Simma Down Nah

It’s no secret that I absolutely love Instagram. 90% of my posts are related to either food, fitness, or my dachshunds. Today, I posted this picture for #flashbackfriday/#flexfriday/#fitfriday:

I shared it on both IG and Facebook with the following caption:

From obliterated hot mess to dedicated gym rat. My transformation has been much more than weight loss. My entire lifestyle has changed. I used to be so insecure and depressed that I needed to drink excessively to numb the pain. I was unhappy with my weight, but I just kept living the same destructive lifestyle I had been. Alcohol made me forget. Alcohol made me bold. Alcohol also made me overweight, unhealthy, and more depressed. Fast forward 5 years from that picture on the left, and life is completely different. I’m in the gym 5-6 days a week, I eat healthy, and for the first time in a long time I feel good about myself. I don’t need alcohol, I don’t need complements from men, and I don’t need to party in order to find peace in my life. I have God, I have the gym, and I have faith in myself. I looked for happiness in the bottom of a bottle, but I found it in the gym.

It took a LOT of courage to share that part of my story, because not many people knew about the alcohol problems I had in college. I drank to numb the pain of insecurity, I drank to numb the pain of losing loved ones, I drank to numb the hurt of breakups. My sisters were worried, my family was worried, and deep down I was worried, but I kept drinking. I was dangerously close to being, from a clinical standpoint, an alcoholic.

After posting this picture, most of the comments were incredibly supportive and contained nothing but love and support. However, after refreshing my browser while eating lunch, I found this status from one of my FB friends.

I honestly feel it’s no coincidence that this was posted less than an hour after I shared my picture and my story.  Alcohol was not the reason I gained all the weight. It was a factor, but so were the poor food choices and making excuses not to go to the gym, along with being too depressed to get out of bed some days. I found this extremely rude and incredibly offensive. I feel it’s stupid to take offense to someone’s personal story of overcoming obstacles like that just because you’re a bartender. I still drink on occasion. I love wine, I love good beer, and I love going to bars with friends. I just don’t drink to get drunk anymore. I drink socially, and I prefer wine tastings and breweries to clubs. That’s what adults do. They drink to socialize, they drink because they love the art and the taste. Alcoholics drink to deal with life and numb the pain they’re too scared to process—alcoholics drink to function. “You don’t need to be sober to be healthy”? I’ve never met a single alcoholic who a doctor could look at and give a thumbs up with a clean bill of health. Devaluing someone’s life experiences in such a hurtful manner is ridiculous.

Sloppy ass mess, huh? I guarantee that even at my most intoxicated I could carry on a better conversation than most people. So suck on that Popsicle, holmes.

Once Upon a 60 Pound Weight Loss

A couple weeks ago, I finally hit the 60 pound weight loss mark. It was another major accomplishment in my weight loss journey, so I celebrated by taking a shopping day with my Momma yesterday. We celebrated the completion of my initial challenge with a shopping trip, too. I, of course, documented a successful dress purchase and texted it to my best friend saying “I’m obsessed with this dress and I can’t remember the last time I bought something this tight that I felt good in!” And it’s true, I did feel great in that dress because I thought I looked slim, trim, and ready for a night out on the town.

 

And I did……at that point.

 

Yesterday, not only did I purchase jeans that were a 8 sizes smaller than where I was 18 months ago, but I also bought a dress that was a size 4 and almost bought one in a size 2.

L: March 2013 (17 pounds down)
R: April 2014 (60 pounds down)

 

This is my “OMG I just fit into a size 2” face

 

At my heaviest weight of almost 200 pounds, I never thought I’d ever be able to fit into a size 2 again. Ever. However, with all this weight loss and fitness success, I have had a flood of thoughts over questions and comments that have been asked/stated in the past several years. Some of them from peers, some from pageant judges, and some from my own family members. One in particular was asked during a pageant interview shortly after I graduated.

I answered a variety of questions regarding the 4 points of the crown, my platform, etc. Then, one of the judges asked me a question that I will never, ever forget.

“Why do you think you have a chance at winning today? You do realize there has never been a plus-sized Miss America, don’t you?”

