NaBloPoMo Month - "I Lead..."

NaBloPoMo Month - "I Lead..."
Entry #4 - 11/04/2013

The state slogan for Maine in Latin is Dirigo and when translated to English means, I Lead...and that slogan could take on a whole new meaning come November 2014, if Representative Mike Michaud has anything to say about it...considering he could be the first gay governor in the United States of America.

Aggregated data collected from Pew Research Center in March 2013 and May 2013 indicates that the General Public favor legalization of gay and lesbian marriage by 50%. Democrats show their favoritism of the hot button issue by 62% while Republicans continue to practice 2004 politics and only favor gays and lesbians marrying by 33%.

U.S. Representative Mike Machuad

These numbers came into play today when Maine Democrat, Representative Mike Michaud a contender for his parties nomination for Governor declared today in a column that appeared in the Bangor Daily News and Portland Press Herald that he was in fact a gay man in Congress. And for those of you who are keeping count, that brings the total number of openly gay members of the United House to seven, and there are eight total openly gay legislators in Congress including Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin.

But what is so historic about Representative Michaud's announcement is not only the fact that he could become the first openly gay man elected to the post of Governor in the United States, but that he was so to the point about it and more importantly not wanting his truth to impact his state and the election that he has a vested interest in. In an effort to squash the "whisper campaigns" and "insinuations" from those opposed to his candidacy, he simply stated, "They want people to question whether I am gay. Allow me to save them the trouble with a simple, honest answer: 'Yes I am. But why should it matter?'"

In a society that worries far to much about who's zooming with who...will this coming out of the Michaud have an impact on the Gubernatorial election nearly a year away? If previous votes that pertain to gay marriage in Maine is any indication it appears no - in a recent poll conducted by Bangor Daily News disapproval of gay marriage in Maine is down 38%, while 62% of Maine residence say marriage equality has had "no impact" on their lives. What a novel concept..."NO IMPACT" it's funny how the idea of two men in a loving and committed relationship has had no impact on straight citizens of Maine, just as I am sure a man and a woman has had no impact on gay citizens of Maine - other than the idea of being denied civil liberties in other parts of the country...Oklahoma included.

Governor Mary Fallin announced her re-election campaign last month. She also ordered the National Guard to stop processing requests for military benefits for same-sex couples in September...and by doing so ignored a directive from the Pentagon. Governor Fallin based her reasoning on a 2004 law. It's no doubt that the Governor will campaign for re-election based on 2004 data regarding this issue. A decade later it's sad that one state could elect the first ever homosexual Governor, while another (hey Oklahoma!) is denying benefits to the National Guard! And let's hope that Governor Fallin doesn't preach to us about the sanctity of marriage...considering the fact she's DIVORCED!

Michaud put it best when speaking on if his sexual orientation would impact his nearly 30 years of public service or his job as Governor of Maine..."My personal life has never factored into how I do my job and it's not going to factor into how I do my job as governor. Let's move forward and talk about the issues that matter to Maine."

And talk about the issues that matter to all of us, not just in Maine but in the United States and in our own state. Who's zooming who should not longer be an issue. I'll continue to follow the Michaud election and hopefully a year from now write a post about his election night as the Governor! Can you imagine the Inaugural Balls and Galas!?!

 

NaBloPoMo Month - "Waiting to Exhale"

NaBloPoMo Month - "Waiting to Exhale"
Entry #3 - 11/03/2013

Today's blog entry comes from a "The Daily Post" writing prompt that reads: Tell us about a time when everything seemed to be going wrong - and then, suddenly you knew it would be alright.

This writing prompt actually got me to thinking about how I tend to overreact in some situations...shocker to some of you I know and then how once I have taken a moment to calm down, take a breath and think it over - the situation is sometimes, not all the time, much more simpler than I once thought it to be.

One of the most recent things that comes to mind where everything seemed to be going wrong was in fact this year. I'm it's one of the things that I will talk about in my Top 10 Defining Moments blog, but it fits the nature of this posting as well. In August 2012, I spent a month back home in Oklahoma. It was then that it dawned on me I was ready to come back home. I made a list of the top things I wanted to accomplish before leaving Las Vegas and then began the work of making the return happen. I had my weight loss surgery, put my house on the market and worked to find a new job. Suddenly when all of those things fell into place...life began to move at warp speed.

