26.

I used to blog a lot more when I was younger. Maybe as I get older I have this feeling that I really don't care that the world know what I think because what I think is too good for the world in the first place. Its this whole philosopher-king complex I have going. I want a job where I could get paid to simply think about life, experience life, and then write about it and talk about it to people. That would be the ideal job for this guy. I am really tired of the beauracratic nonsense I have to endure with the workplace. So I'd rather just write and give speeches about how I think this country needs to change. And it does need to change, BACK to what it used to be. Change has ruined this country. Anyways, tangent. I'm on Spring Break from school (woohoo), just turned 26, and I'm bored out of my mind. Tara wants me to go to the gym now. I hate gyms. I think the gym is one of the many things wrong with this country. I hate peoples attitudes at the gym. It is what it is. This post has turned pretty negative.

I've just deleted precisely five concluding sentences due to their general terrible bitterness. So... 26. Here we go.

J.E.

You want to know how deeply my soul goes...deeper than bones..

I'm not one who is much for country music but Shania sums it up pretty well in this song... I love you Jameson.
(I do swear that I'll always be there.
I'd give anything and everything and I will always care.
Through weakness and strength, happiness and sorrow,
for better for worse, I will love you with
every beat of my heart.)
From this moment life has begun
From this moment you are the one
Right beside you is where I belong
From this moment on

From this moment I have been blessed
I live only for your happiness
And for your love I'd give my last breath
From this moment on

I give my hand to you with all my heart
Can't wait to live my life with you, can't wait to start
You and I will never be apart
My dreams came true because of you

From this moment as long as I live
I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give
From this moment on

You're the reason I believe in love
And you're the answer to my prayers from up above
All we need is just the two of us
My dreams came true because of you

Looking Forward...To Looking Back

"The modeling by people that we love is what changes us"..

