When I Grow Up

I have changed my mind about what I wanna be when I grow up several times through the years.  In order I have wanted to be: an Olympic ice skater, a circus performer, a gymnast, a veterinarian, a marine biologist, a mom, and now a pharmacist.  I have no doubt that as I grow in experience and as my life continues to change, that I will decide to be something else later in life.  There have been a few constants as I have changed my mind; these things have gradually turned into more of a to-do list. 

What stayed with me from my "circus performing" dream, was the desire to learn how to ride a unicycle.  I have always wanted one, just because.  I made a couple posts about it on my Facebook page throughout the years.  My friends thought I was weird for it but I've never been afraid to be weird LOL

So, when I met Steve, he decided to Facebook stalk me (he called it reconnaissance).  He found these posts and decided to buy me a unicycle and have it shipped to my house.  Only I didn't know it was from him.  The note that amazon put in the box was really small and at the bottom of the box of peanuts.  Once I saw the unicycle I didn't take the time to look for a tiny piece of paper. 

I tried for about a week to master the unicycle... alas I did not succeed.  It didn't help that the tire went flat.

I am trying again to ride it.  Steve aired up the tire for me and I am more than a little bit excited!!!!

Hopefully, it wont take me forever to learn.  I'm thinking that I could use this somehow.  Join Steve on his campaign trail and ride across the platform on my unicycle with a big sign that says Vote For Steve.  If that doesn't work maybe I can walk amongst the crowd in stilts!

When the Clock Stikes 9

I am not a night owl.  Steve teases that I am an old lady and that I turn into a pumpkin at 9.  It's true.  I have been that way as long as I can remember.  My body is just hardwired to sleep early and get up early.  So Steve's late nights have been hard on me.  I wish we could go back to the time when he and I would cuddle on our favorite chair together and watch tv while eating cookies.  But we can't, he already announced that he is running for US Congress and now he has to do the work to show that he is a serious candidate.

I am still worried.  Don't get me wrong.  I am not worried about him or that he can do the job.  I have complete faith in that.  I am worried about me.  I am worried that it is going to change me.  Change us.  It's only been a month and I am having a hard time with the late nights and the time that he has spent away from us.  In so many ways I feel like I am a single mom again.

I hate feeling alone.  Something changed when we got married and now I can't sleep well unless he is next to me.  Not sure what that is all about, I have slept just fine by myself for years, and now that I am married all of the sudden his absence causes insomnia?  The next day isn't fun either.  I am cranky cause Steve didn't come home til late and tired cause I couldn't sleep which makes the cranky even worse.


I have tried to manage my expectations by just assuming that he is always politicing and that I can't depend on him to be around.  That works for planning and I am definitely less mad at him. It doesn't help that I don't understand politics.  What could they possibly be talking about this late at night?  I am pretty sure they aren't making donor phone calls... they do want to win.  I can't think of anything more annoying that getting a late night phone call from a politician, most people don't even wanna talk to telemarketers late at night and I am pretty sure that politicians are more disliked than telemarketers... scary.  This is what my husband wants to do.  Whatever.

What I really hate... is the unexpected.  Especially when we have been home for a while, not like we are doing anything spectacular.  Just enjoying being home.  Everyone just chillin out.  Then BOOM.  He has to go.  Just got a meeting with "someone"  I have no idea who these people are.  Emergency conference call. Or whatever whatever. When my expectation is that I am going to be able to spend the night cuddling with my husband... and he suddenly has to go.. I know that he is going to be out late.  Neither Steve or Matt (his campaign manager) know how to shut up. Do you blame me for being mad?  Sometimes a girl just needs a little uninterrupted attention.

I probably shouldn't even write any of this.  But I am very upset, and I can't sleep because tonight is one of those unexpected nights.  I couldn't stay quiet and fought with him as he walked out the door to his "had to be in person" meeting with Matt.

I am sure that I will get over this.  It will all work out; I am worried that harder times are coming.   I know that he is working hard.  What I feel right now... is that when this is all over... Steve owes me BIG.

All alone! Whether you like it or not, alone is something you'll be quite a lot!

-Dr. Seuss-

Overachiever Or Just Plain Crazy

I am the newest staff member at the National College of Business & Technology.  I wasn't even looking for the job!  I will be an instructor for "Intro to Pharmacology".  So the story goes like this:

I was at work, minding my own business, happily stuffing a burrito in my mouth, when a gentleman in a suit comes to the drop off window.  I try to quickly swallow some of the mouthful that I have and cover my mouth so the rest doesn't fall out when I say, "Hi, may I help you?"  He says he would like to speak to the pharmacist or the lead tech.  Quickly assessing the situation, I conclude that he doesn't look mad so he probably isn't a patient ready to complain.. which leaves one option, he must be a drug rep.  I do not like talking to drug reps so I signal to my pharmacist that she has a question at the window and I continue eating my burrito.  He then explains that he is the campus director and he is looking for someone to teach a night class once a week.  My pharmacist can't do it, but directs his attention to me.  I had yet another large bit of food in my mouth (Think Kate Hudson in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.. very attractive).
As I swallow my food, I listen to what he has to say and his proposition interests me so I ask some questions and tell him I will get back with him ASAP.