His tone was very condescending, and his question followed one regarding my platform of “Celebrate EveryBODY: Beauty Comes in All Sizes”, which promoted eating disorder prevention. I paused for a moment, mostly because I felt the tears welling up in my eyes and the lump forming in my throat, then I calmly said:

““Yes, I’m very much aware of that. However, with all due respect, sir, before 2008 we never had a black president either. Change is a brilliant and powerful thing.”

Change is, indeed, a very powerful thing. Whether you’re changing your lifestyle, your religion, your relationship, your hair color, or even just your shoes—a little bit of change can go a long way. I’ve made many, many changes in my life in the past 18 months. For the first time in my life, I’m not going to settle for just anything. The future is bright. I better get my shades.

Here’s to the next fitness achievement. Leggo.

Attention Dieters: There is NO Magic Pill.

After being snowed in for 4 days and having nothing really to do outside of working out, I watched more TV than I have in the past week. What started as being sucked into yet another Law & Order: SVU marathon turned into the biggest research project I’ve done since college. At least one out of every 5 commercials was for something weight loss related, either diet plan or diet pill, that promised “miraculous results” in just a few short weeks.

Before I was introduced to AdvoCare, I tried just about every diet pill and weight loss plan on the market. I had no idea how to eat right, how to have a proper exercise regiment, or,most importantly, the confidence to move forward. SlimQuick, Hydroxycut, Alli, and OxyElite Pro were the main products that I used & expected to fix my weight problem. I saw commercials for 3 of the 5 while watching TV over the past 4 days, and it amazed me how much they make the products seem like a magic pill.

NEWSFLASH: There is no such thing.

I’m no doctor–I have no professional medical or nutritional training. What I do have is personal experience with yo-yo dieting, diet pill popping, and lots of disappointment with both. This entry is by no means to give an expert opinion, but rather to give a personal account of why I believe these are not only a waste of money, but even dangerous if used improperly.  So, anyone who is looking to lose weight and looking to OTC Diet Pills for help–this is for you.

SLIMQUICK
I tried the pills, the powder packets, and about everything else they put on the market. Nothing. At the time I began taking the pills seriously, I was working with a personal trainer and eating right. I lost maybe 5 pounds over the course of a month. I wasn’t impressed at all. Outside of just not working, it really didn’t have any major issues with it.

Verdict: Waste of Money

HYDROXICUT
I used several of the pill products (Regular, Max, and Hardcore) over the course of several months. The chiseled abs and toned physiques the company promised were enticing, and they made it seem so easy! After about 8 months and hundreds of dollars spent, I lost a mere 6 pounds. I wasn’t eating right and wasn’t exercising much at all, so that’s probably why I had such poor results. I had few side effects, the two biggest being nausea and restlessness. Once again, not impressed.

Verdict: Meh.

ALLI
This was potentially one of the worst decisions ever. Like most diet plans, the Alli system required a low-fat diet. While other diet pills will simply not work if you eat too many fatty foods, Alli has a nasty way of reminding you that you screwed up. You poop yourself.

I’m not even kidding, side effects include “Changes in your bowel function often occur because of the unabsorbed fat. Fatty/oily stool, oily spotting, intestinal gas with discharge, a feeling of needing to have a bowel movement right away, increased number of bowel movements, or poor bowel control may occur. These side effects may get worse if you eat more fat than you should. If these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly.”

I don’t know about you, but the idea of leaking oil out of my butt-hole was enough to make me stop using that junk ASAP.  Luckily, the only problem I had was needing to make a dash for the bathroom at Ussain Bolt speed.

Verdict: Absolute Crap……pun intended.

OXYELITE PRO
I found this product while on a vitamin website and saw this description:

“The proven formula of OxyElite Advanced from USP Labs boosts your energy levels and burns stubborn belly fat. This formula also reduces hunger pains, cravings and late night snack binges while giving you the energy needed to gain muscle and burn fat. Build up your dose gradually to achieve your desired weight loss.”

I didn’t even get to the point of building up my dose gradually because I felt so bizarre when I took the pills.  I honestly felt like I had been drinking each time I took a dose. Sweating, dizziness, tingling in my hands and feet–it was borderline awful. I also got EXTREMELY nauseated the majority of the time I took it. Most website reviews I read said that all the side effects were caused by the caffeine. My guess would be, for me, from something outside of that. I do not have a sensitivity to caffeine and was used to being full of it throughout the day.  I only used one bottle and never purchased it again. I hated not feeling in control because of a diet pill!

