Daily Dose of: People actually think like that?

So today I was very excited about the recent decision by a federal judge in NY to make Plan B (emergency contraception) available to women of all ages without prescription (click picture for news story).

I was reading the comments on an azcentral.com's facebook post asking whether people supported or opposed the ruling.  One comment stuck out to me:

"F***ING OBAMA" and of course the rest of the comments this one discussed Obama by the same person stating that Obama was a "communist nazi" and that this ruling was just another example of Obama's "regime turning women's vaginas into sperm concentration camps". I was like "huh??". 

I of course couldn't fight the urge - I had to say something, so I came back with how I felt it was liberating women to take control and make our own decisions related to reproduction and sexual rights. Of course there were many other people commenting regarding the "communist nazi" comment (I mean - really?) and finally the guy comes back with this brilliant comment:

" Look at all these sheeple brainwashed by the liberal media. First Obama took our guns, now he's using his puppets in the NY federal courts to take away man's God given right to procreate. Every sperm is sacred, even the ones that enter a woman's vagina from a broken condom or the idiocy of losing a drunken game of 'Just The Tip.' Throw all the hate you want, haters. Someone needs to speak out against Democrats forcing our toddlers to swallow abortion pills by the handful. I will say 'Neigh' to the Deceiver in Chief trying to control my body while the rest of you bow down to the Third Reich of Obamacare."

It peaked my curiosity - how does a woman not wanting to get pregnant take away control to this guy's body? I am pretty sure that it would be my own body I was controlling by taking or not taking the Plan B pill.  I simply wanted an explanation so I could maybe understand his point.

Wait for it....

Here you go:

"Try to justify the medication that sets up fetus death panels in your vagina all you want Shelby. When I give my sacred gift of life to a woman after thirty seconds of holy spirit sensation, her body becomes my property. When she tries to violate the sacred order of life by swallowing poison to remove God's gift from her uterus. she is also violating my body. Woman was created from Adam's rib and it's about time they learn their place in the world. That starts by preventing Obama from breaking down the pillars of society by forcing women to use this form of embryo genocide."

Yea - I decided to leave it at that. I truly and sincerely hope not too many women have to endure this guy's "30 seconds of holy spirit sensation" and become his property.

So today I wonder - "Do people really think like this?  Maybe this guy is just a facebook troll?" I think I just have to move on with my life and stop reading comments on news stories. 

Oh...my sisters :D

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.


I chose TWO persons.  These young ladies have been by my side for most of my life and have lived through most of what I have lived through on the home front -- and probably had it worse because I left earlier than them.  I'm not saying home life was bad...I'm just saying that is where most of the "times you need to get through" happen.  


I love Miranda and Aubrey so much! They are each so different and unique and have turned out to be exceptional women! I can't wait to continue to see them grow and mature and do amazing things with their lives.  


So there you have it:

Back in the day...

So a long - LONG - time ago (okay...last year), I started doing a picture challenge. Surprise - surprise. I got through 7 days. Haha. The next day was supposed to be "A picture that makes you laugh".  I figured that would work out for me for a blog post today. I miss you all and miss sharing with you all. I need way more hours in a day. Even right now I should be working on some stuff.

So to keep this short and sweet, here it goes!

(I hope you laugh as well).

Twenty Seven

February 10, 2012 - I turned 27 years old. This year of my life I have some goals.

1. Pass the CPA exam (April - November)
2. Run summer camp seamlessly with no huge dramas (June)
3. Change people's lives during mission trip to Jamaica (July)
4. Pay off my Federal Student Loan (June)
5. Pay off my Private Student Loan (February - right before my birthday) aka - be completely DEBT FREE!
6. Raise $2,300 for Susan G Komen Breast Cancer 3 day
6a.Walk all 60 miles of the San Diego Breast Cancer 3 day 
6b.Make incredible new friends on the journey
7. Get back into softball (I have played no sports since my 2 new surgeries)
8. Hit goal weight marker with new activity (see above) and also learn to eat right 
9. Do more yoga (ok ok -- actually DO yoga...I can't claim the "more")
10.Spend at least one weekend with each of my sisters - separately so I can get to know them better/catch up on their lives
11. Do at least one community service activity a month

This is just the start of the "List of things to accomplish before 28" - more may be added.

