Not good.

TUESDAY

151 lbs

No exercise :( Sore from yesterday. Lazy.

Bagel w/creme cheese

3 bud lights

Cheeseburger

Sweet potato fries

Salad

Not good.

Starting Fresh

I need to motivate and organize. I am going to do it here, even if no one reads anymore.

MONDAY

154 lbs

Banana

Yogurt

Nutrisystem Bar

Subway sandwich

30 day shred level 1

GOALS FOR THE WEEK

1. Exercise every day

2. Finish laundry

3. Call Jill's BIL and get house

4. Pack 3 more boxes

5. 4/7 days of all healthy food

6. Change sheets on beds

7. Finalize going away festivity dates

8. Transfer $$ to HSA

9. Mail TIAA-CREF stuff

10. Football tickets?

11. Car accident $

12. Pay Sallie Mae

Couldn't have said it better myself

VIRGINIA TECH Shootings: As a nation, are we just plain bored with death?
Current mood: depressed
Category: News and Politics

I haven't blogged for awhile, but I'm feeling very sad and I'm wondering if any of you are, too.

This Virginia Tech school shooting is so haunting. The day of the shooting, my friend Brian and I were saying one of the things we remember most about college was the feeling of safety when we were in a classroom among our peers. The rest of the world could be falling apart, but in class, reality seemed suspended for the 45 minutes we spent soaking our brains with knowledge. If I was still in school, I'm sure that feeling would be forever altered.

I've listened to the biographies of these young people and some not-as-young professors: people just makin' their way like the rest of us.....so many lives ruined for nothing.

One of the things I find most troubling is there is no clear-cut answer as to why or how to prevent this in the future. This kid--like all the other school shooters--had written foreshadowing papers for his teachers....papers that were ignored. But so many young people go through periods of darkness and find writing a great source of release. So do we pull aside each one of those kids and treat them like potential killers? Do we risk silencing their warnings altogether if we do that?

And what about security on campuses? Do we make them all like prisons to assure our kids won't be mowed down while learning Shakespeare? The concept is preposterous.

Certainly, actions need to be taken much sooner than the 2 hours it took these school administrators, but exactly what does that entail?

Doing nothing to try to protect our youth is a crime, itself.

Another thing I found troubling today and yesterday was the number of people not talking about this. Maybe it's because I'm in California--the state that thinks it's in a protective bubble from the rest of the real world. A co-worker of mine walked into work today asking why the flags were flying at half-mast. I said, "For the shooting, of course." She said, "Oh. What shooting?"

I remember the morning of Columbine and it was the only topic of the day. Fifteen people died that day.

On Monday, 33 people were murdered in the worst shooting in U.S. history. Have we grown so used to deaths in the thousands from Iraq that 33 is a good day?

I don't understand. I feel so helpless. Massacring young people in a place of learning is about the deepest you can cut our nation.

Has anybody else had any thoughts on this the past few days?


Responses:

Posted by Jason on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 1:49 AM
I tried to find out if there was ever worse bloodletting on our soil. (not counting wars) I found out soon enough that it was the worst ever. Is it true? Do we all just accept the fact that school shootings happen? I must admit that I'm not as shocked as I was in the mid-1990's when they started happening ... when I was working in high schools as a student teacher.

I have no good answer for you. In my job as a local news reporter in a small market, we had a good year as far as fatalities. Then, in these last two weeks, we have had five. I had to be on the scene for four of them as the only television reporter covering them. So much for the good year. Since then I've given my notice. I don't like it anymore.

I agree with you. I can't remember feeling more safe than in my college classroom ... even moreso than in the high school classroom. In college, I knew everyone on a different level, or at least thought I did. It felt more adult. It felt more safe.

It's not fun. I don't like it. I don't have a good answer for your questions. But I am glad you blogged about it.



E-mails


Browsing through myspace profiles, one student named Jonathan wrote a blog about cherishing life and not sweating the small stuff. But the ironic thing is he wrote it 3 hours BEFORE the shooting. Here are our e-mails.

