Vita, amore e musica. La mia vita e la mia anima.

ABOUT ME

• Hey there. I'm Laura. How're you, love? Let's see... • Music is my life. • I ♥ SING ♥ everything from classical literature to opera to Broadway show tunes. • I also play violin; I've been playing since I was eight or nine years old. • Recently, I picked up piano. I'm still figuring the whole black and ivory thing, but I'm getting there. . • Broadway musicals rock my socks hard core; can't get enough of them. • I enjoy discussing the political affairs of today. I'm a democrat, but that doesn't mean that I'm not open to other views. • History is another one of my loves. I'm like a walking encyclopedia. • I'm big into my Italian heritage. Guardi fuori, questa ragazza italiana ha un temperamento. That doesn't mean I'm not proud of my Irish, German, and Austrian roots however. • I'm a bull Taurus, that is. • Give me a box of canolies and I'm yours. • I am a slave to academia, meaning that succeeding in school is very important to me. • Ergo, I'm going to go to a good college with an excellent music and academic program. NAZARETH '11 • I LOVE Europe! I miss my AMA loves! • I'm a generally cheerful, bubbly, goofy person. • Someday, you'll see me on stage or on a record shelf. Keep your eyes and hears open. • I'm a book worm, whenever I get the chance to read a book outside of my busy schedule. • My friends and family are very important to me. • I love beig a goofball. Ask my friends. . Oh, yeah. HEY STEVE!

1.12.06

8:17 PM

The current mood of eclectically_yours at www.imood.com

I got half my college applications out in the mail. Woohoo!!! There's a couple more schools that need attention, however. Oh man, I am so relieved.
All I have to do now is sing well at my auditions. Wish me luck!

Onto a more serious, but important subject:

Today...
Today is World AIDS Day. I went to the AIDS Quilt Presentation for Health Class. It was so moving. I admit it; I cried. That quilt should not be so huge. It's not right that those people suffered and are not here with us now. Something needs to be done...
Speaking of which, I felt inspired today to actually do something to fight HIV/AIDS. I can't really move mountains or start my own research institution, but I CAN encourage everyone to educate themselves, use protection, and get tested.

Remember, HIV/AIDS does not discrminate. It can be happen to anyone; we could all be carriers of HIV/AIDS. In fact most people don't know they have the disease.

What is HIV/AIDS?
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that attacks the immune system. Eventually, the T-cell count of a person severely decreases and HIV becomes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). AIDS a condition in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections.

What are the causes of HIV/AIDS?
One can acquire HIV and eventually AIDS by:
-Having unprotected sex with an HIV positive partner by exchanging semen, rectal, vaginal fluids.
-Getting piercings and/or tattoos with infected needles from an unlicensed tattoo/piercing parlor.
-Drug-use involving infected needles
-Transmission from an infected mother to her child through birth, breast milk, etc.
-Blood transfussions with infected needles.

What can YOU do?
FIND OUT MORE:
Visit these websites:
-AIDS.org
http://www.aids.org/
-Center for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/index.htm
-World AIDS Day Organization
http://www.worldaidsday.org/default.asp
-World AIDS Campaign Website
http://www.worldaidscampaign.info/

There are so many other websites to check out, too. You can also talk to doctors and clinics or consult some medical books availible in you local library and book store.

ASK QUESTIONS:
Don't be afraid to ask. Knowledge is power.

TALK TO YOUR LOVED ONES:
Be open with your family and friends about HIV/AIDS. It should not be a "taboo" subject. If the subjects of sex, needle-sharing, tatoos, piercings, transfussions, etc. come up, try to slip in a line educating your loved ones about HIV/AIDS and remind them on the causes and prevention of the disease. You could save a life.

TAKE ACTION FOR YOURSELF:
Education and communications are not the only ways to prevent HIV/AIDS. Taking action yourself will prevent the disease from spreading further.

You can:
-GET TESTED. Tests are virtually painless and invovle finger pricks, cheek cell samples, and/or blood sample. Results can come back between 10 minutes and 2 weeks. The effort, time, and wait are worth it.

-ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO GET TESTED. If you and your significant other decide to have sex, get tested together. Take a friend or family member with you too.

-USE PROTECTION. If you have sex, wear a condom. Condoms can act as a shield to HIV/AIDS sometimes. It's always worth it to wear one, even though prevetion of contracting HIV/AIDS is not 100% effective. Remember, the 100% only way to prevent contracting the disease sexually is abstinence.

-RESEARCH TATTOO/PIERCING PARLORS. If you decide to get a tattoo/piercing, shop around for licensed places with a great reputation. If you are in NY State and under the age of 18, you need to ask permission from your parents/guardians.

-DON'T SHARE NEEDLES. Just don't do drugs that require needle usage. You don't know where the needles have been nor who has used them. (Try not to do drugs in general...)

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope you go out in the world and use this information in a positive way.
(Information from websites cited under education section)