Bekah v. The Westboro Baptist Crazies

I'll admit I have my share of things that annoy me: failure to yield right of way, tardiness and general/unnecessary rudeness just to name a few things. But the Westboro Baptist Church -- they have worn out my patience and understanding and have skipped right past annoyance and straight to lividity.  The members of Westboro Baptist Church have made reputations for themselves by making un-welcomed appearances at funerals of fallen soldiers clad with picket signs that read "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags."

Albert Snyder, of York, PA, filed a lawsuit and sued the aforementioned Westboro Baptist "crazies" from Kansas -- and won. Today Mr. Snyder was awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages, $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress to the family.

Do I think that award in the millions is a little outrageous? Absolutely.

Do I hope that Mr. Snyder will do something productive with that money, i.e. fund support groups for those in similar situations? Absolutely.

But do I think Westboro Baptist Church owes at least that for all the families who they have so wrecklessly kicked when they were already down? Absolutely.

It's one thing to be against the war. It's an entirely different thing to be tactless and asinine with zero respect for those who have given everything they had.

-------------------------------------

Dear Baltimore Jury Members,

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Bekah

Bekah v. Flat Irons

So it was when I flat ironed my left ear this morning that I truly realized....I. need. to. go. home. I'm ready for a break, I really am. A real break. Which, I fear, I won't actually receive for another 6 weeks when the semester is actually over. But I suppose if that's how long I have to wait then I'll do it.

This semester has been especially taxing. I've just got a lot going on, admittedly maybe a bit too much. It's all about balance, I'll figure it out. In the mean time...I just want a nap. Someday, I'll actually write something interesting.

Bekah v. Searcy, AR

There are two things you can always count on in Searcy, Arkansas – 1) the burned out second “F” and the “H” in Waffle House sign and 2) a strike at the Kohler plant. I’ve been coming here for years to visit my grandparents and somehow those two things always manage to make themselves present, at least, if at no other time, for my visits to make it feel as though I never left.

Fall Break is here and I have retreated to the outskirts of the aforementioned town until Sunday morning. And do not be mistaken, the word “break” is nothing but a con. I will be catching up on homework, sleep, and oh yes, I’ve brought my actual job with me. Hurray for mobile offices, I suppose. Oh well, at least I get paid, right? So break doesn’t sound too exciting, but in all honesty, I think that’s what I need – boredom. I’ve had too much excitement thus far this semester, I need to spend an weekend unconnected to the world which may prove as a problem since I have to put in the research proposal for Bateman tomorrow. Hrrmmm…I guess I’ll have to find that mysterious coffee shop with the Wi-Fi in the morning. I am however, hoping to catch up on some LEISURE reading and there will probably be the obligatory, yet welcomed shopping trip with the grandparents.

Well I’m off. It’s leisure reading time. Cult of the Amateur here I come…

Bekah v. Sonic Booms

FAA Investigates Possible Sonic Boom

Officials Investigate Boom

POSTED: 2:38 pm CDT June 20, 2007

UPDATED: 2:56 pm CDT June 20, 200

OMAHA, Neb. -- A loud boom was heard before noon, and Sarpy County officials said they are checking on what may have caused it.At about 12:30 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration told KETV NewsWatch 7 that the sound may have been a sonic boom created by a couple of F-16s that were in Omaha's air space at about the time of the boom.

---

KETV NewsWatch 7 received several calls from people who said they heard or felt a boom in Douglas, Madison, Sarpy and Cass counties in Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Iowa. Shirley Jefferson, in Irvington, said the boom shook her house. Treasure Baker, who lives at 1917 Military Ave., said her house shook and the dog went crazy.People as far away as Tabor, Iowa, and Fremont, Neb., also reported the boom.The Sarpy County sheriff said he had investigators on their way to investigate a gas regulator that was found on its side on Sheridian Road and 36th Street between Bellevue and Papillion.Several firetrucks were also on the way.

(From KETV)

Someone's gonna be in trroooubbbble.

