07/23/11 Final Blog

My Thoughts on Blogging

At first when the teacher assigned this, I thought that she must be kidding me. Find something to write about, with 300 words in it, and do this everyday for 25 days. There was no way I can do this I reasoned. So I took the first step (which we know is always the hardest) and did my first blog. OK, that was not so bad, now the next one and then it hit me, hey I can do this. So we moved through week one and on to week 2, made it through it to week 3. Now we've arrived at the current week, and well I'm hating it. Topics are hard to think of and the words are not flowing as easily as before. When it first started I kind of enjoyed writing my thoughts down on paper, it gave me a chance to go back and look at things and really ponder them in my mind. Coming up with topics and words came pretty easy at first, but as time went on it became more difficult. I have become more comfortable with writing through this process. Then came the realization that people were going to be able to read this. I'm not really crazy about people reading my stuff. It makes me very uncomfortable. There are ways I say this benefited me, I have learned that writing my thoughts down on paper is very helpful. It also keeps my brain working and I have grown more comfortable with writing and thinking things through before I do or say them. I have also learned the importance of proof reading, it's amazing how many words you leave out while typing. Truth be told, I enjoyed the exercise, just wish it was not for so long and that other people were not allowed to read my thoughts.

07/22/11

Disney World

I have been thinking a lot about Disney today, so I decided I would write about it. My husband and I had the pleasure to go to Disney, Epcot, MGM Grand and Animal Kingdom last August. We had a wonderful time. We got there late Wednesday evening and decided to go to Down town Disney we ate at Rainforest Cafe which is my very favorite place to eat in the world. I really enjoyed getting to walk around and window shop. The next day we started out at Epcot what interesting place, I had never been there but my husband had. We had a great time and took tons of pictures, but I was so tired by the time we got back to the hotel. Friday we went to Disney World, the minute you walk in the gates you feel happy, it was great. We started in Frontier land and made the circle all the way around to Future World, we got back to the room about midnight. Next day was Animal Kingdom, my husband was no to crazy about going here, but I was pumped,. We had a wonderful time and my husband was pleasantly surprised at how much he enjoyed it. This park closed early so we went and ate at Rainforest Cafe again and went back to the hotel and enjoyed the hot tub. The next day was MGM Grand, I will have to say I was a little disappointed with it. I had been to Universal Studios and was excepting about the same, but it was totally different. We had a great time, I've always been a big kid at heart, but I got to be a kid the whole time we were down there. I wish we would have had more time down there, to go see some of the other attractions, but we got to do the important stuff.

07/21/2011

Reasons why I'm ready for Fall

.

1. Because I love the smell of the fall crisp leaves and the feel of the cool breezes blowing.
2. I love to watch the tress change colors.
3. So I can wear jeans again, and not have to show off my fat thighs in shorts.
4. So I can open the windows and turn on the attack fan.
5. I can go out and study in my sun porch again (it's to hot there now)
6. So I can save some money on electric bill.
7. So I can ride around town with my sunroof open and windows rolled down, listening to music way to loud for my age.
8. It means it's craft show season again (My mom and I do the sell at the Ozark craft show at the fairgrounds)
9. I want to be able to go for long walks, and enjoy nature.
10. I can start cooking again (it's way to hot to turn the oven on now)
11. I can cuddle up on the couch with a blanket and watch a TV. (I like to cuddle in blankets)
12. I can start wearing my hair down again.
13. I don't have to water every night (saving on the water bill)
14. I can exercise without having to stop and cool off also maybe I would not have to take so
    breaks to cool off. (I just love having health problems that are affected by the heat)
15. It's to hot right now to go out and do anything outside. The minute you step out you start sweating
16. The bugs and snakes start going away for the season.
17. To be able to get out of the shower and not feel like you need to go back in the minute you get out.

07/20/2011

Thoughts on losing my Job.

