Cause You Can

I NAILED IT

2010-06-28T02:17:00.002-04:00

I'm leaving my apartment to a stranger on Tuesday while I'm on the road for work for two months. This forced me to reorganize and make room for the new dweller. Nothing could have made me happier than to have something to obsess about prior to departure AND the apartment is sooo neat and clean! Makes me want to burn/get rid of anything extra. September will be a good time for that. I made no rash decisions this time.

So, on the road! Here we go!

Rock out, y'all!

2010-04-10T13:26:00.002-04:00

Found Kate via Hot Child in the City. Kate directed me to this whale video that is completely amazing. It was taken by her friend Adam who was working in Antarctica at the time. I love whales. I hope to see one up close one day.

Kate also turned me onto this shoe from JCrew. Not practical for work, so not in the budget, but it did get me to these t-shirts that are on sale and I'm considering making some of them mine.

Oh, and she's from Minnesota, so there's no shock that I like her style :)

There's so much more, but I need to get on my hog and meet Alice and Mark for pizza. They're moving to Austin and I'm going to miss them a lot.

She & Him streaming

2010-03-23T22:56:00.000-04:00

She & Him

I think I might come back

2010-03-23T22:06:00.001-04:00

Not sure if anyone is still out there...I don't know what I'd say that I don't say on Facebook...Starting with this!

It's been a very long time

2009-08-17T14:08:00.000-04:00

And I don't have much to say, so I'll just post this, what is quickly becoming a favorite song of mine...

Not sure I can see myself blogging again regularly (it's been a while since it's been regular). I do get around the interweb a lot, though. What I really want is a blogroll on my Facebook page.

Scar Jo and Pete Yorn "Relator"

Let's see if that works...

Marilyn Carlson Nelson SF Commonwealth Speech

2008-12-05T14:58:00.000-05:00

This speech is fabulous about leadership and, my favorite, day to day decisions to make your and others' lives better.

Reshaping How We Think About Space, Rethinking What I "Need"

2008-10-22T12:09:00.000-04:00

So...I've been thinking a TON about what's next. I have no idea.

I know that I'd like to own a home, I know that I want to have a job I love (don't really care where), I know that I love not being in debt. So, how to live within my means?

Tiny homes? I could be into that. In a few hours go look at this site, Tumbleweed Homes, a guy who specialized in small homes.

I could be into this idea. After all, I loved being car-free in New York.

It's clear that it's time that we rethink how we live. I'm ready.

Heather Armstrong and I Agree About A Bunch of Stuff

2008-10-18T22:10:00.000-04:00

But, this, especially rings true.

I learned about charity and giving to the things that matter to me from my mom and my dad. From NPR to taxes, I'm proud and glad to share my money and time as a demonstration of what I love and for the betterment of society.

I cannot WAIT to have people in public office who spend my money the way I would spend it if I were in their shoes. I also can't wait to have more money, someday, hopefully, to contribute in ways that matter in a larger way.

I do not think this makes me noble or righteous, I think this outlook means I've been incredibly incredibly lucky. I know I have been, and may it be that way for countless others in the future that's before us and feels really uncertain and scary right now.

I also have a solid belief in karma. You get what you give. Sometimes not immediately (as I'm reminded daily these days), but sooner or later. It is always advisable to remain positive, loving and truthful.

My favorite prayer from summer camp:

Happiness runs in a circular motion
Love is a little boat upon the sea
Everything is a part of everything anyway
You can be happy if you let yourself be

Read more of Heather's fabulous (and hilarious) writing at Dooce.

21 Days Until E Day!!

2008-10-13T19:52:00.000-04:00

On the campaign we have a rule: after 7pm it counts as the next day.

21 days to the election.

21 days to do everything we all can! Talk about your candidates 3 times a day. Picture Barack Obama getting sworn into office with Michelle at his side. Picture Jeanne Shaheen introducing legislation on the Senate floor next year and picture YOU with health care, innovation in energy policy for the future and a government you can trust again!

Only 21 days!!

Nothin' But Work...But Work I Like

2008-09-19T09:43:00.000-04:00

Stephanie (my fabulous roommate from my freshman year at UVM -she, knowing that I love nothing more than some Leo Kottke guitar, saw him at the airport and went up to him and said that her roommate was his biggest fan! He said something about how I must be his youngest fan...) suggested I post more and I'd love to, but the things that I need to do just linger in the back of my head while I write!

So, 46 days til election day, and that's all that's on my mind. I sleep, eat (at my desk, not healthy), and campaign. We have a great team and we're gearing up to take over the state, and turn this thing blue.

Meetings all day and a whole lot of action.

Plus, I think I get a lot of my posting done on Facebook...all the articles, etc.

I hope in the next 46 days you'll volunteer for your candidate of choice: door knock, phone calls, data entry - or just bake some cookies and bring them to your local dem Pres, Senate or Congressional (or Coordinated) campaign office. We really like it when people do that.

Then, in the days after E Day, remember it's not over! If you have it in you, there is ALWAYS more to do!

Sending love and a reminder to visualize Obama being sworn into the Oval Office, with Michelle by his side. I can't imagine anything better right now.

My Family

2008-09-11T23:52:00.000-04:00

I really really love them.

Because I Can

2008-08-31T01:33:00.000-04:00

It will be a wonder if anyone ever sees this site ever again.

But. I thought I'd take the liberty, because I can, because I live in a space, a time, under a government that allows me to, to write a couple things about what I love these days.

I love that the election is so near that I can think about where I'll live next

I love thinking about my top three cities: Minneapolis, New York City and Washington DC, and where I'll live, who I'd get to hang out with and what I'd do if I moved to any of these

I am grateful that I live in the United States. Where I'm not worried if I can eat (although I'm well aware that there are many people in this country who are worried about that), where I can speak my mind (I'm aware people live undet tyrannies greater than our government) and where I can have a say in what my government looks like (civic engagement is more than voting)

I am loving a lot of music these days

I love watching my friends get married and bask in their happiness

I love watching the successes of my friends, the failures will amount to something, but will never tarnish my love for anyone

I love my shitty little car

I love that people from all over will come help us with the race I'm working on

I love that my parents are having fun in their retirement, especially that they are having fun together

I love that my family is deeply civicly engaged

I love my room in Manchster, my apartment, too

I am so glad I've avoided buying any furniture for 28 years

I can't wait to buy furniture!

I can't wait to have a cat

I can't wait to have a bed frame

my own kitchen

a job that is challenging and rewarding

to live in a city that is vibrant and full of life and people who love it

more art

a tivoli radio for my kitchen and for my bathroom

a bose ipod dock for my living room/dining room

a new set of sheets

a new set of towels

A neighborhood I like

Friends near by

Time to myself and to enjoy life

That's what I'm thinking about when I have time to think

For now, though, energy is all pointed in one direction and it's a direction I'm really happy with and my job has become something I love (finally).

Sending my love to all of you - I can't wait to be engaged again!

Why are you so naughty?

2008-06-09T17:54:00.001-04:00

I really like this

I Can Get Down With This

2008-05-19T23:19:00.001-04:00

Fortune 500 Application of the 4HWW in Departments
Originally uploaded by timferriss.

Kate's a Food Writer!!

2008-05-19T16:23:00.000-04:00

Kate's a food writer!!

Go read her blurb on MSP Magazine and comment!

I'm trying to think what food combos disgust me...I'm afraid I eat more things that disgust other people than other people eat/cook things that disgust me!

28 is Great

2008-05-10T17:05:00.000-04:00

I turned 28 a week and a half ago.

See what my bro did on my birthday here!

My day included...

My cake! Vanessa and Russell at work made it for me and the rest of the office. That's a pink rain boot on that green cake (yum yum yum cream cheese frosting!). I'm notorious, I guess, for my pink boots.
...There was this incident where one of our friends who owns The Bridge Cafe (where we eat allllll the time and with good reason), George, saw me "talking to produce" at our grocery store. I was wearing pink boots with my pants haphazardly tucked into them and the thought I was nuts, gesturing and talking to, well, the greens.
George tucked tail and ran, thinking he didn't really know me at all, and I had completely lost it.

I was talking to my bestie Michelle on my ear piece, though! Hilarious.

George managed to get the story around my office and, it seems, the rest of Manchester, pretty quickly. The boots are thusly famous.

Then I ate it!

The middle of the cake was pink and green--two of my favorites!!

Me, Maura, Judy and Alex at CR Sparks in Bedford. Yummy salmon!

I had dinner with friends from work, Alex, Maura and Judy-I had a really really nice time with them-and there was a duo there who we pretty much dined with. It was fun. We even did a sing a long a little...

The singer and guitarist at CR Sparks; super nice guy! They played this song that I love (and Alex thinks is super creepy) "Your Party" by Ween. That was cool. And the Alison Krauss and Robert Plant song "Please Read the Letter (that I wrote)(?)."

More dessert!

More friends at Piccola in Manchester :) AND Matt from the Edwards campaign (and my former roommate!) came up from Boston for the evening. SO nice! (in this picture is Matt on the left and my roommate/friend/colleague, Vanessa on the right.)

It was, maybe, the best birthday I've ever had. Lots of notes, emails, a few calls, Rob sent really nice earrings, my mom and dad made a donation to my favorite cause (me), Sara sent sun drops from Whole Foods and a book about sex wrapped in map wrapping paper (God, does she know me or WHAT?!) and the cake at work was really the icing on the cake ;)

I'm still happy about it.

And I feel good to be 28. I'm happy where I am in life. I really like my apartment, my roommate, my job, my family and my friends. What else is there?

Does that answer your question, Stacey? :)

I am excited to, someday, own a home (house or apartment, I don't care) to decorate. I think that will be fun...til then, though, my nomadic existence is OK with me.

Especially doing what I'm doing. Check out the new website: Jeanne Shaheen for US Senate

Love,
Susie

2008-04-24T18:41:00.000-04:00

I got a new lamp!

I think it's going to be with me for a while.

Excitement.

Got it in Concord. It kind of feels like it found me.

I Love Earth Day

2008-04-22T17:19:00.000-04:00

Great article by Michael Pollan about climate change and whether it's worth changing all the little things in our lives to make our impact less...

Why Bother?

Eventful times at work these days. Campaigns are not boring. Of this, I can assure you.

Saw Leo Kottke in Exeter, NH on Saturday night. I love that guy. What excellent music. I'm listening to his and Mike Gordon's second album, Sixty Six Steps, right now.

Sending love from sun-filled New Hampshire!

Personal Finance

2008-04-11T18:23:00.000-04:00

I'm exploring how to save more for 1) retirement 2) a rainy day 3) between campaigns.

Finally I'm not struggling with debt and I'm saving. I am right where I want to be.

Choosing whether or not to go back to school will be hard knowing that I will incur debt again.

I loathe debt.

Happy to be saving and happy that it's Friday!

Expecting...

2008-04-07T10:07:00.000-04:00

Books! I buy my books from Powell's Books in Portland, OR instead of from Amazon, since they're like the Walmart of the web. And I try to not support Walmart in any way, form or fashion.

I'm expecting
The Sexual Politics of Meat by Carol Adams
The Portable Dorothy Parker by...Dorothy Parker
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan
Why Not Me? by Al Franken
and
Sailing Alone Around the Room by Billy Collins

Very excited!

And it's spring today! That doesn't mean it will be tomorrow, but it is today and I'm over the moon about it. It's amazing what a little blue sky and sunshine will do for the ol' disposition.

Exercised this morning, had some oatmeal, scouted a location (one of my favorite things to do) and am at work, doin' it up. I had a lot of time to think this weekend about what I want to do with my life.

Right now I'm at: television production or on the ground management of disaster relief.

For the time being, Directing Operations for a Senate race I love is juuuuust right (like baby bear's bed, chair and porridge).

I'm out. Let me know how you are!

Wow.

2008-03-26T08:55:00.000-04:00

I'd heard about this, but hadn't seen it until just now.

"What you're about to hear is a portion of a jaw-dropping speech delivered by an Oklahoma State Representative at a gathering in her district. This is what they say when they think we're not listening. Learn more at the Victory Fund."

There are moments when I feel uncertain about our country and our world's future. Right now, this just makes me mad.

Art Update

2008-03-25T11:02:00.000-04:00

So...I was completely wrong.

Not Japanese artist, but a Finish artist.

Artist Maija Louekari. If you click on "textile prints," scroll right and you'll see a bunch of her cool work.

If I could read it, I think it would say that this is a gallery or store:

Marimekko Oyj Suomi

And if I were to guess again, I'd say this piece is called "Kaiku" and was made in 2004.

Who knew? I'm into Scandinavian art. This calls for a trip to Finland! (In my dreams...)

I was also reading a book of poems my mom and dad gave me last Christmas by Bill Holm called Playing the Black Piano. It's a beautiful compilation, mostly about life, and of course, death. There's a poem I read that made me think of the art, that I want to share with you in this post, but I left the book at home. So, again. This will require an update!

Sending love, world round.

Michelle, Politics and Spring

2008-03-24T14:32:00.000-04:00

It's great to have Michelle commenting on here :) How'd you find it Chelle?

I'm in a world of donations today:

For my candidate Jeanne Shaheen

And for my cousin who's running for Congress in Texas' 7th District, Michael Skelly.

There are so many races out there that need help-both monetary and volunteer help. If you can, take a look at some races. The DSCC and DCCC are good places to start your search, and find one (or 20) you want to follow. Think of it as Political Season Madness. Get involved, follow along with what's going on. Maybe write a letter to the editor or two on your chosen candidate's behalf. Comment on a blog somewhere about them. Ask friends and family to donate.

Every thing counts. Every dollar, every letter, every phone call, every person you talk to in every line you're standing in and every door you knock on.

No one will ever know what one thing pushes a campaign over the winning edge, and it may just be what you did. No one is immune-we are all affected by politics. So get involved and make a difference you can be proud of! It's up to us to change the course this country is on.

Oh and my bike is on the way. Spring is springing. Thank God.

March Madness

2008-03-20T12:27:00.000-04:00

I just totally failed in selecting my bracket for March Madness. I tried to do it before the tip off of the first game 4 minutes ago, but totally missed it. I wasn't through 2 regions when they tipped off! UGH! So much for last minute bracket picking.

