I had to think long and hard about whether to post this or not, but anyone who knows me, knows that I normally say what I think (to my great misfortune most of the time.)
I was recently at a PTO meeting at my son's Middle School and we were in the process of picking out types of shirts to sell for the upcoming Homecoming as a fundraiser. I held up one particular shirt (gray - that same horrible gray we all had to wear in the 70's for gym) and I said "I think boys would probably really buy this one". (We were going to have them screen-printed with the school emblem on front.)
Melissa side-note: At this point, does anyone have a problem with anything I have said during this meeting? I was raised in a conservative home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, went to a conservative elementary and middle school, a liberal private high school, attended a liberal public university and basically have one of the most very diverse educations of any person I know. I don't consider myself judgmental (I make a point not to be because I love the Lord), but I also know right from wrong and have common sense - thank you Momma and Daddy!
At this point, a woman in the meeting spoke up and said "Please don't say boy or girl, Please..........Let's not do that." (emphasis here on "Let's not do that" - hushed tone.)
Needless to say, my jaw dropped to the floor (figuratively, not literally - I AM a Southern Girl you know). I wanted to say "EXCUSE ME?", but in my nice Southern-raised, always scared of getting spanked during Church, God-fearing, Lynrd Skynrd listening, John Lennon lyric-loving, cannot-believe you just said that (but I'm not going to act like I am shocked because I am Southern) voice said "I'm sorry, I mean children, or, um... I mean students".
WHAT IN THE WORLD? Did God not create humans, male and female created He them? Honestly, I actually adapted to polital correctness during the 90's and never even realized it or basically didn't even care I guess, but my goodness, now I can't even call a child a boy or a girl anymore! I can't even recognize the fact that they basically like different things? God help us!
Okay, it is late, I am tired and obviously I am ranting. I never thought I would see the day this was happening and I was starting to sound like my parents. Next thing you know, I will think everything is a McCarthy conspiracy!
Melissa
Friday, September 7, 2007
IT'S FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!
Sent from one of my best friends in Nashville (who I have eaten with at Rotier's and unashamedly drank a beer with at 9:00 in the morning in honor of the team, something I shouldn't be proud of, but strangely am), this article actually made me smell the air of Knoxville and the crowd singing Rocky Top. I almost teared up...........you have to be a Vol to understand.
Bruce Newman for ESPN.com
The passion for Southern football begins at an early age. In Knoxville, when football season seems like it might never arrive, they can laugh about the fans who've almost sunk a boat in the Tennessee River. They can sing "Rocky Top." In Arkansas, they can let a "Pig Sooie" fly, like a maintenance drink for a boozehound. A few states over, a War Eagle or Rammer Jammer can keep a man (or woman) from going insane. That's a struggle we've been having for generations.
Why? Well, there are a thousand theories, many having to do with a lack of any other entertainment, but the one in Tony Barnhart's book about the obsession makes as much sense as any: Dominating at football offers a chance for Southerners to feel equal, a chance to avenge past defeats on the battlefield, which is admittedly bizarre, since no one else in the country ever thinks about the Civil War. In the book, former Georgia coach Vince Dooley describes beating Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1965. "I didn't just hear from Georgia people," he says, "but from people all over the South. To go up there and invade the North and come back a winner was the greatest thing for a lot of people. It was as if we had had a chance to go to Gettysburg again."
So these memories are important, a part of our martial DNA, though some memories are a bit hazier than others. My cousin ran out between the hedges in 2000 after Georgia beat Tennessee for the first time in nine years. He tore off his white dress shirt, ran right over to two players sitting on the Volunteers' bench and screamed, "Go back to Knoxville!" (The family's very proud.)
Here's another one I just heard: Two ol' boys were in Baton Rouge, all decked out in LSU gear, tailgating all day. Then, after hours of drinking peacefully next to each other, one guy suddenly jumped the other, quickly getting the upper hand, punching and kicking like a madman. Then he pulled out a knife, apparently to finish the job. Before they were pulled apart, the aggressor screamed at his defeated foe, "I can't believe you named your little girl Auburn!"
Every Southern football fan has a story like that, just like every group has a set of shared experiences. I've never rolled Toomer's Corner after a big War Eagle win, but the people who have will never forget it. New York Times sports columnist Selena Roberts sure won't. Today, she's one of the most respected voices in the world of sports. But when she thinks back to her days as a student at Auburn, she can still see the ribbons of white hanging from the trees. She remembers stealing toilet paper from buildings and walking through the knee-deep sea of tissue. "It looks as close as a white Christmas as you can get in the South," she says.
Each school has its legends. There's the time a potential game-winning field goal was blown back by a sudden gust of wind, costing Mississippi State a victory over Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl, removing any doubt which team God himself pulls for (though Alabama fans might argue by quoting Ezekiel 20:29 ... look it up). There's Billy Cannon's punt return which, almost 50 years after he ran into the Louisiana fog, is still played on the radio in Baton Rouge. There's Spurrier reminding us all that you can't spell Citrus without "U" and "T". There's Buck Belue to Lindsay Scott, and if you need an explanation, you've probably never eaten barbecue cooked at a gas station.
