Is Social Networking Worth It?

How old were you when you got your first MySpace or Facebook? I know that I first got a MySpace when I was probably about fourteen years old. At the time, you're supposed to be 16. Sure, we all just lied about our ages, and went on with our daily lives. Never thought twice about the dangers of the internet.

Our parents on the other hand gave us warning. Don't talk to strangers, don't believe everything you're told, don't put your picture online, don't tell anyone where you live, etc. We did it anyways, or at least most of it. We posted our pictures online. Lots of them in fact. Pictures of us, our friends, our family, and everything else we took pictures of.

As websites like MySpace got bigger, things started popping up in the news. A young teenage girl, kidnapped and raped. One teen beat up another teen over a message left online. This wasn't a slow growing problem, it was a tidal wave taking over the world.

Occasionally, you will come across someone who doesn't have a MySpace or a Facebook, and it shocks you. "You don't have one?! Why not?!" There answer: "It's just too much drama." And it is. MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, all of them... they cause drama. You see teens fighting over something that a mutual friend had posted as their status.

My boyfriend has a Facebook, yet it didn't say we were in a relationship. I had asked him why was this, because it said it on mine. He just looked at me and said "Does it really matter if it's Facebook official?" and that is when I took a step back and said; "Well, no, I guess it doesn't. I just like the thought of it really." OR did I really mean, I just want everyone to know you're MINE MINE MINE! Is it a power thing, or do I really not care? He ended up changing it because it made me a bit happier, but now that I sit and think about it... there was no sense in arguing over it.

So, my question to you is; is Social Networking worth all the hassle and fuss? Is it worth the 'drama' that comes in the package when you submit your information? Sure, it helps to know as many people as possible, but just keep it safe. What you put on there is viewable by everyone, and if it's not meant to be seen by the world, maybe you should re think about posting it.

Talk to you soon!

-Andrea Fasten

No real title.

Where to begin. I'm not sure what's been going on in my head. I haven't really liked what my life has been like. I feel like I'm different from the rest of the family, and sometimes it really gets to me. Sometimes I feel like I get a bit depressed over it, and just want to pack my bags and leave, but I know that I can't just leave my family behind. Sometimes it's what I want to do, but that's because they push me just that far. I feel like they're out to watch me fail. I feel like a failure in their eyes. I don't know.

My siblings are all very slim. My one sister might weigh 100 pounds. I realize that she's only about 5'0 tall, but she's one of my moms favorite. Another older sister is an athletic trainer. She is very muscular, and in very good shape. We weigh about the same, but like I said she is all muscle. I on the other hand, am not. My twin brother has always been really skinny/fit. He joined the guard, and got in even better shape. My oldest brother is also in the military, but the air force. He too was always skinny growing up, and yeah he's put a bit of weight on since high school... but then again he's been out for over 15 years. I constantly feel fat. I have tried eating better, and I exercise all the time. I feel like nothing really works. People say don't look at the scale, look at the inches you lose. I don't really see either one of them going down. I feel so big.

My boyfriend constantly says I'm beautiful, and although I believe him, sometimes I feel he just says those things because he's my boyfriend and he doesn't want me to worry about it so much. But my weight is slowing me down. I need to lose it. I am the slowest on my team, and probably one of the heaviest. I feel like my weight isn't healthy, and is the reason that I'm sore all the time. I really, really want to lose it. I don't know how to lose it though.

I feel like, if I moved out, I could be able to pick up a better diet. As of now, my mom and stepdad buy all the food... and neither of them really try to lose weight. Both of them are extremly over weight. My biggest fear, other than failure, is t o turn out like my mom. I absolutely do not want to be like her in anyway, shape or form.

I wish I could just wake up one morning and be the weight I want to be. Not this weight. I think I'm going to start a health diary, and every day just start weighing myself and keeping track and see if I go up or down. I'm sure with soccer and school going on I will probably go down a little bit more, but when it's over... what happens then? I'm not sure. I don't like this. I don't like it at all.

As of Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 12:13 am I weigh: 140lbs. My Goal: 120-130.

I want to love my body. Love my weight. I want to be proud of myself!!

I'm out for now. I'll be back... probably.

I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend

A few days ago, my boyfriend and I were in the car on our way to get him some soccer stuff. We were driving down Warren road, and saw a bit of a commotion ahead. I had thought maybe there was an accident on the overpass. There was only one cop car, but two other cars sitting their. Accident? Not quite. There were four grown men crying, like bawling their eyes out. They were standing on the left side of the overpass, and on the right was another empty car. I looked down onto I-275, and traffic was at a dead stop. It came to such a quick stop, that their were cars swurved out of the way on to the shoulder, and ino the grass and everything. People were backed up onto the entrance ramp.

So what really happened. At 6:24pm on April 22, 2009 a man took his life. Canton, MI off of the Warren Road overpass onto I-275 southbound lane. The man was approached by a cop who was just their to help him decide not to jump. The cops efforts were denied, and the man jumped anyway. According to the news article, their were multiple phone calls to 911 saying their is a guy just on the bridge. We had driven past the scene at 6:27pm. I do recall looking at the clock and thinking this just happened. But I didn't think we were that close. I am rather glad I didn't see the scene becuase I would be terrified. That isn't something I want to see in my entire life. Earlier that day, Scott and I had watched the movie "Yes Man", you know, the one with Jim Carrey. Well in that movie, Jim Carrey bust out in the song "Jumper" by Third Eye Blind when a man wants to take his life by jumping off a building, and he talks, well sings the guy into staying alive. If I were to have seen the guy on the ledge, as I drove by, I would have stopped and turned the radio up and start to sing that song. I have it on CD and listen to it quite often, because it's one of my favorite songs. It's Track 15 on CD 5 in my car. Here are the lyrics to the song, if you don't know it:

I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend
You could cut ties with all the lies that youve been living in
And if you do not want to see me again I would understand
I would understand
The angry boy a bit too insane
Icing over a secret pain
You know you dont belong
Youre the first to fight
Youre way too loud
Youre the flash of light on a burial shroud
I know somethings wrong
Well everyone I know has got a reason
To say put the past away
I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend
You could cut ties with all the lies that youve been living in
And if you do not want to see me again I would understand
I would understand
Well hes on the table and hes gone to code
And I do not think anyone knows
What theyre doing here
And your friends have left you
Youve been dismissed
I never thought it would come to this
And i, I want you to know
Everyones got to face down the demons
Maybe today
You could put the past away
I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend
You could cut ties with all the lies that youve been living in
And if you do not want to see me again I would understand
I would understand
I would understand
I would understand
I would understand
I would understand
Understand
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Can you put the past away
I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend
I would understand
I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend
I would understand
I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend
And I would understand
I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend
I would understand
I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend
I would understand


It's such a good song, and every time I frustrated about my past, or about my parents, or my life in general I blare it. I listen to that song as loud as my car will let me. (not that I would do it any different for any other song, I like it loud). If you ever are in doubt and don't like your life, Just remeber some of these lyrics; "You could put hte past away" or "Everyone has to face down the demons". NOthing is worse than taking your own life. There is never a "good enough" reason to take your life, you are much more valuable than you're giving yourself credit. All - in -All it was just a tough scene for me to even just drive past.

Nobody wins when everybody's losing.

Hey everyone. It's like 7:45am and I'm up. Not sure why, but I am. I don't have anything planned for the day except look for a job and soccer this afternoon. Two things that are pretty much daily activities for me. Just that the job hunt isn't going that great. Thank you Michigan's economy, I love you too.

