OK, I thought of more things that annoy me.
1. Women who bring their boyfriends/husbands with them to Victoria's Secret. Here I am, elbows deep in a barrel of bras, and there is some 15-year-old bleached tipped, Abercrombie wearing kid, or better yet, a balding, middle-aged man, each looking both uncomfortable and elated while his girlfriend/wife picks out thongs. I feel like my personal space is being violated. This is when I leave the store.
2. People who do not accelerate while getting onto the highway. Aren't they called acceleration ramps, or did I just make this up? Go faster.
3. People who slow down while exiting highways. I know it says go 40 mph on the exit ramp, but I take that as merely a suggestion. Then they wonder why they can't get over. Go faster.
Can you tell that I went shopping today and had to deal with traffic? The only upside to Abilene is that you are generally never stuck in traffic. You might me stuck behind someone driving slow, but you're never really in a traffic jam. I really need to learn how to harness my chi while driving.
Back to A- Town tomorrow. I probably should start my homework for my short course sometime...
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
I'm not who I was 24 hours ago
Some of my pet peeves, or really things/people that bug the crap out of me:
The front tuck
trucker hats
velour jump suits
people who clap during movies
people who talk during movies
people who answer their cell phones during movies
slow drivers
slow walkers
slow talkers
ashton kutcher
people who don't make their kids stop screaming/crying in public
annoying, "too cool" freshmen who send me hate mail
wet socks
lindsay lohan
This is what I have so far. I'm sure more updates will follow.
The front tuck
trucker hats
velour jump suits
people who clap during movies
people who talk during movies
people who answer their cell phones during movies
slow drivers
slow walkers
slow talkers
ashton kutcher
people who don't make their kids stop screaming/crying in public
annoying, "too cool" freshmen who send me hate mail
wet socks
lindsay lohan
This is what I have so far. I'm sure more updates will follow.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
London calling to the far away towns
I am officially going to London and possibly other parts of Great Britain for Spring Break. UK '05 is going to be wonderful, and I can hardly wait. A loan from Mr. JT and the purchase of my ticket today was an awesome Christmas gift. I plan to be an almost-annoying tourist, saying "London baby!" (a la Joey from Friends) constantly and taking tons of pictures, embarrassing all of my friends. If you want a souvenir, just let me know.
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
A lot of people are stupid.
In a survey done by Polling Point about media bias, major networks were divided among partly lines on whether or not they cover the news fairly/accurately/what have you.
Eighty-five percent of Democrats said FOX News, the oh-so-fair-and-balanced station, does the worst job of covering news and nearly 70 percent name PBS or CNN as the networks that provide the best coverage. On the other side, 9 in 10 Republicans say FOX offers the best coverage of all the networks and 6 in 10 Republicans say CBS does the worst job. Wow.
Conservatives also find Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh to be the most entertaining news anchors and think O'Reilly and Brit Hume do the best job in coverage. Liberals find Jon Stewart and Al Franken the most entertaining and think Stewart does the best anchoring job, with Peter Jennings and Tom Brokaw close behind.
For more results, click here.
When we were tallying up the results on Election Night, the source the Optimist staff trusted most was CNN. We waited for them to call a state before we called it. FOX had practically called the election at 6 p.m. OK, that is an exaggeration. They did, however, call Ohio before anyone else did and named Bush the victor - dare we say? - prematurely. I just think it's interesting how the country is even divided on what news stations they watch. The fact that so many conservatives trust FOX news is frankly disconcerting but not unexpected.
This could be a future column. Hmm...
On a similar note, I appreciated this piece in USA Today by Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine. Here's an excerpt:
"Polls taken since the election have consistently shown that Americans care about moral values and don't restrict them to one or two issues. For instance, a Zogby International poll found that, when asked to choose the most urgent moral problem in American culture, 64% of respondents selected either greed and materialism or poverty and economic justice, while 28% chose abortion or gay marriage. Voters don't want to ignore these broader issues.
"Neither do our religious traditions. Thousands of verses in the Bible make poverty a moral and religious issue. The environment protecting God's creation is a religious matter and moral concern. Important issues of war and peace are deeply theological and just as much a life issue as is abortion. And human rights are rooted in the religious concept of the image of God in every person.
"Right now, neither party gets the values question right..."
To read the rest, click here.
Eighty-five percent of Democrats said FOX News, the oh-so-fair-and-balanced station, does the worst job of covering news and nearly 70 percent name PBS or CNN as the networks that provide the best coverage. On the other side, 9 in 10 Republicans say FOX offers the best coverage of all the networks and 6 in 10 Republicans say CBS does the worst job. Wow.
