List of all Lists

Yeah you know what time it is.  9 minutes till windshield guy and craziness of a day.  So lists...I'll give you a good one:

And she said "hmmm...I'd like to read again":

So in no particular order, she picked up the following for some particular reasons.

1001 Questions to Ask Before You Get Married by Monica Mendez Leahy Read more about this book...

Pretty obvious.  And pretty funny.  We were supposed to start classes at church yesterday but, and I'm not sure if I should be concerned about this, I think someone forgot us.  We ended up with a nice dinner instead and had I been thinking I would have whipped this little puppy out for some mid week entertainment.  I mean 1001, you can imagine that there are some oddball ones in there.  Like:

"Would you attend a time-share or other sales presentation?"

Heavy stuff there.

The Hazards of Good Breeding: A Novel by Jessica Shattuck Read more about this book...

I've been to Boston.  Once.  No wait...twice. I liked it well enough. Most of the folks I went to school undergrad with were from NYC and they had this "thing" against Boston.  I don't know...I'm a Texan.  In any event, I love reading stories of "old money" and the secret lives of people so this I think will be a quick read.

Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire Read more about this book...

Back in grad school, I struggled through this book.  The whole po folks havin' to rise up and save themselves left me feeling...well...hopeless.  Which I guess makes it appropriate that there is a very hopeful followup to this one.  Nonetheless, going back a little wiser, a little smarter, I still can unequivocally say that it will take more than the oppressed saying "that's enough" to enact change.  Yeah, the oppressed have to realize they are oppressed, but the oppressors also have to realize there is a better way.  There is benefit to stopping the madness.

Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina Garcia Read more about this book...

Love me some Christina Garcia. And for a long time now have been fascinated with the prospect of going to Cuba sometime in my lifetime.

A Cure for Dreams by Kaye Gibbons Read more about this book...

For a hot moment there, I was all about anything southern.  Summer Fletcher Greel Loved Me was another good one that kicked it all off.  But this one is about the girls, generations of them, telling stories, getting by, loving and having hearts broken.  I think I picked this one up again because as I was on one of the boards and reading profiles over at SiS, one of the questions asks for fave movie line.  One of the sisters quoted a line from the Color Purple.  Which I have seen, but never read.  I have to work up to Ms. Walker though.  Still trying to get over the Toni Morrison bad taste

Don't Play in the Sun: One Woman's Journey Through the Color Complex by Marita Golden Read more about this book...

I picked this one up a while ago at Powells in Portland.  At the time, when I checked out, the cashier gave me a really good recommendation on an African American women's collective writing project.  Which I have promptly forgotten the name of.  I so wanted to get that book.  She said I would love it and I think she was likely right.  I need to research that.

Tyranny of the Majority : Fundamental Fairness in Representative Democracy by Lani Guinier Read more about this book...

You know I'm on this tip lately...all riled up.  On the way back from Psyche, not REALLY caucus training the other day, while I was railing against the system, my more astute better half was saying "What's the difference between a Republic and a Democracy?" And that spiraled into a conversation on how corrupt the two party system in America is because money and people (he would argue power...but power wielded by PEOPLE is what I would counter...more specifically, only a select handful of people) just went up and did it to it.  Anyhow, Fundamental Fairness has been my kick for...oh...about 3 months now.  But I'm not going there again.

The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time by Jeffrey Sachs Read more about this book...

Forward by Bono was actually really good.  A bit dense and academic, and anyone who knows me knows I'm not on the "relative poverty" bandwagon.  Mostly because of my own selfish background and my travels and experiences with "what is happy" and "what is enough" exposes BUT.  I get it.  Academically.  Theoretically.  Practically though...I think I've matured enough to move beyond that impasse to get through this book this time.  That or I'll just read Collapse again.

Beyond Civilization: Humanity's Next Great Adventure by Daniel Quinn Read more about this book...

Have always been and will always be fascinated with the end of time and what is next.  Who will come and dig up who we were.  What will they be, what will they wonder?  Another one a bit academic in nature looking back at how civilizations have been built and abandoned back to a more "simple" way of living.  Here, he tries to imagine what, well, what might happen if we evolved into something bigger than civilization.  Hopefully, before we destroy what we have, but my brief stint in genetics/evolution leads me to believe that it is only because of destruction that we'd be forced to consider "what next." I'm marrying a finance geek, he's marrying a latent evolutionary believer.  I'm contradictory.  I know that.  I like it.  I like shades of gray.

Love, etc. by Julian Barnes Read more about this book...

Travel.  Love triangles. Past, present and future. Tragic, funny, awesome and awful.  So it goes. It's a novel without a very novel base.  Sometimes mindlessness is good.

Spending: A Novel by Mary Gordon Read more about this book...

Another mindless one.  Mindless for me because I LOVED the Thomas Crown Affair and this is about that.  But one step further.  When he loses it all and she gets it all and the power and attraction shifts...what happens then.  This will take me like 2 hours to read.

Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership by Read more about this book...

More from grad school.  Truth be told, the only book I read cover to cover in grad school.  Lots of branching off and it was the impetus for me even looking up, applying for, getting a spot and ultimately having to turn down the GSE South Africa trip.  I need to look one of those up again.  Out of Seattle, competition would be stiff, but I think I could manage to make it again and go somewhere absolutely amazing to do amazing things.  Man, the photos I could have had in SA...I need to get there.  I will get there.  Now that I'm "in that club" I so railed against in grad school...still trying to cope with that.

Black Beauty: A History and a Celebration by Ben Arogundade Read more about this book...

Thought this was something else for the past couple of weeks and when I picked it up and settled down today to do it to it, I was at first disappointed (think of anticipation for apple pie and ice cream and all they have is cherry pie and whipped cream...blech).  Then, I was very pleasantly surprised.  There were some things I was looking for (primarily, face shots to take in for a consultation on wedding makeup and hair) but the history in this book and the "beauty" as not just external.  Love. This.

Now I must go find the windshield guy.  Happy reading.

YES!! (6)| The Little Things

So today...on my way to work, I started thinking about the little things. Things like:

6 is a multiple of 3. Negative 6 is a good number indeed (smile).

Rachel is one of the bestest girlfriends a girl can have for a reason. Reason today being that I saw a newsstory this morning about fighting couples living longer about non-fighters and of COURSE there was a link to said story in my email when I hit the desk at work.

For that matter, so is Liisa (25 more hours). Reason for her being that she knows all about the frying pan. Don't believe a word she says about it, but she knows.

Parking. Who knew. Right up the block from where I was PO'd that I was too busy following the rules (no parking between 7 and 9 and it was 8:55...I was going to circle the block and then park only to see that at 8:57 when I made it back, all 8 spots were long taken), there is a whole strip of all day free parking. Just make sure you get there right at 8:55 and slow to a crawl. That way, when the hour strikes 9, you're in place. Live and learn.

Bypass the candy dish, eat breakfast, understand when half a portion is just as filling as, oh...say a whole box of wheat thins...is enough. Three weeks. Aside from the attrocious addition last week of Nordstrom yummy tomato soup and Pizza Hut to the mix (some of you need to use the weekly points and suck the life out of your daily points...that just does NOT work for me...evidently), hopped back on the horse and wow. WOW.

Windshield will be repaired tomorrow.

Brake job will be quoted tomorrow (alignment done...brake job actually scheduled to be completed) as well.

Did I mention I get to see Liisa tomorrow? Oh yeah huh?

15% off at PaperZone:

means that I get to get the last of the wedding invite stuff and I can probably just go ahead and get the goods to create save the dates instead of waiting to have them printed and shipped. I can deal with that. If you're local and want the coupon, shoot me an email and I'll forward it to you.

and tomorrow is Friday. Which means that I get to post lots of cool stuff. I can't wait.

Till then. Glad that you liked the box of goods Traci! And thanks for the thoughts on "We Are Not Invisible". I loved that one too. Chris...get your box yet? I know you're on vacation so...when you're back.

A little this, a little that.

Like I don't know. Trust me on that one.

Just finished mailing out a billion and one offers of admission.  The season has started.

I REALLY should do SF travel stuff. Tomorrow. Maybe.

About freaked out this morning. But then all was right with the world again and I was tucked back into my warm bed for another 20 minutes.

I got to scrapbook last night.  And it felt good.

Aha moments are good...still need to call my brother, my sister and my mother.

Last night, I got to look through some old photos.  Of a little boy.  Who was the cutest little boy well before I was ever born.  I could just post those photos all over my walls and smile all day long.

