My Own Ramblings

I Do ... I Don't ....

2009-05-06T13:53:00.002-04:00

I've come to a conclusion about my love life. I predict that one of two things will happen. 1. I go to law school, get married, have a family with the white picket fence and live happily ever after with my current boyfriend of nearly eight years. OR 2. I go to law school and said boyfriend and I break up and I become a self-subscribed career woman as an old maid. Time will tell.

Not sure what happened ...

2009-04-08T09:56:00.002-04:00

But I lost my confidence along the way somehow. I've been told it was one of my better qualities, but I don't think I've got it anymore. I was never over-confident but I think I made an entrance when I walked into a room. All the reminiscing made me think of that compliment and realize that it's gone. I think I'll work on getting it back. I have a feeling I'm going to need it.

On another note, I found some things an old friend gave me: a burned CD, a funny note that read "Things to Do: Donnie David," and a picture of him. A song just happened to shuffle onto my iPod that made me think of him and the mementos. Donnie died nearly five years ago in a car accident. I still can't believe he's gone let alone gone for that long. Luckily I was away at school when he passed away. I don't think I could have handled that funeral. Nothing is harder than going to a funeral for someone around the same age as you. I don't need to be reminded of my mortality or lack of invincibility by standing next to an open coffin. I'm fully aware of it. I'd rather remember me him as the cheesy-bearded guy that he was, and look at my mementos and smile.

Ecstatic

2009-03-26T11:21:00.001-04:00

I got accepted to WVU College of Law today. Go me!!

Looking back

2009-03-25T11:16:00.003-04:00

I was in a very reminiscent mood this passed week. It all started on Wednesday. I don't think I'm finished just yet, but I think I will be soon. The chain of events started with a long conversation with a friend of mine that somehow prefaced a weekend with old friends and familiar faces, which prefaced me going through nearly 15 memory boxes. (I know: I'm a total girl.)

I wish I had put an itemized list in these boxes. I have so many mementos from over the years that I think it's impossible for me to really remember what each one represents. I have everything from Mike's Hard Lemonade bottle caps, to a Sheetz receipt dated and labeled "On the way to Blink show in Columbus," to a note from my sister identifying a mystery caller for me who turned out to be a friend of mine who was serving overseas at the time, to multiple ticket stubs, to a Hall's cough drop wrapper that someone twisted up and gave to me as an "engagement ring." Those are just a few of the items whose symbolism I can actually remember.

The one's I don't are a little more ... out there. A few examples: directions to somewhere (I think maybe IUP, but I don't recognize the handwriting), an empty tube of Hershey's Kisses, an empty 20 oz. bottle of Mountain Dew and a pressed leaf.

I may have to ask some people from that time in my life if they remember. I guarantee they don't. I'm far more sentimental than just about everyone I know. But I refuse to throw any of it away. Each item in these boxes was important to me at one time or another, and I can just toss it out like trash even if I can't remember why they are special.

Most people get sad when they look back on old memories, but for some reason I just sat on my bed in awe of the fun times I had. I am going to combine some of the boxes, pack them up and put them away somewhere with a smile on my face.

Current Mood: Love You Madly

2009-03-24T08:43:00.001-04:00

I don't want to wonder
If this is a blunder
I don't want to worry whether
We're going to stay together
'Till we die

I don't want to jump in
Unless this music's thumping
All the dishes rattle in the cupboards
When the elephants arrive

I want to love you madly

Bonus

2009-03-17T12:39:00.003-04:00

The big news for the week: The American International Group (AIG) doled out $165 million dollars in bonuses after receiving $173 billion in U.S. government bailouts. In other words, a whole lot of taxpayers' money went to corporate big wigs at AIG.

President Obama's reaction was appropriate, and I agree with much of what he had to say:

"Under these circumstances, it's hard to understand how derivative traders at AIG warranted any bonuses, much less $165 million in extra pay. I mean, how do they justify this outrage to the taxpayers who are keeping the company afloat?"

My biggest complaint is about how these actions were surprising to the administration and Congress. Haven't we all heard the old saying, "Fool me once; shame on you. Fool me twice; shame on me." Perhaps more time should have been spent on the rules and stipulations of the bailout rather than depending on the, as Obama put it, "reckless and greedy" corporate heads to do the right thing.

Now the administration is out for blood, but I ask this: Why weren't they out for blood to begin with? Now Congress is looking to pass a special tax within the next 24 hours that could potentially be as high as 90 percent of the bonuses. So hoorah! We'll get 90 percent back, but after it's processed, it will amount to about 50 percent of that 90 or $74.25 million. Hm. That's not even half. I'm also concerned as to whether or not this "special tax" is temporary or permanent?