Peace.

Today I am thankful for....

...the invention of sweat pants and sweat shirts. I love them! I used to lounge around in them 24/7 when I went to school in Iowa. Now out here in Phoenix I do not have the opportunity to do so as much. However, ever since Saturday I have at least been able to do so in the evenings when it starts to get chilly outside and my house starts to cool off. Last night I got home and was chilly and Boyfriend and Jasper were hanging out with me. I changed right into my sweatpants and sweatshirt and cuddled with my two favorite men. I was SO happy. Only thing that could make it better was hot chocolate but I didn't have any. So watch out for my thankfulness level when I run to the store tonight to get some of that! JACKPOT :D

Today I am thankful that...

I gave myself the weekend off from the thankfulness blog. While I remained thankful - I just needed to keep as little on my plate as possible and the little bit needed to be focused mostly on my studies. It did wonders. I am also studying most of the next 2 weeks until the exam on the 21st. Hopefully I sill be able to keep up this momentum! Today I had a breakthrough with partnership taxes! woot woot (I know - many of you just rolled your eyes just now and the rest of you are wondering what the heck I am even talking about). It's ok. One day it will all be over. Now off to bed to snuggle with my little Jasper pup :D

Today I am thankful for...

Silly songs -- that I'm not really sure are supposed to be silly? This song came on my Sirius radio a while ago and I can't help but listen to it and dance and I feel ridiculous because it is a ridiculous song....but it makes me giggle when it comes on.

Today I am thankful....

That I have a job. I was a grouchy grouch this morning waking up earlier than usual because I had to travel clear across the valley to the west side to work on a client. I love this particular client -- however, the drive is sucky in the mornings with all of those other cars that like to cut my little beetle off and just everything was getting to me. But then I realized I was SO SO thankful that I had a job that I feel is secure and it pays my bills and gives me more than enough food and I am still able to be generous to others on top of all of that and it made me realize that the drive really isn't that bad. Plus I get to have that extra time to myself which can't be that bad. I am a decent person.

November and thankfulness...

Today I am thankful for... Jasper. I often times get chills just because I love him so much. I know he's "just a dog" but he's kept me going through some rough patches and he keeps me happy. I couldn't have asked for a better pup!

Ok - I'm gonna TRY to be thankful for something daily through Thanksgiving. We will see how this works out...especially as I get closer to my exam on the 21st. Miss you all!

I admit...

Ok - I have to admit that I KNEW who "Jagger" was...but that's about it. So when my new favorite jam-out-in-the-office-late-at-night song became "Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5, I had to look up many a Mick Jagger youtube videos. Well worth the time wasting efforts :D I must be just too young *sigh*. Why did all the "coolness" happen before my times and I'm stuck with the likes of Charlie Sheen? Now time to do more jamming and get back to work. P.S. I miss you all. Sorry my life is so busy right now :(

Inspiration

I'm a bit behind on the times as I have never seen this video and it obviously has had many views.  Today I'm glad I saw it as it has put me in a good mood.  I hope it does the same for you.  A hospital in Oregon did the "Pink Glove Dance" video to promote breast cancer awareness.





The video brought people together to let breast cancer patients know that they are no alone!

I love it.

I'm going to be doing the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer 3 Day again next year (2012) in San Diego. Go HERE to see my personal page!

I hope you all are having an amazing Labor Day. Love to all of you. I miss you guys!

To those not looking...

I am just sitting here - - it is way past the time I should be awake but I felt inspired to write tonight. Something I haven't really felt in a long while (again...I know I apologize every time I write now - but sorry for the absence).

There are folks in my life who probably have no idea they are a significant part of my life.  They probably don't even know that I classify them as "in my life" however they are definitely there. Some of the folks may not even know who I am.  I follow them from afar - I learn from them by studying their demeanor and how they react to certain situations.  I love listening to them speak on random topics from any genre.  I just yearn to gain any and all of the knowledge I can from them.

Right now I just want to take a second to pause in the blog world and thank those folks in our lives - even if they don't realize they are being thanked (just send good karma out their way) for being that bit of inspiration in a sometime dreary world.  I love each and every one of you and I'm sorry some of you have no idea.