Moving Day - April 2013

Boxes had to be packed. Movers had to be contacted. More boxes had to be packed. An apartment had to be found. And before I knew it...the situation that I envisioned on having such control over was grabbing me by the balls and not letting go! The world seemed to be against me - I couldn't find an apartment in Stillwater, the movers weren't able to give me a solid date on delivery of my items, the house wasn't being sold fast enough and finally when the movers did give me a delivery date on a Thursday afternoon - it was for the very next day! My world was being uprooted and all I wanted to do was get a manicure and go bowling with my buddies (which thanks to that damn moving company I didn't get to do). It's funny how we plan and plan and plan for something to happen, yet it never really seems to be how it goes in the long run. I kept thinking..."If you want to make God laugh tell him your plans..." and now looking back at the situation I knew he got a really good giggle at me with this move! I have often said I wish life were like a musical and if it was in fact true - then Reba's 1996 "Close to Crazy" single from her album "What If It's You" would have been the theme song in my life for the week of April 29, 2013!

I left Las Vegas at approximately 12:30PM on Friday, 05/03/2013, nearly five years to the day that I first accepted an offer from IGT. With the Kia loaded to the absolute brim and knowing that I couldn't stop even for a moment to rest...I started on what would be a twenty hour journey across three time zones and five states...at this point I was still a ball of nerves and didn't know when I would be to "exhale."

It wasn't until nearly 12 hours into the journey with another six to go, when I stopped in Amarillo, Texas for gas and this large-ass cup of coffee that I thought to myself...I might just make this...I might just pull this off...and so I cranked the radio up as loud as it would go in my little Kia Sportage and rolled down a window so that cool spring Texas air could hit me in the face so to help me not fall asleep and wreck my car...because again, if you want to make God laugh...just tell him your plans!


Until Next Time...Ciao Bella and Exhale!

 

NaBloPoMo Month - "Who's Coming to Dinner"

NaBloPoMo Month - "Who's Coming to Dinner"
Entry #2 - 11/02/2013

This has always been a favorite question to ask in a group of new people, when you're on a date with someone and even in a blog post!

Dead or alive...who are the top five people that you would invite to a dinner party?

I thought it would be fun way to kick off (officially) NaBloPoMo Month and reveal in no particular order who my top five choices were - FEMALE EDITION! These delicious dinner companion divas are in no particular order.

Oprah! Reba! Danielle! Dolly! Jacqueline!

5. Dolly Parton
First of all, let me just start by saying that Dolly Rebecca Parton is Fabulous...and yes that is fabulous with a capital "F" honey children!

The original voice of the great song, "I Will Always Love You" has been a favorite celebrity of mine since a performed her classic hit "9 to 5" in sign language in early 2007 - and yes you read that correctly. From her turn as Truvy in my all-time favorite movie "Steel Magnolias" to having publicly declared that "It takes a lot of time and money to look this cheap, honey," to having told Larry King in 2009 that she's written over 3,000 songs - Dolly Rebecca Parton is guaranteed to be a good time...plus I would love to duet with her to "Islands in the Stream!"

Favorite Dolly quote to carry with you through life..."When someone shows you their true colors...believe them," from her 1995 autobiography "Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business."

Plus ya'll she's Miley's godmother...and you know it doesn't get much better than that!


4. Danielle Steel
Of course one of my favorite author would have to be on the guest list. Regardless of whether or not you have ever read any of Ms. Steel's 91 fiction based novels, one will have to admit that she is a master of her craft. As an aspiring writer I would love nothing more than to just sit with her and listen about how she is able to come up with character after character and storyline after storyline. It's been reported that she is often times working on at least five projects at a time. In 2012, she produced four novels and already in 2013, she has written and published three novels including her first New York Times Bestseller since 2006. Danielle Steel is much more than an author of women driven fiction for me. Reading her books connect me to my Mamma, like watching soap operas connect me to my great-grandmother - it's a special place in my heart.

