A Seattleite in Idaho, Vegas, New Hampshire, Washington D.C., Seattle!

Quote

2009-10-26T00:13:00.000-07:00

"If there are amazing graces on this earth, I believe that there are these good children sent to us by God and not yet soiled by the knowledge that their nation does not love them." Jonathan Kozol

Those Teabaggers Sure Are "Morans"

2009-09-16T23:31:00.001-07:00

Good grief! Do people believe anything they read or hear if it reinforces their beliefs?

☆フレンチブルドッグ「チャイ」の寝相☆

2009-09-05T02:37:00.001-07:00

Greetings from Salt Lake City, Utah.

2009-08-12T23:36:00.001-07:00

I am in Salt Lake City for the Sunstone Magazine Symposium. As soon as I received a preliminary program in the mail, I knew this was the place for me. I can wear an Obama or Hillary shirt without fear of judgment amongst Sunstoners. I can invite my friend who lives in Salt Lake City, who is gay, to a session and not be worried that she will be offended. This is at least part of what our religious experience should be; free from judgment.

I've often lamented how religion has become a weapon instead of a tool. We mere mortals are so dense, it's almost as if we need our religions to spend 11 out of the 12 months focused on the Beautitudes and the last month doing a rehash of the previous 11 months.

The other reason I enjoy Sunstone and Sunstoners is the fact that this is on the program, "This symposium is dedicated to the idea that the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ are better understood and, as a result, better lived when they are freely and frankly explored within the community of Saints..."

It's perfectly normal to have some doubts and questions about a religion or beliefs. Dealing with the doubts and seeking answers to the questions can make our beliefs stronger. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

How many more days?

2009-07-26T02:05:00.000-07:00

I just watched an episode of "30 Days," where someone is placed into an home/place that is contradictory to their beliefs, lifestyle, upbringing, etc. It is very good and interesting and I definitely recommend watching it.

The episode on tonight (rerun) had a conservative woman go and live with two men who are gay and the children they are foster parents of (maybe adoptive? I missed the first 15 minutes) . This woman obviously believed that gay people should not be allowed to marry, enter into civil unions, adopt, or even be a foster parent. It was a very difficult episode to watch.

Many people who are opposed to gay marriage will usually, upon learning of the over 1000 rights granted to couples who marry, be open to civil unions. If only because they believe in the foundations of this country; freedom and equality. It isn't special rights that gay people want, they simply want what I can get if I were to marry a man, over 1000 rights dealing with property, taxes, insurance, Social Security, etc.

Many gay couples have been together for more years than we can imagine and yet if one of them is hospitalized, their partner won't have the same rights that a married straight couple has who have been married for a day, a month, a year, or more. It just isn't right and there is no rational argument against civil unions. For the record, I support gay marriage, but realize that civil unions will be much easier to accomplish.

It isn't just civil unions where a compromise could and should be made. Our foster care system has many problems. Many children bounce from house to house (many of these houses are filled with abuse, neglect, hunger, extreme poverty, and more). Many of these children have never known the embrace of a parent who cares for them, or a family dinner around a kitchen table, or a adult figure helping them with homework, a parent watching them practice soccer, cheering them on in a basketball game, or smiling from ear to ear as they sing in the choir at school. When you think about how many children are never given these life experiences, it is heartbreaking and frankly, SHAMEFUL.

My heart breaks even more when I think about how many gay couples long to foster and/or adopt these children. Most of these gay couples will provide stability that these kids will never experience, love these children dream about every night, and support that will ease their worries and calm their hearts and allow them to experience what every person should experience, a happy childhood.

But unfortunately, many people do not believe that gay parents will provide good homes and so these children are forced to suffer. Suffer because of misconceptions, lies, distortions, homophobia, and fear. No person or couple who can provide a good home to a child/ren, should be denied that opportunity based on their sexual orientation. NEVER.

One day, I truly believe, we will live in a country that allows everyone EQUAL rights. I rest easy knowing I was on the right side of this issue. Will you?

Mother Teresa Quote of the Week

2009-07-21T01:55:00.000-07:00

I wanted to start this feature and obviously failed in this regard, so I am going to restart up my Mother Teresa Quote of the Week feature. I will try really hard to stick with it this time!

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." Mother Teresa

I'm a bad blogger.

2009-07-21T01:19:00.000-07:00

My life is relatively boring (but that is a nice change) and I am usually very opinionated, but there are a lot of things I've reserving judgment on. Because of this, there hasn't been much to blog about. Here is a rundown.

I won't know if I am returning to school until the end of August. My backup plan is just trying to find work that my Master's degree prepared me for.

I am currently house shopping. Or should I say condo shopping? It will be my first place, so my budget is limited and I do live in Seattle and will be shopping NEAR Seattle, so it could be slim pickins. I'm looking in Kent, Auburn, Des Moines, Redondo, Federal Way, Renton, Tukwila primarily.

My softball team I've been playing on since late May has ended its season. We ended up being in fourth place in the league, which is pretty impressive seeing as how we were pretty similar to a Bad News Bear team! My other two teams end their season soon. These other two teams are part of the Underdog league and they have not been enjoyable. I much prefer my City of Seattle team. It's a huge gamble when you play on an "Underdog" team-I lost.

That's it!

Yellowstone and Glacier Here I Come!

2009-07-04T00:34:00.000-07:00

Regular readers of my blog will remember my trip across the country 11 months ago. I drove from Maryland to Seattle over a period of 10 days or so, with about 60 hours of drive time. It was long, tiresome, but amazing! The definite highlight of the trip was seeing some of my besties (Diana and Chris) in Yellowstone. They are devoted friends who drove from Pocatello to Yellowstone to spend a few days with me.

I fell in love with Yellowstone and saw most of it (I just missed the northwestern part). I drove around the entire park about 1 1/2 times. It is beautiful and I will never forget falling asleep in the tent, with the mesh top and seeing that many stars. I am serious, you cannot even imagine how many stars you see. After I spent some very productive time in Yellowstone, I vowed to return. And by the time I return, it will have been about a year since I last saw it-I am hooked!

This time, instead of camping at the campsite nearest the western entrance from Idaho, we (a few friends and I) are hoping to stay near the lake. We are going to add in some hiking and I cannot wait to eat some of that bison chili I had there last year!

After Yellowstone, we will head to Glacier National Park in Montana. I have only seen pictures but it looks INCREDIBLE (go here for some pics).

On this 4th of July holiday our country celebrates, we celebrate our freedom and our country, but I also celebrate the beauty of our country. I've been to almost every state (still missing Oklahoma, North Dakota, and Alaska) and I can attest to the fact that every state is beautiful; some more than others. lol.

I encourage you to get out and explore this country because life is short and we should make each day count.

And if you have any suggestions for Yellowstone and Glacier, post in the comments!

Updates.

2009-06-27T22:13:00.000-07:00

I'm hoping to go back to school this Fall. If I don't get in, I will be devastated.

I went to Missouri/Kansas for 5 days and LOVED it.

I think I'm returning to the Mormon Church and the thought scares me for two reasons.
1. I'm an enigma and there aren't many Mormons like me. I feel lonely and out of place when I go to Church.
2. Because of the aforementioned and other issues, by returning to the Mormon Church, I will significantly reduce my chances of doing the traditional thing; getting married and having kids.

I am really tired of politics.

I live in one of the whiniest condo buildings in Seattle. Not a week goes by without some note whining about not recycling properly, or complaints of noise, footsteps, parking, etc.

I like Twitter, a lot, and I "tweet" occasionally, but I prefer Twitter as a means of getting breaking news and keeping up with friends, associates, etc.

I am bored to tears and would love to find a part-time job that I enjoyed.

Utopia doesn't happen in 5 months or less.

2009-06-04T00:44:00.000-07:00

I was hanging out with my Grandma since she is in the hospital and while she was getting a test, I spent some "quality time" with Grandpa. Grandpa is a diehard Republican. I had wrongly assumed that the disaster that was/is the Bush Administration and the havoc they wreaked would tell people that maybe, just maybe, the Republican Party is lacking and that a Democrat should be given a chance to right some wrongs.

Well, Grandpa just does not agree. There are a few different camps of Republicans right now. Those that are infuriated over what took place from 2001-2009, those that ignore what happened, and those that are mad, but blame Obama for as much as possible. Sigh.

This whole thing makes me so annoyed with politics and really annoyed with people who can't keep an open mind to a different approach. Obama hasn't even been President for 5 months, did you expect everything to be perfect?

Social Constructs.

2009-05-30T00:33:00.000-07:00

I am thinking a post about the social construction that is race is in order! I am sure a lot of you who read this blog have no idea what I am talking about and that is precisely why I must write about it. It will open up a whole new world to you. Give me a few days to figure out how to explain it and present it.

Mother Teresa Quote of the Week.

2009-05-24T01:25:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine had an amazing quote by Mother Teresa up on her quote of the week last week. In case you haven't realized, Mother Teresa has many many good quotes, so I would like to introduce a new feature on my blog: Mother Teresa Quote of the Week.

