So tomorrow is Easter and like the last few holidays, I shall be celebrating alone. Er, well, actually with lots of random people in airports and airplanes... 

This week at work I've been working a swing type of shift. Get on the clock at 1pm and technically get off at 11pm, but a few nights I was done earlier. It's been interesting, but when I get back home to Silver Spring, everything is closed. Ah...the life of suburbia. Makes me miss the 24 hour-ish-ness of Vegas.

The city is a bit better in this respect but even when I am downtown in DC working, lots of things are closed on the weekends and late at night. Silver Spring is a decent sized city, but still, not a lot open. And though I try to minimize my shopping at Wal-Mart, I do miss not having one semi close by just in case everything else is closed and I need to make a 2am shopping run. The closest Wal-Mart to me is 11 miles away and frankly, I don't feel like hopping on the highway at 2am just to get some pop, and Wal-Mart doesn't even carry my beloved ranch sunflower seeds anways.

Next week I'll be working a 6am to 3pm shift, which means I'll be getting up at 4am every morning. Ugh, but I do like some variety.

Bill Richardson endorsed Obama today. I'm not surprised. The fact that it took him this long to endorse should've been a sign he wasn't endorsing HRC.

Go here and watch John Edwards on Leno. Why oh why oh why can't he be our nominee? I'm so done with the drama and crap with HRC and BO (Obama).

So my mom and step-dad bought me the complete series of The West Wing for Christmas and I have been watching it off and on since then and find myself in the 7th season as of today (started disc 43 of 45 tonight). I've been pretty amused by some of the plot lines as they are eerily similar to what we are experiencing now.

Republicans nominate a moderate Republican on the show, and this year they nominated a moderate Republican in real life, though McCain becomes more and more Conservative each day (ick!). Democrats have a brokered convention on the show; we could very well have a brokered convention in real life. Republican nominee battles with choosing a conservative VP on the show, John McCain is being pressured to pick a conservative VP in real life. Democratic nominee on the show is a Latino, the Democratic nominee will either be an African-American or a woman in real life!

So, I've basically fallen in love with The West Wing since I started watching it during the Christmas season, but it's really made me wish that President Bartlett were our President and Matt Santos could be our next President!

It seems like only yesterday that JRE was still in the race and we had a candidate who I could totally support. Now, I don't care much about who our nominee is, I just want a nominee. I have reservations about both and it is a daily struggle figuring out who I like more. I really feel like we let a golden opportunity pass us by by not showing more support for JRE. The most progressive and most electable and he doesn't stand a chance after only a few states. Everyone loves him, whereas I find a lot of mixed support for HRC and Obama (anecdotal, mind you). I know a lot of middle-aged moderate Democrats, and hardcore Democrats who have serious reservations about Obama and I could see them going with McCain if McCain can maintain his maverick status. I'm not quite sure I am comfortable labeling that as lingering deep racism or what, but we will have a big problem in our party stopping some Democrats from peeling off for McCain, especially if he chooses a moderate VP, such as Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida, who is immensely popular or even Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, who isn't as popular, but a good speaker and pretty charismatic, and YOUNG (pretty cute too).

So those are my latest thoughts on the 2008 race; McCain worries me, Obama and HRC don't excite me as much as JRE (no surprise there), and McCain's VP choice is hugely important, HUGELY important.

I started in Portsmouth, NEW HAMPSHIRE, made a quick visit to Maine, then drove down to Massachusetts by way of Concord, NEW HAMPSHIRE to run some errands. After being in Mass for a few hours, I finally caught my flight to Baltimore and then picked up my rental car in Baltimore and drove through Maryland and Delaware to finally reach Jersey. I got into Jersey around 12:30am last night, went to bed and got up and drove to Pennsylvania. 

