McCan't or O-bomb-us?

I'm not liberal or conservative, democrat or republican. For many people, this election has been a difficult one and it has definitely made it hard for me to decide who I want to vote for.

I've kinda been on the fence, listening to both sides. Laughing at both sides. Sarah Palin and John McCain jokes are pretty dang funny. I admit, she's a little annoying. But I personally like them better than Barack and Joe Biden. But I suppose I really don't care for either side. It's like voting for the lesser evil. Or maybe it's voting against instead of for. If you've noticed at all with negative ads or the negative things you hear about each candidate, they stick with you more than the positives and their policies do! But I personally, think that's a good thing. Barack talks a big game, he's a reeeeal smooth talker. But judging by his background, I just don't trust the man. I don't look at him as a black man, I could care less what color he is. But like I said judging things from the past, I don't feel safe voting him as president. One thing I don't like is that a lot of African Americans are voting for him mainly based on the fact that he's a black man. It's awesome that a black man has come this far in the country, but he doesn't have to become president to make it an accomplishment. But it would be a waste of a vote to try to vote for a third party. Anyways, one thing is for sure, one of them is going to be president. And I'm very fearful of this whole situation. We can't predict what's really going to happen, what policies they're really going to stick to. When they're president, only a VERY small percentage of their plans actually stand true. So I am pretty much just looking at it as the people that they are.

Barack sat in a church for years and says he never heard Rev. Wright say anything bad about America? Please. This is what I think-- Who knows. Maybe he would be a good president, I don't know. There's only one way to find out. But I'm not sure if I want to take that chance. Some people think John McCain is going to die while he's president, and are worried about Sarah Palin becoming president, but you know she can get voted out of nobody wants her there. So who cares. I won't be so worried about McCain dying, because if Barack is president there's still a possibility he could get shot? The KKK is still out there. It's not like other presidents haven't been assassinated before. Anyways, I don't have the smartest, politically correct things to say so I'm just going to end it here. This election sucks. We might be fucked, or we might actually finally get out of the mess we're in now. One of them is going to be moving into that White House this January. So make your decision wisely. Vote for who YOU want to vote for, or maybe vote against instead of in favor. It's going to be a close call.

KNOW SEX or NO SEX

It's no secret, in today's society, sex is a part of everday life. The traditional "wait til you're married" is no longer the norm. Most people do not wait for marriage anymore. And the stuff they taught you in school, you probably didn't even pay attention to anyways, right?! Well that's where I come in. Now I'm probably telling you things you've already heard before, maybe more than once. But let's get one thing straight, sometimes you don't really know anything until it happens to you. Sometimes it takes hearing something more than once, or from someone who has been there. Feeling invincible and being ignorant is normal for teens, but you can change that for yourself. Take the time to really think about your life and your goals.

PLEASE, take the time to REALLY THINK these things over. Do it now, before it's too late.

Condoms and protection is without a doubt, is a serious matter. When you have unprotected sex, you are risking getting an STD(long-term or short-term), getting HIV/AIDS(which is very deadly.)

It can also obviously lead to an unwanted pregnancy(which is turns into a very difficult and complex situation.) Not only are condoms a good idea for protecting you and your partner from STDS, but birth control is also a very important thing too. Sometimes a condom can be worn improperly, break, or fall off.

Most people know they should be using protection. But a lot of people think that nothing is going to happen to them. They're invincible! I thought I was. If I really thought I was going to get pregnant, I would've used protection, right? Well I, as well as many other people, are proof that nobody is invincible. My suggestion however, is to REALLLLY think about the consequences. Something I wasn't smart enough to do. Don't wait until it's too late. Make a list in your head of why you would wear a condom. Then make another list of why you wouldn't wear a condom. Starting to understand where I'm going with this?

Make a list in your head of the steps you would have to take if you found out you had an STD.

(confronting the person you got it from, going to the doctor, trying to get rid of the STD, or having to live with it for the rest of your life)

Also make a list of the steps you would have to take if you found out you were pregnant, or got someone pregnant. (see my other blog "book in one hand, baby in the other") Considering all of these things, is it really worth it to be going unprotected?

DID YOU KNOW:

• 25% of all Americans between 15 and 55 will have at least one sexually transmitted disease.
• Almost two-thirds of all STDs occur in people younger than age 25.
• One in four new STD infections occurs in teenagers.
• Most people with STDs have no symptoms—none! So you can be infected and infect someone else without knowing it.

So How Can You Get Tested?

Call your clinic and set up an appointment!! Don't wait!

You can also find a Planned Parenthood.(Great resource center)

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/

MORE INFORMATION ON STDS: http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/std/std.asp http://www.mjbovo.com/Contracept/STD-FAQs.htm http://www.stopthinkbesafe.org/stdFacts/stdFact.asp http://www.sexetc.org/page/get_tested/

DID YOU KNOW:

• All it takes is 1 time having unprotected sex to get pregnant.
• A sexually active teen who does not use contraceptives has a 90% chance of becoming pregnant within a year.
• Each year, almost 750,000 women aged 15-19 become pregnant. Overall, 75 pregnancies occur every year per 1,000 women aged 15-19; this rate has declined 36% since its peak in 1990
• Eighty-two percent of teen pregnancies are unplanned; they account for about one in five of all unintended pregnancies annually.
• There were 214,750 abortions among 15-19-year-olds in 2002
• The reasons teens give most frequently for having an abortion are concern about how having a baby would change their lives, inability to afford a baby now and feeling insufficiently mature to raise a child.

Think You Could Be Pregnant? Or What To Do If You Are:

Local stores have at-home pregnancy tests for around $11.

Clinics sometimes do free pregnancy testing (see if your clinic does)

Planned Parenthood does pregnancy testing as well.

They also carry the 72HR Plan B pills

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/

You're not alone!! There are many programs and support groups for pregnant teens/parents.

Make sure you contact your doctor as soon as possible for the health of you and the baby.

MORE INFORMATION:

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_ATSRH.html

Adoption is selfless, Abortion is selfish.

