R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Find Out What It Means to Me

Bullying is something that a vast majority of us have experienced. You have either been the victim, the bystander, or even the bully itself. If you happen to find yourself on the MSN Home Page, take a look at the news slideshow. You will see something absolutely shocking. About two months ago, a young homosexual teenager took his own life because he was bullied. In most cases such  as this, the family members are grieving and in need of love and nurturing at this time. But no, as of now, the bullying victim's family is in torment. The victim's sister is being taunted with jeers of, "Your brother is better off dead!" or, "He deserved to die."
What can make teenagers this cruel? Is it bad enough that they will have to live with the guilt that they caused a young man to take his own life? That they made him hate himself and want to leave this world? To me, this news story is just ridiculous. Kids these days have no respect for things as serious as suicide and bullying. In my opinion, if someone commits suicide after being completely victimized from bullies, the suicide should be counted in the Court of Law as a first degree murder case.
Respect is something that should be taken seriously. Whether the person is different from you or not.

Goodbye, Little Cappy.

It is my great regret to inform you that our reporter, Snappy Cap of the Snapple Observer made his final report Thursday morning and drowned later that day. We mourn this loss and wish for a new companion very soon. Rest in Peace, little Cappy. You were a great friend and find to all here at the Observer. We loved to hear your stories about that senile old cat and the life of your owner, Kelsey. We are sure she didn't mean to leave you.
Rest easy, buddy.

Today, It Rained.

It wasn't the fun down pouring rain with lightning that lights up the sky with huge forks of blue. And no, it wasn't the misting kind either. No, no, it seemed as if the sky was spitting; the clouds were gray, filling with condensation, and I was dropped outside in the driveway while Kelsey ran off to the bus stop. The air is sticky and humid. I nearly escaped death on multiple occasions, but that doesn't matter, because Kelsey would find me on the way back home, right? ...Right? 

...anyone?

Crikey!

Today I come to you from the vast jungle also known as Kelsey's room. Today she left me home while she went to Student Council and I, Snappy Cap, reporting for the Snapple Observer, promise you that this is by far the craziest sight I've seen yet. Crikey! It's the prowling senile cat, in his natural habitat. He stares at me knowingly, his yellow orb-looking eyes boring through my very aluminum being. He's a natural hunter; don't underestimate him. He knows a play-toy from a meal. And sometimes doesn't care which you are. This is Snappy Cap, Snapple Observer, signing off.

Stalkers.

One thing that has always got me questioning is why must Snapple Caps always have the fun facts underneath the lid? Do the mysterious creators know that we will look under the cap? Do they know that we will be playing with the push tab for ages and finally look underneath? Or better yet, do they understand that Mr. Freitas will be giving the craziest blog assignments in the world? And the biggest question of all? How would the Snapple Cap manufacturers know Mr. Freitas' assignments? Are there spies? Are they in our class?
Who knows, is all I have to say.

Snapple Observer

Snappy the Cap here, reporting for the Snapple Observer. I've been pip-pip-popping around the Smith House lately, and it's been a zoo! Not only are there toddlers, moody teenagers, and angry parents, but a huge, prowling, senile cat! The cat doesn't pay too much attention to me, being a quote, unquote, "Inanimate Object," but, you never want to see this cat in action whilst he tries finding that field mouse in the backyard. It's gross, the way he plays with his food, almost as if someone is popping our safety tab to the point it's unpoppable. Well, I will keep in touch with you guys back in the vending machine, but for now, this is Snappy the Cap, Snapple Observer, signing off.

Ignorance is Bliss.

Ignorance. It comes in all shapes, sizes, and dimensions. It could be in a hypothetical situation, or something you see every day. For instance, I am not the most popular girl on the planet. I can admit that. But do you want to know why I am not viewed as someone with a higher social status? You guessed it: ignorance. I'd like to believe that people judge other people without even giving that person a chance. Half the people that talk bad about me behind my back have never even spoken to me before in my life; how could they know whether I'm weird or not? And what's the problem with being "weird" anyways? Nothing! Especially since I would much rather be an individual than one of those psychotic clones I see in the hallways everyday at school.
There's no reason to be mean to another person because of their size, looks, or nervous quirks. Heck, I'd rather being short and curvy than tall and freakishly thin. But hey, maybe that's just me. People are allowed to be individuals, who cares if they agree with what you do or don't say. They don't have to listen to the voice of the In Crowd. They don't have to listen to anyone... That is, except for their Mom.

Pregnant? Go Try Out for 16 and Pregnant!

