So... hear the news lately about the atheist sign beside the Christmas tree and manger scene in the Washington State Capitol? Well, an atheist group was allowed to put up a sign saying that there is no religion, no god, no angels no heaven or hell...etc...and that religion enslaves the mind. At first I though - freedom of speech, freedom of and freedom from religion, etc.etc. But, then I thought about it. This sign came up for the Christmas holidays - a national holiday. If Atheists do not like it as a national holiday, they should petition the government to get rid of the holiday - they should not, in direct contradiction to the holiday, post an anti-religion sign. It is sort of like hate speech or discrimination - for example, on Martin Luther King Day we do not allow KKK groups to post signs or hold demonstrations, on Presidents Day we do not allow anarchists to display their beliefs everywhere. National holidays are not necessarily "religious" but honoring people who deserve it.
The Christmas national holiday does have religious undertones but the National Holiday part of it is that we are honoring a prophet, philosopher and to some people savior who influenced the world more than most anyone else in history. Just like MLK day or Columbus Day (which I have problems with but whatever) or Presidents Day or Veterans Day the Fourth of July - we are honoring something. You do not have to participate in the ceremonies or celebrations. For example, I normally do not adorne my house with American flags or wear red white and blue on military-related holidays but I also do not go and post signs that say "Make love not war" on the state capitol building. It is disrespectful.
It should also be a violation of rights. In John Locke's philosophy of government - where the main portions of our Constitution and Bill of Rights as well as state's Constitutions come from - he says that your rights end where another person's begins. In other words, you have freedom of speech, religion, press UNTIL it interferes with anothers' rights. So... just like I cannot use my rights to hurt someone else, the Atheist group who posted the sign should not have because it interferes - or denegrates - the religious rights of others. A sign that said "We Worship No One" or even one that explained atheism would be perfectly fine. But, when you begin to discriminate and denegrate anothers' beliefs, you cross the line of your rights. Therefore, I think the sign should be taken down - not because I disagree with them, per se, BUT because they are not within their legal rights to post it, as I see it. I believe in free speech, and freedom of religion (which also means freedom "from" religion) but I do not believe in free hate speech or freedom to slander anothers' beliefs.
However - remember this: Whatever you believe and whoever you are is not, or should not, be influenced by a contradictory sign or demonstration. People can believe what they want and express it - in a respectful way.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
It's 3 AM
It's 3 AM.
Finishing with some thesis revisions.
I have stitches from a mole Dr. Loeble cut out today...gross. They itch.
Mr. Wilcox is improving...must have been the Coke and Snickers bar.
Spent the day with Emily over the weekend - had a good time, she seems to be holding it together well.
Went to see BOLT and loved it - you should go see it, it is mucho fabulous!
I am going to bed now, even though I should do more work on the thesis.
Finishing with some thesis revisions.
I have stitches from a mole Dr. Loeble cut out today...gross. They itch.
Mr. Wilcox is improving...must have been the Coke and Snickers bar.
Spent the day with Emily over the weekend - had a good time, she seems to be holding it together well.
Went to see BOLT and loved it - you should go see it, it is mucho fabulous!
I am going to bed now, even though I should do more work on the thesis.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Bad things happen...but why do they happen all at one time?
So Mr. Wilcox is in the hospital again. Two years ago he was diagnosed with cancer and almost walked through death's door but didn't. Recently he has been doing so well - he bought a new car, drove to Bible study twice a week and was even substitute teaching! We were all so excited to see him doing so well! Well - of course I trek off to San Diego without going to see him in about 6 weeks. I thought about it and thought, you know, I will go see him over Thanksgiving so we are not rushed. I got a call Wednesday morning, however, explaining that Mr. Wilcox had suffered a stroke and was left unable to speak and very confused. I couldn't get to Augusta, obviously, so Meagan Borum went, thank goodness. Meagan and I have a gift at making Mr. Wilcox smile.
Anyway I promised to sit with him on Friday, tomorrow. This morning, though I got more news. Mr. Wilcox has developed MRSP induced pneumonia. In other words he has a bacterial infection that has progressed pneumonia in his body leaving it hard for him to breathe. Additionally he has an infection in his foot where he had two toes amputated during his last hospital stay. They gave him antibiotics and said he need to wait 24 hours to see results. MRSP is very contagious - through casual contact - and they are warning people who come to the hospital to be very cautious but recommend that they do not come. Well, I have to go. I cannot stay away from the hospital with Mr. Wilcox in this condition.
Over the past two years he has been such a good friend to me. I visit him and we talk and watch the History Channel. He always makes me laugh and is so sincerely interested in what I am doing, in my thesis and in Derek's life too. I am so worried because the prognosis is so bad - I don't want to think negatively but it is hard not too with the bacterial infection being so dangerous. It makes me think about November a year ago when we lost Michael to a bacterial infection - what is with November??? Every year someone I love gets seriously ill, hospitalized or dies during this month.
I want him to get better so much. I will eat a Snickers and drink a Coke in honor of him and in hopes that he pulls through this today.
Anyway I promised to sit with him on Friday, tomorrow. This morning, though I got more news. Mr. Wilcox has developed MRSP induced pneumonia. In other words he has a bacterial infection that has progressed pneumonia in his body leaving it hard for him to breathe. Additionally he has an infection in his foot where he had two toes amputated during his last hospital stay. They gave him antibiotics and said he need to wait 24 hours to see results. MRSP is very contagious - through casual contact - and they are warning people who come to the hospital to be very cautious but recommend that they do not come. Well, I have to go. I cannot stay away from the hospital with Mr. Wilcox in this condition.
Over the past two years he has been such a good friend to me. I visit him and we talk and watch the History Channel. He always makes me laugh and is so sincerely interested in what I am doing, in my thesis and in Derek's life too. I am so worried because the prognosis is so bad - I don't want to think negatively but it is hard not too with the bacterial infection being so dangerous. It makes me think about November a year ago when we lost Michael to a bacterial infection - what is with November??? Every year someone I love gets seriously ill, hospitalized or dies during this month.
I want him to get better so much. I will eat a Snickers and drink a Coke in honor of him and in hopes that he pulls through this today.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
You Can't Say "I Told You So"
You know it seems like when someone does something that you know is not a good idea you LIVE for the day you can tell them "I told you so" or at least whisper it to yourself.
Well...when that person actually faces the reality of your warnings, the urge to say that immediately goes away.
My cousin is 21. Three days ago she was a married woman to a man we all told her would hurt her when she was married a few weeks out of high school, at 18. Today she is in the midst of a divorce, brought upon her by this husband out of the blue. He left her Tuesday night and had divorce papers ready today. They had been on a date and shopping just Monday.
None of us can actually believe that our warnings actually came true - and we really wish they hadn't. We all feel so horrible and can't imagine being married for two years and being divorced by the age of 21. I just saw her, hugged her and cried with her. I want her to be okay and I want her to have a life now - to have friends and to meet a good-looking perfect guy and actually get to go on dates. I just don't know how she will do it. She seems like she is being "strong" but she has no obligation to be - this is hard stuff, not something you get over in a few weeks...it will take a long time.
Well...when that person actually faces the reality of your warnings, the urge to say that immediately goes away.
My cousin is 21. Three days ago she was a married woman to a man we all told her would hurt her when she was married a few weeks out of high school, at 18. Today she is in the midst of a divorce, brought upon her by this husband out of the blue. He left her Tuesday night and had divorce papers ready today. They had been on a date and shopping just Monday.
None of us can actually believe that our warnings actually came true - and we really wish they hadn't. We all feel so horrible and can't imagine being married for two years and being divorced by the age of 21. I just saw her, hugged her and cried with her. I want her to be okay and I want her to have a life now - to have friends and to meet a good-looking perfect guy and actually get to go on dates. I just don't know how she will do it. She seems like she is being "strong" but she has no obligation to be - this is hard stuff, not something you get over in a few weeks...it will take a long time.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Election Night
Election Night is always one of my favorite nights. My parents always emphasized it growing up and the last 2 elections plus this one have been very interesting to me and I have followed them minute for minute.
Although I have my disagreements with the McCain/Palin ticket - mostly with the Palin part - I could live and be happy under a McCain presidency. It doesn't seem that way for many people who voted for Obama. But on that same note I know many many many people who are being ridiculously dramatic about an Obama presidency - calling it the end of America and calling him worse from racist to terrorist to the AntiChrist.
No matter what side we chose we need to get on board the American train and off of our partisan high horses. Anti-Obama people need to realize if he were all of those awful things there is no way he could run for President with such support. Anti-McCain people need to get over themselves...and I guess us Anti-Palinites too...and not fuel any fire that may exist after Obama wins tonight (because he is almost to 270).
Get over the hate and begin the healing. We need to support our leaders because if they fail, we fail.
Although I have my disagreements with the McCain/Palin ticket - mostly with the Palin part - I could live and be happy under a McCain presidency. It doesn't seem that way for many people who voted for Obama. But on that same note I know many many many people who are being ridiculously dramatic about an Obama presidency - calling it the end of America and calling him worse from racist to terrorist to the AntiChrist.