We found out September 30, 2010 that our company was shutting there health division down due to health care reform. At that time we had no clue when we would be losing our jobs, we found out a month later that most of the Springfield office would be losing there jobs 2^nd quarter of 2012. They decided that Springfield would be the last office shut down, because we were the cheapest to run. So I feel blessed I have a job till next year. Now weather that is a good thing or not, I'm not sure. Not knowing how the economy and job market will be next year is very scarey. I really try hard not to worry about it, because I know God is in control and he will take care of me. But that is a little easier said than done. I have been with the company for 9 years and I have learned a lot and grown as a person too. But the thought of having to start a new job and to have to get up and go to an office (I'm a home-based employee now) is a little frightening. I will not even be close to finishing my schooling before I lose my job so that is another concern, to find a job that works around my school schedule. Plus my current job is reimbursing for part of my school, which is a huge plus. Plus I make pretty decent money and have a lot of vacation time built up, so with a new job I will be starting from ground zero again. The company I now work for is starting to open a few jobs up for home-based employees, so I'm hoping I can get one of those jobs and stay with the company until I can get my schooling done. This is a very tough thing to go through, I guess I will trust in the Lord and realize he knows what is best for me.

07/19/2011

I need a vacation

This is going to be a list of reasons why I need a vacation.

1. I have been working 6 days a week for 6 weeks straight.
2. I'm just about finished with this class and I want a break before we start the next 16 weeks of school..
3. Because my 5 year anniversary is this year and because of our business and school we won't get to go any place this fall during it so I think we should do it now when I get out of summer school. So we can do something special for our 5 year anniversary.
4. All work and no play makes Connie very cranky.
5. Because I'm going to lose my job next year, so we won't be able to afford one next year.
6. I enjoy getting away and doing things, if I stay around here for vacation, I will work.
7. I believe everyone deserves to get a way once a year, even if it's just to Branson.
8. I've worked hard all year long.
9. You can learn a lot by visiting different places in the world
10. I like to eat out once in a while and that is the only way I can convince my husband we need to eat out.
11. It's good for the marriage to get away and enjoy each others company with no family or jobs around.
12. It gives your brain a break from every day life.
13. It gives you body time to re group and relax a little bit.
14. It's fun and it makes you happy.
15. It gives you something to look forward to at work and makes work more tolerable after you get back.
16. You get to take some really cool pictures and then put them in an album you never look at.

07/18/11

Company

Well our company went back home today. I hate to say it but I'm kind of glad. Don't get me wrong I enjoy getting to see and visit with our guests, but it is very tiring. You spend the first 3 or 4 days before they get here killing yourself trying to get house cleaned up and organized, plus I was trying to get my homework caught up as well. Then it's the late nights of staying up and catching up and telling the old stories and my guest was a early riser, which we are not. You also don't sleep well with someone in the house (actually my fear was they were going to go walking through the house in the night and set off the alarm.). Then you have to cook the big meals, for every meal. My husband and I are not used to eating like that either. So I think I have put on 5 pounds this last week. Time to get back to Weight Watchers today. Then there is all the dishes you have to do. Oh yea don't forget all the deserts and snacks you have to have around the house in case they get hungry. Then you are always concerned are they comfortable, do they need anything, is the house cool enough. Then you feel like you always have to entertain your guest, which entertainment to my husband and I is going for a walk or watching TV. My husband and I have such a set routine, when we get up, when we eat, when go to bed, and that has been all out of whack this past week. So getting back to a normal today was wonderful. But now it is the post guest stuff I have to do, wash the sheets, eat the leftovers (which that is a plus I don't have to cook for a few days) and get rid of those deserts fast.

Jamaica 07/17/2011

Jamaica

Jamaica is the most beautiful vacation spot in the world. Though a very poor county, the shore lines are absolutely gorgeous. With it's brilliant blue water, and golden sand beaches. It's hard to tell when the sky and the water meet. There is a ton stuff to do in the area, with Dunn's falls, this is a natural feed spring, that cascades down to the ocean, you are able to walk up these cascades in chain with other visitors. Also you can zip line in the rain forest, these zip lines are going over a rushing river. Also you can swim with the dolphins at Dolphin Cove. You can go horse back riding along the ocean. You can visit Margareteville. With a multitude of resorts and hotels on the island there are numerous places to stay. There is only one airport on the island, which is in Montego Bay, and then you drive to what ever island you choose to go to. Weather it be Ochio Rios, Negrill, there are several tourist areas, but these are the two most popular ones. With numerous palm trees and gorgeous flowers. Thousand of species of birds as well. A lot of people go to Jamaica to get married which is what I did. It was absolutely beautiful to get do this and cheaper than a normal wedding. Jamaica is so relaxing. You have “no worries” when you are there. The crafts on the island are just amazing, they carve there own wood, and make the most beautiful keep sakes to bring home. I can home with more than I should have. I so desperately want to go back actually I would not mind moving there if the opportunity arose. I just love the ocean and the calming sound of the waves crashing on the banks, the smell of fresh air and salt. You can find shells along the beach as well as many other ocean creatures. This is a huge cruise port to land at.