When I run out of Mother Teresa quotes, I think I'll move to Martin Luther King Jr., then Gandhi, JFK, and so on and so forth, in no particular order, mind you. If you have any suggestions, be it a person, or a specific quote, drop it in the comments. I have a huge collection of quotes and have always found comfort in them.

Let's start out with a Mother Teresa classic and one quote we should all live by.

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

Growing up in the Mormon Church, I heard talks and lessons all the time about not judging people. I suspect a lot of people growing up active in a religion heard similar admonitions. But still, it's so difficult to not judge. I suspect it's one of those battles we never win.

Social Networking Etiquette

2009-05-24T00:50:00.001-07:00

I joined Myspace several years ago and found it a great way to communicate with friends and family. I was usually on the sidelines observing the Myspace drama that enveloped friends and every so often, likely rarely, found myself caught up in the drama with friends over top 8, 16, or 24 friends placement, etc. There was other drama, but it usually revolved over friends placement. I thought it was so silly that friends would fight, friendships end, and time wasted over these silly fights. But still, it was pretty lame when you had thoughtfully placed a friend at a certain position expecting reciprocation and finding none.

Then Facebook came along. I joined and knew very few people. I had about 42 friends for a few years until more and more people starting joining, now I am at 274 and feeling pretty good about it! I've met a lot of people through Facebook that I would have never known without it!

I've started enjoying Facebook more and more as each year passes. A cleaner look than Myspace, no spam, fun features and such made it a great tool to meet new friends, become closer with existing friends, and all sorts of goodies that Facebook offers. I log onto Myspace once or twice a day to see if I have any new comments or mail, but I am always logged onto Facebook if my laptop is on, it is that integral to my life!

And yet, just as the drama with Myspace came to be, so has the drama of Facebook. A friend request goes unanswered, a friend request is answered and then you are deleted as a friend, etc.

With the advent of social networking, a social networking etiquette has been created. The etiquette is continually evolving with new features being added to websites all of the time. A great feature on Facebook is the "ignore" feature.

For instance, I have some Facebook friends who post things all of the time. It tends to clog up my news feed. So, some of them have been placed on ignore. This means I don't get their updates in my news feed, but we are still friends. Another reason why this feature is great is when I am friends with someone who has radically different political beliefs than my own. I enjoy hearing opposing views, but not obnoxious uninformed ones, so some friends have been placed on ignore to keep my sanity level in check! I feel that a lot of people aren't aware of this feature and can be too quick to delete someone as a friend. This is unfortunate because feelings are hurt and it is really just so unnecessary to delete someone that could be placed on ignore.

We live in an age with amazing technology that has opened doors we never dreamed about 5, 10, or 50 years ago. With the blessings of technology comes the responsibility to remember etiquette. This is something for us all to remember, myself included.

John Edwards Speaks to University of New Hampshire

2009-05-22T23:22:00.001-07:00

Watch the first 30 seconds and see if you can spot someone familiar. LOL.

Animals and Humans.

2009-05-16T00:45:00.001-07:00

Did any of you watch Oprah on Friday? It was an amazing show demonstrating the bonds between humans and animals, and also animals and animals. There were many touching segments, but my favorite was the first.

The first segment dealt with a program wherein prisoners train dogs to be service animals to Veterans of the Iraq and/or Afghanistan wars. I've seen similar programs and they are all fantastic, so I was not surprised to see yet another program that is amazing. You can check out the program here.

I have a particular interest in the criminal justice system. It stems from my early college career when I almost majored in criminal justice. Despite not majoring in it, I took many classes including Criminal Justice 101, Juvenile Deliquency, Criminology, as well as many Sociology classes which dealt with criminology.

One of the first things I learned in my classes, almost all of which were taken at BYU-Idaho, was that our prison system has many many problems. It attempts, very poorly I might add, to rehabilitate people who have never been habilitated, it teaches criminals to be better criminals, and often times turns addicts into worse addicts by allowing them to be introduced to different drugs.

But, it's through programs, such as Puppies Behind Bars, programs that allow inmates to get education, programs that teach prisoners skills, and other similar programs are vitally important to the prisoners and society.

Play him off, keyboard cat!

2009-05-15T15:37:00.001-07:00

Gotta love the keyboard cat!

Salmon, Any greater food?

2009-05-05T01:57:00.001-07:00

I've loved salmon since the first time I tasted it. Most of the time I've enjoyed it, I would buy 3/4 pound fillets of, I'm sure, the cheapest salmon out there. This was a great way to enjoy salmon and save money and not worry about salmon going bad because I could take out one fillet at a time from the freezer. The salmon tasted good and I even cooked it for a few friends who loved it as well.

Last week I decided to splurge and buy two fillets of King salmon at the Metropolitan Market. King is supposed to be the best salmon out there. The fillets were expensive, but I have never had really nice salmon and was anxious to see if there really was a difference in taste. Well, I can pretty much say that once you taste King salmon, you never want to try another type of salmon ever again, it is THAT good. Not to mention the fact that I was cooking with fresh garlic and had honed, almost pefected, my salmon cooking skills.

I feel very lucky to live in Seattle where we have such an abundance of salmon and selections of places to buy it from. Not to mention the fact that I am less than 2 miles from Pike Place Market where there are multiple places to buy fresh fish.

With King salmon being so pricey, I think I might go out on a limb and try some Sockeye. It is usually about $5+ cheaper a pound, and is known as the second best tasting (though everyone has their preferences).

If you have a food you really like, but haven't splurged for a better quality version of that food, you owe it to yourself to splurge every once in a while. But just a warning, once you splurge you won't ever want to go back to the cheap version!

Beauty All Around Us.

2009-05-01T01:59:00.001-07:00

Tonight I volunteered at an event for the King County Conservation Voters. A part of the evening consisted of a live auction, which had about 30 items. Many of the items involved getaways, such as a trip to Sedona, a stay in Great Britain, a condo rental in Washington D.C. and some little getaways in our own Washington.

If you aren't from Washington, it can be difficult to grasp the weirdness of the geography of our state. We have some bodies of water that break our state up. If you see water shots in a picture of Seattle, it isn't the Pacific Ocean you are seeing, but either a lake or the Puget Sound. To get to the Pacific Ocean from Seattle, you need to drive a few hours, and in some routes, take a ferry, which would be quicker. (I'm totally simplifying things here, sorry).

For you Twilight fans, Forks is pretty close to the coast, and is, I think, about 3 1/2 hours away from Seattle. You would drive north a bit and take a Ferry and drive a few hours to get to Forks. I definitely want to go there because it is beautiful.

If you look at a map of Washington and really zoom in on the western part, you can get a better idea of our geography and see the Puget Sound.

I write about this because aside from the auction I attended, I have been watching reruns of Little People, Big World and right now the reruns are of the Roloff's RV trip to some National Parks. It reminds me of the diversity and the beauty that is all around us. Even the most "boring" looking states, contain vast amounts of beauty.

Most of you know that the area that Mt. Rushmore is in, Badlands, is pretty nice looking. Well, I would disagree, it contains an infinite amount of beauty. You cannot even imagine how gorgeous it is. I so badly wished I had a day or two to spend near there because it was breathtaking! But, even before I got to the Badlands area, I was shocked to find so much pretty scenery in South Dakota. I really want to go back to South Dakota because I loved the Badlands area and the whole western history was really neat.

So I guess the moral of the story is that there is beauty all around us, in our state, in our country, and in our world. We should carpe diem and see as much of it as we can. We need to spend less time working (which is easy for me to say) and more time living.

QUOTE!

2009-04-29T01:16:00.000-07:00

"When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits I dreamed of
changing the world. As I grew older and wiser I discovered the world
would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to
change only my country. Bu it too seemed immovable. As I grew into my
twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing
only my family, those closest to me. But alas they would have none of
it. And now as I lie on my deathbed I suddenly realized: If I had only
changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.
From their inspiration and encouragement I would have been able to
better my country and, who knows, maybe even change the world."
-Unknown

Restarting Detox Today!

2009-04-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

If anyone else is "dieting", thinking about "dieting", or what have you, head on over to my diet blog because I am restarting detox/induction today.

The challenges of being 'settled'.

2009-04-19T20:04:00.000-07:00

The problem with me is that I find too much enjoyment in being a nomad. The thought of settling down somewhere is frightening! Being in Las Vegas and not knowing where I would go next was both scary and exhilarating. Same thing with New Hampshire. When I spent a month flying all over the east part of the USA, (Michigan, South Carolina, Florida, Tennesse, Connecticut, etc) I had the time of my life. I found it far too easy to live out of suitcases, motels, and my car.

It's the fear of commitment that gets me. I can commit to friends and family, but beyond that it gets really dicey. Having pondered my living situation for the last year or so, I always found the idea of buying an RV and living out of that and being so mobile really attractive. Driving across the country twice exposed me to this whole culture of RVing that was really fun to watch.

