Last Blog!

    I did enjoy English 102; however, I am glad the semester is ending. I really need a break because the Christmas season, school, and work are all very stressful for me. I would have to say the best thing about English 102 was that we were able to pick any subject to write about in regards to the various essays we wrote throughout the semester. I think getting to choose your own topic broadens the choices one has for their essay and it makes writing the essay somewhat easier. When I choose a subject that I like or have knowledge of, it makes my essay better as less time consuming. Choosing a topic also helps because then, I want to research that topic and gain more knowledge about that specific topic. So choosing a topic and writing an essay is actually a learning experience because I am learning grammatical skills and gaining knowledge of the topic I chose.

     I believe the blogs made a huge difference. I think the blogs actually improved my writing skills. The blogs became tough at times because sometimes I had a difficult time coming up with a subject to write about. Even though I had a hard time coming up with topics, I always managed to get my blogs posted. I also liked responding to other classmates of mine. I like seeing what topic each person blogged about and I think that gave me a little insight into their lives. Overall, I really liked reading my classmates’ blogs because there were a variety of topics to read about and the variety gave me ideas to help me write my next blog. I also think posting a thread in the discussion boards in regards to the possible topics for each essay definitely helped when it came down to researching and writing the essay.

     In the future, I would like to continue to blog, but I doubt I will have time. With a new semester approaching, I will have homework assignments to complete, which will limit the free time I have. Therefore, I do not think I will have enough time for blogging. Overall, blogging was a good experience

     I really like this English class and it was a great experience. I actually like English 102 more than English 101. Last semester was my first semester at MSSU; therefore I had to take English 101. At the time, I did not believe that I was a very good writer and I was very nervous about taking English 101. In English 101, we had to read a variety of stories and post response papers summarizing those stories every other day of the week. It was very time consuming and somewhat difficult. However, I did keep up the with amount of homework and ended up passing the class with a solid A. I firmly believe English 101 adequately prepared me for English 102. I believe English 102 was a little easier than English 101 because we did not have to write “response papers” every other day. I know we had to write blogs, but I definitely prefer blogs over “response papers” any day.

     Like I stated before, I did enjoy English 102, but I am glad the semester is over (for this class anyway). I am glad to get a break! Well, I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! I loved reading everyone’s blog posts and I wish all of my fellow students good luck in their future success! 

Oh, TGIF!

     As the end of the semester draws closer, I am becoming more in the mindset of “It’s almost over!” I am more stressed because it seems as though I have more assignments and tests, but I know it is a result of the semester ending. After next week, I will be completely finished with English and Sociology. Phew, two classes down, three to go. During the week of finals, I actually only have to take two finals: one in math and one in government. I am very nervous about my math final because my professor does not communicate well with his students, so I have no idea what the final will be covering.

     Moreover, work seems like it has been very hectic this week. Usually, work is crazy during the last two weeks of the month because we try to ship many products out the door, so that we can have a higher amount of sales dollars. This week was crazy because many changes were made and then reversed because some of our management team can never make up their minds as to what they want. Also, I had many shipments, which is out of the ordinary, to complete each day before I went home. Each day as I got ready to leave, more shipments would be brought to me. I became very frustrated with that issue because I do not understand why people wait until 20-30 minutes before I go home to give me a lot of shipments that “must” ship that day.

     Also, I had to go to the dentist on Tuesday. At first I was just going to get some fillings, but then the dentist informed me that I needed to have a portion of my tooth cut out. About a year ago, another dentist performed root canal therapy on one of my teeth. Root canal therapy is the same thing as having a root canal. Anyway, the white artificial roots that the dentist put inside my tooth were not long enough. Therefore, the tip of my tooth was abscessing. My new dentist, Dr. Ray Bolin, decided that the tip of my tooth needed to cut/extracted so that I would not get any more infections in that tooth. So anyhow, my dentist cut into my gum line and extracted the tip of my tooth. I currently have several sutures or stitches in my gums. The right side of my face is still very sore, making being at work even more miserable.  

In light of going to the dentist, I had to miss all of Tuesday from work. Missing a day at work always puts me behind in completing my required tasks. However, I came in early the rest of the week so that I could get caught up on my workload.

     Overall, I thank God that it is Friday. I have homework to complete all weekend and hopefully, I will get some time to relax a little bit over the weekend. I think I will be less stressed when Christmas break (from school) finally gets here, but we will see. Christmas may stress me out even more, but everything will work out alright. I am just thankful it is Friday because I was definitely ready for a break! If only the weekend lasted a few days longer…

No More Toys!

On December 1, 2011, CNN released an article stating that one major city in California was going to stop giving away toys and trinkets in kid’s meals. San Francisco has passed a new law that went into effect yesterday, December 1, 2011, that will halt all toys being included in kid’s meals unless the food in those meals meets nutritional requirements. The new law will affect approximately 50 fast-food restaurants, which include McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, Sonic, and Carl’s Jr. I think this law may be a good thing, but I do not think it should be limited to kid’s meals. The toys included in kid’s meals is not the actual issue, the issue is that meals served at fast-food restaurants are unhealthy and unbalanced nutritionally.

     Currently, McDonald’s Happy and Mighty Kid’s Meals do not meet the requirements of the new law. For example, the kid’s meals must be less than 600 calories and contain fruits and vegetables. The meal also must contain less than 35% of the total calories coming from fat, less than 0.5 milligrams of trans fat, and less than 640 milligrams of sodium. The city of San Francisco believes as a result of the very high calorie intake that the Happy Meals supply, it would be extremely unhealthy to include a meal that should be a balanced nutritional meal.  

     “This is not an anti-toy ordinance; this is a pro-healthy-meal ordinance,” says Rajiv Bhatia, director of occupational and environmental health for the San Francisco Department of Public Health. I still believe toys that are included in kid’s meals are not a bad thing. Personally, I take the toy out of the Happy Meal and put it up until my kids are finished eating. For my children, it provides them with incentive to eat so they can receive their toy when they have eaten all their food. I understand that the kid’s meals may be unhealthy, but if they are so unhealthy, then do not eat at unhealthy fast-food restaurants. Also, repair the meals to make them more nutritional, instead of taking toys out of kid’s meals. For instance, instead of making only the kid’s meals more nutritional, make all meals “across the board” nutritional and healthy.  In 2009, 63.1% of Americans were either obese or overweight.  That is a prime example of why meals at fat-food places should be upgraded nutritionally.

    As for the toys, parents can still purchase toys at the local fast-food restaurants. The toys will cost 10 cents extra.  I think this is a little ridiculous because the toys are not the issue. People have debated that the toys in kid’s meals “lure” children in to wanting a kid’s meal. I understand that a child may want a kid’s meal to get a toy, but the parents are the ones who decide whether or not to buy the child a kid’s meal. In regards to McDonald’s, what is a Happy Meal without a toy? Happy Meals have consisted of toys since their debut in 1979. I guess I just do not see why we, as Americans, cannot just make kid’s meals more nutritional and continue to add toys into those meals.

     Overall, this new law passed in San Francisco is ridiculous. Do we not have anything else worry about, instead of focusing on toys in kid’s meals? It has been said that this law may go nationwide. I will be outraged and on the front lines of the protestors. I just think that meals within fast-food restaurants need to be more nutritionally balanced and healthy for everyone to consume, not just children. I do not wish to see this law go into effect in my area.

     Pretty much it boils down to, Bah Da Bah Bah Bah, I’m not lovin’ it!

A Tragic Disease: Pancreatic Cancer

     My uncle James had not felt well in about six months, but he could still perform his daily and weekly duties around his house. He went to the doctor because he was feeling extremely sick and his doctor advised him that his sugar level was high. Uncle James was determined to lower his sugar levels before his next visit to his doctor. The next visit showed that his sugar levels had actually increased instead of decreased, so the doctor ordered another series of tests. After the tests were completed, he visited his doctor once again, but the news was very heartbreaking. In the middle of October, Uncle James was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is a very progressive cancer and it will spread throughout the body very quickly. His doctor gave him approximately three months to live.

     I took my children to see Uncle James on Halloween because I knew he was not feeling well. As soon as we walked in, Uncle James knew exactly who we were. This reassured me that he was still alert. I told him that we would beat this disease and that everything would be alright. He advised me that he was ready to go and he knew exactly where he would be going in his afterlife. After we left his house, I sort of took his words for granted because I felt as if he would live for at least year or so.

     Every day, my mother would call me to give me updates on Uncle James’ condition. She told me that he was in a great deal of pain. He had to have doses of morphine administered to him because he could not bear the amount pain he was feeling. About two after I visited Uncle James, he began to lose recollection of the world around him. He could not think very well and he did not know exactly who his family members were, but he could recognize their voices. He also became immobile; he could no longer get out of bed. I found this to be very peculiar because it has only been two weeks since I saw the man I knew as my Uncle James.

     On Sunday, November 20, 2011, my mother called me at about 4:00 p.m. to tell me that Uncle James had passed away. I was completely shocked because no one saw his death coming so quickly. My whole family was very devastated by our loss. I was told that his services would be today at Simpson’s Funeral Home in Webb City. Uncle James was a very simple man and he did not want any elaborate services for his funeral. He had written out his death wishes, so everyone knew exactly what he wanted.  Today, I attended his funeral services and I realized how much I would miss him. It is very hard to cope with a death in a person’s family, but it must be done. I know he is in a better place and he will be happy. He is out of pain and can live in a better world.

     To My Uncle James:  We miss you, we love, and you will never be forgotten. We will think of you always and you will be in our hearts forever. 

“Know What I Mean, Vern?”

     One of the most loved comedians was Jim Varney. He was better known as Ernest P. Worrell, his most famous alias. Jim Varney brought slap-stick comedy to life. He trademarked famous lines such as “KnowhutImean?” and “Hey Vern! It’s Ernest”. Even though Jim Varney portrayed a dumb-founded character, he was actually very close to being considered a genius for his intelligence.  Jim Varney made his first national appearance in 1974 at the age of 25. Shortly after that he was cast a regular on the television series Johnny Cash and Friends. Some of his famous movies are: Ernest Goes to Camp, Ernest Saves Christmas, Ernest Goes to Jail, Ernest Scared Stupid, Slam Dunk Ernest, Ernest in the Army, the list goes on and on.

     Moreover, Jim Varney’s first movie, Ernest Goes to Camp, was released in 1987. Ernest Goes to Camp is my all-time favorite movie because I think his character is hilarious. I also love this movie because it shows how having a little faith in kids brings about hope and determination within the kids. Ernest lives at Kamp Kikakee, where he is a handy-man and dreaming of becoming a camp counselor. When one of the counselors has an accident, Ernest replaces the counselor. Ernest must look after a group of delinquent boys and teach them the path of the brave. None of the other kids at Kamp Kikakee like the new group of boys; Ernest is the only one who will befriend them. Then, Krader Mining Company decides to overtake the land that Kamp Kikakee was located on, to mine for minerals. Ernest and the boys decide to have an all-out war with the miners. This movie shows how friendships develop and it teaches people to stand up for what they believe in. I would highly recommend that everyone watch this movie. It is funny and also teaches a lesson at the same time.

     Next, another favorite Jim Varney classic movie, which was released in 1988, is Ernest Saves Christmas. This is one of the best holiday movies that I have ever seen. Ernest is a taxi driver in Orlando, Florida. He picks up Santa Claus at the airport and gives him a ride to the Orlando Children’s museum. Santa is in search of Joe Carruthers to name his successor. Joe refuses to go along with Santa because he does not believe in him. As Christmas draws closer, Santa is running out of options. Ernest soon finds himself as the hero who steps in to save the day. My favorite clip, Ernest’s Truckload of Snakes, is in this fabulous movie! Basically, at the end of the movie, Ernest saves the day.

    In conclusion, Jim Varney is a great actor and comedian. I want everyone to watch an Ernest movie. I cannot think of anyone who does not like Ernest. It is sad that Jim Varney died in 2000, at the age of 50, but his movies and comedies will live on. If you like comedy, you must watch an Ernest movie. So go to Family Video and rent an Ernest movie today!

Thanksgiving Day Lunch

     About two weeks ago, my husband and I were invited by the daycare director to have Thanksgiving Day lunch with our children. We were very excited because having lunch with our children is something out of the normal routine. We were looking forward to joining them for lunch. Today was the big day. At about 11:30 a.m. my husband and I left work to head to the daycare. Once we arrived at the daycare, I saw our son, Malakai, waving at me. We went to join Malakai at the table that had been set up by the daycare staff.

     The tables had gorgeous tablecloths and the “dinner room” had been decorated with autumn and Thanksgiving décor. The setting was beautiful. After Malakai sat down, I went to go get our daughter, Myrissa, so she could join us. When Myrissa saw me, she started screaming, “Mama, Mama, are you going to eat with me?” I told her, “Yes, me and daddy are going to eat with you and Malakai.” I was very happy because she was so excited to see me! When Myrissa and I walked back in the “dinner room,” she immediately saw Malakai and her dad. She became even more excited and began jumping up and down. I was thrilled that our children were happy and excited to have lunch with their parents.

     Next, the director of the daycare, Ginger, announced her appreciation for all of the parents and grandparents for coming to join the kids. Pastor Russell also led us in a prayer before we started eating. After Pastor Russell was finished, I got up to go get our plates of food. Myrissa decided she wanted to help me get my food, so I allowed her to come along also. We joined the other parents in buffet line. We got choose from a variety of different foods. My plate consisted of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, green beans, and a roll. Myrissa, Malakai, and my husband all had the same.
     As we sat at the tables, eating our lunch, I noticed a little boy named Braxton sitting across from us. I could tell that he did not have a guest, so one of the preschool teachers sat with him to keep him company. I felt really bad for Braxton because it was very sad to see him all by himself. My husband and I began talking to him so that he would not feel alone. He seemed to enjoy us talking to him. Braxton started talking to Malakai and Myrissa; I could tell that he did not look quite as sad as he did before. I was happy that Braxton could also enjoy his meal with us.

     When we all were finished eating, I told Myrissa and Malakai that my husband and I had to go back to work. They were a little upset but I knew they would alright once they went back to their classrooms to play. When we left the daycare, I could not stop thinking about Braxton. His parents may have unavailable to join him for lunch, but I still felt sorry for him. I think family is the most important thing in a person’s life and my family always comes first. I hope everyone gets to enjoy the holidays with their families, just as I will. Have a great Thanksgiving with your family!

My Work Life: Chaotic and Exhausting

   I am looking forward to Christmas break because I will get a much needed break from work and school. I become very tired from working all day at work and then, I must come home to do homework. I know going to school full-time and working full-time is my choice, but sometimes I just need to rant a little about my life.

     Work has been very hectic lately and sometimes I dread even going to work. My place of employment has decided to make some changes and of course, these changes involve me as they always do. The managers at DLT have decided to change my duties and relocate my work area. Well, actually I will have two work areas, whereas now I only have one central work location. When I first heard about this possible change taking place, I became very nervous and I immediately knew that I did not want my work area to be moved. All the employees involved in this change held a meeting to go through the possible changes that were going to take place.

      We had another meeting this past Thursday, which was more detailed than the first meeting. I know; it seems as if all we do is have meetings all day long. Anyway, I was told I would have my second work area setup by Monday, November 14, 2011. I became so anxious that I just wanted to go home. I do not like moving, because I have already had my work area moved two other times in the past three years.

     My biggest complaint about having two separate work areas is that it actually makes my job harder than more efficient. I will have to run all over the plant just to complete the job at hand. I also do not want to be pulled away from the co-workers that are around me now. I have adapted to them and I love being around them. They are like my second family and who would want to be pulled away from their family?

     Now, I am going to hate coming into work. I have spoken to my boss about this whole situation and he basically feels the same as I do. He does not believe setting up a second work area for me is any more efficient than where I sit now. I feel there are no justifiable reasons for this change. I hope he will argue his reasoning to the other managers to try and change their minds about this whole change process.