I discussed the job possibility with Steve and made sure that it would fit into my hectic schedule.  We can work this out and a little extra money wouldn't hurt.  Plus, I am working toward my PharmD.. this is going to look great on a resume!!! 

When I called him back that night, I was a little worried that I wouldn't have the credentials needed for the job since I do not have an associates degree yet.  He told me what the job would entail and what was expected of me.  He said that he would check into the degree thing and get back with me the next day.

This whole time I am super nervous.  I have never taught before.  When I get in front of people, I turn really red.. nerves, fast heart rate, hard to concentrate.  It take a while to get comfortable.  I have to make my own syllabus, and cover 33 chapters of a text book in 10 weeks.  OMG..  seriously wondering what I have got myself into.  Will I be able to teach effectively?  While working at a retail pharmacy for 4 years now, I have become more than a little jaded (see video);

  I don't want to scare people away, but I also would want to prepare them for what they might face.  This should be interesting.


I filled out all of the paperwork today, and met with the Director of Health Care Education.  He made me feel better; we went over today about teaching and the syllabus in more detail seemed a lot more manageable.

I know that I can do this.  What I know about me is that I can do anything I set my mind to.  I will probably trip up but I will learn and move on and be better for it!  Looking forward to adding teacher to the many hats I wear:  Mom, Full-time Employee, Part-time Student, and Teacher... Challenge Accepted! LOL

“So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed)

-Dr Seuss

Confidence and Patience (Maybe)

Looking back now that this first half of this semester is over, I have learned stuff!  I know you are happy to know that because I should be learning stuff in college, right!  When I ask my kids what they learned in school, I usually get a response like "stuff".  Sometimes they ask me personal questions like, "mommy, have you ever had an ingrown toe nail? cause that is what we learned about in school today"

When I take a serious look at what I have learned, this is what I got:
1.  I have learned that discussing ideas about your paper with others who don't understand the assignment, is a great way to start arguments.  And as my classmate found out can get you in some trouble.
2.  When writing a paper, it is good to let it rest.  I found that the advice in the text book was helpful.  When I am stressing over my writing, leaving it alone, then coming back to it a day later gives you a fresh look and seems to help with the ideas flowing.
3.  Having and editor is great!  I really liked having peer reviews.  I worked hard on my paper and I still missed things.  Spelling and grammar and sentence structure.  It was very helpful in shaping the final product!  THANK YOU PEERS!!
4.  I used to be scared of blogging.  I thought I would never have enough time.  I thought that nobody would read it.  I didn't want to waste my time.  I have been proven wrong all the way around and have discovered that I really like it.
5.  I have learned some things that I have always kind of known intuitively.  Papers have an audience, and should be written to that audience.  You don't want to hand in a paper to your supervisor and have it written as if you're talking to  your child.

Overall, I think it has been a successful first half.  I am ecstatic that mid-terms are over and I am ready to be done!!

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go. - Dr. Seuss

Remembering Brandon

I miss my brother. I have written five sentences then erased them (several times).  Everything I want to say seems so cliche and trite when I write it down.  The words seem so small compared to the feelings that I want to express.  How do you express years of memories in just a few words?  I miss him so much sometimes that I feel like there is a hole in my heart that will never be filled up.. that will never stop bleeding.

It's something that  you can't really understand until it happens to you.  I suppose it is inevitable in life to lose the people that we love, especially as we get older.  I never thought that it would happen to me so soon.  We didn't have time to prepare, I don't know that it would have made it any easier, but it hurts in a way that I can't quite articulate that I didn't get to say goodbye.

Some days are harder than others, fighting off the images and feelings that bombard me, memories of when I first got the news that Brandon was gone. I remember the tears that wouldn't stop and feeling like my heart had stopped.  I remember how hard it was to get up the next morning and the day after that and the day after that and the day after that.  I remember thinking that things would never be the same.

