growing up is an option...

   At this very moment, I have 8 friends who are engaged (if I counted correctly). Either the love bug has gone epidemic, or I am finally at that age where everyone I know starts getting married. I think the latter is true.
   This past summer, the first two of my high school friends tied the knot. It seemed surreal sitting in the audience as they vowed their lives to their husbands. I felt like I should instead be watching them receive pins at Honors Day and walk back to sit by their parents.But that didn't happen. They kissed, went off on honeymoons, and now they are married. They have left their parents and have become their own families. We really have grown up.
   It may seem as if I talk about growing up too frequently, but at this point in my life, it is a shocking realization that I am not growing up anymore, I'm grown. From here on out it will just be growing older. When I was little,  I was saddened to think that I might actually grow up, and I wanted no part of it. I wanted to keep getting mounds of presents from Santa- not just pieces of jewelry in a tiny box and some clothes. Boring! After all, it was all about quantity, not quality. I wanted to continue to go to school and see my friends everyday, go to sleepovers, dance class, and church choir. Grown-ups don't get to do all those fun things. And I vowed that if I ever did grow up, I would become a princess and live in my parents' backyard forever.
    I have since neglected some of those dreams and embraced the time that has passed. In fact, I really look forward to doing some of those boring grown-up things now. I am, however, very aware of the reality that I am living through the end of an era. Things are changing, drastically. This may be the first Christmas where my 7 best friends and I don't have our annual Christmas get-together like we have since elementary school- at least not all of us. This part of growing up is a little sad. Our old lives don't fit us anymore, and we are trying on new ones.
   BUT I will focus on the positive, happy parts of getting older. There are so many! After all, just because things aren't the same, doesn't mean they won't be wonderful. Plus, it's kind of nice not knowing what's next. I am really looking forward to figuring it all out. I know God has a plan and I am just waiting for it to unfold.
   And as far as the end of this era is concerned, growing old may be mandatory, but growing up is an option.

safe

icanrelate.info

It really is a great feeling.

last bit

   Today is a curl up and be lazy kind of day. I've got my laptop on my knees and my fuzzy socks on, watching Miss Congeniality, Pretty Woman, and anything else TBS decides I need to watch this afternoon. I've done some preliminary work on my presentation due tomorrow night and might even finish without a rush to the end. I've got plenty on my plate for the week but nothing that can't wait. Right now I'd much rather continue burning my smell of Christmas candle and go reheat some sweet potato casserole or apple nut bread from home.
    I hope everyone is enjoying the last bit of the holiday weekend. Back to reality in the morning. But not right now.

golden holiday

   So Thanksgiving was pretty successful, and I enjoyed spending some time with my family. I especially enjoyed seeing my sister. She is in optometry school in Birmingham and I don't get to see her as much as I'd like. 

   Even though I seriously considered it, I decided not to partake in Black Friday shopping. I really would have if I had any clue what I need to buy. It takes me a while to figure out what I'm getting everyone. 

So instead of getting into the mad dash, I got to help put up the Christmas tree. I found a perfect Christmas station on Pandora we brought out the ladder to reach the top. I think it turned out pretty well.

  

   Tomorrow I'll be heading back to Starkville to see the Battle for the Golden Egg (The Egg Bowl). I'm hoping the Bulldogs can pull out a win to send us to a bowl game again [fingers crossed]. Travis and I will have to decide if we want to watch the game online or tough it out in the rainy weather for a few hours. We would watch it on TV if wonderful  Metrocast would carry ESPNU. Either way I'm looking forward to getting back. Only one week left to wrap everything up before exams... then Christmas!

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the holiday weekend. Go Dawgs!

stretchy pants

Finally home!! It feels so nice to be sitting on the couch with my dog. Even though I know there is a presentation I should be working on.
   However, I feel like there are more productive things for me to be doing right now. I went to get measured for my bridesmaid dress for Lara Beth's wedding, and let me tell you, I am not happy.