Here is some information on adoption:

http://www.americanadoptions.com/pregnant/index

I Had A Dream

I had a dream when I was younger, of falling in love, getting married to a wonderful husband, and raising a family together. This is one dream that unfortunately did not come true for me. At least not in the way I had planned. But I did dream of having children. And although my dream of a man and woman raising a child together did not come true, it's okay, because that dream can still come true one day. However, I was blessed with the most precious gift-- a beautiful baby boy, Liam James Strong. I arrived at the hospital at 7AM that chilly winter morning on March 12th, 2008. The sun was just beginning to meet the earth, and this day was going to be the first day of the rest of my life. My water was broken by 7:30AM, and that's when the process really began. I couldn't wait. I was finally going to look into the eyes of the son who I carried for 9 long, wonderful months. I was ready to be a mother. I planned on a beautiful, natural labor. No medicine, just the strength of mind over matter. I knew I could do it. I had practiced over and over for it, and was actually anxious to experience the pain, because I knew it was a beautiful pain, with meaning and reason. As the doctor was breaking my water, she realized that his head was not completely engaged. This was risky because with my water being broken, that gave chance to the umbilical cord coming through before his head. The danger in a prolapsed cord, is that if the cord comes before the head, the oxygen and blood supply will be cut off to the baby. It is very, very dangerous. So I had to stay confined to the bed in a lying down position. I could not get up to use the bathroom, to walk, nothing until his head was for surely locked down. Half hour after my water was broken, I began to really feel the labor. But I was fine. It made it all the better that I had the support from my wonderful mother, and my friends Emily and Jess whom were all there for me, and anxious to share this wonderful experience with me. As the minutes and hours progressed, the contractions became more intense. But on a scale of 1-10 my pain never got over a 9. I knew I could take on more. The pain increased, and finally my contractions were one on top of the other. Three and a half hours into labor, the nurse decided to check me and that's when she realized something wasn't right. She brought the doctor back in with her, and the doctor confirmed that the cord had in fact slipped over his head. It was prolapsed. I was informed that I was going to need an emergency C-Section, and things began to get loud as they were hurriedly calling for surgeons and what not. My hopes of having a natural labor was shattered. I so badly wanted to experience it all, as weird as it may sound. I had practiced my breathing and relaxing techniques for weeks, and not at all did I expect that I would have to have a C-Section. But it was at that time, that I had to realize that it didn't matter, as long as the baby and I are healthy, a natural labor is not as important. But I was still very sad about it. At 11:49AM, I saw the face of my newborn child. The one I had been waiting for. The doctors lifted him over the curtain and I could not believe how beautiful he was. Words cannot explain the feeling I had the first time I saw him. I didn't know what to expect, but I honestly did not believe he could be as beautiful as he was! The doctors weighed him, and he was in fact a large boy. 8lbs, 5oz and 20inches long. How's that for a girl no taller than 5 feet and 100lbs pre-pregnancy weight?! He was healthy, and his cries were very reassuring. I remember the overwhelming feeling that came upon me when he was officially born. I can't explain it quite right in words, but it was a feeling of confusion, excitement, anxiousness, etc. I remember being asked, "How does it feel being a mommy?" and I answered, "I don't know." One thing was for sure though, I loved him from the start. I was wheeled off into my post-delivery room. I remember feeling all itchy from the medication. I was waiting and waiting and was so anxious because they still had not brought Liam to me! Then finally my mom came into my room, and I asked, "Where is he?" And then they brought him to me.

The love of my life; I finally get to hold him in my arms instead of my belly. He's big, he's beautiful, he's mine. I did not ask for him, but he came to me, and I fully accepted this gift from God. For whatever reason, or lesson, he came to me. Now, after having him, many things have changed. Promises that were made, were broken. The man who was also responsible for him, didn't exactly step up to the plate like I had hoped. Friends that I hoped would be here for us to experience this with us, weren't there.

Loneliness is definitely a feeling I carry with me all the time. But I keep going, because at the end of the day, I know I'm not alone.

Liam and I are in this together, and we continue to keep each other strong, in the hopes that someday we can share our lives with a wonderful person and build our family.

No matter what, though, I am thankful everyday because I know I'm truly blessed;

my cup floweth over.

If You're A Bird, I'm A Bird

I can't even begin to express my feelings that I have for the movie The Notebook. I've seen it at least 50 times, and it never gets old. It actually just keeps getting better and better. The silly thing is, is that it's just a movie. Usually when I watch movies I can't help but think about how it's not real, just about every damn second throughout a movie or show. But when I watch The Notebook, I see something so real. You can tell that there's more than just acting between Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling. And when I watch it, it gives me so much insight on life. The beauty of everything. Everything from the scenery in this movie, to the characters, the wardrobes, the love... everything about it is so wonderful. It gives me hope and makes me want a love like that. I love the plot behind it as well.

It's weird because tonight, for the first time as I watched this movie, I didn't feel afraid of getting old. If I find a love like that, I am not afraid of getting old. I seriously saw so much beauty in getting older. Because I know that this is not the end. Not only is it a part of life, but a part of eternity. Our bodies are decaying and withering from the day we're born. Like a seed that grows into a beautiful flower and slowly begins to wilt and lose its petals, and then eventually die.

But it doesn't really die, it's seeds float on and once again it will bloom and become a beautiful flower again, and then the cycle repeats. I saw and felt all of this at one point in this movie. It's not that I've never realized it before, but I've never seen it or thought about it as much as I just have. Anyways, I definitely give this movie a 10.5/10. It will never get old, or worn out. I can't wait for true love to find me, and when it does, I hope it's nothing less than what is shown in this movie.