Field Negro continues to crack me up and Kaya over at Afropologe...I still gotta comment on some of her posts though I just can't finish wrapping my head around it all. They know what I'm going through this here election cycle. Which reminds me that I wanted to buy this book.  After caucus training, I really REALLY want to get this book because clearly, I am very naive about how American politics works.

How to Rig an Election: Confessions of a Republican Operative by Allen Raymond Read more about this book...

I'm really thinking hard on the Anaheim thing. I mean, when there are Fgirls and CHA sneak peaks making me drool (uhhmm...Maya Road, American Crafts...Chatterbox is even coming back)...it is hard to step away from the credit card.  Don't worry...I've not up and bought a ticket to the OC (remember that whole SFO planning that keeps getting put off), but for it to be so close yet so far is tough.  I mean, I could probably even manage time to go see C, not my sister C, but my sister C down in San Diego.  She's about the smartest person I know.  Second smartest.  Well...smart as in wise beyond her years and Ivy educated book smart and then some smart.  Really need to give her a call.

But, instead, I was supposed to be getting together in Chicago with some high school buddies.  High school buddies who I still have to post my NYC pics of...I got ya Rachel, I got ya.  Friday.  I'll do it then.  But I have heard nothing more and we all know I'm not the best at the whole returned emails and thank you notes thing so...

Time to work on working the LSAT.  Nothing like calming the nerves of a bunch of wannabe lawyers on a Saturday morning when so many of them would rather be out campaigning for their presidential candidates (cause they all volunteer for the campaigns...it is the prelaw thing to do this year) before Super Tuesday.

I love this time of year.

Some other things I love right about now:

         

All in the name of blue, brown and (ahem)...a little something else too.

 

 

  

Simmer Down Already

Really now. I have about 9 requests to process for the wedding blog. I promise, soon as we actually get hitched (or you get a save the date, whichever comes first...I'm thinking hitched given the save the date drama for your mama), I'll add readers to the blog. Yeppers, you have to be a reader to read it. Yeppers, you have to have a google account (or, technically, you can read as a guest for 30 days). All the details you care to know will be there. For those coming, access info will be on your save the date. For those just loving the vibe (I gotcha Texas T!) the access info will come on your announcement. All the pictures, bloggin' and good lovin' you could ever want to know about after that hot mess of a day. And just FYI...we don't have a "wedding block" at the hotel, but before you reserve said hotel, note that there are a couple of major events in town this summer that are jackin' rates up. So I did as any mariott/hilton/super traveler would do and went ahead and reserved like 16 rooms. Might do 4 more but given the size of the guestlist and the fact that you are all grown people who loves them "the internets" and you know how to use some Priceline...I think 16 rooms should be plenty.

Promise. No more wedding babble. Until I feel like it again since, well, it is my blog and all. You totally know I'm messin' with you right? Besides, I can better keep track of the details in one place here rather than trying to find my threads on the boards again and keep up with comments and questions. I never said I wasn't lazy.

So today. I already have my photo to post for today. Took it on the way to work. Which reminds me that there is another photo on said card that I also need to post...maybe for tomorrow because the one for today is really a sight for sore eyes. But then again, so is the other. I know...such a tease. I'll update the photo blog tonight at like 0-dark-thirty. Don't hold me to that.

Oh yeah Brian...so does hell go with no?! L, stop laughing at me. See, we just started to do spring travel again at work--recruiting for the Fall of 2009 already. REally. REALLY. Anyhow...I get to go to SFO which I LOVE (obviously) but today I got asked if I wanted to switch it up. I thought I might be suckered into Texas. Which, the more I think about it, the more okay I am with that because I could probably scrounge up the funds to go see my cutie nephew who my heart goes out to right now. Long story short, he was in the 5th grade for all of 8 weeks but basically shut down so there was some drastic educational intervention going on there. And they just diagnosed him ADD and they want to medicate him and they think he's...anyhow...I'm tearing up thinking about it. And also about my little brother who's going through some stuff. But like I said early this year...just hoping I have the strength to carry folks close to me through a lot of the stuff they're going to be hit with this year. Anyhow...so no, they were not trying to get me out to Houston.

They were trying to get me to that unspeakable place. Which really isn't so bad EXCEPT FOR the fact that I was just down that way for Christmas. And once you stay at a desert resort, really, there is just nothing else that will do and so no amount of bribery was going to make it a pleasant trip to erase the memories of Christmas. I know it is not everyday that folks pass up So. Cali and I'm not trying to knock my SiSters down south that I'd love to come and see. But really...I ain't lost nothing in LA and so Brian (and L), I ask again "does hell go with no?" I didn't think so. So San Fran it is.

I need to book those flights and hotel like today (or so) so if you're up for getting together for good meals, good laughs and good fun, hit me up so that I can plan accordingly. Last fall's travel season was an absolute BLAST to get to meet people I "know" online in actual real live flesh. I still need to post all those pictures huh? Yeah I know...such a slacker. I blame it on the "Cowboy fever" going around...maybe I need to go to Mexico for some cheap drugs to cure that. Yes. Why yes I am very bitter.

I think that is all of substance (or not) that I have to say about right now. I will now go back to reading personal statements about mission trips to Detroit and marathon/crew training and how baseball is a metaphor for law school.

Yeah. Really. Maybe I'll get to scrap a couple of pages tonight. Maybe not.

Limbo Queen...

...that would be me. After like forever (okay...maybe a year and a half of playing maybe 8 games in that time until I opened it up again this weekend and went full force) I FINALLY beat level 248 in Cubis. Limbo Dancin'. Sometimes, it just goes to show that while there can indeed be too much hot sauce in your pho, there can also be too much thought in your strategy games too. I can't believe I finally beat that stupid level and what it took to do it. On that note, more fun with iTunes, party shuffle part 2:

Sean Paul (Get 'Em Crunk) - YoungBloodz
Show Stopper - Danity Kane (remember them??)
Irreplacable - Beyonce
A Bay Bay - Hurricane Chris
Walk Away - Kelly Clarkson
Like This - Mims
Break it Off- Rhianna & Sean Paul
Poppin' - Chris Brown
My Boo - Alicia Keys and Usher
Upgrade U - Beyonce
We Be Burnin (explicit - no duh) - Sean Paul
We Fly High - Jim Jones
Ring the Alarm - Beyonce
Anytime - Brian McKnight
Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake
Bartender - TPain/Akon

Now...I leave you in blogger peace. Back to work.

How is it...

...that I managed to have Sim City 4 installed on my laptop, but NOT iTunes?  I searched in vain, it is just not there.  And since I've yet to hook up speakers to my desktop, that means I get to download and install iTunes to my fourth computer.  Which is a bit concerning because I think you only get to install and sync to like 5 computers in a lifetime on an ipod.  No matter...I wanted an iPhone anyhow.  Or maybe just a video ipod.  Okay...I really don't need or want either of them...I'm fine with itunes and my ipod.  But right now I really want to be listening to some music and I just can't believe how jacked up my priorities were to have had installed SC4 a LOOOOONG time ago (cause I ain't played that game in like...2 years...well...I installed it a lot more recently than that with the hopes of finding the time to play but it is a strategy | builder game and I clearly don't have the time to think strategically.

Anyhow.  Had some yummy pho.  Washed the hair (a lovely ordeal, but so silky soft now), waiting on itunes to download and about to post my ATCs from some of my fave rockstar gals in the world on a wall in my space so that I can see them and smile always.  Then there is this bin of stuff I should do.  And save the dates that I just uploaded and now have to order (again...you get what you pay for...and since I paid nothing last time, I got nothing...thanks VistaPrint). Oh and I need to block more rooms at the hotel since clearly, there are people who are bringing people who will be bringing people.  I told him he should be very afraid that:

1.  There will be black folks, people of color and some negroes at our wedding.  Be very afraid of the last.

2. I don't even know the half of the "and guests" coming along and the bar tab will be the LEAST of our worries.

3. Maybe kids would be a safer bet after all.

Anyhow...finally got the iTunes up so I guess I'll go be productive.  But first...procrastination inspiration for today:

Loving Karla's journals. Also loving how she is making me have kid-envy. Does not hurt that she has some great wedding ideas too. He always takes me back to my activist days w/thought provoking posts.