Yessir, big trouble. Because breaking the sound barrier in a plane like that is illegal.

I knew I wasn't going crazy when I was sitting in my room and I heard a loud BOOM and then my entire house shook like it was on a fault line in California.

Bekah v. Life Change

Tonight I packed up 27 years of my father's life. Tomorrow is his last day as the Vice Commander of the Air Force Weather Agency. Tomorrow is his last day of military service to the United States Air Force. I pulled pictures and plaques off the wall, some of tours I remembered, some of those I had only heard of. Put a scrapbook of Desert Storm in a box and as I picked it up I caught a glimpse the yellow and red, white & blue ribbons that had been pulled off the small flags that my mom, sister and I were waving when he hopped off of that truck and walked across the airstrip when he returned from war. The various coffee cups he's collected as gifts from units he's led and been a part of were piled into another box with his Jelly Belly jelly bean dispenser as well as his subwoofer and speakers that he swears can rock out any room. It's time like these, the promotions, the changes of command, the retirements, that I really learn about my Father, the Colonel. The troop he led into Iraq during Desert Storm, his time in Somalia, the various leadership positions he's held, pretty much his character as 'the Colonel,' because I don't see that side of him at home.

The next two weeks are going to be a lot tougher for me than I think I'd initially imagined. Because despite the fact that I am not a member of the military, this is my retirement too, and essentially my excommunication from an exclusive club -- the military dependent club -- which coincidentally enough is pretty much the only thing I've ever known. It's hard to explain, and unless you too are a military dependent, quite honestly, you'd never understand. It's scary. But here's to being scared, here's to change, here's to a new beginning.

Bekah v. Awkward Moments (A Fairy Tale)

Once upon a time there lived a fair maiden in the magical land of Omaha named Bekah. Bekah had just returned from a hard semester at college and had learned of a concert that she wanted to attend so she grabbed a couple friends and went. After the concert Bekah and friends decided that a few post-concert drinks could be fun so they left the lame headlining band's set early and headed over to the bar to meet another friend. Soon after the arrival of Bekah and friends at said bar, they stood at the bar to get some drinks, when who should walk in? None but, the fair maiden's most recent (as of 3 or 4 weeks before) ex-boyfriend.

{Enter awkwardness}

{End fairy tale}

So that was my awkward Thursday evening at the bar. He wouldn't even look at me. And not that I can say that I blame him, it's not like I went out of my way to say 'hello,' but a simple nod to note that he acknowledged my existence wouldn't have hurt. It stung, a lot.

His friend did come and talk to me, and reassure of me though which was nice and absolutely appreciated.

Of all the bars in Omaha, Nebraska. We end up at the same one. Oh. my. luck.

I have, in light of this experience, realized that there will be at least one scenario this summer in which it is impossible to escape from eachother's presence and the acknowledgment of it. Last night, we were in a long bar, where we each stayed on opposite sides. Next time, I don't think it will be that convenient, but the more that I think about it, that's probably a good thing. No sense in avoiding the situation, that's not good for either party involved.

{End pity party}

{On to self-promotion}

I got 4 As and 2 Bs this semester, which is A TON better than I thought I was going to do, so I am super stoked. Go me!

And despite the bleak look for this summer, I have decided I'm going to make it a good one. Even if the fact that it's called "summer vacation" is somewhat (OK, REALLY) a contradiction to what it's actually turning out to be.

It's all in what you make it, right?

Right.

Bekah v. Parents These Days

When did exploiting a child's innocence and teaching them to say things like this become OK? When did this come to be a form of entertainment to expose our children to that type of behavior and attitude instead of protecting them from it?

Don't get me wrong, I am not at all in favor of sheltering children to the point of naivety, but I am absolutely all for not advocating vulgar and profane actions or words to them. We wonder why the youth in this country are running amok and more violent, deviant, and entitled than ever but yet this type of behavior is completely encouraged when they are young and don't know any better. However, when they turn 9 or 10 they are just automatically expected to know that that was wrong. No, it doesn't work like that.