Conservatives also find Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh to be the most entertaining news anchors and think O'Reilly and Brit Hume do the best job in coverage. Liberals find Jon Stewart and Al Franken the most entertaining and think Stewart does the best anchoring job, with Peter Jennings and Tom Brokaw close behind.
For more results, click here.
When we were tallying up the results on Election Night, the source the Optimist staff trusted most was CNN. We waited for them to call a state before we called it. FOX had practically called the election at 6 p.m. OK, that is an exaggeration. They did, however, call Ohio before anyone else did and named Bush the victor - dare we say? - prematurely. I just think it's interesting how the country is even divided on what news stations they watch. The fact that so many conservatives trust FOX news is frankly disconcerting but not unexpected.
This could be a future column. Hmm...
On a similar note, I appreciated this piece in USA Today by Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine. Here's an excerpt:
"Polls taken since the election have consistently shown that Americans care about moral values and don't restrict them to one or two issues. For instance, a Zogby International poll found that, when asked to choose the most urgent moral problem in American culture, 64% of respondents selected either greed and materialism or poverty and economic justice, while 28% chose abortion or gay marriage. Voters don't want to ignore these broader issues.
"Neither do our religious traditions. Thousands of verses in the Bible make poverty a moral and religious issue. The environment protecting God's creation is a religious matter and moral concern. Important issues of war and peace are deeply theological and just as much a life issue as is abortion. And human rights are rooted in the religious concept of the image of God in every person.
"Right now, neither party gets the values question right..."
To read the rest, click here.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
You're a wizard, Harry
Christmas came early this year, kids. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth installment of JK Rowling's series, will hit stores July 16, 2005. I don't know where I'll be, but you can be sure I will be waiting in line at midnight to receive my copy, just as I did June 21, 2003, for The Order of the Phoenix.
I do believe in fairies! I do, I do!
Questionable passages in J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan:
Page 76: "After a time [Peter] fell asleep, and some unsteady fairies had to climb over him on their way home from an orgy."
Page 119: "What is it Peter?" [Wendy] cried, running to him, thinking he was ill. She felt him solicitously, lower down than his chest. "Where is it, Peter?"
Those are two of the main ones where, upon my reading them, I read them over again to make sure I had read them right. I finished the book tonight and enjoyed it, although it was a little strange. Definitely not the Disney version. I like the idea of kisses in the corners of our mouths that not many can get to.
Page 76: "After a time [Peter] fell asleep, and some unsteady fairies had to climb over him on their way home from an orgy."
Page 119: "What is it Peter?" [Wendy] cried, running to him, thinking he was ill. She felt him solicitously, lower down than his chest. "Where is it, Peter?"
Those are two of the main ones where, upon my reading them, I read them over again to make sure I had read them right. I finished the book tonight and enjoyed it, although it was a little strange. Definitely not the Disney version. I like the idea of kisses in the corners of our mouths that not many can get to.
Monday, December 20, 2004
Oh my sweet disposition, may you one day carry me home
Yes, I know. I have neglected this for a week now. My most sincere apologies. It seems like I don't have as much to write about now that I'm home. I'm too preoccupied sleeping in, watching TV and playing with our insane puppy, Rusty.
My grandparents, who are insane, and my aunt and her husband are coming into town tonight for dinner and to go downtown to look at Christmas lights. At times like these, I really wish Daniel were here to share in the spectacle of family gatherings and to save me from the inane conversations sure to follow. That was harsh, but a little true. My grandma will always see me as a 5-year-old with pigtails. It will be good to see my aunt Ruthie, though. She's a trip.
Change of direction. Something that has been bothering me this past week was the sentencing of Scott Peterson. I watched it live on TV back in Abilene and was amazed at how the crowd outside of the courtroom cheered when the juror read the death sentence. The funny thing is is that I bet if you took a cross sampling of people in the street of San Mateo that day, some of those cheering for the death penalty will be for abortion but against the war in Iraq. Or else against abortion but for the war, or whatever combination. And this is what is troubling to me. So many Christians say God is pro-life. Do they mean this only in terms of abortion? Or are they sincere in their belief that God values all life?
I just find it interesting how so many conservatives scream up and down about abortion being evil, but are adamant about the death penalty and blindly support a war that some brilliant person in charge has convinced them has something to do with terrorism. It just seems incongruent to me. They are qualifying life. They are saying everyone has the right to life...Initially, until you mess up. And for some reason war isn't even considered a life issue at all. I don't know. It just seems like you need to pick a side to be on. Either for life in all possibilities or "against" it, not just picking what you think is best at the time. Especially after my philosophy class, I just don't know how someone can come to the conclusion that taking one's life is the best option because we cannot clearly put ourselves in someone else's place. The prosecuting attorney said Scott deserved to die. How can we be the judge of that? One of the only smart things the defense attorney said was that enough people have died - there has been enough killing - and the jurors shouldn't continue the cycle.
