Halloween

What do you do for Halloween?

Every year people dress up and their kids go door to door getting candy and having fun. But what other fun things are there to do for Halloween?

This year in Iowa City, Iowa there was a costume run, where people ran a race while wearing their Halloween costumes.

I think this sounds so fun. I would love to dress up and get your exercise seems like a fun way to spend your Sunday before Halloween.

This would be an enjoyable time for the whole family.

Halloween is about more than ghosts and goblins and pumpkins.

It’s a fun Holiday that brings joy to children.

This race is a way for it to bring joy to adults as well, and make their Halloween just as fun as it used to be when they were three years old in their Minnie Mouse costume trick-or-treating running behind their big brother who was Buzz Lightyear.

This is what Halloween is really about. Bringing joy to you and your family. 

Halloween is a special time for families to come together, and neighborhoods to join together to bring joy to young kids.

Candy, Candy, Candy.

That is what makes Halloween great.

 I love Candy but I love now that I am older handing it out to little kids and watching them smile and have the time of their lives.

 I hope this run brought this must joy to the adults involved too. Sometimes adults don’t enjoy little holidays like this as much as they should, it is a time for all ages to come together and just have a fun time while bringing joy to children.

 This sounds like a great event, I may have to join next year!

 What makes you happy on Halloween?

Happy Halloween!  

Relationships ended

 

So McDonald's ended its partnership with Heinz Ketchup.

 

This is a relationship between two major manufacturing companies in the United States that has ended.

 

 But.. Is it..

 

Newsworthy?

 

 In some ways, yes, in others no.

 

This point refers back to my last blog, which was a rant on why I think today’s news is turning to mush.

 

This blog can be found here:

 

http://lydiasblog0703.blogspot.com/2013/10/come-on-people.html

 

At least this is interesting.

 

McDonald's ended their 40 year long relationship with Heinz. This was due to the fact that Heinz Ketchup has a new CEO who is Burger King's former CEO.

 

Burger King is considered McDonald's biggest competition so McDonald's decided to back out of the partnership.

 

This brings a lot of questions to my mind. Like who is going to vend ketchup to McDonald's now?

 

I wonder.

 

Again though, like I said in my last blog there are still things more important than this that should be in the news.

 

This is important, however because many people in the United States use these products daily but this isn't our biggest issue.

 

This article on the relationships end can be found here:

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/10/25/mcdonalds-ends-relationship-with-heinz/3194309/

 

I think it will be interesting to see where things go from here with McDonald’s considering that relationship lasted forty years. I bet some customers are unhappy about this change.

 

This kind of change could start a lot of things for the company of McDonald’s, like what if people stop eating there because of this and go to Burger King instead?

 

Hmmm… I wonder.

 

However this issue doesn’t affect the United States as much as I originally analyzed it to.

 

Sad the relationship ended? It probably doesn’t even effect you…

 

The McDonald’s in the United States only use Heinz in McDonald’s located in Pittsburg and Minneapolis restaurants. The impact of the change may be greater overseas.

 

So this again brings the question is it that newsworthy? If only two cities in the United States are affected?

 

I personally, if I lived in those cities, would not notice the change.

 

I would classify this story as important with a side of newsworthiness, but not to major on the scale of important-ness but hey we’re making progress. Good job news outlets.

 

This is a great example of a newsworthy piece that has not been over exaggerated. It was not majorly covered but it was covered just enough that people were informed.

I just don't get it.

Why?

Why are things in the news that aren't news worthy? Everything in the news is unimportant. Seriously, some of the stuff they put in the newspapers and on the news really make me question the intelligence of people in that field of work. 

Okay, not everything is stupid but still. We need to learn about things that are real life issues. Not just Miley. 

I get on my computer to do homework, and I click on the internet. My home page is msn.com and there are always news articles on the homepage. I usually scroll through them just to see what's going on and there are usually some interesting titles that catch my eye.

I usually click on the titles that are unusual but still for the most part they are all celebrity scandals. Like leave those people alone. We don't care if Justin Bieber did this or if Kim Kardashian did that.

I'm a fan of Miley Cyrus but no one wants to read about these things every single day.

Let's get something news worthy people. Come on.

We need to be educating the people of this country, not telling them what Lady Gaga wore to the music awards.

News outlets all over are turning to mush.

People criticize my generation but really our parents’ generation isn't educating us on what really matters in life.

We need stories about how to stop hunger, which animals we need to save and protect, which things are better for our environment. Not what clothes celebrities are wearing now a days?

Come on people.

Get with it.

Being on my schools newspaper I really do care about real life issues.

That’s what I want to read about. That's what most people want to read about. It's not just me. Yes I do like my occasional celebrity story but that shouldn't be on the news. 

So please, news outlets start writing about something important.

You are just dumbing us down by not writing about important things. Why would you do that?