That's three goods ones for you.  And if you need a list of good listens:

On my iTunes Party Shuffle right now:

Slap (Explicit - just an angry brother)- Ludacris

Still Fly (Explicit - bit hood thug fun)- Big Tymers

I Tried (Explicit - just a sad brother)- Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

This is Why I'm Hot (Explicit - just more hood thug fun) - Mims

Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol

We Ride (I see the future) - Mary J Blige

On the Hotline (Explicit - dirty DIRTY) - Pretty Ricky

Outta My System - Bow Wow

I'm a Flirt (Main Version - as in not Sirius music version) - R Kelly, T.I and everyone else's mama

Gigolo - Nick Cannon and that dirty old man

Rodeo (Explicit - Dirtier than dirty) - Juvenile

Don't Say - Jon B

Throw Some D's (Explicit - more hood music) - Rich Boy

Money in the Bank (Explicit - little bit of everything) Lil Scrappy

Like a Boy - Ciara

Rock Yo Hips (Explicit - dirty naughty stuff) - Crime Mob

The Way I live (Explicit - hood anthem) - Baby Boy Da Prince

Make Me Better (Explicit - but DAMN this is my SONG!) - Fabolous

Promise - Ciara

Overwhelemed

Which is saying a lot for me. In a bit of a funk lately for no good reason...just getting restless I guess with too much time off of work. A week full of exciting stuff to come (including, finally got a date set to chat with the church and hopefully, finalize everything enough to print invites--yes!!), so just getting moody having to wait for it all.

When I get in moods like this, there are a few things that can snap me out. One is thinking a lot about a very important issue. I've already done the politics and other soapbox threads, but briefly, I went to "caucus training" today and was sufficiently pissed off when I left. Like "Fine, I just won't vote" pissed off. How he puts up with me in those moments I don't know, but I feel better about it and begrudgingly will work the system to change the system. To get folks feeling as though they own the process again. Just gotta stay "blind" to the negative stuff...pretend you don't hear when somone says "Yeah, and if they say they are for so and so, tell them have a nice day and then keep on walking." As in, don't remind them that in our wacky state, yeah, each party has a caucus and a primary. And in our state, one party plays 50/50 with each of those and the other party (ahem) pretty much does the primary because they have to, but actually selects their state delegates at caucuses. On a completely different day. That the major city paper is reporting incorrectly. Well, at least confusingly. Guess I always need to be careful what I wish for. This is the third most recent opportunity where I've said something like "I wish I could participate in a caucus" only to see that I actually DO! Imagine that. Pays to be educated. By the right people. On the right topics.

So, KK donuts aside (I was such a good girl...because the margaritas are to die for and if I'm going to waste points, it will be for margaritas, not donuts), and wrong time making me even grumpier aside, the "think about important things" remedy wasn't working.

In turn, I decided to think about silly things. Like that Disney commercial. The one where it advertises that kids fly free. And the dad is all excited and he comes bouncing down the stairs with his goofy hat on? That is my better half. To. A. T. Or is that "totally?" No matter except that he gets THAT excited about Disney and I so can't wait to have kids with him so that we have an excuse to go just for the heck of it. That commercial ALWAYS puts a smile on my face.

Not so much in turn and moreso a digression, but 3:10 to Yuma. What was the point of that movie again? Oh...well a bit ago, when American Gangster came out and it was all "who is the better actor...Denzel or Russel?" I was all, come on, no brainer (DenZEL...hello??). But then as I was watching Mr. Crowe last night and thinking back on the movies he's been in, he has SUCH a dynamic range. Then I started thinking about Denzel's movies (yeah, we're first name basis like that...I ALMOST saw him in NYC when I was there last year and he was there in Harlem...really...instead I saw...who was it...not Hootie and the Blowfish...uhhmmm...Coldplay. Yeah...what a digression!) and really, he's friggin' Malcolm X. Just amazing actors. I love those that can play other REAL people or period pieces...no wonder I have such a hard time choosing between the two. But again...what was the point of the movie 3:10 to Yuma? Right.

I think that's about it. Sloppy joes tonight (yummy) and Boston Creme Pie...so looking forward to that. One more day off of boring myself to death. Then work for three days. Then another three days off. Getting close to dress try on time...I can't believe we're only 6 months out.

It really is just Saturday | 6 more months

And already we're boring each other to death. This is going to be a loooooong weekend (smile).

Finally went and got the TIRES fixed (yes, that is plural...like 3, not 1 plural). Something about not being hood rich and ghetto fabulous. But I'll be damned if that was not a lot of money.

As I was thinking "Good LORD that is a lot of money" Mr. Eagle eye got lucky. No, not that kind of lucky...that's for married people. Which we will be in oh...EXACTLY 6 MONTHS TO THIS DAY. At this time. Gulp. It is getting a bit real there. But I digress. He's lucky like that. Almost (but not quite) as lucky as I am, but still.

Next...replace the windshield for I'm sure something like $499 and then get a brake job. Uhhhgg...I wish we'd just go and buy that mercedes already. Yeah. Really.

Last night was fun. As you can tell, I was a bit exhausted by the end of it, but we watched My Super Ex Girlfriend (the shark scene was over the top...I don't care WHAT EM say about that!), got beat on the last question at Scene It and had some really really REALLY yummy Margaritas. That were like 5 points each. Ouch. But I have weekly points so I say we live it up and I'll beg him to make me some more tonight. I want to say I saw some Tecate going into the blender. Hmmm...so good. trust me.

Today, I slept way too much. So I'll be tempted to stay up all night. but I cannot do that. I need to look up some cool places to look through downtown because we're going to early services until say 9:30. Then we have caucus training at 10. far as I can tell, there are no precint leaders (or caucuses for that matter) in my neighborhood so I'll probably get sucked into that. But FWHC is also going to do another Happy Hour for Choice so I need to make sure not to overextend myself. Since, technically, I think I am Secretary/Vice Chair or some such for them. Right.

Tonight...time for dinner in 2 minutes. Hanging out. Loving on him and long weekends of lots of him. Next week should be interesting for a whole lot of reasons. But right now, I'm going to remind him that it really is just 6 more months (smile). He'll get a kick out of that.

And....good night.

Registered to vote, don't have a new tire. "Interesting" movie tonight, but fun times with Scene It, EM and R. And now good night. I'm going to sleep the rest of the weekend away.

To Do | Yes You

Okay okay...simmer down already. You're crashing out my email server with all the drama over comments (smile). I mean really...no one EVER leaves comments so I didn't even notice they were gone. Thanks for the heads up. Blogger may be easy...a bit too easy to switch stuff up sometimes. I think I got it fixed, if it is still wonky, let me know.

So got the reminder yesterday for the soap box issues (thanks L!) but now...a to do list. Lots to do...including read a lot of files. So I'm up before 9. Which is saying a lot on a Friday.

Last night was really fun. Didn't go do anything earth shattering, but went for a walk, went grocery shopping, planned for EM coming over tonight and climbed into a very warm bed relatively early. It was a just what the sick/not sick body ordered.

Today, I need to go by bank #1 and bank #2, stop by the post office to find out WHERE THE HELL MY SAVE THE DATES ARE, stop by UPS to send off another set of packages (Chris, so sorry...little mix up in the mailing of your package so it will go out AGAIN today, but via UPS this time), go get registered to vote here in King Co. stop by Fred Myers for some limes, take photos of all that stuff I've been promising to show on that other blog, scrap some more, activate the ATM card (I know, I know...hope you still lov eme dear) and go to Costco. All before like...oh...6. I think I need a nap thinking of all that. I do not envy stay at home moms. Well, okay. Sometimes I do. But really, I don't know how they do it all. Note on that list I conveniently forgot to list doing laundry, loading/unloading the dishwasher, vacuuming and cooking. Sigh.

Okay...nothing to do but to get to it. Comments (I think) are back on, I'm sure you'll let me know if they are not or if there is anything wonky with them.

Peace love and hairgrease. Oh yeah...I need to put that on th elist too...no...not hairgrease. A bit of world peace.

Why thank you...

...for the reminder.

That said. Here's a few things I've learned in the last week.

1. Don't even try to kid yourself. Or, as I've become very fond of saying, "As my grandmama used to say, don't try to sh*t a bullsh*tter." Like I said, she was southern.

2. Pizza Hut AND Chinese takeout AND Nordstrom cafe...no matter in how small a portion, will not net you another neg 8 week. Matter of fact, it will gain ya 2 more. Uhhhg.

3. Life is never THAT easy (though, it is pretty darn close to it nowadays).

4. I really DO still like to scrap. Or at least to be organized. Or to do them both. In small bites. It is so much easier making journals/binders/cards and I get just as much scrap happy sensations from it.

5. There is such a thing as too much chili sauce. who knew??

6. Yes. Why yes it is always half full. But not like being half pregnant...ala Obama in the Dem's debate this past Tuesday...according to Russert and all.