Verdict: Not for the weak–not something I’d recommend.

With all this being said, I realize that everyone is different. My honest suggestion to anyone who has a desire to get healthy or lose weight with the help of a nutritional company is to try AdvoCare. This isn’t a plug, this is truth. I tried just about everything on the market to try to lose weight, but it was not until AdvoCare was introduced to me that I found my answer. The products are amazing, the support is incredible, and the results speak for themselves.

One year (and 50+ pounds) later, a whole new person has been uncovered!

Through the support of my team, the dedication I gave to my transformation, and the quality of the products, I discovered the champion I had hidden within.

There is no such thing as a magic pill that will allow you to eat a Big Mac and become a size 2 overnight. Weight loss takes education, dedication, and a lot of hard work. This is why I chose to become an AdvoCare distributor–so that I can BE the support for others who are in the desperate spot I was a year ago.

One of my favorite quotes is one that I heard at Success School last August from Tyler DeBerry. He said “Live your dream and share your passion. You will not accomplish anything unless you become intolerant of where you are.” It took me less than a year to uncover a whole new person, and I’m still going strong.

Be brave, be bold, and become what you were meant to be. Are you ready to find your inner champion?

You Keep Singing That Song….I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means

I got bored yesterday while waiting for the Miss Indiana pageant to begin streaming online (by the way, congratulations to the beautiful Miss IU Terrin Thomas on being crowned Miss Indiana! HOO-HOO-HOO-HOOSIERS!!!) and began browsing some old music videos on YouTube. I had a flashback to high school semi-formal when I saw the music video for Hinder’s “Lips of an Angel”, because everyone would grab their date and dance ever so closely.

Newsflash, people. It’s not a love song.

It got me thinking about some songs that are played or remade to have a meaning that’s completely different than originally planned. I was quickly able to come up with several and, as a result, this beautiful little nugget of blogging was born.

 

1. “LIPS OF AN ANGEL” – Hinder

The true meaning of this song has been debated, but it sure as hell sounds like a combination of infidelity and the inability to deal with the one that got away. I have heard this song played at proms, semi-formals, and even at a wedding as a FREAKING FIRST DANCE (irony–the marriage ended as a result of a cheating husband.) It’s catchy, it’s smooth, and the singer’s voice drops panties. It’s not, however, a love song.

Unless you’re cool with the whole cheating deal.

 

2. “WHAT HURTS THE MOST”- Rascal Flatts, Cascada (Remake)

With lines like “It’s hard to deal with the pain of losing you everywhere I go, but I’m doin’ it.” and “And not seein’ that lovin’ you, is what I was tryin’ to do”, this song seems like the quintessential breakup song, right?

WRONG!

Cascada turns it into a complete techno-breakup masterpiece which, I’m sure, is the last thing Rascal Flatts wanted. If you watch the video from the original version, you’ll come to discover that it’s about a young girl who loses the love of her life in a car accident after NOT telling him she sees him in her future when he asks. Tear jerker. Not gonna lie, I bawled like a baby when I watched the video. I love this song, I love the beautiful lyrics, and I hate when people post it after being dumped.

 

3.  “SEMI-CHARMED LIFE”- Third Eye Blind

This song used to come on U-93 when I was a kid and I’d sing it at the top of my lungs. A little bit of my childhood died when I found out what it was about…..Crystal Meth. Doing meth, having sex, and passing the hell out.

The end.

 

4. “PUMPED UP KICKS”-Foster the People

I have to admit, when this song came out I cranked up the radio. It’s catchy, but I never really listened to the words…..and then I did, and immediately regretted the decision.

Dude….we were all jamming to a song about a kid planning a school shooting.

The song was inspired by Foster’s experience with high school bullying and bassist Charlie Fink’s cousin, who survived the Columbine Massacre. Have fun singing along now, y’all.

 

5. “GUNPOWDER & LEAD”-Miranda Lambert

I love this song. I love to sing it, I love to listen to it, and I love that people think it’s a “Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned” breakup song.

