given me way too much free time. 

My schedule is pretty light academic-wise, but heavy as it always is in extracurriculars. I'm taking Chinese, Chinese Literature, and Psychology Research Methods I. Also taking orchestra, wind ensemble, clarinet quartet, and woodwind quintet, and participating in Taekwondo Club, LIT Dance Crew, and working in a Psych research lab. So while most people are done with classes at 3:00 or so on most days, I go until 5, 6, or 7. Hooray, the life of a musician :P Rae-Yao and I have spent many school days in evening rehearsals, auditions, practice rooms, etc. etc. It's definitely a love-hate relationship. 

Speaking of practicing, both LIT and Taekwondo have performances already--tomorrow and Tuesday. Go Wake Forest for planning events before the performance groups on campus have time to do anything at all....

I've moved back into the dorm, I'm with my suite of 5 other friends, I have a few days to relax and prepare for school and mooch off of freshman orientation free stuff. I'm ready :)

Online Haters

Anyone who creates content to put online is putting themselves out there - any person can view their stuff and form an opinion about it. I do it too! I go down YouTube black holes all the time until I'm watching rabbits bouncing on trampolines....:P Every single person on this earth has the right to their own opinion about what they see on the internet. Today, I want to address the internet HATERZ. 

Y U Hate So MUCH???

I mean, there are plenty of times when I watch a well-thought-out video or read a nicely written blog post, but still completely disagree with the content. Sometimes I think the content is straight-up dumb, but you know what? My life goes on. I click off of it and move on to the next potentially time-wasting video. If I feel strongly about something, then I will really think about the creator/writer's intentions and why I personally think it has affected me in that way. My response is something constructive and addresses multiple sides of what could be going on there.

I follow a lot of Youtube creators who constantly are bombarded with haters who comment on their videos behind the veil of anonymity and harshly judge every aspect of their lives. People can be so cruel online and they express their opinions in the most devastatingly demeaning and judgmental ways. WHAT'S THE POINT??? These are human beings you are talking about, and chances are, they are reading your comments! If you don't like something they are creating online, then click away and move on!! Or at least think about why you don't like something and form a constructive response for them to consider for future content. 

You just never know what's going on in someone else's life, and you never know if they are close to their tipping point, even if they appear to share their entire lives online. You don't want to be that last straw. Cyber bullying, man. That is a whole 'nother subject in itself...

Toodlekins 

RY

Hummus

I love hummus. Hummus is like healthy ranch. I like to dip tomatoes in it because I try to stay away from bread products, but I bought a box of cherry tomatoes from Costco and now I have too many tomatoes and they're ripening too fast help me

Hair and Superficial Things.

If you are looking for a deep and insightful blog post, this one may not be for you. Maybe check out RL’s previous post for a more meaningful 5 minutes of your life…Today the topic is: HAIR. And to make it even more conceited, I’m going to blab about MY hair.

So you all probably know I chopped off a lot of my hair last year around Halloween, and since then, I’ve been routinely going back to maintain the just-off-the-shoulders look. Now that I’ve moved away from Winston and away from my favorite hairdresser, my hair is at a crossroads. And I am not sure which direction to take! Is this a first-world problem, or WHAT.

The only thing I miss about having long hair is the versatility of looks I can achieve, even without any products …because I don’t own any anyway. I miss the messy bun on the top of my head, the swishy ponytail, and I am just now back to being able to pull off the summer-camp-braided-pigtails look. BUT, the short hair is so much easier to deal with, and I love how light my hair feels when it’s shorter.

I like to exercise, and shorter ponytails are nice because they don’t stick to my nasty sweaty shoulders, but at the same time, they are the stubbiest things and stick straight out of my head! Right now, my ponytails have a nice curl and bounce to it without being as long as an actual pony’s tail. So I don’t know – should I go get it cut again? Or should I maintain the length just past my shoulders and just trim it? My hairdresser is convinced that one day I’ll just tell her to chop it all off, and I was convinced of that at one point too, but now that it’s a teeny big longer, I’m liking it! BUT AM I LIKING IT? I DON’T KNOWWW

So there is my struggle of the day. Any thoughts from my adoring fans???  Ha I'm lame.

