If you don't want to be here...Leave.

Day in and day out, I deal with people who constantly complain about superiors, the rules, the things they have to do, and more. I go to cosmetology school. It's a school, they didn't just wake up one day and say "hmm, I think I'll go to hair school today". Actually, these brainiacs probably did.

Two Fridays ago, the owner of the company's son (who is second in charge) gave a speech at our weekly State of the Enterprise gathering stating we didn't have to be there if we didn't want to be. If we didn't like the rules we could go else where. If we didn't want to play on the team, we could go play on another team. I couldn't agree with the statements anymore than I already do.

You don't have to work for a boss you dislike, you can find another place to work. If you are going to school and don't like ANY of the teachers, maybe they aren't the problem.

I keep being told the people I am talking about are young and their parents are to blame. That they don't know any better. If they keep getting away with the nonsense, when is enough enough? When will they be held accountable for their actions? Because I am older and have held corporate jobs, gone to college, etc. I have to be held to a MUCH higher standard than those who are allowed to break rules and act foolishly?

Sorry I needed to vent today.

November 14th

To most people this date doesn't mean much. But to a small community, a community which I am a memeber of, it is a day of remembrance. It's the day which generations come together in memory of those lost in the worst tragedy in college sports history, setting a small university back twenty years in their football program.

On November 14th, 1970, 39 years ago, Marshall University lost 37 football players, 8 coaches, and 25 boosters/fans. As much as I don't like Bobby Bowden, he did right during the time right after "The Crash", as it is known.

As far as I believe, everyone should watch We Are Marshall. Being on campus while the film was being shot and around town as McG shut down the city to throw a huge pre-production block party with Matthew McConaughey in attendance and speaking on why he felt the story needed to be shared. It spoke to all the Marshall Grads and students. A town that hadn't been excited in years had a pep in its step. Shop fronts were cleaned up, buildings were painted, students cleaned the streets to beautify the drab city. Someone other than the Marshall community cared about our loss.

Every year, the fountain that was dedicated two years after the crash is the center of a memorial. The Memorial Student Center Courtyard and the Memorial Fountain become the focus of the day. On the anniversary of the crash, there is a moment of silence in which the fountain stops pumping until the next Spring.

Don't get me wrong, I still love my WVU Mounties and Florida Gators, but there is just a deeper connection with Marshall. I feel proud to where the green and white.

So tomorrow, while you are watching college football, or spending time with family (as I will be doing) take a moment to cherish what you have, and to remember those that have been lost.

WE ARE......MARSHALL!

GO HERD!

Please, please, please, don't use box hair color!

Why you may ask? Because it is harsh, most of the time using 40 volume developer (the most peroxide you can get) when you want to go one shade lighter or even darker. It's not needed. It's only needed when you are going four shades lighter, and then it's not going to have the capabilities to tone out the brassiness that will always occur. Box color and misuse of hair color treatments are the reason people see the chemical process as bad for you.

By either going to Sally's to get a mid-level hair color and developer or going to a professional, you are chosing a safer route. Not necessarily a safe route but safer than box. Also, if you have jet balck hair and you want to be the lightest blonde you can get, then you are in for at least three treatments, and that can be a lot for your hair to take. At home color isn't going to be as conditioning as professional grade color and hair bleach purchased at Target isn't going to be as safe as professional progressive lightener. Progressive lightener = bleach. And more than likely after the first application of the lightener, your hair will be bright orange, and require a second application before toning the hair with a violet dye to take the yellow/gold tone out. So really what I'm saying is, if you have dark brown hair (level 2), the lowest you are going to get with box color is a lightest brown (level 6) and it'll be a red/0range tone.

I know in this economy, many people cannot afford to go to a salon and pay $80 for great color, but even purchasing color at Sally's with the right developer can be achieved for under $10 an application.

Since I am in cosmetology school, I have a few projects due and as a part of one, I have to find an article on a con of hair color. As I was researching I found a site where this "whizkid" (that's the screen name) says that hair color sits on top of the hair, and that no chemical change occurs. Um, not true. Sure with Temporary color like the mascara tubes of color you paint on, or the cans that become popular at Halloween (yup, that's today!) those do sit on top of the hair cuticle. Semi permanent like Manic Manic goes past the cuticle and stains the hair, but 4-6 shampoos and it's gone. When you get into Demi colors it's similar because it uses peroxide developer, with no ammonia, so it cannot lift the color, only enhances the tone of the same level (changes ash to golden or copper, or vice versa). Permanent color has ammonia in the dyes. It's not in the developer. Also, Henna color is permanent color. But it stains the cuticle and it cannot be removed, not even with progressive lightener.