It's not that I think these people deserve the money at this point in time, but should the people who worked hard to get where they are have their bonuses taxed because of a few bad eggs? I don't think it's fair to punish people for being successful. I also don't think it's fair to bailout all of these corporations and banks and financiers for failing. Failing is part of the game. Deal with it.

Wow

2009-03-16T13:08:00.003-04:00

So I logged onto heraldstandard.com today, and while perusing I came across Fayette County's Top 10 Most Wanted List and the Outstanding Warrant List. As it turns out, I went to high school with two people on the list. How random.

Which of the following doesn't belong: Stimulus Bills, Earmarks, Economic Downturn and Stem Cell Research?

2009-03-11T10:28:00.004-04:00

A lot has been happening in Washington, D.C., as of late, and a large portion of it has been going on unnoticed.

The Stimulus Package I

The biggest news took place nearly a month ago on Feb. 17 when President Obama passed a $787 billion stimulus bill. This action did not go unnoticed. It was plastered all over the news. What seemed to go unnoticed in news coverage were the five w's: Who is getting the money? What purpose does this funding have? Where is the money going? Why are they getting it? And the most important non-w question: How is this going to help?

From my point of view, the stimulus bill was poorly planned, poorly organized and simply a big political coup to maintain support for the incumbent party. I know that action needed to be taken, but was it necessary to put my generation and more than likely my great-great-grandchildren's generation that far in debt without knowing whether the bill would work?

Many analysts are comparing this action to that of FDR's New Deal during the Great Depression. FDR was a very popular president. He took swift action to gain relief for the American people. But are people misremembering FDR's legacy or is it me? Does anyone remember what actually ended the Great Depression? It was U.S. involvement in World War II. It was not FDR's New Deal; in fact, the New Deal and the alphabet organizations created by it, only helped the economy in the short run. If I learned anything from Economics 101, short run policies don't fix the problem they just lighten the blow for a SHORT period of time ultimately making a recession last longer.

In the long run, what is FDR's legacy from short run policy? Social programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment compensation, welfare and just about every other dole project that has spun out of control. I am by no means blaming the poor for being poor, but I am blaming politicians for not regulating these programs, for not planning better or organizing them better and ultimately for bankrupting the nation by not only maintain these programs that are doomed for failure, but also for borrowing from them. (I have more to say about this topic, but I will continue my tangent at a later date.)

Earmarks
My comments on earmarks and pork-barrel-spending is limited. I understand that earmarks have been around about as long as the country and that it's not new to Congress, but it doesn't make it right. Instead of appropriating citizen's tax money without stipulations or reason, how about you let me keep my tax dollars, and I will spend it the way I see fit. Ed Rollins does a pretty good job at explaining my opinion here.

Economic Downturn
It's going to happen no matter what the government does to prevent it. I'd rather it happen quickly than prolonging it. As my beloved econ professor, Jan Palmer, would say, "To maintain a free market, the government needs to keep its hands off. Let the problem fix itself." (By the way, Jan Palmer was an awesome professor who loved The Beatles, wore a Winnie the Pooh watch and eloped in Vegas in his 60s.)

Stem Cell Research
I don't have an opinion on stem cell research one way or the other. Maybe it's because I don't know that much about it or maybe it's just because it's a political issue and I don't care. Regardless, why is the President concerning himself with a political issue in the middle of a crisis?

It's the red herring of it all. To me it was like saying, "Look American people, Big Bird is doing a jig in a ring of fire! Please pay no attention to this new $410 billion spending bill I'm signing that includes nearly 9,000 earmarks."

The ringer of it all? After the bill passed, the White House announced a plan to cut down the number of earmarks in appropriations legislation. Wait a second ... didn't you just ... hrm. Ya got me!

When reading this, please take into consideration that I'm not out to attack the Obama administration. If I paid as much attention to politics when Bush was in office, I would have criticized him too but for things like spending and immigration.

Things I find disturbing...

2009-03-03T11:21:00.003-05:00

OK so I read the news on CNN.com just about every morning. I don't know if it's just me or not, but every time I log on, I find at least one story about animal cruelty of some sort. I find this really disturbing. Last week, the Humane Society in Washington County, Pa., found nearly 30 emaciated horses on a farm and were struggling to find a place for them to stay let alone to find enough money to pay veterinarian bills.

So today I log on and find this little diddy about smoking a bong that has a kitten stuffed in it. I mean let's get serious: Stoners will be stoners and will always try to get their pets high, but is it necessary to torture the poor thing by shoving it into your pipe? But I guess I've since learned to never underestimate the stupidity of a pothead.