   The top half of my body is one size, and the bottom half is the next size up. This is why I absolutely hate shopping for dresses. I always have to go with the bigger of the two sizes and either get the top taken in or have it fit not quite right. It is frustrating to say the least.
   So unless my rib cage plans to expand anytime soon, I have to do something about the bottom half. As much as I hate leg lifts and lunges, today inspired me to get to it!
   Bring on the stretchy pants!!

They don't have to stay as long.

    Ok so if you know me at all you know I have a soft spot for animals. I can't stand to see sad, lonely, or abandoned animals, and if I could I would take the entire shelter into my apartment. If the remote isn't near me, I will run out of the room during ACPCA commercials- I can't take it. I've even embarrassed myself a few times in the Hollow trying to coax stray cats out of a tree or out from underneath a car. I know, if it weren't for Travis I'd be destined to be a cat lady.
    I found this online and sat blubbering at my desk for a solid five minutes after I read it. I thought I might post it for all the animal lovers out there, especially those who have ever lost a special friend.

And here's a picture of my (funny-looking) 8 and 1/2 yr-old brother whom I love very much and am excited to see later tonight.

Thanksgiving "Break"

   While I'm sure most of you were still asleep, or at least still at your house, I was so excited about fifteen minutes this morning. A few extra minutes I knew I could sleep, a few minutes longer under the hot shower, and the time to drive to campus at a reasonable speed.
  Today begins Thanksgiving Break for students, and just as I expected, I was able to turn into the parking lot at exactly 7:56 and pull directly into a first-row parking spot in commuter west (this is unheard of for a Monday). 
   My excitement faded as quickly as the flavor in fruit stripes gum as I walked toward the building that would hold me captive for the next four hours. No bikers to dodge, no one to hold the door open for behind me, no students bustling to make it to their first class of the week. When I entered the hallway I immediately wished I was with those missing students- wherever they are this morning. The only appeasement I have for the next two days is the fact that I do not have class tonight or tomorrow. Of course, whether or not I will take these days to work on what is due for next week is still questionable.
   I am so looking forward to heading home in a couple of days. I need some family time without that nagging feeling sitting on my shoulders that there are things that need to be done. It will be our first Thanksgiving in the new house, and most of the family will be there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   My challenge for this week stems from the old adage, "out of sight, out of mind". I will try to hide my junk food and put the healthy stuff at the front of the fridge. Maybe if I don't see it, I won't eat it. Right.
I'm not sure how this will work out on Thursday.


Looking forward to this:

Feels good

   Oh it really does.
   Yesterday I completed a practice guide and studied for my test this morning and I got some work done on a presentation. I also called and made/confirmed all of my doctor appointments. I schedule all of my appointments (dentist, optometrist, etc.) for December so I can get them out of the way while I'm home.
   I also... prepare yourself... worked out. I think about doing it every day, but somehow napping and watching Friends always seems like a more satisfying use of my time. Yesterday, however, was a particularly blah day, you know, when you look in the mirror and think, "ugh". So I decided to continue my productive streak and take a stab at it. It only lasted about 30 minutes and I was out of breath for about 28 of them.But I did it. Now if only I could trust myself to keep doing it.
We'll see.

Every. Single. Time.

Yay

Soooooooo...... Travis got a job!! And not just a job, the job.
   He's going to be a "financial analyst" at International Paper in Memphis, starting as soon as he graduates with his MBA in May.
   He tells me there is a lot more to it than analyzing, and that he'll get to do work on projects, accounting, and operations, too. He is excited about the job and really likes the people he will be working for and with. I am excited, too! Now I know where he will be, and it helps me decide what direction to go when I start applying for jobs. Because I know, no matter what, I want to be near him.
   Thank you to all of you who prayed for Travis this past week. It is such a blessing (and a nice Christmas present) to have a little peace and comfort about what is to come.

