Letters to the Editor

This past summer I e-mailed the Chronicle Tribune with a letter to the editor regarding RadioU's departure from 94.3. That letter was never printed. I re-sent the letter a few weeks after my initial try but never saw the letter printed and never received any response from the Chronicle as to why it wasn't printed. I still don't understand why it didn't run. There has certainly been more controversial letters, such as letters about MCS, the proposed smoking ban, and politically based letters. There have also been letters criticizing other IWU decisions, such as the closing of Nebraska Street, so I don't think that was the reason it didn't run (and my letter really wasn't critical.) And finally, it can't be because they refuse to print letters from members of my family because my sister-in-law had one printed a few weeks ago. But alas, it was not printed, so I have decided to use this blog as my forum for other letters to the editor that I would like to send.

Dear Fellow Community Member Who Must Use Her Cell Phone in the Wal Mart Checkout:

It is incredibly annoying to have to run to Wal-Mart in the middle of the day. I was already under a lot of pressure because I had exactly 5 minutes to run in, pick up a birthday present, and make it to the IWU gym to pick up my kids from swimming lessons. I would have gone to the self checkout, but you were almost done at the regular checkout so I got behind you in line. You were obviously enjoying your conversation on your cell phone, but it was distracting you as you were trying to pay. You paid for your groceries and THEN realized you forgot the two bags of ice. The cashier was waiting so patiently on you to get off the phone, but I was steaming behind you. I did not want to appear annoyed, but I also couldn't fake my true feelings, so I am sorry that I didn't acknowledge your comment about having a million things to do today and being scatterbrained. I decided instead to look past you into the background and think about the fact that I too had a million things to do today and I was going to be late to the gym. I understand that in today's technological world it is so tempting to be connected to the phone 24/7. But can you please complete the checkout process first next time and then talk to your honey on the phone?

Thank you for your consideration.
Deb Wuertley, Marion

Dear Person at Tucker Who Stole My PDA:

I know the PDA sat at my desk connected to my laptop all year. I know that defeats the purpose of having a PDA. But I still felt violated when you took my PDA AND rummaged through my desk drawer to find the case. But just one thing you may want to know: you forgot to take the base, so by now I'm sure it is dead and of no purpose to anyone. And just so you know, it did still have my daily schedule for the next several months on it, and when my laptop died on Monday, it would have been helpful for me to have my PDA so I could have at least known what I was doing this week. But hey, thanks for not taking the 7 DVDs I accidentally left on my desk overnight. I took them home today so you missed your chance.

Regards,
Deb Wuertley, Marion

Dear Person Who Turned Right in Front Of Me on the Bypass on the Way to My Wal-Mart Trip:

Why? I mean there were NO cars for three blocks behind me. I was going full speed on the bypass and you were on a side street. Then you only traveled three blocks and turned into the Lowe's parking lot. This may not have been a big deal to you, but because I had to slow down, I hit the next light and then only had 5 minutes at Wal-Mart instead of 6. I know you couldn't have known the trip I was going to have at Wal-Mart, and I didn't either, so that's why I didn't blow my horn. Oh yeah, and that wouldn't have been very "Christian like" either, so that's another reason I didn't do it. But in my head I was annoyed.

Deb Wuertley, Marion


And just so you don't think ALL of my letters would be negative, I've decided to add a couple of positive ones:

Dear Mrs. Hornett:

You are an amazing 2nd grade teacher. I asked Elizabeth on Friday how school went, and she said it was an AWESOME day (she had won some art contest and bingo, and since she is so competitive that was HUGE) except for one thing "was bad" she said. She had a substitute for half of the day because you were in training. Elizabeth absolutely loves 2nd grade and loves having you for a teacher. I know in elementary school learning how to read and write are very important, but learning to have a love for school and having a positive classroom environment is also important, and you have been an integral part of that this year. In the midst of a lot of stress and turmoil at MCS, you have been nothing but positive in the classroom. Elizabeth has no idea the chaos that is surrounding MCS because you have not brought it in the classroom. Thank you for all you do for the kids in our system.

Sincerely,
Deb Wuertley, Marion

Dear Linda:

My afternoon was absolutely uplifted when I got your e-mail that I had "won" the King Gyros tickets. I was on the phone when the initial e-mail came through and so I read it 7 minutes after you had sent it. Surely Bonita beat me to the punch, I thought. I refreshed my e-mail every ten seconds after I replied and let out a shout when I learned I was first to respond. Thankfully the kids at school had gone home for the day (my office is in the middle of a preschool classroom.) Thank you so much for the coupons. In fact, that night Jason and I got to talking about gyros, so we ordered out gyros that night. I am looking forward to another evening soon when I won't have to cook and we can enjoy the gyros again. Thanks for making my Friday end on a great note.