It has, however, given me sufficient enthusiasm to watch the games. I'm excited for March Madness for the first time IN MY LIFE.

Aywho...that's all for now.

How are you?

The Necklace Nate Gave Me

2008-03-19T14:51:00.000-04:00

I love the necklace Nate sent me for Christmas. It reminds me of Brooklyn for some reason, or my life in Brooklyn.

I really miss New York.

It's not the best self portrait ever, but the necklace is wood, with a piece of larger silver behind it. Inlaid in the wood is, what looks like mother of pearl, bird and egg. Very springy!

Thanks Nate!

My new home in Manchester

2008-03-18T17:56:00.000-04:00

This is my new, fabulous apartment in Manchester. I really like it and my new roommate. She's hilarious and fabulous and shares a similar passion for fun, food and clothes that I do. And she works out a lot, which inspires me, etc.

The apartment is also in an old mill building here, which I love. If one is going to live in Manchester for an extended period of time, one ought to live in a mill building. I'm lucky it's possible this time around.

This is my new piece of art (a printed piece of fabric stretched across a 48x48" frame). It's a Japanese artist. I'll look on the back tonight and update tomorrow.

This is my new mirror. I got it for a slashed price at the Crate and Barrel outlet in Maine. Great deal and I think I'll keep the mirror for a while.

Both the art and the mirror remind me of my family's first cabin in Eau Clare, WI. Kind of 70s chic. The dresser was there when I got there and it makes no sense for me to change that...At least the woods match??

Our living room! Vanessa just invested in some nice furniture. It's a great addition to my life for the next 7.5 months and I'm grateful I didn't have the capital expenditure. Although, I'm considering buying a television. I suppose I can always sell it...Might have to be after a couple months of getting paid, though! (Vanessa and I have opted out of internet and cable. We're not home enough. I appreciate her rational decision making!)

Both Vanessa and I are interested in entertaining, and a TV that's good for movies is a nice touch for that. Also considering a decent sound system for music and movies. I feel like it's a good investment now, better than furniture for me, although it, too, seems like a premature move to settling down. Which I don't know if I'll do for a while...

Our GREAT kitchen. I mean. Come ON. It's awesome. We really lucked out. And I just invested in a $50 skillet from Caphalon. It was on clearance.

Life is good!

A great quote

2008-03-13T09:58:00.001-04:00

When will we all see the truth?

This is getting so old.

I moved...back to New Hampshire

2008-03-11T11:54:00.001-04:00

Well, not that I ever really left, but I'm still here now.

I'm excited to be working in NH politics for another year and a GREAT race.

More soon, mayhaps...If I can figure out how to sign into my Flickr acct, I'll post some pictures here, too!

Hope all is well!

Today On the Internet

2007-11-27T17:55:00.000-05:00

Truffle-icious!

John Edwards Hits His Stride

Maybe Women Have Come Along Further Than We Thought?

2007-11-23T23:00:00.000-05:00

Progress or stagnation?

Thanksgiving Post

2007-11-22T13:17:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is a nice day, isn't it? My folks have it down to a science, my mom's got the punch in order, dad's got the turkey in the oven. My mom requested I make a squash soup I made a few years ago again, so I did, and have thusly been reminded that I can, in fact, cook.

It's hard to imagine myself back in New Hampshire tomorrow.

I listened to a great show on MPR this morning, I recommend listening to it beginning to end.

I meant to post this yesterday, so I'll put it up now...

Grizzly Bear

2007-11-16T14:18:00.000-05:00

Found Magazine

2007-11-11T11:54:00.000-05:00

Things and Stuff

2007-11-10T22:23:00.000-05:00

It's another Saturday night in Manchester. What a glorious thing that is :) Instead of going to watch the Jefferson Jackson Dinner in Iowa, where all the Presidential candidates will speak, I thought I'd sit at home and gather thoughts, ideas, events, activities, music and maybe a to do list here and there. I feel like I'm going to fall asleep, so we'll see how long this lasts.

I've been talking with my friend Lindsay tonight and she's introduced me to many a-things.

First, though, my brother has been fighting the fight in Olympia, Washington. The Port Militarization Resistance is a group in Oly that nonviolently resists military shipments coming into the Oly Port as a way to resist the war. I applaud their efforts and do believe that direct action is a piece of the puzzle to end this insane war. Rob has extensive pictures that will enrage and inspire you here.

Onto MUCH less serious matters, which, frankly, are much more understandable to me right now...

Lindsay turned me onto a clock that is down loadable from Blu Dot, a furniture store in Minneapolis. I didn't make the connection until I started paying attention to the new clock I've downloaded. The pictures are clearly from around the Mini Apple! TCF Bank; LOVEPOWER CHURCH off 94, if I remember correctly. How cool! I recommend it for a non-traditional way to tell time. THEN as t i m e wore on, I realized that one of the owners of Blu Dot is currently residing in the house I spent the lion's share of my youth in, they moved in with their wee ones when my folks moved to a great apartment about 8 (Peggy corrected me and says it's only 5-I'm not sure if I love or loathe my inability to keep track of time!) years ago. Small world (Lindsay's in New York, telling me, in New Hampshire, about a clock that originates in my hometown and with that strange connection? Nothing surprises me anymore...).

Music I've been loving lately?
Beirut the whole The Flying Club Cup album
Feist:
One Evening

1-2-3-4

My Moon My Man

Then also, Psapp "Sad Song," Old Crow Medicine Show, "Wagon Wheel."

and Lindsay also turned me on to David Byrne's "radio" station: Radio David Byrne where you'll always find things you don't expect and that you wish you had :)

I think that's all I've got for now, which I fell like is a lot considering it's been over months...

Wishing you the same great sleep I'll have in a few minutes-

xo

PS If you want to see pictures of where I am and what I'm doing, but not really of me, go here.

Pete and Brian...FCU

2007-09-10T14:41:00.000-04:00

FCU with Bill Murray

Christopher Hitchens on Jerry Falwell

2007-09-06T23:26:00.000-04:00

The Real Rudy

2007-09-06T14:55:00.001-04:00

Q at bat

2007-08-19T18:16:00.001-04:00

Q at bat
Originally uploaded by jorna77.

I played, too! Hit three times, got to 2nd base once... :)

Beth, Q and Fish cheering everyone on

2007-08-19T18:08:00.001-04:00

Beth, Q and Fish cheering everyone on
Originally uploaded by jorna77.

We played softball vs. Obama and Clinton NH staff. We got our asses handed to us, but we still have better policy.

This is Beth, our State Director, and her dog, Fisher, and me cheering on the team.

Check www.flickr. com/swhitlock for more photos!

A Point

2007-08-17T00:45:00.000-04:00

I forgot about this point, which happens equally on the road as it does when you're stationed in one place for this job. Homesick. I'm sick for my friends, for people who a) I know b) know like me. What a shit place this is to be!

I love my job, I love what I do. If I didn't have to have the political battles that it takes to be in this, I would do it forever.

Right now I feel like I felt after my first job in this line of work: my mom picked me up from the airport and by the time we were home she was wondering out loud why I did it at all. Unappreciated, untrained, exhausted, miserable, pummeled... After two days home, all she heard was about me getting back out there. Defeat and perseverance. Makes me certifiable.

And certifiably lonely.

Andy Goldsworthy

2007-08-15T00:08:00.000-04:00

"I find some of my new works disturbing, just as I find nature as a whole disturbing. The landscape is often perceived as pastoral, pretty, beautiful – something to be enjoyed as a backdrop to your weekend before going back to the nitty-gritty of urban life. But anybody who works the land knows it's not like that. Nature can be harsh – difficult and brutal, as well as beautiful. You couldn't walk five minutes from here without coming across something that is dead or decaying." Andy Goldsworthy
"One of the beauties of art is that it reflects an artist's entire life. What I've learned over the past 30 years is really beginning to inform what I make. I hope that process continues until I die." Andy Goldsworthy

Post Secret

2007-08-13T13:39:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite Sites, Post Secret, put up a video this week instead of posting the postcards directly to the site.

Frank Warren has really started something cool.

New Hampshire, John and Elizabeth Edwards

2007-07-30T23:39:00.000-04:00

We had a really amazing weekend here in NH with the Edwards. Check out the press they got and *see* them if and when you can! Both are amazing people and I'm feeling very proud to work for the campaign.

I still miss my friends and family. I think working for this change is the absolute best thing. The only thing I'd trade it for? Oodles of funds and a sail boat. And I'd be happy to pay taxes on BOTH :)

http://greenmountainpolitics1.blogspot.com/2007/07/big-strong-bold-change-edwards-vies-to.html

http://unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Edwards+cites+economic+%27inequality%27&articleId=d6a963a1-090e-471e-9a25-adde887f3b8a

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NH_EDWARDS_HEALTH_CARE_NHOL-?SITE=NHCON&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070729/NEWS01/207290410

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070729/FOSTERS01/107290312

I FOUND MY PASSPORT!

2007-07-13T20:04:00.000-04:00

It was under the passenger seat in my cah.

I'm free of the US borders once again!

Not that I have time to travel, but now I COULD if I WANTED to.

Whew.

New Hampshire

2007-07-12T23:40:00.000-04:00

NH has been great-I love the country side, I love the people and their dedication to the political process.

I had something else to say and I can't remember.

For now, go see my brother's pictures: here

I could look at them for days.

I remember!

I met someone, I can't remember who, he was expressing concern for the disheveled nature of his hair. After a nap or something there was a mish-mashed piece on the side of his head. "A dream exploded there."

I lost it. YES! Of course a dream exploded there! What say did you have and now your hair is just like that and God forbid you put the dream back!

Cheers! To dreams exploding.

Passport

2007-06-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

I can't find my Passport. That's the most news I've got.

That and I'm obsessively watching The West Wing.

And I miss my friends and family.

Scissor lift for Justin

2007-06-04T12:14:00.001-04:00

So, the banner is 30' and the scissor lift is what's holding it up. It was a windy day and it blew down a couple times, but we just kept putting it up. Cause that's how we roll.

30' banner, people. That's FUN!

The Weight of Words

2007-05-22T23:06:00.001-04:00

Phrases that make me remember the weight of words:

You can trust me
I love you
I trust you
I care for you
You're right
Thank you
Yes, please
Good job
I'd never lie to you
Please don't tell anyone

To your comment, Rob, yes, I think sometimes one has to censor one's self. I'm so sad that that doesn't align with your idea of what is and what should be!

Love everything forever!

Our Own Versions of Googlism

2007-05-18T23:53:00.000-04:00

Reader challenge: email me your own personal googlisms. If someone was to GOOGLE YOUR BRAIN what would appear? I'll post it in a post in 4 days. YOWZA!

Some restraint encouraged (if you're inspired, write in your journal!).

I'll do mine some time soon.

xoxo

PS I live in New Hampshire now!

Googlism

2007-05-15T23:26:00.000-04:00

Googlism is the absolute biggest waste of time ever.

susie is retarded
susie is available @ ohiovalleycockers
susie is obedience trained and
susie is bright chatting with the queen of cunts by adrian ryan
susie is her name
susie is a talkative
susie is dependable by sonyaw
susie is busy training for the run which takes place on sunday
susie is
susie is irish
susie is bred by ralf golzem & markus horn
susie is one of those fortunate people who are blessed with success
susie is a 19 year old transfer student from bel air
susie is alone and vulnerable
susie is receiving the missing enzyme through regular infusions and her condition has stabilized except for her lungs
susie is the daughter of randy and lucy carmichaels
susie is extremely smart
susie is one of the few people i have ever known that i can say
susie is an award
susie is overrun with mice
susie is a sweet girl who needs a quiet forever home
susie is an employee
susie is earnest
susie is getting roughed up by this lung fei guy
susie is too young and too inexperienced for jack
susie is bemused by the adult world
susie is not
susie is always at the top of the list
susie is a loveable dog
susie is a seven
susie is now busy exploring her options to cash in on the patent she does have
susie is one of the best
susie is 14 when she is raped and dismembered by george harvey
susie is one of my newest friends but i have been an admirer of her work for quite some time before meeting her online
susie is jamie's 10
susie is 11 1/2 inches tall and is a beautiful doll
susie is a new member of the community
susie is smiling because she is happy to hold your plastic bags for you
susie is a life long resident of kent and has fifteen years of real estate
susie is killed just as she was beginning to see her mother and father as real people
susie is about 5' 8" and a size 6
susie is the youngest kid of five children raised by right
susie is a plott hound and will tree both squirrels and raccoon
susie is making good time
susie is lured into a secret hideaway by the odd mr
susie is a 7 year old spayed female purebred german shepherd
susie is the editor and founder of the most talked about collection of women's erotic fiction ever
susie is a sexpot and a flirt
susie is single
susie is our foundation bitch
susie is avoiding math or looking for attention
susie is unable to speak or walk
susie is a strong fiddler with a penchant for building extended solos to exciting climaxes
susie is comfortable with that
susie is a visiting professor at london school of economics
susie is always happy to do an interview
susie is not only very friendly and easy to work with
susie is a veteran teacher and university librarian with over 30 years experience teaching in the public schools and university classes
susie is a junior majoring in journalism and political science
susie is sick
susie is technically a horse
susie is a tremendous resource for schools
susie is also the founder of the daughters of luke
susie is pretending that bobby is a dog" instead of "susie is pretending that willy has a dog"
susie is proud of the "jumping fence" project and can't wait for you to hear it
susie is also the first australian female to ever win the 200m butterfly
susie is a member of the board of the quality standards task group established by the national council for voluntary organisations to advise on quality
susie is obedience trained and loves playing ball
susie is working at home and has more time than otto
susie is a very good one
susie is the daughter of frank
susie is afraid of boris then either she is timid or he is a vampire
susie is one of the most patient horses in the barn

Thanks for Speaking Out

2007-05-13T21:26:00.000-04:00

Batiste on Olbermann on MSNBC

I Love Radio

2007-05-12T12:34:00.000-04:00

Thank God, number 1, for Public Radio, in general. Number 2 for Mpls/St Paul's The Current 89.3 (I can listen to it all the way from Minneapolis to the lake in Cumberland, WI).

