9/11

As I was getting ready for work a few days ago, I turned on the Today Show.  It's not something I do too often since I usually just read the news online.  But, I'm glad I did.  They had a short segment about 9/11 and how the Smithsonian would be bringing out artifacts that had not been shown prior, for the 10th anniversary.  Ten years.  One decade.  I could not believe that it had been ten years since the tragedy for several reasons.  One, it meant that I truly am in my mid-twenties.  Two, it literally feels like yesterday.  It feels as if all the years between now and then were just the hours of the night that brings us to today, the day after 9/11.  So much has happened since-got my license, graduated high school, graduated college, experienced love, experienced heart break, moved in to my own place, have worked full time, and recently became engaged to a wonderful man.

 My mom used to tell me exactly what she was doing on January 28, 1986.  She was ironing clothes, while I was asleep, when she found out about the Challenger explosion.  I always wondered if I would ever have one of those memories. I can now say I know exactly what I was doing on September 11, 2011, I can even tell you the clothes I was wearing.  I had on my favorite Express jeans, a yellow polo, and white tennis shoes.  I wore my hair curly that day.  I was changing books at my locker when I kept hearing about the World Trade Center.  I had no idea what the World Trade Center was or even where it was.  I did not realize how heartbreaking it was until I sat down in 3rd period Geometry class and saw the Twin Towers on fire.  The only clouds in the sky, were the dark grey ones billowing out of the towers.  We sat in silence.  We prayed.  We walked around in a sort of daze--how could something like this happen?  We are America, this doesn't happen to us, it can't happen to us.  In my young 15 years of life, I hadn't seen anything like this, so I didn't know how to react.  We had prayer at lunch and continued to watch the news the rest of the day.  I can remember seeing people jumping out of the buildings.  I remember watching the towers crumble.

The days after were tender.  America was hurt.  People were putting up missing posters for their family members and friends.  In the months after, while America was healing and becoming stronger, the news showed daily updates of how the clean up process was going.  I once read that it took until May for the fire to completely go out.  Finally, 9/11 was not in the news everyday, it was mentioned, but it was no longer the top story.  I think that's why I had been stunned to realize that it really had been 10 years since that day.  It's still a day that every time it is mentioned, I think of WTC, even if it has nothing to do with it.  If I ask for someone's birthday and it's 9/11, I immediately see the towers in my mind, and wonder what they were doing on that day.  It's hard to imagine that there are kids out there who were born after 9/11.  They're going to rely on my generation to tell them the personal stories of the attack.  They will rely on us like we have relied on previous generations to tell us the story.  The story of 9/11 is much more than a chapter in a history book.  It's a story about how Americans united.

Who is at fault

I just read a story on cnn about a teacher who is being suspended (with pay) for blogging about her students. She called them lazy and whiny. She only intended for friends to read the blog, but apparently it got out. Now, here's the thing....should she be suspended and punished for exercising her rights to freedom of speech? I'm not sure if she named the students, if she did that is a different story and I'm sure a lawsuit. However, I don't think she named names, just complained. How many people go home and vent about their co-workers? Yes, it probably was not the brightest move and she could have probably made the blog private, but I don't think she should be punished. The pages have been deleted, but as the saying goes, once it's on the Internet, it's on there forever--no matter how hard you try to delete it. Maybe this is a wake up call to parents. KIDS ARE LAZY TODAY. No, not every kid, but a lot of them are. It is difficult, as a teacher, to motivate children when they are not being pushed at home.

This could go on a complete rant about how terrible our education system truly is. Not only are teachers underpaid, but when a child fails a class, ALL the blame (most of the time...) is placed on the teacher--I can attest to this as it happened to me. A child was failing math and was on the verge of summer school. It wasn't until I pointed out to the guardian that things have to change at home, he wasn't getting the help he needed on his homework. The guardian, at first, suggested that I take roughly 30 minutes out of the day to help him one on one...not before or after school, during school. I'd love to do that with every child, however, there is only one me and 21 students and on average 5 subjects to be taught. Our solution (we came up with this together, which is rare, most guardians will say "no, you are the teacher, you fix it") was to send additional problems home and I would continue to help and the guardian would start to help. He was able to pull his grades up and enjoy a summer free of school. Not everyone is as lucky as I was with a guardian who is open to helping kids at home. In saying all this, it's a double edged sword with this teacher who blogged about her students. She probably shouldn't have blogged about it and probably should have done it the old fashioned way of just writing her feelings down in a journal. But, she does have the right and freedom to express her feelings. Are people upset about this because it is the truth...or are they upset that she is suspended?

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Well, I am beyond ecstatic that it is finally October! I love October and all that it has to offer...the cooler weather, the leaves changing and crunching underneath your feet, anything and everything about October excites me! The first day of October was spent putting up Halloween decorations. I love, love, love Halloween, not necessarily for the dressing up (which I love to do anyway), but for all of the carved pumpkins and the cute decor. I have been shopping for Halloween things since August, yes, I know that's nearly 8 weeks from the actual day, but I have fun decorating for the day!

