Everyone has an opinion about everything but very few people have a solution to a problem.
With the current election looming and as the debate heats up on who should or shouldn't be the next president, people seem to be more opinionated. You hear it on the radio, TV, at restaurants, bars, dinner tables, emails, cook outs, fantasy football drafts, blogs, etc...
I have friends and family that are so far left wing and so far right wing and everything in between. I enjoy hearing everyone's opinion and what they think is right or wrong. What I find interesting is that neither side really listens to the other. They just think that their opinion is the right one and they spend all their time just trying to convince the other side that they are right. Why is this? Is it because we don't want to "lose"? Are we so scared that we might be wrong that if we just try to see both sides or come to terms with the other person's opinion we will lose.
Everyone opinion is what makes this country so great. It is the freedom to express your opinion and the chance to be heard that is one of the back bones of this great country. Whom ever gets elected in November will have to be able to listen to people's opinions, see both sides of it, and hopefully be able to use the best solution, who ever comes up with it.
One of the greatest skills a leader can have is being able to listen and take what he/she has heard and if need be alter their thinking or at least consider the thought. Then being able to act on that and not get power hungry and being able to swallow ones pride to do what is the right thing. Not the popular thing or what the polls say. But the right thing.
Both candidates have a lot of opinions and both have very few concrete solutions. I am able to recall only a handful of past elections. But every four years someone from both parties comes in and promises to do all these things. But in reality, they only do (if they are lucky) half the things that they promised. So the question for me becomes who is going to actually listen, and make the right choices? Well that is the million dollar question.....
Monday, September 22, 2008
Friends & Celebrations
September 19th, 2008
This weekend Roddy and Reynah were in town for Mike and Emily's wedding. They just moved to Portland the week before but flew back for the special day. Chad and I were lucky enough to spend some one-on-one time with them Friday night. It's been a while since we were able to do that so we had a great time.
This weekend Roddy and Reynah were in town for Mike and Emily's wedding. They just moved to Portland the week before but flew back for the special day. Chad and I were lucky enough to spend some one-on-one time with them Friday night. It's been a while since we were able to do that so we had a great time.
(Reynah's model pose has inspired me to invest in scarves...I totally think I could pull it off!)
Saturday of course was Mike and Emily's wedding. They both looked beautiful and truly happy. I do have to say I am a little disappointed I didn't get to have time with their kiddo London...that will have to change very soon! The reception was at Emily's mom's house and tons of familiar faces from college showed up. It was really great seeing everyone and hopefully it's not another year before it happens again.
Saturday of course was Mike and Emily's wedding. They both looked beautiful and truly happy. I do have to say I am a little disappointed I didn't get to have time with their kiddo London...that will have to change very soon! The reception was at Emily's mom's house and tons of familiar faces from college showed up. It was really great seeing everyone and hopefully it's not another year before it happens again.Friday, September 19, 2008
High School Flash Back
September 5th, 2008
This weekend, one of my best friends Amanda, from high school, came into town for a wedding with her boyfriend Jason (who we LOVE). The got into town Friday evening and we started it off right with a trip to Forbes for a margarita. Afterward, we strolled down for Gomer's to catch the tail end of the wine tasting.
8:30pm rolled around and we were starving so we ventured to Downtown Lee's Summit to MY favorite BBQ place, Beauchamp's (pronounced bee-chums). The food was wonderful and the company was even better.
At the back of the restaurant they have a jazz bar/club and a band. This turned out to be the entertainment for the night. The lead singer was an awkward white guy and his band mates were what we thought of as retired jazz musicians. You know the other guys in the band were like "Who the hell does this white boy think he is strutting his ass around this stage like he knows somethin' about soul?" (Did I mention he did a costume change into a one-piece leiatard and afro-wig?) And of course, he used his "band" status to walk through the crowd and see how many desperate ladies he could try an hit on. He actually came over to Amanda and I while Chad and Jason were getting beers! He actually had the odassity to say to us, "well, you guys were much better looking when these guys weren't around." RUDE!!!
We finished off the night back at our house playing a few rounds of P&A before the boyz called it a night and Amanda and I stayed up catching up.
You know, another good friend of mine told me this week "One of the hardest things about friendships is that they change and sometimes they don't last. The important thing is to have only a handful of close friends you can turn to when you need them most." I've always known Amanda was one of those friends for me, but it does my heart good to get reminders. I miss her and wish she lived closer, but I cherish the visits we have...
This weekend, one of my best friends Amanda, from high school, came into town for a wedding with her boyfriend Jason (who we LOVE). The got into town Friday evening and we started it off right with a trip to Forbes for a margarita. Afterward, we strolled down for Gomer's to catch the tail end of the wine tasting.
8:30pm rolled around and we were starving so we ventured to Downtown Lee's Summit to MY favorite BBQ place, Beauchamp's (pronounced bee-chums). The food was wonderful and the company was even better.