3. Oprah
It's Oprah Winfrey ya'll...enough said!

2. Reba
While I may be a fan of Dolly Parton - I am the ultimate fan of Reba McEntire, having seen her in concert a record (for me at least) four times (2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013) - I have loved this fellow Okie since she wore that plunging red dress on some award show in the 90s and shocked her Momma! She continues to remain a relevant country powerhouse performer and has proven with Kelly Clarkson that she can put someone back on the map again. Reba's songs could tell the musical story of my life, much like ABBA's work told the musical story for Mamma Mia. In fact, perhaps a future blog post will be my Top 10 Reba Songs of all time!

1. Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis
Before Ginnifer Goodwin and Katie Holmes were playing the former First Lady in Made for Television movies, Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel) was showing them how it was done in NBC mini-series "A Woman Named Jackie" and as an a child...I lived for that movie. To the point, I was probably the only ten year old ever to read the autobiography of the same name. I would love to sit down with the former First Lady to just get a one-on-one account of the history she had a front row seat for...married to the Kennedy family, JFK's Presidency, the assignation and the years that followed. Jackie has always been my most favorite culture, pop or otherwise icon and to share a meal with her would be amazing!

NaBloPoMo Month - What the "BLEEP" is NaBloPoMo?

NaBloPoMo Month - What the "BLEEP" is NaBloPoMo?
Entry #1 (Sorta Of) - 11/01/2013

What the hell is NaBloPoMo you might be asking yourself right now...well I am sure glad that you did ask! According to the research that I found NaBloPloMo was started seven years in 2006 in response to NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) which means for writers who aspire to write their own novel work to write the aforementioned novel in one month - that month being November.

 

While I have aspirations to one day publish my own novel, I thought NaBloPoMo is a much more realistic goal - 30 blog posts in 30 days. Now some of readers will no doubt inform me that as of this posting it is 11/02/2013, thus meaning I have already broken the #1 rule which is 30 posts in the 30 days - however I counter, for the record, that I didn't learn of the existence of NaBloPoMo until late last night and that I work 40-plus hours a week and I was to lazy to roll out of bed last night to do the proper research needed to write a blog...so this will be credited as entry one for "Sparkling Vodka: NaBloPoMo 2013 Challenge."

 

Through my research of NaBloPoMo I have found other blogs that have topic suggests for blogs that I will be using throughout the month. I'll feature some pop culture blogs that including talking about the fabulous "The Good Wife" and the equally fabulous Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope in ABC's "Scandal" and of course the November entry to the Top Ten Defining Moments of my Twenties.

 

So check back all this month and let's see if I can really do it ya'll...thirty blogs in 29-ish days!

 

Until Next Time ~ Ciao Bella

Memories of a Recovering National FFA Convention Addict - Part II

Memories of a Recovering National FFA Convention Addict - Part II

FFA members will tell you, because they should know from their Greenhand days in Ag I that the National FFA Convention has had three homes...Kansas City (1928-1998), Louisville (1999-2005) and Indianapolis (2006-2012) and back to Louisville in 2013.

 

In 2007, it was my second convention in Indianapolis and it brought back memories of a time gone by...more specifically memories of my first convention in Kansas City. See in Kansas City there was a downtown atmosphere that was enjoyed (albeit perhaps no longer a safe atmosphere in 1998), but a downtown feeling nevertheless. With the arrival in Indianapolis, the National FFA Convention once again had that feeling. In the second installment of my blog, I went out and about throughout downtown Indianapolis to explore with the help of my longtime friend - Ms. Ginny Berg!

 

Ginny & Myself

 

FFA members will tell you, because they should know from their Greenhand days in Ag I that the National FFA Convention has had three homes...Kansas City (1928-1998), Louisville (1999-2005) and Indianapolis (2006-2012) and back to Louisville in 2013.

