Auto Bailout

The following is political. I don't know why I wrote it. I hate politics.

I am not one to follow economic politics. I'm usually completely in the dark when it comes to financing and economics. There is one exception to this, and that is the auto industry bail out plan that has been debated over in Washington for the last couple days.
Usually I view these type of bailouts as putting a finger in a leaking levy. Long term, its not going to do much good. In this situation, however, I find myself taking a different standpoint because it hits so close to home.
Being on the west side of the state, things are bad - I agree. The furniture companies aren't doing so great, and people are feeling it. What I would like for the West Michigan community to see is how extremely blessed they are in comparison to Detroit. Over there everyone is affected by the auto industry. I'm an east side kid. Always will be. When I was 16 my dad refused to let me buy a foreign car. More than half my friends' parents work for the auto industry. If you do not work directly for the Big Three you work for companies who do. We know what a coney island is and we also know what belle isle is and half the change is our pockets is Canadian.

Today, the bill for the auto bailout failed to pass. GM and Chrysler are said to declare bankruptcy and close down in the next few weeks if things continue down this road. This makes my heart race. It's scary because these companies have been such a huge part of our economy since the first Model T was built. Hopefully Bush will allow some TARP money to be implemented, so that the few who still do have jobs in Detroit can keep them. I can't even imagine what would happen to our already depressed economy if these companies shut down. It's scary, really.

Times are changing.

Oh yeah:
What is hilarious to me is the fact that Obama wanted Granholm working under him in an economic position. What the eff.

Revival

Today I went to a meeting at the hospital for all the volunteers. They were talking about their building projects and plans for the future. There are some amazing things going on in the Heartside District, and St. Mary's is totally on board. They are updating their buildings and facilities - combining technology and art to maximize healing. 

The transition that is affecting me most is their new ER department. Most of our patients that we see in ER can barely afford the health care they receive there. What I find amazing is that St. Mary's is going through great means to offer this demographic and community the very best health care available, and giving these people means to truly heal despite their economic situation. 

As I was driving home I was looking around the city at the new life and revival that seems to be evident all over, especially in the Heartside District. It is amazing to see ministry, art, and relief for the less fortunate all inter depending on one another. It is a revival of community that is gaining speed and can only become stronger throughout the next couple years.

Jumper Cables

My car wasn't feeling too motivated the other day. When I turned my key in the ignition I didn't hear the slow "chug chug chug" I usually hear before it springs to life. Instead, I heard an even slower "chuuuuu......chuuu....chuu...." because obviously it was being lazy. I let it rest in the parking lot for a day and tried again, hoping that the hyundai gods were feeling generous. Did it start? Nope.

Luckily I have friends who own jumper cables and are willing to help me push my isty car out of snow banks. She works now, and she is hopefully resting up for the drive across the mitten home.

This is my friend Dylan. He is the one who helped me with my car. I know whoever is reading this probably already knows him (hi anna.) but I thought I would share a little bit of his personality in my blog. I love him a lot and he is the brother I never really wanted but got anyways. He always makes me smile even if he is being mean, and he plays me silly songs that make me laugh.

Dillwan from Heather Quandt on Vimeo.

P.S. I'm boycotting blogger video. 

Buzz Kill

The challenge I have faced this semester is making new relationships last. Why is it so hard sometimes to turn an acquaintance into a friend? Maybe this isn't the problem, but instead that I have such a hard time finding community in a school of 25,000 undergrad students. I miss the community I had at camp, I miss actually getting to know people. 

I am really thankful for the friends God has blessed me with. I may only have a handful, and our friendships may not be perfect, but I know who I am when I am with them and they know me inside out as well. My best friends annoy me, annoy each other, and we may not always be "peachy", but they understand me inside and out; and don't judge me for sitting in a coffee shop all day working on anatomy.

What makes a person interesting? I wish I knew, because sometimes I feel like the most dull person in the entire world. This is what being a health major has made me become. I'm happy I got out... now its just a matter of finding who I want to be instead of what I find myself becoming.

"thats so hot"

The Grand "Valley" Girl Formula

Qualifications:

You must wear Ugg boots as soon as the temps hit 55 degrees.

You must own a Northface jacket, even though you may have no idea what a north face of a mountain is.

You must own a coach purse.

You must talk very fast.

You must die your hair blonde in the summer and brown in the winter.

You must have a cell phone attached to your ear, especially when riding the bus, and then you have to talk extra loud to be sure that the people up front can hear you.

You must watch MTV at the gym, where you temporarily trade your Uggs for pink Nikes.

You must only wear lots of Victora's Secret Pink! clothing.

You must listen to crappy music.

I'm not very nice. I'm sure all these girls are not as shallow as they all seem, its just that I am sitting in Einsteins right now on campus and I am surrounded. I needed some sort of outlet.