The pain never really goes away, you just learn to cope with it.  Mostly I deal with it by thinking about all of the great memories I have of my brother.  I got a tattoo symbolizing him shortly after he passed away.  It's a dinosaur.. Rex the Dinosaur (from Toy Story) to be exact.  It makes me smile.  It reminds me of him.  He was small with a huge dinosaur sized heart.  He hated vegetables.  He had tiny arms (LOL.. family joke).  Brandon had a heart of gold.  He was kind and caring.  He would quickly forgive any wrong.  His laugh... OMG his laugh.  I can still hear it sometimes.  It was full and contagious.  He was full of so much light and joy.

Brandon passed away the day after his birthday, November 5, 2011.  He was a triplet; trying to celebrate Nicole and Dustin's birthday proved to be difficult for me last year.  I am hoping it will be easier this year.  I don't want to be so lost in sorrow that I "forget" them.  What good is mourning time lost, if it makes you lose time with the family that is still here? 

I plan on visiting the place we spread his ashes this year.  Starting to think that may not be a good idea.  The kids really want to go though, and I don't want to disappoint them for a second year in a row.

I am trying hard for this blog to have some sort of direction, purpose and for it to flow.  But I am failing miserably. SO I am going to stop right here and end this with the video that a friend made for my family.

Brandon's Video

Sometimes you will never know the value of something,

until it becomes a memory.- Dr. Seuss

Steve Lane for Congress

Well.. It is officially official.  My husband has announced that he is a candidate for congress in the 4th district.  He announced on Ralph Bristol this morning.  Here's the audio clip!

He and I had several lengthy discussions before this decision was made.  We talked a lot about what a campaign would look like for our family.  Since neither of us has done anything like this before, I am still not quite sure what to expect.  We talked about him being away, speaking engagements, possible criticisms there will be and how we will handle that, and a range of other things.  Now we will find out what it's really like.

I am very proud of Steve.  I believe in what he is trying to accomplish and the heart behind what he believes.  I really think he can do this.  He has vision and he is creative and he really knows what he is talking about.  I can "see" him winning.  Besides, I am behind him.  I heard a story once that goes like this.

Years ago when the first George Bush was President he went out campaigning for his second term in office. While on the road they needed some gas and the driver pulled into a gas station along the road. As the attendant started fueling the car Mrs. Barbara Bush got out of the vehicle, walked around, hugged and cheerfully spoke with the attendant.

After they finished talking, she got back into the car and sat next to her husband. President Bush asked her, "Who was that?" She responded, "A high school boyfriend."

To which he replied, "You mean to tell me, that you left the car to talk to him? Do you realize that you are married to the President of the United States? If you had married him, you’d be the wife of a gas station attendant."

She responded: "Honey, if I had married him, he would be the President of the United States."
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/politics/humor/marriedhim.asp#9W1wI7qRVCSOEgER.99

Years ago when the first George Bush was President he went out campaigning for his second term in office. While on the road they needed some gas and the driver pulled into a gas station along the road. As the attendant started fueling the car Mrs. Barbara Bush got out of the vehicle, walked around, hugged and cheerfully spoke with the attendant. After they finished talking, she got back into the car and sat next to her husband.  President Bush asked her, "Who was that?" She responded, "A high school boyfriend." To which he replied, "You mean to tell me, that you left the car to talk to him?  Do you realize that you are married to the President of the United States?  If you had married him, you’d be the wife of a gas station attendant."
She responded: "Honey, if I had married him, he would be the President of the United States."

I checked this story out to try to find proof that it actually happened.  According to Snopes, this is just a story and similar tales have been published about several other famous couples.  Even though the stories are not true, I would like to think that I am that kind of inspiration for my husband. 
Steve says that because I am basically a-political that I keep him grounded.  I don't quite understand what he is trying to say, even though he has tried to explain it to me several times.  I am just me.  I don't know most the people that he looks up to or why he gets so excited when he meets them in person.  Meh, big deal, to me they are just people.  Some of the events we have gone to can only be compared to what I imagine a geeky comic convention must be like.  At the end of the conference, everybody has nerd-gasms and rushes to the front of the room to talk to and take pictures with the speakers.  That kind of thing just doesn't do it for me.  

