So I blogged at the beginning of the year and I promised that I would be blogging more regularly. Unfortunately, it seems that I lied. But, I promise, I'm bringing blogging back. So, since two months have passed, I've got a lot of catching up to do.

- First off, my Aunt Angel, who was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent treatment last year, found out that her cancer has returned. It has metastasized to her liver and her bones. She started treatments two Thursdays ago and will have to take chemotherapy every three weeks indefinitely. She's doing well. She hasn't been nauseous or throwing up, but she has been pretty tired. So please remember to pray for her and the whole family.

- I started my job in Birmingham on January 14 and I'm really enjoying it. I work with really great people and my job is pretty cool. Driving for two hours a day isn't the greatest, but when traffic is decent it's not a bad ride. When my lease is up at the end of May I will probably be moving up to the Bham area. Anyone know of any good places/apartment complexes to check out?

- I can't blog without bringing up the subject of politics. Anybody that knows me knows that I'm supporting Hillary Clinton for president. I could post an entire blog about Hillary Clinton and the presidential race, but I don't have time for that right now. So here's just a few things on my mind.
            A) Hillary Clinton is without a doubt the best person to lead our country. She's met and dealt with world leaders for the past 15 years. She's fought for children and others without a voice her entire life. She's got an impressive record of accomplishments as a lawyer, then first lady of Arkansas and the U.S. and as senator from New York. She's served on the Armed Services Committee and has a breadth of knowledge when it comes to national security and military issues.
            B) Her positions on important issues are the best. She's the only candidate that offers a universal health care plan. She's put forth the most impressive plan for the economy. She's got a superb plan to combat global warming and offer new "green-collar" jobs and was the first to put forth this idea.
             C) I believe Hillary Clinton is the best candidate to get us out of Iraq, not only quickly, but safely and efficiently. She's the candidate that has the most knowledge and listens the most carefully and then puts forth the best plans. I know she's got the strength and courage to end this mess.

So, I am pulling for Ohio and Texas to come through for Hillary! We NEED her for president!!!

So yeah, that's what's going on right now. Hopefully it won't be another two months before I update again!

I was rearranging some things on my blog today and realized it had been almost a year since I updated. Hopefully, 2008 will be a much more blogworthy year. Not that 2007 wasn't, for some reason I just didn't get around to it. Here's a quick rundown of some of the major things that happened since then.

1) I moved out of my aunt's house this summer. Living with Di was a blast and I enjoyed all 3 1/2 years she graciously welcomed me in her home. I miss her, but I am really loving my new apartment. This is also the first time I've ever lived alone. I've always thought I'd enjoy living alone, but of course I had some reservations about it. But, I really do love it! I feel so grown-up...haha!

2) I graduated! That's right...I walked across the stage in Coleman Coliseum on December 15. It was a little bit of an emotional day. I'm absolutely thrilled to be done with school, and that I didn't start classes this week with the rest of the UA undergrads.

3) I no longer work at the ESS. Obviously, since it was a student-only job, I couldn't work there anymore. I was a little freaked out because I was having a very hard time finding a job. But, luckily I finally found something. Granted, it has nothing to do with my major (journalism), but I'm still very excited about it. I'll be a customer service rep for a software company in Birmingham. I'm starting this coming Monday. Wish me luck!

So there's a brief update. I'm hoping for a great 2008, and I hope you have one as well!

Happy
Heather
Jenn
The Today Show
Shania Twain
Dixie Chicks
Barbara Boxer
70 degree weather
Wearing shorts (especially in February)
Being lazy
Singing
Reading
Liberals
Magazines
My cousins
Random text messages, calls or emails just for the hell of it
Rainy days, every once in a while
The West Wing
My iPod
Grey's Anatomy
My roomie, Di
Desperate Housewives
Rachel Harris
Kaitlin
Music
Dancing
Summer
Spring
Traveling

Sad
War
Poverty
Sickness
Death

Angry
Republicans (not every single one...mainly just the extreme far right wing crazies)
Closed-mindedness
UA administrators
Disregard for: truth or other people's feelings
Fox News
Waking up early
Dishonesty
Being told what to think
Being ridiculed
Constantly being told of my flaws
Work (sometimes...well...a lot of the times)
Commercials
Bad drivers

*Note: These lists are not all inclusive.

A huge congrats to the Dixie Chicks!!! They were nominated in five categories at this year's Grammy Awards and won them all!!!

Album of the Year: Taking The Long Way, Dixie Chicks
Record of the Year: "Not Ready To Make Nice," Dixie Chicks
Song of the Year: "Not Ready To Make Nice," Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Dan Wilson
Best Country Album of the Year: Taking The Long Way, Dixie Chicks
Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: "Not Ready To Make Nice," Dixie Chicks

Their performance of "Not Ready To Make Nice" was kick-ass! It's such a powerful and emotional song. I'm so thrilled that their amazing music was awarded. It is certainly deserved.

I'm so proud of them. Four years ago they said what few people dared to say. Now, we all know they were right, and so were the others that disagreed with this war. It's time to bring the troops home!

CONGRATS TO THE CHICKS!

Why are we so quick to judge other people. (By we, I mostly mean me. I'm guilty of this all too often.) From the moment we see someone or the moment we hear someone speak we've summed them up. Most of the time, we've written them off forever. They're too stupid, they talk too much, they don't dress well, they're obnoxious. Why don't we ever think for once: what if they're lonely and just need someone -- anyone -- to talk to. You just never know what a person's history is. You never know what people are going through, and dealing with. You never know what kind of obstacles someone has had to overcome.

I've been wanting to blog for a while. I just haven't motivated myself enough to do so. But, right now, I'm at work and will be for at least 45 more minutes. I'm bored as crap, so now seems like as good a time as any.

A) Angel - Her chemotherapy started this morning. Everything went really well and she's feeling good now. Doctors say the third day is the worst and the fourth is pretty bad too. So, please keep praying for her, especially Saturday and Sunday. She will be doing 8 rounds of chemo -- one every other week. After that she will start radiation. (She'll do 28 rounds of it...28 week days consecutively.) She has handled this so well and I know she's scared. I just hope all goes well.

B) School - Ugh! I hate school! For those of you who don't know, I'm not graduating in May. I've decided to double major (journalism AND political science) so I won't be getting out of here until December. I know I can make it...I'm so close but it just seems like it's never gonna happen. But, even bigger...what then? Seriously? After I graduate, what the hell am I gonna do? I'm not gonna lie...I'm freaking out a bit. Part of me really does wanna go to grad school...but like I said, I hate school. I'm totally burnt out. I tell myself that if I'm somewhere else and doing something I love I'll be okay. But, will I? I really do like journalism and writing...but I'm not enjoying school. Maybe I'll just get a job? Will I find one? Jeez...

C) Dixie Chicks -  Man...are they amazing or what?! I've always loved them, but now I'm like totally hardcore into them. I've pretty much been listening to them non stop for about 3 months or more. I saw their documentary Shut Up & Sing this past weekend. There are hardly words to desribe it. If anything, it just made me love them more and more and more. (Plus, Barbara Boxer is in it!!!) I wish they'd go back on tour! They're nominated for 5 Grammy awards...the show is this Sunday...I hope they win them all!!!

D) Politics -

1) Presidential Race - Well, my #1 Barbara Boxer was never really interested. Russ Feingold, who considered it, and was my next choice has decided to sit it out and stay in the Senate. I know it's early, and there's always a chance I'll change my mind (although I think it's pretty unlikely), I've decided to support Hillary Clinton. She's the candidate I know the most about and she's the one I think could do the best job. Plus, how awesome would it be to have a woman president?!?! It's high time! I like Barack Obama, but I think he needs to learn a little bit more before making a run. There's something about John Edwards that has always worried me, but I'm not sure what. (He seems to be a little less liberal than the others...). Bill Richardson and Chris Dodd both have fantastic credentials, but would really have to do something big to get me to change my mind. I think Bill Richardson would make a great Secretary of State though. I'd support any of the candidates if they got the Democratic nomination, but Sen. Clinton has my vote in the primary! Here's to making history!

2) War in Iraq - If any of you read my column in the paper, you know how I feel. This is an unjust war, and it's time to get our troops out of harm's way. It breaks my heart every time I hear there has been another casualty in Iraq. Enough is enough. Bring them home!

3) Molly Ivins - Molly was a political columist whose column appeared in newspapers througout the country (including the Tuscaloosa News. I truly admired her. She was never afraid to speak her mind and was unabashedly liberal. She never backed down when she knew she was right. Her column was not only fierce and truthful, but it was always speckled with humor and an amazing wit. She died last Wednesday of breast cancer at the age of 62. I only hope that one day I'll be half as good a writer as she was.

E) TV - Who would've thought Grey's Anatomy could get any better? Seriously. But, it has...and I can't wait til tonight's episode. The only new show I've started watch this season has been Brothers & Sisters. It's fantastic as well. Sally Field! I love her.

F) Sudoku - Yep, I've fallen into the trap and become addicted. I love these puzzles! I feel so smart every time I get one finished! I bought three books of them...so I could work on them during class.

PS. For those of you who haven't heard the news, Anna Nicole Smith died this afternoon. Sad...

My Aunt Angel starts chemotherapy this morning. Please remember her in your thoughts and prayers!

A lot of you may know this by now, but last Thursday my family found out that my dad's younger sister--my Aunt Angel--has breast cancer. She had a mammogram a few weeks ago and they wanted to do remove a mass and run tests on it just to be safe. We we all shocked to learn that it was malignant. Angel is only 32 years old. There are four stages of breast cancer and her's is stage 2. It's not the best, but also not the worst. I know that everything will come out okay. I ask for all of your thoughts and prayers in the next few months because it's going to be a long journey for Angel, her husband Johnny, and their three precious kids Campbell (6), Gabby (4), and Saylor Grace (1). Please pray for our family too--pray that we'll all have to strength to do anything it takes to help her get through this tough time.

