yeah yeah yeah

It's the Song About Love Between My Brothers and My Sisters All Over This Land

Today I watched history take place. Unfortunately not in DC but instead at the Market Square in Old Town where George Washington so often strolled. Just across the river from DC, TL and I watched the Inauguration on a Jumbo Tron, cold and huddled with a mass of people cheering OBAMA and waving flags. 

As I was listening to President Obama's (makes me grin ear to ear to type those two sweet words) Inauguration speech and watching the pan views of the millions of people in the Mall area I started thinking about how proud, at the very moment, how proud I was to call the USA my country. It was the sort of feeling I had when I was little kid, before I was jaded by the spirit of America. I remember when I was in the third or fourth grade and I thought I was truly lucky to live in America. We were doing reports on various countries in the world (I had Poland) and I remember thinking how sad it was for all those kids my same age living in a world outside of America. I thought these kids had to have a horrible life since they were not Americans and I thought how they all must envy us that were. I also wondered if they even had McDonald's or knew what SweetTarts tasted like. 

But then I grew up, read often and took some great history classes in college. Thanks to some good professors and good friends I opened my mind to the real American in which we live. The one that goes to war for no reason, does not treat its people with equality and refuses to recognize its own failures. I started to understand the impacts of slavery and the Trail of Tears and how it shaped the bitterness and anger within our nation. I took classes that focused on the unsung successes of women in history and found myself rejecting the traditional great American dream and all the consumerism that accompanies it. And these past eight years, wow. America, thanks to the leadership of Bush, turned into this mean, wa-hungry country hated by the rest of the world. At the end of 2007 the Fulbright Global Peace Index, ranked the US as the 97th most peaceful nation. Iraq bottomed the list, ranked 140th.

But today is a new day. I feel the hope in the air. I can feel the love and happiness sweeping this country. Watching President Obama (smiling again) addressing the country and asking for the help of the American people reminded me that we are a strong nation full of smart, innovated people and together we can make America a place of envy once again. We don't have to do this by flaunting our power or forcing our beliefs on other nations. We can do this instead with peace and by listening to the voices of all people from all races and religions across this country and around the world.  

So today I was bit disappointed that it wasn't in the cards for me to travel into DC but I was happy to share the energy overflowing across the Potomac into Old Town. And although the energy couldn't compare to that of the Mall, it was beautiful to share this joy with several hundred others as we anxiously and proudly watched history in the making. I just wish I could give all my friends that feel my same joy a great big huge victory hug. We did it!

I'm Walking on Sunshine, Woooah, and Don't it Feel Good

So is it just me or have you noticed too? I think we woke up to a new America on 11/5 and I keep waiting for this blissful feeling to fade, but it hasn't yet. At any moment, while I'm walking down the street, I'm expecting traffic cops to blow their whistles, wave their arms in joy as the pedestrians and drivers stop right their tracks and start dancing in sync while singing Broadway musical style. Handsome men will dance and jump from one car hood to another while looking down at the beautiful women turning gracefully in circles around the stopped traffic. Can you picture it? It is very 1950s style musical but the clothes are pure 80/08... leggings, bright over-sized sweaters, you can picture it now? They are singing Katrina and the Waves' "I'm Walking on Sunshine".

Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but it does feel like this country is already in a better state of mind since the election was final. In the past week, I have traveled up through MD, DE, NJ and NY and everyone I've encountered seems to have a little extra kick in their step. They hold the door open for you. They are more patient in the coffee line. I spent a few days in Western PA and noticed it there too. People just seem happier. As if the country and its people found its happy place and can see a bright future on the horizon after suffering from years under a hateful and corrupt administration. Seriously, people have been so much nicer since the Obama election, toll booth attendants on the Jersey Turnpike smiling and asking about your day. The stack of cars behind you not blasting on the horn because it is taking longer for cars to pass through the toll booth gates. Random folks stopping to say Hi and How are you? It feels like a time warp or another dimension, but it is freaking awesome. 

