Maybe you need to think before committing to next semester

Open letter to all Indiana Public Universities from a humble student:

Thanks for your letter telling me how much I owe in student loans and how I should consider this debt before I sign up for another semester. Yes because not finishing my degree and working in the fast food industry is why I started down this road to begin with. I never meant to make my life better by earning more money after getting my degree, paying my student loans, and then living a great life. I have a letter I would like you to read.

Dear <name of senior administrator here>,

I have evaluated your costs and need you to seriously consider a significant flaw in your program before you take more money from young people trying to better themselves. I see that your graduation requirements requires me to take a wealth of courses that have absolutely nothing to do with my major. You make me pay for these "elective" courses. These courses make up about 50% of the cost. 

How about you eliminate those meaningless courses, save me some money, and teach me what I really need to know to be a successful graphic designer or analytical chemist who can provide true value as soon as I walk through my new employer's door. Skills that allow me to flourish so that I don't hear, "well, we really need you to have more experience performing these activities before we can hire you." Gee, how about partnering with local companies and giving us some real world experience? This helps us get true learning, college credits, and companies get cheap labor.

If you only require me to take courses I truly need, I will only be in college for 18 months, maybe 24 total. The cost is less, the skills are better, and I am an immediately productive member of society who can really support my family. 

Think about that before you force another chemistry student to take ceramics or a graphic design student to take stress management because there aren't any of the required major courses this semester. 

Sincerely yours,

A student who is tired of wasting her time and future money for loans on worthless college courses.

I love technology

Sitting at the airport waiting for Emmy. Then I think hey remember that episode of Starsky and Hutch where the chemist is mad at Hutch, poisons Starsky, and then the race is on for Hutch to find a cure in 24 hours? I do. 

Let's go on the Internet and see if it's out there. Amazon Prime...1976, season 1...episode 21 A Coffin for Starsky, BINGO. 

$1.99 and it's all mine. YAAASSS!

I used to pretend I was Starsky's daughter and I was the one poisoned while they raced to save me. It was quite dramatic.  If I'm bored tonight maybe I'll pretend that again. Starsky comes out of retirement to save me. No Ben Stiller; that was a damn tragedy. 

Ah, plane here. Until I get home. I love technology.

'Merica I love you

America I love thee how do I count the ways? After being away in Italy 3 of the last 5 weeks I realize more and more how much I do enjoy the USA. 

1. Ketchup

2. Red sauce on pasta

3. No air traffic controller strikes on Fridays

4. Two lane roads are really two lane roads.

5. Personal Space

6. No smoking in restaurants 

7. No smoking well everywhere

8. Food variety

9. Streets wide enough to drive on

10. American beef 

The great thing about being away is coming back. I enjoy working there, but I love working here and living here. 

Scary Movie Favorites

Ah, Halloween. What a positively spooky time of year. We have some decorations out front and some lights inside our humble abode keeping the Boogey-man under the bed (or in the closet - I don't even want to look). We even have a blood moon Wednesday - the witches will be out dancing and the werewolves out creeping for sure! 

This time of year I love to see (if I am brave enough) some of my favorite scary movies.  These are mine, I am sure you have a long list yourself.

Sixth Sense

Nightmare on Elm Street

Halloween (original)

Anything with Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, or Bela Lagosi

Exorcist

And then there is that one I can't remember the name of, you know where the guy breaks in the house and shoots at the owners. Oh wait, that one is real! 

I need to get out and buy some candy. Maybe we will even give some to the kids! 

May this month give you the willies and may you think you see dead people if only for the next 24 days.  Live long, be scared, hold someone tight, and eat lots of popcorn.

As Dracula would say, "Blah, blah, blah" 

Please tell me I wasn't that dumb

Despite reports to the contrary, life doesn't end when you have a child. Life expands. It becomes things you didn't know it could be. Relationships may change, but they can become stronger, different, and you will likely start to have a new set of friends. 

You will still get to go out. You will still get to play golf. Your name will stay the same and you even get another one - Momma or Daddy.

I know it seems amazing, but other people have had children. Child birth is kind of a regular thing. 

If you are thinking about, planning on, or even in the throws of having a baby, please know life does not end, I repeat, life does not end. Trust me. Now, I hope I don't have to tell you this again. 

1975

Last Friday night was the first time I had to spend the night alone since the night we were burglarized. I could have sworn I was 9 years old and sitting in the living room of my house at 209 S Roeske Ave. I still remember that night in 1975. My parents went out and thought I would be ok alone for a short while. Remember everyone, the dark is not my friend. I turned on every light in the house. The TV was up probably as loud as it would go to drown out scary sounds. I sat where I could see all the doors. My neighbor Mr. Tylisz came to check on me and I didn't even hear him knocking. Needless to say, my parents came home early likely realizing I couldn't handle it. I said I was fine. I seem to remember Mr. Tylisz there shaking his head the opposite way! 

Well last Friday there was no neighbor to pound on the door and check on me, that would have been embarrassing considering 50 is just around the corner. No parents to come home early. Just me, my dogs, and my wild imagination. The lights were on all night just like the alarm. The dogs were never far. I watched more movies that night than I have in 2 months. It's all good though. I survived and worked out more of the fear that was left from that awful August night. 

So many things change...so many stay the same. 

Daddy's Little Girl

The day finally comes. There is singing and speeches and pomp and circumstance. Then there is the search through the crowds to find her. At the same time she is looking...where is she? Where are they?

She spies his bright green shirt. She knows it is him. She breaks formation and runs to him.  Tears flow. Joy is abound. Only a picture holds the words...