 

In 2007, it was my second convention in Indianapolis and it brought back memories of a time gone by...more specifically memories of my first convention in Kansas City. See in Kansas City there was a downtown atmosphere that was enjoyed (albeit perhaps no longer a safe atmosphere in 1998), but a downtown feeling nevertheless. With the arrival in Indianapolis, the National FFA Convention

 

My Views: Touring Downtown Indianapolis

 

Georgia Street in downtown Indianapolis is officially, for this week at least, "FFA Way" as the 80th National FFA Convention gets underway Wednesday afternoon.

 

 

FFA members from across the country proudly wearing those world-recognizable blue corduroy jackets are beginning to fill the streets. Members, advisors and guests are eagerly anticipating the kickoff session featuring keynote speaker, the inspiration and take-notice Dr. Rick Rigsby. You'll want to check the blog later because I'll be blogging about the first general session at convention!

 

Ask your FFA advisor about past convention trips and I'm sure one of the topics they'll mention is going to the downtown area of Kansas City. The downtown experience was lost in translation when the convention found a new home at Freedom Hall in Louisville in 1999. Lucky for us, we've captured a moment from yesteryear and the downtown element is back! We couldn't ask for a better, more beautiful and full of like place than Indianapolis.

 

Side Note: I returned to Indianapolis in October 2011 for my eleventh convention and I can attest to the fact that there was nothing quite like being in downtown Indianapolis again...it was quite simply amazing!

 

Do you have questions about what to do between sessions? Where do you go when you're looking for a quick bite to eat? Or just curious about what places to visit around Conseco Fieldhouse? Fortunately for you FFA members, I braved the refreshing cool weather with my pal Ginny to find some of the hottest spots in town! So read on and let Tour Guide Josh show you around some of the coolest places in town!

 

Destination #1: The American Super Hero Museum

Located at 20 W. Louisiana Street, less than three block from Conseco Fieldhouse, you can set your inner-child free and take a tour through the history of Batman and Superman all in one place. The Super Hero Museum has memorabilia items: action figures and costumes worn by Superman from Kirk Alyn to Dean Cain. Tickets are priced at $5 per person and the museum is open from 11am-8pm. Check it our right after one of the General Sessions. You'll be glad that you did!

 

Destination #2: Union Station/Crowne Plaza Hotel/Pan American Plaza

If you're looking for a great place to take some group pictures, or if you're like I was in high school and had to have pictures for your FFA scrapbook, then you will want to make sure and stop here! The Crown Plaza is located in the heart of downtown right next to Union Station, formerly an operating train depot. You can tell by the accompanying pictures of the windows and ceiling that it is almost like stepping into Notre Dame Cathedral and I can guarantee that you have never seen anything like it before if you're from the farm or rural area, like me. Take advantage of the beautiful artwork. An interesting fact: some rooms at the Crowne Plaza are actual, restore train cars that have been converted to hotel rooms. Experience what people of yesteryear felt when they would take the train across the country in anticipation of convention.

 

If you're looking for a little fun to go along with the weather here in town, then the ice skating rink in Pan American Plaza will be right up your alley. Here's some downtown trivia for readers: Do you have any guesses as to why Pan American Plaza is named this? Post your guesses in the comment section below and I'll post the answer in a future blog!

 

Destination #3: COLTS! COLTS! COLTS!

While enjoying yourself around the Pan Am Plaza stop in and pickup some World Champions Indianapolis Colts apparel at our favorite retail store: Hat Worlds & Lids, which is open from 10am-7pm.

 

Make sure to tell them Josh sent you!

 

Don't forget to take a few pictures of the RCA Dome since this is the last year it will be standing. There are plans to take the Dome down before the 2008 convention and if you're a Colts fans then you don't want to miss this opportunity!

 

Destination #4: I'm Hungry

While traveling through Union Station, I had the opportunity to speak with five of the 2007 National FFA Officer candidates. They shared with me some of their favorite places to go to eat in the downtown area. If you're from the south and want some home comforts, then Brady Revels, a national officer candidate from Florida, suggest a stop at Chick-Fil-A for a nice glass of sweet tea. According to Revels, it is the only sweet tea he's found in Indianapolis since his arrival. Another fellow candidate from the Minnesota Association, Sangeetha Gummadi, suggested the world-famous Steak'n Shake for all your dining needs and if a hunger pang strikes at 2:00AM, the Steak'n Shake is open 24 hours a day. Sangeetha suggested the two flavor side-by-side milk shake! A trip to Indy would not be complete if you didn't stop by the Hard Rock Café for a quick picture or even a trip to the gift shop.