Most of the RVers were, of course, retired folks, who had the time and money to do it. BTW, It's so absurd that you have to wait until you are 65 or older to actually travel and enjoy our country. I know someone who is closer to my age who bought an RV and has that mobility, but chooses to stay around the Vegas area. He loves it and I can't blame him.

So having been unemployed since November, I've found myself a bit disappointed that I didn't do something more fun with this time. I truly didn't think the economy would keep getting worse and that hundreds of people would be applying for janitorial jobs and such. It would've been fun to rent an RV back in November and just drive around!

I don't wanna believe that my traveling days are behind me. Is normalcy that only thing I have to look forward to???

Happy Birthday to ME!!

2009-04-15T00:15:00.001-07:00

Having been born on Tax Day, is it safe to assume that I was born to be a Democrat? It only took about 21 years, but the best Democrats are reformed Republicans!

Tea Bagging Day!

2009-04-14T11:24:00.001-07:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Those funny forwards!

2009-04-09T13:29:00.001-07:00

Aren't really so funny and/or interesting because they are often false, misleading, half-truths, etc. Generally speaking, the emails that are simple jokes or funny pictures, aren't what I am referring to. You know exactly what I am referring to!

The emails that drive me insane are the ones that are political in nature or something that is a picture of something but the description isn't accurate, but almost always political or social in nature.

For instance, I received a forward of this beautiful building with this awesome interior. What was the building? A prison in the United States. The problem is that the prison in this particular email is actually a prison in Austria. A very nice prison, but something that US tax dollars didn't fund.

Honestly, I don't care how Austria spends it's tax dollars, but I do care that people spread these emails around without verifying the contents via Snopes.com or another website that is in the business of debunking. It takes, literally, 10 seconds of Googling to get to the bottom of these forward emails.

I remember getting so annoyed when people would assume what I believed as a Mormon. Really, it only took a few minutes of researching or asking questions to figure out that Mormons DO NOT sacrifice animals in the temple. Sending emails around is akin to the same type of ridiculous assumption that just because someone told you something or sent you something, it must be true.

This problem has only be exacerbated by President Obama's fast rise in politics and stunning defeat of Hillary Clinton, as well as the massacre that took place when the McCain campaign was dismantled by the Obama campaign's superior practices and theories of campaigning. How many Obama forwards exist? I would guess somewhere in the thousands. For the record, no he isn't a Muslim and even if he was, who cares?

One thing that has been great is that I receive fewer and fewer of these ridiculous forwards. The Republicans I know are either too smart to send me crap or they just don't get involved with this email forwarding game. When I do get forwards, they are usually funny jokes (even the political jokes can be funny), funny pictures, cute pictures of animals, etc.

Almost 28.

2009-04-03T22:13:00.000-07:00

A few days ago my dad took me out to lunch. We went to the Space Needle and ate at the top. It was a bit overpriced, but really fun as the restaurant moves around and you get a whole view of the city as it slowly moves (makes a whole rotation every half an hour or so). To eat at the restaurant, you must spend $25/person. Included in that $25 is the admission to the top of the Space Needle. So really you are only needing to spend what you would spend eating at a Cheesecake Factory or similar restaurant.

It was fun to get the view of Queen Anne and find my condo building! Seattle is a very unique and fun city and it is fun to live here. But, my mind can't help but wonder where I will be living come November, when my lease ends. I like Seattle, but parking is expensive, the bus system is overpriced and when you are in the ride free zone, it's a bit scary. Anytime you live in a big city, there are always complaints, which I why I just need to move out into the suburbs a bit. If I want to go to the mall or a movie, I don't want to pay for parking, unless it's valet parking. But I will miss my view!

Living in Idaho really gave me a craving for living on a property with some land. A bit of seclusion, but not too far from the city, some land for a big yard, a fire pit, but not tons of acreage because that would be a little scary.

Am I describing Auburn or something more eastward? If I won't live in the big city, do I really want the typical suburbia city with regular neighborhoods all filled with families and minivans? No thanks.

Federal Way has turned into "Ghetto Way" or "Federal Watts." Other nearby areas are equally as scary, or so I've read. How about a place with some land and a view of some water? Does that exist?

Biggest Loser.

2009-03-31T21:03:00.000-07:00

The blue team on The Biggest Loser drive me insane. I can have seen bigger babies than those two. Their problem taking orders from a woman is so evident, is there any doubt that they are sexist? Are they really Mormon? If so, what an embarrassment.

I Done Got Caught.

2009-03-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

Wow, out of the thousands, maybe millions of people who manage to get thru customs with their undeclared items, Cuban cigars, drugs, suitcases of liquor, and way too many cartons of cigarettes, I got caught bringing in undeclared jewelry. So lame, but I should've been honest and declared it. Anytime I enter the country now, I am on some list where I'll be searched. Oh joy.

The Customs lady who searched my bags was nice, but her supervisor nailed me with the highest fine they could get. I have a sneaking suspicion it had nothing to do with jewelry and everything to do with the agency bringing in as much bank as possible. So lame.

On one hand, I totally get what they are trying to do. But on another hand, I think once they realize the person brought in some stinking jewelry and nothing harmful, they should ease up.

On yet another hand, how many stories have I read today about people who got caught with stuff but were let go. Really, about 90-95% of people were waved through customs, yet I spend 2 hours having my luggage torn apart and I didn't get to see the Everglades and Carnival threw a fit when I asked for a refund. So lame.

Let me also say that out of all of the people in the Customs room, there were an awful lot of people of color in that room. Just sayin'...So lame.

I mean really, if you have jewelry and they can't find receipts, they can't prove you bought it on your trip. They make it really easy to get away with this, but I received bad advice telling me they don't search for receipts and they won't go through all of your luggage (wrong and wrong).

The moral of the story is be honest or mail your receipts home before you get to Customs.

Truthiness.

2009-03-17T01:57:00.000-07:00

I've most likely shared this quote before, but I love it so much, I'd like to share it again.

"When I tell any truth, it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those that do." ~William Blake

I need a vacation!

2009-03-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

In just a few days, I will be on my way to Miami, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten and I cannot wait. I definitely need to just get away and recharge my battery. How sad is that as I am not even working right now!?!

The weather this winter in Seattle hasn't been too horrible, but I am stoked for sunny skies, warm water, and warm wind, if there is any wind at all!

As the economy continues to take more and more victims, I am left wondering if there is any point in looking for a job at all? News story after news story document hundreds and thousands of people applying for low-paying and often times temporary work.

With that said, I am definitely moving full steam ahead with getting my knowledge compiled into a small book so as to consult campaigns on the use of candidate trackers. If they can't afford a consultant, they can get the small e-book and I might print out some hard copies because it would come in handy to have a small copy.

I better get to work, the 2010 campaign season is fast approaching!

A Place of Rest.

2009-02-27T00:43:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon is Enos 1:27.

"And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen."

A very comforting scripture in general, but most especially when a loved one passes from this life into the next. My Aunt Marilyn is now with her Redeemer and is resting and free from a physical body which can be prone to pain, sickness, and disease. But more than that, her mind and heart are free. Former Mormon President/Prophet David O. McKay once remarked:

"The greatest battles in life are fought out daily in the silent chambers of the soul."

The beauty of the state.

2009-02-23T02:45:00.000-08:00

I haven't made my love and obsession of New Hampshire a secret. Can you blame me? NH is beautiful and has such a diversity of scenery that is incomparable. The Lakes Region, coastline, forest areas, the mountains (North Country), the more urban areas, the country, and all within a short drive of eachother. It reminded me of Idaho in some ways, though NH is a bit superior, IMO. It reminds me of Washington State much more.

Well one of the great things about Washington State is that you get a lot of that diversity, though much more spread out. Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens and more, the country, the urban, the forests, the beaches and coastline, beautiful bodies of water, suburbia, etc. There isn't the beautiful color of fall that manifests itself in the leaves during Fall and there isn't the proximity to other states, but it's home, my home.

I am so excited to go camping, hiking, biking, weekending, etc. The west truly has so much to offer and the summer's in the west are amazing!

Facebook is amazing!

2009-02-23T01:59:00.000-08:00

I am going to bear my testimony about the greatness of Facebook. It has allowed me to become closer with the friends I have, reconnect with long lost friends, become friends with people I met briefly, or might never have met without Facebook, and learn so much more about my friends* and in turn, learn about myself.

My mom always told me that the friendships from high school will pale in comparison to the friendships you get in college and beyond, and boy was she right.

If you haven't, get on the Facebook wagon.

*Also includes family.

Housewarming Party?

2009-02-21T02:21:00.000-08:00

I am thinking of having a housewarming party in the next week or so. I'd like to do it on a Saturday and have it be open for a few hours since my condo is only so big and people are pretty busy. I'd also like to have some nice weather so people can sit out on my deck and enjoy the view.

Would any of my family members reading this blog in the area drive to Seattle for it? Comment or facebook me and let me know.

Welcome to the family, Baxter Moo Cavalieri!