The Holiday

Have you ever seen this movie? It is ridiculous and super duper chick flicky and I LOVE IT!

Things learned from The Holiday:

• I want little children who have British accents. It's adorable!
• House Exchange -- it seems to be an incredibly cool thing to look into in the future (maybe a bit on the crazy/scary side but still cool)
• If in London and a drunk guy comes knocking on your door in the middle of the night -- let him in and have your way with him! Do it!! It can only lead to long lasting love -- seriously. (To prove my point: http://youtu.be/1rMph8HzcDE) 
• Befriend the old guy next door -- he could be famous and incredibly interesting.
• I need to try to be the "leading lady" in my own life (here's the cheesy, chick-flicky-ness of the movie coming through).

Anyway, sorry I haven't been around the blog world much.  I am in the middle of taking classes for and preparing to take a section of the CPA exam PLUS I'm ultra-mega busy at work. *boo* 

Wonderful Weekend...

This weekend allowed me peace and a lot of thoughtful moments to myself. The Arizona campgrounds are absolutely gorgeous. There has been a few little rain showers and the smell of the pines is amazing. The folks up here are starting to learn my name and welcome me into their "family".

There are a few things I've learned about myself and my life since being up here.

1. I need and crave meaningful conversations in my day to day life.
2. I'm probably, eventually, one day going to live in the mountains.
3. Sometimes all most folks really need is for someone to listen to them.
4. My eyes are MUCH bluer when I'm in a good mood and having an amazing time.
5. I really do have some amazing friends already out here in Arizona.

Thank you for the weekend Arizona and Arizona friends. Now back to the real world.

Blue box?

How can a redbox be blue? Just saying...

I should be packing...

So I have another 3 day weekend coming up starting tomorrow! I am driving up to Prescott with a guy from church for a church reunion in the mountains. This will be my first time to do reunion with the Arizona group. I am a bit sad because I know New Mexico reunion is going on right now as well and I could have drove out there to see a certain friend who I have been missing a lot - however, I know I will have a great time up north and it will be good for me to get to know more about each of the folks I go to church with out here.

I finally got in to see the neurologist today. He said I have pseudotumor cerebri and he has started me on a series of tests to hopefully find what is causing it. In a nutshell - I have symptoms of a brain tumor - without actually having the brain tumor. So I am guessing I will be seeing a lot of this doc here pretty soon...at least he gave me medicine for the headaches. Maybe life can go back to semi-normal. He also thinks I may have a bit of sleep apnea but we are going to rule out some of the other potential causes for the disease before addressing that.

Anyway, that's the life update. Enjoy your weekend blog friends - I know I will be enjoying mine :D

You're special...

Have you ever heard a song and became completely entwined in it? A song that shakes you to the core by how true it resonates in your soul?

This came up out of the blue - but I literally feel this song when it comes on my Zune. It gives me the chills each and every time I hear it. I know who it is about for me. I am perfectly content in the life I have currently and I am absolutely in love with S -- however, memories are strong in me and I admit - I miss him and the connection we once had.



P.S. I love you Adele. You rock so hard.

Dreams coming true!

When I was 5, I used to have a HUGE crush on all of the guys from New Kids on the Block. I remember having their posters all over my wall. I had a NKOTB sweatshirt, slippers, etc. I even dreamed about them - I'd think really hard before going to bed and then I would dream about them at night. I used to hate the fact that everyone else in the world (or I assumed everyone else - I WAS 5) got to go to their concert but I lived in southwest Kansas where we only got country concerts (which worked out for my obsession with Dolly Parton but that's another story). I believe I played my New Kids on the Block cassette tape nonstop every single day whenever I possibly could!

Tonight - I get to go to their concert. FINALLY. Words cannot explain how excited I am. Only thing that could make it better is if they weren't with Backstreet Boys -- if NSync was going to be there instead. NSync was another dream of mine...whenever they have a reunion tour - I'M SO THERE!

Being open...

So I have a new diagnoses that has happened since my last post. Back in 2009 I had a condition called "papilledema" which has now resurfaced. It is one of those conditions where they diagnose you but then you have to go through test after test to see what caused it. Last time - they never found a cause.

