December 31, 2008
Go Your Own Way: My 2008 Year in Review
I was struggling to think of a good title for this post but I have iTunes set on "random" and when L. Buckingham came on, I knew I'd have to use it. Not only is the song sort of fitting for the year itself, but I happened to use it as my "Song on the Day" a day or two before everything went awry. Actually, looking back at that post, I just kind of had to laugh.
Anyway, you can read this or not, I don't really care, it's just my little personal year in review thing I like to do! (And for those of you who don't do it, it's kind of fun to go back and read what all you wrote throughout the year - or maybe just for me because I crack myself up!)
For me, 2008 started on a pretty good note. The day after Christmas 2007, I moved into my cute, historic downtown home and it was the first time I've ever lived without a roommate or my parents (unless you count Gabby as a roommate)...and it was heaven. Living alone is totally underrated. It wasn't the greatest place in the world and it was expensive, but it was in a great neighborhood, had a nice yard for Gabby, and it was mine and that's all I wanted. I can't remember a lot about the first few weeks after I moved in. I remember the GC coming over help me unpack one night and us realizing how cool it was that I was just right up the street from a couple of our favorite restaurants. I also remember us watching "Eulogy" and talking about how much it reminded us of our own family, and I remember my parents coming over in the middle of the night because they thought I'd been kidnapped by terrorists. Apparently they kept getting calls from my phone but when they'd answer, all they heard was the sound of some "Middle Eastern-sounding guy" talking in the distance and I guess they were convinced I was being held captive.
After taking something of a break from my very political life during the second half of '07, I jumped right back in when the primaries for this year's election began in January. Fred Thompson was my man. He was the obvious choice in my opinion but I think between his lack of desire, lack of willingness to "play by the rules" and the media, he didn't have a chance. That really disappointed me because as we saw later in the year...conservatives were thirsty for the real deal. But more on that later...
I had jury duty through April of 2008 and I won't dwell on that, I just feel the need to point that out because I do have fond memories of it, which is not something people often say. Not only was it interesting but it was inspiring - even though the job thing didn't work out, it still caused me to look at what I was trying to do career-wise and realize that I wanted to do something that would allow me to impact the world in a positive manner, not just float my own boat. Again, more on that later. And I won't lie, there was another reason I enjoyed that experience.
As I sit here freezing to death, I can't help but to remember the wacky weather of 2008, particularly during the first few months. Not only did we have snow on several occasions for the first time in years (my cute, historic, downtown neighborhood was absolutely gorgeous in the snow), Atlanta and its metro area became tornado central from about the end of January until late July/early August. The downside to my new house was that I lived right under one of the town's weather alarms and waking up to that up 6:00 AM is not exactly a fun way to spend a morning. Neither is having my mom call me at an equally stormy 6:00 AM on another day and tell me there are tornado warnings in the next town over. I can't remember why she called me that day but before I could even get out of bed, I told her I was coming over and hung up the phone. This put me driving about five miles towards the tornadoes that had been spotted. I threw on some clothes, loaded Gabby up and off we went to my their house. I'd driven in a tornado once before back in...2003? but even with the experience, it's not a fun thing to do. There were limbs and trash cans flying around the streets and the rain was blowing so hard, sideways that no amount of windshield wipers could help me see...at one point I stopped in the road and just kind of said a little prayer that I wouldn't die at that moment.
That would not be the last time I'd be stuck driving in a tornado in 2008. I think it was the first of three or four times. My new place had a basement so that was probably the only thing saving both me and Gabby from going completely insane. It wasn't so much the weather that bothered either of us, as it was those damn sirens right on top of our heads. I remember the night parts of the roof of the Georgia Dome blew off during SEC basketball tournaments. I happened to be at my grandfather's that night for someone's birthday and I knew my cousin, Emily, would be driving back to Athens so I ended up on the phone with her giving weather alerts as she drove just ahead of the storms. Another one of my cousins was stuck in Kroger with her sons and husband when the roof blew off.
The summer was hot as usual but this fall has been unusually cold, setting record temperatures not just in Georgia but throughout the country. Kind of makes Al Gore and his worshipers look bad doesn't it?
Oh, March is when the GC randomly told me to "Google" my new address. I saw that the very house I was living in was for sale and I was totally unaware. I was not amused to say the least because before I knew it, I felt like I was constantly on call with my landlords and their real estate agent. I'll never forget the day the landlord called and told me they'd be bringing someone over "in about an hour or two." My usually pretty clean house was a wreck and I ended up nearly killing myself trying to get it clean before they came over. Then there was the day I thought they'd left already (I'd taken Gabby for a walk) and she ended up nearly killing the maintenance guy when he came up the stairs. It was from that moment that I knew I'd never have to worry about someone breaking in as long as she was around and the first moment I've ever seen Gabby not act like the world's biggest wimp. Anyway, as much as I enjoyed that house and the experience of that neighborhood, I could never rest easy as long as I lived there for that reason, however, if I'd known then what I know now about it, I wouldn't have made things quite so stressful for myself when I was trying to be the perfect tenant.
I also found Maddie in late March and I guess this could go under weather as well. I had to run copies of my March Madness brackets over to my dad and I was trying to do it before the weather got too bad (it was another one of those nasty tornado days). I got in my car and realized I had no gas, so I stopped at the little station off the highway near my parents' house and as I was standing there waiting for my card to be approved, I turned and saw a little puppy walking along the side of the road. I am very much a dog person but I'm not one to pick up strays...this little girl stole my heart. The story goes, I said something like, "Hey baby" to her and said if she comes to me, I'll put her in my car. If she doesn't, there's not a lot I can do about it. She was so pathetic though, tiny, skinny and all slumped over with the rain, wind, and hail beating down on her. I just knew she would wander out into the street. I turned back around to pump my gas and the next thing I know, I feel a little paw on the back of my leg. I scooped her up, took her to my parents' house and she stayed with my mom and dad for a few days until I could find a place to take her. About a week after I left her with a nice no-kill shelter, I was eating dinner with my parents one Sunday evening when my mom told me to go get in the car, we were going to go adopt her. She'd seen one too many of those Sarah McLachlan ASPCA commercials My parents become the proud owners of a new puppy that day.
April began my journey into the world of law enforcement. I'd been wanting to do something of that nature (or so I thought) and I'd just missed a job at the SO when I was sick, but when a different job came up, I jumped on it. Again, if I knew then what I know now, I never would have done it. First of all, I think it took me longer to get hired than the time I spent actually working there. There were tests and more tests (all of which I did quite well on), interviews, a day of shadowing, a physical and the dreaded polygraph. Finally, two months after I began the process, the director called me on a Friday before he went on vacation and asked if I could start the next Monday.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into. My summer became all about that job and trying to make myself like it. Wait, I liked the job itself, that wasn't really the problem, it was just...well, I never know who's going to run across my blog and I don't want to say anything bad. But when I went in on the last day to pick up my check, one of the older people who worked there took me aside and told me she knew why I was leaving and explained it to me more eloquently than I'd been able to explain it to anyone without me having ever said a word. She made me realize I was making the right decision.
Either way, I was finally setting into something of a normal routine for the first time in a while, making decent money, and had just renewed my lease on my house for another six months...things were going rather smoothly.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, by the end of the first week of August, my life kind of turned upside down. There were a lot of little factors that played into this but there were three big ones that really did it.
The first was running over myself...an event that gave half the country a good laugh. I was on my way to work one morning at 5:00 AM and I dropped Gabby with my parents (I couldn't leave her for my 12 hour shifts). Long story short, I forgot to put the car in park and once I noticed this, I jumped back in the car, but got caught on something only to end up with my left leg twisted up under the car. My mom came out and started screaming for me to get up before I knocked something over (yes, as I'm laying half in/half under my car) and Gabby was trying to jump out over me. At that moment, I was totally convinced I was paralyzed but all I could think was I am never going to make it to work in time (I saw how the people who were late were treated and I was scared to death of their fate.) Somehow, I managed to get up on my good leg and get Gabby inside but once I got to work, I could barely move and had to explain what happened to my new co-workers. These people will find something to be mean to you about in the best of situations but as you can imagine, they had a field day with this...I didn't mind though, it could have been worse. My supervisor kept trying to send me home or get some of our paramedics in to look at my leg that was swollen to three or four times its normal size but I told her it wasn't necessary and spent the rest of that day in more pain that I've ever been in, in my life. The next day I had to go take a class on hostage negotiation and when I got back at noon, my trainer had gone home sick so I went home too...which is probably a good thing. I'd decided to soak my knee in the tub and it took me at least half an hour to get in and out of the thing.
The second thing that happened was losing my house. The morning after the hostage class, I got up and got dressed as best I could and left to my grandfathers' house for my mom and aunt's birthday party. I grabbed my mail before I left and that's when I got the letter stating my landlords had lost the home to foreclosure and I was to vacate the property immediately. I could barely concentrate on the party, I was so afraid I'd come home to find my stuff on the street so I went home and started making phone calls and finally got someone at the SO who told me I'd have at least another week. I only had to work one day the next week so I spent the rest of the time packing and looking for a new place to live. Of course, nothing was available and I'd end up moving back in with my parents until...well hopefully until next month.
The very last nights I spent in my house were kind of depressing. One night, the GC bought me Fleetwood Mac's "The Dance" DVD and we went to Chili's to get takeout. That was also the night I finally met the guy next door who turned out not to be a "hot young lawyer" as my landlord had described him but more like Mick Fleetwood's long lost twin brother. He was nice enough though and after I met him and talked to him about our house, I regretted the way I'd gone about doing some things while I lived there. He actually ended up buying the house and told me he'd rent my side to me but it was too late when I found out and just not worth the hassle. He couldn't promise he was going to buy it at that time and I just needed to be able to rest easy for a while.
The third thing that happened, happened the following week...I finally quit the job. I'd been contemplating it for a while, but I wasn't going to give up so easily after all the effort I'd put into getting it. But I was so tired after moving, in so much pain from my accident (I literally couldn't walk at this point, yet hadn't gone to the doctor). I was about to be at a stopping point in my training. That morning I went in and figured I'd at least wait until the end of my three day shift before I quit but something came over me once I got there. That was the morning a hurricane hit the gulf and we got some wind from it - enough to cool down August but not enough to do damage. I went inside and my supervisor had lost all my paperwork and was frantically trying to find it. I was sitting there reading a story about a person who did my job in another county letting someone die over something that wasn't totally her fault and I was thinking about how easily it could happen to me and how my heart just wasn't in that job enough for me to put my ass on the line like that. After about an hour of searching for my paperwork, I asked my supervisor if we could go talk in the little break room and I told her I wanted to leave. We talked about it for a while and she told me to go home for a few days and think and then if I still felt the same way, to bring in my resignation letter. I left and drove to the house I'd just moved out of and sat in the driveway. I drove around town with my windows down, enjoying the wind from the hurricane. I felt free in a way but I also felt lost. I had no idea what I'd do next.
In the four months since all of that went on, nothing much has happened (though I did finally regain the use of my left leg). From about August until November 4th, I dove headfirst into politics and the election and kept my focus on that. I don't think I was truly excited about the race until Sarah Palin was nominated as VP. That was a good moment for me. As I've mentioned, I've been a fan of her for quite some time and I'd picked her for VP back in June. Between her and Barck Obama, I had lots to blog about, lots to be angry about, and lots to be excited about. I can also say this election taught me a lot about people. I gained some new friends through my blog and through politics and I'm so thankful for them. None of my good friends have ever been as into politics as I am and it was nice to have someone to rant and rave to, who followed it as closely as I did, especially when every other aspect of my life seemed to be falling apart. You guys knows who you are!! I hope you had as much fun as I did, even if our guy (or gal) didn't win and I look forward to many more elections to come ;-)
I've also spent the last few months concentrating on looking on looking for a new job. As I've said before, only a genius like me would quit their decent-paying government job right before the economy tanks. I've had a few interviews but everyone's told me they would not be making decisions until after the holidays, so I have no idea how that's going to go.