2009-02-11T23:50:00.001-08:00

He is soooooo soft. The softest short hair I've ever seen. He loves to cuddle and lets me hold him like a baby. He loves raw meat, wet food, and is a little chunk! Him and Bailey are now best buds and they ignore me because they have so much fun together. They play, cuddle, fight, and pal around together. He is like a little stuffed animal!

Job search becomes Internship search?

2009-01-25T22:42:00.000-08:00

The economy is still in the shitter. I've applied to a few jobs where I am overqualified and thought for sure I'd get a call back or something, but...nothing. Something will come along, someday.

Today, though, something interesting happened. Someone friend requested me on Facebook. We have some mutual friends (mainly campaign workers in D.C.), and so I accepted and took a look at his Facebook profile. He owns a firm that does communications work. They are hiring, but I am not quite qualified for what they are hiring for. Therefore, I decided to shoot him a Facebook email and ask if he would meet with me to possibly do an internship.

This is a great firm that does really good work. And I think it would be awesome to really get some great experience in communications and PR. He said yes to my email provided I email him a resume and cover letter!

Thoughts? No lectures on working for free, please.

Our (Inter)National Nightmare Has Ended.

2009-01-20T01:46:00.000-08:00

But the damage that we've incurred will continue for a long long time. Luckily we have a President-Elect who will attempt to clean up the damage.

Today is a day I do not celebrate for myself, for I have celebrated enough already. Today is a day I celebrate for my country and world. Today is a day I celebrate for people of color who now realize that depsite the racism and discrimination that exist in this country, this is a land of opportunity and hope.

I can't help but wonder what my dear Katie (my daughter, who is mixed race) feels. Perhaps a little more optimism? Perhaps she has higher self-esteem? Perhaps other kids will be a bit nicer and she'll face fewer jokes because of her mixed race? That's my hope.

Tonight was a great tv night!

2009-01-18T23:19:00.000-08:00

Lots of new season premieres! I am watching United States of Tara, a new show on Showtime and I really like it. It's about a mom who has Schizophrenia (multiple personalities). Entertaining!

Kathy Nielsen is a horrid cat breeder!

2009-01-18T00:34:00.000-08:00

She sold me a kitten with a congenital defect and a kitten with worms. DO NOT BUY KITTENS FROM HER. She is an unethical and dishonest cat breeder. I can supply supporting documentation proving that my kitten has a congenital defect and proof that she only dewormed the kittens once (when they were 2 weeks old). She refuses to work with me on a solution.

Steer clear of Nielkats Scottish Fold Cattery.

I Miss Washington D.C.

2009-01-17T00:08:00.001-08:00

It is the center of the world right now! So exciting! I miss being able to take the subway everywhere! I miss having so much to see and do you can never get bored. I miss seeing the Washington Monument when I ride would the subway from Maryland to DC everyday for work. Washington D.C. is truly my Mecca and I will always miss it.

Inauguration Gratitude and a lil' Regret

2009-01-15T03:07:00.000-08:00

Anytime I get upset that I am not going to the Inauguration, I remember how insane it will be. The crowds, traffic, packed everything, lines, outrageous prices, etc. Hotels were around $600/night when they are usually 1/6th of that. Sorry, but I'm not spending $2k-3k for a 2-2.5 star hotel for 4-5 nights.

I know a few people who work for Obama and I might've been able to score a ticket to the Inaug and maybe some balls, but I just do not want to deal with the madness. Though I do wish I could've gone to the Convention in Denver. I was too broke and didn't want to try to score credentials, though as some of you know, I am an expert at getting into events I have no right being in. ;)

Oprah is my hero.

2009-01-12T23:08:00.000-08:00

She really is. I'm sad she gained weight back, but sooooo many people do, including me. And watching her shows lately has been really uplifting. She is such a good example to people right now. Today she talked to various people who have lost weight, gained some back, and others who just want to start losing now. Oprah mentioned that being angry at falling off the wagon isn't how you should feel right now. Be positive and move forward. Amen.

There is no shame in falling, only falling and not getting back up.

Just not into politics right now.

2009-01-11T03:35:00.001-08:00

I'm pretty exhausted and annoyed with politics right now. I am scared of what Congress will do next. Even though the Dems control the House, Senate and in a little bit of time, the White House, I still get worried about what they might do with all of that power.

The bailout annoys me to no end. AIG execs go and party it up while taxpayers bail them out. Banks give people who can't afford homes loans and then need a bailout because of their greediness. You know who needs a bailout? Americans. The middle and lower classes. The people who are losing their jobs.

The position our country is in and the very real possibility this recession will last another year makes me wonder why I should have much hope for our country to turn things around.

Incentives.

2009-01-09T00:24:00.001-08:00

Of course there are automatic and built-in incentives, such as fitting into clothes you haven't worn in a while, higher self-esteem, more energy, etc. But I've also been thinking of other incentives I could give to myself as I reach various weight loss goals. I think when I've lost around 30-40 pounds, I will go buy some cute workout clothes. I really should buy some stuff now and I might need to go buy some emergency workout clothes, because sweatpants and t-shirts might not cut it, but I really want to extra incentivize my weight loss. The gym I'm joining has some massage therapists on staff, so maybe another incentive could be a massage. Any ideas are welcome.

Withdrawals suck!

2009-01-08T01:28:00.001-08:00

I have been posting much more regularly on my diet blog. I'm tired, I have headaches and I just feel like crap, which means I don't feel like posting here. Here's hoping my withdrawals from caffeine and sugar end in the next day or two.

Gov. Kaine will be new DNC Chair.

2009-01-05T00:03:00.000-08:00

First off, I was stoked when Kaine wasn't chosen as Obama's running mate. With that said, I am not sure how I feel about him as DNC Chair. I love Howard Dean and I love the 50-state strategy. Kaine will be okay in my book as long as he continues some type of 50-state strategy.

But if he starts pulling some Rahm crap and ignoring the red states, I'll have big problems with him.

Some layout changes are afoot.

2009-01-02T23:26:00.000-08:00

If you look above this post, you will notice a rectangular box with links to my other blogs. Technically, I blog on 6 blogs, but 2 of those blogs, I rarely blog on. The other 4 blogs are ones I will try to keep current.

I have an open invitation to anyone who wants to blog with me on any of my blogs. If you want to remain anonymous, it's still really easy to blog or comment. You can create a faux blogger.com account and comment and blog under that.

I am not inclined to open totally anonymous commenting (that doesn't require registration) because there are people who abuse that privilege (I know who they are, see, my blog traces your IP address so I know what city you live in, what operating system you use, who your internet provider is, what pages you looked at, how long you looked at my blog, how you got here, etc). I just don't understand why people who don't like me read my blog, don't you have better things to do?

Big New Years Resolution: Diet Time.

2009-01-02T01:06:00.000-08:00

So I have not been doing well with following a diet and exercising. I blame unemployment and just my lack of motivation. However, that is changing. So, on Monday, I am starting a low-carb diet. Yes, Atkins. Spare me the lectures about it, please.

With this diet, I am thinking of starting another blog to track my progress and some other reasons.

My question to my dear readers is if there are any others who want to diet with me? You don't have to necessarily do Atkins, or a low-carb, but I think if we could get a few people on this other blog to blog about our experiences, what we're eating, and offer each other support and encouragement, it would be really great. If you want to lose 5 pounds, join me, if you need to lose 100, 20, 50, 200, whatever, join me. Doesn't matter where you live, the internet can bring us all together.

So, let me know, either in the comments, Facebook, Myspace, or email, if you want to join me and/or if you want to be a blog contributor on this other blog I will create. You can be anonymous, or not.

I'm sorry, but those kids in Jesus Camp scare me.

2008-12-30T01:28:00.000-08:00

So I have been hearing for years about this documentary, Jesus Camp, and I finally decided to set a recording on my DVR and watch it. It is about this short summer camp for kids who are wayyyyyy into Jesus. The kids are speaking in tongues (well, at least they think so), crying and screaming for Jesus, and doing other things which are frightening.

Listen, I'm all for children going to a church if that's how their parents want to raise them. Going to church and my religious beliefs as a child, pre-teen, and teen were absolutely instrumental to a lot of who I am today, but this Jesus Camp is freaky stuff. (As I am writing this, the documentary is showing Ted Haggard preaching to these Jesus Camp people. Oh, the irony).

I find it really disturbing that people indoctrinate children and so much of this documentary felt like I was watching a documentary on a cult. Anyways, I recommend it, but be prepared.

A Year of Adventure!

2008-12-24T03:06:00.001-08:00

The title of this blog post is the best way to describe my 2008.

-I drove across the country for the second time in a year.

-I met Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich, Chris Dodd, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Duncan Hunter, Tim Russert, James Denton, Viggo Mortensen, Anderson Cooper, Candy Crowley, John King, Joe Lieberman, and more that I am forgetting.

-I adopted two kitties.

-I lived in 3 states.

-I have now visited 47 states in the US.

-I lived in my Mecca, Washington D.C.

-I worked on K Street.

-I became known as the best in my field of tracking candidates for public office.

-I bought a new car, my dream car.

