Sci-fi....reality?

As many of you know, I LOVE to read. The only downfall I've found to my Kindle is that the battery does not last near long enough for a prolonged reading session for me (which can span into the majority of the day if I don't watch it). So I'm hopping around the web this afternoon (yes, the Kindle is recharging as I write this), and I found this article on ETT aka Evacuated Tube Transport. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/futuristic-high-speed-tube-travel-could-york-los-171007828.html?vp=1 

My mind isn't blown per se, however it is already in overdrive factoring in the infrastructure and economic changes something like this would entail. Aside from the fact that it would make the Global courier business skyrocket, current delivery behemoths UPS, Fed-Ex, and DHL would seriously have to restructure. Airlines would be severely crippled, especially in light of skyrocketing fuel costs, mediocre earnings, and abyssmal customer ratings. There are other implications as well that aren't immediately apparent. What about the need to completely revamp Over-The-Road transportation currently used as a goods delivery system? If this is put into play, it has the potential to knock the trucking industry as we know it flat on it's proverbial tail. 

Now I know that some of you will immediately say "That's what the rail system does"...but does it do cross country in less than an hour? According to the article the time from NYC to Japan would be 2 hours. The rail system also has the inherent downfall of right of ways and easements at a cost effective price. That's one of the reasons that there is no rail service in the Middle Tennessee area other than the Nashville Star that runs from Lebanon, TN to Nashville & back. 

To put a healthcare spin on things, how bout if a kidney came available in Oregon and it was needed in Florida? Wow, what a turn around. 

What about the downside to this though? (I promise I'm not trying to be a 'Debbie Downer' here) Currently it can be difficult to trace pathogens through our current transportation system. Can you imagine the chaos with transportation this fast?

Either way I feel like I'm seeing something from Robert A. Heinlein's "Friday" come to life. Will be interesting to watch. 

What about you? What are the pro's and cons that you see with transportation like this? 

Random musings

I have discovered that I am a crappy patient. I don't mean that I don't follow instructions (I do) I mean in that  all I will do is sleep, wake up long enough to take meds & eat or drink whatever I can keep down, & then go back to sleep ASAP.....looking back at that, maybe I'm not a crappy patient after all lol!

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After 12 days of being gone, I am home again. (YAY!!!). Granted I will be gone again Sunday night, but I missed my kids, my cat, and most of all my Hubby who makes all things right with the world when I don't feel good.

Hopefully this weekend I will be able to go see a movie with the family (Fast 6 and Star Trek are at the drive-in) Also hoping to catch up w/ my SIL after her trip to Guatemala.

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Speaking of Star Trek, Harlee and I had a great discussion about Star trek and Star Wars this morning. Along with Fringe and Dr. Who, my kids share my Sci-fi/fantasy addiction. Which leads to a lot of what if questions. What if we had transporters and light sabers etc. We already have things that are close to the Tricorders used in Star Trek (isn't that cool?) I can't think of a better way to get the imagination going than discussing science what ifs.


Alright enough rumination for today. I have a house to clean and a 9 yr old to occupy =)

Milestones

Well, we did it. Tanith actually managed to graduate. Then she moved out to her boyfriends. Scary stuff for this mom. She's 18. I can't tell her what to do anymore and I can't soften the consequences for her actions. From here on out it's on her.

Oh but I miss her already (yes, yes I know she just lives 10 minutes away). My silly wonderful child who makes me laugh (they all do actually, but for now I'm talking about her). Frankly though, I'm terrified. Will she make good decisions? Will she manage not to follow my footsteps in mistake making? I'm struggling with the role change. I'm now relegated to cheerleader instead of coach. Definitely enough to make me nervous.

The upside is that I have faith in her, despite my worrying (after all isn't that what mom's do?). She is a bright articulate young lady who has a good head on her shoulders (for the most part anyways lol). She will make her own mistakes and she will figure out how to solve them as well.

Though she has been accepted to Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville and previously adamant about teaching music, she is now realizing that there are many options out there and that though Trevecca is her dream school, it may not be where she needs to be. So this summer will definitely be one of exploration, research, and decisions for her.
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Harlee is growing up too fast as well. She obtained her drivers license soon after we got back from Disney in April. Her and Kyle are currently working on getting her little Ranger up and running. Great father/daughter time for the two of them.

She also has a boyfriend. Not sure what I think about that yet. He's a good kid though and treats her well. They have fun together and have been friends & classmates for the last 2 years.

Poor Kyle, here I am up here in Louisville, and almost all his babies are flying the coop. I don't think either of us are ready for them to be completely gone. Even if we do give them a hard time about hurrying up and moving out.
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A.J. is, well, he's himself. Today is awards day at school for him and I'm excited to hear if he got AB honor role again, which for all that he's had to deal with, is an awesome thing. He's getting soooooo big! Soon he will hit that lovely pre-puberty growth spurt and I will once again be the shortest person in the house.

This summer he will most likely spend A LOT of time with Kyle out on the farm since I will be back and forth from Louisville so much. After June though, I am hoping to bring him and Harlee up here for a week or so and spend some time exploring Louisville together. It's funny, I usually have at least one off day here in Louisville, but I rarely go exploring. I guess I want them all to experience it with me. After all isn't that what families do?
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Sunday my SIL will return from her mission trip to Guatemala. I am excited to hear of her travels and experiences and so incredibly glad that she had the opportunity to do this.

Hope everyone has a great day. I've got to quit rambling on here & go do something constructive!

New adventures

I'm not quite sure how this happened, but apparently I along with my husband, his sister, and her husband , will be participating it the http://greatamericanmudrun.com/, Now keep in mind that I don't run. Ever. Brisk walk, no problem. Running, no. However, according to my husband, he registered us last night.

In November the 16 yo also wants to participate in Run for your lives (http://www.runforyourlives.com/) which is a Zombie themed 5k. There is also an Zombie run the end of September that looks interesting.

So now begins the training. We have found a training schedule at http://www.coolrunning.com/ that is suited to our current fitness levels. So hopefully by mid-summer, my fat behind will be at least able to jog for 3.1 miles.

I know that this is not going to be easy. I'm still a smoker. Granted, I make a pack last 3-4 days but I still smoke. This will have to stop if I am to have enough stamina to do this.

It will also mean that we finally bite the bullet and change our eating habits more than we already have. Currently we eat red meat 3-4 times a week still, and more fried foods than are good for us. I'm still a sucker for a cherry coke from Sonic (sometimes it sucks living less than 1/2 a block from one lol).

So if any of you out there are runners and have suggestions and/or encouragement let me know. If you have beaten the smoking habit, let me know as well.

And last but not least, I challenge all of you that don't run or have a current fitness regime, to find a fun 5k to train for this year. There are zombie runs, color runs, glo runs, and more. They are less focused on your time in general and more on the fact that you finish period. Some like the mud run  are obstacle courses others you get doused with powdered color and the end of ever km. You never know, you might enjoy it!

"Just"

Perusing Facebook this morning I came across a post that had me ready to tear my hair out. Maybe it was the fact I was only halfway through my first cup of coffee, but the content of that post set me off (Kyle, keep your PMS comments to yourself)

" I'm just a girl. I love being called pretty but I'll never believe it. I'm not always right, but I hate admitting I'm wrong. I'm almost always smiling, but it's not always real. I can be read like an open book, but hide so much.  I work hard at things, but don't always get what I deserve. I'm just a girl."

Now on the surface this comment seems fairly innocuous. In fact the descriptions describe parts of my personality rather well. What I have issues with is the word "just".

I am not 'Just' anything. I am a woman, I am human, I am strong, vulnerable, kind, compassionate, protective, caring, smart, and many other things. I am me. When 'just' is added to that description, it completely negates it all. It also makes you sound like a victim.

So ladies and gentlemen, when describing yourself, give yourself the credit you deserve instead of negating it with this word. Let the world know that you are the captain of your ship, not 'just' the 1st mate.

Ok, rant finished!

Hope everyone has a good day =)