Oh the Places You'll Go...

Not long ago, something had Ryan going to work, then not, then going, then not. Well not something, someone. Frustrated from not being able to nail down plans, I finally blurted out, "Well (insert annoying being's name here) can just go to..." (long pause to collect my thoughts) "his next duty station." So, not the most appropriate of thoughts I've ever had, but it certainly served to brighten my mood. I've been watching the news a lot more these days, and one thing I've noticed is the growing number of people speaking ill of the military, and while I would never wish another person to spend eternity in torment, I have come up with a few places they can go.

If you don't like the military you can go...
To your calendar and make plans. Relish that opportunity, because there are thousands of men and women who cannot. They don't know where they'll live or how long they'll live there. They don't know when they'll be off or how much time they'll get with their family. And they do this so you can enjoy a peaceful life.

If you don't like the military you can go...
On the computer and blog about it, or you can speak publically about it. I wouldn't recommend it, but you can do that. Why? Because you have a freedom of speech. Thank the military for that.


If you don't like the military you can go...
To church. Freedom of religion: another one of those precious rights protected by our men and women in uniform.

If you don't like the military you can go...
to your backyard. Any bullets flying? Explosives? Didn't think so. We live in a peaceful country. Wars are fought half a world away, fought by Marines and soldiers, sailors and airmen striving to maintain peace in the heartland.

 If you don't like the military you can go...
Hug your family. Tell them you love them. Hold your spouse's hand. Look at him or her and bask in their glowing smile. I would give anything just to see my husband smile once a day, but I can't because he is busy protecting the peace we enjoy here in America. (See above.)

And finally, if you don't like the military you can go...
To another country, because we don't need you here.

Just North of the FL/GA Line

Obviously, I have not blogged in a very long time. In fact, as far as my sanity is concerned, it has probably been a bit too long. Well I'm back, but instead of bore you with an exhaustive analysis of the happenings of the past few months, I am going to mix it up a little.

Everyone loves music; we all have our favorite artists and songs. But sometimes, maybe once in a blue moon, a song comes along that does more than have you tapping your steering wheel or cashing out to iTunes. Sometimes a song really hits home, or as Kenny Chesney called it, "stamps our lives." I had this experience a few months ago, and really the song tells the story better than I can.

I've always been a big dreamer, but this year I've had to really lean on my faith to realize what I really wanted. I am happier than I ever have been or ever imagined possible. So, with a little help from Lady Antebellum, here's the story of how all my dreams came true. Some of the lyrics have been modified to fit more accordingly into my life, but I think you will find the actual lyrics mostly accurate.

~Lady Antebellum- "Home Is Where the Heart Is"~

I felt I was spinning my wheels
Before too long the road was calling
I packed everything I owned
So sure that I was leaving this small town life behind for good
And not a single tear was falling
It took leaving for me to understand
Sometimes your dreams just aren't what life has planned

Mama said home is where the heart is
When I left that town
I made it all the way to West Virginia  Knoxville, Tennessee
And that's where my heart found
Exactly where I'm supposed to be
It didn't take much time
It's just south of the Mason Dixon north of the Florida/Georgia line

Wow! That's me. I could not wait to get out of the small town life and get to the University of Tennessee. That was my dream. I wanted to be a Vol most of my life. And it definitely lived up to my expectations. I loved Knoxville, I loved the school, and I loved all the new friends I had made and all the new experiences I had encountered.

As you can imagine, I was quite devastated when I had to transfer back home because of UT's rising cost. I considered other schools, but I was certain UT was where I was supposed to be. I guess "sometimes your dreams just aren't what life has planned." So I worked and worked and worked to get back there. In the meantime, I also started talking to a certain, quite good-looking Marine. What started as a trip to a football game with a friend turned into a long distance relationship with my best friend. Which brings me to verse two:

I worked third shift at an all night diner three jobs and went to community college
Only stayed to save a little money for
Enough gas to make it to the east coast Smokey Mountains
That's when I saw the brightest pair of
Deep blue green eyes walking straight into my life
And every night we talked till it became so clear
And I could feel those dreams inside shifting gears
Cause love brought me here

Mama said home is where the heart is
When I left that town
I made it all the way to West Virginia back to Huntsville, Alabama
And that's where my heart found
Exactly where I'm supposed to be
It didn't take much time
It's just south of the Mason Dixon north of the Florida/Georgia line

I worked...and worked...and worked some more. I applied for scholarships, financial aid, and programs to get my tuition reduced. I made multiple trips to Knoxville. I was getting everything worked out to go back. But then the Marine snuck in again.

I applied to a program that would lower my tuition to the in-state rate. All the forms were sent, and I was just waiting for a reply. Ryan (you know, the Marine) had hoped to come home for Easter weekend, but when he wasn't allowed to leave, I headed to Nashville with my home congregation to judge speeches, puppet skits, and debates in the annual Lads to Leaders Convention. Keeping with tradition, I was talking to Ryan at every point possible and was in the process of texting him at Rusty's restaurant when I turned around to see his smiling face walking up. Surprise!

Needless to say, I was ecstatic! The weekend was amazing until we had to say goodbye. That night I checked my e-mail while waiting for Ryan to call. Sitting in my inbox was the approval to have my tuition lowered. I had already heard about my financial aid. This meant everything, let me repeat that, everything-tuition, fees, books, meals- would be paid for.

Naturally, I was excited at first, but then I felt my heart sink to the pit of my stomach. When Ryan called I cried. I didn't say anything to him at the time, but this was my first feeling that maybe moving back to Knoxville wasn't my dream after all.

I kept that feeling to myself for a while, expressing them only to Ryan after we had talked about the possibility of getting married someday. He of course would not give me his opinion; he wanted me to figure it out for myself. So I took it to the Lord. First, I prayed for a sign not to go back to UT. The next day, the girl I had planned to live with backed out. In a way, I was relieved. Then I applied to Jacksonville University. If I was going to get married and move to some strange town, I needed a school to go to. I prayed that if it was meant to be, I would get in and get A LOT of financial aid. Check, and check. Truthfully, it was the answer I wanted, but I still didn't believe it was happening. Cue the last verse.