No matter what side we chose we need to get on board the American train and off of our partisan high horses. Anti-Obama people need to realize if he were all of those awful things there is no way he could run for President with such support. Anti-McCain people need to get over themselves...and I guess us Anti-Palinites too...and not fuel any fire that may exist after Obama wins tonight (because he is almost to 270).
Get over the hate and begin the healing. We need to support our leaders because if they fail, we fail.
Monday, November 3, 2008
The Glass Ceiling Needs to be Broken by a Deserving Woman
It disturbs me every time Sarah Palin talks about breaking the glass ceiling by getting into the White House. The fact that this small town mayor turned Alaskan governor who was, in an act of awful judgment, appointed by John McCain solely to rally the evangelical conservative base believes that she should be the chosen one to "break the glass ceiling" is ridiculous! Sarah Palin has not supported women's rights - whether it be reproductive or working rights! She also has not protected the rights female children who have been raped - even incestually raped. She made rape victims in the state of Alaska (which has one of the highest rape percentages in the U.S.) pay for the rape kit doctors use to know how to help them both in their health and in court.
Additionally, Palin is obviously uneducated in Civics. She is confused about the role of the Vice-President, cannot name controversial court cases (which anyone who has made it through high school should be able to do), and constantly underminds the McCain campaign. The last of which shows that she is such a "maverick" she can't even support her own running mate in their campaign - how then is she supposed to help McCain "reach across the aisle?"
I would love to see a female leader of the United States. However, I am a woman who investigates all candidates - no matter their gender - in an effort to make an educated vote. I will not vote for a female candidate who does not represent the values of women and children and who, frankly, is not smart enough and does not deserve to be in a position of national leadership.
On a personal level I have many issues with this candidate. She advocates for censorship in libraries, drilling in the Alaskan Wildlife Preserve, and aerial hunting of native Alaskan wolves. She is not a subsistence hunter but a sport hunter. I have sport hunters in my family but they eat what they kill. Sarah Palin believes in killing Grizzly Bears, Alaskan Wolves, Moose, Elk and the like for their skins - not for warmth in the Alaskan cold either - but to display in homes. She does not have a problem with the hunting of endangered species and actually opposed putting Baluga whales and polar bears on the endangered species list because it would limit drilling in Alaska - even though those species ARE ACTUALLY ENDANGERED.
Sarah Palin has also been found guilty of ethics charges in TWO cases. Once as Mayor of Wasilla when she fired a librarian for not taking certain books of the shelves of the Wasilla library (one book was called "Pastor, I am Gay" written by a local minister and the librarian was re-instated after the public cried out against the unethical decision made by Palin) The second, of course, was recently when a bi-partisan group found her guilty of ethics violations in the firing of the Police Commissioner. She talks about Obama's associations - why not take a look at her actions? Don't actions speak louder than aquaintances? I think so.
McCain could have received my vote because I vehemently disagree with Obama on his views on the death tax policies. Although I like Obama more than McCain, this issue alone could have swayed my vote if McCain had chosen someone like Romney or Condy Rice (but not Huckabee...no way). With McCain's appointment of Sarah Palin we now know that he does not use his best judgment, he does not put "Country First" or he would not have chosen this unqualified candidate, and he does not support Civil Rights to the extent Obama does. So, I will be putting the interests of minorities, women, children and homosexuals ahead of my issues with Obama's death tax policy because if I do not I will be voting not only for McCain - but for a VP with a huge possibility of becoming President who is too incompetant and close-minded for the position.
Women out there should realize that they need a qualified female in positions of national leadership so that they will not give a bad name to women in leadership and so that in the future we have a greater chance to continue breaking the glass ceiling.
Vote Against Palin in 2008.
Additionally, Palin is obviously uneducated in Civics. She is confused about the role of the Vice-President, cannot name controversial court cases (which anyone who has made it through high school should be able to do), and constantly underminds the McCain campaign. The last of which shows that she is such a "maverick" she can't even support her own running mate in their campaign - how then is she supposed to help McCain "reach across the aisle?"
I would love to see a female leader of the United States. However, I am a woman who investigates all candidates - no matter their gender - in an effort to make an educated vote. I will not vote for a female candidate who does not represent the values of women and children and who, frankly, is not smart enough and does not deserve to be in a position of national leadership.
On a personal level I have many issues with this candidate. She advocates for censorship in libraries, drilling in the Alaskan Wildlife Preserve, and aerial hunting of native Alaskan wolves. She is not a subsistence hunter but a sport hunter. I have sport hunters in my family but they eat what they kill. Sarah Palin believes in killing Grizzly Bears, Alaskan Wolves, Moose, Elk and the like for their skins - not for warmth in the Alaskan cold either - but to display in homes. She does not have a problem with the hunting of endangered species and actually opposed putting Baluga whales and polar bears on the endangered species list because it would limit drilling in Alaska - even though those species ARE ACTUALLY ENDANGERED.
Sarah Palin has also been found guilty of ethics charges in TWO cases. Once as Mayor of Wasilla when she fired a librarian for not taking certain books of the shelves of the Wasilla library (one book was called "Pastor, I am Gay" written by a local minister and the librarian was re-instated after the public cried out against the unethical decision made by Palin) The second, of course, was recently when a bi-partisan group found her guilty of ethics violations in the firing of the Police Commissioner. She talks about Obama's associations - why not take a look at her actions? Don't actions speak louder than aquaintances? I think so.
McCain could have received my vote because I vehemently disagree with Obama on his views on the death tax policies. Although I like Obama more than McCain, this issue alone could have swayed my vote if McCain had chosen someone like Romney or Condy Rice (but not Huckabee...no way). With McCain's appointment of Sarah Palin we now know that he does not use his best judgment, he does not put "Country First" or he would not have chosen this unqualified candidate, and he does not support Civil Rights to the extent Obama does. So, I will be putting the interests of minorities, women, children and homosexuals ahead of my issues with Obama's death tax policy because if I do not I will be voting not only for McCain - but for a VP with a huge possibility of becoming President who is too incompetant and close-minded for the position.
Women out there should realize that they need a qualified female in positions of national leadership so that they will not give a bad name to women in leadership and so that in the future we have a greater chance to continue breaking the glass ceiling.
Vote Against Palin in 2008.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Happy Halloween!
I love Halloween! It is my most favorite holiday!
I just finished giving out $40.00 worth of candy to a ton of dressed up, (mostly) adorable kids! We live on the main trick-or-treating street in Sandersville which means we get to see everyone in their sweet little costumes!
I do miss going to PHOBIA with Robert in Valdosta, though. Those were the days... Oh well, Robert is in Virginia, I am in Sandersville and Valdosta is long gone but I still love Halloween! Hope you - meaning John Barson since you are the only one I know who has read this more than once - have a great one!
I just finished giving out $40.00 worth of candy to a ton of dressed up, (mostly) adorable kids! We live on the main trick-or-treating street in Sandersville which means we get to see everyone in their sweet little costumes!
I do miss going to PHOBIA with Robert in Valdosta, though. Those were the days... Oh well, Robert is in Virginia, I am in Sandersville and Valdosta is long gone but I still love Halloween! Hope you - meaning John Barson since you are the only one I know who has read this more than once - have a great one!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Would you like a dose of reality? No? Well how about a piece of my mind?...
I am FED UP.
Christianity has been a constant struggle with me for a few years now because of personal issues but also because of the mindset of the church. During this presidential election I have heard and seen some of the most awful things - coming from the mouths and pens of...yep, you guessed it...Christians!
Although I do believe in a God and the existence of Jesus, I do not believe that they are worried about our political beliefs and ideologies. Today I was scanning through the radio stations on my way back from M-ville when I ran across old James Dobson's station - Focus on the Family. Needless to say he was discussing the election and also Proposition 8 in California.
About the election he asserted that with an Obama presidency the sanctity of life and marriage would be in jeopardy and in addition prostitution and porn would go ramped. Hm. This is my response:
1) Separation of church and state means just that - so if you want to keep existing as a tax-free entity you need to shut your mouth.
2) Just because some Christians consider abortion murder, some of us do not - so do not claim to speak on behalf of Christians. Some of us actually think about the consequences of forcing women to bring unwanted children into the world cramming our DFCS and social services organizations as well as leading to more poverty, infant/child mortality and actual infanticide.
3) Marriage - legally - is not sacred. Sorry to break it to you but people marry for money, pregnancy, obligation and the like. Half of the marriages in the U.S. now end in divorce. AND, even if it were sacred, the Bible (if you actually read it literally) does not condemn same-sex relations outright. The Leviticus scripture refers to the sin of a penetrator in certain circumstances and certainly not in all of them.
One more thing - why does the marriage of two people who love each other and are not blood related bother you, James Dobson (and others with this view)? Does it interfere with your everyday life? Is it harmful to your person? The answer is no. If Christians out there were more concerned with their own person and the physical needs of their community we would be in much better shape. But, petty evangelicals find it necessary to condemn other behavior rather than using that effort to clothe, feed and serve the needy that are so prevalent in each and every one of our communities, towns, states and countries.
What is sacred is the commitment you make with another person, not the "institution of marriage" - and those commitments we make to other people should be our personal choice, not legislated by a Supreme Court or a state. My marriage, as lovely as it is, would exist with or without the legal documentation because of my commitment to Derek. Why exclude homosexual couples from having the benefits of legal documentation if they are making the same loving, lasting commitment I made?