-I helped a few people have a Christmas.

-I lived my dream and I had moments of such profound happiness, there are no words to explain it.

Unlike many I know, and countless I don't, 2008 was a pretty good year for me. I hope 2009 is even better, especially for those who need it.

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays!

2008-12-23T20:59:00.000-08:00

"I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys." ~Charles Dickens

Be Careful What You Wish For!

2008-12-22T04:54:00.001-08:00

Ok, so I was hoping for snow, a lot of it, but it's now gotten to the point of ridiculousness! I have been snowed in since Thursday and could very well be snowed in until Christmas or later. I live on a hill and a sidehill. The hill is plenty covered with snow, but I think my SUV could navigate it, but the sidehill is a death trap. It hasn't been plowed and the snow is very deep and slick. So, to get out of my parking garage, I would have to either go up the sidehill or down. sigh.

My kitties arrived from Oregon on Friday and thank goodness my brother has an Xterra and drove from Federal Way to come and get me and take me to the airport. I made him stop by the grocery store so I could get some groceries and firewood (duraflame), but jeepers, had I known the hell that is my sidehill would be this bad and continue to be this bad, I would've stocked up more!

Last Christmas I spent it alone in Rhode Island. How ironic if, after moving across the country from DC to Seattle, I would spend this Christmas alone because there is no way I could make the 26 mile trek down I-5 to my parents house? Now, if my main hill is driveable and if I-5 is fine, I'm sure my brother or step-dad will come get me and my pets and bring us to Federal Way, so I highly doubt I will truly be alone, but this whole experience has made me grateful for the City of Rexburg, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Concord, and every other town and city in Idaho and New Hampshire for the way they handle the snow.

I can't blame the City of Seattle too much. The amount of snow we get is unpredictable and it would be hard to justify the expense of several more snow plows. I do think these storms we've been having have provided the City with information and hopefully new ideas for tackling storms in the future, namely, plowing the roads.

Seattle is very hilly and the City lacks the resources to tackle all the sidehills in Seattle and trust me when I say, there are hills everywhere, but there is always room for improvement. It seems as though they have done a good job with setting up temporary shelters for the homeless and heating stations in case the power goes out and you're cold. But heating stations don't help if you can't get there!

So, my fingers are crossed for some rain to wash away the snow and/or some sun to melt it away, so I can finish my Christmas shopping, go buy some kitten supplies, and return to some semblence of normalcy.

Seattle Snowstorm!

2008-12-18T16:49:00.000-08:00

I am totally feeling at home with all the snow in Seattle! I've never lived in a big city during winter and it is just awesome looking out my windows and seeing the snow amidst the cityscape.

I had a physical therapy appointment this afternoon and thought it best to cancel. It isn't as though I am scared to drive in it (I am, a little), but other drivers here generally have very little experience driving in it. Also, the City of Seattle, and other areas in Western Washington, just aren't prepared for weather like this. Had this snowstorm happened in Idaho or New Hampshire, the roads would be consistently plowed, salt and/or red rock put down, and the sidewalks cleared. Not here. I live on Queen Anne, which is on a hill and no roads have been plowed.

Living in New Hampshire and Idaho, I loved to venture out in my car, even in several feet of snow, and just defy logic. Here, I don't wish to defy logic and drive in it (until tomorrow to go get my kittens from the airport) and it looks like a lot of other people feel the same way. It's the traffic jam time and I-5 in Seattle has no traffic. I know this because I can see I-5 from my condo (well part of I-5, obviously). So maybe I have underestimated Seattle drivers?

9 years ago on this date,

2008-12-17T21:38:00.001-08:00

I gave birth to a 7 pound 11 ounce baby girl. Happy Birthday, Katie. See you in 9 years, hopefully.

Bush a disaster til' the end.

2008-12-17T04:11:00.000-08:00

"I was wondering how Bush could make his legacy even more toxic in the few weeks left to him. Some thought it impossible in the middle of two failed wars, $10 trillion in debt; $32 trillion in new entitlement liabilties, and a second Great Depression. But we are always misunderestimating him." The Conservative Andrew Sullivan

Obama has brought out all the crazies.

2008-12-14T23:06:00.000-08:00

I've been surrounded by a great deal of people in my life whose politics are moderate and often times liberal, like mine. However, with my job that I had for several months this year, I spent most of my time at Republican town halls, rallies, conferences, etc., and so I got to hear all the right wing rhetoric (the gays will convert all the children to gayism, the illegals will take over our country, George W. Bush is God's chosen President for our country, Hillary and Obama are the anti-Christ, liberals are communists, etc), yet I still am amazed by how much right wing nuttery exists. And really amazed when it comes from so-called Christlike Christians.

I find it highly amusing when Republicans point to the election of Barack Obama as a sign that the Second Coming of Christ is near. As if the insane amount of damage Bush has wrought on our country and world wasn't a sign of the apocalypse, a man who hasn't even been sworn in has suddenly done more to bring about the end of the world. Give me a friggin' break.

The problem is that both parties try too hard to lead and guide by fear. Our country will become a communist country because of Obama, global warming will kill all of human kind in the next 20 years, Bush will invade Iran, Hillary cannot be elected because her and her husband are murderers. Whether or not any of the aforementioned are factual or not, it's becoming quite tiresome that we are so easily influenced by our fears.

Call me biased (I am), but it seems as though Republicans have perfected this technique. Remember how Al Qaeda was rooting for John Kerry to win? Or how we would have another 9/11 if Kerry was elected?). Republicans have really taken national security and turned it into some type of game of "how can we scare the American public enough?" It reminds me of this quote, "A ruler, to stay in power, must convince the people that the enemy is ever at the door." Nicollo Machiavelli.

Listen, I'm not asking for your unconditional support of President elect Obama, I'm just asking you to give him the benefit of the doubt. To maybe withhold judgment until you have something factual to back up your fearmongering and irrationality. Is that too much to ask?

Seattle Got Snow!

2008-12-14T01:24:00.001-08:00

It isn't much and it's pretty pathetic to what Idaho and New England are capable of producing, but it's still snow and it will have to do.

I remember back in Junior High and High School when we would get a few inches and the entire area would shut down. People out here get freaked out by snow. Emergency school closures, late-starts, people thinking they can drive in it when really they can't. That's winter in Seattle.

After 8 winter's in Idaho and 1 winter in New England, I've seen plenty of snow and no matter where you are, no matter how ugly the area, snow has a way of beautifying it. Everything is so much prettier with snow. That is until the red rock is poured on the streets and the pure white snow becomes red gunk. But still, there is never enough red rock to ruin it.

My favorite is when you get the whiteout snowstorms where you are almost insane to go drive in it. We had several of those in New Hampshire. One right after another. It would take 30 minutes to an hour to dig your car out and enough of a trail to get to a road the city had plowed and then I would drive the approximate 1 mile to my office and work while the city was calm. Yeah, that's right, I'm one of those insane people who insist on driving in snowstorms.

I love sitting in an office or your home and watching the massive amounts of snow fall. Seeing the buildup on trees, roofs, cars, and streets is exhilirating. This all makes me yearn for a white Christmas that is possible in Seattle, though unlikely. Last Christmas, I was in Rhode Island. I wanted to go somewhere I might never ever see and Rhode Island was only about 2 hours from New Hampshire. I was barely in Rhode Island because about 1 mile down the road from my hotel was Massachussets. lol. Gotta love how every state in New England is so close to other states.

I didn't really have the white Christmas in Rhode Island. There were traces of snow off the sidewalks and it was cold, but to the best of my knowledge, I don't remember snow. What I remember is driving across bridges that led to islands within Rhode Island. Rhode Island was simply gorgeous.

Auto Bailout Talks Fail.

2008-12-12T21:34:00.001-08:00

I have very mixed feelings about the failure of the government to bailout three automakers. On the one hand, it sucks because it places a lot of families in a scary position. Our economy is already in the shitter and now we might have a lot of middle class families suffer because the executives of these companies don't understand what consumers want (hint: not their cars).

However, because of a lousy President, we have spent ourselves silly. We just bailed out some companies and that bailout was made into a mockery as their irresponsible spending is continually revealed; golden parachutes, astronomical bonuses, and lavish trips. Way to spend our tax dollars.

Even if our previous bailout was miraculous and was the beginning of our return to a strong economy, we still are spending way too much money. It feels like we are damned if we bailout and damned if we don't.

I'm Truly Embarassed

2008-12-11T01:45:00.000-08:00

Gov. Rod Blagojevich has to be one of the biggest idiots in the history of politics. Not only should he resign as Governor, but if it were possible, I wish we could kick him out of the Democratic Party for not just being corrupt, but a moron.

I am so tired of corruption. We know where corruption is the worst, can't more be done to stop it???

Me and Rudy!

2008-12-08T01:31:00.000-08:00

I don't think I ever shared this picture that was on Rudy's website. He was marching in a parade and I was following him on foot for quite a while. It was freezing!!! Do you see me?

Making Amends.