Soo I din't keep up with this blog as I intended..I was hoping to write one for Christmas and a seperate one for New Years.. I guess honestly..I was having to much fun and my giant to do list grew and grew. Usually writing is an outlet for me- I should have been on here sooner... So I will have to collaborate this blog into a culmination of the past few holidays...but really a reflection on the past year. So 2010 is gone...and will never return again..and neither will the age of 27 which is what I currently am now. I use to think growing up was a bad thing...honestly I did everything to go "against the grain" of being an adult- I will always be that way alittle, I'm a child at heart. But this last year- I can really say I feel all grown up and I am ready for stages I never thought I would come to- it has taken me awhile to get here and accept it... So this last year was pretty great. Summer was too...I must say..Although I worked over the summer as a learning support teacher- I had had plenty of time to travel...and I got to really spend time in my new house making it a home...I have accomplished many things that I thought I never would this last year.. In May I received my M.A. of Education...I worked with challanging students this summer that taught me alot..Last January and February I enjoyed many snow days with Jameson- we built an igloo and had some snowy walks. I can remember staying in watching movies on snowy chilly nights as my hair was "defrosting"... In April I spent my first Easter away from home in Florida!! It was great to be somewhere differnt..Berks Countys luster is getting old-if it ever had one lol In early June...I went to Brams (Jamesons Brother) Naval Academy Graduation in Annapolis...There was nothing quit like it, it is something I will never forget...all I saw was patches of white spanning great distances...the men were in great numbers-It was a day to be proud. Over 4th of July we took a short trip to Annapolis again..We watched fireworks over the Annapolis Harbor...it was beautiful and amazing...I loved the sight of boats, water and crowds of people celebrating-We had SO MUCH FUN!
June shortly rolled around and we had been anticipating a summer vacation with Eastvale to Dewey Beach...We could not wait! Proof: We were the first ones to arrive- sitting in the grass waiting to see which car would pull up next...there were a total throughout the week of about 15 or so people...and a fabulous time we had. Some highlights I will never forget!-The moment Jameson proposed on the beach..late evening..with an aquamarine ring that knocked my socks off!!! We celebrated that night- it was a celebration indeed!! Another evening we had a dressed up outing where the group took a trip to a delish seafood restraunt...Nights out dancing at Starbird and The Cork and Barrel..Hanging out on the huge deck and jumping in the hottub ( only later to find it wasen't working at all, it became chilly and cloudy towards the end of the week) Lastly I will remember "Feastvale and our big Breakfast Day" and the night we all went around sharing what we loved the most about our trip and our friendships...It truely was unforgettable....Labor Day weekend came quick and so another trip ensued...we went to Boston!! We spent the weekend with the Terenzoni family! We had a fun time hanging out, swimming, eating, and being silly ...Shippin up to Boston is Great!! and so is the family ...In August we decided to go with two good friends on a trip to New Jersey camping... It was hot hot hot! Thankfully the campground had a pool....What I remember most about this trip was the late night campfires, all the places we visited and toured...the countless pictures I took..and really great late night talks around the fire..The camper was awesome, Boo Boo even strung lights around it!! In November over Thanksgiving break we headed back down to Florida... I had one of the best Thanksgivings I can remember in a looong time.. The week was packed with fun and the Beates house was full!! All the siblings were home :-) Some highlights I will remember: of course the delicious meal cooked up on Thanksgiving- and I had cranberry ice for the first time. I loved it!! I don't like cranberry sauce..and this was sooo much better... Bram,Abby,Jameson and I went to a Orlando Magic Game! Very Fun! One night we also had a campfire out in the driveway-roasted smores hung out and talked- it was really great! We had heard back in PA it started to snow- the weather there was around 80 the whole week...( I was in love) I remember playing darts with Papa Beates, Jameson, and Mama Beates on the front porch late at night- good times... I also remember a Christmas shopping outing with the ladies and decorating the beautiful Florida home with Abby and Mama Beates... So December..the month was beautiful inside and out! Highlights!!! Jameson and I decorated a beautiful tree- we collected ornaments and received some in the mail from Mama Beates...I thought the tree would fall over it was so packed with ornaments, lights, and other things.. We found the coolest lights ever that faded into color combinations ( I can't lie- we loved the tree we decorated so much-it's actually still up!!) But what was really cool- we couldn't find a star for the top for a long time- so we finally decided to create our own star and weave our own lights into it! It was perfect! We shopped online for presents and in the stores :-) I was even out on Christmas Eve ....still shopping! Both of us love Christmas so much- that two weeks up until- we watched various Christmas movies, played Christmas music, and wrapped presents... Christmas Eve had finally arrived...it was amazing and relaxing... we decided we would make it memorable and special and start some of our own traditions..in the chilly cold night we walked to a 7pm church service..we had a great time bundled up..and I was looking forward to a candle light silent night service ( Thanks to Liz and Dain for having us)...once we got home we cooked a seafood dinner!! ( We got some of our favorites from Adelphia- Crab legs,baby clams,shrimp,and lobster tail!! ) We even made a salad and Jameson suprised me with some rreeeally good wine :-) The funny part was we had never made a seafood dinner before, but thanks to Google and some determination- it was perfect! We ended the evening with a gift exchange and polar express!! Christmas Day!!! It had finally arrived! Highlights- Receiving awesome gifts such as...new punky sneakers and a beautifl bracelet from Jeb and me giving him his Taylor Swift guitar picks and special "heart" card...along with an art project I had been designing for months... That day we went to Grammys House and Aunt Lisa's soooo much fun! Seeing all of my family together made me really appreciate them..that is really what makes the holidays great: Family...
As I look back at this year..I can smile :-) The year haden't always been easy...and there were some struggles here and there..but I can say it was certainly a "a good year to remember".. Life is funny you know.Life changes. One day you are here and one day you are there...The roads of life are winding and can throw you for a turn...but cruising on the interstate straight away sure does feel good...Having my own home sure does feel good... I finally got a new car this year as well..I had my last one for almost 10years...it feels funny sometimes driving in something new...it almost feels like it's not mine...but it is and she is here to stay...:-) She reminds me of a good year and a new leaf :-)
So at the moment my wedding is 5 months away and I couldn't be more thrilled!!! Although I am busy with 2jobs..designing the school play...and going back to college for an ad on cert ( Reading Specialist Cert) planning my wedding has been a "busy" thing that I really enjoy doing and the process is so much easier because my fiance is so involved... the truth is- I couldn't do it without him :-) I am looking forward to a greater year then last! I know it will be- I am getting married!! and so are 2 of my best friends.. but this year I do have a few New Years Resolutions and I made sure at least 2 weren't about me or for me...I will write about those at a later time...
So heres to the start of something good..Hers's to faceing lifes new challanges with patience,grace and love. Here's to being the best person you can be- because really in that should be what lifes about- How do you want people to remember you>?.... love others. It's not always easy- "to love things that may not be beautiful" but my parents taught me early on that this is the only way to love...who doesn't easily love what is beautiful... So if you make any New Years Resolution this year- make sure it includes 2 things...learn to love yourself more and the others that are around you.. Be slow to anger and slow to speak.. And by all means..Think Think Think before you do anything...Think about what is really best and necessary...It's not always about what you want..but what you need and what is smart...

