yesterday I had the worst headache EVER.  I think it was the sinus variety and was just so painful!  At lunch I went to CVS to get some medicine and came across this stuff called “BC” but had no idea it was a powder!  So there I was, in the CVS parking lot (trying to waste no time managing the headache before my 1pm meeting) with powder everywhere, trying to down it, afraid someone will think I’m using drugs, get accidentally arrested, etc.  All these thoughts are going through my mind at this point.

And then, it hardly even worked!! Maybe for 2ish hours but by the time I went home back to pain. So I found some Aleve, drank some tea, did my nasal flush (kind of odd but it does work) and I woke up this morning and I’m fine! Whatever was in the air has probably cleared out but it’s so much nicer.

Probably not that interesting to write, but that’s mostly all that I can come up with this morning.

I did go speak to my high school cross country team on Saturday. They are running in districts today in fact and it was really good! They actually listened. I won state in the 800m my senior year and apparantly it’s turned into a “legend” of sorts around there (which I find HILARIOUS) but they asked good questions and it’s neat to be able to help and motivate people.

And I’m hoping to see Sean this weekend! Hope it works out.

 

very rambly

my poor blog has been neglected due to lack of home internet. that stupid key index issue still has not been resolved.

Otherwise I would probably blog about my newfound love that is the DVR. I was even reluctant to get cable, but it was hardly anything extra to get the DVR so I thought, why not? and what a great, great invention!!

Also, does this election seem more contentious than most? I know, I know, McCain left the 2000 election b/cs of a nasty rumor about him having a secret black love child baby. That’s pretty nasty. But I keep hearing people describe this as the ‘most important election of our lifetime’ and that’s a pretty hefty statement!

I do realize with the economy, the war, several social issues, and aging Supreme Court justices that could very well be the case but WOW. Each election seems like the lesser of two evil for me anyway.

PS: I got to play ultimate on Monday!! There are people who play ultimate in Shreveport!!!! And a cold front came in last night–makes it chilly but it’s nice too.

 

wifi woes

so the wireless Internet I’m paying for at my apartment won’t work on a mac!!  The technical support guy says on Macs it’s really hard to change the “WEP Key Index code”  Macs are always on 1 but for this it needs to always be on 2.  what the heck??  Why would they set up a wifi network at a RESIDENTIAL property knowing people have all kinds of computers?!  I called the local apple reseller service guy and he never called me back.

Does anyone know how to change this??  It’s a huge pain.  Overall I do like macs but lately….sheesh….

Other than that, the apartment is very nice and I’m so glad to be finally in!

 

here!

I finally made it here, started work Monday, and move into my apartment tomorrow.  So far, so good.  I like Shreveport and seriously guys, it’s not what you’re thinking when, it’s actually pretty nice!  Everywhere has scarier parts, that’s just life.

There’s more to come soon, but I’m trying to take everything in and am learning so much!

 

turning dust

I’m packing. I have a lot of clothes, even after I did the “purge.” And shoes. There’s apparently quite a bit of dust in the ol’ closet too, which isn’t too great for the ol’ allergies.

The good part: I’m a horrible procrastinator with packing, especially when I’m going on a trip. It’s like a need the most up-to-date weather forecast or something, or just laziness. So, just the fact I’ve done more than half with a week to go is a GOOD SIGN. In the meantime I’ll be eating random stuff like peanut butter on crackers with green beans on the side.

In other news, I had to give my powerbook a makeover of sorts, as stated in a previous post, which includes the new version of iLife. So…. I guess the only way to send pics that are in iPhoto is by using the Mail program??? Well, I can’t get the dang thing to work. I’ve googled every forum with the right server port numbers and everything, but it never works. And I have pictures to send!! Does anyone have a solution??

And yes, I do realize this opens me up to the Mac loyalty ridicule, but I’m ready for it because it’s frustrating!

 

running, awkward

The weather is much cooler today is it’s awesome!  I went running in the park tonight and felt really good.  honestly, I’m not in the greatest shape right now but the weather certainly helped!!  I should be getting up early before work….but I’m not exactly a ‘morning person’ so running in the evenings works better when I’m not too tired/lazy to do it!  The sun was setting and it was just greatness!

Here’s something random I’ve been musing. How do people develop social awkwardness? Or learn the proper social rules? It seems like there are people sometimes who it seems like “everyone” knows is a little strange…but how do we measure that? I guess there are general norms of society. Sometimes I’m intentionally awkward to be funny and see someone’s reaction, but do people realize they’re awkward? I guess it’s something that can be overcome too. It’s such an abstract concept, but seems to be very important and valued. Coming from a multicultural family, I noticed what’s awkward and what’s not in both cultures, I guess maybe you become more aware. I dunno!

So that’s really random I know, but it’s what’s going through my head. Honestly, we’re all probably a little awkward right?!

 

I do support our troops!

Things I’m not so fond of:

• Big Brother  seriously I hope julie chen is getting paid A LOT of money to host it.  how how how has it been on for ten seasons?!?!
• Toby Keith I know Sean and I go back and forth on this guy, and I’m sure his restaurants are very nice and he has an ardent support for our troops, but really?!  he’s just creepy to me, sorry babe.  you’re not creepy though! haha ;)
• those Pizza Hut commercials…”Would you like to try our chocolate, eh, dunker?”  We air those over and over again…I get it! I get it!  but they just drive me NUTS!!!  Just google “pizza hut commercial dunker” and there are refreshingly many forums that agree.
• this kind of fits, but if you happen to be looking for movers, don’t fill out some time of online application thingie.  I got more calls from random companies that if you google them get “ripoff alert” galore!!

