this is what i think

My Only Choice? Your Final Straw!

2008-09-03T09:30:00.009-06:00

I just about lost my breakfast, which is unfortunate because it was a good breakfast this morning. Obama has given me a choice that sickens me, and for him, it's the final straw.

Nevermind his imminent tax hikes, ridiculous foreign policy, or his illogical energy theories that will only tap into a small portion of possibilities that exist in our country--and not even non-carbon-based; all of these issues, while important, are a matter of opinion. Let me instead tell you why Mr. Obama is a villain as far as I am concerned.

Remember how Adolf Hitler killed six million Jews, not to mention handicapped, homosexuals, and other "illegitimate races" on the basis of social elitism? Well, what do we call Obama? An elitist. And what does he propose we do? Kill babies.

If you read my blog, I've made you aware of Barack's exceedingly liberal policies on the so-called "right to choice." Well, let me tell you, I'm a woman and this is a choice I don't want. Mr. Obama, before we delve into this, let me tell you some topics on which I would like a choice:

1. A flat tax percentage across the board. Just because my daddy's a business owner or just because I happen to be educated does not mean that I should have to turn over more of my money for your proposals on $46 million in welfare if you're elected.

2. Protection from terrorists. I know your "just talk about it and make up" philosophy has made you real popular these days. While I'm not suggesting that we just start dropping nuclear bombs anywhere and everywhere around the world, I do think that your foreign policies leave something to be desired. And until you get all of that straight, I would like to determine that me and mine are going to continue living in a free, safe nation.

3. Freedom to read the morning news without seeing your face everywhere. I'm sorry, dude; you're starting to haunt me. McCain's no god, but GOOD LORD: Put your smile and ghostwritten speeches away; duck a camera now and then; spend some unexploited time with your family; and really do something for this country. Do you really like the media not only following you around, but doing so with their lips soundly placed against your backside?

So, moving on. Despite his failure to grant me the freedom to these choices, BHO has been so generous as to grant me one choice: My RIGHT to choose. And not only do I have that choice, apparently if I don't want it, there's something wrong with me. Something about having the freedom to decide to kill a child growing inside of me, regardless of its stage of development, should prove to me how far women have come. I should take great pleasure in this freedom.

As if that's not "putting it out there" enough for Obama, he's now CRITICIZING McCain and Palin for their overly-conservative, anti-"choice" policies. Last time I checked, their policies weren't anti-choice. They are pro-life. Call me crazy, but I'm just guessing that McCain and Palin have some sort of moral code by which they operate, and maybe at the very least when they get to the pearly gates, they don't want to be the ones standing next to Hitler with countless victims' blood on their hands.

My best friend from high school just had her second child. A good friend from college recently discovered that she and her husband are pregnant with their first. Have you ever seen or talked to a pregnant woman? Just read my college friends' blog. They're so full of LIFE (meaning, something alive is inside of them) that they're glowing. How can you tell me that life doesn't begin at conception? The connection between mother and the conceived is indescribable. THERE IS A PERSON GROWING INSIDE OF THAT WOMAN. How does this not amaze people?

And that's not even Obama's argument, because he's fine with partial birth abortions. Warning: This is graphic. I'm not sure everyone realizes what a partial birth abortion is. Let me spell it out for you: The doctor sees a baby's head coming out of the birth canal; he stabs it with a sharp tool; and he sucks its brains out. End of story. The baby is coming out. It tastes air; and then it dies. MURDER!

So you're educated, McCain supports abortions in the event of a rape or that the mother may die in childbirth. I'm not fine with this, but he's set his standard. Palin says no-abortion, no-how, not ever. Oh by the way, in case you've been hiding under a rock, Palin is a woman and she has a choice too like the rest of us empowered women of the 2000s. Yet she says, no matter what, the mother should be maternal enough to carry that child to term. And let me tell you why she rocks: She puts her money where her mouth is. She carried her last child to term even though she knew it would be born with Downs Syndrome. She valued the life, she followed her God-given motherly intuition, and still yesterday she was criticized for bearing and loving her own child.

So here's another choice I have: Who to vote for. You can bet your bottom dollar my vote's going to McCain/Palin, if only for this very issue. Who are you going to choose? For me, Obama's abortion policies are the FINAL STRAW.

Always a Bride-to-Be

2008-08-22T12:36:00.003-06:00

If there's one thing I've realized about being a "bride-to-be," it's that every day is preparation. So I bought the dress; reserved the church; picked out some food, some flowers, and some guests.

There have been some difficult times planning this wedding. I've now managed to fight off this nagging ulcer maliciously developed after trying to create a guest list of 250 people or less when clearly more people than that expect to be invited. And there have been some wonderful parts. This week I tried my dress, veil, shoes, jewelry--everything--on all at once, and I've never felt so much a princess in my life. I tried it on while listening to the song I'll walk down the aisle to, and I practically started crying in front of my own mirror!

But now that all of those large tasks are done, I have been surprised to find myself still in preparation mode. I'm sticking (attempting to stick) to my strict wedding diet and exercise regime. I'm constantly rearranging my wedding gifts and cleaning out old things that we won't need in our house. I need to know what lotions make my skin the softest; I've set up a tanning schedule; I've been trying to keep my nails perfectly manicured. Every day I wake up as a bride, go through the day as a bride, and make several decisions based on the fact that, I am a bride.

