Taco Bell cups and cigarette butts litter the tables. The band's cover to Michael Jackson's "Beat It" penetrates through the abandoned warehouse's walls. The band's equipment-- electrical cords, amplifiers, guitars, drums, and microphones--scatter across the concrete floor.
The sound of the 19-year-old's voice is the only thing calming the banging of the drums and the strumming of guitars. Her voice reminds the men she plays with of the potential that their cover band has. The other three band mates are Bill, Burt, and Jeff. Bill is a married man dressed in Corona sleep pants. He wears his hair down to his lower back. Never without a Marlboro in hand, he's the man responsible for the beat of the drums. Burt is an average guy who plays the bass guitar. He too is never without a cigarette as he strums along to the songs. Finally, Jeff is a 300-pound man from a trailer park with gauges in his ears.
The band practices until 11 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. They leave behind the warehouse with bed sheets covering the drums, doors locked, and the lights off until they return the following day for another practice.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Budget Blunders
Even though the University of Memphis' colors are blue and grey, black was the color of the choice for President Shirley Raines. She attended Governor Phil Bredesen's "State of the State" address February 9. The governor is usually expected to discuss the budget for the state during his speech, but he has postponed addressing the topic until late March. This could be good news for the U of M community. Shirley Raines still urges the faculty and staff to "please accept my appreciation during these economic hard times that we are keeping our programs strong and delievering them in a timely fashion for students to graduate on time." Although the U of M president admits that she is unsure what the tuiton costs will be for next semester, students can expect an answer in June after tuition has been set by the Tennessee Board of Regents.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Justin's Journey
Although not an avid temple goer, 21-year-old Justin Goldring took a trip to Israel that led her to discover her niche in life.
The tour was with a program called Birthright that was geared toward 18-25 year-olds who wanted to visit their Jewish homeland. Justin says when she returned to the States she thought to herself: "Nothing seems that important anymore. Materialistic that is." Justin and the group she traveled with stayed in what are called kibbutz, in small communities with lots of land. They are houses with two beds, a bath, and a cafeteria in the middle where the residents eat their meals together. Justin admits that there some are better than others, but she enjoyed getting the feel of what it is like like to live in a kibbutz.
After her thirteen-hour flight back from Israel, Justin realized what she has always wanted to do with her life. She arrived back to the States with a greater appreciation and understanding for the things in her life. Assisting underprivileged kids was her new focus. So in order to enact her new plan, Justin substituted the gifts her parents would have given her for Hanukkah and instead adopted two angels from a Christmas tree. She says that she just couldn't bear the thought of a five-year old coming down the stairs expecting Christmas gifts and not finding any there. Even religious differences wouldn't stop Justin from lending a hand to a child in need. Today, Justin welcomes the opportunity to help those in need. Her journey to Israel may not have converted her into a frequent temple goer, but it has helped her to become more conscious of how fortunate she is.
The tour was with a program called Birthright that was geared toward 18-25 year-olds who wanted to visit their Jewish homeland. Justin says when she returned to the States she thought to herself: "Nothing seems that important anymore. Materialistic that is." Justin and the group she traveled with stayed in what are called kibbutz, in small communities with lots of land. They are houses with two beds, a bath, and a cafeteria in the middle where the residents eat their meals together. Justin admits that there some are better than others, but she enjoyed getting the feel of what it is like like to live in a kibbutz.
After her thirteen-hour flight back from Israel, Justin realized what she has always wanted to do with her life. She arrived back to the States with a greater appreciation and understanding for the things in her life. Assisting underprivileged kids was her new focus. So in order to enact her new plan, Justin substituted the gifts her parents would have given her for Hanukkah and instead adopted two angels from a Christmas tree. She says that she just couldn't bear the thought of a five-year old coming down the stairs expecting Christmas gifts and not finding any there. Even religious differences wouldn't stop Justin from lending a hand to a child in need. Today, Justin welcomes the opportunity to help those in need. Her journey to Israel may not have converted her into a frequent temple goer, but it has helped her to become more conscious of how fortunate she is.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Miss Gibson
Susie Gibson knew it was time. Time to cut her ties to a husband who lied about work trips and his actions while he was away. She had decided to get a divorce. Her parents had never approved of Dave, but when she was kicked out of her house at the age of 19, she had no other choice but to start a life with her boyfriend. Susie began her marriage feeling trapped and alone as she was cut off from her own family.
She put up with physical abuse and mental anguish on a routine basis. She put up with the nights when Dave got so angry that he picked up her frail 120-pound body and threw her on the floor, breaking her jaw. She's dealt with embarrassment at company parties when Dave hit on other wives, instead of his own. She stayed with this man for twenty years because her religion told her divorce was wrong, but that changed when she explained her circumstances to her priest.
Things were going to change. Susie had decided to get a divorce from Dave, despite his promise to make her life a "living hell." Anyone who knows Susie knows that when her mind is made up, it cannot be changed. She followed through with the divorce because "I didn't want my kids to think that this was what a healthy relationship looks like." Her humble nature and love for God are what has carried her through the years of court battles thereafter. Even though the court battles have drained Susie of her entire retirement fund, she is satisfied knowing the money was well spent because "the most important thing to me in my life is my kids and making them happy." Dave kept his promise to make Susie's life difficult by accusing her of child abuse, by refusing to pay child support, and by seeking full custody of her kids. Dave may have succeeded with his financial attacks, but Susie's spirits couldn't be higher. Susie is never without a smile on her face. She lives each day counting what she says are her blessings, her three kids.
She put up with physical abuse and mental anguish on a routine basis. She put up with the nights when Dave got so angry that he picked up her frail 120-pound body and threw her on the floor, breaking her jaw. She's dealt with embarrassment at company parties when Dave hit on other wives, instead of his own. She stayed with this man for twenty years because her religion told her divorce was wrong, but that changed when she explained her circumstances to her priest.
Things were going to change. Susie had decided to get a divorce from Dave, despite his promise to make her life a "living hell." Anyone who knows Susie knows that when her mind is made up, it cannot be changed. She followed through with the divorce because "I didn't want my kids to think that this was what a healthy relationship looks like." Her humble nature and love for God are what has carried her through the years of court battles thereafter. Even though the court battles have drained Susie of her entire retirement fund, she is satisfied knowing the money was well spent because "the most important thing to me in my life is my kids and making them happy." Dave kept his promise to make Susie's life difficult by accusing her of child abuse, by refusing to pay child support, and by seeking full custody of her kids. Dave may have succeeded with his financial attacks, but Susie's spirits couldn't be higher. Susie is never without a smile on her face. She lives each day counting what she says are her blessings, her three kids.
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