These are the stories told in January deer camps and in spring break condos and over graduation weekend grilled cheeseburgers at Rotiers in Nashville. They keep the dream of football alive until winter and spring give way to summer.
Bruce Newman for ESPN.com
The passion for Southern football begins at an early age. In Knoxville, when football season seems like it might never arrive, they can laugh about the fans who've almost sunk a boat in the Tennessee River. They can sing "Rocky Top." In Arkansas, they can let a "Pig Sooie" fly, like a maintenance drink for a boozehound. A few states over, a War Eagle or Rammer Jammer can keep a man (or woman) from going insane. That's a struggle we've been having for generations.
Why? Well, there are a thousand theories, many having to do with a lack of any other entertainment, but the one in Tony Barnhart's book about the obsession makes as much sense as any: Dominating at football offers a chance for Southerners to feel equal, a chance to avenge past defeats on the battlefield, which is admittedly bizarre, since no one else in the country ever thinks about the Civil War. In the book, former Georgia coach Vince Dooley describes beating Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1965. "I didn't just hear from Georgia people," he says, "but from people all over the South. To go up there and invade the North and come back a winner was the greatest thing for a lot of people. It was as if we had had a chance to go to Gettysburg again."
So these memories are important, a part of our martial DNA, though some memories are a bit hazier than others. My cousin ran out between the hedges in 2000 after Georgia beat Tennessee for the first time in nine years. He tore off his white dress shirt, ran right over to two players sitting on the Volunteers' bench and screamed, "Go back to Knoxville!" (The family's very proud.)
Here's another one I just heard: Two ol' boys were in Baton Rouge, all decked out in LSU gear, tailgating all day. Then, after hours of drinking peacefully next to each other, one guy suddenly jumped the other, quickly getting the upper hand, punching and kicking like a madman. Then he pulled out a knife, apparently to finish the job. Before they were pulled apart, the aggressor screamed at his defeated foe, "I can't believe you named your little girl Auburn!"
Every Southern football fan has a story like that, just like every group has a set of shared experiences. I've never rolled Toomer's Corner after a big War Eagle win, but the people who have will never forget it. New York Times sports columnist Selena Roberts sure won't. Today, she's one of the most respected voices in the world of sports. But when she thinks back to her days as a student at Auburn, she can still see the ribbons of white hanging from the trees. She remembers stealing toilet paper from buildings and walking through the knee-deep sea of tissue. "It looks as close as a white Christmas as you can get in the South," she says.
Each school has its legends. There's the time a potential game-winning field goal was blown back by a sudden gust of wind, costing Mississippi State a victory over Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl, removing any doubt which team God himself pulls for (though Alabama fans might argue by quoting Ezekiel 20:29 ... look it up). There's Billy Cannon's punt return which, almost 50 years after he ran into the Louisiana fog, is still played on the radio in Baton Rouge. There's Spurrier reminding us all that you can't spell Citrus without "U" and "T". There's Buck Belue to Lindsay Scott, and if you need an explanation, you've probably never eaten barbecue cooked at a gas station.
These are the stories told in January deer camps and in spring break condos and over graduation weekend grilled cheeseburgers at Rotiers in Nashville. They keep the dream of football alive until winter and spring give way to summer.
Thankful........
Whew - what a week, but I made it through and Chris is off on his Walk to Emmaus.
Update - as of this morning, they are trying to completely wean my brother off of any need for mechanized air (he is off of a ventilator, but on a CPAP machine (wall air)). We are in the process of placement into a skilled nursing unit probably within the next week or so. I am just amazed at the turn-around he has made, but also know that the long-term outcome is not very favorable. I ask that you still keep him in your prayers as he comes to your mind.
Wishing everyone a great weekend and GO VOLS!!!!!!!
Melissa
Update - as of this morning, they are trying to completely wean my brother off of any need for mechanized air (he is off of a ventilator, but on a CPAP machine (wall air)). We are in the process of placement into a skilled nursing unit probably within the next week or so. I am just amazed at the turn-around he has made, but also know that the long-term outcome is not very favorable. I ask that you still keep him in your prayers as he comes to your mind.
Wishing everyone a great weekend and GO VOLS!!!!!!!
Melissa
Thursday, September 6, 2007
God is Good
Boy, the Lord has been really working on us lately. And I want to tell you that when you seek Him, he WILL show up. I was recently in a place of soul searching and "restlessness" with some issues in my life (mainly contentment in all areas) and I just got on my knees and said "Lord, show me. I want to know you. I want direction". Well, he has showed it to me alright.
He has also shown me areas of my life that have to be given over to him and he has also brought to my attention the areas of my life where I rebel against him and that the things I am unhappy with are mostly results of bad choices made outside of His will. But, he has also showed me that my life can be renewed and the past thrown into the sea of forgiveness.