To some of you, this may seem crazy. But as I came to this realization of my recent behavior, I thought, "How wonderful this is!" There is a day that is coming soon, and not only is it a source of joy and excitement in my life, it's the motivation I need to strive toward perfection, both for my own well-being and to please my future husband.

Whoa. Sound familiar?
Ever heard of the church being called the "bride of Christ?"

It's funny how you discover more of God as you discover and experience more of life. But suddenly, I understood the bigger picture; and preparing for my own wedding has been the springboard for preparing for my eternal marriage to my Lord.

The correlations between wanting to please my husband and please my God are so beautiful; it's not that I can "buy" their love, or even make them love me more by being "better." It's that because I love them so, I want to be the best for them.

Plus, despite the ulcer, being a bride-to-be is fun! The details! The anticipation! The newness and excitement! Realizing that I'm a bride for my Jesus means that even after this earthly wedding is over, I can still be preparing! I am until that day He returns, always a Bride-to-Be, blushing, full of joy, and completely in love every day.

This Is Why I'm Hot

2008-06-26T15:09:00.004-06:00

No, thank you, Mims. I don't mean "This is why I'm attractive."
Today's entry is about why I'm FUMING mad. I'm irate! I'm absolutely ticked!

My world, my America is spinning out of control. If we weren't still between shining seas, I don't think I'd even recognize my country any more. Isn't anyone proud to be an American?!

Maybe my reasons for being mad will make you a little angry too.

Reason #1
PBS's Version of a World War 2 Re-write

So I heard a commercial today for an upcoming special on World War 2 presented by PBS. Completely engrossed with the time period and THE war, I was so excited to watch the documentary; that is, until I learned the premise.

Apparently, a Mr. Ken Burns has decided to produce a new version of the war for PBS, using very pointed eyewitness accounts. We are now going to be educated on what really went down with one of the largest wars the world has ever seen: American totalitarianism exploited itself upon all of humankind, bombing the innocent, and threatening the freedom of self-governing countries just because they didn't share our views of democracy.

Am I outraged because this is what my country did?! NO. I'm outraged because I'm far too educated to know that this is not the mindset of those who fought in the war.

So now what happens? Poor Mr. Smith, 90-years-old, is watching TV in his Lazy-Boy, a few months away from death maybe. His wife is gone, but her picture is sitting on the shelf next to his medals from service in World War 2. He was a hero. He flips the channel to PBS because he heard about the documentary on the war; he thinks maybe he'll enjoy a trip down memory lane. He's feeling patriotic, recognizes the places featured, and maybe even some faces in pictures.

Then BAM. Slap in the face. You weren't a hero, Mr. Smith. You were an aid to the brutal, reckless, imperialist nature that is and always has been America! SCREW your military service!

THIS MAKES ME ANGRY!

Reason #2
The President of Kazakhstan's Daughter Says No 'Real Men' Are Running for President

The President of Kazakhstan's influential daughter has made the claim that the world is becoming feminized. Basically, she stated that there are few "real men" left, and she particularly pointed to our upcoming American Presidential election.

Does it make me angry that she said this about my country? NO! It makes me angry that this is so unfortunately true.

Rush Limbaugh looked a little further into this on his show today, discussing the recent and extreme rise in female depression across the nation. He equated it to the lack of real men. Where are our leaders? Where are our patriots? Why is there no one to look up to?

My life has been so blessed with wonderful male role models. In my opinion, there is no pedestal high enough on which to place my father. My boyfriend is a man of integrity and intelligence. I have had pastors with unmatched education and Christian world views.

But alas, I am a rare specimen being one bred among God-fearing, educated, respectable gentlemen. Why aren't the men I know running the country? Why are our leaders so soft-spoken, allowing women like Hilary and Nancy Pe-gross-i to make loudmouthed decisions?

Reason #3
Freaking Get Off of President Bush

If you have read past entries, you can be certain that I am not one of those unaware Republicans who thinks that President Bush has done no wrong. But leave the man alone, for Pete's sake.

The way I see it, there are several groups here who need to hear this message, but due to my respect for your time, I'll point out two:

PARTY ABANDONERS!
Do you know that the morale of the Colorado Republican Convention this year was described as "bleak?" Do you know that our party has lost any if not all momentum? You cowards have allowed one man, who you claimed has shamed you, to bring down an entire Party. And it's not even his fault! Why don't you stand up for yourselves? Instead what do you do? You become appeasers , choosing John McCain the psuedo-Republican to reach out across the aisle. As Snurdley would say, get some onions. The public-perception of the Republican Party is YOUR fault.

WAR PROTESTERS!
Let me just begin by asking a simple question. Would you have rather President Bush didn't check to see if there were weapons of mass destruction? Okay, another question. Would you have rather President Bush taken the backseat and just sat around to see if the Terrorists decided to stop by our country again? Ann Coulter, though out of control at times, really grabbed my attention with a recent article in which she claims President Bush is a good President. Why? Look at the safety of our nation. Have we had a terrorist attack since 9/11? Let's hope there some truth in Hilary's "phone into the White House" commercials in the event of a 3 a.m. emergency if you elect Obama to office. In the meantime, I'll be constructing a bomb shelter in my backyard.