7. Carrying files back and forth to the car ups the activity points tremendously. Wow.

8. If I put my mind to it, I can do anything in the world.

9. Love really IS all we need. And some common sense. And an open heart. Oh...and open mind helps too. Especially when you have friends in need and though they are fanatics for Bill O'Reilly, you can still love her and her's to PIECES and constantly be amazed at how she does all that.

10. Money and connections (I guess that could be and/or) are nice to have.

So. This morning I woke up to last night's story about random drug testing of high school students. Seems that Bush and Co. think that this is an excellent preventative, non-punative measure. Because everyone that reports to them (ie, the folks who get grants and have to "prove" that the program works to get those grant funds again...I mean duh) says it works.

Now. Riddle me this. How is it a deterent to a kid in a drug infested school who is probably already standing out for not being one of the pot heads to show up, get randomly tested and come up clean? I mean, if you're at a pothead school (not saying I know ANYTHING about this...just saying) and everyone around you comes to school stoned, who cares if you're testing positive? It ain't like you're the only one doing it and all.

But anyhow, that wasn't my point. It gets better. The Deputy Drug Czar was on the news talking about when it comes to a choice between privacy or the greater public health good, it was a no-brainer to randomly test students in school.

Pardon me but what the??

If it isn't a punative measure (no one is supposedly kicked out of school) and it isn't a support measure (there is a counselor who will point the student to outside help which is, presumably, what we already pay counselors to do sans the expensive chemistry sets in the nurse's office), then what kind of measure is it? Oh yeah...preventative. I'm not sure I get that. Especially, remember, in the school where everyone's a pot head anyhow so what does it matter if you test positive?

But still...not my point. My point is this. Waaaaaay back in the day when I was Madame want to be scientist so that I could hack the genetic code (was a bit too late on that one..by mere years...alas) and cure HIV, the whole "public health" issue came up about reporting HIV test results. Just tack up a list on the wall at your local public health office and note who has it and who doesn't. Something about "shaming all them there druggies and prostitutes and gay folks into behaving right." Then something funny happened. "Normal" and "everyday" people started contracting HIV. My dear sweetness. We can't embarras the mayor and his son eh?

Who is to say that once we allow random drug testing in the interest of the greater good of public health for our poor unsuspecting high school students we don't then start allowing testing for sexually transmitted diseases? I mean, I'm sure Debbie's mom would want to know if little Johnny was infected so she could be sure to protect her daughter and keep her away from him. I mean, it's not like he would be kicked out of school. Or even given treatment for his condition. We'd just know and better be able to impact public health.

Or, okay...let's not take it that far. How about instead, we just post the list of middle school girls in TX who don't have that HPV shot. I mean, if they got it, they could transmit it to a partner and that is a public health risk no?

I mean give me a break. Yeah, as Americans we all are way too consumed with what is going on over at the Jones' house next door. But really. What is the point? Get a life. Instead of spending the time trying to shame kids into not using drugs, how about you take the time to talk to them about why they are using. Bet there are a lot of "common sense" answers as to things we can do that are pro-active and not the usual scare people to action (or inaction) stance so common in our country today.

Soapbox done. Happy now?

Remind me

Negative numbers. Random HS drug/sex testing slippery slope. Valentine's cards. Thanks!

What's a Girl to Do...

...it is 3:45...do you know where your life is? I mean seriously. I'm all caught up on bloglines (102 feeds...that is quite an ordeal let me tell you...got a head start yesterday so in all fairness, it wasn't THAT hard), I've read up on message boards, paypal'd payments, handwritten notes, arranged for direct deposit into the joint account, pulled files to read, had a very (VERY) filling lunch of Bento heaven (and even logged it...which I couldn't do last night and it threw me into such a panic that I had to step away from the computer before I went crazy up on it), and I'm here. At 3:45. Trying to figure out what to do next.

I'm not in the most fair mindset to read files so I'm (admittedly) procrastinating a bit on that. I need to go and pick up new business cards and send out another round of admits. But beyond that...not much to do but blog on my break. Which will take like 3 minutes and then what do I do with the other 12 minutes?

Yeah. Already looked up caucus rules for WA. And yeah, I already took a picture of that light post too (I need to post that when I get home since while I have a new computer and printer, I STILL don't have a memory card reader of any sort at work). I know...I can book the trip to San Francisco. Got some folks interested in dinner and I get to see KL this time around AND Lisa (not Liisa...Lisa) and N and S and...I really love the Bay Area. Obviously, for some reasons more than others (smile).

So I'll book that. And see about booking more wedding hotel rooms. And now...well, when A comes back, I'll help with assembling files. Which I actually really enjoy. I'm weird like that. I like sweeping floors, washing dishes, distributing mail and pulling files together. Something about taking a pile of something and diving through it and getting it all done (and seeing progress right before your eyes) is really appealing to me.

Off to book a flight!

Talk about it | Testify

So much to say, so little time. Gotta get to work so I'll write it, then post it on break. That said, it is time to testify.

Things that make me feel really good right now:

That Sister: Yep. The one doing her thing in the coveralls and mittens this morning? I couldn't help it. Didn't think twice. Rolled down the window, turned down the T Man show and had to hollar out like I was back in the country "Doing good sister!". The wave and the head nod back was just that solidarity that started the day off right.

Those boxes. Both of them. One for T and one for C. Winging their way to Chi-town (which, I love more and more everyday) and to...Missouri. Which I have not been to in over a year, but liked well enough. Except for MCI and the nazi chair sitter who barked out orders about what size baggie your liquids could fit into and then proceeded to throw everything off balance by picking on perfectly innocent citizens that just needed a dab of hair gel. Oh but it could have been worse. Could have been College Station, TX where they won't let a sister carry on a hotel sized mini of lotion if it won't fit in the baggie. Even if you step aside and start to use it up before you get on the plane. Long story. Another time. But that reminds me, hey B what's up? Spring recruiting anyone??

That point. I used to ride the bus. A lot. Probably why I almost refuse to do it now. But I digress. On the bus. When drivers for the long haul routes ("express" busses here but only because they don't stop at every poll in between Oly and Seattle on the way) would pass each other, they'd point. Or tip their head. They'd acknowledge each other in some fashion. I don't know why, but I guess that sense of brotherhood always made me smile. (brotherhood cause most of the drivers were guys who happened to be brothers). Today, on my way to work, I saw the brown truck drivers do it. UPS brotherhood in full effect too. I've never seen the FedEx guys do it. Go figure.

Things that Make me Wonder:

Crossing the Street Don't be scared. I wonder why a brother walking up to me to ask if I have a gas can or 3.75 for some gas would feel the need to preface his comments with "Excuse me sister [pause: walking up to me], oh, don't be scared, I just have a question for you." First and foremost, I'm not scared of my brothers. Secondly, don't he know I just lost 8 and I could outrun his ass? Thirdly, I'd especially outrun him since he'd be on the ground wiggling about in pain if he even tried to bring it. I know a guy's "sensitive spots" because KA channelled her "how to be safe from the cable guy" energies my way. You totally have to read her blog. It is a good start to any day. She's a little bit country, a lot bit "great hair" and one of the funniest people I know. And she doesn't mind when you laugh "with her". Really. Talk about digressions.

My Left Hand Inner Conflicts: So I saw Blood Diamond. And vowed in the moment to never own a diamond. All things considered and all, I rock a pretty fab one on my left hand now. Talk about conflict. But for years now, I've had this inner conflict and turmoil because my left wrist/hand is worth more than all I've ever owned in all my life. I liken it to straddling the line--poor girl hits the lotto or something. Though I didn't...just worked at being me and came out this way. And that conflicts me. I think Kanye about sums it up, having money ain't everything, not having it is. So having to sit back and think about what "having" and "not having" means is taking a toll on me.

Timing: Particularly how just when I think I have the stuff on lock, it goes off and does something funky on me. Take last night. I'm notorious for not getting back on email, not following through with well-deserved thank you notes...the usual stuff. Yet I have folks in my life who will call me on it and not hate about it. Like Ms. Thang down south who can make any ONE of my days tremendously better by calling out the cheerleaders and holy rolers she works with in a simple, succint, sweet email that lights my world. And T...bless his soul, who drives all the way to Ithaca for nostalgic purposes...and always manages to write me like once every 2-3 years just to remind me that 10 years ago, I was just becoming a girl. Impecable those two.

And it all means:

Throwback Moodiness: Do you remember at what point in Boys in the Hood you cried? Was it when they threw Ricky up onto the plastic of his mama's couch with her all screaming about the mess? Was it when Furious was twirling the silver balls wondering who had up and done it now? I don't recall crying to that movie, I must admit. But that was the conversation today on the T Man show. So I got all nostalgic...thinking of that movie...of Aaliyah, Step Up 2...sigh. So much time has gone by. Step Up 2 reminds me that I wanted to watch that MTV hip hop thing. Yeah...helpful. It was too far out for me to set it in Tivo. That I remember.