Facebook 07/16/11

Facebook

Tonight I thought I would write about facebook tonight. I kept having everyone tell me I needed to get on facebook. My husband had an account, but I did not. To be honest I had no clue what it really was nor did I understand it. So I finally decided to find out what this new craze was. So I went on and signed up, found a couple friends I knew and asked them to be my friend. To my amazement, they accepted. So the next day I went to check my email and there was several people asking me to be friends, so I accepted. Now I'm addicted to it. I check my facebook account everyday at least once if not twice. I don't post a much on my facebook page, but I'm always looking to see what everyone else is doing in life. I get to catch up with my old friends, I have not talked to in years. I get see what my step niece is up to. Yes she is 4 and has a facebook page. They say advertising is huge on facebook, so my husband and I decided to start an account for our business. Not sure how much it is helping, but it is kind of cool that we can put videos on there that we have video taped. We will post highlight videos from the weddings we video tape and let the bride send her friends to it and see here wedding on line. We have snip-its of a few concerts we have taped , debutante balls, dance recitals. We also post who's weddings we about to tape. I really think this is great thing, I get to catch up with friends I have not seen in years, and it is also free advertising for our business.

07/15/11

Friday 17/15/11

I got to take off work early today (first time in a long time) and we went down to Branson, for the afternoon. We started the day at the Ralph Foster Museum, I had not been there since grade school. It was interesting. They still had the Beverly Hillbillies car, the taxidermy animals, well except for the 2 headed calf. Funny what you remember from when you were a kid. The air conditioner was not working very well in there and it was hot. It really had not changed much since I was a kid Then went to Point Look Out, it was a awesome view, then went up to the Church there on Collage of Ozarks campus, it was truly beautiful. Then we decided to go to downtown Branson, and check out all the Flea Markets and Dick's five and dime. We stopped and had ice cream, my favorite thing in the world. Then down to the landing and walk around down there. At least it was a little cooler down on the lake. I lucked out and did not spend any money my husband was very happy about that. We decided to stop and eat at Shoney's on the way home, and that did not settle with my stomach at all. Now I'm sitting on the couch feeling like everything is going to come back up. I'm going to finish this, go take my medicine and go to bed. I have a big day planned for tomorrow. It's my first weekend off in 6 weeks. Mom is coming and picking me up and we are going to run errands, go get our hair cut (way past due for me) and then make our favorite pit stops, Cato's and Gordman's. Then home to fix dinner and figure out what our company wants to do for the night.

Zumba 07/14/11

Zumba

I'm going to Zumba my brains out tonight. I have not got to go in 2 weeks, last week had way to much homework, and Tuesday night I had to clean house as company was coming, but I'm going tonight no matter what. You ask what is Zumba? It is a combination of salsa, hip hop, and belling dancing all mixed into a high energy aerobic work out. It is a great cardio exercise. It goes for an hour and we dance to about 15 songs or so. I have been doing it about a year now. A friend of mine talked me into going. I thought OK I will try it once and now I'm hooked. I was worried I looked stupid the first couple of times I went, but soon realized that no one was paying attention to me, like me they were paying attention to the teacher so they would know what the next step was. After a few times I convinced my mom to come with me, I thought she will go once and that will be it. Now, I have her hooked she actually gets to go more than me now. She has invited some of her friends and now we have a pretty big crowd that goes every Tuesday and Thursday night. Our instructor is great, she has such a great heart and is so talented. We call her the Energizer Bunny, she keeps going and going, while we are all about ready to collapse. Some nights I have to force myself to go, but when I'm there I have a great time and I feel so much better afterwords. I enjoy this kind of work out as you really don't feel like you are working out.   You are having so much fun, oh yea and it is air conditioned that always helps this time of the year.