He’s A Family Guy! Best Adult Cartoon Review

Do you ever take the time to look at today’s culture and the current events in a less serious light? That’s exactly what the animated television show Family Guy does. Family Guy is one of the best witty adult cartoon shows that have made its way into television since The Simpsons. This show portrays most of its characters as unintelligent, aside from the talking dog Brian and the football headed baby, Stewie. It effectively satirizes pop culture, is riotously politically incorrect, and contains humor so bad, it's good. Though this cartoon is made for a more mature audience, its age appropriateness is still questionable. Like The Simpsons, people often watch this show for its amusing adult-cartoon humor. Jeremy Frost, a reviewer of the show says, “it’s a more gruff version of The Simpsons, with far “bluer” material.” (Frost). However, I have found that viewers who have loved The Simpsons since the first time they’ve watched it, generally don’t like Family Guy, and the people who like Family Guy don’t enjoy The Simpsons. None the less, some think both the shows are equally as great because they both contain a good amount of senseless and cheap humor. The setting of Family Guy takes place in Quahog, a small urban town in Rhode Island. The Griffins, a dysfunctional family, are a very colorful set of characters with very different personalities from each other. Brian Griffin is the family’s pet dog. He has very human-like characteristics, and along with Stewie, is probably the smartest character in the show. Stewie is the football headed baby with a British accent and a powerful hate for the people and the world around him. He often thinks he is more clever than everybody else. Peter, husband and father, is a lazy, overweight slob with an IQ of a small child. He is often inappropriate, and makes a terrible role model for his children. His character is shamefully funny, and does just about everything a person should not do. An example of this would be the time Peter took a test to see if he was a genius. It turned out that he was actually mentally-retarded. In celebration of his test results, which he thought were terrific, he hired a bulldozer with a drunk driver to level off half of his house. Lois, whose voice is played by Alex Borstein, comedian on the T.V. show Mad TV, is a very patient and caring wife and mother. Their son Chris is an overweight teenager who closely resembles his father in the fact that he behaves very childishly and is not very intelligent. Once he taunted his sister, Meg, by telling her that his father was smarter then hers. Meg is the unattractive and unpopular teenage daughter. She is practically disowned by her family, and is the butt of most of their jokes. She is almost always being referred to as manly. In “Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story,” Stewie goes into the future and sees Meg as a transitioned male named Ron. This is a good example of how the show portrays her character. The hilarious references in Family Guy are mainly aimed at popular culture, such as celebrities, movies, television shows, and the many different ‘isms’ of our culture. They don’t continuously single out a specific minority, but instead humorously blow stereotypes out of proportion. “When You Wish Upon a Weinstein” was an episode that the Fox Network could not air, due to its offensiveness. This episode concentrates on the idea that Peter thinks Jews are smarter than everyone else. I personally love the different ways Family Guy satirizes pop culture. However, some people tend to think that the pop culture references are a bit overdone. Loerke, an opposing reviewer of the show, calls it a pointless spoof of everything in pop culture. The shows viewers must watch the show and feel proud for catching the references they make about pop culture. It doesn’t make sense to sit down and watch a show that poorly imitates Hollywood celebrities because they already make themselves look bad. Family Guy feeds on the trends of the present time, and anybody who watches it in the next two years will not understand the jokes; therefore the show will not be funny to them (Loerke). I would have to disagree with this reviewer. Family Guy does a fine job of mocking pop culture. The show is meant to create a cheap laugh, and it does just that. Though Family Guy does feed on the trends of today, I don’t feel that its viewers always have to understand exactly what they’re satirizing in order to get a good laugh. However, since Family Guy often generates most of its humor by making references about a person, movie, show, etc., I can understand why some viewers may develop a dislike of the show. If the viewer has never heard of the person or show being imitated, they obviously may not fully understand the humor that lies within. It might fly directly over their heads without even knowing it, or though they may not understand the reference fully, they may still have a good laugh. This show also does a good job of being politically incorrect. It is jam-packed with crude and derogatory language. A lot of times the show over-exaggerates on the thoughts people in our society have. An example would be Peter and his buddies drinking at a bar talking inappropriately about a woman’s breasts. Instead of just keeping their comments to themselves, they will blurt them out. Humor in this show tends to be so unreasonably stupid, it’s good. It is a random cartoon show that’s main purpose is to give its viewers a cheap laugh. Peter’s flashbacks and the jokes contained in the show often jump from place to place and generally don’t follow the plot line of the episode. It is a show bursting with random and mindless humor. Sitting down and watching a show like this is entertaining because it allows its viewers to stoop down to a lower level of intelligence for a while without having to worry about looking or feeling dumb. Though overflowing with foolish humor, its one-liners are carefully and cleverly written. The jokes incorporated into the show are often “inside” jokes and references. This outrageous show is chock-full with over the top imitations of our everyday culture. It never seizes to creatively mock human relationships and behaviors, and make poor imitations of popular culture. If you haven’t seen the show yet, I recommend curling up onto the sofa with a bag of potato chips and I also suggest taking off your “thinking cap” because viewers of this show don’t have to do a whole lot of thinking while engaging themselves into this side-splitting cartoon comedy. Sources Cited: D., Andrea. "‘Family Guy’ to Explore Gay Gene and Ex-Gay Therapy." Box Turtle Bulletin. 31 Jan. 2008. Google. 17 Feb. 2008 . "Family Guy on Fox." TV Guide. 16 Feb. 2008. Fox. 16 Feb. 2008 . Loerke. "Reviews for Family Guy." Rate It All. 09 Jan. 2007. 15 Feb. 2008 . "Lucky There's a Family Guy! and Lucky They Brought Him Back!" Epinions. 08 Jan. 2007. 25 Feb. 2008 . Ulrich, Jesse. "Abstract." Brandeis.Edu. 25 Feb. 2008 . Frost, Jeremy. "Family Guy (Volume 2)." UpcomingDISCS. 07 Sept. 2003. 25 Feb. 2008 .

Teachers and Staff Face Tough Decisions in 2008

Figuring out what career path to take once high school is over can be a difficult decision. For some people it’s a piece of cake--they know exactly what they want to do when they get out of high school--but for others, selecting a career can be very hard. They first have to decide what career field they would like to endure and how long they’re willing to go to school for. Whether they are going to school for 2 years, 4 years, or 12 years, it is something they are doing so that they can be specialized in a specific job area. Students going to college for a degree look forward to having a job when they are done with schooling. What they don’t realize, however, is that it might still be hard to get the job they want. Also, if they’re teachers for example, they may have the burden of possibly being laid off later down the road. This is the case for many teachers in the St. Francis School District.

In the fall of 2007, the referendum for more funding in the district did not pass. Because of this, Independent School District 15 had to make a 1.9 million dollar reduction for the school year of 2008-2009. Because tax payers are not willing to pay more taxes, the district has to cut budgets. This means fewer teachers, smaller classroom sizes, and less programs. Currently 4th grade is located at the Sandhill Center because the 4th grade portables were shut down in October, and later removed due to mold. For the school year of 2008-2009, however, 4th grade will be back in SFE, and they will be moving 5th grade to the middle school to save on time, transportation, and mileage. 1st grade classes are being reduced by two sections, and 2nd grade and 4th grade by one section. Specialists for Physical Education, music, art, and enrichment are being reduced from one point five teachers, to one teacher. Next year they will no longer have a media teacher for the media center, and their six noon aides will be reduced to five. Throughout this overwhelming time nobody has really focused on the thoughts and feelings of the teachers and staff. How are they dealing with this? What are their plans for next year?

Mrs. Miller always knew she wanted to be a teacher, “It sounds corny but I feel destined to do it. I jump out of bed to get here in the morning and I hate leaving at night. Both of my parents are teachers and it seems to run in the blood to be a teacher. I remember being excited when I found out that in ancient cultures the children followed what the parents did. Even then I knew I wanted to teach.”

She earned her teaching degree at Bemidji State University and has been teaching and subbing for a total of four years now. Mrs. Miller teaches the 4th grade and was cut this year because there will not be as many 4th graders in 2008-2009. She and a few other 4th grade teachers found out about the cut in a conference with Principal Kathy Kohnen. When I asked Mrs. Miller if she was prepared for the news she said, “No, it came out of left field. I figured it would happen next year with the major cuts that might be coming but I had no idea it would happen this year.” She said the weekend before the conference her mother had even asked her if she was worried about the cuts, and she told her mom that she had nothing to worry about.

“It is a horrible feeling being cut and not having a say in it but I know it isn’t because of my performance but because there just isn’t enough money or students.”

Although being cut had nothing to do with her personally, she still has to deal with it on a personal level. “My husband and I were thinking about buying a house and settling down but now we will be moving to wherever I get a job and basically starting over. I will miss my fellow teachers as we have become good friends in this short time.” She also worries about getting a new job and finding a new place to live.

As for the other teachers’ reactions to the cuts, Mrs. Miller says, “The mood is pretty somber at school. We have kid of gotten over the shock and are now starting to look around but it is still rather depressing.”

It’s a very tough time for many of the teachers and staff who now have to figure out what they will do for a job next year. It’s very stressful because many of those people went to college to be sure something like this wouldn’t happen to them, and they are now facing many tough decisions. The teachers now have to try to find another teaching position elsewhere, which could cause them to have to relocate or find other ways to commute to work.

Though many drastic changes are going to take place next school year, it is important that the school is continuing to focus on the needs of the students. Kathleen Kohnen, Principal of SFE says, “While this is financially a difficult time, we will strive to deliver the best instruction possible for our children.”

It is clear that this is a tough time for everyone in the district, but there is no doubt that the school and community will keep on doing what is best for the students.

Cite Sources: Kohnen, Kathleen. "March Newsletter." Stfrancis.K12.Mn.Us. 14 Mar. 2008. 23 Apr. 2008. Kohnen, Kathleen. "On a Serious Note." Stfrancis.K12.Mn.Us. 08 Feb. 2008. 23 Apr. 2008.

A Healthier Lifestyle

Ever feel disgusted when looking down at the dinner plate, only to see a piece of flesh on a bone waiting to be devoured? Maybe it’s time people met their meat, gained some knowledge, and saw what they’re really dealing with. Though humans are capable of eating meat as well as vegetables, it does not mean that it is necessary for life. Humans are not carnivores nor herbivores, frugivores, gramnivores, folivores, insectivores, etc. They cannot be strictly specialized eaters of just one category, because they are capable of eating just about anything. Over hundreds of years, however, people have had the misconception that humans must eat meat to survive when really people have become “conditioned” to eating meat. Unlike non-meat eating diets (herbivorous, frugivorous, gramnivorous, etc) consuming meat can be a very unhealthy lifestyle, but it can simply be fixed. A lifestyle without meat could be the best lifestyle choice for everyone. By going vegetarian or cutting back on their consumption of meat, people can save money, better their health, better the environment, and can also significantly help people in need of food. If people chose a vegetarian lifestyle they could save more money. It’s expensive to raise animals for food, and it can also be expensive to consume meat. Most fast food places are popular for their burgers and other meat products. If people cut meat out of their diet, they wouldn’t have to waste hundreds of dollars at fast food restaurants, but instead could save their money. Eating meat products from fast food restaurants can also cause health problems if consumed enough. People may have hospital bills because of health problems due to eating too much meat, and money can be wasted on trying to lose weight, because of health problems like obesity. Eating meat increases the risks of developing heart disease, gallbladder disease, lung cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, osteoarthritis, and food poisoning. Humans are not actually “true” meat-eaters. If they were, they would get down and dirty and eat raw, bloody flesh just like carnivores do, and they wouldn’t have to cook it and season it to disguise it. Humans, however, have conditioned themselves to being hunters by creating tools effective for hunting/killing. A vegetarian’s immune system is much stronger than that of a meat eater. Vegetarians are said to be 50 percent less likely to develop heart disease, and have 40 percent of the cancer rate of meat eaters. Eating meat is also unhealthy because the human body more closely resembles that of an herbivore than of a carnivore. There are many differences between the human body and a true meat-eaters body. Carnivores have claws and have sharp front teeth for tearing, and no flat molar teeth for grinding. Humans and herbivores do not have claws and do not have sharp front teeth, but have flat rear molars for grinding. The digestive system of carnivores differs greatly from that of humans and herbivores. A carnivore’s intestinal tract is only 3 times their body length so that rapidly decomposing meat can pass through quickly, whereas herbivores and humans have an intestinal tract 10-12 times their body length. Carnivores have strong hydrochloric acid in the stomach for digesting meat, and humans’ and herbivores’ stomach acid is 20 times weaker than that of a carnivore (celestialhealing.net). The environment benefits when people decrease or cut out their meat consumption. By taking part in the consumption of animals, people are helping destroy the environment and perfectly good resources are being wasted. It takes a lot of water and land to raise and feed farmed animals that are being used for food. Excrements passed by animals pollute our water, erodes our soil, and also contaminates our air. The misunderstanding that there would be an overabundance of animals if they were not consumed, would not be true because animals would no longer have to be “bred” for food purposes. If more people went vegetarian, resources could be used more efficiently. Land being used to grow crops for feeding animals could be used for humans instead. Land, water, and other resources could be used to grow food for human beings. There is plenty of food in the world to feed everyone, but instead it’s being used to raise animals for food. If people went vegetarian, the resources could be used simply for growing crops for humans, which would provide more food for people than animals can. Going about being a vegetarian is easy. You can take baby steps, or you can quit “cold turkey.” Taking baby steps usually includes cutting the red meat out of your diet. Red meat is like steak and pork(cows and pigs). Eventually more meat products can be cut out, usually the last people cut out is chicken and fish. Learning how to substitute meat is also another step. Grocery stores sell meat substitutes like, veggie burgers, soy chicken patties, soy chicken nuggets, soy ground beef, soy corn dogs, soy hot dogs, etc. People may be wondering why eat these items when they can eat the real thing? Meat substitutes are healthier because they’re made from soybeans, and don’t have all the fats that meat does. Also, the substitutes weren’t injected with antibiotics, hormones, and nobody was harmed. They’re made from natural resources, and they won’t give you diseases, cancer, or make you obese. Being a vegetarian can be the healthiest lifestyle for the planet and everyone in it. People who are vegetarians can live happier, healthier, and longer lives. Though there is much controversy whether humans are omnivores or herbivores, vegetarianism is clearly the healthiest for all.

Return to the Days of Simplicity, Health, and Happiness

What has the world come to? This is an upsetting and overwhelming question that has entered my thoughts often. Though I’m no exception to contributing to consumerism(the belief that the buying and selling of large quantities of consumer goods is beneficial to an economy as sign of economic strength), I agree with the anti-consumerism movement. Sure, we may never regress back to the days where consumerism was at a minimum because we don’t live in “Pleasantville,” but I feel we could better our lives by recognizing and changing our bad consumerism habits. If only we took the time to realize that we spend so much time working, away from our families, just so we can afford unnecessary objects that may never be of useful value anyways.

Anti-consumerists focus on the idea that if we worked less and spent more time enjoying simple things, like spending time with friends and family, we wouldn’t have to spend so much money on homes and the junk we fill them with. Therefore any items you had would be of more important value, and without the purchases of these unnecessary objects, homes could be smaller and more affordable.

Anti-consumerists also focus on the outcomes consumerism has on the environment. Our environment is suffering because of our careless ideas that we need to constantly buy to be happy. The land being used to build more companies and factories could be used for crops that could feed more people, and the pollution coming from these factories may eventually lead to our world being a filthy and resource-less place.

I still feel strongly that if people recognized the affects of consumerism, they might try to make a difference. A quote from an anonymous person says, "You work in a job you hate, to buy stuff that you don't need, to impress people that you don't like" (Unknown). Isn’t this true though? So many Americans complain daily about their jobs, however, they work to have money to buy things, and for what? To fill a void they think can be filled by consuming products that serve only a materialistic purpose. Most people have heard the saying, “Money can’t buy happiness.” This is true, because in the end, all money really seems to do is create sadness and regret.

If people could take baby steps to being anti-consumerists, they could learn to enjoy simpler things in life; the less we have, the more value it holds, and the more appreciation we have for things.

To find out more about anti-consumerism and how we can take steps to become anti-consumerists, go to: http://www.verdant.net

Book in One Hand, Baby in the Other

I visited my aunt a few months ago after one of my birthing and parenting classes. She informed me that a few of the younger girls (13-15 years old) from the neighborhood had been stopping by to see her. They come over to her house and talk to her about the pictures of my pregnancy that I have posted on my MySpace page. Up until now, I had not even thought about how I might be influencing the people viewing my page and the pictures posted. I believed what I had posted was for me to share my experience with my friends and not have young teens think how “cute” and “cool” this was.
After speaking with my aunt, I decided that I needed to write something about my experience as a pregnant teen. I feel like it is part of my responsibility to inform young girls and guys (it takes two!) about what being young and having a child is like. I just want young girls (and whoever else reads this) to have just a little taste of what this experience is like. It's becoming a lot more common for teenage girls to become pregnant. There are so many influences that play a part in why girls think it is okay to have a baby at such a young age. Maybe it’s not that exactly, that they think it is “okay”, but they don’t fully understand the seriousness of it.
Teen sex and pregnancy is influencing girls everywhere. Take a look at 16 year old Jamie Lynn Spears, actress from Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101. She’s now pregnant and it’s a big deal because she’s a HUGE role model for a lot of young girls. I also recently saw Juno, a movie about a teenage girl who finds out she is pregnant and decides to give the child up for adoption. Teen pregnancy is showing up everywhere. I feel that people need to be more aware that they’re not invincible. Everybody needs to be informed and educated. Read a little more on tips for preventing teenage pregnancy, and teen pregnancy facts at: http://www.candiesfoundation.org/
A lot of girls who are friends with me via MySpace, or who view my MySpace profile looked at my pictures thinking, “Oh my gosh, she's so cute”, and I can just tell that I was influencing them a lot more than they or myself thought I was. That is not what I wanted at all! If anything, I wanted these girls to look at me and perhaps learn something from my mistakes. They need to know that there is a whole lot more to it than just a cute little belly and a cute little baby. A lot more! Before I go on to say more, I want you to know- this was my experience- it is different for everyone, as nobody is alike. It could be easier or it could be a lot harder for others.
Girls: Take a glimpse into your possible future...

-Imagine telling your parents and your family that you're pregnant
Telling your parents will probably be the most heartbreaking, and nerve-wrecking thing you will have to do (other than raising a child). How would you tell your parents?
I wrote my mom a letter telling her that I was pregnant because I felt it was too hard for me to sit her down face-to-face and tell her I was pregnant. I gave her the letter the night I wrote it. I sat in my room for what had to be an hour, waiting by my door, trying to find the courage to walk over to her room and hand her the letter. I knew that once she read it she was going to be heartbroken. The last thing I wanted was to see my mom upset. My mom had been sleeping by the time I walked into her room to give her the letter. I set it on her bathroom sink so that when she woke up in the morning to get ready, it would be there waiting for her. I shook and I shivered all night long. I could not sleep. I knew that when I woke up my mom was going to know that I was pregnant. It was hard for me to imagine what would go through her mind, when it was something that didn’t even seem real to me.
My mom woke me up at 7:30 the next morning. She sat next to me in my bed, with tears welled up in her eyes. As tears dripped down her face she said, "I read your letter, I just want you to know that I love you but I am very, very angry." I laid there feeling ashamed, but there wasn’t much for me to say. She didn't have time to talk because she had to go to work. We discussed the situation more when she came home. My mom was a pregnant teen also. She was pregnant at the same age I am now. She knew what I was about to go through. She was looking at herself, a single, teenage mother. I thought my mom would take the whole situation better considering that she had been there before but she couldn’t help but be angry. I’m sure her experience played back in her mind. "In reality you know you're going to be a single mother… You’re going to be up all night… You’re going to cry a lot... This is the rest of your life…" She went on for a while and it just crushed me to have to face the reality of everything I was about to go through. I never knew I would be pregnant by the time I was 17. But she made it through and I saw other people go through it, how hard could it really be?

-Imagine telling the father of the baby that you’re pregnant
I was with the father when we got the pregnancy test. We both found out together. Luckily, he didn’t run, at least not right away. I have friends who are pregnant and the father has just walked away. They don’t have to deal with being pregnant! They sometimes make the choice to walk away; in fact, many teen fathers do. Many young guys don't want to, nor know how to, deal with the situation let alone have the maturity for it. Sure it should be their responsibility too, but in this day and age the reality of it is, that they only need to be responsible for the financial part of raising a child. Sometimes they say they'll be there, but at any time they can separate themselves and change their mind.

If you think the guy you're with loves you, then he should love you enough to use protection and protect both of your futures. For the most part, girls, do be prepared that in most teen pregnancy situations, you will be a single parent as the father probably won’t stick around for long.

-Imagine the dirty looks and stares
For the most part I could ignore the dirty looks and stares. But it still gets to me from time to time. People will whisper underneath their breath and it can be humiliating. As if your hormones weren't making you more emotional on their own, just imagine having to deal with all of these other things on top of that. People judge from the minute they lay their eyes on you. It’s only natural, but it’s still makes you feel awful.

-Imagine dating
If you’re single, there may be a time that you will want to date again. It's probably not going to be as easy. Guys seem very easily turned off by pregnant girls, or girls with children. When you finally find someone you want to go out with, you have to try to find a responsible baby sitter. This is not always easy on a Friday night! -Imagine what going to school is going to be likeI'm a senior this year. Before I was pregnant I made the choice to go to Anoka Ramsey Community College. I was doing really well. Once school started, the hormones and pregnancy started taking its toll. I didn't even go to school from 7:30-2:30 like most High School students. I was starting my first class by 8am, second class at 10am; I would take a nap in the student lounge when class got out at 10:50am until my last class started at 1pm. I was constantly exhausted. Most teenage girls are going to high school (or junior high). Your days are a lot longer. When I would get home at about 2:30pm everyday, I would go straight to sleep. I didn't want to do anything else but sleep. So that obviously means, I wasn't doing my homework or studying. Bad choice. School is important, no matter how much you may hate it.
My body was constantly changing and I didn’t have any energy and motivation. People constantly looked at me and said, “You're doing PSEO?! You must be really smart!” or act all proud of me for going to college. But really, my schoolwork slipped because I was too tired and I had a lot of other things to worry about. School was so important to me a few months ago and is still, but it is a lot more difficult to stay focused. I was no longer only concerned about schooling but I had to worry about being healthy, eating all of the right things and sleeping enough; it was no longer all about me.

-Imagine not having a social life
This is the real hard part. Weekends always consisted of partying, hanging out with friends, staying up late and being an irresponsible teenager. But once you’re pregnant, it all changes. If you drank, you can't drink. If you smoked, you can't smoke, and so on. Some people continue to do that stuff, but not me. I was no longer responsible for just myself. So instead of partying, I stayed home. I sometimes invited a friend over to hang out or watch movies, but the friends are having fun being a teen. They don't care that if I can’t do what I used to. They carried on without me. This wasn’t their deal. They're concerned with having fun- not particularly concerned with coming over and spending time with you.
Your weekends don't consist of having fun anymore when you’re pregnant. They consist of staying home, homework, sleeping, and probably watching T.V. Imagine when the baby comes, not only are you staying home all the time but you're taking care of a helpless baby who is relying on you to take care of it. You're no longer young and free. You've used your freedom, and had it taken away.

-Imagine not having anybody to talk to
Just like staying home on the weekends, your friends seem too busy for you. You kind of just disappear. You don't want to complain and have people feel sorry for you but you just want someone to talk to. Even if you could talk to your friends, most of them probably haven't been in your situation so they have no idea what you're going through. But all the same, it's really hard to not be able to let people know how you're really feeling. I've cried a lot of nights because I feel like nobody cares. “She did this to herself…" I have no doubt that’s what they were thinking. You will soon find out who your real friends are. You may be wrong about the people you thought were your friends. Maybe they cared a little, but not enough to be called your 'true friends'.

-Imagine watching your body go from something cute and petite to something that will never go back to being the same
I'm a small girl. I'm used to being called cute, and although I was very large, people still thought I was cute. But I'll tell you what… these stretch marks that are on my body now, tell me how cute they are? They are forever. When you go out on the beach in your bathing suit and you see the people your age, their bodies are probably going to look a lot better than yours. You now have these lovely squiggly lines permanently engraved into your skin. You may lose your baby weight but you will never completely lose your stretch marks. Self-image is important to a lot of girls- it's important to me. I'm scared for the day I have to jump back into a bathing suit. Hopefully I'll accept it, but I’m still going to feel embarrassed.

-Imagine people trying to influence you and question if you're going to keep the baby or give it up for adoption?
A lot of pregnant girls get pressured into keeping, or not keeping, their baby. Many people ask, “are you keeping the baby?” Sometimes people don't like your answer. If the answer is yes, they think you're too young, immature and irresponsible to have a child. There are a lot of things people have to say about your pregnancy. They have their opinions and many times express them. When it comes down to it, it is your decision, your life and your baby. However, the pressures are difficult to deal with. It can go the other way too. Some people look at you like you’re wrong for wanting to give your child up for adoption. I can tell you that giving your baby up for adoption is probably the most selfless thing you could ever do. There were times when other peoples’ opinions would start to influence me, but I had to try and ignore that and focus on what I thought was best.
I personally juggled the option of keeping my baby or giving him up for adoption. Abortion was not an option for me. Abortion is selfish. Adoption is selfless. So many families can't have children and are looking to adopt. You can give the baby a chance at life and still get yours back when you choose adoption. Whereas with abortion you steal the baby's life, only to steal yours back.
I made a list of how life would be if I kept him and how life would be different if I gave him up for adoption. Life between those two choices would be completely different. Although I considered giving my baby up for adoption, I chose to keep my baby. I believe strongly that because I made the choice to have sex, I would take complete responsibility for my actions and the consequences. This included taking on the great responsibility of raising a child.

-Imagine going to school, working and being pregnant
I chose to continue on with school. I also chose to work 20 hours a week. It's not easy being pregnant, let alone trying to finish school while working a part-time job. I was constantly tired, sore and emotional. Does this seem easy to you?

-Imagine when the baby's born
Your teenage years were practically over when you got pregnant, but now you have to take care of a fragile, helpless baby-24/7. At least there was a little freedom during the pregnancy, but once they’re born, they completely rely on you. It’s hard because you’re still growing up yourself and now you have to raise a baby and teach it about life.
My experience with my pregnancy was just that, my experience. I can honestly say that I LOVED being pregnant. I loved my body and I could almost care less if I was alone and didn't have many friends. I don't want to lie to you and tell you that it's the worst thing that could happen just because I don't want you take this path.
I didn’t write this to get sympathy or pity for my struggles either. I wrote this to be real. To let girls know what the reality of pregnancy can be. Sex leads to unwanted pregnancy and STD’s. I don’t want to scare you but I want to warn you. You’re not invincible. Pregnancy and STD’s can happen to you.
If I could go back, I would. Both for the sake of my future and for the sake of my child. You should wonder, "If I got pregnant could I give the baby all that it deserves?" Chances are you may not be able to give it all that it deserves. I know this isn't true for everyone. I'm lucky that I have a caring mother. I'm lucky that my baby’s dad wants to be apart of our child’s life. I'm lucky that I came from a good family and a good home. A lot of girls aren't as lucky and as blessed as I am.
If you're sexually active use protection!!! Let your parents know you're sexually active. If you’re not going to allow them to help you, help yourself. Go to Planned Parenthood, or a local clinic. People are willing to help. Protect yourself and your future. Sex can lead to STDS and PREGNANCY. Take control of your life and be smart about it. Set goals, have dreams, stay young as long as you can. You have plenty of time to grow up, don't rush it! If you find yourself pregnant one day don't think that you can't do it and don't let people tell you that you can't. Believe in yourself because you are strong enough to get through it. Whatever choices you make, whether adoption or keeping your child, it will be the hardest choice you will ever make. Please, consider your life. Think about how different your life would be with a child. Now is the time to worry about school, working, or just being a kid yourself. Not about being a parent.

No, it's not really in the water! (1st Rough Draft!!)

Teen pregnancy statistics say teen births from ages 15-17 have decreased 43% from 1991 to 2006, and increased 3% between 2005 and 2006. So why does it seem like teen pregnancy is tremendously increasing?

Pat Sundberg, a former nurse and a current instructor of the Teenage Parent Program at the Oakland ALC in Cambridge says, “I don’t have statistics but I am seeing more young women and men accepting the responsibility of pregnancy.”

I have spoken to various people on this topic and many of them feel as though teen pregnancy is increasing; however we know that the teen pregnancy rates have dramatically decreased over the years. We’re starting to see and hear more about teen pregnancy and sexually active teens because the media has recently started putting it into the spotlight. Movies like Juno focus on the issues of teen pregnancy, and pregnant teen celebrities like 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears are all playing a part on why we’re hearing more about teen pregnancy, it’s not really increasing!

Although the rates have declined in the past few years, the United States still has the highest teen pregnancy rates in the world. Teens in Canada, Sweden, and Britain are said to be more sexually active than the teens in the United States, so what are they doing differently? They’re educating their children! It is thought that if schools educate students about forms of contraception, than they are giving them the “go ahead” to be sexually active. Instead of focusing on ways to prevent STD’s and pregnancy, schools are focusing on ‘abstinence.’ Jessica Murray, a 16-year-old who is currently pregnant says, “I took the class in 7th grade, but I wasn't sexually active then so didn't really care.”

Murray also says, “At the school I went to we pretty much learned about STD's and watched a video of a baby being born. It was only a week long class, and P.E. was taken more seriously than that.”

Educating students more about sex and forms of birth control should be focused on throughout high school. Teens also feel that parents could play a bigger role on educating their children.

Teen pregnancy is and always will be an issue, but what more can we do to prevent more of these cases?

“Our culture needs to emphasize self worth, respect and responsibility for all ages- birth to death,” Says Sundberg, “Our media in its many forms ‘advertises’ sexual activity but you rarely see a condom being used, a pregnancy, the hardship of single parenting and/or the results of sexually transmitted diseases.”

As parents we should help educate our children, as teachers we should help educate our students, and as brothers and sisters we should help educate our younger siblings. By doing this we can further decrease the rates of teen pregnancy, and also better our futures.

Sources: http://www.coolnurse.com/teen_pregnancy_rates.htm http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/NCHS_statement1.pdf

--this is just a rough draft! I'm still continuing to put it together =]

Preggo-ress on the News Article

I have chosen to do a short news article on the ever-increasing teen pregnancy issue. I've chosen to do this, because I am in the same situation. I'm just curious to see what a few other people think, as to the reason for the increase in teen sex and pregnancy, and address how it is we can help minimize the numbers. So far I had started an open bulletin on a pregnancy website under 'Teen Pregnancy'. I asked a few questions. To my surprise, some people were offeneded that I was writing about this for a journalism class! I had to remind them, that I too am in the same boat they're in... NOTHING to be offended by! I got a good discussion going on the reasons these teens feel as though teen sex and pregnancy is increasing. I feel that because we're all in the same situation, we have some reasonable beliefs as to why this is happening. I have so far found that most of the girls agree that they're seeing more cases of teen pregnancy, especially this year. Some felt that media played a huge role in affecting how we look at sexual relationships. The biggest thing was education, and how we should be educated. I found that most of the girls feel as though parents could help out a lot more in educating their children. Schools focus too much on 'abstinence', and not ways to prevent STDs and pregnancy, if sexually active. Schools seem to feel as though they're giving permission if they include this stuff. Most sexual education classes are taught for maybe a week, and then not really touched again. I am currently waiting to interview one of the teachers and former Registered nurses from one of my other schools on Monday. I'm also doing some researching on the numbers and statistics as well. So far I'm finding good information.

Caucus Schmaucus

Tuesday February 5, 2008, was nationally known as ‘Super Tuesday’. All precinct caucuses throughout states were being held. Precinct caucuses are held every two years. A precinct caucus is the smallest subdivision of our state where a group of people gather around a particular issue, candidate, and/or political party. It’s the start of the political process, and also the start of electing delegates. Now, I have no preference, and I wouldn’t consider myself a part of any specific political party, but I thought my first time attending any caucus, whether Independent, Democratic, or Republican, would be an interesting experience. However, it turned out to not be worth my while. I attended the Republican precinct caucus which was held at St. Francis Elementary School. When I first walked in, I signed up according to which precinct I was involved in. I live on the west side of St. Francis, so I was a part of Precinct 2. Precinct 1 was the East Side of St. Francis, and the town of Bethel was another precinct. We sat down on the cafeteria benches, according to which precinct we fell into. The cafeteria was just a mess full of people, and nobody knew what they were doing because for the majority of us, this was our first time. The chair was a tall, thin man, named Dan. He really seemed to have no idea what he was talking about, even though he had been the chair for the last 8 years, or for 4 caucuses. Since hardly anybody ever showed up to the precinct caucuses before, I don’t think he was prepared to answer a lot of the questions he was being asked. The only public speaker that came to talk to us was Rob Eastlund. Eastlund is Representative of District 17A, or Isanti and Anoka Counties. Eastlund talked about different issues such as the economy, taxes, health care, education, illegal immigration, gas tax increases, and barely touched global warming. After Eastlund spoke about some of his point of views, Dan was there to speak again. He read several letters, one from Michelle Bachman, congress woman of the 6th district, another from Tim Pawlenty, our governor, and lastly a letter from Norm Coleman. Afterwards he opened nominations to each Precinct, for secretary, permanent secretary, chair, vice chair, and tellers/counters. Since this was almost everyone’s first time attending a precinct caucus, nobody had a clue who should be nominated, and what to do after that. Once someone is nominated, that person has to accept. If they accept, then someone has to motion to close the nominations. Then the chair says, “All in favor of that motion say aye,” and everybody repeats, “aye”. Then he says, “All parties opposed, say nay”. If everybody is in favor of the motion then the person nominated becomes what he was nominated to be for the next two years. However, the chair really didn’t cover what their roles included, and the fact that they may have fees to pay, until after they were nominated. When it came time to vote, the people nominated to be the tellers/counters, came around with a sheet of paper that had the names of the Republicans running for presidency. I made the choice not to vote, because I don’t know a whole lot about these people, and I also wouldn’t consider myself a Republican. I left shortly after the chair read off the votes. I didn’t feel that it was a very beneficial experience. Everybody was new, and I don’t think anybody was prepared for all of the people that were going to show up. Though this experience wasn’t the greatest, I hope to stay involved in politics, and continue to research all of the presidential candidates, so that I can vote in November.

Baby burned at our local hospital?!

When we turned our televisions to our local news stations Tuesday evening, we gasped at the jaw-dropping headline, ‘Baby burned in hospital nursery’.

This headline became the topic of conversation in both my Birthing and Parenting class I attend Wednesday evenings at Mercy Hospital, and my Teen and Parenting Preparation class I attend on Thursday mornings. Mercy Hospital is part of my community. I am there every Wednesday to attend a birthing class, and it is the place that I will be delivering my baby in a few months.

Tuesday morning, a newborn baby at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, was pulled out of the level II nursery while the plastic, crib-like structure, called a baby warmer he laid in, engulfed in flames. Nursing staff were near the baby when the flames went up. They immediately put out the flames and got the baby out.

They believe that the fire possibly started in the oxygen mask, but investigators have to undergo further inspection to be positive, and fix the problem so that this does not happen again. Luckily, the fire remained contained to the baby warmer, and did not spread elsewhere.

The baby was transferred to the HCMC burn unit, and he suffered from second and third-degree burns over 18 percent of his body, including his scalp and face. The baby is likely to survive, but is currently in a medical induced coma and will not be able to leave the hospital for several weeks.

I feel that this incident has had a negative impact on many people in the community, causing some people to have fears of delivering their baby at Mercy Hospital. I think we need to focus on the idea that “accidents happen” and this was a very rare incident. I still plan on having my baby delivered at Mercy hospital in March. Mercy Hospital has a good reputation, and is known for very few medical mishaps or accidents.

Sources: http://www.stfrancismn.com/

Picture: http://www.allina.com/img4/mercy.jpg

A quick little 'about me'

My name's Alexandra, I'm 17 years old. I live with my mom and my younger brother. I'm just about 8 months pregnant, so pretty soon here I'll have a new addition to my life. = ) I'm currently attending ARCC through PSEO. I also take three other classes through my ALC (Area Learning Center). I'm not sure what my career path is going to be, so I'm just taking my generals at the moment. I also work a part-time job at JoAnn Fabrics. If there's anything else you'd like to know about me, feel free and ask!