Getting Back on the Horse: I did 8 last week. Was really primed and set to do it again this week. Then there was chinese take out. And pizza. And Nordstrom's cafe. Really now. I can do this. I know I can. Still down even more, but not as much and that is a shame. By the time engagement shots are taken, I'll be on lock. That's a promise. Especially since I have a special little surprise up my sleeve for that and all. I've got connections and all (smile).

Oh Shoot...I ran out of #3: And you know this kills me to not have that "balance" in my life. Alas. I do have one more tidbit to discuss, but it is going on the scrap blog. See you there!

Thoughts and musings

So sitting here on a Sunday evening. Today was gorgeous...warm and clear like you wouldn't believe. Great message about living like baptized folks is supposed to be living earlier. Watched the Cowboys blow it. Talked to mom (well, that was yesterday, but still). Had pizza. Looked through some photos.

Thought about some things. Just did some other things. Really quickly got a banner done for the website. Which was amazingly quick and simple. Who knew? So we'll have a wedding website (static for the most part) AND a wedding blog (gossip, craziness, security detail...kidding). Think we're about set there.

In the meantime, I was reading part of the paper today (I know, I'm so bad...I almost never read the paper yet I manage to know most of what is going on) and there was an article that was pretty timely. About being able to tell when folks are yanking your chain and all. Timely as I get back into the flow of reading applications from folks who would give anything to come to my school...right.

Another week ahead of us. But only four days of work, then four days off, then three days on and three days off. I picked well (smile). In more ways than one.

Thought I'd go through a list (of course) but of what that I have not done a bazzilion times already? How about why I totally, completely love me some him since it has been another one of those amazing weekends for the books.

200%. Like whoa. I gave it about two seconds to try to do a banner for the wedding site. He's been over there for hours now and from what I keep peeking from over here, he has got some amazing stuff going on over there. How similar we are in style is like whoa. For the record, I DID create the banner. And can you tell what song I'm listening to now? Right...it's been a while.

My brown eyed boy. But not really. Closer to hazel some days. But really brown but just amazing. Gorgeous. Especially from certain angles but mostly just when he's thinking about certain things. Or people I suppose. Or when he's intensely into something and you call his name and he looks up...I LOVE that look.

Stronger. Everyday. He makes me stronger. Because I want him to feel just as safe as I feel when he wraps me up in his arms. We just fit together perfectly. There's this little hollow under his chin that the top of my head tucks perfectly into. And this certain way that he wraps his arms around me if he's standing behind me. I just melt into him.

But not oppressive. I don't know any other way to say this. I mean, he holds me down without holding me down. I'm sure if I were seizing up somewhere (or, ahem, passing out...chill mom...it's been years), he could hold me down if need be. But I'm not exactly certain of that. Just cause we've never, not even in play gone there. Hmmm.

Smart. Intelligent for sure. Wiser for it. I wouldn't say brilliant--like nerdy and bookish. But smart. You know, real world. Watching his mind work blows me away. The speed, the depth, the never failing curiosity. The impatience with trivial things. But the willingness to slow down and enjoy the process too. The need to be surounded by it for fear of shriveling away into nothing.

To be sure, I've had lots of past exposure to aspects of that. But generally speaking, we're both a bit of a departure from the norm. And the results have been an explosive new compound that neither of us anticipated.

Most days I wonder what I ever did to deserve this. To be this happy. To be this "here" and this "now" with this guy. Then he does another Craig's List transaction from which he is sure to tithe to the toes and the quirkiness throws me into fits of giggles and I again wonder why it is that WW won't give me activity points for laughing. Or for that other infamous activity they won't let you get points for either. I'm just saying...a girl need motivation sometimes to get active.

By the way. Where in all hell are my save the dates?? Their non-delivery has quickly moved beyond a "heckfire" situation, as you have witnessed.

Negative 8s week two...here I come!

Utterly...totally...

...exhausted. Had a good day of cleaning. And I mean really REALLY cleaning. Think spring cleaning (steam the carpets, scrub on hands and knees, etc.). Though yes it is very much still winter.

Poor Seahawks. They probably gave themselves a heart attack after touchdown #2 and just couldn't FATHOM that they were going to knock off GB. And so they didn't. If only the Jags could get past the Pats. If only. If only.

And then there is tomorrow. Cowboys I swear.

But today...my scrap room is clean and I can't figure out where my save the dates are (they better be here by Monday), but we DID get the save the dates for his cousin's wedding so Atlantic City here we come! We might just come to love the east coast after all. It has been a while since I have been back there so many times. So frequently. Speaking of which. I have a camera somewhere. With pictures on it. Of going east. Philly and more Philly. That was good times. I was told that if necessary, I might need to hold off on my "bar tab" estimates for the wedding until after I met this crew. I have to say I agree (smile). Even more happy we decided to go with the place we decided on.

Talked to my mom today. I really wish I could have my cutie nephew living here with me. I really do. She "threatens" him when he's bad that she's going to ship him off to live with me and his response? "Please!". He loves him some R. And I think he kinda likes me too. My nephew does...not R. Although I'm pretty certain R likes me too. Especially after what he brought home for me last night. Honey shrimp is TO. DIE. FOR. Portion control is a good thing. Especially when we're looking at another killer week.

Talk about feeling great! Shortly, I think I might even start jogging. Only scary thing is that it is dark here at like half past noon nowadays. Okay...4:30. But still. And it doesn't get light lately until like 7:30 especially when it is cloudy. I'm not afraid of the weather. I am afraid of the dark. Especially after this one woman was sliced up on Cap Hill right after (or was it before??) Christmas. Especially after that UW student got attacked going back out to move her car. Scary stuff. Just gotta be careful right?

Okay. Chris, I have a package to pack for you. And Traci, I've got a package to send to you. Now that I can find stuff, why not eh? If I can find my camera (yeah, the one with the camera card so that I can find those east coast pics...and the one I'd use to take photos of the scrap stuff for the other blog...and yeah, the one with the photos I want to take to supplement this post), I'll get another post here tonight. Otherwise, back to remixing photos on shots fired and finding some scrap inspiro for B3. Once I mail the save the dates, I promise, no more wedding stuff. All that will be at the other blog. Be sure to get signed up as a reader per your save the date instructions.

Stay sane, don't stare. Be nice.

TGIF: Reading | Priorities

So thank goodness it is Friday. Now I really love Fridays. I struggled for a while to decide on which day this year I would work from home. Last year I had Wednesday which was nice because it was middle of the week and a good something to look forward to and come back from. But I couldn't get Wednesday this year. I was sure not to choose Monday (all those "day of the week" holidays are Mondays and all) and didn't think I'd be able to get Friday but here I am...Friday at home.

It feels really REALLY good to sleep in and then pull up a stack of files from the comfort of bed. Trust me...this is a VERY good mood to have me reading files in. I was amazed with how quickly I could get files read from bed last year. I've got to get back up to speed this year, but it already feels great because I have the weekend to back me up if I don't get as many files read as I wanted to. That and I had a new goal of getting 30 a day done while in the office as well so...this should be a very productive year.

I most love reading from home Fridays because there are no phones to answer, no emails to check...just the files and my sharpies (smile).

Sometimes though, the priorities can get a bit skewed. I STILL need to get out and run errands, but I did clean some (my scrap room was a hot mess...now I can find stuff again) and tonight, I'll get some more wedding stuff done.

Speaking of wedding stuff, yes we finally did set a date. Yes, it is top secret. No not really. But I THINK I should have save the dates waiting for me in the mailbox or here by tomorrow. I'll get those out in the mail by early next week. Make sure I have your current addy! On the flip side of the Save the Date is the blog addy for the "invite blog". Once you hit that blog, it gives you instructions for getting access to the wedding blog. For all those folks coming, it is all the details you need from hotel to more on us, etc. For those folks who won't be able to be with us, after the fact, there will be lots of info and pics and everything. We'll do those sign ups off of the announcements.

So. Wedding on track and getting totally exciting (in so many ways...this would be nothing but a wedding post if not for the other blog so I had to get back to "normal" life here before I bored everyone to death). Life going well. Really well (smile). -8 well. Exactly. And that's a DOUBLE -8. I'm on a roll and it feels GOOD! Going to do Courtney's annual challenge a bit different in that I'm going to do a wedding book...especially since I just found my original notebook that I was going to use for it. I think I'm going to do a binder for general planning and a smaller book for wedding dress stuff. I think, gasp, I might go custom there. I know I know...this wasn't supposed to be a wedding post.