Perhaps one of the biggest decisions I've made lately is to go back to school next year and I think I actually made that decision a while ago, I just wasn't fully willing to admit it until recently. I don't commit to things easily and I had to give up some big things to do it, but right now I'm pretty darn happy with that decision. As I said of jury duty, it was inspirational. As I heard story after story of abused children or teenagers with no guidance, I realized I wanted to do something about it if I could. I thought the LE route would be the way to go but something occurred to me one night. My aunt (a police officer) was telling me that there would be a moment at my LE job when I did something great and felt really proud of myself and would truly understand why I was there. All I could think when she said that (and I told my supervisor this story when I was in the process of quitting), I felt like that every day when I worked with kids. Whether I helped a boy finally understand how to subtract or just gave a little girl some extra attention because her daddy was in Iraq and she wasn't feeling so good about it, I always leave those schools feeling like I did something good that day. Every kid I pass in the hall who remembers me a month after I had their class or whispers to her friend, "That's Miss A., she was my favorite sub" makes me proud of myself. I know that's cheesy but I do feel like it's a place where I can make a difference. I've always worked with kids and I've always been pretty good at it. I'm not sure why it's taken this long for it to all come together, but I'm glad it finally did.
And that's not to say I'm going to totally give up on some of my other dreams. For example, I still plan to write...I've never heard any rules stating you can't be both a teacher and a writer. As for acting, I find I have just as much fun coming up with drama-type activities for my students to do on the days the teacher doesn't leave any plans (and the kids love it and they actually learn things) as I do when I'm doing it myself. I also gave up on a few major journalism/media-type opportunities this year for stupid reasons, but I'm beginning to think maybe it was for the best. I learned to hate the media more than ever, not just with the election, but with my own experience with my LE job as well. It took the murder of an infant, something I was pretty involved with, to show me that many jornalists are not there to serve their community, but to serve their own arrogance or agendas and I saw myself falling into that trap. I didn't want to become that person.
If I've learned nothing else this year through everything from politics to the job, it's what really matters in life. It's easier to be who you are than go out of your way to be something you're not and if people don't like it that's their problem. I find I'm happier when I let my guard down and just try to be happy instead of trying to impress others. I also find I'm happier when I let my guard down and realize the key to happiness is not how much money you make or what kind of stuff you have (though don't get me wrong, I still like nice things...you really think I took that Hobo purse back?), but it's how you treat other people and what you do to make the world a better place. I've also learned to not be so quick to judge other people as I've seen way too much of that lately.
So, I'll wrap up the cheesy portion of this post before someone thinks I've become a liberal and just say I'm pretty happy with the decision I've made. If nothing else, I know I'll probably always be able to find a job, no matter how bad Obama screws up the country. If all goes accordingly (I won't know for sure until Monday), I'll start school in about two weeks and depending on how many classes I take at a time, within the next year or two, I should be certified to teach elementary school...even if I never use it.
So, that's what I hope to be doing in 2009: school and hopefully moving into a house that I know I won't be thrown out of because the landlord doesn't pay their mortgage. I also plan to start on a few writing projects I've been wanting to work on. And who knows, maybe I'll get up the nerve to contact the bald dude. For the first time in my adult life, I actually feel like I have a pretty good gameplan.
If you read this, congratulations on staying awake and I hope your 2009 is just as good as I hope mine's going to be. Happy New Year! (And I am way too tired to go back and edit this)
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By the way, what would a 2008 post by moi be without a Lindsey Buckingham video? I posted this on that faithful night in August because I'd pretty much decided I was tired of dealing with a male friend...little did I know the events of the next few weeks would leave me clinging to Lindsey Buckingham like a toddler with a security blanket. (Should I admit that? Eh, it was pretty obvious.)
Anyway, you can read this or not, I don't really care, it's just my little personal year in review thing I like to do! (And for those of you who don't do it, it's kind of fun to go back and read what all you wrote throughout the year - or maybe just for me because I crack myself up!)
For me, 2008 started on a pretty good note. The day after Christmas 2007, I moved into my cute, historic downtown home and it was the first time I've ever lived without a roommate or my parents (unless you count Gabby as a roommate)...and it was heaven. Living alone is totally underrated. It wasn't the greatest place in the world and it was expensive, but it was in a great neighborhood, had a nice yard for Gabby, and it was mine and that's all I wanted. I can't remember a lot about the first few weeks after I moved in. I remember the GC coming over help me unpack one night and us realizing how cool it was that I was just right up the street from a couple of our favorite restaurants. I also remember us watching "Eulogy" and talking about how much it reminded us of our own family, and I remember my parents coming over in the middle of the night because they thought I'd been kidnapped by terrorists. Apparently they kept getting calls from my phone but when they'd answer, all they heard was the sound of some "Middle Eastern-sounding guy" talking in the distance and I guess they were convinced I was being held captive.
After taking something of a break from my very political life during the second half of '07, I jumped right back in when the primaries for this year's election began in January. Fred Thompson was my man. He was the obvious choice in my opinion but I think between his lack of desire, lack of willingness to "play by the rules" and the media, he didn't have a chance. That really disappointed me because as we saw later in the year...conservatives were thirsty for the real deal. But more on that later...
I had jury duty through April of 2008 and I won't dwell on that, I just feel the need to point that out because I do have fond memories of it, which is not something people often say. Not only was it interesting but it was inspiring - even though the job thing didn't work out, it still caused me to look at what I was trying to do career-wise and realize that I wanted to do something that would allow me to impact the world in a positive manner, not just float my own boat. Again, more on that later. And I won't lie, there was another reason I enjoyed that experience.
As I sit here freezing to death, I can't help but to remember the wacky weather of 2008, particularly during the first few months. Not only did we have snow on several occasions for the first time in years (my cute, historic, downtown neighborhood was absolutely gorgeous in the snow), Atlanta and its metro area became tornado central from about the end of January until late July/early August. The downside to my new house was that I lived right under one of the town's weather alarms and waking up to that up 6:00 AM is not exactly a fun way to spend a morning. Neither is having my mom call me at an equally stormy 6:00 AM on another day and tell me there are tornado warnings in the next town over. I can't remember why she called me that day but before I could even get out of bed, I told her I was coming over and hung up the phone. This put me driving about five miles towards the tornadoes that had been spotted. I threw on some clothes, loaded Gabby up and off we went to my their house. I'd driven in a tornado once before back in...2003? but even with the experience, it's not a fun thing to do. There were limbs and trash cans flying around the streets and the rain was blowing so hard, sideways that no amount of windshield wipers could help me see...at one point I stopped in the road and just kind of said a little prayer that I wouldn't die at that moment.
That would not be the last time I'd be stuck driving in a tornado in 2008. I think it was the first of three or four times. My new place had a basement so that was probably the only thing saving both me and Gabby from going completely insane. It wasn't so much the weather that bothered either of us, as it was those damn sirens right on top of our heads. I remember the night parts of the roof of the Georgia Dome blew off during SEC basketball tournaments. I happened to be at my grandfather's that night for someone's birthday and I knew my cousin, Emily, would be driving back to Athens so I ended up on the phone with her giving weather alerts as she drove just ahead of the storms. Another one of my cousins was stuck in Kroger with her sons and husband when the roof blew off.
The summer was hot as usual but this fall has been unusually cold, setting record temperatures not just in Georgia but throughout the country. Kind of makes Al Gore and his worshipers look bad doesn't it?
Oh, March is when the GC randomly told me to "Google" my new address. I saw that the very house I was living in was for sale and I was totally unaware. I was not amused to say the least because before I knew it, I felt like I was constantly on call with my landlords and their real estate agent. I'll never forget the day the landlord called and told me they'd be bringing someone over "in about an hour or two." My usually pretty clean house was a wreck and I ended up nearly killing myself trying to get it clean before they came over. Then there was the day I thought they'd left already (I'd taken Gabby for a walk) and she ended up nearly killing the maintenance guy when he came up the stairs. It was from that moment that I knew I'd never have to worry about someone breaking in as long as she was around and the first moment I've ever seen Gabby not act like the world's biggest wimp. Anyway, as much as I enjoyed that house and the experience of that neighborhood, I could never rest easy as long as I lived there for that reason, however, if I'd known then what I know now about it, I wouldn't have made things quite so stressful for myself when I was trying to be the perfect tenant.
I also found Maddie in late March and I guess this could go under weather as well. I had to run copies of my March Madness brackets over to my dad and I was trying to do it before the weather got too bad (it was another one of those nasty tornado days). I got in my car and realized I had no gas, so I stopped at the little station off the highway near my parents' house and as I was standing there waiting for my card to be approved, I turned and saw a little puppy walking along the side of the road. I am very much a dog person but I'm not one to pick up strays...this little girl stole my heart. The story goes, I said something like, "Hey baby" to her and said if she comes to me, I'll put her in my car. If she doesn't, there's not a lot I can do about it. She was so pathetic though, tiny, skinny and all slumped over with the rain, wind, and hail beating down on her. I just knew she would wander out into the street. I turned back around to pump my gas and the next thing I know, I feel a little paw on the back of my leg. I scooped her up, took her to my parents' house and she stayed with my mom and dad for a few days until I could find a place to take her. About a week after I left her with a nice no-kill shelter, I was eating dinner with my parents one Sunday evening when my mom told me to go get in the car, we were going to go adopt her. She'd seen one too many of those Sarah McLachlan ASPCA commercials My parents become the proud owners of a new puppy that day.
April began my journey into the world of law enforcement. I'd been wanting to do something of that nature (or so I thought) and I'd just missed a job at the SO when I was sick, but when a different job came up, I jumped on it. Again, if I knew then what I know now, I never would have done it. First of all, I think it took me longer to get hired than the time I spent actually working there. There were tests and more tests (all of which I did quite well on), interviews, a day of shadowing, a physical and the dreaded polygraph. Finally, two months after I began the process, the director called me on a Friday before he went on vacation and asked if I could start the next Monday.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into. My summer became all about that job and trying to make myself like it. Wait, I liked the job itself, that wasn't really the problem, it was just...well, I never know who's going to run across my blog and I don't want to say anything bad. But when I went in on the last day to pick up my check, one of the older people who worked there took me aside and told me she knew why I was leaving and explained it to me more eloquently than I'd been able to explain it to anyone without me having ever said a word. She made me realize I was making the right decision.
Either way, I was finally setting into something of a normal routine for the first time in a while, making decent money, and had just renewed my lease on my house for another six months...things were going rather smoothly.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, by the end of the first week of August, my life kind of turned upside down. There were a lot of little factors that played into this but there were three big ones that really did it.
The first was running over myself...an event that gave half the country a good laugh. I was on my way to work one morning at 5:00 AM and I dropped Gabby with my parents (I couldn't leave her for my 12 hour shifts). Long story short, I forgot to put the car in park and once I noticed this, I jumped back in the car, but got caught on something only to end up with my left leg twisted up under the car. My mom came out and started screaming for me to get up before I knocked something over (yes, as I'm laying half in/half under my car) and Gabby was trying to jump out over me. At that moment, I was totally convinced I was paralyzed but all I could think was I am never going to make it to work in time (I saw how the people who were late were treated and I was scared to death of their fate.) Somehow, I managed to get up on my good leg and get Gabby inside but once I got to work, I could barely move and had to explain what happened to my new co-workers. These people will find something to be mean to you about in the best of situations but as you can imagine, they had a field day with this...I didn't mind though, it could have been worse. My supervisor kept trying to send me home or get some of our paramedics in to look at my leg that was swollen to three or four times its normal size but I told her it wasn't necessary and spent the rest of that day in more pain that I've ever been in, in my life. The next day I had to go take a class on hostage negotiation and when I got back at noon, my trainer had gone home sick so I went home too...which is probably a good thing. I'd decided to soak my knee in the tub and it took me at least half an hour to get in and out of the thing.
