I'm a crappy updater, but I figured it's time. Right now I'm sick - allergies and weather changing is getting me all messed up. Other than that things seem to be going okay. I'm hoping to get a short story published soon, but I won't know anything until much later next month if it goes in or not. It won't be much for payment, but it'll be a start in the right direction.
Jonathan's been going through a lot lately. He called me frantic the other night and I didn't get his call until two hours later. He's got an ulcer from all the stress he's been under. So keep him in your prayers (and me! that I get over this cold quickly). He's stressed big time right now because of a lot of stuff that's going on with the DoD and the Navy. I can't really say what, but it still looks like he'll be going away to basic training at some point.
Work is the same. I'm sick of it, but I still have to make a living. I've learned some HTML and CSS, so I know pretty well how to make a webpage. It's interesting what makes a webpage work, but I wouldn't want to sit around doing it all day. Here's hoping I get a little bitty raise for my trouble.
I'm so glad I finally got my car fixed. I don't know if I mentioned that in previous posts, but I'd had problems with the heater core for over a month. It's a blessing to have it fixed with the cold weather that's coming our way. Now I can turn on my heater and be warm while I'm driving home.
I've been talking to a very sweet guy I met online - just online chatting and emails so far. I'm not hoping for much - just some new friends would be great. I'm so busy and not very social these days, that it's impossible to get to know someone unless they email/chat/call me regularly. Yes, I know I'm horrible! I can't help it. I'm trying to keep up with everyone better one step at a time.
I just found out recently - because I was putting up the obits on Star News website - that my best friend from high school's dad passed away. Brandi and her family have been distanced for a while, so I have no idea if she came home or not. I really do hope so. I know her mom and her sisters probably need her right now.
I've got things to do besides sit here and blog, so I'd best get on with it. I hope all of you are doing well.
~ Esther
A historical day: Obama sworn into office
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Today, January 20, 2009 was one of the most historical days America has ever known as a nation. We have successfully put the first African-American president into the highest office of this nation. He is now our commander in chief, the head of our armed forces and the leader of our nation.
Though I still have my concerns about President Obama, I feel more secure in the fact that he is looking out for our best interests. He wants this country to be great again - just like every American wants. And that is enough for me to stand up and get behind him as president.
We know that change needs to occur. And we should know that change does not occur over night. Sometimes it takes months and even years and decades before change is sufficient enough to notice. But I believe if we all stand up and let our opinions be known and show this president that we want our nation to be one of the best in the world - he will help us to achieve that collective goal.
Over the past 100 years we have seen many changes for the better. We have seen slavery be outlawed. We have seen African-Americans be given the rights to vote. We have seen women take on more roles than just being homemakers - and the big right to vote and make the choice about their bodies through abortion rights. I agree with all of these changes. I am glad they happened. I'm glad we are no longer segregated by the color of our skin and that we can come together as many Americans did on this day and watch as our 44th president is sworn into office.
This is a day that we will remember for the rest of our lives - because we were the first to do it. And when change has come, when things get better in the next four years, maybe we will finally be ready for a female president.
I am proud of our country. I'm proud that so many people came together to celebrate this day - a day of change.
To quote President Obama from his inauguration speech: "For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."
We must do whatever we can to bring peace and pride back to our country. And we must do whatever we have to do to make this country stable again. Our economy needs a turn around and we have to step up - we have to have more jobs created and more resources to make this economy grow again.
Here's hoping the next four years are as good as we all hope they are.
Though I still have my concerns about President Obama, I feel more secure in the fact that he is looking out for our best interests. He wants this country to be great again - just like every American wants. And that is enough for me to stand up and get behind him as president.
We know that change needs to occur. And we should know that change does not occur over night. Sometimes it takes months and even years and decades before change is sufficient enough to notice. But I believe if we all stand up and let our opinions be known and show this president that we want our nation to be one of the best in the world - he will help us to achieve that collective goal.