And I'll stop. Have a great weekend! Go Cowboys!

We interupt the maddness for this important message

Okay. I know I know. You don't talk politics, religion or sex if you want to keep and have good friends. I know it. Remember, my resolution this year was to shut up? But clearly, it is a genetic abnormality for me, so.

Because I just crafted a 2 hour masterpiece in response to two emails I received this morning, I figured I might as well post them here eh? It is long. It is tiring. It isn't spoken or inspirational. But here is why. Here is me. Tell me you. Tell me why.

Peace. Love. Happiness.

Let us begin.

___________Why Barack Obama is my choice__________

Let me begin by saying that this is so important to me that I not only sat here for an hour responding (only to have cyberland eat it up and me cuss a whole storm at work about it), but I'm now in my second hour trying to recreate this. Bear with me.

My apologies for my liberal friends trying to get me on board for the first really viable female candidate. And my apologies to my conservative friends trying to get me on board witha candidate who will finally look out for my family's financial interests. I'm notoriously undecided about who I will end up voting for in the general election, but I'm supporting Barack Obama right now.

I'm really excited about a candidate who can really finally unite America with a message of hope and inspiration to get back to being a great country based on global respect and admiration as opposed to fear and hate/disrespect for those who don't believe exactly as I do.

I think the only way we are really going to progress as a country is to find common ground rather than focus on that which divides us and resultingly fight for the least common denominator. I'm excited about a candidate who is inspired (and has been focused) from day one on the next generation of voters as opposed to counting them out as lazy and uninspirable. I'm excited about a candidate who does what he believes because he believes it, not because it might "look good" (or not) to do what others say will increase voter turnout.

As a black woman, everyday I'm asked if I'll support Hillary or Obama. Never mind the fact that I'm marrying a banker and might just finally vote Republican after all! I struggle everyday with what I think is a more telling statement of progress in America--is it more telling that a black man could become president in this country? Or more telling that a woman could become president? Or that a Mormon could be president? I struggle with that mightily. But what has constantly pushed me towards the Obama camp is that as obvious as a black president would be in him or a woman president would be in her or a Mormon president would be in Romney, Obama doesn't have to remind people that they would be making just as much history by voting for the first black president as they would be by voting for the first woman president or a Mormon president or a former baptist minister as president.

Again, it is just a difference in philosophy--one that I perceive isn't about the messenger but about the message. In a country still deeply and sorely divided along gender, class, race and polical lines, I have never in my life seen a candidate who can cross all those divdes and inspire hope. I get chills just thinking about that. I get chills thinking about what we can accomplish when "We can all disagree without being disagreeable". THAT is the kind of change that I look forward to. Because from there, we can begin the discussion with everyone at the table. When half the parties involved don't show up to the table because they just can't stand the messenger--for whatever logical or illogical reason, I don't see that as change. Change that benefits me personally perhaps in having a democrat or republican who does as I want, but not change at the root level that leaves us with a legacy for our children and policy decisions that are not the number one order of business once a "change" in the guard comes back in to reverse those decisions. A legacy. One of those once in a generation legacies. Deeply rooted meaningful change to our core. Not just to tweak a policy or two in favor of whomever got me to where I'm going by raising the most cash.

I'm passionate about this. And it feels GOOD to finally be passionate about politics again. I first voted in the '96 election and (for better or worse) got to put Bill Clinton back in the white house. Though I hated what he had done to his wife and made her endure as governor of Arkansas and I continued to grow disgusted with his not so personal "personal life" and Hillary's (to me) endorsement of that behavior by continually standing by a man who clearly didn't respect her to the degree she deserved to be respected, I appreciated what he was doing for our country. I even, maybe in some jealous, envious way, appreciated her resolve to do as she did and respect that marriage was for no matter what.

Then I became disenfranchised in 2000 when though a series of debacles as a college student, working the night shift, my vote almost didn't count because of the arcane voting set up in Ithaca, NY. Then I completely lost faith in American government at the federal level in 2004 when everyone had a say and at the urging of two highly vested parties, another branch of government decided that America's voice didn't matter...we just needed to end it already. There was a glimmer of hope for me in 2006 with the US Senate elections, but when I look back, that hope was all about "I want my party to win to show "them" something" and I cared less about the deeper issue at hand--the deeper issue of the divisiveness that was eating us whole. This time, I'm excited. I'm inspired. I'm donating and I'm canvassing. All because someone gave me the audacity to hope. All because someone said that change is possible. All because someone said that at the end of the day, it doesn't matter if you're a woman or a man, black or white, rich or poor, republican or democrat...we can all make a difference and not just "wait our turn."

Just my two cents. You can be inspired by the man himself at his website here http://www.barackobama.com/index.php and you can become a part of the movement towards a new kind of country (and make history as part of the largest political grassroots fundraising movement ever) here at my personal site where I am looking to raise $1,000. Even with a $5 donation, you'd be a part of this and (smile), you'd be my first donor (smile). That link is here http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/Bernadette


And for those of you not yet tired of reading...my fave email is making the circuit again and really...really. So for the love of all things great...some easy peasy snopes.com research for all that care. (original in white, snopes in red, my personal commentary in orange).

Who is Barack Obama?
We checked this out on 'snopes.com'. It is factual. Check foryourself.

Please. Do go to http://www.snopes.com/ as this email IS listed there as FALSE.

Probable U. S. Presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama
was born in Honolulu , Hawaii , to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr.,
a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel , Kenya and Ann Dunham, a
white ATHIEST from Wichita , Kansas . Obama's parents met at
the U niversity of Hawaii. When Obama was two years old, his
parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya. His mother
then mar ried Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia .?
When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocate to Indonesia.
Obama attended a MUSLIM school in J akarta. He also spent two
years in a Catholic school.

From Snopes: Barack Obama [Jr.] has an unusual and interesting background which the quoted piece draws on to paint him as a dangerous, camouflaged radical Muslim. NO EVIDENCE SUPPORTS A CLAIM THAT OBAMA IS CURRENTLY, OR EVER HAS BEEN, A MUSLIM(RADICAL OR OTHERWISE).

Personal commentary:On Obama Sr. snopes and Obama’s family history show that he was an atheist or agnostic in regards to his Muslim faith when he married his mother. Meaning, he was no longer a practicing Muslim.

On his mother, she was an anthropologist with a healthy respect for religion as a manifestation of culture and cultural beliefs—a ways for human to find meaning and purpose for that which couldn’t tangibly be explained.

If any of ya’ll have ever seen the movie Contact with Jody Foster and Matthew Mcconaughey and the greatest movie line ever when Jody, the atheist space traveling scientest is telling Matthew the man of faith that she doesn’t believe in God because “he can’t be proven” and then Matthew throws it back at her and asks her if she loved her dad (who died when she was really young) and she says yes and then he says to her “prove it” and she can’t…that is the difference between faith, belief and religion.

Obama’s mother wasn’t “religious” in the way most of us use that term, but she wholeheartedly believed in the power of religion to do lots of good, and unfortunately (think radical Islamic thoughts as the most extreme example) to do bad as well. She understood that dynamic and made sure that Obama growing up understood it. She had faith and she believed and she made sure that Obama had a solid foundation in understanding that it isn’t only about knowing what you personally believe…it is also about understanding the foundation of what others believe. More than ever, this country is in need of a President who gets that you can’t fight a religious war against half the world by either killing them all off or converting them to what you believe. It just isn’t possible. What IS possible is to bring everyone to the table when they believe they will be heard and understood. To this, Obama’s religious upbringing I think is the MOST qualified to deal with the global situation currently at hand.

Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a
Muslim. He is quick to point out that, 'He was once a Muslim,
but that he also attended Catholic school.'

Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear
that that he is not a radical.

Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and this
influence was temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama
returned to Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had
any direct influence over his son's education.

Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann
Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in
a Wahabi school in Jakarta.

From Snopes: When the younger Obama was six years old, his mother married again, this time…an Indonesian oil manager. Barack and his mother moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, where Obama spent 4-5 years attending both Muslim and Catholic. THE SCHOOL BARACK ATTENDED IN INDONESIA WAS “MUSLIM” PRIMARILY IN THE SENSE THAT THE PREPONDERANCE OF IT’S STUDENT BODY WAS MUSLIM (BECAUSE INDONESIA IS A PREDOMINANTLY MUSLIM COUNTRY), NOT IN THE SENSE THAT ITS MAIN PURPOSE WAS TO INCULCATE STUDENTS WITH MUSLIM RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS.

