Rick!!!

Serving up some SERIOUS!

IF you read my blog (you are brilliant) then you are (very) aware of my previous two exam grades in my Statistics class (100 [go me] & 88 [whatever, it's a B].) Point is that we get to drop our lowest exam grade and we just took our 3rd exam (not the final) last week. Tonight our professor posted grades:

Sorry, it's hard to read, but what that says is that I made a 97 on the 3rd hourly (that is what he calls our in class tests) (odd, they usually take me about 2 hours.) Most importantly the "thresh_A" (again so hard to read) is 76.5 ~ that means that I only have to make a 76.5 on the final to pull an A in the class. And "thresh_B" = 51.5 ~ so doable! Technically, the only reason I am able to do so well is because we get to use a tool sheet. I am a little worried though, I don't think I will be able to fit an example from EVERY problem on the final on my tool sheet. Yikes.

Time to work on that tool sheet!

Claire...a dozen cousins (for now)

My brother John & SIL Jamiee had their 3rd child/daughter tonight.
Meet Claire:

Isn't she beautiful! I can't believe how much she looks like Jenna & Abbi.

Claire makes 12...10 nieces & 2 nephews. Guess someone needs to keep trying for a few more boys for Tanner & Andrew.

Art vs. Communication Majors

I know this may seem like a very random post, but let's face it, if you are not related (hi family) or one of my many (loved) BFF's you read my blog because you need a good laugh or sometimes a reality check. Well, consider this a little of both.

A few weeks ago I was sitting in my fav class (Organizational Publications) having a conversation with Justin & Kimberly (they sit next to me) about how students that major in Art art just odd ducks. The night previous to this conversation I had been in the MAC (computer) lab working on a project for this class. The MAC lab is in the Arts building (I have discussed this before here) and it is not by choice that I use this lab, it just happens to be the only computer lab on campus (open more than 2.5 hrs a week) with InDesign & Photoshop. I do occupy a seat in this lab quite often, but need to remember my headphones for next time because the conversations that take place in this lab are, well...unfiltered to say the least.

Anyway Justin, Kimberly & I were having this conversation because others in Org Pub have the same projects due and need lab time as well and wanted to know where the lab was and is it busy and all that. I mentioned how it is a very different lab, but if you can get to the program, then who cares. Someone in the class said "Yeah, you can spot an art student a mile away." to which Kimberly said "Well, we (communications students) are no better. All it takes is the first day of class to figure out who we are, we're the ones that won't shut up!" She is right on the money and I watched in one of my next NON-Communications classes. Sure enough, the talkers...all Communications Students! And it's a good thing to, because otherwise the professors would stand up at the front of our classes either continuing to ramble or saying things like "...people, this is supposed to be a discussion..." which is sooo annoying!

Well, as a Communications Major with a canvas all my own (that would be this blog) it would not do the art world justice if I did not show the piece of art I saw yesterday in said MAC lab.

Drum roll please......please do not adjust your monitor. No, I did not steel the picture from Google Images, that is the actual picture I took with my camera phone in the MAC lab. And YES, that is indeed a BANANA CLIP!

Let's give her credit, she tried AND she is not in her pajamas, which is more than I can say for half the students on campus. But really? (Shannon, that "really?" is just for you)

A Banana Clip?! Wow. Talk about a flashback! Has anyone seen my leg warmers?

smelborp draob yeK

tdr'th , iind !motnar os...noos aga etirw llw I taht wonksiht daer nac uoy fi os,siht xif otwoh wonk I kni tnod I .tuo gnidaef si raobpyek ymtaht ees I nehw sop a etirw ot tuobasaw I

What now?

It dawned on me that I have not posted since last week and although there is little to report, has that ever stopped me from talking? Why should it now!

First off I am so sick. I hung around with mom a lot over the past days and she hangs with the babies and well, when babies are sick it's easy to pick up with all the lovin' going on. I finally managed to get some tissue with lotion last night ~ just in time for me to have already worn the skin on my nose down to the bone. I found some Zicam in the Rx suitcase (it's just an old suitcase that I keep all that sort of stuff in.) and although I have faith it still has healing powers, I am sure it is too old to do any good. Salt water and gargling is good fun, and certainly it will help my throat to feel better. If not, last night I realized that Extreme Moose Tracks ice cream certainly does!

Let's talk cell phone. I got my bill today. Really? Can a girl go over her minutes BY THAT MUCH! My bill is already outrageous thanks to my Crackberry ways, but come on...double a regular bill is a little out of control. I seriously think something should be done about cell phone services, if it were not my only telephone I might think of getting rid of it. But who am I kidding, that's never going to happen. All I know is that if I don't get a man on the line when I call AT&T I am going to hang up...because I have a sob story to tell and I need that bill reduced drastically!