There's a new song out, well, new to me atleast. It's called "Not Meant To Be" by Theory of a Deadman. It has a few key lines in it, and although it's supposed to be about a relationship, I feel that it can be a life song too. At least about my life I can relate it. One of the key lines is the very first line in the song..."It's never enough to say I'm sorry / It's never enough to say I care" I know I'm not perfect, by any means. I screw up a lot, but hey I'm only 18. Mistakes are supposed to help you learn and make you a better person right? And it's not like they're mistakes that are getting me in trouble with the law or anything like that. I screwed up and didn't pay close enough attention to my bank account, and I overdrafted. At a bank when you overdraft, they for some reason think that you have the money to pay it back, and therefore the charge you extra every day you don't pay it back. National City tend to charge you $8 a day. The worst part about it... you don't even get a notice until 10 days after the fact. Now you're about $80 in the hole. I had a long discussion with my parents saying, ifyou pay off the $80 it will be easier for me to pay it back to you. My mom simply agreed, and said she would go to the bank after work that day. (It convienently was the one day of the week that the bank was open after 5pm). Well, what really happened, was that I went to do my daily activities and carried out my plans that I had for the day. I got home around 8pm and was eating dinner when I remembered about the whole bank issue. Whelp, low and behold my mom forgot. She didn't go pay it. Matter of fact, it took her over two weeks to pay it. It was over $200 when I dragged her in their to pay it. It's not her looking bad, its me. I know it's my fault still, but if you say you're goin to do something DO IT. I now owe my parents over $200 because my mom just didn't go to the bank and take care of it right away. Because of this amount, my parents keep tabs on EVERYTHING they do for me. If they treat me and my boyfriend out for a dinner or a breakfast, it goes on a tab. If they give me a bit of gas money, it goes on that tab. Not to mention car insurance payments, and cell phone bills. I thought for sure my parents would cut me some slack. I say Sorry, but and I really mean it, but my mom doesn't accept the word sorry. She really doesn't. She doesn't think I care, or mean it. Really I do... I care a lot about my actions.

Another lines goes like this; "Nobody wins when everyone's losing". I play soccer. I play on a co-ed adult team. It has its really fun times, but lately it's just been a pain in the ass. You go, expecting your team to be pumped and ready to go. Why else show up right? No, it rarely worked that way for this team. We showed up, people already expected to lose. Yeah, we were the farthest from the best. Nothing is wrong with that. I don't mind losing the game, but I can't stand being around losing attitudes. You'll never win at anything if you don't have the confidience in what you're doing. I did horrible in highschool, up until the end of my junior year and all of my senior year. I didn't think I could do it, and I really didn't think it mattered. I was told for the past 8 years or so that I wasn't college material, so I didn't believe in myself, and figured I would just join the Air Force by enlisting instead of going through college first. Why all of a sudden did it change? Well after applying for the airforce, and taking thas ASVAB, I was declined. Not just once, but twice. I have an eye condition that doesn't really like me, and the Air Force really doesn't like when your eyes are messed up. My recruiter fought for me as best he could, but it didn't cut it either. I had the most dreadful phone call of my life, twice. To have to hear the fact that the United States Military didn't want you because of something you can't prevent. Something that is controlled by medicine. I got my grades on track after that, knowing that I failed somewhere along the line of school. I was a happier person, looked at school as a better place and no longer as a prison. (It still reminded me of a prison though, just by how it looked). Haha. I had a better life, up until graduation that is.

The third line that really gets me is; "It's like one step forward and two steps back / No matter what I do you're always mad". This one goes to my parents. My mom yelled and yelled about me and a job. First off, when I was in school and had a job she hated the fact that I was working all the time, and eventually made me quit. Since I lived in her household I had to oblige by her rules. She was complaining again in teh second semester of my Senior year of school, and I knew I had to get a job for the summer. So I applied to Cedar Point. Low and behold, I got a job. She didn't believe me. I had to have my employer call her to confirm it with her, and then when she did believe me she wasn't happy about it. "That's not a real job". Well what is a real job?! Something with 40 hours a week right? Yes, but also in my moms book it must include benefits. Well you know what, at 18, good luck finding that job. I went and worked at Cedar Point anyway, and no I wouldn't go back. I have my reasons, but if you want to work their, I wouldn't tell you to go, but at the same time I wouldn't tell you not to. It was a great experience, but everyone takes things different ways. Try it if you would like. After I worked their, and came home, I had to get a new job. It took me nearly 5 months to find a job. It was a full time job, but again didn't offfer insurance. On the other hand though, my mom loved this job. I'm not sure why, but she did. I had told her that I wanted to apply to be a camp counselor this summer for the parks and rec program. It too was a full time job, and paid a bit more than what I was getting paid in my office job. My mom had said "If you quit a full time job for a Summer job you will no longer live here". The application was available for one day, and that was the next day (saturday). I didn't do the application, because I knew I'd get the job, becuase my neighbor said I would if I applied. (he's in charge of it). I wasn't in work Monday, had it off, but that Tuesday I got laid off. Of course right? Just because I didn't fill out the application. If I just would have filled out the application, even against my moms wishes.