4) The prostitution and porn claim is absolutely absurd.
On the subject of Proposition 8 Dobson and his guest discussed "The Call" which is an event that has invited evangelicals from California and the rest of the country to gather in a stadium and pray outloud, in unison, for God to have mercy on California. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Homosexual couples should be guaranteed equal rights under the law of our land, regardless of who believes what. It is a civil rights issue. "The Call" is absurd as it would have been in the 1960's to hold a prayer meeting to keep segregation or in the 30's a prayer meeting for God to help uphold the Jim Crowe laws.
I am disturbed on one other issue as well. Let me just say that our founding fathers were not Christians - they were Deists - which means that they believed in a higher power but that that higher power had no control over earthly matters. They were adamant about the separation of church (including doctrine) and state because of the oppression they felt under a diefied monarchy. So, a nation founded on religious freedom is what America is - not a nation founded solely on Christian principles.
Our nation is made up of people from many different religious, ethnic, and gender backgrounds. Christians need to get off of their high horse and realize that WE cannot legislate the morality of those who are non-Christian just because of that fact. Our nation needs to be responsible for our well-being and if the decisions of others - whether it be reproductive decisions or decisions regarding marriage - do not harm you, then stay out of it!
Oh and one more thing.....Christians need to stop being naieve and calling people the "AntiChrist." Not only has Obama been called this by evangelicals but so has Oprah....Oprah people? For real? If you want to know my opinion, and obviously you do if you are still reading....THERE IS NO ANTICHRIST. Revelation will not happen and Satan is not ruling on earth as the leader of our nation. And what makes people think that if an Antichrist were to come to power it would come to power in the U.S.? That is SO ethnocentric!
People - if you are one of the crazy, right-winged, evangelical people out there then here is a piece of my mind:
You are making actual Christians look bad, so please stop. Come into what we non-evangelicals call the "real-world" and see that God is LOVE - not condemnation, God is PEACE - not war with Iraq (or any other nation), God is ACCEPTANCE - of your neighbors even if you do not agree with their decision. And finally, our nation does not depend on your religious beliefs so please stop making them part of my voting process. I would rather vote on issues that actually affect ME and not vote on issues that will just hinder the "pursuit of happiness" others have a right to under our Constitution.
That is not all but I think it is enough for this piece of my mind. The End.
Christianity has been a constant struggle with me for a few years now because of personal issues but also because of the mindset of the church. During this presidential election I have heard and seen some of the most awful things - coming from the mouths and pens of...yep, you guessed it...Christians!
Although I do believe in a God and the existence of Jesus, I do not believe that they are worried about our political beliefs and ideologies. Today I was scanning through the radio stations on my way back from M-ville when I ran across old James Dobson's station - Focus on the Family. Needless to say he was discussing the election and also Proposition 8 in California.
About the election he asserted that with an Obama presidency the sanctity of life and marriage would be in jeopardy and in addition prostitution and porn would go ramped. Hm. This is my response:
1) Separation of church and state means just that - so if you want to keep existing as a tax-free entity you need to shut your mouth.
2) Just because some Christians consider abortion murder, some of us do not - so do not claim to speak on behalf of Christians. Some of us actually think about the consequences of forcing women to bring unwanted children into the world cramming our DFCS and social services organizations as well as leading to more poverty, infant/child mortality and actual infanticide.
3) Marriage - legally - is not sacred. Sorry to break it to you but people marry for money, pregnancy, obligation and the like. Half of the marriages in the U.S. now end in divorce. AND, even if it were sacred, the Bible (if you actually read it literally) does not condemn same-sex relations outright. The Leviticus scripture refers to the sin of a penetrator in certain circumstances and certainly not in all of them.
One more thing - why does the marriage of two people who love each other and are not blood related bother you, James Dobson (and others with this view)? Does it interfere with your everyday life? Is it harmful to your person? The answer is no. If Christians out there were more concerned with their own person and the physical needs of their community we would be in much better shape. But, petty evangelicals find it necessary to condemn other behavior rather than using that effort to clothe, feed and serve the needy that are so prevalent in each and every one of our communities, towns, states and countries.
What is sacred is the commitment you make with another person, not the "institution of marriage" - and those commitments we make to other people should be our personal choice, not legislated by a Supreme Court or a state. My marriage, as lovely as it is, would exist with or without the legal documentation because of my commitment to Derek. Why exclude homosexual couples from having the benefits of legal documentation if they are making the same loving, lasting commitment I made?
4) The prostitution and porn claim is absolutely absurd.
On the subject of Proposition 8 Dobson and his guest discussed "The Call" which is an event that has invited evangelicals from California and the rest of the country to gather in a stadium and pray outloud, in unison, for God to have mercy on California. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Homosexual couples should be guaranteed equal rights under the law of our land, regardless of who believes what. It is a civil rights issue. "The Call" is absurd as it would have been in the 1960's to hold a prayer meeting to keep segregation or in the 30's a prayer meeting for God to help uphold the Jim Crowe laws.
I am disturbed on one other issue as well. Let me just say that our founding fathers were not Christians - they were Deists - which means that they believed in a higher power but that that higher power had no control over earthly matters. They were adamant about the separation of church (including doctrine) and state because of the oppression they felt under a diefied monarchy. So, a nation founded on religious freedom is what America is - not a nation founded solely on Christian principles.
Our nation is made up of people from many different religious, ethnic, and gender backgrounds. Christians need to get off of their high horse and realize that WE cannot legislate the morality of those who are non-Christian just because of that fact. Our nation needs to be responsible for our well-being and if the decisions of others - whether it be reproductive decisions or decisions regarding marriage - do not harm you, then stay out of it!
Oh and one more thing.....Christians need to stop being naieve and calling people the "AntiChrist." Not only has Obama been called this by evangelicals but so has Oprah....Oprah people? For real? If you want to know my opinion, and obviously you do if you are still reading....THERE IS NO ANTICHRIST. Revelation will not happen and Satan is not ruling on earth as the leader of our nation. And what makes people think that if an Antichrist were to come to power it would come to power in the U.S.? That is SO ethnocentric!
People - if you are one of the crazy, right-winged, evangelical people out there then here is a piece of my mind:
You are making actual Christians look bad, so please stop. Come into what we non-evangelicals call the "real-world" and see that God is LOVE - not condemnation, God is PEACE - not war with Iraq (or any other nation), God is ACCEPTANCE - of your neighbors even if you do not agree with their decision. And finally, our nation does not depend on your religious beliefs so please stop making them part of my voting process. I would rather vote on issues that actually affect ME and not vote on issues that will just hinder the "pursuit of happiness" others have a right to under our Constitution.
That is not all but I think it is enough for this piece of my mind. The End.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
To Fall...
Thinking of everything Fall means today.
I love mornings and late afternoons in the Fall.
I love the feeling of "falling" in love.
Falling down isn't fun, but free falling is!
Basically, a lot of formations/definitions of "fall" make me happy but the season is definitely the best. The pumpkins, colors, weather, and need for new clothes always makes me happy. I really look forward to Halloween, gord/pumpkin carving, brisk morning walks, crunching leaves under my feet and shorter days. Mountains, festivals, Thanksgiving, corn chowder, sweet potato pie, souffle's, casseroles and crock-pot specialties are coming my way =).
Sunday, September 14, 2008
A Fat Lazy Housewife No More!
YES! The above picture is how I feel now! Honestly, I am not a housewife and will probably never be one, but the fact that I go to school while Derek brings home the bacon (and I contribute only a third of our income a month) means that I guess I can parallel my role in this house right now with that of a beautiful, glowing 1950's housewife (if you are going to make this comparison why not specify what kind of gorgeous housewife you are right?)
In a week I have lost 3 pounds and that is not water weight people - I have counted calories and have decreased my portion sizes. I have been drinking lots of water and have walked over a mile every other day. AND, I have had FUN - imagine that.
Speaking of housewives, I love the article below.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Baby, it's COLD inside!
I am freezing right now here at GCSU. So cold I had to eat my hot sandwich and drink my coffee earlier than usual to help me warm up a little.
Re: the "I'm A Fat Lazy Housewife" post --- I have begun a public food journal to keep myself accountable. It is an excellent resource, you should try it. Here is the link to my site: http://fitday.com/fitness/PublicJournals.html?Owner=crystalparten
And also by the way - I may boycott lipstick until November. And pork. - (as in the meat from pigs, not trash that comes to politicians). If that doesn't make sense to you then watch the political news and see how utterly ridiculous the McCain Camp is being...and in all reality, how ludicrous the race is as a whole. It is also annoying that presently, the Propoganda Sandersvillian has added to his/her collection of right-winged billboards "McCain 2008." I understand that this is quite normal but come on, must I be reminded of this mysterious persons' political beliefs and agenda of either converting or offending Democrats on a daily basis on my way to the Walmart (AKA: The Sandersville Mall)? I don't think so.
I may have to vote for a 3rd party since I obviously was never voting for McCain and since I constantly have been reminding myself of how much I wanted Hillary in office... and Obama just doesn't compare in my mind! What should I do? An Elvis write in, perhaps?