I was driving from Minneapolis to WI this morning and came across Sound Opinions. A show out of Chicago Public Radio in cahoots with American Public Media (who are also responsible for the fabulous Splendid Table) that is, at times, gimmicky (Rock Doctors...good concept, just a little "Car Talk-y" but not in the good way Car Talk is), but mostly information filled and funny. I had to get gas today on the way north and I left my windows open with the radio on so I wouldn't miss a thing...I love Sound Opinions. I might start to love Jim and Greg if I'm not careful :)

So, do me and you a favor and tune in and see if you like it. And if you do, tell your friends about it! And if you find yourself listening pretty often, give 'em money. I'm pretty sure the best club in the country to belong to is Public Radio lovers!

Shots out for musical genius in their own ways:

Brendan: for your yearly best of albums that always open new doors-and somehow getting me to like Eminem and Gang Starr
Matt: for being a founding member of The Current and introducing me to Wilco
Em: for the San Fran for Suz mix and general wonderfulness
Rob: U2, Peter Gabriel, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Cream, Moody Blues, Tom Petty...
Nate: U2 and knowing how to ROCK
Andrew: Allen Ginsberg and Art Blakey
Sam: reintro of John Mayer and getting me to sing
Joel: for thinking I might be able to write songs
Emma: for the love of art
Vanessa: for the sounds of Brooklyn and beyond on Sunday mornings
Vanessa B: Gipsy Kings in Miami
Cassie: Dancing in the kitchen
Michelle: Ani while driving around the lakes
Sara: the O Brother Where Art Though genre and signing your heart out
Cole: Massive Attack
Dan: The Last Time I Committed Suicide soundtrack
El: innumerable
Kate: dancing anywhere and everywhere
Denielle: always listening
Justin: interest in new things, always
Cleaver: the mixes you made me when I left Cali and your insatiable love of music
Syliva: general inspiration
Jane: for Lucinda Williams and Trip Shakespeare
RKW: life consulting and artistry in life
Aaron: for somehow getting Brendan to listen to something other than hip hop
Adam B: Amy Winehouse and relatively objective consulting services
Adam U: those Jewish rappers :)
Nicola: for trying to get my folks to go to a ZZ Top concert. This year.

On another note, Obama missing talking to the NH Fire Fighters personally is a pretty big gaffe. Regardless of how he "had a talking to" with his staff. Lame-zo. And that the prevailing take on the story is that he "chewed out his staff" and isn't missing this meeting is even MORE lame of the media.

Things I'm Looking at on the Porch of the Cabin

2007-05-09T17:12:00.000-04:00

Edwards ad in Iowa...Looks good to me!

Iraqi parliament to take a 2 month siesta? Seems strange.

Bill Clinton's crossword puzzle clues :)

Timetables timetables...will anything ever get us out of this MESS??

"If the Iraq war is lost, who won?"

Life Is Not Just

2007-05-05T03:50:00.000-04:00

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your parents told you that life wasn't fair, and yet you still expect justice — is it really too much to ask? Well, your parents should've said that life isn't fair in the short run. It all works out in the karma of long stretches of time.

Keep your expectations grounded in reality today. If you let yourself fly off on flights of fancy, you will end up being disappointed. Perfection is impossible, no matter what the magazine covers tell you. Your life can't be perfect, no matter how you or anyone else in it tries. Have patience. Go too fast, and you'll never discover the wonderful things that await beneath the surface.

Good lord, Yahoo
Either Yahoo is anal as all get out or Google is messed up in its editing capabilities tonight. Sorry for the weird formatting.

Regardless, these are the two horoscopes I consult on a pretty-much-daily-basis and I love 'em.

I, for a long time, wanted to write a book called "Everything They Didn't Tell Me," and that all applies to today's horoscopes. I later came to realize that the title w/should have been "All They Wanted To Tell Me That I Wouldn't Have Understood If They Had."

So, I'll go to bed with this: I'm grateful that "they" (ma, pa, other mentors, adults and friends in my life) let me figure all of this on my own (with a GREAT deal of their help, assistance, love, acceptance).

I know I'll have sweet dreams and I hope you do too!

Obama's Talking Points Leaked...Oops!

2007-05-04T19:38:00.000-04:00

Ouch for Obama:

The shorter Fineman piece:

Secret Obama Fax Was Ethics Slip
Newsweek

May 7, 2007 issue - Sen. Barack Obama vows to bring a "new kind of politics" to Washington. But a copy of a 36-page fax from Obama's Senate office, obtained by NEWSWEEK, shows that the rookie presidential candidate, riding the biggest wave this side of his native Hawaii, needs to keep a sharp eye on the details of his own campaign. Senate ethics rules allow senators with active campaigns to "split" the work time and salary of official schedulers such as Obama's Molly Buford. According to Obama's campaign spokesman, Robert Gibbs, she in fact is paid by both entities. But Senate rules and federal law forbid the use of official equipment—such as faxes and phone lines—to conduct campaign business, which was what Buford was doing last Thursday when she faxed Obama's political "call list" to the senator's personal aide at a Columbia, S.C., hotel. "These are the call sheets for tomorrow's call time," she wrote on the official cover page, emblazoned with the seal of the U.S. Senate.

The transmission was an isolated mistake, Gibbs told NEWSWEEK. "It should not have happened, and we will make sure that it will not happen again." (The campaign made another misstep a few weeks ago, allowing political guru David Axelrod to be photographed chatting with Obama in the Senate office.) The fax itself shows the campaign working to round up endorsements from established party leaders. In the "talking points" for a call to Rep. William Clay of St. Louis, Obama is advised by his Chicago political team to say: "Your endorsement is important to me and I hope that you will join the movement supporting my campaign. I would like you to take an official leadership role for my campaign in Missouri." But the memo cautions Obama. "Avoid discussing specific titles," it says. "Staff will work this out later. YOU can assure him he will be one of the main leaders in Missouri for your campaign." The guidance for Rep. Russ Carnahan of Missouri was similar. "Carnahan is just waiting for an official ask from you to endorse publicly," the staff advises. "Assure him he will be one of YOUR leaders in the state, but DO NOT lead him to believe that he will be in an exclusive role."

At the Columbia Marriott, which served informally as hotel headquarters for last week's Democratic debate, aides from several campaigns may well have had access to incoming faxes. A copy of the one to Obama was slipped, anonymously, under the door of a NEWSWEEK reporter. But the sender clearly knew the ethics rules. The accompanying note, written on hotel stationery, said of the fax: "Unbelievable, USS, office, phone, long distance, staff, etc.—for political." With all eyes on Obama, he needs to watch out.

The longer version, also by Fineman:

By Howard Fineman
Newsweek
Updated: 2:53 p.m. CT May 1, 2007

May 1, 2007 - Here’s the private advice Sen. Barack Obama’s staff gave him the other day as he prepared to make a series of phone calls in search of support:

Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper of Tennessee is a “huge finance wonk,” and the way to win him over is by “giving Cooper a role in policy discussion.”

The route to D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty’s heart is a spot on your “national leadership team” and a role as a “national surrogate” and adviser on education.

Rep. Yvette Clarke of New York is in play—the only Democratic in the New York delegation not to endorse Sen. Hillary Clinton—because Hillary’s “senior press aide worked on behalf of Clarke’s primary opponent” last year.

Federico Peña , Bill Clinton’s secretary of Transportation, “would be a good high-level Hispanic endorsement, especially considering the recent endorsements of both former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros and California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez for Senator Clinton. YOU should make a hard ask for his endorsement and offer him a position on the campaign’s national leadership.”

Got all that? Obama apparently did.

Old School Obama
On the campaign trail, he is the picture of casual cool: the tieless, open-necked embodiment of a new generation and style.

However, behind the scenes, he is as old-school methodical as they come, with an operation that is not as experienced as Clinton’s, but that has the focus and discipline to try to run with her. The results are serious, and thorough, though at times the scripted rigor borders on the comic.

That is the conclusion I draw from a fascinating piece of inside evidence that fell into my lap (or, more specifically, into my hotel room) the other day in Columbia, S.C.

The Democratic presidential contenders were in the state for their first debate, broadcast on MSNBC and streamed live on msnbc.com.

While I slept, an unidentified mischief-maker slipped under my door a copy of a document that is as inside baseball as it gets: 36 pages of lists and background briefings for the 17 phone calls Obama’s political staff wanted him to make that day.

A novice on the national scene, Obama needs research and detailed staff work to compensate for his lack of personal knowledge and contacts in the country.

Attention to Detail
The document shows him working the margins of the Clinton juggernaut, reaching out to leading African-American politicians not yet sewn up by Clinton, John Edwards or other campaigns.

They show a careful attention to detail—down to the names of the politicians’ children—and the call sheets leave space for the candidate (or his personal aide) to note whether the phone connection had been made. Many refer to Obama in the second person as YOU or YOUR—the capital letters meant to focus the reader on precisely what he should say.

The talking points at times are frank—though never disrespectful—in their assessment of those from whom Obama is seeking support, an endorsement or a chat.

Two of the names were what the campaign calls “faith calls”—a subset of the political shop’s work—aimed at influential ministers in the black community.

Of the 17 calls on the list, 12 were to blacks, two to Hispanics and three to whites.

The purpose of some of the calls was to line up support for a trip Obama will make to Missouri on May 11 and 12.

Another aim was to harvest supporters from among a crowd he had met in Atlanta in April. Other calls were aimed at those who had not committed elsewhere—especially to Hillary.

Representative Cooper, who is white and represents the Fifth District of Tennessee, is a moderate and the object of sustained effort.

Known for his concern about federal spending, Obama’s folks advised him to talk substance.

Getting the Endorsement
“Cooper is with YOU,” the talking points said, “he is just hesitant to go public with his endorsement. The KEY to this endorsement is giving Cooper a role in policy discussion. Cooper is a huge finance wonk … Assuring him access to the policy and legislative operation will give him enough incentive to overcome his hesitancy….”

Cooper needs some pressure, they advise. “YOU MUST make a HARD ASK for PUBLIC endorsement,” they said. “Cooper wants to get involved in your campaign, but needs YOUR push towards a public endorsement. All he wants is to work with policy, so if he feels he is being brought into that operation, he will endorse.”

Not everyone is a hard catch, according to the private advice Obama got. An eager fish is Rep. Russ Carnahan of the Third District of Missouri, one of the two other white politicians to whom Obama was reaching out late last week.

Carnahan is portrayed as enthusiastic, but perhaps a bit too desirous of a leadership campaign role in his state.

“Carnahan will ask you for a specific leadership role for YOUR campaign in Missouri,” the memo warns. “Assure him he will be one of YOUR leaders in the state, but DO NOT lead him to believe that it will be an exclusive role … DO NOT commit to anything specific.”

You have to wonder if Obama is a little too generous with his offers of top roles—for several of the call memos warn him about the same thing: don’t make commitments.

Two of the calls are to black ministers—an important political constituency for any Democrat, especially for an African-American whose ties to the community are, for some, an issue.

One of the ministers is Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, Pastor of the Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, Calif.

This is relatively new territory to Obama, judging from the memo.

“Faith Central has more than 13,000 members and owns and meets at the Great Western Forum, the former home of the L.A. Lakers. He has a weekly broadcast on TBN that reaches millions of viewers.

“Bishop Ulmer is very interested in your candidacy,” the talking points continue. “His primary concern is that your campaign is about more than politics, and that you will be interested in a relationship with him whether or not you win.

“YOU will be in Los Angeles this Sunday but will not worship with Bishop Ulmer. You’ll be at first A.M.E. for a service commemorating the anniversary of the L.A. riots.”

Then the staff gave Obama a suggested script for his conversation with Ulmer:

“Bishop, it’s good to connect with you. I’ve been looking forward to speaking with you for a while. How’s everything going at the church? I’m looking forward to worshipping with you all very soon. Have you been following the campaign? How do think we’re doing so far?"

The suggested script continued, "Bishop, my campaign is about integrity—returning integrity to the political process, and treating people’s needs with integrity. I understand that’s the same approach you’ve taken in your ministry for a long time. I think we have a lot in common. Bishop, I’d be honored to have you on my team. I would like you advising me on the landscape in California and how to approach the religious community nationally. Can I count on your support and guidance?”

You get the idea. I’ll check back in a few weeks, especially after the event in St. Louis, with the box score on how many calls bore fruit.

YOU can read the piece and I hope YOU will enjoy it!

Love!

2007-05-04T18:12:00.001-04:00

Hat tip to Sara for the lead!

Adam Sandler

2007-05-04T17:45:00.000-04:00

I love Adam Sandler.

At a job I had in New York I had the great pleasure of taking his silverware away from him because he was beating on a metal table with them. It was genuinely one of the most annoying sounds I've ever heard in my life. I walked over, sat down beside him in an empty chair and explained to him how annoying it was that he was making such a horrendous sound. He asked who I was, I told him. I walked away.

He did it again. I went over, smiled at him and took his and all the surrounding silverware away without a word. Enter: Mr. Sandler's bewilderment. I told him they could all have it back when they got their food.

We went on to have a fun evening, as much as a patron and manager can have. I gave him and his entourage a tour of a closed portion of the place I worked, where I got to tell him I've seen none of his movies. He said, "really?" I said, "no, I love them."

I have held this day dear-the day I made Adam Sandler laugh-until about five minutes ago.

Adam Sandler is a republican.

I know I'm supposed to love everyone regardless, and I will never not love Sandler's work. But it colors who people are for me so much; the values they hold high, how they respect and who they respect and what they think of politicians and themselves.

At the cabin now, so many more random ramblings inspired by reading lefty blogs and mainstream news coming your way!

I'll try to make some of them upbeat, I swear :)

Sweet Little Honey Bee

2007-05-04T11:45:00.000-04:00

Where are the bees going and please don't take my avocados away!

2 Things:

2007-05-03T22:31:00.000-04:00

Hi-za--Two things:

On the right you'll see a little box with random things from me in it. I can text things to this box and tell you where I am, what I'm doing and how things are going. I will do this often. It's through a service called Twitter and it updates ALL RIGHT, but not really fast enough. I'll update and you can check status on my Twitter page-that will be MUCH more up to date as far as I can tell from my simple experiments today.

Next, much more IMPORTANT: Florida goes back to PAPER BALLOTS!

My favorite part of this, other than the actual reinstatement of paper ballots (which I learned of through MoveOn's website while reading about the banners they flew over tonight's Republican Debates) is that it's in Australia's newspaper. Not LA's, not Florida's, but Australia's. Thank God for a 24 hour news cycle, right?!