 

FFA members, remember to stay safe out there on the streets of Indianapolis. Travel together in groups, follow the street signs and steer clear of alleys at all times! Stay safe and stay awake during those general sessions.

 

Until next time, members and readers, remember BLUE JACKETS...BRIGHT FUTURES!

 

Memories of a Recovering National FFA Convention Addict - Part I

Memories of a Recovering National FFA Convention Addict - Part I

Anyone that has known me for any length of time will know that the FFA was one of the most important events in my life. And yes I said events, because I consider it to be just that - an event! The organization and the activities that I participated in because of it: livestock shows, speech contests, camps and livestock judging to recall a few taught me so much about life...hope...devotion...rejection...loss and how to overcome in the face of it all.

 

In the early years that I was a member of the organization I heard members talk about forming these life long friendships and for me, building friendships was hard. I'm like a fine wine...I'm an acquired taste. Some people like me, some people don't like me and more often than not, most people don't know what to do with me either way!

 

What I learned though later in life and later in my time spent with the organization what it meant to form those life long friendships. I formed mine after high school and well into my college career...in 2003 when I attended my sixth National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky as a Newsroom Intern! I had previously attended four National FFA Conventions in high school and one my freshman year of college as an Oklahoma Delegate.

 

From 2003-2007 I faithfully and gleefully attended National FFA Conventions in Louisville and Indianapolis. It was during this time that I developed those lifelong friendships that I had heard people talk about for year prior...Kristy, Julie, Andrea, Amy, Noelle, Walter, Jason, Julie, Ginny and many more!

 

"CoCo looking rough."

 

"We are on the corner of ghetto and get your ass shot!"

 

"I ain't made of money."

 

These were just a few of the many sayings...memories that came from my many years of convention! As the date for this years convention grows closer, I thought it would be fun to relive one of my favorite years - 2007! As this was the year that I got to work as a blogger for convention! Let's go on a journey and look back...

 

MY VIEWS: Welcome to Indianapolis FFA Members

FFA members, welcome to the 80th National FFA Convention! I can promise you it will be an incredible week. The organization has progressed tremendously over the years, and this year we begin a whole new chapter: the wonderful world of blogging!

My name is Josh Hawkins and I hail from Stillwater, Okla., home of the great OSU Cowboys. I am 23 years old and a former Midway FFA member in Council Hill, Okla. I began my FFA career as a Greenhand my freshman year of high school and remained active until graduation. I am a PROUD Oklahoma State FFA Degree recipient. This years marks my 10th convention...

SIDENOTE: Ironically my last, but who knew what the future was to hold way back in October 2007!

And my fifth as a member of the newsroom crew. If you didn't catch my drift, I truly love the organization for all that it has to offer! I am currently a junior at Oklahoma State University working towards my degree in creative writing with a minor in business.

In high school, I was never the star athlete on the basketball team or the quarterback who threw the winning touchdown, but I was an FFA member proud and true! This organization opened so many doors for me that otherwise would have remained closed and locked forever. It has given me the opportunity learn, lead and succeed through my career in the organization and outside of it. As a result, I have met lifelong friends and I am proud to say that they are here with me today in the FFA newsroom in Conseco Fieldhouse, on the Indiana Convention Center floor, throughout Indianapolis and back home in Oklahoma. To have this opportunity, literally, at my fingertips to communicate my journey through convention is amazing!

A lot of times people will ask FFA member "What is your favorite FFA memory or activity?" So I'll tell you mine. My favorite FFA memory is being able to say that I have attended at least one convention in each of the three host cities: Kansas City, Mo, (1998), Louisville, Ky. (1999-2005) and now Indianapolis. FFA members, as we celebrate 80 glorious and exciting conventions, In invite you to tell me about yourselves. Where are you from? What's your favorite FFA activity? if you're reading this at convention, what are you looking forward to most? If you see me roaming around the career show or in Conseco Fieldhouse, stop and say hi, we'll take a picture and you may even end up here on my blog!