Steve says that I am like the typical voter.  I have a life.  Hahahaha!  I find that statement funny.  Seriously though, I have kids, and a 40 hour job, and I am a part-time student, who has time to follow politics?  I don't know how the current congressmen voted over the year(s) and I don't know the issues that are important to them.  I hear tidbits about the main elections from collegues and from strangers passing by who happen to say something about it, from facebook, and from the news.  What I have learned in the short time that Steve has been telling me about the goings on in the political world, is that you can't trust the news.  They don't get the facts right anymore.  What I have learned from statistics class is that you can "massage" the numbers to make them favor the result you are looking for.  This doesn't make for a great or informative combination.  So what do you do?  Steve says that the best way to know what is going on is to get involved; go to a meeting.  According to him, the statements he hears the most about why people don't get involved are "How can just one person make a difference" or "My vote doesn't count".  Honestly, there are so many people that don't care or don't have time to care that one vote DOES count.  I have seen some of the change that one person can make just by observing Steve and his friends.  I don't know all the details but I know that changes have been made and some changes are in process here in Rutherford County.  Did you know it only takes 1,700 votes to be elected to Murfreesboro City Council in a population of 115,000?  In the 4th congressional district there are over 400,000 registered voters and in a 3 way primary like what Steve will be running in, it will only take about 15,000 votes to be elected.  Seems to me the numbers say there is plenty of room for people (me included) to see positive change just by being an informed voter (who actually votes).

If I am completely honest with myself, I am really scared.  I don't know what is going to happen over the next year.  I will probably have to make some sacrifices to make sure that Steve gets to the places he needs to be.  I am probably going to have to deal with people saying mean things about him.  I know that Steve will be spending lots of time away from me and the kids while he is campaigning.  I will miss him.  A LOT.  We are a two income household, plus we have kids, so I can't just pick up and follow him around.  I am not crazy about this.  And I don't even want to get into the what-if's involved with winning.

This is what I do know.  I know that I am crazy in love with this man.  I know that we are both committed to a working relationship and that we can handle and work through anything that comes our way.  I know that I can do anything and get the strength I need through Christ (I just need to remember to lean on Him).  I know that I believe in Steve and what he stands for. And because I know all of those things I know that this will work, no matter the outcome.

So.. here are all the ways to check out my incredible husband.. 

Official Website stevelaneforcongress.com

FaceBook Page Steve Lane for Congress

Twitter LaneForTN

And of course I will be periodically posting how this is affecting me LOL

“You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!”  -Dr. Seuss

Years ago when the first George Bush was President he went out campaigning for his second term in office. While on the road they needed some gas and the driver pulled into a gas station along the road. As the attendant started fueling the car Mrs. Barbara Bush got out of the vehicle, walked around, hugged and cheerfully spoke with the attendant.

After they finished talking, she got back into the car and sat next to her husband. President Bush asked her, "Who was that?" She responded, "A high school boyfriend."

To which he replied, "You mean to tell me, that you left the car to talk to him? Do you realize that you are married to the President of the United States? If you had married him, you’d be the wife of a gas station attendant."

She responded: "Honey, if I had married him, he would be the President of the United States."
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/politics/humor/marriedhim.asp#9W1wI7qRVCSOEgER.99

Years ago when the first George Bush was President he went out campaigning for his second term in office. While on the road they needed some gas and the driver pulled into a gas station along the road. As the attendant started fueling the car Mrs. Barbara Bush got out of the vehicle, walked around, hugged and cheerfully spoke with the attendant.

After they finished talking, she got back into the car and sat next to her husband. President Bush asked her, "Who was that?" She responded, "A high school boyfriend."

To which he replied, "You mean to tell me, that you left the car to talk to him? Do you realize that you are married to the President of the United States? If you had married him, you’d be the wife of a gas station attendant."

She responded: "Honey, if I had married him, he would be the President of the United States."
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/politics/humor/marriedhim.asp#9W1wI7qRVCSOEgER.99

Just What We Needed

Over the last couple of months my stress level has been building and building and building.  Just life stuff, I can't claim I have anymore going on than the next person.  Family and work and school plus for some reason I have been extra emotional lately (that hasn't helped).  So I have really been looking forward to this vacation with my family!  My amazing mom gave us a vacation for Christmas last year.  Now here we are on the gorgeous gulf shore!!  More than just being on the beach.. we are in the pent house.  I learned a few lessons:
1. If you plan on running near the shore, don't wear your favorite running shoes!  They will get wet and full of sand.  While sand excellently exfoliates your feet.. it is not fun to have in your shoes while you run.  Barefoot is the way to go, just look out for sharp shells
2. Baby powder is a beach essential!  Or so I have heard.. and read.  I haven't actually tried it yet.
3. Seagulls are basically beach rats.. DO NOT FEED them.
4. My daughter wants to be a mermaid.
5. Alabama is serious about their alligators.
6. Building a sand castle is a lot harder than it looks.

This view is amazing!  We are situated so that we can see both the sunrise and the sunset from the balcony.  The ocean when we got here was dark and rough because tropical storm/hurricane Karen was threatening to hit our beach (thankfully it did not).  Throughout the week the water has become clearer and we can see fish and stingrays come up to the shore as night starts to fall.  The sound of the waves is so calming and the constant breeze is refreshing.