Well, I'm off to have lunch with Sariah


...she is turning 9 this Saturday and she is always asking everyone from the family to come have lunch at school with her. Good times I tell ya, not quite sure I would go all the way back to Elementary School...but oh to start over!

Jobless claims highest since Sept. 11 attacks

Jobless claims highest since Sept. 11 attacks
Unemployment filings surge to 516,000, number of Americans continuing on benefits at 25-year high.

Yesterday I lost my job.

I was not a Storm Trooper, but I am adding it to my possible employment opportunties list!

I'm not quite happy...

Because well, I don't think I need to go into all the reasons this sucks. But I was not a HAPPY camper at that job. (For SO many reasons.)

So, today I will go to class and then I will go to the unemployment office and then tomorrow...I will be one of those statistics.

Monday I will start my search.

Happy Holidays!

count your many blessings...grammar/etiquette check

A few months ago I wrote about a blog called Seriously So Blessed (SSB). I even put it on my right-hand sidebar for all to enjoy. Now I realize that "enjoy" might be the wrong word all-together!

If you read my blog at all then you know I am studying Communications at KSU right now. And although I do not consider myself the most witty of people, even I can find a chuckle at my own or any other good humor.

Now the reason for my bringing up SSB is that I found myself as of late, being extremely annoyed by her methods of blogging. She writes, and yes, quite witty, but always in the most air-headed tone imaginable intentionally misspelling words. For instance anastasia rather than anesthesia, or rilly instead of really and one of my favorites slash rather than an actual /.

I realize I have never won any spelling bee's in my time, but I was recently getting caught up on my blogs of choice and couldn't stomach reading the remainder of her post. So I went on to Light Refreshments Served and I have to say, I love this blog. These women are intelligent, brilliant and witty! And all without misspelling one single word and none of these women possess any trait (given I only know them from their blog) that would lead me to give them the title of air-headed.

Additionally SSB needs an etiquette check. She is mean and even if all she does is make up these stories she still writes about them and people will still read them...and I don't know about you, but we need a few LESS mean people in the world. And even LESS mean people making mean acceptable! Don't be a hater.

It was at that moment that I realized I had to remove SSB from my sidebar. I cannot be a serious communicator and promote such lack of communication from someone in my blog world, especially someone whose communication leads to mockery and hatred.

To anyone that reads and enjoys SSB, great...promote her on YOUR sidebar. To those that don't have a clue about SSB, great. Check back later, I am sure there will be a more exciting post to read.

Peace.

Obama supporters have nothing to fill their empty pathetic lives...LOVE IT!

Tri-Fold Brochure

I am taking a class this semester called Organizational Publications. It teaches us Photoshop & InDesign and today we had our tri-fold brochure due.
I am pretty proud of mine, so I thought I would share:

(When you imagine this folded it is Kelly & Justin that should be on the front of the brochure and Chrissy & Andy on the inside.)

Thankful...

Warning: This is a rant and then I will be done.

I woke up this morning with the most excruciating pain in my stomach. No, I'm not trying to be funny and come up with a fabulous pun for last night's presidential results, I am being serious. I felt horrible and somehow managed to look up the symptoms for appendicitis, of which I am sure I was suffering.

I had slept with the windows open and it was very, very cold in my apartment. I had also eaten extremely late. Regardless I decided to text Susan and opt out of walking and go back to bed, rather than ask for a ride to the ER. I figured Kelly would be the first one to get that call anyway.

Truth be told, after Monday's visit to the dentist and the realization that my insurance is far from adequate (so horrible!), my biggest worry was being left with the entire bill from a visit where I would be told that nothing was wrong with me.

Anyway, I did finally fall back asleep and about an hour and a half later woke with a far less conflicted stomach only to be irritated beyond all belief at the conversation on The Bert Show. I usually lay in bed and listen for a while before I get out of bed, but this morning I jumped up and turned the radio off in a swiftness that Kelly & Justin would never believe! Jeff Dollar and Wendy voted for McCain and of course were giving their take on how things went down yesterday and sharing their experiences from last night. Now everyone on the show had shared theirs, so the fact that they didn't vote for Obama was the only difference. I could not believe the people that were calling in basically chewing them out for their views. It was insane. And in addition I could not believe the number of people that were first time voters. Not, "I just turned 18" first time voters...full on adult first time voters!