One of the lines is “His fist is big but my gun’s bigger. He’ll find out when I pull the trigger.” I knew from the first time I heard it that it was about domestic violence. I assumed everyone else understood that, but then someone dedicated it to her “dumbass cheating ex boyfriend.” at karaoke. *facepalm*

6. “JAILHOUSE ROCK”-Elvis Presley

I was obsessed with Elvis as a kid, and “Jailhouse Rock” was my favorite. I thought it was about musical inmates coming together and singing about their misfortune.

Nope. Nope. NOPE! Sex behind bars. Please observe these gems of lyrics:

“Number forty-seven said to number three:
You’re the cutest jailbird I ever did see.
I sure would be delighted with your company,
Come on and do the jailhouse rock with me.”

“The sad sack was a sittin’ on a block of stone
Way over in the corner weepin’ all alone.
The warden said, hey, buddy, don’t you be no square.
If you can’t find a partner use a wooden chair.”

“Shifty Henry said to bugs, for heavens sake,
No ones lookin, now’s our chance to make a break.
Bugsy turned to shifty and he said, nix nix,
I wanna stick around a while and get my kicks.”

……..sweet baby Jesus…….

7. “YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE”-Traditional (and Johnny Cash version)

This is on 90% of Johnson & Johnson baby product ads. It’s precious, and my mom used to sing it with me all the time:

“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
You make me happy when skies are grey.
You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you.
Please, don’t take my sunshine away.”

Adorable, right? I didn’t know this until recently, but that’s just the chorus. The song in its entirety is actually quite depressing.

“You are my sunshine my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You’ll never know dear how much I love you
So please don’t take my sunshine away

I’ll always love you and make you happy,
If you will only say the same.
But if you leave me and love another,
You’ll regret it all some day:

You are my sunshine my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You’ll never know dear how much I love you
So please don’t take my sunshine away

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken
I was peeping through the bars.

You are my sunshine my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You’ll never know dear how much I love you
So please don’t take my sunshine away

You are my sunshine my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You’ll never know dear how much I love you
So please don’t take my sunshine away”

 

8. “CRASH INTO ME”- Dave Matthews

This song is, by far, one of my favorite DMB tunes of all time. I can listen to Dave for hours on end regardless of what his songs mean; the man is magic.

The first verse makes this sounds like a sweet love song:

“Sweet like candy to my soul
Sweet you rock, and sweet you roll.
Lost for you, I’m so lost for you.”

By verse 4, things start heating up:

“Hike up your skirt a little more
And show the world to me
Hike up your skirt a little more
And show your world to me
In a boys dream.. In a boys dream”

And then by the last verse, shit gets creepy. We realize that this isn’t a lovesick Romeo singing about his Juliet….it’s about a perverted  stalker/Peeping Tom:

“Oh I watch you there
Through the window
And I stare at you
You wear nothing but you
Wear it so well
Tied up and twisted
The way I’d like to be”

 

9. “TUTTI FRUTTI”-Little Richard

My grandpa always listened to the oldies station when I was a kid, and this song always made me dance when it came on. Much like Jailhouse Rock, when I found out what was behind this song–my childhood died a little more. Not only is it about some guy getting it on with a girl, but multiple girls–they both know what to do (clearly, professionals) and they all drive him crazy. “Tutti frutti, aw rooty” was not the original lyrics of the song, before it got picked up to be recorded. Here’s what Little Richard sang live:

“Tutti Frutti, good booty
If it don’t fit, don’t force it
You can grease it, make it easy.”

Folks, we all danced as kids to a song about anal sex.

 

What should you take away from this? Simple. The next time you hear a song and you think to yourself “Wow….this would be a good song for [insert occasion here]”, for the love of everything that is sweet and holy–listen to the lyrics. You don’t want to look like an idiot when people realize your first dance is a song about rape, infidelity, or a stalker. Love, Rachel.

Counting My Blessings

I grew up in a Christian home. God has been a major part of my life since the day I was born. I have been beyond blessed in my endeavors, always giving God the glory. My reasoning is simple: God is good. Every moment of the day, he is my link to sanity. Early this morning, I felt his presence and his protecting hands wrap around me.

He kept me from death’s door.