In the Olden Days

2008-06-13T14:15:00.003-06:00

I have been writing a lot lately. I am distraught over the thinking of my generation, and it has consumed my thoughts politically, philosophically, and spiritually speaking.

When we were young, my sister would often use the saying "In the olden days..." with a far-off, dreamy voice, looking to the sky with eyebrows raised as if in doing so she could remember back to a different era, one before our time. It seemed so silly to watch her do it, but you can't deny the irony between a childlike innocence and the overuse of this phrase. Was it that innocence desperately reaching back toward a time when there was something it could relate to?

Most of you who read our blogs know that Tracy and I are huge, huge fans of WSJ Opinion Journal columnist Peggy Noonan. There's no doubt I find most of the woman's political views sheer genius, and I hope that perhaps one day I will write with her clarity. Today Drudge posted her article "Brave New World" to his site.

In this entry she compares the ongoing battle between McCain and Obama in two ways. The first, and obvious, was age--actual physical age. But the second was an age of mentality. She called McCain "Old America" and Obama "New America," and then goes on to describe the honor and patriotism that is Old America, and the disdain that New America projects on to tradition in a self-justified (yet arrogant) air.

One line in particular struck a chord, probably because I felt like she was describing me: "Some young Americans have Old America heads and souls." And I thought, "They do? Where are you?!"

My mom always teases me that I was born in the wrong era. She thinks I belong in a world of hat boxes, afternoon teas, train rides, and romance. I wholeheartedly agree with her. But it's not just aesthetic appeal that draws me to times past. It's a belief system; one that says, "It's okay to question yourself, your faith, and your country, but don't disrespect what's been there for so long. Don't throw off tradition and the beauty of it."

To all of you Obama supporters out there: You're not the first. I know Obama is all for change (as we discussed yesterday), but it is nothing new. You want to know why? It's a simple rebellion. One that says, "I don't like what all those older folks have been doing for the past 100 years. And even though I know nothing about why or how or what it really means, I'm going to choose the EXACT opposite and throw it all off."

To me, this attitude really only depicts a lack of maturity. A truly mature and independent thinker has the capacity to look at the past, to study our sensational history and tradition, and then through analysis and Divine guidance, choose what is good and what is not. It is through this process that we should be ever-improving our society. Why are we not improving? Because we are not respecting and learning from the past.

So maybe I'm not a modern girl. Maybe patriotism is soon to be dead. Maybe I'm so conservative that, to you, I'm the equivalent of a 153-year-old great-grandmother. Fine. I have an Old America heart and soul. And I also am rooted in tradition, standing on the wisdom of forefathers, not discounting their hard work, their labor, and their pride. And in that respect, I am perfectly content to be dreamily stuck "in the olden days."

A Look at Obama's "Change"

2008-06-11T15:36:00.006-06:00

I am sure you all are well aware that you will not find a trace of Obama support on this blog. It's not simply an opposition to his beliefs, but also a basic annoyance at the fact that I can never really get what he's saying. I seemed to be constantly asking myself, "What does he mean? What does he stand for?"

The answer I got? Change.

That's all well and good, but well, it's not good enough. It's one thing to speak of change, but a dedicated voter should want evidence of a candidate's stance on the issues. So rather than listen to him talk circles around how he was going to change Washington, I decided to take a little look into how he's made effort to change it since being there. He is a Senator, after all.

What a shock! I had always heard people refer to Obama as "moderate," and certainly most of my "moderate" friends are flocking to him. (Side-note-slash-tangent: I despise the term "moderate" in reference to political feelings. Make a decision. Don't ride the fence. Don't be lukewarm. If you agree with one issue of a one Party and one issue for another Party, then say so. "Moderate" to me is a lazy way of saying, "I don't really think one way or the other and I can't be bothered to figure out just what it is I really think." Hhhhhh!)

Anyway, back to how Obama is NOT moderate, it seems to me that the "change" Obama is referring to is, in fact, purging America of any last remnants of conservativism that may still exist after Bush leaves office. (And yes, that was a reference to all the Party traitors who can't take the heat because the current President, who happens to be a Republican, has reached the lowest approval ratings in history).

Obama is in full support of all types of abortion; of smothering corporate business and free enterprise; of releasing sex offenders on "good" behavior; and a number of various other gross and flagrantly liberal ideologies.

A little curious about his voting record yourself now? See below. I don't even have to say anything else. Obama's idea of change has become quite clear.

ABORTION
NO SB 230 (1997)
To prohibit partial-birth abortion unless necessary to save the life of a mother and makes performance of the procedure a Class 4 felony for the physician.

NO HB 709 (2000)
To prohibit state funding of abortion and induced miscarriages except when necessary to save the life of the mother. Excludes premature births from funding except to produce a viable child when necessary to save the life of a mother. Would permit funding in cases of rape or incest when payment is authorized under federal law.

NO SB 1661 (2002)
A part of the Born Alive Infant Protection Package. Would create a cause of action if a child is born alive after an abortion and the child is then neglected through failure to provide medial care after birth.

CRIME
NO SB 381 (1997)
To require prisoners to pay court costs for frivolous lawsuits against the state.

