Recycling can be fun

I never realized how many things can be recycled; now I don't think I'll ever take anything for granted.

As I was helping my dad shop for my little sister, I came across this neat Web site. I know I'm a little behind the times, but it is www.etsy.com. This e-Bay look-a-like features people who are selling items they have made. That's when I saw pendants made from used Scrabble tiles or dominoes. Some of them even had words and pictures pasted to them with a glass-like resin coating to make the finish look more high-quality.

After looking for over an hour at different tiles I had quite the list going. My poor husband couldn't help but get a little annoyed that I was spending so much time looking at "old game pieces." However, to those artists and craft maniacs who came up with these ingenious ideas: kudos!

Late nights and research papers

So with it being my second-to-last semester, I have spent some late nights working on my current research papers. It seems like my papers from every other year I've spent at Dixie State College were so much easier. Now I have to crack down and hit the books (and online articles) to keep my fingers crossed that I'll receive a good grade.

I found that one of my biggest problems is I am overly critical of myself and my work. That isn't surprising, because it's seemed to be a lifelong trait of mine; however, I'm learning to take a step back and breathe. Sometimes it takes a while to realize you're over-analyzing yourself.

The only advice I have to any student is this: Don't be so hard on yourself! I know it's hard, and it'll take a lot of practice, but it's important to your health and well-being. :) Oh, and never every forget to breath.

A bad case of senioritis

I am officially a senior with one semester left at Dixie State College. It's hard to believe I started almost five years ago. Who knows how many classes that was!

Since I started I have had the opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them, the opportunity to meet people I probably wouldn't have normally taken the time to meet, and found a new passion I never thought I would have. I started out as a physical therapist major. Well, after I found out that would involve touching kadavers, I decided it just wasn't for me. The safer route, of course, was to publicly humiliate myself through journalism.

For a naturally anxious person who sweats out every deadline, you might ask what in the world were you thinking? The answer is simple: I don't know. The nice part is the newspaper paid for my college education and taught me to face my fears. I also had the opportunity to better prepare myself for graduation. I thought high school graduation was scary, but I was so wrong. That award is left for the college degree that ultimately releases you to reek havoc on the world.

I have to say, though, that I will not miss the long days and nights of studying, the mounds of homework, and the stress of everyday school life. I am now wondering what will actually fill that void in my life after I walk across the stage in May. I can only hope my experiences have somehow impacted the college in a positive way. I know I made my mark in the communication department, and unfortunately they probably will never forget me at this point.

And teachers may get abused again

The Associated Press printed an article today reporting the Utah State Office of Education has delayed $20 million in teacher performance pay from being distributed this year. The delay is due to lawmakers deciding whether the teachers should get the bonuses or if it should be used for other needs in the state budget. Teachers were supposed to receive the bonus at the end of this school year, but now teachers will await a decision that will probably be made Tuesday.

If this information doesn't disturb every parent, student and teacher I'd be surprised. This topic is one I definitely feel strongly on. Our teachers, well most of them, put forth over the top efforts to teach Utah students; Utah teachers also are in the bottom third pay bracket. I didn't realize how much teachers really touched me until I reached high school, and as I've gone forward in college I've seen how most teachers go above and beyond for his or her students. What is that rewarded with? Most of the time it's nothing. Now they're promised a bonus that was set to be distributed to school districts before the first of this month, and it's on hold because the state may need it somewhere else.

The way I see it is everybody's hurting, but time and time again teachers get the cut. Why can't the state make a decision and stick with it? They know the teachers have earned this, and they know the teachers need this. If budgets are so bad then they need to find other areas, like they have before, to cut from. Stop making the teachers feel the effects of money problems the state is balancing. Let them, for once, fell and know they are appreciated. After all, they're the ones teaching the next generations to come. How are we going to deal with problems then?

To read this article, go to http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UT_TEACHER_BONUSES_UTOL-?SITE=UTSGS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

A sign of true love

"Ohio grandma gives birth to daughter's triplets"

I came across this headline on USA Today's Web site today and couldn't help but read the article. I was amazed to hear the full story. Jaci Dalenberg, a 56-year-old grandma from Wooster, Ohio, gave birth to triplets on Oct. 11. Why in the world would she give birth to these three baby girls? Because her daughter, Kim Coseno, and her husband Joe couldn't have children. The couple tried the in vetro fertilization and it was successful. The labor had to be induced two months early, however, because one of the babies was not developing normally. Now the children are still in a hospital and are developing well.

After I read this I almost started to cry. I can't quite grasp, and never have grasped, the concept of a mother's love for her children. If it's not good enough that they feed us, aide us when we're sick or hurt, and assist us in our problems, then giving birth to her daughter's children definitely shows the love. I've always found it fascinating and inspiring that women offer there bodies to other unfortunate women who cannot have children for some reason. Surrogacy isn't an easy thing I imagine, and pretty much renting your body for nine months seems to definitely show long term commitment.

