You Found Ferris

If you've been following my blog for a while you've probably read about and/or listened to music by my singer/songwriter sis-in-law, Jenna Christine. (If you haven't, click here, here, and here for a quick recap.) She's incredibly talented, and I like keeping all of you in the loop on what she has brewing so that when she "makes it big" you'll be able to say you got in on the ground floor.

First, Jenna has moved on with her professional identity from "Jenna Christine" to "Ferris". If you're interested in following her on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc., check out the links at the bottom of this post.

Second, Jenna's first professional recording - a collaborative effort entitled "Moving On" - was recently released on iTunes. The song was produced by Universal Music's DJ Filipe Guerra, co-written by Jenna and Bernardo Sim, and recorded at Aces Nation Studios.

Moving On was released by Universal Music in Filipe's native Brazil on October 15th (the song rose to #5 on the iTunes Electronic Chart in less than 24 hours) and in the United States on October 23rd. You can preview the song - and purchase it if you'd like - here.

The Moving On video was shot primarily in Orlando, Winter Park, and Smyrna, Florida, but small segments were also shot in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The video is in the editing stages and should be released in less than a month through Universal Music - I'll be sure to share a link to the video once it's available to me.

In the meantime, check out this up-and-coming superstar for yourself!


FERRIS
Singer|Songwriter
youfoundferris@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/youfoundferris
http://www.youtube.com/youfoundferris
http://www.twitter.com/youfoundferris
Instagram: YouFoundFerris

One More Thing...

I wasn't planning on writing anything else election-related, but on the day after the election I came across three things that I felt were worthy of space on this blog.

First, Romney's Concession Speech.
I was moved by the words he spoke - words of thanks to his supporters, unity among all Americans, and support for the President - to his supporters on Tuesday night. I will use Romney as an example as I continue to teach my children to work hard for what they believe in and how to graciously accept defeat when that hard work does not translate into victory.

"At a time like this we can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the people's work, and we citizens also have to rise to the occasion...We're counting on you to invest, to hire, to step forward, and we look to Democrats and Republicans in government at all levels to put the people before the politics.

I believe in America. I believe in the people of America...Like so many of you, Paul and I have left everything on the field. We have given our all to this campaign...I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes to lead the country in a different direction, but the nation chose another leader, and so Ann and I join with you to earnestly pray for him and for this great nation. Thank you and God bless America. You guys are the best. Thank you so much."

Second, Obama's Acceptance Speech.
I didn't stay up late enough to hear either speech live, but I heard the end of Obama's speech while I was huffing and puffing on the treadmill at the gym the morning after. Obama's tone was of course different than Romney's, but his speech included, as Romney's did, words of thanks, unity, and support and made me proud to be an American. This election and Obama's victory will allow me to teach my children that our country's political system is messy and complicated, and that even in times of great controversy and confusion, it's alright to believe that we are one.

"America, I believe we can build on the progress we’ve made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunity and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our founders, the idea that if you’re willing to work hard, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love. It doesn’t matter whether you’re black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you’re willing to try.

I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as our politics suggests. We’re not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are and forever will be the United States of America.

And together with your help and God’s grace we will continue our journey forward and remind the world just why it is that we live in the greatest nation on Earth. Thank you, America. God bless you. God bless these United States."

And third, A Bad Lip-Reading of the 2012 Debate Highlights.
It's very funny, folks, watch it if you need a good laugh.

It's Over! On to Something More Fun.

It's over. The election is over, and the emotionally-charged political television commercials, radio advertisements, and Facebook posts that accompany election season have come to an end. Thank goodness.

I had originally planned to say only that (above) about the election, but after reading more than 100 election-related Facebook posts - many of which infuriated me - last night and this morning, I've decided I need to say more.  

Today is a difficult day for some, a wonderful day for others.  RESPECT THAT.  BE KIND.  If your guy lost, respect and be kind those who believe they made the right choice for our country.  If your guy won, respect and be kind to those who believe that our country would have been better off with someone new in the White House.  And now that the decision has been made, PLEASE, let's stand behind the President of the United States in an effort to make the next four years good ones for ourselves, our families, out communities, and our country.

Moving on.

Now, because today seems like a good day to focus on something fun and uplifting and not at all controversial, here are a few pictures of my adorable kids dressed up for Halloween as the gold Power Ranger and Tinkerbell. The Halloween pictures are followed by a few pictures of those same kids, having a bit of fun on the soccer fields of College Station.

First up, Halloween:

The kids with their "carved" pumpkins.