I just don’t get it.

So there's my rant, and I apologize to whoever is reading this. But seriously this makes me angry. 

Being a girl...

Being a girl in high school is hard sometimes, you have those mean girls after your every move, you’re friends who freak out on you for what you feel is no reason, and then you have boy troubles, or you have to worry about making the dance team, or acne, or your homecoming dress, so many extra things that teenage girls have to deal with on top of school.

Life is hard being a girl, but being a girl in high school. Now that is ten times harder. Why does it have to be so hard? I don’t know it just is. Being a girl, I would say I am pretty low maintenance, and don’t let much get to me. But still it can be very stressful sometimes. You worry about fitting in work, and practices, and your friends and family. It’s hard.

And the worst part is, you are always expected to be happy. Like why do I always have to have a smile on my face? Why can’t my mom just leave me alone sometimes? Why do guys have to be immature and make jokes that make you feel self-conscious sometimes?

The biggest question is,

WHY do we OVERTHINK EVERYTHING?!?!

I try my hardest to not do this but I just can’t help it. I have no idea why but being a teenage girl means that every little thing sets you off your game and makes you question everything. It sucks.

The hard life of a teenage girl is portrayed in a lot of movies. It’s always a story line about a girl being bullied by other girls, however it usually doesn’t happen this way in real life.

Usually, it’s your own friends that are tearing you down. I am happy to say I have separated myself from these sources of drama in my life and honestly I am a lot happier now because of it.

It’s not that your friends want to tear you down, but when one of your friends gets mad at you, even for something little it can turn into a big fight if you’re a teenage girl.

There is an article that sparked my rant about the life of a teenage girl.

This article talks about how movies depict teenage girls.

This article can be found here:

http://movies.msn.com/movie-guide-fall/i-dont-enjoy-being-a-girl/photo-gallery/feature/

This article features 10 movies that discuss the dramas of a teenage girl. These movies we find them entertaining, and laugh at them and love them. But we really need to think about how teenage girls in our own lives are really suffering and not in a funny way because being a teenage girl is tough.

Blogging

So when you’re sitting in fifth hour AP Lang class trying to type a blog, hoping no one can hear you jamming to Miley Cyrus in your headphones and peaking around the corner to see if the teacher can see you texting. You look through numerous different news sites to find something to write about and you just can’t find any articles that aren’t boring. Then, your life gets a little more interesting because then you see this:

“Guilty Plea in Las Vegas to Having Sex on Airplane”

And your mind goes WHAAAAAT?! That’s not a headline you see every day.

You think about how you could write a funny blog about this and you’re like no “It has to be 400 words”. And you think crap, now what I am supposed to write about.

You keep reading that article where it tells you some information you don’t think is appropriate so you stop there.

And yes that is an actual article,

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/guilty-plea-las-vegas-sex-airplane-20598257

Then you keep thinking about that, then you check your phone again, change the song, the school day still drags on and on… you keep thinking when can I get out of here?

And still trying to look for an article to do your blog on, you don’t want to do something about bullying or school shootings or the government shutdown because let’s face it those are depressing. All news is depressing and then you find another headline.

Then you keep looking…

“Ohio Woman Charged in Theft of $2.87 From Fountain”

That’s another headline you read and think what?

So you read that article:

http://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/ohio-woman-charged-theft-287-fountain-20595562

Someone was seriously charged for three dollars of theft? Not even three dollars?

What?

These headlines almost should have more buzz then Miley headlines.

This article in particular is short and sweet, something just to get the report out but it leaves you without a lot of thoughts.

Not thoughts like the first article where your mind is just like what is with those people? What were they thinking?

It’s more like you think, wow. This woman was so desperate for money that she went digging in a fountain for loose change. Reading this article, makes you hurt for the people that don’t have it as good as you.

I’m sitting her complaining that I have to write a blog, this woman doesn’t even have money for food.

Please if you see someone like this woman, help them.

So now, I found something to ramble on about for a little bit and I have reached over 400 words, so bye for now.

I will write soon. Be kind to people in need, and remember to always be smart (the opposite of the people in the first article).

A Miley Update

Out of all the Miley scandals recently, things are starting to calm down. Miley Cyrus released her new album called Bangerz, and things in her life have returned to normal. Or her new normal.

Don’t get me wrong, she is still the latest buzz around teenagers and disturbed parents disappointed in their child’s, “Hannah Montana” however Miley has figured things out and is just focusing on her music now.

Her new look shocked the world, when she cut off her beautiful brown locks of hair that every girl would kill for, for a completely different style. This was Mileys way of “growing up”. She completely transformed herself with a new outlook on music, life, and style.

Now being a “Hannah Montana” fan as a kid, at first I thought ‘What the hell Miley?’ But now as she speaks out about all of her changes I understand her. She just wanted some change and wanted to stand out. There’s nothing wrong with her doing that. Yes, she was a little outrageous at the VMA’s but she was still trying to find herself but aren’t we all?

So stop the hate Miley is just being Miley.

She had a bad break up with her fiancé Liam Hemsworth and that caused her to break down. Hey at least we all got an album out of it. We should be thanking Miley.

There are recent news reports that Miley will not return the engagement ring that Liam gave her. To this I say you go girl! Show him that he can’t break you.

The engagement ring is a 3.5-carat cushion cut, Neil Lane, $100,000 diamond. Of course Miley is not keeping it as a symbol of their relationship she’s keeping it because (I believe) it’s rightfully hers. She has the freedom to do with it what she wants.

I’m happy for her that she is now moving on with her life. That is hard to do.

Miley admits that she realized after she made her album Bangerz that is does describe her journey through the break up and tells a story.

According to the report linked below:

 

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/miley-refusing-to-return-ring-29668282.html

 

Miley said,

"I'm just letting that chapter kind of close, and just looking forward to that new one,” Miley said. “I want to be really clear and determined with everything that I'm doing in my life right now, and I have been.

“I think sometimes it takes you separating yourself from someone else to really be happy with who you are.”

So you live your life Miley, your fans are behind you.

 

Especially for You

In Cedar Rapids, Iowa today, Sunday, October 13, 2013 15,000 people got up early, put their walking shoes on, and walked to support breast cancer.

The Especially for You Race, has become a place where breast cancer survivors can show how they beat the odds along with their family and friends.

This event has been going on for twenty three years now and has just kept on growing.

Many business’ and organizations around Cedar Rapids, create teams to walk together in the race. Many people also create teams in honor of their friends or family that have had breast cancer.

You see a lot of people walking with shirts that say, “I’m walking in memory of my mom” or things like that. But there are also many people who are survivors that wear pink bandanas and walk the race to celebrate once again that they beat cancer.

This is a great event, and 15,000 people, that is truly amazing.

I am proud to say that I was one of those 15,000. I ran the race in support of my grandma who has been cancer free for thirteen years. She was a fighter, now she’s a survivor. I am honored that I have gotten to do the race for her for so many years for her. I love my grandma.

This races raises money and awareness to breast cancer research. I think it’s great that 15,000 people are willing to support this cause.

Too many people are suffering, along with their family and friends. I hope I helped by donating money to find a cure for this awful disease.

I pray for those going through treatment, and those who have lost a family member or friend to breast cancer.

Hopefully, a cure will be found soon and hopefully Cedar Rapids helped to make this happen.

There is a video on the race that can be found here: http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Thousands-Run-to-Support-Especially-For-You-Fund-227602301.html

Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and money this morning, to be in the Especially for You Race.

I thank you on behalf of my grandma, a strong, confident women, who has been cancer free for 13 years now and still going strong. I love you grandma.

Bedridden man attends daughters wedding

Scott Nagy, a fifty six years old man, lying in a gurney and connected to a portable ventilator and heart monitor, suffering from metastatic urethral cancer, was transported by ambulance from University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland to First Lutheran Church in Strongsville, Ohio.

At this church, he was able to “walk down the aisle” with his daughter, Sarah Nagy, on her wedding day. That is truly a miracle.

A nurse practitioner of Scott Nagy’s, Jacky Uljanic, volunteered her time to help make this all happen.

Jacky is truly a wonderful person for this. Jacky Uljanic took three weeks out of her time to help make sure this would and could all happen.

We need more people in this world like Jacky, so caring and selfless not just in her job but to this wonderful family. I’m sure this family will never be able to thank her enough. But just one more person can, so thank you Jacky, you are a truly amazing woman.

This inspires me to display a random act of kindness to others and I hope it does to you too. Just think of how amazing this wedding was for all the family and friends of the Nagy’s, and a big part of why it was so amazing was with the help of Jacky. What if you could make a difference in someone’s life like that? That would be amazing.

If the world was filled with more people like Jackie, this would be a wonderful place to be, so think about being selfless because you can make a difference.

Many others helped make this all happen too. Two paramedics had volunteered their time as well as their ambulance as well as a nurse, an additional nurse practitioner and a doctor who followed the ambulance to the church.

So I would like to say thank you to those wonderful people as well. They were truly part of a day that the Nagy family will remember for the rest of their lives.

Scott Nagy was first diagnosed with the deadly disease last November, has been at Seidman's intensive care unit since August. He was determined to make it to his daughter’s wedding. He set this goal for himself and made it to the wedding, thanks to Jacky. The wedding was originally scheduled for next year, but moved up in March so that Scott could see his beautiful daughter walk down the aisle.

This is inspiring and a beautiful story. Scott Nagy you are in my prayers. Jacky, you are an amazing human being.

Just think, what can you do to make a difference in someone’s life?