I haven't updated as much as I should or wish I could. I get sidetracked with life, so sidetracked that I haven't been vacuuming as much as I normally do, which is roughly 3 or so times a week. Speaking of vacuuming, I got an early birthday present from my parents. When I first moved out I had to buy a ton of things, including a vacuum. Now, vacuuming has (and will always) have a place in my heart, but I couldn't afford a really nice vacuum, so I bought a cheap little thing in hopes it would get me through till I could afford a nice one. Anyway, the stupid thing crapped out on me earlier this year. I could no longer use the extension for fear cat litter would shoot back at me. It was a sad, sad day. Especially since I do live with 2 cats and cat litter is often sucked up. I mentioned it to my mom and she kept it in the back of her head that that was what I wanted for my (eek!) 25th birthday. Well, she called me a few weeks ago and announced that my birthday present was here! A brand new, very nice, vacuum. A few days later, Kenny helped me set it up, as well as the cute little vacuum that came with it, and I was off to making lines in the carpet. It's so nice. I know, I'm a huge dork for my love of vacuuming, but it is what makes me...well, me.

I found this little survey and since I enjoy doing these things, I thought I'd post this one!

A - Age: 24

B - Bed size: queen, but hope to upgrade to a king!

C - Chore you hate: oh me....I'd have to say unloading the dishes

D - Dog's Name: I don't have one...I do have 2 cats :) Lucy & Ethel

E - Essential start your day item: Honey Nut Cheerios and OJ

F - Favorite color: pink

G - Gold or Silver: Silver

H - Height: 5’6"

I - Instruments you play(ed): none

J - Job title: sales lead manager

K - Kid(s): just 2 furballs for right now

L - Living arrangements: with my 2 kittens

M - Mom's name: Cindy

N - Nicknames: Lo Lo

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: None

P - Pet Peeve: rude people

Q - Quote from a movie: "he turned the gun sideways! that's a kill shot!" date night

R - Right or left handed: Right

S - Siblings: little brother

T - Time you wake up: depends on the day, at least before 10am

U - Underwear: it's an obsession I have

V - Vegetable you dislike: hmm collard greens

W - Ways you drink your coffee: I don't

X- X-rays you've had: teeth and middle finger

Y - Yummy food you make: I don't make too much food

Z - Zoo favorite: polar bears

Where were you?

Where were you today, 9 years ago? It is something that is asked every September 11th. It was one of those moments that you remember every detail and those details you will never forget. I was a sophomore in high school, it was a beautiful day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and there was enough breeze to make the warm air bearable. I was wearing light blue jeans, a yellow polo, and white tennis shoes. I remember going to 1st period, then going to 2nd. In 2nd period, which was Spanish class, we were acting out stories. It is eerie now, but we were acting out a plane crash and people needing help. Then I went to 3rd period, geometry class. I kept hearing something about the World Trade Center. I had no idea what that was or where it was or why it was being mentioned by so many people. Our teacher had the tv on, she told us what was going on, and we said a prayer. The class was silent. We literally saw the world stopping and crumbling. People were jumping out of the buildings. Smoke was filling the air, debris was filling the streets.

I remember my mom picking me up and I told her what was going on and she said she had been watching it at work. I didn't realize just how huge this was until I got home and saw all of the coverage on all of the networks. It was scary. It still is seeing the planes crash in to the WTC and the pentagon and going down in PA. It's something I'll never forget, and I hope that it's something that I'll never have to witness again. Even though we were hundreds of miles away, we still felt the effects of it. I remember hearing about how some people thought that the nuclear plant in Squatchie was going to be a target, everyone was on edge.

People say they remember where they were and what they were doing when JFK was killed or what was going on when the Challenger Space Shuttle exploded. My mom was ironing and I was asleep, I was just a few months old. I remember a kid in school was born the day it exploded. It's amazing that on a day like that or even 9.11, when lives are lost, lives are also being brought in to this crazy beautiful world. I read recently that parents schedule to have their babies before 9.11 because of the date. I wonder when that will stop? Instead of living in fear of this date, we should be stronger and unite as a country.

I live where the sky ends...

I am sore. It hurts to sit down. It is such a good thing, because I know that I worked hard to get sore. Actually, I'm sure I didn't have to do too much in order to be sore because I've become insanely lazy. I was way more active in college (I feel as if I'm dating myself) when I had something to do every second of the day. I would wake up early, before my 8 am classes, and go work out. I have no reason to not go work out, I need a good shove, kick, push, anything to get me going.

I've had this on going discussion with my boyfriend about bands. What bands will we listen to in 15, 20, even 30 years and say 'they were cool when we were your age?'. We haven't been able to come up with a lot, but man, there are tons of bands that we grew up listening to, that our parents listened to. I personally can remember listening to Aerosmith, I had to be about 11 or so, and my dad telling me he listened to them when he was younger. I nearly fell off my chair! I thought Aerosmith was this cool new band. Uh, no, they've been around since Sampson and Delilah. Then there's the Beatles. Come on, who hasn't heard of them? I'm sure there are people out there who haven't, but a good portion of the world has. They were legends. Those are just two out of how many bands that have been around.