Hallie and the cupcakes I made for her class.

A close-up of a few of the SEVEN DOZEN
cupcakes I baked and decorated.

Tinkerbell and the Gold Power Ranger.

Captain Hook joins the party.

Next up, soccer season:

Playing defense...

...and making a stellar stop.  Take that, boy with blue socks!

Just a quick sprint.

And another one.  I like taking pictures
of my kids running.

Hallie is unbelievably precise about everything
she does, soccer ball kicking included.

Again with the kids and the running.

I love this picture because it looks like Hallie is juking her coach
(who played for the Aggies and could never be juked by a three-year-old).
She's not.  Not even close.

I love this picture because Hallie's coach looks
like she's having the time of her life.

And I love this picture, just because.

In case you're interested, you can read more about our Halloween celebrations here and more about our crazy, sports-driven fall here.

Happy Day After Election Day!

Vote.

Remember, no vote = no voice. 

 Make your voice heard.

My Vote Counts...Right?

It's easy to consider skipping the voting booth when you live in a solidly red or blue state. Here in Texas, if I vote Republican, my vote won't matter because there are plenty of republicans to carry the state. If I vote Democrat, my vote won't matter because there are so few democrats that they stand no chance of carrying the state. So regardless of how I vote, my individual vote doesn't really matter.

Before we moved to Texas I'd been a registered voter in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan. With the exception of the 2004 election in Iowa, since the late 1980's, all three states have gone to the Democrats BUT the races were close. Close enough that I felt like my vote counted, like my vote made a difference.

When we lived in Michigan I would often spend at least part of the afternoon - while the kids were napping (ahhh, the good ole' days, back when the kids actually napped) - watering the lawn, pulling weeds, etc. One summer day a man walked up and introduced himself to me as Yousef Rabhi, candidate for the 11th District of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners. I had (still have) no idea what being a member of the 11th District of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners entailed, but I liked Yousef, I liked the way he carried himself, and I liked his vision for our county. And so I voted for him.

Late in the evening on election day, I heard on the news that Yousef won the election. By ONE vote. I was incredibly proud that on that day, for that campaign, and for that candidate, my vote had made a difference.

When I consider not voting, because I'm sick of the politicians and sick of the political parties and convinced my vote doesn't matter, I think about Yousef and head out to the polls.

Check out this video about whether or not your vote (depending on the state in which you live) actually counts when the Electoral College comes into play. This is honestly one of the most interesting videos I've ever watched (I've actually watched it three times, which says a lot considering that I don't pay a lot of attention to things like the Electoral College) - I highly recommend it.

Parties Do Not Define My Politics

I am not a member of a political party because while I tend to vote to one side of the center line most of the time, I don't agree with this particular political party on every issue. I wish we as American citizens had more than two choices, because on some days (and when it comes to this election in particular), I can't fully support either candidate.

For some time I've thought it would be best for our country if we either had more strong political parties or abolished political parties all together.  It's frustrating to me that the candidates are basically forced to agree with their party's stance on every issue - even if their party's stance isn't their own personal stance - in order to remain affiliated with the party.  I want to vote for a candidate based on what THEY believe, not for a candidate based on where their POLITICAL PARTY stands.

In this article for the Huffington Post (written back in January of 2012), Bo Peabody writes about how our powerful two-party system weakens our politicians (those from both parties) and is failing us more than either party.  Regardless of your political affiliation or status as a voter, I think the article (which is concisely and smartly written and easy for those who aren't particularly politically-savvy - like me - to understand) is worth a few minutes of your time.  Perhaps when you're done reading you'd like to join me for a pizza party?

Politicians Do Not Define My Politics

I usually stay as far away from writing about politics as possible (and I've never written about my political affiliation), but I recently discovered that I have a few things I'd like to say on the subject and will be posting these thoughts here on Midwestern Girl in the days leading up to the 2012 Presidential Election.

First up, politicians do not define my politics.

I strongly dislike the vast majority of our country's politicians (even those with whom I mostly agree) and the way politics in our country is structured.  Thousands of hours and millions of dollars spent trying to convince the American people that one way is better than another way and that one man (or woman) is better than another man.  Regardless of whether or not one way is better than another way and whether or not one man or woman is better than another man or woman, these hours and dollars should have instead been spent on actually solving our country's biggest problems - poverty, homelessness, hunger, job loss, health care, inequality - instead of on talking about them.

I'm not looking for perfection.  I'm looking for a President  who will help as many people in need as possible and see that equality is not just a theory but a true reality.