Shots out (the good kind) to FL's legislature. Maybe we can all FINALLY learn a palpable lesson from those long long 36 days in 2000.

John Edwards

2007-05-03T13:35:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've written and a lot has happened/is happening. YAY! I like it when there's a lot going on...as always.

This post is dedicated to my new boss and all he's doing to become the next POTUS.

A few articles, a few videos and we'll see if I can't convince you to, at the very very least, keep your eye on him over the next few and very important months.

First:

Edwards Rejects the "War on Terror"

No Baloney Candidate
by Joe Klien, Time Magazine
26 April 2007

'"I want this to be a country where everyone has the same chances I had," John Edwards recently told a large crowd at the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo, Iowa. "I want to live in a country where you can go from having nothing to having everything." He paused. "Not sure I want to live in a country where people pay $400 for haircuts." There was a bolt of laughter. "So embarrassing," Edwards said. "So embarrassing."

I'm not sure I want to write a column about his $400 haircuts either. I doubt Edwards had any idea how much those trims cost. Presidential candidates don't think about those sorts of things. They're scheduled for the barber; they go; someone pays. Sooner or later, the public will have to make a decision about whether Edwards--with his haircuts, 29,000-sq.-ft. house and lucrative hedge-fund employment--walks the populist walk that he talks. For now, though, let's give him the benefit of the doubt and say, furthermore, that it's a very good sign that Edwards has responded to the haircut fluff with self-deprecating humor rather than defensiveness or abject apologies.

In fact, the tone of the Edwards campaign has been impressive from the start--from the moment, during Christmas week, that he announced his candidacy by helping clean up a devastated neighborhood in New Orleans, without buttons or balloons, without a bombastic prepared text. Also impressive was his first appearance as a candidate on Meet the Press, a show that had totally boggled Edwards in 2004. Tim Russert hammered the candidate repeatedly on his support for the war. "I was wrong," Edwards said plainly, sans baloney. But most impressive has been Edwards' willingness to step out and get specific on some major issues in a way that none of his opponents have.

Edwards says his first act as President will be to send Congress a universal health-care plan--and he has proposed one, with all the gory details. He would require all employers to provide health-care coverage for their employees, and he would provide tax credits, according to income, to all those currently not covered. Edwards says this would cost $90 billion to $120 billion a year, and he would pay for it by eliminating the Bush tax cuts for people earning more than $200,000. This is a breathtaking gamble: that a politician isn't presumed dead on arrival if he proposes tax increases during a campaign. By the way, Edwards says his second act as President will be to get on an airplane and start traveling around the world, mending fences after the arrogance of the Bush years. "After Iraq, there's going to be a temptation for us to withdraw from the world and deal with the problems here at home. We can't do that," he says. That's also a courageous statement, given his populist constituency, which tends toward isolationism.

Edwards is similarly bold about global warming. He favors a mandatory 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, with an auction for the rights to pollute. He believes the auction will raise $30 billion to $40 billion, which he would spend on conservation and renewable-fuel technology. Like Al Gore, he is opposed to the construction of any more coal-fired power plants. Unlike Gore, he is opposed to a carbon tax. But the 80% reduction in carbon emissions, if successful, will cause the same sort of increase in energy prices that a carbon tax might. "It's time we asked Americans to be patriotic about something other than war. There are some hard things we're going to have to do together," Edwards says. Good line.

His crowds are not as large as the throngs turning out for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, but they are huge by traditional Iowa standards. "Why is everybody here?" Linda Hearn asked her husband Dave, the former Webster County Democratic chairman, as she scanned more than 350 of her neighbors who had turned out to hear Edwards in Fort Dodge. "Because this is it," Dave replied. "We've got to get it right this time." That sense of seriousness is pervasive, and Edwards' response to it--his specificity on the issues--is a gamble that may well pay off. "I like the way he dives into issues," said Terry McGrane, a Waterloo machinist. McGrane's wife Mickey agreed but in classic Iowa fashion said she's still shopping. "Maybe Clinton," she said. "But I want to hear her details too."

Edwards has weaknesses: his knowledge of foreign policy is limited; nor does he know much about the U.S. military or national defense policy. He recently opposed the U.S.--South Korea trade deal, which would bring significant economic benefits to U.S. companies and consumers. There are probably better ways to get to universal health insurance than his plan. If his bouts of conspicuous consumption continue, voters may find him untrustworthy. For now, though, Edwards is demonstrating two of the qualities I most value in a politician: self-deprecating humor and real courage.'

The videos are in this order:
1) Edwards on Faith and Honesty
2) Edwards' entrance to Congressman Clyburn's Fishfry in Columbia, SC
3) Edwards on his Rural Recovery Plan

Edwards Rises to the Moment

John Edwards: The People Party Candidate of 2008

So there's some food for thought!

Hope you're all well-

Will Ferrell

2007-04-17T20:02:00.000-04:00

Hilarious.

Edwards on Healthcare

2007-04-13T10:29:00.000-04:00

Paul Krugman, Op-Ed Columnist
New York Times Column
Feb 9, 2007

What a difference two years makes! At this point in 2005, the only question seemed to be how much of America’s social insurance system — the triumvirate of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid — the Bush administration would manage to dismantle. Now almost all prominent Democrats and quite a few Republicans pay at least lip service to calls for a major expansion of social insurance, in the form of universal health care.

But fine words, by themselves, mean nothing. Remember “compassionate conservatism?” I won’t trust presidential candidates on health care unless they provide enough specifics to show both that they understand the issues, and that they’re willing to face up to hard choices when necessary.

And former Senator John Edwards has just set a fine example.

At first glance, the Edwards health care plan looks similar to several other proposals out there, including one recently unveiled by Arnold Schwarzenegger in California. But a closer look reveals extra features in the Edwards plan that take it a lot closer to what the country really needs.

Like Mr. Schwarzenegger, Mr. Edwards sets out to cover the uninsured with a combination of regulation and financial aid. Right now, many people are uninsured because, as the Edwards press release puts it, insurance companies “game the system to cover only healthy people.” So the Edwards plan, like Schwarzenegger’s, imposes “community rating” on insurers, basically requiring them to sell insurance to everyone at the same price.

Many other people are uninsured because they simply can’t afford the cost. So the Edwards plan, again like other proposals, offers financial aid to help lower-income families buy insurance. To pay for this aid, he proposes rolling back tax cuts for households with incomes over $200,000 a year.

Finally, some people try to save money by going without coverage, so if they get sick they end up in emergency rooms at public expense. Like other plans, the Edwards plan would “require all American residents to get insurance,” and would require that all employers either provide insurance to their workers or pay a percentage of their payrolls into a government fund used to buy insurance.

But Mr. Edwards goes two steps further.

People who don’t get insurance from their employers wouldn’t have to deal individually with insurance companies: they’d purchase insurance through “Health Markets”: government-run bodies negotiating with insurance companies on the public’s behalf. People would, in effect, be buying insurance from the government, with only the business of paying medical bills — not the function of granting insurance in the first place — outsourced to private insurers.

Why is this such a good idea? As the Edwards press release points out, marketing and underwriting — the process of screening out high-risk clients — are responsible for two-thirds of insurance companies’ overhead. With insurers selling to government-run Health Markets, not directly to individuals, most of these expenses should go away, making insurance considerably cheaper.

Better still, “Health Markets,” the press release says, “will offer a choice between private insurers and a public insurance plan modeled after Medicare.” This would offer a crucial degree of competition. The public insurance plan would almost certainly be cheaper than anything the private sector offers right now — after all, Medicare has very low overhead. Private insurers would either have to match the public plan’s low premiums, or lose the competition.

And Mr. Edwards is O.K. with that. “Over time,” the press release says, “the system may evolve toward a single-payer approach if individuals and businesses prefer the public plan.”

So this is a smart, serious proposal. It addresses both the problem of the uninsured and the waste and inefficiency of our fragmented insurance system. And every candidate should be pressed to come up with something comparable.

Yes, that includes Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. So far, all we have from Mr. Obama is inspiring rhetoric about universal care — that’s great, but how do we get there? And how do we know whether Mrs. Clinton, who says that she’s “not ready to be specific,” and that she wants to “build the consensus first,” will really be willing to take on this issue again?

To be fair, these are still early days. But America’s crumbling health care system is our most important domestic issue, and I think we have a right to know what those who would be president propose to do about it.

I'm A Lucky Girl

2007-04-08T12:10:00.000-04:00

I'm a very lucky person. This is not the last time you'll hear that.

Listening to Ani after several interactions with acquaintances in NYC. Between the way people see me and the way I see myself, I...I just feel lucky.

Ani Difranco - Little Plastic Castle

in a coffee shop in a city
which is every coffee shop
in every city
on a day which is every day
i pick up a magazine
which is every magazine
and read a story then forgot it right away

they say goldfish have no memory
i guess their lives are much like mine
the little plastic castle
is a surprise every time
it's hard to say if they are happy
but they don't seem much to mind

from the shape of your shaved head
i recognized your silhouette
as you walked out of the sun and sat down
and the sight of your sleepy smile eclipsed all the other people
as they paused to sneer at the girls from out of town

i said, "Look at you this morning
you are by far the cutest
be careful getting coffee
i think these people want to shoot us
Maybe there's some kind of local competition here
to see who can be the rudest"

people talk about my image
like i come in two dimensions
like lipstick is a sign of my declining mind
like what i happen to be wearing the day
that someone takes my picture
is my new statement for all womankind

i wish they could see us now
in leather bras and rubber shorts
like some ridiculous team uniform
for some ridiculous new sport
quick someone call the girl police
and file a report

in a coffee shop in a city
which is every coffee shop
in every city
on a day which is every day

My horoscope (I read this after I posted the former!)
Reaching out to help solve the problems of other people will help take your mind off of your own problems -- and give you a much healthier perspective. Your situation is so much better than it could be, and today you need to appreciate that fact. Not everyone is as loved or as lucky as you. The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence. Sometimes, it's full of weeds. Volunteering your time in service of others will help you feel happier about your lot.

Today I chose the jewelery to take with me for the next while. I love wearing earrings. My family has been exquisite in choosing them for me in my life. Rob has ALWAYS chosen the greatest jewelery for me-of anyone. He gave me these great butterfly earrings-kind of abstract, modern, silver and gold mariposas. I wore them everyday at camp one year. One day I was monitoring the lake and a we became a sinking in a boat (with fellow campers and staff, not Rob) and in the process of bailing a bucket went overboard. Instead of letting the bucket go, I dove. I came up one butterfly less. I still have the remaining butterfly in storage, in hopes of making it a bracelet or necklace. A resurrection of sorts. No earring, no glory. No one gives a second thought to the bucket. Oy. Bottom of the lake with that earring...

This also brings up the memory of a bead bracelet Rob made me at camp. It was simple: orange, red, green and yellow with a fish hook (wrong word...) clasp. In middle school, 12 years old?, we had to swim for gym and I never took the bracelet off. I realized in the middle of class that the bracelet was not on my wrist. The water covered my tears.

I was on a bench, locker room side-away from the scrutiny of boys and teachers-bawling after class. I'd lost one of my most treasured things...the bracelet my brother had made me. --We were in the midst of a tumultuous relationship, my brother and me, and the bracelet was a demonstration of affection that I missed and wanted (I'm sure I was equally at fault. I'm sorry Rob!) -- I cried on the bench of that damn locker room, the other girls assuring and consoling. My head between my knees, eyes open, I saw the bracelet under the bench. I was so so so relived. I wonder if those girls thought I was nuts for being so upset about that bracelet.

Other things I've lost that have haunted me:
The dress my mom met my dad in
The butterfly ring (while working on Trigger Happy TV)
A silver hoop earring of my mom's under the deck at Eau Clair
A multi colored striped tank top (possibly in Cancun-I think I left it drying on the porch and forgot it...)
Faux turtle hoops
A gorgeous turquoise earring of a pair my mom had given me
The dragonfly rubber stamp Nate gave me for my 19th (?) birthday
Jim's Hoyas hat
One of the first pair of pearls I had (from bringing in the main sail on a sweet lil' scow in No MN)
One of the second pair of pearls I had (from being on the phone as an assistant for the CEO some fancy pants corporation--floor was pitch white, pearl drops and descends into oblivion--

Things I have and I love:
Amazing, supportive friends
New York
Minneapolis
Pipe Lake
Carter Ave
Blue Oaks
Moon turquoise ring
Soul
Family
A vase Seth found in the trash for me
Amethyst drop earrings from Rob
Sweaters from Dad
Stories from Grandpa
A few, but significant, stories from Grandma
Vocal nodules
The earrings I bought myself when I was staying with my grandmother
Pearl earrings from Hong Kong from my parents
Pearl drop earrings I gave myself for Valentine's Day
A shoe box of love letters from my high school boyfriends (they're separate!)
The figurine from Ebenezer
The note from John
The note from Kenny that reads: "You just almost tripped John Malkovitch"
Photo booth photos (the real ones that inhabit my wallet)
The fortune cookie fortune that reads: "Someone loves you very much"
The magnet of Cheney and Bush being gay together (from the one, the only, Cass Master)
Lots of pens and one really great pencil
SS pins
The script from a read through I got to sit in on
A note between actors from that read through
Multi colored socks
Northern Lights at the cabin
Hot tub
Fancy Free (I'd say "freedom," but it seems so played out)
Sara
Cassie
Vanessa
Brendan
Vanessa (B)
Emma
Sylvia
Jenna
Josh
Ron
Kenny
Castor
Louie
Erin
Andrew
Doug
Rich
Dan
Darci
Mike
Mike (C)
Niel
Sam
Joel
Josh
Ron
Kenny
Noah
Andy
Julia
Eric
Deena
Leigh
Tammy
Nicole
Stephanie
Katy (may our relationship rest in peace)
Jenny
Ceri
Jean
Stacey
Coach
Stori
Tara
David
Michelle
Cris
Tim
Justin
Graca
Matt
Dan
John
Dana
Dan
Jael
Kate
Jim
Dave
Blake
Mike
Ben
Blakey
Anne
Tom
Jane
Justin
Bill
Anne
Pat
Jim
Shirley
Bill
Michael
Alex
Rob
Chris
Tom
Rob (different!)
Peggy
Nate
Dino
Pandora
Mrs Scruffleton
Boots
Tijs
Justin
Jake
Jake
Julie
Ryan
Bob
Susan
Kate
Helen
Joe
Deb
Reggie
Denielle
Paige
David
Dan
Elinor
Juan
Matt
Dylan
Seth
Amy
Brad
Ben
Dan
Sylvia
Bloom
Doug
Andy
Paul
Ani
Time
Airplanes
Sail boats
The Virgin Islands
Brugges

Apparently, it's people, not things, who make my life amazing-and so so meaningful. I could have guessed that. But this impromptu exercise helped a lot.

