This is my favorite day of the year! I spent the morning with Michael, packed with Iona and Chupa, am currently sitting in an airport lounge and soon will see my family. AND United still loves me...even though I haven't set foot on one of their planes since May. I admit that I miss it a little.
Happy Halloween! I hope to not be too intoxicated this weekend that coherent thoughts are lost. These moments with the family are usually worth sharing, and sharing, and sharing.
On the news this morning I saw all these people dressed in collaborative costume with their dogs. Sigh. That will never be me and the Pig. One year I found her the most adorable pumpkin costume. It had a hat and a huge round soft pumpkin to go around her belly. Yes, she warned me that she wanted none of it....but I had that wine courage working for me. I am fortunate her aim is bad and all my fingers are still intact...barely.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Supernatural Silence
I voted yesterday. I stood in line for over 55 minutes with a great variety of people in a small space that was too warm and crowded. In true form, I wasn't wearing shoes that were conducive for standing on a hard surface for that amount of time and I actually felt my feet go numb periodically. Fortunately I did have a book with me to pass the hour, and I coerced Michael into a foot rub later in the evening.
With all those people crammed together, I expected some intensity, some grumblings, some impatience. Absolutely not the case. It was shocking to me that we all stood there in relative silence....just waiting for our opportunity to cast a vote. I don't remember it being like this in years past. Perhaps it is Raleigh, but I think it has more to do with this election. We all stood there reading, or quietly talking to the person next to us. I think this crowd would have waited another three hours in silence...just for the chance to impact history...one way or the other. Granted, I would have had to remove my shoes in about another 20 minutes, but I would have waited in stocking foot!
Later that evening as we watched the news, I finally realized why some people think Obama is supernatural, or the Antichrist. That man was EVERYWHERE. He was here in Raleigh at noon, and in Florida later that night, and somehow managed to fit in a stint on the Daily Show. One of my friends at work said that Oprah had paid to clone him. We all know that if someone could...it is she. Anyway, only a couple days left. Let's hope that McCain lives that long, because this is damn interesting to watch and I'd hate for him to miss it.
With all those people crammed together, I expected some intensity, some grumblings, some impatience. Absolutely not the case. It was shocking to me that we all stood there in relative silence....just waiting for our opportunity to cast a vote. I don't remember it being like this in years past. Perhaps it is Raleigh, but I think it has more to do with this election. We all stood there reading, or quietly talking to the person next to us. I think this crowd would have waited another three hours in silence...just for the chance to impact history...one way or the other. Granted, I would have had to remove my shoes in about another 20 minutes, but I would have waited in stocking foot!
Later that evening as we watched the news, I finally realized why some people think Obama is supernatural, or the Antichrist. That man was EVERYWHERE. He was here in Raleigh at noon, and in Florida later that night, and somehow managed to fit in a stint on the Daily Show. One of my friends at work said that Oprah had paid to clone him. We all know that if someone could...it is she. Anyway, only a couple days left. Let's hope that McCain lives that long, because this is damn interesting to watch and I'd hate for him to miss it.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Annoyed by NPR
I am finally able to listen to the local NPR affiliate (WUNC) again without wanting to drive my vehicle up the front steps of the American Tobacco Historic district in Durham and straight into their studio. "Run them down", was all I could think of these past several weeks. "Hypocrisy!" I would scream every morning as I attempted to listen for just a few minutes before needing to turn, turn, turn the dial away. Here I am being kept from my morning news during such an influential and monumental time in our history. Why the rage at Public Radio? The freaking Fall Fund Drive.
WUNC has done a terrific job at mapping out the situation of our current financial debacle. They have great commentators willing to not lay blame, but rather talk through how we got into the mess, what the options are, and how we'll potentially look on the opposite side. While the news is bleak, they don't approach it as doom and gloom and unfixable. I look forward to this every morning. Until recently. I get that NPR needs to fund raise. 85% of their budget comes from local businesses and individual contributors, and the programming is well-deserved of the support. So here is what set me off. Each morning they are pitching for the pledges - pledge this amount and get a book, pledge more and get NPR mugs, pledge that and you'll receive a tote bag! AND, IF YOU CAN'T PAY IT ALL AT ONCE, DON'T WORRY...PUT IT ON YOUR CREDIT CARD! PAY YOUR PLEDGE OFF ALL YEAR. NO WORRIES.
Seriously! Pitching a pledge to the credit card if you don't have the funds immediately. Isn't that what all this mess is truly about? People not being able to pay for the debt they accumulate? Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of the credit/debt dance, but we've always PAID IT. And here is my local NPR station steeped in hypocrisy and asking people to support them, EVEN IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT!