And I'm standing in my veil about to say I do
As mama smiles with tear drops in her eyes
And then I realize there's something mama (and God) always knew
Love is what I really had left to find

She said home is where the heart is
When I left that town
I made it all the way to West Virginia Knoxville, Tennessee
And that's where my heart found
Exactly where I'm supposed to be
It didn't take much time
It's just south of the Mason Dixon north of the Florida/Georgia line


There's certainly more details to the story. Sometime soon I intend to write just about the angel at O'Charleys. But this is what you need to know for now. I married Ryan. I moved to St Marys, Georgia. I don't have a job. I'm not even in school right now, but will be next semester. I spend quite a bit of time alone. But you know what? I spend quite a bit MORE time smiling. I am so happy, happier than I have ever been. Obviously, marrying Ryan was the right decision, and I wake up every day knowing that I am loved by the most amazing man in the world and that our amazing God has a plan for us. Even when things aren't ideal, I know that God put me here for a reason and put us together for a reason. I am anxious to see what life has in store for us, and I know we can take on anything together.

"Home Is Where the Heart Is" might have been written by Lady Antebellum, but the story was penned by God. He is an excellent author, and, like a great song or novel, I'm intent on seeing how my story unfolds.

Blame It On Rip Van Winkle

Let me start off by saying I should be writing a paper. I should be writing about Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle and how it reflects on the significance of pausing in the present to reflect on the past, but as I read about Rip and his unfortunate circumstances, I (1) agree with Irving and (2) feel infinitely sorry for Rip.


If that indeed is the reason Irving choose to write Rip Van Winkle (I make no claims to excellent literary analyses.) then he is totally correct. Winston Churchill once said, "The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see." Our nation and world faces new challenges every day, some that seem insurmountable, but if we could just take a moment and reflect on the past, maybe we could see a clearer picture for solving these problems. I tutor children in math every day, and although I recognize the importance of math and science to our global competitiveness, I feel a little disheartened that history does not get the same amount of effort and attention. It is important that these kids someday know how to balance a checkbook, but will they also know the laws of our land, and will they have enough love and respect for our liberties to adequately defend them?

Second, I feel sorry for Rip, because, even though he became the resident story teller of his community sparking an interest in the past among its residence, he slept through history. He had a chance to see it, and he missed it! He slept through the AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Now, in a historical sense, the events we see today do not compare, but how much history are we "sleeping" through? I am bad to wish I had grown up during some of the most significant moments in American history without thoroughly appreciating the history we are living (and making!) everyday.

Think about it. I definitely did not vote for President Obama, and don't plan on doing it in 2012, but the historical significance of his election is remarkable. President Lyndon Johnson (my favorite) signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 just forty-six years ago. That may seem like a long time ago, but to put it into perspective think about the fact that the Civil War ended, marking the real beginning of freedom for slaves, in 1865, 145 years ago. It took another 100 years for African-Americans to be allowed to go to school with white children, and now just forty-six years later, one has prevailed to hold arguably the highest position in the world. Regardless of how well you think he is performing his duties, that's still pretty incredible.

Partly to be fair to conservatives, but more so just because I vehemently support him, think of the significance of people like Mitt Romney being able to run for president or run companies. At the beginning of our nation, religion dominated your life. You could have your property, freedoms, and even your life taken for the crime of thinking differently. Not during my lifetime, but “recently” in a historical sense, our country has elected a Catholic in President Kennedy, and now we allow a Mormon to run with minimal attacks based on religion (and the majority of those coming from his own party). In this country, you can call for the complete dissolution of the IRS and still run for president with no persecution. In the 1960’s young adults came together thinking differently and listening to different music, and somehow sparked a cultural phenomenon. My point is thinking differently is no longer a crime in the United States; it’s celebrated!

If I did not have a paper to get back to, I could go on forever talking about the incredible events we see taking place today, and how we really should take just a moment to reflect and, most importantly, learn. Maybe I'll write a sequel ;-)

My point is we live in incredible times in an even more incredible nation, and it's time we take time to reflect on that. Our past has shaped us into the great nation we are today, and we would do well to take more time to learn from it.

The Greatest Thing You'll Ever Learn

Last year, I lived on my own. I still had some financial support from my parents, though sparingly, and I lived in an environment very conducive to my needs. There was all the food I needed within walking distance; I had a place to live where utilities were provided. I paid for these things in one lump sum instead of working to make that payment every month. So my being on my own was not the most independent of situations, but I was essentially on my own. And I learned something about myself from this time of independence: I'm a lot more prepared to take care of myself than I think.


For example, I knew without much trouble which clothes to wash with which. I knew to eat at least three meals a day, and that in order to stay at a functioning level, I should probably sleep occasionally. I found my way around a new city with fair ease. I obtained the financial resources to pay for this environment, and I made it successfully. My parents may not like to admit it, but I can do a pretty good job taking care of myself. Why? Because they did their job.

Parents strive to teach their kids everything they know about life in eighteen short years, and then it's up to the kid make it. They may not like to see us leave, but their ultimate goal is to prepare us to live without them. My parents gave me everything I needed (and most of what I wanted) growing up, then let me wander into the world and make it on my own. I succeeded. Mission accomplished.

In a lot of ways, that same situation could be applied to our education system, or even our government in general. I know education is an incredibly broad subject, and there is no silver bullet that will solve all of its problems. But education could be the silver bullet to solve all of the other problems our world faces. What we need to do is prepare our students to one day live without complete dependence on the government.

If students are taught personal finance in school, some, though certainly not all, will be more equipped to handle their own money some day. If we shift our focus from all math and science to include some more serious talk of government and civic engagement, we may see a more knowledgeable and active citizenry and a huge surge in voter turnout. If kids are required to work hard and earn their grades, and if we strictly reinforce that actions have consequences, we could see a much more trained and ethical work force in the future. And most importantly, if we teach our children that kindness supersedes every other human quality, we may see a different world.