I wonder if I could ever list all the people who actually affected my life.

I don't even think I know everyone who's touched my life. So shouts out to y'all! And thank ye fer it :)

As Is-Ani DiFranco
...
cuz when i look around
i think this, this is good enough
and i try to laugh
at whatever life brings
cuz when i look down
i just miss all the good stuff
when i look up
i just trip over things

...and i've got
no illusions about you...
...
and guess what?
i never did
and when i say
when i say i'll take it
i mean,
i mean as is...

...as is...

Home

2007-04-04T00:41:00.000-04:00

I can't believe I'm back in my bed in Brooklyn after 7 long weeks. What a trip this is! I have so much stuff to pack/sell/get rid of. It's a little overwhelming.

I'm glad to be home and see my roommates and make plans with old friends. Just amazing how much I love this place. I got off the plane grinning like a gen-u-ine fool.

Durham, New Hampshire with Senator and Elizabeth Edwards was really good. I really like them.

In Brooklyn for a few days, then I think to Tennessee. I'm hoping to be down to one suitcase by then.

You're reading a tired girl's writing. And a girl who loves her life.

Thank you for being a part of it.

Human Nature

2007-03-21T15:38:00.000-04:00

(Notes for a post that I'll likely not flesh out)

Never changes
Art with knee replacement
Tom who the ladies call my boyfriend
Cliff who’s calling me a Tarheel
Doris who brings her own cloth napkins to meals that match her outfit,in the face of paper napkins
May Rose
Ethel
Estelle
Eunice
Jean
Walter

Adolesence into elderly:
Flirting
Complimenting ladies
Holding doors

Breathe

2007-03-21T15:27:00.000-04:00

My horoscope from Rob Breszney today for this week:
It has been too long since you visited the Middle of Nowhere. You've been a fixture in the heart of a well-defined Somewhere for quite some time. But now, Taurus, you need the enriching confusion of the Cosmic HUH?! it's prime time for you to wander out into the fertile chaos of the WHAT THE HELL!? zone. Have fun! Don't forget to writhe! Now please repeat and repeat and repeat after me, slowly building from a smirking giggle to a cackling belly-laugh: WHERE AM I AND HOW DID I GET HERE?!

Totally appropriate.

What I wrote a couple days ago, it's self indulgent and long...

Breath has been central to my life for a long time. Sounds silly, right? We all breathe, Susie, it’s central to all our lives. If it wasn’t I wouldn’t be reading your blog…which you write because you can breathe. Well, Reader, that’s a pretty cyclical argument, don’t you think ☺

Well, it has been central, regardless of your obvious critiques! It started out because of a wound I’d sustained/inflicted upon myself and now it’s central to keeping myself centered in this chaotic world and staying grounded and connected to my God continuously.

It all started in choir auditions in 7th grade. I’d been in choir in 6th, but then it became more competitive, and later I realized that getting into the right choir had some correspondence with Ivy League school attendance. Who knew all those cheesy names just made for good resume fodder? Anywho, I was singing for Mr. Larson and he asked me to sustain a note. I didn’t hear it, but there were cracks in my voice. Not like a pubescent boy, but little clicks. He told me to go to an ENT or something like that and have my larynx checked for vocal nodules. Sure as shit, I had em. For those of you who like my raspy voice after a late night out or a political rally, you can thank the calluses on my vocal cords. Not nearly as sexy now, right kids?

I remember my fist meeting with Jennifer, my voice coach. I had to buy a leotard prior to our appointment so that she could see my stomach when I spoke. Jennifer was the first one who I remember, who tried to teach me how to breathe.

“From your belly! Make your belly go out when you breathe in and in when you breathe out!” the leotard took any chance at disguise away, and I had to let my belly out. (Years later I realize that already at 12 years old I was concerned about having a flat stomach. No big surprise there, just disappointment in a society that may have let corsets go, but not the ideal. Keep ‘em skinny and barely breathing. I still jeopardize my breathing to keep a flat stomach appearance. Who do I think I’m kidding?! Oh, and I’m grateful for Spanks. The new crotchless corset.)

Jennifer became one of my few foes in my adolescent life. I hated our meetings, although I knew she was there to help me learn to use my voice correctly, which meant learning how to breathe. I didn’t want her airy, cheesy voice, though. Nor did I want to have a clicker to count how many times I started to talk with a glottal pop; or to keep a rubber band on the tip of my tongue to remind myself NOT to talk. (“I don’t care if you yell, just do it right!”) I had to give a presentation to all the Ivy hopefuls in all the choirs in lieu of singing…cause choir was bad for my voice!

I went to New Zealand in 2001 to study abroad. It was amazing in so many ways. The country itself kicked ass: the people, the vibe, the Maori and their traditions and…jewelery! I met great friends who I remain close to today. I think of them often.

Breathing took me to new levels, or I took breathing to new levels in my life, in NZed, as I’ll call it from here on out. I met Graca and Brendan and we had a hell of a time together. (God we laughed HARD!) Then Elinor came on the scene. I don’t remember who met her first or how we all met, but Graca who studied Business Administration at the University of Denver and Elinor who studied theology at Georgetown University became my closest girl friends. We had so much fun together and Elinor, being the go getter she is, started a yoga class in our dorms. Graca and I, both in need of a physical outlet, glommed onto the activity. As the days passed it became clear that Elinor knew what she was doing and was passionate about it.

Fast forward a few weeks. I’d gone to Australia to see my friend Jake in Sydney and Cris in Brisbane. I flew to the South Island of NZed to meet up with my boyfriend at the time, Brendan, and a bunch of other kids. They all had flights back, I had a massive bus trip. I don’t mind bus trips or train trips. I love seeing the world from a window, zooming by, close to my eyes.

I was on the ferry between, what is the town’s name? Wellington and some town on the North Island, reading my book. I saw Elinor, Blair and Eugene on the ferry and was pretty stoked that I wouldn’t be traversing the water alone. Blair (DC) and Eugene (Singapore) found a bar, which they were exceptional at (both finding bars and drinking), and Elinor and I retired to the stern of the boat, doing some yoga and talking about our families at home. At the end of the ride, El extended the invitation to ride with them north. As much as I love trains and buses, I prefer cars. Especially the vehicle I was riding in: the Rasta Van. I’ll see if El as a picture of the gem.

This is getting self indulgent, so do what you will, but I’m going to keep writing.

The boys had a few beers on the boat. Maybe in the van, too. So El and I took the driver’s seats and drove us home. How it came up, I’m not sure. Maybe Elinor just asked me what I thought of God. I went into my beliefs about the universe, interconnectedness and the goodness of people and things. Yada yada yada. We talked through the night, peed on the side of the road and talked about God.

We got home and finally went to sleep. When I saw Elinor the next day she handed me Conversations With God by Neale Donald Walsh. Some of the beginning bits were hard to follow…tedious. But the meat of it? I devoured. And became a vegetarian. And read the next three books that followed, well, Book 1.

Elinor became the unsuspecting yogi I didn’t know I was looking for. She’s (so far) not an official yogi (are you, El?), but she was mine. She got me on a path I can’t foresee getting off and, for that, she earns the distinction of being my first God friend. Get it? Like God parent…ugh…tough crowd tonight folks!

Breathing became a central part of my spiritual exploration. Between yoga and meditation, I was breathing so well and fully my life changed. I became conscious; began living more intentionally and presently and really loved it. Since there’s always been an element of this existence, albeit not constant, present and, goodness, it’s lovely. Elinor had been cavorting with some nuns and monks down the road and she introduced Graca and me to them.

This is where I received my mantra. I sat with a Didi and we talked and she told me how to focus and left me with the mantra I still use. Which she told me not to tell anyone. So I won’t start now!

I’m grateful that I can calm myself with three deep breaths and put myself to sleep with ten.

Breathing is coming up again now with my grandmother’s health. Sometimes her oxygen saturation levels are lower than desired, so the visiting nurse suggested some breathing exercises. They also suggested the same exercises for pain management (which I institute in my life now, giving me great hopes for my own pain management when I’m 83, which I hope I am one day). So we sat on the edge of the sofa today, hands on waists, breathing. I became Jennifer and we practiced breathing. I got dizzy and she started yawning! What a pair we are!

Yup. That’s the grand finale. I love breathing. And I’m newly recommitted to getting healthy so that when I’m 83 I can eat bacon and not worry about a heart attack. I would like this to include these activities: Tai Chi, Yoga, belly dancing, Salsa and maybe modern dance. And basketball.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to comment on the amazing stars that hang so low in the sky up here. I love the mountains. I love the big sky.

There’s part of me that can’t wait for the opportunity to go skiing when I want to. And the other part that says, if you want to, you need to. You only live once and some day you’ll be 83 and yawning from breathing.

Cyclical.

Breathing.

With Time Comes Words

2007-03-16T14:23:00.000-04:00

This is what happens when I have time! I write! I love it, but I also love not having the time to put together my thoughts; to be so insanely busy I can hardly hold my head up at night. Not the case here in Auburn, but Grandma and I do manage to stay quite busy with meals at 8, noon and 5. 8 o’clock seems to roll around fast and I’m in bed not much after that! For those of you who know me, which most of you do, that must be hard to believe. I’m still adjusting to it myself ☺

Some more things I’m learning here are about how I want to get old. I want to be healthy, do puzzles like my mother and grandmother. I don’t do that now, so chances are I won’t, but one thing I do miss is playing basketball. I’ll try to put that together on some leg of this life. For now it’s walking. Next week it’ll be walking the grand streets of New York. I can’t wait to see her!

I want to stay active. It’s hard to see my grandma balk at the suggestion of going to the casino, formerly one of her favorite activities. She spends a lot of time sleeping, at least when she’s not eating she does. I guess it’s pretty good for 83! She is bright eyed today, which makes me smile. I think she’s getting used to me being around.

So, here are some things I want as I get older. When I’m in a “retirement residence” I want real food. I love eating at these scheduled times. My body seems to be in nutritional bliss and I don’t overeat. (Generally speaking, except some Thin Mints last night. They were my most recent victim.) (Why I feel the need for full disclosure is completely unknown to me.) The only thing I don’t like about my new regimen of structured meal time is that it all comes from Sysco. That great institutional food provider in the sky. The food they hand out is exactly what I ate in elementary through high school, which by the way, I think my folks paid too much to them for us to eat tatter tots and pizza. Anyway, we were waaay better off than most kids, so I’ll eat those words. But leave them in print, so, thusly, only sort of eating them.

Real food. From a Farmer’s Market. I’ll have to consider the agricultural success of a region when choosing where to retire. Which, by the time I’m 76, will be quite a consideration, considering how we’re treating our land now. Who could ever say agriculture of our nation doesn’t affect them? Who could ever say it’s not political?

The other thing I want is to have people of all ages around me. I want to live in a college town with a lot of college students around and young professors with sweet little children running around. Integration of generations is absolutely essential. We do it so poorly now.

I don’t remember what city I was in (Brooklyn maybe?) where there was a building labeled “Senior Center and Pre School”. NOW you’re talking. Integration gives everyone perspective and knowledge one cannot gain from books or movies or film strips (remember those?). Human interaction. It’s the only way to go. And when a kid doesn’t find a niche with his/her peers, maybe they’ll find one in an old engineer who just wants to tell his stories and be around a wee ball of energy. That benefits everyone.

I wasn’t going to say integration of generations as the other thing I wanted, but I can’t remember what it was that I did want, so that was a good second. OH! I do know! I want lots of elevators in my retirement residence. So we can all get down to a meal on time and at once. Maybe just a chute, like they have at banks. Until I can be beamed somewhere, chutes will have to do. You have to think an activity like that and the giggling that inevitably ensues would keep you young. Not that that’s necessarily the goal; it would at least cause some fun.

I also want lots of music. In my grandma's place the intercom system is at a constant low buzz. Dare I say it drives me a little mad. When I'm old, I'd like to hear some Dave Matthews, David Grey, Dave Brubeck. And people other than those named David, or some derived name there of, too. Maybe some Ani DiFranco, just to keep me on my toes. And the Garden State soundtrack.

Have I told you lately that I love you?

Please read Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert! Each section is a charm unto itself. I have a whole other post to write about God, spirituality, my great fortune and love of the world and universe, but lunch is in 30 minutes and I have to go wake my grandma up.

xo

Thoughts, by Susie Handy

2007-03-16T14:20:00.001-04:00

So I’ve learned a couple of things today. I knew there was potentially great opportunity for knowledge gain, instead of brain drain, this week, but such stark truths about life are always moving and inspiring to me. So, I’m here to share, with you, my nearest and dearest. (This is assuming you’ve not completely given up on me due to my recent absences and lack of writing…if so, thanks for hanging in!)

The first thing I learned was today at lunch. The ladies at my grandmother’s table eat Jell-o. Not nuts, right? Jell-o with some fruit in it. I’ve been known to eat the same thing, although there’s often vodka involved. Don’t ask for Kate’s bachelorette weekend recipe ok? Watermelon soaked in vodka may taste good, but it is decidedly NOT a good idea. Don’t do it. Well, maybe once. But never again ;)

Anyway. You’ve got your Jell-o salad (which a friend of mine and I were discussing: do they still render horses for Jell-o and gelatin?), and you grab some ranch dressing…and smother the Jell-o in the dressing! Has anyone heard of such a thing? Well, the ladies seem to have it down pat and I might just have to try it before my week at Blue Oaks is over. Which, all of the sudden, seems to be creeping up quickly.