What's hard is when it comes after such tragedies as when Laci and her unborn son died. I'm reading a three-part series from the Post now about the trend of pregnant women who are murdered. The study found that women murdered while pregnant are not always coincidences but rather a trend. Husbands, boyfriends and lovers kill them because they don't want to deal with the responsibilities of parenthood of have to pay child support or what have you. It's scary but interesting. You should read it.
Part One: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10074-2004Dec18.html?nav=hcmodule
Part Two: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12359-2004Dec19.html?nav=hcmodule
Just thoughts circulating in my head.
My grandparents, who are insane, and my aunt and her husband are coming into town tonight for dinner and to go downtown to look at Christmas lights. At times like these, I really wish Daniel were here to share in the spectacle of family gatherings and to save me from the inane conversations sure to follow. That was harsh, but a little true. My grandma will always see me as a 5-year-old with pigtails. It will be good to see my aunt Ruthie, though. She's a trip.
Change of direction. Something that has been bothering me this past week was the sentencing of Scott Peterson. I watched it live on TV back in Abilene and was amazed at how the crowd outside of the courtroom cheered when the juror read the death sentence. The funny thing is is that I bet if you took a cross sampling of people in the street of San Mateo that day, some of those cheering for the death penalty will be for abortion but against the war in Iraq. Or else against abortion but for the war, or whatever combination. And this is what is troubling to me. So many Christians say God is pro-life. Do they mean this only in terms of abortion? Or are they sincere in their belief that God values all life?
I just find it interesting how so many conservatives scream up and down about abortion being evil, but are adamant about the death penalty and blindly support a war that some brilliant person in charge has convinced them has something to do with terrorism. It just seems incongruent to me. They are qualifying life. They are saying everyone has the right to life...Initially, until you mess up. And for some reason war isn't even considered a life issue at all. I don't know. It just seems like you need to pick a side to be on. Either for life in all possibilities or "against" it, not just picking what you think is best at the time. Especially after my philosophy class, I just don't know how someone can come to the conclusion that taking one's life is the best option because we cannot clearly put ourselves in someone else's place. The prosecuting attorney said Scott deserved to die. How can we be the judge of that? One of the only smart things the defense attorney said was that enough people have died - there has been enough killing - and the jurors shouldn't continue the cycle.
What's hard is when it comes after such tragedies as when Laci and her unborn son died. I'm reading a three-part series from the Post now about the trend of pregnant women who are murdered. The study found that women murdered while pregnant are not always coincidences but rather a trend. Husbands, boyfriends and lovers kill them because they don't want to deal with the responsibilities of parenthood of have to pay child support or what have you. It's scary but interesting. You should read it.
Part One: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10074-2004Dec18.html?nav=hcmodule
Part Two: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12359-2004Dec19.html?nav=hcmodule
Just thoughts circulating in my head.
Monday, December 13, 2004
For the Beauty of the Earth
Braces are scary things.
I watched Little Women tonight, and of course cried for too long of a time when Beth died, as I always do. I don't like crying in public and feeling vulnerable, but I also feel stupid when I'm by myself and crying. All I need to do is rent The Killing Fields and get some guacamole and I've got myself a par-tay. 10 bucks to whoever can name where that line's from.
Back to the movie. I love the scene after her death when Jo is putting Beth's things away in her chest in the attic. When Jo opens it and sees all the things Beth had saved she is touched and handles each piece as if it were priceless. When I went home for Thanksgiving, I ran into Georgia at church and she said she had found a journal of mine and Katie's. I swung by the Ockerman household before I left town to pick it up, and couldn't help but laugh when I saw it. The cover of the spiral is plastered with cut-outs from magazines. Pictures of Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Devon Sawa...of sunflowers and make-up...our names compiled from different colored and shaped letters. It is from the summer of '96 at Camp Metro, and my first entry starts like this: "Dear Katie, Wuz up?" (except the 'up' was an actual arrow up) "Me not much, just chillin' on my bunk." Oh, to be 11 again. Wait a minute...nevermind. It's always amazing to look back and see where and what I used to be compared with where and what I am now. It's also heartbreaking.
On the back of one of the pages has a Sarah + Katie = BFFAE. Priceless.