Over the past 100 years we have seen many changes for the better. We have seen slavery be outlawed. We have seen African-Americans be given the rights to vote. We have seen women take on more roles than just being homemakers - and the big right to vote and make the choice about their bodies through abortion rights. I agree with all of these changes. I am glad they happened. I'm glad we are no longer segregated by the color of our skin and that we can come together as many Americans did on this day and watch as our 44th president is sworn into office.
This is a day that we will remember for the rest of our lives - because we were the first to do it. And when change has come, when things get better in the next four years, maybe we will finally be ready for a female president.
I am proud of our country. I'm proud that so many people came together to celebrate this day - a day of change.
To quote President Obama from his inauguration speech: "For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."
We must do whatever we can to bring peace and pride back to our country. And we must do whatever we have to do to make this country stable again. Our economy needs a turn around and we have to step up - we have to have more jobs created and more resources to make this economy grow again.
Here's hoping the next four years are as good as we all hope they are.
Labels:
history,
inauguration,
president
Life isn't like what you read in books...
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Life has been...well, busy lately. I've still been working a whole lot. Yes, this job keeps me busy and so do all of my online friends. I roleplay a good bit and that keeps me entertained. I'm writing a book - well, still working on finishing a book is more like it. I'm just about done - just need to get the plot finished. And I'm working on a story for an eBook an online friend is collecting stories for - well stories to consider. I hope mine makes it, but I don't have high hopes right now. There are people out there far more talented than I am.
My writing has gotten much better in the past few years. I think roleplaying helps a good deal - getting to write a story with someone else and seeing yourself in that character doing every action they do is really fulfilling. If I can just get a beta for my short story and a good beta that I trust for my book, I think I'll be on the road to being a real author.
I'm proud that I wrote 50k in 30 days, but I know I'll be even prouder when I can have it finished to start sending to publishers. I really want to have something I'm proud of in book form - even if very few people will actually read it. I've always been a dreamer. I've always had things in my head - pictures of events and people and I know that's why I've always been writing. Journalism was just another way to write, but I want to be creative when I write. Sure, being a reporter can help with that, but you've got to make it interesting and hook in your readers - and trust me, there are NOT any journalists here at the paper now that can do that - well save maybe one (our copy editor). Human interest. Features. Telling something isn't how to hook someone - you have to SHOW them what happened so they can picture it. Yes, that's the way to go.
Okay. I'll stop being a writer now and let you guys know I'm still alive even if I'm getting a little bit sick right now. I know it's because I've been driving around in my car without heat for over a month and because I go from a heated room to a colder room every night. Plus, allergies aren't fun right now with all the weather changes. Here's hoping the weather will make up it's mind for the next few months. But hey, who knows. We could have snow in south Alabama! lol
I hope all of you are doing well. My resolution for this year is to keep in touch with more people by reading their blogs or whatnot. So I'm going to strive to get on MySpace more and try to check Blogspot better. I really have enjoyed catching up with everyone that blogs. I find it's really nice to be able to write about your day and let people read about the things you're doing. It's a great way to get encouragement and communicate.
My writing has gotten much better in the past few years. I think roleplaying helps a good deal - getting to write a story with someone else and seeing yourself in that character doing every action they do is really fulfilling. If I can just get a beta for my short story and a good beta that I trust for my book, I think I'll be on the road to being a real author.
I'm proud that I wrote 50k in 30 days, but I know I'll be even prouder when I can have it finished to start sending to publishers. I really want to have something I'm proud of in book form - even if very few people will actually read it. I've always been a dreamer. I've always had things in my head - pictures of events and people and I know that's why I've always been writing. Journalism was just another way to write, but I want to be creative when I write. Sure, being a reporter can help with that, but you've got to make it interesting and hook in your readers - and trust me, there are NOT any journalists here at the paper now that can do that - well save maybe one (our copy editor). Human interest. Features. Telling something isn't how to hook someone - you have to SHOW them what happened so they can picture it. Yes, that's the way to go.