Personal commentary:Wahhabism can be researched more on Wikipedia (gotta love that site) and I think of particular interest (although Wahhabi supporters wouldn’t agree with this statement) is that to be a Wahabi muslim is to be a specific TYPE of Muslim. Just as to be a Southern Baptist (what I was raised) is to be a TYPE of Christian.

Just as I wouldn’t ever say all Christians hate blacks because three Christian men from Jasper, TX killed one black man by dragging him behind a truck, I would also never say all 8 year olds at Obama’s Wahabi school in Jakarta were radical Muslims plotting to kill all Americans just because certain people who claimed a belief in the same truths they did happened to do some atrocious things in the name of their religion.

Additionally, (according to Snopes) the notion that the school Barack attended in the mid 60’s was a Wahhabi school is false in that Wahhabi didn’t even reach Indonesia until the 1970’s. Both CNN and the Associated Press visited the school and interviewed prior classmates and noted that if anything, the school is actually very mixed and rather western leaning given the context in which it operates. So much so that teachers were western clothes, and kids where uniforms. That would absolutely not be permissible in a “radical Muslim” environment.

Furthermore, “public” education in that part of the world is very different from here. There, students compete to get into schools and money talks. His mother, married to an oil manager who worked for a U.S. Company with (likely) connections, was able to get Obama into the best “public” school in Jakarta as her only concern was that he get the best education possible. That is why he started at a Catholic school, transferred to the public school and then, finally, was sent back to the United States to attend school.

Barack has also NEVER claimed to have been a Muslim. I think this is where confusion between Barack Sr. And Barack Jr. comes in. Barack Sr. was once a Muslim (well before Barack was ever thought of, let alone born), Barack Jr. was not.

Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the
Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western
world. Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN
when seeking major public office in the United States, Barack
Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an
attempt to downplay his Muslim background. ALSO, keep in mind
that when he was sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy
Bible, but instead the Koran.

From Snopes.com:…his association with the United Church of Christ began over 20 years ago, long before he contemplated a political career (Obama was first elected to the Illinois state senate in 1996, but had been involved with the United Church of Christ since the mid-1980s).

Snopes goes on to note from Obama that his deepening of faith from an academic understanding into a more spiritual one began when he was working in the 80’s as a community organizer in Chicago. There, he was working within the church (black churches in particular as he was working mostly on the south side of Chicago which is predominantly black) on their phenomenal capacity to provide for the community when the government (city, state, federal) could or would not.

As he was working with the ministers of these churches on providing job training and after school programs and seeing how people’s faith in something better was what kept them going, his own faith deepened into a more spiritual than academic manifestation.

As to the Koran/Bible for his swearing into office—completely FALSE.

Personal Commentary: You know me, never one to miss the “I know we all look alike” joke, but it was (African American and muslim) Keith Ellison of Minnesota who said he would do this. Never mind the fact that in the House of Reps (which Ellison was sworn into) they don’t use ANY religious text or book of any sort for swearing in—it’s all for show and photos after the fact, but they just raise their right hand (some, by personal choice, may carry a bible or other sacred text with them). In Ellison’s case, he could carry a Qur’ran and he did pose with photos of Thomas Jefferson’s copy of the text after he was sworn in). And no...Ellison actually doesn't look anything like Obama (smile).

Barack Hussein Obama will NOT recite the Pledge of Allegience
nor will he show any reverence for our flag. While oth ers
place their hands over their hearts, Obama turns his back to
the flag and slouches. Let us all remain alert concerning
Obama's expected presidential candidacy.

From Snopes:Senator Obama drew some criticism over a photograph that showed him standing without his hand over his heart during the playing of the U.S. national anthem (TRUE), but the claim that he “will not recite the Pledge of Allegiance” is false.

Personal Commentary:All said. We’re all very smart people who understand the importance of context, honesty and fairness. The internet is a huge place with lots of information—some of it believable, some of it not, and some of it just false. I go back to once more why I’m so passionately behind Obama—it isn’t the messenger, it is the message. We are better and we are smarter than this. Every last one of us.

Well it is 2008...

...and I still stalk, I mean "read a lot of" Chris's blog so...from her blog to your's. I'll link you over just as soon as bloglines stops acting a damn fool.

What did you do in 2007 that you have never done before?
Got on an international flight. Or two.

Did you keep your new year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
Can't remember what they were so let's say probably not. Didn't make any this year. So been there, done that.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Uhhmmm...my ex-landlord had a cutie. As did my boss. But most importantly, my brother's wife gave him his first kid. A little dude. How cute is that??

Did anyone close to you die?
I don't think so...

What countries did you visit?
Canada, China, Tibet, India, Nepal

What would you like to have more of in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
perspective. peace. simplicity.

What date in 2007 will remain etched in your memory?
October 5, 2007 (smile).

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
winning Creating Keepsakes Hall of Fame

What was your biggest failure?
missing the call (perspective)/resigning - quitting because I couldn't take the drama

Did you suffer illness or injury?
injury like you wouldn't believe. But for the first time in a long time, no illness

What was the best thing you bought?
airline tickets to El Paso for the two of us.

Where did most of your money go?
the trip of a lifetime, paying stupid overnight postage, car payments, school loans...life

What did you get really really really excited about?
thinking about how I'm really REALLY going to get to be his wife

What song will always remind you of 2007?
Kanye West - Stronger

What do you wish you had done more of?
enjoying the silence

What do you wish you have done less of?
talking.

how did you spend Christmas?
in Palm Desert enjoying the sunshine and family

did you fall in love 2007?
more deeply and fully

fave TV show?
of 2007? Either Everest Beyond the Limit or Meerkat Manor...I know...I'ma dork

Hate anyone now that you didn't hate last year?
just a bit wiser and less gullible for the wear.

What was the best book you read this year?
what are books? Sister of My Heart is the one I still remember. Time to break out some David Sedaris again...always gives me more perspective.

What was your greatest musical discovery?
no "discoveries" so much as just good new stuff from old faves.

What did you want and get?
engaged

What were your favorite films this year?
* (these are films I SAW in 2007 given we watch almost everything at home on the 110 screen and all) Babel, I am Legend, Blood Diamond, Children of Men, The Pursuit of Happyness, The Last King of Scotland, Little Miss Sunshine, The Departed, The Devil Wears Prada, Perfect Stranger, American Gangster, Mr. Brooks, Ratatouille, Transformers, Into the Wild

What did you do on your birthday?
went to Icon for mac and cheese and saw Titantic in super rich detail. Also got a phone that works and got to hang out with my fave person in the world.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
less drama

Personal fashion concept of 2007?
step it up...suburbia here we come

What kept you sane?
he did

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Will Smith. Still and always. Well and Denzel of course.

What political issue stirred you the most?
[lack of] government accountability. the prospect of a woman or black president becoming a hard reality.

Who did you miss?
my brother. Alex. Rachel. my mom. my nephew Q and all his brothers. my sister. him. All the time. my grandmother.

Who was the best new person you met in 2007?
during the drama that was HOF gate, there was one woman who genuinely took the time to say "and what" and put it all in perspective for me. Chris S was a godsend right when I needed one. It might seem tacky to say this and I hope it doesn't make it sound like she's ancient or anything BUT, if my grandmother were not gone, I'd SWEAR I had had her on email the whole time I talked with Chris.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007?
Perspective notes that being "right" means nothing if you can't realize how "wrong" you are.

What are you most excited about in 2008?
Being all his.

What are you the least excited about in 2008?
the hard times I know are coming for lots of folks close to me. Just hope I have the stamina and resources to help them all through it all.

So here I sit...

...on the verge of 2008. Blogging. Ish. I packed. I only have 7 more things on my to do list that I might do...onlky one of them that I have to do before this year ends. The rest can wait. Like making a resolutions list to resolve to not "wait" on forever to get things done. Yeah.

So life is great. But let me tell you this...if ONLY Comcast had some competition in my hood.

Today, I took one step closer to officially becoming Mrs. We combined our phone plan back on my birthday but I just got around today to cancelling it. I was with Sprint for almost a decade. So they were shocked beyond all shocked that I would out of the blue want to cancel. I mean Ms. Henderson...you've put up with our jacked rates, crazy new fees on text messaging and refusal to give you a new phone because you were an old customer for gosh...almost a DECADE now. Why don't we give you a new lower plan and a new phone and clall it good? Yeah...no. I've tried for EVER to get a new phone from you folks for nothing but my loyalty. Even offered to pay out of pocket as a gesture of further loyalty so long as you'd reimburse me. Nope. Only new suckers...I mean customers...get that pleasure. So...he flipped out that I said "yeah no, I'm gonna be a Mrs. and he likes his service (bold faced LIE--all cell service state side SUCKS) so we're family planning up over there. With my new phone. And his new phone too." Are you sure? We can give you more minutes or something. Yeah, cause all the minutes I've NEVER used on my plan because I have an old OLD phone that doesn't work or take a charge anymore will work well with all those extra minutes.