     Lastly, if I must have two work areas, I hope it is only a temporary change. I hate complaining about things that may seem minute to some people, but I have been freaking out about this idea of changing things at work for about three weeks now. I hope the situation works out and I hope I can de-stress over the weekend. I feel everything will work out at my place of employment, but I have not gotten used to the idea yet. Well, I am glad I got my true feelings off my chest and thanks for listening to me rant. I am exhausted and now, I can go to bed. Until next time...

Saving a Little Green

     70% of Americans are in debt.  What an unbelievable staggering percent! Many people have too high of a debt-to-income ratio.  This means people owe more money on the things they have then the income they receive, commonly referred to as being upside down.  Several other people live beyond their means, fully knowing they do not have the money to pay for the things they buy.  I know saving money is a hard thing to accomplish, but I feel I must implement a strategy into my life to be able to save money.  I have found some very interesting tips on how to save money and I hope these tips will be beneficial to me as well as anyone else who has the same need for saving money.

    First, the most crucial strategy for me would be to take my lunch to work every day, rather than eating at a fast-food restaurant. Eating out for lunch every day adds up very quickly. I feel eating out is very convenient, but it is also very expensive. Just think, if one eats out every day spending a minimum amount of seven dollars, it would add up to thirty-five dollars a week spent just on meals for lunch. Since I get paid on a bi-weekly schedule, eating out would add up to a total of seventy dollars every paycheck spent only on dining out at lunch. In this situation, I feel it is smarter to buy more groceries to accommodate lunches, than to eat out for lunch. Yes, buying more groceries can result in spending more money on groceries, but it does not make up for the money spent on a daily basis to eat out. I can implement this strategy into my lifestyle by packing my lunch each night before I go to bed. Also, since I would like to eat a healthier meal at lunch, I can pack a better choice of food than the choices that fast-food restaurants offer. As a result of taking my lunch every day, I would save more money and eat healthier at the same time.

     Next, another important tip would be to avoid impulse buying. Impulse buying is making unplanned, spur of the moment purchases on something that interests a person.  Whenever I go into a shop, I have a bad habit of buying merchandise that I absolutely do not need.  I always tell myself “that item would be nice to have” to excuse the purchases I make on the stuff I do not need.   If I stopped and thought about the item I was planning on buying, I would possibly make a better decision. I would recommend thinking about whether one wants or needs the item they plan on buying. Eliminate the want factor and I guarantee it will help you save money.

     Last, but not least, create a visual reminder of your debt. Create a tracking sheet of all of your debt. Then, every time a payment is made, take off the payment amount from the actual balance owed until it ends at zero. This method creates a daily reminder to know where one’s money is actually going and what money is being spent on other things. I, personally, keep a bill book that lists the date of every paycheck I receive and what bills must be paid with that paycheck. My bill book helps me by keeping track of weekly or monthly bills and until all bills for that paycheck have been paid, I try not to spend any money.  I believe this strategy would greatly help anyone who has a problem with money managing or saving money.

     In conclusion, I want to save money! Even though saving money is hard, there are many strategies to use when trying to save money. When times are tough and money is tight, saving money is crucial. I am determined to implement one of these strategies into my life. I have chosen to take my lunch to work rather than to eat out. I am going to track the results of this strategy for two weeks and report back in another blog. I hope everyone can use at least one of these strategies to help them save more money.

Do You Love Your Plastic?

    I love to shop for my kids, my husband, and myself; however, I cannot always afford to spend money directly from my checking account. When this situation occurs, I use my credit card to purchase the items that I want. Millions of people use credit cards to buy miscellaneous items and pay a specific monthly payment on their credit cards. Credit cards are very popular among people in the United States, but some people overspend and cannot manage their credit cards properly. Some people end up spending the maximum limit on their credit cards, which creates an even higher amount of debt and can result in lowered credit scores, hassle from debit collectors, and even filing bankruptcy.   

     Can you believe in 2008, it was reported that approximately 176.8 million people owned credit cards? Also, the average credit cardholder owns at least three different credit cards. The top ten credit card companies in regards to customer satisfaction are American Express, Discover, US Bank, Wells Fargo, Chase, Barclaycard, Bank of America, Capital One, Citi, and HSBC. The average American carries approximately $3500 in revolving debt. Revolving debt is mainly acquired through the use of credit cards. Also, the average American household has approximately $7500 in revolving debt. It has been reported that the amount of debt either an individual or household carries has decreased significantly since the economic downturn in 2009, but credit card usage remains to prevail. The use of credit cards is not necessarily bad, but one must take precautions when making purchases on their credit cards. I know I personally have two credit cards. It is very hard to limit the amount of money I put on my credit cards, but I must watch the balance because it affects the amount of interest applied to my bill, which increases my monthly payment.

     Moreover, interest rates can greatly affect a person’s use of their credit cards. The annual percentage rate, commonly known as APR, is a fee that one will pay as a result of the ability to spend money on their credit cards. The national average APR ranges from 14% to 28%. Outrageous, right? Interest rates can lead to higher payments and over-the-limit charges, which can quickly get out of control. To avoid interest rates, a person would need to pay off the statement balance on their credit cards before the billing due date. I know this is easier said than done, but it is a good guideline to follow. Also, if one is late in making their payment, another fee will be applied to their credit cards. All these various fees can add up rapidly and can exceed the amount of purchases if the amount is not kept under control.

     Overall, I do not feel that credit cards are bad because they are useful in case of emergencies or times of hardship. However, I do firmly believe it is greatly important to closely watch your spending and the balance on your credit cards. Credit card usage is not for everyone, but they are convenient. If used properly, credit cards can raise credit scores and help a person learn to manage their financial budget. I strongly recommend at least owning one credit card to every person. They can help, but you must remember the guidelines. Remember; do not spend without thinking about the consequences.    

Spirit Week was a Huge Success!

     Last week, I spoke of the fun activity, known as Spirit Week; we were having at work this week. We planned each day of the week to have a certain theme. Monday was mismatch day, Tuesday was crazy hat day, Wednesday was pajama day, Thursday was retro day, and Friday was sports fan day. The purpose of Spirit Week was to raise money for one of our other facilities that had been affected by Hurricane Irene and to have a little fun at the same time. The stipulation to this event was that every person had to donate a dollar for any days that they participated on, which would result in a maximum donation of five dollars. Also, people could donate money even if they did not want to participate on certain days. For every donation, Ducommun LaBarge Technologies would match dollar for dollar. Some of the outfits that people wore were hilarious and creative.

     On Monday, many people wore mismatching clothing. For example, I wore a camouflage t-shirt, a black vest, jean capris, neon purple and blue sock, and tennis shoes that had pretty flowers on them. On Tuesday, several people wore outrageous hats. One hat in particular, worn by our Quality Manager, was a gigantic, red cowboy hat made out of foam. He looked so funny, but I am glad he participated. Wednesday, I wore duck footie pajamas, a polka-dotted robe, and bright turquoise slippers. I was so comfortable! I decided it would be fun to sort of flash everyone by first tying my robe around my pajamas and then ripping the robe open to make it seem like I was flashing people. I was trying to get everyone to become enthusiastic about Spirit Week and I was showing them how much fun I was having from being able to wear my pajamas to work.

     Thursday was going to be the best day for me because I bought many items to wear to look as if I jumped out of a time machine that dated back to the 1980s. I was a blast from the past! I wore neon pink stilettos, a black bodysuit, a black, frilly skirt, a neon pink tutu, a one-should sweatshirt that read “Heartbreaker” on the back, and I added a bunch of accessories to top off the outfit.  I teased my hair to make it fluffy and I adorned it with black and pink lace headband. It was awesome!  Jenny, one of my good friends and co-worker, decided to wear leggings, gym shorts pulled up to her chest, a tank top, and a fur-lined, puke green vest. She also wore a sweatband around her head and carried weights around to complete her outfit. I called her MacGruber and she called me Trixie. We went around to other co-workers and performed a skit to make our costumes seem even more real. I think everyone really like our little performance. On Friday, everyone wore their favorite sports attire. I had to wear my favorite OU sweatshirt. Go Sooners! Everyone looked great!

