Obama's Latest Speech

And I quote:

“Uhhh, Look.  When I took office I inherited an ailing economy—the unemployment rate was 7.6 percent. Yet we are now facing a 10.2 percent unemployment rate because of President Bush’s continued failed policies over the past 11 months.  America, we are not out of the woods yet. 

 

Let me be clear. I also inherited a healthcare system that was the envy of the world.  Yet we need healthcare reform by the end of the year or I fear our economy will collapse to the brink of disaster.  If we do not overhaul health insurance, I fear their will be no more health to insure. I instructed Congress early this year to get a bill written and on my desk.  That has not materialized, in large part to the residue of the partisan politics of the Bush years.  I now call on Congress to put aside their disdain for our previous president and get this done by Christmas.

 

Make no mistake.  My predecessor left me mired in two wars with the most powerful military on earth, yet I am unsure what to make of it. We have the best generals in the world, but I refuse their suggestions and advice.  I know a better way to achieve the peace. I’m still working hand in hand with our advisors on the ground to bring an end to this sad chapter of the Bush presidency.  America, be patient and we shall succeed.  I will lead you out of the wilderness of 2009, President Bush’s last year in office, to 2010 and the land of tomorrow.  There is yet much to be accomplished.”

 

Happenings at my school.

I work at (edited) High School.
Home of the Mighty (edited).

Last week one of my students was arrested for stealing over $10,000 worth of items from teachers and students.
That is a felony charge.

Last weekend a student from my school was shot in the neck and killed by his father.
His father came home drunk and was looking for a video game.
His son got up to get it for him, his father thought that he was going to hide it.
He shot him in the neck.
His mother cannot afford a funeral.
The student body is raising money for his funeral.

Two weeks ago 3 girls were found making out, naked on the bathroom floor.
During school.

This week, a student crutched into my room with a very broken foot.
I asked why he didn't have a cast on.
He said his family couldn't afford it and that as long as he didn't put pressure on it he would be OK.
He was a soccer player.

I have a student who falls asleep everyday in class.
I was annoyed.
I held him after class and asked him why.
He said that he worked the night shift because his dad was in jail and his mom needed help with bills.
How can I get mad at that?

I have a student who has two T-Shirts.
He wears one one week and the other the next.
He alternates weeks.

This morning during our "Halloween" Warm-Up I asked if Dracula was real.
A student said, "I thought Dracula was a dinosaur. Like a BIG one."

OK, so the last one is more funny than anything.

But seriously.

WHAT IN THE WORLD.

How am I supposed to affect these students?
How can I show God's love and plan?
I've never been beaten by my dad, I've never been shot by my dad, my family can afford to buy index cards for flashcards, my family can afford to fix a broken bone, my dad actually told me NOT to get a job during college so that I could focus on school.

How am I supposed to affect these kids when I have no idea what they are going through.
They have experienced more life than I ever want to.

How can I show them that there IS a God?
How can I show them that there is a God who LOVES them?

I feel so naive.
I feel so spoiled.
I feel so innocent.

Of COURSE I believe in God.
My life is perfect.
My family is perfect.
I don't have money issues.
I can afford healthy foods.
I can afford new clothes.

How can I show kids who have a COMPLETELY different life than I do that there is a God without them rolling their eyes at me and saying, "easy for you to say" ?

I desperately want to give them everything that I have.
Not because "I don't deserve it."
Because I WANT to.
Because I CAN.
Because I can afford another one.
Not just things.
I want to give love, assurance, safety, comfort, a hug.
NO, I do not think that it should be government mandated.
NO, I do not think that it is the government's job to take care of them.
It is a heart issue.

My life in Houston thus far.

My life in Houston thus far:

I did not want to move here.

I hate Houston.

Houston does not have my kind of "people."

Houston does not have my kind of activities.

Houston does not have my kind of weather.

Houston does not have my kind of food.

Houston does not have my kind of Christian.

Houston does not have my kind of thought-process.

Houston does not have my kind of life-style.

I put off moving here as long as I could.

I fought with God for 3 years.

Eventually, everything was taken from me and I had no choice but to move here.

Since moving here I have been called a hippie (which is derogatory here).

Since moving here I have (ignorantly) been accused of being an "Obama lover."

Since moving here I have been snubbed.

Since moving here I have lost one of my closest friends and fear that it's too gone to remedy.

Since moving here I have been made fun of.

Since moving here I have been ignored.

Since moving here I have been immediately written off.

Since moving here I have been lead on and hurt.

Since moving here I have found what it means to rely on God.

Since moving here I have found what true patience is.

Since moving here I have found what true peace is.

Since moving here I have found who I am.

Since moving here I have found what I enjoy doing, sans influence of others.

Since moving here I have seen God truly move in my life.

Since moving here I have seen what it is to have nothing and yet have everything.

Since moving here I have found what it means to truly trust in God.

Since moving here I have been tested.

Since moving here I have found a true, genuine friend.

Since moving here I have discovered what a true, encouraging, loving, God focused relationship with a male should look like.