Things I am fond of:

• The Clay Pit restaurant… and a great time with friends!  also, they do have non-Indian dishes too…
• Spending more great times with friends!  And non-chain lattes!
• New, scary, but exciting opportunities!
• This fantastic weather!  I’m not dying or dreading running in the heat the past few days.
• The new Coldplay album.  So good!!!  I keep playing it over and over again.
• FOOTBALL SEASON!  It just feels nice. 
• of course Sean, I’m kinda fond of you too.

For the blogland folks who read this, I have accepted a job with an “integrated marketing” company in Shreveport and I start 9/29!  It’s better hours, better pay, an interesting job and will allow me to somewhat have a life.  So I’m kinda nervous but excited!  If anyone knows anything about Shreveport, let me know!

 

RNC thoughts

last week I watched as much as I could of the DNC. Tonight I watched the RNC just to see difference in coverage. I watched mostly CNN for the DNC and they just seem so ridiculously bent toward Obama. They would praise the history of his speech without touching on the specifics (that would lacking….) The history was incredible but wow.

So I thought I would give them the benefit of the doubt. There were very few Republican commentators during the actual convention. Most were saved for Larry King Live an hour after the speeches ended. I figured they would stack the deck with Republicans this time….so far I haven’t seen it.

MSNBC seems to be a little more balanced. FOX News, is FOX News… right wing last week and this week.

So not too far into it I decided to tune to C-SPAN instead. You get to hear the actual speakers and not these political pundits rattle on and on. And there are no commercials. I highly recommend it!

Then… Campbell Brown is just on my last nerve. She would ask the same question over and over, saying, “Back to the original question” until she could get the answer she was looking for or they ran out of time and had to take a break. Then, she’s interviewing McCain’s spokesman (who’s kind of a fuddy duddy but whatever) and is grabbing for so many things about Palin that she suggests Palin is a bad mother or whatever for subjecting her pregnant daughter to media scrutiny by running for vice president.

There were some other good points Campbell made in her interview, but grasping at ANYTHING just to discredit Republicans is just maddening. I haven’t really been a big fan of hers (I just didn’t see spectacular work) and this really hammers the point home for me.

Personally, I’m still undecided. I realized recently I’m more moderate in my preferences than I thought so that’s why I’m trying to educate myself. I don’t think the entire news media is biased, but geez CNN get it together.

 

change of plans

so I have several days of vacation I need to use, so I decided to burn 2 this weekend, and take Labor Day off…So I’ve been off from Fri-Tues, go back to work Wednesday. I had some other plans but they fell through, so I decided at the last minute to come back home.

Monday was my mom’s birthday and honestly, we don’t do birthdays up too huge in my family, but Mom and I were able to have a 3 day “birthday extravaganza!” as we affectionately titled it.

You know when it seems like life just keeps hitting you with punch after punch? Fairly small things but when you look up you realize, “wow, I’m really tired and it’s just not letting up.” It seems like it’s been like that for me this year to an extent, and my mom too but in different ways. So it was so great being able to devote time to Mom, she certainly deserves it, and it’s a blessing to see her happy when she’s been kinda discouraged.

I got in late Friday, we went to Bedford Snoball* per my mom’s request. Saturday, we went to Clay Pit, a “modern Indian” place that we both really like, per her request, and ran a bunch of errands. Sunday, we went to see Mamma Mia, which was fun, and Monday we went shopping, had sushi, went swimming, ate cake, etc.

It’s a lot of time devoted to mom, but honestly, it was great. I was really bummed when my other plans fell through, but I can totally see the good God was working through it.

Plus…I got to play ultimate on Sunday! Simple things.

*Suzanne- I introduced my parents to Bedford Snoball about a month ago and they just love it! They’ve been a couple times by themselves and she gets so excited about it! So thanks!!!

 

warning: this is a long rant…

disclaimer: so as a journalist i present my stories in an un-biased manner. you’re probably laughing at that, but seriously, I try to. so please let me indulge in a very biased blog post, as a person and not a reporter…

I have covered two different Oklahoma school bond referendums in the past few months it seems. Both failed by HUGE margins, the most recent one Tuesday night. These are both very small towns in very rural communities. Poverty and low-income families are higher in rural communities. I get that. Money is very hard these days. BELIEVE ME, I get that too.

What’s hard is that in Sherman, they are seeing the fruits of a $300+ million bond. I know Texas and OK fund education differently. And Sherman is a much bigger district than either of the two.

When I was in high school, voters in my suburban Fort Worth district approved a very large bond referendum as well. The school got new computers, renovated locker rooms, a new wing of the school entirely, and probably tons more.

I know the income levels are very different in all three groups of places. But any kid, any teacher, is definitely more motivated and excited when they are in a newer building with the latest technology. I’ve gone to schools with crappy buildings and the education was still good, but there was still this ghetto, laughable element.

It’s harder to get new industries to areas where it doesn’t seem evident the schools are kept up. Harder to attract good teachers. Harder then to have higher paying jobs in the area. It’s cyclical. Maybe these smaller towns wouldn’t be so poor if they made this investment for a better one on the whole!

I guess too it seems unfair that I got to go to a school with all the nice stuff, teachers, and curriculum, when these kids in rural areas are seeming to get the schist. I’m sure the quality of instruction is still good, but the kids can’t help it if the taxpayers don’t pay for it. But those adults were once students in the town, used the same buildings so they must not think it’s a big deal.

This is a long post, but I had these saddened reactions to both bond failures and couldn’t figure out why.  Now I’m understanding the reason.  

One of the speakers at the DNC last night told a story about a guy returning to his small Virginia hometown because the IT job there was too good to pass up. There is so much poverty and injustice all over the world. So much in the inner-city. But there are resources lacking in rural areas too. It’s just really been on my heart.