     Overall, our Spirit Week was a huge success because we ended raising $1600 on donations alone. Since DLT will be matching our donation, we actually raised $3200 for the relief effort of Hurricane Irene. I am very proud of our work family for participating in Spirit Week. I hope we can do some type of fun activity next year and donate to another worthy cause. I am so glad that DLT allowed us to have Spirit Week! What a huge success!

Having Fun at Work is Crucial

     My place of employment does allow much fun and it creates an unfulfilling atmosphere. My co-workers and I try to have fun by going to lunch together and by playing jokes on one another. In particular, one of my co-workers and I always wrestle around at work, which creates a sense of happiness and fun. At DLT, we have not been allowed to dress up for Halloween for approximately five years. My fellow co-workers and I decided to ask our bosses to let us be able to dress up this year for Halloween. We got turned down on dressing up so we decided to come up with a different proposal.  We proposed to have “Spirit Week,” which is where each day of the week would have a certain theme. We also wanted to raise money for our sister facilities that were affected by Hurricane Irene. So our idea consisted of having “Spirit Week” and for anyone who participated had to donate one dollar to the DLT Hurricane Irene Fund. We were finally advised by our Human Resources person that the managers approved this idea. I was ecstatic because day after day, hour after hour becomes extremely boring at work without some type of fun. Our “Spirit Week” will be from October 31^st through November 4^th and I hope we raise a considerable amount of money to help our fellow facilities. Fun is crucial at a person’s place of employment because it increases productivity, boosts morale, and increases creativity for the employees within the company.

     First, fun at work definitely increases productivity because it allows employees to enjoy work and release steam at the same time.  People who have fun at work and like the work they are doing promotes productivity because then, work is not as boring. I believe in the “nose to the grindstone” ethic but at some point in time fun must be a requirement. Otherwise, one will become “burnt out” at work and will not want to continue to come to work. Employees may also feel that there is no reason to give their all if there is no reward or some fun activity.

     Next, fun at work increases happiness and reduces stress levels for employees. Humor is a key factor in having a good relationship with other employees. It creates a fun and positive atmosphere at work. Fun to promote happiness does not have to be expensive or extraordinary. One can simply play a game with other co-workers at break time. Some employers seem to not want their employees to have fun, but the fact of the matter is that fun must be allowed to relieve tension, stress, and increase happiness.

     Finally, fun increases creativity with a work environment. By employees having more fun at work, it enables the employees to “think outside the box” to discover new ideas. When employees take their minds off of the thought “no play, business,” I feel employees will be able to come up with more intuitive ideas. When a person is not under pressure, it is easier to think creatively.  

     Although, many companies are not as fun fulfilled as Google and Facebook, most companies still have some sort of program or policy to implement fun in the workplace, which allows employees to have fun. Fun is the only way to increase productivity, relieve stress, promote happiness, and increases creativity. If your place of employment seems to be boring and drab, I encourage you to speak with a boss about implementing some type of fun. I feel that our “Spirit Week” at work next week will be a great amount of fun and an enjoyable time. I know I will definitely want to work harder when I am dressed in my pajamas for Pajama Day!  

The Ride of My Life!

     In July, my husband, some friends, and I went to Branson, Missouri, to shop for Christmas presents at the outlet malls. I know… I start my Christmas shopping really early. Anyway, Friday when we got off work, we headed out to begin our journey. I love going to Branson, but I hate riding in the car for any period of time longer than 30 minutes. By the time we arrived in Branson, I was starving. Our friends, my husband, and I all decided to eat at this great restaurant, Charlie’s. We always make it a point to eat at Charlie’s before returning home. They have the best baby back ribs that I have ever eaten.

     Next, we went to the hotel to check in and unload our luggage. The hotel had two different swimming pools: one inside and one outside. Our friends brought their two children along and the children decided it would be fun to go swimming since it was extremely hot outside. A cold dip in a pool always cools me down. We all decided to swim in the indoor swimming pool. As we were swimming, we noticed this sling-shot sort of thing flying into the air about a mile away. We kept watching this thing fly into the air and then return back to the ground again. One of our friends said, “Wouldn’t that be so fun to ride?” My husband thought our friend was crazy because my husband is extremely afraid of heights. I told our friend that I would ride this ride with him if he wanted to ride it. He immediately agreed and we jumped out of the pool to go get dressed.

    Once we got dried off and dressed, we decided to go up the strip and check this ride out. We pulled into a parking lot that included two go-kart tracks, miniature golf, a child’s train on a motorized track, and the ejection seat ride. As soon as we got out of the car, the ejection seat flew into the air as if it were a bullet soaring into the sky. We went to get tickets to ride on the ejection seat. As we watched other people fly into the air, holding on as tight as they could, we became more excited and more scared at the same time. The line we were waiting in kept getting shorter and shorter. My heart started to pound in my chest as if it might explode. I told our friend, Jerry, who was going to ride the ejection seat with me, that I felt my stomach knotting up. He was sweating profusely and I could tell he was scared.

     Finally, it was our turn to get in the ejection seat. The male ride attendant advised me to cross my arms so he could strap me in. He strapped the harness across my chest and the straps around my ankles. Then, he strapped Jerry in and I knew it was time. The ride attendant lifted up the ejection seat a little bit, which scared the crap out of me. I was laughing hysterically because that is what I do when I am scared. Jerry was talking so fast that I could not even understand him. Three, two, one, BAM! We were off! We soared into the air. I kept my eyes shut all the way up until we started to fall face first to the ground. I opened my eyes for approximately one second and all I could see was the entire city of Branson. Jerry and I were cursing like sailors; we were terrified! We kept bouncing up and down in the sky until the bouncing finally slowed down. I knew the ride was over. It lasted approximately three minutes, even though it seemed like an hour. As the ride attendant returned the ejection seat to the ground, I let out a giant sigh. Once we got off the ride, Jerry asked me if I wanted to ride again and I replied, “Oh yeah!” I thought to myself, “Oh, here we go again!”

True Friendship: My Venting Session

     I work full-time, Monday through Friday, at Ducommun LaBargeTechnologies. I must be at work by 7:45 a.m. and I do not get off work until 4:30 p.m. The people I work with are like my second family, but the only difference between my work family and my actual family is that I cannot address problems that I may have with my work family. I feel telling my work family what I actually think may be inappropriate at work so I just choose to keep my mouth shut. Sometimes the people I work with drive me crazy! I must say for the past two weeks one person, in particular, has almost driven me over the edge.

     First of all, this situation began about two weeks ago and involved a woman who I had been friends, or so I thought, for a while. I have bent over backwards for her at work and within her personal life to try to ease her stress level and help her through various situations. One crucial situation that my husband and I helped all that we could was when she experienced severe roof damage in the May tornado. Her boyfriend, she, and her four kids were in the basement of their house when the tornado came through. As soon as I heard about the tornado on the radio, I headed to her house to make sure she and her family was alright. Monday, after the tornado, my husband and I decided we were going to go to her damaged house to help her salvage her things and help her move them to her parent’s house. The way she acted during this whole traumatic event was shocking. Instead of wanting to save her personal things, she told my husband and me to just leave the stuff because insurance would just pay for new stuff. I could not believe it! I mean why would a person not want to save as many personal or sentimental items as they could? Also, she kept ordering my husband and me to go to the store to buy her things such as cigarettes, fountain drinks, and other miscellaneous items. I did not care to buy her some things but we could not pay for everything. I mean, it is hard enough to provide for my own family, let alone another family. I was literally appalled at how much she was taking advantage of the help she received.

     Next, I feel that if this woman does not have enough drama in her life, then she will create drama to keep her occupied. At work, for instance, all she does is gripe about the pettiest things. I got so tired of hearing about these events that I began avoiding her around the workplace. We also would go to lunch every day together, but now we have stopped doing that because most of the time I would either end of paying for all or at least half of her lunch daily. Obviously, I just cannot afford to do that. So, within the past two weeks I have just stopped talking to her and stopped having anything to do with her, unless it is work-related.  I guess she realized that I did not want to speak to her and now she has turned it all around on me.

     Moreover, today just took the cake. I guess the truth is that is bothers me very much that she acts like she does not even care if I am upset or anything. Maybe, she was never my true friend. Today, when we were both on break, she was approximately 5 feet from me and would not even look at me nor would she speak to me at all. We were the only two people outside and I felt very awkward. I tried to start a conversation, thinking I would be the bigger person, but she would not respond to me with anything other than one-word answers.  This situation did not resolve anything, it only made it worse. She also sent me emails that were work-related but was very disrespectful and expressed feelings of anger towards me. I just cannot stand it!

     However, I work with two other wonderful girls and they always have my back. I will also always have their backs because we can get along and do things for each other without bringing drama into the situation. Since one of these girls noticed that I was having a horrible day, she went to Starbucks and surprised me with my absolute favorite drink – Caramel Frappuccino! This is what makes working with a horrible person so much better because I know I have true friends that actually care about me as a person, co-worker, and friend. I would not be able to continue working around this woman if it were not for these two awesome ladies. I am so thankful I have other friends who enjoy my company and I theirs! What would I do without these two wonderful friends?   

Effective Time Management

     If one is like I am, then they must be able to manage their time effectively. Many people must strategically plan for every little thing that goes on within their daily lives. Since I must juggle my work, school, and home life, I am forced to manage my time effectively.  Even though I have to manage my time daily, not every day goes as planned. At that point, I must improvise and set my priorities. Almost every day, the issue of time management plus every other daily task puts a lot of stress on my life, but without it I tend to fall behind in my daily routine. Some people who do not manage their time wisely have a difficult time keeping with their daily tasks. I know I would love to just sit on the couch and watch television or play outside with my children, but sometimes that is not possible because other priorities must be completed first. I have found numerous ways of effectively managing my time, such as using a planner, using sticky notes to remind me of important deadlines, and also using online tools that help me to adequately schedule events.

     A planner is a great tool to use when setting and remembering priorities, appointments, activities, and deadlines. As a student, I use a planner to write down all homework assignments that are due on a daily and weekly basis. Online planners can be printed or saved onto a hard drive to be able to view one’s schedule at a glance. Also, a person can print handouts so everyone in the household will know what time certain events are taking place or scheduled. One can also plan a weekly schedule, a master schedule, or a four-year plan by clicking above.

     Although many people do not see time management as a crucial issue, it can help a person get more tasks accomplished each day.  Effective time management  can also alleviate stress and tiredness to help one feel better and more energized.  A great time management tip would be to evaluate how you spend your time. Keep a log for approximately a week and then review the log to see if any time can be spent more wisely.  One just must remember to strategically plan ahead for upcoming events and deadlines. If one uses these tips, I guarantee that the aspect of time management will automatically fall into place.

    Lastly, I would recommend everyone to take a time management course or seminar. I have taken several time management courses or training sessions with previous employers. Within these training sessions, I was informed of tips and skills to use for improving time management. Some seminars for time management have been held at the Holiday Inn in Joplin and MSSU may even offer a course on this subject. I do not know what I would do if I was unable to manage my time in an effective way. I feel I would have much more stress in my life and I do not feel that I could keep up with school, work, or my family.

     Overall, time management is crucial to everyone. People must be able to juggle work, school, their family, or any other situation that requires the use of time management. I highly suggest using a planner or some sort of notebook to remember all the important things that go on in one’s life. By using the “reminder system” I feel that a person would more accurately fulfill their duties and routines. I recommend everyone use some kind of strategic plan for time. As is has always been said, “Time is of the essence.”   

Cataract Surgery

     A cataract occurs when the lens in the eye because cloudy throughout the aging process. It is a disease common to older people. Cataracts are neither contagious nor can they spread from one eye to the other. However, a person who has a cataract in one eye is highly likely to develop a cataract in the other eye. There are three basic procedures for the removal of cataracts: phacoemulsification, extracapsular cataract surgery, and intracapsular cataract surgery.  

     About a year ago my mother, Joyce, was told that she had a cataract in her right eye, but at that time she was not referred to a surgeon to have the cataract removed. My mother began being unable to see so she decided to go see an ophthalmologist in hopes of a second opinion.  In September, Dr. Charles Sherrod III, advised my mother to have surgery because the cataract was very large and needed to be removed in order to regain her sight. At that time her extracapsular cataract surgery was scheduled for October 13, 2011.

     We arrived at Freeman Hospital at approximately 1 p.m. yesterday afternoon. It was time for my mother to get prepared for her surgery.  After we checked in at Admissions, we were directed to the surgery check-in desk. After checking in, we made our way back into the “prep” room to get ready for the event.  A nurse came in and advised my mother to change into a hospital gown and she also checked my mother’s blood pressure. Another nurse walked in to administer the IV. Once these nurses were gone, the anesthesiologist came in to speak with my mother. A few years ago, my mother had a terrible reaction to the anesthetic she was given during her gallbladder surgery, so she wanted to make it clear to the anesthesiologist that she did not want to be overdosed with anesthetic. The anesthesiologist and Dr. Sherrod decided to numb my mom’s eye with a lubricant gel along with a very small dose of anesthetic into her IV instead of many shots around the eye. I could definitely tell that my mother was getting woozy.

     Next, the nurses started a round of antibiotic drops to dilate my mother’s eye. About every ten minutes the nurses would then add another couple of drops to speed up the dilation process.  Next, a nurse came in with a very funny looking tool. She placed the tool on my mom’s eye and the wrapped, what looked like a giant rubber band, around my mother’s head and then laid the end of it on my mom’s stomach. This tool reminded me of a non-digital blood pressure kit, only for the eyeball.  My mom looked like she should have been in a Halloween movie.

     Finally, it was time for her to go into the O.R. I was motioned out toward the waiting room. At that time, it was 3:30 p.m. and the preparation for surgery had taken around two hours to complete. I took a seat in the waiting room to work on my math homework. I just sat there waiting for this procedure to be over. At 4:10 p.m. my name was called and I was notified that I could go back into the recovery room to see my mom. I just could not believe that the surgery only lasted about an hour, when the “prep” time took twice as long. Dr. Sherrod said the procedure had went as planned and that my mom would be just fine with only a few stipulations, such as no driving, no lifting, no bending forward, etc… Needless to say, my mother won the "biggest and worst" cataract award. I was so happy that the procedure was over and my mom can finally see once again out of her right eye. This procedure was so intriguing. I think it is completely amazing how the technological advances have changed over the years.  Our country will continue to make great advances in technology. Oh, what will they come up with next? Hopefully, shorter preparation time for surgery! 

"Knuck, Knuck, Knuck!"

     My favorite television series of all time is “The Three Stooges” with the original crew: Larry Fine, Curly Howard, and Moe Howard.  This show began in 1925 and continued throughout the 1960s. Curly and Moe were biological brothers. Shemp, who replaced Curly after he died from a stroke in 1946, was Curly and Moe’s other brother. Shemp died in 1955 from a fatal heart attack and was then replaced by Joe Besser.  Ultimately, Joe DeRita, commonly known as Curly Joe, replaced Joe Besser in 1958. Larry Fine suffered a paralyzing stoke in 1970, which marked the end of “The Three Stooges”. Last but not least, Moe died from lung cancer in 1975. “The Three Stooges” era was a great part in television history.  

     “The Three Stooges” show was a comedy act involving slapstick and physical and theatrical farce. In this show Moe was always the group’s leader. He would slap, hit, and kick Larry and Curly numerous times for no good reason, but it is hilarious to watch. Moe was short and stocky with a bowl haircut. Larry was also short but had a huge curly afro, which of course Moe would pull hair out of all the time. Curly was a heavier set man with a shaved head; he always makes the funniest sounds.  Out of all three men, Curly is my favorite because he came up with the funniest sayings and actions. He was also the one who acted in the least intelligent way. Curly’s personality resembles my own personality. Some of the situations that “The Three Stooges” got into were extraordinary and amazingly funny.   

