I just finished watching the final episode of Jon and Kate plus 8 and I am truly sad that it turned into what it is. Two years ago, that show was my absolute favorite to watch, and now I feel so sad for what publicity has done to their family.
The Show was a phenomenon. Seeing eight little yahoos running around, each one just as cute as the next was a sight to see on television. Hannah, Alexis, Aaiden, Leah, Colin, Joel, Cara and Maddie were a hit. Seeing a family that large basically function on its own with little help was almost preposterous. Yes, there would always be spats between Kate and Jon, but that was part of the entertainment on the show.
Today, that spit-spatting in addition to all of the media hiatus around them has ultimately drove them apart. People are picking and choosing sides. It's like the Gilmore Girls episode where Luke and Lorelei break up and half the town has pink ribbons for her and blue ribbons for him. It's pathetic that they have ultimately given up on their marriage.
Tonight's show was bitter-sweet. It's a good thing that they are ending things to focus on their family, but it's also sad because it's almost like they are a part of my family and I have watched those kids grow up. I mean, they're five! My sister just turned ten yesterday and that seems impossible. The last few minutes goes through a little "rewind" of things through the seasons and I nearly teared up. It has been a great five seasons for this show, and I know some are saying good riddance,but I just want to say...I'll miss them.
ps. I hope they do an update every year!! I want to see how those kids are growing!!! :)
Monday, November 23, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
What a year
It's already midway through November!! Where did 2009 go? I still remember ringing in the new year like it was yesterday. Since that day I've had two semesters of school, a musical, and crazy events occur. Today won't be a total day of flashbacks...I think I'll save that til next month! But I would like to pan over what I can do to improve what's left of this year.
I would like to have one positive thing to say about a class after every class. This semester hasn't been the greatest pick of classes for me. Granted, it has somewhat improved over the last 12 weeks. But I've seemed to be more negative lately and I think it's affecting how I act in those classes. Watercolor is awful...or how the professor grades is awful. So I am going to try harder. I don't know how, because watercolor is tough and I feel like I've already been trying pretty hard. I am going to find a good thing to say about that class everytime I leave. It's going to be hard, because there is very rarely a highlight...but I am going to try!!!!
For the last three weeks of the semester I want to stay as far ahead as I can. There's three weeks left and then I am done for a whole month!!!!!! That means Geology is going to be kicking my butt until I take that final. Printmaking has improved greatly since the spat between my professor and I. He is a much nicer old man now. Which makes class enjoyable. My goal is to be finished with my last assignment before Thanksgiving...printed and all. Which means that I need to be carving all weekend to be ready to print on Monday. Leaving more time for Geology and Watercolor!!
Geology is going alright. I have just been trying to learn at my own pace by reading the chapters thoroughly and then writing what I highlighted. It seems to be sticking a little better...I'm just having time slip away from me.
Alright well, it's 9:01 and I need to get started on that watercolor painting if I don't want to be up til forever. Oh yea...and I've got to keep up on all fo this while I'm starting to get sick. STAY POSITIVE!!!!!!
Goodnight and God bless!!!
~Tiff marie
I would like to have one positive thing to say about a class after every class. This semester hasn't been the greatest pick of classes for me. Granted, it has somewhat improved over the last 12 weeks. But I've seemed to be more negative lately and I think it's affecting how I act in those classes. Watercolor is awful...or how the professor grades is awful. So I am going to try harder. I don't know how, because watercolor is tough and I feel like I've already been trying pretty hard. I am going to find a good thing to say about that class everytime I leave. It's going to be hard, because there is very rarely a highlight...but I am going to try!!!!
For the last three weeks of the semester I want to stay as far ahead as I can. There's three weeks left and then I am done for a whole month!!!!!! That means Geology is going to be kicking my butt until I take that final. Printmaking has improved greatly since the spat between my professor and I. He is a much nicer old man now. Which makes class enjoyable. My goal is to be finished with my last assignment before Thanksgiving...printed and all. Which means that I need to be carving all weekend to be ready to print on Monday. Leaving more time for Geology and Watercolor!!
Geology is going alright. I have just been trying to learn at my own pace by reading the chapters thoroughly and then writing what I highlighted. It seems to be sticking a little better...I'm just having time slip away from me.
Alright well, it's 9:01 and I need to get started on that watercolor painting if I don't want to be up til forever. Oh yea...and I've got to keep up on all fo this while I'm starting to get sick. STAY POSITIVE!!!!!!
Goodnight and God bless!!!
~Tiff marie
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Jackson, MI: a diamond in the rough?
I was meandering through a friend's facebook profile when I noticed one of her statuses showed an offering of suggestions about Jackson as a community. The first post I see is one that says, "shithole." nice. So I continue to read on and my friend wanted her to elaborate a little more and this person replies, "lack of culture, lack of things to do, lack of places to go. pardon my vague-ness, i just don't want my day to be completely ruined by jacknasty. lol" Our town is Jacknasty. Or is it?
I politely posted my reply saying, "No, Jackson isn't the typical all-for-one kind of town, but it's trying. There are a lot of bright stars waiting for their chance to shine, whether it be in theatrics or businesses or churches. My church, Rivertree, is all about trying to boost Jackson's own self esteem. And within that ... Read moretiny church community, it is so diverse, you'd never expect all of us to be under the same roof. And the Bon Ton. Where would Jackson's individuality shine if it weren't for Matt's creation? Within those walls lies another community that accepts everyone of different sexualities, races, and music genres. People can get away from the strange looks and be who they want to be!! It's only Jacknasty because we make it that way."