On that note: Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! Make this one- one of the best!! T.

Grateful For My Life, Thankful For All Of You...

Thanksgiving: A Short History

In the United States, Thanksgiving began with the Pilgrims who settled around Plymouth in December of 1620. During the winter of 1620-21 they suffered many privations. Food and supplies were scarce and disease ran rampant in the region. Nearly half the population died.

At the harvest of 1621 there was a feast. However, 1622 the results were fairly poor. The settlers were beginning to starve again. Some historians, and the leaders of the time, agree that there were two reasons for the problems of the Pilgrims. First, they were generally not experienced farmers. (They were fortunate that some of the local Native-Americans helped them learn to farm the local crops.) Second, and perhaps more tellingly, they had originally been organized into a commune where the produce of all was brought into a common store and then distributed among the inhabitants based on need.

The Governor at the time, William Bradford, was quick to recognize the problem. This excerpt from his diary, written in the 1620s, explains all:

The failure of this experiment of communal service, which was tried...by good and honest men proves the emptiness of the theory of Plato and other ancients, applauded by some of later times, - that the taking away of private property, and possession of it in community, by a commonwealth would make a state happy and flourishing...For in this instance, community of property (so far as it went) was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment which would have been to the general benefit and comfort.

So every family was assigned a parcel of land according to the proportion of their number...It made all hands very industrious, so that much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been...and gave far better satisfaction.

Thankful for the re-institution of private property and the plenty which it provided, the Pilgrims invited their Indian benefactors in 1623 to a three-day celebration. More than 80 "Indians" came to enjoy the festivities. They brought venison, wild turkey and other victuals. There was much singing, rejoicing and even sermons.

Thanksgiving itself is reminiscent of other harvest-time celebrations in Europe. It's character there as well as in America is deeply religious. The idea is that we thank God for the plenty of the harvest. Of course, over the years the holiday has been secularized somewhat. It is even commonly called "Turkey Day".

The first Thanksgiving in Plymouth was not meant to be an annual event. Even so, it became a custom in many New England Colonies. During the Revolutionary war Thanksgiving Days were proclaimed to celebrate victory in battle or survival in the face of adversity. After the war and the founding of the government under the U.S. Constitution, George Washington, as President, proclaimed a day of thanks.

Proclaiming a day of thanks became popular. There was no official national day, but individual states, cities and towns began to pick out a particular day every year, usually in the autumn. The state of New York was the first to do this in 1830. By the time of the Civil War thanksgiving had become a popular public event. In 1863 and 1864 President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a "day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father."

It was at this point that the last Thursday in November became fixed in the minds of Americans as a day for giving thanks, at least until 1939 when President Roosevelt moved it up a week to make a longer Christmas season for the retail industry. Some people did not like the break with tradition and various localities refused to comply. Finally, Congress intervened and changed the holiday permanently to the "4th Thursday in November". It has been celebrated on this day ever since.

Friday Night Lights Stimulus Plan

Read a great article from Gregg Easterbrook of ESPN.com. Easterbrook writes a weekly lengthy column analyzing the last week of NFL and NCAA football with a comedic slant. This week, he touched on a method I believe our President should seriously examine in order to fix the economy:

"In Season 1, Dillon, which is described as located in West Texas, the sparsely populated part of the state, is depicted as a dying one-stoplight town. Stores are shown boarded up; an ice-cream stand and a strip joint are the town's culture; one character finds a missing visitor and explains, "It was easy, there are only two motels in Dillon." How this dying one-stoplight town could produce enough teens to win the Texas 5A championship was never clear. No matter: by Season 3, Dillon had a McMansion area of elegant rich people's homes, and Dillon High, peeling and crumbling in the first season, suddenly was a gleaming pinnacle of affluence. At the end of Season 3, coach Taylor was exiled to dilapidated East Dillon High, an old facility scheduled for demolition but instead being reopened because of -- the city's population boom! Now in Season 5, Dillon has become a metropolis, growing as fast as an Asian Tiger country.