TOODLES!!!

RY

Perpetuation of Rape Culture

*trigger warning*

I was procrastinating doing IRB training a few days ago (hooray second IRB training of the summer...on the plus side I'll be working in a psychology lab next year in a pretty cool topic!) and reading my friend's tumblr (check it out, she's cool and posts fun stuff) and came across this informative and useful yet horrible post--

"Through a rapist's eyes. A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victims and here are some interesting facts:"

1] The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle.

They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun! , braid

or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to

go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common

targets.

2] The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women

who's clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors

around to cut clothing.

3] They also look for women using their cell phone, searching through

their purse or doing other activities while walking because they are

off guard and can be easily overpowered.

4] The number one place women are abducted from / attacked at is

grocery store parking lots.

5] Number two is office parking lots/garages.

6] Number three is public restrooms.

7] The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman

and quickly move her to a second location where they don't have to

worry about getting caught.

8] If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged

because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going

after you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming.

9] These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas,or

other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their

hands.

10] Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to

the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince

these guys you're not worth it.

POINTS THAT WE SHOULD REMEMBER:

1] If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or

with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask

them a question, like what time is it, or make general small talk:

can't believe it is so cold out here, we're in for a bad winter. Now

that you've seen their faces and could identify them in a line- up,

you lose appeal as a target.

2] If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell Stop or Stay back! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.

3] If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of

it and carries it with him wherever he goes,) yelling I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding it out will be a deterrent.

4] If someone grabs you, you can't beat them with strength but you can do it by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm between the elbow and armpit or in the upper inner thigh - HARD. One woman in a class this guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it; it really hurts.

5] After the initial hit, always go for the groin. I know from a

particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy's parts it

is extremely painful. You might think that you'll anger the guy and

make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a woman who will not cause him a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble, and he's out of there.

6] When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers

and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible. The instructor did it to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.

7] Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don't dismiss it, go with your instincts. You may feel little silly at the time, but you'd feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.

FINALLY, PLEASE REMEMBER THESE AS WELL ....

I know you are smart enough to know these pointers but there will be some, where you will go "hmm I must remember that" After reading, forward it to someone you care about, never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your

body. If you are close enough to use it, do it.

2. Learned this from a tourist guide to New Orleans : if a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you.... chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car: Kick out the back

tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like

crazy. The driver won't see you but everybody else will. This has

saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping,eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side,put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU CLOSE the DOORS , LEAVE.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or

parking garage:

a. Be aware: look around your car as someone may be

hiding at the passenger side , peek into your car, inside the

passenger side floor, and in the back seat. (DO THIS TOO BEFORE RIDING A TAXI CAB) .

b. If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the

passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling

them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

c. Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and

the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest

your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are

horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot).

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP IT! It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a

good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

I fully support educating people in order to hopefully prevent rape. In no society should a group of people (especially when that group of people makes up about half the population) have to fear being alone, tailor their appearance to satisfy society, and be afraid of the unfair justice system. 

There are two things wrong with this post, however. 
1) Men are raped as well as women, although they make up a much smaller percentage of rape victims (about 9%). In addition, males are not the only rapists. While this post does target a female audience, it is important to keep in mind that rape victims are not exclusively female. 
2) This post aims to teach victims-to-be to not be victims rather than teach rapists to not rape. While highly informative, it also perpetuates rape culture. 

Rape culture is rarely defined, but has been described as "a culture in which dominant cultural ideologies, media images, social practices, and societal institutions support and condone sexual abuse by normalizing, trivializing, and eroticizing male violence against women and blaming victims for their own abuse."

I came across this article that uses evidence criticizing the idea that although "rape is certainly a serious problem, there's no evidence that it's considered a cultural norm." This article blames the lack of attention to rape culture on the fact that not many fully understand what rape is, although now society is beginning to realize the diversity of how rape can be defined, and that it is not just limited to "forcing [oneself] on someone." 

