Posted Monday, September 29, 2008 by Michele Reed
I am 31 years old and can honestly say I have never voted nor have I ever had the urge to vote. My family were registered voters, but they never really discussed there thoughts and options with me. I always felt that I was not educated enough in the political area to be able to make an executive decision.
Well there is always a first time for everything…This year I am going to vote and I am proud to be doing it. I still don’t know a lot, but luckily for me there are opinions and answers all over the web for me to search, read and decided. I do know what I want to happen in the next 4 years and I do know what I am not happy with so I already know more than I thought I did.
I have learned it is very difficult to have a political conversation with a co-worker or friend because everyone has there own opinions and are very strong about there beliefs when it comes to a head. The thing that bothers me the most is I have found that most people vote for a certain party because their family votes for that party. What does that say for your own thoughts and opinions? As I am sure we don’t agree with a lot of things that are family or parents agree with so why agree with this…why not develop your own thoughts and opinions? Then if you still agree with them go for it, but makes sure you know what you are voting for.
I am not going to get into my beliefs, but I encourage everyone to make sure they vote this year. Do some research and take a poll of pros and cons for each party and really weigh out the good, change and bad. Check out “Be the cuase blogs” Bethecause.org. I found a lot of great blogs there about the different parties. Also Obama has sponsored a vote for change website for voters to register and there are other websites and local libraries were you can vote.
I believe that we need something to happen, something different and it needs to happen fast. I am not a friend of war. War hasn’t worked for us in the last 10 years…so why are we still fighting. This world needs to think outside of the box and try something different. All we are doing is destroying our beautiful earth and ruining lives of innocent people. I watch the news everyday and I see nothing but hate, violence and death; this is awful and I can not imagine this continuing the way it is and expecting things to get better.
So if you have never voted or if you were not sure if you were going to vote this year or not I beg you to think long and hard. Ask questions, research and develop your own opinion – and vote to make a change. Let’s make this world a better place…Let’s start today.
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Posted Monday, September 22, 2008 by Michele Reed
School is out for break and I need a break….As I am sure we all need a break from time to time. Therefore with the next two weeks off, I thought to myself what I could do…Hmmm. I need something to help me relax as well as focus on strengthening my body, mind and health. What can do this better than, Pilates.
I have heard my friends and coworkers mention taking Pilates and Yoga in the past, but never ventured out to try it myself. After really reading up on Pilates I became very interested and decided to try it out.
Pilates is an exercise that focuses on the core of the body. Once you can control the core of your body you then can build on making it stronger, taller and leaner. In return relives stress, fatigue, troubled joints and back problems. They say if you do this 2 times a week you will feel a difference in 2 weeks, you will see your body change in 90 days. Check out this website for some more information and ideas. http://pilates.about.com/od/whatispilates/a/WhatIsPilates.htm
I went to my first class at In Balance Yoga and Pilates, in Lake Mary, FL this past Saturday and I absolutely loved it. I learned while I was there that I have some work to do, but I am excited to take on these challenges. At the end of my class that day I felt great and was ready for the next class to start. I felt so relaxed and clear minded it was amazing. I did have some challenges that will take some time in over coming. One of them was breathing...I have never been a good breather and take weak breathhes from the chest up, not tummy up. The other problem was not being able to stretch as far as others in the class and at one point my hips were exhausted that I had to rest. Apparently we hold all of our stress in our hips which is why it is good to stretch them and relese the stress. I went home and relaxed on the coach for the rest of the evening that day with not a care in the world. My boyfriend commented on how relaxed and refreshing I looked. The next day I was sore, but it was a good sore as if I accomplished a great workout. I figured I will go for a month (2x a week) and learn everything needed so I can do this in my living room on my own time.
My day to day experiences can be stressful and challenging which makes me tired, worn down mentally and physically and even gets me ill at times. However by doing Pilates now I truly think this will help me take life to the next level. I will keep you posted on my results as I come along this great journey.