We didn't really have any plans for this trip; we wake up slowly in the morning.  I spend some time with my mom and a cup of coffee in the morning.  It's all been very relaxing!

Steve and I have gone running everyday (well I didn't go today because my calves hurt really bad).  And I am being a baby because I broke out with a rash.. I think that the sunscreen is the culprit.  It is so nice to run on the beach in the morning.  Fresh air and the sunrise and every now and then the waves splash up on your feet.  Plus it is a real workout to run in the sand.  It definitely works different muscle groups than running on the road.

While on the beach we noticed several kids feeding the birds.  The seagulls would then follow them around swooping at their heads.  The motions they made to get the birds to go away were the same motions they made to throw food to them in the first place so the birds just kept looking for food.  It's funny when it is happening to someone else.  Although we never fed the seagulls they looked at us suspiciously a couple of times.. just waiting for crumbs to fall and daring us with their beady eyes to feed them. 

The kids LOVE the ocean!  We have had so much fun. I absolutely love seeing the surprise and joy on their face when they play in the waves.  In between swimming we have great beach time either just chillin in the sun or building sand castles.  Mostly they like digging holes and filling them with water.  We have buried a few kids and even shaped Rachel into a mermaid.  Alisa and Hannah informed me that Rachel looked on the internet for spells that would turn her into a mermaid.  LOL my kids make me laugh.  I am proud that she is curious and does her research though!

Gulf Shores has walking trails, well I guess technically its Orange Beach.  So we took a walk there one day; we were introduced to an alligator named Lefty.  Lefty is missing her right eye and leg, according to the park tour guide guy, she probably lost them during her first mating season because she didn't know what she was doing.  He also informed us that Left was upset when the park put up a fence so she started eating people's dogs.  We also learned that "A Fed Gator is a Dead Gator".  Don't feed the gators.. they will continue to expect food and if given none will go after your legs.  At the end of our 2 mile hike we sat for a while at the butterfly pavilion.  It was gorgeous.  I loved seeing the butterflies flit around the flowers as we just relaxed in the shade. 

The kids found some flashlights and have gone hunting for crabs.  The crabs are almost the same color as the sand and you have to careful look for movement in the sand to find them.  They had them in a bucket, then put them in a giant sand arena to battle it out; the crabs weren't very interested in battling. They wanted to escape the crazy kids that kept throwing them into a pit.

Even the elevator rides going back and forth from our room to the beach have been fun
https://vine.co/v/hHBaVJeix7L               https://vine.co/v/hHBWbPgEApD 

 We even took some time to take the kids souvenir shopping since they brought their own money.  Rachel got a shirt and hat that say "YOLO", both Alisa and Hannah got a pearl necklace.  And Elijah.... he gets a hat that says "I pooped today" LOL

 We have had such a great time!  I am so thankful for my family and for being able to spend some relaxed quality time with them.   I have even had time to add an extra three pages to the paper that I have to write for school while the kids were vegging out in front of the TV.  I can not even express how much I have needed not only the down time, but also the much needed time with family! LOVE IT!!

“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.” -Dr. Seuss

Enlarge My Mouth

In 1 Samuel 2 (KJV) it says, "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation."

The highlighted part always kind of confused me.  I would get these images of Hannah eating people, and of the old testament stories about the ground opening up and swallowing people.  I don't remember when it was that it finally sunk in but I thought "What does an enlarged mouth look like?"...."Oh a smile" HA I am such a dork!  It makes me laugh now when I think about those old images that used to come to mind.  

Today when I read it, this passage in 1 Sam. 2, gives me so much joy.  (If you read it in some other versions it actually says smile.  lol I should have started there).  We have so much to be thankful for as God's people.  I have so much to be thankful for.  My life could be so different, but I am certain that  God's hand in my life has kept me from so much harm.  He definitely saves me from so much (probably daily).

When I sat down to write this blog, I was thinking about joy.  How the joy of the Lord is our strength, how in the presence of the Lord is the fullness of joy.  But then I sat down and read the passage in Samuel over again, and it reminded me of Psalm 23.  It is very similar.  I find it beautiful that both Hannah and David after her would say the same things. I love how the bible is connected throughout it's books.

It's all because of God's goodness and the way that he takes care of us.  Hannah's prayer was answered, she got a son!  My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation - You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For you are with me; Your rod and your staff , they comfort me.  Hannah walked through her own valley of barrenness; she saw the Lord answer her prayers.  What better reason do we have to rejoice?  Why should we not be filled with joy!  God answers prayer and he does it extravagantly!!