In order for rape culture to be eradicated, male privilege must be recognized as a problem, the justice system, government, and society must stop victim blaming, and victims must be supported and learn that speaking up is okay. As well as a multitude of other things.

Rape is a sensitive topic, but it should not be avoided altogether. When no one around you speaks, it becomes difficult for you to. Support those who strive to move forward and help others do so too. 

Birthday Boy!

Ok so today (or what's left of today) is the birthday of the Daily RAEport's biggest fan LEE! YES DUDE YES

This was our first request for a blog topic. So obviously we must obey. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEE

Work and Weekends

Still working at my new job (it’s getting less and less new...) and loving it! Well, it’s pretty much like any other job at the beginning – absorbing a WHOLE lot of information and learning how to do maneuver around the zillions of procedures for various things. Some days, I twiddle my thumbs and count the specks of dust floating in front of my computer screen, but lately, I am consistently more able to involve myself in bigger projects and have higher level conversations with my coworkers that aren’t characterized by ME asking THEM a bazillion questions about what the heck I was supposed to do with the piles of paper on my desk.

But, come Friday, the light at the end of the tunnel has never shone so brightly for me. Even with almost 2 decades of schooling and busy schedules, I don’t think I’ve ever looked forward to going home so much on a Friday, kicking off my shoes (and oftentimes, clothes too), and just hanging out with the knowledge that I don’t have to be presentable for the next 2 days. I guess it’s because in school, I didn’t have to always bring my A-game; I could weasel my way through my class schedule half-asleep if I wanted to and the only person I was affecting was me. However, now, I have to always sit with good posture,  and keep my best-quality thinking cap on my head because my actions not only affect me, but the operations of the company as a whole. Well, I like to think that I have that sort of impact in some way….

In any case, today is Friday, and I cannot WAIT to drive back to Winston, stuff myself with enough delicious food to last me the next work week, and bask in the rays of the overhead light in my room at home…and maybe the sun too.

TOODLEZ

RY

Just Logistics or Male Privilege?

In today's newspaper, there was a short article about a police officer arrested after breaking and entering and assault in Charlotte. He was released on a $2,000 bond and is now on paid administrative leave and under investigation. 

He is on paid administrative leave. He is being paid. This was a short article and I'm sure there are details that have been left out, but it seems that Officer Jamerson was definitely found guilty of the charges, and the victim of assault shows evidence of it. So why is he still being paid? Doubtless, there are logistics and official investigations required before he is fired, but during this time period, I don't think he should still have a salary. 

What would happen if the officer was female? If the victim was male? I have no idea what the stats are for police officer assault based on gender, but I'd venture a guess that if the victim was male, the case would be taken more seriously--if only subconsciously. 

This made my friend and me angry. 

Rant over. :) Here's a picture of a monkey at Shoushan Mountain in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 

Okay, Animals, YOU WIN. ~ RY

Underappreciation; My Philosophy

Recently, my friend and I had a conversation that occurred when we were debating whether to take the elevator or the stairs. Oh, that internal struggle. Should I be healthy and take the stairs? It's only 2 floors up...but the elevator means I don't have to walk.... Almost every time I find myself in this "predicament" (if it even qualifies as a predicament), I almost always end up taking the stairs (excepting those few months after I broke my left knee--and even then, I was stubborn and often took the stairs, despite the pleading of my friends to accept my handicap). 

My philosophy is that I am healthy. I have two legs, the ability, and the energy to take the stairs. If my only reason for taking the stairs is to get exercise, then by all means I should do it. "Getting enough exercise" is not something much of the world even considers, whether because lack of other resources are prioritized or because there is a lack of physical ability. Therefore, it is a privilege to be able to take the stairs and I should do it. 