Jo at first wrote adventure and thriller stories, but nothing from her heart. After everything, she felt compelled to write what she knew. I've never been able to keep a diary or journal or whatever, but more and more I feel compelled to write what I know or would like to know. Now all I need is a good-looking German professor to come along, and I'll call it a day.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Call me Carlson
Dynasty: 1 a succession of rulers who are members of the same family 2 the period during which a certain family reigns
It appears that I will pick up where my brother left off in May as the new Arts Editor for the Optimist (not to discount the work of my beloved Dee, who has actually seen and likes The Court Jester, which makes me like him even more). I'm pretty excited about it and am planning on practicing writing reviews over the break (yes, I'm a dork).
Mike just dropped by the apartment to pick up a philosophy book he had loaned me and to say goodbye. I can't believe I just had to hug him and say goodbye, and who knows when I'll see him next. I know he will do well in whatever he pursues, but it is just so sad to see him leave ACU. It's hard when people leave and don't stay the full 4 years. It makes everything seem all too real. He is one of the nicest people I have ever met.
I'm actually looking forward to next semester, which is strange. Usually I am about to kill myself during finals week and don't want to think about returning. Now, a lot of things are in the work for next year that I'm excited to be a part of. I am the co-chair for the campus chapter of the International Justice Mission, along with Andrea Gallman, and Joey Halbert and Becca Lemmons are our officers. We all have so many ideas, and Joey came to us with a ton of energy, that I know amazing things are going to happen on campus in the spring. I am also a recharter member of TKG. I can't believe we actually did it. When we show up in Chapel the second week of school in our pink and black jerseys, people are going to be confused and curious, and I can't wait. This is the first my brother is hearing about this, so I'm sure I will receive a phone call. I believe he threatened to disown me if I ever pledged TKG. Well, now it's going to be different. We're changing the face of the club, and I can't wait.
So many things are in store. Now if I can only find an internship, and then maybe come to a realization of what I want to do with the rest of my life. I won't think about it now; I'll think about it tomorrow.
It appears that I will pick up where my brother left off in May as the new Arts Editor for the Optimist (not to discount the work of my beloved Dee, who has actually seen and likes The Court Jester, which makes me like him even more). I'm pretty excited about it and am planning on practicing writing reviews over the break (yes, I'm a dork).
Mike just dropped by the apartment to pick up a philosophy book he had loaned me and to say goodbye. I can't believe I just had to hug him and say goodbye, and who knows when I'll see him next. I know he will do well in whatever he pursues, but it is just so sad to see him leave ACU. It's hard when people leave and don't stay the full 4 years. It makes everything seem all too real. He is one of the nicest people I have ever met.
I'm actually looking forward to next semester, which is strange. Usually I am about to kill myself during finals week and don't want to think about returning. Now, a lot of things are in the work for next year that I'm excited to be a part of. I am the co-chair for the campus chapter of the International Justice Mission, along with Andrea Gallman, and Joey Halbert and Becca Lemmons are our officers. We all have so many ideas, and Joey came to us with a ton of energy, that I know amazing things are going to happen on campus in the spring. I am also a recharter member of TKG. I can't believe we actually did it. When we show up in Chapel the second week of school in our pink and black jerseys, people are going to be confused and curious, and I can't wait. This is the first my brother is hearing about this, so I'm sure I will receive a phone call. I believe he threatened to disown me if I ever pledged TKG. Well, now it's going to be different. We're changing the face of the club, and I can't wait.
So many things are in store. Now if I can only find an internship, and then maybe come to a realization of what I want to do with the rest of my life. I won't think about it now; I'll think about it tomorrow.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
I will share this room with you, and you can have this heart to break
Things I have contemplated whilst I should have been studying for finals:
Bob Dylan has his picture in the dictionary. How famous/important do you have to be to reach this level of celebrity? That rhymed.
I seriously thought about, for more than 5 minutes, why Randy Harris was wearing all tan yesterday. Mr. Aaron Winn, our friend from South America returning to us shortly, pointed out that Randy likes to wear a color besides black during finals. This could be the answer, but I am still curious. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw him, and I thought I was about to witness the Second Coming.
My roommate, who is cool, and I are both sitting at our desks, posting on our blogs. I spent quite a bit of time these past few days browsing various blogs. Why is this so fascinating/addicting?
In the NIV of the Gospel of John, it says that Jesus says "I tell you the truth." Actually, the Greek says "Truly, truly, I say to you." I know that changed your entire theological perspective. You're welcome.
Switchfoot is played a lot on MTV now. What's that about?
OK, it's been a long day and I am finally finished with Greek and Feature Writing for good. I am going to watch The West Wing, which always satisfies me.
Bob Dylan has his picture in the dictionary. How famous/important do you have to be to reach this level of celebrity? That rhymed.
