Have you ever tried so hard and put so much time into something to just fail. That is how I feel this week with my Biology class. I spent hours and hours trying to read and understand. I have learned so much in this class. I know it and I understand it but obviously I am not retaining any of the information I thought I was. I got less than a 60% on my first exam of the semester. I do well on all the other assignments but not on the ones that count apparently. Hopefully it will get better, but I doubt it. Good thing I don't need biology for my business degree I guess. Though it is nice to know this kind of stuff.
So I started my new job at the grocery store last Friday. A lot of people I know come into the store and are shocked to see me there. I am too, really. I enjoy it actually. I get to do a lot of organizing, which apparently is what keeps my clock ticking. I would probably strangle someone if I didn't have anything to organize for too long. My OCD is perfect for this job. I am a checker and help with other miscellaneous jobs around the store. As soon as I am done with my training, I will be a manager in the checking department which I suppose is nice. I get my own title!
I also got an email from my phone today that offered me an award for walking over 50 miles in the past few weeks. I'm not sure if that is good or not but I feel accomplished.
On a good note, Sister Stewart comes home in T-90 days! Woot Woot! She will be leaving Brazil the 15th of December and gets to be home for Christmas. I am so happy.
We will be done with our HotShot escapade in two weeks. I am so thankful for all the opportunities it provided for us, including the chance to try out living in a 'big city' but I am more thankful to be done with it. We are going to start building our cabin at the ranch next month and hopefully by the end of the year or beginning of next we will be moved out there officially. Things are starting to look up though it will be a stressful run getting there. Wish us luck!
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Monday, September 8, 2014
Are we rationale, reasonable, and self-interested individuals?
Yes, this week's blog is going to be political. I learned something new in school this week that really hit me and made me think more about what I am doing to better this country. I am usually not interested or very good at government because there a lot of big words I don't use everyday and different ideas and so many things going on but I have learned over my life (especially living with my dad) that knowing and having an opinion is vital to keep this country going.
Along time ago, before we let Britian, there was a guy named Martin Luther- and no, not the "I had a dream Martin Luther. He came up with this idea called Classical Liberalism when he decided that we, as individuals, can govern ourselves. He decided we didn't need a royal family, a king, or someone else to do our bidding for us because we could do it ourselves. He noted that all people can be rational, we can be reasonable, and we are self-interested enough to make the important decisions to be our own government. This is they type of government we decided to use when our ancestors moved to America and formed the Democracy we live in today. A Democratic government like this is a "government of the people, by the people, for the people." We started our country this way but we aren't headed in the direction to end it this way.
The problem with our country today is that, individually, we don't care. In other words, we are not rational, we are not reasonable, and we are not self-interested like our ancestors used to be. We as a country are spiraling ourselves back into the cycle that we once were in, back in Britain. We are letting the government make the decisions to govern us without being educated enough to really know what the consequences of those decisions are.
In my speech class, we had a discussion about the pros and cons to the federal minimum wage raise. There were only two people in my class, myself and another, that actually considered the bad side to this change. Most people decided this was the greatest decision that could have been made for our country, all the while it will probably cause the country to tip over the edge. Yes, more money always sounds good- but is it? We don't have the money to spend paying our employees more. Small businesses will shut down closing smaller towns for good. People will still not be able to afford living because the price of all things, housing, groceries, fuel, will all go up with the raise.
My opinion- let's go back to making pennies a day. The family has a garden, milks a cow, sews their own clothes. Then we can really live. Then we can really be happy. No more consumerism. No more buying things just to look rich, because we really aren't.
We need to start thinking for ourselves. We need to start doing our homework and really understanding what our government is doing. Let's go back to being rational, reasonable, and most importantly, self-interested. To not, is tyranny.
Along time ago, before we let Britian, there was a guy named Martin Luther- and no, not the "I had a dream Martin Luther. He came up with this idea called Classical Liberalism when he decided that we, as individuals, can govern ourselves. He decided we didn't need a royal family, a king, or someone else to do our bidding for us because we could do it ourselves. He noted that all people can be rational, we can be reasonable, and we are self-interested enough to make the important decisions to be our own government. This is they type of government we decided to use when our ancestors moved to America and formed the Democracy we live in today. A Democratic government like this is a "government of the people, by the people, for the people." We started our country this way but we aren't headed in the direction to end it this way.