Another form of recognizing and appreciating what one has comes in the form of food. The USA wastes 40% of consumable food, and Winston-Salem is third in the nation for highest rate of food insecurity--meaning that we have a considerable percentage of the population that more often than not does not know where their next meal is coming from. Too often, especially being on a college campus where most students are considered wealthy, I see plates of half-eaten food being thrown away. No matter how "bad" the food in our cafeteria is (it is often too dry, bitter, or mushy, but should not be considered "bad" in comparison to what others have to eat), I add hot sauce to help the taste and finish it. In Taiwan, at least, uneaten food is collected in compost and fed to pigs: here, it goes in the trash. 

When RY and I were little, we were taught to not waste food, and my nun aunt took it a step further and taught me the way the nuns do it--by filling a bowl with water after finishing eating, whatever residue is left turns into a form of soup. After drinking it, there is little to no waste at all. I gladly induct myself into the Clean Plate Club :)

Not taking things for granted is something people, especially people in America and other privileged countries, struggle with. What USA has labeled as the poverty line is considered inconceivably rich in other countries, and we constantly forget that. TIME magazine has published many articles disproving the correlation between happiness and GDP. So whenever you complain or think about complaining, think about whether or not it is something that you are taking for granted in the first place. 

"Maybe you do have the most to lose, but that's only because you've got the most." 
          --Margaret Houlihan, M*A*S*H

RL

Beyonce Break

I just want to share this. Enjoy.

RL

Oklahoma is Really Flat

Summer mini-vaca trip #2--Oklahoma City!

My aunt is a Buddhist nun at one of the largest monasteries in Taiwan, Zhong Tai Zen Monastery. I went there last year on an independent research grant and met with her as we do every time we go back to Taiwan! Last summer, she was transferred to a Zhong Tai branch in OKC called Buddha Mind Monastery, so we went to visit her on a short trip this week.

So we left the house at 2 AM to catch a reallyyyy early flight, traveled for 8 hours, arrived, and went to the monastery. Their monastery is traditional but still Americanized. The architecture was American modern-ish style (I think. I'm not an expert...)and the facilities (i.e. the toilets) were American, but you took your shoes off at the door and wear sandals, they don't turn on A/C, and they turn off all the lights unless it's dark outside or they otherwise need the lights. Side note--I really like that about Asia, turning off lights and having individual room A/C that is turned off when no one needs it because it saves SO much energy and America is extremely wasteful. 

Okay so I know a lot of people think that nuns are a calm, uber religious, zen-and-meditation-doing group that tell you to find inner peace and all that. But RY and I have pretty much grown up around Buddhist nuns since we were little and hahahahaha personally I think my nun aunt is one of the most chill people ever. Chill as in nothing really fazes her (probably the inner peace and meditation required of being a nun, and just that environment in general), but she still loves to laugh and go sight seeing! During my junior year of high school when my mom was in the hospital for three weeks and RY was at school and my dad was at the hospital with my mom, I lived at home with her during that time. A very good time to be had and she was a very nice, relaxing influence on the rest of us, who were running around school/work and the hospital. Nuns are just normal people :) And the four of them at her monastery are very funny ;)

We had a few meals with them, and just for us (since we're relatives and all), they put the tables together and were allowed to talk during the meal. Usually, meals are silent and every faces forward. The food was SO GOOD--they eat vegan (because of the issue of animal cruelty as well as to help the environment) and no onion or garlic but the flavors were amazing. I told my vegetarian friend and she was super jealous :D

The monastery and pretty much all other monasteries around the world have free meditation, vegetarian cooking, and religion classes for the public and are sustained by donations. In that way, all are welcome to take part and aren't restricted by monetary needs. Which I think is fantastic :)

Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial

Sweaty bizness

There are plenty of days when I just want to skip my workout – I’m too tired or I want to browse the internet or (most of the time) I just REALLY don’t want to do anything. But, I know that exercising and working up a sweat always makes me feel better, and it’s not even mostly physical. The most gainz I get are in my mind – it seriously helps dissolve stress, and makes me focus more when I need to.

