With recent events weighing heavily on me, I've decided to post an entry about dealing with life, and everything that goes with it, knowing that all of you have gone through many things in your lives, just as I have. It's never an easy journey... not even for the strongest, bravest people around.

The recent tragedy at Virginia Tech reminds me that there are so many horrible things that can happen in life, and that I truly need to take a few moments to realize what is so important... making the most of the time you have here, and (trying) to live life to it's fullest. I know, that may sound corny, and it's probably true, but I think it's at least something you can keep in the back of your mind, even when the kids are crying, the electric company accidentally shuts you off, and the garbageman just backed up on your brand new trash cans.

I'm not trying to compare those things to events much more horrible, but you probably get the picture....

Honestly, I feel like this is a good place to vent, and I'm sure many of you can agree. There are so many nice people on this site, and with the anonymity and all, I sorta feel safe here. It's not always easy to open up with family members, or co-workers, you know, you gotta be strong! The Force is with me! And, sometimes it isn't.

Explaining my title a bit, sometimes I really do feel like Han in Carbonite... alive but trapped. I've read that when someone is carbon-frozen they can be aware that they are there, but only slightly. This is exactly how I feel sometimes... I can sense everything going on around me, but there's nothing I can really do to change it. You can do everything possible, or so you think, to prevent terrible things from happening, but in the end, many things are out of your control. Sometimes, like Han, you just need someone to help you... isn't that why we have friends?

You know that saying... Alone in a crowd... sometimes I really relate to that. Yes, it's dramatic, but life often is. I wonder how many people feel that way... even when you try your best to represent yourself in a positive way, alot of people still don't get you. Or maybe, sometimes people don't want to understand each other or even care, and then bad things happen.

Wow, this sounds so downtrodden, and I'm not by any means trying to make anyone totally depressed by reading this! But sometimes I feel as though I have trouble opening up about things, especially in a format such as this, but I know you all understand that. We're all here for a reason. We love Star Wars and we enjoy writing, and commenting and sharing, and in the short time I've been here I've already met some really nice people, and I thank you for listening.

And so, I must remind myself that whenever I'm feeling down, to think good thoughts, listen to lovely music I like (Sarah Vaughan), look at my favorite painting (The Starry Night, the print of course!), or pick out one of my favorite movies to watch... any one out of the six.