     My favorite episode of the “The Three Stooges” is “The Men in Black”. Larry, Moe, and Curly become doctors because they have flunked the class so many times that the Chief of Medicine is forced to make them official doctors.  They go all through the hospital “treating” patients, if that is what you want to call it. One patient is supposed to be in a coma but she wakes up and requires anesthesia. “The Three Stooges” have no problem giving her the anesthetic by hitting her on the head with mallets. Oh boy, it is funny! Another episode that I like a lot is “Yes, We Have No Bonanza,” which is where Curly, Moe, and Larry find themselves in a predicament when prospecting for gold. I do not like the episodes with Shemp or Curly Joe as well as the shows with the original three.

     All in all, “The Three Stooges” were a memorable part in history.  Without them, I feel comedy would have been a lot different in the early to mid-20^th century. Even though, the episodes are in black and white, they are still one of kind comedies. I love these comedians more than any other present day comedians. “The Three Stooges” were good, clean fun and you just cannot find comedies like that anymore. In the famous words spoken by true comedians, Larry, Moe, and Curly, the show was all “For Duty and Humanity!”       

Seat Belts: To Where or Not To Wear?

                Edward J. Claghorn patented his idea for seat or safety belts and the first seat belts appeared in vehicles in 1885. Since then, the lap-and-shoulder belt, the 2-point seat belt, and the 3-point seat belt have all been introduced into modern automobiles.  Researchers have found that seatbelts are crucial when it comes to saving a person’s life.  In the 1990s, laws were enforced within various states of the United States to force people to buckle their seat belts when driving or riding in an automobile. These laws were established to ensure the safety of the driver and any passengers in a vehicle if an accident occurred. Many people believe that wearing a seat belt should be a matter of personal choice, instead of being forced into wearing a seat belt. 

                There are two different types of seat belt laws: primary and secondary. The primary seat belt law enables police officers to issue a ticket to a driver without any other traffic violation being violated. The secondary seat belt law allows police officers to only issue a ticket for not wearing a seat belt when other traffic violations have been violated.  Thus far, 32 states have enforced the primary seat belt law and 17 states have enforced the secondary seat belt law. New Hampshire is the only state without any sort of seat belt law.

Regarding the state of Missouri, the Missouri Department of Transportation enforced a campaign, known as “Click It or Ticket” to promote awareness to the public about how important it is to wear a seat belt. This campaign goes on for two weeks, from May 24 until June 6, and includes Memorial Day weekend. During these two weeks police officers have a zero tolerance for people not wearing seat belts and they do not hesitate to issue a $10 fine. 

Wearing a seat belt is vitally important because if one is ever in a severe accident this safety precaution could save a person’s life. A prime example of tragedy resulting in not a wearing a seat belt would be the death of Princess Diana.  The road safety minister said that her death could have been avoided if she would have been wearing her seat belt. Multiple car crashes every year have resulted in deaths by people who were not wearing their seat belts. However, people who choose to wear their seat belts are more likely to sustain minor to severe injuries, but ultimately remaining alive. Also, by consistently wearing a seat belt one does not have to worry about getting a ticket and is fully complying with the law.

Overall, I strongly believe everyone should wear their seat belts. If one does not wear a seat belt, they may pay the ultimate price. The safety of the driver and any passengers is the number reason to wear a seat belt. I feel more lives could have been saved in fatal car accidents if those people would have been wearing their seat belts.  Just remember, “Buckle up” for safety.

Buying Versus Renting a Home

     Are you debating on whether buying or renting a home? Well, I believe buying a home is the better route to take because I feel a person saves money, builds personal credit, and gains the sense of ownership when one buys a home. However, buying a home depends on the person and their situation. Overall, there are many factors to take into consideration on whether to buy or to rent a home.  The “New York Times” provides a calculator to calculate buying costs and renting costs.  It also presents a graph showing how much money one would save by simply buying a house and living there for at least five years. This calculator will also show the long-term savings when it comes to buying a house instead of renting.

     Even though I believe buying is considerably better than renting, there are some things to consider when making this decision.  Some critical things to think about before determining a final decision would be the maintenance required when buying a home, credit score, and job instability or the possibility of relocation.  About.com  states “Not everyone should buy a home.” This website provides and in-depth explanation of some of the reasons to not buy a home.

     On the other hand, a person who is buying a house, gains equity and the sense of personal ownership because any improvements made to the home increases the value of the home.  Also, when the loan is paid off the house will actually be owned by the buyer.  Buying a house also drastically improves a person’s credit score.  If one pays their mortgage payment on time for six to twelve months, their credit score will increase as much as 100 points because buying a home shows stability and responsibility.  When it comes to renting a house, a person is pretty much throwing their money down the drain.  A person will pay a monthly rent amount but they never gain anything.  The landlord will provide any maintenance required for the home, but ultimately the landlord owns the home.  I have rented a house and I do not like all the rules set in place by the landlord.  I was unable to paint any of the rooms, put holes in the wall for hanging pictures, or make any sort of improvement to the house.  Buying enables more freedom.

        All in all, I feel the advantages of buying a home outweigh the advantages of renting a home.  I believe stability, saving money, building personal credit, and gaining ownership of something are the greatest aspects of buying a home and the best for me and my family. We do not plan on moving anytime soon, but if we ever decided to move, at least we will have an asset to sell.  If one decides to move after renting a house, they basically leave empty-handed. I would strongly encourage all people to buy a home instead of renting one.

Tis' the Season to Shop!

     As I sit on my front porch freezing my butt off and look at all this stuff I am selling in my yard sale, all I can think about is going shopping. Yeah, like I need more stuff, but it is a tradition and I love going. The countdown has begun, Black Friday is only like two months away and I am already preparing.

     I love to go shopping on Black Friday because the total chaos is a thrilling event for me.  It also seems like more stores have been opening earlier and earlier than in previous years. Last year, my mother-in-law, my two sister-in-laws, and I set out on our journey at 8 p.m. on the night of Thanksgiving.  We were headed to Toy’s R’ Us to wait in line until 10 p.m. when the store would finally open its doors.  Many people do not feel the sales on Black Friday are worth all the hassle and chaos one must go through, but I definitely feel they are worth it.  Since I have two small children, any amount of money that I can save on their Christmas gifts is fantastic! I mean who would not want to save money? I know Black Friday is crazy but regardless, I am able to buy my children’s Christmas presents and save money at the same time.

     In other words, Black Friday is not for everyone; only for the bargain-hunters that can withstand waiting in line for a long period of time and dealing with the uncivil crowds.  Black Friday, in retrospect, is an annual event for shopaholics, like me, who would not miss it for any reason.  I revel in the uproar of spending all night shopping with people who are determined to get the best bargain.  Although these people are shopping for bargains, it seems as though the early morning hours bring out their worst behavior.  Most shoppers display the “I do not care about you” attitude on getting what they want, no matter whom or what is standing in their way.  The news media across the country have reported injuries and deaths related to accidents on Black Friday every year.  During that time, people are uncontrollable and inconsolable.  I have a compulsive shopping disorder that always surfaces on Black Friday; I shop until I literally drop.  I am an avid shopper especially on Black Friday. 

     I have gone shopping on Black Friday for three years now and from the situations I have experienced on numerous occasions during the Black Friday sales, I have learned that people disregard anyone but themselves.  People fight and push their way through the crowds, but it is the only way one can even get inside the store.  I know I can handle my own, when it comes to dealing with the enormous crowds of people. The moral of this story is to not go shopping on Black Friday unless you are equipped to handle the crowds.  Oh, my favorite event cannot get here fast enough! 

Venti Carmel Frapp – No Whip Please!

     Oh, the delicious taste of coffee, how I love it!  I love grabbing a coffee early in the morning before I go to work.  My favorite coffee shop to stop is Starbucks.  They produce the most amazing blends of coffee and tea in the whole world.  If those products are not enough, one can also purchase ice cream, breakfast sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, and sweet treats.

