Technology Is Overrated

I have a love hate relationship with the internet, smart phones and just plain old advanced technology.
I remember what life was like before everyone and their dog had a cell phone.
I remember when internet was dial up and SLOW!!
But all in all the world wasn't all that bad.
The internet is killing so many things things I love like bookstores. I absolutely HATE HATE HATE with every fiber of my being electronic books. I REFUSE to look at one or read one. I have deleted the book app off my ipad.
The internet is also killing record stores and cds. I love to go to the store and pick up the new cd as it comes out. I LOVE reading the liner notes. I love buying cds and giving them as gifts.

The internet is also messing up generations of kids. There are kids out there who feel like they should get anything and everything at the drop of a hat just because they have it at their fingertips via the internet.
There is an entire generation of kids who can not carry on a conversation because they don't know how to interact with REAL LIVE people.  They essentially have NO PERSONALITY. It has been killed by the computers and internet games they play with.
It drives me crazy when I meet a teenager or someone even in their 20's who doesn't know how to talk to other people.
They don't know how to entertain themselves without a tv, cell phone or some other electronic babysitter.

I thank God that my little brothers LOVE to read. I thank God that they can carry on a conversation.
They play their fair share of video games. But they at least have a personality to show.

When I was little I spent EVERY summer on my grandpa's farm in Wisconsin.
I had a cow I claimed as mine (only because she would let me walk up to her in the field and pet her)
Her name was Maria.
I would get up and go get the cows in the morning with my grandpa and his dog Benjo.
Benjo was my best buddy.
I would help my grandpa milk the cows.
(the fresh milk would go into this huge bulk tank that would cool it off and the milk man would come and collect it every other day)
I would drink milk directly from the bulk tank it was pure heaven. So, cold and creamy.
I would give everything I own to go back there for a summer.
My grandma taught me how to bake jelly rolls and home made bread. It was pure heaven. I am sure at the time I had no clue how wonderful it was.
I just skipped thru the summers playing with the cows, barn cats, Benjo, my swing on the big tree and the girl my age who lived across the street.
We played all summer. We had the best time. We played in the play house. We played in my grandpa's camper. We played everywhere you could think of. We never got bored. We never went inside except for lunch and dinner.

I'm not saying kids today need summers like this but they need so much more than electronic stimulation.

I will admit I am addicted to my Blackberry and it usually isn't too far away from me.
I do text. I enjoy the ease of sending a picture via text message.
I am addicted to Twitter. I love so many things about technology but I hate that its is killing so many really cool things.

The internet is a helpful tool as well. It has reconnected me with old friends via Facebook.
It helps me communicate with sometimes long lost friends via email.
It keeps me from getting lost with Google maps! I am directionally challenged.
It helps me feed my football addiction.
It helps me meet people I would normally never meet if they had not happen to follow me on Twitter.
It allows my friends to share videos and pictures instantly without having to wait to get them printed and mailed out.
It does AMAZING things.

BUT my advice and what I have been doing lately is totally unplugging.

When the weather cools off. Grab a BOOK (that thing made out of paper with lots of pages)
Go sit outside and enjoy the world. Leave your phone and computer inside.
Take at least 1 hour everyday and just unplug from the world.
I have started doing this lately and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone!

Enjoy!
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Kate ;0)

2011 Roster of Football Teams

Last year when I started this blog I did a Football and Why with a list of teams I cheer for  you can read it HERE . 
I was thinking (yearning) for football season so I thought I would post My 2011 Roster of Football Teams:
Listed in NO particular order.
DALLAS COWBOYS 
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Florida State Seminoles
Furman Paladins
Kansas Jayhawks
Kentucky Wildcats
Miami Hurricanes
NC State Wolfpack
Stanford Cardinal
Vanderbilt Commodores
Wake Forest Demon Deacons

West Virginia Mountaineers
Green Bay Packers (my dad's FAVE team)
Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints
Pittsburgh Steelers

Wish people came with labels so I knew which one was which!

Reason, Season, or Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

— Unknown

Cancer Sucks!

I have known way too many people who have been attacked by this disease.
It took my grandpa Joe and my grandpa Bud. It has taken a friend or 2.
I have known way too many people who have had to fight this shitty disease!
I know people who are fighting it everyday.
It never ceases to knock the wind out of me when I find out someone I know and love tells me they have it.
Sending lots of love and healing prayers to EVERYONE who is fighting/recovering from this shitty shitty disease!!
Life is crazy and short. Don't forget to take time to enjoy your family, friends and the sweet simple things in life!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Kate

53 days till college football....

July is brutal for me sports wise. I am not going to lie!!
So, YES I am counting down the days until the LSU/OREGON game at Cowboys stadium.
I am hoping my house is FULL of LSU fans. I am so excited to have my entire Baton Rouge crew in town.
No, my liver can not keep up with the amounts of alcohol these friends drink. But I like to pretend.
I have a BLAST any and every time any combo of this group comes into town.
There is something about them I just can't explain.
PURE GREATNESS are the only words that come to my mind.
Some of the most down to earth, genuine, wonderful and fantastic people you will ever meet.
They FUCKING LOVE football. Maybe that is why I love them so much!
They LOVE to drink. I seriously CAN NOT keep up. Unless I know I am not driving then I will attempt to keep up.
The last time I went drink for drink with them I had a hang over for 2 days!
But what a fucking amazing New Years Eve.
Anywho.... 53 days and 23 hours until kick off at Cowboys Stadium.
*fingers crossed* that I can round up some tickets to the game.

Hope your summer is fantastic!!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Kate :)

So MUCH going on...

I feel like I am being pulled in a million directions. All good things. But overwhelming none the less.
There are so many opportunities in my life. I am attempting to tackle all of them.
One little set back I think I need and extra 3 incomes to handle EVERYTHING I want to do.
But I guess if it is meant to be it will all work out!!
I need to quit blogging and go tackle the TO DO list but my motivation is feeling overwhelmed today.

Im going to Home Depot to clear my head.

Happy Hump Day!