The second thing that happened was losing my house. The morning after the hostage class, I got up and got dressed as best I could and left to my grandfathers' house for my mom and aunt's birthday party. I grabbed my mail before I left and that's when I got the letter stating my landlords had lost the home to foreclosure and I was to vacate the property immediately. I could barely concentrate on the party, I was so afraid I'd come home to find my stuff on the street so I went home and started making phone calls and finally got someone at the SO who told me I'd have at least another week. I only had to work one day the next week so I spent the rest of the time packing and looking for a new place to live. Of course, nothing was available and I'd end up moving back in with my parents until...well hopefully until next month.
The very last nights I spent in my house were kind of depressing. One night, the GC bought me Fleetwood Mac's "The Dance" DVD and we went to Chili's to get takeout. That was also the night I finally met the guy next door who turned out not to be a "hot young lawyer" as my landlord had described him but more like Mick Fleetwood's long lost twin brother. He was nice enough though and after I met him and talked to him about our house, I regretted the way I'd gone about doing some things while I lived there. He actually ended up buying the house and told me he'd rent my side to me but it was too late when I found out and just not worth the hassle. He couldn't promise he was going to buy it at that time and I just needed to be able to rest easy for a while.
The third thing that happened, happened the following week...I finally quit the job. I'd been contemplating it for a while, but I wasn't going to give up so easily after all the effort I'd put into getting it. But I was so tired after moving, in so much pain from my accident (I literally couldn't walk at this point, yet hadn't gone to the doctor). I was about to be at a stopping point in my training. That morning I went in and figured I'd at least wait until the end of my three day shift before I quit but something came over me once I got there. That was the morning a hurricane hit the gulf and we got some wind from it - enough to cool down August but not enough to do damage. I went inside and my supervisor had lost all my paperwork and was frantically trying to find it. I was sitting there reading a story about a person who did my job in another county letting someone die over something that wasn't totally her fault and I was thinking about how easily it could happen to me and how my heart just wasn't in that job enough for me to put my ass on the line like that. After about an hour of searching for my paperwork, I asked my supervisor if we could go talk in the little break room and I told her I wanted to leave. We talked about it for a while and she told me to go home for a few days and think and then if I still felt the same way, to bring in my resignation letter. I left and drove to the house I'd just moved out of and sat in the driveway. I drove around town with my windows down, enjoying the wind from the hurricane. I felt free in a way but I also felt lost. I had no idea what I'd do next.
In the four months since all of that went on, nothing much has happened (though I did finally regain the use of my left leg). From about August until November 4th, I dove headfirst into politics and the election and kept my focus on that. I don't think I was truly excited about the race until Sarah Palin was nominated as VP. That was a good moment for me. As I've mentioned, I've been a fan of her for quite some time and I'd picked her for VP back in June. Between her and Barck Obama, I had lots to blog about, lots to be angry about, and lots to be excited about. I can also say this election taught me a lot about people. I gained some new friends through my blog and through politics and I'm so thankful for them. None of my good friends have ever been as into politics as I am and it was nice to have someone to rant and rave to, who followed it as closely as I did, especially when every other aspect of my life seemed to be falling apart. You guys knows who you are!! I hope you had as much fun as I did, even if our guy (or gal) didn't win and I look forward to many more elections to come ;-)
I've also spent the last few months concentrating on looking on looking for a new job. As I've said before, only a genius like me would quit their decent-paying government job right before the economy tanks. I've had a few interviews but everyone's told me they would not be making decisions until after the holidays, so I have no idea how that's going to go.
Perhaps one of the biggest decisions I've made lately is to go back to school next year and I think I actually made that decision a while ago, I just wasn't fully willing to admit it until recently. I don't commit to things easily and I had to give up some big things to do it, but right now I'm pretty darn happy with that decision. As I said of jury duty, it was inspirational. As I heard story after story of abused children or teenagers with no guidance, I realized I wanted to do something about it if I could. I thought the LE route would be the way to go but something occurred to me one night. My aunt (a police officer) was telling me that there would be a moment at my LE job when I did something great and felt really proud of myself and would truly understand why I was there. All I could think when she said that (and I told my supervisor this story when I was in the process of quitting), I felt like that every day when I worked with kids. Whether I helped a boy finally understand how to subtract or just gave a little girl some extra attention because her daddy was in Iraq and she wasn't feeling so good about it, I always leave those schools feeling like I did something good that day. Every kid I pass in the hall who remembers me a month after I had their class or whispers to her friend, "That's Miss A., she was my favorite sub" makes me proud of myself. I know that's cheesy but I do feel like it's a place where I can make a difference. I've always worked with kids and I've always been pretty good at it. I'm not sure why it's taken this long for it to all come together, but I'm glad it finally did.
And that's not to say I'm going to totally give up on some of my other dreams. For example, I still plan to write...I've never heard any rules stating you can't be both a teacher and a writer. As for acting, I find I have just as much fun coming up with drama-type activities for my students to do on the days the teacher doesn't leave any plans (and the kids love it and they actually learn things) as I do when I'm doing it myself. I also gave up on a few major journalism/media-type opportunities this year for stupid reasons, but I'm beginning to think maybe it was for the best. I learned to hate the media more than ever, not just with the election, but with my own experience with my LE job as well. It took the murder of an infant, something I was pretty involved with, to show me that many jornalists are not there to serve their community, but to serve their own arrogance or agendas and I saw myself falling into that trap. I didn't want to become that person.
If I've learned nothing else this year through everything from politics to the job, it's what really matters in life. It's easier to be who you are than go out of your way to be something you're not and if people don't like it that's their problem. I find I'm happier when I let my guard down and just try to be happy instead of trying to impress others. I also find I'm happier when I let my guard down and realize the key to happiness is not how much money you make or what kind of stuff you have (though don't get me wrong, I still like nice things...you really think I took that Hobo purse back?), but it's how you treat other people and what you do to make the world a better place. I've also learned to not be so quick to judge other people as I've seen way too much of that lately.
So, I'll wrap up the cheesy portion of this post before someone thinks I've become a liberal and just say I'm pretty happy with the decision I've made. If nothing else, I know I'll probably always be able to find a job, no matter how bad Obama screws up the country. If all goes accordingly (I won't know for sure until Monday), I'll start school in about two weeks and depending on how many classes I take at a time, within the next year or two, I should be certified to teach elementary school...even if I never use it.
So, that's what I hope to be doing in 2009: school and hopefully moving into a house that I know I won't be thrown out of because the landlord doesn't pay their mortgage. I also plan to start on a few writing projects I've been wanting to work on. And who knows, maybe I'll get up the nerve to contact the bald dude. For the first time in my adult life, I actually feel like I have a pretty good gameplan.
If you read this, congratulations on staying awake and I hope your 2009 is just as good as I hope mine's going to be. Happy New Year! (And I am way too tired to go back and edit this)
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By the way, what would a 2008 post by moi be without a Lindsey Buckingham video? I posted this on that faithful night in August because I'd pretty much decided I was tired of dealing with a male friend...little did I know the events of the next few weeks would leave me clinging to Lindsey Buckingham like a toddler with a security blanket. (Should I admit that? Eh, it was pretty obvious.)
Dear Michael Turner:
Why? I was just starting to like you. And right before the play-offs?? Do you know what the Falcons being in the play-offs means to the people of Atlanta. Okay, maybe about fifteen of us? I just put you on my play-off fantasy team! Please, don't go all Michael Vick on us, let this be the last of your silly off-the-field shenanigans.
- Sarah
The Associated Press: Falcons RB Turner involved in domestic dispute
- Sarah
The Associated Press: Falcons RB Turner involved in domestic dispute
New Year's Resolution: Read More
I know everyone says, "I don't make resolutions because I know I'll just break them." Well, I know I'll break them too, but I still like to make them. Usually they're pretty general anyway.
One of mine for this year is to read more books. Last year, my friend Bridget and I decided we'd try for 50 books for 2008 and we'd keep a list on our blogs. Well, I just took at look at her list (I'd link you, but she's got it set on private) and she's on 59. I'm on...11 (which is why you haven't seen a list). I know, I know, that's very pathetic, but this year has done anything but gone as planned. My schedule has been crazy and for the last four months, a lot of the books I've wanted to read have been packed up in a number of storage buildings.
In case you're interested, here are the books, I DID read:
1. Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell - I've bashed this book at length. I didn't like the unecessary political insertions, I didn't like the way the Marino character went off the deep end, and I hated the way it ended. I know a lot of people have given up on Cornwell in recent years but I've stuck through because I hate to not finish a series and they haven't been THAT bad - with this book she almost lost me. I just got Scarpetta for Christmas, this may be Cornwell's last chance.
2. Walking in Circles Before Lying Down by Merrill Markoe - I got this for Christmas last year and I figured it'd be silly. Single girl trying to figure out her life, lives with her dog who starts talking to her. By the end of it, I wished Gabby could talk. It was a really quick, but a cute read. I know Marley and Me made dog books popular this year, but I'm hoping this one will earn some recognition as well. As a matter of fact, the rest of Markoe's books are on my "To Read" list for this year.
3. The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips - This one was recommended by A. Levy and I thought it sounded really good. It started out that way - hilarious actually - but I got about halfway through and started having flashbacks of being forced to read Lolita in a college English class. It was far too repetitive for my taste and I'm not even sure I can add it to the list of books I've read because I didn't quite finish it.
One of mine for this year is to read more books. Last year, my friend Bridget and I decided we'd try for 50 books for 2008 and we'd keep a list on our blogs. Well, I just took at look at her list (I'd link you, but she's got it set on private) and she's on 59. I'm on...11 (which is why you haven't seen a list). I know, I know, that's very pathetic, but this year has done anything but gone as planned. My schedule has been crazy and for the last four months, a lot of the books I've wanted to read have been packed up in a number of storage buildings.
In case you're interested, here are the books, I DID read:
1. Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell - I've bashed this book at length. I didn't like the unecessary political insertions, I didn't like the way the Marino character went off the deep end, and I hated the way it ended. I know a lot of people have given up on Cornwell in recent years but I've stuck through because I hate to not finish a series and they haven't been THAT bad - with this book she almost lost me. I just got Scarpetta for Christmas, this may be Cornwell's last chance.
2. Walking in Circles Before Lying Down by Merrill Markoe - I got this for Christmas last year and I figured it'd be silly. Single girl trying to figure out her life, lives with her dog who starts talking to her. By the end of it, I wished Gabby could talk. It was a really quick, but a cute read. I know Marley and Me made dog books popular this year, but I'm hoping this one will earn some recognition as well. As a matter of fact, the rest of Markoe's books are on my "To Read" list for this year.
3. The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips - This one was recommended by A. Levy and I thought it sounded really good. It started out that way - hilarious actually - but I got about halfway through and started having flashbacks of being forced to read Lolita in a college English class. It was far too repetitive for my taste and I'm not even sure I can add it to the list of books I've read because I didn't quite finish it.
4. The Little Friend by Donna Tartt - This book now tops my list as my favorite book ever. It's a pretty thick book but I didn't want to end. I'd read in little bits so it'd last longer. I loved the characters, the setting... It was super descriptive but not monotonous, in other words, this woman can write. I don't know what else to say about it. I've only been able to get one other person to read it and he didn't seem to like it that much.