This time has been a bit different. The symptoms I have been having are intense POUNDING headaches as well as black outs in my eyes - like they blur and then I get blind spots. I had these symptoms for 2 weeks before I finally broke down and saw the doctor this time. I am busy dealing with being behind at work (due to a week of vacation to direct church camp) and client work backing up due to me being sick the first week back (bad headaches...could barely even function). Luckily I have gotten to a point where I have been able to just deal with the headaches and work through the pain. However, it is so hard to concentrate and I feel client work is suffering - which is never good in today's job market.

I want them to figure out what caused it this time. It is scary knowing that this could ultimately cause blindness and this is the second occurrence and we still have yet to find a cause. We must wait and see. One little snag I am running in to: I must go see a neuro-ophthalmologist to start the waves of tests and "treatments". There are two of these kinds of doctors in the whole state of Arizona and one is not accepting new patients. The other said they could not see me until early August. When I pressed - she said they could "slip me in" on July 20. I don't think I can live with these intense headaches plus blind spots randomly showing up THAT long. It is ridiculous. I called the eye doctor and he was out so hopefully tomorrow I can find out if I can go to a regular neurologist to start the tests.

What are the tests you may ask? Well last time it went like this: 1. Head MRI to determine that there is not a tumor pressing up against the back of the optic nerve. It came out clear back in 2009 so I'm hoping they let me pass on the MRI but I will do it if they think it necessary. 2. Lumbar Puncture - aka: Spinal tap. When this was done last time it came out normal as well - however, they had already started treatment (diamox) which is a diuretic to help bring pressure down. After I had been on the diamox for a couple months my condition just went away. No real reason for me to have the condition - but it just disappeared and I was good. Now that it is back - I believe it may be even more imperative that we move fast to try to figure out what the cause is.

Anyway, I hate using my blog to bitch -but that's my life right now. Behind at work; constant headaches; black-out vision escapades; physical therapy on the knee which isn't feeling much different than it did before this last surgery. I know - I know. Pity party for me. Sorry.

In other news, church camp did go great. If you asked me during church camp I would have said it was awful as there was much drama and a few issues...but now that I have had time to look back at it and see the campers' responses...I believe it achieved what I wanted it to achieve. I accepted the role of camp director for next year as well so if any of you have any great, profound thoughts on what would be a good theme for a jr. high/sr. high church camp - let me know.

That's all for now. I want to end this post so I can head over and read some of your posts that I have fallen so far behind on that is appears impossible to catch up. Especially for the few of you who somehow find time and words to post 2 or 3 posts a day! Holy cow! I have missed reading you all though and look forward to the short time I have tonight to do such a thing. Peace to you all!

I Understand...

I have had this pounding headache and eyes blacking out for a week and a half now and it makes it very hard to function at work. Last week and even Monday of this week I was very sporadic at work and I'm so far behind it isn't even funny.

I understand now how people in pain sometimes feel like just snapping. I have to watch myself around everyone - I just want to walk around and punch people in the face and say snide comments to them and I have to put all of my effort into not doing such things. I have to calm myself and work around that particular situation. It's like something in my brain is making me this way too - I tend to be a decent/semi-nice person most of the time. Right now? Nope. I just want to push everyone away.

I see the eye doctor finally on Friday. I was putting it off but I shouldn't have. I have had this issue in the past - 3 years ago. They diagnosed me but didn't have a "reason" for what I had. It was a series of tests to rule out what did not cause it. I didn't have a brain tumor pressing on my optic nerves. I didn't have built up spinal fluid pressure. I hadn't had recent weight swings. It just happened to me. And it is just happening again and I hate it and I hate the world to be quite honest. I hate feeling this way and I want to be positive but it takes so much energy to be positive. UGH.

Anyway - I have other stuff I would love to blog about - but I really didn't have time to blog this so I definitely don't have time to blog those things. Hopefully soon I can be caught up. For now - I just want to say I miss you all - my blog friends. I miss you a lot. Sorry I've been so distant. I will try to write about camp soon and about other personal life issues I've been working through in my head. Love to you all.