I imagine the process would be similar to an adoption process. Adoption is a very touchy subject for me since my husband was adopted at birth. I hold those parents who give their child to another family at a whole other level. I look at my husband's biological mom, Alice, and have respect and gratitude for her sacrifice and love she had for him. I know as she's recalled the situation and from talking to many people in Taylor's family that adoption leaves a strong emotional bond. I can say that I can somewhat understand how this daughter probably feels, but I wouldn't be able to even imagine the full force of the thankfulness she must have to her mother.

The story also made me wonder about myself. Would I have the strength and ability to be a surrogate mother? Could I handle holding a child for nine months for a family that couldn't possibly have one of their own? I know my husband and I have come to a mutual understanding and agreement that we will at one point adopt a child. It's so important to assist these children in need, and give them opportunities they may not have been able to have before. I'm curious to see what other women think. Would you, as a woman, be able to be a surrogate? Or men, would you be able to watch your wife or girlfriend go through the pains of labor for a whole other family? I would hope that I could answer yes to these answers.

To see this article, visit http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2008-11-11-grandma-triplets_N.htm.

12 days 23 hours 8 minutes and 50 seconds!

Yes, I am one of those oh-so-insanely-obsessed "Twilight" fans who stay up until God knows when in the morning to wait for the next release of Stephenie Meyer's creation. The next late night: "Twilight" the movie. The icing on the cake is it's being released on my birthday! Score!

All eyes are on "Twilight" waiting to see how this movie will pan out, and I don't think director Catherine Hardwicke will be disappointed. I can't imagine how much stress would be put on an actor or actress to live up to the performance so many fans are awaiting to see, and it was relieving to see that actress Kristen Stewart, who plays a key role as Bella Swan, is a little nervous.

In an interview with "Entertainment Weekly," Stewart explains some of her odd moments and her opinion towards the filming of a new big hit. She recalls casting for the role and acting out a crucial love scene with four different actors before they casted Robert Pattinson, saying she refused to keep the part unless Pattinson was casted. She said, "Catherine liked a couple of the guys, and I was like, 'Are you joking? I can't do the movie unless Rob does it. 'He got it, and we could, like, see each other."

I also found it interesting that during some scenes of the movie, Pattinson and Stewart changed their lines to lines that felt more natural, or fit the part, instead of cheesy lines. Hardwicke said Stewart wouldn't take any "bulls---" for lines. So hopefully this won't take away from the characters and movie.

According to Hardwicke, the movie must hit $150,000 in sales for Summit Entertainment to consider creating "New Moon" into a movie. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this movie will become a huge hit! I know I'll definitely be playing my part going three or four times after it comes out.

Oh by the way, yay for "Twilight!"

To see Stewart's interview by Entertainment Weekly, go to http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20234559_20234567_20238864,00.html

Learning voting at an early age

So today was Election Day and voters eagerly awaited the results of hundreds of American votes. But hundreds of elementary school children already voted the day before during a mock presidential election. Sunset Elementary School here in St. George participated in the nationwide event. The event allowed students to vote and give their own opinions on who they wanted as the next president. I couldn't really figure out where I stood on this. I thought it was a great thing for elementary schools to give their students an option to learn about the electoral college, the fact that votes count, and the results will have pros and cons. I couldn't help but laugh as I read these quotes from two different students:

"First-grader Eric Aikens said he voted for Barack Obama, calling the candidate his 'favorite person.'

'My dad likes Barack Obama,' Aikens said. 'I like Barack Obama because he is really funny.'

Joey Robertson, a second-grade student, cast his electronic ballot for John McCain.

'I just think he has better ideas,' Robertson said."

I couldn't help but imagine this little kid whose feet don't even touch the floor looking at the different candidates and choosing a president.

On the other hand I think this idea sort of pushes the topic among youth at a very young age. Even though, yes, it will effect them in the long run, why push the importance of voting now? It takes away the opportunity for them to choose whether or not they'll register to vote. Now remember we're in America and even though we have the right and privelege to vote, not everybody will. I originally never signed up because of religious beliefs. So far in the last two weeks I've heard people say people who aren't registered shouldn't be an American citizen, and that I am an unethical or disguisting person because I didn't take the opportunity to vote. Now if this is the land of the freedom of religion, speech and more, then why should I be criticized for my beliefs? Yes the next president was important to me, but that doesn't make me bad, sick and wrong for not voting. Why etch it into these young minds that you need to start voting at a young age?

So I guess my point is don't push these kids to do anything that they should have an option of doing. Don't forget you're in a land of freedom of choice. Don't criticize someone elses' choices. To see the article visit http://thespectrum.com/article/20081104/NEWS03/811040328&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL.