The following are Random Things About Me that I posted on MySpace and Facebook. I thought I'd share it here too.
1. My friends and family are the most important thing in the world to me. Once you are in my inner circle of friends, you are my family and will always be.
2. I love my kids so much it hurts. They continue to do things every single day that make me proud to be their dad.
3. My son turns 18 in a little more than a week. Watching him grow up has been like watching myself grow up all over again only much, much better. He's so much smarter than I ever was!
4. My daughter is the prettiest girl I know and is much smarter than she thinks she is or maybe wants to be. She has a heart of gold!
5. I've never been one to hang out in cliques. I have just a few close friends, but I have no doubt that they are all friends for life.
6. My personal philosophy is "Work to live and not the other way around." I work hard when I work but I always take time for my family.
7. Although I love working as an insurance agent, I never in a million years thought that's what I would be doing at this age.
8. My brother is my best friend, but sometimes he drives me absolutely nuts!
9. My mom is the most generous, loving, dependable person I know. Period.
10. I have always dreamed of singing with an orchestra. If I ever have a terminal illness and am granted one final wish, that's what I want to do.
11. I'm really very introverted, but try to make people believe that I'm not.
12. My brother is doing with his life what I've always wanted to do. I'm not envious, but proud. He's really good!
13. By the way...after 26 years, I am finally starting my own band! Yeah!
14. I have been fortunate enough to have been in love four times in my life (once married). Unfortunately, non of them stuck. Hopefully the next will be my last!
15. I can't seem to make up my mind which school I love the most...KU or K-State. I let my brother think it's KU so he can have fun making fun of me when I go to K-State games.
16. I got my teaching license from K-State but don't teach anymore. Did I mention I used to teach computer and business classes at South High School?
17. I'm pretty liberal in my political beliefs. If you get me started on politics it's hard to get me to shut up.
18. I'm trying real hard to remember that just because others have differing views it doesn't mean that they're wrong...just that they differ from me.
19. I hate being single, but I know there is someone out there just waiting for me. I just don't get out enough to find her.
20. I have been very blessed in this life! Sometimes I forget how blessed I am.
21. I love everything about the theater, but don't think I'm a very good actor. I get typecast as a leading actor in musicals because I can sing, but have always wanted to do more plays so I could become a better actor. I also want to direct someday.
22. I love dogs. My dog Maggie Mae has been with me for 14 years...throughout many trying times in my life. She always loves me unconditionally regardless of my moods or if I fed her 2 hours late. She's always there for me when others may not have been.
23. I want to learn how to swing dance and ballroom dance.
24. I often allow people to walk all over me in order to keep the peace and not argue. I hate arguing!
25. I have two blogs that I write in on a regular basis. www.myspace.com/alexlankhorst and http://alexlankhorst.blogspot.com.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
More on Obama...
I got to thinking about my previous blog I wrote today (read below) and realized that, although I feel all those things I said, it was pretty much the same feelings I'm sure many of you feel at this time. I guess I feel like I should be a little more candid about my real, individual feelings about the new administration.
Those of you who know me, know that I am a democrat and that I disliked the Bush Administration fiercly. But this isn't just about my dislike for what George W. and his administration was. Eight years ago when Bush took office, I was very disappointed as many fellow democrats were. I felt (as did Gore) robbed by the election. I felt like the American people were robbed. Then after we invaded Iraq and were lied to by the Bush administration for why we went into Iraq, I felt betrayed. Then after Bush was elected for a second term I felt like the American people were just plain stupid for giving this man a second chance! I felt like Bush used fear tactics to win the election over Kerry and falsely accused a true war hero of being less than what he was. For the next four years I felt like we, the American people, got what we deserved for electing this administration for a second term. I was jaded. I was not only disappointed in the American people, I was disappointed in our government. I believe many Americans felt let down by our government as evidenced by the fact that a good majority of incumbents lost their jobs. I never thought I'd feel so negatively about the country I love so much and the leaders of this country.
Watching the inauguration today, I must admit I got a little teary-eyed. After eight years of feeling betrayed and let down by our government and the American people, I feel hope. I feel optimistic about what we as Americans can accomplish. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a leading Republican Senator, said it best when he mentioned (I'm not quoting here) that maybe, just maybe, it will now become popular for politicians in Washington to work together to make things happen in Washington. President Obama in such a short time has already shown his ability to reach out to the members of the Republican party. He has shown his willingness to work together with them for a common purpose. And (by estimates) well over 2 million people showed up in Washington to celebrate this new hope we have in America. I believe that Graham and other politicians in Washington will have to take notice. They can't help but see that the American people want our leaders in Washington to solve our problems together and not work to discredit the other side of the aisle. Maybe, just maybe, the American people will reward them for doing their job rather than for the old politics of fear, hate, and negativity towards the other party.
Today, more so than at any other time in my life, I felt proud to be an American and hopeful that our government will begin to work FOR the American people and not for their own political interests. I felt like we really have a chance to be an example to the world of what you can do as a country if you all come together for the common good. That's something those terrorists who hope to bring us down will never be able to defeat. If we all, as a country, come together we can be an example to even those terrorists that wish us harm, that good conquers evil every time.
Those of you who know me, know that I am a democrat and that I disliked the Bush Administration fiercly. But this isn't just about my dislike for what George W. and his administration was. Eight years ago when Bush took office, I was very disappointed as many fellow democrats were. I felt (as did Gore) robbed by the election. I felt like the American people were robbed. Then after we invaded Iraq and were lied to by the Bush administration for why we went into Iraq, I felt betrayed. Then after Bush was elected for a second term I felt like the American people were just plain stupid for giving this man a second chance! I felt like Bush used fear tactics to win the election over Kerry and falsely accused a true war hero of being less than what he was. For the next four years I felt like we, the American people, got what we deserved for electing this administration for a second term. I was jaded. I was not only disappointed in the American people, I was disappointed in our government. I believe many Americans felt let down by our government as evidenced by the fact that a good majority of incumbents lost their jobs. I never thought I'd feel so negatively about the country I love so much and the leaders of this country.
Watching the inauguration today, I must admit I got a little teary-eyed. After eight years of feeling betrayed and let down by our government and the American people, I feel hope. I feel optimistic about what we as Americans can accomplish. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a leading Republican Senator, said it best when he mentioned (I'm not quoting here) that maybe, just maybe, it will now become popular for politicians in Washington to work together to make things happen in Washington. President Obama in such a short time has already shown his ability to reach out to the members of the Republican party. He has shown his willingness to work together with them for a common purpose. And (by estimates) well over 2 million people showed up in Washington to celebrate this new hope we have in America. I believe that Graham and other politicians in Washington will have to take notice. They can't help but see that the American people want our leaders in Washington to solve our problems together and not work to discredit the other side of the aisle. Maybe, just maybe, the American people will reward them for doing their job rather than for the old politics of fear, hate, and negativity towards the other party.
Today, more so than at any other time in my life, I felt proud to be an American and hopeful that our government will begin to work FOR the American people and not for their own political interests. I felt like we really have a chance to be an example to the world of what you can do as a country if you all come together for the common good. That's something those terrorists who hope to bring us down will never be able to defeat. If we all, as a country, come together we can be an example to even those terrorists that wish us harm, that good conquers evil every time.
I'm PROUD to be an American!
I've been thinking a lot about our new president and the new era we are entering as a country. I don't know about you, but I am so proud to be an American today. Not that I haven't been proud to be an American before, but I'm so proud of what we have done by not only electing our first black president, but by choosing a candidate for president that represents hope for our future. He's not only our 44th president, he's a symbol of how far we as a country have come in terms of civil rights and tolerance and equality. Yes, we still have a ways to go for sure. But to many of my generation and the generation before me, it would have seemed impossible that we would have lived to see a black man or woman be sworn in as President of the United States in our lifetime. I can only imagine the hope that brings to so many children of not only black ancestry, but children of all minorities, that anything is possible. Children whose own parents may have discouraged them from dreaming big are now saying with complete confidence to their children that "you can be anything you want to be!" I believe the events of this day give us as a country more credibility around the world to people and countries who may have judged us as a people unjustly. They may not have given us the credit we deserve for being people of compassion and fairness; of tolerance and righteousness. I believe President Obama exudes and represents these qualities. By electing this man by such a clear margin, we have told the world that this is the type of country we are and want to be. We are that country. I'm proud to be a citizen of that type of country. I'm proud to be an American.
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