1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Rainy Day challenge

   This week's challenge: Balance my checkbook and reconfigure my finances.
If you're like me, you know that growing up implies paying for things yourself. Especially when you have a job. Of course, I fully intend to utilize the monthly automatic transfer from my parents until the day I am married. And in lieu of my independence, I am saving for that long rainy day called life.
   I have always been good about keeping track of my money. But filling out my check register every couple of days and knowing my balance doesn't do me a whole lot of good.
   Last week I moved my checking account to a local bank. I plan to keep my savings at my hometown bank, for that day when I need my first loan and have no credit- they know me! It's a big deal to move money around. I've considered the best way to go about it, traditional savings, money market accounts, bonds, etc. I just have one problem: I don't know what I'm doing with my life! Sure maybe next year I will have a wedding, house payment, new car, etc. But there's always that possibility that I could be living with my parents and subbing somewhere (please, no).
   So until I know something, I'll keep on doing what I've been doing since 10th grade. I try to transfer as much to my savings as possible so my money isn't sitting there screaming at me to partake in online shopping. There is only so much Amazon can offer me.
   My challenge to you is to get it straight. Know what's coming in, what's going out and where it's going, and start a plan. That rainy day may be here sooner than you think.

weekend

   Oh weekend, how I have missed you. 

Travis will be home later this afternoon, tonight is Bulldog Bash with The Avett Brothers, and tomorrow? A fun football game, but most importantly, NO CLASS! Ahh... feels nice.

   I hope everyone has a wonderful, relaxing weekend. 

And Happy Veterans Day

Big Day

 
   Today is the big day!! Travis is leaving in a couple of hours for the next round of interviews. Ok, so it isn't at Dunder Mifflin, but it is at a paper company. I tell him that he would be Jim, and as much as I would love to be Pam, I would not be working there, haha. So if you think about it today and tomorrow, send up a prayer for him.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Happy Birthday

   Boone was born November 9, 1930 in Chalybeate, MS to Lytle Boone and Lucy Wood Shelton. He graduated from Ripley High School in 1947 and MS College in Clinton in 1951 with degrees in English and Bible. He enlisted in the Korean War immediately upon graduation from college. After basic training he was assigned to the Army Security Agency in Fort Devon, MA and upon completion spent two years with Field Station 8611 in Baumholder, Germany. Boone was a Morse code receiver and continued to keep in touch with some of his Army friends.

   When he returned to the US, Boone enrolled as a graduate student at the University of MS to study journalism and photography. He worked for the Commercial Appeal and Jackson Daily News. He began his teaching career in 1958 at Copiah Lincoln Junior College where he stayed until 1963. As well as teaching English, he served as Assistant Dean of Men and Publicity Director of the school. From 1964 to 1976, he taught at Walnut High School, where he sponsored school plays, class trips and graduations and delighted in the success of his students.

   He was elected Tippah County Chancery Clerk in 1975 and retired in January 1, 1988. At the time of his death, Boone was serving as a Tippah County Election Commissioner and was on the Board of the Shady Grove Water System.

   Boone was an avid outdoorsman and gardener. He loved to grow vegetables and watermelons and enjoyed sharing them with friends and neighbors. He was involved in genealogy and studied the Civil War. He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion. Mr. Shelton was a member of the West Ripley Baptist Church, where he was a previous Sunday School teacher. He had a fine singing voice and sang solo at many weddings. He led singing at Walnut and Shady Grove Baptist Churches.

   It seems like he had a pretty busy life. But when I knew him, he was just Granddaddy. When I was a baby I would point and he would go. He tried to teach me the names of all the trees and the birds. He was our source for every wonderful homegrown vegetable. He taught me a lot about how to draw, and always said he loved the stories I wrote. He taught me to play the dulcimer and how to use his family history books. He loved real peanuts and circus peanuts, crosswords, hymns, gardening, working and CSI: Miami. He never raised his voice and he always used correct grammar. He was a man of few words and set such a great example of what a Christian should be- and he was the smartest person I knew.