Date: Apr 18, 2007 10:43 AM

Jonathan,

Amazing that you wrote that blog just hours before the shooting. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and everyone at your school from the west coast. ~Juliana


His reponse:

Apr 17, 2007 11:13 PM

Dear Juliana, It is amazing that I did write that blog not so long ago, and this tragic event just reinforces the entire message of that blog exponentially. I sincerely thank you for your thoughts and prayers - it's been unreal and shocking here at VT; we are devastated. The Virginia Tech community and I really appreciate your prayers, and we are strengthened by the goodness in people in light of these tragic events. I have been getting messages like yours from all over the world, as far as Japan. Your message means a lot to me. Thank You, Jonathan Vin Murphy Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA


Apr 17, 2007 11:59 PM

Dear Jonathan, Thank you so much for writing me back. I graduated from college not too long ago. And one of the things I remember most about college is feeling safe when I was in a classroom with my peers. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to go back to class now. Do you feel like your sense of safety will never be the same? On the news, we keep hearing that the school administrators did not do enough. Do you feel like they could have done more to prevent the second shootings? ~Juliana
He read it, but did not respond.



Next one.


Apr 18, 2007 12:16 AM

Betsyboo,

Please know the nation is thinking about you and wishing there was something we could do to fix it. ~Juliana
Her response:

Apr 18, 2007 6:45 AM


You don't understand what messages like this mean to us students. It is unreal how many people are praying, and how much we mean it. Thank you so much for taking the time for the note, it is truly amazing. Please take care and just be sure to tell your loved one how much you love them, you never know what the day will bring. Love, Betsy



That's all for now.


And, oh. I love you.

What Have I Gotten Myself Into???

MEMO TO ALL STAFF:

On Monday April 16, we will hold the 1st Annual CCE Eating Contest. Jayme , Natalie and Jin will compete for the title of "CCE Eating Champion". Participants will compete to see who can eat the most Taco Bell Original Tacos (crunchy, corn taco shell filled with seasoned ground beef, crisp, shredded lettuce). The event will be partially sponsored by Oscar Cruz. Your contribution will greatly be appreciated.

DATE: Monday April 16

TIME: 12:00 pm

LOCATION: Lunch Patio

EVENT: 1st Annual CCE Eating Contest

Hawaii!!

So, Dyl and I are going on vacation in Maui in October. I am soooo excited! I know for sure that I want to do the following:

The road to Hana
Helicopter tour
Dinner cruise

Does anyone (all 2 of you who read this :)) know of anything else that we should definitely do?

Funny from Craigslist

"Need Help"

Please Help!! After two long years of being on a waiting list for a dog, we have been notified by the breed rescue that, at long last, our number has come up and... WE ARE HAVING A PUPPY!! We must get rid of our children IMMEDIATELY because we just know how time consuming our new little puppy is going to be and it just wouldn't be fair to the children. Since our little puppy will be arriving Monday we must place the children up for adoption this weekend! They are described as:

One male Child--His name is Tommy, Caucasian (English/Irish mix), light blonde hair, blue eyes. Four years old. Excellent disposition. He doesn't bite. Temperament tested. Does have a problem with peeing directly into the toilet. He has had the chicken pox and is current on all his shots. Tonsils have already been removed. Tommy eats everything and is very clean, house trained and gets along with others. Does not run with scissors and with a little training he should be able to read soon.

One female child--Her name is Lexie, Caucasian(English/irish mix), strawberry blonde hair, green eyes, quite freckled. Two years old. Can be surly at times. Non-biter, thumb sucker. Has been temperament tested but needs a little attitude adjusting occasionally. She is current on all shots still has her tonsils, is very healthy and can be affectionate. Gets along with other little girls but does not like to share her toys and therefore would do best in a one child household. She is a very quick learner and is currently working on her housetraining. Shouldn't take long at all.

We really do LOVE our children so much and want to do what's right for them. That is why we contacted a rescue group. We simply can no longer keep them. Also we are afraid they may hurt our new puppy. I hope you understand that ours is a UNIQUE situation and we have a real emergency here! They must be placed into your rescue by Sunday night at the latest or we will be forced to drop them off at the orphanage or along some dark, country road. Our priority now has to be our new puppy.

All That Jazz

One of my neighbors comes home every single day with the Chicago soundtrack blasting out of their car so loud that I can hear it from my apartment. I will admit that I love me some show tunes and I do own that particular CD, but EVERY DAY? And must it be so loud?

I am a dumbass

If a group of people are talking about Russian government and the politics of the OLIGARCHY, it is good not to misunderstand them and think that they are talking about the politics of the OLIVE GARDEN.

Seriously? In 2007?

Today, March 19, 2007, I have been taken off of TWO different projects because I am a woman. In one case, there is some old man who refuses to work with women. In the other, my boss seems to think that I don't "exude authority" the way a man would. I call bullshit.

I should have stayed in Nashville.