is this a big idea or am I just full of myself?

I'm watching the Oscars and I got this idea.

Here's what I remember from high school. We did plays and the chorus did shows and not sure what else went on. But, mostly we just watched our own stuff and people only showed up if they got extra credit in English for it.

But, what if there was an awards show in high school like the Oscars and all the students got to vote -- but they had to have been to the shows in order to be allowed to vote? The night of the ceremony there could be fancy dresses and maybe even community donated limos or something? PTA or fundraisers with candy or whatever the kids do now. SELLING I-tunes!

Or batteries like they do on the subways.

I mean, the possibilities are endless and it's a possible way to get kids interested in participating in the arts in their community.

Is this crazy? And if not, how on Earth can I pass this idea on to someone who can use it? I don't want to make money (I mean, isn't my lifestyle proof of that??) but I really want someone to tell me if this is as good of an idea as it feels like.

I'm picturing everyone dressed up in their promwear and maybe someone pretending to be Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet, asking who they're wearing, etc. The ceremony presided over by the teachers and maybe some graduated Seniors. The awards would be for the plays but also any other necessary categories for any other performing arts -- depending on what's out there. Instead of a specific statue, the awards themselves would be designed by the art department so they could also get involved. There would a competition amongst them whose award would represent which honor. Or a competition about who gets to create which award and they could lobby for it.

I mean, the possibilities are endless and what a buzz of school spirit there would be, right?

I don't know... What do you think?

Quotes that make you go hmmm

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed -- andhence clamorous to be led to safety -- by menacing it with an endlessseries of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary. -H.L. Mencken, writer, editor,and critic (1880-1956)

Dear Jess,

Don't be scared. Jeff is a great guy and from the snippets that I have heard, not only does he adore you he has also been really supportive of you. That's not going to change.

It's important to realize that in the past you may have lost yourself and it's important to realize that is something that happens. I say this because I was definitely that girl and it's still something that I struggle with. Because one of the things that happens when you are fighting so hard to not be the girl who changes herself, you also can become the girl who doesn't compromise. Not good.

My friends who lived together before marriage say that marriage didn't change much for them. But that is because they entered into the cohabitation knowing this is the person that they wanted to be with forever. (More on this.) I think it is absolutely lovely that you feel that marrying him is a way to say that you will always be there for him. That is really rather goosebump inspiring -- even in my sardonic heart.

As for forever. Well, it's not real. It is a concept that exists in Hallmark cards and Lifetime movies and all of the chick flicks that I adore. It is a wonderful concept and completely worth striving for. But, forever doesn't really encompass anything realistic and practical. I'm not saying let's change it to "as long as we both shall be able to tolerate each other." I'm suggesting somewhere in between.

Marriage is so easy it's hard. Especially for women (like us!) who are smart enough to marry someone who is our best friend. I still want to spend all my free time with Scott and still do feel weird when I go off and do things without him. And I feel weird because as much as I love hanging out with my other friends, I miss him. It's okay to miss your husband but it's really important to carve out that time to be without him so that you can miss him.

Lately we've been hanging out with our neighbors a lot and they have been married for while. She and her friends kind of tease me for preferring to spend time with Scott and still being in that newlywed phase because they have grown complacent. I get that because I am the one who preaches that wisdom is not communicable. I KNOW that there will come a time in the future where I will be dying to spend time away from Scott and will barely remember these days of just being silly and in love. I know this will come and not because I believe that we will fall out of love, but just that time changes things and our feelings will change and evolve. So, in order to give that Future Heather some fond memories, I really try to revel in the time that we have together and enjoy it.

So, this isn't really much in terms of advice and may be not the right kind of inspirational but whatever, this is me. I'm saying -- enjoy this time, forget about being scared, and just soak up being in love and being young and carefree. Life brings lots of crazy changes and is just too darned short to worry about things not working out. Maybe things WON'T work out -- but right now, you are making a great decision and really embracing this gift that life has handed you and the future be damned!

Today's the day baby -- tomorrow's the bonus! Live it up, love it up and just revel!

big hugs and congrats,
me