Okay. I'll stop being a writer now and let you guys know I'm still alive even if I'm getting a little bit sick right now. I know it's because I've been driving around in my car without heat for over a month and because I go from a heated room to a colder room every night. Plus, allergies aren't fun right now with all the weather changes. Here's hoping the weather will make up it's mind for the next few months. But hey, who knows. We could have snow in south Alabama! lol
I hope all of you are doing well. My resolution for this year is to keep in touch with more people by reading their blogs or whatnot. So I'm going to strive to get on MySpace more and try to check Blogspot better. I really have enjoyed catching up with everyone that blogs. I find it's really nice to be able to write about your day and let people read about the things you're doing. It's a great way to get encouragement and communicate.
Labels:
books,
journalism,
personal,
resolution,
thoughts,
work,
writing
Esther is very bored...lol
Monday, January 12, 2009
Here I am bored at work again and I know there's about 10 things I'd rather be doing or should be doing. I should be working on my book or the short story I started to submit to a friend for an ebook. Of course, those things are on my personal computer at home and I'm at work so I can't do anything with them right now.
I know I should probably update my journals on LiveJournal and InsaneJournal, but I'm not in the mood. Besides, there's not much new with me anyway, so I figure I'll save people the trouble of reading "blah, blah, blah" all over again.
Don't get me wrong, I love that I have a job, but sometimes it's not all it's cracked up to be. Especially the pay and all the things I usually have to do in my day before I get to go home around midnight or 1 a.m. I'm grateful that I can get out of bed and come to work and that I do have some pretty amazing people to work with. But sometimes I just have those days where I look at my life and think "why am I still here?" or "why am I still doing this?" Come Saturday the 16th, I will have my 3rd anniversary with the newspaper. Yep. 3 whole years I've been here. Who knows, I may be here another two years or I may find my niche in the writing world in two months. No one knows. I go wherever life takes me. I let God guide me and hope for the best.
As inauguration day draws nearer, I still wonder if this country is ready for the changes Obama is proposing. I wonder if they are for the best - if these changes will take us deeper into depression or if we will come out of it quicker in the long run. Will our health care really be reformed? Will we have free clinics and free insurance for those who don't have it? Will the government give us more money back when we file our taxes? Will other nations look at us and be proud or are we giving them a reason to attack us by our choice in president? These are the questions still floating in my mind as the day draws nearer and we will put our 44th president into office. I can only hope and pray and put my faith in God that our country will go forward instead of back.
Now, I've found something to occupy my time until something else comes in. I hope all of you are doing well. I spoke with Karen last night for a few minutes and it was good to catch up with old friends. I'm doing my best to keep in touch with everyone, but with my work schedule it's become very hard to socialize at all. Take care all!
I know I should probably update my journals on LiveJournal and InsaneJournal, but I'm not in the mood. Besides, there's not much new with me anyway, so I figure I'll save people the trouble of reading "blah, blah, blah" all over again.
Don't get me wrong, I love that I have a job, but sometimes it's not all it's cracked up to be. Especially the pay and all the things I usually have to do in my day before I get to go home around midnight or 1 a.m. I'm grateful that I can get out of bed and come to work and that I do have some pretty amazing people to work with. But sometimes I just have those days where I look at my life and think "why am I still here?" or "why am I still doing this?" Come Saturday the 16th, I will have my 3rd anniversary with the newspaper. Yep. 3 whole years I've been here. Who knows, I may be here another two years or I may find my niche in the writing world in two months. No one knows. I go wherever life takes me. I let God guide me and hope for the best.
As inauguration day draws nearer, I still wonder if this country is ready for the changes Obama is proposing. I wonder if they are for the best - if these changes will take us deeper into depression or if we will come out of it quicker in the long run. Will our health care really be reformed? Will we have free clinics and free insurance for those who don't have it? Will the government give us more money back when we file our taxes? Will other nations look at us and be proud or are we giving them a reason to attack us by our choice in president? These are the questions still floating in my mind as the day draws nearer and we will put our 44th president into office. I can only hope and pray and put my faith in God that our country will go forward instead of back.