So I guess this is about joy.  It is the reason we have to be happy.  The great love and care that our Almighty God has for us.  We don't have to want;  we get to rest in the "green pastures" and be at peace as He leads us by still waters and restores our souls.  We should trust him even in the hard times and if we stop and think about times past.. realize that He was there the whole time giving us comfort.  Then there is answered prayer.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!  I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!! 

My Modest Proposal

A dormant volcano is also described as inactive.  While they aren’t erupting at present, below the surface there may be a lot of activity going on and they could explode at any moment.  This is also the best description of my mood lately.  I am frustrated and irritated and generally stressed out.  All of that being said, my trip to find a book at MTSU's library was nothing less than interesting.

I asked Steve to go with me because I had never been there before and didn't want to get lost alone in an unfamiliar place at night.  That campus is NOT car friendly.  You can't get anywhere from where you are.  We finally parked and walked, asked for directions 3 times and finally found the library.  In all, it took about an hour just to check out one book. 

Anyway, the point of this blog is supposed to be about the process of writing my paper.  I asked for help with the topic and my amazing husband helped me with that.  I have reached out for help from friends; one of them is the state director of Ohio Students Concealed Carry, and the other is super smart and writes papers about things political and philosophical in nature.  I have had lots of great direction.

I am not sure exactly what genre my paper is written in.  It definitely has information in it.  It's slightly satirical (who would really give children guns in a school setting?)  Though honestly as a side note, school shootings have only happened in gun free zones where even the security was not allowed to carry.  At the very least schools should take down the "gun free zone" signs.. leave the criminals to guess.  There is some how-to in there ( I am still working on developing that). 

In my research I have found how many people just want guns to be wiped out of existence.  There would be heavy opposition to what I am proposing.  There are people right now fighting for our 2nd amendment right to own a gun.  I don't pretend to know all there is to know about it though.  I am just scraping the surface of this subject to write a short paper.

I have a few more pages to fill out and I think I am going to do that with some compare and contrast.  Stating the other side of the argument.. why should children not have guns? or maybe state how some people might react to the introductions of guns to school.. maybe I will solicit the help of a Facebook questionnaire for that?  I posted this video in the previous blog and I think it is worth posting again.  This girl rocks..

I could also ask you.  If your child was provided a gun and training to use it at a public school.. What would you do?  How would you feel?  Would you feel that your child was more secure or more at risk?

“But I've bought a big bat.
I'm all ready, you see.
Now my troubles are going
To have troubles with me!”
  -Dr. Seuss

Messy Rooms and Controlled Chaos

We're learning how to write a paper in MLA format for class.  There are rules about spacing, grammar, and citations, just to name a few.  To be completely honest, they are all pretty overwhelming; there is a different format for just about every type of source.  There are so many ways to mess up.

I can see the value in the rules and format for writing in this style, but change is hard.  I know that in work situations I fight change that the company forces on us.  Yet once I get used to the new rules and see how it has actually made my work experience easier, I wonder why I fought in the first place.  Learning all the rules and formats will not be easy, at least I have a guide to go by.  From what I understand so far, these rules are in place to help minimize plagiarism and they make the paper easier to read.  The rules also allow for the author to give credit where it is due.

The argument has been made that there are no new ideas anymore, that somebody somewhere has said it before.  This may be true but does that mean a source shouldn't be cited?  I think that if researched the evidence to prove or disprove a theory will only be strengthened by finding and building on the ideas of those that came before us.  Besides if it were you with the idea, wouldn't you want credit for the work you did?  Wouldn't you want people to know the part that you played in shaping the ideas of tomorrow?

 Over the summer, while learning about biology from Mr. Carlisle, he said something that caught my attention, "The universe tends to move from order to chaos as part of the natural workings of things, due to the 2nd law of thermodynamics.  Without a constant input of energy things move from orderly to chaotic".  Like a kids room, unless there is constant work to keep the room clean it quickly becomes messy (1). 

 There have been rules and formats, to follow since the beginning of recorded time.  Rules give us boundaries and help us keep the chaos in order.  Could you imagine what it would look like if there was no law? No rules, no checks and balances.  Consider MySpace.. you could do whatever you wanted to your profile.  You could have a black background with black font if that's how you wanted to express yourself.  The problem, no body else would be able to see the expression of you.  And what is the point of expression if we can't affect those around us?  Often formats help to guide us so that our "voice" can be heard and understood clearly by others.

So do the rules hinder creativity? Not to those who are creative.  I believe that creativity always finds a way.  It has a way of seeping out, testing boundaries and challenging us to look for better ways, or modification of the rules as the world changes around us.  Still, we must be careful, there are some things that need to stay in the fence.

"He should not be here.

 He should not be about.

 He should not be here 

when your mother is out!" -Dr. Seuss

1.Carlisle, William F. "Entropy Discussion." Radio. June 2013.