5. The Secret History by Donna Tartt - After reading The Little Friend, I wasn't sure whether I should read this one or not. It didn't immediately appeal to me, but my dad actually read it and seemed to enjoy it and Mr. Levy suggested it, and I figured I'd see if this made up for the The Egyptologist debacle. It so did! I loved this book almost as much as I loved The Little Friend. I won't carry on about it but I am anxiously waiting to see what Ms. Tartt does next. She is my favorite author at this point, if not top five.
6. The Idiot Girl's Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro - Again, this is light, very quick reading, but if you're a girl and you like something like that every now and then and you like hilarious, you have to check out some of her books. They are sort of humorous short-story memoirs, I guess you could say and I always find myself relating to so much. I actually just bought a novel by her and I'm hoping it's half as good as the other stuff.
7. What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman - This was my first Laura Lippman book and I just ordered it one day when I was bored playing on Amazon. I read it and she was actually able to hold my attention (after Donna Tartt's stuff, I had a hard time getting into anything), so I gave it a chance. It could also be that I totally fell in love with one of the detectives in the story (umm, yeah that sort of came from some real life happenings), but I knew Lippman would be someone who's other books I would check out. Which leads me to...
8., 9. , and 10. Every Secret Thing, To the Power of Three, and Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman - The first two mentioned are both stand alone novels but they both featured the same detective so I decided to check them out first. I found myself enjoying them just as much as I did the first one. Baltimore Blues was the first of Lippman's famous Tess Monaghan series and while I didn't like that as much as I did the stand alones, I am hoping to go a little further into the series this year...I hear it gets better.
11. Life's a Beach by Claire Cook - I got this for Christmas and I'm reading it now...CC wrote Must Love Dogs which I read a few years ago (book is so much better than the movie) and again, it's just light girly crap, but I like light girly crap sometimes (just not romance, ugh). I'm pretty far into it and it's pretty good (nothing to get excited about) but I'm not going to finish it until tomorrow so I can add it to my 2009 list of books.
So there you have it, my pathetic 2008 reading list. I'm not sure what 2009 will bring (I have a feeling a lot of ridiculous biased textbooks), but I'm going to try for 50 again. I've got a few picked out already and as always, I have a huge list...when I get around to it, I'm going to add a "Currently Reading" thing to my blog...that way I'll have to keep it up.
New Year's Eve Blog-a-thon
I am not doing a darn thing today (aside from maybe a quick trip to the store/possibly taking Gabby to the park), but I have several things I'd like to blog about. What better way to spend New Year's Eve than parked in front of my laptop? I used to really get into the New Year's Eve thing whether I was little girl having a sleepover with my cousins at my grandparents' house or hanging out with friends in Orlando as I hit my 20's. But this year, as it was with Christmas, I'm just ready for everything to get back to normal so I can get on with my life! I just can't let the day go by without any sort of commemoration though, so I'm going to do it in true 2008 fashion...on my blog!
I'm going to start by posting JibJab's year in review for 2008...it's not as funny as past years have been, but it's still pretty good!
P.S. I may actually get to the 111 e-mails in my inbox as well!
I'm going to start by posting JibJab's year in review for 2008...it's not as funny as past years have been, but it's still pretty good!
Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!
P.S. I may actually get to the 111 e-mails in my inbox as well!
December 30, 2008
A Thrill Up My Leg: How Journalism Sucked in 2008
There are very few media outlets that report the truth and nothing but the truth these days, and during this election year, many of them weren't hesitant to let their true colors fly. Elitism, racism, and arrogance ruled election year agenda and the Media Research Center has brought many of them to our attention once again in their 21st Annual Awards for the Year's Worst Reporting. From the "Obamagasm Award" to the "Half-Baked Alaska Award for Pummeling Palin," if you never click another link I post, you have to check these out! Some of them you've probably heard before, some of them probably slipped through the cracks if you weren't paying close attention, but all of them will make you laugh and/or cry. Best of Notable Quotables 2008 -- Media Research Center
The Nine Worst Words in the English Language:
"You're debit card will probably take about two weeks."
I never realized how much I depended on that little plastic rectangle.
I am so behind on e-mail and stuff - I'll try to get caught up tomorrow - I had some things to do today and I haven't been feeling all that great.
Now back to my J&K+8 marathon/the goofy book I'm reading!
I never realized how much I depended on that little plastic rectangle.
I am so behind on e-mail and stuff - I'll try to get caught up tomorrow - I had some things to do today and I haven't been feeling all that great.
Now back to my J&K+8 marathon/the goofy book I'm reading!
December 29, 2008
I mean, like, you know...
What I've been trying to say about Caroline Kennedy...only by someone famous: A Media Morality Tale - Victor Davis Hanson
h/t Pat
h/t Pat
December 28, 2008
Spoiled
Taleban 'will kill school girls'
Maybe this chick should count her blessings before she tries to start things....
I'd love to talk so much more about this but it's probably not a good idea. It happened in my hometown with people I used to work with, and the media is so not telling the whole truth. I'm sure you're all shocked at that one!!
Maybe this chick should count her blessings before she tries to start things....
I'd love to talk so much more about this but it's probably not a good idea. It happened in my hometown with people I used to work with, and the media is so not telling the whole truth. I'm sure you're all shocked at that one!!
Ghost Walk
At about 5:30, when it was dusky dark, I decided to take Gabby for a walk at the park. (No, the rest of this post is not going to rhyme.) I've mentioned it before, but there's a little park near my parents' house that's got a lot of civil war history to it, a big walking track, and miles of nature trails. In recent years, the yuppies have moved in and ruined it with their fancy little playground (my cousins and I had hours of fun playing there when we were little...it's called an imagination, people), the SO and PD do some training out there with the drug dogs, as do some high school sports teams and the boy scouts camp there, so it's usually pretty crowded - most days, when I try to go, I end up turning my car around within minutes of pulling in. But on this particular evening, there were only three other cars in the little parking area.
I scanned the (half mile?) track for people and saw a girl about my age and a man who looked to be 90 and figured I was safe. The old man left a few minutes after I got there and I was trying to figure out why there was an extra car. I figured maybe it was just a straggler on the nature trails...though who'd want to walk in those woods after dark is beyond me. They're creepy in the daytime and there have been many an escape criminal hiding in those woods in the years I've been alive. But I wasn't going to judge...I'd been there long after dark once. But I was on a date with a strapping young man straight out of the Air Force and I can honestly say, I was not the least bit the scared...
As I continued my walk, I noticed one of the cars' lights was on and figured maybe it was just someone who was getting ready to leave but had gotten caught by a phone call or something. The other girl was still walking and I began to rest easy knowing that the owner of that car was not lurking in the woods that surround about half of the track.
It started to get darker and the other girl finally left in the non-lit-up car. The other one stayed parked. I felt a little uneasy as I started another lap. A couple of the street lights went out kind of randomly and that made it that much more darker. Gabby started whimpering and the mysterious non-moving car's lights went out again. I debated cutting through the big field in the middle of the track to get back to my car but 1) I didn't want to appear scared and 2) the stupid yuppies must have felt the playground needed a moat around it because I couldn't find a place to cross that didn't have a huge gully that I'd probably never be able to climb out of. Not to mention that it rained a lot in the last two days and they were pretty deep with water.
The first part of the track is not that bad - it's up near the road and there are houses around so you don't feel so alone, but as you go further, it's just you and the woods, a little bathroom building and the old cabin that Sherman supposedly spent the night in when the people who owned the land killed some of his men. We got about halfway around when I started to hear a noise...it sounded like someone beating on a drum or some kind of hollow wood. It sounded like it was coming from the woods but my hearing is kind of bad and I can't really discern where noises are coming from a lot of the time.
As we came around the last curve of the track, the scariest place of all, my heart was racing. I had my cell phone in my hand and I half wanted to go lock myself in the bathroom, call my dad and tell him to come get me. But what if there was some murderer hiding in there, waiting for young girls to do just that? No way I was going in there. I started trying to think of something brave to say in case someone came running out of the woods. "Sarah A, My Town PD?" Could my cell phone pass as a gun in the dark? Did I even look like cop in my green sweater and gray yoga pants? Would Gabby try to protect me or would she go running to the car like a wimp? Would they take my new way too expensive purse that was carefully hidden in my backseat? (Never mind the way too much cash I suddenly remembered I hadn't taken from my wallet since the whole bank ordeal, I was worried about the stupid purse.)
As I got closer to place where the cabin and the start of the nature trails is, I noticed the beating sound stopped. I was trying not to look up because again, I didn't want to appear scared and okay, murderers and rapist aside, call me crazy but I didn't want to look at that cabin and have my very own encounter with the ghost of the late General. (If I'm going to be scared to death by a someone from the Civil War, it could at least be a Confederate guy.) But suddenly, I heard the beating sound again and this time it was right beside me, no need to figure out where it was coming from. I looked up and saw Gabby walking around on this little wooden bridge that led over the "moat" to the middle field/playground. The sound was exactly the same...footsteps on the bridge.
I'm not sure who was making the original footsteps but I wasn't about to stick around to find out. I took off for my car. Before I could get to my car, I had to pass the other dark car that had been turning its lights on and off. It was obviously still occupied, as the motor was running, but I saw no signs of anyone inside. I checked the area around my car to make sure no one was lurking/hiding around it and jumped in and locked the doors.
I never figured out who was in the car, but if it wasn't some sadistic murder, it was probably someone getting a good laugh out of the idiot in the green sweater and gray yoga pants.
I scanned the (half mile?) track for people and saw a girl about my age and a man who looked to be 90 and figured I was safe. The old man left a few minutes after I got there and I was trying to figure out why there was an extra car. I figured maybe it was just a straggler on the nature trails...though who'd want to walk in those woods after dark is beyond me. They're creepy in the daytime and there have been many an escape criminal hiding in those woods in the years I've been alive. But I wasn't going to judge...I'd been there long after dark once. But I was on a date with a strapping young man straight out of the Air Force and I can honestly say, I was not the least bit the scared...
As I continued my walk, I noticed one of the cars' lights was on and figured maybe it was just someone who was getting ready to leave but had gotten caught by a phone call or something. The other girl was still walking and I began to rest easy knowing that the owner of that car was not lurking in the woods that surround about half of the track.
It started to get darker and the other girl finally left in the non-lit-up car. The other one stayed parked. I felt a little uneasy as I started another lap. A couple of the street lights went out kind of randomly and that made it that much more darker. Gabby started whimpering and the mysterious non-moving car's lights went out again. I debated cutting through the big field in the middle of the track to get back to my car but 1) I didn't want to appear scared and 2) the stupid yuppies must have felt the playground needed a moat around it because I couldn't find a place to cross that didn't have a huge gully that I'd probably never be able to climb out of. Not to mention that it rained a lot in the last two days and they were pretty deep with water.
The first part of the track is not that bad - it's up near the road and there are houses around so you don't feel so alone, but as you go further, it's just you and the woods, a little bathroom building and the old cabin that Sherman supposedly spent the night in when the people who owned the land killed some of his men. We got about halfway around when I started to hear a noise...it sounded like someone beating on a drum or some kind of hollow wood. It sounded like it was coming from the woods but my hearing is kind of bad and I can't really discern where noises are coming from a lot of the time.
As we came around the last curve of the track, the scariest place of all, my heart was racing. I had my cell phone in my hand and I half wanted to go lock myself in the bathroom, call my dad and tell him to come get me. But what if there was some murderer hiding in there, waiting for young girls to do just that? No way I was going in there. I started trying to think of something brave to say in case someone came running out of the woods. "Sarah A, My Town PD?" Could my cell phone pass as a gun in the dark? Did I even look like cop in my green sweater and gray yoga pants? Would Gabby try to protect me or would she go running to the car like a wimp? Would they take my new way too expensive purse that was carefully hidden in my backseat? (Never mind the way too much cash I suddenly remembered I hadn't taken from my wallet since the whole bank ordeal, I was worried about the stupid purse.)