At the back of the restaurant they have a jazz bar/club and a band. This turned out to be the entertainment for the night. The lead singer was an awkward white guy and his band mates were what we thought of as retired jazz musicians. You know the other guys in the band were like "Who the hell does this white boy think he is strutting his ass around this stage like he knows somethin' about soul?" (Did I mention he did a costume change into a one-piece leiatard and afro-wig?) And of course, he used his "band" status to walk through the crowd and see how many desperate ladies he could try an hit on. He actually came over to Amanda and I while Chad and Jason were getting beers! He actually had the odassity to say to us, "well, you guys were much better looking when these guys weren't around." RUDE!!!
We finished off the night back at our house playing a few rounds of P&A before the boyz called it a night and Amanda and I stayed up catching up.
You know, another good friend of mine told me this week "One of the hardest things about friendships is that they change and sometimes they don't last. The important thing is to have only a handful of close friends you can turn to when you need them most." I've always known Amanda was one of those friends for me, but it does my heart good to get reminders. I miss her and wish she lived closer, but I cherish the visits we have...
Friday, September 5, 2008
Trip to the zoo
Saturday, August 16th, 2008
Mom, dad, Chad and I headed to the world renounced Henry Dorley Zoo this morning. None of us had been in a number of years so it was exciting to see all the animals and things that had changed since the last time we had been. The zoo is a much different thing to experience as an adult compared to visits as a child. We didn't make it through the WHOLE thing, but that would have taken a whole day. We did see the butterfly exhibit, desert dome, gorilla kingdom, aquarium, cat kingdom and the petting zoo (no, none of us took part in the petting of the animals). I think we all had a great time and the weather was PERFECT!
Mom, dad, Chad and I headed to the world renounced Henry Dorley Zoo this morning. None of us had been in a number of years so it was exciting to see all the animals and things that had changed since the last time we had been. The zoo is a much different thing to experience as an adult compared to visits as a child. We didn't make it through the WHOLE thing, but that would have taken a whole day. We did see the butterfly exhibit, desert dome, gorilla kingdom, aquarium, cat kingdom and the petting zoo (no, none of us took part in the petting of the animals). I think we all had a great time and the weather was PERFECT!
Huskers vs. W. Michigan
Saturday, August 30th, 2008
Jeff and Julie Walstrom were kind enough to have some of the best people in the world (Husker Fans) over to their house this evening to enjoy the Husker's first game. Guests included myself, Chad, mom, dad, Steve, Tim (Steve's brother), Brian (Jeff's brother) and Sandy (Jeff's mom).
The food was good, the company was better and the Huskers won! Who could have asked for anything more!!!
Jeff and Julie Walstrom were kind enough to have some of the best people in the world (Husker Fans) over to their house this evening to enjoy the Husker's first game. Guests included myself, Chad, mom, dad, Steve, Tim (Steve's brother), Brian (Jeff's brother) and Sandy (Jeff's mom).
The food was good, the company was better and the Huskers won! Who could have asked for anything more!!!
Celebration Dinner
Since Chad is the best sales person in the world (signified by the award received last year for his great accomplishments), we get to go on yummy Sales Celebration dinners. We pick places that we wouldn't normally go to and it is usually myself, Chad, Steve and Julie. When my parents were in town right after our honeymoon, the 6 of us go to go to Maker's Mark in the Power & Light District.
I was torn between a steak (which they are known for) or scallops (which I LOVE). I ended up choosing the scallops and they were FABULOUS. One of the best dishes ever. I can't remember what everyone else had but that's ok because mine was awesome.
Afterward, we all had a margarita in the "living room" area and listened to the dj. Anyone that knows me knows my life long dream is to be famous (but not famous like Jennifer Aniston or Cher...but famous like the that one girl from your favorite movie, or the lead singer of that one-hit-wonder band). So low and behold, 
the guy that interviews people for Royals games was there. His little henchman came over and asked if I'd like to be interviewed for the Royals and get free tickets. He had me at "hello".
Chad got interviewed too and thank goodness for the both of us, we never saw ourselves on the big screen. I'm sure thousands of other Royals fans did and laughed about how stupid two people could be (ok, maybe just the blonde girl in the polka dot dress)!
I was torn between a steak (which they are known for) or scallops (which I LOVE). I ended up choosing the scallops and they were FABULOUS. One of the best dishes ever. I can't remember what everyone else had but that's ok because mine was awesome.
Afterward, we all had a margarita in the "living room" area and listened to the dj. Anyone that knows me knows my life long dream is to be famous (but not famous like Jennifer Aniston or Cher...but famous like the that one girl from your favorite movie, or the lead singer of that one-hit-wonder band). So low and behold, 
the guy that interviews people for Royals games was there. His little henchman came over and asked if I'd like to be interviewed for the Royals and get free tickets. He had me at "hello".Chad got interviewed too and thank goodness for the both of us, we never saw ourselves on the big screen. I'm sure thousands of other Royals fans did and laughed about how stupid two people could be (ok, maybe just the blonde girl in the polka dot dress)!
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