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Posted Sunday, September 14, 2008 by Michele Reed
Wakeboarding is a sport that evolved from surfing and snowboarding. The sport was introduced in 1989 by two brothers named Porter and Murray Daughtry. Porter invented the Skurfer and Murray is a Pro-snowboarder. Between the two they joined thoughts and the love of each sport and came up with wakeboarding. The sport itself has risen overtime and has become a sport of pleasure and fun for many people. It has also become one of the XGame sport challenges.
The wakeboard is a surfboard type of material with two boots attached by screws. You then position yourself behind the boat and are pulled at speeds ranging from 18-27 miles per hour depending on the person. When positioning to start you are in the water with your knees bent and the board directly in front of you. The boat then takes off pulling you up out of the water. This can take many attempts before figuring it all out. There are different levels of tricks that you learn and become proficient over the course of time. Some wakeboards have gotten so good that they are performing jumps high in the air, doing Surface 360’s, Powerslides and much more. Check out Danny Harf who is a professional wakeboarder in Orlando. http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1374480188
With all this being said I have attempted to learn the sport this past summer. A friend got a boat this summer and decided to teach us all the sport of wakeboarding. Of course the guys picked it up a little quicker than the girls…even though a girl was teaching us. The hardest part is learning to get up on the wakeboard. Once you master that which could take many attempts, then you have to learn to stay up and become comfortable with the water. The first time I got up it was frightening because I did not know what to do next. It took me approximately 30 attempts of the course of the summer to get up. However once that was mastered I get up every time now. I am currently learning to become one with the water and work on going back and forth over the wake. This is much more difficult than you are probably imagining it to be. The thing that makes this most difficult is that I am only doing this once every three weeks or so which makes it harder to learn.
The process of learning involves face plants, butt slaps and much more on the surface of the water. Wiping out at speeds of 18-27 miles per hour really puts a beating on the body, but I love the challenge and really enjoy being out on the water. My friend is really good at it and we all enjoy watching her perform many tricks as well as trying new ones. She has been wakeboarding for over 10 years and has learned many tricks. She gives us inspiration to master the sport which brings us back for more every time.
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Posted Monday, September 08, 2008 by Michele Reed
Ok I am just going to ramble this week. I have had such a crazy past five days that I don’t even know where to begin. Let’s see last week was crazy to start off because of Labor Day. Then work sent me away for a training class. That was not planned for and my trip back was delayed. I ended up spending the last several days in Ft. Lauderdale without my laptop. If you are an online student you know this means that my homework didn’t get completed in time because I did not have my books or laptop with all of my saved programs. Then coming home there was flight problems due to the storms and I got stuck in the airport. Yuck…
When I finally made it back to Orlando, I had to go straight to work this morning. Yep, that’s right; bright an early 7:30 this morning straight from the plane to the desk. Let’s just say I am pooped. After a long day of work I had to come home and work on last week’s assignment because it was not completed due to the fact I was planning on being back 3 days earlier. This whole trip really ticked me off.
On top of it all however; I did get something positive out of the trip. The company I work for really takes training serious. Once you complete certain months of being with the company they send you away for different training classes. They really take pride in providing the employees with proper knowledge to get the job done. This was new hire training even though I have been there for 4 months. It was more like a recap of the last four months to make sure you understand everything thus far. I did pretty well, but it was nice to recap because there were things that I learned in the beginning and forgot later. The problem is they throw so much at you in the beginning that things are bound to link from brain in overload. You know?
On top of all that I had to blog too and I also need to read more of other blogs. I am pretty new to blogging and finding other blogs. I know that people do it, but where do they post them? I tried to search for other student blogs and I only found students that are attending a University – no comparison to my life. Does anyone have certain blogs that they love to read? Or blogs you always follow up with because you can’t resist? Please let me know your thoughts…anything will help. What is your favorite type of blog?
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Posted Wednesday, September 03, 2008 by Michele Reed
 ewarding
Do you ever feel stressed and exhausted around the holidays and breaks that come with work and school? Well I most defiantly do and I have been attending school for a year and a half and working for the last 11 years. You might ask what makes you feel this way…
When a holiday is near work becomes crazy with deadlines, pressure and everyone else around gets crazy too. You have to get certain things done before the day off arrives and when you get back to work you have to work over time to get caught back up. Then you have school which creates the same type of functional roles. You must get the homework completed, turned in and perhaps even the following week depending on the time and length of the holiday. All of this together is exhausting and stressful, but I will say the holiday is that much more appreciated.
Here at Rasmussen we have 11 week courses which I think helps a lot because it gives the professors more time to cover all the material as well as give you more time to digest it. I have a lot of friends who attend other online programs and they had 5 week courses. They did not feel as if they really learned the material because professors had to cram the information just so they could cover the material. Could you imagine having 5 week courses and trying to work 60-70 hours a week, do school work and take a holiday or vacation? I really would be stressed and exhausted and probably not make it.
I am in week 9 of my 11 week courses for my Accounting class. I especially need the whole 11 weeks to learn this material. This class has been one of my most challenging courses in the last year and a half of college. This is when time, a good professor and patience really take ownership. My next semester gets even more struggling and stressful with holidays, but I have to take it in strides and just keep moving. I will need all of your support as I head through these next few months – Counting on each other for support is great strength.
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Posted Tuesday, September 02, 2008 by Michele Reed
 The Olympics are over and lots of medals have been handed out. During the Summer Olympics 2008 we have seen people from all around the world beat world records. These amazing athletes surpassed athletes from years of history since the beginning of Olympic times. Why do you think this is?
I have heard some say things like athletes are taking illegal stimulants to increase endurance and strengthen their bodies. I was at work one day and people were stating that they were waiting for someone to find evidence that Phelps is taking illegal enhancements. What about Bolt and all the world records he beat during the Olympics this year? Do you think he is on something too? Well I don’t think so; I think we as people are more educated and stronger.
Today’s generation has more resources between technology and scientist which allow or provide better ways for people to succeed at something and then take it to the next level by mastering it. We have many resources at our finger tips which really should mean to most – you do not have an excuse to fail or not succeed. Anything that we try or put 100% of effort into means we have succeeded, but why stop there. If everyone had the determination of the young athletes today imagine all that we can do. We would not just go to school and get by with passing a class, but we would strive to master that class and every class after that.
I guess what I am getting at is scientist have made discoveries with nutrition, health and have learned so much more about the human anatomy that it has allowed athletes and trainers to be smart about how they treat there bodies and they know exactly what needs to be done to make them stronger mentally and physically as well as quicker. And to take this past athletes; Technology has allowed us to do so much more, like school online. You can get any degree you want without ever having to step into a classroom. You can communicate with people across the world in seconds. If we sit back and look at the resources around us; we should wonder why we aren’t doing more with life. I know I do when I stop and think about it. What about you?
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Posted Tuesday, September 02, 2008 by Michele Reed
When it came to being an athlete, I was not in the picture. It wasn’t that I hated sports, but I never learned how to play anything. Let’s just say my family was not very active when it came to sports; therefore I had no one to teach me. If you don’t know how to play the sport, then how are you supposed to like it and achieve success with it?
I remember in middle school playing basketball and enjoying it, but didn’t understand it enough to compete with the big dogs so I just stayed off the porch. Since the Olympics have been on I have watched it everyday. I see these amazing athletes who strive to achieve success and be the best they can be at it. That is a true dedication and love for the sport. That is what I lacked. Now I sit here all grown up and wish I had that love. For example I never really learned how to swim well. I know enough to get stay afloat, but nothing like these swimmers we have been watching. Michael Phelps amazes me with his determination. To be honest…I want to go to the YMCA and take lessons tomorrow.
This is the dedication I need to get me through school. The love and dedication to learn and be the best I can be. I proved to myself today while doing a homework assignment that if you have the drive to do it – nothing can stand in your way. I have been having difficulty with my accounting class and I was determined that I was going to figure this out, no matter what it took. I want to learn more accounting and perhaps go in that direction with school to have an Accounting degree instead of a Marketing degree. So if I want to go down that road, I just can not skate by accounting- I need to conquer it with success.
So I will continue to watch the Olympics and as I do I will gain more and more strength from these athletes and in return I am going to use that strength to get me through this accounting class and the others classes to come.
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