To the veterans out there who have served/are currently serving our great nation, I extend my sincere thank you for doing what you do. Thank you for fighting for my freedoms and my way of life, and for this great nation in which we live. Your actions are very much appreciated immensely.

Much love,

Jess
(LostInTheLyrics)

This morning, I logged onto Facebook like I usually do, to check up on my friends and see how everybody's doing.
Friday night, my cousin Jon had his last football game of the season, their team getting beat in playoffs. His facebook status reads: "Don't want to turn in my pads today."
I completely lost it. This is the end. He's not playing in college, so his football days are over. His senior year of high school is half over.
Wow.

This is Jon and I.

He's 6ft 3 to my 5ft, but he will always be the little brother I never had. I consider myself close to him, and I tend to overlook his arrogance when I'm in his presence.


As much as he doesn't show it, I know Jon will always have my back, and the same goes double for me.


We've been to the top of the world- well, ok, as "top of the world" as you can get in Albuquerque- together. Side note: This is when he was just hitting growth spurts.

I wish he didn't have to grow up, get older, and move on. To me, he will always be the offensive tackle, the football player, my little cousin.

<3 You, Jon.

What happens if a person is allergic to both latex and polyurethane?

What is it with guys and this whole notion of "don't buy me a Christmas present"?

Why is it, when people ask me what I want for Christmas, "I don't know. Get me what you want to get me" is never an acceptable answer?

When the professor threatens to fail a person the next time they're late, why do they still come in 20 minutes after class has started?

If Christmas is the season to be jolly, then why aren't people nicer when they're shopping?

What do some people have against a little bit of clutter?

Why haven't skinny jeans on guys become illegal yet?

Why does the university concentrate on everything but academics, i.e. the entire purpose of its existence?

Why do the professors who teach the required classes make it almost impossible to pass?

Does road construction ever really truly end?

To date, I have done two papers, a ten minute lecture, and a propaganda project on the need for comprehensive sex education in public schools, so when it comes to speaking diligently and being able to back up my argument with sources right off the top of my head, this is one topic I consider myself the master of.

Before I really get going on this, I really hope that you, as the reader, focused in on the phrase PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Public, as in funded by the government. I am a firm believer in the separation of church and state, primarily because, and this may be news to some people- NOT EVERY AMERICAN IS A CHRISTIAN. But that is another argument for another day.

"I think everybody should just take the biblical approach to sex, and wait until they are married!" you cry. Yeah, well, I think everybody should give me $20, but you don't see that happening. You also don't see people waiting to have sex anymore. That's society for you, though. I said this earlier and I will say it again: NOT EVERY AMERICAN IS A CHRISTIAN.

"Condoms have failure rates!"
Ok, this is probably the DUMBEST argument you can make to me about being against comprehensive sex education programs. I'm a analyst, meaning I pay attention to statistics, meaning a 2% failure rate is a WHOLE HELL OF A LOT BETTER THAN a 90% guarantee of pregnancy should a condom not be used. There is a better chance of being hit by a car, smacked in the face by a penguin, and catching the winning touchdown pass from Peyton Manning than you have of a condom failing.

"Teaching sex education promotes sex."
According to a Planned Parenthood fact sheet, teens who were taught comprehensive sex education were more likely to wait than those who were exposed to abstinence only programs. And just for the record, Planned Parenthood is a driving force behind comprehensive sex education. That's why they exist- to give the public access to the tools they need to make smart choices in regards to sex.

"I/My teenager took a purity pledge."
Good for them! Great idea! I hope they stick with it. Yet, most people are not like the Duggars. Just because they learn about safe sex now doesn't mean they're going to rush out and do it. Having the knowledge of how to prevent pregnancy now can help when they're done having kids after marriage.

"I don't want to look at pictures of male and female anatomy all day."
What the hell is wrong with you? No, ha ha! I'm kidding. For real, though, it's just another body part. And the information provided is good for everybody to know, no matter what anatomy you have.

"Birth control is bad, so why should we teach it?"
Because of birth control, I no longer have horrendous cramps during my period, my face no longer resembles the craters on the moon, and my mood is a whole lot better. Oh yeah, and I wont become a mommy before I'm ready to. I'm sure a lot of women will agree with me on this.

And as one final word before I throw this bad boy to wolves- let's take a second and think about teenagers, shall we? Teenagers think they are invincible. Teenagers tend to rebel. Thus, if you tell a teenager not to do something enough times without presenting logical consequences as to why the act isn't a good idea, they're going to go out and experiment for themselves to figure it out. Saying "No don't do this" isn't enough. Telling them the Bible says it's a bad idea isn't enough- read again: NOT ALL AMERICANS ARE CHRISTIAN. Providing a means to an end- aka: comprehensive sex education- is what it is going to take.

Let the arguing commence.

Write me a letter.
Tell me anything you want.
Rant. Give me good news. Tell me anything.
Ask me a question. Tell me a story.

I want to know what's going on with you today