I'd like to start writing random letters to people on here. I don't know if they'll read it but someone will. It's just a random thought I had today as I was relaxing. I realize I never see my family and it's hard to keep up with people I care about and I love them.

I started with my mom a few weeks ago. This next letter is for my brother Bryce. He may never read it but I know someone in my family will so they can pass the word along.

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Hey Bryce,

It's your little sister here. How are you? How's things? I know things have been stressful quite often lately, and I want you to know I think about you all the time. I wonder what you do to push through the hard stuff and keep moving? I admire your strength and determination. Sometimes I sit here and look at the picture I stole from one of mom's photo albums of you, Taylor, and me and I laugh. We're smiling huge at the camera huddled up and you're holding a spray bottle getting ready to spray Mom as she takes our picture. I'm going to guess that you're about 5 so I'd be about 3 or 4. Sometimes I really miss your crazy sense of humor, and it makes me want to come home and visit. I'm sorry I never do. My life is crazy and I really need to do better at making time for the people I love.

I want you to know I've also admired your ability to be different and not roll with the crowd. You'll always be one of my favorite artists, and I still want you to paint me a mural in my house one day. I don't know if you remember me ever asking you to do that. Also, I know this is random, but I'm sorry I drew all over your cool cigar box when we were kids. I was mad at you and wanted to seek the ultimate revenge... I didn't know how upset you'd be when you found out I ruined it. You really were. I'm sorry!

I love you Bryce, and hope you're doing great.

Love your baby sister,
Lana

It's hard to complain when I spent last night at Velour listening to local music that has some serious talent behind it and then I wake up today to one of the most beautiful days of the fall, and it's almost Halloween. I'd hate to jinx it, but I can't believe the weather is so amazing! I'm sitting here finishing up a paper for school and my window is open and I'm guessing it's almost 70 degrees outside. I love crazy random weather like this.

Here's a video from one of the bands last night. RuRu. I got his CD for free at the show last night and I've been listening to it all morning. This isn't video from last night but it was just like this...

The presidential election is here. I can vote at school right now if I want to. How do I do that when I am afraid to support either party? It’s hard to know who to vote for when all I hear is that Obama is a baby killer with his support of partial birth abortions, his support for homosexual marriage, and all the other crazy stuff I hear about him. I never hear anything positive about either presidential candidate. McCain just seems lazy or something. Today the most recent bashing is that his VP candidate Sarah Palin spent $150,000 of their campaign money on clothes and hair. All I hear is Republicans are evil, Democrats are evil, here’s why... blah blah blah blah blah! I am afraid to vote for either one because I don’t think either of them will make our country happy. With the way the United States is today, it’s probably safe to say that no one would be happy even if we had the most amazing leader this country had ever seen.

We are a selfish, greedy people, who love to disagree and fight. I swear our country is the laughing stock of the world because we have everything we could ever want or need, and we are not happy. All we do is fight amongst ourselves for more. We have insane amounts of wealth, and large amounts of poverty, with all this goodness it seems like we have insane amounts of depression. We also have an insatiable appetite for more. Sometimes I look around at all the stuff we’re inundated with daily and it amazes me we can even stay sane. Oh wait... we can’t. How many psychologists, doctors, medicines, mental health clinics, etc. are there in this country?!

I’m disgusted by the way physical appearance takes precedence over any other opinion of anyone or any other importance. And quite often I’m even more disgusted that I fall victim to it and treat others in that way too. With the overabundance of tanning salons, plastic surgeons, permanent makeup, airbrushed women on magazine covers telling us what we need to learn sexually to please our men, never ending commercials telling me to lose weight, build muscle, buy this product, don’t buy that product, get this to make me happier... sometimes I wish I could cover my eyes forever to stop having to take it all in! Wouldn’t it be amazing to be blind in this day and age? Not really blind but blind to the media. I would be amazing to be deaf to the visual noise. You wouldn’t have to see anyone telling you what you need to buy to make your life better or to satisfy a need you didn’t even know you had.

You wouldn’t need shapelier breasts, smaller hips, tighter abs, fuller lips, longer, fuller eyelashes, firmer thighs and arms, enzyte or viagra to make your woman happy, a bigger better picture for your tv, a faster smoother ride in your car, whiter teeth, bigger biceps, the list goes on and on... ugh... I’m tired.

Sometimes I long for the quiet of the mountains. The only sounds are air, birds, water, and quiet. I picture heaven as an extremely glorified version of that. I guess there is a good thing that comes from all the noise of our society... it makes me find joy in the simplicity of listening to a friend play a song on the guitar while I lay on the couch with my eyes closed.

Mom,

I recently heard this song again, and it reminded me of our trip to Yellowstone when I was little. I just want you to know I love you, and I'm proud of my successful Mama! Here you go, I dedicate this video to you.

Love,
Your Daughter.

This last Friday my friend Andrea had a rockstar party. It had Rock Band, 80's dancing, and a firepit in the back for roasting marshmallows. We pretty much spent the whole night in the basement dancing to 80's music and acting crazy. We all were supposed to dress up as something rock music. Here's a TON of pictures from the night. I must say, it was an extremely fun crazy night!

Madonna & Avril