I suppose I simply don't understand animal cruelty. This is not to say I'm a member of PETA or that I'm a vegetarian, it just means I'm sympathetic to innocent and defenseless creatures that humans take advantage of for no reason whatsoever. Take the horses for example, why would the owners leave them to die on their farm with no food rather than call the Humane Society or try to sell them or something. Instead, they let them suffer.

I also came across this article about a man protesting Christianity by standing naked on a church steeple's cross for seven hours. I had a number of questions after reading this: 1. How is threatening to kill yourself by jumping naked from the top of a church a protest of Christianity? 2. Was it necessary to defile the cross by smearing your own feces on it? 3. More importantly, how did this guy manage to move his bowels while balancing on a cross? 4. Most importantly, who are you really punishing by pooing in your own hand and smearing it on an object you are clinging to?

It's been a while...

2009-02-26T12:36:00.002-05:00

So it's been almost two years since my last post. I graduated, moved home, workedfor a newspaper, was unemployed for almost an entire year, was wait listed at WVU Law, got a new job and reapplied to law school.

So there you have it. That's the last two years of my life boiled down to one long sentence. To be honest, it's about as interesting as it sounds. It's been a terribly boring two years, and I'm hoping to never have to go through being unemployed ever again.

Although a few good things came out of my lack of a job. I started to enjoy reading again. I'm currently trying to catch up on all the fad books (i.e. The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potters and Chronicles of Narnia). I have one piece of advice for those who haven't read these books: Read Lord of the Rings first then the Narnia books. Tolkien is a heavier read than Lewis, and reading them in that order is giving my brain much needed time to relax.

I also started paying more attention to current events and have developed an addiction for the news. I watch a lot of CNN. I also have developed a test for figuring out who watches a lot of news: the number of newscasters names a person knows. Although this year might not prove to be a good year for that test simply because of the presidential election. Everyone watched the news this year so it's a little easier to remember.

I didn't start watching simply because of the election. In fact, I tired of election news early on. What I look for in the news is something I haven't heard a million times already or something that I care about. Don't get me wrong, I was interested in the election but I could care less about the Obamas bumping fists or Bristol Palin being preggo.

Here's a list of news items I found interesting yesterday (technically old news, but still relevant nevertheless) :

An Interesting Query: Can Obama Make the Tough Choices?
On the Economy: This Makes Cents to Me
Corncob Hats Make Me Smile

Enjoy!

I Had the Time of My Life

2007-06-03T09:14:00.000-04:00

It's June 3, which means I graduate in exactly six days from now. I plan on living it up all week long. I had practically nothing to do all quarter, but it still went so fast. I shouldn't be surprised though; I don't even know what happened to the last four years let alone the last three months.

So I actually slept on the couch last night, which is why I'm awake so early. Someone else got up, and it woke me up so now I'm here. I had a really weird dream last night about someone I went to high school with, whom I've seen maybe twice in the last three years. The funny thing is, is that we weren't really friends. Acquaintances, sure. Friendly, of course. But dream worthy? I don't think so.

The week should be pretty eventful. We're having a burning tonight, Summer turns 21 tomorrow, I'm making a family dinner Tuesday, my only final is Wednesday and the family will be here Friday.

We've started planning trips to see each other over the summer. I see another Buffalo trip and plenty of trips to Athens this summer, which will be awesome, but I'm still going to cry so hard. I'm such a ceremonial crier: weddings, graduations, etc. Beyond commencement, I"ll probably cry the entire drive back to Pennsylvania. It will be waterfalls, trust me. If you need to find me follow the trail of gushing tears.

It's different because I'm not only graduating, but I'm leaving my second family here. It's worse than leaving home for the first time because at least when you leave home, you know when you get back everyone will still be there. This is different. This is my entire family divorced each other and moved to other parts of the country. This is going to be heartbreaking.

I'm just going to miss this place so much. I really don't think anyone can understand what it's like to go to OU. The people here, the campus, Athens just everything about it will be forever ingrained in me. And I'll never be able to make friends like the one's I have here. These were the first people to know me without knowing everything about me since kindergarten. We chose each other as friends, and you all mean the world to me. Alright I'm gonna peace out before I start crying. But just in case I forget to tell you all later, thanks to everyone who helped me have the time of my life for the last four years.

Back in the spring ...

2007-03-31T15:16:00.000-04:00

First things first, in my last post I gave a shout out to Daron in Africa, but I just realized that Daron's not going to Africa until after graduation. Regardless, I hope you enjoyed it Daron.