The second thing was revealed at dinner. I sat with Cliff and Tom, two of the very nice men who live here. We started dinner discussing what a great guy my grandfather is/was. Joe Weber died 8 months ago and he’s still well respected around these parts. This makes me proud and also want to cry. When Tom asked why, if there is a God, why God would take my grandfather. Unfortunately the first thing that came to mind, was what I though was funny: Only the good die young. My grandpa was 84 years old. Get it?

OK, fine. Not funny. Anyway. If you can’t joke, why live? Not being funny isn’t going to bring him back.

So, sitting with Tom and Cliff we got to talking. Tom has a bit of a stutter; he talks about being the “dumbest kid to graduate from his high school and working his way through Cal Berkeley”. Berkeley is no small shakes. And he’s proud of himself, as he should be. We talked at dinner and between the two gentlemen, who each probably hear 50% of what anyone says, and me who is talking at a decibel higher than everyone else in the room, we were quite a table (the burger was actually pretty good, too).

After we’d come upstairs from dinner Tom told me about his life a little. I’d asked him what he did when he was working since we’d talked about my work for a good portion of dinner. He went into his story-quite an amazing and interesting one, I might add-and the culminating points were the things he thinks about now. Dancing with beautiful French women in Paris was one of the loveliest stories. The compliment he received from one of the women who said the other ladies he’d danced with had said he was fabulous and she, not being an outstanding dancer, didn’t want to dance with him. He called this, “the first complement he’d ever received.” Then he lamented that his father had never given him a compliment in all his life. Well, at least not that he could remember.

Lesson: people always need to be listened to and, better yet, heard. We all want to tell our stories. But at around 80 or 90 years old, what is it that Tom remembers and talks about? Some world travel, some occupational successes, but more? He says he thinks about dancing in Paris since he has MS and can never do that again. And he thinks about the compliments of young Parisian ladies; and the compliments he never received from his father.

So this I pledge to you: When a compliment is on the tip of my tongue, I will never hold it back. And I hope that one day one of the compliments I give will be on the mind of some man who years ago couldn’t imagine he’d summon that moment or those words to help him remember where he’d come from.

I anticipate this will be just the beginning of what I learn this week. Being with my grandma has been lovely. She went to bed tonight giggling and I loved hearing her happy. She’s doing well; today was a good day.

Looks like really shitty weather back east. Maybe I’ll change my ticket back to New York. Just kidding, Mom!

I’m reading a book that I’m really enjoying. It’s called Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I was looking for a passage that I loved today but I can’t find it. I didn’t mark it. I’m passing the book on, so I’m trying to keep my annotations limited. Which is actually a challenge for me since pretty much everything I do is a conversation. No wonder I work better in groups.

What else can I tell you? Probably a lot. But I’ll spare you.

One bummer about being on the West coast is that when the east coast goes to bed, I stop getting email. I’m going to have to start getting used to being out of communication for a few hours a night! I did get used to it, but then I got my Sidekick back. Il connectido. That’s not a word.

Mucho amor the sweets of my life.

California

2007-03-15T13:34:00.000-04:00

Hey!

I've been composing this post in my brain for days. Limited internet access is a killer for me and I know my mom's been enduring the same lack of connectivity. I've broken down and bought a "day pass" at Auburn's local Starbucks so I can send out resumes, catch up on MySpace, Friendster, Facebook, Yelp and email. Who ever said I didn't have a GIGANTIC internet footprint! Oy...One of these days maybe they'll start coming down, but for now, it's a good way to stay in touch, keep people updated and for me to see where people are and what they're doing. Which is monumentally important to me!

I've been in California for a week now. I love it here. I've seen Cristina, met her boyfriend Adam, stayed with Sara and Renee and then also been in Auburn most of the time with my grandmother who's dealing with old age and diabetes. Last weekend I got to see my brother, cousin Nate, Aunt Kate and Aunt Susan. My mother arrives next Monday and then we'll drive down to Oakland to drop off Sara's car, hopefully get a bite to eat, and then cruise back to Auburn to stay with Grandma for a couple more days. Then it's to New York from Sacramento on Wednesday evening.

San Antonio for John Edwards was fabulous. I worked with two exceptional people, Joel and Junior, who, if nothing else made those 5 days in Texas quite lovely. We also stayed with two of the nicest serrogate parents in the world, Char and Judi. They took care of us like we were their own. Shot up to Austin for 16 hours to do a TV thing with the Senator and then back to SA to fly to Oakland.

I love the jet set life, as you all know. The same issues come up when I do it: continuity, where to "live", how to maintain relationships successfully without being physically present. It takes a leap of imagination and faith on the part of my friends and family and your and their support and love does NOT go unappreciated. I couldn't live the way I do if you weren't all there for me and excited about the next moves and patient with my sometimes lacking committment to communication. Thank you.

Watching people get old is amazing. The way we fail, the choices we make about life all come into clear view. My grandma has diabetes, and it's become obvious to me, through cancer with my grandfather and this with my grandmother that self care, now, is of the utmost importance. Not only is it great to be hot when you're young, but that's going to transfer in to health and wellness when we're old. This is not new news, but important to remember. I need to become recommitted to taking care of myself! Otherwise, it will be hell on whomever is slated to take care of me when I'm old. And I want to walk as much as possible when I get old. Sitting too long makes my butt hurt!

I think that's all I've got for now. I've got to get resumes out to those who've offered to spread the love of the Sooz. It's crossed my mind to work in Sacramento for a while, to be family closer to my grandmother. I'll tell Amber that when I send her my resume!

Love to all!

Hi!

2007-03-07T02:19:00.000-05:00

Wow...what a great comment on the last entry. "Hello". I know, I'm totally MIA. I'm tired, working a lot and coming off a bout of un and under employment. So I don't get to read as much or think about writing as much. It's an undertaking to write personal emails let alone a blog entry.

I'm in San Antonio seeing things I've never seen before, learning a lot and being very well taken care of by all those I meet.

I've been privy to the southern gentlemen this week and it's a different world. If I don't go in a door first, the conversation stops. I haven't opened a door, it seems like, in a week. If I drop something someone always beats me to picking it up. I never carry anything heavy.

They've learned to hear my bossy-ness and I think they've come to appreciate my northern woman mentalities. But, I dare say, I've taken quite well to this treatment.

I wish I could write more, but I haven't talked to my brother in weeks, let alone been able to write this stuff.

I'm exhausted. Game day is tomorrow and then it's to Austin for an event, just to attend, back to San Antonio to fly to Oakland, stay there a night and then to Auburn to see my bro, cuz, auntie and grandma. I'm really excited for that.

Then I'm going back to New York. I'm going to sell as much of my stuff as I can; give away some clothes; pack my bags and leave. I just don't know where I'm going.

And you know what?

I'm not worried at all.

Thank you for thinking of me and supporting me. I think of you all so often. I wish you knew how often I look at pictures of you all. I really miss you; I really love this life.

More...well. I guess, just later.

xoxo

Hello Sweet Darlings!

2007-02-27T13:05:00.000-05:00

Oh how I've missed you and writing to you, about me ;)

Last weekend was Michelle and Adam's wedding in Miami. It was gorgeous, as was the bride and the groom maintained a constant state of hilarity, as always.

I decided to stay and because of the graciousness of friends and family I can do this quite easily. I can't wait for the day I can pay these people back in kind. So, I went to Ft Meyers Sunday around noon to see my Aunt Patty and Uncle Jim. Very nice to see them and twice in two years! What a treat. I think prior to seeing them for the family reunion last year it had been at least six since I'd seen them last. We ate well, tried to discuss politics civilly (and then not at all!), and caught up here and there.

The nature out that way, South West FL, is really incredible. The fauna and flora are so dense and full of giant creature who want to eat your toes at the least, your head at the most. I hear that orchids are difficult to find and you risk life and limb doing it. I enjoy the adrenaline rush of campaigns, but I don't think I could get down with traipsing through those swamps wondering what's under foot. Then again...I wouldn't put it past me.

Then my folks rented me a car (thank Mom and Dad!) and I drove back to Miami and hung out with Vanessa and her friends Patty, Ricardo and Sharla at Soyka (which I only found with the help of Michelle's friend Chris G.) and then a drink on the marina with Vanessa.

Today we're kicking it South Beach style on Lincoln Road. Please let it be noted that I will never fully, successfully "kick it South Beach style". My aversion to the sun will forever prevent me from that. And the fact that my legs are exactly two times the size of the average legs on this beach. I'm fine with this, let it be known. It's just a fact. Vanessa says it's great when you go to another city, compare yourself to the population there and remember that we're not actually bad looking, Miami is just disproportionaltely good looking (or skinny and tan, whether they're the same thing is another matter entirely).

We have to leave this cafe so here's what I'm doing this week:

Wednesday Chill, explore Miami
Thursday Advance
Friday to San Antonio to Advance Edwards
3/8 Back to NYC. Possibly to sell everything and...then...?

This is exciting and scary! As always!

xoxo

Quote

2007-02-16T11:45:00.000-05:00

In someone else's blog there:

Theodore Roosevelt, Kansas City Star, May 7, 1918 (during a real War):

"The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROB!!

2007-02-16T01:14:00.001-05:00

My brother is 29 years old!

Happy Birthday Bro!!

I love you!

My Friends From College

2007-02-16T01:08:00.000-05:00

I was just inviting three of my four best friends from college to join me on Flickr (which I'm now infatuated with thanks to my brother, who's birthday it was/is on 2/15)and I realized that only three of the four of them have real names.

How did you pull this over on me?

Bean
Bear
Cleaver

Rock it. Love you!

Is This Really How It Works?

2007-02-15T18:53:00.003-05:00

mp 4390
Originally uploaded by adamconner7.

Consider the "Zone of Pain" and "ouch!"

Experiment with Flickr and blogging

2007-02-15T18:53:00.001-05:00

OK the picture DID upload, but it was really really bad, so I took it down...

Now, if the subject line of this email is the title of the post, the

body of this email the post and a bad picture of myself is there, too,

I've offically had a day well spent.

All sent from my sidekick...amazing.

This is pretty cool, though. This means I can blog from anywhere I have an internet signal on my Sidekick.

WOW.

To Do List...

2007-02-15T10:12:00.000-05:00

Here are some photos I took in Chicago (the one of the Senator on stage is the one you see below, taken by Dan, a site guy) mostly of the largest sign making party I've ever seen. Pretty cool. Maybe more of my photographs will make it up.

I was meant to go to SC today, but flights were canceled across the board last night. So, I'm grounded. Can't go anywhere cause I have to have my dress fitted for Michelle's wedding next weekend. So...going to figure out how to either not spend money or make some money!

I'm going to take this time to organize photos and get them on a hard drive; work on my tax paper work; organize my expenses from Chicago and maybe even relax a little. Catch up on some reading I'd like to do. Maybe I'll read one of Obama's books. Any suggestions on which I should read?

I'm disappointed that I'm not on the road this weekend. I'll attempt to have a good attitude :)

I've got a profile on barackobama.com, does anyone else?

Home Again

2007-02-12T22:37:00.000-05:00

Formerly Sophia, Mrs. Scuddlesworth lounges about in my upstairs neighbor, James', apartment. James is a photographer, too.

This has been on my desktop a while...I just like it, and the issue certainly came up yesterday afternoon.

One of my favorite of my brother's photos. (This was pre new camera. I'll post some of those at some juncture, I'm sure.)

This image has been on my desktop for a month. I need to post it so I can delete it. I love it, though. It's from a friend of a friend's t-shirt site Vintage Vantage

Thanks for helping me clean house. I hope you enjoyed the images. I do :)

I am planning on going to South Carolina on Wednesday. I'll have to bring the dress for Michelle's wedding and have it fitted down there. Or maybe I'll just start the fitting process here and leave for 5 days. I think it could get done...

I missed my flight to JFK today, so I got on the next flight and it went to La Guardia. So my bag is still at JFK. But since I'm flying out on Wednesday, I'm thinking that I'll just leave it there? The clothes are all wrong for South Carolina though...Maybe that'll be my field trip tomorrow. I can finish Lolita on the train.

I think I may even be able to form whole thoughts tomorrow when my brain comes back.

Sleep tight!

Breating a Sigh of Relief

2007-02-02T13:11:00.001-05:00

Whew! That was a close one!

Bridezilla...

2007-02-01T14:02:00.000-05:00

You will need:

Headphones if you're at work
Something to cover your dropped jaw
A refreshment for afterward

New Cameras All Around!

2007-01-31T19:01:00.000-05:00

I got a nice little new camera with which I will be documenting...well, everything, from now on! I'm SO excited.

Who else got a new camera? My Brother! Rob's is decidedly more sick because he's a dead serious photog. (I think he should compile a bunch and enter them as screen saver candidates. They're all I use as backgrounds, too.)

WA HOO! To a new era of blogging--well, or an era revisited. I've been without camera for almost a year now. Hard to believe.

Need I Say More?

2007-01-31T17:42:00.000-05:00

Thanks Seth :)

I LOATHE Fox

2007-01-30T13:28:00.000-05:00

It's about Fox (I won't say "news" at Seth's suggestion) and their BS re Obama's early education. It's offensive in more ways than I have time to go into.

Cool: US Senate Committee on Envioronment and Public Works hearing this morning with four Pres candidates. Boxer's opening remarks: Thanks, Senator Boxer (D-CA)

From: Rochester Turning

Fantasy Football For Nerds: Long Bets

2007-01-30T11:16:00.000-05:00

Long Bets is a project to encourage long term thinking and outlooks. It's pretty interesting and more interesting to me than, say, Fantasy Football...maybe even more interesting than Fantasy Curling...

I heard about it in an article sent to me by Cassie today from the New York Times. I'm posting it here in its entirety lest it be relegated to the unread-pay-per-view online NYT.

January 30, 2007
Findings
Can Humanity Survive? Want to Bet on It?
By JOHN TIERNEY

Sixty ago years, a group of physicists concerned about nuclear weapons created the Doomsday Clock and set its hands at seven minutes to midnight. Now, the clock’s keepers, alarmed by new dangers like climate change, have moved the hands up to 11:55 p.m.

My first reaction was a sigh of relief. After all, the 1947 doomsday prediction marked the start of a golden age. Never have so many humans lived so long — and maybe never so peacefully — as during the past 60 years. The per-capita rate of violence, particularly in the West, seems remarkably low by historical standards. If the clock’s keepers are worried once again, their track record suggests we’re in for even happier days.

