Hoopla And Hope

I LOVE this photo! It was taken in Jakarta when it was announced that Obama was President. This election was so important to the whole world. For more lovely international photo reactions go HERE.

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL!!!!!!!!

Wow. Seriously, WOW, it's all over.

I have had the most amazing and unexpected emotional reaction. It wasn't until John McCain was CONCEDING, until my mother and I were crying together (in our relief and happiness) on the phone, that I realized just how much I had been anticipating the privilege of HOPE again.

HOPE.

Something I have been largely without--in terms of my government, anyway,--for eight LONG years. And, my dear friends, eight years is a long time. As we've seen, a LOT of damage can be done in eight years time.

Even my home state of Indiana--a swing-state in this election--went with Obama. By a hair, but still. The Hoosier state has not gone blue since the '64 election. This is truly incredible.

When they called OHIO for Obama, I dialed my brother. Then I called my best friend, Carter--my dad--all my most important loved ones... We said stuff like, "I love you!" And, "Oh, my god, can you believe it?!...Seriously, can you effing believe this?!?..."
We still can't.

After that, I'll admit that I spent a good part of the evening letting loose the ol' waterworks. As I stated above--I did not anticipate this type of reaction. I mean, yes, I expected to feel happy--incredibly happy--if Obama won. But this, this feeling is just over the top. It feels as if we have somehow collectively arrived back to reality. I know that times ahead aren't going to be easy--what with the wars, the economy et all, but it really feels like there is a new consciousness today and that feels just beautiful.

My hope is that we are closer to a more equitable and generous culture now, one that inspires, one that encourages and engenders our BEST, most righteous selves, instead of pandering to those lowest common denominators--greed and fear. A culture that strives to embody its own ideals--not merely giving them lip service. I would like to think that we have arrived back at our default setting and I am ready for my country to be "of" me again--for it to live up to its promise.

I know we can.

It Won't Be Long Now...

Note to Self: Stop Being Such a Wuss!

It's not even that cold here yet and I have already been tempted--several times even--by the thermostat siren.
Cold seeps into my bones super readily, and by that I mean anything below the mid sixties and I'm bringing a sweater--just in case. Anyway, I am not, nor have I ever been a fan of the cold. I am also not a fan of paying exorbitant gas bills, of the skin and sinus parching, unnatural air that blows up from the basement, or of Global Warming.

So I try to be good and not turn on the heat until adding another blanket or pair of socks just won't cut it. We'll see how long I last.

"I May Not Have What It Takes To Be 'Presidential', Exactly,...

....But I can SORT OF spin the talking points--as long as I am not asked a direct question.
Oh! And I DID stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!!"

Thanks to my friend, Nate, who made us all roll on the floor laughing (though we could have just as easily wept, I suppose,) at Ms. Palin's ridiculously scant qualifications.
I still can't believe it.

A Couple Things I Could Do Without

In the spirit of naming everyday sexism (internalized and otherwise), here are a couple things I could really just do without:

1. Weakening one's (often legitimate) critique(s) of Sarah Palin, by offering some gender-based slur or stereotype to "bring it home" with more zest or emphasis.
Yes, I GET IT, she sucks.
There is NO NEED to belittle all women in order to make your point.
Her SUCKING has zero to do with the fact that she has a vagina, and everything to do with the fact that she is an anti-woman, talking-head TV candidate who chanced into a role that she is (most likely) incapable of adequately filling. (Aren't we just finishing eight LONG years of this sort of thing? Can ANYBODY appear Presidential with the right make-up and spin machines behind them?!?!?) When November comes, MY GOD, I hope enough of us will have learned that lesson.

2. Not really sexism, but irritating nonetheless:
What's WITH you conservatives--a la Phyllis Schlafly--who've screeched "shut up and stay home" to women 'til your voices were hoarse, suddenly being cool with a woman at the helm?

Dude, where's the pyre for SP?!?
(You folks always seem to have one at the ready, after all.)

Seriously, Sarah is EVERYTHING you've despised and railed against for the entire duration of the womens' movement. But now that team McCain has a chance in hell, somehow it doesn't matter that she spits in the face of much that you hold so dear?!?

She IS the lipstick, McCain is the pig.

