Did you know that only 36 of 2,380 delegates seated on the Republican convention floor were black, the fewest since the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies began tracking diversity at political conventions 40 years ago.

Each night, the overwhelmingly white audience watched a series of white politicians step to the lectern — a visual reminder that no black Republican has served as a governor, U.S. senator or U.S. House member in the past six years.

Nationally, two-thirds of Americans are non-Hispanic whites, 12.4 percent are black and 14.8 percent are Hispanic, according to the Census Bureau's 2006 numbers.

BEAUTY PARLOR: A place where women curl up and dye.

This week, many baby boomer parents, like me, have been going through the experience of sending their children off to college for the first time.  We are becoming something called “empty nesters.”

I would like to say helping my daughter enroll into college for the first time was a wonderful and teary-eyed experience---but it wasn’t. My greatest disappointment is the fact that she didn’t even consider my alma mater—but instead, chose to go to the school her father and my WAS-band went to.  This decision was made in spite of the fact that he offered no support and no consultation.  In hindsight, it’s probably better that he didn’t because that probably would’ve made matters worse!

Unlike my daughter, all I had to do when I arrived on the Ohio University campus was find my residence hall and move in.  My daughter, on the other hand, was ill prepared for what was to come on her orientation day because she had not taken care of certain things in advance.  She had no housing assignment and no class schedule.  Her immunization records had not been turned in. 

Some things have definitely changed.  Unlike when I was in college, incoming freshman have to take an English and Math exam to see what level they’re on.  I thought that’s what the SAT’s were for.  The good news is she scored a perfect 100 in English but failed miserably in Math.  She may end up changing her major from Business to something else since she will be required to take a few Math courses along the way.

While my husband (her step dad) and I were waiting for her to finish with her testing, I stepped up to try to close some of the gaps by trying to get her a room assignment and request her immunization records from her doctor. 

Then it hit me.  The reason my daughter was so laxidasical with this process is because she had been so accustomed to me doing everything for her. In the football game of life, I was her linebacker.  I blocked for her time after time when she was faced with challenges.  As her quarterback I called plays for her to make sure her transitions were smooth.  I would also tackle for her if someone was trying to keep her from excelling—especially her teachers. 

I have become the type of baby boomer parent I have written about and been critical of.  I made it too easy for my daughter to get through life up to this point. 

After 12 hours of walking around on campus trying to handle things, once again, on her behalf, I have decided the buck has to stop here.  It’s time she learned about struggles and heartaches, success and failures on her own—without my interference.    I just hope and pray that I’ve taught her enough that she will stand on her own and rise to the challenge.

I get up at 5am, shower, dress and finishing packing the car for the two hour college road trip.

We get to the place my daughter says is where orientation is going to be held.  Nobody's there.  It was the Animal Sciences Building (that should've been my first clue that something wasn't right).  Then I see a lady---who identified herself as a university employee-- walking towards the building.  I ask her if she knows anything about student orientation.  She did not.
(That was definitely another clue)

My daughter, who went into the Animal Science building, comes out and says student orientation and freshman move in was CHANGED to Thursday, August 14.

OK so how come we weren't notified?  I drive to the Admissions office, desperately seeking someone to give me some answers.  The building is wide open but no one is inside.

Just as I was getting back in the car, a man drove up.  He identified himself as the Chief of Staff to the Chancellor.  I told him I was not a happy parent since I drove all the way up there for an orientation that wasn't taking place.
 
He said all parents and students were supposed to have been notified of the change.  Well, it seems everyone else got the memo but my daughter and me---
 
OH BUT WAIT A MINUTE---she did get notified we learned upon our return home.  It was an UNOPENED email dated Friday, August 8!
 
OH BUT WAIT A MINUTE---there was also a scroll going across the website when I went to check into it.

So we'll be doing the same thing all over again tomorrow but at least this time, the car is already packed!

I Believe....
That just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
we understand that friends change.

I Believe...
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt
you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow, even over
the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe....
That you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...
That it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with
loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...
That we are responsible for what
we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...
That either you control your attitude or it controls you

I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe...
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe...
That my best friend and I, can do anything, or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe....
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you
when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe...
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them and less to do
with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe...
That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others. sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe....
That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe...
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe...
Two people can look at the exact same
thing and see something totally different.

I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of
hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give, when
a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

'The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything.

Three things in life that, once gone, never come back-

Time

Words

Opportunity

Three things in life that are most valuable –

Love

Self-confidence

Friends

Three things in life that are never certain –

Dreams

Success

Fortune

Three things that make a man/woman –

Hard work

Sincerity

Commitment

Three things in life that can destroy a man/woman –

Alcohol

Pride

Anger

Three things in life that, once lost, hard to build-up –

Respect

Trust

Friendship

P.-----pray

U.----until

S.----something

H.----happens