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!