NO SB 485 (1999)
To give no offer of "good time" for sex offenders sentenced to the County Jail. (Obama was the only vote against this measure)

UNIONS
YES HB 3396 (2003)
To make unionization easier by not requiring a secret ballot to organize if 50% of the eligible workers publicly sign a card of support for unionization.

YES SB 230 (2003)
Entitles a teacher who is elected as an officer of the state or national teacher's union to be granted a leave of absence for up to six years, or the period of time the teacher is serving.

YES SB 1070 (2003)
Allows college graduate assistants who teach college courses be eligible to join a union.

CHILD PROTECTION
PRESENT SB 609 (2001)
To restrict the location of buildings with "adult" uses (meaning pornographic video stores, strip clubs, etc.) within 1,000 feet of any public or private elementary or secondary school,public park, place or worship, preschool, day-care facility, mobile park or residential area.

NO HB 1812 (1999)
To require school boards to install software on public computers accessible to minors to block sexually explicit material.

TAXES
NO SB 1075 (1999)
To create an income tax credit for all full-time K-12 pupils in an amount equal to 25% of qualified education expenses up to a maximum of $500 per family.

YES SB 1725 (2003)
To restore the Illinois Estate Tax.

YES SB 1733 (2003)
To impose a Gas Use Tax on the purchase of natural gas from outside the state of Illinois for use or consumption in Illinois. Forces the delivering supplier to pay 2.4 cents per therm of gas, or the customer can elect to become a "selfassessing" purchaser and pay 5% of the purchase price or 2.4 cents per therm.

ELECTIONS
YES SB 1415 (2003)
To create public funding for supreme court races.

GAY RIGHTS
NOT VOTING HB 581 (2003)
Allows domestic partners to be allowed to assume the rights of a spouse or survivor with regards to pension benefits under the Chicago Teacher's pension system.

NO SB 228 (1997)
Changes the "Illinois Equal Opportunity Act of 1997" to stipulate, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any unit of government or school district that gives benefits to same sex couples under any criteria must give equal benefits to heterosexual couples.

DRUGS
YES SB 880 (2003)
To allow the purchase of 10 hypodermic needles from a pharmacy without a prescription.

PRESENT HB 2000 (4659)
To establish a zero-tolerance drug-testing policy for Department of Corrections Employees.

BUSINESS
NO SB 777 (1999)
To end the unemployment insurance fund building tax.

NO SB 879 (1999)
To end the minimum contribution tax rate for the unemployment system.

NO SB 795 (2001)
To reduce employers' minimum contribution insurance rate.

YES SB 796 (2003)
To increase the Illinois minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $6.50 per hour.

Retrieved from "Obama's Voting Record Belies Moderate Image" by Amanda Carpenter

A Patriotic Redemption

2008-06-02T14:43:00.003-06:00

McCain is still at it. Just when I find his redeeming qualities, he does something else to irritate the conservative end of the Republican party. In fact, the other day when asked my political views, I said, "I was a Republican when they were conservative. Now I'm just a conservative." I never thought I'd lose a sense of connectedness with the party; but I find myself drifting, not because my views have changed but because theirs have!

Upon my daily Drudge search for delicious political scandal (Matt Drudge, I love you!), this headline caught my eye: "US soldier refuses to serve in 'illegal Iraq war.'" Um, what? It's true. A young soldier, who claims to have been solicited by the army beginning at age 16, now thinks, that even though he's still contractually serving his country, that he somehow has the right to refuse an assignment.

Now I think to myself, what would happen if my boss asked me to do something and I just said, "No." Seriously, would you have the guile to look your employer in the eye and say, "I won't do what you ask?" Yet this young man has not only refused the request of those in authority over him, he is publicly defying his duty to an American people, something he signed up for, something he said he would do.

I travel a lot. I walk through the airport, killing time. On every pointless stroll, I see a soldier--coming, going, waiting. I'll feel a pang in my heart, wondering if they're leaving family or children or a girlfriend. I want to ask them, "Are you afraid?" But at the same time, just the sight of them stirs a sense of pride within me. I want to run to their side, take their hand, and say, "Thank you." In fact, I quite often do.

And what has this young man, this abandoner told them? "You are wrong. You think you're patriotic. You think you're serving your country. But you're wrong." He's worked the system; but he refuses to do what he doesn't want to do. He's a two-year-old throwing a tantrum. I thought you had to be 18 to enter the military.

You see, it doesn't matter if they think that the war is right or wrong any more. Those men in the airport committed to something and they're sticking to it. They don't allow cowardice, pride, or even a false sense of fame to distract them from their duty. To me, they are the ones with true character and I commend them for their brave spirit.

This was all perfect timing too, because around the same time, the Navy released McCain's records. I was skeptical, of course; but as I read, I got even bigger chills than the ones I feel when I see the soldiers in the airport. Did this man love his country! Was this man a hero!

Come November, I will have an internal conflict--McCain's beliefs are not entirely my own. I feel in many ways that he does stray from the conservative end of some of the issues. But what else? He feels a sense of duty, empowered by a love for his country. And that, my friends, wells up in me a sense of respect, something I can hold on to. That respect reminds me of why I claimed the Republican party in the first place.

Someone Should Have Warned Us

2008-04-09T09:12:00.004-06:00

My great friend Laura Belsley asked a question a few days that struck me: "Why didn't any one warn me that being in my 20s would be so hard?"