1/20/09. It is going to be a great day. I will be walking on sunshine with millions of others who are gathered in DC (including my awesome neice/friend and her awesome BFF roomie/friend) and maybe, just maybe, we will bust out a musical number on K Street.

Fired Up, Ready to Go! Fired Up, Ready to Go! Fired Up, Ready to Go!

Finally, November 4, 2009 is here. First off, I voted today at 6:15 am. Got in line at 5:45 and didn't have to wait too long in line, where I was about 60 back when the doors opened promptly at six. I choose a paper ballot over the computer ballot and I'm proud to say that today I voted for Barak Obama. I say, the GOP is out and the Dems are back in! Obama will win and win big! 

Yes, I realize it isn't over but the finish line seems so very close in view with the McCalin team so far behind and basically out of the race. I mean hell, Obama is now a contender in Arizona. Arizona, how is that even possible? I will tell you how, the man is amazing and has managed to inspire a nation in a time where inspiration is desperately needed. We need both inspiration and hope. Last night I got to witness that inspiration. That hope. Along with 85 thousand people, TL and I attended Obama's final rally of the campaign in Manassas, VA. On a school night, 85 thousand trekked to Manassas, sat in their cars for hours slowly inching to the fairground parking lots and then stood for hours in a field, all for a chance to hear a message of hope from our future president... what a night. What a night. Looking around the gigantic fair grounds area you could see people of all colors, ages, races and sexual orientations. A field of democrats, independents and republicans ready to vote and change the course of history in America. The energy in the air. The love in the air. The excitement in the air. I can see why Obama is compared to a rock star. He was a rock star last night. And what is wrong with having a president that has rock star qualities? NOTHING. I say bring it on. It is time for America to have a president that can inspire, bring change and help unite this nation that currently faces so much turmoil thanks to the irresponsible ways of the Bush administration. But those days are over soon.

I left those fairgrounds late last night inspired by his message of hope and ready, ready to get out there and make his presidency a reality. Take a look/listen to Obamas final section of his final rally speech of his 2008 campaign. If this doesn't get you motivated to get out there and help Obama win, then I don't know what will. -- Obama in Manassas 11/3/2008. Fired up, ready to go!

You know what, I think we got this. I don't think there is anything the GOP can do to keep this win from us. The support I'm seeing for Obama in Northern VA is mind blowing. I've spent several hours so far today on the corner of a major intersection in Arlington waving my Obama sign and the honks and screams we are getting, the cheers and shouts for Obama. People putting their head out the window to shout Obama. Or pumping their fist out the window to show their support. Others pulling up their "I Voted" sticker to show us, proud to have cast their vote of Obama. So much honking that the police is getting call after call complaining about the noise but the police say they can't do anything to control peoples excitement. Wow. What a day! I'd say nine out of ten cars are showing some love for my boy. Nine out of ten. Very very few thumbs down. Very very few boos. Such positive response out there. So many people ready for a change, not scared to put their trust in a man that is ready to take on the task of moving America back into a path of greatness.

So the day is finally here, today we make history and elect Barak Obama as President of the United States of America. And I do think, without a doubt, a win is going to happen early tomorrow morning. Today I'm living in the oh so red state of Virginia, a state with a huge republican history, but come tomorrow morning I think it will be a state of blue. And a blue Virginia will give Obama the needed electoral votes to win. Early morning tomorrow....Obama wins! I bet they call it by 12:30 am -- The 44th President of the United States of America is Barak Obama.

FIRED UP, READY TO GO! FIRED UP, READY TO GO! FIRED UP, READY TO GO.
GO OBAMA. GO DEMS. GO OBAMA. GO DEMS. WHOOOOOO--HOOOOOO!

Spreading like a Social Cancer, Is There an Answer?

Question: 
Governor Palin, do they eat ice cream in Iceland?

Governor Palin response: 
Hmmmm. Do they eat ice cream in Iceland? Well, gosh, I don't know that I want to answer that question but what I do want to talk about is being a Maverick and the fact that I have lots of children. And you know what, my dogs won't pay taxes under the McCain plan and health care is free for kittens and Obama, he wants to charge cats for health care but thinks that we should not use coal to save the baby seals and there is enough oil in Alaska to drill, so we say Drill Baby Drill, and us Mavericks understand that we don't have to worry about taxing babies and I think that is what is important here. The good ol' boys once said to me that they wanted the polar bears to pay for the economic crisis and I said "No way, that is just a bridge to no where". Drilling oil for the climate's good and not taxing babies, now that is is real change to believe in. And I do agree with Joe on one thing, because my family is diverse and I'm just saying that it is. And I want to add, it is also important that the vice president has more control. I think the Vice President should govern Alaska, the United States and all the other countries that have ice cream because hockey moms like ice cream. I was once on the PTA.

Baby Don't Sweat it (Don't Sweat it), You're Not Cut Out to Hold a Job

Politics, Education and Palin... Here is how I see it.

Lately, national and local coverage in every form of the media has completely bombarded us with stories about the GOP's newest little darling, Sarah Palin. You can't escape Palin's face even if you tried. She is everywhere. And like everyone else, I'm receiving a ton of emails either mocking Palin or stories that claim to uncover the truth about this newcomer (and I so hope there is truth to the affair scandal), and yeah, I'm guilty of passing these on to my fellow Democrats. Who cannot resist sharing the obviously photoshoped pictures of Sarah handling some gigantic gun poolside in her star spangled banner bikini. Why wouldn't I join the facebook group "I Read a Book Sarah Palin Wanted Banned from the Wasilla Public Library"? And yes, I do realize that the list is false. However, these stories don't just pop up out of nowhere and there is a partial truth to majority of the accusations. For instance, according to factchecker.org the book ban list was never actually created by Palin but, "The Librarian has said Palin asked a "What if?" question." on the subject of book banning".  So the list is false but the notion that Palin is in support of such censorship is apparent. So I doubt Palin sits poolside with an elephant gun making lists of books to ban while creating speeches about entering a holy war. And although these stories are exaggerations of her, her beliefs and her character -- inside each false claim is a bit of truth.

With that thought in mind, I read an article recently published by the Washington Post that isn't an exaggeration and it isn't a false claim - Palin Switched College 6 Times in 6 Years. The article focuses on Palin's education and describes her six years as a college student and the various colleges she attended before finally completing her bachelors degree in journalism. She started her college career at a couple of schools in Hawaii before transferring to North Idaho College, a two-year school in Coeur d'Alene. She then hopped back and forth among state schools in Idaho and Alaska before finally earning a journalism degree from Idaho. She was a college hopper.

Ignoring her lack of qualifications, the Republicans parade her as this typical American woman. An average working mom. A hockey mom. Just the girl next door raising five kids. And this is a good thing? Do I really want just an average person running our country? I would consider myself pretty much an educated, average American woman and I wouldn't want someone like myself running the country. I want someone who has had drive and determination from the get go. Someone that studied hard, learned from the best professors in the country, traveled abroad and spent their college conversations with peers who had equal leadership ambitions. Someone who pushed themselves down the road of success and graduated top of their class. I want someone that if you went back and asked faculty at the school about that person they would use words such as amazing, remarkable, born leader, smart, poised and successful to describe that person. According the Washington Post, faculty didn't even remember her at the numerous colleges she attended. I was average at Oklahoma State but faculty knew my name and would still remember me.

Basically, I would love to see the job description for the job of Vice President of the United States. Apparently a high quality education is no longer preferred. Just a six-year bachelors degree in journalism (funny, mine only took what I thought was an embarrassing five years and I'm pretty sure I experienced quite a bit of a different social life compared to Palin) from a small state university is enough these days. All you campus climbers spending countless hours engaging in community work, student government, residential or Greek life, don't bother. Take your time in school and don't stand out. If you don't like school or it is too hard, try another one. If that one doesn't work for you, try another one and another one. Just don't sweat it, pray, smile real big and someday some old man might find you worthy for the second highest job in the country. It looks like we have entered a new phase in America and are finally ready to say "to hell" with education and experience and let's have someone spunky and cute run our country. Thanks for dumbing down our country GOP... and I thought W. was as low as we could go.