Have I confused anyone? Not that I am a highly viewed blog, but hey, ya never know.

The joys of Michael's

Ok, for some people out there, they don't understand the joys which a Michael's crafting store can bring. The colors, smells, and ideas that can be forged in such a place, are pretty much endless. Normally I'm in there to purchase portfolio supplies (really it's a scrapbook but for school it's a portfolio, but today it was for an art project for school.

Remember in kindergarten when the teacher was showing you all the colors, primary, secondary and the tertiary (you know, those two name colors; ie. red-orange, blue-green). It's normally shown in a wheel type diagram, but we have creative freedom as long as we mix the colors.

What did I decide to do, you may ask. A painting of daisies. Can I draw? Not really. Have I painted before? Not since Junior year of high school. Did I enjoy painting? Yes.

I grabbed the $5 dollar bargains; two sets of brushes, paint set, three big, silk daisies, and even a canvas. All for the low, low cost of $32. So I may not be the most talented, but it doesn't look that bad. Sure a 4th grader could have done a better job, but hey, you have to start somewhere.

Ok, I'm a slacker...

Ok, well not really. I just hate sitting at my desktop computer. The chair isn't that comfy.

However, my new laptop allows me to sit in the comfort of my comfy couch and relax.

I have a lot to go over, so I'll do it slowly.

I'm 3 months into cosmetology school at the Aveda Institute Charlotte. I'm loving it. Just finished my hair cutting class and I know I have a ways to go, but I LOVE IT! I started my hair color class today. Very excited!!

Aveda products are amazing. I love the way my hair feels, and even for a girl who colors her hair pretty frequently, it's healthy.

Products I'm loving right now:

Volumizing tonic - the best root lifter on the market. And for $14 you really can't beat the price for how long it lasts!

Phomollient - This is the most versatile product. You can use it on wavy to curly hair to make it smooth during a round brush blow-dries. It's also great for adding volume during blow-dries.

Hair Potion - part of the Pure Abundance volume collection. This stuff adds up to 17% thickness. Need your hair backcombed for an updo or a "bump-it" bump? Use this stuff. Sprinkle it on the scalp from the bottle and rub in.

Two of the best lines for my hair. Pure Abundance isn't good for color treated hair. The clay that is in the conditioner for plumping the hair shaft and can deplete the color. Color Conserve is actually the best color shampoo I've found. It is Acid-Balanced and helps keep the cuticle smooth so fading is minimal. You should also shampoo, condition and rinse your hair in cool to cold water.

So that is it for now. Hope anyone who reads this finds some good tips. Feel free to ask me anything!

Been a while!

Ok so in the last month I have done a lot.

I have some very informative things to talk about but I'm gonna take my time and blog in due time.

Topics on tap:

- Aveda

- Why not to use Pantene products!

- X Games

- and a few more.

I should put out a BOLO for them.  Yeah I know, too much mystery thriller viewing.  Be on the lookout. 

Rock on!!

Airline Maintenance

Ok so I'm minding my own business tweeting and watching Eagle Eye when I get a text from my mom. She and my step-dad are flying from Charleston, WV (CRW) to Orlando (MCO) on AirTram.

Like every airline, their plane was going through preflight inspections when the grounds crew spotted a flat tire due to a nail. Now the nail had to come from landing and taxiing at CRW where there is A LOT of construction going on.

Due to AirTram being such a young airline and new to CRW, the airport is making them a lower priority than US Air, United, Northwestern and Contential. They have been sitting waiting on a tire to be changed for at least an hour now.

So because CRW must have lost money in the contract with AirTram, they will service all other planes then they may get to AirTram. This is when I must think of the crying baby I heard in the background as my mom called me from the plane (its just sitting on the tarmac).

It's 80 degrees in Charleston. How would you feel in a tin can sitting on black top with only one door open and hot air being circulated around the cabin? I can only think of a few occupations that requires this and NASCAR comes to mind quickly, but even they have a small personal airconditioner that keeps their heads cool.

