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.

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.

"Someday soon, very soon in America, we will have a woman as president. And you know what that woman will say? 'I would not be here had it not been for Hillary Rodham Clinton."' Joel Klein

It's the end. Sad. 

Having been a big Hillary fan and supporter, I've watched with interest as the primary election has continued on despite calls for her to drop out. I admire her grittiness and determination. I am glad she hasn't dropped out. The primary battle hasn't been the cleanest, but it hasn't been very dirty either.

This is a woman who has probably wanted to run for President her entire life and as each passing day occurs and the realization of her being the first female President slips farther and farther away, I can only imagine how she feels and I can only sympathize with the desperation she must cling to and rely on to not just stay in the race but stay relevant.

She's said some things that have been questionable but up until a few months ago she was running a near flawless campaign, though probably too cocky as they, her campaign, were unprepared for a battle past super Tuesday or even on super Tuesday. But how many people truly foresaw the Obamania? How many people truly believed any other candidate would stand a chance against Hillary? I mean there has to be some diehard Obama fans, but come on! Most people were resigned to the fact that no one could beat the Clinton machine or the chances would be slim and it would only happen if there was some major revelation that would destroy her campaign.

Next, despite some of the negative things about a long primary fight, I think it has been overwhelmingly positive for the Obama campaign and Democratic Party. I know others have pointed it out before, but how many Democrats, or Republicans, were able to start the general election with an organization in ALL 50 states??? That's what Obama is gonna have and might already have.

Not only does Obama have an organization in all 50 states, or will soon, but each state now has more registered voters, more excitement, better lists to work off of for GOTV work (get out the vote work) and all of that. I mean this is awesome awesome stuff for each Democratic state party!

The last great thing I've seen is that each state will be able to claim that its resident voted and their vote mattered (except Florida and Michigan). How much whining did we hear about how Iowa and New Hampshire were the only states that mattered, and maybe, maybe South Carolina and Nevada (and Florida for Rudy)??? That can't be claimed now. Idaho's vote mattered so much that Obama went to Boise for a rally that brought 15,000 people there to hear him speak!

So lastly I'd like to give some props to Hillary. The only thing harder than being President of the United States might be running for President. She has been under a microscope for years and subject to a level of scrutiny we cannot even imagine. Every word is analyzed, every move criticized, and everything questioned. Far more than the men who run, she has faced things, insults, and cruelty that nobody else has.

How would I have acted under the same circumstances? How would you have acted? I truly truly admire the fact that she can get up everyday, knowing she is fighting a losing battle, and hold her head up high. She is a fighter and I love that. Hillary, you have my respect.

So this past week I work I worked the 6am-3pm shift which required a wake up time of 4am. It totally sucked, but it was nice to get off at 3pm. Every night I was in bed and asleep by 9pm, but a few times I fell asleep right when I got home and woke up a few hours later, did some stuff, then went back to bed.

I decided to buy a new laptop because my current one is ginormous. I am still trying to sell my current one but am having some trouble because Fujitsu's aren't very well known. I bought the black Macbook and it is sweet! I use a Macbook at work so I don't really need to get familiar with a Mac.

So I'm sure you've all heard about Ted Kennedy. It's sad and a reminder of the preciousness of life. We know not when our time will come to move onto another world.

So the primary is almost over. I think Hillary will drop out in June. I'm currently thinking about who Obama will choose as a VP. Hillary, Richardson, Clark, Webb, maybe someone else??? Make a guess in the comments.

I'd like to post a JRE rumor. Not so much because I think it's true, though I hope it is, but because I think it would be fun to speculate about it and be hopeful!

So, the rumor is that JRE has secured the promise of getting the Attorney General position from both Barack and Hillary. The catch? To get it in a Barack Admin, he can't endorse Hillary. To get it in a Hillary Admin, he can't endorse Barack. Smart move by JRE and the potential nominees of our party.

It rings potentially true to me because it would explain why he hasn't endorsed. I have been thinking he wasn't endorsing because Barack blew the endorsement and JRE was leaning towards Hillary but still torn and Hillary faces an uphill battle of winning the nomination and JRE doesn't want to back the loser. But this makes more sense. JRE recently said "no" when asked if he would take a VP slot. Makes partial sense because he isn't cut out for a VP slot, and even more sense when he has the promise of an AG position!

For my non-political family members, an Attorney General can make much more of a difference than a VP can, especially with a Barack or Hillary as President.

I've been torn over Hillary and Obama for months now. During the summer before I started my job, I could never see myself supporting Hillary, but I as learned more about her, I learned about the amazing woman she is.