But there’s one novel twist that gives me pause. When the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced two weeks ago in Washington that it was adjusting the clock, it was joined in a trans-Atlantic press conference by scientists at the Royal Society in London. One of them was the society’s president, Martin Rees, a new breed of doomsayer.

Dr. Rees, a cosmologist at Cambridge and Britain’s astronomer royal, doesn’t just issue gloomy predictions. He doesn’t just move the hands of an imaginary and inscrutable clock. (Its keepers have never explained what one of their minutes equals on anyone else’s clock or calendar.)

No, Dr. Rees is braver. He gives odds on doomsday and offers to bet on disaster. In his 2003 book, “Our Final Hour,” he gives civilization no more than a 50 percent chance of surviving until 2100.

Dr. Rees is not a knee-jerk technophobe — he expects great advances as researchers around the world link their knowledge — but he fears that progress will be undone by what he calls the new global village idiots. He’s sure enough of himself to post an offer on Long Bets, a clever innovation on the Web that Stewart Brand helped start with money from Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com.

Long Bets is a nonprofit foundation that calls itself an “arena for competitive, accountable predictions.” It lets anyone make a prediction and take wagers on it, with the proceeds going to a charity named by the winner. The bets made so far are from $200 to $10,000, on topics ranging from the driving habits of Americans in 2010 to whether the universe will stop expanding. Mitchell Kapor, the software guru, is betting that in 2029 no computer will have passed the Turing test (by conversing so much like a human that you couldn’t tell the difference). The physicist Freeman Dyson’s money is on the first extraterrestrial life’s being found somewhere other than a planet or its satellite.

Five years ago, Dr. Rees posted this prediction: “By 2020, bioterror or bioerror will lead to one million casualties in a single event.” He reasoned that “by 2020 there will be thousands — even millions — of people with the capability to cause a catastrophic biological disaster. My concern is not only organized terrorist groups, but individual weirdos with the mindset of the people who now design computer viruses.”

He didn’t get any takers on LongBets.org, which seems to me a missed opportunity. So I’ve posted an offer there to bet him $200 — not a huge sum, but enough to put both our reputations on the line. I realize that betting on disaster may sound ghoulish, but neither of us will personally profit (if I win, the money goes to the International Red Cross). And I think bets like this serve a purpose.

Besides stimulating public debate, they focus the issue and discipline prophets. No matter how good their intentions, prophets face strong temptations to hype. In the current issue of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Dr. Rees wryly describes what happened in 2003 when he turned in a manuscript titled, “Our Final Century?”

“My British publisher removed the question mark from the book’s title,” he recalls, “and the U.S. publisher changed it to ‘Our Final Hour.’ Pessimism, it seems, makes for better marketing.”

It doesn’t make for better public policy though. Heralds of the bioterror apocalypse have actually worsened the problem of bioterror, as Milton Leitenberg points out in a 2005 report for the Strategic Studies Institute of the United States Army War College.

Mr. Leitenberg is a scholar at the University of Maryland who has been studying biological weapons for decades — and debunking wild predictions. Dr. Rees is not alone. Senator Bill Frist called bioterrorism “the greatest existential threat we have in the world today” and urged a military effort that “even dwarfs the Manhattan Project.”

Such rhetoric, Mr. Leitenberg says, has had the perverse effect of encouraging terrorists to seek out biological weapons. But despite the much-publicized attempts of Al Qaeda and a Japanese group to go biological, terrorists haven’t had much luck, because it’s still quite hard for individuals or nongovernmental groups to obtain, manufacture or deploy biological weapons of mass destruction.

Mr. Leitenberg says the biggest threat is of a state deploying biological weapons, and he notes the encouraging decline in the number of countries working on this technology. Meanwhile, though, America has been so spooked by the horror-movie scenarios that it’s pouring money into defense against biological weapons. Dr. Leitenberg says that’s a mistake, both because it diverts resources from more serious threats — like natural diseases and epidemics — and because it could start a new biological arms race as other countries understandably fear that the United States is doing more than just playing defense.

It’s possible, as Dr. Rees fears, that terrorists will get a lot more sophisticated at biotech in the next decade, or that researchers will make some terrible mistake. The technology is getting cheaper and spreading rapidly. But so are the tools for preventing and coping with mistakes.

Whatever happens, I don’t expect biotechnology to pose an “existential threat.” The disaster predicted by Dr. Rees would be horrific, but humanity has survived worse, like the flu epidemic of 1918 that killed tens of millions of people. I know there are fears of new microorganisms or nanobots gobbling up our species, but I’m confident we’d somehow stop the Doomsday Clock from striking midnight.

In fact, the wager I’d really like to make with Dr. Rees is that we’ll make it to 2100. I’ve posted that prediction on Long Bets, and I’d be glad to give him better odds than the 50-50 chance he gives civilization of surviving the century.

I even think one of us might survive to see the payoff, although my techno-optimism has its limits. I hope some version of me will be around in 2100, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

T Mobile Took My Money and MY TIME

2007-01-29T21:02:00.000-05:00

Oy. I wish I hadn't told three different customer representatives my T Mobile story. If I hadn't, I maybe possibly might have the energy to convey to you here and now what an outstanding customer I've been since 2003 (they use the year, not the number of years to denote this); how great an early adopter I am (thanks to my mother's tech-loving ways); and how many contract upgrades I've been subject to to save a mere $50 on a new phone (oh, say a Sidekick III).

I use words like abused, hurt, frustrated with them and phrases like "when we break up".

But they come at me with, "I can see how this must be frustrating for you." I mean, I used to appreciate the communication skills T Mobile (or at least teaching their people to know how to FAKE good communication with the language), but now it's mocking. And they're not really listening, they're saying the same god damn thing over and over and over, no matter the dulcet tones in which they convey the contractual agreement (also known as MARRIAGE or INDENTURED SERVITUDE) that I've committed to.

All for $50.

There is redemption. Almost--we're on the path, really. If all works out, I may not have extended my contract (which, how I described it to the lady was, "if I do this I will be with you until I'm well over 30 (white lie) and I don't plan on being with you for the rest of my life!"), I may get (FINALLY) a replacement Sidekick III, all for free.

This begs the question: why did five months ago no one tell me this?

A year and a half T Mobile. That's all you have to impress me. You should be grateful and perform fabulously. Most people only have one evening before I decide to keep 'em or cut 'em loose. But then again, I'm not married to them.

Chicago...Here I Come

2007-01-26T16:38:00.000-05:00

Susie and Rich on the Lower East side of Manhattan talking to Peggy in Minneapolis right after the campaign on their web cams (Sara, pretty cool, right??). See how each side has the appropriate back drop? That's good advance.

Big excitement for the Sooz.

I'm going to Chicago a week from today (could have been Tuesday, but I'm hosting an Blake alum event on Thursday) to build crowd for Barak Obama. That's right, people, you read it here first. Quiting a job you loathe only leads to good things. Cause when you open yourself up to the universe and state clearly what you want, or in my case, what I didn't want, it will likely happen. Or something will. Because it has to.

Having good friends helps, too.

SO. Off I go!

I'm getting in touch with folks: Sara's there, Kate's coming down the weekend of the rally. Tara and Larissa live there, I think Liz G does, too. Jimmy V wants to volunteer and meet campaign folks, hopefully finding a new direction for his life and I think that's everyone? That can't possibly be everyone, but I'll figure out who else is there. My mom sent me a massive list of folks who are there who I'll have to recruit to volunteer.

My loyalties are not resolute, but I'm looking forward to getting to know the Senator's staff and their ways. This year could be a whole lot more interesting than anticipated. Or just interesting in a different way.

Photos from the last time I did this...in 2004. For John Kerry. What a disaster that turned out to be.

(Speaking of which, anyone going to the anti war march in DC? I, unfortunately, cannot make it...)

Susie and Mike in Green Bay. Bon Jovi decided to stay on the plane with Kerry and all the sudden we had a rock concert on hand. Mike lives in Red Hook and works at SEIU where one of my oldest, most impressive mentors, Mike Dolan, does something really important, but I can't remember his title. All my jobs from here on out shall include walkie talkies and bull horns. All of them.

Mike Dolan first introduced me to the wonders of the bull horn with his very own GOLDEN bull horn at the event that got me hooked on production: The Rolling Thunder Down Home Democracy Tour.

Mike was in town to see his friend's film "Fired!" which has partnered with United Professionals to bring the org far and wide. Mike is somehow involved with UP...probably through SEIU or Barbara Ehrenreich. I met her Wednesday night after the screening, then Mike, his niece Beatina and I went out and had a great night on the town. So much fun. Big Wednesday this week.

This is Team...ugh, somewhere in Ohio. I can't remember where. We started out in one city, met each other, had lunch and then got a call that we had to go to a different city. So we did. This was the trip I met Rich on. He works for Spitzer now and he's the one who I, essentially, moved to New York City with. Thanks, Rich ;) What we're doing here is staking out the exit point of a Bush rally. We call these "visibilities." Just being out there is good. Rich is on the right. He's absolutely hilarious! I have a movie of this, too. If I ever figure out You Tube, I'll post it.

Dan, Pam, Susie and Tammy. At the rally for election night in Boston. I had to go home early that night, per Rich, because I was crying and that was not good for morale. We stayed at Doug's house in the South End of Boston. The next day Spencer, Mike and Dan picked us up and we all went to DC for the final party. It was party after party for about two weeks before Rich and I wound up back in Manhattan. It's like these people who are exhausted by travel just can't stop...so we didn't.

Ah...the lights. Those are the press stands. Those are all their lights catching the glaring details of Kerry's election night rally. Bon Jovi showed up here, too.

Crowd builders '04. Mary Beth Cahill was kind enough to treat the advance staff and whomever else was in Boston to an open bar after Kerry's concession speech. We didn't know it yet, but Elizabeth Edwards had been diagnosed with breast cancer just three days prior. I'm going to Chicago with Dan, the guy behind and to the left of me. Good old friend-we built a crowd at CMU in Pittsburgh together in '04. I had a seminal crowd builder moment at CMU. I ripped up someone's ticket who I knew to be a republican protester. When I did that a beefy union guy stood behind me and said, "you'd better listen to her." I think the protester almost cried. Oh well. Serves him for being an idiot at my rally.

The line to our Des Moines rally. Pretty rockin, my friends, pretty rockin! It was the largest political rally to date in Iowa. And who decided to join me, but...

My folks! Peggy came down and she checked in press at their hotel while Bob drove all over Des Moines trying to track down THK (Teresa Heinz Kerry) to give her her dinner. They really got a taste of my job that night! The other woman, Sarah, and I went to high school together. When I walked into the Des Moines campaign office I went in to the Communications portion and who was there working her butt off? Sarah! Small world. She lives in Manhattan with her fiance Marty. Justin and I ran into them a few weeks ago at Spice in Chelsea. Whew....

Reggie Hubbard. The man. The legend. A great friend and excellent person, I met Reggie when he got on the plane with Kerry. One of the hardest working, most dedicated people I know. And incredibly intelligent AND good looking ;) We had lunch together this Wednesday at Dos Caminos in SoHo and talked about top secret life decisions. 20 minutes later I was on my way to the ER with some nasty allergic reaction...to...something. Anyhoo...

Nick, Chris, Aaron and Mike at the office in Green Bay. We talked on the phone a LOT. Aaron lives up in Boston; Nick and Chris in DC. Nick is a legend. Mike you've already met.

Kristen (white sweater) and I worked together in Boston and then we both left that company for the campaign. I had no idea where she wound up til I walked into the office in Green Bay.

Ah...the life of campaigning. Can you tell I love it?

I could go on with stories...cooking a speech writer a hamburger in a Ohio Westin at 1 o'clock in the morning with the hotel manager. Duckie, I think was his name. Great guy, super accommodating. That same night Snoop, Seinfeld and someone else were staying at the same hotel; I was nervous I was going to have to work with Secret Service to get the three to hang out. I didn't, but that would have been hilarious.

Or the time that Edwards left behind the form he had to send in to be on the ballot in North Dakota-it was due the next day (this involved shedding of shoes and running across tarmac). Or the time we celebrated Setti's birthday at Brit's in Minneapolis (my mom decorated his room); or when Michelle brought Kerry his dinner from Vincent; or when my folks cooked the Mpls team waffles one morning; or the monotonous down time one would inevitably hit; or Elizabeth Edwards exclaiming upon walking into their hotel room in Albequerque, "this is bigger than our first two houses put together!"

I can't even imagine the amazing stories organizers with history must have. I can't wait.

Off to celebrate Jenna's last day at SHNY and Ceri's first day of being 30!

Happy days.

Retitle

2007-01-26T03:35:00.000-05:00

I would like to re-title my last post.

I would like the last post to read:

All That Matters; All That I Love: My Family, just the way I like 'em.

Homage a My Dad

2007-01-21T16:19:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was my dad's 70th birthday!

He and I have fun together.

We're lucky to have a nice family.

He lived in New York 50 years ago selling seeds. He remembers parts of New York that are now on solid ground, being swamp.

He's really smart and has an excellent command of the English language. (Here we are in Shakespeare Park in Central Park.)

He's funny and adventurous, too.

I'm really glad my mom likes him!

And I'm really glad they met.

Happy birthday, Dad. You're the best yet.

It's Been Too Long

2007-01-18T14:33:00.000-05:00

So it's been a couple days and I see that you have been visiting me! Oh, you sweet people!

I'm back at the birth place of this blog. The place I was working a year and a half ago. I'm freelancing at, what I consider, my first real job in Manhattan.

Ah, New York. I sure do love her.

Instead of having a boyfriend, I've decided to treat New York, Manhattan, specifically, as though it's my lover/boyfriend/companion. Books are our conversation, as are the faces of the people who are walking through the Subway with me (I'm becoming a committed subway rider, both by default ($) and by choice. It's so great, that lil' subway they've got here).

So, now you know. I'm in a relationship. With New York. So stop looking for partners for me. Cause I'm PRIME TIME IN LOVE!

Presenting, Mr/s. Whitlock (gender is unimportant; merely the love I feel, obviously):

French Broad Luscious Chocolates...You'd Best Be a Believer!

