When Will We Ever Learn?

My heart is heavy today and has been for the past couple of days as I see the devastation that is blanketing the Southern states.

People are losing lives and livelihood all over Tennessee and Mississippi because of natural disaster and nature is being destroyed while business owners on the Gulf Coast are scrambling to figure out how they are going to keep their heads above water (no pun intended) because of a man-made disaster.

I have just one question.

Why does it take two seconds when a natural disaster (i.e. flood, hurricane, tornado, earthquake) hits for neighbors and friends to help each other out but it takes sweet forever for the government to step in a take action on a man-made disaster than could have been prevented?

My heart goes out to the people of Nashville, even more the whole state of Tennessee, right now because of what they are having to deal with. Nineteen people in Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky were killed because of the storms that hit the South this weekend. People all over Nashville are doing whatever they can to ease the destruction that is being caused by the flooding river there.

Glory be to God for those people willing to help a situation that could not have been prevented and that we, as a human race, could not control.

My heart also goes out to the people on the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Fishermen and business owners are seeing their livelihood flushed down the toilet in front of their eyes and the whole world is watching God's creation be destroyed because our government is dragging ass (excuse my choice of words) in efforts to get this mess cleaned up.

There is a difference between these two situations. One was completely out of the realm of our control. The other was completely preventable.

Also we as civilians are able to extend a hand to those affected by the floods. We can't do that with oil spill situation. That is a circumstance in which the government has to step in and do whatever they are supposed to do best, when we can't.

The oil that is flood in the Gulf of Mexico right now isn't just something that can be wiped of with a towel. This is crude oil. It soaks into your skin and makes you very sick. It eats away at the materials that boats are made of. It KILLS plants and animals in the water and ultimately kills the ocean's ecosystems.

Now, I'm pretty dumb when it comes to government and economy and all of that stuff. But I do know that people's lives are more important than red tape and money.

This event happened two weeks ago and it's getting worse by the hour. When will our government learn that if it continues to neglect its people, they will have many more issues to deal with than just how much something will cost. And if you don't invest in the lives of the people who actually make your country what it is, then you aren't investing in that country that you are running. You are killing it. Two hours on the ground just to show that you've seen that damage doesn't mean squat if you aren't taking action to do something about it.

I could go to Nashville today and watch other people scoop buckets full of water out of their basements and cut down trees, but if I'm not helping, what's the point in my being there.

So, goverment, take a lesson from your people. Stop talking about what you are going to do and just DO SOMETHING!

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Check out the video below of the floods in Nashville. Word on Twitter is that people have come out in droves to help in the clean-up process. If you are in the area and want to help or even if you aren't and what to send a donation, contact the Red Cross. Also, if you are in the area and want to help, head over to the Crosspoint Church-Bellevue campus. They are sending out teams.

Too Funny Not To Share

Let's Just Get Something Straight

Oh you Bachelor producers, our relationship from this point forward is indefinitely put on hold. (At least until next season. Or until Melissa is the next Bachelorette.)

What the heck did you think you were doing displaying such madness on national television? You should be ashamed of yourselves. (But I understand there is money to be earned.)

My advice to America: Stay away from all human beings with the moniker Jason. Nothing but bad news bears lies ahead. Trust me.

Poor, poor Melissa, what embarrassment she has to be feeling right now. However, when that girl stepped out onto that set, I knew things were about to, as my senior AP English teacher Mr. Avalon would say, "go to hell in a hand basket." Melissa, as we have learned is not one to hide her feelings and what she was feeling was written all over her face.

If I were her friend (and Melissa, if you are reading, I think we would be great bfries), I probably not take the high road, go all What Happens In Vegas on Mr. Jason, and go to his door, kick him and when he is rolling around on the floor, crying in agony, asking "Why, God, why," I'll have three little words for him, "You know why!"

On to 24...Nothing in this world could take my love for Jack Bauer away unless he were to do something incredibly unspoken and surprising, but my word, people! What the heck is going on with all the White House break-ins and shooting of the guns IN THE WHITE HOUSE?!?! And the secret service just backing away like that?!?! What kind of international powerhouse are we? Where are all of the soldiers that are supposed to be standing guard every three inches?? Good grief!

And on to the political/economic rant...which will be short. Can somebody please explain to me why all of these people who have done bad things with all of our money are still living in their 20 billion dollar penthouses and driving fancy schmancy cars? Not only should they be locked up, every bit of their possessions, whether connected to the money or not, should be taken from them and liquidated, and the money should be used for these so-called "bailouts" instead of the government just creating this money out of nowhere. Can we let these idiots live life like the people that they have affected with their stupidity for once? Let someone else suffer for a bit?

