Have you seen this? tl;dr: for a moment I thought intentions were good.

http://rockbeyondbelief.com/2010/12/22/mandatory-army-survey-says-atheists-are-unfit-to-be-soldiers/

http://rockbeyondbelief.com/2010/12/24/soldier-fitness-tracker-spiritual-questions-now-available/

http://www.maaf.info/resources/gatspirituality.jpg

Am I missing something? It asks if you're a "spiritual" person, I don't think it actually insinuates that you need to be a Christian. Many people feel "spiritual" about the earth and humanity and their connection with it. Think back to the family celebrating the solstice festival, they aren't Christian but they certainly feel like they are part of something with other humans and the earth. It simply shows they don't alienate themselves and they feel like their life is special and meaningful. I really think that this atheist was just being overly touchy and actually being the epitome of what they were trying to weed out in the first place. A person that didn't feel connected to other people and couldn't be part of a team, which he needs to be to be in the Army. The survey even suggested that he seek help in others, again reinforcing the purpose of the questions, to be able to believe in and depend on others. I don't think they were trying to weed out freethinkers here, I think they were looking for socially inept hermits who would probably harm the group as a whole before they helped it.

So here I am on my high horse thinking that this guy is over reacting and trying to find the meaning behind these questions and thinking to myself, surely the military isn't doing this. Until I read this: "Billy Graham Evangelical Associations, ‘Rock the Fort’ concert series came to Fort Bragg. It was allowed to convert several hundreds of soldiers on stage at a military base. At several bases, actually. It was their stated goal to convert as many soldiers, spouses and civilians as possible."

And then I went here: http://www.maaf.info/

And I found this: http://www.maaf.info/resources/CSF_Spirituality_Remediation.pdf IF you get low scores you can get help, its a list of suggestions for how to become more spiritual and to feel more connected. It seemed harmless, suggesting you listen to music or join the Army Band, write letters or poetry. But then it moves throughout the letters giving examples of excerpts from other military members thanking God and this leads into the suggestion that prayer be part of your rehabilitation. If you like, you can also visit the Chaplain.

The deeper I got and the more I read the more pissed off I got.

I try so hard to believe that people are good and that deep down intentions are good. Sadly, most of the time, they think the intentions are good. But I'm speaking about average people that have no bearing on my government or my way of life. People like a grandma who seek to spread what they think is right to other people. But making it a requirement and forcing it upon you in order to continue doing your job is wrong, its a horrible thing to do and I want nothing more than to help make it stop.

I liked making this Alot!

I don't know about you but I think that Hyperbole and a Half is about the funniest blog I've ever read. I decided for Christmas to make Shannon something special because she shares my love for this blog. One of our favorite posts is "The Alot is Better Than You At Everything"

So I went to the fabric store and found the perfect fur for this project. Let me tell you, fur is not fun to work with. I liked it because there was tons of room for errors since the fur hides all of your stitches, but the stuff was EVERYWHERE! haha. I'm still cleaning fur off the floor. Anyway, after much fun and stitching I bring you:

The Alot!



Ginger also loved this Alot

LOL, you said butt!

Brandon: so, whats our space website
"SpaceTits.com?

me: I think it should go in our couple blog. Pictures and stories of the awesome things we do

Brandon: Works for me
"23 January, 2013.
Stephanie burped in my face. I punched her in the ovaries, then I broke out. Playin some CoD7"

me: Then I revoked head rubs

Brandon: headbutts are an unrevokable right
wait
headrubs
I guess if I headbutt you in the ovaries that could work

me: Lol you said butt

Brandon: lol butts

I think we have a mature healthy relationship :P

So Brandon and I have been planning to do a "space mission"! We're going to send some cameras into space on a weather balloon. like this one. Next Spring when he gets back from deployment. No, we are not calling the mission SpaceTits.

Back up! I'm doing science!

I bet you did what you did when you did it to do it again by the time you were done with it

This voice! This voice! Andy Hull does amazing things to my brain. Manchester Orchestra is what I'm referring to. I love this particular song today but I love all of their songs everyday.



First full week of my new job is down. I love it! Who knew property and casualty insurance would be as much fun as banking. I know what you're thinking. I don't care. Whats really awesome is that USAA is a values driven company just like BB&T was which means they actually give a crap about me and how happy I am with my job AND they treat their customers awesome. People I've met that work there really enjoy it so I'm looking forward to the months to come. I am in training for quite awhile before I actually start work. Anyway, things are going well :)

New Place!