Remember to wear those jackets with pride throughout Indianapolis because blue jackets do lead to bright futures! FFA members, enjoy your convention and check back often, because it's raining in Indy and you don't want to miss my thoughts on that!

Remember...BLUE JACKETS...BRIGHT FUTURES!

Originally Posted: 10/27/2007 @ 1:49PM

 

Turning the Big 30 - Top 10 Defining Moments of My 20s (Part One)

Turning the Big 30 - Top 10 Defining Moments of My 20s

 

Turning 30 in 2014...Wilson Bethel, Katy Perry & Me

The official 30th birthday countdown has begun. It seems as though the older I get the more time flies by so in no time at all the big 3-0 will have snuck up on me! I can admit that I have always viewed age as just a number and never given to much thought to the "fear" of turning 30. However, I did want to reflect back on the last decade of my life and think of the Top 10 Defining Moments of My 20s and write about how they impacted me and brought me to the current place I am in my life.

 

I have been plotting these Top 10 Moments for about two months now. The idea came to me in August while text messaging with one of my very dear friends. I'm sure as I go through pictures both in print and digitally I will come up with other moments that made an impact, but these are the ones that stuck out most for me. I turn 30 in June 2014, so I'll be reliving a moment a month for the next ten months leading up on the big event.

 

And so begins...in no particular order...the Top 10 Defining Moments of My 20s...

Homeland in Henryetta

When I began to look over the list of the top moments of my 20s this moment titled, "Leaving Homeland" is one that clearly stands out. I think the reason that it stands out the most is because it set me on a path that I feel as though seven years is still currently being traveled.

To give some backstory, I started working at Homeland on December 26, 2001 when I was a Junior in High School. It was my second job in a grocery store and one of the Assistant Managers happened to someone that my Grandmother had worked with at the same company, formerly known as Safeway. Little did I know what Homeland would offer me in terms of a real job...friendships...life lessons and the power of moving on. The fact is Henryetta Homeland on Trudgeon had this unique hold on me that is hard to explain...like a bad relationship I tried to leave multiple times over, but there was just something that pulled me back to it over and over and over again. The first time that I said farewell was ironically in July 2002 when I first moved to Stillwater for school. I ended up returning two months later in September 2002, in my old job no less (Thanks Devin!) and I stayed until April 2004 when I left it for another store in Tulsa. Homeland in Tulsa at 91st and Memorial holds some special memories. I was able to gain more responsibilities in the workplace, build more friendships and it was the first time that I truly felt as though I was living on my own. But all the memories tied to Homeland weren't as pleasant as most. The memories of receiving a life changing phone call (which I'll discuss later in this series) still haunts me to this day. And it was because of that phone call and the aftermath that followed that ended up back in the comfort environment of Homeland in Henryetta.

I returned to the Friendly Henryetta Homeland in August 2005 and stayed until July 2006. By the time that I had left everything had begun to or already changed. There was a new manager in charge, the friends I had made during my previously time there had moved on and it was time for a well deserved change in my life.

Homeland taught me the value of hard work, because I worked hard when I was there. I earned every penny I ever made. There were smiles, laughter, tears, temper tantrums, beer and friends...some of you who maybe reading this will recall your own memories and perhaps they are even the same as mine. To this day I tell the story of our Assistant Manager Sonya Davis talking about the "Clucking" Cadbury Bunny or of Devin yelling for me to pick-up the telephone over the intercom!

Homeland truly for better or for worse set the groundwork for my training. Just as soap opera starlets who leave the world of daytime to make it big in films recall their time on the soaps as a training ground...I too do the same for Homeland. When I left in July 2006 at the age of 22 I had plans of moving to another store, but those plans didn't quite pan out and I moved to Stillwater. Little did I know that was going to be one of the smartest things I could have done in my life because of where it would lead me less than two years later. Looking back now I couldn't have known what was to come when I left that late July day in 2006...but knowing what I know now I'm sure as hell glad I did leave.