It's just a suggestion.

You say the sky is falling?

No..but gas prices are. Jesus must be coming back real soon, people, because I just got gas for $1.57 at the BP down the street (yes, it's the cheapest in town but still...) and I'm elated.

I filled up for $23.10. A month ago that would've been good for about a little less than half a tank. Yes, I drive a car and yes it's a Saturn so it doesn't use as much gas but wowza...once in October, I filled up for over $50!

PTL! PTL! (that means Praise the Lord for those who don't know) I can buy gas without having to offer my unborn first child as a sacrifice first.

(And yes, two posts in one day. Consider yourself blessed.)

Birthday, Red Sox and Thoughts

This weekend, three of my best guy-friends are celebrating birthdays -- Drew and Chris on Saturday and Kyle on Sunday, except Kyle celebrates his birthday for like a month. It's like Mardi Gras, or as he likes to call it, Kyle Gras. Tonight, we are celebrating the 28th annual Kyle Gras Extraveganza. So he says.

Anyway, I just wanted to send out a bloggerifc Happy Birthday to three of my favorite people. I'm going to be post the same horrible pictures I did last year in hopes that it spurs us on to get some new updated ones sometime soon. I'll also add a few of my favorite things about each of them.

We'll, start with Chris, since alphabetically he's first. Sweet Chris, or Christopher, or Christopherson is really one of my most favorite people. He often keeps me entertained during work hours with funny emails, often plotting how we will move to Hawaii and start our own business. Doing what, we have no clue. One reason that he's probably one of my most favorite people is because he loves Big Brother just as much as I do. He applied to be on the latest one and got rejected. I'm sure that's why this season wasn't as interesting. Also he's made several trips to Birmingham from Montgomery just to hang out with me. Happy Birthday Chris! I'm jealous you get to be in Starkville this weekend but there's a plate of chocolate chip cookies in my kitchen screaming your name!

Now, on to Drew, or Drewballa as I often like to refer to him. I really think that Drew and I were probably supposed to be, in another life, brother and sister. Drew was my bestest friend in high school and continues to be one of the greatest guys I will ever have the pleasure of knowing. We are so much alike it's scary sometimes but I can always count on Drew for an encouraging word or the plain truth about a situtation anytime. We've helped each other through some pretty tough times and I'm so grateful to God for a few like him. His family is a blessing as well, his mom like a second mom to me and his younger sister like younger sister to me. Happy Birthday Drew! I miss you!

And last, but certainly not least, sweet Kyle. I don't think that anyone has ever been so successful at making me laugh more than Kyle has. God really has blessed me with such a great friend. Kyle called me the other night as I was driving home from Chattanooga and I really think we talked for half of the trip. Our friendship is great because we are in the same business and can relate stories to one another. However, I think my most favorite thing about Kyle is that he would do just about anything for his friends. And he has a lot of friends. So Kyle, Happy 28th Annual Kyle Gras! I'm sure it will be a blast!

Now onto another one of my favorite topics. The Red Sox. Tonight is the first game of the ALCS. The Red Sox are vying to repeat. I'm hoping it is successful. They will be playing a very good and very determined Tampa Rays team and I'm a little nervous. I saw these two teams play each other when I was in Tampa in July (Thanks for the free tickets Mandi! Check out this post for details.). Tampa beat the Sox. 3-1. Boo.

So here is the breakdown. The first two series in Tampa, the Rays swept. The first two series in Boston, the Red Sox swept. The next series in Boston, the Red Sox only won one game. Same thing with the last series in Tampa. So the Rays lead the Sox in 2008, 10-8. The series starts in Tampa. If it goes by home field advantage, Boston has it all the way. Two games in Tampa, three in Boston, two back in Tampa, if necessary. The Red Sox are pitching Dice-K tonight. That's a pretty good start. I hope.

I have to say, I'd love for my Red Sox to win. But if my some crazy happenstance, it does not happen, I'll be happy for the Rays. And I have a little cowbell ready to clang against whoever, they may face in the World Series, IF, and only IF, they get past the Sox first. I'm a sucker for the underdog. In this case, that would be the Rays.