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Male Excuses
So - now there is supposedly a gene that makes men cheat. (uh -huh, who else thinks this is BS?)
(Re: to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090102087.html )
There is also concern that boys are increasingly doing worse in school... here is an excerpt form an article on MSN:
"Some experts suggest we are witnessing an epidemic of ADHD and say boys need more medication. Others say that environmental pollutants found in plastics, among other things, may be eroding their attention spans and their ability to regulate their emotions. Those experts may be right but I have another suggestion. Let's examine the way our child rearing and our schools have evolved in the last 10 years. Then ask ourselves this challenging question: could some of those changes we have embraced in our families, our communities and our schools be driving our sons crazy?" (re: http://www.newsweek.com/id/157898?gt1=43002 )
Do you want to know my opinion?
People need to stop making excuses for the bad behavior or lack of motivation in males and make them take responsibility for it! Women cheat, but that is always considered "emotional" not GENETIC! This gives men a free pass! I do not care what evidence is there, gene or no gene, it is a man's personal responsibility to his wife to be faithful and if he is not then he has given in to selfishness and personal desire - not to a "cheating gene."
The same with these boys who are bad in school or who cannot concentrate in school - yes the teachers and parents have a lot to do with it but you cannot always blame boys' problems on ADD, ADHD or an abnormal amount of energy that, when not released in the boring classroom, makes them behave badly! And why - oh why - does a reference in this article assume pollutants are making boys have ADHD and ADD but not girls??? Also, why do the changes in the schools and home tend to ONLY affect boys and not girls? See the issue here?
There is something called self-control, people, and boys in classrooms and men in marriages are smart enough and strong enough to use it - if they want to.
Monday, September 8, 2008
It's my Birthday! and I didn't cry!
My birthday was this weekend, specifically yesterday (Sunday the 7th of September).
It was a blast! For real, here is what I did:
1) Locked myself in the upstairs of my grandparent's Plantation home all day Friday and Saturday, the two days leading up to my special day, to write my first thesis chapter that I could not focus myself on at home.
2) Typed 20 pages of text, worked on citations, and even edited my draft a little.
3) Sat on the front porch of Moma and Papa's house each morning and night from Fri-Sun drinking coffee and talking with them.
4) Ate steak with my parents, grandparents, Edee, Derek and my great-Aunt Shirley on the deck of my parent's house. Opened 2 gifts and received 2 checks.
5) Listened to my Papa and Derek sing hymns in harmony while my Mama played the piano after birthday dinner Saturday.
6) Watched Derek watch the Florida game after everyone else in my family had gone to bed.
7) Ate all day Sunday (breakfast, lunch and fish-fry dinner) and in the middle of it all took a long nap on my bed in my room at mama and daddy's.
And...although this sounds like a boring weekend, I loved every minute of it! I really needed that time with my family, I miss them!
It was a blast! For real, here is what I did:
1) Locked myself in the upstairs of my grandparent's Plantation home all day Friday and Saturday, the two days leading up to my special day, to write my first thesis chapter that I could not focus myself on at home.
2) Typed 20 pages of text, worked on citations, and even edited my draft a little.
3) Sat on the front porch of Moma and Papa's house each morning and night from Fri-Sun drinking coffee and talking with them.
4) Ate steak with my parents, grandparents, Edee, Derek and my great-Aunt Shirley on the deck of my parent's house. Opened 2 gifts and received 2 checks.
5) Listened to my Papa and Derek sing hymns in harmony while my Mama played the piano after birthday dinner Saturday.
6) Watched Derek watch the Florida game after everyone else in my family had gone to bed.
7) Ate all day Sunday (breakfast, lunch and fish-fry dinner) and in the middle of it all took a long nap on my bed in my room at mama and daddy's.
And...although this sounds like a boring weekend, I loved every minute of it! I really needed that time with my family, I miss them!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Oh the joys of Savannah!
I absolutely LOVE Savannah. I always have, but this time I really really enjoyed it. Now, I am not saying that it is St. Augustine, it doesn't quite compare to the appeal, beauty, or intrigue or the Old City but Savannah does have its charm!
Derek and I went down there for a cross-country meet and stayed overnight (we let the other coach ride back with the team). I did some research at the Georgia Historical Society, while Derek put his head down on a table and went to sleep.
We ended up staying at the Planters Inn. Have you heard of it? It is only one of the best historic inns in Savannah and on top of that...it is on the Haunted Tours. Yes, it is haunted - but fortunately, we slept safe and well all through the night with no interruptions. Now, we ended up staying there because - just like in Asheville, N.C. - everything was booked, and we wanted to stay near River Street (so that, after intoxication, we could walk back safely). But it cost us...$200.00 for that ONE night! Dear Jesus! But it was so clean and so beautiful and the pillows were the most comfortable I have ever laid my head on! They also gave us complimentary wine and cheese hour - in which I partook whole-heartedly so that our evening out would be cheaper. So I guess, in all reality, it was not that bad. Oh - and you know how in many nice hotels they put Evian water in your room for like $10.00? Well, this one gave us as much Evian water as we wanted - fo' free! Not that we really need Evian, but it did make us feel classy.
We met a couple - Aaron and Katie. They were from St. Louis and very nice. They were in Savannah for her 30th birthday. We enjoyed talking to them during the wine and cheese hour. We wanted to meet them later on that night, but my heels were killing my feet and it got hot so we were both sweaty and therefore we just felt gross like we needed to go back to the hotel and get a shower. Plus, we had been up for over 20 hours at that point and were slap worn out.
We did see a crazy thing happen on Friday though - a car smashed into the Freemasons Building - the Old Cotton Exchange in Savannah and knocked down the over 100 year old Lion Statue, sad day. The driver survived, btw.
Let's see though. We ate at a great tapas bar which was delicious, except for the empanadas - they were actually disgusting and I don't say that about hardly anything! We went to Wet Willies, Derek's favorite bar in Savannah...not mine though b/c all of the drinks are frozen and I'd rather have one on the rocks. And...oh yes...my birthday present.
So Derek took me to Victoria's Secret for my birthday. He was so worried I would think "Oh that's such a man thing to do," but I sure did not! It made me feel like a million dollars! Anyway, he picked out some things that he liked and we bought them and now I am keeping him in suspense - he has no idea when I will decide to model them for him. Anyway, I thought it was a very thoughtful present because he knew it would make me feel 1) pretty and 2) wanted ... 2 things a girl needs to feel now and then right?
Well...need to actually do something productive!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Affirmations
I think that sometimes I forget the power of affirmations and giving thanks. Last night I began with my obsessive thinking just as I wanted to go to bed. This is so frustrating. I lay down for bed and all of a sudden, right when I am about to fall into a deep sleep, a loud voice inside my head asks me: "What do you have to do tomorrow?" and, reluctantly, my brain answers with a list of different things I should do. I am trying to get back to sleep when I begin thinking about all sorts of things, each thought leading to a new thought and so on. This goes on for at least 20 minutes when I decide I will try counting my blessings to see if that will help me sleep.
Sure enough, after counting about 10 blessings and telling myself how fortunate I am for this and that and what I am good at, etc. I fall straight to sleep.
So I recommend trying this if you are anxious or are suffering from sudden insomnia - I know I will do it a lot more often!
"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."Abraham Lincoln
Sure enough, after counting about 10 blessings and telling myself how fortunate I am for this and that and what I am good at, etc. I fall straight to sleep.
So I recommend trying this if you are anxious or are suffering from sudden insomnia - I know I will do it a lot more often!
"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."Abraham Lincoln
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Sirens
I have a host of sirens trying to distract me from my goals. I tried so hard today to write some on my thesis but I failed - miserably.
My sirens all day were many: the clothes calling me to wash them, dishes screaming at me from the sink, notes asking to be taken from the pile of books sitting on my desk, books longing to be read before class tomorrow, and un-read e-mails sending out vibes to be responded to.
"Tomorrow I will do better, I will get up early, I will exercise and then I will write the rest of the day, and I will be motivated!" - this is what I say every evening and every day I find some reason to stray away from this relatively simple plan.
So - here is my answer to this:
My sirens all day were many: the clothes calling me to wash them, dishes screaming at me from the sink, notes asking to be taken from the pile of books sitting on my desk, books longing to be read before class tomorrow, and un-read e-mails sending out vibes to be responded to.
"Tomorrow I will do better, I will get up early, I will exercise and then I will write the rest of the day, and I will be motivated!" - this is what I say every evening and every day I find some reason to stray away from this relatively simple plan.
So - here is my answer to this:
"There is always a siren singing you to shipwreck.
KILL THE SIREN!"
Here is just one of my thoughts on how to do this:
On another note, here is a blog I found that I like: http://shamash.typepad.com/shamash/humor/
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Obsession
I obsess.
I obsess when I am not busy about things that do not matter.
Death, mostly - How/when/where will I /my family/my friends die... but other things too.
Did I leave the straightener/oven/stove on?
Did I lock the door?
Does everyone notice that my car is dirty/my pants are tight/my makeup is splotchy?
Did I get an A on the paper? Did they like the paper? Am I really as smart as I think I am?