As I got closer to place where the cabin and the start of the nature trails is, I noticed the beating sound stopped. I was trying not to look up because again, I didn't want to appear scared and okay, murderers and rapist aside, call me crazy but I didn't want to look at that cabin and have my very own encounter with the ghost of the late General. (If I'm going to be scared to death by a someone from the Civil War, it could at least be a Confederate guy.) But suddenly, I heard the beating sound again and this time it was right beside me, no need to figure out where it was coming from. I looked up and saw Gabby walking around on this little wooden bridge that led over the "moat" to the middle field/playground. The sound was exactly the same...footsteps on the bridge.
I'm not sure who was making the original footsteps but I wasn't about to stick around to find out. I took off for my car. Before I could get to my car, I had to pass the other dark car that had been turning its lights on and off. It was obviously still occupied, as the motor was running, but I saw no signs of anyone inside. I checked the area around my car to make sure no one was lurking/hiding around it and jumped in and locked the doors.
I never figured out who was in the car, but if it wasn't some sadistic murder, it was probably someone getting a good laugh out of the idiot in the green sweater and gray yoga pants.
For Tomorrow: Open New Bank Accounts
I have a lot I need to do in the next two weeks before school starts and at the top of that list is opening new bank accounts. I'm still seething from Friday's incident and I can't decide if I should contact that woman's boss to let my feelings be known. At this point, I realize there's not much he/she can do about it, but if I were a manager, I'd want to know that whomever I left in charge was treating customers the way she did me. No apology for their mistakes, no apologies for the inconvenience, shrugging and laughing at me like I'm an idiot when I ask for explanations, telling me it's not her problem that this puts me in a hard spot, and refusing to give me a copy of the paperwork I signed...I'm sorry, this is not good customer service.
And it's really making things hard on me. I had some bills I had to pay online, some automatic payments set up from that account, and a few things I needed to purchase online. I can't do any of that now until I get another account set up and get a new check card. That could be at least another week or two. So, my bills are going to be paid late and I'm having to run around and tell everyone I promise I'll pay them when I get my card. I can't even send checks in the mail because I have none!! And not that's it quite as important but there were a few online sales I wanted to hit because there were some really good deals on things I need.
It seems like everything revolves around that stupid checking account. I have decided I'm definitely going to open new accounts at my parents' bank. It's small and local (four branches in two counties) and they've never had a problem. I just don't trust larger banks anymore after some experiences I've had and in this day and time where you never know who's going to fold next. I don't know if I'm getting older or it is a sign of the times but if it weren't for the necessity of that check card for almost everything I do, I'd keep a shoebox under my bed labeled "checking account."
And it's really making things hard on me. I had some bills I had to pay online, some automatic payments set up from that account, and a few things I needed to purchase online. I can't do any of that now until I get another account set up and get a new check card. That could be at least another week or two. So, my bills are going to be paid late and I'm having to run around and tell everyone I promise I'll pay them when I get my card. I can't even send checks in the mail because I have none!! And not that's it quite as important but there were a few online sales I wanted to hit because there were some really good deals on things I need.
It seems like everything revolves around that stupid checking account. I have decided I'm definitely going to open new accounts at my parents' bank. It's small and local (four branches in two counties) and they've never had a problem. I just don't trust larger banks anymore after some experiences I've had and in this day and time where you never know who's going to fold next. I don't know if I'm getting older or it is a sign of the times but if it weren't for the necessity of that check card for almost everything I do, I'd keep a shoebox under my bed labeled "checking account."
December 27, 2008
Honorary Quote of the Day
CNN commercial: Discover who Obama really is - Christmas Eve on CNN.
My friend, Jessica: What, are they gonna wrap him in swaddling clothes and lay him in a manger?
My friend, Jessica: What, are they gonna wrap him in swaddling clothes and lay him in a manger?
Sweet Stupid Caroline?
D.A of the Day/Quote of the Day : "I was really surprised and dismayed by my voting record. I’m glad it’s been brought to my attention." - Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg
Let me get this straight. Caroline Kennedy can't be bothered to vote practically ever and when this is brought to her attention, she's shocked? She doesn't remember that she didn't vote? I can tell you who I've voted for in every election I've ever voted in and that runs from President all the way down to local judges and county officials. Granted I haven't been voting as long as Ms. Schlossberg but come on!! If public service is so important to her family (that's what she said qualifies her to be Senator), don't you think she'd put a little effort into seeing who's elected? This isn't just "Oh, I'm bored during the days, I think I need to find a little volunteer work or part-time job," this is important. In this day and age with terrorist yapping at our heels and an economy that can't seem to straighten itself out, we don't need a politician who has nothing going for them aside from their last name.
By the way, my family's into public service as well and has a proven record of it: I have an aunt who's a police officer, a grandfather who builds and fixes houses for people who can't do it themselves among a million other things, I've been pretty actively involved with local politics in the past, etc. Does this qualify me to be appointed senator?
On November 4th, people worked 10 and 12 hour days and then went to the polls and stood in line for two hours in the rain to vote, it's a privilege and an honor, but this woman treats it as though it's some little meaningless task that slipped her mind.
I'm sorry, but it's time we quit electing the out of touch into office. I'm sure she's a nice lady and I'm sure the pressure will be on to pick her, but I'm so sick of these kind of politics and I hope the people of New York will have half a brain to stand up to this kind of nonsense. If she really wants to get into politics - she can start by getting into office the good old fashioned way, entering a race in 2010 or 2012. Prove that people want you in there before you start trying to have your self appointed to one of the highest positions in the country. Maybe she realizes that's highly unlikely?
Let me get this straight. Caroline Kennedy can't be bothered to vote practically ever and when this is brought to her attention, she's shocked? She doesn't remember that she didn't vote? I can tell you who I've voted for in every election I've ever voted in and that runs from President all the way down to local judges and county officials. Granted I haven't been voting as long as Ms. Schlossberg but come on!! If public service is so important to her family (that's what she said qualifies her to be Senator), don't you think she'd put a little effort into seeing who's elected? This isn't just "Oh, I'm bored during the days, I think I need to find a little volunteer work or part-time job," this is important. In this day and age with terrorist yapping at our heels and an economy that can't seem to straighten itself out, we don't need a politician who has nothing going for them aside from their last name.
By the way, my family's into public service as well and has a proven record of it: I have an aunt who's a police officer, a grandfather who builds and fixes houses for people who can't do it themselves among a million other things, I've been pretty actively involved with local politics in the past, etc. Does this qualify me to be appointed senator?
On November 4th, people worked 10 and 12 hour days and then went to the polls and stood in line for two hours in the rain to vote, it's a privilege and an honor, but this woman treats it as though it's some little meaningless task that slipped her mind.
I'm sorry, but it's time we quit electing the out of touch into office. I'm sure she's a nice lady and I'm sure the pressure will be on to pick her, but I'm so sick of these kind of politics and I hope the people of New York will have half a brain to stand up to this kind of nonsense. If she really wants to get into politics - she can start by getting into office the good old fashioned way, entering a race in 2010 or 2012. Prove that people want you in there before you start trying to have your self appointed to one of the highest positions in the country. Maybe she realizes that's highly unlikely?
December 25, 2008
I'm so glad it's over!
"Look, Charlie, let's face it. We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It's run by a big eastern syndicate, you know." - Lucy Van Pelt
I'm just going to be honest. I could not get into Christmas this year. I tried, really I did, and there were little bursts of glee here and there, but as much as it pains me to say it, I just didn't enjoy it. There were any number of reasons for this including but not limited to, my lack of job, my lack of places to live, the doom and gloom nature of most anything I've seen on TV lately, the depression that is a result of this year's election, being broke, etc. I know a lot of this stuff shouldn't matter, it's not the reason for the season...but let's face it, it does matter. For example, even if you aren't into the religious aspects of the holiday, it has turned into a time to do for others and this year, I couldn't do that. I couldn't get my parents the super awesome gift I wanted to get them, I couldn't donate to Toys for Tots, St. Jude's, or do something for our troops like I usually do and wanted to, and I couldn't afford to send a little something to friends or my cousins like I sometimes try to do.
Even today, I just wasn't into it and I feel bad for that. I couldn't sleep last night which is becoming my new normal and when 8:00 AM finally rolled around, I decided I may as well just get up. Gabby wasn't budging though and I didn't have the heart to make her, so I ended up dozing off for a few minutes, only to have my mom waking me up at 8:30. She'd tried her hand at being festive - she cooked breakfast (something I don't like and never have - again, I felt bad and tried to force myself to eat some but I just couldn't), and even though they weren't giving me much for Christmas because I'd asked that they pay for Gabby to go get her skin treated instead (last time it cost me about $400, but it's totally worth it to have a healthy, happy dog again, just in time for a new place) I still got some nice stuff - a new DVD player (mine broke when I moved in here a few months ago) a few books and some little odds and ends that I needed (razors, shampoo, etc), but to be honest, I didn't really care. I appreciate it and can and will use everything I got, but it just felt like another day. Family time at my grandfather's house wasn't much better. (Though check out the totally adorable Peanuts magnets my cousin got me):
Anyway, I don't mean to sound ungrateful or like I don't get the "real meaning of Christmas," but I have to admit, I'm glad it's over. Tomorrow, things can go back to normal...sort of. There's still New Year's Eve/Day to get through (the worst holiday[s] ever), but I'm just ready to move forward.Assuming everything goes as planned, financially, I'll be starting school the second week in January and that's exciting.
Though tomorrow I am going to treat myself a little. Most of the money I got today is going into savings for rent/utility deposits, but I am going to take a small portion of it and do a little shopping. I want a new purse and though I doubt I'll get that $200 Hobo bag I've had my eye on for the last few months, there are supposed to be some excellent sales going on tomorrow. The GC and I are going to do a little after Christmas shopping!
December 24, 2008
Waiting for Santa?
My dad just asked me if I didn't have anything better to do because I was trying to pose the three dogs in front of the Christmas tree but they were not cooperating for various reasons. Finally, they all ended up hiding from me in a bedroom. From L to R: Gabby (my dog), Puppy (my mom's little Westie mix - she's actually a lot smaller than the other two despite the pictures) and Maddie (the "puppy" I found in April in the tornado that my parents ended up adopting, she's now bigger than the other two combined). The pictures didn't quite come out as good as I wanted - Maddie's actually adorable but she kept making awful faces and I had to use the crappy old camera because my good one is packed up.
Weekend Christmas Eve Conversations
Sarah's Dad (sitting at his desktop computer, playing with newly discovered YouTube): Ohh, cool!
Sarah: What the heck is that? Sounds like some kind of Lindsey Buckingham wannabe.
Sarah's Dad: WHAT!?!?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? THAT'S JETHRO TULL!
Sarah: Oh, who's he?
(I figured some of you music enthusiasts might find humor in this... I didn't know!! Though I have received a lecture now.)
Sarah: What the heck is that? Sounds like some kind of Lindsey Buckingham wannabe.
Sarah's Dad: WHAT!?!?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? THAT'S JETHRO TULL!
Sarah: Oh, who's he?
(I figured some of you music enthusiasts might find humor in this... I didn't know!! Though I have received a lecture now.)
December 23, 2008
Merry Christmas!
"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!" - Charles DickensI just wanted to wish you all a "Merry Christmas!" I didn't know if I'd update again before the big day and I've been so wrapped up in my job search this year that it seems like the day has just kind of snuck up on me. I can't believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve! I chose that quote for a few reasons, but this year always reminds me of all the guys and girls overseas, serving our country. It's got to be the worst time of the year to be away from your family, your friends, your country. Financially, there wasn't much I could do for them this year, but I will be sending a few prayers and good wishes, and I hope everyone can join me in doing the same! (I never really got to get too far into the Christmas music thing like I wanted to, but I have this album that's got Bing Crosby performing for the troops during World War II and it's just kind of cool to listen to but it's a great reminder of how great this country really is.) I also - this year especially - tend to think of the kids who won't get a visit from Santa Claus and it breaks my heart. I hope we can all send them some good thoughts as well. Next year, I hope I can do more.