Now onto spring. I'm back in Athens after a short break. My excellent schedule is thus far providing me with a stress free quarter. I know it's only the first week, but I'm feeling really good. No worries on this end. I got into my dance class. Summer hurt my body. I'm sure it will only get worse as the quarter goes on, but I hope my body adjusts to the exercise accordingly. I thanked Summer for making me touch my toes for the first time since high school.

My first weekend back in Athens has been pretty fun. I need to get down to Graceland and see Kat and A-lay. Aaron's here this weekend, and today we're just laying around. We went out Thursday and Friday, but I'm enjoying couch mode. He's headed to Mississippi this time around so that's lame, but at least we got to spend some time together before he hit the road again. Until next time, I'm out.

That Went Fast

2007-03-15T14:23:00.000-04:00

So it's been a while. The last time I posted I was surprised at how fast Winter Break flew by, and now it's time for Spring Break. It's going quick, and I'm excited and nervous all the same. I've pretty much decided to do the law school thing. It took me a while to decide so that won't happen for another year. I have a few options for the summer. I might do an internship at Tonazzi & Timperio (my family's attorney and friend), maybe work weekends at Nemacolin for the extra cash or get in with Matt and Alan at the Masontown telegraph. I really don't want to have to move home. I met with my law professor a couple weeks ago, and she agreed that you never can go home again. But I'll do what I have to until I get into law school. I can't take the LSAT until June 12 or September 9, I do believe. I'd rather take it sooner than later, but June 12 is only a few days after commencement and me moving out of the apartment.

Moving is so lame. Spring Quarter hasn't even started yet, and I'm already dreading moving out of this place. I hated moving out of Graceland, and this year we have stairs and furniture I need to get home. It's going to be awful. But I am really looking forward to spring. Nice weather and only two real classes should make for an interesting 10 weeks. I'm scheduled for four PE classes, and I'm trying to get into two more. Every Tuesday and Thursday I only have rec classes: tennis, aerobics, jogging and bowling. I'm trying to pick up golf, and Summer is teaching a beginners jazz class so I figure I'll own that as well. My goal is to put off all of the excess beer pounds I put on in the last four years in three months. Wish me luck.

Last night was Shugar's going away party. He'll actually be back in the fall, but he won't be here for what will be the last spring in Athens for most of us. He posted all of these pictures that were a collaboration of the last four years. I felt like I was watching my senior slide show, and it made me sad. I can't believe how fast it's going. I'm looking forward to finishing off my last few months here with the awesome friends I've had so many great times with already, which makes me wish Krista were here. Anyhow, I need to pack, clean and get the car ready for the trek home. It should be good. Maybe I'll post again before I graduate. Peace honkies.

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this from the middle of Africa Daron. I know I can count on you to stay updated. Advice for you: Don't make friends with monkeys. They'll only use you to pick the bugs out of their hair.

Don't Pay the Government for the Rest of Your Life

2006-12-10T17:49:00.000-05:00

It amazes me that Winter Break is almost over. My senior year will be a blast from the past in no time. I really don't know what to do with myself. I remember my senior year of high school like the back of my hand. I remember I couldn't wait to graduate, but this year is causing a different feeling. I don't want it to end, and I think it's because I don't know what to expect after commencement. Maybe I'm thinking about it too early, but it's the rest of my life.

I enjoy journalism, but let's face it, my educational qualifications mean nothing in the real world. It's all about experience, and I really don't have any. Regardless of what I know I can do, when it comes down to it, people want to see what you've done, and I've got nothing. It's really no one's fault but my own. I'm not big on getting involved in extra curricular activities, but I should have anyway. There really isn't much I can do about it now. The jobs I can get aren't going to impress my family. A low paying writing job in comparison to my education will sound like a waste of money.

If anything, I was offered a full-time job with the new Masontown publications after I graduate. I know in journalism you have to work your way to the top, but this job isn't ground zero; it's below it. It does have benefits like being able to walk to work, live at home, working with old friends, gaining experience and, most importantly, being a part of something that has the potential for greatness. I just have to weigh that against the disadvantages: living at home, low wages and turning something that's practically non-journalistic in its entirety into something that is in a town of 3,000.

I think that's why I still have law school in the back of my mind. My parents say they just want me to be happy, but I need to show them my success. I don't see $30,000 a year cutting it. My dad basically only has one thing to say about my life after graduation: "Whatever you do, find some way to go into business for yourself so you don't end up paying the government for the rest of your life."

If only it were that easy.

