The Good. The Bad. Tanksgiving.

           Thanksgiving 2011 has gone down in the history of all Thanksgivings. All the good things of thanksgiving come together, like good food and great family. The nasty food and odd relatives also contribute to the annual experience. You always have the awkward relatives that you only see once a year. Everyone is either laughing or disputing together. You can’t wait to arrive at Thanksgiving dinner, and you can’t wait to leave. I find myself wishing I could have this caliber of food all the time. I also find myself wish I did not have to deal with some of my relatives ever.  

Peer Success, Personal Failure

         I am back in Bristow for Thanksgiving and deer season. All my high school buddies have shot huge bucks. My friend Taylor shot a massive twelve point. Austin shot a nice typical eight point. My season has been horrible. I shot a nice buck last Saturday, and the blood trail went cold. I searched all day Sunday with no luck finding it. Losing a deer is part of hunting, it happens. The better quality of deer you lose, the more it pisses you off. I will probably head back to the woods soon. There is still an ounce of ambition in me.

Black Friday, I'll Pass

         Today is the day that you will not catch me shopping. I absolutely hate dealing with crowds. Across the nation people swarmed stores for the black Friday bargains. I refer to today as the crazy people’s holiday. The six o’clock news is always bound to cover the horror stories of the day. As for this year, a lady used pepper spray on the crowd as the doors opened. The incident affected approximately twenty people. The lady has not been found at this point. Also in the news, a man was shot outside a Wal-Mart while being robbed. A bystander held one of the robbers until the police arrived. I think I will cut my losses, or cut my savings rather than put up with the chaos of black Friday.  

Almost Thanksgiving Break!

      I cannot wait until Thanksgiving Break. Only four days away; my much needed academic break is very much anticipated. Although I will not have a complete break from homework, my work load will be significantly diminished for my five day weekend. I will spend my break hunting, spending time with family, flying, and working. The term “break” gives you the impression of having a lack of responsibility, but unfortunately that is not the case. I have to use this time to work so this poor college student can accumulate some money. If the weather permits I plan on flying the helicopter. While I have been in school this semester I have not been able to find the time to go fly. My flying skills are one thing that I definitely do not want to go without practice for a long period of time.

OSU Suffers Significant Loss

          Late tonight the world of college football was shook. The undefeated number two team in the BCS lost to Iowa State. Oklahoma State ultimately played poorly, especially for being a number two rated team. At the end of the fourth quarter the game was tied 24 to 24. The game was issued to overtime. Both teams scored, and the game was subject to double overtime where Iowa State sealed the deal. Tonight the Oklahoma State football team saw their chance at the national title fade away. As an Oklahoma State football season ticket holder, I just hope my bedlam ticket is still worth some money.

Sad Day in Cowboy Country

         Thursday night the unthinkable happened. Oklahoma Sates women’s basketball coaches died in a plane crash. Among the victims were the 82 year old pilot, the pilot’s wife, coach Kurt Budke, and assistant coach Miranda Serrna. The coaches were on a recruiting trip. The plane went down near Perryville Arkansas. A nearby hunter claims the plane sputtered before spiraling to the ground. The FAA is still conducting a investigation on the crash. As a pilot myself, it is very disturbing to hear about aircraft crashing. This instance particularly hits home because I am a part of the Oklahoma State family.

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The rain has gone

                I have had bad eyes since I was in middle school, which was not a big deal to me because I was able to wear contact lenses. Approximately a year ago I developed dry eyes. The dry eyes condition made it impossible to wear the contacts that I was so use to wearing. The last year I have been wearing glasses. I have been so sick of wearing glasses that I have recently decided to undergo the laser eye surgery. There is no doubt that I am excited to get the procedure done, but I would be a liar if I said I was not a little bit scared. It is not so much that I am scared of the procedure, yet anxious about the outcome. I just hope everything goes well and I have great results and maybe then I can “see clearly now.”

Senior Citizens Protest in Stillwater

The Stillwater Senior Activity Center is reducing its hours after budget cuts. Seniors are aggravated by the cuts and are determined to protest.

                The Senior Activity Center is cutting ten hours of every week in the new schedule. The seniors argue that they have paid their fair share of taxes over the years, and proclaim they should be able to keep the previous schedule. Shirley Burt is heading up the protest set for Monday morning at the steps of the Stillwater Municipal building. Burt is a widow and lives alone. She explains how important it is for her as well as people like her to be able to go somewhere and have fellowship with one’s peers.