Since moving here I have discovered how loving and all-forgiving family is.

Since moving here I have discovered how loving and all-forgiving God is.

God is good.

I still don't like Houston.

This is where God has me.

This is where God could most easily talk to me because I had nothing.

God is good.

Trust in Him.

The vegetarian hippie shot the symbol of peace...

and I liked it.

He shot more peace than I did, so it's OK.

Things I'm Looking Forward To

1) My handsome man.
2) Shooting my kick-a bow.
3) Shooting a deer with my kick-a bow.
4) Dressing up like a Native American and stalking a deer with my man and my bow.
5) Seeing Constance.
6) Going with my sister Kate to induct her into the Tatted Club.
7) Hanging out with Chelsea.
8) ToFu-GnarPow.
9) Recycling.
10) New Toms Cordones.
11) Pursuing the Lord.
12) Pursuing the Lord with my handsome man.
13) My Marathon.
14) My brother and his wife coming home.
15) Delhi hats.
16) Obama's last day in office.
17) Reaching the other 81.75% (see #1)

He left flowers at my door.

Howl at the Moon

On Thursday, August 6 my sister and I threw a "Howl at the Moon" party.

Coincidentally, it fell on the same day as the Spartan Karneia.

We started the night off with a rousing games of "Moons."

We taped moons to spoons and played by the same rules that apply to the card game "Spoons"

After "Moons" we played "Pin the Man on the Moon"

Margaret drew an AMAZING moon and cut out two dozen little astronauts. (pictures to follow)

We each wrote our name on an astronaut, I blind folded the participant, spun them around 5 times, then directed them towards the moon.

Whoever "landed" closest to the American flag won.

My mother won.

We think she cheated.

We know Will Hixon cheated.

After this we had a group howl at the moon. (footage will follow)

After the group howl we played Lunar Twister.

Our arms were our "wings," our legs were our "thrusters," and we renamed the colors different phases of the moon (pictures to follow)

Example: "Left thruster on full moon" as opposed to "Left leg on red"

Throughout the course of the night we ate Moon Pies and drank Blue Moon beer.

By the end of the night everyone was in the pool.

Except for Roger and Lauren.

Lameskies.

It was fantastic.

The Narnia Bar

My friend, Arthur, and I saw "500 Days of Summer."

AWESOME movie.

I most definitely recommend it.

I also recommend seeing it at the River Oaks theater because it's very Austin-like and you can order a drink.

An adult drink.

Anyways.

As we were walking to my car I noticed a tree.

It was an AWESOME tree.

I wish that I had taken a picture.

I commented on how cool the tree was.

Unbeknownst to us, there was a woman sitting on the stair case next to the tree.

She comments, "You should see what's BEHIND the tree."

OK, it was a little creepy.

She convinced us to go in.

We opened the door and were immediately transported to London.

This was the coolest bar.

There's no sign.

They've never had a sign.

They have the most creative drinks.

You open the door and a calming energy immediately surrounds you.

Dimly lit.

Soft piano playing in the background.

Everyone talking softly.

I felt like I should've had on a high-waisted skirt that hit mid-calf, a lace shirt, my hair in soft waves, red lipstick, and a long cigarette.

We spent 3 hours there.

Everyone should go.

God is thoughtful.

Houston had a very heavy rain a couple days ago.
The day after the rain my friend Arthur and I saw this in my back yard.

It's not a very good pic. My camera was out of batteries. I literally turned it on, took the pic, then it died.

How cool is this?

These are mushrooms.

I love mushrooms.

How cool is our God?

He created this to grow like this.

How creative?

How much does He love us that He would give us such simple beauty?

How much fun did He have when He created this?

OH my goodness.

He is worthy of ALL praise.

And just for kicks:

This is the night we decided that Helen Keller was a whore:

The car ride to Max's.

Don't really know.

This chair is AWESOME.

They were acting like Southern Ladies in the itty bitty chairs.

"Recycling" reduced

Turns out my previous posting was pretty lengthy. Here's what I think is the most relevant: and I quote...myself:

Another Perspective:

Why is "saving the earth" associated with 'hippies.'

*WARNING* This is a SWEEPING generalization: The majority of 'hippies' don't believe in the Christian God.

Why isn't "saving the earth" associated with people who BELIEVE in God.

Why isn't "saving the earth" associated with people who FIGHT TO PROVE THAT HE IS THE CREATOR of the earth.

Wouldn't it make more sense if the people who believe in God, believe that He created the earth, cared more for it than people who believe it's here by chance?

Recycling.

Y'all know me.

Y'all know that I think everyone should recycle.

Y'all know that this is something that I am passionate about.

Sometimes... only sometimes... I get a bit too passionate.

Just hear me out:

Preface:

God created the world.

His earth is evidence of Him.

Ever read Job 38-39?

Rewind:

Think back to your college days.

You were the only one who took out the trash.

One day.

You got fed up and decided to go on a silent trash-strike.

So you stopped taking out the trash, hoping that your roommate would get the picture and take the trash out.

The trash built.

The flies came.

The stench permeated.

Finally, you couldn't stand the trash sitting in your apartment, the flies buzzing around your dinner, the embarrassment when one of the opposite sex came over and asked "what's that smell"...

so you caved and took out the trash.

Fast Forward:

You want to purchase a lot.

You research neighborhoods, prices, taxes, drainage, etc

You pick the perfect lot.

You pay for the perfect lot.

You want to build a house on your perfect lot.

You research builders.

You find the perfect builder.

You plan your house perfectly.

Everything is to your exact specifications for your lifestyle.

The kitchen is large enough to accommodate multiple holiday-fueled women.

You have strategic Christmas-light-electrical plugs.

You have a storage room for your outdoor gear.

You have a mud room.

You have the most amazingly comfortable theater room with surround sound in the seats.

You have a below ground wine cellar.

You have secret passages where you can spy on your kids.

You have a secret laboratory for all of your... "experiments."

Etc, etc

It's built in record time.

It's perfect.

Your neighbor comes over and drops off his trash and asks you to keep it for a while. Just until it breaks down into its original components.

Your neighbor on the other side does the same.

Your neighbor from across the street brings his family's trash over. He just dumps it, doesn't even put it in a bag for you.

Now the entire neighborhood is dropping their trash off in your house.

Eventually the entire first floor is filled with trash.

So you move up to the second floor.

You install fans to get rid of the smell.

You install special walls and ceilings to trap the gasses so they don't come up to the second floor.

Your neighbors don't care that this house was perfectly planned.

Your neighbors don't care that YOU planned this house.

Your neighbors don't care that it means THE WORLD to you.

They have to get rid of their trash somehow.

How would you feel if your neighbors treated your perfect, hard-worked for house, like a garbage can?

For Serious:

OK.

I know that's cheesy.

But think about it.

You don't like trash in your apartment for more than a week.

It's annoying when your roommates don't help 'reduce' (take out) the trash.

You don't like it when friends leave their trash in your car.

God planned this world PERFECTLY.

He created it for us to ENJOY.

And we treat it like a trash can.

Obviously, trash is produced.

It's inevitable.

But do you really need to use 500 disposable coffee cups in one year?

Why can't you use one and refill it?

Do you really need to get a plastic bag each time you buy a soda?

Why can't you just carry it?

Why can't you bring a couple cloth bags with you to the grocery store?

Does the light in your room need to be on if you're in the kitchen?

Why can't you turn it off when you walk out?

Why not help reduce the amount of trash put INTO God's earth?

Another Perspective:

Why is "saving the earth" associated with 'hippies.'

*WARNING* This is a SWEEPING generalization: The majority of 'hippies' don't believe in the Christian God.

Why isn't "saving the earth" associated with people who BELIEVE in God.

Why isn't "saving the earth" associated with people who FIGHT TO PROVE THAT HE IS THE CREATOR of the earth.

Wouldn't it make more sense if the people who believe in God, believe that He created the earth, cared more for it than people who believe it's here by chance?

Is it not our duty to be good stewards of what He gave us?

Yet Another Perspective:

Ignore the environment.

Think about your pocket book.

Turn off the lights, reduce your electric bill.

Turn off the water faucet, reduce your water bill.

Bring your own coffee cup, get a 10% discount.

Bring your own grocery bag, get a 10 cent discount per bag.

It makes "cents", guys.

I'm not a fan of the guy. But this is one thing I am excited about.

Not sure how to or where to 'reduce' in your life? Sign up for this. It's a pretty cool site. And it's FREE.

They cut down my nook.

I'm taking some Chemistry classes at Rice.

During my lunch break I found a perfect Elizabeth-sized nook made out of Oak branches.

The branches grew down to the ground and left a little nook just for me.

I have been laying in the nook, talking to the Oak.

He's a very happy Oak.

Today.

Rice University cut off the branches that were my shelter.

Bastards.

The Oak was not happy.

He enjoyed grazing the ground.

He enjoyed communing with the grass near his branches.

He can no longer do that because Rice decided that his branches were a nuisance to the ground.

My heart hurts for the Oak.

Welcome!

I have deemed myself important enough and interesting enough to have a blog. After all, who DOESN'T want to know what Elizabeth Owen is up to? I mean, be honest with yo'self.

*I doubt I will keep up with this.

*I doubt it will last very long.

*It will probably just turn in to a self-righteous-ranting-spot.

*Awesome. Let's begin.

I suppose I should explain my web-address "Bettye the Lesser."

My grandmother Bettye is beautiful.

Inside and out.

She is the epitome of a southern lady.

My grandmother Bettye is a writer.

She has written journal entries for every major and minor event of her life.

She has a published book of poems, "Echoes in a New Room."

Her writing style has always reminded me of C.S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkein.

I am named after her.

I will never live up to her beauty, love of life and people, and genuine kindness.

This is a blog.

This is where I write.

This is not worthy of being called 'writing.'

ergo: Bettye the Lesser.