Thanks to the help of my amazing friends and family, I was able to move into my new apartment on the first. Here is a little walkthrough of it. I don't have anything on the walls or any curtains up right now but I got some nails today to get started. I'm planning on making my own curtains once I can get some fabrics for it. The complex is really pretty and theres lots of shopping and dining and bars nearby, not to mention its only like 6 miles from work! So happy to be settled and ready to start working again. New job starts Monday.

I get by with a little help from my friends.

I can't believe the tremendous support I've gotten from my family, my boyfriend and my friends. I can't say enough how important having a great circle of people is. I only hope that I return even a fraction of their kindness.

I was able to find an apartment this week and will be moving in next Friday! A job, my own place, my car back. Everything is going to be alright.

I love my new apartment. I hope I'm not going to eat my words later since I don't actually live there yet but the complex is really nice, pretty courtyards, private balconies, 4 swimming pools with hot tubs and covered parking. Its everything I was looking for AND they are pet friendly and they waived all the pet fees. So I get to have Miss Ginger there and not pay extra for her! Oh and this time I got an upstairs unit so I don't have to deal with the baby hippo on a treadmill noise. I got a 2 bedroom which is a big upgrade for me. Its still small but it'll be nice to have a space for family and friends when they come to stay. Not to mention finally having a place to set up my sewing machine.

Speaking of my sewing machine! I joined a craft swap. I am stoked, its a autumn/halloween themed one. I can't say yet what I'm making because its going to be a surprise for my swap person but I'll post photos afterwards. The rules were to make 2 or 3 small items that take less than 2 hours to make. I have SO many ideas!! I think I'll do one Halloween one and a few Autumn ones because they can be used longer.

I went to New Jersey this week to see Brandon. We had a great time even though the trip was really short. He brought me some funny Engrish shirts back from Japan. One that has a Stormtrooper on it that says "Smooth trooper lovers yo mamas flapjacks" and another one that says "only love is believed" with some Japanese characters on it. Some cookies that apparently are like eating cookie roulette because some of them are good cookies and some are nasty. I haven't tried them yet. Oh Japan.

We did some sightseeing and he took me out to Atlantic City where I learned that I am definitely not a gambler and that there is more to playing Blackjack than just making sure you get as close to 21 as possible without going over. I also learned that it only takes 2 vodka cranberries to make me start giggling. Geeze I'm a lightweight!

Last week was his birthday and I got him a Tshirt and made him this, its a few panels from the game Portal that I cross stitched and framed. I have never done cross stitch before but it was really fun and I can't wait to do some more.

I joined a craft swap between some girls online, I will get a survey next week from the person I'm trading crafts with so I have an idea on what to make her/him. Will post results when I'm done!

Forumspring

I made an account at forumspring. Its a neat little thing where you can ask random questions to users, you can make an account or you can just submit questions anonymously. Ask me anything!!

All in all the move to Arizona has gone pretty well so far. I've been here for a couple of weeks now and while I still haven't found a job, I do have lots of good prospects! My plan was to update and post photos while I drove out here, however, my super awesome phone was not being very super awesome and didn't want to stay online. So know this, it took three days to get here and it was a very pretty drive. If you are friends with me on facebook I posted some of my photos there.

While mom was still out here we took a little day trip to Tuscon and visited the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch. Which as corny as an ostrich ranch sounds, was super fun. We got to ride this big monster tractor thing while the guide talked about ostriches, the desert and all kinds of neat facts about both. I think the coolest part was feeding them grapefruit from a fishing pole, they are the weirdest looking animals! Afterwards we went to a restaurant called Jonathans Cork and actually ate ostrich! It was pretty good. Tasted like a very tender steak.

That day we also went to the Sonora Desert Museum. We took a night tour because its a little too hot during the day here right now. Its basically a big walking path through the desert that highlights the plants and animals seen there. There were zoo-like displays with common animals like the coyote, ocelot, mountain lion, and bears. I want to go back when its cooler because they have a hummingbird display.

I went hiking on South Mountain the other day, there are alot of places to hike and walk and run and take your dog here. Ginger is the happiest I have ever seen her. Shannon has a sheltie named Sundae that has become her new best friend/little sister. They get along great and its so much fun to watch them play.

