Sunday, September 28, 2014

How much kool-aid did you drink?

One of my classes this term is Environmental Assessment.  It's a required class for me but just let me say now I don't particularly care for this class.  It's not about the type of environmental assessments I do in my job.  This is a class geared toward environmentalists...the whole 'save the earth' thing.  And if I read the UN quoted one more time I'm going to scream.

Now, don't get me wrong, I agree the earth is in trouble and we have a responsibility and need to change how we do things.  This simply isn't a subject I'm interested in studying, that would be why it's not my major.  And I have....issues....with the UN.  But here's what gets me the most about this class....some of the people in it are freaking scary!  I read their posts to the discussion boards and it goes way past my normal "aren't you precious" reaction and more towards the "Please tell me you aren't allowed to vote!!!"  I'm floored by how many people think our government should implement forced birth control and a program like China's one child.  To willingly give up that kind of control of one's body and life to the government is just...frightening to me.

But then, I never have been a big fan of kool-aid.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Catching Up

Hard to believe it's half way through September and summer is almost gone.  Can't say I'm sorry to see it go.  Some people have had a summer of fun, summer of excitement, summer of relaxation.  For me, it has been a summer of loss.  I've lost loved ones, friends, pets...even lost a friend because of losing a pet.  Toss in a hospital stay and bad news for a friend and it's been an emotionally brutal summer for me.

The bright spot in my summer has been returning to school and proving to myself I could not only manage work, school and home on my own but I could excel.  Well, at least at work and school.  The home front has taken a bit of a beating as far as house and yard work but I'm slowly getting those back to my acceptable levels.  I have 11 classes left to complete my BS.  It is a bit surreal for me to be so close after so many years of wanting this.  Of course, I'm already having the MS debate with myself.  I think it will end up coming down to the practicality of if I can afford to take on the cost of it.

My birthday present to me is a 40" flat screen TV.  It replaces my 22" tube TV.  Yeah, I've been a little behind the times when it comes to TVs but watching TV isn't a big deal for me.  Now I just have to figure out how to move the old TV out of the living room without giving myself a hernia.  Jeesh that thing is heavy.

My Navy brat roots have been kicking in lately with the moving bug.  For those who don't understand this, it's a common thing for kids who grew up moving constantly.  We have a tendency to continue that trend as adults, getting antsy after a few years in one spot.  I've been trying to combat it by making changes in the house, re-arranging rooms, new curtains, going to paint some walls.  What I really want to do is take a trip somewhere I've never been which in the US would mean just about anywhere east of the Mississippi River. 

I miss Shepherd a lot.  I miss the companionship.  But I've been resisting the urge to get another dog.  For now I simply don't need the added responsibility or expense no matter how much I want one.

So that's the highlights of my life for now.  Next school term starts Wednesday so I'll be super busy again.  Here's to an improved second half of 2014.