Around 5:55 am this morning, I was traveling eastbound on CR 15 in Goshen on my way to work. I was just coming up over the crest of a hill when I suddenly saw 2 headlights coming towards me–in my lane delivering newspapers. The vehicle had its brights on, so I couldn’t see how far over in my lane it was. Letting instinct take over, I swerved to the right. I went down an embankment, took out 2 full grown poplar trees and maimed a third, spun around and flew backwards through a fence 100 feet into a field. I was going 50 mph in a 55 mph zone. Any slower, I would have plowed into the trees and stopped violently. Any further left, I would have hit a large oak tree head on. Had the ground been dry instead of saturated with rain water, I would have flipped and probably killed. The pictures of my car speak for themselves.

At the entrance to the accident site, there was a cross that said “Jesus loves you” and beneath it, a sign with scripture. I should not have been able to get out of my car and walk away from that accident. It was only by the grace of God that I escaped with only minor injuries. I have whiplash, possibly a mild concussion, bumps, bruises, & cuts. I SHOULD have had a broken nose, fractured jaw, fractured neck and broken face. My Lord & Savior protected me from horrible bodily harm. Glory be to God!

After realizing how close I came to losing everything today, I vow to count my blessings every chance I get. God must have great plans for me since he pulled me from that wreck, and I will trust in him whatever it may be. My favorite hymn is “When Peace Like A River Attendeth” It was written by a man who lost his wife and young daughter in a tragic accident. Even in the darkest moment of his life he turned to the Lord for comfort and strength, creating this beautiful hymn.

When peace like a river attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll

But whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say

‘It is well! It is well with my soul!’

Whatever the path, it is well with my soul. Count your blessings, hug your loved ones, and praise God always.

Speed Dating

We live in a society that expects everything to be fast. Fast food, fast delivery, fast cars, fast internet. Unfortunately, I’ve come to discover that this also applies to dating. When I refer to speed dating from here on out, I’m not referring to the “sit across the table from a stranger and gauge their interest” speed dating.

I’m talking expedited relationships.

Call me old fashioned, but I’m a firm believer of dipping your toes in the water before you jump in. I rarely kiss and never (except for that one time) indulge in carnal relations on a first date. I take time to get to know someone before making a decision if I want to have a legitimate relationship. See, I don’t want my life to be like that of a Sim. You know, meet a guy, fall in love, get married and have a baby all within a few hours. I want that fairytale ending as much as the next girl, but I want to take the time to be 100% sure my prince charming is exactly that.

So where am I going with all of this?  I have numerous friends/acquaintances/people on my Facebook machine who are all kinds of “Hey, I just met you and this is crazy, but be my boyfriend–I love you maybe?”

Forgive me for that….but I had to.

Remember said ex and leather-faced whore from a couple posts back? They’re going to be a prime specimen of WTF-dom when it comes to speed lane couples. I can understand the puppy-love-drunk highschoolers who are madly in love with their boyfriend of the week. Ok, no I can’t. I still think it’s ridiculous but who am I to judge? I was there once too. Anyway, I don’t get on Facebook much anymore because of work, but every time I do, said couple (aka: her posting to him) fills my news feeds with wall posts like “I love you. Just thought you should know.”, many of which contain the wrong uses of your-you’re. For Christmas, he gave her a promise ring….because 3 months is evidently the new 1 year mark. Did I mentioned they moved in together? A regular Cleaver household this duo is turning out to be.

Before someone out there in blogland gets their panties in a bunch, let me be clear: Not ALL fast paced relationships are bad. My best friend Tabby met her husband Matt in the summer of 2010. From the get-go, I could tell this was forever. They began dating that August, moved in together in October, and were engaged by March. They are an example of how fast sometimes means “When it’s right, it’s right” Neither one were the habitual daters in the past and Matt already had a failed marriage under his belt so he knew what he wanted. They work. They’re perfect for one another.

They’re also the exception.

Why is it that everyone seems to be on the fast-track to the altar? I mean, yes, I would love to be married by the time I’m 30, but I also don’t want to rush perfection. Have I found a man I can see myself spending the rest of my life with? Sure have.  He’s amazing. Plain and simple……but gone most of the year.

And that’s ok.

I still have a lot of life to live, a lot of places to go, and a lot of lives to change before I take a stroll down the aisle. Rushing things is the reason why so many young couples end up in divorce court. Take the time to get to know one another and take the time to get to know yourself.