2007-01-15T22:28:00.000-05:00

Dan and Jael are geniuses. They've passed on their amazing personal prowess to a small human named Samuel Benjamin, pictured below.

Yes, that is an ACTUAL child. I know every child is beautiful, but Sam, who goes my the moniker, The Buddah, exceeds every precedent set.

They have passed their creative talents to another child, who would only send a picture of its logo, but not of itself, called French Broad Luscious Chocolates; logo below. My personal favorite is the "Testimonial"page.

This is the sticker that was on my box of chocolates and now it's on my bedroom door in Brooklyn :)

So, not to overstate it, and I really don't think I am, I found the chocolate company that I will be with for the rest of my life. I see big things for us, French Broad Luscious Chocolates. They sent me a box for Christmas and I sampled some of the most lovely truffles I've ever had. (They have even improved since Jael's truffles (now Dan and Jael's truffles, they weren't happily and cutely married yet and, if I remember correctly, Jael started experimenting with chocolate (although an already accomplished chef)) right around when Dan made his second batch of Mole (I've lived through two: one at his apt in Minneapolis and another at the house we rented together on singularly the best street in America: Milwaukee Ave in Minneapolis, as well. I'll see if I can rustle up some photos of that bad boy. What a house, what a Halloween party. Or of us unloading the box truck when we decided to heat the house entirely with wood stove heat.) ANYWAY, back to the subject at hand. Jael: chocolate; Dan: mole. They moved to Costa Rica for a year and then back to the US in, what I understand is, the delicious, hippie town of Ashville, North Carolina. And now, they're putting their efforts into their three children (one more human on the way!) and we are going to benefit from all of them! I highly recommend you give these chocolates a whirl. They make GREAT gifts!

I have a million more things to write. They'll have to wait for now...

Hilarious re: Book Labeling

2007-01-15T21:53:00.000-05:00

I found this site after a completely random search for "stickers". His Flikr page is really funny/good too!

We Are Family: Day Two

2007-01-13T09:38:00.000-05:00

Day two was nice. Very chill. Peggy isn't feeling well :( so she stayed at the hotel and...I have no idea what she did, but it was probably very intellectual or world changing ;)

Bob and I hopped on the subway and went to Chinatown in search of a restaurant with the right round eye/Chinese/Jewish ratio, which we sort of found at Joe's Shanghai, which is, apparently, very famous for their soup dumplings-and rightly so. If you're in NYC reading this, you can count on my birthday celebration being held there this year! Funny enough, this is the first Chinatown restaurant Rich and I ever went to when I first moved to New York. Bob and I sat two chairs to the left of were Rich and I sat! We also had General Tso's chicken, cause that's just how we roll, and that was very good, too. The chicken was real, you know? Not processes little bits for fricking Sysco.

Then we wandered a bit, but not much. I realized what a fool I am for not doing ALL my Christmas shopping in Chinatown. There are so many treasures there! And a bunch of junk, but if you look, treasures. Next Christmas, kiddies, you'd better watch out!

Bob and I returned to the hotel room for a relaxed afternoon with Mom. I spend much of my time emailing friends as you all were at work and I was not ;) and we all rested/napped a bit.

Rob arrived at 8:15 from JFK (an arduous day of travel for him, no matter how you cut it). And I turned us right around and got us on the R train to get us to the J train. It was going the wrong direction, but we achieved train-ness right quick! We got off, and got back on going the CORRECT way (oy!) and got to the restaurant just 20 minutes late, which was not a problem.

We went to Dressler on Broadway in Brooklyn. The food was outstanding. From the scallops to the artichoke salad to the entrees: cod, duck, lamb and pork, to the desserts: a sinful chocolate cake and reason-alone-for-a-visit Apple Tarte Tatin with rum raisin ice cream we completely lucked out. Our server, my brother observed, may have been the best server he'd had in his entire life (that's almost 29 years). He gave great advice and, when he could, took time to chat with us about the changing neighborhood. All the staff were affable, seemed glad to be there and proud of their product. My family, knowing my penchant for restaurant life let me take the lead on the dinner and I always (unless I'm on a date, people. I enjoy being taken care of too. I feel I have to say this so the universe doesn't get the wrong idea-there are some downsides of getting what you ask for!) enjoy that piece of it. I do miss working in restaurants/hospitality for some things.

Two thumbs up dinner.

Then we trekked back to my apartment so everyone could see it. :) Then we walked my route to the subway; I pointed out where I was almost mugged, my poor mother. They all commented on the long walk! Welcome to New York!

We got on the train and I got off to go to my friend Paige's place where I'm cat sitter extraordinare and they back to the hotel.

Today is another big day of 1) bite to eat 2) looking for a camera for my brother's birthday 3) Wall Street Trinity Church's cemetery (including "Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, founder of The Bank of New York" 4) meeting up with Bill and Michele and their girls Alex, Mary and Colleen; Bill is the son of my dad's sister, Pat, making him Rob's and my cousin and his kids our 1st cousins once removed 4) Big dinner at the Old Homestead Steakhouse, the oldest steakhouse in Manhattan. WHEW.

Have I mentioned I love this?! Having them here has opened my eyes, as having visitors always does, and also reminds me of how much fun my family is. What a lovely group of people.

Whew! Must get a move on! New York waits for no one...not even a Weber/Whitlock!

I'll update/improve linkage when I have more time/better connection!

xo

Day One: Mi Familia

2007-01-12T10:32:00.000-05:00

What a fun first day of a visit!

My mom and dad landed a little early at JFK (?!?!) and were on their way to their hotel way downtown. Then, so was I!

When I walked into the hotel I saw someone who I thought looked remarkably familiar. After a second glance I realized it was my cousin (husband of my dad's brother's daughter, Anne) Michael! I went up to him and said, "Sorry, can I interrupt?" and he looked and looked at me again and big hug and, "What are you doing here?!" I told him I was waiting for my parents to celebrate my dad's birthday.

We made a plan to surprise my parents at dinner later-SO much fun.

So Peggy, Bob and I went to the Oyster Bar at Grand Central Station (one of my dad's places) and had dinner (I had a pretty amazing lobster roll. $27 worth. Next time I'd split it with someone) and Michael texted me to say he was on his way. I actually had butterflies I was so excited for the surprise. Michael and my folks get along famously and he's really fun/cool and married to a woman who I've admired for, well, my entire life. It was just such a nice surprise and a great way to start off the weekend.

I'm off now, back to the financial district, to pick up my folks. A walk down Battery Park waterfront and over to Chinatown for Dim Sum. Then we'll take a walk about, probably a nap and then Rob will come meet us at the hotel. THEN back to Brooklyn for dinner! Hopefully we'll see childhood friend of mine, Peter, and his woman tonight, too.

Having a great time.

In honor of my father's love and expertise in the English language, to our small family reunion and to the unorganized, organic nature of New York (for which there IS no synonym) I'll leave you with this:

Thesaurus by Billy Collins

It could be the name of a prehistoric beast
that roamed the Paleozoic earth, rising up
on its hind legs to show off its large vocabulary,
or some lover in a myth who is metamorphosed into a book.

It means treasury, but it is just a place
where words congregate with their relatives,
a big park where hundreds of family reunions
are always being held,
house, home, abode, dwelling, lodgings, and digs,
all sharing the same picnic basket and thermos;
hairy, hirsute, woolly, furry, fleecy, and shaggy
all running a sack race or throwing horseshoes,
inert, static, motionless, fixed and immobile
standing and kneeling in rows for a group photograph.

Here father is next to sire and brother close
to sibling, separated only by fine shades of meaning.
And every group has its odd cousin, the one
who traveled the farthest to be here:
astereognosis, polydipsia, or some eleven
syllable, unpronounceable substitute for the word tool.
Even their own relatives have to squint at their name tags.

I can see my own copy up on a high shelf.
I rarely open it, because I know there is no
such thing as a synonym and because I get nervous
around people who always assemble with their own kind,
forming clubs and nailing signs to closed front doors
while others huddle alone in the dark streets.

I would rather see words out on their own, away
from their families and the warehouse of Roget,
wandering the world where they sometimes fall
in love with a completely different word.
Surely, you have seen pairs of them standing forever
next to each other on the same line inside a poem,
a small chapel where weddings like these,
between perfect strangers, can take place.

The Rest of My Life

2007-01-12T00:58:00.001-05:00

What if I blog here for the rest of my life?

Woah.

Much Better, Thanks, Rob

2007-01-11T02:51:00.000-05:00

Thank you, my dear, sweet brother, for looking in after my health. Yes, I feel a million times better today and anticipate a similar level of recovery tomorrow.

I planned on going to bed earlier than this, but I failed. I fell in love with a book. The aforementioned book, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. I've just spent the wee hours reading through tears and truly truly enjoying it.

I managed to straighten up the joint a little as I'm expecting some high class folks to come my way:

So you can see why a girl would want to impress em ;)

Happy Birthday, Dad! I really can't wait to have you guys here!

One thing the book reminded me of and that, I think, at least, I know, and that I'm reminded of soo soooo often is to say I love you.

So:

I love you, my family
I'm grateful for everything-everything

I think that about covers it!

Oh! And I sent the only bear I've ever slept with practically every. night. of. my. life. to the cleaners by accident today! I hope they don't wash him. He would fall right apart. Oh Bartholomue. It's not because I don't love you! It's because I didn't want to give the other kids scarlet fever that all went to the wash today. I hope they didn't throw the baby out with the bath water. I don't know if I'll ever find another bear like you. Don't think I'd want to.

xoxo

Poetry for ME

2007-01-10T21:48:00.001-05:00

So I have to write about the end of the world to get comments? NO MORE POETRY FOR YOU!

Just kidding! I would never do that to me ;)

IM Quote of the Day Goes To:

2007-01-10T21:16:00.000-05:00

Susie: grew to not be in love with it after about 2 months
Susie: looking for the graduate school for me and thinking radical life change

9:05 PM

Adam: i hate to tell you..but your life is a radical life change..

Adam Ullian. My friend from my first year of college at UVM. It made me laugh out loud.

Left My House Twice Today

2007-01-09T21:27:00.000-05:00

Yup, sure did. Trying to get over this illness and I have to say cold doesn't feel so great on the old throat. At least it's getting a little colder, no?

Global warming is really going to dismantle us. From industrial setback on which the marketplace relies, to the coming apart of islands (this happened over the holidays and I can't find the article), to the changed migration habits of birds, this will slowly, but surely be the end of us. And that is my optimistic stance.

Sleep tight!

La la la

2007-01-09T18:52:00.000-05:00

I don't have anything to write.

I've been in bed for a day and a half, ill with something like strep, I think. It's pretty amazing.

My neighborhood is loud. There's a crazy woman around, I learned today that her name is CJ.

Hot water feels good on my throat and I'm hoping it washes whatever this schmeck is to my unwelcoming, acidic stomach.

I have to write a professional biography. The irony doesn't escape me.

Congrats Sara on getting your booty to a (fine) graduate school. I can't wait to see how you like it and where it leads. You're a rock star of the first degree.

Preparing for the culinary tour of New York that will ensue once my folks arrive on Thursday, joined by Rob on Friday and hopefully Bill, Michele, Coleen, Mary and Alex on Saturday. We'll be quite a troupe!

That's it. Hot water and la la la

Books to Read

2007-01-03T22:48:00.000-05:00

I just came across a review of Michael Pollan's book on Dykotomy of Omnivore's Dilemma. I'm really looking forward to reading it. I've fallen off my food activism as of late, as I have from a lot of political things, and I think it may be time to get back on the train. In terms of food in NYC, this is going to take some pretty serious research. Being vegetarian doesn't solve conscious eaters' issues anymore. It feels like now, to be sure of anything, you have to raise, pick and/or kill whatever you're eating yourself.

You heard of him first when he wrote The Botany of Desire.

He's got a series of speaking engagements coming up. I'll be going on May 21 to see him uptown. There's a ton of dates on the West Coast, so Rob, Sara, Cleaver, Cole, you all may be interested in seeing him.

A class he teaches at Berkeley sums up how I feel:

J226: SCIENCE REPORTING:
COVERING THE FOOD CHAIN
It might be hard to see what transpires between a child and Big Mac as an ecological event, but of course that’s exactly what it is. Like every other creature, we are a species connected to other species, as well as to the earth and the sun, by a food chain—albeit a very special sort of food chain, one that’s been shaped by political and economic decisions as much as by biology. This course aims to develop the intellectual context in which to understand, and connect, the many food stories now finding their way to the front page: GMOs, the obesity epidemic, factory farming, animal rights and welfare, antibiotic resistance, agricultural pollution, agricultural subsidies, third world hunger, and the rise of alternatives to the industrial food system, such as organic agriculture and “slow food.” Expect to do lots of reading (from Upton Sinclair and Rachel Carson to Wendell Berry and Eric Schlosser) and writing.

He ends with a KICK ASS list of links.

For now I'm keeping Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foerby my bed, along with American Religious Poems edited by Harold Bloom and Good Poems for Hard Times edited by Garrison Keillor (the original, Good Poems is excellent, also). The poetry bug bit and stuck and I'm pretty stoked about it. My friend Ceri and I are talking about starting a poetry book club. Anyone moving to NYC anytime soon and wanna check it out ;) you're more than welcome!

Job/school search is on. I found a program with the exact description of what I want...but it's in Tampa. Doesn't matter, right? If I do it in conjunction with the Peace Corps, especially, it won't matter. I'll be a year on campus. I can do anything for a year. This is the page that comes up when I search for Health/Public Health/Nursing/International Health. And this is the description of the program in Tampa that I love the sound of:

The MPH in Global Health is a college-wide program. Students will follow a plan of study that includes core courses from each department, global health core courses, emphasis area support courses, and will complete a special project. Emphasis areas may combine courses from two or more departments to create unique specialties. Students will be prepared to: (1) understand socio-cultural, political and economic determinants of health at the global level; (2) assess the burden of disease on health and the importance of prevention; (3) analyze international health systems in developed and underdeveloped countries; (4) understand factors that contribute to the incidence of infectious disease; (5) understand problems related to infectious disease control and surveillance’ (6) apply culturally appropriate technology, interventions and ethical considerations; (7) understand epidemiologic study design; and (8) propose methodologies for evaluation public health programs and interventions.

Rock out. Let me know what you think-about anything!

xoxo