Our War

This week I wanted to write about something that effected my generation. I never thought that my generation would see war but I was wrong. I know that this is a touchy subject for most people. When it comes to the ongoing war in Iraq most people are either for it of against it and there really is no middle ground. I mean at first I thought that we were doing the right thing but I think that most people would agree that it is time to send our troops home. I have been watching the presidential campaign when I have time and I cannot believe how they have used the troops and the war as a leverage tool to gain support for their cause. The last thing that I herd about the war is that it really was done and that we are just afraid to pull out too soon for fear that the police and government that we have been trying to help build will not hold up when we are gone. I do not know what everyone else thinks but there has got to be a way to start bring more troop home without sending more back. Not to mention what this war has done to economy. As far as I have herd we have not been in debt this bad for a long time. I thought that war was suppose to stimulate our economy? I guess that was only true when we were making our own equipment that we needed for war. Speaking of where does our equipment come from now a days?

Recession

What do we consider a recession? I mean when we had the great depression I wonder how long they called it a recession? I would defiantly say that we are in a recession. I mean why else would the government feel the need to issue stimulus checks to everybody and hope that they will go spend it. I surprised that spending it is not one of the qualifications of getting the check. I think that most people will either save it or use it to pay off bills. I myself am going to save it for a rainy day when I really need it. I think that everyone is just worried that we will really hit rock bottom. I mean with gas sky rocketing the way that it is and people losing their jobs because businesses are having to cut back I am worried. I work at a bank and I see the signs everyday it is sad. There are so many people trying to get second mortgages on their house just to pay what they are behind so they do not lose their house. How far is this potential recession going to get before someone steps in with a solution to this growing problem that everyone does not want to talk about?

The Gas Crisis

So this week I just had to blog about something that is probably on everyone’s minds, the rising gas prices. Now being the nosey person that I am I had to get the inside story which works out great since I happen to work at a gas station part time on the weekends. I always thought that the gas stations had control of hoe much their gas costs. Boy was I wrong. Actually what happens is the manager gets a call from someone down at the “office” every day to let her know what to do with the price that day. I am not sure what oil company owns us but I know that is where the call about the gas price comes from. I can only speculate how high it will get this summer but my inside sources say that it will defiantly hit $4.00 and that is where it is suppose to say with no drop in site. I know that people are already panicking and I do not blame them, all I can say is when will the government step in and draw the line. I know that they are suppose to be giving us a tax rebate to help us out but I think that is only going to temporarily stimulate that economy. If you ask me they should be looking at the stopping the steady rise in gas price as a way to help out the American consumer.

Life's Little Decisions

It is strange to think that with all of the decisions that I have made in my life each one of them has brought me to this point. When I was younger I probably would have never though that way. Here I am though 24 and still going to school and working steady. I thought that I would be done with school by now maybe be married and have already started my career. I always said that I would travel and have some fun and adventures before I had a family. My parents did that before they got married they moved to California for a few years. Up until today I did not think that I would get the chance to do anything like that, but I was wrong. My boyfriend and I might move to Hawaii for a while, for his job. I would jump at the at chance, I mean you only live once and what an adventure. This is only one of a few options right now and nothing is definite but that would be a decision that I think would be something I would always look back on and be glad I did. Even as I am writing this it is crazy to think that sometime this year I could be moving to Hawaii. Don’t worry fellow bloggers out there I will keep you posted on any definite plans!!

Smoking

WOW! I feel like it has been ages since I have even been on my blog. It seems as though I am not the only one who did not realize that we were suppose to take off on our own. So what has been the topic on my mind that I have been dying to share with you? Smoking, I know that it is an old subject. They have banned it all over our state and yet it went into an effect without it even being protested. My boyfriend and I are trying to quit and I thought that I would have no problem. I mean common I smoke like a pack a week. No problem right? Boy was I wrong. It really got me to thinking how many people have tried to quit since the smoking ban went into effect. I mean not being able to smoke in public places kind of takes that joys of smoking away. I would like to know if they have done any kind of studies or even surveys on how many people quit after the smoking ban went into effect. What would even be more interesting is to find out how many people have been fined for lighting that cigarette that they just have to have?

City Council VS The Oak Grove Riders Club

Is it possible to make a city ordinance that says you are not able to operate ATV’s or OHV’s on your own property? That was my original main focus or question of this story. Doing some more research on the subject I found that the ordinance is just the final closing to a long battle. I went looking for information and found The Oak Grove Riders club website and The City Council Website they both have a lot of information.
In the most recent issue of, City of Oak Grove Newsletter on the City Council page, I was surprised to find that it talks about a compromise between the riders and the council. This issue was published in winter of 2007, so of course there have been a lot of things that have changed. In the recent issue there seems to be a general consensus on reaching a common ground between the council and the riders club.
When you go to the web site of The Oak Grove Riders Club, there is a whole different feel. When I was reading the updates on the ordinance link, there was no doubt that this is not going to be a fair fight. Here are a few things to get your thought going on the issue: the meetings that have been held where the mayor will not let the riders speak, and the only complain that has been made in the last 6 months was by the mayor himself.
These are just a few of the things that I have found and trust me there is still a lot more to be said. Let’s hope that because this is an ongoing issue that will get wrap up soon so I can have an ending to my article when it comes time to write the real thing. Well I hope that I have your interests peaked. This is turning into quite that story and I cannot wait to find out more. Until then.