He has brought me through the fire recently and refined me in ways that I am going to try to share within the next week or so. Those who know me know that I have made some VERY poor decisions out of a purely rebellious spirit and that I turned my back on the Lord during different periods of my life (high school, college, and also about 3 years ago). But the Lord drew me back to Him every time and He shows up every time I seek Him in my life. He is faithful. I can testify to that. Anways, sorry for the ramblings - just on my heart today.
Pray for Chris as he leaves for Walk to Emmaus today. Love to all - Melissa
He has also shown me areas of my life that have to be given over to him and he has also brought to my attention the areas of my life where I rebel against him and that the things I am unhappy with are mostly results of bad choices made outside of His will. But, he has also showed me that my life can be renewed and the past thrown into the sea of forgiveness.
He has brought me through the fire recently and refined me in ways that I am going to try to share within the next week or so. Those who know me know that I have made some VERY poor decisions out of a purely rebellious spirit and that I turned my back on the Lord during different periods of my life (high school, college, and also about 3 years ago). But the Lord drew me back to Him every time and He shows up every time I seek Him in my life. He is faithful. I can testify to that. Anways, sorry for the ramblings - just on my heart today.
Pray for Chris as he leaves for Walk to Emmaus today. Love to all - Melissa
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Monday, Monday
Hey guys! Saw my brother on Saturday and he is doing really great. They are trying to get him to breathe on his own and he was in a fairly good mood, considering.
We had a whirlwind, very busy weekend with traveling and work, but ended up FINALLY getting the drywall completed in the kids' rooms and now we just have to clean up all the drywall dust, prime and paint the walls, and then put down the trim (I am sure that will all go extremely smooth and timely - yeah, right!). I am figuring we should possibly be done by 2008. :)
Keep our family in prayer this week. You can always pray for me regarding stress - it seems to have become a normal way of life and also we are still mulling over some decisions regarding work. Chris is going to be leaving Thursday evening for his Walk to Emmaus. Please keep him specifically in your prayers. He will be gone until Sunday evening.
I hope everyone had a great Labor Day and hopefully I can come up with something interesting, creative or funny to post sometime this week. (Don't hold your breath! )
We had a whirlwind, very busy weekend with traveling and work, but ended up FINALLY getting the drywall completed in the kids' rooms and now we just have to clean up all the drywall dust, prime and paint the walls, and then put down the trim (I am sure that will all go extremely smooth and timely - yeah, right!). I am figuring we should possibly be done by 2008. :)
Keep our family in prayer this week. You can always pray for me regarding stress - it seems to have become a normal way of life and also we are still mulling over some decisions regarding work. Chris is going to be leaving Thursday evening for his Walk to Emmaus. Please keep him specifically in your prayers. He will be gone until Sunday evening.
I hope everyone had a great Labor Day and hopefully I can come up with something interesting, creative or funny to post sometime this week. (Don't hold your breath! )
Friday, August 31, 2007
Friday!!!!
I have never been so ready for a week to be over! We are heading out to Chattanooga today to visit my brother and my Dad - then taking the kids to my Dad's cabin tomorrow for all of us to work pulling weeds and clearing up some of the property. Coming back Saturday night, hopefully working around the house after church on Sunday and then I am working Monday morning. I am going to TRY and get some pictures this weekend if I can borrow a camera and hopefully post them on Monday.
If you get a chance, please vote your opinion on my poll (to the right). Let's see if we get it right! I bet we do.
If you think of us, please lift our family up in prayer regarding some important work decisions we are in the process of making and also for Chris' upcoming Walk to Emmaus next weekend.
God has been so gracious to us!
Melissa
If you get a chance, please vote your opinion on my poll (to the right). Let's see if we get it right! I bet we do.
If you think of us, please lift our family up in prayer regarding some important work decisions we are in the process of making and also for Chris' upcoming Walk to Emmaus next weekend.
God has been so gracious to us!
Melissa
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Quotes for the Day
In matters of style, swim with the current; In matters or principle, stand like a rock
I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.
Both quotes by Thomas Jefferson, (1743-1826).
I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.
Both quotes by Thomas Jefferson, (1743-1826).
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Miss South Carolina Speaks Out
Okay, okay - I apologize. I just couldn't help it. And NO it is not the original video. It is a spoof. (You will not understand this unless you have seen the actual Ms. Teen South Carolina's goof-up on TV).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUE1Cu04Jzo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emefeedia%2Ecom%2Fentry%2F3382314%2F
Also if you vote in the poll over to the right I will NOT be able to see who you picked - only the percentage. It is completely anonymous. I am just curious to see who people within my sphere of contacts think will be nominated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUE1Cu04Jzo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emefeedia%2Ecom%2Fentry%2F3382314%2F
Also if you vote in the poll over to the right I will NOT be able to see who you picked - only the percentage. It is completely anonymous. I am just curious to see who people within my sphere of contacts think will be nominated.
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