I seriously thought about, for more than 5 minutes, why Randy Harris was wearing all tan yesterday. Mr. Aaron Winn, our friend from South America returning to us shortly, pointed out that Randy likes to wear a color besides black during finals. This could be the answer, but I am still curious. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw him, and I thought I was about to witness the Second Coming.
My roommate, who is cool, and I are both sitting at our desks, posting on our blogs. I spent quite a bit of time these past few days browsing various blogs. Why is this so fascinating/addicting?
In the NIV of the Gospel of John, it says that Jesus says "I tell you the truth." Actually, the Greek says "Truly, truly, I say to you." I know that changed your entire theological perspective. You're welcome.
Switchfoot is played a lot on MTV now. What's that about?
OK, it's been a long day and I am finally finished with Greek and Feature Writing for good. I am going to watch The West Wing, which always satisfies me.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
I'm not dull, I swear...I mean I don't swear a lot, but I'm still cool, I mean...
So, I took a British survey to see what the UK movie rating would be for my life, and I was rated at PG. This is what it said: "PG stands for 'Parental Guidence', meaning that this film may not be suitable for small children, due to either a little violence or some mild harsh language, but nothing earth-shattering. Plots may have twists and turns, and there may even be real-life situations." Film examples it gave were Bill & Ted movies and The Fifth Element.
Is it bad that I was not surprised/disheartened by this rating? Bill & Ted's Execellent Adventure is awesome.
Is it bad that I was not surprised/disheartened by this rating? Bill & Ted's Execellent Adventure is awesome.
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Monday, December 06, 2004
I have returned
Yes, I do have a blog. I admit it. I started it this summer but failed to maintain it. I've never been able to keep a journal, so really, why should I be able to keep a blog? But I'll try - just for you.
I am talking with my brother on the phone right now, as he is driving home in insane LA traffic. He just called the ents in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy "crappy-ass tree muppets." He also referred to himself as "husky but fashionable." Man I miss him. It looks like he won't be able to come home for Christmas, which sucks and I don't know how to deal with that. It just won't be the same. I hate that we've come to the times in our lives where we don't see our immediate family as much as we'd like, especially for me now that my brother lives two time zones away. I've decided I really don't like growing up. That is also why Christmas isn't the same now that I'm older. I'm in the in-between stage - I'm not a kid and I don't have kids. I'm just stuck not believing and don't have anyone to teach how to believe. That is probably why I cried so much during Finding Neverland (which everyone should see). I hate that we have to lose that innocence and ability to purely believe in something without questioning it. We just lose the ideal. OK, I will stop moping in my Romantic tendencies. I know you are throwing up right now.
So, I heard McCain made it through Mel Gibson night. Way to go, Jeff; I'm so proud. Jonathan Smith also bought and was wearing jeans today. I'm looking at Elizabeth on that one - she got him to do what no one else could. I really can't express how impressed I was at that. And Sarah dyed her hair and is drinking soda again. Wow, aren't we all just going absoultely wild?! What will we think of next?
Now I just need to make it through this week, which honestly shouldn't be that hard, and then I'm home free. I don't want to think for about a week. I could sleep for about 2 months and not be fully rested. Oh well.
P.S. I love my PREG girls.
I am talking with my brother on the phone right now, as he is driving home in insane LA traffic. He just called the ents in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy "crappy-ass tree muppets." He also referred to himself as "husky but fashionable." Man I miss him. It looks like he won't be able to come home for Christmas, which sucks and I don't know how to deal with that. It just won't be the same. I hate that we've come to the times in our lives where we don't see our immediate family as much as we'd like, especially for me now that my brother lives two time zones away. I've decided I really don't like growing up. That is also why Christmas isn't the same now that I'm older. I'm in the in-between stage - I'm not a kid and I don't have kids. I'm just stuck not believing and don't have anyone to teach how to believe. That is probably why I cried so much during Finding Neverland (which everyone should see). I hate that we have to lose that innocence and ability to purely believe in something without questioning it. We just lose the ideal. OK, I will stop moping in my Romantic tendencies. I know you are throwing up right now.
So, I heard McCain made it through Mel Gibson night. Way to go, Jeff; I'm so proud. Jonathan Smith also bought and was wearing jeans today. I'm looking at Elizabeth on that one - she got him to do what no one else could. I really can't express how impressed I was at that. And Sarah dyed her hair and is drinking soda again. Wow, aren't we all just going absoultely wild?! What will we think of next?
Now I just need to make it through this week, which honestly shouldn't be that hard, and then I'm home free. I don't want to think for about a week. I could sleep for about 2 months and not be fully rested. Oh well.