It's stories like theses that make me very glad I enjoy road trips over flying. Also, right now, I can't afford to fly.

Ding!

You are now free to move about the cabin.

Whale Wars

Ok, I'm not an animal activist at all. I love animals and I think people who hurt animals are scum, but I've never done much about it except watch Animal Cops on Animal Planet.

There is a show on Animal Planet called Whale Wars and I started watching it last year. They are back for another season. Sea Shepherd is the non-profit org that is the anti-whaling campaign. I believe in their cause. Check them out and see what you can do to stop the horrible whale killings that are being covered up under the name of "research". I'm almost ready to go on a campaign with them had I not signed the next 52 weeks of my life away to Aveda.

What?!

What to blog? That is my question. I've been feeling rather uninspired when it comes to my goof-tastic thoughts. I think I need a huge dose of humor.

My newest obsession has become fitness. Granted I took off yesterday, and not looking so good today either, but Yoga Booty Ballet has whooped my booty. And yoga hurts! But I'm three pounds down already so I'm happy. Except since starting, I've had acid reflux really bad. Kinda weird.

The last month has been kinda full of stuff. The All-Star Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, West Virginia, Nashville, back to West Virginia, and then the concert 14 years in the making (No Doubt with guests Paramore). Not as hectic as March/April where I was away from my lovely apartment for 20 out of 24 days. I can't begin to describe the No Doubt concert. So check out Kelli's blog California Girl in the Carolinas, I'm sure she can do a better job at describing it than me. Oh and I'm SP if you didn't get it.

So at this point, I believe I will just share some photos from Nashville and the No Doubt/Paramore concert which rocked my face off! Enjoy.

Sidebar: And I now want a new camera. The Canon Rebel in the row in front of us took much, much better shots!

In order: Mom & I at race, Mom & I at wedding, Step-cousin Zach, myself, Step-sis Sarah, and step uncle Shawn @ McDougal's in Nashville, Cool building on Broadway, Mandolin player on Broadway (he showed true character), Kelli & I at concert, Gwen Stefani, and finally Paramore!

Things I've learned

Things I've learned in the past week:

• Generally, I'm already sunburned when I announce I'm going in so I don't get too much sun. 
• Day-glow in not an attractive color for ones appendages to be. 
• When your blinds aren't opening correctly, don't force them, you'll probably just break the string.
• Certain people cause you to act in a way you don't like to. They make you a totally different person and it's not a good one.
• Old flames  should be doused with some chemical so that they never ignite ever again.  Normally that chemical is called regret and self-hatred.
• You have to better yourself for yourself, not for anyone else.  Yoga Booty Ballet anyone?
• Obsession is never good when there used to be more than two degrees of separation parting the you and that obsession, and now you have someone to tell you how great that obsession really is and so on.
• Finding new music will always bring a smile to my face.

Nashville & Nuptials

Nashville. Oh how I love you. I have decided that I could live here if I need another change. It's exactly like Charlotte, just take the NASCAR out and add A LOT of music. Not just Country, but all music. The area between all the colleges (Vandi, Belmont, and Trivecca) is eclectic and fun. Stores that smell of history. A book store that has shelves packed with used copies of the classics. I found a very nice copy of the Great Gatsby for under $7 and a new copy is over $15 at Barnes and Noble. A SoHo style shop with art and jewelry just my style. As I'm typing this it escapes me the name of the store. I hope the have a web site.



Music Row was a quick little tour, but just driving by the studios that sat between the buildings where the greats have recorded was by far worth it.



Instead of "riding up and down Broadway on my ol' Stud LeRoy", we walked up and down Broadway stopping at every bar to listen to the bands playing in hopes of being "discovered". The orchid exterior of Tootsies Orchid Lounge, the Southern-Rock influence at Legends, and then breaking off Broadway to look through The Wild Horse Saloon, and Historic Printers Alley.



The musical history in this town is overwhelming. Walking through the Ryman Auditorium is enough to bring a person who dreamed of being an artist to tears. So you can guess that as I stood on the stage looking out over the rows of pews and up into the balcony, I was in awe. Walking through the dressing rooms that have been dedicated to the greats like Johnny Cash, Minnie Pearl, Hank Sr., and the Women of the Opry, makes you appreciate them so much more.



