Talking 'bout my generation...

There's a fantastic article in Newsweek about the upcoming election and my generation.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22597888/

I have to believe that this article hits it right on the head for me, and what I've seen so far in the 2008 presidential race. There are a lot of people my age and younger who are just pissed off, and have seen a lot of things to have had their confidence in the world and country shaken. We have every right to be this way. We live in a world where NOTHING is guaranteed to us, no matter how many college degrees we have. Health care is something many of us live without, which makes it harder for us if we get sick. For me, it's scary to even think about starting a family, buying a house, buying a new car, getting my current car fixed - why? Because how do I pay for it? I'm still in debt from school, and trying to get rid of that first! With mounting debt, how in the world do you get a decent rate on a loan?

I really think this presidential race is going to be one that is unlike any that have come before it. It will take awhile for candidates to be determined from each side. There will be more questions than ever before from the voters. Young people will be a huge influence on the candidates, and who becomes president. I, for one, am not ready to deal with the same type of government that has been in charge of our country. I am ready for a change, as are the other members of the Millenials.


Currently Listening: My whole Beatles collection!

Hakuna Matata

This is the first day in awhile where I've gotten home and don't feel like I'm going to pass out from a headache. I have big plans for my evening, including reading more in my book, getting out my scrapbooking stuff, and maybe watching a movie! We'll see how much I actually do!

I decided the other day that I'm actually going to vote in the primary. I wasn't sure what I was going to do - John Edwards isn't on the ballot here in Michigan, so my candidate won't be an option to vote for. There have been all sorts of options floating around for those of us who support candidates that aren't on the ballot. I'm still torn about the whole situation, but I will be voting. I understand there should be a new plan for primaries, but it's hard to justify losing delegates.

Currently Listening: Chase This Light by Jimmy Eat World

Perpetually confused...

You ever just feel confused? That's how I've been feeling lately. I'm not quite sure how to be less confused right now. Nothing is ever easy, is it?

Don't get me wrong - I'm in a pretty good mood, just feel a little off kilter and unsure!

First full week of the New Year

So, tomorrow marks the beginning of the first full week of 2008. I am hoping that it also brings fewer headaches with it. I have had a headache at some point each day for the last 4-5 days. I haven't felt stressed, so I'm not quite sure why I've been getting them.

I'm still trying to keep to my resolutions, and most of them are going well. I have only gotten on my bike once though, so I have to try to make it a habit by doing it multiple days in row. I'll start in the morning. :-)

I have been reading each day, so I'm about halfway through my second book of the year. Movies are going well also - just have to keep it up. I also bought a new planner on Friday, because I decided there wasn't enough room in the one I was using. This week at work, I will also be continuing to make sure things are in order and organized. This year is certainly going to be busy all around for me, and I must be prepared for it!

Additional Resolutions...

I have two additions to my New Year's resolutions - be more organized and be more motivated. While at work today, I thought of both of these. I believe it will help me in all of my endeavors this year!

Those of you who have known me for quite awhile know that I've usually been quite organized - in ways most people would just never be able to understand. I've lost that over the last couple of years, so I will be returning myself to keeping a calendar that I will carry with me. Maybe even go back to the planner...

In doing that, I hope it will help me be more motivated to do the tasks I need to do, whether it be for work, Jaycees, PPYL, or whatever.

Also, I have a resolution to be more positive about myself. I plan on trying to do this not only with myself, but also making sure I say these things to others. Now, how do I say good things about myself without sounding pompous? LOL.

50 books to read in 2008

I'm following my friend Mandi's lead, and did a list of 50 books I should read this year. Now, I may or may not finish this list, and I am allowed to veer off the list to other reads. On with the list...



() The Fall (Camus)
() American Creation (Ellis)
(X) Man Gone Down (Thomas)
()World Without End (Follett)
()The Pillars of the Earth - re-read (Follett)
(X)Gentlemen of the Road (Chabon)
()The Yiddish Policemen's Union (Chabon)
(X)The Other Boleyn Girl (Gregory)
()Team of Rivals (Kearns)
()The Mascot (Kurzem)
(X)Then We Came to the End (Ferris)
()The Russian Concubine (Furnivall)
()Jane Eyre (Bronte)
()Thunderstruck (Larson)
()Schulz and Peanuts (Michaelis)
(X)A Thousand Splendid Suns (Hosseini)
()Tree of Smoke (Johnson)
()On the Road (Kerouac)
()The Savage Detectives (Bolano)
()Midnight's Children (Rushdie)
()The Fortress of Solitude (Lethem)
()A People's History of the United States (Zinn)
()The World is Flat (Friedman)
()Kabul Beauty School (Rodriguez)
()1776 (McCullough)
()My Life (Clinton)
()The Myth of the Rational Voter (Caplan)
()A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
()Eat Pray Love (Gilbert)
()The End of Poverty (Sachs)
()The Plot Against America (Roth)
()Ragtime (Doctorow)
()Parting the Waters (Branch)
()From Beirut to Jerusalem (Friedman)
()Clapton: The Autobiography (Clapton)
()What is the What (Eggers)
()White Teeth (Smith)
()Breakfast of Champions (Vonnegut)
()The Inheritence of Loss (Desai)
()The Good Earth (Buck)
()Boom! Voices of the Sixties (Brokaw)
(X)Daughter of Fortune (Allende)
()The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao (Diaz)
()Manhunt: The 12 Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer (Swanson)
()The Guns of August (Tuchman)
()Catch-22 (Heller)
()The Sun Also Rises (Hemingway)
()Marie Antoinette (Fraser)
()The Crimson Petal and the White (Faber)
()Emma (Austen)
(X)A Free Life (Jin)


Currently Reading: Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende

"A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other."

As the New Year is upon us, I would like to wish everyone a happy 2008. I do hope that I won't be at work as much this year! Haha.

I have a few resolutions for this year. Nothing too difficult, I don't think, but we'll see if I can actually keep them.

1) Get myself up in the morning before work and work out for 30 minutes, 4 days a week. (Maybe this will help me not feel so sluggish.)
2) Watch at least 2 movies a week. (There are so many movies I haven't seen!)
3) Read for at least 20 minutes each night. (This should help with the next one...)
4) Read 35 books throughout the year (I will be posting my list of 50 books to read in 2008 when I complete it!)
5) Try to focus on the positive things about me. (I've had a problem with doing this recently, so, help me out y'all!)

I should be able to handle these. I just have to keep myself focused, and also organized much better than I have recently. I used to be so organized, and I'm hoping to gain some of that back!!


Currently reading: Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon