Election Day is here at last

This has been the longest election season ever. I'm not exaggerating either - this whole thing started about 21 months ago, only a few short months after the last major federal election. It's been rough - the up and down Republican primaries, the fight to the finish Democratic primaries, the debates, the endless political ads. One would think that by the time Election Day arrived, no one would go vote because they'd all be so sick of it.

Fortunately, that isn't the case at all.

Reading this morning's headlines, the news is full of stories about huge lines, machine failures, ballots getting too damp because the voter had to stand in the rain. Christine Amanpour from CNN likened the lines to some of the elections she's seen around the world - Iraq, South Africa, Afganistan. And what floors me is how, instead of getting upset or frustrating, people are happy to be there. They taking this election so seriously that a 2 and a half hour wait, while mildly annoying, is something they are willing to undertake. It boggles my mind. After so many years of fighting to get people to the polls, they seem to have woken up this morning understand that this is their duty, their one big job in this democracy.

So, I have a renewed sense of hope in America this morning. And while I have my personal preferences as to who should win, I'm happy to know that no matter how this election turns out, the American people took their job seriously and came out to vote.

Welcome Toby!

Last week, we had a new puppy join our family. Meet Toby! He's Riley's half-brother (same dad, different mom). Riley and Toby get a long really well. They love to play with each other, which calms them both down. Toby is much mellower overall than Riley is. Here are some more pictures of my new boy and some with Riley too!

Election Parallels

Having no gainful employment, I find myself watching a lot of West Wing. I was given seasons 4-7 for Christmas last year and have finally gotten to season 7, the final season and the one in which a new president is elected. I am amazed that this show, released in 2005-06, so accurately predicted this year's presidential election. This is what I mean. . .

Arnold Vinick - a southwestern Republican Senator who is older than the average candidate. He tries to distance himself from his conservative base, but chooses a running mate that appeals to the Christian right and fundamentalists. John McCain anyone?

Matthew Santos - a Midwestern Democratic congressmen who is younger than the average candidate. He started behind in the polls, but overcame the frontrunners and energized the Democratic party and many independents. He chooses a party veteran for his running mate with significant foreign experience. Oh, and he's the first presidential candidate who is also a racial minority. Barack Obama?

I just find it fascinating that a full three years prior to this election, the West Wing writers so prefectly mirrored what is happening now. Now, let's just hope that the Chinese-Russian conflict that the White House has to deal with doesn't come true!

Lost Again

When a person doesn't have a spouse/kids, community ties, or really any friends nearby, that person can feel that their job is their life. When the job goes away, it hurts.

So, here's my second early fall without gainful employment. At least this year I am in the substitute pool, and after running into a colleague today, he promised to spread the word, so I should be able to get some work. My benefits are gone, my daily interactions are gone, but at least I'll have an income. The hard part is keeping my spirits up - I love teaching and not being in the classroom is rough. I'm trying to stay positive and I continue to look for jobs. Send good vibes for me - something will show up eventually.

I Heart NY

I have been looking forward to this trip since I bought the tickets, but I really started getting excited in the past month. Now that I'm here, I so happy. I love Seattle, but there is something about the NYC area that is unlike anywhere else.

I went into the city on Thursday and met up with Sean for the day. We sat in Washington Square park for a bit (kinda bummed it's under construction), had lunch at El Caliente, then we took the Staten Island ferry out to SI and back. It was about 10-15 degrees cooler on the water than in the city. We then went shoe shopping (for him, not me!) and stopped by the shiny McDonald's on 42nd street for a milkshake. We met Mandy when she got off work at 5pm and she and I went bridesmaids dress shopping. We found a couple good ones, so it was a really productive trip.

Dad and Val came down on Friday. We hung out, had lunch, went out to dinner when Mandy and Darren came home, and then chatted until they went back to their hotel. On Saturday, Darren and I went with Val and Dad to Hurricane Harbor (Mandy was working a wedding). We had fun, but it was crowded and understaffed. We came home and then went out to Charlie Brown's for dinner (Val was craving a steak). They went back to their hotel around 9pm and left the next morning. Poor Mandy didn't get home until 12:30am.

Yesterday we went to church at the cathedral where Darren and Mandy will be getting married. It was amazing. Such a beautiful church and really homey feeling. Then we went to pick up a few things that they needed at the store before heading over to Darren's parents to hang out in the pool. Mr. and Mrs. F are on this crazy diet, but it's working for them! Mr. F has lost 35 pounds! It's pretty amazing. We swam for a couple of hours after eating a BBQ lunch. We came home last night and had ice cream before heading to bed.

Today isn't too exciting - I'm doing laundry and I'll be running over to Costco to order a cake. I know how to have fun! The Poconos trip is later this week, so we're all looking forward to that.

Heading to the East Coast

I'm about two days away from heading back to the NYC/NJ area for three weeks and I'm getting excited. I haven't seen Mandy and Darren since January, haven't seen Sean and the rest in a year. I'm excited to get back into the city. I miss the food! I miss the constant movement and things going on. We're doing our annual Poconos trip in the middle - four days in the house we've used twice before. It'll be a blast - a few new people and most of the old. Woot!

I'm going to miss mom, but she'll be joining me for the third week. I'll really miss Riley. He's totally wrapped himself around my heart and I love him so much! He's the cutest little pup. How could I leave this face?

Happy Independence Day!

Once again it's time for my annual Independence Day Blog. Not sure why this started, but every year on this date, I feel the need to write something about the state of the nation. I'll get to that in a minute, but first I want to repost something that came across a mailing list I belong to this morning. They didn't credit it to anyone, so I'm not sure who wrote it, but it kinda makes you think about the beginning of this nation.

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

• Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.
• Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
• Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.
• Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken
from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

It really made me think about what those men sacrificed for their ideal of freedom. How many people today would make that same sacrifice? Our men and women in the military would and many sacrifice everything. The question I still ask, though, is why is it necessary for them to do so? It's hard to see families torn apart for a war that I can't get behind. I honor those who are over there, but are we honoring them by sending them?

On another point, last year I tried to be more positive and made a list of things that I hoped to see in the future. I'm happy to see that two of them have come true:

+ I can pick the candidate that is best for the job rather than "not as bad as the other guy."
For the first time since I was able to vote, I'm excited about the election. In 199, it was simply Clinton Part 2, so I was just excited to be able to vote. Yet, since then, I haven't been able to get excited about any candidate. Gore? Eh. Kerry? Really? However, I am really excited about Obama. I know I'm setting myself up for potential disappointment, but a candidate that thinks that talking to our enemies instead of invading their country? A candidate that actually acknowledges the need for a domestic policy? One who sees the need for alternate energy sources instead of more drilling? I'm hopeful for the first time in years.

+ Non-whites and non-males will hold more offices high in politics.
Wow. Who knew that in one year we'd have both a African-American and a woman as viable presidential candidates? It was an exciting race to watch, and while I'm glad that part was over, it was really cool to have people who are so underrepresented in politics up there as role models.

So, overall, I'm hopeful. The eight year reign of fearmongers and liberty-supressors is almost over and I can see light on the horizon. Maybe next year's message will be one of joy and pride.