On to the wedding, Ashley has this incredible creativity that I wish I had. I appreciate it greatly, and always think, "why didn't I think of that?" Her boho, out-door, eco-chic wedding was amazing. The olive and coral colors that I couldn't picture when it was explained came together perfectly. And seeing my step-cousin Brandon trying to pull it together as she stood with her mom behind the glass doors, made me dream of finding my true-love. They are the epitome of what true-love looks like.

The wedding was so simple, but it was the most beautiful wedding I've ever been to. Brandon's younger brother Zach sang during communion. He's truly a talented individual. Ashley's mom is an arts and crafts phenom! She made four wall hangings, wreaths, and I'm not sure what else. The reception was dubbed "let them eat cake". A nice three-tier cake, along with 6 specialty cakes from Publix, which rivaled cakes from any up-scale bakery. They had "photo booths" of pieces of 7x10 cloth in different patterns that friends of the bride and groom snapped shots from these funky cool cameras. The best was the send off. Most couples only give a small amount of bird seed about the size of a gumball. Ashley made little pouches from left over material and gave three handfuls of seed in each pouch. When you have 30 people throwing that much seed, it can get messy. Then it turned into throw it at each other. We had seed all in our hair, down our dresses, just everywhere.

After the wedding I had some of the best pasta I have ever had. Mafiaoza's is amazing. The pizza isn't as good as my beloved Lola's in South Hills of Charleston, but the dish aptly named "the Mark" was so tasty! Go there. Try it. Love it!

On Sunday, while trying to spot some country singers my brother called my mom with some sad news. A girl my brother graduated with, the sister of a girl I graduated with, was boating with their younger sister on the Kanawha River when they struck a barge. Both were injured, and Jill, who was driving the boat, later passed. Their 16-yr-old sister is still in the hospital. Jill was only 23. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Divita family. Jennifer and I were some-what friends in high school, and I can't imagine what she is going through. So add them into your prayers for a little help through this trying time.

West Virginia down to Tennessee!

So I'm sitting in Charleston. Just played Wii Sports. Found out I'm 54 years old...that's a 13 year gain from the last time I took the Fitness Test. I just read my cousin's fiancee's blog and she was praising Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I think I may invest and start that DVD.

Tomorrow I get to hangout with my 9-year-old cousin Darien while others go to a graduation to which I have refused to be in attendance. My refusal comes after the graduate and her father came to my home city of Charlotte for a Bowl Game and the way they were just plain rude to me on Easter. Yeah, I hold grudges. But anyway, I get to hang with my DoodleBug for about two hours. Not sure what we will do, movie, mall, ice cream...the possibilities are endless.

This weekend is the above mentioned fiancee and cousin's wedding in Nashville, TN. Ah, Music City. Very excited. Hope to run into a Country Music star whilst out to dinner. Fingers crossed.

In preparation for said weekend, my mother is trying to get all of her class work done. Yes, my 50-yr old mom is a college student. She just came into the living room asking for my help. She's taking a non-verbal communications class and comes to her college-drop-out of a daughter for help. Yet, I am a smart person, college just wasn't for me. Sure I would love to have my degree, but being a cosmetologist and playing with hair all day long sounds more fun. I'm creative, but not creative enough to land a job at a top-notch Marketing and Ad firm. I wouldn't settle for working at some Ad firm that only has local clients, I need national clients. And national clients only seem to go to Seattle or San Francisco for advertising work. It just rains WAY too much for me in the Pacific Northwest. And Chicago and New York are the other advertising hubs and Chicago is too cold and NYC is too expensive. Thankfully, I start school in under 60 days. YES!!

I paid some bills today, I really hate bill paying day. It's like I get paid and the money goes RIGHT out of the bank account. I need some spending money for my trip to Nashville.

What is it about the Wayons Bros that just make them insanely attractive? I am a pale, whiteboy lovin' girl, but the Wayons have to make some GORGEOUS babies.

Well, I'm out. Waking up early to do Yoga and help the mother with her homework before taking my baby to the kennel. I hate when I have to board her. She flips out. Pray for us. HAHA.

Time for Mundane Monday...