How to Write 07/13/11

How to write a collage term paper

I found this information to be very helpful, some of it was duplicate of other things we have read previously, but there was a lot of really good new information too. All three of the readings we have read say choose a topic you enjoy and want to learn more about. Write an outline, good organization is one key to a great term paper, I will have to agree with this, I have started doing this with this class and it seems to help me a lot. Make sure you back up your claims. I thought this was really good, evidence is material that lends to support the claim. Don't relay to heavily on examples, use statistic and studies. This was very use full information. Write a good introduction, I love this idea. I am one of these people of the introduction is not good, I will not read the story well unless it's an assignment, than I try and make my way through it. This is also something I have a lot of trouble with is writing a good introduction. Write a clear thesis statement. Good information, a thesis statement is a preview of whats in the paper. A thesis is a good road map for your paper, do not ever deviate from this. This is something I'm going to have to look into a little more. Use good sources, choose creditable sources, avoid out dated sources and use sources rich in facts. Don't rely on one source, another really good tip. I found this one a little funny, lose the BS, but had a good fact, keep your introduction short. So introduction has to be short but eye catching. Proofread.... I have really learned to do this in this class, it takes more time but I never realized how much I get in such a huge hurry and leave things out, or use different words. Very useful information.

Research tips 07/12/11

Research tips

I decided to combine these 2 on my blog since they were by the same author and close to the same topic. As previous readings we can see to choose a topic that we enjoy. I think I got that part down. Then it whet on to several links on how to find electronic information. Still not sure on this one, I really like the internet. This is a process, that involves uncertainty, doubt, recasting and often involves a lack of quick or black and white answers. I guess this kind of comforted me, as I am scared and really don't know how to start this research. Always keep your investigation focused on the problem you are studying. Yep I can see myself going off on a wild tangent and go looking for other things. Keep it current, I guess I never really thought about this before, but a great point. I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around this one. Torture the Dada, really good research is finding something narrow to investigate. Study the topic in depth. I think I can do it if is something I enjoy. I can see me not doing this, keeping clear and readable notes. I'm not very organized. This I found very helpful, your research should always come to a conclusion about what you investigated. I guess I'm the type of person that is scared to say for sure one thing. Don't want to rock the boat. So mental note, make sure to have a valid conclusion at the end Leave time for writing boy is that not the truth. It took me a whole lot longer to write my essay before than I ever dreamed it would. I'm going to try and tackle the research this week and maybe work on my essay this weekend.

Who is Driving 07/11/11

Who is Driving

I found this information to be very useful and a very encouraging. I agree totally on writing on what you believe. I found with my first essay I wanted to write about something, but was worried I would offend people, so I tried writing on a few other topics and it was just not going well. So I decided to go back to the topic I had originally wanted to write on and things started flowing into place. So lesson learned. I like also that we get to dive deeper into the topics we are passionate about, that way I can learn more on the things I love. I also like the idea we can add some of out stories and thoughts to this. It will help personalize it and make it more enjoyable. Plus doing this I will know all sides of my topic. This also gave me ideas on how to start, write questions you would like to know the answer to and then start you research, then I can take what I know and add to that. So I think choosing a topic that matters to me will make things a little easier, as I'm not so crazy about writing essays. And of course the most important thing I got out of this was this is to CREATE NEW KNOWLEDGE, how many times did she put that in there I think 6. Which I guess that would be true if you gather information and study it and it's a topic you enjoy, you are going to learn more and really put you all into it. But I think sometimes that is not possible with all collage essays. As you might have to write and essay on something your studying which might not be interesting to you. But there again you have to find something interesting to you and focus on that. I guess I had better start my research for my essay now.

07/10/2011

Sunday July 10, 2011

I can not think of anything to write about today, so I thought I would write about my weekend. I started the weekend Friday night by going to a visitation of a dear friend who passed on. Then come home and finished my homework, as I knew Saturday would be crazy. Actually got to sleep in Saturday which I loved, got up and ate breakfast and had to get ready. We video taped a wedding Saturday afternoon at the Elfindale Chapel (it's such a beautiful chapel.) Then we had the reception at Highland Springs. The decoration where gorgeous, the used the colors, pink, yellow and white. We finally got to sit down and watch Toy Story 3. Don't laugh, but I actually cried through it. I found it to be very sad. Made me want to go get all my toys out of the attic and play with them. I woke up this morning and went to church, we had a missionary speak, it was very interesting. He was a mission in Mexico City for about 10 years. Our church actually went late today, so I did not get home till late, but came home had lunch and took a nap. Just loved that. My husband came home we got things together and went to buy groceries. I've been so busy I have not been able to for 3 weeks, we were about of everything. Plus we have company coming in this week. Then we had to go to a farewell party, for one of our friends she is leaving for Phoenix AZ the end of this month. Now I'm sitting here writing my journal for today and thinking I need to go fix me a smoothie. I also need to start cleaning house for my company coming in this week, but think I'm going to sit on the couch for the rest of the night.

Gool Old Days 07/09/11

Good Old Days

Tonight I had to drive across town so I thought I would “cruise Kearney.” Boy did that bring back memories. That was the big thing to do on Friday and Saturday nights (yes I know I'm showing my age.) We could not wait till the weekend so we could hang out with our friends on Kearney street. We'd stop and put $10.00 gas in the car (back in the day when that would fill the car up), then we would start on Kearney turn right on Kansas go down and turn around at the movie theater (which is no longer there) and head back up Kansas. Hoping we would get stopped at the stop light at Kansas and Kearney because that was the perfect spot to see everyone. Sometimes we would need to stop at McDonald's and talk to one of our friends or use the facilities and sometimes we would just sit there with our friends drinking a Dr. Pepper watching everyone go by. Then there were the special times when Street Machines was in town. Boy those were great times, we would have the burn out contest with both lanes going at the same time. I can remember standing in the center lane of Kearney, while guys were throwing bleach on the ground so the cars could do a better burn out. I was running back and forth to see which one had the most smoke. I look back on that think boy was I stupid for that, that was really dangerous. We've all since grown up and started our own families now. But I don't think any of us will ever forget those days. We are still keep in touch by facebook and from time to time will have a “great Kearney street story.”

Dealth 07/08/11

Death

I had a friend pass away a couple of days ago, and it has me thinking about death. I have actually been very lucky in my life as I have not had a lot people close to me die until hear recently. About a year and a half ago I lost my best friend to cancer. I miss her dearly. She was the one person in life who could tell me the truth and not offend me, my friend who just passed away helped me through some very difficult times in my life. But I thought about both of there deaths and where they are now. My belief is if you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior you will spend eternity with him in heaven. Both my friends were very strong Christian women and I believe they are in heaven with the Lord right now. So they are at peace and have a way better life than we do here on earth per what the Bible teaches us. So that got me thinking why are we so sad when someone dyes why are we not happy (if they know the Lord) they are in heaven and having a great time. I feel we are greedy, we want them here with us, we miss them and want to be able to talk to and be with them again. But if we know Christ we will be in heaven with them again someday. I know for me I have peace knowing my loved ones who have gone on before me are in heaven. Does not mean I do not miss them, but I do know they are living a much simpler life the are happy and at peace with no more pain or suffering.

free writing 07/07/2011

Free Writing on “The Makers Eye : Revising your own manuscript

“To them a page is never finished” I found this quote kind of funny after trying to finish my essay last night, I think I went over that thing a 100 times last night changing words and re doing sentences. Actually I even completely started it over once. Ray Brad bury puts his script a way for a year and reads it again as a stranger. I find that bizarre, but yet again very interesting. I guess he has wrote so many books he can do that, and since he has been doing it so long probably has several to go back over

and read. “How much information is enough” I was asking myself this same question while writing my essay. I don't wan to much where it gets boring, but I want enough to state my point. I have learned from the class to read my stuff out loud and re read, but I had never thought of acting as I'm the audience not the writer. “Writers edit, shifting back and forth from eye to page to ear to page.” I going to have to learn to do this. I so loved the last paragraph of this “ A piece of writing is never finished, it is delivered to a deadline, torn out of a typewriter on demand sent off with a sense of accomplishment and shame and pride and frustration. If only there were a couple of more days, time for just another run at it, perhaps then...... “ I understand the frustration part of this, I was so frustrated with my essay before I finally turned it in last night, I'm still not completely happy with it, but I'm ready to get someones else opinion on it and see if they can add any light to my writing.

Free writing "how to say noting in 500 words" 07/06/11

I feel this was a really great study guide, I will have to admit I was struggling some with my essay. I was worried it would not be interesting, or it would offend someone, this really gave me some great ideas and insight on things. Don't worry about offending someone, it's your opinion and the teacher will probably be more interested in reading it if it controversial. He went on to explain teachers read the same thing over and over do something different and get there attention. They were talking about making your introductions paragraph interesting get the readers attention in that first paragraph, make them want to read more. It goes on to tell you to use descriptive words, give examples, make the people reading feel what you mean. If your talking about blood guts, make them see the blood and guts by your words. I also like the idea of the details, look up figures get totals, give examples, back up what your trying to say. Which with the internet this is so easy to do. “Call a fool a fool” this was so good, don't try to sugar coat it, just say what your thinking. If the person is a fool, call him a fool. I had never thought about the pat expressions...... if you can get around them don't use them. Good writers try anything and everything not to use these. Colorful words, this was so good, I'm always looking for the perfect word to describe how I feel. I try when I'm doing an advertisement for our business to get the word that will make the bride think, I really need this video. I'm glad I decided to take a break and try and knock out one of our readings today. I think this just might help me get my essay done. Let's hope.