I see sets of curriculum all the time that teaches concepts but not application. We teach our kids "how" instead of "why." If we don't fix this trend, we will continue to see a growth of students that are armed with facts but have no idea how to function on their own or in society. It is important in our schools (and in our homes!!) that we teach children the skills they will need to support themselves. Maybe the best way to improve our government- to reduce the national debt, to cut back entitlement programs, to strengthen our military and our schools- is to have less people reliant on it.

"Education is not the answer to the question. Education is the means to the answer to all questions."
-William Allin

America

I've developed a very bad habit lately. I am fascinated with education, especially the policy aspect of it, but commonly frustrated with the efforts (or lack of) being put into improving our education system. I am frustrated with the political party controlling Washington, pushing legislation after legislation that either destroys freedom or undermines the American way. I am frustrated with the opposite party for their lack of ideas and healthy discussion, choosing instead to fight with one another than to defend the Constitution and fix our ailing nation. All of this culminates into a bad habit of being frustrated with "America." I find myself often saying why "America" is bad, not why the individuals who make it up are at fault.

But I am wrong. America is not bad, never has been, and I hope it never will be. America is the country who defeated Hitler and defended freedom all over the world. America is the nation that pulls together to send more aid than any other country to people we'll never meet in other, less fortunate nations. America is the country that allows a free marketplace of ideas as well as a free marketplace of commodities. The words of Israel's president Shimon Peres say it best:

 America is unique in the history of the world. In the history of the world, whenever there has been war, the nation that is victorious has taken land from the nation that has been defeated...Only one nation in history, and this during the last century, was willing to lay down hundreds of thousands of lives and take no land in its victory...America is unique in the history of the world for its willingness to sacrifice so many lives of its precious sons and daughters for liberty, not solely for itself but also for its friends.

And thus "America" becomes synonymous with "freedom." Throughout America's history, they have played the role of the underdog and won. Who would have ever though a young nation composed of 13 unorganized colonies could defeat the naval superiority of Britain? Who would have thought that a weak northern army, fighting to keep our country together, could defeat a stronger southern front fighting to tear our nation apart? Yes many times we have overcome great challenges. Now we find ourselves as the predicted loser again, and with all confidence I say we will overcome.

To do that, we must not only draw inspiration from the past, but we must also learn some lessons from it as well. Many events that fall on America's timeline could present valuable lessons, but I want to focus solely on the last time our nation was truly thriving.

World War II brought a death toll of over 300,000 U.S. servicemen, but it also brought a sense of American pride that propelled the economy. Women moved into the work force. Detroit began manufacturing technologies for our military. People sacrificed whatever it took. We did what was necessary to keep our nation strong, and we defended America, because America was going to defend the world.

We can learn a lesson from this today. The days of "Ask not what your country can do for you..." are long gone, but their return would bring great benefit. In a time when our economy faces devastation, it's time to turn to one another for our strength and comfort, rather than to our federal government. We, like the civilians in World War II, must work to get ahead and take responsibility for what needs to be done.

There are times in America when freedom was vehemently defended, now we sacrifice that freedom to government programs promising to fix our problems. Instead of setting par for other countries, we strive to conform to other standards. My plea is that we realize America is not every other country. We may not always do what is sensible or popular, but we do what is right. And what is right is for Americans to learn to take care of themselves, take responsibility for their failures, and be given understanding when they need to start over. 

But America is only as strong as its citizens. We are entrusted a duty to defend freedom, to work hard, and to be our best, because America is made up of the best. "Whatever it takes," should be our motto, because who knows if one day another Hitler may arise, and who will be there to stop him this time? I'm proud to say I am an American; I am not ashamed of her Constitution. Again, America is the underdog. Our economy is weak, along with our education system. We've given our government more power than our founding fathers would have ever dreamed, and they have obliged us with heavy taxes and failing programs. It's time to pull together. Call out the wrong, strive for the right, and be proud of our America. The ideas that have made us unique have worked since 1776, and they can work today.

So God bless America, my home sweet home...

Things are a few of my favorite things...

On a beautiful day like today, I cannot possibly think of anything but happy thoughts. So I totally stole this idea from Amanda Monell, modified it, and produced a few of my favorite things:

• Learning- Big surprise there. I absolutely love to learn, whether it is new things or extending my knowledge of things I already know. I love being at school. (Well, I loved being at U.T.) I love teaching kids and seeing their faces light up with new knowledge. I even enjoy studying, provided I am studying something I find interesting.

• Tennessee- I do love Tennessee as a state, but I think we all know what I really mean is I love the University of Tennessee. It is simply the best place in the world. Last year it became my home, and I cannot wait to get back to it. I miss my friends. I miss Inskip. I miss sporting events. I miss everything. I became me at U.T., and I simply cannot wait to be a Volunteer again.

• Ryan Smallwood- It would be impossible to count my blessings without counting him. He makes me smile, laugh, and forget my problems. He helps me make decisions, makes me into a better person, and brightens my day. Even though we cannot be together all of the time, I still feel like I am a priority in his life. He tells me all the time he's lucky to have me, but I think I am truly the lucky one.

• Nature- I heard a prayer recently after it had snowed in which the man thanked God for snow that covered up all the ugly things man has made. Well, not to offend Howard Roark, but I have to agree. Man may have produced some remarkable structures, but nothing compares to the beauty of what God created. Mountains, streams, flowers, animals, blue skies, snow, sunsets- the list goes on and on.

• My family- I'd be nervous looking up dysfunction in the dictionary because I am fairly certain my family's picture is there. We are not your typical family (Does that even exist?) but we work for us. We love one another, and isn't that what matters in the long run?