I just think it is crazy that with her academic record she wouldn't even get into a lousy law school, let alone become a Rhodes Scholar or an Ivy League graduate yet here she is vying for the VP job. I personally do not believe she has the credentials to be in the position she is today and I do not think it fair for the GOP to risk our countries fate in the hands of a 72 year old man with a history of cancer and a forty something hockey mom that barely got a bachelors degree. Don't we deserve more?

Say what you want about Obama's lack of qualifications but at least the American people voted for him to run the county. And you know what, he is smart. Actually, he is a brilliant, well educated leader. Is Palin really the person we want one heart beat away from the presidency? And you don't need to look at her academic record to realize she isn't even in the same league as an Obama, a Clinton or a Roosevelt. Have you heard her in an interview? How can someone listen to her recent interview with Katie Couric, and the many others similar, and still think that the McCain/Palin ticket is a healthy option for America when we are stuck in a billion dollar war and a billion dollar economic crisis. I wouldn't want Palin representing my county let alone my country. She might be a woman, but she is no Hillary, Ann Richards or Jennifer Granholm.

No Way, No How, No Palin! We deserve better.

If It Keep on Rainin', The Levee Gonna Break

Hurricane Hanna made its way up the East Coast on Saturday causing lots of drama in my neighborhood. So much so, we were all over the local and national news. Not TL and I personally, thank god, but we recognized many of our neighbors when we watched the broadcasts later that evening and read about it in the paper. Here is how it all went down.

As predicted, the rain started early afternoon on Saturday. Off and on sprinkles actually began in the morning and by about one o'clock half of the neighbors on our street were outside in the rain watching the water fill-up the street. Oddly, as the water started spilling out of the two large storm drains and filling the street with water it wasn't even raining all that hard. I'm not sure if storm drain is the right word for these things but two are at the end of the street covered by large concrete slabs which are raised two inches off the ground and who knows how deep those drain holes go and every time I mow by the hole I fear a snake or alligator is going to pop its head out of the hole and bite my ankle. Likely a snake over an alligator, but you never know. Anyway, it was raining only hard enough to warrant a light rain jacket. It's not like we were standing outside in torrential downpours. It wasn't even raining hard enough to worry about using my camera outside. But in less then hour, our street was three feet under water and our yard was transformed to look like something out of a Louisiana postcard. We looked like we lived on a bayou and if you didn't know better, you would have thought that TL and I had bought river front property.

 

 

While outside bonding with our neighbors, we watched the newly formed river swell as the Fairfax Fire Department and Alexandria Police Department wadded through the water and knocked on each door to enforce a mandatory evacuation. Their timing seemed a little off but all the same I guess it was nice to know that they were looking out for the residents and trying to help before matters got worse. It was quite a sight considering we had only four or so inches of rain during the entire day. TV anchors and camera men were at the end of the street documenting the sight and between the neighbors trash floating down the street and furniture left on the curb for trash pick up, they got their shot. It looked as if a director had yelled "queue the trash" just at the right moment as the policeman wadded in water with a child in his arms as he walked the family to safety. A motorized watercraft was also on hand if needed to save the residents of Huntington. Oh, it was that dramatic.

Obviously, all this has TL and I asking ourselves how in the hell does four inches of rain turn the street into a three foot deep river? According to all the past records I have read, Fairfax County has done a lot of talking and little to fix the problem. First off, they don't take blame for the new flooding trend. 2006 marks the first year where any major flooding had occurred on our street. The summer of 2006 all of our neighbors had flooding to the ceilings of their basements and had to leave their home for a month or more due to electrical outages and major structual damage. Our neighbors across the street have lived in their house for 30 plus years and said it wasn't until the county started work on the I-495 and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project that evacuating for a rain storm became a normal event. Like a lot of people in Huntington, they lost most of their personal items in 2006.