So, overall Arizona is awesome so far.

How to be alone.

Ran across this today and it spoke volumes to me. How to be alone with myself was probably the biggest lesson I've learned in the last couple years. I've always struggled with being happy with myself, often times simply putting others before myself just so I had someone elses life to focus on. Living alone taught me to embrace my own talents, learn more about the way I think and the things I love. If you haven't embraced these things in yourself, take the time to. You will like who you meet.



HOW TO BE ALONE by Tanya Davis

If you are at first lonely, be patient. If you've not been alone much, or if when you were, you weren't okay with it, then just wait. You'll find it's fine to be alone once you're embracing it.

We could start with the acceptable places, the bathroom, the coffee shop, the library. Where you can stall and read the paper, where you can get your caffeine fix and sit and stay there. Where you can browse the stacks and smell the books. You're not supposed to talk much anyway so it's safe there.

There's also the gym. If you're shy you could hang out with yourself in mirrors, you could put headphones in (guitar stroke).

And there's public transportation, because we all gotta go places.

And there's prayer and meditation. No one will think less if you're hanging with your breath seeking peace and salvation.

Start simple. Things you may have previously (electric guitar plucking) based on your avoid being alone principals.

The lunch counter. Where you will be surrounded by chow-downers. Employees who only have an hour and their spouses work across town and so they -- like you -- will be alone.

Resist the urge to hang out with your cell phone.

When you are comfortable with eat lunch and run, take yourself out for dinner. A restaurant with linen and silverware. You're no less intriguing a person when you're eating solo dessert to cleaning the whipped cream from the dish with your finger. In fact some people at full tables will wish they were where you were.

Go to the movies. Where it is dark and soothing. Alone in your seat amidst a fleeting community.
And then, take yourself out dancing to a club where no one knows you. Stand on the outside of the floor till the lights convince you more and more and the music shows you. Dance like no one's watching...because, they're probably not. And, if they are, assume it is with best of human intentions. The way bodies move genuinely to beats is, after all, gorgeous and affecting. Dance until you're sweating, and beads of perspiration remind you of life's best things, down your back like a brook of blessings.

Go to the woods alone, and the trees and squirrels will watch for you.
Go to an unfamiliar city, roam the streets, there're always statues to talk to and benches made for sitting give strangers a shared existence if only for a minute and these moments can be so uplifting and the conversations you get in by sitting alone on benches might've never happened had you not been there by yourself

Society is afraid of alonedom, like lonely hearts are wasting away in basements, like people must have problems if, after a while, nobody is dating them. but lonely is a freedom that breaths easy and weightless and lonely is healing if you make it.

You could stand, swathed by groups and mobs or hold hands with your partner, look both further and farther for the endless quest for company. But no one's in your head and by the time you translate your thoughts, some essence of them may be lost or perhaps it is just kept.

Perhaps in the interest of loving oneself, perhaps all those sappy slogans from preschool over to high school's groaning were tokens for holding the lonely at bay. Cuz if you're happy in your head than solitude is blessed and alone is okay.

It's okay if no one believes like you. All experience is unique, no one has the same synapses, can't think like you, for this be releived, keeps things interesting lifes magic things in reach.

And it doesn't mean you're not connected, that communitie's not present, just take the perspective you get from being one person in one head and feel the effects of it. take silence and respect it. if you have an art that needs a practice, stop neglecting it. if your family doesn't get you, or religious sect is not meant for you, don't obsess about it.

you could be in an instant surrounded if you needed it
If your heart is bleeding make the best of it
There is heat in freezing, be a testament.

Mmmmm beer

Part of my gift from brandon for running was a case of beers from brewdog.com. I haven't had a chance to taste them all yet but so far I'm loving them! Their ipa won the gold medal in the world beer cup, and for good reason, its awesome. Comprehensive blog of each one to come!

Thursday is my last day at the bank. Mom comes in saturday and sunday we hit the road to arizona. I'm nervous and excited!

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Success!

Running is starting to pay off, got weighed and pinched yesterday and lost 11.5 pounds! Feels good to see some results. In addition, my heart rate and blood pressure are down too.