I spent life from age five planning my life when I reached so-called adulthood. And once I reached the enlightening era of college, and then even completed grad school, I assumed that being a grown-up was just around the corner. It was.

But let me tell you something, the one thing I have been waiting my whole life for, I'm not good at. John Mayer says it best, "Stop this train. I want to get off and go home again."

Some experiences I have had in my 20s, others may not have to experience: degrading jobs that essentially strip you of any shred of dignity; flooding apartments; moving across the country where you know no one; and difficult decisions regarding work, commitments, and probably not too far off, marriage.

Seriously though, how many of us graduated college, with visions of getting the job, moving some place cool, meeting the guy, and still having just as much fun as we did before we walked down the aisle with that funny looking hat (the one with the tassel that INSISTS on poking you in the eye every time you move). It's like a musical basically, walking into town with degree in one hand, fresh ideas in another, and the world falls at your glamorous feet. (Maybe that's my problem--I have heinous feet.)

Instead, how many of graduated college IN REALITY, with no money, moved to a new place with no friends or home, lived off of someone else's leftovers (or Whole Foods samples!), and are still desperately trying to get it together discovering that, there was a lot they didn't teach us in college.

I'm particularly bombarded by these questions today because I have a very grown up decision to make regarding my career in the not too distant future. I LOVE my current job. I'm trusted to do a lot of work on my own, I work with politicians and other city leaders, and I know that my efforts contribute to the greater good.

But yesterday I got offered my dream job.
Not an interview.
They called me to HIRE me.

I will be making a pros/cons list today if someone would please like to call and help me.

And I'm going in there later this morning to have a very blunt conversation with my would-be boss. I'm already in turmoil over the decision that I'm going to have to make, probably by the end of the week.

So here I am, 23 years old, and I'm basically ready to retire for fear that stress may overtake me and my stomach. Choose retirement, a major decision that leaves really only one other thing to decide: which beach should I escape to?

Becoming Apathetic About Apathy

2008-03-17T11:10:00.002-06:00

I am a woman of the passions, fair enough. I may, more than many others, especially those my age, possess a strong interest in an increasingly large amount of topics, and may exercise with unprecedented energy. Whether this is abnormal is not the question; I have found that it is. It is entirely disheartening to me that, with each generation, the trend toward apathy is waxing and spreading like an epidemic.

I have been known to lash out at those opposing my views, under the recommendation that they don't take offense and just consider that the passion speaking. But that's just the point: no one takes offense, no one disagrees, and half the time, I wonder if anyone even realizes what I'm talking about. Not only have people become so utterly lethargic in their interests, they are seemingly uneducated in the areas of history, literature, and even current affairs. We are generations with the world literally at our fingertips--and God knows those fingertips are always accessing that world of information. What the h-e-double-hockey-sticks are we doing with it?!

Hopefully you are blessed enough to have those influences in your life, individuals who are just as passionate as you are but have the grace to step back and try to understand why things the way they are. I have a link to Tracy Domingo's blog, and I hope you read it. But if you don't regularly, please read her latest post. In wisdom beyond our years she truly analyzes, in eloquent fashion, a distaste for an apathetic world and how it is effecting the larger parts of our lives.

The Good, The Bad, The Scratched Pink Blackberry

2008-03-13T09:00:00.001-06:00

Ever have those rollercoaster days? Yesterday was mine. You seriously would not believe this day. First, I'll list the amazing things that happened, because there were a lot of great things:

1. The morning was warm enough for me to walk to work without a coat.
2. I spent the whole morning at the capitol and got to learn how to lobby.
3. Until about noon, I had that totally awesome "I'm running on three hours of sleep" kind of high (nevermind the crash at exactly 12:01).
4. I received a letter stating that the grant I submitted last week for work, the first one I have ever written in my life--and one that was, if I do say so, of the caliber that handing it over to my boss felt as good as turning in my thesis all over again--was awarded my organization and in the full amount originally requested.
5. It was coffee night with Tracy at my all-time favorite coffee shop!

What a day of wonderful glorious things. These events, of course, as Murphy's law requires, had to be intertwined with the following episodes, that were not of equal positivity, to say the least:

1. Remember that 12:01 crash I mentioned?
2. The scones at the breakfast this morning were terrible.
3. I didn't have time to go to the coffee shop in the morning.
4. I got completely chewed out by a new colleague for a website that I didn't create not being efficient enough for his tastes. Oh, by the way; today was his third day on the job. And his position isn't in any way remotely related to websites or any other marketing.

As is the way of true storytelling, I have of course have saved the best for last so to speak. For some of you, perhaps by reading this next portion and interjecting your own exaggerated imagery will find it at least a positive point to your day. Others, you may see the utter negativity of the situation. Me? Well, the following description relays nothing more or less than the very pinnacle of personal humiliation for this week (I hope):

I knew it was a bad idea to wear semi-stretched slingbacks today and walk all the way to work. But I did it anyway and made it there just fine. It was on the way home that I ran into some problems, or rather, fell into them. Classic Sarah move: caught my heel in a crack in the street and down, down, down I went. In the middle of the road. Prada (real or otherwise is irrelevant) collapses to my side; the shoe in question goes flying over my head, and precious pink Blackberry goes skidding across the ground, face down. The burning sensation on my knee turned out to be the blacktop scraping my skin, no thanks to my favorite (and most expensive) suit tearing in the knee.