It just blows my mind that developers and planners can completely neglect an entire neighborhood in an effort to improve a road system. Here are a few things that took place in order to build the Beltway.

• To build the Beltway, Cameron Run was actually moved from its original location to a point over 380 yards closer to the Huntington neighborhood.
• Marshland that served as an important drainage system for the area was also filled in to provide a base for the Beltway.
• The Beltway itself, built along the bank of the new channel for Cameron Run opposite the Huntington neighborhood, acts as a concrete wall forcing any overflow from the Run towards the Huntington homes.
• The new channel dug for Cameron Run is significantly narrower than it was before it was moved, and that channel has not been dredged since it was dug.  After decades of development in the area, Cameron Run has filled with what was estimated 10 years ago as 5 feet of sediment.

Frustrating that such neglect can cause so much havoc in one neighborhood. And you can't help but feel like New Orlean's famous 9th Ward. Fairfax County was ranked the second wealthiest county just a year ago and to hear the neighbors talk, the water we get in our street is the result of dam releases to protect the wealthy neighborhoods northwest of us.

So today I have started wondering/worrying if TL and I are the worlds biggest suckers for buying this house last fall? We love our place but we don't want to stay here for 30 years. Will we be able to sell our house down the road or are we stuck? Our biggest hope if for the County or Feds to step it up and build the proposed levee that will protect our neighborhood from a Katrina like catastrophe, but so far it doesn't look like anyone is willing to pay for that project or any project that will improve the flooding potential. The county is proposing to build a structure to protect Belle View and New Alexandria where homes average a million plus but they don't see a need to protect the older, modest homes of Huntington. Frustrating. I'll keep you posted.

It's Gonna be a Bright, Bright, Bright, Bright Sun-Shiny Day

Wow, what an amazing night last night and what a great day to be a Democrat.

First off, Obama’s speech blew me away. In my opinion, he finally addressed the issues, discussed plans of action and validated reasons why he is ready for the job as Commander in Chief. His speech gave me true belief in his cause as he finally pushed past the rhetoric and instead focused on the issues troubling our nation. Not as if I was ever going to vote for McCain, under any circumstance, but I’m happy to finally have pride for the Democratic nominated candidate, even if he wasn’t my first choice. I’m finally using the words “Yes We Can” and I don’t feel like I’m betraying my girl.

It took a lot for me to get to this point so hats off to the DNC. They did a damn good job this week in Denver. Had you asked me Monday if I was gung-ho Obama I would have said, “Hell no.” Today it is a different answer. But keep in mind, it didn’t happen over night, it was a journey, starting with Hillary’s speech in Denver on Tuesday. (Yeah, I couldn’t even watch the events on Monday because I was still too jaded.) So, Tuesday night I’m watching Hillary with tearful eyes thinking lots of only ifs… if only she had clinched the nomination. If only…I was watching her accepting the nomination rather then hearing her honest support for Senator Obama. If only… my future daughters were to grow up in a country ready to accept women as equals. If only...she had a more progressive campaign from the get-go and reached out to the young voters too. And the list goes on and on as I listen to her witty, smart and thoughtful speech that night, happy to have been a part of the sisterhood. Then Wednesday afternoon I watch her, again with tears in my eyes, as she is standing among other delegates on the convention floor with such poise and sincerity asking for the official nomination of Senator Barak Obama. Thursday, after listening to Bill and then Joe, I was proud of my party and happy for our future but still frustrated. But last night Obama got me. He got me good. I have finally moved on from the hurt and pain of Hillary’s loss and I’m actually ready to say, “Yes We Can!”

Here is the deal as I see it: four more years of a Republican administration is nothing short of devastation for the US and its place in this every changing world. McCain is not going to work along side Gore on global climate issues. McCain isn’t going to provide health care options to all Americans and McCain isn’t going to protect my right to choose.