A lot of times, I hear younger people calling Jackson by demeaning names, Jacknasty being one of them. Lack of culture. What does that really mean? We see culture in other parts of the country, but how can we see it in our own town? I looked up the word culture on www.dictionary.com and these three meanings stuck out the most to me:
meaning 1. the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits
meaning 2. the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group: the youth culture; the drug culture.
meaning 3. Anthropology. the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.
These definitions are dealing with how we live in our communities. Traditions would be counted as something going on in our community. I definitely would have to say Jackson's got a few traditions under its belt. A few examples would be the Michigan Shakespeare Festival as well as the Christmas Parade downtown Jackson every year. I have never seen so many people in a community come together to celebrate in our town like those two events. (outside of race season - those people are out of townies!)
In meaning number 2, it talks about the behaviors of a particualr social or age group and "youth" being an example. The youth say we have no culture. Guess again. You youthies have your own culture and believing your own things. Just within that single sentence, you are showing your own culture within this community.
Lack of things to do. Yes, Jackson has its moments. But lately when I've been home I've found plenty to do. all fall there has been Flavor Fruit Farms. (although yes, that is a little ways away..its still close enough) The Bon Ton Room has events most every weekend, piano bar Wednesdays and Jazz Thursdays. Crazy Cowboy also has bands come in some Fridays (my friend is in the Vic Alan Band and they play there quite often) Also, Jackson Coffee Co. has local artists and bands playing in the upstairs quite often as well. You've got to do a little looking when you want to find something to do...
Lack of places to go. That shall be your own demise, my friend. Jackson is our backyard, explore it!!! Check out a coffee house, visit a cemetery, take photos at Cascades. Be a kid again and go to Allskate or Optimist. Or even go downtown and mingle through the shops and see the artwork in most front windows. If you really want some artwork to see...head to ART 634 on Mechanic. There's new stuff all the time! This is kinda sad, I'm not even home that often and I know what's going on.
Jackson is full of diversity and culture. Check out definition number 3: total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings. The high school generation of Jackson these days are always so negative. When you're around negativity and close-mindedness, it rubs off. They don't want to open their minds up to a different way of thinking or a different way of seeing things. They look around Jackson and see abandoned warehouses and potheads and slums. Yea, if you go down Francis, that's what you're going to find. But have you looked right down Michigan Ave? Or tried a new church? I have church at the YMCA Sunday mornings. "what?" you say? We have our own little culture shock there at Rivertree. We are a group of human beings that want to better the way we live and better where we live.
All of the places I talked about is Jackson. People coming together and seeing past the downsides and looking up. You just need to know where to look.
I politely posted my reply saying, "No, Jackson isn't the typical all-for-one kind of town, but it's trying. There are a lot of bright stars waiting for their chance to shine, whether it be in theatrics or businesses or churches. My church, Rivertree, is all about trying to boost Jackson's own self esteem. And within that ... Read moretiny church community, it is so diverse, you'd never expect all of us to be under the same roof. And the Bon Ton. Where would Jackson's individuality shine if it weren't for Matt's creation? Within those walls lies another community that accepts everyone of different sexualities, races, and music genres. People can get away from the strange looks and be who they want to be!! It's only Jacknasty because we make it that way."
A lot of times, I hear younger people calling Jackson by demeaning names, Jacknasty being one of them. Lack of culture. What does that really mean? We see culture in other parts of the country, but how can we see it in our own town? I looked up the word culture on www.dictionary.com and these three meanings stuck out the most to me:
meaning 1. the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits
meaning 2. the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group: the youth culture; the drug culture.
meaning 3. Anthropology. the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.
These definitions are dealing with how we live in our communities. Traditions would be counted as something going on in our community. I definitely would have to say Jackson's got a few traditions under its belt. A few examples would be the Michigan Shakespeare Festival as well as the Christmas Parade downtown Jackson every year. I have never seen so many people in a community come together to celebrate in our town like those two events. (outside of race season - those people are out of townies!)
In meaning number 2, it talks about the behaviors of a particualr social or age group and "youth" being an example. The youth say we have no culture. Guess again. You youthies have your own culture and believing your own things. Just within that single sentence, you are showing your own culture within this community.
Lack of things to do. Yes, Jackson has its moments. But lately when I've been home I've found plenty to do. all fall there has been Flavor Fruit Farms. (although yes, that is a little ways away..its still close enough) The Bon Ton Room has events most every weekend, piano bar Wednesdays and Jazz Thursdays. Crazy Cowboy also has bands come in some Fridays (my friend is in the Vic Alan Band and they play there quite often) Also, Jackson Coffee Co. has local artists and bands playing in the upstairs quite often as well. You've got to do a little looking when you want to find something to do...
Lack of places to go. That shall be your own demise, my friend. Jackson is our backyard, explore it!!! Check out a coffee house, visit a cemetery, take photos at Cascades. Be a kid again and go to Allskate or Optimist. Or even go downtown and mingle through the shops and see the artwork in most front windows. If you really want some artwork to see...head to ART 634 on Mechanic. There's new stuff all the time! This is kinda sad, I'm not even home that often and I know what's going on.
Jackson is full of diversity and culture. Check out definition number 3: total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings. The high school generation of Jackson these days are always so negative. When you're around negativity and close-mindedness, it rubs off. They don't want to open their minds up to a different way of thinking or a different way of seeing things. They look around Jackson and see abandoned warehouses and potheads and slums. Yea, if you go down Francis, that's what you're going to find. But have you looked right down Michigan Ave? Or tried a new church? I have church at the YMCA Sunday mornings. "what?" you say? We have our own little culture shock there at Rivertree. We are a group of human beings that want to better the way we live and better where we live.
All of the places I talked about is Jackson. People coming together and seeing past the downsides and looking up. You just need to know where to look.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)