I need more of this in my life

I LOVE YOU

South Sudan

Woke up today and was thrilled to hear of South Sudan's independence.

This is good news overall, I think. I've followed news from Darfur and the Sudan region for years, so it means a bit to me.

But this also concerns me. First of all, I think this will isolate Darfur even further. I'm worried that the South Sudanese will be too busy beginning their own government to help the rebel cause in Darfur. I'm also worried that the North may try to up the violence in Darfur, or even begin fighting the South.

My other worry is that the new government may fail -- whether because of inexperience or violence, I do not know. But I don't think the United States needs to get involved at all, beyond sending them support. If we have a relationship with them, it should be fair and it should be symbiotic. We give them money in exchange for oil, or something. They have a lot of oil. I don't think we should just give them money or anything because that could bite us in the ass later.

Also. I don't know much about Palestine and its fight for independence. But I think the US's support of South Sudan makes us look very bad to whoever supports a Palestinian state. That may also create tension.

So.

Any thoughts, my colleagues?

I CAN'T WAIT

Pistol Annies album out 8.23.11 and Miranda Lambert out 11.1.11. The rest of this year is going to be almost too much to handle.

I better make some more money!!!!

(and I get to see Britney Spears on August 20. <3)

Of trials and parenting

I don't know enough about the Casey Anthony trial to pass judgment.

But I do know this whole thing has galvanized me to be a better parent one day. To change the world for my kids and their friends. Seriously, you see a case like this and I don't know how you're not called to do something. To hug your own kids or maybe smile at a stranger's kid on the street...and definitely, to never do anything even close to this to your own children.

It's maddening to me, the horrible things we do with our freedom of choice and our power of will. Sometimes the world makes me wonder what the hell God is doing up there.

But I know that if it weren't for tragedy, there wouldn't be as much good in the world. It doesn't explain this case, but it helps me remember my place in this world. I see things like this and I react to them. An equal and opposite reaction. And I'm sure so many other people out there are called to make this world better, too.

Thanks to all the parents out there who are loving and gentle and kind.

Especially mine.

Wipe that drool off your chin

SOCCER IS THE WORLD'S FAVORITE SPORT

Tea partyers all up in my blog

I like coffee better.

Thoughts on immigration

There's a new immigration law in Georgia, one that thousands are protesting.

I looked it over, and it doesn't seem so harsh. Well, at least not compared to similar laws in Arizona or Utah. But it does get me thinking about my stance on immigration.

All the illegal immigrants I have met in my life are much kinder souls than any of the politicians I have met. They are humble. They don't assume to be better than anyone. They know many people wouldn't want them to be here, but they're working two or three jobs that most Americans won't work so they can send money home to their families.

How many Americans really want to "stoop so low" to take the jobs these people take gladly? Minimum wage, emptying trash at a mall or opening a McDonald's at 4:30 in the morning? If it weren't for illegal immigrants­, this country would be fucked.

Oh, and your white great-gran­dparents? They were illegals too. What gives you the privilege to deny these people a better life like all of our ancestors wanted?

She work hard for the money

My life must not be interesting enough to blog about or something! I keep reading my friends' blogs from abroad and feel a longing for something more exotic.

But then again, what's more exotic than Delaware OH?

This summer has been...well, full. But not of too much out of the ordinary, I s'pose. Interning at the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute at IU was interesting, enlightening and wonderful. It gave me a good sense of the state of Greek affairs today and made me seriously rethink this whole future thing. I mean, after another week with other bright young people who want to change our system, I felt compelled to continue my work with Greek life. I talked to some of the Greek advisers there and really was inspired by what they do.

So there's that. But right now, I can't think too much about grad school because I need to be thinking about money. Ain't that the story of everyone's life? Between feeding cats, the car, and myself, not to mention paying all the bills and buying groceries, life gets kind of pricey.

I'm working around 30-40 hours a week at Burger King, the same one Leah is at, to bring in a steady cash flow. Sometimes it gets boring, and the customers can be difficult, but I generally like it there. I've been there a month, so I know how to do everything but make sandwiches. I think I'm a little too ditzy for the job sometimes because I make stupid mistakes (like spilling shake mix and pushing the wrong buttons and forgetting to give people change) but I'm learning.

Most of the kitchen guys are from Mexico, and they speak relatively good English. They're fascinated by my bumbling Spanglish and love to talk to me. They're all very nice, even if they tease me about why I like girls and are constantly asking me if there are "yummy yummy mamacitas" at the drive-thru window. I haven't taken Spanish in four years, so I can't remember every word or tense conjugation. But I can hold a convo with them, and we like joking around during the day.

I've been writing baseball Tweets and press releases for the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League and working for the circus as well. Not too many circus gigs around here, though, so my time there has been limited.

Oh yeah, and there have been a lot of cats in and around our house. Still have six indoors, and now a mama and five kittens outdoors. The outside kitties are feral and very wary of us. I'm scared for them. What will we do with them if we can't catch them??

All in all, it's been a good summer. But I miss my old friends and my family and playing soccer and being richer than I am now. Leah and I are some of the only souls here in town. When's August again??