So there it is. I hope on this beautiful day you were reminded of your favorite things too :-)

If you don't like dogs, just stop reading now. This blog will make zero sense to you, and at the end you'll be left thinking, "This kid is some weird freak." I would prefer that NOT happen.

Ok, so let's start by establishing this fact: I LOVE animals. (Except bugs.) I love dogs; I love cats; I love animals with fur, scales, feathers, or none of the above. I once owned a snake- yes, a snake- until it got loose and I completely intentionally accidentally forgot to tell my mother. I still liked that snake. Anything that falls into kingdom Animalia wins my heart. (Except bugs.)

~Disclaimer: Truthfully, I don't know enough about science to tell you exactly what falls into that kingdom, so the above statement may or may not be true. I still love animals.~

So now that you get the picture, let me now point out that my favorite animal is....SURPRISE! Not a penguin. My favorite animal is a dog. I recently have reached this conclusion about myself. I never knew how much man's best friend meant to me until last weekend.

Here's some background. I have a dog. Her name is Abby (from NCIS...watch it) and she is a beautiful, playful, athletic, and loving Border Collie/Labrador. I am also a starving college student who does not make enough money and really shouldn't own one dog, much less two. I did not want another dog. I did not need another dog, and if I were to get one, I really wanted a male Schnauzer so I could name him Ducky or a male Lab so I could name him Gibbs. (Both NCIS names.)

So why did I find myself last Saturday spending $100 to get a female Lab mix? Because when I walked up and kneeled down to pet her, she immediately put her front paws on my shoulders and started licking me in the face. And the lady selling her just had to say, "She hasn't done that with anyone else. She must really like you!" I never thought I'd say this, but I am a sucker for a soft coat and wagging tale.

So now I have Kate. (Yet another NCIS character. It's a really good show.) Kate is the polar opposite of Abby. Abby is overly energetic and never sits down unless we absolutely make her. She loves to play tug, fetch, go running with me, or just perform trick after trick for treats. Kate is laid back. She may fetch a ball a couple of times. She is just as content lying at your feet as running at your side. Abby is crazy; Kate is chill. One thing they have in common: When I arrive home, they both run to greet me and can't stop wagging that tail. That is truly what I love about dogs.

When I was a little girl, I used to sleep with at least ten stuffed animals a night. Now I sleep with two huge ones. Both Abby and Kate come from abused backgrounds, so now they want constant attention and are hard to train. Abby's had some health problems, and Kate is a bottomless pit for food. Yet no amount of money or time could replace the feeling I get watching them play or having them lick my face in the morning. They're by my side always, even when I don't want them there. I wouldn't replace them for anything.

I usually like to conclude things I write with a quote. I searched and searched for the right one, but the truth is no one can truly relate to the feeling between dog and owner (or any pet and owner really) until they have experienced it. There truly is no companionship like it, and it cannot properly be put into words.

Abby, unusually calm

Kate snuck up to nap with my brother. Lazy, lazy, lazy

The Palin Puzzle

I embrace conservatism. I keep an open mind and weigh both sides of most issues, and I usually fall on the right. But I cannot embrace Sarah Palin, and it leaves me wondering why my fellow right-wingers can. How can they throw so much support behind a woman whose best foreign policy experience is the view of Russia from Alaska? How can they embrace a woman who could not give a definitive answer on which newspaper she regularly read? How can they embrace a woman who, instead of attacking the actual flaws on the health care overhaul, makes up ridiculous claims of death panels? And last, how can they support a woman who writes notes on her hand? Seriously?


"Human" is what they call her. Mitt Romney called her "magnificent" on David Letterman last night. Notice no one calls her "intelligent." Truly she is a strong female who stands up for herself, her family, and her country, but I have recently reached the conclusion that Republicans do not like Sarah Palin for this reason. In fact, Republican don't like Sarah Palin at all. Republicans use Sarah Palin.

Honestly, how could a woman no one outside of Alaska had heard of end up as McCain's running mate in 2008 and the front runner for the Republican presidential candidate in 2012? Because no one else wanted the job. Conservatives aren't stupid. They knew not a single Republican could defeat the Obama machine in 2008, so they sat it out. They sacrificed John McCain and Sarah Palin in order to save their own presidential hopes. Shameful? Maybe. Brilliant? No doubt.

But Palin is more than the sacrificial lamb. She embodies what Republicans needed to reach the people they were otherwise not helping. First of all, she is a woman. You want to call the right-wing sexist? How can you do that when Palin is their queen? Next, she's normal. Her daughter had a baby out of wedlock, in high school. So, if you think the Republican party is a bunch of religious fanatics, you must be wrong, because their leader's daughter didn't exactly extol the virtues of Christianity. And, she has a child with Down syndrome. Even better, because if you think conservatives do not know what it is like to go through the choice of having an abortion, here we have Palin to the rescue to show us that she too had to make that decision, and is so happy she choose to have her baby.

Palin was a politician, what the right-wing needed in a leader, but now she works for Fox News. The Republicans thought they could use Palin to get exactly what they needed. Maybe they should have picked someone a little less outspoken. Their plan backfired, and now they are sitting at home coming up with their next losing strategy, while Democrats lead our country in Washington. So here's a tip for conservatives everywhere: Campaign on your policies, and let the people decide who has a better plan.

In the end, Sarah Palin will not achieve what conservatives wanted her to do when they threw their support behind her in 2008. No, most of Palin's loyal followers are gun-owning, church-going, America-loving white Southern men, the same ones who've been voting red since Reagan's era. Republicans may love her, but they would be wise to change their tactics from politics to policies if they want to win back Washington in 2012.

Charge On!