Thanks again.
Deb Wuertley, Marion

Christmas List

Deb's Christmas List

pretty picture frames at IWU bookstore
I Tunes gift card
tennis shoes
salad fork and spoon server
5x7 dark wood picture frame
9x13 pyrex dish
watch band
curling iron
bath and body hand soap
Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy
Red End of Silence CD
Creative Memories digital kits
Cord for IPod to play it on my work computer



Oh wait, it's only February, isn't it.

The Moment of Truth

I'll have to admit, I've been in a bit of a funk lately. I haven't been checking many blogs, much less blogging myself. This tends to happen each year to me from January until March. I'm sure there are many little factors that each in of itself aren't THAT big of deal, but all rolled up together they create one big funk. There's the aftermath of Christmas with the tearing down of the decorations, the cold weather that causes me to start my car 10 minutes before I leave in the morning, thus wasting expensive gas, and then still having to scrape the windshield, and not to offend my mom and daughter who have birthdays in January and February respectively, but there really isn't anything to look forward to in these two months. I'm all for honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. and our presidents, but those two "holidays" really don't have me all that excited with the exception of having a vacation day from school. But last year I had a little diversion from the typical February funk - the Colts' Superbowl run. When they lost to the Chargers a few weeks ago, I settled in for two more months of funk until the weather got warm. But then there was last night. The extent to which I love the Colts is just slightly greater than the extent to which I dislike the Patriots. I felt just as invested in the game last night as I did in the game last year, and I will have to admit, tears (mine and Plaxico's) were shed after the game. Last night and today, I have tried to watch as much coverage on the game as possible, reliving each play of that last incredible drive (and enjoying equally the interviews with the Patriots,) and my good mood was only increased by the wonderful surprise of the two hour fog delay this morning. Next weekend is Anna's birthday (5 years old!) and that will be fun, and then the weekend after we have a really fun weekend planned that involves good friends, good food, and campers. What more could you ask for in a weekend than that? So I have a feeling my mood is on the upswing, and what better way to celebrate than with a post.

There is a new show on t.v. called The Moment of Truth. Ordinarily I wouldn't care to watch this show, but since there isn't much else on t.v. right now, and at the time I watched the Moment of Truth I was avoiding ESPN so I wouldn't have to watch anything on the Patriots, I decided to check it out. From what I understand, the premise of the show is this: A professional asks the contestant around 50 questions while the contestant is connected to a lie detector. Then that same contestant is asked the same questions by the game show host for the episode, and the more questions he answers truthfully, the more money he earns. Of course the questions for the small amount of money are only slightly embarrasing or revealing, but when you get to the big bucks, the contestant's innermost thoughts and most secretive actions are exploited. I only watched one contestant compete for money, but what I saw really bothered me. The contestant was a man, and his wife was among the family on stage watching. Many of the initial questions were more personally embarrasing for the contestant, but as the stakes inreased, his relationship with his wife was questioned. The question was, "Is one of the reasons you have not yet had chidren because you aren't sure your wife is your lifelong partner?" He answered yes! What I found disturbing about this process was that he knew before the taping of the show what questions could be asked of him because he was already asked these questions prior to the show by the lie detector professional. Yet he still chose to go on the show and disclose this information. A couple of other answers that bothered me - he answered that yes, he had done something that would cause his wife not to trust him, and then he falsely answered no that he had touched any of his female clients more than necessary while helping them (he is a personal trainer.) The funny thing was, because he answered this last question falsely, he walked away with no money and a very hurt wife.

Of course I was thinking that if I went on the show, I would have no problem winning the top prize of I believe $500,000. I'm a pretty transparent person; after all my blog title IS "Deb Wuertley, Overtly." Telling the truth and not cheating are probably the two biggest virtues that I try to live by and preach to my kids. But then I really started examing myself. Sure, I would breeze through the questions regarding my marriage, my integrity on the internet and on the job, and even past skeletons in the closet (some would say I have lived quite the boring, uneventful life.) But then come the tough questions regarding the feelings inside that I have regarding certain situations or people. For example, was there ever a time when I wished ill will on someone (Okay, so I wouldn't have cried if Tom Brady had blown out a knee during the season.) That's terrible. Honestly, after this example I had listed two others to further prove my point, yet even those two general hypotheses made me feel uncomfortable enough to delete them, so I did. (To all of you who were at the Super Bowl party, please know there really isn't anyone I personally know that I derive a little satisfaction at their eternal destination, just monsters who abuse kids or murder their wives, people like that, not Tom Brady who I now feel convicted to pray for at this very moment.)

I want to be a person who could appear on the Moment of Truth and be confident that regardless of what was asked of me, I could answer truthfully immediately and not fear the consequences. Would I still answer some questions that might offend people? Sure. By nature of being a Christian, I would be bound to offend someone. But what I can work on are those feelings inside of me that are developed by jealousy, pride, greed, selfishness, and lack of faith. And then maybe next Superbowl, Patriots or no Patriots, Colts or no Colts, I can just enjoy the game.