And then there was the car insurance.

Progressive is pretty upfront about the fact that they stick it to you. And they try to make you feel informed with other insurance quotes from other similiarly pricey folks who will also stick it to you. When I called to cancel with them, they were all "but why?" well...I'm getting married and it is significantly CHEAPER for me to get coverage through his policy. Well...you weren't a 3 year customer when we quoted you back in October so now you are and we can really drop it down. I told him he couldn't get it low enough. He said "well how much were you quoted?" A number you can't possibly match. Because if you COULD and you charged me for three years at the RIDICULOUS rate you charged me and all of a sudden a phone call to cancel results in anything near what I WILL be paying now, I'm just going to be even more mad and you'll have gone through all that work for nothing. Finally got off telling him I'm paying closer to $0 than $100 per month (I suck at math by the way) and that I preferred not to tell him with who. Did end up telling him I got the same amount of coverage and I was fine. That burned him up. So I said sorry and have a great day. He was pissed.

Now to call the cable company and move on from them. Unfortunately, there is no one "else" to go through so they'll just say "have a nice boring no tv life...enjoy that HD DVD player" when I tell them I'm going elsewhere. Maybe I should read more...

Happy new year early!

And I quote...

" Well. It depends on how stupid you are."

Did I mention I love him and I can't stop laughing about that one line?

You see. He is a "let's do it now and get it over with" kind of guy. I'm a "I need to get to that eventually" kind of girl. Which means that when I ask him to impart some of his super genius on me, yet I'm in the middle of planning out a "reception" meal, when he asks "Do you want me to show you now?" and I respond "Well...how long will it take?" these are the kinds of responses I get.

And I love him for it. Cause you don't know this, but it was said in the same loving way that he tells me things like how ducks mate for life and how "Pirates" are cool and how I look up and he's doing something he shouldn't be and he has this look on his face of "Uhhhmmm...nothing dear!" that I know means trouble. Maybe tonight. After my heart is broken at the slightly within budget place.

I think we have a photographer. I think we have a church. I know we have at least one reception option on lock. Really...it's coming up so soon!

So plan C

On the photographers. One of your faves (and our's too) Cory is no longer available for our date.

That's right...our date (smile).

We FINALLY set a date for 2008. Want to know it? I know...such a tease.

In any event, Cory isn't available, but he suggested we look at Joe & Jill. To that, I think a new poll is in order.

We're meeting with the Pope's (Gerald and Arika) tonight I think. I've got a call into J&J and I'm waiting on the last photographer to get back to me as well.

As for the reception, with the date we finally got, WTC wasn't available so...alas. I think I also mentioned that Palace Ballroom has a minimum equivalent to our entire budget for a July wedding so we're not going with them either. Off of our original list there, that leaves Canlis (probably also not available by about now, but maybe) and we've revisited Kaspars. Views are not great, but it all of a sudden looks more workable. Funny how that works out eh?

Anyhow...photographers. I'll add a new poll to the right. You can check out Joe and Jill and click on their site. Lots of great eye candy going on there.

Every Scrapbooker's Dream...

...part of wedding planning that is. Photographer selection. This poll won't be so set in stone because of that whole pesky date thing, but if a girl is dreaming...we might well have fun right?

So the photography choices so far are thus:

Cory Paris (click on weddings--he has flickr stuff you can find via google too)
Gerald Pope (click on the website link to go to the gorgeous photos)
Glen Johnson (bit cumbersome, image shows are in upper left corner tab)

We've met with Cory and he's the coolest dude--totally excited about wedding photography, passionate about it and it shows.

Robert found Gerald and I have to say I'm totally in love. Budget aside of course.

And in a qucik search because I wanted to post three options (smile) came across Glen. Really attracted to the details and read one wedding story which is pretty much what we're doing...non traditional stuff so know he'd be comfy in the setting.

Course, once we add the church into the mix and everything, we'll likely have to have another photographer poll (smile), but till then...pick away!

I do thee wed

So the choices are starting to get a bit out of hand. At least I FINALLY got through to the coordinator at our church (she was out from surgery and doing much better now) and have a bit more sense of control over what is going on there. But in typical retentive fashion, I need options.

That said, We can do our church if it isn't on the 26th. Otherwise, here are potential other options. Of course, you know this means poll time.

Our first choice place, but last choice date (June in Seattle, can you say rainy??) would be our home church which is Trinity Episcopal:

You can see great photos of the exterior here and here with great overall shots by Dale here.

Another choice we're thinking about is Fauntleroy (really great shot here and a really great sketch of the exterior here. Note the photographer...that's another poll to come).

And another choice is Bastyr (great overall shot here).

We go to see Bastyr this Sunday before church. We go to Trinity and I've been by Fauntleroy and think a West Seattle wedding would be totally cool. We shall see.

I think this calls for a poll. Take a peak, pick your pickings. So far you've helped me pick colors and I've narrowed reception options. Might need to research a couple more reception spots with holds falling off as we try to get the ceremony place re-settled (thought it was a done deal at Trinity only to see...), but so far, I'm kinda calm about it all.

Take the poll. And I'll even throw up another before this one ends so you can confirm, I mean (smile) help me pick a top choice for photographer.

Yeehaw to 30!

So you'll get TWO (maybe, dare I say it...THREE) posts today.

Of all birthdays, I think today will be my fave. Cause there is a three in it. The big 30. I can't believe I've made it this far. Not like I grew up with nightly gun fire hissing through my window or anything like that, but there have been some moments. And since what I really want to blog about is wedding planning stuff and post a couple more polls there, instead, I'll do a list of some of the greatest moments of the past 30. In no particular order (but numbered so I don't fall out and give you like 12 or 13)...

10. Graduating from Cornell
9. Reading that one profile on Match.com
8. Saying yes at the Golden Gate bridge
7. Falling for those two polar opposite guys in the 7th grade.
6. The trip to Coca-Cola World in 1996
5. Flea market Sundays with my grandmother, the menudo paycheck was all I needed.
4. The Can't let Go C/O 1997 "You Rock my World" PHS alumni/grad dinner (I think I can!)
3. Jersey bagels and tea w/milk at the home of the kindest guy I know during a school break
2. Christmas circa late 80's stretching my brother into his limp, probably ruined him for life.
1. Meeting my nephew Quantae for the very first time

Here's to 30 or so more of amazingly good times!

And really...

...just when I was going to give up hope (and, admittedly faith) we had a chat session, some emails went out and some pretty quick responses came back. Now to just figure out what really can and can't be done. I'm giving it until the end of the week and then I'm moving on.

In the meantime, last night, when we were in Target wonderland watching his eyes light up at all the choices for Christmas light timers and dimmer switches, we stood in line to hear one of the clerks practically scream out "Oh my God it is snowing!"

And by golly it was. Pretty hard at that. It was a beautiful sight. The grocery bill at safeway, not so beautiful, but I love produce. Love it. And love cooking for him too. So we had (I know I know...the food entry) Bison meatloaf, mashed potatoes (extra creamy because we managed NOT to get milk but had a ton of cream--light and heavy--on hand) and steamed asparagus. With hollandaise sauce.

Curled up so that I could watch 7 years in Tibet. Of course I fell asleep. But I did watch Meet Joe Black today. One of his fave movies. That was good.

I've needed some good lately. Bit of a heavy heart for some family folks who I wish that I could do so much more for. How I wish.

Fastforward to Sunday night. I learned how to tie a Windsor knot, saw him dressed up totally spiffyfied for church today, got some really cute little ATC cards done for some really cute (and special) gals, made green chicken (and green onion) enchiladas with the fixins, happy that the Seahawks beat the Eagles (hiss Philly--go cowboys!). Kind of heartbroken that Washington lost the way they did. Football has been kinda blah for me lately. In a "good" way if that is possible. Didn't get to go out to see the Thursday night game cause of some other stuff we were dealing with but with all the uhhhggg, there came some amazing stuff out of that too so no complaints anymore. Thanksgiving's Cowboys game was sad...hard to watch them whip up on a team that ain't that good and we don't have a long held hatred of.

Anyhow...thanks Traci for the Packers card (smile). And you know what? I didn't even think to ask you but you know how I missed the Thursday night game for some amazing (stupid) stunt? I should have asked you if you had a working VCR you could spare (smile).

Bed time. Ish.