It seems to be more like a problem now than just a weird quirk of mine. I am making a lot of lists again... like 4-5 a day. I check our account balance at least twice a day. I wonder what is causing my sudden obsessive behavior? Hmmm...
I obsess when I am not busy about things that do not matter.
Death, mostly - How/when/where will I /my family/my friends die... but other things too.
Did I leave the straightener/oven/stove on?
Did I lock the door?
Does everyone notice that my car is dirty/my pants are tight/my makeup is splotchy?
Did I get an A on the paper? Did they like the paper? Am I really as smart as I think I am?
It seems to be more like a problem now than just a weird quirk of mine. I am making a lot of lists again... like 4-5 a day. I check our account balance at least twice a day. I wonder what is causing my sudden obsessive behavior? Hmmm...
Thursday, May 15, 2008
I am a Fat, Lazy Housewife...
Yeah, this is pretty much how I feel today. First of all I will clean the house all day but I will not do the clothes!! They are so daunting! I HATE FOLDING, HANGING UP, WASHING, DRYING, and ORGANIZING CLOTHES!!!!! Give me a toilet to clean any day! Anyway....I had a physical at my house by my life insurance provider and she brought out a brand new, fancy scale. At first I thought, no problem, I know how much I weigh and I am okay with it. But no...the scale had to be new and weighed me differently than the old scales I have been using. So...I step on. It reads: 158.7. Shit.
When I got married I weighed 138-145 lbs (it fluctuated a lot right before I got married). But I worked really hard to get it down that low. So this means that after a year and 2 months of marriage I am 14-20 pounds heavier. What if I do this every year for the next 10 years? Let's see, let's say and average of 18 pounds a year for ten years I will weigh: 338 pounds! What about over the next 40 years?? I will weigh 878 POUNDS! AH!
So, I knew I had gained weight because my legs look like sausages instead of bean stalks but I didn't think I was nearly the heaviest I have ever been!! (I weighed 165 when I moved to Valdosta and lost it all...but now I am going to be right back up there!!!) So...what is the decision? Work out?...I really just do not have the patience right now. Drinking a lot of water? YES. Stop drinking alcohol? NO. Stop eating bread? NO NO NO. Limit portions? YES. Pizza? MAYBE. UGH...I hate the process of losing weight...and I hate it too because everyone always says "You don't need to lose weight!!" and then I just feel like I can eat whatever I want...So please, do not tell me I do not need to lose it, I DO...I weigh closer to 200 pounds than 100 so this is not hard to figure out, I need to lose weight. The healthy weight for my height is 135-155. I want to be at the 135.
When I got married I weighed 138-145 lbs (it fluctuated a lot right before I got married). But I worked really hard to get it down that low. So this means that after a year and 2 months of marriage I am 14-20 pounds heavier. What if I do this every year for the next 10 years? Let's see, let's say and average of 18 pounds a year for ten years I will weigh: 338 pounds! What about over the next 40 years?? I will weigh 878 POUNDS! AH!
So, I knew I had gained weight because my legs look like sausages instead of bean stalks but I didn't think I was nearly the heaviest I have ever been!! (I weighed 165 when I moved to Valdosta and lost it all...but now I am going to be right back up there!!!) So...what is the decision? Work out?...I really just do not have the patience right now. Drinking a lot of water? YES. Stop drinking alcohol? NO. Stop eating bread? NO NO NO. Limit portions? YES. Pizza? MAYBE. UGH...I hate the process of losing weight...and I hate it too because everyone always says "You don't need to lose weight!!" and then I just feel like I can eat whatever I want...So please, do not tell me I do not need to lose it, I DO...I weigh closer to 200 pounds than 100 so this is not hard to figure out, I need to lose weight. The healthy weight for my height is 135-155. I want to be at the 135.
Monday, May 12, 2008
*~Summer~*
I am done with classes and my assistantship for the summer! Yay for keeping my 4.0 average! Derek and I will be working this summer - in Warren County teaching and organizing the youth activities at the church here because Nick, the youth director, is leaving.
I am considering finding a full-time job for next year. This semester was busy but my next 2 semester are going to be a piece of cake and I really should work if I can - and I can! So - the job search begins for a full-time, salaried job (benefits do not matter because I get those through Derek), and a little flexible for my 2 classes I am taking next semester. We will see what happens.
Daddy has a new boat - it is WONDERFUL and I love it so much ! We are going to have a blast on it this summer! We went to the lake yesterday but it was way to windy to do anything so Mama and I just sat around and talked, it was nice.
Things are going considerably well in Sandersville. It is Spring and so nice outside, we can walk the dogs alot. We are trying to keep our chins up because in reality Derek loves his job, I am doing great in school, and we are doing okay financially (and will do a lot better when I get a job!!!). So, between the two of us Sandersville is not bad - it is just some of the social politics that bother us sometimes, I guess the good part is, the politics do not touch us very often - but it is sad to see other people go through the slander-mill here.
Anyway - Derek and I are going to be in the community theatre play this summer - the last weekend in June I believe. I will be Rapunzel, a very small role, thank God. Derek is the Baker which is the lead role, of course, because my husband is such the talent!!! I am nervous, don't know why I am doing this - but Derek is so excited, he really loves getting on stage for singing, acting, or both. He is so gifted in those areas...unlike his wife. But, if you want a laugh, come see the play.
The end for this morning.
I am considering finding a full-time job for next year. This semester was busy but my next 2 semester are going to be a piece of cake and I really should work if I can - and I can! So - the job search begins for a full-time, salaried job (benefits do not matter because I get those through Derek), and a little flexible for my 2 classes I am taking next semester. We will see what happens.
Daddy has a new boat - it is WONDERFUL and I love it so much ! We are going to have a blast on it this summer! We went to the lake yesterday but it was way to windy to do anything so Mama and I just sat around and talked, it was nice.
Things are going considerably well in Sandersville. It is Spring and so nice outside, we can walk the dogs alot. We are trying to keep our chins up because in reality Derek loves his job, I am doing great in school, and we are doing okay financially (and will do a lot better when I get a job!!!). So, between the two of us Sandersville is not bad - it is just some of the social politics that bother us sometimes, I guess the good part is, the politics do not touch us very often - but it is sad to see other people go through the slander-mill here.
Anyway - Derek and I are going to be in the community theatre play this summer - the last weekend in June I believe. I will be Rapunzel, a very small role, thank God. Derek is the Baker which is the lead role, of course, because my husband is such the talent!!! I am nervous, don't know why I am doing this - but Derek is so excited, he really loves getting on stage for singing, acting, or both. He is so gifted in those areas...unlike his wife. But, if you want a laugh, come see the play.
The end for this morning.
Monday, April 21, 2008
MOLES...they can be scary
Yes, some moles can be rather cute - the ones that crawl in the ground and look like fat, stumpy blind mice. However, moles on your body are different and can be VERY scary if you do not watch them. It is VITAL that people, especially women, get their moles checked by a dermatologist - especially if you tan (in the sun or tanning bed), are outside a lot, do not wear sunscreen, or have a family history.
I have a a lot of moles - but 3 in particular on my tummy form a triangle shape and I have had them my whole life. I guess I have grown attached to them because I am so sad to get them taken off. However, I will be going on Thursday to get the moles removed because they all resemble moles that can be a pre-cursor to cancer. My mom, grandmother, and aunt have all had melanoma moles so I know it is important for me to get mine checked. If you do not know about your family history or what to look for I am posting pictures of BAD moles so that you can compare yours to them and see if you may need to get checked. This can save your life, so please just look and see what your moles are like and then get to the dermatologist (some gynecologists can check moles too).
Here is a chart to determine whether your mole could be Melanoma:
The ABCD of Melanoma
Asymmetry -- One half doesn't match the other half.
Color -- The pigmentation is not uniform. Shades of tan, brown, and black arepresent. Areas of red, white, and blue may add to the mottled appearance
Border irregularity -- The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred.
Diameter -- Most but not all melanomas are greater than six millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed.Regardless of size, any growth of a mole should be at least a reason to look at it carefully.
Asymmetry -- One half doesn't match the other half.
Color -- The pigmentation is not uniform. Shades of tan, brown, and black arepresent. Areas of red, white, and blue may add to the mottled appearance
Border irregularity -- The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred.
Diameter -- Most but not all melanomas are greater than six millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed.Regardless of size, any growth of a mole should be at least a reason to look at it carefully.
Here is a link to many pictures of cancerous moles:
Here are a few that look semi-normal but probably are NOT:
Melanoma
Melanoma
MALIGNANT MelanomaTuesday, April 15, 2008
PhD or a Baby...Hmmm this is not a hard decision!
Well, I guess since Derek and I have been married a whole year now then the baby talk must come...but WHY!?!
I would love a baby --- if I did not have to birth, feed, pamper, clean after, or train it. Loving one is no problem, all the rest is. The thing is, I think people constantly asking you about it makes you want one more. In fact, my mother has given me an ultimatum - she needs a grandchild within 2 years. Of course, she is joking, but at the same time she has this crazy need to suddenly be an old woman (which is what a grandmother is you know)...I mean, why does she want to be old so fast? I don't! If I have a baby now, it stands to reason that I could be a grandmother at 44 or sooner...believe me, this is not my life plan. What is the hurry, if I am going to change from Crystal to "Mama" for the rest of my life, why not start later? I will be a mama until the day I die anyway, so why pro-long the sentence? I am terrified of getting pregnant unintentionally...this scares me every day and every month I go through a week of terror where I am absolutely positive I am pregnant, but really I am just PMSing...
