Honestly, no one is going to completely comprehend all the things in this post unless their name is Hailey James

This is for Hailey, who is not only a saint, but the Science and General Sterling Scholars for the state of Utah. I don't think any of you truly comprehend this accomplishment. And if I may brag: I was runner-up for Speech and Drama for the state of Utah, lost to a debate kid, and watching him win was actually one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. 

Anyway. Cheers, Hailey. We're pretty neat, eh?*

"[insert that brilliant math thing about axis stuff and creativity that was very intelligent and thus hot]" -Hot Math Sterling Scholar

Me 

*It's funny because Hailey's Canadian.

Saint Hailey Lynn James

Note: This was supposed to be posted yesterday; however, due to technical difficulties, that did not happen. So even though today is the 12th, St. Hailey's day is really March 11. Xoxo -Addy

Excuse me? Excuse me? Hi. Hi, everyone, hi. Listen up, because I've got some important stuff to say to you guys.

Do you know what today is? It's HAILEY JAMES DAY. I'm serious. Sometime in the future, today will be a official international holiday. Perhaps they will appropriately call it St. Hailey's Day. On St. Hailey's Day, school will not be cancelled. Rather, everyone will attend school and do all the things Hailey loves the most about school: there will be water bugs and labs class and early morning seminary and everyone will disrupt AP Lang (but not out of disrespect of course; please forgive us). There will be calculus, of course. But more importantly, St. Hailey's Day will be a celebration of independent, intelligent, selfless women, because that is exactly what Hailey James is. St. Hailey's Day will be a celebration of courage and women in science. On St. Hailey's Day, everyone will write on graph paper, have bulletproof phone cases, read thick Russian novels. On St. Hailey's Day, everyone will finally understand the truth behind Love is Sacrifice, and there will be a steel drum band, and hot older brothers and wonderful boyfriends will be honored in honor of the hot older brother and wonderful boyfriend of Hailey Lynn's life. On St. Hailey's Day, Harvard will hang Hailey flags, pleased with the glory of their favorite alumna.

But let me brag. Today, March 11, 2013, St. Hailey's Day has yet to be made official by world leaders, but I'm lucky enough to hang out with Hailey James herself every single day. I don't know what I did to get so lucky to be blessed with her presence, but I'm grateful for it.

Hailey Lynn James. My own saint. Bless you. Happy birthday, love!

"There are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents, and only one for birthday presents, you know." -Lewis Carroll
Addy B.

Sunday with Steinam

I've been thinking about --

Feminism. Not so much in a Gloria Steinam sort of way so much as feminism in the context of my own life. Feminism isn't about gender equality or gender supremacy, I think. It's more about a respect for women in any context, whether they choose to be a stay-at-home mom, career centered, study math, write novels, get married, stay single -- this feminism, my feminism, means that women are offered the same opportunities as men without any judgement whether or not they choose to take them. Perhaps feminism is more of an understanding that while yes, there are things men can do that women cannot, there are also things women can do that men cannot. This is an appreciation. This is judgement-free. This is a study of the things that are important to you, a becoming of what you want to be, without shunning or shaming, and that can be that. This is the 21st century, isn't it? And this is, for goodness sake, a discussion of the protection of women, too. For women and by women and by the people that love women (which is everybody).

Duck boots. Are they a thing? Are they cool? Are they worth wearing? Is it too late in the season buy a pair? Help.

Vegetarianism. Ryan Woodfield, who sits next to me in AP Lang, is writing his research paper on veganism. One of my best friends called Hailey James is a passionate pescetarian. I'm reading The Ten Trusts. I'll get back to you on this one.

Hugging. Hey, Avery and Kaitlyn! All our problems with hugging have been solved on account of a 200+ page book called The Art of Hugging: A Heartwarming Guide to Everyone's Favorite Gesture of Love by Brainard and Delia Carey. I'm going to read it real quick and we'll all converse about hugs and the art thereof.

"A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle." -Gloria Steinam (/Ruby Oliver)
-Addy-san