Be scared of the living...

Lately I hear a lot of people say " What is the world coming to?" I have to agree everyday you see all the negative things that happen on the news and people like me who do not have any children yet it is scary the way things are going currently. You have families that are killing other family members boyfriends killing girlfriends, girlfriends killing boyfriends, and mothers killing children. This time people are going to haunted houses and going on ghost hunts when what they should be doing is taking time to really get to understand those around you. Then after you get to know realize how they rank in having your best interest at heart. Things will change around you, what you need to make sure is if people understand you and what you prioritize. Everyone has priorities. Most people just need help identifying those. I read people and that is what I go on. It's not fair but for the most part it keeps me moving in the right direction. Everyone else needs to figure out what works for them. What I have also came to know is that everyone has a story. If you don't take time to see what the story is that creates and adds to the bigger problem. If there is a problem, try to solve it and go from there if possible. If not it is going to create a bigger issue. That will only eat away at your soul. We are the real zombies. Going around far too fast, to even know what we're doing anymore.

Sorry these thoughts are all jumbled. It's late and that is how i think sometimes.

13 Reasons Why I am a Gay Rights Advocate (A Straight Girl's Perspective)

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So with Pride vastly approaching here are 13 reasons why I support Gay Rights, Equality, and Love. I will start by saying that if you have not read a blog before I am straight and this is only my perspective and reasons behind it. So sit back and enjoy (or criticize, your choice). Oh one more important thing. These are not in chronological order or order of importance at all. Here you go.

1. My uncle-Let me explain. My uncle has been one of the single most important people in my life. When he came out to me when I was just 13 I cried because I was afraid I would never have any cousins. Part of me also cried because obviously at that point he could not get married.

2. I love, love. Yeah put simply I am allowed to love and marry whoever I want without worrying about persecution or even a hate crime.

3. Gay Clubs. If you have never been you will never see more happy, carefree people than you will see in a Straight club. (Unless of course the music starts sucking). You generally do not have to worry about alpha males trying to claim their property and turn into a bunch of knuckle heads that will throw their weight around. You generally do see drama (how could you not?) But generally not scary fights that often ends in cops being called.

4. Pride. Have you ever been? If not you are honestly missing out. It literally is like a gay club on steroids. Do us straight people ever throw a multi day festival for literally just being straight and being able to marry who we want? Nope. I go every year. It's amazing.

5. Shopping. The best fashion advice will be had on these trips. (Sometimes brutal fashion advice, but advice nonetheless).

6. Rainbow colors. They just make you happy.

7. Parties. This is slightly cliche, but weddings and parties thrown by a gay individual or planned by a group of gay individuals are usually the best ones. So creative.

8. Modern Family. Nothing like it. So happy that a show celebrates what families are becoming like nowadays.

9. Adoption. Babies need homes, gay couples should be allowed to have a family no matter how non traditional it may be. They have hearts and are capable of loving too.

10. Grossly Misrepresented group. In the Pittsburgh area. It's getting better, but generally in the Pittsburgh area you see most of the same faces at every function you may attend.

11. Theater. I know this is also cliche, but over half of the population of actors/actresses are made up of gay people. If they all went on strike Broadway would close and the world would be a much bleaker place. It would also be very boring too. (A lot of bad actors).

12. Lame Music. They have their hand in every type of music. Most of their music makes you happy and you can relate to it.

13. Drag Queens. Some of the most beautiful people that I have ever seen. They also give great makeup and clothing advice.

Hope you all enjoyed it. Now just think, the next time you go to call someone the f word or simply just gay, think about their souls that you are attacking. Don't be a bully. Encourage open communication once they are comfortable enough to come out to you. Just think how hard it would be for you to come out and say that you are something else that you had not been honest about for years or even decades. Encourage them to be themselves. Enjoy the rainbow. Love is love. Everyone should have that right.

Danger. Curves Ahead...

So I am not a thin "normal sized" (Whatever that means) woman. I have curves and for the most part I love my curves. Most of my friends are also curvy. With that being said, I have just started working out and running (Treadmill for now, until weather breaks). I love how working out makes me feel. I'm not exercising to be a size 0, I love my curves but I need to be healthier with Diabetes, Alzheimers, and Cancer all in my family.  Recently at least once everyday everyone has been talking about body image and how it's such a shame that girls and women nowadays are so obsessed with it. But how can we not be when it's all we see. From Aerie's new campaign Aerie Real that does not re-touch the models and have also started to include Plus Size models which is great. Kudos to them! However just yesterday was The Biggest Loser and the final girl who won Rachel Frederickson lost a whopping 155 lbs. There is controversy because to be honest, the girl looks like she has an eating disorder. One person quoted on the Fit Sugar Facebook Page that "  Does anyone know how long there is between semi final and finale weigh ins? What worried me most is at semi finals she was 150.... That's a 45lb drop between then and finals after already being healthy, is that over one week- two?? Contestants don't drop 45lbs in their first week at the ranch. I really hope Rachel has found a way to love herself and her body and not just turned to a different addiction of "control" (Brittany Johanne).

That is crazy to me most people, me included, want to lose 60 lbs but I am going to do that over a period of time. At what point are people going to try to be healthier instead of thinner? What type of message does it send to our kids? Not a very positive one if you ask me. The point of this post is to bring awareness and have people think of the difference between healthy and thin and see which one is better. Also explain to your kids the difference. Obesity is also a huge problem, so what will be done about that? I applaud Aerie, and hope other businesses follow their lead and among that, I also hope that doctors and nutritionists will be able to formulate an answer on how to help future generations.  So I am asking you, please research your options on how to become a healthier and not thinner you. Put yourself first, please. 

Thanks for Reading!!

A Love Like Johnny and June

Hello again. I just got inspired and needed to share. Let me tell you about my grandparents. They loved each other like crazy. They "got married in a fever" they only knew each other for a short time and my pap proposed and she said yes. Just like Johnny and June there was not a time when everything was completely fine. My pap developed health problems he had diabetes and had a heart attack and did not take care of himself like he should have. Food was his drug just like alcohol and drugs were Johnny's. My gram took care of him all the time. It was in her nature to be a caretaker. It was in my pap's nature to tell stories of when he was younger and when he and my gram traveled to go see Johnny Cash at the Jamboree in the Hills, and they met him there too. He also listened and sang Johnny Cash in his strong burly voice that I loved to listen to.  My gram was even a visiting nurse and never ran out of patience or love. She also had plenty of love to go around to her 4 kids and 9 grand kids later on. My pap was a stubborn man and my gram sometimes was just as stubborn but she still made sure everything was ok with everyone.My gram then got diagnosed with Alzheimer's and she began leaving things on the stove and caused a small fire. She also did not talk as much as she used to and just sat in her chair and would give the family a smile and would make small talk. She never forgot my name and still took care of my pap as much as she could have. It was then my pap's turn to take care of her. Her memory seemed to be fading faster and she had to be put in a home. It was the hardest decision my pap ever had to make and it tore him apart.  August 4 2013 would have been their 50th wedding anniversary. My gram passed away on April 2nd 2010 and my pap just like Johnny Cash after June passed away December 18 2010 just a few months later. It was a week before Christmas and was my 26th birthday but my pap told everyone that he talked to in his last days that he was going to spend Christmas with the love of his life. Surely enough he did and that helped to give me peace with his passing.

Now that I am getting to the age where I would like to be married and have kids I vow that I want a love like Phyllis and Duane who had a love like Johnny and June. It was literally the greatest love story I have ever known in my life. I wish all of you were lucky enough to meet my grandparents. They literally taught me mostly everything I know about love. Hard times should be met with patience and understanding. And never ever go to bed mad. Always solve any issue before bed and with more love.