Less than two weeks ago the lives of the students and faculty at the University of Alabama in Huntsville were rocked by tragedy. I am not a UAH student, but I have many friends that are, including my best friend, and spend a lot of time on their campus. And after hearing of the actions of UAHuntsville's president David Williams, I feel more a part of the community than him.
Last Friday's memorial service was a time to cry together, smile together, and most importantly, come together. Apparently, Williams thought the most appropriate response was to encourage the community to "move on." Keep in mind this memorial service came just one short week after Dr. Amy Bishop, for reasons yet to be discovered, took a gun and killed three faculty members, wounding three others, two of which are still in the hospital. Keep in mind the tragedy took place at a school, one of the few places most people believe they can feel truly safe. Keep in mind there were people there in the building shocked, scared, and confused. And his solution? Move on?
I don't know the origin of the "Charge On" mantra, but I do feel it is a better representation of what the UAH community needs. Students will walk into classes and not see the same great professors in the front. They will not be able to "move on," to forget who once stood there. At these moments, the students need to support the substitutes and do their best in honor of their former professors' memories. They need to charge on.
When students see the memorials to the victims set up on campus or walk into the Shelby Center, they will not be able to set aside the memories of what happened in that place, but they can renew their pride in their school, in being a Charger. They can charge on!
I cannot imagine what the students and faculty of UAH went through. It is probably still hard for them to wrap their minds around it. I also have no psychology or counseling degree. But I am a student somewhere, and I have talked to university students. What the students and faculty need now is not a mental eraser, but a mental conviction to show the world that the University of Alabama in Huntsville can rise above tragedy and come out stronger in the end. Don't move on, CHARGE ON!

Man's Greatest Asset

"Man's greatest asset is an unsettled mind."

I read that quote in my eighth grade literature class. I don't remember the story, the author, or the subject. I just remember that quote. It's stuck with me.

I have always been fascinated with learning, whether it be learning how to do something new or just getting more in depth on topics I already knew about. I constantly shift my beliefs and alter my perspectives (notice I never use the word "change"), thought I firmly hold to a few simple truths. My mind is simply unsettled.

Our society is plagued by people who have loss the ability to think for themselves. We hear of a media bias that tells people the way they should think. If media bias is a relatively new concept, and I do not believe it is, it does not force people to think a certain way; people allow it to do so. Media bias has probably always existed, but not until now do people legitimately allow it to alter their viewpoints. Apparently it is easier just to let someone else think for you than to think for yourself.

America would have never reached its potential without people who wouldn't let their minds settle. Edison would not settle with the fact fire was the best way to light a room. Many extraordinary people would not settle with archaic beliefs about women or African-American roles in society. Our country has morphed into a melting pot of fascinating cultures and experiences, founded by people who would not settle with their homeland but looked for a way to a better home. Why now are we so quick to accept what we are told is normal?

Elisa Luna and Amy Brace are two extraordinary people. They refuse to accept that kids from poor neighborhoods won't make it in this world. They have taken their passions and transformed them into a way to reach out to a community otherwise forgotten. They had the concept of no child left behind way before anyone in Washington thought of it.

Imagine what the world could be like if everyone adopted that mentality. Refuse to accept what is "normal." Whether your passion is music, dancing, sports, politics, writing, drawing, working with children, building, or learning, use that passion in a different way than anyone else ever has, because our world needs. Better yet, our world thrives on it.

"Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to continually be part of unanimity." ~Christopher Morley

Failing at Capitalism

Here's to the business owners who get up early, watch the stock market, analyze data, and wear fancy suits. Here's to the guys who host meetings over computers and have someone fix them their coffee. Here's to the ones who obtained their MBAs from the nation's best colleges and bring home paychecks that easily cover their former tuitions. Here's to you business man, with just one question...

How do you live that way?

Seriously. I used to want to be a teacher, and I still may do that for a couple of years with Teach for America. But, once I had reached my breaking point with the education system, I switched to the one career that actually brings home a salary smaller than that of teachers: journalist. I may never live in a three story home out in the country, wear designer clothing, and eat $18 salads, but I think I will survive. What do I get in exchange? Maybe I will spend time on Capitol Hill, interviewing the nation's most powerful (and idiotic) people. Maybe I'll fly out to the Super Bowl and rush into the winner's locker room after the game for a post-victory interview just as all the Champaign is flying. Maybe I will expose the nation to the hardships of some small country and set up a relief effort. Or maybe I'll sneak into the deepest jungle in search of some deadly beast, just to get a good idea of its true nature. Hey, it beats teleconferences!

I know that journalists sometimes work weird hours, and I know that my income my first year of employment will probably will be less than my entire student loan debt. I also know that when I look back at my life, I won't be thinking, "Man, I wish I had done this or that." I'll have the opportunity to experience all of what life has to offer, all through my career.

Even if I never get to travel outside of the state of Alabama for any incredible story, there is still the greatest thrill of all: knowing that someone somewhere is reading what you are writing and having some sort of reaction to it. So, no offense to Donald Trump, but I will pass on the big business, big bucks route of life and will instead take the one that leads to adventure. Because you only live once, and I intend to do it right.

Happy trails!

Three Weeks In and Lessons Learned

This is typically more religious than I like to go, but I just can't get it off my mind.


Somebody that I am too tired to look up at the current moment once said that everything you need to know, you learn in kindergarten. There is probably an element of truth in that statement, but I am going to go out on a limb and say everything I need to know I learned in the past three weeks.

Today is the 20th of January. Just three weeks ago I was welcoming in the new year with no clue as to the direction it was going to take me, and this point was driving me crazy. My interests were in so many different places, and I can honestly say I have never felt so much like my life had been turned upside down. Everything I had planned was going down the drain. Slowly and mostly silently I was falling apart.

Fast forward to last week. Growing up I had one best friend. Yes, one. I had several friends, and a couple really good friends. But "best" implies that there is none better, right? Therefore there can only be one best friend, and I had found her. Jessica Deaton and I sort of operate as two people sharing one brain. Since we started college, we sort of drifted apart. We always had little to nothing in common, and this point seemed especially emphasized when we found ourselves only together on occasional weekends. Little did I know she was all I needed all along.

Last week we were sitting in IHOP in the wee hours of the night (or morning?) eating strawberry banana pancakes (the kind with bananas on top, not cooked in). We sat and discussed how our lives had been, dishing out everything that we knew no one else would understand. We both felt like we didn't know what we were supposed to do in life or who we were supposed to be. As I've said before, I know why I am in Huntsville, Alabama in the I grew up here and the college is cheap aspect, but I don't know why I am here in the everything happens for a reason aspect. If the universe followed my plan, I should be in Knoxville, Tennessee, but I am not. Well I haven't figured out all the specifics yet, but it turns out all I needed was reconnection with the other half of my brain to figure some things out.

I've spent much of the past couple of weeks asking people close to me what they could see me doing for the rest of my life. I am fairly certain most of them just had no legitimate clue, but everyone came up with the typical, "Do what makes you happy...""Follow where God leads you...." sort of thing. Not helpful. But somewhere between fighting over the cheesy part of the eggs and making fun of how much sugar Jessica had in her coffee (or coffee she had in her sugar) my best friend helped me discover what I want to do, what I have always wanted to do. It wasn't that she knew to pinpoint to the exact career I would be most happy in, but that she knew what concerned me the most about my career choices and helped me hash them out. She understood why it was hard to commit to a career that would scarcely allow for a family life. She knew that graduate school was a definite option because of my love for learning, even though that does not make sense financially. And she understood that above all, I wanted to find what God wanted me to do, while trying to reconcile that with what I want to do. I hope, but don't know, if I helped her as much as she helped me, but I know in one sitting at IHOP she changed my life.

Fast forward to last Sunday night. The greatest man I know is an 18-year-old United States Marine. He was able to come home for a visit this weekend, just in time to alter my life once again. After what was possibly the oddest movie I have ever seen in my twenty-year existence (Youth In Revolt) we were driving home discussing the next time he would be home. He didn't know, of course. Signing up for the Marines is essentially signing up for a life of uncertainty. He didn't know where he would be headed after his training at his current location was done, and calmly explained this point to me. Finally all I could say was, "Well you've got the 'someone else is in control' thing figured out a lot better than I have." I simply cannot comprehend how you live without knowing what you'll be doing the next month. I want my problems solved now. I want to know where I'll be going to school next year, and I want to know NOW. But I don't, and I probably won't for a while. But every burden seemed to fall off my shoulders when he hugged me and told me it was going to be ok. And something in the way he said, "You do the same," after I told him to take care of himself seemed to imply there was more behind that than just a friendly gesture.

There's a line in one of my favorite songs about a girl who runs off from the small town life in search of what she's looking for. Her mom tells her as she is leaving that home is where the heart is. In one of the closing lines, Lady Antebellum sings, "Then I realized there's something momma always knew: Love is what I really had left to find." Why do I have such a newfound confidence in that everything is going to work out for the better? Because I have found what I am looking for. Through my closest friends, I've discovered peace with myself and peace with God that surpasses whatever life throws at me next. Wherever I go this fall, I will be happy because I've got my friends and I've got my God, and in the end that's all I really need, all I really had left to find.

And for those of you who are curious, it's journalism. I haven't decided the specifics yet...

Warning: This is, and is not, about sports. All should enjoy.

First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women
-Book by 16th-century Scottish priest John Knox, published around the time Elizabeth 1 was coming to power. Alex, I'll take "Ways to Piss Off the Queen" for 1000.



My dad and I were watching the Army High School All-American Bowl this morning. As we sat and watched the superior talent, we discussed the universities most of the kids would be attending. We scoffed when a player choose teams like Alabama or USC, labeling them as "typical" or sarcastically calling them "really hard choices." Then I began to defend them.

"You know Dad, I can kind of commend those kids that choose schools like USC or Texas, or any big program in the SEC. Those kids are entering programs with other superior talent, yet they are willing to try and succeed. The kids that attend schools like Baylor or UConn (with weaker programs) just want to remain a big fish in a little pond."

My dad probably responded to that. I don't know, because I was dumbstruck by the hypocrisy of my own statement. My fatal flaw finally was revealed to me.

The summer following my Senior year of high school, I had a job in the press box for the Huntsville Stars baseball club. It was my favorite job I have ever held. I refused to call it "work." I was just having fun. That summer I met a sports reporter from the Huntsville Times. He was a UT graduate. I asked him if writing about sports took away from being able to enjoy the game, a concern I'd never heard anyone actually express. He said no, it only added to the experience.

I am not sure of the exact moment I decided I could not be a sports journalist. I love sports. I love writing. I generally shy away from advanced technology, but the technology in a broadcasting booth is so exciting to me. And I don't just love sports the way anyone who sacrifices their Saturday afternoons to 18-23 year olds running into each other on a football field loves sports. I analyze the plays, I concentrate on the statistics, I put myself on the field or court making decisions. I imagine I get the same feeling that doctors get when they are about to do major surgery. Nervous passion. But you see, I never stay bad at things a long time. Not because I have superior abilities, but because if I am not good at something, I quite. I stick to what I am naturally good at, in fact, what I am naturally the best at. I did speech from 5th to 12th grade. I didn't win every year, but there were only two years I wasn't a finalist. Many years, I despised the preparation for that speech. I liked writing it, but not delivering it countless times. Yet I stuck it out because I was one of the best. I was the junior varsity captain of my volleyball team my sophomore year, the leader and one of the best players. The next year, when it was likely I would be on varsity but not a starter, I didn't even try out. And I loved volleyball. But I don't like to play second fiddle. I keep myself a big fish in a little pond.

And that's exactly what I did when I dropped my consideration of sports journalism. Why did I quite?

1. I would have to get my start as a journalist- True, but this would be the non-cutthroat, honest, exciting journalism that I would actually enjoy.
2. It's a man's job- And now we're back to the fish/pond analogy. I didn't want to be a sports journalist because I am terrified of being a little fish in a big pond. I am terrified of losing, of having to keep pushing and pushing to make it to the top. Shame on me!

I don't really know that I want to write about sports for the rest of my life. I know I want to write for the rest of my life, but I enjoyed writing and researching my article about how conservatives can win in 2012 as much as I enjoyed researching and writing about the Heisman trophy. What I do know is I am no longer afraid to pursue that career. I doubt many men have the raw passion for sports the way I do, and I can talk shop with the best of them. Sure, sports are about as important to the state of the nation as wool socks, but they are what make me come alive. Consider this the first blast of the trumpet...

Cheating

The following blog I wrote in August of 2009, when the introduction was actually relevant. I am copying it here (which may or may not be illegal) from my other blog so I can dedicate that one completely to sports. That way, if some day I am interviewing for a job at Sports Illustrated, they can look at my blog and not have to shuffle through other random stories to find their way to my sports brilliance (or lack thereof).

Enjoy!

http://afilyaw4.wordpress.com/

Life is ordinary, and that's ok

For Christmas I got a book. Well actually I got six of them, but one of them was titled "The Pocket Muse" by Monica Wood. Wood is a writing teacher and she compiled this book with random quotes, tips, pictures, and prompts to inspire creative writing. Thoughts float around in my head all day, so normally I have no trouble thinking of things to write about, but the book still is quite interesting.



Today I flipped to a page with with an interesting quote:

"My students were middle-class kids who were ashamed of their background. They felt like unless they grew up in poverty, they had nothing to write about...I felt sorry for these kids, that they thought their whole past was absolutely worthless because it was less than remarkable."

-David Sedaris, from an interview in January Magazine

The page ends with the prompt, "Write about a less-than-remarkable aspect of your life."



How interesting. With far-fetched bestsellers like Harry Potter and Twilight, and imaginative classics such as Fareinheit 451 and Frankenstein, it's only natural that we are attracted to tall tales of whimsical circumstances. However, we are also comfortable with our own familiarities. Maybe it's not so bad to celebrate our ordinary lives.



I may be bending the rules a little bit, but I was actually inspired to write this as I was looking back through my old posts. As typical, most of what I noticed was mistakes-typo here, misinformation there. Of course, I went back and corrected most of them, but some I just left because a "the" instead of a "to" is just not worth the effort. Most of the time however, I can't stand mistakes in my work. Yet mistakes could be what unites all humanity. We all make them, we all regret them, we all avoid them with ferocity.



I am going to celebrate them.



First of all, in my post titled, "And the winner is..." I originally said that there were 840 Heisman voters, 145 from six regions. If you're a critical reader, you will have noticed by now that 145 times six is 870, not 840. I knew that. I am math tutor!


In the same blog, I said that Colt McCoy was less likely to win the Heisman trophy because Sam Bradford (last year's winner) was from the same conference: the Big 10. This was a doozy. I hate the Big 10. Bradford plays for Oklahoma, McCoy for Texas, both teams in the Big 12. I would argue the Big 12 is one of the top three best conferences; I would argue the Big 10 is one of the worst! I sincerely apologize to fans of the Big 12 and hope to never make this mistake again.

Next, I noticed in "I Hope You Had the Time of Your Life," I made the statement, "Now I am fairly certain you are thinking, what does this have to do with the New Year?" If I saw this in a book, I would probably write the publishing company and the editors personally. First of all, the sentence as a whole is a statement, not a question, and therefore should not end with a question mark. Next I was not refering to the specific New Years holiday, and as a result, "New Year" should be "new year." And last, I probably should have set the interrogative part of the sentence apart in quotation marks. Next time I am about to correct someone's grammar, I am going to think of the epic failure that was this sentence.

The entire blog "Mixing Things Up a Bit..." was possibly the weirdest thing I have ever read. I promise I am not on drugs, but I do not know what inspired that. Once again, I apologize.

I could point out several other little missed commas or misplaced modifiers throughout my posts, but you get the picture.

I would venture to say that Peyton Manning's favorite thing to do is play football, but sometimes he throws an interception. Donald Trump probably enjoys his highly successful business ventures, but he sometimes get side tracked by pointless arguments with even more pointless celebrities. Brooks & Dunn are widely considered the greatest duo in country music, but I have heard a recording in which Kix Brooks sang the wrong words in "Place Something Country."

My point is all human beings make mistakes, sometimes critical ones. Some mistakes are no laughing matter, but if they're just a slip of the tongue or temporary lapse in brain activity, let's stop stressing about them. Laugh it off and move on.

Normally I would finish with a re-read of what I'd typed, a push of the spell check button, and a preview to make sure everything seems ok. Tonight, I am not going to do that. Tonight, if there are mistakes, I am going to celebrate them, because mistakes are inevitable, and mistakes are ordinary.

I hope your life is as ordinary as mine.

Wake Up and Smell the 21st Century

This morning I clicked Internet Explorer to see the headline on MSN, "Could this man be the future of the Republican Party?" with a picture of Bobby Jindal's youthful smile. As I clicked through the several pictures of possible candidates for the Republican nomination in 2012 I saw several I liked and several that made me want to cry. But really the article was written by MSNBC affiliates, therefore obviously slighted liberally. Few things annoy me more than liberals telling conservatives (or vice-versa) how to run their party, although these days the conservatives need as much help as they can get.

That's when I realized who held the key to conservative victory in 2012: ME!! I've got the plan for the Republicans, although I would no longer put myself into that category. Pay attention Mitt Romney; Sarah Palin, stop reading now and go wave at Russia.

Seriously, the conservative action plan is not hard if they would pay attention. Obama got elected for three reasons. (1) He is the opposite party of George W. Bush. (2) Voting for Obama was the thing to do. (3) People liked him- not his platform- but him as a person. He was likable, personable, and well-spoken. Yet the Republican party is stereotypically a bunch old, grumpy, rich guys, but with my plan, we can be the party of the future. All they must do is follow these easy steps.

1. Stop blaming the media. Rush Limbaugh has over 13 million listeners, and Limbaugh's listeners are more highly educated and vote at higher rates than the general public. Fox News averages the largest audience of any cable news network, and plays host to 9 out of the top 10 cable news shows. You still lost the election. Get over it!