Additionally, I am looking at PhD programs. Yay! =) I am excited about this option and would really like to pursue it - but with a needy child there will be no way. The schools I am looking at are:
1. The University of Texas at Austin*
2. The University of South Carolina
3. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro*
4. Florida State University*
5. The College of William and Mary*
6. The University of Tennessee
7. Auburn University
The four with stars are my favorite so far. I have one more year of my Masters program and the PhD Program I get in to (keep your fingers crossed) will take another 3-4 years. This means, I will be completely done with school when I am 27-28 years old. Then, maybe, I can have some kids - preferably by adoption but possibly, if I can stomach the idea, I will try and give birth....but don't get your hopes up too high right now.
Besides this here are a few short updates:
1. Derek and I have adopted Cookie, his parents mut dog. So now we have 2 dogs, 2 cats, and a bird.
2. I will not be working at Curves anymore after April and have taken yet another job with Big Brothers Big Sisters again and a third job with the Warren County Library asa genealogist...and I will also have a fourth job with the Warren County School System in the month of June...hopefully all of this will help our financial situation.
3. Derek's soccer team went to region, but they lost in the 1st round. That is okay thought because his boys played with integrity and the Benedictine boys were corrupted.
4. I am so excited that my shows are back on - Grey's, The Office, Big Shots, and Private Practice...and maybe Pushing Daisies???
5. I am getting a new boss in the President's Office at GCSU and am pretty scared about it.
6. I am trying to lose 10 pounds....I am not doing so hot right now. So, since I have a new affinity for alcohol I will probably start starving myself and replacing food calories with wine calories.
I would love a baby --- if I did not have to birth, feed, pamper, clean after, or train it. Loving one is no problem, all the rest is. The thing is, I think people constantly asking you about it makes you want one more. In fact, my mother has given me an ultimatum - she needs a grandchild within 2 years. Of course, she is joking, but at the same time she has this crazy need to suddenly be an old woman (which is what a grandmother is you know)...I mean, why does she want to be old so fast? I don't! If I have a baby now, it stands to reason that I could be a grandmother at 44 or sooner...believe me, this is not my life plan. What is the hurry, if I am going to change from Crystal to "Mama" for the rest of my life, why not start later? I will be a mama until the day I die anyway, so why pro-long the sentence? I am terrified of getting pregnant unintentionally...this scares me every day and every month I go through a week of terror where I am absolutely positive I am pregnant, but really I am just PMSing...
Additionally, I am looking at PhD programs. Yay! =) I am excited about this option and would really like to pursue it - but with a needy child there will be no way. The schools I am looking at are:
1. The University of Texas at Austin*
2. The University of South Carolina
3. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro*
4. Florida State University*
5. The College of William and Mary*
6. The University of Tennessee
7. Auburn University
The four with stars are my favorite so far. I have one more year of my Masters program and the PhD Program I get in to (keep your fingers crossed) will take another 3-4 years. This means, I will be completely done with school when I am 27-28 years old. Then, maybe, I can have some kids - preferably by adoption but possibly, if I can stomach the idea, I will try and give birth....but don't get your hopes up too high right now.
Besides this here are a few short updates:
1. Derek and I have adopted Cookie, his parents mut dog. So now we have 2 dogs, 2 cats, and a bird.
2. I will not be working at Curves anymore after April and have taken yet another job with Big Brothers Big Sisters again and a third job with the Warren County Library asa genealogist...and I will also have a fourth job with the Warren County School System in the month of June...hopefully all of this will help our financial situation.
3. Derek's soccer team went to region, but they lost in the 1st round. That is okay thought because his boys played with integrity and the Benedictine boys were corrupted.
4. I am so excited that my shows are back on - Grey's, The Office, Big Shots, and Private Practice...and maybe Pushing Daisies???
5. I am getting a new boss in the President's Office at GCSU and am pretty scared about it.
6. I am trying to lose 10 pounds....I am not doing so hot right now. So, since I have a new affinity for alcohol I will probably start starving myself and replacing food calories with wine calories.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Dreaming
At this point in my life anyone would probably assume that I do not have crazy, imaginative, and sometimes down right scary as hell dreams. In fact, if you have known me for an extended period of time then you know that I am not very creative when it comes to decorating, colors, wrapping presents, etc. so then why in the world do I dream like I do --- I should seriously write novels out of each dream that I have because they are so descriptive, colorful, scary, intense... there are a few things that I dream about regularly:
First of all, if I am in a specific course - like The Crusades or The Salem Witch Outbreak of 1692, I usually dream about something related to the class. While studying the Crusades, I dreamt that Saladin was out to get me - many times. Currently I have been dreaming about a girl from the Salem Witch Trials - Susannah Sheldon. Apparently her spector/apparition is trying to afflict me because the dreams are quite scary and are about her specific "afflictions" during the trials. Of course she really was not experiencing afflictions ---- BUT I AM! I actually told Derek in my sleep the other night to watch out for the green snake because it would try to suck on him --- in the trial records Sheldon explains that she saw a man with a snake hanging off of his chest sucking on him...this is how she proved he was a wizard.
The second thing I dream about ona regular basis is water. Growing up around the lake and going camping I guess this is natural but these dreams are what we need to call night terrors. These are the ones that wake me up screaming, in tears, shaking, and sweating. I hate these dreams. The lake or ocean is always brown or black and normally I am only in very little clothes being pulled behind a boat or even sometimes big fish or whales. Most of the times these boats/fish/whales are not pleasant however, and they are trying to kill me. Does not sound very scary written out but believe me they are.
The third thing I dream about regularly are people that I grew up with. These dreams are always beautiful. I think it is a throw back to my high school days.... Merrie, Shay, Nicole, Stephanie and April are in these dreams as well as another special friend of mine from middle/high school...but anyways, these dreams are my favorite because they take me out of the world I am in for just a few moments and put me back in a place whereit is not scary, intense, or stressful (or as they say here in Sandersville "Skressful.")
The last thing I regularly dream about is the future --- sometimes good, sometimes bad. I will dream about people dying sometimes and other times I dream about my future children (God forbid...lol). So these dreams vary and do not come as often as the others.
First of all, if I am in a specific course - like The Crusades or The Salem Witch Outbreak of 1692, I usually dream about something related to the class. While studying the Crusades, I dreamt that Saladin was out to get me - many times. Currently I have been dreaming about a girl from the Salem Witch Trials - Susannah Sheldon. Apparently her spector/apparition is trying to afflict me because the dreams are quite scary and are about her specific "afflictions" during the trials. Of course she really was not experiencing afflictions ---- BUT I AM! I actually told Derek in my sleep the other night to watch out for the green snake because it would try to suck on him --- in the trial records Sheldon explains that she saw a man with a snake hanging off of his chest sucking on him...this is how she proved he was a wizard.
The second thing I dream about ona regular basis is water. Growing up around the lake and going camping I guess this is natural but these dreams are what we need to call night terrors. These are the ones that wake me up screaming, in tears, shaking, and sweating. I hate these dreams. The lake or ocean is always brown or black and normally I am only in very little clothes being pulled behind a boat or even sometimes big fish or whales. Most of the times these boats/fish/whales are not pleasant however, and they are trying to kill me. Does not sound very scary written out but believe me they are.
The third thing I dream about regularly are people that I grew up with. These dreams are always beautiful. I think it is a throw back to my high school days.... Merrie, Shay, Nicole, Stephanie and April are in these dreams as well as another special friend of mine from middle/high school...but anyways, these dreams are my favorite because they take me out of the world I am in for just a few moments and put me back in a place whereit is not scary, intense, or stressful (or as they say here in Sandersville "Skressful.")
The last thing I regularly dream about is the future --- sometimes good, sometimes bad. I will dream about people dying sometimes and other times I dream about my future children (God forbid...lol). So these dreams vary and do not come as often as the others.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
ATL!!!....and some other random thoughts!
My precious husband is taking me to Atlanta this weekend for our one-year anniversary! But, we are not just going to Atlanta - we are taking Atlanta by storm! First of all, we are staying in the Georgian Terrace hotel - the one that hosted the after party for Margaret Mitchell and her posse after the premiere of Gone With the Wind! We are staying in a suite with a huge claw-foot tub and balcony! We are then dining at the SunDial restaurant (this is the 3-tier restaurant that revolves as you dine!) After that we are headed to see an improv show called SCANDEL! Then we will hit the clubs! On Saturday we will wake to breakfast at the Georgian Terrace. During the day we are scheduled to visit such places as the High Museum of Art and Chateau Elan for wine tasting and a cooking class! Saturday evening will also be one to remember because I get to dress up in my finest Ann Taylor black dress and...I don't know what is happening that night. He says he has other things in store too besides what I just mentioned so...I am mucho majorly excited!