Impossible to just be 18?

I grew up on the lower class level, and I'm cool with that. I never got all the things that I wanted, and I'm cool with that. I wasn't handed a car for my sixteenth birthday or even graduation like my other siblings, but I'm pretty cool with that. I graduated on time, and I'm really proud of myself for it. I didn't do the best I could have, and the only person I let down is myself. So why is everything about being 18 so damn hard? Why do my parents treat me different than my siblings? Is it fair? I don't really know.

My parents are in their 50's. I have siblings in their 30's and in their 20's then me and my twin brother at 18. We are the last to graduate out of the nine of us. Also out of the 9 of us, only six of us graduated. I wanted a car, but had to pay my parents $3K for one. I got over that. I worked a job, and got laid off. My mom just stopped getting paid child support from my dad, and all of a sudden, we're tight on money. I don't know how that is if my stepdad makes nearly 6-digits and my mom works too. Sure, we live in a fairly decent sized home, that taxes are probably high on. Honestly, this house is too big for our family, and it just collects dust. I hate living here, therefore am gone 90% of the time.

I feel that if I am home, I'll just be pissed off all the time. And that's true. I realize that if Scott (my boyfriend) is around, I'm a lot happier, because he atleast makes me laugh. He might not be able to make everything in my life better, but he can keep the smile on my face.

I don't like not having a job, and not having money. I don't really understand why my parents can't help me out with gas, or my car insurance payments. At the very least, my cell phone bill. No, they just pay it off and make me pay them later. They're keeping tabs. I am up to about $800 in debt to them. Who puts their own kid in debt? My mom. That's who. Her biggest thing in life, the only thing she ever wants from anyone, is money. It doesn't matter if you're her kid, or her best friend. If money is involved she makes sure she gets the better hand on it. She'll offer to give me a list of things to do around the house, and pay me. So I do the shit she asks, and get what... $6-$12?! That would be making a whole $2 an hour. That's not even minimum wage... or even close.

Only one of my older sisters went through college. My parents started to pay for it, but eventually she took over becuase she had a full time job, and could pay it herself. Plus she's nearly 26 and it is her responsibility. I don't even get the option to go to school. I asked my parents if they would pay the $20 for my Eastern Michigan Application, that's all that needs to be done to pay for it, and they turned me down. "You're not college material" That's all I hear. Every time that college is brought up, my mom's favorite line is "You're not college material." She'll say it over and over. How the hell do you know?

I worked at Cedar Point in the Summer of 2008. Every thing was going great until I got really, really sick. For health reasons, I came home early, and that's all I heard about for hte next two months. How Andrea couldn't stick it out at Cedar Point for five months. It was a hell hole. They were treating us like shit, and they weren't offering us health insurance. Sorry the $7 an hour I got paid wasn't enough to run my ass to the hospital when I was running a fever of 103 on a daily basis, and couldn't stand up with some balance. I was getting massive migraines, and it was bad. After about 4 or 5 months being home, I had landed a job at Grand Info. A company that did judgment recovery and title research. After working two months there, they laid me off. How wonderful? Welcome to Michigan's economy right?

My mom blames me for not being prepared to be laid off. Sorry, it's not something I want to be prepared for, because it's not something I want to happen. I had told her I was going to sign up to be a camp counselor for the parks program this summer instead of the job I was working out, and she told me that if I do that and quit my 40 hour a week minimum wage job for a summer job that I was not allowed to live in this house anymore. So, I decided to not apply for the job, and just work where I was working. That all went about on a Friday/Saturday. The Following Tuesday, I got laid off. FML. I believe my mom originally thought I had quit, but I know the truth. We had a huge cut in our office, and it left me without a job.