   He was wonderful grandfather, and he was my only one. My mom’s parents died when she was young, so he was the only grandfather I ever had. And my sister and I were his only grandchildren. For most of my life my immediate family consisted of 5 other people. So when I lost him it was like losing 20% of my family. When I was little he had heart surgery, but I don’t remember that. Since then, he was healthy and active and everyone just knew he would live forever.

   It was such a shock when I got the call from my mom. Some days I still don’t believe it. I go home and expect to see him come through the door and say “Hey Bub!” to our dog, Gizmo, and then doze off on the couch waiting for lunch. He was a glue for our family, and even a year and a half later, I know we are still recovering. I would love nothing more than to tell him I am going to be a teacher. I can imagine those eyes lighting up and getting a simple “well that’s just fine”.

   But I have no doubt that he knows, and I will do my best to make him proud. Heaven really did gain a saint on that cool day in March, and even though I miss him so much I am so blessed to have been able to spend 20 years with him.

   Happy Birthday Granddaddy. 

   

Answers

OK I may hate myself for speaking out of frustration later but I've just gotta say it. What's so wrong with Amendment 26?
   It is not about abortion, it is just giving an unborn child protection under law. The child will have equal rights with their mothers, not greater or more rights.
   The law will still allow doctors to save the life of a mother in the instance of a dangerous pregnancy.
Most forms of birth control will still be available. Only those which prevent "implantation" may be affected such as IUDs. However, less than 5% of Mississippians using birth control use this method.
   The only possible adverse effect of the initiative may be access to Invitro Fertilization (IVF). And in this scenario, it would only apply to unused fertilized eggs, which may never exist.
   I pulled the following from the MS Center for Public Policy statement concerning the legal effects of the initiative.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One question that stands out is whether the amendment would subject medical professionals to prosecution for performing life-saving procedures, such as treating a woman for cancer or terminating an ectopic pregnancy.

Mississippi law protects medical professionals from criminal liability for the accidental homicide of an unborn person. Under the Personhood Amendment, there will continue to be no criminal liability for medical professionals who prescribe a medication fatal to an unborn baby to treat a female patient whose pregnancy was unknown and was not reasonably discoverable.

IVF assists in reproducing a human life. By contrast, abortion necessarily involves killing a human life. IVF procedures can be performed without destroying human embryos, and therefore would still be permissible under Initiative 26. As is currently being done in many cases, any excess embryos not implanted in the womb could be frozen and implanted later or adopted out to other parents.

If an unborn child’s death is accidental or necessary to save his mother’s life, there is no justifiable legal or ethical ground for prosecuting a physician who terminates an ectopic pregnancy or who prescribes medication injurious to an unborn child – either under current law, or under a state constitution that recognizes the basic fact that life begins at fertilization.

The rights of the preborn, as affirmed by the Mississippi Personhood Amendment, will not take precedence over those of the mother... it is written to protect every human being, both born and unborn, it will simply validate the equal and inalienable rights of all people.

Weekly Challenge?

   SOOOOO.... I have decided not to do a daily challenge. Not because I have given up, but because the website where I was getting ideas (meyouhealth) got extremely weird and told me to "use my 5 senses to envision my number-one goal". What? I want to do something, not envision. No hippie jargon, please.
   Instead, I have decided a weekly challenge will have to do, and I can make it last the whole week.
   Now that that is taken care of, how about a Tuesday Grammar Lesson??? I know you were wanting one.

   I see this online ALL THE TIME. And while I would expect nothing else from most of the people making the mistake, it still tends to rub me the wrong way. "Have" has two more letters than "of". It isn't difficult.