P.S. I love my PREG girls.
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Abilene is boring
I am really disoriented being back in West Texas. I just came from a place that was actually cool, a place where there was always something to do. I flew from there back to San Antonio, a place I call home but I don't live there anymore. My room was my room but mostly bare of anything I grew up with. I wasn't there 24 hours when I came back to my apartment in Abilene, an apartment my brother has spent more time in than I have. Now I am sleeping and watching TV and trying to find a job, but I'm still confused. I keep having to remind myself that I have 2 more years of this. I can't escape just yet; I have to make it through. At least it's a dry heat here; D.C. could be so humid it was oppressive. And I'm turning 20 so that's exciting, except that I haven't felt like a teenager in a while anyways. I miss the friends I made in D.C. and I miss the relationships I used to have here. Nothing feels the same.
Crazy
It's actually kind of funny for me to read my last post. I thought I was just going to stand on the side of the street and see the procession. Who knew.
I think this is the story I am the most proud of writing during my time in D.C., just because I have never written first person narrative before and the events surrounding it were insane. Plus it made the front page of the ARN above the fold, and the paper even posted a picture I took of the casket infront of the Capitol. Yay.
They did add the big paragraph in parenthesis to my story, which broke up the flow and sucked. I could have added one myself, but no...
ACU junior sees history up close
Special to the Reporter-News
June 10, 2004
WASHINGTON - I lost my brand-new Boston Red Sox cap while running away from the Capitol building after a security alert.
I had been waiting in line with other members of the press, trying desperately to look like a real journalist even though I was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. I thought I saw Brian Williams of NBC near me, but I wasn't sure.
What was I doing here? I was witnessing an event that hasn't occurred since 10 years before I was born and trying to comprehend the importance of it.
Once the cops started yelling about an alert and to evacuate immediately, everyone turned and sprinted up flights of stairs, through halls filled with statues, out the Capitol doors and across parking lots and lawns. Women in dresses and heels and men in suits were sweating and panting as they fled from danger.
(Police feared an airplane was headed for the Capitol and warned: ''You have one minute to impact.'' Within minutes, authorities determined the small plane was carrying Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher to President Reagan's funeral and had mistakenly entered restricted airspace. Two F-15 fighter jets were diverted from an air patrol to intercept the plane, the Associated Press reported. The building was reopened about 4:30 p.m. EDT, about an hour and a half before the start of the procession taking Reagan's coffin to the Capitol Rotunda.)
After fleeing the Capitol I realized I had lost my new cap as well as being separated from my group of friends. I had stuffed the cap in my bag while trying to look professional in the Capitol. I had intended to watch the procession of Reagan's casket from the street.
The police announced the alert was over and I headed back to the Capitol, met up with a group of students in my program, and made it through the press line. Press passes will get you anywhere.
I went back to where I had been and found a cop I had talked to earlier and he handed me back my cap. I was so happy I hugged him. He just smiled.
We ended up on the front lawn on the west side of the Capitol with other members of the press, trying to not look conspicuous in our sweaty, casual attire.
In front of the press stands, Brian Williams (I now knew it was him) was behind me and to my left. The caisson carrying Reagan was about 15 feet away from me, headed for the platform that once held Lincoln's body.
We watched the procession with the feeling that we were the luckiest college journalists in the world.
We didn't just witness history, we were in it.
I think this is the story I am the most proud of writing during my time in D.C., just because I have never written first person narrative before and the events surrounding it were insane. Plus it made the front page of the ARN above the fold, and the paper even posted a picture I took of the casket infront of the Capitol. Yay.
They did add the big paragraph in parenthesis to my story, which broke up the flow and sucked. I could have added one myself, but no...
ACU junior sees history up close
Special to the Reporter-News
June 10, 2004
WASHINGTON - I lost my brand-new Boston Red Sox cap while running away from the Capitol building after a security alert.
I had been waiting in line with other members of the press, trying desperately to look like a real journalist even though I was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. I thought I saw Brian Williams of NBC near me, but I wasn't sure.
What was I doing here? I was witnessing an event that hasn't occurred since 10 years before I was born and trying to comprehend the importance of it.
Once the cops started yelling about an alert and to evacuate immediately, everyone turned and sprinted up flights of stairs, through halls filled with statues, out the Capitol doors and across parking lots and lawns. Women in dresses and heels and men in suits were sweating and panting as they fled from danger.
(Police feared an airplane was headed for the Capitol and warned: ''You have one minute to impact.'' Within minutes, authorities determined the small plane was carrying Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher to President Reagan's funeral and had mistakenly entered restricted airspace. Two F-15 fighter jets were diverted from an air patrol to intercept the plane, the Associated Press reported. The building was reopened about 4:30 p.m. EDT, about an hour and a half before the start of the procession taking Reagan's coffin to the Capitol Rotunda.)
