Well, this will be the last blog I write for English 101. This semester has surprisingly went fast. I have enjoyed getting to know you through blogging and who knows maybe we will be in the same class next semester. We are all so different but yet I have found something in common with most everyone in the class.
In a way I am kind of excited for this class to be over with so I can have a few weeks off to enjoy the holiday season. This past Friday night my husband and I and family went to the Coleman Theatre in Miami, Oklahoma. If you have never been there you have to go. The building is amazing and is beautifully decorated for the holidays. The Nutcracker ballet was fantastic and was just a great holiday experience all around. We are talking about having a fun day in Branson at the outlet mall and then going to see the lights in Silver Dollar City, I hear they are beautiful as well.
Good luck to all of you in the future in whatever you do and Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Ozzy and Abby
Sitting in the sunshine
Sunday, December 5, 2010
MTV's Teen Moms' show interrupted lives
According to TODAY the show "Teen Moms" is a way to show girls how hard it is to be a teen parent and has the potential to open up important dialogue.
Even though I am not a teen I have caught myself watching this show more than once.These girls and guys in the show have had their lives turned upside down because of decisions they have made. This show is a great way to let other teens experience what it is like to raise a baby / toddler and deal with circumstances that they would encounter on a daily basis.
This subject really hits home to me since I had my daughter when I was 18. We watch this show together and I remind her age of 21 I already had two children she says "I bet it sucked to be you". She laughs and I know that it's hard for her to imagine her life with children at the stage of life she is at now. Being a teen parent is tough, financially and emotionally. One of the girls on the show was popular with good grades and plans to go to college. Her path changed when she got pregnant by her boyfriend. Instead of going to college, her priority is taking care of the baby. According to Dr. Berman, a psychotherapist, teen relationships usually do not last. That was the case in mine and then you have to share your child for holidays, have child support issues and constant contact and sometimes not with the other parent of that child. Not fun!
Being a teen mom is full of challenges and adoption is always an option if you are not ready or able to care for the baby. Having a supportive family and a network of people who you can depend on is key. I gave up alot but I gained more. After high school I was not able to go to college but my kids are grown and here I am. Anything can be accomplished with determination and the will to succeed.
Even though I am not a teen I have caught myself watching this show more than once.These girls and guys in the show have had their lives turned upside down because of decisions they have made. This show is a great way to let other teens experience what it is like to raise a baby / toddler and deal with circumstances that they would encounter on a daily basis.
This subject really hits home to me since I had my daughter when I was 18. We watch this show together and I remind her age of 21 I already had two children she says "I bet it sucked to be you". She laughs and I know that it's hard for her to imagine her life with children at the stage of life she is at now. Being a teen parent is tough, financially and emotionally. One of the girls on the show was popular with good grades and plans to go to college. Her path changed when she got pregnant by her boyfriend. Instead of going to college, her priority is taking care of the baby. According to Dr. Berman, a psychotherapist, teen relationships usually do not last. That was the case in mine and then you have to share your child for holidays, have child support issues and constant contact and sometimes not with the other parent of that child. Not fun!
Being a teen mom is full of challenges and adoption is always an option if you are not ready or able to care for the baby. Having a supportive family and a network of people who you can depend on is key. I gave up alot but I gained more. After high school I was not able to go to college but my kids are grown and here I am. Anything can be accomplished with determination and the will to succeed.
Cartoon Characters as Facebook Profile Pictures
According to ABC News facebook users are changing their profile pictures to images of their favorite childhood cartoon characters. This is for a campaign against violence on children.
Being a current Facebook user this was an interesting story to me and I thought it was a great way to raise awareness about violence on children.
Last week I had noticed alot of pictures of my "friends" on Facebook being changed to cartoon characters from their childhood and thought was a great way to raise awareness on violence on children. But, what can a cartoon character do? Should we not be doing more? Personally I am all for raising awareness but until we personally decide to do something proactive are things really going to change? A lady and a friend of mine posted...."I am not going to change my picture on Facebook but my husband and I are sponsoring a boy from Turnaround Ranch next year". What a great way to show your support by doing something. Don't get me wrong all of us are not in the position to do something for whatever reason but we can still support those who are and can.
Changing your profile picture on Facebook is a fun way to show support and I have have done it just for what it symbolizes. Not everyone has led an abuse free life and those children need to be remembered and rescued from this type of life. It is nice to go down memory lane and remember times when you didn't have a care in the world so I challenge you: Change your profile picture to your favorite cartoon from when you were a kid. The goal of the game is not to see a human picture on Facebook, but an invasion of childhoods memories until Monday. PLAY AND PASS ALONG! You can find me on Facebook or search for Susan Lucas Bryant.
Being a current Facebook user this was an interesting story to me and I thought it was a great way to raise awareness about violence on children.
Last week I had noticed alot of pictures of my "friends" on Facebook being changed to cartoon characters from their childhood and thought was a great way to raise awareness on violence on children. But, what can a cartoon character do? Should we not be doing more? Personally I am all for raising awareness but until we personally decide to do something proactive are things really going to change? A lady and a friend of mine posted...."I am not going to change my picture on Facebook but my husband and I are sponsoring a boy from Turnaround Ranch next year". What a great way to show your support by doing something. Don't get me wrong all of us are not in the position to do something for whatever reason but we can still support those who are and can.