I really miss the days when I used to blog regularly and read everyone else's blogs regularly. Especially on a night like this. You see, there are a million things going on and I want to talk about them all. But, I shouldn't have let everything accumulate!

1) Christmas

Honestly, I wish it were over. My family is being horrible. Some of you probably remember last year's fiasco with the Christmas morning breakfast drama, but this year it's on another level. And, this year, there aren't one or two people to blame. Everyone is acting crazy! Here's some background: On Christmas Eve my immediate family (me, Mom, Dad, Katie-Fran) go three places. First we do Christmas at Mama D & Pa Dock's (my mom's parents). That's where we eat and do presents from them and aunts and uncles. Good time. Second we go somewhere (different every year) to do Christmas with my dad's extended family. See, my grandmother on that side of the family has a twin sister, (Di, who I live with, for those of you who are unfamiliar) so we're all pretty close. We draw names for this because there are so many of us. After this event, we go to our third and final place for the night, which also varies from year to year. But, it's Christmas with Papa Jack & Grandmother and my aunts and uncles on that side of the family.

Well, this year, everyone is bitching about the time, what to bring, presents and everything for our second stop. So, the adults have decided just to call it off. No Christmas with the extended family. We'd just go straight to our own family. It's really ridiculous and I can't believe how ugly some people are acting. And, the thing is, there's not really a side to take. They're all wrong. It's just really sad that this Christmas tradition won't be done. I bet if Maw Maw Connie were still alive (Grandmother and Di's mom) she would be so ashamed of her family.

2) School

So yeah, the semester's almost over. It's my senior year. I wish I had picked a different major. A little late to figure that out, huh? Don't get me wrong--I still like journalism and would love a lot of jobs out there in the field. I just love political science so much more. I wish I had at least double majored in political science and journalism, or just done journalism as a minor. Oh well. That's the one thing that makes me want to go to grad school. It'd be a chance to have the college experience I haven't had. I hate that I went to college in my hometown and I hate that I haven't been that involved. But, it's been hard working so much!

3) Dixie Chicks!!!

Fun stuff now! Heather and I went to Nashville this weekend to see the Dixie Chicks live in concert. I honestly don't even know what to say. The concert was totally amazing! They put on such a show. Natalie Maines is absolutely hilarious! The concert started off with humor as the Chicks came out to "Hail to the Chief." How perfect! Their songs are so emotional and I can relate to so many of them. It was such a great night and a great trip. Heather being there just made it that much better! She loves the Chicks as much as me, if not more! It was also so great to see so many Dixie Chicks fans in the South. After their notorious comments a lot of people in the South have been outright hateful and still all. Everybody at this concert loved them! I'm still on a Dixie Chicks high and have been since last week.

4) Misconceptions

Just because I'm not in the mood to end this on a happy note...haha. I'm so tired of people assuming things about me or assuming I did things for a certain reason. I'm not giving specific examples, because I feel that I can't explain it good enough without talking. So yeah...but it pisses me off!

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a great Christmas season. And to those of you in school, good luck on finals!!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15911997/

Woman Faces Fines for Wreath Peace Sign
By ROBERT WELLER
Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press
Updated: 10:13 p.m. CT Nov 26, 2006

DENVER - A homeowners association in southwestern Colorado has threatened to fine a resident $25 a day until she removes a Christmas wreath with a peace sign that some say is an anti-Iraq war protest or a symbol of Satan.

Some residents who have complained have children serving in Iraq, said Bob Kearns, president of the Loma Linda Homeowners Association in Pagosa Springs. He said some residents have also believed it was a symbol of Satan. Three or four residents complained, he said.

"Somebody could put up signs that say drop bombs on Iraq. If you let one go up you have to let them all go up," he said in a telephone interview Sunday.

Lisa Jensen said she wasn't thinking of the war when she hung the wreath. She said, "Peace is way bigger than not being at war. This is a spiritual thing."

Jensen, a past association president, calculates the fines will cost her about $1,000, and doubts they will be able to make her pay. But she said she's not going to take it down until after Christmas.

"Now that it has come to this I feel I can't get bullied," she said. "What if they don't like my Santa Claus."

The association in this 200-home subdivision 270 miles southwest of Denver has sent a letter to her saying that residents were offended by the sign and the board "will not allow signs, flags etc. that can be considered divisive."

The subdivision's rules say no signs, billboards or advertising are permitted without the consent of the architectural control committee.

Kearns ordered the committee to require Jensen to remove the wreath, but members refused after concluding that it was merely a seasonal symbol that didn't say anything. Kearns fired all five committee members.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Seriously? It's Christmas...and it's a PEACE sign. Since when is there a problem with promoting peace?