After fleeing the Capitol I realized I had lost my new cap as well as being separated from my group of friends. I had stuffed the cap in my bag while trying to look professional in the Capitol. I had intended to watch the procession of Reagan's casket from the street.
The police announced the alert was over and I headed back to the Capitol, met up with a group of students in my program, and made it through the press line. Press passes will get you anywhere.
I went back to where I had been and found a cop I had talked to earlier and he handed me back my cap. I was so happy I hugged him. He just smiled.
We ended up on the front lawn on the west side of the Capitol with other members of the press, trying to not look conspicuous in our sweaty, casual attire.
In front of the press stands, Brian Williams (I now knew it was him) was behind me and to my left. The caisson carrying Reagan was about 15 feet away from me, headed for the platform that once held Lincoln's body.
We watched the procession with the feeling that we were the luckiest college journalists in the world.
We didn't just witness history, we were in it.
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
I am tired
I think this experience has made me not want to be a reporter. It is great to have a journalism background, but I think if I have to spend my life on a deadline I will kill myself. I would love living in this city though - it's so full of energy. Tomorrow we are headed to stand in line to see the caisson carrying Reagan's body down Constitution Avenue to the Capitol. Our press passes will get us into the Capitol quicker so we can see him lying in state. This is the biggest thing to happen in this town in 30 years. Couldn't tell you hardly anything about Reagan, but none of us are about to miss this experience.
Saturday, May 29, 2004
I should be a biker chick.
Hooray for having a really long first post.
Well, today was eventful. My friend Faith and I ran around town for about 12 hours. We are sunburned, our feet are filthy and sore but we had a great time. We both did stories on veterans since this is such a huge Memorial Day weekend here in DC. She wrote about two Vietnam veterans who made the trip here to see the wall for the very first time. We had to track them down, which was hard to do because everything was blocked off for the WWII Memorial dedication. We had to take a huge detour and finally, after a lot of walking and sprinting and sweating, caught up with the Nam Knights. About 100 or so Vietnam vets on motorcycles. We got there just in time to jump in the back of an expedition and join a motorcade through the streets of DC. Wives of the vets were in the car, and they were some tough women. They could kick the crap out of me just by looking hard enough in my direction. Some of them had matching vests with their husbands, but the back had Ladies underneath Nam Knights. I think ladies is a term to be used loosely. The woman driving was kind of scary, and would stick her arm out and make people in traffic stop for her. This one vet who wasn't a part of the club tried to ride with them, and she rolled the window down and told him to get out, he doesn't belong, he can't just do that, etc. Crazy. They were all very nice though, very polite. The vets called us ma'am, shook our hands and gave us hugs. I was wearing a pink shirt and Faith has long blonde hair and had a skirt on. Here we were hanging out with tatooes, long-haired, vest-wearing, motorcycle-driving Vietnam vets, and it was awesome. People on the streets were waving as we drove by. It was hilarious that we were a part of it all.
We sat on the mall area in the afternoon to watch a live broadcast of the dedication. About 100,000 of our closest friends were there. We sat next to a WWII vet and there were a lot of them who didn't get in to the actual dedication ceremony. If you happened to see it, you saw the speakers with the Washington Monument behind them. We were on the other side of the monument. I think they panned the crowd a few times, so I was one of the many. We tried to get press passes but they said they were only for "working journalists." So many people tried to get in but everything was blocked off. For some reason we underestimated the security measures of DC. People that had their special passes to get in left them hanging around their necks the entire day. Our joke began to be "Alright, so you're soo special, you got into the dedication, whoopeedeedoo, stop rubbing it in and take the freaking lanyard off!"
My first story was published in the Reporter-News today. It could have been better but my editor gave me a short word limit. Jerk. But seriously, I interviewed a vet of both WWII and Korea at Starbucks the other day. He talked for two hours and told countless war stories. It hurt so much that I couldn't include most of what he said in my story. I wanted to devote a page to him. It was exciting that I got published and got my first Washington byline. I love this city.
The WWII memorial is not as good as the other war memorials in my opinion. When we went to the Orioles game we happened to sit next to a guy who helped design the Korean War memorial and was up for designing the WWII one. I think the Korean memorial is one of the most haunting things here. That and the Vietnam wall are much more moving because I think they are more subtle. The WWII has lots of pillars and a big fountain and bronze and all that, and it just doesn't evoke the same feelings. The Vietnam Wall gives you a list of names and the Korean Memorial gives you faces, both of which humanize the wars.
