Photo Time

Magnolia Tree

Creative lull

So I am having a creative lull today.  I have a research project that I want to start on but I have not done so, yet.  So this shall be a shortcut week.  I looked up questions to ask anybody on Story Corps and I will just work on those today.

Great questions for anyone

• What was the happiest moment of your life? The saddest?
• Happiest: I know this will be the most cliché thing ever but really it was my wedding day.  It was truly just a wonderful and relaxing day.
• Saddest:  The day my mother passed away.  It was so sudden and it has left a great chasm in my life that I fall into everyday.
• Who was the most important person in your life? Can you tell me about him or her?
• My father is hands down the most important person in my life.  It seems like it should be my husband but no.  I feel that my father is always in my mind.  Since I am now so far away I am more concerned with his health and well being. 
• Who has been the biggest influence on your life? What lessons did that person teach you?
• Grandmother Wilhoite has always been my influence.  She taught me to roll with life and cherish my family for all I do.  I think about her constantly and how strong she was and that she has past that strength on to all of my family.
• Who has been the kindest to you in your life?
• This would be someone who came and went in my life very quickly but changed my life greatly.  Professor McCallister at Tusclum helped me in what felt like my worst semester ever.  He was acting vice president or provost or something and I was being brought up on an honor code violation (which was unfounded and later cleared completely) and he let me sit in his office and cry while I realized that my thoughts of a science career came to an end.  He then set up a schedule with me for the next semester to help me find another path.  I was very sad every year when I was not given the chance to be in one of his classes because he was so kind and generous with his students.
• It’s been said that after they pass away, the most important people in our lives “live within us.” Is there anyone from your past that lives within you?
• Several is the first thing that comes into my mind.  Momma and my 3 Grandmothers are all living on with me.  Each has huge influence over different aspects of my life and values.  It is good never to be truly alone.
• What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in life?
• Not everything will ever go your way, you will just have to suck it up and keep going.
• What is your earliest memory?
• Standing at Mrs  Marshall's back fence talking/playing with Jade.  I think I was about 4 or 5 at the time.
• What are you proudest of in your life?
• My and my husband's education.  My family and being apart of my husband's family.
• When in life have you felt most alone?
• When I first moved here to Jacksonville.  Jason was not here and I knew no one.  Luckily I found a mutual friend here that kept me from losing my mind.  Thank you Marques.
• How has your life been different than what you’d imagined?
• There have been so many ways.  People missing years before their times.  Career paths moving like water.  I have decided not to imagine anything clearly but to imagine what I want to feel instead, so much easier that way.
• How would you like to be remembered?
• As someone who was kind and adventurous.
• Do you have any regrets?
• Sometimes.  I regret not taking Grandmother Kelley's picture when I had the chance on the last day I saw her.  She had her stroke the next day and was gone by the end of the week.
• What does your future hold?
• Love and compassion, smiles and tears, the ups and downs that is a life in motion.

Story Corps Questions

Disappointed

I was waiting to post information on this until I spoke with Daddy. I was informed that I did not get a promotion I was looking forward to. I did take a weekend to have a pity party per say. Came back to work on Monday ready to go. I am still a little blue and irked at it, but I understand that they went with the best credentials. This does mean that I am going to start looking for a second position. I am hoping to find a part-time tele-commuting placement.  What I would like to do is find something that will help to make me more marketable in a media field.

On a happier note, I had family come and visit.  Mona and Juff were down last week.  It was a bit of a crazy week at work so I was not really able to ask off.  But, I did get one day off to take them to the zoo and we went to the movies.  I really did enjoy their visit.

Photo Time

This little guy is constantly hiding behind his hands when I point my camera at him.

 

Book Update

1. Finished the Hunger Games Triology (audiobooks)

The last book was high action but still seemed to move so slowly at times.  I was unhappy with how certain characters were handle, yet that means they were well written since I had that connection to them.  Overall I would give the series a 6 out of 10 and I would recommend it most people.

2. Dead in the Family (Sookie #10)

I really enjoyed this book and like most of the Sookie books I just devoured this book in a few days.  The story seemed to be more about tying up loose ends and setting up for the next book then progressing the story too much.  I was fine with that since the past few books had so much happening.  This is a nice change of pace in the series.

Reading:
The Thirteenth Tale
The Silkie Spell
Real Murders: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery
A Discovery of Witches

Speech

Today as I rode in the car with my husband we created a tangent about speaking.  I think I was commenting on an annoying tone in a reporters voice.  Anyway.  We were discussing public speaking and the lack of education in the talent.  Yes, I feel it is a talent and not a skill.  I watch public figures, broadcasters and the like and wonder who will come next.  I have heard many students speaking and was ashamed and embarssed at the fact they were speaking properly.

I did not have a single course in High School that touched on any form of public speaking.  That is not to say I never presented items, paper and ideas but it means I was never coached or given instructions on a successful speech.  It was not until I went to college that I was introduce to the art oration.  I was a novice and scared at the feedback given to me by my fellow students and teachers.  Yet, through the many speeches I gave to gain my public speaking compentency, I found it most enjoyable to suceed in be seen as an intelligent person who was accomplished.  Sadly my school did away with thier compentcy program.  I hope that new students are still given the same instructions in speaking.  Some of you are now thinking "well you were media studies, of course you had public speaking".  The majority of my public speaking was finished before I settled into my Media Studies coursework.

I just really wish that this aspect of education was not so over looked.  It is a valueable and highly marketable skill to have in our job market today (as is civility and politness).

------------------------------
sorry this blog is late.  Work life has consumed my mind and I have thought of little else the past 2 weeks.