Daily Challenge

   I am starting my New Year's Resolution a bit early this season. Actually, I am starting one for the first time ever.  I have decided on a daily challenge: one thing every day that contributes positively to my overall well-being. I figured this one might be easy enough to actually keep. I know, keeping a resolution- crazy thinking!
   Today, I will make one of my meals meat-free. I know I know, meat is a good source of protein. But a lot of it is full of saturated fat, and I assure you the kind I eat is. So I will try to substitute that icky meat with a leaner protein or low-fat dairy.  I never eat meat for breakfast so I am opting for a meatless lunch.
   Now I must admit that if there was only one thing I could cut out of my diet without much effort it would be meat (bar the occasional steak). I could easily be happy with a dinner plate full of fried roasted veggies. So this first challenge isn't exactly stretching my limits. (Just wait for the day without brownies- my Apocalypse.) But "they" say easing into a commitment increases the likelihood of completion. We'll see how this one turns out.

Remake

   If you have lived in or visited Starkville, surely you have paid a visit to The Veranda. It is one of my favorite restaurants here. Which is weird, because other than the blue plate lunches, I'm not a huge fan of the entire menu.
   There is really only one dinner menu item that I order, and I do so religiously: the rib-eye with the gorgonzola cheese salad. If I don't want a steak, I don't go to The Veranda, because that's what I get. Every time. However, I could eat a gorgonzola cheese salad every day.
   So yesterday, I went shopping for the ingredients: Spring mix baby greens, strawberries, pecans, gorgonzola cheese, and balsamic vinagrette. It was harder than I thought. And more expensive. Pecans, out-of-season fruit, and "stinky" cheese can get pricey. Wal-mart didn't even have the fruit or cheese. And Kroger didn't have gorgonzola so I decided to substitute feta, which is just a little milder.
   I fully intend on making this salad tonight, and will possibly share some with Travis. We will probably add some chicken so he won't starve.
   I have a feeling this might become a staple in my kitchen repertoire. Wish me luck!

Tis the season?

    If you haven't noticed, Fall has settled in. But I must say, for as many mornings that frost has been on the ground, it has been a pretty darn cold one.
   My mom, sister, and several friends have already gotten their first colds of the season. So, I thought it might be nice to share a few survival tips that can help you through the next several months.

1. Eat Well. Your immune system today is not the same one you were born with. It changes over time. You want to make sure you have all the nutrients you need to fight off evil bacteria.
2. Take a Multivitamin. (For when "eating well" doesn't work out so great.) My favorite are Vitacraves Gummies. You will literally have to make yourself stop eating them.
3. Get Plenty of Sleep. This rule is the most inviting of them all, and probably the most difficult. It is recommended to get at least 7 hours of sleep, but during this season, every extra minute counts. Try showering before bed or even in the afternoons to squeeze in an extra 30 minutes of shut-eye.
4. Wash Your Hands. I know your mom has been preaching this since you could reach the sink, but it's so true. You never know who has been where you are, and that matters, especially when more people are carrying cold germs. (Wash with soap and hot water for the length of time it takes to sing happy birthday to yourself.)
5. Get a Flu Shot. This is a recommendation I do not endorse. I will admit, I have NEVER gotten a flu shot. And I never intend to. I have also never had the flu. I may regret it one day, but so far I have gone 22 years without having a huge needle shoved into my arm. Do I really want to start that now? No thanks.
6. Take it Easy. This may be impossible as we get closer to the end of the semester. Pretty soon all those projects, presentations, and papers we should have started months ago will be due. Do yourself a favor and don't spread yourself so thin. Stress eats away at your antibodies. Really, look it up.
7. Drink Lots of Fluids. Try to carry a water bottle around with you during the day. When you're bored in class, get it out. And bonus!! It is a great way to curb your appetite and make you feel full all day. No vending machine trips this winter, thank you.

Welcome to my Tuesday grammar session- just a little lesson on commas.You may not want to apply all rules of grammar to texting or twitter, but if you ever need to sound like you know what you're talking about, take heed.