Seeing all of the veterans walking around is humbling. My friends have been going to the memorial this week for interviews and keep describing how they see these 80-year-old men walking around with tears in their eyes. Their comments would be about their buddies who never made it back, or didn't live to see the memorial. Something about seeing the toughest looking motorcycle guy whiping a tears out of his eyes at the wall just breaks your heart. Some of the WWII vets are so frail it is a danger to their health to come to the memorial, but they wouldn't have it any other way. Red Cross people were walking around and there was a ton of free bottled water. They were preparing for "mass casualties," and since about 1,100 WWII vets die a day, doing the math in your head there are some here this weekend that are bound to die.
Our generation has no idea. I just don't think we can compare. I think as I was driving in the motorcade it hit me that this is one Memorial Day weekend I will never forget.
Well, today was eventful. My friend Faith and I ran around town for about 12 hours. We are sunburned, our feet are filthy and sore but we had a great time. We both did stories on veterans since this is such a huge Memorial Day weekend here in DC. She wrote about two Vietnam veterans who made the trip here to see the wall for the very first time. We had to track them down, which was hard to do because everything was blocked off for the WWII Memorial dedication. We had to take a huge detour and finally, after a lot of walking and sprinting and sweating, caught up with the Nam Knights. About 100 or so Vietnam vets on motorcycles. We got there just in time to jump in the back of an expedition and join a motorcade through the streets of DC. Wives of the vets were in the car, and they were some tough women. They could kick the crap out of me just by looking hard enough in my direction. Some of them had matching vests with their husbands, but the back had Ladies underneath Nam Knights. I think ladies is a term to be used loosely. The woman driving was kind of scary, and would stick her arm out and make people in traffic stop for her. This one vet who wasn't a part of the club tried to ride with them, and she rolled the window down and told him to get out, he doesn't belong, he can't just do that, etc. Crazy. They were all very nice though, very polite. The vets called us ma'am, shook our hands and gave us hugs. I was wearing a pink shirt and Faith has long blonde hair and had a skirt on. Here we were hanging out with tatooes, long-haired, vest-wearing, motorcycle-driving Vietnam vets, and it was awesome. People on the streets were waving as we drove by. It was hilarious that we were a part of it all.
We sat on the mall area in the afternoon to watch a live broadcast of the dedication. About 100,000 of our closest friends were there. We sat next to a WWII vet and there were a lot of them who didn't get in to the actual dedication ceremony. If you happened to see it, you saw the speakers with the Washington Monument behind them. We were on the other side of the monument. I think they panned the crowd a few times, so I was one of the many. We tried to get press passes but they said they were only for "working journalists." So many people tried to get in but everything was blocked off. For some reason we underestimated the security measures of DC. People that had their special passes to get in left them hanging around their necks the entire day. Our joke began to be "Alright, so you're soo special, you got into the dedication, whoopeedeedoo, stop rubbing it in and take the freaking lanyard off!"
My first story was published in the Reporter-News today. It could have been better but my editor gave me a short word limit. Jerk. But seriously, I interviewed a vet of both WWII and Korea at Starbucks the other day. He talked for two hours and told countless war stories. It hurt so much that I couldn't include most of what he said in my story. I wanted to devote a page to him. It was exciting that I got published and got my first Washington byline. I love this city.
The WWII memorial is not as good as the other war memorials in my opinion. When we went to the Orioles game we happened to sit next to a guy who helped design the Korean War memorial and was up for designing the WWII one. I think the Korean memorial is one of the most haunting things here. That and the Vietnam wall are much more moving because I think they are more subtle. The WWII has lots of pillars and a big fountain and bronze and all that, and it just doesn't evoke the same feelings. The Vietnam Wall gives you a list of names and the Korean Memorial gives you faces, both of which humanize the wars.
Seeing all of the veterans walking around is humbling. My friends have been going to the memorial this week for interviews and keep describing how they see these 80-year-old men walking around with tears in their eyes. Their comments would be about their buddies who never made it back, or didn't live to see the memorial. Something about seeing the toughest looking motorcycle guy whiping a tears out of his eyes at the wall just breaks your heart. Some of the WWII vets are so frail it is a danger to their health to come to the memorial, but they wouldn't have it any other way. Red Cross people were walking around and there was a ton of free bottled water. They were preparing for "mass casualties," and since about 1,100 WWII vets die a day, doing the math in your head there are some here this weekend that are bound to die.
Our generation has no idea. I just don't think we can compare. I think as I was driving in the motorcade it hit me that this is one Memorial Day weekend I will never forget.
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