     Also, one might wonder how many calories are contained in each beverage or delicacy.  Most of the drinks range from 5 calories to 400 calories, but the coffee is so delicious to make anyone forget about the calories. Who’s counting anyway?

     If a customer prefers to brew his or her own coffee, I must recommend for them to visit the Starbucks store. There are a number of products available and the option to buy a subscription for coffee or tea, which is shipped to the customer’s home as often as they like. Starbucks also offers espresso machines, coffee machines, drink ware, and gift cards.

     Next, Starbucks also offers the RED card. Every time a customer uses their RED card a contribution is made to the Global Fund to help people who live with HIV/AIDS in Africa. I feel this is a great benefit on Starbuck’s behalf because I can purchase my favorite drink and help people in need at the same time. Moreover, the Starbucks Foundation, which was created in 1997 to help fund many literacy programs in the United States and in Canada is another way Starbucks gives back to the community.  Another program involved in the Starbucks Foundation is the Ethos Water Fund.  Every time a customer purchases a bottle of water at Starbucks, 5 cents is contributed to the Ethos Water Fund.  So far, 6 million dollars has been raised to provide clean water to people all over the world.  I never knew, before now, how much Starbucks reaches out to the surrounding communities. Why would a person not want to buy coffee at Starbucks and be a part of helping those in need?

     I see many commercials on television stating how Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme offer the best coffee around but I do not agree with these commercials. These two companies do not even compare to Starbucks. Dunkin’ Donuts only offers coffee, no breakfast sandwiches, no tea or espressos, just coffee.  Also, Krispy Kreme offers a relatively similar selection but not as vast as Starbucks and I know Starbucks drinks taste much better than either of these two companies because I have tasted them.

     Overall, I urge anyone to try Starbucks. I know I am hooked and I am sure anyone who tries Starbucks will be too! The products may be a little pricy but they are definitely worth it. I think I will go get my favorite drink – Venti Carmel Frappuccino without whip cream – right now!

Breaking Bad Habits Is Never An Easy Task

     Let me start off by saying I have two children: Malakai, who is four and Myrissa, who is two. They attend a Christian preschool or daycare all day while I am at work.  I feel preschool is great for them because they learn many things and prepare for Kindergarten.  Malakai is in a class with twelve other children. The majority of his class is boys, which is never a good thing. Myrissa is in the Toddler and Two’s class with eight other children and the ratio of boys and girls is fairly equal. 

     The drawback to preschool is that my children have learned some bad things. I know this happens all the time when children begin to be around each other every day. I know it is hard to control what comes out of a child’s mouth when the preschool teachers can only control what goes on while attending preschool, not when the child is at home with his or her parents.

     Malakai has started saying the word “fart” all the time.  He uses it in substitution for almost every word. For example, he will say, “My fart hurts,” or “I want a fart for dinner.”  He will also make a fart noise and say, “Oh disgusting! I farted!”  I do not consider this word a bad word, but I feel it is not appropriate for him to say.  When I say he acts like this all the time, I mean all the time! It is so annoying and frustrating whenever the children and I go out in public and he gets going on his language and actions. For a while, I had an issue with Malakai getting spanked by other children and him spanking other children. This situation finally blew up when Malakai spanked a child’s mother who was bent over in the hallway at the preschool. I had had it with his actions and he was harshly reprimanded. As soon as that event ended was when he began acting the way he does currently. 

     Malakai went to his best friend’s birthday party last weekend at the House of Bounce.  I have never heard “fart” some many times in my entire life! I was very frustrated.  The reason I become so angry is because he gets in trouble every day at preschool for saying that word. I am sure other children get in trouble also but most of the time it seems like he is the only child that is disciplined for his actions. We, (my husband and I), try very hard at home to break his new habit.  When he acts like this at home we constantly tell him that “fart” is an ugly word and to not say it, but when he laughs and continues to say it I become very angry. When Malakai speaks and acts in a bad manner, his sister also repeats everything he says. All I can think is, “Great, now I have two children talking and acting horribly.”  I wish this habit would have never formed, but what can I do about it now?  It is a shame that there is nothing else he can do to take his mind off of constantly having the urge to say this word.

     As he completes his final year of preschool, I pray he grows out of this habit. I continue to hope that one day he will just say, “Okay mom, I won’t say those bad words anymore,” but I know that is just a dream.  I would love to have advice from anyone who knows what to do in order to solve this problem.

The Use of Layaway

     Can you afford to buy all your Christmas gifts at one time? I know I cannot.  This is why I use the layaway program offered through Sears and K-Mart.  I love layaway because I am allowed to put as little as 10% down for the items I wish to put on layaway.  Since Sears and K-Mart are sister stores, the layaway program remains the same at either store.  Not only does Sear and K-Mart offer layaway in store but also online.  This is a very convenient way to shop for merchandise for Christmas, birthdays, or back to school items.  With two small children, I cannot afford to pay for many items with cash, hence the use of layaway.

     Next, the best thing about layaway through Sears and K-mart is that every piece of merchandise except clearance items is offered for the layaway program. However some stipulations apply to this layaway program. For instance, there is a requirement of a five dollar non-refundable processing fee and 10% or 20 dollars down, whatever one is higher, on your first layaway.  Also, one has eight weeks to pay the layaway in full, which means making a required payment every two weeks. This equals a total of four payments over eight weeks.  On the other hand, if a person decided to cancel their layaway a 15 dollar charge is imposed, but the rest of the payments that were applied to the layaway are refunded.  Does this program sound like something you might be interested in?

     Currently, Wal-Mart will be reinstating their layaway program on October 16, 2011 and will run through the holiday season until December 16, 2011. As of right now, this layaway program only consists of toys and electronics. It has been said that if Wal-Mart succeeds with this program, then layaway might be extended throughout the year, instead of just during the holiday season.  The other requirements involved for this program are relatively the same as for Sears and K-Mart, with the exception of only in-store layaways, the items must be at least 15 dollars or more to eligible to layaway and the total layaway amount can be no less than 50 dollars. I agree that bringing back the layaway program to Wal-Mart may be beneficial for many people, but I do not think it will supersede the Sears and K-Mart layaway programs. To be more competitive, Wal-Mart must allow all items to be considered for layaway and it must run year round. Also, I believe layaway would be a more profitable program for Wal-Mart if they had a certain length of time that a layaway could be help just like Sears and K-Mart.

     In conclusion, I believe using a layaway program is a great way to save money and I would recommend anyone to use these programs. I am also not alone in my feelings because many other people have stated the same comments. I encourage everyone to try the layaway program this holiday season. You will never regret it. Best of luck shopping!

Where Have All the Good Samaritans Gone?

     On Wednesday, September 14, 2011, I left work in route to my home. As I was driving North down Maiden Lane toward 7^th street, I came across a line of people stopped at a green light. I heard people honking and saw cars veering from the inside lane to the turning and outside lanes. At first, I could not perceive what was going on or why none of the cars were moving. I knew something up ahead must be wrong.

     As I got closer, I saw a young man standing beside his car. His Honda Civic had stalled in the inside lane on Maiden Lane. I knew he was in trouble. I went around his stalled car and veered into the outside lane. I kept looking back at this poor guy just standing beside his car, not knowing what to do.  I decided to turn right onto 7^th street and I whipped into the Wendy’s parking lot. I put my car in park and jumped out to ask this man if he needed some help. He advised me that he did, indeed, need some help so I dashed across the outside lane to go help.  I told the guy that I would push the car if he would steer. We decided to back the car up just enough to be able to turn into the Wendy’s side parking lot.

     As I began to push, I noticed a red Dodge Charger revving up its motor behind this stalled Honda Civic. All of a sudden, the woman driving the Dodge Charger laid on her horn. I looked up to see her mouthing “Do not hit my car,” in a very rude manner. I was outraged! I starting making gestures at her and telling her to go around if she was so worried about her stupid car! I know this young man thought I was crazy. I could not hold myself back because I just could not believe that this woman! Instead of being polite or helping, she blew her horn because she was worried that the stalled car, which I was pushing at 5 miles per hour, was going to hit her precious Dodge Charger.