2. Get the right role models. Who are the leaders of the Democratic party? President Barack Obama; Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; the late Senator Ted Kennedy; Secretary of State and former Senator Hilary Clinton; etc. Who are the leaders of the Republican party? Journalists Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, and Bill O'Reilly; Radio show host Rush Limbaugh; former Governor of Alaska and current idiot Sarah Palin; former Governor of Arkansas and preacher Mike Huckabee; etc. Get the picture? Until conservatives stop rallying behind commentators who distort facts and spout off at the mouth but overall have very little power, they will never be able influence the American people.

3. Stay focused on what's important. While Democrats scramble to pass as many far-left, socialistic in nature policies while they can, Republicans are quitting their gubernatorial posts to plan for elections and making appearances or hosting shows on FoxNews. Remember that what makes a party great is what it does for the American people. At the very least, speak out against the policies being pushed by your counterparts in Congress so the voters can look back at who told us so. And stop doing things like making an African-American chairman of the RNC to reach the minorities. The minorities will vote for you when you do something to help them. The Republican party does not need to get "hip" but they do need to get with it!

4. Wake up and smell the problems of the 21st century. This is an area in which the voters, as well as the politicians, could vastly improve. First off, it is not 1973 anymore and abortion is not going to be banned, so move on. At best, a pro-life/pro-choice voting record could give a glimpse of a candidate's character, but if you're voting for him based simply on this fact, you need to get over it and see the problems of today.
Second, the conservative philosophy of helping those who cannot help themselves is the best plan for how to run a government. However, in fear that they will be giving the government too much control, conservatives have ceased to act on any problem. Newsflash: children cannot help themselves, they need your help. Fixing the problems of education could do more to improve America than any other single issue. It is impossible to fix the problems in America without first fixing the education system, otherwise the others will continue to occur. Yet you have to hunt to find a Republican talking about it. This needs to vastly improve in order for the party to regain the trust of the American people.
Third, drop the religious act. Remember Jimmy Carter? Good Southern Baptist, BAD president. Just because someone has a divinity degree does not mean they can run a country. Next time you want to elect someone because of his deep religious philosophy, just remember that absolute power corrupts absolutely and sooner or later he'll have his own cronies and skeletons in the closet. And if you're going to hoist God as the head of your party, you better be walking the walk. Civil unions will ruin marriage, but the 50% divorce rate among Christians won't? Marijuana should remain illegal, but King Limbaugh can do drugs? Taking prayer out of schools led to their fall, not the total lack of adequate funding? Please, set the act aside and simply do what's right.

5. Anyone can find the flaws. It's your job to fix them. Probably because the Republican party lacks a serious political leader with power, the majority of times you hear from a conservative, he/she is talking about everything wrong the Democratic party does. Guess what. I can do that. As a politician, we put our faith in you to come up with your own solutions.
I know that government run health care is overwhelmingly socialistic, but that does not take away the problems we face in the medical system. It does not change the fact that 70% of those with medical bills they are unable to pay have health insurance. So what are you going to do about it? I've heard that the fair tax hurts the poor, the flat tax hurts the wealthy, the sin tax and fat tax denies freedom, and income tax is a just a tax on production. So how exactly are you going to raise funds to support the military and children?

If you are a die hard conservative, you are probably about blow your top thinking, "BUT LIBERALS DO ___________." I don't care. The conservative party must be different. They must stand up for their basic ideals, yet insert some common sense into that. The country is still pretty hungover from Bush and love sick over Obama, but given time these ideas could just culminate in a Republican victory. Just follow the steps above...

And nominate Mitt Romney....

I Hope You Had the Time of Your Life

Well it's four days into the new year. I have yet to do the cliche blog about resolutions and new beginnings, so let's get this show on the road.

Resolutions have not been on my mind much this time around. But, in my avoidance in finishing my training for work, I have come up with a pretty good one. Let us begin with a story...

A couple of weeks ago, my family noticed we had some visitors, the kind that are furry, eat cheese, and have long tails. Doing the only thing normal individuals would do, my dad set mouse traps. Then one day we were eating and I heard one snap. Then it hit me: We had just killed something. Regardless of the fact it was just a mouse, it still really bothered me. So I made an agreement with my parents. If I could catch a mouse humanely, I could take it and let it go in our big field. And that is exactly what I did.

My dog kept staring at her bowl one night, and upon further investigation, I found the four legged punk was eating my dog's food. This was NOT ok. I took one piece of my dog's dry food, put it on the floor, grabbed the plastic liner out of one of my mom's baskets, and waited. Sure enough that dumb little creature came out for more, and after several failed attempts, I caught it. The rest is history. The mouse was saved by grace, and my mother will forever think of me as her rodent-saving daughter.

Now I am fairly certain you are thinking, what does this have to do with the New Year? Good question. In a possible attempt to get someone to adopt me, my mom told everyone that story. And every one's question: Why? Why would you save a rat? (For the record, it was tiny, meaning it was not a rat, just a baby mouse.)

I have friends who are Marines. I have friends who hunt. I see no problem with participating in those activities. But for some reason I could not do it. EVER. Something was born inside of me, something with a great respect for life, for breathing, experiencing, living. I cannot take that away from anything (with the exception of spiders. I hate those things!)

I have in no way had a boring life, far from it. But I do often find myself jealous of those people with wild tales of adventures they've experienced, even if some of them are a bit far fetched. I am quite a coward, but I admire people like the Crocodile Hunter and the guy from Man vs Wild.

Josh Gracin has a great song titled "I Want To Live." I think it is an accurate representation of how I feel. Check it out.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs0ppEpC5gY

My point is that I have a deep respect for life, because I feel like I'm not properly living it to the fullest. That's my New Year's resolution. To live my life, live like I am dying, live like I have one day to live, whatever cliche you can come up with, I am going to do it.

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
-Howard Thurman