Reno Airshow

                A plane crashed Thursday in Reno, Nevada during the National Championship Air Races. The plane, piloted by 80-year old Jimmy Leeward, crashed into the stands after losing control.

                Leeward was a very well-known participant in the sport over the past several years. The crash killed two others, and injured fifty six. Of the fifty six injured: fifteen were considered to be in critical condition, thirteen in serious condition, and twenty-eight had non-life threatening injuries. Witnesses say Leeward lost control of his P-51 Mustang, they also say it was evident he tried to avoid hitting the crowd. Witnesses also explain the scene as “complete carnage” with debris and body parts scattered about. My heart and prayers go out to the people and their families affected by this tragic event.

Good job on w2 blogs. Maybe you can get yourself some of those headphones that completely drown out any sound. I wish you the best. 15

9/11

                The main story in national news this week is the 10 year anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. I just cannot wrap my head around the fact that it has been ten years. My heart goes out to all the family's effected by the disaster. I remember feel a sense on emptiness the following days of 9/11. I think most Americans were naive that something like that would happen to the United States prior to September 11, I know I was. I saw a video today that was interesting: Astronaut in space during attacks share unique footage, if you have a chance check it out.

First Game Jidders?

                 What has been going on in Stillwater? Oklahoma States back to back victories over Louisiana and Arizona in the last week has everyone excited about football.
                  The Cowboys beat the Ragin Cajuns sSaturday, but not without a fight. The Cowboys struggled a little through out the game especially in the third quarter. Following up to the first game of the season, I had heard nothing but promising things about our Oklahoma State football team, but to be honest after seeing their performance Saturday, I had my doubts about how this season will go. Needless to say Thursday nights game against Arizona relieved my worries. The Cowboys dealt an impressive game. I hope the Cowboys keep up the good work, especially when December rolls around.

Head Phones

                      My neighbor is trying to learn how to play Hotel California on the guitar. My neighbor has a long way to go before he or she hits the big time. It is not his or her lack of talent or rhythm that has me irritated, lord knows I can't play any better. Trying to do my homework, such as this essay for example, is very difficult with the obnoxious racket. So the problem at hand is, "how can I think about what to write about when I can't hear myself think?" Well I guess I will write about my annoying neighbor because that is in fact what is on my mind. It makes for a lousy paper, but unfortunately that is whats on my mind. Note to self: Christmas present idea for the tenet next door, head phones.

Where Theres Smoke

In the past few days wildfires have been an enormous issue, specifically in central Oklahoma including the Stillwater area. Most notably the fires just outside of Oklahoma City that consumed several peoples homes. There have also been numerous grass fires across the state.

                The combination of high winds and extremely dry vegetation has made central Oklahoma susceptible to wildfires this week. The fires on the outskirts of Oklahoma City received the most media attention with the extensive property damage they caused and the large effort it took to extinguish the blazes by surrounding fire departments. The news neglected to cover the many grass fires across the state, including one east of Stillwater on highway 51 and one near Perkins.

World Trade Center Reconstruction

I have noticed in recent news attention has been brought to the reconstruction of the World Trade Center. As we all know the terrorist attacks on September 11^th 2001 left the twin towers in ruble. The people associated with the ownership of the Trade Center vowed to rebuild along with a memorial for the victims.

                The new World Trade Center will consist of four towers that are said to be complete in 2013. Along with the four towers on the sixteen acre piece of real estate in Manhattan will be a memorial for the nearly 3,000 people who died on that horrifying day. Where the towers once stood will be two water falls in the outline of the former buildings. Trees will be planted throughout the memorial. The story of one of these trees is particularly interesting. The only living survivor from ground zero was this mangled pear tree, which was rehabilitated and recently replanted back at ground zero.

Cigars Might be More than a Hazard to your Health

                I saw something about Cuban cigars today that got the wheels turning in my head. I’m not particularly a connoisseur by any means, but I have smoked a few cigars in my life. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Cuban cigars is; aren’t they illegal?

                What I want to know is what part of Cuban cigars is illegal. Is it buying them? Is it selling them? Maybe just owning one is illegal. Needless to say I had to find out. I got online and stated researching. I found out there has been a federal ban on Cuban imports since 1963 under the “Trading with the Enemy” act. Come to find out, although it is illegal to buy, sell, or even own Cuban cigars in the United States, the cigars can be bought online from dealers in Europe and Canada with a promised “minimal” chance of getting caught. Will I give it a try?