Sharing of Favorites

Well, that whole blog more thing didn’t work out so well. But this is the season of sharing, so I’d like to share links to some of my favorite blogs to read. Hope you all enjoy!

Our Best Bites – Check out the Peppermint Fudge Cupcake Jars

Hyperbole and a Half - Random hilarity that will make you split your sides. Make sure you read Dog and The God of Cake.

I’ll add a page somewhere to make sure the links to my incredible finds are somewhere permanently.

Finding Purpose

Well, the resolution to blog more didn’t work very well, but with no real purpose other than keeping a public diary, there’s no consistant desire to keep a blog. So my new goal for this blog is to find an actual purpose for it, other than just being randomness in cyberspace. And to actually complete the Gratitude Challenge, now that I have time for it. Here goes nothing.

E

Bah! I have to blog more!

Ok, so I started blogging to actually do something with my time and then I got so busy I can never seem to actually blog. What’s that about? So one of my New Year Resolutions is going to be to blog more. At least more that this once every couple months crap I’ve been doing. Hopefully this quarters 25 credits won’t completely kill my blogging ability. So now that I’m having the worst time actually blogging stuff EVER, I’ve been thinking about starting a milBlog about going through the whole enlistment process. Hmmm…maybe I’ll save that until after Japan.

Anyway, so here’s what’s up for my new year. Taking 25 credits (yes, a double full-time load) this quarter to finish my actual Associates of Arts degree requirements, which means…yes it’s true…I’m finally graduating! I will officially be a college graduate as of March 24th. Provided I pass all of my classes, of course. Currently waiting for a guy to call me back to come check out the house to possibly be a roommate. Hopefully I’ll start getting more calls, because as of Feb, I have to start coming up with rent money on top of bills and that’s going to squeeze my budget HARD. While I’m finishing up all of my EWU paperwork (all but guaranteed acceptance to the college) I’m also looking into their study abroad programs so I can try to get to Japan for at least a few weeks this summer. Hopefully I can actually get there. I’ve been hearing of great short stay programs, but I don’t have the 2-3 thousand dollars to pay for them. So maybe I can get financial aid to actually go over the summer term. Fingers crossed. Other than that it’s the same school, homework, music and what friends I can make time for. Hopefully I can make a little more time for fun in the near future!

Ok, signing off for now, y’all!
~E

Gratitude Challenge: Feeling Grateful

Things have been crazy and I’ve been sick, but now I’m back on track for the Gratitude Challenge!

Today’s task is to write about something in my life I am grateful for, and that’s a cinch! I am grateful for OPPORTUNITIES!

As I’m finishing up my Associate’s degree, transferring to Eastern Washington University for my Bachelor’s and prepping for Army life I have too many opportunities to even begin to count. Having to decide what job I want to take in the Army, looking at doing a couple of quarters in Japan on an exchange program, doing the International Peer Mentor program and getting to meet people who are becoming fabulous friends…what more could a person ask for? Except maybe a little extra money. That would be nice.

All in all my schooling and Army opportunities are shaping up to be really good. I just hope they stay that way. And speaking of school opportunities, I’m not going to have ANY if I don’t get cracking on my homework.

Hooah!

Gratitude Challenge: Gratitude Alphabet

Use the alphabet as a fun and quick format for making a list of things for which you feel grateful. Here is my Gratitude Alphabet!

Army
Bed to sleep in
Cats
Dawn
Enigmas
Freedom
Good friends
Heat
Internet
Juice
Kindness
Love
Music
Nights
Obstacles
Pictures
Quiet
Reason
School
Teachers
Uniforms
Video games
Waking up alive each morning
X-Rays (Well how many things can you really put for X?)
Yesterdays
Zippers

Gratitude Challenge

With all the insane things going on in life right now, I think it’s important to evaluate all the things in life that you can be grateful for.

With a hopeful outlook, I, Erin J. Mansfield, promise to fulfill the terms
of The Gratitude Challenge. Over the next 21 days, I pledge to complete the
activities on my gratitude calendar, including writing journal entries, taking
photos and connecting with friends. I promise to take note of life’s little blessings
and to give thanks for the relationships, experiences and opportunities that make
my life unique. From this day forward, I commit to living on the brighter side of life.

Join the Gratitude Challenge.

Finally doing something with my blog

So now that I’ve got less than zero time and I’m adding more things to do, I’m going to actually make it a goal to write in my blog more than once a year! Yay me!

So now begins the journey to being a soldier in the Army. Well…actually it started last Friday when I showed up at PT with SSG S., and really it stared several weeks ago when I started looking for a recruiter to talk to, but it’s not official until I blog about it, right? Fortunately, I have a great wealth of information in SGT Marey (my recruiter) and Jeremy. I’ve also found a ton of information on ArmyStudyGuide.com about the weekly schedule for BCT, so I should be well prepared. At least, as prepared as I possibly can be.

Now that I’m actually doing PT and my mom has started seeing progress toward goal, she’s starting the requisite parental freak-out. Now, if only I could see some progress in the weight department it might not seem like such a steep climb to next summer. Hopefully getting out to PT for the rest of the summer, and through the year with the SSG, will keep me going towards where I need to be.

I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to school. A few more classes and I’m done. I’m throwing in a year of Theory and Japanese just to have some credits for the whole year and to get some things under my belt to prep for Eastern. Gotta remember to fill out that application so I can get it in early. Don’t want to wait until the last minute and risk not getting in for Fall.

Thanks for checking the random ramblings. Love to all!

Outed blogger who trashed model is angry at Google – Tech and gadgets- msnbc.com

Outed blogger who trashed model is angry at Google – Tech and gadgets- msnbc.com

Posted using ShareThis

Seriously?  SERIOUSLY?!  You make a sensitive comment about someone’s personal hygiene and sexual deeds/orientation and then get all butt-hurt when they file a lawsuit you’re pissed off because the server that you used to post this ON THE INTERNET complies with a court order, probably in accordance with their Terms of Service, and released your name because THEY HAD TO?!  WHAT THE HELL?!

Obviously you did not make it clear enough that those statements were your opinion and if you’re stupid enough to do that, on the internet, even anonymously, you should be sued.  And caned.  Or flogged.  Probably both.

Could it be? Something important?

Ugh…Jeremy is on a 4 day weekend out in Coulee and I am BORED.  So I’m going to write about something like…existential or cool for once.  Instead of random ramblings.  Yes, yes, the blog is ABOUT my random ramblings, but I’m going to randomly ramble about something else for once.  Something…like…kinda cool.

Like what the hell is with the new Jack in the Box commercial?  Dwarfs with helium voices?  So ridiculously juvenile.  And frickin’ retarded.  I wish people would stop coming up with stupid ideas for the boob tube addicts and their melted brains and actually came up with something intelligent.  Jeez.

A Soldier Reports to his God

The soldier stood and faced his God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as brightly as his brass.

“Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?”

The soldier squared his shoulders and
said,”No, Lord, I guess I ain’t
Because those of us who carry guns
Can’t always be a saint.

I’ve had to work most Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I’ve been violent,
Because the streets are awfully tough

But, I never took a penny
That wasn’t mine to keep…
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I’ve wept unmanly tears.

I know I don’t deserve a place
Among the people here
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.

If you’ve a place for me here, Lord,
It needn’t be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don’t, I’ll understand.”

There was a silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God,

“Step forward now you soldier
You’ve borne your burdens well,
Walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets,
You’ve done your time in Hell.”

Credit to Tim and Genna Moriarty