Changing your profile picture on Facebook is a fun way to show support and I have have done it just for what it symbolizes. Not everyone has led an abuse free life and those children need to be remembered and rescued from this type of life. It is nice to go down memory lane and remember times when you didn't have a care in the world so I challenge you: Change your profile picture to your favorite cartoon from when you were a kid. The goal of the game is not to see a human picture on Facebook, but an invasion of childhoods memories until Monday. PLAY AND PASS ALONG! You can find me on Facebook or search for Susan Lucas Bryant.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Police: Pennsylvania Family Hid Children for Years
According to Fox news the parent of five children - ranging in age from 2 to 13 managed to conceal them for so many years. This family lived in a squalid row house with no heat, electricity or running water. They had no birth certificates, no schooling, no immunizations or evidence of medical care - nothing whatsoever to prove their existence.
This situation is so sad and has permanently damaged all of those precious children for the rest of their lives.What frustrates me with this story is how NOONE could have known. So many people have lost their caring attitude toward another person. How could you not notice that the lights have not been on in the home next to you?
When the mother was arrested she told police that she had run away from home when she was 16 from a very chaotic household and did not want to be found. The decisions that the mom made from what had happened in the past impacted the future with her own children. The mom realizes now she should have done it differently. The article says that they were tipped off in 2003 and again in 2007 by someone but since the dad was not cooperative nothing was done. Are you kidding me? Do you really think that someone would be cooperative if they thought they might get in trouble for what they were doing? Why did they authorities not follow up, get a court order and save those children from living in the unsanitary conditions any longer? There definitely need to be some questions answered on that call.
According to the article years of isolation have taken their toll on the siblings. Now living in foster homes, "some of the children suffer health and vision and none of the children are at their expected eduction levels, and there are possible mental health issues. All I can say is how sad for everyone involved and I hope these precious children can be rehabilitated and become successful members of society.
This situation is so sad and has permanently damaged all of those precious children for the rest of their lives.What frustrates me with this story is how NOONE could have known. So many people have lost their caring attitude toward another person. How could you not notice that the lights have not been on in the home next to you?
When the mother was arrested she told police that she had run away from home when she was 16 from a very chaotic household and did not want to be found. The decisions that the mom made from what had happened in the past impacted the future with her own children. The mom realizes now she should have done it differently. The article says that they were tipped off in 2003 and again in 2007 by someone but since the dad was not cooperative nothing was done. Are you kidding me? Do you really think that someone would be cooperative if they thought they might get in trouble for what they were doing? Why did they authorities not follow up, get a court order and save those children from living in the unsanitary conditions any longer? There definitely need to be some questions answered on that call.
According to the article years of isolation have taken their toll on the siblings. Now living in foster homes, "some of the children suffer health and vision and none of the children are at their expected eduction levels, and there are possible mental health issues. All I can say is how sad for everyone involved and I hope these precious children can be rehabilitated and become successful members of society.
10 Really Bizarre Guinness World Records
According to ABC news, November 18 was "Happy Guinness World Record Day!" In honor of this special day, which makes otherwise rational people do ridiculous things to get their name in the (kinda) history books, we've rounded up some of the weirdest records out there.
Some of these records are just crazy and some are just funny funny. It really mad me LOL (laugh out loud) while I was reading about some of these crazy things people were going to get into the Guinness Book of world records. I can't wait to tell you about some of them.
A former Texas medical student has the record for the worlds longest leg hair, it was 5 inches long; he even conditioned it so that it stayed nice. That is just sick, who knew that the hair on a mans leg could grow that long and just one piece? The record for the longest fingernails had not cut them since 1979. Are you kidding me? The nails had grown to a combined 28 feet but they broke off in a car crash and at that time she realized she needed to move on. Now the record belongs to a man whose nails are 29 feet. Wearing acrylic 2 inch nails is tough enough but we are talking feet not inches. Crazy!Or what about the guy who pulled 907 pounds using his eye sockets? What in the world, what a risk that would be to take and how did he connect something to his sockets in the first place?
I'm not sure what kind of record I could break to be in the Guinness World book of records or if I would even want to. Reading about all these people is funny and entertaining so I guess I will leave it to someone else to break the records. It amazes me the crazy things people come up with for their minute of fame.
Some of these records are just crazy and some are just funny funny. It really mad me LOL (laugh out loud) while I was reading about some of these crazy things people were going to get into the Guinness Book of world records. I can't wait to tell you about some of them.
A former Texas medical student has the record for the worlds longest leg hair, it was 5 inches long; he even conditioned it so that it stayed nice. That is just sick, who knew that the hair on a mans leg could grow that long and just one piece? The record for the longest fingernails had not cut them since 1979. Are you kidding me? The nails had grown to a combined 28 feet but they broke off in a car crash and at that time she realized she needed to move on. Now the record belongs to a man whose nails are 29 feet. Wearing acrylic 2 inch nails is tough enough but we are talking feet not inches. Crazy!Or what about the guy who pulled 907 pounds using his eye sockets? What in the world, what a risk that would be to take and how did he connect something to his sockets in the first place?
I'm not sure what kind of record I could break to be in the Guinness World book of records or if I would even want to. Reading about all these people is funny and entertaining so I guess I will leave it to someone else to break the records. It amazes me the crazy things people come up with for their minute of fame.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Black Friday Shopping at a glance
According to Yahoo News "Black Friday" is the Friday after Thanksgiving and is often considered the traditional start of the holiday shopping season in the U.S.
According to the article "Black Friday" is not the busiest shopping day of the year it is actually the Saturday before Christmas which I found interesting. Maybe so many people assume that there will be more people out on Black Friday that they have decided to stay home instead of fighting with the crowds.
I love shopping and unfortunately this year I had to work the day after Thanksgiving so I chose not to get up at 2:00am before I went to work. Last year was a different story and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. The crowds are massive but there is just something about being out that early in the cold that makes it more exciting than an ordinary day. Even though"Black Friday" is not the busiest day it is the highest grossing in sales day. Today, Saturday, will be my "Black Saturday"; I am armed with coupons and my debit card. Let the fun begin!
Some people may not enjoy the crowds and long lines so online shopping might be more of an option or starting earlier in the year to beat the craziness. Christmas is not all about "getting" it is about "giving" and celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour. Being generous to those in need who might not be as fortunate as you and I is the start of a joyous holiday season. Sometimes it is so easy to forget about that as it is easier to get wrapped up in our own worlds, believe me I know. Happy Holidays!
According to the article "Black Friday" is not the busiest shopping day of the year it is actually the Saturday before Christmas which I found interesting. Maybe so many people assume that there will be more people out on Black Friday that they have decided to stay home instead of fighting with the crowds.
I love shopping and unfortunately this year I had to work the day after Thanksgiving so I chose not to get up at 2:00am before I went to work. Last year was a different story and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. The crowds are massive but there is just something about being out that early in the cold that makes it more exciting than an ordinary day. Even though"Black Friday" is not the busiest day it is the highest grossing in sales day. Today, Saturday, will be my "Black Saturday"; I am armed with coupons and my debit card. Let the fun begin!
Some people may not enjoy the crowds and long lines so online shopping might be more of an option or starting earlier in the year to beat the craziness. Christmas is not all about "getting" it is about "giving" and celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour. Being generous to those in need who might not be as fortunate as you and I is the start of a joyous holiday season. Sometimes it is so easy to forget about that as it is easier to get wrapped up in our own worlds, believe me I know. Happy Holidays!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thanksgiving rates as dangerous holiday for highway deaths
According to TheTrucker.com Thanksgiving is one of the most dangerous holidays , being the third most dangerous after New Year's Day and the 4th of July. Between 1998 and 2008 there was an average of 572 deaths annually on U.S highways during the Thanksgiving holiday, making it the most deadly four-day holiday period on American roads, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
I know that there are alot of travelers out on the road but I thought by people flying would cut down on some of the deaths on roadways.
After reading this article it opened my eyes to the fact that most of the deaths were young adults between the ages of 18-29. That really hits close to home for me being that I have four children between those ages. Another interesting fact is that 56% are men and 45% are women and shift workers are at risk as well. This information was provided by the National Sleep Foundation. Have you ever been so tired when driving that it was a fight to keep your eyes open? That is the worst feeling ever! I can remember being at a conference in Kansas City, MO and staying out a little too late the night before and having to be up for sessions the next morning. When we were released at noon I had to actually pull over in an area and take a nap. I felt a little uneasy since I was traveling alone but I reclined my seat covered my whole body, including my face, and took an hour power nap.
If you are traveling over this holiday season make sure and leave for your destination in plenty of time, watch your speed, (the posted speed limit is as fast as you are supposed to go), keep a safe following distance from the car/ truck in front of you and do not tailgate and if you are tired pull over and take a nap or have someone else drive and most important WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT. I hope that everyone has a blessed and safe Thanksgiving and does not become one of the statistics.
I know that there are alot of travelers out on the road but I thought by people flying would cut down on some of the deaths on roadways.
After reading this article it opened my eyes to the fact that most of the deaths were young adults between the ages of 18-29. That really hits close to home for me being that I have four children between those ages. Another interesting fact is that 56% are men and 45% are women and shift workers are at risk as well. This information was provided by the National Sleep Foundation. Have you ever been so tired when driving that it was a fight to keep your eyes open? That is the worst feeling ever! I can remember being at a conference in Kansas City, MO and staying out a little too late the night before and having to be up for sessions the next morning. When we were released at noon I had to actually pull over in an area and take a nap. I felt a little uneasy since I was traveling alone but I reclined my seat covered my whole body, including my face, and took an hour power nap.
If you are traveling over this holiday season make sure and leave for your destination in plenty of time, watch your speed, (the posted speed limit is as fast as you are supposed to go), keep a safe following distance from the car/ truck in front of you and do not tailgate and if you are tired pull over and take a nap or have someone else drive and most important WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT. I hope that everyone has a blessed and safe Thanksgiving and does not become one of the statistics.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)