And the kicker, just today he picks a virtually unknown woman from Alaska as his VP candidate. What is that all about? I think it is nothing less then a slap in the face to all Hillary supporters across the country. Seriously, the GOP thinks that we women are just fickle and will put our support behind any woman listed on the ballot? Hillary wasn’t just any woman; she is a woman fighting for the rights of all mothers, daughters and sons on social issues. She is a fighter for equality and justice for all. We weren’t fighting for any woman in the White House; we were fighting for Hillary in the White House. McCain’s choice today is an insult to those who fought and believed in Hillary and it is an insult to women. Had Hillary won the nomination would McCain have picked a black male as his running mate?

McCain’s pick today doesn’t draw this Hillary supporter closer to the McCain campaign, but nice try old man. Now more then ever, I’m ready to start fighting. To start fighting for Obama and to start fighting for the Democratic Party. Let’s go Democrats, let’s take our country back. Yes We Can!

(I've already ordered my free Obama/Biden button (free at Move.On.org) to wear with pride and I'm ready to help the party where needed. Virginia is a swing state and it needs to swing BLUE).

I Have Been Working All of My Life And I am a Patriot, I Have Been Fighting the Good Fight

The Associated Press reported earlier today that Clinton is preparing to acknowledge that Obama has the delegates to win the nomination Tuesday night as the five-month Democratic primary process comes to a close. According to her campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe, "Sen. Hillary Clinton is "absolutely not" prepared to concede the race for the Democratic presidential nomination to Sen. Barack Obama." http://blog.hillaryclinton.com/

I'm so frustrated. Has Clinton not been saying for weeks now that she is not backing down from this race? Hasn't she said for weeks that she is the candidate running who has the most popular votes and believes she can take this all the way to Denver? Hasn't she proven with her actions and her words that she is in this fight until the magic number 2,118 is reached by either Obama or herself?

So why in the hell would the AP go and report such a story while the polls in two states are still open? Can they try harder to influence the voters. This is ridiculous. The media chose their candidate back in Iowa and has been fighting harder then Obama himself to keep their choice candidate in the lead. God knows he can't win a debate against her on his own. I'll admit it. I'm bitter, sad, angry, hurt and frustrated.

Why isn't our country ready to elect a women president. Why does the media hate her? She is an intelligent, strong willed and passionate women who believes in her cause and the cause of others like her.

I'm going to say it here and I know very few will agree with me and they might even think I'm a racist or at least an ignorant person (which I am neither for the record) for siding with former VP candidate Geraldine Ferarro, but I think she got it right when she recently said, "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept."

I totally agree. The media is completely caught up in their love for Obama, an inexperienced senator from Illinois who has been working in DC for the same amount of time that I have been living here. I still feel like I'm new to the area.

Oh, and why does the media ALWAYS pick the worst picture of her and misrepresent passion for anger and defeat. I swear if they could get away with penciling in a set of devil horns they wouldn't hesitate to do so. Of course every photo of Obama they print are of him looking insightfully into the future. I just don't understand the bias. Does the media want so badly for McCain to win that they are pushing like hell for the weaker Democratic candidate? The polls prove that Hillary has more of a chance in November to beat McCain.

I'm just disappointed. I felt so positive back in January that she would win. I thought that the country was ready for a female to take office and I immaturely thought that the media would step back and let the people voice their opinions and limit their influence in the decision. I was wrong. Now, six months later it looks like the country IS in deed ready to have a women presidential candidate if only the media could let her fairly fight this race.

If she doesn't win I'll get on the Obama bandwagon. There is no way in hell I would cast my vote for McCain. I'm a yellow-dog, but I happen to be yellow-dog feminist who is ready to see if a women can't do a better job at running this country.

So give me time and I will eventually warm up to Obama if I have to do so. I just need to work through my bitterness and face the fact that I live in a country that has yet to accept women as equals to men. But until Hillary stops fighting her good fight, I will continue to believe in her and her campaign.

HILLARY 2008!