So, the whole not having a job thing has been good for one thing - I've avoided any and all Christmas shopping this year! Until today. I made the mistake of volunteering to go pick up a few groceries for my mom this afternoon and as I was on my way out the door, my dad slipped me $30 and asked me to pick up one last little gift for my mom. For some reason, it never occurred to me that on this day, December 23rd (Festivus anyone?), at 3:00 PM, throwing on some ratty clothes, forgoing any hair or makeup rituals, and proceeding to go out in public could be a bad thing. I should have known that when I couldn't find a parking place (not even in the last spot in the row or down the strip mall in front of the Chinese restaurant) in front of the entire grocery store, that I would go inside and run into everyone I've ever known in my entire life and then stand in line for approximately 30 minutes to buy about five things. I also should have known that I should have bought the item I was supposed to get for my mom's gift at that store instead of driving up the street to another store because I thought it would be cheaper. The second store was sold out and no way I was going back to the first. Two hours, three cities, and four stores later, I found one that cost twice as much as the one I saw at the first store.
Tomorrow, I do not plan to step foot outside of the house other than to maybe pick up our chicken nugget tray from Chick Fil A. Oh, little bites of heaven.
December 22, 2008
Those "Bah, humbug" Liberals
"I'm calling in 'Republican' on Obama's Inauguration Day." - Ann Coulter (poking fun at the pointless, uneventful "Day Without Gays")
I never really had any doubt, but it turns out Conservatives are anywhere from 30% to 100% more generous than Liberals. These findings come from two different (liberal) sources and it took an op-ed piece in the New York Time of all places by Nicholas Kristof of all people to put the story out there. I haven't seen or heard it anywhere else: Op-Ed Columnist - Bleeding Heart Tightwads - NYTimes.com
December 21, 2008
Alaska? Just a thought...
When I was a little girl, my grandparents went to Alaska and upon seeing their pictures when they returned, I knew it was somewhere I wanted to eventually visit. That thought has weighed heavily on my mind throughout the years and I figured it was something I'd do "one day." But as I see my life changing before my eyes...my career plans doing a complete 180, the shifting amounts of importance I place on certain aspects of life...that "one day" has somehow made its way into the "sooner rather than later" part of my brain. Obviously, Alaska has been in the news a lot lately, but Sarah Palin aside, I find myself drawn to it for some inexplicable reason. I think it has something to do with being somewhat secluded from the rest of the country?
I keep reading that Alaska needs teachers and I've read personal stories of people who have gone there to teach. Some were negative, some were positive but that is what you get with just about any experience. One of my cousins told me she had a friend who went to teach there for a year and loved it...I'm hoping she can get me a little more information, because to be quite honest, unless something changes drastically in the next one - three years that it takes for me to get certified to teach, I'm really considering giving it a try. Just for a year and then I'll take it from there.
Of course there's a lot of research to be done and money to save. There's having to decide if I can live somewhere that cold when I've spent 27+ years living in one of the warmest states in the country. I am not a warm-weather person, believe it or not, but I freeze when the temperature drops below 50! And as I said, something could always happen in the meantime to change my mind...but right now I'm young and aside from my parents, nothing is keeping me here. Last night, my mom and I drove around and looked at Christmas lights (I know, I know...some traditions are hard to break) and as I drove through the town where I've spent most of my life and down roads where I could name who lived in every other house, I thought it might be kind of nice to go somewhere totally different, even if it's just for a little while. My dad said he mentioned this plan to my grandfather as they were talking about how much things are changing around here and even he said if he were my age, he'd consider something like that himself.
It's just something to think about. I'd probably have to change the name of my blog though :-)
If any of you have been there to live or work or know someone who has, I'd love to hear about your experience. And as with the political posts, any negative or blatantly discouraging comments will be deleted!!
December 20, 2008
Air Quotes
Maybe I should start posting a laugh of the day? Anyway, this episode of "Friends" was on the other night and I laughed so hard...this clip is of Joey trying to figure out how to use air quotes! HILARIOUS!!
December 19, 2008
Daily Sarah (Updated)
I think we missed out on a real treasure of a human being here...Palin didn't seek, doesn't want pay raise
UPDATE: TheHill.com - With economy in shambles, Congress gets a raise At what point do the people who vote for these stupid #$&#!& morons wake up????
UPDATE: TheHill.com - With economy in shambles, Congress gets a raise At what point do the people who vote for these stupid #$&#!& morons wake up????
December 18, 2008
Big, big love...
Sexiest video ever posted on YouTube? I could listen/watch all day.
Ok, back to work, I needed to take a little Lindsey break.
Ok, back to work, I needed to take a little Lindsey break.
Lesson One: You can't please all of the people
So it looks like the While I don't think Senator Obama's pick was meant to intentionally hurt anyone's feelings and I, myself, don't really have any strong feelings against gay marriage, I do think it was a good choice. Rick Warren is a popular man who's done some good things for the world. Maybe if these so-called "activists" would stop complaining about the fact that they can't get married and use their passion for something relevant, people would take them seriously.
And I mean, who else was he going to pick, Jeremiah Wright?
I think this is one of Obama's (and perhaps his followers') toughest lessons to learn: you can't please all of the people all of the time. His popularity will go down as his administration goes forward. He won't be able to deliver on all of his promises. The Cindy Sheehan's of the world will still find something to gripe about. People will still have to pay their rent and for health insurance, and we will still have to physically fight the evils of Muslim extremists. His followers will learn that even the almighty Obama can't really make the world a perfect place. It may have worked during the campaign for some strange reason, but you can't go to San Francisco and denounce the people of Pennsylvania as "bitter" when you're President...if you know what I mean.
Comment rule applies to this and all political posts. I need the headache of arguing with people right now like I need to fill out another job application.
Just a name?
Here's your DA of the Day: Heath and Deborah Campbell.
Parents to Adolph Hitler Campbell, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell, and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell.
Here's their story: Child named after Hitler is refused cake request - 12/17/08 - New York News and Tri-State News - 7online.com
Parents to Adolph Hitler Campbell, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell, and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell.
Here's their story: Child named after Hitler is refused cake request - 12/17/08 - New York News and Tri-State News - 7online.com
December 17, 2008
"I'm just so excited" part 2
Well, it's official. I'm a college student...again.
I finally got in touch with the lady at the college and I went to take her my transcripts today. She reviewed them and her response was, "Wow, you weren't kidding, these are bad! I'm not so sure you're going to make our cut." She looked over UGA, she looked over GSU, and as I sat there trying not to cry because I knew that it would be one more thing that would not work out, she opened my high school transcript and her demeanor changed. She looked over it several times and told me she needed to make a phone call.
Long story short, I sat and waited as she put in a call to the head of the department I'm applying to and I listened to her plead my case. She told her about the transcripts and how they weren't good but then she went on to tell her that she hadn't seen such a good high school transcript in a long time, how I was an honor student, took gifted classes, had excellent SAT scores (hey, I'm just quoting her). She told her she felt really good about me and that I'd been relentless on trying to get in so last minute and they agreed to accept me with a few stipulations.
But all of that's not important, the important part is, I'm going back to school! Oh yeah, and my response when she said, "Welcome to _____?"
"I'm just so excited!!!!"
She looked at me like I was crazy.
I finally got in touch with the lady at the college and I went to take her my transcripts today. She reviewed them and her response was, "Wow, you weren't kidding, these are bad! I'm not so sure you're going to make our cut." She looked over UGA, she looked over GSU, and as I sat there trying not to cry because I knew that it would be one more thing that would not work out, she opened my high school transcript and her demeanor changed. She looked over it several times and told me she needed to make a phone call.
Long story short, I sat and waited as she put in a call to the head of the department I'm applying to and I listened to her plead my case. She told her about the transcripts and how they weren't good but then she went on to tell her that she hadn't seen such a good high school transcript in a long time, how I was an honor student, took gifted classes, had excellent SAT scores (hey, I'm just quoting her). She told her she felt really good about me and that I'd been relentless on trying to get in so last minute and they agreed to accept me with a few stipulations.
But all of that's not important, the important part is, I'm going back to school! Oh yeah, and my response when she said, "Welcome to _____?"
"I'm just so excited!!!!"
She looked at me like I was crazy.
Those hypocritical democrats: three things that make me very ill
I've been trying to avoid politics lately - I'm simply tired of it and have barely turned on a TV or radio since the election. I'm tired of arguing about it, I'm tired of watching as the people we've elected screw things up and I'm tired of watching the people of this country sit back and not do a darn thin about it. I'm tired of the hopeless feeling I'm left with upon hearing anything new. But some things are just unavoidable and there are three things that are really pissing me off right now. They are:
1. Inauguration - Celebrities are throwing a lot of money at this thing. Taxpayers across the country will pay a price for this thing. It's supposed to be the biggest inauguration ever with a ridiculous amount of money spent to see to it that it is.
I don't know about you, but it doesn't seem like a time to celebrate. People are losing their jobs, health care, and their retirement savings left and right. Our government is using our tax-dollars to bail-out failed companies, some of which failed, essentially, because of our government. Democrats have always claimed to be for the little person, but seeing as how more families than usual won't have Christmas this year because a mother, father, or both no longer have a job, I don't see how this sort of event is justified. Don't get me wrong, people can spend their money however they like, I don't have a problem with it, but don't be a hypocrite. Don't (Sharon Stone, Halle Berry, etc.) throw $50,000 to what is essentially a party and then turn around and say you feel bad for the little guy. Do you know how many meals you could provide to a family in need with that money? Up until the Gov. of Illinois scandal, Senator Obama has impressed me a little more than I expected he would (which isn't saying much, but it's a start), I'd really like to see him stand up and say "enough is enough." Partying with celebrities isn't exactly something he needs to be doing right now. Where is our compassionate leader?
2. Caroline Kennedy - It seems as though Ms. Kennedy wants Hillary Clinton's job. And she is qualified how? Where is her experience? What has she done to qualify herself for that position? I point this out because I seem to remember another woman seeking a prominent role in politics being told that she was not experienced enough, even though she had more executive experience than the guy who was elected president. I liked Sarah Palin because she proved that anyone CAN make a difference and be anything they want. But I guess the country is no longer about that...it's all about your last name. I know it always has been to some extent, but I've always had a little hope that the people would prevail over politics. I guess I was wrong.
3. Education - Senator Obama, as far as I'm concerned, hasn't done enough to distance himself from the mess that is Chicago politics and I use his response to the Gov. scandal as my proof of that. Whether or not it will play a factor in his presidency, we can't be sure (though some of us have a feeling), but I am really bothered that he chose Chicago school superintendent Arne Duncan as his education secretary. Why? Because he's his "basketball buddy?" As national spotlight lands on this city, is this the time to be bring more Chicago politicians into the mix? Chicago schools are some of the worst in the nation. They have abnormally high drop-out rates (about half of all high school students do not complete school as of 2006). This is a man who supports some sort of school district "affirmative action," will not (as far as I can tell from my quick research) stand up to the teacher's unions when necessary, who does not believe in vouchers, who does believe in plans implemented by our old friend William Ayres. The school system is already becoming some sort of mini-socialist state (I will post about that another day), this guy could very well be the final nail on that coffin in my opinion. This is one pick Senator Obama should not have made.
That's my opinion. If you don't like it, find something else to read. Any comments telling me I'm wrong or disagreeing with me will be deleted. I am not in the mood.