About two years ago, right before Halloween, my sister told us that she was, indeed, pregnant. Seeing as she was only sixteen at the time, it was a huge shock to us here at home. My parents weren't excited for her, they were more so disappointed; I was mainly in shock. Unfortunately, some teens in this messed up era seem to think that having babies at sixteen years of age or even younger is perfectly acceptable and the fad of the decade. For example, some girls get pregnant and don't even care; even though this wasn't the case for my sister, the other naive girls of 2011 see it as their chance towards fame and fortune. Can you say gross?
As young adults, we still need to grow up ourselves before we can even think of raising a child ourselves. Face it, anyone that thinks they're ready for a baby and is under twenty years of age needs a reality check. They honestly don't know what they're in for.
I've watched my sister struggle for a year and a half being a teenage mother, and at eighteen years old, I couldn't be more proud of her. She graduated, even if it was a struggle, and she stepped up to the plate. The girls that exploit their personal lives on MTV all the time, however, make unwise choices and make their life public. Any choice they make is or will be at the public's discretion. So to all young sexually active teenagers, I would like to say one thing to you all. Think before you act. No child should have another child as a parent, it can be avoided.

Snappy Cappy Day 3

What makes a Snapple Cap unique from everything else? Is it the metallic look of it? The blue script written everywhere on it? No, I think that it's more than that. It gives one of the first impressions before you open up that delicious Snapple drink and it makes you feel at home. Do you ever open a Snapple and look at the inside of the cap to see the Fact that lays there? Just so you can think about something else than the delicious taste of the Snapple while you drink? I do. But there is always something unseen about our little Snapple Cap friends... They have feelings, too. They have a purpose; just like you and me. And whether that purpose is to keep the bottle of juice from spilling all over or to be a great friend, that Snapple Cap is always there for you, like a best friend.

Snappy Cappy Day 2

Dear Diary,
Today my owner seemed stressed, she almost left me at home. She stood out in the pouring rain for twenty minutes waiting for a roaring Twinkie-Twink looking motor vehicle. It was freezing even inside of her cozy back pocket. But again, I could say nothing. Kelsey would never understand me, even if I could speak her language. I can only understand her. It's almost as if I'm her guardian angel. I'm the only one that can sort of guide her in the right direction. Maybe I'm something more than just a cap with a Safety Button That Pops Up When the Original Seal is broken. Oh, Bottle Seal I miss you so much. We were meant to be, but then you were thrown away after doing your job.
We will forever be one, even as I watch inconspicuously from the back pocket of Kelsey's jeans.

Snappy Cappy

Dear Diary,
Today I moved in with my new owner. Her name is Kelsey and she is really quite nice, but her house is very crazy at times. It's loud, and as a Snapple Cap living in this world, she feels like I'm not safe being left out, especially because there is a little person running around, making everybody stand on edge. One wrong move and I could end up in the trash; my life would be over and so would Kelsey's grade. It would be a lose-lose situation for the both of us. Anyways, I don't genuinely care for her household. Everyone yells at each other over the littlest of things and it all somehow gets dumped on my new owner. I seriously feel sorry for her. But it's okay because she keeps me safe and that's all I could ever ask for. I wish that there was a way for her to understand me, she seems so lonely and quiet.
Sincerely, Snappy Cap the Snapple Cap.

THE WORLD IS ENDING

Some might say us New Englanders have a twisted sense of disaster. We never quite get earthquakes or tornadoes; heck, we rarely get disasters period. The thing is, when we actually do have these rare occurrences, it seems as if the world is ending. However, if you compare the quote, unquote "natural disasters" to those of Tornado Alley or even California, we New Englanders have it easy.
For instance, there was a small earthquake in Virginia that perhaps only knocked over a few drinks on a kitchen table. However, most East Coast citizens reacted as if the world was ending and that they were lucky to survive. What else can I say besides that the majority of us over exaggerate to the max? Seriously? We don't realize how lucky we have it. Hurricane Irene was only a small fraction of the worst to come.
Massachusetts and Rhode Island citizens alike were complaining about no power and downed trees interfering with their every day lives. What about the victims of Hurricane Katrina back in 2005? The tsunami that wiped out Indonesia? Or, perhaps, the more recent earthquake in Haiti? Those people lost all of their possessions and livelihood and we have the nerve to complain about a simple lack of television usage. Most people on the east coast don't understand how easy they have it, they really don't. Sometimes, I really wish I didn't live among a bunch of hyperbolic drama queens. The teenagers are the worst. Even if I am a teenager I am ashamed to be classified as an attitude-filled girl who takes everything for granted. Sometimes I just wish people in general would just grow up.