Things that Amuse Me

So, last night was the big open house at my oldest daughter's school. All went well and she has some really good teachers. But I do have one question...How do you have a class called Keyboarding when you don't have any keyboards and there are no plans to get any?

Yes, you read that correctly. She is in Keyboarding...which I thought was great because typing is no longer something that the "girls do". With computers, it is very important to know how to type. But this teacher started the "class" by saying that this is keyboarding class but we do not have keyboards. Therefore I am teaching business.

There is nothing wrong with teaching business. Why not just call it a Business Class? What happens if they get keyboards next year and they are not allowed to take the class because they have already had it?

It is just an example of how stupid our school board is. Why even offer a keyboarding class if they know that keyboards are not available?

American history is full of people that are eloquent dreamers. These men had real dreams...dreams of a country that would bring freedom to it's citizens. These people helped to build a great country.

Today, a lot of attention is going to Barack Obama and the Democratic Convention that starts this evening. I notice during this coverage that everyone seems to be gushing over Barack. I will admit that he is a good speaker...that his speeches appear to unite...and that he seems to have motivated his constituents. His "Yes, We Can" speeches, on the surface, layout a speech of what would seem to be a modern day dreamer.



CAUTION IS NEEDED when taking things at face value. I do not think that Barack is what he seems. I was listening to the amazing speech of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. yesterday on PBS and I noticed something interesting. Every speech that Barack gives have the same tone, tempo and resonance that Dr. King's speech had. Barack's "Yes, We Can" mantra has easily replaced, "I Have A Dream".

Please remember that some of the most remembered people in history were motivators as well. These people were able to convince others that their views were correct and get them to take actions to make the "dreams" come true. Among these people are such figures as Hitler, Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein...just to name a few! This should show that motivating, eloquent words do not mean that what they speak of is really what is best. Take Heed when someone offers only words and no substance.

My word of caution comes with a request that you dig deeper than the coverage on Fox News, MSNBC and CNN. Look deeper than the surface of the motivating speeches. Please realize that an eloquent speaker can easily manipulate the listener.

It has been a week since my life took such a drastic change. I can't help but look back and try to learn some lessons from it all.

Lesson 1: Don't take words at face value no matter how badly you want to believe what you are being told. People have their own agendas and will always put those ahead of anything that is important to you.

Lesson 2: A risk taken with great thought and consideration can be worth it.
I am not a risk taker and even though the decision was a tough one, it is already paying off.

Lesson 3: It is ok to accept help when you are trying to meet your goals. It is not a sign of weakness.

Lesson 4: All things happen for a reason. It is kind of funny how I didn't realize how unhappy I was at my job until I wasn't there anymore. Getting laid off may end up being one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

There is no turning back now...I am on a good track in my life. I am very proud of how I handled this huge transition in my life and think that life will only get better from here.

So, yesterday, I went to the college to finalize my class registration. I happened to finish just in time to actually take my first class! So, I started school yesterday.

I have a few observations about my class.

We had to do that stupid thing of going around the room and telling your name, why you took this class and what your major is. You should know that I am the oldest one in the class and all of the other students just graduated high school. So, every single student in the class (except me), answered it the exact same way. "I thought this class would be cool". NO JOKE! But what really got me was that none of them had majors that had anything to do with Photoshop!

I kind of laughed inside because I know that they thought this was going to be an easy class! HA! This class is going to be hard...with 7 assignments due every week! This ought to be interesting!

I start my Illustrator class on Monday and will be going to school on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.

A DREAM COME TRUE!

I have been really consumed with getting my life together over the past few days. I have gotten a lot done and I can start to settle into what is my new life. It is amazing how life can throw you a curve ball and your life instantly changes. It is scary and exciting at the same time. I have now reached the excited part of the whole thing.

I will be starting school Monday!!! I have to say that I have not let any grass grow under my feet since I accepted the lay off. I was given the choice last Friday...told them my decision on Monday...Signed up for my unemployment and for school on Tuesday!

That may not seem like an amazing thing to most of you but it is for me. You see, I have honestly never taken a real risk in my life. Let me explain why.

Where I grew up, taking a risk is only something that you do by planting 1 week earlier than the almanac tells you to...it is not something that you do in life. Your life is laid out by the status quo...you do not dare to dream. That is where I was totally different...I did try to dream. As a child, I wanted to be a news anchor, lawyer, teacher, artist, weather woman, etc. I dreamed....but each time I told anyone of my dreams they would just say that there was no way that I could get that. Over time, my dreams and my ability to dream went away.

Over the years, and after 2 marriages where I was held down and really taught that I wasn't worth much...it has taken some real time to get back to the point where I could dream.

So, here I am...36 years old, and I just now figuring out what my dreams are and I actually feel confident enough to go for them.

To say that today was a productive is a total understatement. I was busy from about 7:50 this morning until...well, I still really have not finished.

I started off this morning dreading my first trip to the unemployment office. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. It took about an 1 1/2 hours though. I am really glad that is done. After that, I had some errands to run for my SO. So, I took the trip from Ridgeland to Hilton Head. Then I enjoyed lunch with my SO...which was a wonderful treat.

After that, I headed to the Technical College and registered for school. I also took my placement tests and picked my classes. I have a few things that I have to get worked out tomorrow such as getting the basic computer class waived because I definately do not need a basic computer class. I still have to work out how to pay for it...but as my SO says, "it is just money". LOL He just has this way about him...he just doesn't worry about such things. I am going to have to learn how he does that!

So, today was a success!