2008-12-08T01:12:00.000-08:00

As I get older and older, I realize more and more the importance of mending fences and moving on. I wish I could perfect this and that it was easy, but it isn't. I guess part of human nature is holding a grudge, wanting revenge, wanting vindication in the worst way, even when this desire for vindication hurts you and you alone. It's a poison you make but can't serve someone else, it is only served to yourself.

A few days ago I sent an email to a former supervisor I had who, I felt, treated me unfairly. I respected this person a great deal and being angry at her had consumed so much of me. I cannot say how good it feels to have one less person to be pissed off at.

I think what triggered this was watching tv and someone saying that it is recommended that when you need to say something to someone, you should write them a letter and even if you never intend on sending it, even if you think they will never read it, you should still get those feelings out.

One of the reasons I have supported certain politicians, or have been able to forgive certain people is because I believe in redemption. I am trying to learn that someone's mistakes or shortcomings don't define who they are or erase the good in them, just as I hope they understand that about me. For me this is especially difficult because I do something called "splitting," which I've written about before. Basically, I lack the ability to see the good and bad in people, I either see them as good or bad, not a mixture. So being able to see people for who they are, the good and the bad, the perfect and imperfect, takes an incredible amount of work for me.

So I'm gonna give myself a pat on the back for mending one fence. Only a couple more left???

Two Quotes for Today!

2008-12-05T06:35:00.000-08:00

"I know for sure that everything in life happens to help us live." Oprah

"God does not require that I succeed, only that I do what I can." Mother Theresa

Socialism, Marxism, Communism and Liberalism.

2008-12-04T05:26:00.000-08:00

I'm getting really tired of people, namely some Republicans, decrying our supposed move towards Socialism, or my personal favorite, Marxism. I taught several graduate level classes on Marxist theory and it's pretty heavy stuff and so I kindly ask that you not complain about Socialism or Marxism unless you can define what the aforementioned terms mean.

I mean, seriously, do we need to go over our "Socialist" Social Security system, Medicare, or Medicaid? How many of you were on Medicaid or WIC when you were pregnant? What about our Socialist fire and police departments? Let's just buy ginormous hoses and put out our own fires. Who needs them? Who needs the cops? Let the rapists, child molesters, and murderers police themselves.

Obama isn't even President yet and I am already getting bombarded with nutty emails crying apocalypse. Why do I have a feeling that Obama will be the scapegoat for everything? And the worst President in the history of the United States won't get the credit he deserves for SCREWING UP OUR COUNTRY by making a mockery of our Constitution, by allowing the torture of human beings, by reducing regulations that have led to the worst financial crisis we've faced since the Great Depression.

GWB got us into an endless unwinnable war, he has stripped many of our rights and liberties through the Patriot Act, he has put corporate interests ahead of regular people interests time and time again.

Far too many people still view GWB as some godsend, as some hero. I just don't get it. Do you not see what him, his cronies, and his policies have led to? Do you support torture? Do you support attacking a county that poses no immediate threat to us and invading them and staying there while 1,000,000 people die? Do you support the removal of our Constitutional rights through the Patriot Act and warrantless wiretapping and other illegal and immoral actions? Do you support the disenfranchisement of voters? Do you support the lack of regulations that have given us dirtier air and water, the recession we are now in, the hideous housing crisis? Aren't you tired of what has been taking place the last 8 years? Aren't you ready for something different?

Many Republicans sit there and decry "liberal" politics while they sat there and did nothing over the last 8 years. They throw out scary words like "liberal", "Marxism", "Socialism", "Communism" and most of them cannot even differentiate those terms and cannot even define them! They sit there and enjoy our roads, libraries, parks, public schools, public services, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, WIC and then whine about paying taxes and how we are becoming a Socialist country. Give me a freaking break. Give Obama a chance and get to know a little thing I like to call a dictionary.

Still think I'm a nut for thinking Republicans aren't hypocrites? Look at this:
If you can't read this, go here for the website.

New Hampshire, the prettiest state I've ever seen.

2008-12-03T20:37:00.000-08:00

After seeing this picture, is there any doubt that New Hampshire is the prettiest state out there? The only way to describe the fall colors is that every color of the rainbow is represented and colors you didn't even know existed are displayed for miles and miles.

New Blog Layout

2008-12-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

What do you think? I'm digging it. I don't like the orange very much, but I think my other options aren't as attractive.

In Love.

2008-12-03T14:18:00.000-08:00

Guess who this is...besides my new favorite actor.

Freeway Blogging Rocks.

2008-12-02T22:26:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness I never cast a vote for him. Did you?

Quote of the Day!

2008-12-02T22:09:00.000-08:00

"There comes a point in your life when you realize who matters, who never did, who won't anymore, and who always will. So don't worry about people from your past, there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future." Anonymous

Today is a Great Day!

2008-11-30T23:37:00.000-08:00

Hillary Clinton will soon be named Secretary of State and though I would rather have her be my Vice-President, I can live with SoS. I am just eating up some of these Obama staff announcements. It's so refreshing to have intelligent people that will be running our Federal Government again.

Today is also a great day because I finally got back up on that job searching horse and submitted some resumes and cover letters to some great places. The job market is just flooded with the unemployed and so it will be interesting to see what type of progress I have. Unfortunately, getting a job has a lot to do with who you know, not necessarily what you know, and most of my contacts are in Idaho, Vegas, New Hampshire, or DC, and not Seattle.

I am really digging my idea of creating a website with some information on candidate/campaign tracking. There is a huge lack of information out there and I have lots I could share with those novice trackers and campaigns who need help with their tracking program.

As you might know, I have views of downtown Seattle and Lake Union and I've noticed that often times when I look outside, I don't see any lights. Sometimes it startles me and I think the power went out out there and then I remember how much fog this area gets. I've missed fog. NEW HAMPSHIRE got some decent fog, but Seattle gets way more fog. It's nice.

Readers, Meet Buster!

2008-11-24T01:30:00.001-08:00

Moving In is Fun Yet Not.

2008-11-23T02:47:00.000-08:00

Still unpacking and getting settled. Ahhh, so much to do. I still am waiting on my loveseat and I am hoping to get it delivered next weekend! I'm really not happy with the layout of my furniture, but my "great room" is small and more rectangular, so arranging is awkward. My tv had to be placed in a specific spot (lest I have cords running all over) and that has really screwed everything up.

I still haven't found night stands so my bedroom is just my bed (God bless Tempurpedic, they are worth every cent) and my tv on its stand. Why are night stands so expensive? Some of my furniture is Ikea and that is okay, but Ikea furniture doesn't seem built to last and so I limited my Ikea furniture to two bookcases (which actually seem really solid), a tiny table with some chairs, as well as their cheapie side tables, which can't fit in my "great room" so they will most likely go in my bedroom.

I ended up buying some cheaper bookcases at Target because I have some autographed memorabilia I'd like to display somewhere and you can never have too many bookcases. I've ended up giving about 100-200 books to Deseret Industries (like a Goodwill) and storing a bunch of other books away. I can't have all my books out because it just takes up way too much room. I'll need a library room when I buy a house!

I put up my tree and that is taking up quite a bit of room. I maybe should've gotten a small tree, but I was so excited I actually got to celebrate Christmas this year, I bought my tree a few weeks ago and want to soak up every last bit of the Holiday season as I can.

Happy Holidays to you and Happy Holidays to me!

I Found "The Cat"!

2008-11-19T23:42:00.000-08:00

As you may have guessed, I am in the "market" for a kitten. I thought I had wanted an Exotic Shorthair Calico (like Gizmo, for those who have met her). But then I started reading about the Scottish Fold breed.

The Scottish Fold breed is a very affecionate cat without being demanding. They like to know what you're doing and often times follow you from room to room. They like to sleep on the bed, and usually on their back!

They are known for sitting up when something catches their attention, which I have to say is the cutest thing that cats do! They are playful but not hyperactive. They are very adaptable cats, which is the number 1 thing that caught my attention. Right now I am single and living alone, but in 10 years, I could be married with kids. It is also good because I will most likely move in a year or so.

Scottish Fold cats are known to get along well with other animals, which is exactly what I need because I have a dog that is with me a lot, my beloved Lucy, who is 11 years old and a Maltese.

The more I read about this breed, the more I realize what a good match it is. I have also decided to get the folded ear Scottish Fold, instead of the straight ear. Here are some pictures, including ones of the typical sitting Budha position Scottish Folds are known for and the sitting up position they are also known for.

Scottish Fold cats also have larger eyes and with the Folded Ears and other facial characteristics, they sometimes have an owl look. My mom isn't really a fan of this look, but I find it endearing.

Another breed I have become interested in is the Pixie Bob. They are the most "doglike" cats out there. If you see a cat on a leash being walked, it is typically a Pixie Bob cat who are easier to leash train. Pixie Bob cats will wait for you at the door when you leave and really crave human interaction, so you really need to devote time to it.

Check out the pics and let me know what you think. Spare the lecture on buying from a "pound" or shelter, please. My last cat came from a shelter and I adore her.