Here I am again looking for a job. My parents are constantly making comments about me playing soccer too much, or I put too much money into soccer. I don't really put as much into it as they had thought, but it is the one thing that I love to do. It's probably the one thing that keeps me out of trouble, keeps me sane. I live my life to play the game. I don't want to go professional or anything like that, atleast not playing. I just love the game more than anything else in the world. No one can step between me and soccer. No one. Definitely not my parents.

When I was 17, I had tried to enlist in the United States Air Force. They declined me... twice. I have an eye condition that can come on whenever it wants. With medication it stays under control. They didn't care. I missed out on a dream I had had since I was 5 years old. I took the test, I filled out the application, all I had to do was get sworn in. Didn't get through though, because I had got dismissed. That phone call was the worst one I have ever recieved. On top of that I had to hear it again. I didn't want to get out of bed, and I didn't want to leave my room. It took me weeks to get over it. If I could have just done that, I would not be here in this house, with out a job, with out insurance, with out anything. I would be traveling the world, as a stronger person. I would be a part of a team that is great. I would be me. An individual.

That's all I really want to be. I want to be me. An individual. An Eighteen Year Old. Andrea-Mae Fasten. I just want to be me. How come it's so damn hard?!

Fasten Out.

Losing Weight.

I want to lose weight. I have been trying to but it's not really working out. I play soccer everyday and am constantly riding my (neighbors) bike. I do sit-ups, and push ups pretty much daily, and some flutter kicks. The only time I'm on the computer is when I'm either, A) writing a blog, or B) checking e-mails. I rarely watch TV either.

I weigh about 160 and have for a while now. I wanted to join the Air Force, and I was 'over weight'. I'm not fat. I know that, but I'm not the skinniest person ever. My family has the "big butt" gene. I know that has something to do with it, but it shouldn't be that difficult. My legs are the worst part about me. Anyone know some good exercises? I need to cut weight, not for just the Air Force, but for my own good.

Oh and one other thing... I saw my recruiter the other day, and he said it "looked" like I cut some weight, but really I didn't . I work out and exercising most of the day, but I never lose actual weight. (in lbs.)

So, I was basically just wondering if you could give me some tips or what not.
You can e-mail me at : rooney8_9@yahoo.com or just leave a comment.
Thanks.

Get to know me.

I'm seventeen years old. I'll be eighteen in about a month. (June 4). I am not really tall, only about 5'5". I have dark brown hair and hazel eyes. I love to play soccer. It's basically my life. I am Italian & Danish. So, I don't really burn in the sun. (That's fine with me). I have trouble in school on some things, but still work to keep my grades up. I rather be outside and hanging out with friends then in a mall shopping. Don't get me wrong, I love to shop, it's just that I don't want to spend all my money on clothes I'm rarely going to wear. Especially during the summer, I wear shorts & tanks a lot and am out at the park EVERY DAY (if the weather permits).

This Summer, I am going to work up at Cedar Point. I am going to be on the Blue Streak Crew!! No matter how tight you press the bar, you're still going to fly out of your seat a bit. Another thing, there's never really a major line to deal with!! I'm excited to go. I process in on June 10th!

I don't watch much TV, and if I do it normally is a soccer match on the fox soccer channel or the comcast local channel. Today on the other hand, since I am home from school... Made is on in the background, but I'm not really into it.

I like trying new things. I like to learn to do new things. My favorite thing to do is to do things I have never done before. I went Parasailing over the past Summer, and it was amazing. Soon after that we rode wave runners which was a blast. (Partially because I threw my older brother off the back end of it... It was a blast). I also tried snorkeling and saw some pretty cool fish down there. The best was when Luke (my older brother) and I saw the barracuda and it came to about two inches from my face!! The thing was like 4 feet long!! It was cool.

I am single, and not really caring about that too much. I figure I'll find someone, somehow, someday! So, I'm good.

I have plenty of dreams and goals for my life. I have not really completed any of them yet, but I will one day... when I'm out on my own. Well that's really all for the 'get to know me' blog. If you have any questions just e-mail me : rooney8_9@yahoo.com .

Peace Out.