So forget TARP, stimulus and quantitative easing: What America needs is the "Friday Night Lights" Economic Growth Formula. Which consists of: lots of football and cheerleaders, constant relationship talk and longing glances, constant drinking that never causes hangovers or drunken driving, and most of all, remaining in high school until age 28."

This plan is infinitly better than cap-and-trade, bailouts, or stimulus plans.

The Blue Skittle or the Red One?

So thanks to my awesome fiance' we have "our" very own blog... Cheesy, yeah probably but that's us...and we like it that way!! So, I may say some pretty crazy things on here, BUT if you know me at all well then you would expect nothing less. As many of you know I have written all my life, you can tell by the 13 or so journals that I have in my possession. Or perhaps my endless to do lists I write on a daily basis or letters to people..I still prefer writing them over typing them...(but gotta keep up with the times) And now, I feel blessed to be with someone who shares the same passion I do... Being a nerd and well writing :-) hehe ( oh and Third Eye Blind..wait is that it?? NO! I mean I can't lie, we are polar opposites..in well many ways- however we do share some pretty Big things.. Music (identical taste), Being Late Owls (Bedtime?Sleep?What is that?), Faith/Beliefs-Something we strongly share, it will be the main source that will hold us together always, when all else fails- let's be honest relationships are work... We also like to cook together ( EAT) although in the last few months I have been a vegetarian- yea I know what you're thinking, uh Why? Many reasons, ask me later. Jameson and I also love education ( here is where the nerd part really kicks in besides the love for Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Chik flicks...) Both he and I have trailed through school pretty easily and working with kids is just something we share. But BIGGER we have realized why not be able to teach and do what we love all day?? Right? Art&History..( our passion) We are both really looking forward to having the same schedule, maybe if we are lucky we will even get to teach in the same school...? We have also discovered a new found love for Sushi!! Panda Heaven is our spot! And what I love is the cheap drinks-my favorite is the Giant glass of white Sangria they serve. So lastly, Jameson and I also share a love for traveling- maybe we will be nomads one day wandering the earth teaching English? Ok thats a bit far fetched, I exaggerate, but my point is..we plan on seeing the world! and in the last 2years that we have been together I think we have had a pretty good head start... We have been to Florida, Boston,Georgia, and few other places traveling together and I have the pictures to prove it!! I am obsessed with photography..I have been since I first touched a camera ( I'd say I have around 10-12 albums) And now I am taking photography classes so hopefully I can take even better pictures! Especially action soccer shots since Jameson will be head varsity soccer coach this Fall for Wyo :-) Alright- well tomorrow we embark on another trip for the holidays! Around 16hrs!...yes we will be driving!! But we'll have a good time doing s0- because I, well I will have my stock of candy and my camera by my side and Jameson.. well he will have his Mt.Dew and his Ipod on shuffle :-)

Life is full of adventure- Explore it. T.

Brand New Colony

"I'll be the grapes fermented, bottled and served with the table set, in my finest suit, like a perfect gentleman. I'll be the fire escape that's bolted to the ancient brick where you will sit and contemplate your day. I'll be the waterwings that save you if you start drowning in an open tab when your judgment's on the brink. I'll be the phonograph that plays your favorite albums back as you're lying there drifting off to sleep. I'll be the platform shoes and undo what heredity's done to you, you won't have to strain to look into my eyes. I'll be your winter coat buttoned and zipped straight to the throat with the collar up so you won't catch a cold.

I want to take you far from the cynics in this town and kiss you on the mouth. We'll cut our bodies free from tethers of this scene, start a brand new colony where everything will change. We'll give ourselves new names (identities erased). The sun will heat the grounds under our bare feet in this brand new colony. Everything will change."

Welcome to our brand new colony.

- Jameson and Tara