Where Are Your Manners?

This is a slight conversation that me and my friend had the other day.  What happened to every one's manners?  It seems like the more society evolves, the less mannerly everyone is.  No on says please and thank you anymore.  Guys do not hold doors for women anymore.  Cursing is not sensored around women, plus women curse like men do.  Sometimes, I wish I was born back when manners was something important and it was taught religiously to children.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?!

It's Christmas time again.  Christmas was my favorite holiday as a child.  The excitement of waking up early on Christmas morning to see what mom and dad or my brothers and sisters bought for me.  The excitement of having so many gifts under the tree and finally getting the chance to unwrap them.  I would guess for the past 7-8 years, this excitement is not there anymore.

I still  love Christmas, but everything that I have known Christmas to be as a child has either diminished or no longer exists.  All my brothers and sisters have grown up, live out on their own, and some of them have kids now.  As the youngest, it is hard for me to see things change so drastically, but what can I do?

The economy has hit my family so hard that it is hard to adapt.  Especially because we live in Michigan.  The GM crisis hit my family the most because my dad worked at Delphi for over 30 years and was forced into retirement.  Christmas does not involve gifts anymore, just faces.

I sometimes feel like love does not exist anymore.  Most of us are around, but there is one sibling who, I feel, wants nothing to do with the family.  When Christmas comes around, I cannot count on seeing my sibling or the children, and if everyone is not there, I feel like its not complete.  Now that I am older, I do not care much for gifts, just family.  Without someone, its not the same.  I will never understand this situation.

For the most part, I am ready to come home for Christmas.  The scary part is I do not know what to expect.  Every year its different.  When I think about it, sometimes it hurts.

Pet Peeves! Come On People, Stop!

Everyone has their own list of what annoys them the most.  Lately, it seems like everyone around me has been toying around with my pet peeves and I cannot seem to figure out why.


1.  I hate when people lie to me about the smallest situations.  It's ridiculous because I find out anyways, even when I am not trying to see if you are lying. 


2.  I do not like to lend things out to people because I may not get it back 100% the way I gave it to you or I probably will not ever see it again.  So, if I ever have lent anything to you, consider yourself lucky and treat my things with respect.  One last thing, return it!


3. It makes me angry when people try to talk over me.  For what? I'm not done talking yet.


4.  One uppers: GO HOME! Why do you always need to be the one who has to try and outdo everyone, plus let them know that you have outdone them.


5.  I cannot stand people who like to talk about my food while I am eating it.  Really, it looks like what? Do you not care that I am trying to eat? Unless I am talking horribly about my food, I do not want to hear what you have to say about what I am eating.  Get off my plate!


6. Complainers! You can also go home! You complain about everything for no reason.  Can you not act like an adult? 


7. Do not use me to get through life.  I do not want to give you the answers for anything.  Find it out for yourself!  I may help you, but do not ever ask me to give you any answers.


8. Communicate with me! If I am counting on you for something, let me know if you are not going to be able to make it or do the job that you said you were going to do.  Technology has evolved so there is no reason why you cannot text, call, send me a Facebook comment, or something.  Also, do it in good timing, like maybe when you first realize that you are not going to be able to do it!


9. I do not like when people blame everyone else but themselves when it comes to something going wrong.  Especially when those other people have nothing to do with the problem.  These people need to realize that everyone is not always the problem and they need to fix their short comings themselves.


10. Some people, for some reason, like to act like they are way more than what they are.  Why do you have to lie to yourself and everyone else.  Be true to yourself and do not go over the edge when  it comes to showing and telling people who you are.  They will find out eventually.


11. When I am talking to someone, I do not like for other people to walk up to us and interrupt what I am saying.  This is really rude.  Do not worry because I am planning on getting you back one day by being rude to you.


This is all for now, but I will probably be adding to my list in the future.  What are some of your pet peeves?  Are any of them similar to mine?  Do you have a story to go along with some of the pet peeves I have listed?

Saginaw, What Is Going On? PART 3

Now women.  Sometimes you disappoint me.  Many times, you are the cause of events that happen while out at functions or just out and about.  Women (and this is all types of women) like confrontation, and if not confrontation, they concentrate on gossip or egging situations on.  Not only that, some women are really ghetto and immature with it.  This is one main reason why I did not hang with too many girls while in Saginaw.  They are all about getting in people's business and by the time a little disagreement happens, they end up being loud and immature in  public and sometimes fight over the most ridiculous things.  I made sure no one ever knew my business, that way other girls could not spread it or use it against me.  This is also what has kept me out of fights, and I am proud to say that I have never gotten into a confrontation where I have had to physically defend myself, nor have I ever been so upset as to hurt someone, or try to.

Dress: Young ladies in Saginaw need to update their dress as well as the men (as in my last blog).  All this Gucci, RocaWear, Baby Phat...it is all okay to wear, but sometimes the styles are not very appropriate.  Stop showing off your rolls of fat under your shirts and find some pants that fit!  I have seen too many butt cracks when I never have asked to see them.  There is an invention called a belt that would make sense to try from time to time or just find pants that are not too small to go around your butt!  Easy fix.  This is the major problem that I see with young women in Saginaw, besides cleavage.  Every cute top is not designed for every chest size.  Sometimes this problem could be fixed with a camisole under the top and sometimes not.  In the cases that it is not an easy problem to be fixed then you should not be wearing that top. 

When you go to church, do not wear the dress that you wore to the club a couple of weeks prior.  Too many times I have seen young women walk into church with no sleeve dresses or really short skirts on.  Sweaters are designed for a reason - you should throw one over you shoulder.  My mom lets me borrow some of  her lap scarves when my skirt may come a little above my knee.  This way, when I sit down I am not showing the world what is up my skirt.  They are very handy when it comes to going to a formal place, like church or a wedding.  Some girls do not even where pantyhose in the winter.  At least they keep your legs somewhat warm. 

Please take some of my advice and begin to look more professional and mature.

Saginaw, What Is Going On? PART 2

So, lately I have noticed this.  There are many young people in Saginaw that do not even know that the "thuggish style" is out of date.  I am going to be a valley girl right now and say "that was so 10 years ago."

Why does not anyone know how to dress anymore? Tall tees, out of style.  Jeans down to your ankles, out of style.  Do-rags in public, out of style.  Boxers fully seen due to your jeans being so low, out of style.  Air Force Ones, definitely out of style. 

Maybe I should clear what I mean by young people.  Mainly 18 and up, but it also trickles down to the high school age.  It is time to grow up and start dressing like the mature age that you claim to be.  Once the 18 and up start setting an example on  how to dress, then the high school students will have someone to look up to and decide to change their style too. 

I know that young people in Saginaw love to go out.  I was talking with  my cousin the other day and this conversation came up.  People in Saginaw hold on to one trend for too long and do not know how to adapt for some reason.  He graduated in 2006 and he informed me that many of the people he graduated with still dress like they are in 2006.  The style has changed and "thug" is not in anymore.  My cousin pointed out to his friends that you cannot dress the way you dress to a club in Saginaw when you are going out  in a city like Detroit.  They have a higher class structure and the clubs are looking for a more mature crowd.  What place has recently put this type of dress code in place?  From what I hear, the Hamilton Street Pub.  Club attire is changing, more mature styles are in place.  I am sorry, but if I owned a club, I would not want baggy draws and jeans in my club either.  Do-rags, hecks naw!  You are 22 years old and need to dress like it.

I can not blame everyone because not everyone has that role model to give them of an example of how they should dress as a man.  While recently out last Christmas, I witnessed the dirtiest looking guys with, of course, baggy jeans, messed up hair, dirty t-shirts, and they did not smell great.  This is not fresh!  I probably would have not looked at these guys with such a stinky face had they had a hair cut, a nice sweater, and jeans with a belt around their hips.   And they say they want a sophisticated, educated woman. Ha! This is not going to happen dressing like the "thug" you claim to be.

While I am on the word "thug," stop this thug life that most of you have probably  been trying to live for 10 years now.  That is also out of style.  Get off your butt, get a job, get an education!  There is nothing better that you can do, but to do something with your life.  Selling drugs, tricking, smoking weed, drinking your life away, and creating babies every pit stop you have is not going to get you anywhere.  Gang life is ridiculous! Better yourself!  I am sorry, but these issues that I am addressing make Saginaw not such a great place to be. 