So I spent the last 2 days in NEW HAMPSHIRE! My first full day was filled with pretty shitty weather until the afternoon when the snow stopped and it warmed up a bit. I was able to get a hot cocoa with a friend, Paula in Durham, home of the University of New Hampshire. It was sooooooo nice to see her and a familiar face. Familiar faces become one of the greatest gifts you receive when you are in my position. 

a blog post. I'm totally lame. Or, my life is totally, perhaps both. Last week I was in Texas and I was able to return home a few days ago. It really felt like I was in Texas forever...

Texas is a decent state, but I could never live there. At least I got to see my friend, Toni. We had some good laughs and I got to see some cute dogs that remind me of the dogs my parents have. I was able to stay at two pretty nice hotels in Dallas; the Radisson DFW Airport South and the Sheraton in downtown. The Sheraton was gorgeous and I LOVED IT! The Radisson wasn't quite as nice, but the room was the biggest hotel room I have ever seen, maybe as big as the suite my parents got at the MGM Grand in Vegas. It also came with a kitchenette and a temperpedic (sp???) mattress that was sooooooo awesome! Sheraton's always have great beds and I have never been disappointed with them. So, if you're in Dallas, those are two great hotels I recommend. I am always super stoked to get a down comforter instead of one of those nasty typical motel/hotel blankets that you are supposed to never use because they are rarely washed...

I was in work training thursday, friday, and saturday. I can't really go into what the training was, but let's just say it was training on something I am just not good at.

The race between Barack and Hillay continues. I am torn. In one way, I like that every state is getting a say and that two of our candidates are really being tested out on the campaign trail. On the other hand, I worry it will get too dirty and things will be said or done that would cause irreparable damage. We'll see, but it is a fine line you walk when campaigning...and for the record, I love them both. Neither are even in the same ballpark as John Edwards and I wish he was still in this thing every single day, but Barack and Hillary are far superior to John McCain who sells himself to the highest bidder.

And with that said, I'm going to continue my lazy day of watching The West Wing.

In the next several weeks, I will make my last visit to Idaho to cut off the last significant ties I have to the state, aside from dear friends and professors. I might make it back to Idaho for a visit or two, but I will never live in the State of Idaho again. It's a state that just isn't for me. This post isn't meant to disparage the state or anyone who chooses to live there, I just can't live there. Not after what I've seen and experienced.

A tinge of jealously swept over me as I read some accounts of the Frank Church Banquet in Boise until I realized I got to go to lunch with Paul Begala a few weeks ago. A longing to be in Boise this past weekend existed until I realized I've met Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, and Dennis Kucinich multiple times. I missed Boise until I realized I work in Washington D.C. and get to work in my Mecca and travel for work and see states I would never have seen without this job.

It was several months ago when I texted a friend in Idaho about how I was angry about something some of the Idaho Dems were doing when she responded with, "You're on to bigger and better things." There is nothing small and/or unimportant about working for Democrats in the reddest of red states, but this bird couldn't fly until she left the confining skies of Idaho.

I will forever be indebt to what many Idaho Democrats have done for me, meant to me, and taught me. Jim Hansen taught me to never give up, always be proud of being a Liberal, and smile as often as you can. Alan Anderson taught me to hold your head up high, even in the face of defeat because tasting defeat is better than tasting nothing at all. Jana Jones taught me that even when people in your own party aren't loyal to you, always be loyal to them.

It was the Bonneville County Democrats and the Bannock County Democrats which gave me my first tastes of volunteerism that gave me my craving for campaign work. It was the Idaho State University College Democrats that gave me an opportunity to be a leader. Some of my dearest friends are in the College Dems at ISU and I love them dearly. They are people who I didn't give a fair shake to at first, but slowly, ever so slowly, I came to love them and appreciate their uniqueness.

I am moving on to different things, some say bigger and better, but I will never forget where I came from.

