So much for the best laid plans

This semester is such a pain. I am have one required class left to take (LS 502:Research Methods) and now a kink has been thrown into the plans. The library school has decided to not offer required classes at the UA Gadsden Center anymore starting in the Spring. In addtion, they aren't offering the class online and the Birmingham branch is offering a class I've laready taken-go figure. Since they've made this change, after e-mailing my advisor he said I'm left with two options: 1) Wait until the class is offered at the UA Gasden Center which probably won't be until Fall(maybe?) or 2) Take LS 502 at Tuscaloosa ASAP.

I'm sure you already know what option I'm picking;option 2. I have a timetable I'm working on here and my goal is to graduate on August 8, 2009. I will do whatever I have to do to make this dream a reality. I've come too far to let something like one class stop me. I just don't understand why the school has decided to do this now. I feel like they're more focused on pleasing students who haven't even started the program yet rather than keeping the already enrolled students happy.

Oh well, just gotta keep counting down the days until the end of the semester.

I believe the children are our future (or watch what you say to the wee ones)

At work today, I overheard a mother tell her child who couldn't have been any older than three that "you better shut up if you know what's good for you." I have also seen other examples of parents talking harshly to their (other small) children. What type of message is this sending to the child? How is this going to affect the child once they're old enough to attend school? Talking to my aunt and cousin the other night, the results from this type of behavior is clear; these children learn to only respond when threatened.

I see it everyday when I'm at work, kids who are more interested in going on myspace than doing their homework and who show no regard to authority figures. These groups of kids have no definition of consequences because I feel that some parents have focused too hard on their own goals and being the kid's friend rather than enforcing discipline. Also, parents are choosing to let TV raise their kids rather than actual people. I'm not saying that there's a problem with this; I watched lots of TV when I was a kid but when you sit a kid in front of BET's 106th and Park after school everyday, what do you think is going to happen. There are children in kindergarten that can do the soulja boy dance but can't even spell their name. I think there's a major problem with this but until you find a way to make parents care about what things they expose them to, things will keep getting worse.

Me and Den finally arrived in Cali. and made it to Bakersfield early this morning. Although we were able to get a good price for our tickets, Den didn't find out to yesterday that if we brought an extra bag, we'd get charged $25 dollars. Needless to say, Den changed the way that he packed so we were able to put everything in two bags. The flight from Huntsville to Ohio was uneventful however the flight from Ohio to LAX was interesting. First, JoJo from Jodeci with his wife. Since we could tell he was keeping a low profile we didn't say anything to him. The flight to LAX was booked solid and by the time we got on the plane, all we wanted was to sleep. After boarding the plane, we watched the cutesy flight video featuring a cute red head (den's words not mine) and then the flight attendant started listing the prices for everything. Six dollars for a movie;3 dollars for a can of pringles;six dollars for a cup of wine;two dollars for headphones. Although all of these prices together might not seem really expensive,when you add it up, it gets a little costly.

Me and Den finally arrived in Cali. and made it to Bakersfield early this morning. Although we were able to get a good price for our tickets, Den didn't find out to yesterday that if we brought an extra bag, we'd get charged $25 dollars. Needless to say, Den changed the way that he packed so we were able to put everything in two bags. The flight from Huntsville to Ohio was uneventful however the flight from Ohio to LAX was interesting. First, JoJo from Jodeci with his wife. Since we could tell he was keeping a low profile we didn't say anything to him. The flight to LAX was booked solid and by the time we got on the plane, all we wanted was to sleep. After boarding the plane, we watched the cutesy flight video featuring a cute red head (den's words not mine) and then the flight attendant started listing the prices for everything. Six dollars for a movie; 3 dollars for a can of pringles; six dollars for a cup of wine; two dollars for headphones. Although all of these prices together might not seem really expensive,when you add it up, it gets a little costly.

Packing for our trip and backing up my blog

I'm finishing packing for our flight out to Cali. for a week or so. I found this cool website when you can back up your blog for free.This can be especially handy if you've been blogging for a long time.If you'd like to back up your blog, go to blogbackupr.com.

Summer grades are in....

Checked my school website today and I am happy to report that I got A's in both of my classes! I'm now officially halfway though with getting my masters degree.

Tough times hit everyone

Saturday night, we were having problems with over internet modem and Den had called a service technician to come to the home to fix the problem. When we woke up Sunday morning, the modem was working fine so Den called and cancels the technician. Me and Den were enjoying a nice evening at home yesterday when we heard someone pounding on the front door. Although we initially ignored the pounding at first, Den eventually stopped what he was doing and answered the door. He was still thinking that the cable company may have sent out the service technician anyway but when he opened the door, a man (late teens-early twenties) was standing on the bottom of the front steps with a lawn mower in hand.

"Excuse sir, could I please mow your lawn. My dad's birthday's today and I need more for a gift." Considering that we too are currently strapped for cash, Den turned him down. "Okay, well can you at least donate a few dollars for a gift?" Den again turned him down. In the end, the man ended up leaving our yard with any money. It really saddened me that times have gotten so tough that people have to beg for a chance to do work in order to get money. Me and Den were also discussing the shape this country is going to be in after everything is over.

Currently, the prices for everything is increasing except for the amount of pay that people are receiving. When you go grocery shopping now, you're still paying the same price (if not more) and are getting less for your money. In addition, the only foods out there that are cheap are junk food and completely unhealthy so you're left with the choice of eat healthy and be broke or eat junk and have money. Most are choosing the later and are going to suffer for it in the long run. Even today my heart broke when the front of the local newspaper stated the cholesterol drugs can now be prescribed for children as young as 8. Eight years old and on cholesterol drugs! What the hell is wrong with our world when childhood obesity has become so out of control that this is the only course of action?

Not to be mean but I feel like all junk food should be removed from the grocery stores or at least have a warning label telling shoppers what years of greasy pizza and ice cream (two of my favorites) and hamburgers will do to your heart, body and self-esteem. While some food maker and restaurants have made a positive step by listing their nutritional information of their packaging, in the end I personally feel that the only way that people will start to truly change their lives is through making consequences personal for them. Sure it's good to know how many calories are in a big mac but I'd be less likely to eat it if I know that it'll take an hour to burn of the calories.

A little note for my reader

I regularly check my blog to see how many people are reading this and latey, the nunmbers of readers have shot up dramaticaIly. I am both flattered by this increase in readership but also puzzled as to why so many are interested in what I have to say. I suppose what isn't interesting to you is interesting to some. At any rate, I just wanted to say thanks to anyone who's been reading my blog, have sent me a comment or have stopped by to just read a post.