Night at the Caucus

This week was defiantly a new experience for me. I am almost embarrassed to say that I am going to be 24 years old and I still do not know much about politics nor do I really have much of an interest in wanting to learn about it. I was hesitant about going to my caucus because of this fact. I had never been to one and really did not know what to expect. Was it going to be like a class room setting where everyone raised their hands and waited for their turn or was it going to be more like the stock floor exchange where everyone tries to get their own point across at the same time?

I was too timid to go by myself so I dragged my boyfriend along with me. Our caucus was at the Oak Grove City hall, which is right down the street so that was convenient. As we took the short drive to the City Hall I could not help but be nervous. I was surprised to see what a turn out there was; it took us quite a while to park. Walking into the building there were defiantly more people than cars in the parking lot. There was so much going on all at once that I felt a little overwhelmed. We followed the line of people as they filed in. We were directed to sign in and find a seat. Everyone was talking amongst each other and trying to find places to sit. When everything calmed down a little bit the really fun started.

The first half an hour of things went really slow, I had to really focus to keep myself from zoning out! All I could think about was the last town meeting that we were at and how dull all the general announcements and minutes of the last meeting were this was pretty much the same thing. The action did not start till the debate part of the caucus. I have never seen so many different people talking about so many different things! I think that everyone in the room had a question, and of course everyone had an opinion about everyone else’s question. Our selected delegate seemed to be on high speed as everyone wanted their turn to discuss their important resolution for the party. We did not stay through the whole debate on the resolutions but just long enough so that my boyfriend had a chance to vote.

It was a very interesting and tiring night that I do not think I would want to do again any time soon. As we walked to the car we both kind of laughed as we thought back to the half piece of scratch paper that they handed him to write his vote on. To me the whole experience was like a really bad football game; the fist half is horribly dull but you keep watching in anticipation for the exciting half time show and as soon as that is over the thrill is gone and you turn the channel.

Blog # 1

I had no idea what I wanted to write about this week until Wednesday night. It never fails that I always happen to come home the same time as church rush hour and then it hit me I have my blog topic! Strange how those things happen huh! I decided to write about the community that happens to be the closest to me and yet I know the lease about. This is the City of Oak Grove, which I have lived in for about two years. Most people have never even herd of Oak Grove or do not know where it is. Oak Grove is a very small community that has a population of 7,353 people, and is only 36 square miles in size. The cities that sit around Oak Grove are Nowthen, Saint Francis, Ham Lake, and Andover. There are not a lot of things in Oak Grove just a couple of gas stations, and "O Yea," the church!! The rush hour that I was talking about comes from, The Church of St. Patrick of Cedar Creek; the amount of people that attend that church is amazing. I really think that it is the staple of the community and it just happens to be right next to the Oak Grove City Hall and about a mile from my house. Now these are all things that I knew about Oak Grove so I had to dig deeper to really find the heart of the Oak Grove. There were a lot of little tid bits that I found out that I thought were really cool and didn't know about. Of all the things that I found out what I am most excited and proud of is the way that our community supports each other, especially our youth. What I am getting to is The Oak Grove Scholarship Pageant!! Who knew that we had that I love it! This just goes to show you how even the smallest of communities can really make a difference in every one of its members lives.

Well I think that I went a little bit over on my words but I still could have said more!! I am looking forward to everyone's comments, questions, and especially your suggestions!! Hope to hear from everyone soon!! Bye : )

About Me

Hi All-
My name is Alisa but most people call me Lis or Alis. Ok here comes the shocking news I am not a "Blogger." I know crazy isnent it!! I do not have a myspace or face book account and have never really wanted to get one, I am just too busy!! About me, where to start? I have been going to AR for almost 2 years I am just about done with my generals and I still dont have much of a clue as to what I want to do. I am having a good time though exploring all of my interests. When I am not at school I am usually at one of my two jobs. I work for Wells Fargo as a Lead Teller full time and at Marathon Fuel part time. My life is a bit crazy as you can see but it works for me. My family, friends and boyfriend keep me sane and I try to spend all of my fee time with each one of them. I am excited to be in this class, I am not the strongest writer but I do like to write. I am hoping to get alot out of this class and hopefully in the process I will become a better writer!!