Officially set for phoenix finally! I'm moving out of my apartment july 30 and hitting the road aug 1. Mom is flying down to drive with me, I am eternally grateful to my mother and all she's done for me, especially the last few years. She definitely caught me while I was falling!

I plan on blogging as we drive, it's going to be a 2-3 day trip!

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101th post! I missed the 100th so we're having an after party

Someone on my facebook posted this photo yesterday. I posted the link because the comments really go right along with the ridiculousness of the whole thing, but here's the photo too.


Anyway the photo and the message he was trying to send, that planned parenthood (birth control and abortion) are a hidden agenda to kill off black people, is wrong. So, I emailed him mostly because he's always posting his opinions on life and the world and usually I laugh off the bs he's spewing but come on...this has taken it to a whole new level. Emails as follows:

Me

Normally I like a few differences of opinion and a good debate over things especially relating to anything a conservative christian believes and maybe it just caught me on a bad day but that post made me want to throw my monitor across the room.

That photo had nothing to do with where planned parenthood begun, the KKK invited her to speak there because their bullshit agenda of eliminating blacks seemed to jive with what she was doing (same way the nazi's used her ideas of eugenics for their ridiculous agendas). What was she doing? Talking about planned parenthood in inner cities. Why? Because thats where poverty is, ignorance, disease, drugs and dare I say..unwanted pregnancies occur. She wasn't trying to eliminate black people, she was trying to eliminate a society that turned out as ignorant and poor as ours is. Maybe if her efforts were taken more seriously half the ignorant, poor, lazy people that drag down productive members of society wouldn't exist today. instead, I have to see my government trying to take care of people that won't take care of themselves.

but hey, abortion is killing, its genocide, whatever you want to call it, its completely necessary. Even if a person didn't believe in abortion they'd have to agree that simply using birth control is a method worth teaching.

His Response:

Murder of unborn children is never necessary. If we lived in a moral society where people married and THEN had sex and had only as many children that they could support, we would have no problems with overpopulation or unwanted children. And this is not a "conservative" thing. It is a Christian thing. Whether you believe in God or not, if everyone followed the teachings of the Bible, regardless of their reason for doing so, this would have a much better world.

Me:

Well reality is that we don't live in a moral society and theists and atheists alike can agree upon that. The question is what do we do about an overgrown population that is increasingly under educated and living on generational welfare? Telling everyone to read a bible is about as useful as beating a dead horse. However, whether or not you or I are Christian or pro choice isn't whats in question here.

The purpose of your post was to suggest that somehow Margaret Sanger was in unison with the KKK trying to eradicate the black population. This is simply not true. Margaret Sanger was simply pro choice and spreading her ideas of planned parenthood. It had nothing to do with black or white but that sometimes people that aren't in a loving committed relationship do get pregnant and sometimes its not the best thing for them or the population to handle. I understand you don't agree with this theory and thats fine by me, don't use birth control or have an abortion. But, she was't trying to erase black people as your post suggests.

Slow Club

I love Slow Club! It all started with "Me and You" and its snowballed from there. Youtube them! "Apples and Pairs", "It doesn't have to be beautiful"..all of them are sweet and quirky and pretty!

Help yourself out, shoot history in the mouth,
It's all that's left to do.
Look me up in some phonebook
Under, Me and You.

Goosefraba

THERE IS SERIOUSLY A BABY HIPPO ON A FUCKING TREADMILL IN THE APARTMENT ABOVE ME OMG THIS IS MAKING ME CRAZY.

whew.

I am listening to this song over and over because it makes me calm

This girl does a fantastic version of this song, absolutely beautiful

I went to a cobbler
to fix a hole in my shoe
he took one look at my face and said
"I can fix that hole in you."
I beg your pardon, I'm not looking for a cure
I've seen enough from my friends
in the depths of the God-sick blues

You know I am a liar
You know I am a liar
Nobody helps a liar

'Cause I've been down to Dixie
and dropped acid on my tongue
tripped upon the land 'til enough was enough
I was a little bit lighter and
adventure on my sleeve
I was a little drunk and looking for company
So I found myself a sweetheart
with the softest of hands
we were unlucky in love but I'd do it all again

we built ourselves a fire
we built ourselves a fire
you know I am a liar
you know I am a liar

and you don't know what I've done

and by the rollin' river
is exactly where I was
there was no snake oil cure for unlucky in love
to be lonely is a habit
like smoking or taking drugs
and I've quit them both
but man, was it rough

and now I am tired
it just made me tired
let's build ourselves a fire
let's build ourselves a fire

28.6

Final stretch in the run your ass off competition and I have gone 28.6 miles total. Friday is the last day and I have to say 30 days of routine and I'm really enjoying myself, I almost feel bad if I don't go at this point because I enjoy it so much. Spending time with my dog, I love how it makes my body feel and I love being outside. I've found some pretty places to run, too.