The problem with our country today is that, individually, we don't care. In other words, we are not rational, we are not reasonable, and we are not self-interested like our ancestors used to be. We as a country are spiraling ourselves back into the cycle that we once were in, back in Britain. We are letting the government make the decisions to govern us without being educated enough to really know what the consequences of those decisions are.
In my speech class, we had a discussion about the pros and cons to the federal minimum wage raise. There were only two people in my class, myself and another, that actually considered the bad side to this change. Most people decided this was the greatest decision that could have been made for our country, all the while it will probably cause the country to tip over the edge. Yes, more money always sounds good- but is it? We don't have the money to spend paying our employees more. Small businesses will shut down closing smaller towns for good. People will still not be able to afford living because the price of all things, housing, groceries, fuel, will all go up with the raise.
My opinion- let's go back to making pennies a day. The family has a garden, milks a cow, sews their own clothes. Then we can really live. Then we can really be happy. No more consumerism. No more buying things just to look rich, because we really aren't.
We need to start thinking for ourselves. We need to start doing our homework and really understanding what our government is doing. Let's go back to being rational, reasonable, and most importantly, self-interested. To not, is tyranny.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
RIBS!!
There have been many new changes and decision making in our life lately. The biggest decision we made as a family is to quit the hot shot business and move back out to the ranch full time. We will no longer be living in Casper or even in Newcastle. Seth and I are building our little cabin before the snow falls so we can have a place to stay. After that, we will get internet out there so I can finish my schooling. I decided to switch my major from nursing to an ag-business major with an animal science specialty. This is because with nursing, I would have to drive over an hour in any direction to be able to work. We decided that would not work for our family. Instead, I am working on getting my medical coding certificate and I will work from home for a hospital as a coder. The change from the lifestyle we are living now to this new chapter will take time and a lot of effort to be able to give up in-town life. We are both ready to take the plunge and now this is the right thing for us and our family.
There have been a lot of changes lately but the biggest is that I made up a wonderful recipe for ribs if anyone wants to try it! It came out a little watery so maybe someone can give me suggestions to thicken it up a little. I was surprised with how mouth wateringly delicious they were but didn't like the runny side of it.
I used my slow cooker and put in a few country style ribs. I started with a bottle of honey barbeque sauce, because that is my favorite. I added some liquid smoke- only a few drops though because I don't really like a strong smokey taste in my meat but you can add as much as you like. I also added Worcestershire sauce and mixed brown sugar into the liquids. The last thing I added was a little of my own secret ingredient. I actually didn't think of this so I can't take credit. It added delicious flavor but I am thinking this might have been partially why my sauce was so runny. I poured some Dr. Pepper over the whole thing, not a whole can but enough. I cooked them on high for four hours. You can change the amounts to whatever you think you like and maybe you can make it taste a little better. Seth and I both enjoyed these and they turned out just tender enough for ribs. Let me know what you think of it or what variations you made of it!
There have been a lot of changes lately but the biggest is that I made up a wonderful recipe for ribs if anyone wants to try it! It came out a little watery so maybe someone can give me suggestions to thicken it up a little. I was surprised with how mouth wateringly delicious they were but didn't like the runny side of it.
I used my slow cooker and put in a few country style ribs. I started with a bottle of honey barbeque sauce, because that is my favorite. I added some liquid smoke- only a few drops though because I don't really like a strong smokey taste in my meat but you can add as much as you like. I also added Worcestershire sauce and mixed brown sugar into the liquids. The last thing I added was a little of my own secret ingredient. I actually didn't think of this so I can't take credit. It added delicious flavor but I am thinking this might have been partially why my sauce was so runny. I poured some Dr. Pepper over the whole thing, not a whole can but enough. I cooked them on high for four hours. You can change the amounts to whatever you think you like and maybe you can make it taste a little better. Seth and I both enjoyed these and they turned out just tender enough for ribs. Let me know what you think of it or what variations you made of it!
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