I’ve never been opposed to exercise, but I really started running and working out on my own in high school and have not stopped since. Back then, I did it because I didn’t want to be a weakling – I wanted to be able to carry my own heavy luggage and run away from bad guys if I ever needed to!! Nowadays, years later, it’s just part of my day. Every night, I think about when I can fit in a workout the next day (even if it’s just a short walk or some sit-ups), and I commit to it. That way, I can figure out if I need to wake up early for a bright-n-early run! Yes, sometimes it’s so hard to get myself going. But since I’ve already committed to it, I never want to let myself down.

I’m definitely not a fitness junkie or anything, even though it can seem like that. I’ve just realized throughout the years that if I don’t exercise for a couple days, I start letting little teeny things get me upset and I crawl into a little hole of isolation. It’s crazy how exercise can lift me up. I don’t know how it works, but I know it works for me!!!

So this is what I say to people who don’t like to do it – there are FEW PEOPLE who enjoy working out all the time. But once you establish it as a part of your routine and hold yourself accountable for it, it’s kind of euphoric. Buy some cute workout clothes and some bomb ass shoes!!!  Find some pumpin music or watch Netflix! I’ve found that watching American Ninja Warrior is awesome motivation… :)

Alright well hopefully my little rant about exercise wasn’t too annoying.

TOODLEY DOO!!

RY

Music Rant

I just LOVE Dvorak's New World Symphony, especially the 4th Movement, Allegro con fuoco ("fast with speed/vigor"--what a title)!

Despite the fact that the beginning sounds remarkably like the theme from Jaws, it's such a beautifully written piece (that has some awesome clarinet solos!!) and RY and I just love it. She drives faster when she listens to it. I write faster when I do, making it the perfect studying music ;) Dvorak is a genius. Actually, our university orchestra played it two years ago, but RY just happened to be studying abroad...but I was there. it was fantastic. 

Music is amazing! Every week I spend more than 8 hours in rehearsal for various different ensembles on campus (some by choice, others by "choice"), which is nothing compared to a performance major, but still a lot for someone just playing as an extracurricular...and it still doesn't fulfill the arts divisional. But, without it, who would I be? ;)

Forever your orchestra nerds, 

RL (and RY in spirit)

No Shades of Grey Here!!!

Lots of things aren’t black and white….there are MORE than fifty shades of grey, amirite??!? BUT, there are also lots of things in this world that are completely black and white to me. One of those things is the acceptance of the LGBTQ community.

As with any social “issue” (I put that in quotations because it really is not, and should never be, an ISSUE), there are a bazillion sides to the coin. I really do try to put myself in other people’s shoes to better understand what different people see in this “issue.” And you know what? I think I can see WHY plenty of people turn their backs to the idea of embracing everyone, or why people simply turn a blind eye to it all. The thing is, no matter what shoes I put myself in….jelly sandals, those shoes with the wheels……. it all boils down to misunderstanding. They have closed their mind to the FACT that lots of people in this world find true happiness by waking up in the morning and seeing someone next to them who just happens to NOT be the opposite sex all the time.

The “issue” of complete equality for the LGBTQ community is probably the only political and social hot water topic that, deep down with every fiber of my existence, I believe is a black and white answer. Once again, like I said in a previous blog post, I am absolutely not trying to march around on my little soap box…I just think about this stuff a lot and I'll explode if I don't write it all out somewhere...

Every good movie boils down to the themes of love and fear. These two themes hit us right in the FEELS -  you know why? Because as human beings, we ALL want to find love. Whether it’s friends, family, our better halves, LOVE always gets us all feeling some sorta way.  So why deny ANYONE that opportunity for love? For those of us who find true love with someone of the opposite sex, we will never TRULY understand what it’s like for LGBTQ folks. But that is the exact reason why we need to try our hardest to remember that they just want love too. And their love is JUST AS REAL as ours. And guess what? They are some of the coolest people I know.

WE ALL DESERVE OUR BEST CHANCE. <3

RAE-nbows FOR LIFE!!! bahaha

TOODLES!!!!!!!!!!!!

 RY