What I Learned In Class…

This is my top ten things that I learned in my 9 am Monday class:

10. There is a surprisingly lack of pretty people in the field of library studies. (Is that judgmental? I think so…)

9. I can turn a simple statement that the teacher or a classmate said into a sexual innuendo.

8. My teacher inspired me by saying that she would rather hire someone who had a life and made Bs instead of someone who wasted their life and made all As.

7. I literally learned all this back in 7th grade and then later with Bass. *Yawn*

6. I can sleep until 7:11 am and still get to Tuscaloosa, in the classroom with a Diet Dr. Pepper in my hand by 8:51 am.

5. I’m the only white girl wearing a t-shirt

4. I’m losing my fear of failing graduate school.

3. I’ve decided to get the surgery on my jaw to correct my overbite since I discovered a chip on my bottom tooth.

2. You can distract yourself by seeing how many times my professor can mention her own disseration in a lecture.

1. I can make it look like I am taking notes when I am really updating my Twitter or WordPress (I know…I am a horrible person)

Isn’t it sad?

This afternoon, my dad called me. He said “I’m coming home early because the power went out on in my office building. A transformer went out.” and he continued to tell me how there was a popping sound, etc.

I “believed” him. But only on the surface of my brain. Like it seemed plausible but something in me just didn’t buy it.
You see he has lied for 25 years about many, many, many things. Things that didn’t even matter. He’s been addicted to pain killers, gotten us really into debt, lost our house, and has had lots of health problems. My mom should have divorced him years ago but she has been awesome and held the family together.

So now, I’m completely unable to believe that anyone (especially guys.) Not that I am overly cautious or anything. It’s just that I’ll believe somene but I’ll never truly trust them to be telling the truth. It’s sad.

Eh. It’s life

What is the motivation?

Should someone use “getting down to a certain size” as a motivation for exercising? Should the motivation be to reach a certain number on the scale?

I have a friend.
A friend that is OBSESSED with running and working out.

That’s a great thing but it’s not so great when their main objective is to lose a jean size because their sister is that size. And this friend is like fifty pounds or sixty pounds lighter than me.

I’ll admit it. I’m 5′9. 180-175 pounds. (depends on the day…hehe) Fortunately (sp?) it covers an hourglass figure. I wear clothes that range from size 8 to size 12. And my size ranges from clothing item to clothing item. Some thigns I can wear in 8…Some I wear in 10 and others I can wear in 12. Sometimes I don’t like myself (who doesn’t) but for the most part, I’m really pleased with my body and my appearance. I’m attractive, intelligent, fun, funny-ish, and nice.

That doesn’t mean I’m not trying to lose weight. I’m walking four to five days. Eating fairly healthy meals. I’m also going to start a pilates or yoga class.

But should I try to lose weight just because my cousin can wear a size 4 or size 6? What should my motivation be?
I think it should be to get healthy or improve my stamina. Maybe tone up my flab-ness haha. But I would never want to kill myself or consume myself with diet/exercise just to fit a pair of size 6 jeans. I have other things to do with my life.

I don’t know. What do ya’ll think?

We have a new president and history has been made.

Alright. I admit. For about thirty minutes, I gave up my cynical nature and just enjoyed the optimism and excitement of watching the “changing of the guard.”
I don’t agree with a lot of what Obama supports but I’m willing to give him the chance and will respect his position.
He does love his family and is a great example of a loving father.
God Bless President Obama.

(And we will see what his supporters say tomorrow)

My thoughts on our soon-to-be President Obama

With the inaugaration hours away, I thought I should express my views on this (media) circus that has enamored our society and cable news casters.
Personally, I don’t have a major problem with Obama. I’ll give him a chance and really respects the way he truly loves his family. In fact, if it wasn’t for the million of people falling all over themselves or the media nearly pissing themselves with all the fodder this “change” has brought, I would be more open and approving of our future president. But instead it just seems that celebrities, news stations (Fox, CNN, MSNBC) heck, even stations like the History Channel are buying into this circus.

It’s almost like Obama is totally unaware of the hype surrounding him. That’s kinda of why I like him. But my like is greatly weakened by the hysterical celebrities, expensive celebrations and hyper media outlets.

My question is: where will all his fans go if (heck, WHEN) he messes up. Cause it’s going to happen because he is human and this is a fallen world. But will his crazed groupies remain as frenzied and supportive as they are now?

I despise money!!!!

Okay, when will I ever get a handle on my finances? I really don’t know. I’m just so confused with all the numbers and figures. Plus, I can’t add so that makes it harder.

I’m keeping a record of all my spending for the rest of the month on this calendar thing. I’m going to really try to not eat out as much and limit buying sodas/drinks.

Will ya’ll help me with this? Just remind me not to spend my money foolishly.

Mission Accomplished: Wireless Internet

I’ve finally set-up my wireless. It’s a great great great day.
And I just want to say that I did this all myself. I might just have a future in computer technology.

Amazing Grace

My friend and I were discussing our faith, cussing, and sex tonight at dinner.
Michelle thinks that saying “damn” is a sin but saying it’s substitute “dang” “darn” “shoot” is okay. I have come to believe that it’s not the word but the heart behind saying it. Really if you say “damn” with the same meaning you saw “dang” then it’s the same thing. It’s better to say nothing and to ask God to restrain your tongue. It’s about your heart and you submitting everything to God. Not just your outward motions or words but your heart and desire. (Don’t worry, I’m not going around cussing all the time. But if a “damn” slips out I’m not going to think I’ve committed the unpardonable sin.)
That lead to another point in our discussion. She asked:

“Well if sin really does start in your heart then let’s say you lust in your heart. Why don’t you just go and have sex with someone. It’s the same thing, isn’t?”