Eventually (okay, like one second later), I realized I was sitting in the middle of the street and I should scramble to collect my belongings. It was then, of course, I also noticed that I was the only female within range and had an audience of five men. This of course also yields to more humiliation--if there had been a woman there we could have giggled over the toils of stillettos the big city.

But then again, this also was my out; from humiliation I moved to righteous indignation: of the five men there, only one even acknowledged that I had met my match with that crack in the sidewalk. One said "Are you okay?" and continued walking. So I was left to pick up myself, Prada, "Pinkberry," shoe, and my pride, and scurry off to the safety of the sidewalk. Stupid pigheaded non-chivalrous men.

Of course I'm fine now, no blood was drawn at the knee; but please pray for my cute little Blackberry as it suffers through scratches on its face and pretty pink paint.

I Thought It Was Supposed to Be a GRAND Old Party

2008-03-12T20:58:00.003-06:00

Republican through and through, a family of elephants, conservative to the core. Thus is the way of the Kincheloe family, and I swear my father could write the book on being a true Republican. I'm not an expert like my dad, but I can tell an elephant from a donkey--even when one of them is wearing wolves' clothing.

Who's in the wolf suit in my opinion? McCain, for one. Please tell me what self-evolved political geniuses got together and determined that this ancient, deceptive, meathead was an ideal candidate to represent the values of the Republican party.

I'm not going to go all James Dobson on you and tell you that since McCain is the nominee that you shouldn't participate in this year's election. The only thing worse than McCain-the-pseudo-Republican running the country would be an enormous band of Dobson loyalists who are so far over to the right they fall off the edge into a non-participating oblivion, and we wind up with a Clinton. Again.

But I would like to make this point: my first year as a "grown-up" receiving "real" paychecks, and I'm forking over more than $7,000 annually to the government in taxes. "Now you know why I'm a Republican," says Daddy. So why would I be interested in a candidate who initially voted AGAINST Bush's tax cuts?

I shouldn't put all the blame on McCain. You can find a Republican who's "for" anything these days. Let's not forget when Giuliani was in the race. That man couldn't tell his right hand from his left when it came to social issues.

Or Mike Huckabee, Dobson's dream nominee. I might have a strong Christian background, but how can I vote for a man who essentially wavered on immigration issues and who had the most absurd tax policies known to man?

And this is my beef with Bush too, whom I still have some loyalty toward despite his declining popularity. What was up with "No Child Left Behind?" What kind of liberal-minded, excellence-eliminating process is this? I'm sorry, but in third grade, I would not have been happy to have to stunt my learning of American history so the ESL kids who were forced to assimilate into my advanced class knew what was going on.

But perhaps my true embitterment toward the GOP is more at the local level. That's right, nearly five weeks ago, I submitted an online form to volunteer with the local Republican party; and seeing as the DNC is here in less than seven months, I thought they'd be stocking up on volunteers. Alas, I haven't gotten so much as a "thank you for applying" form email. And neither has my friend, Tracy, who also applied five weeks ago. The very fact that they can't send out a generic email within a five week time period PROVES they need me.

Despite my bitter diatribes, my devotion will continue. I suppose in a way, it's my idealizing those patriotic and solid values which I would like to, in a perfect world, attribute to my party of choice.

I guess it's all relative. At least we don't have Hilary. And that in and of itself is quite GRAND.

It's More Than Just Fitzgerald!

2008-02-28T17:41:00.004-07:00

Several weeks ago, I posted a blog regarding the work This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In that posting, I made the argument to draw parallels between Fitzgerald's perception of the 1920s news industry and today's codes of journalistic objectivity.

What struck me as so interesting when reading Fitzgerald was how much of his culture I could apply to my life today. My initial fascination with the 1920s era was tied to ideas of discovery and a different type of lifestyle, in particular their socialization processes and to see the younger generations of that world let go of some of the class distinctions originally adhered to by their parents. But the more I read, the more I saw that social movement effecting our lives today.

Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks so. I had a long conversation with my boss the other day, one which was rooted in the differences between American, Irish, and British literature, and somehow wound itself right into the early 20th century. But he was able to offer up heaps of information about the ties between 1920 and today. For example, the majority of our slang was originated by the 1920s social movement. Don't believe it? There's an entire website dedicated to the slang developed in that era; it's amazing to see how many correlate to our modern-day phrases!

It doesn't stop there though. Next on my reading list is a book entitled Terrible Honesty: Mongrel Manhattan in the 1920s. The book, review by The New York Times, was written by Ann Douglas who thought the 1920s social, political, and art movement to be the largest of any in American culture to this day. I'll check back in with this theory after I've read the book; but I think it's safe to say that my obsession may have been deepened a little bit!

Why I Love Limbaugh, Hate McCain

2008-02-15T16:11:00.003-07:00

What a glorious morning when I came into the office, opened up iGoogle, and this fantastic headline set the tone for the day:

Limbaugh sees no reconciliation with McCain
Rush Limbaugh, who draws more than 13.5 million listeners a week, considers John McCain to have so betrayed conservative principles that the commentator has been openly flirting with the enemy.

