LONDON (Reuters) - A teenage schoolgirl will appeal to the High Court on Friday to overturn a ban on her wearing a "purity ring" at school to symbolize her decision to abstain from sex before marriage.

Lydia Playfoot, 16, from West Sussex, says the silver ring is an expression of her faith and should be exempt from the school's rules on wearing jewellery.

Sorry, I haven't gathered all my information about the Ten Ways To Catch A Guys Attention, but I will soon.

Recently, I went to a water balloon party, and for a while I have been really nice to this one kid. He didn't really seem to have any friends, so I would talk to him. Apparently, kindness was taken as a come on. So at the party as we were picking up the broken balloons he came up to me to ask me out. He was so nervous, and when I looked up at him to say that I would love to go to a piano concert his cheek was twitching and I knew something bad was going to happen. The incredible shy/nervousness wasn't my first clue. The fact that he couldn't carry on a conversation was.
When he picked me up everything went well. He opened the door for me. That was the end of anything good. He had nothing interesting to say; no stories, no compliments, nothing. The fact that he had been out of the country for two years (four months ago) didn't help at all. By the time we got to the concert I was wishing someone would kill me. Thank Heavens I didn't have to talk to him for THREE hours! All throughout the date I just kept saying to myself, "There's no place like Home!" and "I wonder if the pianist is single?"
After the concert (that went on FOREVER with the same tune over and OVER again) we were walking to the car, and he asked me if I was hungry. Is this kid Crazy? He's wants to be with me longer?!?
"No, I had a hamburger before I came."
"Well, would you like to go to Olive Garden?"
At this point I knew that this kid was a little dense and I was so tired and irritable that I said, "Sure." but not for the reasons that you are thinking of. I wanted to see what my limits were with this guy, mentally.
During the first part of the date I was really nervous, but during the second part of the date I just wanted to entertain myself. I figured that since he asked me out, he was inviting me to ask him any personal question I wanted. We talked about construction, breakfast foods, marriage, books, and favorite colors. I was even going to ask him about past girlfriends, but recognizing the date I was on for what it was, I figured I was his first date in awhile.
The thing that peeved me the most was that when he took me home he opened my car door, but didn't walk me to the door. IDIOT! Ick! I still just can't believe that he wouldn't walk me to my door. The only thing that I can figure as to why he did that was that he didn't want an awkward doorstep scene.
I feel really badly that this guy couldn't talk to me, but I would never go out with him again. I can sum up that night in one word. Boring.
So my advice to everyone is if your date is turning out to be the longest date of your life, don't sweat it and remember:
"No matter what, you can always entertain yourself."

WARNING
What I learned:
Kindness attracts EVERYONE. So if you like someone be kind to them.

Never in my life have I had a party that was sooooo hard. Not that I have had that many parties, though.
Since my last party with girls went so well I thought that I would try something a little different and ask boys. I sould have gotten the hint from the girls that this was not a good idea from the last party where they told me how they have Not been dating.
I asked ten boys and ten girls to come over to my house for a BBQ at seven o'clock. At first I was dreading having a party. Am I an idiot to invite guys that I don't even know? But, as seven o'clock came I got really excited and the first of the boys showed up (on time). I got him started cutting watermelon (because it is always easier at a party when everyone is doing something). Then fifteen minutes later another couple of guys came over and I started having them cook the chicken. So far Five guys Two girls. Thirty minutes after seven, two girls show up with chips, but don't go out and talk to the guys. Instead they go over to the volleyball net and start setting it up. After about fourty five minutes, everyone shows up, but all the girls start playing volleyball as the guys are cooking dinner.
Weird! I don't know what's going on at this point. Whouldn't girls want to talk with the guys? All in all, some of the guys weren't talked to by any of the other girls but me.
Tip for Girls: Always help the hostess, and always talk to all of the guys, cause that is why the hostess invited you. She invited you so that you could meet guys.
Tip for Guys: Never invite friends to a BBQ that you are not hosting yourself. And check before you say you can come if there are any important games that night.
For some reason there were some guys that showed up that I didn't even know. They came to eat the food and then they left. I, also, found out later that night that one of the guys that I had invited just didn't show because the NBA finals started that night. Creep.
Tip for everyone: if you said that you were coming to a dinner show up and show up on time.
Some people that I invited didn't even come until after the dinner and some didn't even show.
All in all I don't think that it was a bust because I actually got to know a lot of guys and I learned that I didn't necissarilly want to go out with any of them, even the ones that I kind of liked.
Next time I have a party I will definately invite girls that want to be around guys.

Be sure to catch Next Time on Mary's Teen Blog:
Ten Sure Fire Ways to Catch A Guy's Attention

Hello after a very long absence.

Prelude

When I was a little girl I invited a whole bunch of girls over for a Halloween party, but when Halloween came none of the girls did. Since then I have been scared to death of ever having a party.

Present Day

So after I moved I switched schools twice, and I was having the hardest time making friends. After about a year of knowing no one I decided that I wanted a change. I really wanted friends. I figured that I was going to be the only one who would change my situation, so I called a couple of the girls that I knew the names of. I asked them if they wanted to come over and watch a movie.
For me this was big, because normally Im so shy. But, when I called they were so excited to come, and in a way I was so excited too. What if they had a good time and I wasn't just a social moron. This could be really cool. Then it was time for the party and all the girls came. I was so excited but really nervous that there would be an awkward pause but there wasn't. In fact we were talking and having so much fun that we didn't even get to the movie.
After they all left I was practically in shock. Everyone had actually had a good time, and I think that I made some friends. I think what surprised me more than anything was that they were as starved for friendship as I was. I was even invited to a sleep over that weekend.
I suggest that everyone try having a party. It is a lot easier than you think and everyone loves it. From this experience I learned that everyone (even if you don't think it) is feeling the same way that you are.

Next experiment: Having a party with boys.

Wish Me Luck

Mary

Hey Everyone,
I'm back, and my life is getting harder. If you think Prom is bad try moving. That's right I'm moving, and in 3 days. I'm leaving behind all my friends, and everything that is familiar to me. I can hardly cope!
Hopefully things won't be too horrible. I know that in time I will make friends. It just took me two years to do it here. Shy would not even begin to start just how bad it is. I just stand out. 6 feet tall isn't anything to be ashamed of, but when I'm in a room I would rather just blend in.
Now, I haven't moved as many times as Hillary Duff does in her new movie "The Perfect Man", but I sure like what she said about meeting people. There are friends everywhere. You just need to go meet them first.
So if you are moving my advice is to just think of all the new opportunities there will be. Not that, that is great advice, but I have learned that if you keep your mind open to new possibilities, without shuving yourself at life, that life comes to you just a little bit faster.
Now if you have, are, or will move tell me about it. I could use all the advice I can get.

Mary
A Teenage Girl With Problems!