Plagiarism and Dolls Made of Yarn

I am not a saint! (SHOCK).  I have stolen things before.  I have been tempted to cheat on a test, shifting my eyes, trying to catch the answer to a test on my classmate's paper.  There is one time that stands out to me more than any other.  I was about 6.  And I really, really, really, wanted the soft multi-colored ball of yarn in my grandmother's basket.  The yarn was soft, pretty, and all wound up into a ball.. (That's for you Mr. Tatum).

I took the yarn from the basket and stuck it in my pocket.  In hindsight, she probably noticed the large ball like shape protruding from my pants; she didn't say anything to me though.  Success!! I made it home with my treasure!  What did I do with it? I did what most any 6ish year old girl would do.  I turned it into a doll. Just in case you were wondering, this is how.

It only took a few minutes to make my doll.  I was happy with the results, but only for a while.  This is wrong. All wrong!  What if my grandma needed that yarn and I took it and she doesn't even know.  I shouldn't have taken it.  And now, I can't even give it back to her; I have already cut the yarn up.  It has to be a doll.  I can't roll it back up.  WHAT HAVE I DONE!?!?  I felt terrible!  I had to tell my mom;  Ooh the tears flowed.

The next time we went to grandma's house.  I gave my grandma the doll I had made, and said sorry for taking her yarn without asking.  She gave me a big hug and said it was alright. She said that I didn't have to worry about asking to have something because she would have given it to me if I had asked.  She kept the yarn doll in her basket and said that I could come and play with it anytime I liked.

It's mostly a good memory.  I learned that day about stealing and how bad it made me feel.  I was brought up to work hard for the things I have, and to not take things that are not yours.  As I got older, I also learned that taking other peoples ideas and claiming them as your own is stealing.

Unfortunately, plagiarism is easy to do even if it's unintentional. I have found some very helpful hints on the UNC writing center website.
     1. Citation, Citation, Citation.  You can never have too many citations!  This means that you did your research and you are knowledgeable about the subject you are writing about.  You are able to use your own ideas and weave them into the ideas of others to make a fluid concept.
     2.  Take good notes.  This is a big one for me.  I tend to do most of my research online and just bookmark a bunch of sites.  It can get really confusing, and I sometimes forget which article I found my information on.  By taking good notes, you can eliminate all of the confusion.  Jot down what you want to remember, the page number, and what cite, book, or article it came from.  Yes it does take a little bit more time, but it is better than an F because you forgot to cite someone else's work.
     3.  Be careful paraphrasing doesn't become plagiarism.  Changing a few words, inserting synonyms, or rearranging the sentence is too close to the original.  In fact, I would say it's not original at all.  This can be taken care of with good note taking as well.  As you are taking notes, ask yourself some questions, try to think about what the author is trying to explain, why do that think it is important, and so on.  Thinking this way helps you to start to develop your own ideas

"Moral of the story: When in doubt, give a citation" -UNC plagiarism handout.

"As you partake of the world's bill of fare,
that's darn good advice to follow.
Do a lot of spitting out the hot air,
and be careful what you swallow." -Dr. Suess

Disturbingly Beautiful?

The day began like any other.  My alarm going off just as Steve was leaving the house for work.  I needed to get out of bed and get the kids moving so they weren't late for school.  Steve grabbed the trash on his way out the door, but he came back in and asked me to bring my phone cause he knew that I would want to take a picture.  He said that I had to come see this.
  Dangling from our garage was a pair of entangled slugs. GROSS, as if one slug isn't gross enough.. These two were spiraled around each other with what looked like slim dripping from their heads.  I was pretty sure they were mating, yet when I went back to investigate later.. there was no evidence of an egg. Weird.

I posted a collage of the pics I took and found that most people think slugs are disgusting.  I don't blame them.. ewww. They crawl around leaving a trail of snot, and as far as I know they don't really serve a greater purpose.  From what I have read so far they are considered a pest, destroying crops of strawberries and such.  It makes you wonder.. why? why mosquitoes and slugs and other various species that aren't "essential" to the circle of life?  I still don't have an answer to that one. Maybe I am not looking hard enough.

I did, however, research enough to confirm my suspicions that the slugs were in fact mating.  From what I have read, I learned that slugs are hermaphrodites.  Confusing!?!  Wouldn't that make them asexual?  Apparently not.  And that little ball looking thing at the bottom, it's not an egg.  Still not really sure what it is.. I am assuming that it is the visible exchange of sperm?  I haven't found any research that is that specific, again with the not looking really hard (I know.. lazy).  Honestly my curiosity has been satisfied, and I wanted to share this insight with you.  I know you're Overjoyed!  -insert maniacal laughter-

While searching for answers as to why these slugs were performing sordid acts on my garage, I found this video.. interesting.  Plus I like the narrators voice, it reminds me of when I was little and nothing was on TV except animal documentaries on PBS.. Enjoy!