"Oh, but what about the girls? They like my thuggish life."  I will get to them in another blog!

Saginaw, What Is Going On? PART 1

I will admit, Saginaw, Michigan probably is not the only city in the United States that may be having these types of problems.  Saginaw is my home and it is sad to see everything dwindle so quickly.  The people just do not seem to care.


I remember my great grandmother used to tell me stories about when she was younger.  My mother even confirmed that grandma used to get them all spiffed up in dresses just to go downtown in Saginaw, maybe to go to a store on Washington Street, or something of that nature.  Now, look at downtown Saginaw.  It is not that type of place anymore.  My dad told me once that people used to travel from many places just to come to Saginaw.  It was a nice little area.  Now look at it.  There used to be these nice huge homes that lined many residential streets.  Now those homes are either about to fall apart because their owners do not put the care into them, burned down, or torn down.  There was so much beauty that could have been preserved and should have been preserved.  Now what can we give tourists?  I got the chance to look at some pictures of historic Saginaw.  There was so much beauty! Take some time to click on the link and browse through them.


I am not saying that no one is making efforts to make Saginaw look better.  For example, Dr. Shaheen has brought many medical facilities to the city, as I learned from my internship at the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce.  Dr. Shaheen's idea is fantastic, because who is going to come to Saginaw for shopping or education?  Your answer is probably no one.  People definitely will travel for medical reasons.  Once we are able to make Saginaw a medical area, we will be able to bring in money to fix up some areas that need to be presented in a better fashion.  Not only is he working towards building the city back to a comfortable level, but there are also many people in Saginaw working hard, and mostly behind the scenes, to began their new ideas and innovations to many areas around town.


What can an ordinary person do to help? Just do not be the problem of why the city is dwindling.  Do not spray paint on our bridges and do not commit arson on any more of our abandoned homes.  Stop selling drugs, drinking all day, and get up on your feet and plant some flowers in your yard, or rake some leaves and cut grass in the vacant lot on the corner.  I am serious! People need to turn around somewhere and do their part!


As a student in Missouri who anxiously waits to come home to Saginaw to see family and friends, I am disappointed when I get home because everything looks so run down.  No one is putting effort, and sometimes money into what we call home.  Think of areas and buildings that we used to have: many downtown stores on Washington and Genesse are vacant, Amtrak does not even travel to Saginaw anymore and my guess would be because tourism stopped, many homes stand vacant, the Fort Saginaw Mall is gone, and many others. Home does not look so cozy when I come back.  I see things that I have forgotten about and I shake my head in disappointment.  I should see beauty when I drive in on I675.  Think of how tourists see Saginaw.  There is beauty there, we just have to reveal it. It is going to take a little work, but it will be worth it.

Blogging Again?!

Here we are, in Tyler Tomlinson's New Media class during the fall three week and he, of course, wants us to blog.  In three years, I have had to blog in three classes! Hearing the word blog from my instructor sometimes is a positive for me and sometimes is a negative. 


Positives: I get to speak my mind.  No one can tell me that I am wrong (well, they can comment and tell me that I am wrong, but do I care? No!).  I also get to blog on my own time.  And hopefully I can choose my own topics.


Negatives: The instructor always has a topic that you have to stick to while blogging.  If it is not interesting to me, it makes it  much harder for me to figure out what I want to blog about.  Sometimes there are deadlines and a required number of blogs that I have to get done in the class.  I have apprehensions of forgetting to blog because of how busy I am, or having to put blogging off to the last minute and not being able to give my full potential to my research. 


Well, this class seems like it is different.  I hope Tyler is very lenient on what we can blog about and lets us be creative.  In my past blogs, if you have taken time out to read them, you will see that they are topic based. These topics were decided in my classes.  One of the blogs has to do with what I have read in a textbook and the other blog I was able to choose my topic, but I had to blog about that topic during the whole duration of the class. Tyler Tomlinson, GIVE ME THE FREEDOM to blog about what I want to blog about and whatever I am feeling at the time.  I don't know why I am begging because I probably will not get too much freedom.