1. Inauguration - Celebrities are throwing a lot of money at this thing. Taxpayers across the country will pay a price for this thing. It's supposed to be the biggest inauguration ever with a ridiculous amount of money spent to see to it that it is.
I don't know about you, but it doesn't seem like a time to celebrate. People are losing their jobs, health care, and their retirement savings left and right. Our government is using our tax-dollars to bail-out failed companies, some of which failed, essentially, because of our government. Democrats have always claimed to be for the little person, but seeing as how more families than usual won't have Christmas this year because a mother, father, or both no longer have a job, I don't see how this sort of event is justified. Don't get me wrong, people can spend their money however they like, I don't have a problem with it, but don't be a hypocrite. Don't (Sharon Stone, Halle Berry, etc.) throw $50,000 to what is essentially a party and then turn around and say you feel bad for the little guy. Do you know how many meals you could provide to a family in need with that money? Up until the Gov. of Illinois scandal, Senator Obama has impressed me a little more than I expected he would (which isn't saying much, but it's a start), I'd really like to see him stand up and say "enough is enough." Partying with celebrities isn't exactly something he needs to be doing right now. Where is our compassionate leader?
2. Caroline Kennedy - It seems as though Ms. Kennedy wants Hillary Clinton's job. And she is qualified how? Where is her experience? What has she done to qualify herself for that position? I point this out because I seem to remember another woman seeking a prominent role in politics being told that she was not experienced enough, even though she had more executive experience than the guy who was elected president. I liked Sarah Palin because she proved that anyone CAN make a difference and be anything they want. But I guess the country is no longer about that...it's all about your last name. I know it always has been to some extent, but I've always had a little hope that the people would prevail over politics. I guess I was wrong.
3. Education - Senator Obama, as far as I'm concerned, hasn't done enough to distance himself from the mess that is Chicago politics and I use his response to the Gov. scandal as my proof of that. Whether or not it will play a factor in his presidency, we can't be sure (though some of us have a feeling), but I am really bothered that he chose Chicago school superintendent Arne Duncan as his education secretary. Why? Because he's his "basketball buddy?" As national spotlight lands on this city, is this the time to be bring more Chicago politicians into the mix? Chicago schools are some of the worst in the nation. They have abnormally high drop-out rates (about half of all high school students do not complete school as of 2006). This is a man who supports some sort of school district "affirmative action," will not (as far as I can tell from my quick research) stand up to the teacher's unions when necessary, who does not believe in vouchers, who does believe in plans implemented by our old friend William Ayres. The school system is already becoming some sort of mini-socialist state (I will post about that another day), this guy could very well be the final nail on that coffin in my opinion. This is one pick Senator Obama should not have made.
That's my opinion. If you don't like it, find something else to read. Any comments telling me I'm wrong or disagreeing with me will be deleted. I am not in the mood.
December 15, 2008
"I'm just so excited!"
Those were the words I uttered today at my job interview, the second interview I've had with this company. I'm not sure why I said it, or where it came from, but I put it out there and my interviewers were sort of bewildered yet amused.
You see, I spent all day yesterday thinking, "I don't want this job." Then I spent the rest of the time kicking myself because this is not a job market to be picky with and this is the 30th best place to work in the country. I spent the 30 mile drive to west of the middle of nowhere thinking "I dont want this job." I got there, sat in the lobby and waited for my interviewers, and told myself, "I don't want this job."
I did (I think) pretty well with the interview. I talked about myself in a pleasant, positive manner. I answered cliche questions with good answers. I let them know I knew a thing or two about the company from my own research. And then as I was getting ready to tour the facility with one of the interviewers, the other asked, "Is there anything else you'd like to add?"
I told myself to say something, don't just say, "I can't think of anything."
That's when it happened.
"I'm just so excited to be here and honored that you even interviewed me!" I said, surprising even myself. Don't get me wrong - it was sincere, which was odd considering I'd spent the last 24 hours telling myself I didn't want the job.
The lady who was about to take me on the tour (and who would be my boss) said, "Awww, I don't think anyone's ever said that to me during an interview before." We did our tour, I half paid attention to everything she was showing me, and she proceeded to tell everyone what I said during the interview. I wasn't sure what to make of that.
Anyway, before I left, she asked if I had any questions and I brought up the whole going back to school thing. I told her I wanted to be up front about that and she wasn't amused but said it could probably be dealt with. I have a feeling if I don't get it, that will be the reason, but she seemed to appreciate my honesty. As I walked out the front door and down the steps to my car, I began to think that maybe I do want this job after all.
*************
Anyway, I was going to make this whole long post about media bias, Middle East relations, and the shoe thing and it turned into a really nasty rant, but my internet kicked off for about 20 minutes (my parents have the worst internet connection ever) and half of it got deleted, which was probably for the best...it was getting nasty.
I do want to say that Gov. Sarah Palin will be on "On the Record" with Greta Van Sustren tonight and that is something I am looking forward to. I could use a lot more Sarah Palin in the news. (But only if it's fair and I know Greta will be fair...she always is.)
You see, I spent all day yesterday thinking, "I don't want this job." Then I spent the rest of the time kicking myself because this is not a job market to be picky with and this is the 30th best place to work in the country. I spent the 30 mile drive to west of the middle of nowhere thinking "I dont want this job." I got there, sat in the lobby and waited for my interviewers, and told myself, "I don't want this job."
I did (I think) pretty well with the interview. I talked about myself in a pleasant, positive manner. I answered cliche questions with good answers. I let them know I knew a thing or two about the company from my own research. And then as I was getting ready to tour the facility with one of the interviewers, the other asked, "Is there anything else you'd like to add?"
I told myself to say something, don't just say, "I can't think of anything."
That's when it happened.
"I'm just so excited to be here and honored that you even interviewed me!" I said, surprising even myself. Don't get me wrong - it was sincere, which was odd considering I'd spent the last 24 hours telling myself I didn't want the job.
The lady who was about to take me on the tour (and who would be my boss) said, "Awww, I don't think anyone's ever said that to me during an interview before." We did our tour, I half paid attention to everything she was showing me, and she proceeded to tell everyone what I said during the interview. I wasn't sure what to make of that.
Anyway, before I left, she asked if I had any questions and I brought up the whole going back to school thing. I told her I wanted to be up front about that and she wasn't amused but said it could probably be dealt with. I have a feeling if I don't get it, that will be the reason, but she seemed to appreciate my honesty. As I walked out the front door and down the steps to my car, I began to think that maybe I do want this job after all.
*************
Anyway, I was going to make this whole long post about media bias, Middle East relations, and the shoe thing and it turned into a really nasty rant, but my internet kicked off for about 20 minutes (my parents have the worst internet connection ever) and half of it got deleted, which was probably for the best...it was getting nasty.
I do want to say that Gov. Sarah Palin will be on "On the Record" with Greta Van Sustren tonight and that is something I am looking forward to. I could use a lot more Sarah Palin in the news. (But only if it's fair and I know Greta will be fair...she always is.)
December 14, 2008
If the shoe fits...
It's been a while since I had a D.A. of the Day but I think this Iraqi "journalist" qualifies, don't you?
December 07, 2008
Palin Pictures
My friend Roxy has her pictures up from last week's Chambliss rally...
I think not going is going to go down as one of my my top ten regrets in life. Somewhere between leaving UGA and eating the nachos I just made. Blech.
Back to my day o' football, Christmas TV shows, and counting down the minutes until tomorrow!
I think not going is going to go down as one of my my top ten regrets in life. Somewhere between leaving UGA and eating the nachos I just made. Blech.
Back to my day o' football, Christmas TV shows, and counting down the minutes until tomorrow!
December 06, 2008
Weekend Conversations: SEC Edition
Setting: Sarah is groggy and has just barely gotten out of bed because her dog decided Saturday would be the best day this week to NOT sleep late. Sarah's Dad has just returned from running errands.
Sarah's Dad: I just saw a bunch of Alabama fans at the gas station.
Sarah: Alabama fans?
Sarah's Dad: Alabama fans, going to the game.
Sarah: Game?
Sarah's Dad: Alabama-Florida. This is gonna be the biggest game of the year.
Sarah: What?
Sarah's Dad: Alabama fans at the gas station, on their way to the Georgia Dome for the Alabama-Florida game.
Sarah: Georgia Dome?
Sarah's Dad: Do you really not know what I'm talking about or did you become a Villanova fan or something?
For the record, I knew the SEC Championship game was today, it just that my dad talking about Alabama fans at a gas station surprisingly doesn't register at that ungodly hour.
And speaking of SEC schools, I just went online to order a copy of my transcript from UGA. It was like entering a time capsule - I haven't been into that system in a LONG time and everything was exactly as I left it. Kind of made me wistful.
Weekend Conversations: The Lost Edition
Since I'm posting them, I figured I'd bring back one that I never posted back in October:
Sarah: Have you seen that stupid ad with Andy Griffith supporting Obama?
Sarah's Dad: Yeah, and Ron Howard and Henry Winkler too.
Sarah: They shouldn't allow people like that to do things like that.
Sarah's Dad: Why not? What are you, a fascist now?
Sarah: I'm just glad Don Knotts is not alive to see this.
Sarah's Dad: But Don Knotts is probably a lot more liberal than Andy Griffith!
Sarah: I know, that's why I'm glad he's dead!
For the record, the man continues to torment me with that ad every time we see "The Fonze" or Opie/Richie/Ron on TV.
Sarah: Have you seen that stupid ad with Andy Griffith supporting Obama?
Sarah's Dad: Yeah, and Ron Howard and Henry Winkler too.
Sarah: They shouldn't allow people like that to do things like that.
Sarah's Dad: Why not? What are you, a fascist now?
Sarah: I'm just glad Don Knotts is not alive to see this.
Sarah's Dad: But Don Knotts is probably a lot more liberal than Andy Griffith!
Sarah: I know, that's why I'm glad he's dead!
For the record, the man continues to torment me with that ad every time we see "The Fonze" or Opie/Richie/Ron on TV.
December 05, 2008
Classic TV Christmas!
My Christmas spirit and I have had an on again/off again relationship this year. I guess because I was looking forward to decorating my cute historic downtown home. Instead, I've had to sit and listen to my mother contemplate putting her tree up because of the puppy/kitten situation (kitten knocks things in the floor, puppy destroys said things). Today, I'm starting to feel it...which could be a combination of any number of things. For starters, I worked today for the first time in weeks. I had a third grade class in a school I normally won't go to (bad neighborhood), but I was desperate. One thing I dislike about my job is that at a lot of the schools, the other teachers treat you like some sort of second-rate citizen. I'm usually greeted with the same contempt they tend to save for the lunchroom ladies and maintenance men. I've never let it bother me, I'm there for the kids/paycheck, not to be a social butterfly and to be quite honest, I've met some other subs, while some are nice, a lot of them have the IQ and personal skills of a brick. They're there to babysit and get paid, and it shows. I at least put some effort into it...it just sort of comes naturally. Today was different though. Everyone at this school was so nice and pleasant and everything just went so well. The kids were good, there were no major disasters, the assistant principal even complimented me. I kicked myself for not taking all the jobs at this school I could have taken in recent months and wishing they'd have something permanent become available.
Anyway, around 11:30, I took the kids to lunch and went back to my classroom to check my e-mail. I was standing there with my phone in hand when it started to ring (silently) and a number I didn't recognize popped up. I wasn't sure whether or not I should answer it because some schools frown upon that and the teacher I'd just been talking to was still standing in the hall, so I jumped up and ran across the room to shut the door. I didn't get the phone in time but I got the signal that there was a new voice message, so I checked it. It was the HR girl from the place where I took the pre-employment test on the day before Thanksgiving. I was so freaking excited, so I called her back, to hell with the the school's rules. But she didn't answer. I kept calling and finally left a message saying I had just missed her call and was actually at work but I'd try to get back with her again after 3:00 if I didn't hear from her.
