Be Thankful

Friday night, around 3am, a tornado hit down and completely destroyed several houses, damaged many more, and left one little boy dead. Tornadoes happen all the time, but this one happened 3 miles away, from where I was sleeping soundly (though I don't know how) in my bed, without a care in the world. Yesterday I drove by the damage, and saw only the front steps of one house remaining. The whole front of another house was completely gone. Many others had pieces of their roof torn off. There was another tornado that touched down about 30 miles away that did just as much damage, and also took someone's life.
It boggles my mind that this all happened 3 miles away. I take this road to go do laundry, my boyfriend takes this road to go to school and home everyday. I can't even imagine what these people went through, or are going through. I feel immensely lucky that the tornado did not last longer, and did not take my house or anyone that I care about. I couldn't imagine sleeping, and all of a sudden everything is gone.
When things like this happen, especially when they're so close to home, it makes you think. Why them? What did they do to deserve that? Why do tornadoes and hurricanes or anythign else deadly have to happen? How did I get so lucky? It's sad that it takes something like this to get people to start thinking in this way, and to get people to feel thankful for what they have. Yesterday our heat didn't work, and I was freezing cold all day. I complained a little, and my hands were like ice, but at least I have a home, and I could cuddle up with my wonderful boyfriend to warm up.
Thanksgiving is coming up (yay!) and it's around this time of year that everyone starts thinking about what it is that they're thankful for. It's great to get together with family and be thankful for everything you have. I think it's even greater when people think about what they're thankful for during other times of the year, not just at Thanksgiving, or when something horrible happens. I try to be thankful year-round because I am very fortunate to have the things I have. Sometimes I get caught up in life, and complain about simple things, even though I should be thankful that I have them (like heat). So basically, be thankful for what you have, and remember to be thankful year-round, because other people may not be as lucky and fortunate as you.

A memo to Southern Drivers

1. If the speed limit is 35- it means you can go anywhere from 35-45 it DOES NOT mean you go 25 or 30.

2. If there's a turning lane, USE IT!!

3. If you plan on turning soon, use a blinker!! I cannot read minds and I don't know why you're slamming on your brakes!

4. If you plan on pulling out into oncoming traffic, wait till there is PLENTY of time to pull out so you don't cut people off. If you MUST turn out right then, speed up quickly rather than pull out and go 15mph and make me slam on my brakes.

5. If there's someone trying to pull out, get over if you can.

6. McCain/Palin stickers- I'm sick of them and am SOO glad they're not leading this country.

7. If you're not going fast, don't be in the left lane.

8. If you're going slow and someone is behind you, GET OVER

9. If the light is turning yellow, it means to slow down and go under it. It does NOT mean to slam on your brakes before it even turns red!

10. Don't be dumb while you're driving! Stop slamming on your brakes for no reason, do the speed limit, and use a blinker!

Election Day

Today is election day. Most people are voting, some are not. As an American, it is your right to vote and I think that we take that for granted. Other countries do not get to vote for their leader. Someone is appointed, and they have to deal with it, for better or worse. But we are lucky enough to have a voice and to vote on who we think will be the best leader for our country. Some people may not vote because they think that one vote doesn't matter. Every vote does matter. The last election was won by only a few hundred votes. This election has been predicted to have teh most votes ever. There are more voters registered for this election than any other, and I hope they use their right and actually do vote.

I'm excited for this election. First, I'm excited to see who wins, and hopefully the right person (Obama) does! Second, I'm excited for it to be over with so I don't have to see any more political commercials. I understand that these people want to make a point, but some of these commercials are just mean. I think that if you're a politician, you should say what you're going to do, and how you're going to be a good leader, not what the other person doesn't do. There's a commercial down here bashing a Democratic Senator saying that she believes in a Godless America. That Senator is now sueing because it is totally false. A lot of these commercials are a bunch of bs and don't sway my vote either way. I'm more interested in what each candidate is telling me he can do, and why they would be good for the job.

I voted a few weeks ago for Obama through an absentee ballot because I think that he can do the most for our country. Yes John McCain was a war hero, and that's great, but he's also really old and the fact taht Sarah Palin would be his V.P. scares me a lot because she's not the brightest bulb on the tree if you know what I mean. Obama wants to tax the rich, and give tax breaks to people who don't make $250,000 a year. I understand that most of the people have worked hard to make their money and don't want to give it up now, but come on! If everyone gets a little more money and only those who are making mroe than enough give a little extra to help (think of it as charity) then I think most people will be more happy and this country may be a little more united (even though 1/2 the country is going to pissed about who wins no matter what).

I'm usually nto that into politics, but this election means something to me. It's the biggest election of my lifetime, and will probably impact me more than others have. For one, I'm graduating college this year, which means that I'll be getting a job while this president is in office. Also, I'm getting older and am thinking about family more and I would like a strong president when I start one of my own. These are two major issues that mean a lot to me, and based on what I've heard from both candidates, Obama will do more fo me. Either way, I'm excited to see who wins and I hope the right person does win, so we can all move on from the President we have now, and we can all stop bitching about who should win and insulting those who disagree!