50/50

   So everyone in my house is running around like chickens with their head cut off. We are leaving to go to the beach in just a few short hours and as much as we try to tell ourselves we are ready and that we haven't forgotten anything; we are not ready and we will most definitely forget something. I love vacation, but it seems like you need one before you go on one, then you need another one after you get off the vacation. Agh! So many vacations... Well, today in the midst of this pandemonium I start getting that creepy feeling of, " it is that time of year again," and school is just around the corner.  I am an unusual kid, school is torture, but it is an ok torture (I know that sounds like masochism). It is that rhythmic motion of repetitiveness that makes it livable. I wake up, go to classes and go home or to dance. I know that my day won't be any different. It is boring, but it is a seldom changing, though stressful, system. I mean, I don't really want to go back because there is no "need" to. I have seen my friend over the summer and have been in contact with others. I do not want to see some people, but then again maybe I do? I try to tell myself that this year is going to be so different and its going to be great. My teachers will be different, I will be refreshed and ready to rip. Yet, after tons of summers of saying just that and having interesting years, I feel mixed emotions. Something says this year really will be different and then something tells me its going to be same old, same old, and I will count down the days until graduation. 

   I know that I should have faith because God will guide me in the right direction, and I do, but I still am a bit...antsy. Growing up changes things and while I am still in that process, things are becoming more clear but there is still a lot of blurriness. I do not want my repetitiveness to be over and yet I crave it's end. I think by the time these next two years are over, the repetitiveness will be ready to be tossed out the window. I am solving my situation by preparation and focus...and a bit of beach time just to hold it off for a few more days. 

namesakes & history

   My ancestors came to the States from County Clare Ireland. My family is big on remembering the past, so often parents will throw the name Clare in their child's moniker. The strange thing is, most of our Clares are boys. We have Frank Clares, Ed Clares, John Clares and Claras (those are girls). As southerners many of us have double names; mine being Eliza Claire. My mother, a Parisian at heart, has great respect for the French culture and language, added an i. Claire translates to light in French, making my name mean follower of God's light. She thought it had a nice ring to it.
   As the my blog consists of a few of my thoughts, opinions, ideas and stories it had to have a name that represents me. I decided to name it Southern County Claire to acknowledge my past and my present. I often look to the past for guidance. My father, a history buff, says some of the worst things that have happened in the world are due to people who repeat history because they are not knowledgable of the past. So either that discussion was a warning to do better in history class or never repeat your mistakes, I took it to heart and you should too.

hot hot hot

   Well, once again we have a summer scorcher. We have reached record breaking highs and have been asked to conserve water (yeah right). We pray the pools do not dry out because, if they do we will dry out with them! Everyone is shoving water down each others throat and even though it is annoying, we will thank them for it later. The summer heat is testing everyones nerves as people become snappy and everyone feel like they are in the midst of hot flashes. It is hotter than a you know what down here. I can not even keep a single train of thought going. Well folks, I will talk to you later. Stay hydrated today and keep that sunscreen on...we do not want wrinkles to form prematurely due to the sun.

fireworks of morale

   Today is the American Independence Day. It's citizens are celebrating all across the nation with fireworks, cookouts and pool days. Due to extreme heat and dryness across the Southern states, we are going to watch fireworks on the Television, be in the pool all day, eat microwaved corn and force one unlucky uncle to be the grill master. For the most part, our morale seems to be average for an election year. By the grace of our good Lord we have had no earth shattering natural disasters lately; though we have had a slight shake in morale due to HBO's The Newsroom. Two Sundays ago America's "title" of being the greatest nation in the world was, shall we say, discussed in the fast and exciting new series. The main charachter discredited America's present greatness by means of comparative statistics of America versus the world. He moved on to redeem himself by stating that at one point yes, we were the greatest, but some things got in our way. Though this positive end was p.c., it did not erase the previous words. The tirade cause many to really think about the present state of our country. It is known that we rank 25th in math and 21st in science and we have more morbidly obese people per capita than any other country. These facts are not pleasing but it should not define our nation. Statistics should be a guideline to improvement. They should tell us that our teachers need more help and that America should go on a diet. We are a prideful nation, not a stupid one. We possess the fresh skills of progress and determination. We may not be the leading country in elementary school subjects, but we are the leading country of the free world. It is important to set one's goals and strive toward them. I hope we can be the generation that does this. Have a blessed fire-free Fourth folks...and party on.