• Did Christian School Officials in Ohio not see Footloose?  No dancing? No rock n' roll? Suspended for going to a dance?  Really?  They need to sit down and watch the end of Footloose.
• Alpine Swiss ban nude hiking.  Aren't the Alps a little cold for hiking in the buff?
• Alaskan 8th Graders scare a moose to death!  A MOOSE!
• Colorado woman's license plate declaring her love of tofu is ruled offensive and X-rated by state officials.
• A Nebraska inmate wants to change his name to Sinner, but officials say no.  Although, the inmate could be considered insane for his reasoning...
  
• A new product in Japan is like a disco ball for your shower!  Disco Showerhead.  On another note, I want a disco showerhead....
• And lastly, NASCAR's Daily Scene writer Jeff Gluck has written and posted an open letter to the Wonder boy Kyle Busch.  While many of Kyle's fans take up for his sore loser actions, there are those of us - 85% of NASCAR viewers - left thinking the prick is an immature baby and can't take a loss a WEEK after he SWEPT the Richmond races.
  

Now I planned on stopping there, but my opinion on Kyle Busch is one I feel must be addressed.

I think the kid is an AMAZING talent.  You can't deny the kid could drive the wheels off of anything.  He's won in every series he's dabbled in, so why does he throw a temper tantrum like a 5 year old that didn't get his way every time he has a bad race.  Which, his bad races have been FAR and FEW between this year.  If he could calm the temper and act like an adult, then he could have the 2nd largest fan base in the sport.  Yet, every time something goes wrong, he stomps off like a baby, ignoring the press on his way back to his motorcoach.  Or he hides in his car transporter.  I could understand if there was an on track incident where he was likely to punch the other driver if he didn't high tail it out of there, but this week it wasn't.  And it's not like he didn't just win every race in Richmond.  If the same thing happened every week this year, then again, be pissed.  

NASCAR is one of the only sports were the athlete is accessible as they are.  He's one of 43 guys that get to race every week.  I can go on YouTube and search for Dale Jr. and find a clip where he's talking about being one of the few that get to make MILLIONS in the sport.  75% of the fans probably don't have a household income of over $150,000 and that is pushing it in this economy.  Many fans are jobless right now.  So when a guy who makes millions acts like a baby because he didn't add $200,000+ to his already $50 million a year fortune, it pisses a lot of struggling people off.  

Grow up Kyle Busch before you kill yourself, or someone else on the track.  It's time to put your big boy britches on and DEAL WITH IT LIKE AN ADULT!  All the other guys can do it, why is it so hard for you?

So I woke up planning on blogging my distaste for the Left when it comes to anyone of the Right being truthful and honest when answering question publicly.  Yes, the media whore Perez Hilton against Miss California Carrie Prejean.  I'm over it really.  Attacking one person who at the point represents a large group who do no believe as he does.  Hey, Perez!  It's America!  We were founded on the belief that not everyone agrees on everything!  Read the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.  Both protect her and YOU!  Drop it!  Go attack something or someone worth while.  You have made this girl a Saint in the eyes of the Right Wing Extremists!   Why is it that we can't just say, "I don't agree with you, but I respect you for being honest."?  Grow up America and be MATURE!  Show integrity.  Don't know the meaning of the word like Perez?  Look it up at Dictionary.com!

And just to clear it up, I'm an Independent, not a Dem or Republican.  I'm pro-gay marriage, pro-stem cell research, and pro-life for the most part.  The end.

On to my new reason for blogging after not being able to do so for a week - stupid computer viruses, I need a MacBook Pro!

Kings of Leon.  My good friend Kelli has already blogged her love of the concert, but I thought I would reinforce her statements.

Well I thought I would enjoy the opening acts, The Walkmen, more than I did.  However, I only enjoyed their last song "The Rat".  Solely, because it was the only one I knew by heart and it was the last song they would play.  

After 45 minutes between the sets, the boys came on stage to open with "Crawl".  Wow!  I must say I loved KOL before the show, but I fell even deeper while there.  Caleb Followill is such a great entertainer.  He may be the lead-singer, but he is so funny to watch.  His brother, Nathan was blowing bubbles with his gum too, so he was fun to watch also.

In or out! In or out!

When did childhood change so much?  What happened and when did it happen to make kids want to stay indoors during warm days which didn't include school?

I had an option each day during summer vacation.  My grandma would ask:  "Are you staying in or out today?"  There wasn't running in and out of the house.  If we - my brother and two boy cousins - ran in and out too many times letting out the "bought air" the storm door was locked and we had to knock to get inside.   We'd knock for Gatorade or a Fla-Vor-Ice, then we'd run off to play again.