free writing on essay 07/05/11

Free Writing on the I believe essay

Traditional Values is believed by many, including myself that traditional values were a great part of America a great and free nation. Traditional values in the past include working making there own way in life, that a hand shake should be an agreement, believe in God and going to church and the Bible, that a marriage should be between a man and a woman, and a marriage should last forever, that honesty is important, that kids need to be disciplined and made to mind. It seems to me that life was so much more simpler in the day when families had values, that children were punished when they done something wrong, they had shores to earn an allowance, they did not sit behind a computer or a game and play games all day. Also children were mostly raised in homes with a mother and a father both. Marriage is another story, marriage was important people seemed to take there vows seriously, also a marriage was between a man and a women. Also in the old days people worked to provider a living for there family, they did not depend on the Government to fend for there families. I do know and understand that people go through rough times and need help once in a while from the government, But my issue comes with people who live on Government assistance for life just because they have no desire to work, and know they can get by with it. I've worked since I was 16 years old and been on my own and taking care of myself since I was 19. I feel a since of satisfaction working and taking care of myself. I also think going to Church and reading your Bible is important, I believe that this county was established on Godly principals and values. The Deceleration of Independence was based on Godly principals. Seems to me in life we forget about what our county was established on, I think life would be so much simpler to go back to these simple days and these basic values.

A Hamster 07/04/11

A Hamster on his wheel.

I kind of feel like a hamster on a wheel in his cage going around and around never really accomplishing anything. Have you ever watched a hamster running on his wheel? They just go round and round, never really getting anywhere. They work so hard running in circles and there is no goal no reward at the end. Is the hamster having fun while walking on his wheel, is he enjoying his journey on his wheel? Is he really getting some where on his wheel that we do not see? I have so many goals in life I want to accomplish. I want to remodel our house, and I want to travel I want to have fun. But the only thing I feel I get done is work. I work a full time job processing health insurance claims, then on weekends and some evenings I work for my husband. He owns a video production company, so this time of the year is very busy for us. Then to ad to the mix now I'm going to school. Oh you ask what do I do in my free time? Well lets see I mow our yard, all 2 acres of it, I keep up with the house cleaning, and do all the cooking. Maybe that is where I'm at in life, I need to enjoy the journey God has laid out in front of me. Even though it does not seem like it, I am making progress in life, I guess maybe it's so small it's hard to see. But yet when I look back at things, I see how far I have come. Life is to short not to enjoy the journey you have. So I guess I will go back and get on my hamster wheel and get to work.

My adventures while video taping weddings 07/03/2011

My husband and I own a video production company. One of the things we do with this company is video tape weddings. So I thought today I would write some of the more interesting moments we have seen with taping weddings.

A few years ago we had a groom who went to fetch the garter, he soon had a strange look on his face and then pulled out a “No Trespassing” sign. The groom who showed 5 minutes before the wedding started. The bride who was so drunk for the ceremony that when the Pastor went to pray a big long string of snot came out of her nose and almost touched the floor, right as the Minster was saying amen, she sniffed it back up. We had a fire alarm go off at a reception, the whole wedding party had to evacuate the room for about 10 minutes. Or instead of a first dance the couple played “connect four” (the groom had it won but did not see it or wanted to let his new bride win). The ring bearer was the family dog. It's a tradition to smash the cake in each others face, but this couple actually chased each other around the room with it (they were actually local newscasters in this area). We had a father of the bride who before he waked his daughter down the aisle put his hands on his knees and done a dance for us all. All the while the bride lowering her head in shame. We also had the dad who gave his daughter away and told the groom, “don't bring her back”. For the first kiss the bride had have a step stool to kiss the groom (he was 6'7 and she was 5'2). Or the bride and groom who danced out the door after the wedding, with the wedding party following. Also the wedding party who kicked a hole in the wall at the reception they got so wild. Who could forget the numerous brides who have to pull there tops up because they are strapless and starting to fall. We had a flower girl who at the end of the isle still had petals left so she dumped the basket upside down at the end of the isle or the flower girl who tried to go back and pick up the flower petals. Or the groomsmen who before the wedding rolled up his pants leg, and went trout fishing with his bare hands in the lake, he actually caught one, at the same wedding the groom and his brother jumped in the lake after the wedding. We had the groomsmen who chained a bowling ball to the groom, and would not give him the key. These are just a few of the interesting things we have seen at weddings. My advice for brides enjoy the day and make as many memories as you can.