What’s meant to be will work out perfectly.

You Can’t Fix Stupid

stu·pid·i·ty (st-pd-t, sty-)

n. pl. stu·pid·i·ties

1. The quality or condition of being stupid.

2. A stupid act, remark, or idea.

I have a degree in Sociology. I took 4 years of classes on why people do the things they do based on society, culture, etc, and yet every single time I get on Facebook I’m still surprised at how bloody stupid people can be. Seriously, from relationships to political ideology it never ceases to amaze me how many morons are allowed to use the social network.The people around me are treating relationships like a game of musical chairs. No joke.

I have one Facebook friend in particular who was on again/off again with her HUSBAND more than a light switch. Finally, after approximately a year they finally went their separate ways. Some say it was because of infidelity, some say it was because they rushed into it, and still others said it was because he habitually placed a “z” where an “s” was meant to go in absolutely everything. Perhaps we’ll never know. Another speed dater was engaged and LITERALLY within 3 weeks was with someone else and talking about how much she wanted to be with him forever.

There’s a girl I used to be really good friends with in middle school. She and I were inseparable in 5th grade and she wanted to be my friend so badly she even lied about living across the street from a pony farm (seriously). We drifted apart in high school and shortly after graduation, she married a man 15 years her senior. She seemed happy and like everything was great….but then out of the blue she was suddenly single again. Within a matter of a couple months, she was dating a guy we went to high school with–one that I’ve been friends with since the age of 4. They were insanely happy together and settled down. I was also dating someone from high school (2 years ahead of me) and everything was great in the land of West Noble graduates.

Then shit hit the fan.

The two of them broke up after 10 months together, which came as a complete shock to all of us. Meanwhile, my relationship suddenly went sour and I got dumped….on Facebook. Within a week, my ex and this gal were dating.

This is how people think I feel.

This is how I actually feel.

Now, this isn’t a like F**k YOU post. This is like one of those choose your own ending books.

ADVENTURE 1:

He was simply able to move on quickly after we split and then lived happily ever after with a leather faced whore.

The End.

OR

ADVENTURE 2:

He starts being a jerk out of nowhere. I get confused, but also end up getting the crap beat out of me at work (you know, a typical week). I’m out of commission for a good week and a half. He texts me bullshit about not texting him enough and blah blah blah. Suddenly…BAM! A wild Facebook relationship status change appears! He used Facebook breakup–it’s super effective!

For those of you paying attention, yes that was a Pokemon reference.

Then all of a sudden he starts dating someone else less than 2 weeks later and it’s reported to me that it was going on in the weeks preceding the demise of our relationship.

Therefore, he was cheating with a dirty leather faced whore and I want to kick both of them off a bridge.

The End.

Breakups I can handle. Really. I mean, they suck 90% of the time but you get over them. CHEATING, on the other hand, is something I can’t handle. You break up with me: Fine. You cheat on me: Your balls are mine.

As with every major dilemma I have, I call my friend Scott. He’s brutally honest while at the still time still having the awesome ability to boost my ego by telling me how incredibly fantastic I am. I once told him “Scott, if I’m going to be a senator someday, I can’t be associated with, let alone date, guys that make people go WTF.” Which is totally true. I have a real knack for picking gems for boyfriends. 90% of them are either gay, insane, dull, drunks, Patriots fans or have some other obnoxiously unappealing quality that I can’t stand.

My friends sometimes tend to be not far behind. I love politics, I love America, but I hate idiotic Facebook rants about shit people don’t understand. Your political ideology doesn’t have to be plastered on your wall simply because there’s a debate on NBC. Everyone is like “I love Romney!” or “I love Obama!” and I’m sitting in my living room reading case studies like “I love wine!” People continually ask me who I’m voting for. Quite frankly, I don’t see how it’s anyone’s business but my own.

For the record, though, I’m voting for Optimus Prime.

The point is whether it’s relationships, friendships, or whatever the case may be, I have a tendency to keep people around because I believe I can help them make something better of themselves. My job exemplifies this, for crying out loud. I deal with kids every single day that I try to see the good in, but continually (well, most of them) do the stupidest dang things I’ve ever seen.

 

I guess it’s true what they say–You can’t fix stupid.