I know there are a lot of anti-Limbaugh fans out there, and fair enough. My mom sums it up best saying:

"I just can’t handle his arrogance. I read the article and was disgusted with his expressed opinions of his own importance. For example, one interviewer was asking him if it would help him out with lots of “fodder” if McCain or Clinton wins. His response was that it didn’t matter – if he said that it did, that would mean his show would be dependent on other people, and he didn’t need them. The show is all about him and his ability to entertain, and he doesn’t need anyone else."

But truth be told, I grew up on the man, loving the morning rides in my father's car where I could pretend like I knew what was going on, laughing at, what at the time appeared to me as obvious sarcasm.

But now that I'm a pseudo-grown-up, and I take a genuine interest in politics, I admire the man. My mother is entirely correct in saying that he is arrogant; and probably if I met him in person I would hate him for that. What I love about Rush is that he will always, always tell it like it is from a STRICTLY politically conservative opinion, and he'll do it with flare. I mean, the man has an audience of more than 13 million listeners--I'm obviously not the only one who feels this way.

The closer we get to this election, the more "in-your-face" the Democratic candidates have become. What sickens me about the Republican party is that instead of sticking to their guns and standing up for what the GOP originally stood for, they try to appease the bullies. NOT RUSH. He puts it out there and says it with balls that McCain wishes he had. What are Republicans voting for? Why don't they just go be Democrats?

So way to say that you're a Republican AND be one, Rush. As for McCain, well, view these for a Limbaugh-style summary of the truth.

The Great State of Colorado?

2008-01-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

Right now, at this very moment, I am on hold, listening to quite possibly the worst jazz/xylophone music ever created, desperately waiting for someone at the DMV to just pick up the phone and answer my question. Here's what I need to know, that way maybe you can answer the question for me so I don't turn old and decrepit on my couch waiting for "the next available representative:"

1. Do I have to have Colorado insurance to get Colorado plates on my car? Or can I keep the insurance I have until it expires?
2. If my car is technically titled under my dad's name, am I going to have to go through a whole re-title process to actually register my car in this state?

Now Roxanne said hi. I asked her my questions. She said, "Just one moment." Hhhhh.

I have wanted to live in Colorado forever. And when I say forever, I mean basically my whole life. I love this state. But the past three days, as I have been trying to become a legal Colorado resident, I'm not so sure I like the people here.

It's not just Colorado. Organizations like the DMV are notorious for being slow and rude. But why? Isn't that someone's first impression when they move to a new place? Aren't those people suppose to represent this state? And if they can't at least be friendly, isn't there a way to ensure that they are at least more knowledgeable about the laws so they can answer questions?

And one more pet peeve before I get off this soap box. DO NOT direct me to your web site if it is not helpful. And DMV, yours is not helpful. You can't find a single thing you need on there, and quite frankly, a lot of the state's web sites are that way.

Now I'm on hold to silence. At least when there were xylophones I knew I was still actually connected.

Think Before You're Bought

2008-01-23T10:38:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite books is This Side of Paradise, a "secret" autobiography by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The story describes the scandalous political, social and philosophical uprisings of the Roaring Twenties; and it doesn't cease to amaze me that there are messages in the decades-old book congruent with issues today.

Here's a quote from Book 2 of the novel: "Any rich, unprogressive old party with that particularly grasping, acquisitive form of mentality known as financial genius can own a paper that is the intellectual meat and drink of thousands of tired, hurried men, men too involved in the business of modern living to swallow anything but predigested food. For two cents the voter buys his politics, prejudices and philosophy....That is why I have sworn not to put pen to paper until my ideas either clarify or depart entirely..."

Fitzgerald is speaking of newspapers, but in the world of PR and advertising, we are "bought," so to speak, to disseminate information. And much of society today can be that society of 80 years ago—far too caught up in life to do anything but accept the messages presented to them.

That's an awful lot of power in our hands as communicators. When I'm writing or constructing a creative piece, I try my best to take Fitzgerald's advice: a basic "think before you write" principle. What he was talking about was journalistic objectivity, and I think it's important that we apply that same honesty and clarity of mind to all our work.

It's Me, Whether I Want You to Know or Not

2008-01-22T18:34:00.000-07:00

So among thousands of newly motivated Americans, though actually I suppose I have neglected the timeliness of the matter, I have established three solid resolutions for this year. They're mine, so you don't need to know all of them; but one is weighing rather heavily on my mind because it is time sensitive. Most of you probably don't know, but for the past several months I have been working on a novel; and it is my goal to have it drafted by the end of 2008.

Being my introspective self, I had to sit down and figure out why I kept putting off something that I so desperately wanted to do. Already a bookworm, I have been reading more and more extensively to learn more about fiction writing; and I have found that, in two ways, fiction is really a lot of fact. I am beginning to assume that, at least in the cases of successful and widely read stories, fictional books are created along the same processes as non-fiction and probably contain more truth than anything.

Firstly, the greatest stories must create an environment of believability, one that a reader can assume existed during a particular time and into which they can immerse themselves. This is the first step of understanding and being a part of a story; and, on the writer's part, requires tremendous research and attention to detail. The more I write the more concerned I become that the setting I'm creating won't be realistic to an audience, especially a well-educated one. I read stories of authors who spent months or even years researching to create a fiction novel.