Well apparently I was only short-term mad because I went back to them on Monday. The Fall Fund Drive is over and my rage went with it. Hypocrisy is alive and well in me too. I expect it is because their political commentary swings Democrat. I forgive...until you fund raise again...or if the short-armed old man wins.
WUNC has done a terrific job at mapping out the situation of our current financial debacle. They have great commentators willing to not lay blame, but rather talk through how we got into the mess, what the options are, and how we'll potentially look on the opposite side. While the news is bleak, they don't approach it as doom and gloom and unfixable. I look forward to this every morning. Until recently. I get that NPR needs to fund raise. 85% of their budget comes from local businesses and individual contributors, and the programming is well-deserved of the support. So here is what set me off. Each morning they are pitching for the pledges - pledge this amount and get a book, pledge more and get NPR mugs, pledge that and you'll receive a tote bag! AND, IF YOU CAN'T PAY IT ALL AT ONCE, DON'T WORRY...PUT IT ON YOUR CREDIT CARD! PAY YOUR PLEDGE OFF ALL YEAR. NO WORRIES.
Seriously! Pitching a pledge to the credit card if you don't have the funds immediately. Isn't that what all this mess is truly about? People not being able to pay for the debt they accumulate? Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of the credit/debt dance, but we've always PAID IT. And here is my local NPR station steeped in hypocrisy and asking people to support them, EVEN IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT!
Well apparently I was only short-term mad because I went back to them on Monday. The Fall Fund Drive is over and my rage went with it. Hypocrisy is alive and well in me too. I expect it is because their political commentary swings Democrat. I forgive...until you fund raise again...or if the short-armed old man wins.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
The reason God made man
So everyone knows that men are REALLY good at a few key things - killing bugs, driving when you don't feel like it, taking care of you when you are drunk, and breaking/lifting very heavy things. It is also quite well known that I like and respect the male species for these vital items. I therefore find it ironic that my mom went through a period of time where she thought I was trying to turn Elizabeth into a lesbian. We never could figure out my motives, as I am neither a lesbian nor into incest. I guess my being a "liberal" and giving Elizabeth a subscription to Jane magazine was enough.
That said, boys can be useful. On Saturday a few of my friends and colleagues came over to help us remove the back room. We needed to knock down two outside walls and remove the interiors of the other two. We also had to take off the siding along the outside walls of the bathrooms. This is where the addition is going and the foundation is FINALLY being poured this week! In fact, I was terribly giddy that the contractor sign miraculously appeared in our front yard on Friday. This means that they are not embarrassed about this project and that the Calvary is finally headed our way. Oh lord, there is help coming.
But before the professionals, there would be the Demo Squad. Now don't get me wrong, these guys kicked ass! Those walls were gone in no time and they managed not to destroy anything we ultimately meant to keep. This is damn impressive for a group of smart office guys. True, three are ex-military, but it's not like they were at boot camp last week. But THIS is what we did.
Good help is a glorious thing and that meant that Michael and I only needed to work a 1/2 day today. Michael took out a pantry closet and I removed all the tile around the fireplace. We attempted to remove the vinyl flooring in the hall and bathroom, but discovered that it was asbestos tile so opted to leave it until we are better prepared. So what did we earn for our hard work? Michael got to watch some football, Iona was in the field twice, and I actually got both vacuuming and laundry done. (Maria, where art thou????) This doesn't quite make up for Michael's broken finger or the fact that forearms ache so badly I can hardly type...but who's bitching? Good weekend. No doubt about it; even with all those damn boys around.
That said, boys can be useful. On Saturday a few of my friends and colleagues came over to help us remove the back room. We needed to knock down two outside walls and remove the interiors of the other two. We also had to take off the siding along the outside walls of the bathrooms. This is where the addition is going and the foundation is FINALLY being poured this week! In fact, I was terribly giddy that the contractor sign miraculously appeared in our front yard on Friday. This means that they are not embarrassed about this project and that the Calvary is finally headed our way. Oh lord, there is help coming.
But before the professionals, there would be the Demo Squad. Now don't get me wrong, these guys kicked ass! Those walls were gone in no time and they managed not to destroy anything we ultimately meant to keep. This is damn impressive for a group of smart office guys. True, three are ex-military, but it's not like they were at boot camp last week. But THIS is what we did.
Good help is a glorious thing and that meant that Michael and I only needed to work a 1/2 day today. Michael took out a pantry closet and I removed all the tile around the fireplace. We attempted to remove the vinyl flooring in the hall and bathroom, but discovered that it was asbestos tile so opted to leave it until we are better prepared. So what did we earn for our hard work? Michael got to watch some football, Iona was in the field twice, and I actually got both vacuuming and laundry done. (Maria, where art thou????) This doesn't quite make up for Michael's broken finger or the fact that forearms ache so badly I can hardly type...but who's bitching? Good weekend. No doubt about it; even with all those damn boys around.
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