Now for our generation. We've got the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day.....I refused to put Nickel Back in that category because they're popular because they're annoying (you can't go an hour in the car and not hear the same song play 8 different times on the same station). I can't remember who else, but there weren't that many to list. I'm really going for making myself feel old, but kids these days don't have that great of music choice like I did. I'm sure my parents would throw that statement into a grave; I was a hardcore, dedicated BSB fan from day one. I had every cd they ever made (including the ones that were imports), magazines, posters, action figures, you name it, I had it. I adored them. I looked forward to the day that I had my license and I could blast them in my nonexistent car. They were hot and awesome and all the rage. Loved them and still do, I'll admit it.

I'm really hitting the memories tonight and wondering what kids are doing these days. I can remember being in middle school and living to go to the mall every Saturday with my friends and begging my parents for $20. We always saw the latest movies because the movie theater was in the mall and we sometimes would see them at night. In middle school it was so cool to go to the high school football games, I pretended like I knew what was happening during the game. We would really just walk around the school and have fun. What do kids do now? They can't go to the mall on weekend nights because you have to be at least 18 to go without a parent. I know they go to the mall during the week and play dress up because I have to clean up their messes they leave in the fitting rooms.

Now that I've made myself feel completely old, I feel like I need a bath and to head to bed.

Fall, fall, come on fall!!

I can smell fall, it's right around the corner! It doesn't help that I work in the same vicinity of Bath and Body Works and can literally smell fall--they're burning a candle or oil that screams pumpkins, red and orange leaves, and apples. The weather in the mornings have been amazing. I love walking outside and being able to just breathe, it was way too hot this summer. I know that when it is below freezing in the winter, I'll be crying for summer, but man oh man, fall would be perfect right now.

Well, an update on the whole 5k. I won't be able to do the one in September. I hit a set back a few weeks ago. At the beginning of August I became sick with something horrible...a cold or sinus infection or allergies...or if I feel like being dramatic, all three. I lost my voice literally for two weeks and I'm still trying to get all of it back. I can laugh kinda loud and all that comes out is air...I am back to sounding normal though! I will say, working on tax free weekend without a voice and only coughing was a riot. I sounded very scary if I was talking on the headset, like Hobo or whoever is on the Lord of the Ring movies. I also had customers whisper back to me, I really tried telling them that they can speak to me normally, I didn't have super sensitive hearing. Anyway, this made running difficult, I could not stop coughing, I didn't get enough rest and was exhausted. I finally am feeling back to 100% and back in the gym (though...not in the gym enough!). I am very excited to say that I ran half a mile straight yesterday. That may not sound like a lot, but for me, who again was a couch potato with all of the fixings, is a huge deal for me. So, I'm slowly working on this, I am getting there though!

How old am I?

I know that my generation is supposed to be the generation that grew up with technology and should (as my dad says) "just figure something out" that has to do with technology. Well. I can't. I can't figure out this stupid following thing. I followed myself for a good 3 days before I figured out how to un-follow myself and then I can't figure out how to follow others. This is pushing the point of being stressful.

I joined the gym again. I was becoming depressed about the itty bitty gym that is at my apartment complex. I got to the point where I was dreading going to in there. I decided to push myself (and my finances) and join the gym again. I was going to go to a Zumba class tonight, but then I thought I might want to stalk the premises before just to see what it was about. I'm not sure about it. It looked like it might be fun, but...I'm not so sure. Maybe next time. Maybe. I get bored with being on the treadmill or arc trainer, so I like to spice it up some. I'm scared to go back to spin class. I used to go minimum of 3 times a week (early in the morning too and I even went on Thanksgiving!) and I'm dreading that awful seat that my big seat will have to get used to being on again. I need to convince my mom that she needs to go back with me...hopefully it'll work!

Kenny's birthday is this Sunday and I'm excited about it, I think probably more than he is. It's silly, but I get more and more excited about my birthday as the years go on (probably because I keep telling myself that I'm only 21...). I know that when I hit a certain age, I'm sure the excitement will cease. But, we are cooking out and watching the Cowboys game...I know nothing about football. I'm probably one of the few southern girls who know 0 about football. I have 2 friends who know when to yell and get excited because they know what's going on, while I on the other hand only scream because everyone else is. It will be a good time with family and friends!

Last night, Kenny and I went to dinner with a few of my friends, Cortney and Michael. Michael is my student teaching friend, we call each other EBE buds (where we student taught together). EBE had no idea what they were getting into when they placed us together. There wasn't one week that we were there every single day. It was either going to UTC to get information about graduation, going to Central Office to fill out applications, going to...lunch :o)....every week we went some where. It was a horrible placement, I know how I do not want to teach now, but I'm glad I was able to share that experience with someone like Michael. Cortney and I go way back. Way back to middle school where we became friends over the Backstreet Boys. Ah, yes, boy bands. Love them. How can you not?! Cortney and I took several classes together at UTC and became really good friends during a trying times at UTC. Anyway, we met them for dinner (I do have about 4 friends!). We had a good time, minus the part it took an hour to get our food, so Chili's said it was on them. Thanks Chili's, you made me much happier since I didn't have to pay for it! :o)