The second component of truth are the traits possessed by the writer. Though the characters and events may be fictional, a writer writes from what he or she knows and has experienced. It may be a direct narrative or interjected into the story through a character; a "filling in," so to speak, of missing pieces; or even a creation of how the author believes it could have been or wished it would have become.

It is through personal experiences that an author may relieve the most painstaking traumas of life or create a new versional and make for themselves a happy ending. A story within a story, Ian McEwan does this through the main character in his novel Atonement, Briony Tallis. Trying desperately not to spoil the ending, Briony is notorious (throughout the entirety of the book actually), for creating an environment better, more exciting, or even more justified than the life she has actually known.

Of these two elements of truth, both make me nervous, though I fear the latter more. The first is daunting because accuracy and believability is time consuming, and though you have a right to fabricate information in a made-up story, the need to seem educated puts additional pressure on writing. It places a stigma of looming scrutiny over every word composed.

Despite the hard work of accuracy in fiction writing, it doesn't compare to the sense of vulnerability one experiences pouring themselves into their characters, exposing who they really are. At the end of this year, so much of the "inner" me will be exposed for many (hopefully the world!) to see. There is so much I am dying to portray and yet I am tempted to restrain at the same time due to a grave fear of revealing to everyone the absolute me in my head and in my heart.

i hate academic elitists.

2007-09-26T14:22:00.000-06:00

now, let me tell you. grad school is no piece of cake; however, just because i don't have a 9,000 iq doesn't mean i can't do it. let's review the crowd that i have been constantly surrounded by for the past two semesters:

1. the ever pompous graduate school professor.

2. those students who were not ready to give up partying their brains out so they attended a graduate school program that they somehow managed to squeeze into.

3. students who think of nothing other than being a student and attach books to their heads by little strings in order to always have their nose in one.

based on this sample of the population into which i have immersed myself, let's take the focus off of the whole and hone in on one group in particular: the ever pompous graduate school professor. ah yes, i have been spoiled during the course of my academic career, being surrounded by teachers, professors, and mentors who have taken at least a shread of interest in my personality or life outside of school. yet for the graduate professor, there is no life outside the bleak and dismal world of academia. in fact, disregarding whatever personal research interests they may have, there is no life outside of their class and theirs alone.

what has sparked this rant of hatred and anguish toward the director of my academic future and well being? gather 'round kids; it's story time.

this week is midterm week, a.k.a. the glorious week preceeding the much anticipated break of springtime, during which professors bombard their students with outrageous amounts of work, the favored items being large papers and comprehensive exams. clearly, it is a time of stress and emotional eating. but that's another story.

yesterday i was punished by a professor for two things: being studious and having excellent time management skills. THE HORROR. seriously, how dare i? and what, pray tell, you may ask, did i do to receive this unnamed punishment? i tell you, i'm ashamed to say, i...studied. for five days. that's right folks! the queen of cram herself had been studying for this delightful midterm for the past five days.

let's discuss this test a little: 35 questions total over seven 20-30 page chapters. i had a sample of last year's test. one question states "name one disadvantage and one advantage of random sample selection." now whether that seems obvious to you, or even if you don't understand any of those words, let me tell you that in my book, the section on random sample selection was like three sentences long. how the h-e-double hockey sticks am i supposed to know that's important?

so i get to class, frazzled from so many days of reading dry, pointless, and irritating material, sit in my usual seat in the stuffy conference room deemed a classroom, look smack dab into the eyes of my professor, and he starts handing out a paper. and what does he say? no he doesn't give test instructions, he says, "folks, tonight we're talking about survey."

my professor forgot the midterm.

we had discussed it the week before. it was plain as day on the syllabus. naturally there is smoke coming out of my ears, evidence of my beligerent anger; does he apologize? no.

and my reward was threefold:

1. i now have a midterm the week i get back from a lovely spring break spent in california, where i'm meant to have a good old carefree time with momma kinch and sister rae.

2. an additional chapter's worth of material has been added to the already subject-heavy exam.

3. we were demeaned for being upset.

i assume that by this point, you all have in some way, shape, or form related to the horrific details of this story. the answer to our problems? overthrow the academic elitists.

hmmm...you'd think that after LITERALLY 50 years of teaching, he could remember such events as earth-moving as a midterm. but excuse me.when he was in grad school, he probably was the one with the book attached to his head and he forgot to detach the little strings so he could read something other than his text for five minutes. like a syllabus.

i mean, who needs organization in the grandiose world of academia?

while we're on this kick, let's talk about how i have been in graduate school for two semesters now, and have done nothing but busy work or preparation for the ONE paper i will write at the end of all of this: the thesis. and by the way, what is a thesis besides regurgitated information with the potential thread of your own opinion, an opinion which is, in most cases, not even fully your own, rather the manipulation of said opinion by the ever pompous graduate professor himself! i have not perfected one press release, not written one feature article, or learned about one thing that i will do as a p.r. professional other than conduct research.

but hold the phone. sometime in july, i'll be able to put the letters "MA" on my resume, and isn't that in and of itself enough reward?

thrilling i tell you. i can't wait to list off all of the things i learned in grad school to my potential employers.

1.

2.

3.

that'd about cover it.