Long story short, I still haven't spoken with her (called 20+ times, left two messages) and the last time this happened, well, you all remember that story, but I will do whatever I have to do to talk to this woman on Monday and hope she didn't call a bunch of other people after she couldn't get in touch with me. Despite the last incident with missing a job call, I'm actually feeling really good about this - if I can get this job, it'd be perfect - great hours, great pay, great location, etc. I sort of see a little light at the end of the tunnel...but I'm trying not to get my hopes up.
After that, I came home in a really cheery mood. Everything seems a little brighter at the moment. I went by and picked up some Chinese food for myself and the 'rents, this evening, and I've spent most of tonight snuggled up in bed watching goofy Christmas movies and "Friends" reruns.
But back to Christmas. I was on my way out the door to get our food when I saw a commercial for a TVLand Merrython...ON SUNDAY! You all know I'm a sucker for most things TVLand and Christmas TVLand is like double the fun! I've been a little critical of the channel for their lack of Christmas enthusiasm in years past, but this year, they have three "Merrythons" scheduled for the month (several straight hours of classic Christmas programming). My mom and I decided that would be the perfect day to put the tree up, so at least I won't be totally antsy all weekend.
I have no idea what I'll do tomorrow, but Sunday I'll be stringing lights and hanging my mom's Charlie Brown ornaments while I watch as Andyman helps old Ben Weaver find his Christmas spirit, as five Santa's visit Little Ricky, as Mr. Edwards fights the blizzard to bring Christmas to the Ingalls girls...well, you get the picture!
And now, after one and a half hours of sleep last night, I'm going to bed.
And speaking of media bias...
If you haven't heard, and you probably haven't - again, not that big of a deal unless you're the AOL Welcome Screen...or CNN - Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell made a crack/observation that Janet Napolitano's the perfect person to lead Homeland Security because "for that job, you have to have no life. Jane has no family. Perfect. She can devote literally 19-20 hours a day to it." Well, I'm no Rendell fan and whether or not this was a "sexist" crack at Napolitano, I can't be sure, but CNN's newest shrew anchor Campbell Brown seemed to think it was the most sexist bit of commentary made in the last 100 years.
Do people really watch this woman? Here's the video:
The part that really grabbed my attention was this:
Do people really watch this woman? Here's the video:
The part that really grabbed my attention was this:
Come on, Michael Chertoff is married with two grown children. His predecessor, Tom Ridge, had a family. Anybody remember a debate about whether they would have trouble balancing the demands of work and family?To answer your question, Ms. Brown...yes. And you seem to be one of the first ones to do so. You see, back in September, you questioned whether or not Palin's accepting the VP nomination was fair to her daughter. If Sarah Palin had been a man, or a better yet, a democract, would you have instigated a debate as to whether or not she was a good mother as you did?
Question One: If a man had been Obama's choice for the job, would having a family or not having a family ever even have been an issue? Would it ever have prompted a comment? Probably not. We all know the assumption tends to be that with a man there almost always a wife in the wings managing those family concerns. Question Two: As a woman, hearing this, it's hard not to wonder if we're counted out for certain jobs or certain opportunities because we do have a family or because we are in our childbearing years. Are we? It's a fair question.
Hundred Million Dollar Hair
Haven't you heard? That's how much the GOP spent on Sarah Palin's hair. Seriously. Or so the media would have you believe.The top story on my AOL welcome screen is OJ. Just below it is a headline that reads, "Palin's Hair and Makeup Cost 110K?" I forced myself to click the link and skimmed the article. Naturally, it was biased, there was not really a story - just a bunch of "he said/she said" type rumors strung together in an attempt to make Palin look bad with just enough recycled Jon Stewart one-liners thrown in so that AOL would never have to say whether it was supposed to be news or opinion.
But all of that aside, why in the world are we still talking Sarah Palin's hair/wardrobe/makeup...
Seriously? SERIOUSLY!?!? This warrants a top story spot on the front of eight pages worth of welcome screens??!?! It amazes me what the people in this country will put up with from our so-called media. I don't care who you voted for or what you thought about Palin, if you are really concerned with how much was or wasn't spent on her hair, then you really need to get a life.
But I do have to say, after reviewing the election with a group of third graders today, an eight year old girl told me my hair looked like that "Vice President lady's hair"...and I managed to pull it off with $1.00 hair clip and a $8.00 can of mousse. Considering that Sarah Palin does most things better than I do, I'm going to assume that regardless of how much the GOP spent on stylists for the woman, she had no part in it and probably does her hair much like I did this morning.
December 03, 2008
What a difference a day makes!
Quote of the Day: "If you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
There's a reason many of us celebrate the leadership of Winston Churchill.
So yesterday around this time, I was basically just sitting here and trying not to cry. Remember the dogs and soldiers rule? Apparently it applies to hopeless futures too. I took a little nap, I applied to some more jobs. I ran out of ideas so I decided to workout for a little bit. I was just about to go to bed when I remembered something...we actually had three extra things to vote for (aside from Chambliss/Martin) yesterday and I was familiar with all but one. I decided to look up the candidate I ended up voting for to make sure I hadn't sent some weirdo into office and I noted that she attended law school at a big private school here in Georgia.
Well, this particular school has a couple of little satellite campuses around the state offering mostly business-related stuff but the one that's closest to me offers an early childhood education degree. I didn't think I'd be able to get in because they do have pretty high GPA standards as far as I know and as I've discussed here, my college transcript has a lot of 1's and 2's on it. As a matter of fact, I didn't think I'd be able to do anything but return to one of the two schools I originally attended. Just out of curiousity, I decided to e-mail the admissions director and explain my situation/plead my case. I went to bed and didn't think anything more of it.
This morning, I'd planned to get up early and go try a few more places in person, but the snooze button became my friend. 8:00 became 8:30 and 8:30 became 9:00 and so on. At 10:00 AM, my phone rang and I didn't recognize the number...I turned on my best fake "I am not laying here asleep" voice and answered as cheerfully as I could. It was the lady from the college.
She talked about a mile a minute, I'm not sure if I could keep up with this woman when fully awake, but she asked me if I wanted to start school in January. I said that would be great, but...she countered every one of my "but's" with some reason why that was not a legitimate excuse. Long story short, I've got a lot of paperwork to fill out this week. But if all goes accordingly, I'll be back in school in January. I'm a little upset that it's not UGA. Ever since I left, I've been upset that I didn't graduate from there and swore I would, but it's just not worth the trouble. Plus, I could always get my Master's there or something...just saying.
So, today has started out well. I still don't have a job but I called about one of the ones I've been counting on and she said they haven't hired anyone yet and the fact that I'd gotten a follow-up e-mail meant I was still in the running. Maybe that will lead to good things? I don't want to get my hopes up, but I'm feeling a little better about my options.
December 02, 2008
Sarah Does Georgia, Vote For Saxby
Quote of the Day: "Oh, the Saxby Chambliss signs are plentiful, but it’s clear even before you walk in that this is a Sarah Palin for President event, four years ahead of its time." - Jim Galloway (The AJC's Political Insider)
Before I get into what I want to say about Palin, let me just say if you are in Georgia or know someone who is, remind them to VOTE FOR SAXBY CHMABLISS TODAY!! I don't like Chambliss and I don't like his opponent, but even more than that, I don't like the thoughts of the Democrats having the power to do whatever the hell they feel like doing with this country. This is not a time to punish Republicans.
Now back to the guy from whom I got the quote. I don't usually turn to the AJC for my political commentary, but I was trying to read up on the Palin appearances today and I came across what appeared to be this guy live blogging the day's events: Political Insider. There were a couple of things that I found really interesting.
He notes the crowd was young, white, and blue-collar vs. the older/business suit-clad crowd John McCain drew a few weeks ago. He says it appears the other politicians (including Governor Sonny Perdue and Senator Johnny Isakson) have no problem sharing a stage with Palin when some of them tried to keep their distance from McCain. He notes that Palin's pro-life/pro-gun statements delivered the the most enthusiastic reactions from the crowd.
I just did a little research on campaign contributions in my county...a normally Republican county that went for Obama and what I found did not surprise me. Republican campaign contributions were strong, but when I started examining who gave how much to whom, I realized most of the contributions were made during the primary to candidates like Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney, and Mike Huckabee. Very few were made to McCain.
Why am pointing all of this out? Sure, this is not a scientific experiment but I'm willing to bet this train of thought could be applied in many parts of the country. Conservatism is not dead. Conservatives are just not happy. Conservatives stayed home because they didn't have a candidate in this race. Conservatives stayed home because they're tired of voting in politician after politician who claims to be one thing and then gets into office and becomes another. Some conservatives probably even voted for Obama because he was able to take some very Reaganesque rhetoric and apply it to very liberal policies and because John McCain avoided confrontation and conservatism like a whore avoids church, there was no one there to debunk the talk.
Palin didn't lose the election for McCain. Palin said what the Republican base wanted to hear and was able to back up the talk with things she'd accomplished in her short time as governor of Alaska. Palin stood up for conservative values and related to people in a way that no politician has done in a long time. Many people finally felt they had a chance to take the country back from Washington and put it back in the hands of people with this person who understood the day-to-day trials of everyday people.
If anything, she brought back some of the conservatives who were disillusioned with the choice of McCain and she rallied the under 50 crowd of the Conservative movement - a crowd that the media will have you think does not exist.
I'm very particular about where I get my news these days. Just when I think they can't get something else wrong, they do. Just when I think they can't convince me of something that's totally untrue, I realize I've been duped again (and I'd like to think I put a little more effort into finding the truth than most citizens). In this case, I was beginning to think there aren't a lot of conservatives in my age bracket, but after seeing and reading everything I've read about today, I have a little more hope for the future.
Oh well, just had to get that off my chest - I haven't been too inclined to talk about politics lately for several reasons. Don't forget, VOTE FOR SAXBY TODAY!!!
P.S. I have to admit, I'm really disappointed that I didn't get to go today. I thought I'd be okay with it but when I saw the video on the local news, my heart sank.
December 01, 2008
Happy December!
I stole that picture from our local ABC affiliate's website, but that's the sight many Georgians woke up to this morning. I'm about a county or two shy of having snow on the ground - it's mostly in the mountains - but it's hard to believe some parts of the state look like that on December first! Here it just a bitterly cold 39 degrees. We always miss the good stuff. When I got up this morning, a reporter was standing out on top of my grandparents' old mountain which is a great place to be when ti snows. Cozy and warm without much chance of getting anywhere anytime soon. As a matter of fact, right now I can think of very few places I'd rather be.Maybe on my way to the Sarah Palin rally. As I mentioned last week, Sarah Palin is in Georgia today, campaigning for Saxby Chambliss. She's supposed to hit the Atlanta area at 4:00 PM and I was supposed to go with the GC but he couldn't get out of work today, which I didn't find out until very late last night. I was disappointed to say the least but as with everything else that's gone on lately, I'll live. I know my friend Roxy and her husband are going so hopefully she'll have some good pictures or something. Apparently, as usual, she's drawing huge crowds! Hopefully, it will be the reminder Chambliss voters need to get out to the polls tomorrow.
Oh well, I'm going to go look for more jobs to apply to...I suddenly have a bad feeling about how excited I got last week. I haven't received so much as a phone call today.
Here's your Christmas music for the day: You all know I'm a huge Dolly Parton fan even before I would allow myself to listen to country music at all, I loved Dolly. I think most people know this song, Dolly fan or not, from "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" soundtrack or just in general. It reminds me of my childhood which is always a good thing around Christmastime. I also think it's becoming my theme song for the end of year! So, I present to you, "Hard Candy Christmas" by Dolly Parton.
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