Tyler Perry called in to talk to The Bert Show and said this was the first time he voted. And then he went on about how he was not told how the process works and that he felt like he should have been more informed. Well guess what Tyler Perry...it's your responsibility to figure it out. You live in a free country, you can pick up the phone and call the Georgia Secretary of States office just like anyone else and find out what the process is.

You say you didn't know that there were other officials running for (re)election and so you just voted for whoever was in your party! Well congratulations, you just elected someone to run your state/county/city government whose ideas and views of policies you have no clue! You and everyone else that didn't pull up the SAMPLE BALLOT that was posted on line for ALL TO SEE! ...and somehow Jim Carry came up and apparently this was also the first time he had voted too. Give me a break! All I have heard for the last 2 years are celebrities telling me to get out and vote...well guess what? I DID...4 years ago and 4 years before that and 4 years before that! And every other opportunity in between.

FOR THE LOVE PEOPLE...are you telling me that you have complained and complained for years and years and years and now all the sudden you feel as if THIS vote will make a difference. You don't deserve a vote! I think I will ask my Senator Saxby Chambliss (who I voted for yesterday...but who is still waiting to find out he is maintains his seat) to sponsor a bill that says if you do not register to vote AND ACTUALLY VOTE when you actually turn 18, then you forfeit your right to vote in the USA for the remainder of your stay on this Earth!

And let's talk about the Vice President...I heard it all yesterday. How someone would never vote for McCain because of his choice of Sarah Palin for his running mate. "She just doesn't present herself like a VP." Well, congratulations...you elected Joe Biden, Joe who told Chuck Graham to stand up. Chuck Graham who is IN A WHEEL CHAIR! What Joe? You didn't know he was in a wheel chair? Well that's interesting...he's a member of your party...he's a Democrat! He's a Missouri Democratic Representative for the House.

So an African American is our 44th President. Is it possible that I don't care what the color of his skin is? Does it matter to any of you that there have been firsts all along the path of politics from the time of our forefathers?!

Don't tell me it's not about race and in the next breath tell me how excited you are to vote for the first time IN YOUR 50's! and to make the vote for an African American. And then as you reiterate to me how it STILL isn't about race tell me how your African American grandchildren deserve to have an African American as president!

Well guess what?! My grandchildren (shut up) would understand the difference from day one. They would know how important it is that they vote for the candidate FOR ALL OFFICES that has the same views you do. I would not have to tell them that it isn't about race, because I would not have to explain my own behavior! They would know that everyone is equal because they are raised that everyone is equal. They would know it is their responsibility to get involved and to understand and to be knowledgeable about the entire process, not just the part that is talking the LOUDEST.



Now I'm done. And today I have decided I am not going to listen to the radio or watch the news. I'm hoping tomorrow we can get back to normal. So for today, the blog is going to "Happy Thanksgiving" and we're moving on.

God bless America!

Cast your ballot...

Today is Election Day! Tuesday, November 4, 2008. Today is a great day, the weather is beautiful and the lines were...wait, there were no lines!

For weeks now all I have heard is how you need to get out and vote early to avoid the long lines that will occur on Election Day! I'm far too emotional, passionate and dare I say it...patriotic NOT to vote on the actual Election Day! Now I'm not saying that if you cast your vote early, you are not patriotic, but for me, it was about casing my ballot TODAY!

With all of that being said, I was a little worried about lines...the media had me all in knots and wondering when in the world I would have time to stand in line. So I went to class this morning and then drove over to my polling place at Lake Acworth.

Speaking of polling places, I *heart* my polling place. Who would even mind standing in line if I got to take in the beautiful surroundings of the lake, park, beach, etc.
Feeling sad for anyone that had to stand in line at a boring school or church...sorry peeps.

Anyway, I drove up, parked the Kia and walked straight into the little building. Literally. No line, no pause, no hesitation. I think there was a guy behind me, but he didn't have to slow down either. I think the only time I slowed down was when I was actually casting my ballot. Contemplating the future of our country...oh wait! I didn't have to contemplate who I think should lead our country! That was easy.
(Maybe next time Mitt)

Come tomorrow morning I will either take it all in and support who "We the people..." have chosen, or check rates for that U-haul to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

I know what you're thinking, there is not such place as Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Yes, it is a real city in Canada. SEE:


And your next thought...Moose Jaw how appropriate. I think so too.
Look how cute downtown in decorated during Christmas:

So, back to my story...after all the horror stories I was told about waiting and waiting and waiting, I am glad I voted today.
(BTW: Dad wins the prize for Early Voting Shortest Line at 45 minutes)

I'm a Georgia Voter!

Happy Election Day!