Now, I've found something to occupy my time until something else comes in. I hope all of you are doing well. I spoke with Karen last night for a few minutes and it was good to catch up with old friends. I'm doing my best to keep in touch with everyone, but with my work schedule it's become very hard to socialize at all. Take care all!
Blogging for the sake of bloging
Friday, January 2, 2009
Wow. Two blogs in one day?! Esther must be bored - and yes, I am by the way.
I always seem to be stuck at work these days, so hey, why not make the most of it by blogging, eh?
I spent the day today in Pensacola with my cousin, Jonathan. I am as proud of him as I would be of a brother - we're that close. We talk often and he's the most amazing 22-year-old I know right now. He's going into the Navy in March to work with the Department of Defense or at least that's what I think he said. (Will clarify if I'm wrong in a future post.)
Jonathan is a very smart and articulate person. He plays the piano and organ. He's held a job since he was fifteen and though he dropped out of school at sixteen, he went to LBWCC and got his GED. Now, he's almost finished with PJC after several years of trying to finish up two years of college. I'm so proud of him and his GPA is more amazing than mine was in college. He's part of a business honor society and is hoping that he can get his associate degree before he ships off for basic training. But he still has to find out if it's possible.
I know I will miss him while he's gone, though I will be able to write him letters. Jon has been the one constant person in my life. Even though Mary Ann (his sister) and I have been friends since we were children - we have drifted apart and Jon is the one who has come in to take her place. I can talk to him when there is no one else to talk to and it makes me feel good to know he's there when I need him.
As for my book, it is going to take more time than I thought. Maybe not the finishing up bit, but the editing enough to send to publishers is going to take a great deal of time. For those of you who are curious, it is a paranormal romance - dealing mostly with vampires and a bit with werewolves. There is a love story going on throughout the entire thing, which is written in first person. I have dreamed ideas that came from mythology - Greek and Roman and I have probably confused myself more than once on the idea of gods and goddesses and God. One of my heroes, who will have his own book is deeply religious (in the Christian sense). And the tale of how the vampires came to be is a little confusing to him because of his faith. I am sure I deal with a lot of things that people sometimes don't want to deal with - losing the one you love to someone else, finding out a shocking truth, and then there's always the big betrayal. Sometimes these come out of my experiences and sometimes I simply dream them up. I think the series would be great since it's pretty different than anything I've read before. We will see what happens. I've got an idea for a teen novel about a boy who travels back in time to save a girl from dying. It might come to life at some point. I'm simply proud of myself for writing 50k in 30 days.
Well, it's back to work or back to finding something to do around here while I wait on sports to get finished so I can go home. :) I hope you all are having a wonderful Friday and that you have a wonderful weekend! RTR! (if we can win the Sugar Bowl!!!)
I always seem to be stuck at work these days, so hey, why not make the most of it by blogging, eh?
I spent the day today in Pensacola with my cousin, Jonathan. I am as proud of him as I would be of a brother - we're that close. We talk often and he's the most amazing 22-year-old I know right now. He's going into the Navy in March to work with the Department of Defense or at least that's what I think he said. (Will clarify if I'm wrong in a future post.)
Jonathan is a very smart and articulate person. He plays the piano and organ. He's held a job since he was fifteen and though he dropped out of school at sixteen, he went to LBWCC and got his GED. Now, he's almost finished with PJC after several years of trying to finish up two years of college. I'm so proud of him and his GPA is more amazing than mine was in college. He's part of a business honor society and is hoping that he can get his associate degree before he ships off for basic training. But he still has to find out if it's possible.
I know I will miss him while he's gone, though I will be able to write him letters. Jon has been the one constant person in my life. Even though Mary Ann (his sister) and I have been friends since we were children - we have drifted apart and Jon is the one who has come in to take her place. I can talk to him when there is no one else to talk to and it makes me feel good to know he's there when I need him.