Besides having the best husband in the world I have the best Best Friend in the world. Merrie, my best friend, has a tough job - because personally, I really don't know if I could be my best friend if I were someone else. I always have drama and people to talk about --- and if I don't have that then I want to hear about her drama, which she usually doesn't have - BUT, she had some today and it was so interesting to hear about! She is absolutely an angel and I am so glad we live closer than we have in 5 years and that we get to visit with each other frequently. Her husband Brian is cool too - he gets along with Derek and we all have a good time together. I am just really thankful that I have them, because, if you haven't realized this by now --- Slandersville gets pretty annoying if you have no one to vent about it too!
Besides having the best husband in the world I have the best Best Friend in the world. Merrie, my best friend, has a tough job - because personally, I really don't know if I could be my best friend if I were someone else. I always have drama and people to talk about --- and if I don't have that then I want to hear about her drama, which she usually doesn't have - BUT, she had some today and it was so interesting to hear about! She is absolutely an angel and I am so glad we live closer than we have in 5 years and that we get to visit with each other frequently. Her husband Brian is cool too - he gets along with Derek and we all have a good time together. I am just really thankful that I have them, because, if you haven't realized this by now --- Slandersville gets pretty annoying if you have no one to vent about it too!
Monday, March 3, 2008
It is Not Right or Left...
"It is Not Right or Left....It is Right or Wrong."
Oh. My. God. - This is a billboard that is right across from the Dairy Lane in Sandersville. I just noticed it yesterday. It is right next to three other billboards that say the following:
1. "W"
2. "America: Pray For Our Troops."
3. "Elected Official's Spending is Out of Control."
All four signs are on a white background with red and blue block letters.
Now, I do not know who is responsible for these billboards but just for the record, I think it is incredibly offensive. Seriously, it makes me want to buy a billboard in Sandersville paint them with a white background and in rotating blue and red letters write out four letter explicatives! They probably want to see that just as much as I want to see their political beliefs smeared on billboards for all of "Middle Georgia" to admire!
On a brighter note, I am having an excellent day and am looking forward to starting Oprah's online classes tonight. Derek coaches soccer and his team has won 3 out of 4 games played and hopefully they will keep winning...it makes him happy! I am also looking into some doctoral programs which is scary, but hey, it doesn't hurt to look ahead of time does it?
Have a great afternoon!
Oh. My. God. - This is a billboard that is right across from the Dairy Lane in Sandersville. I just noticed it yesterday. It is right next to three other billboards that say the following:
1. "W"
2. "America: Pray For Our Troops."
3. "Elected Official's Spending is Out of Control."
All four signs are on a white background with red and blue block letters.
Now, I do not know who is responsible for these billboards but just for the record, I think it is incredibly offensive. Seriously, it makes me want to buy a billboard in Sandersville paint them with a white background and in rotating blue and red letters write out four letter explicatives! They probably want to see that just as much as I want to see their political beliefs smeared on billboards for all of "Middle Georgia" to admire!
On a brighter note, I am having an excellent day and am looking forward to starting Oprah's online classes tonight. Derek coaches soccer and his team has won 3 out of 4 games played and hopefully they will keep winning...it makes him happy! I am also looking into some doctoral programs which is scary, but hey, it doesn't hurt to look ahead of time does it?
Have a great afternoon!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Small Town Craziness
I live in a crazy place called Sandersville. Now crazy is not exactly the word that the average joe would use to describe this place in which I live, but, if you have lived here, worked here, or know people who have resided here for an extended period of time, then you know that it is a little off. So, I would like to take some time to describe this small town and some of the things that make it "crazy."
Sandersville is in the vicinity what us East Georgians from the Appling area like to refer to as "Middle Georgia." When an Augustan or Thomsonian resident refers to "Middle Georgia" the conotation is normally not that of respect, admiration, or even civility. It is more like we are saying "Middle Georgia...the last step down before Hell." Now, I don't mean to make it sound like everybody is like the Grinch and there is never any sunshine here - it is actually a pretty little town - but when all that surrounds you is Davisboro, Riddleville, and Tennille (pronouned Ten-el) and the biggest city closest to you is Dublin (gross) then you know that you may be in for some culture shock - even if you grew up in the middle of nowhere like I did.
See the thing is, small towns are obviously different from small towns and Metropolis's (like Atlanta?? lol) but they are also VERY different from a small rural community with hay bales, fields, cows, and no stop lights/signs (like Winfield, where I am from.) Here in Sandersville, you are lucky if you go a day without hearing your own business pouring from the lips of some random person (you may or may not know) walking in the square.
The first time I learned of Sandersville's "uniqueness" was from my neighbor, Robert, who referred to this lovely town as "SLANDERSVILLE." Well, at the time I had no clue why he would say such a thing about this quaint place...but I soon learned what he meant. I swear to God, people will talk to you about any and everybody they know anything good, bad, ugly, or incriminating about! It is so funny, I walked into an antique store here one day and a couple of ladies were talking about a couple they knew where the wife had cheated on her husband. They ask me if I know them - I don't - and they keep talking about the situation like they are talking about the weather, no big deal and who cares who hears right? Lord have mercy in that store I found out more about that one couple than I knew about my own relationship...and come to find out, the wife had only told her husband about the affair that same morning! Yeah, news travels fast right?
I also have a friend that teaches at the high school here. She is a cute, 22 year old that teaches junior tech-prep kids English. But, what is this whole town worried about with this girl? Is it her education, since she is educating their impressionable children? No. Is it her creative style that makes her classroom look like the Taj-Mahal compared to other classrooms? No. Well, I will tell you - they are worried because she is...drum roll please...UNMARRIED. They even had the audacity to announce this fact in a faculty meeting. It went something like this: Principal: "And this is our new English teacher Miss Conley." Person yelling in back of room: "Hey y'all she's not married!!!"
After living in Sandersville for a little while Derek and I decided we needed some excitement...so we got a dog. Penny Parten we named her (and now I regret it because that would be such a cute name for a little girl!) But anywho...we got this puppy, only 8 weeks old. Only, can you believe that daily I get comments on how BIG she has gotten, how much she eats, and how smart she is because of all the tricks she can do. This would be all fine and dandy, except the people who say these things do not live near me nor do I ever have Penny out of the fenced in backyard with them. So, either they are making small talk or they walk into my backyard and see my dog. Something creepy happened the other day - I went back to play with Penny and thought it would be a good time to teach her to roll over...but when I said roll over, she ALREADY KNEW HOW TO!!!! No joke, my dog knew a trick that me nor my husband had taught her. On top of that there are random toys that appear in her backyard and I don't know where they come from. Just this morning she had ripped to pieces a new red play toy that Derek and I had not bought her.
But, as much as people seem to be nosy around here you think they would get their information straight right? No. People still think that Miss Conley's dog is mine. Yes, she has a white bulldog named Ruby. She is like my 2nd daughter because she and Penny play all the time. But Ruby gets out a lot and runs around and gets in people's yard, etc. I had someone threaten me that they were going to spray my dog with pepper spray if I didn't do something about her --- come to find out they are talking about Ruby. Oh yes and if that doesn't do it for you, how about my husband being called out of the class he was teaching because someone complained about our dog being out. They actually call the high school and complain to the point that Derek leaves to go find Penny. But, the dog that was out was not Penny, it was Ruby. Crazy people.
Besides the dogs, constantly being reminded if I was or was not in church on Sunday, and having people chastise me about the leaves in my yard, Sandersville has some interesting quirks of its own that I must talk about.
#1. Dairy Lane: The Dairy Lane is a restaurant in town that has been around since right at 1950. This place serves burgers, shakes, BBQ, chicken, fries and the like. It is not a drive through but it is very much like fast food (the Jumbo burger is the best). This is not the interesting part though --- what is interesting is that when you walk in there are 2 distinct sides of the establishment. One is furnished well and has good lighting whereas the other part, the right hand side, has concrete flooring and wooden seats. People, this restaurant never renovated after integration. That is right, you can still see the segregated sections of Dairy Lane at each and every visit.
#2. Kaolin: Kaolin is what you make chalk out of. Sandersville is very proud of its Kaolin supply as it has more Kaolin than anywhere in the world it seems. Even driving down the road just a bit, cars get white dust all over them. Sandersville loves Kaolin so much that every October they have a Kaolin Festival. Unbeknownst to me until recently when Mr. Wilcox, my 7th grade history teacher, told me, Sandersville used to have the Kaolin 5-K race! Wow...so yeah, Kaolin is great. So great that even the Historical Society wants to build a Kaolin Museum. Great idea Sandersville - let's make kids think museums and history are even more boring and pointless!!! Oh...and one more thing....this little kid was telling me how her mama ate chalk and sometimes it would get on her nose, etc. Of course, Miss Educated as I would consider myself to be thought "Oh My God, this kids mom is doing crack right in front of her!!!" After further investigation I found out differently. People around here go to backroads where Kaolin is easy to get to and put the Kaolin in bags and bring it home and EAT IT!!! These people eat chalk! I am not lying, kids around here eat Kaolin for a snack! So kids, your chalk now has a double purpose - for decorating sidewalks AND fulfilling that after school hunger!!!
#3. Segregation: No, legally Sandersville is not segregated, but socially it very much is. A person was telling me a story just recently of how an African American friend of theirs came to preach at a church here one Sunday. Afterwards the friend was walking down the street and a white someone said to him "You ain't from around here are you?" The friend answered "No, I am just visiting from Atlanta." The white Slandersvillian followed up with "Yeah...I can tell...our N** (N-word)'s don't dress like that here!"....After hearing that story I am pretty ashamed of where I live. But really, you can see it everywhere - not only at the Dairy Lane - but in churches (except for the Episcopal Church), restaurants, the local shops on the square, and in the schools.
#4. Religious Nuts: I am not talking about holy pecans, no - I am talking about people who prefer only to talk about Christ, Our Lord, Holy God, and how they want to please him. These people are everywhere around here. I am not saying that it is not good to love your God but come on people, there is more to life than church, the Bible, and Charles Stanley. I would not say this except some people cannot even hold a normal conversation, not even small talk, without inserting how they are not good enough, how we are going to hell in a handbasket, or how many blessings have been bestowed upon them in the past 2 seconds. Sorry for the cinicism, but holy crap it gets annoying.
I guess Sandersville is like most small towns...Lincolnton, Washinton (Wilkes County), Thomson, etc. but I have never been so immersed in it like I am here. There are a few things I do like though - I have made some friends, Meg and Meghan to name 2. I work out at Curves which seems to be a great place for finding people more like myself. Ray Hollingsworth and his family - they have taken us fishing, brought us pecans, and have been genuinly friendly to us. Penny Parten - without her my life would be in complete. The Carriage House - only the best Antique Market I have ever shopped in - Ever. The PastTime Theatre: plays only one movie at a time but it is only $5.00 for a ticket and $4.00 for a large Coke and large popcorn -- awesome!
Well that is way more than enough for one day.
Sandersville is in the vicinity what us East Georgians from the Appling area like to refer to as "Middle Georgia." When an Augustan or Thomsonian resident refers to "Middle Georgia" the conotation is normally not that of respect, admiration, or even civility. It is more like we are saying "Middle Georgia...the last step down before Hell." Now, I don't mean to make it sound like everybody is like the Grinch and there is never any sunshine here - it is actually a pretty little town - but when all that surrounds you is Davisboro, Riddleville, and Tennille (pronouned Ten-el) and the biggest city closest to you is Dublin (gross) then you know that you may be in for some culture shock - even if you grew up in the middle of nowhere like I did.
See the thing is, small towns are obviously different from small towns and Metropolis's (like Atlanta?? lol) but they are also VERY different from a small rural community with hay bales, fields, cows, and no stop lights/signs (like Winfield, where I am from.) Here in Sandersville, you are lucky if you go a day without hearing your own business pouring from the lips of some random person (you may or may not know) walking in the square.
The first time I learned of Sandersville's "uniqueness" was from my neighbor, Robert, who referred to this lovely town as "SLANDERSVILLE." Well, at the time I had no clue why he would say such a thing about this quaint place...but I soon learned what he meant. I swear to God, people will talk to you about any and everybody they know anything good, bad, ugly, or incriminating about! It is so funny, I walked into an antique store here one day and a couple of ladies were talking about a couple they knew where the wife had cheated on her husband. They ask me if I know them - I don't - and they keep talking about the situation like they are talking about the weather, no big deal and who cares who hears right? Lord have mercy in that store I found out more about that one couple than I knew about my own relationship...and come to find out, the wife had only told her husband about the affair that same morning! Yeah, news travels fast right?
I also have a friend that teaches at the high school here. She is a cute, 22 year old that teaches junior tech-prep kids English. But, what is this whole town worried about with this girl? Is it her education, since she is educating their impressionable children? No. Is it her creative style that makes her classroom look like the Taj-Mahal compared to other classrooms? No. Well, I will tell you - they are worried because she is...drum roll please...UNMARRIED. They even had the audacity to announce this fact in a faculty meeting. It went something like this: Principal: "And this is our new English teacher Miss Conley." Person yelling in back of room: "Hey y'all she's not married!!!"
After living in Sandersville for a little while Derek and I decided we needed some excitement...so we got a dog. Penny Parten we named her (and now I regret it because that would be such a cute name for a little girl!) But anywho...we got this puppy, only 8 weeks old. Only, can you believe that daily I get comments on how BIG she has gotten, how much she eats, and how smart she is because of all the tricks she can do. This would be all fine and dandy, except the people who say these things do not live near me nor do I ever have Penny out of the fenced in backyard with them. So, either they are making small talk or they walk into my backyard and see my dog. Something creepy happened the other day - I went back to play with Penny and thought it would be a good time to teach her to roll over...but when I said roll over, she ALREADY KNEW HOW TO!!!! No joke, my dog knew a trick that me nor my husband had taught her. On top of that there are random toys that appear in her backyard and I don't know where they come from. Just this morning she had ripped to pieces a new red play toy that Derek and I had not bought her.
But, as much as people seem to be nosy around here you think they would get their information straight right? No. People still think that Miss Conley's dog is mine. Yes, she has a white bulldog named Ruby. She is like my 2nd daughter because she and Penny play all the time. But Ruby gets out a lot and runs around and gets in people's yard, etc. I had someone threaten me that they were going to spray my dog with pepper spray if I didn't do something about her --- come to find out they are talking about Ruby. Oh yes and if that doesn't do it for you, how about my husband being called out of the class he was teaching because someone complained about our dog being out. They actually call the high school and complain to the point that Derek leaves to go find Penny. But, the dog that was out was not Penny, it was Ruby. Crazy people.
Besides the dogs, constantly being reminded if I was or was not in church on Sunday, and having people chastise me about the leaves in my yard, Sandersville has some interesting quirks of its own that I must talk about.
#1. Dairy Lane: The Dairy Lane is a restaurant in town that has been around since right at 1950. This place serves burgers, shakes, BBQ, chicken, fries and the like. It is not a drive through but it is very much like fast food (the Jumbo burger is the best). This is not the interesting part though --- what is interesting is that when you walk in there are 2 distinct sides of the establishment. One is furnished well and has good lighting whereas the other part, the right hand side, has concrete flooring and wooden seats. People, this restaurant never renovated after integration. That is right, you can still see the segregated sections of Dairy Lane at each and every visit.
#2. Kaolin: Kaolin is what you make chalk out of. Sandersville is very proud of its Kaolin supply as it has more Kaolin than anywhere in the world it seems. Even driving down the road just a bit, cars get white dust all over them. Sandersville loves Kaolin so much that every October they have a Kaolin Festival. Unbeknownst to me until recently when Mr. Wilcox, my 7th grade history teacher, told me, Sandersville used to have the Kaolin 5-K race! Wow...so yeah, Kaolin is great. So great that even the Historical Society wants to build a Kaolin Museum. Great idea Sandersville - let's make kids think museums and history are even more boring and pointless!!! Oh...and one more thing....this little kid was telling me how her mama ate chalk and sometimes it would get on her nose, etc. Of course, Miss Educated as I would consider myself to be thought "Oh My God, this kids mom is doing crack right in front of her!!!" After further investigation I found out differently. People around here go to backroads where Kaolin is easy to get to and put the Kaolin in bags and bring it home and EAT IT!!! These people eat chalk! I am not lying, kids around here eat Kaolin for a snack! So kids, your chalk now has a double purpose - for decorating sidewalks AND fulfilling that after school hunger!!!
#3. Segregation: No, legally Sandersville is not segregated, but socially it very much is. A person was telling me a story just recently of how an African American friend of theirs came to preach at a church here one Sunday. Afterwards the friend was walking down the street and a white someone said to him "You ain't from around here are you?" The friend answered "No, I am just visiting from Atlanta." The white Slandersvillian followed up with "Yeah...I can tell...our N** (N-word)'s don't dress like that here!"....After hearing that story I am pretty ashamed of where I live. But really, you can see it everywhere - not only at the Dairy Lane - but in churches (except for the Episcopal Church), restaurants, the local shops on the square, and in the schools.
#4. Religious Nuts: I am not talking about holy pecans, no - I am talking about people who prefer only to talk about Christ, Our Lord, Holy God, and how they want to please him. These people are everywhere around here. I am not saying that it is not good to love your God but come on people, there is more to life than church, the Bible, and Charles Stanley. I would not say this except some people cannot even hold a normal conversation, not even small talk, without inserting how they are not good enough, how we are going to hell in a handbasket, or how many blessings have been bestowed upon them in the past 2 seconds. Sorry for the cinicism, but holy crap it gets annoying.
I guess Sandersville is like most small towns...Lincolnton, Washinton (Wilkes County), Thomson, etc. but I have never been so immersed in it like I am here. There are a few things I do like though - I have made some friends, Meg and Meghan to name 2. I work out at Curves which seems to be a great place for finding people more like myself. Ray Hollingsworth and his family - they have taken us fishing, brought us pecans, and have been genuinly friendly to us. Penny Parten - without her my life would be in complete. The Carriage House - only the best Antique Market I have ever shopped in - Ever. The PastTime Theatre: plays only one movie at a time but it is only $5.00 for a ticket and $4.00 for a large Coke and large popcorn -- awesome!
Well that is way more than enough for one day.
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