And lastly, my thoughts turn to more serious things. The economy. The president interrupted regularly scheduled programming this morning to say the same things that have been being said for the past few weeks. People are freaking out, mostly in NYC, about all this economy stuff and the stock market plummetting and what not. Me? I don't really worry about it. Why? Well, because 1) I really have no clue (Ignorance is bliss, right?) and 2) I know who controls it all.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

I don't worry about what the economy does or how much money I have in the bank and what's going on Wall Street because God says:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-20

I'm not counting on my worldy wealth and worth to get me through the day. What gets me through the day is knowing that I serve a God who gave up all of his glory to come to Earth and take on human flesh and go through everything I will ever go through and be despised by his own people, died a cruel death after taking on all the sin of the world, past, present and future and then defeated the grave by rising on the third day. What gets me through the day is the constant love, grace and mercy that I feel and see acted out every day by my God. What gets me through the day is knowing that I'm not here for me. I'm here for Him to use me to impact others and no money, fancy car or diamond ring can ever top being an instrument for God to use.

God holds this whole world in his hand. You know the song. I'm sure you're singing it right now. The point is that if I have put every ounce of my faith in him, I have nothing to worry about. Life or death means nothing because my eternity is secured in him. He controls what really happens in the world, and like I'm trusting this chair that I'm sitting in to hold me up off the ground, I'm trusting God, in his infinite widsom, to hold me up in this world. I'm don't lean on my own understanding. I lean on a solid rock called Jesus Christ.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Katie's Headlines of the Day (with a few comments)

The things of this world get more and more ridiculous as the days go by. Here is my take on some of the recent headlines of the day along with a few of my own as well as some comments.

1. An email surfaced in which one employee at Standard & Poor's (which in own by McGraw-Hill) said about the U.S.'s economic crisis, "Let's hope we are all wealthy and retired by the time this house of cards falters. ;0).)

Excuse me? Really? This goes to show that emails, although deleted, never really go away. They can be dug up in a nanosecond. One blogger (Zac Bissonnette at Blogging Stocks) suggested, "if you're being shady or doing something unethical, make a phone call, talk with the person in a dark alley, or send them a letter that they can promptly discard. Don't send an email!" I concur, however, those tactics have been used before and people have undoubtly been caught red-handed anyway. My suggestion? Keep you comments to yourself, Wallstreet pigs. These guys have no heart whatsoever.

2. Florida Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings had this to say about Sarah Palin last week: "If Sarah Palin isn't enough of a reason for you to get over whatever your problem is with Barack Obama, then you damn well had better pay attention. Anybody toting guns and stripping moose don't care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks. So, you just think this through."

I don't think this guy has a connection between his mouth and his brain. If he did, his brain would have shut him up before he spoke. What the crap does stripping moose and toting a gun have to do with hating Jews and black people? This statement isn't even coherent or intellegent (which is proven by the way he says, "don't care too much") and is evidence of a person who talks for the sake of hearing himself talk. Read more of the story here. The best part of this article is that when asked about Hastings' remarks, Palin spokeswoman Maria Comella said, "We're taking a pass." I love it. I can just see how she says it, prefaced with a "Mmm" and said with a scrunched nose. Classic.

But the story doesn't stop here. The guy now wants to apologize. Too late, Bud. He says, "I regret the comments I made last Tuesday that were not smart and certainly not relevant to hunters or sportsmen." Um, you left out women, Jews and Blacks. At least he knows that he sounds like an idiot, but I really wonder if he realized this on his own or if someone had to point this out to him and draw a diagram for him to get the point.

3. Britney Spears may be the centerpiece of another sex scandal that clutters up the media which should report on more important things.

Spears' sleeze of a paparazzo ex-boyfriend (Note to self: Never date a paparazzo. It never turns out well and intentions may not always be good.) has not only admitted that he owns a two-hour sex tape featuring Brit Brit, but he plans to sell it as soon as an acceptable offer comes along. (Another note to self: Never get on the bad side of a paparazzo. They have unlimited resources for some reason.)

Can I offer a little advice to you celebrities or even you small people out there? How about just steering clear from having intimate relations with people who take pictures and videos for a living? That might be a good idea, eh? (I'm somehow turned Canadian in this last sentence. Maybe three days on a bus with our Canadian volleyball coach has had more of an effect on my than I anticipated.) I'm thinking that if you're Britney Spears, or someone with the same proneness to fame, you ban all recording devices and flash photography from the bedroom, or wherever you tend to have "relations" (said in my best Mama Klump voice).

4. Is it just me or did Lance Bass act more like a homosexual (PC term right?) when he was a member of Nsync than he is now on Dancing With The Stars? Don't get me wrong. I was an Nysnc fan. Not one of the obsessive, I'm-going-to-cry-and-pass-out-if-one-of-them-touches-me fans. But I was a fan. However, you can't ignore the obvious. Was Lance's "coming out" a PR stunt? Did he play the gay card just to get casted on DWTS? We'll never know. But have you seen him interact with Lacey, his partner. Lacey is a hot number. And Lance seems to like holding her close. Is he missing the ladies? I declare shannigans!

Until next time...