It's Time For a Change!

Hi! Not often that I write stuff about my personal life here but I need all the support I can get with a decision that I've made and I know that I can count on you all to help me. Most of what I'll need is some prayers, good thoughts sent my way and maybe a boot in the butt every now and then.

Basically, I'm sick and tired of being a fat ass. A lot of people might take that as me being down on myself but the fact is, I'm a pretty big boy. Oh sure, I'm pretty healthy and all but I know that that won't last if I don't do something now to ensure that I'm as healthy as I can be in 10, 20, 50 years from now. Pretty much, being overweight is what I've known all my life. I don't think I've ever been "skinny" except during a brief period when I was little. I've never really seen myself as big, at least not like I am.

That is, until a couple of days ago.

I had some extra money (how often do that happen?!) and decided to buy some new clothes. All I can say is... damn. When I tried on my usual size of pants and they didn't fit--and when I saw the size that I had to buy--it woke me up. I never thought I would be that size. But I am. This morning I took a good look at myself in the mirror (literally) and really started thinking about it. It's time I did something about this. I have lots of reasons to do so... mainly, I want to live to see my kids grow up (assuming the Lord blesses me with them someday) and I also want to know what it's like not to be big. Again, I've never really know anything else but I'm ready to experience it. I want to be a good husband to my future wife and make sure she doesn't have to worry about my dropping dead because of a heart attack, diabetes or a stroke. I could go on with reasons why I need to do this but the point is, I just need to!

I will be exploring gym memberships as soon as I get a chance to (first of next week most likely). If you have any feedback on where I should go, please feel free to share your suggestions. I live in Philly and commute to Meridian everyday so that may play a part in my decision. Also, I will be going to a doctor ASAP to discuss diets and other such things. By the way, surgery is NOT in the picture and won't be. I just can't see going to that step and I don't want to. That's truly an "only as a last resort" kind of deal.

I appreciate any support I can get from you all on this. I know that this will be tough but I can do it with the help of God and my friends and family. I'll keep track of my progress on here and on the show when I start really doing it.

Jonathan

Southern Tradition

Every region of every country in the world has its own set of traditions. I'm of the opinion that no other region anywhere on Earth has as much as the southern United States. While I don't agree with a lot of what goes on down here as far as politics, closed minds and beliefs about things like race but by the large the south is full of people who love all (regardless of race or other such factors) and are proud of there heretage. Here are some things that we hold near and dear to our hearts.

Southern Cooking: Who can argue that the south doesn't have the best food in the world? We know how to properly cook fried chicken (in an iron skillet with lots of Crisco - take that trans fat worriers). We know how to make real cornbread, dressing (as in the stuff made with cornbread, not loaf bread), greens (mustard, collared, whatever... it doesn't matter), etc. Iron skillets are passed down from generation to generation and they get better with every use and seasoning. I could go on and on but I think you see the point I'm making here.

Southern heretage: This could be all-encompassing but the main things I want to touch on this is mostly the cival war era. Many people in the south wear it like a badge of honor and they should. Southerners have much about the past to be proud of. However I do have to say that I disagree with one thing: The flag (and if you're from the south you know which flag I'm talking about). Yes it's a symbol of our past. No it should not be a part of our present. I feel that Mississippi should change the state flag to a design that does not include the Confederate battle flag. It should be noted that Mississippi is the only state that still includes the Confederate flag into the present state flag. "But it's the flag our forefathers fought under, we should honor them." Ok, using that logic the US should be flying the Union Jack (the flat of the United Kingdom/England), also certain states should be flying the Mexican, French and Spanish flags. Hey, we all had ancestors to fight under those flags.

Smellin' what I'm cooking'? Move on and embrace the past whle honoring the past. Trying to keep the past from leaving is a whole different matter and what a lot of people seem to do.

Football: Football is king in the south. I know that on Friday nights my show will be dead because no one will be listening (they're all at the game). Philadelphia shuts down all together, expecially when Philly and Central both have home games. College football is Saturday... if State and/or Ole Miss are on the air the town will be vacant because everyone's at home or at their favorite watering hole watching the game. Of course, I can't forget to mention junior college ball on Thursdays. Football is very much an important social and recreational activity down south and one that's very much looked forward to. Fall in the south sure is fun!

I could go on and on; these are but a few traditions the south is known for. Of course, we also have the most beautiful and (most of the time) sweetest women in the world. For every bad things that is a part of the south, there are at least two or three good things. I'm proud to be southern and I hope to do some thing to make things better down here.

The rest of the world is watching and it's noticing a new south; let's keep them talking.

--Jonathan

Giant Douche vs. Turd Sandwich

It's election time in Mississippi. Being as political as I am, one would think that I would love this time, that I would be excited at being able to debate and discuss the issues of the various candidates. However, I really don't feel that way.

In fact I'm ready for it to be over.

Let's look at the two candidates for Governor of Mississippi: The incumbant, Hayley Barbour (R) is the favorite to win. Hayley has had a lot of good things happen during his time in Jackson, including the landing of the Nissan plant in Canton and the recent announcement of the Toyota plant that will open in the north Mississippi. However his record isn't all roses and sunshine: Education continues to be a sticking point because it's not completely funded (however, I feel that the state Legislature is more to blame for that) and Hayley also refused to sign a bill that would eventually eliminate the grocerary tax (which is one of the highest in the country) and raise the tobacco tax (which is one of the lowest in the country).