In Love.

2008-11-15T18:28:00.000-08:00

What do you think? Should I buy her?

Prop 8: Ugh.

2008-11-14T17:12:00.003-08:00

Ok, so I wrote a post a few days ago mistakenly stating that the Mormon Church itself donated money to Prop 8, which is false. I am not sure what I was thinking or if I was under the impression that the Church did donate money, but they did not.

The money, 77% of it, came from members of the Mormon Church. Isn't a bit ironic that a religion who faced persecution and discrimination for their polygamous marriages is now asking members to support laws that are discriminatory?

Lastly, I will not approve anonymous comments. If you aren't willing to take credit for what you say, you can post somewhere else, like your own blog. Have the courage to stand behind your words, stop being a coward!

Happy Veteran's Day!

2008-11-11T22:07:00.002-08:00

To our veterans, thank you for your service. You're bravery, service, and sacrifice is something we all admire.

In regards to our brave brave brave veterans of the Iraq War, this quote comes to mind:

"Yet not a hundred people in that battle knew for what they fought, or why; not a hundred of the inconsiderate rejoicers in the victory, why they rejoiced. Not half a hundred people were the better for the gain or loss. Not half-a-dozen men agree to this hour on the cause or merits; and nobody, in short, ever knew anything distinct about it, but the mourners of the slain."-- From The Battle of Life by Charles Dickens

I've Decided...

2008-11-08T20:05:00.002-08:00

to create (re-create) my Curriculum Vitae and submit it to a few community colleges to see if I can do some adjunct teaching next quarter. I think it's a good opportunity to see if I really like teaching and if so, maybe go back to school for another degree.

Stop the hatin'.

2008-11-07T13:52:00.003-08:00

I've been watching with both interest and nervousness as a good friend of mine blogged about Obama winning (the comment section went crazy!). Some of my friends are Republican and they haven't been very happy about Obama winning (BIGTIME!). I've tried to put myself in their shoes.

I have been one of the most apprehensive supporters of Obama. Don't believe me? Check my blog archives or look at my Facebook history. I just refused to buy into the Obama mania. But I became inspired at what he was able to do. What he did is make people believe again. He gave people hope. People believed that they had a voice again. That they counted. That they could do something to better our country. How could I then complain or look with disdain at what Obama had helped create and inspire? I couldn't.

Like him or not, like his policies or not, what he has done is unprecented in our time. We haven't had a leader like him since Martin Luther King Jr. and JFK. You don't have to agree with his policies to agree that his mantra of "YES WE CAN" can be applied to all kinds of service and work. Let's use this opportunity to come together and fix the broken system and a broken Washington (D.C.).

YES. WE. CAN.

YES. WE. DID.

2008-11-05T18:42:00.002-08:00

Obama Wins and Our Country is Reborn.

2008-11-04T20:14:00.001-08:00

"Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Barack could run. President Obama was just elected so our children can fly." Not sure who said this. Picked it off of Facebook.

First Results are IN!!! Obama takes Dixville Notch.

2008-11-03T21:37:00.004-08:00

I've got a special place in my heart for Dixville Notch, New Hampshire. Almost a year ago, I tracked my first event/candidate. I tracked John McCain in Dixville Notch. There were maybe 20 people there and only a few people in the press pool. I was nervous as hell and amazed that I stood five feet from McCain as he held a town hall at the Balsams Hotel (which is GORGEOUS!). That event feels like yesterday.

I barely made it up the Notch because of the snow and steep roads, but my Nissan made it, despite spinning out and doing some 360's.

Dixville Notch is a gorgeous area (take a look at some pictures) and so I was excited to find out that Dixville Notch, for the first time in 40 years, has voted for the Democrat for President, Barack H. Obama.

In case you don't know about Dixville Notch, they are the first to generally report their results in the New Hampshire Primary and General Election, with having their citizens vote at midnight and immediately reporting their results.

This is AWESOME! Thanks, Dixville Notch, for putting a smile on my face.

This is it, folks.

2008-11-03T16:47:00.004-08:00

Many of you, I'm sure, have already voted. To those who haven't, allow me to give you some recommendations.

Obama (must I give an explanation???) Aren't we tired of the direction this country is headed? Aren't we tired of endless war? Endless war that costs $10 billion dollars a month? Are ready to usher in a new era? An era where we work with our allies, where our government works for the people and not corporations, where we can tackle our problems with solutions that don't hurt the middle class?

Gregoire. I'm sorry but Dino Rossi doesn't support open and transparent government. He despises openness and he despises Democrats. We need a Governor who works with both sides. Gov. Gregoire has won awards for her managerial skills and this state, though not in great shape, is one of only 10 states that has a surplus.

Peter Goldmark (Lands Commissioner). The Republican, Sutherland, is a perv and sexually harassed an employee. Not to mention he is way too cozy with the special interests he is supposed to help regulate!!! That is NOT GOOD.

Carol Gregory in Federal Way. I love love love Carol Gregory and Skip Priest has been around far too long. While he is a moderate Republican, we need change and someone who has a better grasp on educational issues. Gregory is a former teacher and understands education.

Randy Dorn for Superintendent of Public Instruction. I don't like the WASL, you don't like the WASL, no one likes the WASL, except Terry Bergeson. Time for Randy.

No on 985. Sounds good but takes money from the general fund to pay for unspecified road projects, which is NOT GOOD.

Need any other help? Give me a call.

Steve Young, Another Mormon Against Prop 8!

2008-11-02T14:28:00.003-08:00

Well, kinda. His family has No Against Prop 8 signs and has donated $37,000 against Prop 8, but his wife sent this email: "To expand on my earlier email, I am very passionate about this issue and Steve is completely supportive of me and my work for equality."

Barb Young understands the issue. It isn't about religion, it isn't about marriage, it is about civil rights, about equal rights. The same arguments against gay marriage were the same arguments against interracial marriage back in the 1950's.

The government has NO place in marriage. Religion has no place in politics, unless they pay taxes.

Sleepless in Seattle

2008-10-30T18:48:00.003-07:00

Let me just say that I am deeply saddened that the Mormon Church is spending $20 million dollars in California for Proposition 8. I support equal rights and I don't believe that discrimination should be legal. I can't help but think of what that $20 million dollars could do. How many hungry children it could feed. How many widows could have heat this winter. How many vaccines could be given. Heartbreaking.

As we wind down the last few days of this election season, I am feeling lots of relief. This election season has been going on for me for over a year! This also means that as of Tuesday, I'll be unemployed. Perfect timing because I have a lot to do with my new place and I want to apply to the University of Washington. Yes, I wanna go back to school. But that topic is for another day.

Did you know there are NEW Unsolved Mysteries shows on? They are shown on Spike TV with a different host and it isn't quite as good as it used to be, but still okay to watch.

If you haven't voted yet, I urge you not to vote for Dino Rossi. He is a horrible piece of garbage and is already breaking his campaign promises!

UPDATE: Ok, I used very very very poor wording. The Mormon Church itself did not donate money to Proposition 8, they just asked every Mormon to donate, and approximately 77% of the money used to support Prop 8 came from Mormons. Sorry for the bad wording, not sure what I was thinking.

Greetings from Seattle!

2008-10-27T22:55:00.004-07:00

Well, I've been spending the last few days moving things from Federal Way to Seattle. Things have gone relatively well, except my beloved couch I picked out at Macy's couldn't fit into the elevator or the stairwell.

After much thought, I have decided to get the identical loveseat that is a bit shorter. But, it won't be here for another month. However, the matching chair and ottoman get here this Friday! I am trying to decide if I want to rent a loveseat for a few weeks or just wait it out. I think I'll wait it out.

The view from the condo I'm renting is magnificent. Words can't describe and pictures don't do it justice.

I'm gonna keep this short, but be on the lookout from pictures of my new place, my write up of the Al Gore-Chris Gregoire fundraiser I attended, and my thoughts on really truly living in Seattle and not just a "bedroom community" of Seattle.

And if you haven't voted yet, don't vote for Dino Rossi. The group I work for has been successful and Dino will be deposed this Wednesday. He is a crook, a liar, and scum.

For the Love of God, Do NOT Vote for Dino Rossi.

2008-10-23T15:47:00.003-07:00

I swear to God, if Dino wins I will move out of this state. It has been said that how one runs a campaign is how one would govern. If that is true for Dino Rossi, then everyone in Washington should be shaking in their shoes. He runs a campaign that uses fear and intimidation against anyone they perceive won't vote for him, including women.

This is a man who holds very few public events, and when he holds them, he intimidates people who try to take pictures, audio, or video, including using physical force. I have yet to see him take a question from a member of the public. He wants to be our Governor, yet he won't take our questions? Even John McCain would take questions from people who knew weren't happy with him.

He has connections to groups that have broken the law and are under investigation by the Republican Attorney General in Washington. He has been bought and paid for by special interests.

Governor Gregoire is no saint, but she has fought hard to give health insurance to poor children, give more funding to better our schools, and make our air and water cleaner.