As for my book, it is going to take more time than I thought. Maybe not the finishing up bit, but the editing enough to send to publishers is going to take a great deal of time. For those of you who are curious, it is a paranormal romance - dealing mostly with vampires and a bit with werewolves. There is a love story going on throughout the entire thing, which is written in first person. I have dreamed ideas that came from mythology - Greek and Roman and I have probably confused myself more than once on the idea of gods and goddesses and God. One of my heroes, who will have his own book is deeply religious (in the Christian sense). And the tale of how the vampires came to be is a little confusing to him because of his faith. I am sure I deal with a lot of things that people sometimes don't want to deal with - losing the one you love to someone else, finding out a shocking truth, and then there's always the big betrayal. Sometimes these come out of my experiences and sometimes I simply dream them up. I think the series would be great since it's pretty different than anything I've read before. We will see what happens. I've got an idea for a teen novel about a boy who travels back in time to save a girl from dying. It might come to life at some point. I'm simply proud of myself for writing 50k in 30 days.
Well, it's back to work or back to finding something to do around here while I wait on sports to get finished so I can go home. :) I hope you all are having a wonderful Friday and that you have a wonderful weekend! RTR! (if we can win the Sugar Bowl!!!)
Happy New Year!
Just nine years ago we were frightened about going into the new millennium, but now here we are in 2009 and we're still going strong. Our nation may not be the most secure place to be right now, but we're still here - even through a recession. Our nation is still one of the best places to live and with a new president-elect going into office in just 18 days, we're going new places we've never been before.
I'm excited about this year. Mostly because I hope it's a new beginning for me and because I know we are taking a new turn in our nation with the first African American president. I'm anxious and excited to see what Obama will accomplish in this great nation we live in. I know it can't be worse than the last 8 years with Bush - which weren't all bad - we did get a stimulus check that we all desperately needed.
Mostly I'm excited about this year because I will attempt to be a published author by the end of the year. I'm really hoping to finish my novel by the end of January since I have been slacking this December. It's something I've been working on since I was 15 and something that has taken many turns and twists as the characters have come alive on the page. I have simply let them guide me and take me on this journey and I have come through NaNoWriMo with over 50k and still going.
Sometimes I do have my doubts about being a writer, but then I sit here and think about what else I could be doing. There's nothing else I would rather do if I'm completely honest with myself. Sure, I could be an English teacher, but I'd much rather be a writer. I'm no journalist - I'm no Lois Lane by a long shot - investigative reporting is still alive in the bigger cities, but in Andalusia, there's no use. The biggest story we've broken was the money scandal in the probate judge's office. Wow.
Let's all try our best in 2009, no matter what resolutions we've made. My only resolution is try to keep in touch with everyone a little better than last year. I want to make time for friends and family instead of keeping to myself so I can get back into the world a little more.
Here's hoping 2009 is the best year yet!
I'm excited about this year. Mostly because I hope it's a new beginning for me and because I know we are taking a new turn in our nation with the first African American president. I'm anxious and excited to see what Obama will accomplish in this great nation we live in. I know it can't be worse than the last 8 years with Bush - which weren't all bad - we did get a stimulus check that we all desperately needed.
Mostly I'm excited about this year because I will attempt to be a published author by the end of the year. I'm really hoping to finish my novel by the end of January since I have been slacking this December. It's something I've been working on since I was 15 and something that has taken many turns and twists as the characters have come alive on the page. I have simply let them guide me and take me on this journey and I have come through NaNoWriMo with over 50k and still going.
Sometimes I do have my doubts about being a writer, but then I sit here and think about what else I could be doing. There's nothing else I would rather do if I'm completely honest with myself. Sure, I could be an English teacher, but I'd much rather be a writer. I'm no journalist - I'm no Lois Lane by a long shot - investigative reporting is still alive in the bigger cities, but in Andalusia, there's no use. The biggest story we've broken was the money scandal in the probate judge's office. Wow.
Let's all try our best in 2009, no matter what resolutions we've made. My only resolution is try to keep in touch with everyone a little better than last year. I want to make time for friends and family instead of keeping to myself so I can get back into the world a little more.
Here's hoping 2009 is the best year yet!
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