Freewriting on "Grown up Barbie" 07/02/11

Free Writing for a Grown up Barbie

I to played with Barbie growing up too, but I really don't think I ever thought of the career she had or who she married or anything like that. I just liked to change her clothes and style her hair. She stated she was not sure she really like her job anymore. I guess my question would be if you don't like the life style than why are you doing it, why not change your career and do something different. I find it kind funny she is a fashion designer but she is anti fashion nor does she like to shop. My thought is you really need to like your job to do it well. She seems to have the smarts to do anything she would like to do in life and definitely the confidence to do anything. I do like the thought she would like to help people with different body styles, I would like to have clothes that fit my body and make me look good and thin. I do like her attitude that she may not have looked like Barbie but, she thought she did. That says a lot, that our mind plays a big part of what we do in our lives. I think often we worry so much about what other people think that we don't see our self for who we really are. I believe every person has something to offer the world. If someone has an opinion about us, it's there right to have, that opinion but we should not let it dictate to us how we should feel and live. I did love her ending quote “I believe in imagining a life, and then trying to live it.” Seems like simple words to live by but yet so hard to really do.

Connie's Credo assignment 07/01/11

Connie's Credo

I believe in working hard and making your own way in life. Being childlike once in a while is a positive thing. I believe in God and the Bible and honoring both of those things with all your heart. I think you should make the most of every opportunity given to you in life. You should be respectful and responsible in life. A smile can change someones day. I believe you should be honest. I think you ought to tell the people you love this as much as possible and I believe a hug can cure almost anything.

Know your Audience Anaylysis blog 06/30/11

Know your audience analysis blog.

I learned several things by reading the questions and reviewing the answers. We have a wide range of ages represented in this group, you can tell this by the career paths we have chosen, some are just beginning their journey, some are in the middle, and some are near the end of there journey. Another way you can tell is by the television shows chosen, some are the new, younger and hip shows, while others were oldies but goodies. I find it very interesting that the older shows picked represented simple times in life with family values honored. I had forgotten about “The Love Boat.” I really enjoyed this show back in the day. We also have so many kind and caring people that want to make a difference in the world, this was obvious by the way people were willing to donate their money, and by what kind of physician they wanted to be. We have a lot of people entering the medical field. I was also touched by how so many people's family have influenced their lives, and also found it touching that people wanted to spend time with a loved one that had passed on. Also, the type of physician that people chose to be was influenced by something they or a loved one had been through. Then there was the question, “If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go.” I found the answers to these questions surprising, everyone chose another county, no one wanted to stay here in the United States. We definitely have people who want to travel. Adventure seems to be at the top of everyone's list, that is if they have time and there is nothing dangerous along the path less traveled. Our audience seems to be very diverse, with very unique pasts and even unique futures.

Free Writing for Reading Response/06-29-11

Free Writing:

Writing down ideas for my reading response assignment. I so relate to Alice Walker, in the story “Beauty: When the other dancer is self” I know I'm my worst critique. I'm constantly talking negative thoughts to myself and talking my self out of things. “For six years I do not stare at anyone, because I do not raise my head” I so relate to this, I hate to raise my head, I don't want to look at anyone, I'm so scared they will see my insecurity, my doubt in myself. My confidence has been torn away from me, my father always criticized me, you did not so this, you did this wrong, you did not do this. All my life I never felt good enough. I was 8 years old and a tomboy, I have a cowboy hat, cowboy boots checkered shirt and pants” I relate to this I was my daddy's little girl. I wanted to do everything my dad did.Growing up in grade school I had confidence, I was a tomboy always keeping up with the boys. “ Then the teenage years set in, boy did that change. I met my ex husband several years after this a person just like my father. I was told you are stupid, fat, ugly those words still burn in my ears today. After so long you believe those things. He finally finds his beauty queen our neighbor.After the divorce I see myself as fat, stupid, I take my ex husbands harsh words to heart. I thought you had dealt with the past. I remember. I'm out to re build my self esteem find new friends and start life over. The parells to this story people probably don't look at you the way you think they do. Beauty is only skin deep. What matter is what is on the inside. Worry about what people think of me has made me miss seeing the desert. I forget to live life because I'm always worried about what people think trying to please everyone. I am grateful for what I have went through in life, it has changed me, made me stronger. It still hurts from time to time. I ask myself did this time change me yes it did. It seems we are harder on our selves than the world ever could be.

Freewriting for 10 minutes on subject I believe being childlike

I believe that being childlike is great, you can look at the world with no worries, no timings, no exceptations.  You act up and no one cares, you can laugh which is great for loosing weight and makes you feel great.  Being childlike is believing in things that no one else does.  Means playing all the time and not working.  Oh I like that since I work 50 to 60 hours a week and go to school on top of that and keep up with the yard and house and cooking.  Seeing life through a child is great, you think everything is great and the world revolves around you.  You get to eat almost anything you want and now worry about putting on weight.  You can watch cartoons and no one looks at you funny.  You can go to Disney and no one looks at you funny.  I will have to say I have no kids and my husband and I went to Disney last year and  you can't help but act like a kid.  I worked with kids part of my life.  Life through there eyes is simple.  mom and dad are always there for you and they will take care of you no matter what.  They are creative they think of new ways to etertain there selves.  They love to give hugs.  Oh yea being childlike also means getting to take naps, my favorite thing to do.  Means you run around and scream and no one things your strange, you can wear what you want and no looks at you funny.  You can take baths and actually play in it because you have no time limits of a 1000 things you need to do.  I think I would like to go back to being a kid, and make some serious changes in my like.  Like enjoying school, applying myself more in school and in sports.  Have a bunch of friends and not have a serious boyfriend in highs school just enjoy the experience.    335 words in 10 minutes

I believe/10 min writing

I believe in love
I believe in God and the Bible
I believe in happieness
I believe in laughter and being happy
I believe in joy
I believe with God's help you can do anything
I believe after a certain age people should have to take the driving test again
I believe ice cream makes everything better
I believe going to school is a good thing and should be taken serious (unlike me when I was younger)
I believe this is a long time to do this, I'm only at 3 minutes and running out of things to say.
I believe there is someone for everyone in the world, you just have to adjust.
I believe that people should work hard and not except the world tot take care of them.
I believe in staying healthy you only have one life and you need to take care of yourself (now if I can just get to eating healthy again)
I believe that people should be responsible for there self
I believe family is very important, they will always be there for you.
I believe in relaxing in life (there again I need to find time to do this)
I believe sitting down to watch a good movie is OK once in a while
I believe working to much takes all the fun out of life (hmm wonder why I know that)
I believe you should do stupid things once in a while.
I believe being childish once in a while is great (find your enter child and have fun)
I believe in fairy tales
I believe I will get to go to Jamaica again in life
I believe I will make it through school (even though I got a long way to go)
I believe I'm getting close to being down now 9 minutes in.
I believe I'm going to have to fix super her in a bit
I believe in working hard
I believe in

My thoughts compared to the Jung Typology Test

Wow! They pegged my personality dead on. I really don't take a lot of faith in these kind of tests, but this one described me perfect. I'm a protector, I feel the need to protect my family, friends, I'm loyal and responsible. I want to be a service to others, I have a warm heart and am very sympathetic. Protector's are willing to work long hard hours and do high-quality work. They take on projects and get it done whenever humanly possible. We value a dollar and save as much as possible. We have few close friends, and we're very loyal to the ones we have.

We are shy and not talkative, which is the way I am with writing. I'm shy and quite uncomfortable with people reading my writings or know my thoughts. I strive to do good work, but don't feel I have the tools to do this with. My spelling and grammar are not all that great.

This is what really surprised me is the career possibilities. I have worked in the religious field (christian pre-school teacher), a secretary and now I'm going to school to be a nurse. I so desire to help people which is perfect to me. When the tornado hit Joplin a few weeks, ago I felt such a desire to go down there and help.

I guess what this test tells me, is that I'm going to finish school (which has always been a worry for me) no matter what happens and I'm going to try and do high-quality work.

Hello

Hello everyone,

This is something I'm doing for my English class 101, I've posted some pictures of my honeymoon, 5 years ago so you can all see where I want to be.  I just love the ocean, and would love to live close to the ocean some day.