For those of who who point to our deficit, we don't have a deficit. Under the Washington State Constitution, you cannot have a deficit, our government must balance the budget and not carry a deficit.

If you haven't voted yet, don't vote for Dino Rossi. He is as conservative as George W. Bush, he is no friend to anyone who doesn't agree with him 100%, and he has engaged in highly questionable behavior, including grabbing an underage female's behind while he was a State Senator.

Do NOT Vote for Dino Rossi.

2008-10-17T23:12:00.003-07:00

This message is for my friends and family especially, but also for anyone who has the chance to vote for Dino Rossi. DO NOT DO IT. As my friend, family member, neighbor, or blog reader, do not vote for this man.

Listen, I know people aren't too thrilled with Governor Gregoire. She doesn't have the warmest personality, she got a little too excited with state spending, and she hasn't lived up to expectations. But, she is dealing with a mess that is almost unheard of.

This country is in the midst of a widescale and profound recession, deepened by our involvement in a endless war that costs this country, including Washington State, over $10 billion dollars a month. A MONTH. Ten BILLION. No state in this country is immune from this national and now international economic crisis.

As a sex abuse victim, I am horrified that Dino Rossi and his associates would use the fear of sex offenders as a campaign tactic. The fact is that since Governor Gregoire became Governor, the number of "missing" sex offenders has decreased. The fact is that many law enforcement officials have come forward and said that Governor Gregoire has done much to catch, find, and track sex offenders. I am proud of what she has done and I am proud that I will cast my first Washington State ballot precisely so I can vote for her.

Check in this weekend for my personal encounter with Dino Rossi and hear how his campaign and Dino Rossi himself uses fear and intimidation tactics to scare women (this happened to me tonight).

Betty White calls Sarah Palin a crazy bitch.

2008-10-10T13:08:00.001-07:00

Gladys Knight Supports Barack Obama!

2008-10-05T19:44:00.005-07:00

I was just watching Extra and they were interviewing Gladys Knight and she said she supports Barack Obama for President. For those who don't know, Gladys Knight is a Mormon.

The reason I find this so funny and ironic is that a lot of Mormons would joke that since a woman, a black person, and a Mormon were running for President, why don't we just nominate Gladys Knight since she was all three! Funny, except I know a lot of those Mormons who made that joke that would be shocked to find out Gladys Knight supports Obama.

No Houseboat for me...

2008-10-01T11:14:00.002-07:00

So my parents and I went and looked at the houseboat I was wanting to rent last night. It was cute, but very very small. And the only views it offered were of other houseboats and some sailboats. I felt like I was fine if I got it and fine if I didn't. I received an email this morning saying the person renting it had already rented it out for a year, so it's not mine.

I've decided to refocus my search for housing to condo's in Seattle. My coworkers tell me lower Queen Anne would be a great spot to look and one of my coworkers is telling me Eastlake.

I am going to go look at a condo today during my lunch hour that is in Queen Anne. Fingers crossed for finding something soon.

CNN: Palin Has Never Seen Russia From Alaska

2008-10-01T11:13:00.001-07:00

Palin. Is. Corrupt.

2008-09-30T11:01:00.001-07:00

"An Alaska woman who owns a company that processes workers’ compensation claims in the state has told an independent investigator that she was urged by the office of Gov. Sarah Palin to deny a benefits claim for Palin’s ex brother-in-law, a state trooper who was involved in an ugly divorce and child custody dispute with Palin’s sister, despite evidence that the claim appeared to be legitimate, according to state officials who were briefed about the conversation."

More here.

Moving soon?

2008-09-28T21:33:00.003-07:00

So I've been becoming antsy and ready to venture out on my own again...but this time not across the country. On a whim, I decided to search Craigslist again for a houseboat to rent. When I've looked previously, everything in Seattle was very expensive and I had pretty much given up hope of finding an affordable houseboat. Well, that whim led to a listing of a houseboat that would be near perfect for me. It is very tiny, but with tiny comes cheaper rent.

I am going to go take a look at it in person on Tuesday and introduce the owner to my dog, who would be a sporadic visitor. I could get it furnished, which is a huge plus. It is a great location near Gasworks Park, less than a mile to the University of Washington, and I could catch a bus to downtown Seattle only 1/3 of a mile from the houseboat. It's a bit of a drive to Federal Way and I have some small concerns about security/safety, and parking my car in a parking lot, but I think these are small issues that are easily resolved.

I'll keep ya'll updated and I expect lots of family to my housewarming party.

Why I Support Barack H. Obama

2008-09-27T00:32:00.002-07:00

I find it strange and hard to believe that so many people support the McCain-Palin ticket. It's as if they don't really get what they are supporting (corruption, special interests, a lack of experience and judgment, a lobbyist run White House, the worsening of our healthcare system, more war, the same George W. Bush policies that have destroyed our economy, ruined our reputation, and decimated our military).

And these people who support McCain-Palin then act so surprised that anyone could support Barack Obama. I mean, why support someone who epitomizes the American dream? Why support someone who came from nothing and went to Law School (a pretty good one at that), become the first African-American President of the Harvard Law Review, become a community organizer instead of cash in and sell out; work as a Civil Rights lawyer, become a professor of Constitutional Law (my friend was in some of his courses). The nerve of that guy to actually want to serve the public by becoming a State Senator and then a United State Senator. How DARE HE!

This all proves that Barack Obama isn't just highly intelligent, but that he cares about his community, state, and country, that he understands great movements and important change happens from the bottom up, not from the President down. This is a man who has come from absolutely nothing to establish himself as one of the greatest figures of our day. How dare people support him. How dare people stand up and say, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH."

I support Barack Obama not because of his story, though it plays an instrumental role in who he is and the type of President he will be, I support Obama because I believe he will lead us into the future with honor and dignity and re-establish the United States of America as a moral leader to the world.

Sarah Palin is a LIAR

2008-09-24T10:41:00.001-07:00

This list comes from Andrew Sullivan (who is a Conservative) who has a brilliant blog:

The Daily Dish.

- She has lied about the Bridge To Nowhere. She ran for office favoring it, wore a sweatshirt defending it, and only gave it up when the federal congress, Senator McCain in particular, went ballistic. She kept the money anyway and favors funding Don Young's Way, at twice the cost of the original bridge.

- She has lied about her firing of the town librarian and police chief of Wasilla, Alaska.- She has lied about pressure on Alaska's public safety commissioner to fire her ex-brother-in-law.

- She has lied about her previous statements on climate change.

- She has lied about Alaska's contribution to America's oil and gas production.

- She has lied about when she asked her daughters for their permission for her to run for vice-president.

- She has lied about the actual progress in constructing a natural gas pipeline from Alaska.- She has lied about Obama's position on habeas corpus.

- She has lied about her alleged tolerance of homosexuality.

- She has lied about the use or non-use of a TelePrompter at the St Paul convention.

- She has lied about her alleged pay-cut as mayor of Wasilla.

- She has lied about what Alaska's state scientists concluded about the health of the polar bear population in Alaska.

More here.

Sarah Palin Disgusts Me

2008-09-22T09:59:00.001-07:00

Watch this video and you will feel the same way.

Palin's Favorability Ratings SINK, BIG TIME

2008-09-19T17:23:00.001-07:00

Gov. Sarah Palin's favorable/unfavorable ratings have suffered a stunning 21 point collapse in just one week, according to Research 2000 polling. Last week, 52% approved and 35% disapproved of the GOP vice presidential nominee (+17 net). This week, 42% approved and 46% disapprove (-4 net).

Earlier this week, Newsweek also saw the drop in other polling. "Over the course of a single weekend... Palin went from being the most popular White House hopeful to the least."

Political Insider: Why Palin was ultimately a bad pick for McCain.

Hat tip: Political Wire.

What a Load of CO2: Wrong Way Rossi's Global Warming Plan

2008-09-12T16:59:00.001-07:00

I shot this video and did some of the editing!

A New Blog I've Started Because of An Idea I have

2008-09-08T21:53:00.003-07:00

So if you click my blogger profile, you can see that I have created a new blog, Women Against Sarah Palin. I find the choice of Palin, while potentially brilliant, so offensive and dangerous, I can barely contain my feelings.

I find the hypocrisy of the McCain campaign to be laughable. I really want to compile a list of the reasons why people shouldn't support the McCain-Palin ticket, but the list is a mile long. My weekdays are super busy, but I'm going to try to do short entries on the blog of reasons why Sarah Palin is unqualified, way out of the mainstream, and not what you think she is.

Today Is a Day I've Dreamed About

2008-09-05T13:21:00.003-07:00

There are times in life when your reality is something you can't comprehend. Right now is that time for me. My lawsuit with the Mormon Church is over and we are victorious. Our victory is a victory for all victims who have been wronged, ignored, and silenced into shame.

Sarah Palin Doesn't Just Lack Experience

2008-09-04T11:53:00.002-07:00

She lacks judgement. Click to enlarge!

Obama's tax plan.

2008-09-01T20:24:00.004-07:00

CLICK TO ENLARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!