To me this stinks of desperation--to the fact that you'll do anything, ANYTHING to WIN.
Tut tut. I smell the blood of a hypocrite. Family Values? Right.

Via: Feministing

Charlie's Angels

This is what I'm going to be for Halloween.

Of course, you can't go as ONE of the angels, there is no "angel" in the singular. That would be odd--because then you'd just be a 70's looking chick, and that's just not very exciting. So Anna and Nico are bringing the other two back to life. (this was all Anna's idea in the first place) If done right, I think it will be really fun. I'm talking ridiculously exaggerated angel action--I'm talking MASSIVELY HUGE hair.
This is all contingent on finding the right wigs. They have to be real hair because I don't think you can heat-style the cheap synthetic ones--and I really think that the hair is about 80% of the costume.
And WOW! Wigs are FUN! If you've never put one on I highly recommend it! Somehow they allow the wearer to adopt a new personality. Do it and you'll see what I mean. It's liberating!

They Really Do Think We're Idiots

You're not gonna court Hillary's peeps with Sarah Palin, Mr. McCain.

You don't appear revolutionary--you appear reckless.

Also, I would gladly take my own eye out with a spoon if it meant that I never had to hear the word "Maverick" ever again.

Didn't Want To Say Anything...

'til I was over the proverbial hump. But I've quit smoking. Today is DAY 17, and this is the longest I have gone without a cigarette in, hmmm, probably eight years. It's slowly getting(slightly) easier. However I do still have days where I think about smoking just about every other minute. Unbidden, the tobacco thoughts/impulses arise and I have to re-stage and re-win the argument between my evolving self and the addicted part of me. Again and again and AGAIN. This is tedious and exhausting. It IS getting better/easier with each day that passes, though. So that's good.

My apologies to those around me lately. I am definitely moodier, crankier--(Eg. For some reason it was seriously irritating when Bob Costas and others would repeatedly refer to some Olympian or another's performance as "PHELPSIAN".) How about allowing them their own bit of glory?
I am less patient, more apt to tear-up, and/or to become irrationally PO'd at the least provocation. (Eg. "What? You're out of newspapers's?!? How can you be OUT of newspapers?! It's not even noon!!" Upon listening to a radio report about the Spanish plane crash last week, I literally burst into tears from the tragedy of it. Now of course this was an extremely grim and shockingly tragic thing to have happened. But not one that would usually have me bawling my eyes out in my car. And I can't even begin to explain some of my other behaviors. I actually sat through an entire episode of "Walker, Texas Ranger" the other day. It was HORRIBLE. I think it may be the worst show I have ever seen. Yet I watched because I was trying to not think about how much I wanted to smoke. (Walker's D.A. girlfriend gets abducted by a trio of inbred, backwoods brothers, who ALMOST trade her for a lifetime supply of marijuana, but then decide to keep her. Walker and friends have to go into the woods to rescue her--which they do--after some serious ass-kicking.)

I've been running almost every day, too. Let me tell you, our bodies are these AMAZING, regenerative things! Each time I run farther and harder. The endorphin reward is immediate, and my heart and lungs feel stronger every day. I feel like I am taking my body back. It is a good, good thing.

Vacation Was Great!

The sky looked like this the entire week.

The first day we picked blueberries...

...and we also became blueberries. Afterward, we scarfed many blueberry muffins, pies, waffles, pancakes, etc. (Incidentally, J's mom makes the BEST blueberry pie I have ever eaten!)

We saw a Tigers game...

Swam and picniced at Lake St. Clair...

Apparently I like to take pictures of my feet.

Me and the lilys at Lake Sandy Bottom.

SUCH a beautiful and peaceful place! I soon got over my fear of leaches, and 100(+) feet deep waters. I am, by nature, a chicken. Also, I swim very well, I just grew up swimming in pools, not lakes or oceans. Initially, I always freak out a bit about the resident creatures when in a lake or ocean scenario.


I don't think I have ever had a more mellow vacation. I actually felt rested and revived upon our return. It was fabulous in every way and I can't wait 'til next time! I was a bit nervous in the beginning because it was the first time I was to meet J's parents. It turns out my fears were utterly unwarranted! They are just great people, making me feel welcomed and at home.