2006-11-27T22:45:00.001-05:00

So I realized today how lazy I've become. I don't know if it's OU or not, but I really think it's OU. Everything I need when I'm in Athens is either within walking distance or it's less than a mile away. My friends always come to my apartment; the bars are a block away; my refrigerator, computer, television, bed and bathroom are within 10 feet of each other (whereas at my house it feels like they're a mile apart); and I always have groceries so food is not a problem (my mom started this new thing where she goes to the grocery store every day to buy food just for that day).

So my current predicament is figuring out a way to cure my laziness. I wish the Bible had an index then I could just look up sloth, and God could give me the answer. If only it were that easy.

I was actually considering getting all the Christmas cleaning/ decorating done within the next few days, but it would take a great deal of boredom to drag me from my lethargic state. I was bored out of my mind today, but I was too lazy to drive anywhere. I'm also considering exercising. I don't know. It's going to start getting cold this week so jogging would be out of the question. I think it would make me feel better about myself at the very least. We'll see what happens.

I won't settle for anything but greatness.

2006-11-18T15:29:00.000-05:00

I was talking to a friend of mine today about taking a giant leap of faith to achieve your dreams. He really made me think about believing in myself. I mean if you think about it, don't you think you're as good as the person sitting next to you? At the very least, don't you think you should be given the chance to prove yourself? Maybe you'll fail, but what if you don't?

The fact of the matter is, it doesn't matter if you succeed or not. The jump is what counts. Going out and doing it, whatever it may be. A game of poker, backpacking across Europe, whatever it is doesn't matter so as long as you want it; you want it so much you couldn't live with yourself if you didn't try.

I decided today that I won't settle for anything but greatness. You'll see. One day my byline will be worth something.

My Success Makes Up for All of My Mistakes

2006-11-17T18:17:00.000-05:00

So I haven't updated in a while. My bad. I won't make any excuses. No I wasn't really busy this week, no I didn't get caught up at work and my laptop wasn't broken so just deal with it. I'm really just dealing with extreme laziness.

My sink is full of dishes, I haven't cleaned my room in over a week, the trash is over flowing and I have three books to read by Tuesday, but I just don't care right now. I'm lacking motivation and initiative.

I've been completely disheartened by the future, and I suppose I'm hoping my sloth will make the clock tick slower. I look ahead whether it's to break, next quarter or after graduation, and I can't help but think it's all a waste of time.

I party my way through the weekend and study my way through the week, but for what? Once I get this degree, no one is going to care that I've been on the dean's list, that I have a 3.4 GPA or that I aced my history midterm.

I've always been an advocate of "knowledge for the sake of knowledge," but anymore I just don't know. I'm happy I know things and that I can sit down with my less educated counterparts and realize that, but is it really going to get me anywhere? What does it matter that I know the history of almost every major war in recent history if no one cares? Or that I know according to the Associated Press, you should spell advisor with an "er" not an "or" even though no one spells it that way except journalists.

The thing is, I don't know, and I really don't think anyone does.
I heard someone slightly famous say this today: "My success makes up for all of my mistakes." I thought it was inspiring at first; then I was depressed. What if I'm not successful enough to make up for all of my mistakes?

What's this all about?

2006-11-12T21:03:00.000-05:00

As it turns out, I'm terrified of putting a lot of personal information on the Web. So don't plan on reading about my inner most thoughts and feelings. Hah. I blame it on my parents. I won't throw away a piece of mail without ripping my name off every inch of it then tearing it into as many pieces as possible. My parents have gone through three paper shredders, all of which made it to the trash from over use. We just use a box to put mail in, and once a week, my dad burns the contents. Is it all that surprising that the 'net scares me?
Parents really are funny. Last summer my dad had issues with a columnist from our daily newspaper. One day he finally wrote a letter to the editor, and by wrote, I mean pen in hand. I had to type it and e-mail it for him. It's really kind of adorable. I respect and admire my dad more than anyone in the world, but he has no clue how a computer works, let alone the internet.
Maybe I should feel ashamed. Growing up in "Generation X," I guess I should be all about technology and fast accessible information. I am just not when it comes to me, which is the only reason I won't be famous.

So I joined the blogging club

2006-11-12T05:06:00.000-05:00

So I decided to blog. It's 5 a.m., and I can't sleep. I guess I really have nothing better to do but sit at my computer and ramble. I fell asleep at 10 p.m., woke up at 3:30 a.m. and haven't been able to fall back to sleep yet. It's really annoying because I have to be at work in the morning, and I'm going to be exhausted. Not being able to sleep is definitely one of my least favorite things. No matter how hard you try, it just doesn't seem to work out for you. Oh well, I'm going to go hit my bed with my best shot and see what happens. I'm outta here.