Kind of a “Happily Ever After Moment” January 20, 2009

Today was a momentous day in American history, the Inaguration of our 44th President, Barack Obama.

As most of you know, I have been a die-hard Obama supporter for a LONG time.  I’ve written several posts about the subject.

It was an honor to cast my first vote in a Presidential Election for President Obama, and it was an honor to watch his inaguration this morning.  It really was a “happily-ever after” (well, for the next 4 years) moment.  I still am somewhat in shock and awe that our country made such a great decision. I guess that might sound funny, but really, look at our questionable choices of the last 8 years….Anyway, that’s all over now, and I couldn’t be more pleased with how everything has turned out.

Good luck in the White House, President Obama!

Dog Speak January 3, 2009

I talk to my dog like she is a person.  This causes my family to LAUGH at me, and tell me that she probably understands key words, but the rest of it sounds like the adults in Peanuts cartoons. ( You know, “wah-wah-wah”.)

Example:

Me: “Mayzie, stop that barking and get in this house!”

Mayzie:  Looks at me for a moment, as if thinking “Who says I have to listen to YOU?”  then apparently remembers who doles out the treats around here, and runs into the house.

Me:  Looking at whoever is around, smugly. “See?! I TOLD you that she understands.”

Example 2:

Me: “What is in your mouth? Come here!”

Mayzie: Plods over to the couch, treasure still in mouth.

Me: ” It’s a piece of stuffing from your stuffed animal.  Give it to me.” Holds hand under dog’s mouth.

Mayzie:  Looks at me. Continues holding stuffing in mouth. You can tell she is thinking “No. I tore this out all by myself, and I will continue to hold the evidence of my hard work securely in my mouth. You, on the other hand, will just throw it in the kitchen trash.”

Me: “Fine, if that’s the way you’re going to be, I’ll just take it.”

(I took it out of her mouth, and she turned away from me, pouting “You took my prize.”)

Example 3:

Me: “You need a bath stinky stinky girl! Want to take a bath? A bath?”

Mayzie: Runs like hell in the opposite direction.

See? I told you she was smart.

Another example:

Me, reading the paper: “Mayzie-Jane, what should we do about the economy? What do you think girl?

Mayzie: Cocks her head to the side. (Along with the rest of America.)

While watching tv:

Me: “Look Mayzie girl! That’s Barack Obama! He’s going to become the President on January 20th! Aren’t you excited?”

Mayzie: Thumps her tail wildly.  Maybe she loves our next president as much as I do, or maybe he just looks like someone who might have a few treats in his pocket, like every other person in her life.  Either way, her reaction was correct. We are both VERY excited.

Yet another politically charged post November 7, 2008

I am so disappointed that some friends did not vote.  Now, I am a pretty understanding person about things, so I would understand if you just couldn’t get to the polls for a valid reason, but what makes me so mad is when people say “I didn’t like either of the candidates”.

Well, first of all my friends, I have some fabulous news! There are always MORE than two candidates! *Gasp!* Maybe you should have payed a little more attention in high school government class. You could have voted for any of the third party candidates.  You don’t have to be a democrat or a republican to vote. Yes, I am a diehard democrat. I will probably always be a democrat. But…that does not mean that I will ALWAYS vote for a democrat! I vote for whoever I think will do the best job and who suits my personal beliefs best.  So you can vote for whomever you please, regardless of their party affiliation.

How often in our lives do we get a chance to voice our opinion on something as huge as who we think should run our country? Too many people in this world do not have that right. Don’t give me that “my vote doesn’t even count” bullshit. It does. EVERY VOTE COUNTS. If everyone sat at home and said “Oh, I won’t vote because my vote won’t count”, then what would happen? We would be in a huge mess.  Really, I am thouroughly apalled when I think of all the people that fought so hard just so we could have the right to vote, just to have people not care.

Apathy is dangerous.  I really believe that apathy is probably more dangerous than hate.  If everyone was apathetic about everything, who would stop the hate?

So I just have one final message to the people that DID NOT VOTE and STILL criticized the results of the election: Shame On You.

If you did not care enough to stand up and make your voice heard, you have NO right to criticize those who did. I mean it, I don’t want to hear one damn critical word out of your mouths. If you voted and you did not like the results of the election, then I am sorry that you are not happy, but I am thrilled that you cared enough to voice your opinion.

This post is not directed at one particular person, just at a collective group in general.  I’m really not as bitter as I sound, I promise, I just can’t stand it when people just sit back and watch things happen, then get mad when something they don’t like happens.

Yes We Did! November 5, 2008

I have been walking on air all day. Never in my life have I been so proud to be an American. When I graduate and go out into the teaching world, I will FINALLY be able to tell my students that you can truly be whatever you want to be, regardless of your race or gender.  I was at an Obama supporters party last night when the news was announced. I let out an ear piercing scream, jumped up and down, and cried a little. I wanted this so badly, and it happened! I’d like to thank all the people who hoped and prayed along with me, hoping that our country would see that it is time for a change. And our country did.  I have always been proud to be an American, but this feeling today trumps everything. Finally, we broke through that barrier, and I feel like we are now well on our way to becoming the country that Dr. King dreamed of. Finally! Finally we overcame prejudice and hate. Finally!

At the Obama Supporters party last night, this was our chant when we heard the news (well shortly after we heard the news, we had to stop crying joyful tears first).

YES WE DID!

YES WE DID!

YES WE DID!

YES WE DID!

YES WE DID!

YES WE DID!

YES WE DID!

YES WE DID!

Barack The Vote! November 4, 2008

Everyone!

Please, please, please go out and vote today if you have not already. This is SUCH an important election. So get out there and Barack the vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Or vote for a candidate of your choosing, but I would really think you were an amazing person times a million point four if you voted Obama-Biden)

Yes We Can!

So get out there and vote. Vote for anyone you please! Just please don’t deprive yourself of one of our greatest rights as American citizens!

Early Voting October 18, 2008

I voted yesterday!

This was my first time to get to vote in a presidential election, and let me tell you, I was EXCITED! Pushing the button beside Senator Obama’s name was thrilling. Imagine, little old me, voicing my opinion about who the next leader of our country will be. Imagine, my vote counts just as much as the current president’s vote.

Women in this country have only had the right to vote since 1920. In the grand scheme of things, that is not very long ago, at ALL.  A lot of things have changed in the last 88 years.  A lot of things have changed in the last 40 years. I cast my first presidential vote for a black man, something truely incredible when you think that only in the last 40 or so years has our country finally evolved and broke free from segregation.

I feel really excited to live in America right now. I feel so proud and honored to have cast my first vote for Obama-Biden; I feel like I am really getting to live what I feel will be a momentous occasion in American history.

this honestly makes me want to stand and cheer September 22, 2008

I won’t be afraid to admit that I love snopes.com for telling me whether or not email fowards are worth being passed on or just hoaxes. I also am a total sucker for reading about legends such as bigfoot or the lochness monster. But this one this one just makes me want to stand up and cheer. OBAMA 08!