History
Man of the Year (Ask A Guy)
Gale Patrice Carter, 51 from Tennessee writes...
I used to date this guy in the early 90's. He is ten years younger than I am. I am an attractive, independent woman and our age difference never mattered. I still look good. I take good care of myself. Somehow, we became separated. Anyway, I got married and he went off to prison in 2001. He was gone for about six or seven years. I ran into him in March 2008. We saw each other for a little while and stopped again for about six months. At the time, I was separated from my current husband, and he and I decided to get back together. That lasted for six months until we separated again.
I ran back into him but all I can tell is that he is needy he never has any money. He doesn't make a lot of money at his job, but I always have to give something to him for gas to come and see me. He asks for food and he has borrowed money and hasn't paid me back as promised. He has a very bad temper and is verbally abusive. He can be physically abusive as well. He loves to go out to these hole-in-the-wall clubs and is labeled a drunk. I try to understand him and help as much as I can, but what to do? Do I need to leave this man alone?
Daniel says...
In the annals of "obvious solutions" this one has to take the cake. Set aside the issues with your ex-husband. You married him and it sounds like you made every reasonable effort to save your marriage. For that you should be commended. Unfortunately, it sounds like you haven't been so thoughtful with regard to your current relationship. This guy leaches off you, "borrows" money from you, has never paid you back, and is physically and verbally abusive toward you. Staying with him is not only bad for you, it's self-destructive. I understand that women often want to "fix" the things wrong with the guy they are with. Women want to believe in the good in the guys they choose to devote themselves to. You have fallen into the same trap countless other women have, but the difference is, you know full-well what is wrong with this situation and you know what it takes to fix it. Leave this guy, and stand up for yourself. You may not need to worry about maintaining the respect of others or what your parents, friends, or family will think of you, but you should still be concerned about your own happiness and well-being. Getting this guy out of your life will be the best way to ensure that happiness.Tags: ask a guy, advice, relationships, dating, romance, history
Fort Lauderdale, it’s More than Spring Break (Travel Bug)
I must be honest. I’m not really a fan of Florida. I really don’t understand why Florida is even so much of a tourist attraction. I cannot pretend that Florida doesn’t have some really cool stuff and that I would like to see more of the state. But that so much of the state is based on tourism for the sake of tourism has always been a sore spot of mine. Especially when some pretty meaningless attractions completely eclipse very cool and/or very historical attractions. Being my fourth article on a Florida locale I felt this a disclaimer worth giving.
Today Fort Lauderdale is a prime Spring Break location for college students. In fact, I suspect it will grow in popularity with mounting concerns over the safety of tourists in Mexico (which is tragic but a topic for a future feature). It is also a favorite wintering spot for Canadians and Americans from the frigid northern tier states, in fact the entire Dixie Highway system (a predecessor to our modern interstate highway system) served the purpose of getting those northerners down to Florida in a systematic and efficient (for it’s time) manner.
Fort Lauderdale’s development really began to take off in the 1920s and 1940s (the Great Depression in between really slowed development in that period). But this timing worked out well because the Dixie Highway was rolling out it’s routing in the late 1910s and early 1920s, officially becoming part of the National Highway System in 1927. The Dixie Highway was not a single road, but a specific network of roads with termini to the north in Sault Ste. Marie, MI (perfect for Canadians) and Chicago, IL.
But accessibility really just facilitated the movement of people toward Fort Lauderdale and other points in Florida. People still needed a reason to stop here and World War II really gave that reason with the establishment of a Naval Air Station. Of course, after the war soldiers that were stationed here returned and many sure did seem to appreciate the climate of Fort Lauderdale more than they did of the climate where they came from. Thus, a city was truly born. Though this makes Fort Lauderdale a mere infant for an American city on the Atlantic coast, and even a child compared to cities on the west coast!