Last week I got back from my 2 weeks in Alabama. I had a fun trip, the people at the bank I worked with were super nice and I did lots of fun things while I was out there. I attended Bamajam, a country music festival. I didn't know much of the music but I did walk around drunk and barefoot so I fit right in! I drove down to Panama City Florida for a day and oh my oh my was it pretty!! I would love to go back there someday. I heard just after I left the oil was nearing the beaches there, its a shame :(
I took a Zumba class while I was there too, that was fun. I have zero rhythm but just trying to keep up I worked really hard!

July 1st I am driving up to Illinois to visit my family. I didn't go back last year so I'm pretty excited to see everyone. My dad is going to be out of town but he's going to have the house all ready for me to stay in, that was sweet.

Anyway, another wonderful summer. Exciting things to come in the next couple months, big changes!!!

Run away little girl, run away!

I got a neat app for my phone called Cardio Trainer. It tracks via gps where I went, how long, how far and how fast it also says how many calories but I think that's inaccurate because I keep pretty much the same pace and its always giving varying results. Anyway, when I save my workout it then posts to my facebook feed, which is cool because my friends encourage me and stuff. I also like how I can compare my results from the last time.

I added another app called C25K pro which basically puts you on a 9 week routine to build stamina and speed. Here's how it works, you turn it on when you begin your workout and there are a list of workouts labeled Week one Day 1, Week 2 Day 2 ect ect. Each week you increase the number of seconds you run and decrease your walking. For example in week one you walk 5 mins for warm up then alternate running for 60 seconds and walking for 90, then walk 5 mins cooldown. The whole routine takes 30 minutes. Since I like to walk Ginger for one hour I just run each of my day routines twice. Lately that's been getting me about 3.5 miles in because I run slow. It makes a sound when its time to run and when its time to walk (you create the sound scheme) that plays over your music. I really like it and by week 9 i *should* be able to run 30 mins without stopping to walk (its sad that I can't do that now but whatever, I'm working on it).

So Brandon decides to tap into my competitive nature and encourage me to push harder today by giving me a competition with him. For the next month starting today (May 25-June 25) we will both use Cardio Trainer app to track our mileage and if I go more miles than he does, he will buy me a present. No word on what the present is but it doesn't matter, I want to win and given his track record with presents (Zune HD, HTC Incredible) I think its' going to be something totally badass.

So yesterday doesn't count but I did 3.1 miles in 51 minutes. In a couple minutes I'm going to head out for the first day and hopefully beat yesterday and with any luck increase each day. Will try to post results as often as possible.

I got a dog!!

This is Ginger!

I have been thinking for awhile that I would like to get a pet. I need something to take care of, something to motivate me to get out of the house and be active, and a companion. SO, when I got back from Japan I made a trip to the Columbia Humane Society. I looked at all the dogs there for quite awhile and didn't really click with any of them in particular. I was walking between 2 cages deciding on them when Ginger caught my eye. She must have been outside and just came in. She was so sweet looking and the dog in her cage was jumping all over her and barking and she was keeping her cool. So I took her outside for a walk and when I kneeled down to greet her she put her paws up on me and gave me a hug! I fell in love and adopted her that day. lol.

I've had Ginger for 3 weeks. She's perfect for me. She has a good demeanor, she loves to cuddle and she listens to me! We go for walks (we're working on jogging...well she's got jogging I'M working on jogging lol), meetups with other dog owners in the park, we play and she's learning tricks. Having a dog has changed my daily activities for the better, I highly recommend it to anyone.

Ginger is a 2 year old pointer mix. She was brought to the Humane Society by her owner who said she couldn't afford to care for Ginger and her brother Roscoe anymore (if you know ANYONE that wants a dog please PLEASE go adopt Roscoe!). She left a sweet note talking about what Ginger likes and even said when she likes you she will hug you with her paws :)