I thought about that, and finally said, “No. I’m not going to go out and have sex even if I lust in my heart. But I am also not going to judge someone who does struggle with sexual sin or think more highly of myself because I don’t particpate in the physical act.

That’s when it hit me. Sin is in all of our hearts. None of us can claim any goodness or merit on our own. Even if we can make our actions or behavior “good,” our hearts are still corrupt and evil.

That’s where grace comes in, I guess. We are all the same in our sin and we can all come to the foot of the cross the same. Thank you, Jesus, for this grace.

Parental Freedom and Homeschooling

For the first time in my 23 years, I fully grasped WHY my parents…well, my mother decided to homeschool my brother and I.

Yes, you heard that right. I am a proud graduate of home-schooling. And I can carry on a conversation, I don’t wear jumpers or dresses, and I know more about movies than about dress making.

But that isn’t the point of this post. The point is that I saw the “real life” reason why my mom wanted to homeschool me.

True academic freedom.

Today in my class we watched a video of a 1980 (five years before I was born) Panel discussion on selection vs. censorship when choosing books for public schools.

Two sides were shown. One was comprised of mostly teachers, authors, and administrators who believe that parents had little voice in what should be assigned and/or allowed in the school’s library.

The other side was made of one mother, some teachers, and a student (the child of the mother present) who thought that the since “children belonged to the parents” then parents had the final voice in any decision involving assignments and books allowed in the library.

One person asked “do parents have the right to question what books their children are assigned?” The mother argued that the public schools weren’t there to teach values or morals or anything. Instead, public schools are established to teach the basics and then the parents are supposed to address the other stuff.

Great point, Ms. Mom. But you fail. You fail big time. It hit me while I heard her complaining about the public schools. I’m sorry, Ms. Mom, but once you put your child in a public school setting you have given up 8-9 hours of your child to another institution. You have no control, little voice, and absolutely no say in what is assigned. Sure you can try to fight certain things but what’s the point?

Instead of complaining about the reality, why don’t you take that responsibilty back. Because that is what a lot of parents do without even knowing it. They give up control when they enroll their children in public school.

That’s what is so cool about homeschooling. It gives that freedom back to parents. People do homeschooling for many reasons. Moral and religious top the list but after interviewing my mother, I have realized that those were not the reasons. Oh, yeah, they were some aspects but when it comes down to it my mother did not want to give academic and parental freedom to some one else for a majority of my life.

If a parent is so concerned about the material taught to their children, to the point where they are petitioning the school or fighting with the board, then they need to reevaluate their ideas on their role in their children’s education.

You can’t tell someone else to have your children for 8 hours a day and then demand that they teach them the way you want them to. That’s just stupid. If you feel that strongly, then you need to alter their educational setting.

All my life people have said that my parents homeschooled me because they were scared of public schools or they wanted to put me in a “bubble.” That is the farthest from the truth. I experienced things that other students still haven’t experienced. All my parents did was take back their control.

Parental Freedom and Homeschooling

For the first time in my 23 years, I fully grasped WHY my parents…well, my mother decided to homeschool my brother and I.

Yes, you heard that right. I am a proud graduate of home-schooling. And I can carry on a conversation, I don’t wear jumpers or dresses, and I know more about movies than about dress making.

But that isn’t the point of this post. The point is that I saw the “real life” reason why my mom wanted to homeschool me.

True academic freedom.

Today in my class we watched a video of a 1980 (five years before I was born) Panel discussion on selection vs. censorship when choosing books for public schools.

Two sides were shown. One was comprised of mostly teachers, authors, and administrators who believe that parents had little voice in what should be assigned and/or allowed in the school’s library.

The other side was made of one mother, some teachers, and a student (the child of the mother present) who thought that the since “children belonged to the parents” then parents had the final voice in any decision involving assignments and books allowed in the library.

One person asked “do parents have the right to question what books their children are assigned?” The mother argued that the public schools weren’t there to teach values or morals or anything. Instead, public schools are established to teach the basics and then the parents are supposed to address the other stuff.

Great point, Ms. Mom. But you fail. You fail big time. It hit me while I heard her complaining about the public schools. I’m sorry, Ms. Mom, but once you put your child in a public school setting you have given up 8-9 hours of your child to another institution. You have no control, little voice, and absolutely no say in what is assigned. Sure you can try to fight certain things but what’s the point?

Instead of complaining about the reality, why don’t you take that responsibilty back. Because that is what a lot of parents do without even knowing it. They give up control when they enroll their children in public school.

That’s what is so cool about homeschooling. It gives that freedom back to parents. People do homeschooling for many reasons. Moral and religious top the list but after interviewing my mother, I have realized that those were not the reasons. Oh, yeah, they were some aspects but when it comes down to it my mother did not want to give academic and parental freedom to some one else for a majority of my life.

If a parent is so concerned about the material taught to their children, to the point where they are petitioning the school or fighting with the board, then they need to reevaluate their ideas on their role in their children’s education.

You can’t tell someone else to have your children for 8 hours a day and then demand that they teach them the way you want them to. That’s just stupid. If you feel that strongly, then you need to alter their educational setting.

All my life people have said that my parents homeschooled me because they were scared of public schools or they wanted to put me in a “bubble.” That is the farthest from the truth. I experienced things that other students still haven’t experienced. All my parents did was take back their control.