     Finally, this young man and I pushed the car all the way into the Wendy’s parking lot. After putting his car in park, I realized this man did not have a cell phone and had no way of getting home besides walking. I asked him if he needed a ride because I knew in my heart that I couldn’t just leave him there. So, we both jumped in my car and headed off toward his house. When we arrived at his house, he told me how grateful he was that I helped him move his car and he thanked me for the ride.  

     As I headed home, I thought about the previous event that had just occurred. I still could not understand how the woman who was worried about car could act the way she did. Where have all the good people in this world gone? I am always willing to stop and help someone in need if at all possible. I know there are still some good Samaritans left in the world but they are decreasing rapidly. I know thousands of whole-hearted people helped as a result of the the May 22, tornado, but in the future, I hope more and more people will be willing to help someone in need.    

A Telling Tale: Murder, Suspense, and the Judicial System.

     A recent book I read was “The Last Juror” written by John Grisham.   John Grisham is a dynamic author, who has written many books based on various topics.  Before becoming a lawyer, John Grisham attended the Mississippi School of Law. Then, he practiced law for approximately ten years and after he retired from his profession he began writing books.  John Grisham has written several books and “The Last Juror” was his seventeenth book that was published.  For a complete list of John Grisham’s books see here, http://www.jgrisham.com/books/.  I feel everyone should take the time to read at least one book that John Grisham has written.

     First, the setting of this book takes place in the small town of Clanton, Mississippi, from the year 1970 through 1979. In this small town, the rape and murder of Rhoda Kasselaw occurs one night after she had returned home from the bar to attend to her two children. Such a crime was shocking in this town.  Police officers scrambled to undercover the truth about Rhoda’s murder. People within Clanton were outraged and wanted to catch the murderer.

     On the sunnier side of town, the local newspaper, The Ford County Times, had a new journalist from Syracuse, New York, Willie Traynor. He was the first to cover the murder. He interviewed the neighbors, the police officers, and anyone else that he thought might offer some insight to this horrible crime that had been committed. Soon after the news of the murder spread all over Clanton, the police came up with a suspect.

     Danny Padgitt, the main suspect, lived on the out skirts of Clanton with the rest of the Padgitt family.  He usually kept to himself and stayed on the island. Willie Traynor got wind that Danny Padgitt was the main suspect and published a front page story in The Ford Country Times. 

     Soon after Traynor’s story was published, the police began a formal investigation. Eventually a jury was hand-picked to determine the fate of Danny Padgitt.  Among these jurors was an African American lady, known as Mrs. Callie Ruffin. Traynor began visiting Mrs. Callie regularly to gain insight into the trial that was currently going on.  Traynor loved going to Mrs. Callie’s because she cooked the most delicious food in all of Clanton.  Traynor was starting to adapt to the small town life in Clanton, where murder was unusual and segregation was very common.

     In the events during the trial and the ones that followed a mysterious whirlwind unravels.  One by one, jurors started dying. The town was up in arms and did not know what would come next; many feared for their lives. This book illustrates how a terrifying event can happen and how the judicial system failed to work.  For a summary of “The Last Juror” visit the following website http://www.jgrisham.com/the-last-juror/.  I believe everyone should read this book. For a full review of “The Last Juror” see http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5346.The_Last_Juror.

The Insights to Yard Sales

     First off, I have a yard sale twice a year during the Carl Junction City Wide Yard Sale event. One sale is in April and the other is in October. My mother is a voluntary clerk who works alongside me at my yard sales. We have found many amusing situations that have occurred at these sales. One of the most amazing things is the customers are always there before the merchandise is even out on display. They are ready to shop until they drop as soon as they see my mother and me in the front yard putting up the tables.  We have noticed that yard sales bring about all types of customers.  These “yard-salers” can be categorized into four main groups: the Drive-Bys, the Dashers, the Genuines, and last but not least, the Jewers.

     The most hilarious people to watch are the Drive-Bys. These people are at a fast-pace speed until they come upon a yard sale. They slow down, to the point of creeping, to view the items for sale from their vehicles. If they do not see anything worth buying they drive off in record speed, to the next yard sale.

     Another funny group is the Dashers.  These people always park and leap out of their cars. They run in to the yard sale, look around for approximately sixty seconds, and dash back to their cars. When I notice this type of customer, I always yell, “Be sure and tell your friends about this sale,” as they drive off in a hurry.  Sometimes, I miss these people because they go so quickly from the car to the sale and back to the car again.

     Now, the Genuines are a special group of people. They are the people that slowly arrive at the sale, scan over the merchandise, and then, they go through boxes of clothing, books, toys, and any other items that peak their interest. I can sit and talk for hours with the Genuines because they are in no hurry whatsoever and I enjoy them being a part of my yard sale experience.

     Lastly, we have the people know as the Jewers. Usually these people frustrate me. They will ask what my price is on a certain item and then ask me if I will take a drastically lower price. When this happens, I always think, “Why did you ask me the price if you were just going to try my patience by asking me to lower the price.” Do not ask me to take a lower price; just say I will give you x amount of dollars for this particular item; this is a better form of jewing.  

     Lastly, one particular yard sale of mine was very agitating because it was pouring down rain and I still had a car load of people walk up and ask if they could look through my items that were boxed up and in my house. These people were desperate to see what kind of “goodies” I had for sale.  No matter what categories of people attend my yard sales, they still either purchase something or give me great joy in watching their actions. When the day is done and money has been made, you have to love these people.  Please feel free to attend my yard sales no matter what category of “yard-saler” you fit into.

Fad Diets: Friend or Foe?

     One of the biggest issues across the country is the obsession with losing weight.  People will go to the extremes of even hurting themselves just to lose an extra few pounds.  Have you ever tried a “fad diet”? I know I have used many “fad diets” to lose the weight I gained from having children, but they did not seem to work like the advertisements and commercials claim they would.

     According to http://www.why-low-carb-diets-work.com/diet-information.html, a “fad diet” is defined as “a ridiculous but temporarily popular weight loss system that lacks grounding in good science and/or is based on misleading diet information.”  Some of the most popular “fad diets” are the Acai Berry diet, the South Beach diet, and the Grapefruit diet. These diets claim that you will see results instantly and lose up to two to five pounds per week.  Other ways of dieting include binge eating and taking diet pills, such as Phentermine to lose weight. 

     I have actually taken Phentermine, which consisted of taking one 37.5 mg pill every day. This ritual lasted for about eight months. I can say that I loved the pill because it gave me so much energy and I had no appetite. I was rapidly losing weight because I never really ate nutritious meal; I was doing well if I ate one meal per day. When I stopped taking the Phentermine pills, I was hungry ninety-five percent of every day and I had no motivation or energy. As a result from not taking the Phentermine pill I gained back all the weight that I had lost.  As a healthy way to lose weight, I would not recommend this “weight loss” pill.

     The truths about “fad diets” and tips on proper eating are listed here: http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/the-truth-about-fad-diets. To lose weight in a healthy fashion, you need to eat nutritious meals that include items from each food group, watch the carbohydrates and calories you consume, and exercise on a daily basis. Some dieticians also recommend taking a daily multivitamin with your meal so your body will still get the proper nutrients that it needs.

     One of the most healthy and recommended dieting programs is Weight Watchers.  Many people, even celebrities, http://www.skinnybliss.com/jennifer-hudson-weight-loss-and-diet-secrets-in-self-magazine-sept-2011.html, across the nation have used this program as a tool to reach their goal weight and maintain it for years to come.

     “Fad diets” are very unhealthy and can ruin your body! Eating properly and exercising regularly will lead to major weight loss and a feeling of self-confidence.  The better you feel the more determined you will be to continue the journey of reaching your goal. Here is a reminder of each food group you need to eat to become healthy, http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/02/us-usa-food-usda-idUSTRE7514AC20110602. It is the “new” food plate that replaced the food pyramid. It is really neat.

     Losing weight is all about mind over matter; there will be struggles along the way but it is very rewarding. Remember, if you want to lose weight, take a healthy approach!