Political Rant: Enter at your own risk.

This election season is really starting to irk me. Not the endless commercials on tv. Not the countless flyers I've received in the mail. Not even the drivers that pass on the left AFTER I've signaled that I'm about to turn left. OK so that last one really isn't about the election, but it's my blog and I want to vent. You know what it is? It's the letter to the editor writers. Granted, they're entitled to their opinion, but I don't understand their train of thought. I've been going over it in my head again and again, and it just befuddles me. So I'm going to talk out how I feel.

Argument 1: Marriage is for creating the next generation. I keep reading this and I get angrier every time I see it. Does this mean that infertile people can't get married? Does it mean that people suffering from empty nest syndrome are required to divorce since they have fulfilled their "raising the next generation" duty? Nope. Not in law. Not in common sense does it say that. Marriage should be about love, not sex and procreation. Having kids is not a requirement of getting married, just as marriage is not a requirement for having kids.

Argument 2: The Bible doesn't approve. The Bible did approve of slavery. So there's that. The Bible says that God loves everyone  So there's that, too. To treat one class of person worse (or even different) just because of their sexual orientation (or gender, race, or sex for that matter) is wrong, and it shouldn't take a 2000 year old book to make people believe that.

Argument 3: I want to protect the sanctity of marriage for my kids. WHAT?! "Have you considered that your kid might be GAY?!?! You haven't? I see." This is the kind of narrow mindedness that is ruining our country. Try explaining to your son why he can't marry the man of his dreams. Try explaining to your daughter why she can't see her sweetheart at the hospital. And let's talk about the sanctity of marriage. I think Vegas weddings pretty much end your argument, especially when combined with a divorce rate close to 50%.

Marriage HAS changed. It is no longer 'til death. It's no longer in sickness (ask Newt). It's no longer in health (ask Tiger). Why should it stay just between a man and a woman?

Growing Pains

Well I never saw this coming. My plan has always been to find a job, live at home and save up money, then get transferred or move somewhere and find a new job. (There are other parts to the plan, but that's neither here nor there) But now...oh man.

I had an interview for a sales position at the John Deere dealership in Belle Plain on Wednesday. The guy that interviewed me was super friendly and the job has a lot of potential. The only problem is, it's an hour and a half from Zumbrota. He said that any commute over 30 minutes each way was unacceptable, hence my predicament. Move to Belle Plain (or some far southern suburb) and start a job that could be a career, or stick it out here and hope something closer pops up?

I know I'm going to have to move out eventually. And I know that in the broad scope of the world, this isn't a very far move. But dang it I'm scared. I've never lived on my own, but that's my own fault for using campus housing. I don't know what to look for in an apartment, in a neighborhood, in a city. Maybe if this job would provide housing, I wouldn't be so hesitant. Then if I wind up somewhere crappy, it's not my fault and I'll have someone to complain to.

I don't think I'm worried about meeting people. 1. I'd be a salesman so I would meet a lot of people. 2. I'd be moving closer to the cities and the friends I already have. This is just the problem I have with being a big picture thinker. Because I can't wrap my mind around what's going to happen, I want to stay in my comfort zone. I told the guy I needed to do some soul searching, so that's what I'll be doing for the next little while. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Resolutions!

Hey gang. Don't worry, I'm still alive, just took a little r and r, but now I'm back and ready to blog!

It's that time of year where people vow to make changes in their lives and I am jumping on that band wagon. They say if you want your resolution to come true, that you should right it down. Well I'll do ya one better. I'll write them down and let you see them! That way, you can help make sure I'm sticking to them!

#1. Stop saying good when people ask how I'm doing. I am awful at this. I've been getting tired of hearing it from myself. It's one thing to say it when someone asks as you pass each other on a sidewalk, but it's another to do it when a friend takes a genuine interest in how you are. And to those of you that are genuinely interested, I will be giving you a lot more insight in 2012.

#2. Give up texting and driving. I've been riding with my brother a lot recently and every time he pulls out his phone I want to take it from him and chuck it out the window, but that would not be very brotherly of me. I hate the fact that he is putting my life in danger. And then it hit me. Every time I do it, I'm not only putting myself at risk, but everyone else on the road. That needs to stop.

