Days

Sometimes, it feels as if life is flashing by. I saw a picture on Facebook around last week or so, and it said something about how time seems to go by faster as we get older, because it's less of our life. a year to a one year old is their entire life, but to a 40 year old it's only 1/40th of their life.

That made so much sense to me that it was one of those "Mind blown" moments. It was crazy.

Then this week with the attacks in Paris, Beirut, and Baghdad, not to mention the natural disasters Japan and Mexico have suffered it seems like the whole world has gone crazy.

That also doesn't really seem so unusual in these times though. In fact, for my entire life the U.S.A. has been involved in some sort of conflict.

From 1994 we've had issues with Iraq. It was a no-fly zone from '91-'03.
We also intervened in the Somalia Civil War, Haiti, and the Bosnian War. Most of those were just '94-'95 though.

1996 was Operation Desert Strike against Iraq.

1998 The US and UK launched Operation Desert Fox against, you guessed it, Iraq.

From 2001-2014 We warred with/in Afghanistan.

On September 11, 2001 I was seven years old, and in second grade. I don't think I really knew that something so terrible had happened until after school got out. But that was not a good day in American history, and it pretty much sparked a whole lot of unhappiness. In fact it is my belief that a lot of our issues with immigrants, and travelers can be traced to this day. Before we were perfectly happy to accept and allow anyone to come to the U.S.A., but now well. We are a little more freaked out and careful.

In 2003 Al Queda, in Iraq. I don't really need to say anymore about that, because let's face it, that is one country the US will never fully leave. Even though we have supposedly withdrawn all troops from Iraq (end of 2011, we brought most of the troops home) we still keep sending some back, the only difference is that they aren't staying there. But the creation of Al Queda was what kept us in Iraq for so long.

2004-Present day we've been in Pakistan, as part of the "War on Terror".

2009-Present day we've been fighting Operation Ocean Shield, which is taking place in the Indian Ocean.

2011 saw the US involved in the Libyan Civil War. This was very brief.

And finally since 2014 we've had the War with ISIL, or ISIS, or even DAESH, and they call themselves the Islamic State, however you've seen it, and they are the ones who are responsible for the attack on Paris, and the suicide bombings in both Beirut and Baghdad.

What we as a country must remember is that just because some Muslims are bad, doesn't mean they all are. We must base our views, not on the whole, but on the individual.

As one of my Muslim friends posted " I would just like to remind everyone that ISIS or Daesh as we call them, are not related to anything that has to do with Islam. They are not an Islamic State since they do not follow what Allah or our beloved prophet Mohammed-peace be upon him-taught us."

She included a picture of what Mohammed's commands in Wars was. Which was definitely not how ISIL was/is operating. I think it is safe to say that they aren't Muslim. So we for sure should not paint true Muslims with the same hatred/anger/disgust that we apply to Daesh.

Just some food for thought.

-Jacq

Visits

Hi. *Waves Awkwardly* Been a while hasn't it?

Life, and a downed laptop have seen to that. I'm currently on my old Toshiba, which is way heavier than my Acer, and makes me miss my Acer.

Yes yes mom I know. I need to take it to Best Buy and get it looked at. I will. Especially since I have officially bought my plane tickets.

That's right! This girl is going on her first ever plane ride! I'm very excited, a little nervous, but since I don't have a fear of flying, just of spiders, I'm not super worried about it.

Work has been Crazy. We've hired a lot of new people, and I'm not scared to say that they have been pissing me off. Two/Three I'm cool with now. One of them we have many mutual loves, and the other & I have finally figured out that neither one of us actually is a stick deep in the nether regions, so we're pretty cool, but the third one.....

Graghafedasihieankhivs.

And that's the nicer way to put it. Ugh. Much frustration. She's always late, she takes hour lunches (our lunches are no less than 35 minutes, and supposed to be no more than 45.) Sometimes she doesn't even clock out for lunch! I'm like no, Also she takes/makes personal calls while at the Front Desk. No. Not even. Sure it's OK if the call is like 5-10 minutes, but when you spend 40 minutes talking to your mother-in-law and ignoring the fact that there are guests, and that the phones are actually ringing for our job?

No.

Also, Seriously Don't try to BS me. I don't like it, and it actually tends to piss me off. I know your best friends with Ver, but she doesn't need your constant attention or help. Please stop using her as your excuse to take your time. 

Especially on busy days. Don't. 

Just Don't.

But I'm going to let it all go, and keep on moving forward, because I only have to make it another 26 days and I'll be off to see my BFFSFAM. & God Daughter. So I can make it.

Also I have Adele's Hello on repeat for a while, because that song is fab. Just plain Fab. If you haven't heard it, go listen to it. It is amazing. 

I should probably go home to my apartment, and get ready for bed because I work the 6:30 shift tomorrow morning. 

That's right! I am officially of the night shift! It makes me so very happy it's almost ridiculous. As much fun and entertained I was on the Night Shift, I am so ready to have time with my family/friends/attempt a social life which really means I'll have more time to play with my dog, and maybe leave my apartment while there is daylight.

Also with Christmas coming up, I'm having a lot of fun planning/buying gifts for my family. I've bought my dad's one gift. Because it's huge, and was a little expensive, but I think it will be perfect for him. My mom 's got several of hers, and Aubrey has a few. My Brother, and Sister-in-Love are a little more difficult, but I've got ideas for hers and he's already said that he wants tools, so that'll be what he gets. And that will be my immediate family done. So all that will be left will be my Aunt, cousins, and a few others.

Not going into details, because I know that my mom reads my blog, and she sometimes shows my dad it too. 

Hi mom! 

Also Dad's birthday, which is soon, and I've ordered his present, and I'm hopeful that it will come in time for me to give it to him on his birthday, but we shall see. Amazon says it will arrive the day after his Birthday, but usually they are pretty quick about getting the things I order from their site here quicker than what they say they will be. 

I really need to get my Acer fixed. No mom, I don't really want to hear the "I've been telling you this for a while now" Speech. 

I know. Sometimes I just don't do things in the order that ya'll think I should.

Anyway. That's all for now. 5am comes early, and I did a turn-around last night.

Does my nametag look like it says "Manager" or "Assistant Manager" or even "Supervisor" on it? No. But do I still come when they call? Yes. Because I am a sucker for punishment evidently.

Ugh. Whatevs. Paycheck should be pretty good.

To all my readers, keep on truckin', even when life gets tough/sucky. Keep moving forward, and you'll see that ray of sunshine soon enough. You may have to look a little less like a kid looks for things to find it, but you will.

-Jacq