Ok, so I feel like I have been in Texas for weeks, though I think I arrived here last Wednesday? Maybe Tuesday? I spent a day in Houston, then flew to Dallas, drove to Austin for a day, then came back here and stayed with my friend for a day, and now I am in downtown Dallas until I drive to Waco tomorrow afternoon. My life is totally crazy, especially when I am on the road. I wasn't expecting to be on the road for 8 days, so I am in desperate need of a washer and dryer, but I am half-tempted to go buy some new undies so I don't have to worry about laundry in Texas.

Soooooo, let's talk about Texas. A ginormous state that is pretty flat and brown. The farther east you get, the prettier. Austin was a lot greener than Dallas, which was nice. Dallas has the most horrid trafffic I have ever seen. But, the beautiful weather here on Saturday was much needed and sooooo wonderful. Lots to do, lots to experience, but a state I don't think I could live in.

Well I am beat and I need to get some work done before I go to sleep, but let me recommend the Sheraton at 4801 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway in Dallas. Simply gorgeous!

Took out a bunch of states I spent some time in, as my title can only be so long. Plus, now the title is more accurate because I wasn't living in Michigan, South Carolina, Florida, and other states, just there for a few days to a week.

Want to recommend that you check out a good friend of mine's blog, Front Row Seat: First in the Nation. I met Paula in New Hampshire and I am so glad I did. She has become a mentor of mine in many ways and she will be in D.C. in April, on my bday, so I am stoked about that!

I am thinking about changing things up on my blog. Maybe the layout a bit, including the background color. Though I like the black and its sleek look. Any suggestions would be fantastic. Also, I need to change up some of my sidebar, including some bad links.

Ok, bedtime for me. Night ya'll.

Houston to be exact. Tomorrow I will fly into Dallas and spend a few hours there before driving a few hours to another destination, but I will return to Dallas until, most likely, next Wednesday! This trip was only supposed to be 2-3 days, but has turned into an 8 day adventure, and misadventure, which shall be another blog post. Let's just say that US Airways is LAME!

So, I am pretty excited about Dallas because for the first time in 6 months, 6 MONTHS, I will see a familiar face! I mean, I've seen a few work people, but those are people I just met in July/August and while I love them, it just isn't the same as a family member or close friend. But tomorrow, I will see my friend, one of my best friends actually, Toni. We lived next door to eachother in Rexburg and have been friends ever since. So that means we met in 2002, I think. I will actually be staying with her for a few days and I cannot wait! We always have so much fun and she loves play hostess. She is a great cook too so I am maybe hoping for a home cooked meal. It's been several months in that regard as well.

I am very blessed because I have a few good friends spread out throughout this country and many who I remain in close contact with and even if I can't see them, they are only a quick text away.

My blog, as I just described to a friend of mine, has been a big pile of lame lately and for that I apologize. I've been traveling since yesterday morning at 3am and have been in 5 states. With my work schedule and spending 2 hours a day going to/from work, I just don't have the energy to blog much. There is so much I want to say, but a lot of it involves my work and I cannot blog about that.

I'll work harder on blogging more, I promise this time.

Freaking hilarious. Go here and enjoy this brilliant blog.

I am blogging from my bedroom at my new place I am renting. I am renting a bedroom out of a single family home in Silver Spring, Maryland. It's around a 10 minute walk from a Metro stop so I can take public transportation into work, thank goodness. It came furnished, which is nice. I definitely need to shell out some dough on a mattress pad because I do not like feeling the springs! I just hate buying stuff like that...ugh.