#3. Travel. I've spent a lot of my time since graduation sitting at home. Now, my family's great and all, but there's a lot more in this world then soybeans and steers. It might be a trip to the cities, it might be a flight out east, it might be somewhere that's not even on my radar yet!

That's the beauty of 2012..it's full of potential and I can't wait to see where it takes me!

That's a wrap!

Another growing season has come and gone. This one reminded me why fall is my favorite season. It was gorgeous..every day. The sun was shining. The sky was blue. The leaves looked amazing. (You really notice when you're driving 20 mph) I couldn't have asked for better weather, could you?

Farming is one of those things that truly is at the mercy of mother nature, just like outdoor baseball. If it doesn't rain, the crops don't grow. If it rains too much, the crops don't grow. One day with strong enough wind is enough to flatten a crop. And there is nothing a farmer can do about it. Yet, year after year, they continue to farm. Without knowing what the weather will do. Without knowing what prices will do. I guess that's what you'd call an optimist.

But now it's the offseason. A time to think about what happened and what can be done to make it better next year. Just like baseball, the goal is to put the best team on the field, year after year.

So as this season comes to a close, let's enjoy the sunshine and the bountiful harvest, and hope it goes as well next year!

Why Hello There

Hi! It's been a while since we've chatted. You may be asking, what has Grady been up to? Well, he has been doing a lot of thinking. Thinking about life. Thinking about what to do with it. Thinking about what I like. And I've come up with a few things.

I like driving. Not necessarily to a particular destination, just jumping in my truck and seeing what the world has to show me. There are some pretty sweet things out there when you're willing to take the time to look. I like farming...on the side. When it was coming home for a weekend and getting away from homework, it was awesome. When I needed to escape the hall, I could go home for a couple hours and recharge. Putting in a 14 hour day was nothing when it was only once or twice a week.  But now that I've been home for almost 5 months..it's starting to wear me out. And harvest has barely started. Fourteen hour days are going to become the norm until December. I already need a vacation..

What else makes me happy? Watching movies. I may not get them (Inception...), but I love watching them. Making people laugh. Knowing that I gave someone at least a little happiness makes me happy. Walking..it's good and good for you! These sounds so simple but that's who I am. I am not a complex guy. Give me some markers and some paper and I will be entertained for hours.

I still don't know what I want to do with life..but I do know that I want the above things to stay a part of it no matter how old I get. I may have to get a big boy job, but that doesn't mean I need to completely grow up. Now..where are the Sunday comics?

The search continues

Just because I don't know what I want to do with my life doesn't mean I'm not trying to figure it out. I keep sending out applications, and they keep telling me they want someone with more experience. How can the unemployment rate be so high if everyone is looking to hire experienced workers?? I read today that the unemployment rate for people 20-24 is like 5 points higher than the national average. I have a feeling that the real percentage is a lot greater. There has to be a lot of people like me that just moved back in with their parents after school and are looking for jobs from their basement. Those sorts of people haven't applied for unemployment..thus, can't be counted as actively looking for jobs.

All I know is...I can't get a job because I don't have any experience, I can't get any experience because I don't have a job. I suppose I could go be underemployed somewhere, but is it really fair to them if any moment I could just jump ship to the first best thing that comes along? I don't think so. I think I just need to keep looking, keep an open mind, and keep my head up, hoping someone will take a chance on me.

Maybe I should do a happy post..

I like to think of myself as a pretty positive person. I try to make the best out of every situation, and to always see the light at the end of the tunnel. Well, looking back on my first entries into the blogosphere, I haven't been all that positive, about anything. But there is one subject that will always make me happy-Jenny.

She is my everything. Those of you that know her know what an incredible person she is. She's so fun and full of life and I love that about her :) Today marks our 21 month anniversary. (I think anniversaries go a lot like babies in that, until they're 3 or 4 years old, you have to give the length in months.) A lot has happened since the day she said yes. We've taken trips, seen some awesome things, and had an absolutely incredible time :)

She makes me feel good about myself. She cares about me more than anyone ever has. She is my Jenny :) In my eyes, the perfect day would be me and her laying on the couch under a blanket, watching movies and just being with each other allllll day :)

She's super busy right now getting her hall ready for move in day, but once that settles down, I will be making a trek out to Brookings to see her. I'm very excited :) A weekend here and there isn't a lot, but I know that in time we'll be together and every day can be movie day :)