But, as I learned more about Obama, I became concerned about his readiness for the general election and Presidency. Those concerns still remain. But I also learned that he inspires people and though I think he is still very very very overhyped, I respect the fact that he is able to do what few can. And yes, though politically much easier for Obama than a United State Senator, such as Hillary or JRE, he was opposed to the War in Iraq.

I am just most concerned about electing a Democrat and therefore I am always concerned about Hillary's negatives (how many people have a negative opinion of her). I think that as people get to know Hillary and see her, her negatives will continue to drop and I still think she could win the general, but winning will be terribly difficult. She does galvanize the Republican base in a way Obama wouldn't, but should we be nominating someone because we are scared of how they will react to Hillary, who has been very very good to our party, to the American people, and is a solid Democrat???

Obama will face an incoming onslaught from the Republicans that would make any grown man, or woman, curl up into the fetal position, suck their thumb, and cry for their mother. Trust me people, it will truly be nasty. I know Hillary is ready for the onslaught, is Obama?

So basically the aforementioned are the types of things I have been grappling with over the last few months. I have always known JRE's chance at the nomination was slim and with that in mind, I was always ready to throw my support to another candidate. I just didn't realize how difficult this would be.

JRE was my candidate and a perfect one and he would've made a damn good President. When JRE dropped out, America lost. When JRE dropped out, the poor and forgotten lost their voice. When JRE dropped out, I experienced that all too familiar feeling, political heartbreak. When JRE dropped out, I decided to endorse Hillary. But the day after JRE dropped out and I endorsed Hillary, I have decided to endorse both Obama and Hillary. May the best person for the job win.

Is unfortunate, scary, and a reminder that Hillary brings out the crazy in people. I've received many phone calls, emails, and texts asking me if I am okay.

First off, I do not work for Hillary Clinton, so I am not involved. I was offered a job with her campaign in Nevada but elected to stay with my current job because I love it so much. And, Hillary isn't my first choice and it just wouldn't be right to work for her at this point in time.

Secondly, I work about 30 minutes away in Concord, right across the street from the beautiful, historic state capital.

My thoughts and prayers are with the hostages, the Clinton campaign and staff, and those in Rochester, which is an adorable little town. Didn't think it was 30,000k in population though, it's very small.

So I traveled an hour to see another Hillary Clinton town hall. This time I was in Peterborough, New Hampshire. I got there an hour before the doors were opening and was still far back in line. My heart broke thinking I wouldn't be close enough to at least shake her hand again. However, my seat ended up being three rows back but on the side. After her and Bob Vila spoke (yes, the Bob Vila who fixes up houses), I was left a few feet from where I needed to be to actually shake her hand....sadness.

But, having attended so many candidate events, I have a little strategy, so I waited and then went to the other side and got my picture with the Senator.

HERE IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This morning I was thinking about how today will be the first time I use my blow dryer in New Hampshire. Crazy, huh? Since I moved here on September 10th, I have just let my hair air dry. The humidity allows me to do that and maintain some decent hairstyles. But I got it cut the other day and it is a bit too short for me to do that. So, I have to blow dry and straighten it now.

I am expecting news in next day or two about a possible job change. Same campaign, different job. I interviewed for it yesterday and I know I would do a fantastic job, but the decision isn't mine. I'll let you all know if I get the job, but I won't be posting much about it, if anything. I will continue posting about my day to day activities.

As of last night, Mitty still had a picture with me in it up on his website. My friend Liz, who LOVES her some Mitty, gets a kick out of it and told me I have to vote for him now. My reply? "I don't support people who support torturing human beings. Torture is wrong. Always." Mitty has said he would like to double the size of Guantanomo (Gitmo) Bay and he represents so much of what I dislike about the Republican Party (this excitement to go to war and kill everyone...no thanks).

Spencer W. Kimball, who was a prophet in the Mormon Church years and years ago, stated that we are a "warlike people"-that we put our faith and trust in weapons rather than in God. I can't help but feel that Mitty is just like every other warlike person and rather than relying on God to deliver us, he relies on Halliburton, KBR, Boeing, etc...All of my feelings in regards to war and peace stem from my religious beliefs, btw.

Hillary Clinton is filing in New Hampshire. After she files, she will hold a rally in front of the statehouse, which is oh so close to where I work (right across the street!!!)-it's pretty awesome. A co-worker and I will be there trying to get people to sign a petition and handing out yard signs. I will then, most likely, head over to Claremont where Hillary will be doing a meet and greet. No, a meet and greet doesn't mean you always get to meet the candidates. The drive to Claremont is a little over an hour and I do hope to meet her again, and this time, get photographic proof!

So, looks like it is time for me to crank up the 'ole blow dryer and try to look pirty for Hillary.