Barbour has a pretty big opponent in John Arthur Eaves (D). Eaves is running on a platform of his wife returning dignity to the Governor's Mansion as well as raising teacher salaries (as has been promised by every major candidate for as long as I can remember) and returning voluntary school prayer as well as putting classes on Bible literacy in public schools. Isn't that cute? He's wanting to do things that have been ruled unconstitutional over and over and over again.

Now one might think that since I'm a Christian that I'd be all for this. Fact of the matter is, I'm totally against his Bible class and prayer plans... well, mostly. A moment of silence is one thing but a prayer read over the school PA system is another. If that's what he has in mind (the PA prayer) then I'm against it. Simply, no one should be forced to pray if they don't want to. Besides, how about this: Would they allow a Muslim student to say a prayer over the PA? Also, are they going to teach classes about other holy books for other religions? No? Or how about seperation of church and state?

Do you see where I'm going with this? Me thinks Eaves and his supporters haven't really thought this through. His plan seems to go against everything Freedom of Religion is supposed to protect. Besides, I don't want some teacher with their own agenda teaching my (future) kids about the Bible. I want my kids to learn about the Bible, God and Jesus from me, their (future) mother and the church. That way I can be sure they're hearing the truth and not some N.E.A. whackjob's distorted views.

Another thing I don't like: At the debate at the Neshoba County Fair, Barbour launched a personal attack on Eaves that even the crowd didn't seem to believe. After Eaves recognized his wife and said she would return dignity to the Governor's Mansion, Barbour took the stage and also thanked and recognized his wife for 35 yeares of marriage. Barbour then quiped, "I got my trophey wife the first time." This was a not-so-veiled attack on Eaves since he is on his second marriage. I have a general rule: I don't vote for those who have to conduct personal attacks to win an election.

Basically the choices for Governor are like the South Park episode that parodied the 2004 Presidential election: We'll be voting for a Giant Douche or a Turd Sandwich.

As for our local elections, all's pretty much quiet in Neshoba County. No real surprises but some don't feel that way about the Sheriff's race. WTOK called the ousting of Larry Myers by Donny Adkins an "upset." Oh please! Anyone who has hung around the county knows that Myers are an ineffective sheriff. He allowed the deputies to get away with murder (I saw it first hand when I was a dispatcher) and most of the time they didn't even do their patrols. There was, at any given time, a stack of warrents that weren't being served. Myers needed to go.

Over in Lauderdale County there also weren't many surprises... even Ray Boswell won again. Yep, the voters in District Five seem to not care that their Supervisor is a proven drunk, racist and hothead. I also heard the term "good old boy" used on the news. Gotta love it.

As for who I'm voting for in the race for Governor... keep in mind that I said it's coming down to voting for a Giant Douche or a Turd Sandwich.

My vote will be a write-in for Tobe Gill (for those not from the area, think of a black version of Forrest Gump).

--Jonathan

A Retrospective of My 25th Year

Well, here I am: On the brink of turning another year older. Another year of changes (many), another year of ups and down, another year of having the breath of life in me. My 25th year has been filled, as most of them are, with everything you can imagine.

This is the year that I returned home after almost two and a half years in Fort Wayne, Indiana. What finally got me out of there was the promise of a return to radio by a station in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Three days later I'm leaving because the situation was not at all what I was told it was. It all worked out: I'm back at my former station and even doing the job I was doing before. It's been a real treat to "return to my roots." I also advanced somewhat in that I'm also working with another station in our building as the Assistant Program Director. Oh, I forgot to mention that: I'm APD of Hot 97.9 (WHTU) in addition to my duties on Q951. It's a fun ride. Admittedly, it was a tough decision to leave Indiana. I had (and still have) a lot of friends up there not to mention I was part of a great church. However I know now that I made the correct decision. I'm right where I need to be.

I've spent this year getting to see my nephew, Jakobe, grow up. In fact today was his first birthday and had I not moved back down here I couldn't have been at his party. Jakobe's truly been a blessing to me and I love that I've been able to be a part of his life. It's been fun getting to be a part of his life.

I'm also thankful of another product of my returning home. If you've been reading this thing for the entire three years that I've had it online (wow--three years already?!) then you know about Jess. Jess is a woman that I dated right before I made the move to Indiana and that I've always had feelings for. Recently we decided to give things another shot and I'm very glad that we have. It's only been a couple of weeks but still... I'm happy. I'm glad that she stuck by me even with the crap I gave her and put her through. Despite all of that and some issues I went through recently where I was VERY confused about a lot of things, she stuck by my side.

As you can see the one constant in my life for the last year has been change. My 25th year on this Earth has been full of changes... some were eacy to make, others took lots of pondering. My 26th year promises to have lots of change as well... some I'm pondering right now so we'll see what happens. Regardless, I'm thankful that I'm in a place where I have great friends, family and (most importantly) God to back me up.

Add one more constant: Love.

--Jonathan