Think and wonder, wonder and think -Dr. Seuss

Running The Race

My oldest girls decided to try out for Cross Country now that they are in middle school.  First of all, can I say, that I am a little freaked out that they are so old?  I am so proud of them.  They just jumped right in and tried something new.  

Today was their first meet and I couldn't be more proud.  Neither finished first, but they didn't finish last and they ran all the way.  I love that they didn't give up and they were both happy with themselves afterward.  The fact that they were happy with how they did means more to me than anything else.

When Hannah told me that she was going to try out for Cross Country, I was so happy for her and told her that she should go for it.  She asked me if I thought she could do it.  I said ABSOLUTELY.  What surprised me was that she was not worried about her ability to run, but that it was going to cost money.  She is too young to be worrying about money.  That makes me sad.  I want to be able to give everything to my kids, and provide them with every opportunity to excel. SO.. I gave her a hug and told her, "Don't worry about the money, that's my job, and I'll make it happen if this is what you wanna do."

I'm sure that they don't see it now, but they are learning things that will carry them through life.  I see them learning about determination and hard work.  They are learning about not giving up and that really the only obstacle is yourself.  I'm looking forward to what the rest of the season holds.  And I am really enjoying being able to watch (and guide while I can) the journey they are taking in finding who they are.  SOOOO proud of my babies, who are slowly becoming amazing women!

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”
― Dr. Seuss

The Family

I suppose I need to start off my blog with an introduction to myself and my family.  My name is Kaloni! I am married to an amazing man named Steve. Together we have six kids (ages 7 to 21) In order by age youngest to oldest, their names are Elijah, Alisa, Rachel, Hannah, Jessi, and Charon.

We are a very busy fun loving family.  Busy is probably an understatement, but what else would you expect with six kids.  We love to be outdoors: playing, running, hiking, and swimming.

Hannah, Rachel and Alisa love jiu jitsu. They have been doing it for about 4 years now. I pity the boy who tries to mess with them.

Rachel and Hannah are fraternal twins. Rachel is very thoughtful, she is always quick to help, and has the heart of a mother.  Hannah is always smiling (except in the morning), she loves to reading and she has great determination.

Alisa is very demonstrative.  It would not surprise me if she decided to be an actress.  She is determined, spirited, and genuinely happy!

I am just getting to know Jessi and Charon.

  I have spent more time with Jessi and have found that she is just as awesome as her dad.  Jessi has an amazing sense of humor, and constantly makes me laugh.  She has such a kind heart, she genuinely cares about other people and she offers help where she can.  She is very talented artist.  I have seen some of her artwork, photographs and she does an amazing job with make-up.

Although I haven’t had the opportunity to spend a great deal of time with Charon, I very much enjoy being in her company.  She is smart, kind and independant.  I hope to get to know know her better

 

Last, but certainly not least, is Elijah.  Let’s just say, he is an all American BOY! That pretty much describes him perfectly.  As much as he frustrates me, I love that he is strong.  Steve put it best when he said, “I would much rather have a son who challenges you, than one who just compliantly does everything you tell him.”  Currently he is very into dub-step, he really has an ear for music.  Full Version

I am so proud of each of my kids.  They inspire me and bring a smile to my face.  It’s kind of a cliche thing to say, but I really do learn a lot about life through them.  Watching them grow up, there is so much indescribable joy, and yet there is a little bit of sorrow.  I want them to stay little so I just try to cherish what I have with them now.  We love to make fun videos and be silly in general, I love making life fun for them! Like our Harlem Shake video!

My husband, Steve, is the love of my life.  I found him a little late but at least I found him.  We had a whirlwind courtship.. literally.  Met and married in the same calendar year.  Engaged on a Tuesday and married the next day.  We had both been married before and figured why wait.. we both knew what we wanted.  Steve is thoughtful, incredibly intelligent, and creative.  I love listening to his dreams and ideas, they are always big and usually bigger than life.  He loves telling stories (sometimes repeatedly.. it’s part of his charm).  We celebrated one year of marriage on Aug. 29th!!!!  I am so in love with this man!  He makes my heart sing.  Anyway, before I start getting too sappy…..

SO. That is my family!  Somehow we make it work.  We are crazy, fun, busy, and messy.  We are also a team!  I stand in awe of the blessings that overflow in my life!!!!

“We are all a little weird and life's a little weird,

and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours,

we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” - Dr. Suess