We'd stay gone for hours upon hours.  No Amber Alerts.  Our "Amber Alert" was my grandma standing on the front porch yelling for us.   We'd stay gone all day and come in after dark, get asked if we were in for the night, only to respond "no" while waving a flashlight in our hands.  

We rode in the back of the truck on rode trips.  That's the truck bed.  Not the plush seats of the SUV.  We sat on the wheel humps and with every bump our heads would hit the "topper".  Air conditioning was a luxury item we only got to see on the hottest of hot days after we broke the slip n' slide or the two foot high, plastic walls to the K-mart pool.  

My Summer vacations for 5 years was a rotation of 2 weeks camping at Summersville Lake, one week home, then repeat.  We had a trailer.  My dad would pull it up and commute to our business daily.  We showered in the bath house.  I got chased by mean ass geese and skunks.  Rode my bike down a hill for 40 yards - while missing the geese or there nasty droppings - before careening into the lake.  Or just endo-ing once we hit the lip of the shore.  

The four of us - me, my bro, and two cousins - got skateboards when Tony Hawk was buying his first house.  We built our own ramps to jump our bikes or skateboards off of, no helmets, no pads.  I still have scars from my most horrendous wreck on my bike.  We were racing down a hill, BMX style, and at the first turn I got pushed into a telephone pole and flipped over the handle bars.  My mom cleaned my wounds and sent me back out to play.  Kids today get nursed for 3 weeks and carted off to the hospital to make sure the scarring won't be permanent.  

I got chased by a green snake and my family just laughed at me.  Today that snake would have pest control after it.

I just don't understand what has caused this.  We had video games.  The classics:  Atari, Clecovision,  Nintendo, Super NES, and Sega Genesis.  So all of the blame cannot be laid upon video games.  Maybe the computer and internet hold the answer or the cause.  But what parents are that uninvolved not to push their kids to have fun?  Why can't parents be parents?  

What has happened in our society to make us so selfish and inconsiderate?  And I say inconsiderate because that's what the kids are today.   I hope I have the answer or the solution in my own life before I get married and have kids.

So through all of this layout craziness, I've had a few dating/relationship thoughts.

There is this boy in my life.  He's been in my life for 14 yrs.  He's held a piece of my heart for about 9 of those years.  We reconnected after two years and he's all I can think about.  Well not all obviously, I still fantasize about Paul Walker, Kevin Costner, and Travis Pastrana.  

Anyway.  We text because, well, I hate talking on the phone.  So I haven't "talked" to him for a few days.  Like since Tuesday morning at 2AM.  I'm not up on etiquette for how long one must wait to receive a reply before making contact again.  

Yet, when I think about it, maybe it's a good thing that after two weeks of endless contact, that he and I aren't talking all the time.  It's healthy.  

But still the question is:  What is a proper - and not crazy - time period before you try to contact the opposite sex?   As I type that sentence a scene from "He's Just Not That Into You" with Jennifer Goodwin keeps replaying in my mind.

Speaking of that movie, maybe I should re-read the book.  But I have loads of other books I need to read.  Or maybe I should stop waiting around for a guy whom I've put loads of time into to come around and want to date me.  He hasn't wanted to before, what makes now different.  We're older.  We're wiser.  We aren't so immature, but we weren't back then either.  We - ok I'm not so naive.  Who knows.  In this situation, only he knows.  And all he's said is "never say never."  If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that, then I'd surely have the MacBook Pro of my dreams.

So I'll watch "Rumor Has It" and take in the moral of the story which is 'the grass ain't always greener.'

Work in progress...

Trying to figure out what script needs to be placed for linkability (yeah i know it's not a word) of my post headers and for a comment link and such to be clickable.  Work in progress for this HTML Dummy.  HELP!!!

Nowhere...

Nowhere is an excuse for not knowing or not wanting to tell where something/someone was, is, or has been.

Everyone used it as a kid when questioned by a parent.  Most of the time you were up to no good or someplace you weren't allowed to go.  As adults, we use it to shortly explain that we have been at home or work doing absolutely nothing of a productive or exciting nature.  But we are always some where, never nowhere.

"She came out of nowhere."  - No.  She came from somewhere, you just didn't see where she came from.