It was in the 1950s when college students started to migrate down to Fort Lauderdale for Spring Break. With many students at east coast colleges now equipped with cars in addition to regular rail service to Fort Lauderdale, it was remarkably easy for this community to develop into such a destination for students! At its peak in the 1980s, 350,000 students would descend on this city of only about 150,000 people! Of course, there is such thing as too much of a good thing and this led the city to make some changes to its laws and policies governing the Spring Break crowds. In fact, the similar laws and regulations passed helped Mexico’s emergence as a Spring Break location. But conditions are moving back toward students favoring communities like Fort Lauderdale.
Today Fort Lauderdale is the home port of over 42,000 boats and home to some of the hottest beaches in the United States. Boasting many of the same wonderful amenities of Miami, though often at a discount in comparison, this is truly a pleasant home base when visiting south Florida. And with only 25 miles separating it from Miami, you can still enjoy what that city has to offer, too!
Tags: history, florida, road trip, ft. lauderdale, dixie highway, spring break
Goodbye, Senator Byrd ()
Today the United States says goodbye to the longest serving member of Congress of all time, West Virginia senator, one of my senators, Robert C. Byrd.
I am a “new” West Virginian, having lived in the Mountain state for less than two years, however the impact of Byrd is undeniable. A quick drive through the center of my city, Huntington, reveals the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Flexible Manufacturing, the Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center, the Robert C. Byrd Bridge, and the Robert C. Byrd Center for Rural Health. Sometimes referred to as the “King of Pork” or as “Big Daddy” he brought significant amounts of money and often consequently hope to this state that is shaped by it’s dramatic terrain, unpredictable weather, and unconditionally kind people.
Compared to many states, West Virginia is often considered to be a relic of times gone by. Progress has taken more time to reach the greatest depths of Appalachia, all of Appalachia. West Virginia is a state that has had little come easy to it. The terrain has still left many corners of this state isolated from modern technology or even modern conveniences. Annually floods sweep through the southern part of the state leaving many to start over again. But for as unforgiving as this state can seem, there’s been Robert Byrd.
Byrd understood the complexities that West Virginia faced. He fully understood the uniqueness and importance that West Virginia could have. He was an avid proponent of improving the transportation network in the state, an effort that helped open it up further to both tourism and industry. He recognized the challenges faced by rural populations in gaining adequate health care, and was a driving force behind rural health initiatives in Appalachia and beyond.
Byrd was not the perfect person and made mistakes, but he was also able to look back on these mistakes and express his apologies sincerely. And despite the mistakes he did make, he also worked hard to overcome them. For a person that once opposed the Civil Rights Act, Byrd came out as an early supporter for Obama. In the fall of 2008 I had the unique pleasure of hearing Byrd speak at a rally with Joe Biden in support of Barack Obama’s campaign. Despite his frailty, the power and command in his tone was strong, and the few thousand people that had gathered in downtown Charleston, WV remained completely silent throughout. It was an experience that I will keep with me for the rest of my life. It was simply electric.
And for everything he was in politics, he is also known well for being a wonderful, caring person. Indeed he married his high school sweetheart at 20-years-old in 1937 and they remained happily married until she passed away in 2006. Erma Byrd was the joy of his life, and his enduring relationship with her was often the envy of wives and husbands alike on the hill. He was well-known for sending her flowers and gifts, and always making time to take her out for dinner.
Imagining the future of West Virginia without Byrd is not easy. While there are decisions he’s made that I personally may not agree with, his impact on this state, Appalachia, and the United States is undeniable. There is this void now, and how it will be filled is a mystery to me.
But, I thank Robert C. Byrd from the depths of my heart for what he has done—as a politician, a scholar of the Constitution, a West Virginian, and a person.
As I tweeted this morning, “Truly a sad day for all West Virginians. Goodbye Robert Byrd, enjoy the rest of all time with Erma! And thank you!”
Tags: history, democrats, politics, wv, west virginia, robert c. byrd