So before I moved in here I was staying at my bosses half empty apartment and since there is no parking over there, I left my car in what I was told, was a safe place. Yeah, not so much. The thieves who got into my car made off with a few bags of my stuff. They mainly got clothes, including dirty laundry, a bag of tennis shoes (nothing sellable), my bag of toiletries (large bag with 95% of my toiletries, including brand new, never opened makeup), and maybe a few things they could sell on the street...I'm lucky they didn't spend another minute looking to discover my wallet, video camera, case of dvd's, etc. Obviously the thieves were totally stupid. I'm just annoyed they took all of my toiletries, except a few essentials I had with me, many clothes they will just throw away, and my bag of shoes. Talk about pathetic, and talk about hilarious that the thieves were too stupid to know any better. Hopefully it was some homeless dude so he can be a little more stylish in my pink fleece sweatshirt from The Gap. haha. Ugh, I just realized they got my favorite sweatshirt that I just bought in NEW HAMPSHIRE. :(

Oh, and auto insurance, at least mine and most others, doesn't cover the cost of the stolen items. They told me to file a claim through my homeowner's insurance. Um, ma'am, I don't own a home, nor do I rent a home, nor have I rented a home or apartment since June, hence the reason I don't have homeowner's or renter's insurance.

So I've been busy working and when I wasn't working, filing a police report, or moving into my new place, I was resting because I got nasty nasty sick. I haven't been sick in 14 months, so I guess I was due. Ugh. My boss wouldn't even let me go into the office I sounded that horrible on the phone. I asked her if I could just come in late instead of miss the whole day but she insisted I stay home. I went back to my normal work schedule the next day, which maybe wasn't that smart, but ah well.

My roommate today asked me if I work 40 hour work weeks. I had to laugh. Um, I usually hit the 40 hour mark 3 days into my work week. I had today off, which was nice, since I haven't had a day off since Christmas, though I did get 3/4th's of a day off for Disney World!

I'm gonna sign off for now. I feel sick to my stomach. I can't believe the thieves got my favorite sweatshirt. My favorite gloves. My prescription of happy pills. My brand new makeup. All of my tennis shoes. My disc I need to reboot this computer if the hard drive crashes. So many stupid little things they can't even sell or use, but things I loved and adored. Life sucks right now.

I am writing from the center of the political world, Washington D.C.!!! The drive down from New Hampshire was fabulous. I drove through New York City, which was crazy!

I've been going into the office and doing other work stuff which has kept me insanely busy, but I love being here. I was staying with a coworker for a few days when I got horribly sick. So now I am at my bosses place, which she is moving out of, to recover. I looked at a room for rent in Silver Spring, Maryland tonight and I think I may be moving into it in the next few days. You just can't live in D.C. with a car unless you have lots of money to spend on parking or a place to rent which has parking, or if you don't care if your car is broken into all of the time. As much as I love the city, it is nice to live in the suburbs with stores and shopping, and space, and parking, and less craziness.

Well I'm beat, but I hope to blog more often now that a work assignment I had is complete.

I am back in NEW HAMPSHIRE after spending Sunday in Connecticut and Saturday in Nashville! Nashville was gorgeous! Connecticut was pretty as well, but what was prettiest about Connecticut was the protestors I was able to see. :) More later.

After a good night's sleep in Manchester, NEW HAMPSHIRE, I will be headed down to Washington D.C. I'm pretty nervous because sooooooo much will change but I think I'm ready for a change and ready to get settled down. I've been able to live out of a suitcase but it will be nice to have a place to call home.

I'm gonna keep this short. Say a prayer for my safe travels and that I will find a place to call home. Thank you.

I'm blogging from the cold and snowy throes of Chicago, Illinois. It's actually not that cold. I think NEW HAMPSHIRE taught me what real cold is. Chicago just got a snowstorm last night which kept me in Atlanta longer than I wanted. I was a bit excited though because I thought I could catch part of the debate on one of the tv's in the airport. As soon as it started, they changed the channel on every tv to the Mavs-Celts game...ummm??? Do I even need to go into why this was total crap?

So, while I would love suggestions on things to do, places to see, and foods to eat, I am flying out tomorrow morning to....NASHVILLE! I am actually more excited for Nashville than I was for Chicago because going to Nashville means I get to cross off another state on my list of states to see!

I'm thinking I'll be back in NEW HAMPSHIRE in the next few days for my final goodbye. sigh.