"Came from nowhere to win." - Not even close.  The pronoun in question came from their seed in the bracket, or from behind to win.

"Nowhere to be found."  - Nope, its just in the place you forgot to look.

"Lead to nowhere." - Egh! Wrong again.  It leads to the middle of a field, forest, desert.  I'm sure it has a name, you just don't know it.

"Miles from nowhere." - You are always miles from somewhere.  I'm 13 miles from Uptown Charlotte.  I'm a mile from Lake Norman.  I'm 246 miles from my home city of Charleston, WV.

"Nowhere near enough."  Sorry, but not close/near enough would work.  You can't be 'nowhere' near enough.  You always have something towards enough, even when you have nothing.

"Where have you been?" "Nowhere." - What?  You were somewhere, work, apartment, pool, in bed, in the bathroom, on the couch, at Starbucks/Ben & Jerry's/Harris Teeter/bar.  You are always somewhere!

Even when you say you are in the middle of Nowhere, you are in the middle of what ever region you are exploring.  If you go into the woods in West Virginia, you are in the middle of the woods in WV, not nowhere.

Again, I state, nowhere is an excuse for not knowing or wanting to tell. 

Why is it reverse-discrimination?

Reverse-discrimination would imply, by definition of the two words, 

opposite or contrary in position to treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction infavor 

of or against, a person or thing based on the group,

class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than 

on individual merit.

That would mean you were favorable to people because of their race, meaning it's not discrimination at all its a bias.

The case the Supreme Court heard today was called reverse-discrimination. BUT! It's simply a town being to afraid of an affirmative action law suit that got hit with a law suit anyway.  Why is it ok to discriminate against whites, but not other races?

I'm a person who thinks being PC - politically correct - is for the birds.  I'm blunt and have no problem telling the truth.  I went to a high school which was above the curve when it comes to public education.  Everyone had the chance to excel if they WANTED too, not just whites.  I believe diversity is a great thing, but it shouldn't rule our lives.  If 14 whites and 1 hispanic had what it took to pass the officer test, then by God let them be officers!  

I would never use the 'N' word but I've been called a 'cracker', yet that's supposed to be ok.  I don't get offended.  I enjoy salty, thin biscuits.  If someone was arrested by a white police officer and then called the officer a cracker, nothing would be said of it.  Yet, reverse the situation.  Black officer, and the dreaded 'N' word which is used within the black community as a common term, and it's a whole new ball game.

And to make things even more politically correct for all of you PC loving idiots, I'm no longer just American.  I'm European-American.  I'm the most discriminated against.  I'm blamed for everything.  I'm a white, middle-class, intelligent, educated, well-spoken, second rate citizen.  I didn't get help other than loans for college.  I don't qualify for any free tuition programs.  How is it that those people who have college money on a silver platter have a hard time going to college?  Undergrad degrees are a dime a dozen.  It doesn't matter where you went anymore, it's where you got your Masters!  If you can go to college for free and don't go, that isn't my fault!  Take responsibility for your own actions!  Put your big girl/boy britches on and grow up.  Stop making excuses and blaming everyone else for where you are, you have the ability to make the changes to put yourself in a better place.  No one else can do it for you.

Its similar to anyone that blames lack of money/insurance/education for them having children when they aren't financially, mentally, and/or able to care for them.  There are free programs in every community where any male or female can get tested for STDs and receive free or discounted (depending on income) birth control options.  

So really this has turned into a "take responsibility for you" and double standards post .  And it's the mature and adult thing to do.  No one else is responsible for your actions - unless of course you are skitzophrenic and the voices are telling you to do or not do something.  Again, completely difference ball game.  

And this is not a racial statement.  My 23-yr-old brother likes to blame everyone else for his problems.  Not so.  Once you can take responsibility for your own actions, doors will open.  Don't be negative.  Be Optimistic.  When you think negatively, then only negative things will occur.  Think positively and positive things will happen!  And if you want to think positive and negative people bring you down, cut them out!  Main reason I don't talk to the majority of my family. 

If you think I'm not being fair, or being rude, tell me.  Let's talk this out.  Well type it out, but same thing.  I'm completely open-minded and love listening to other points of view.  But if you are close-minded, well I don't want to get yelled at by someone that only sees one side of everything and is not swayed at all.