Ramblings

Watching the Republican National Convention, my putrid distate of Rudy Giuliani grew by the buckets. I always felt he was such a snake and if I had to watch him spurt his shallow campaign speeches through his fake teeth and 9/11 hubris one more time, I would shoot myself. Luckily, we don't have to deal with him for little more than a smirky speech every now and then. He is the one that started the little 'joke' about Barack Obama's experience as a community organizer.

He giggled and guffawed and his silly little audience followed suit.

'Yeah, really. What's a community organizer anyway?! ha, ha, that Giuliani - he's got a point. American people don't need people out in the community trying to help people, actually talking to residents, gathering qualitative information on the quality of their lives. We need more smug suits, sitting in frequently redecorated offices who need advisors for everything down to what kind of toilet paper with which they should wipe their ass. We need more people in charge whose only exposure to 'real' people are the hands they shake on the campaign trail and that lobbyist who used to live in their town. If our leaders were out actually experiencing what we do every day, how would they be there for the corporate interests, how would they make sure the lobbyists are getting the attention they deserve, how would they make time to reward loyal followers with their earmarks and continued employment.'

Then, Palin took the ball and ran with it - comparing her positions of mayor of a city with a population equal to that of my high school and then governor of a state with a population a little larger than Kansas City - to that of Obama's experience as a community organizer (in that lovely, piercing, smug accent of hers). She said that a community organizer has no real responsibilities. Which is a nice insight into what her opinion of 'real' is. Ask the residents who were given resources to find food, housing, jobs when they walk into their church or mission to find a community organizer there to help - ask them what feels more real. Ask the elderly woman who is picked up at her home and brought to the polls by a community organizer - ask her what real is. Ask the immigrant who is working hard to provide for a family here and at home who is confused and intimidated about rules in a city that doesn't speak his language who can find answers at a bilingual forum put on by these 'shiftless' community organizers - what is real to him.

In a world and a country where half of the population lives in urban centers and are dealing with urban issues - like housing, crime, infrastructure, education and transportation - we need a president who has some grasp on what is going on in our cities. We need a president who is not going to ignore race and class issues simply because he knows he's going to lose the minority vote. We need a president who doesn't mock those of us who work hard to make the lives of people in our communities better, who care about the village as much as the crown. We need a president who respects us a people - all of us - and doesn't try to twist words and force a divide between us and 'those people'. We need a president who is truthful about the change he wishes to make.

As wonderful and momentous as the day is that we get to decide between a black president and a female vice-president - it is sad to realize how rampant racism continues to exist. It thrives in the open, anonymous web, it thrives in the federally-regulated, proud talk radio, it thrives in the dark, private conversations with close friends, and it thrives in the most well-meaning of hearts. It is being used in this election, and will determine the outcome. Hopefully, America will prove to be better than the politicos give us credit.

Okay, back on the bright side . . .

Ten good things that have happened since I spoke with you last:

1. Elle's birthday party at the zoo. Super fun. My mom flew in for it again - she hasn't missed a birthday party yet. Such a good Nanny. My dad surprised us both by flying in and then they both got stuck because of the Tropical Storm. Good fortune.

2. Got a new little kitty - for Elle's birthday, but my best present ever! Dash is so cute - and a pain in the ass.

3. Got new glasses. Quite fabulous. Orange and purple frames with flowers - a little risky, I know. I walk the line of zany art teacher or great aunt Penny, but its a damn fun line to walk.

4. Got my tags renewed. You know, the ones that were due back in May. Got an inspection back at the beginning of June (already late, cause that's how I roll) and never got around to renewing my tags before I went to Florida. I've gotten pulled over twice since then and had my expired tags and Florida drivers license - both times left with a warning - even from the Leawood cop! Got a new inspection and waited in the fucking most retarded line ever in Grandview, MO for my new tags - but made a new friend.

5. Got offered a job and a free trip to Vegas. Yes!!

6. Resurfaced the driveway. Well, watched the driveway get resurfaced - but still. Quite a relaxing experience.

7. Cut Elle's hair. Chopped it off. At the ponytail. And it's fabulous!

8. Got my computer fixed. Got a new cover for my phone. Got a new charger for my computer. Had a fun day at the Apple store.

9. School started. Elle started 1st grade. Wasn't sure that was going to happen, but it did. Fantastic.

10. Booked a cruise for Thanksgiving week. Never been on an actual cruise - and now we're going with the whole family. Very excited! So, my November looks like this - Vegas, then Grand Rapids, then Orlando, then Tampa, then Ft. Lauderdale, then the Carribbean. Looking warmer than my September, that's for sure. Except, you know, that Grand Rapids part.

Life is getting better, that's for sure. But hey, griping is always fun in spurts.

This Life Thing

Does it get easier?

I'm not one of those people who gets easily overwhelmed, but golly - life gets crazy sometimes, eh? Things are going well over here in Spongeland, but it seems like there is not enough time in the day - and I definitely don't have to energy - to deal with it all.

And on top of all of that, it's getting freakin cold. Already. What the fuck!? I don't have clothes that fit - let alone warm ones. I love how freely I give my jackets away in June thinking that I'll get new ones by October, or you know, I won't live in a tundra come fall, but it never happens. I jaunt around town in sweats and nylon jackets for a couple months and then buck up and buy a freakin jacket. I do have my lovely coat from last Spring that I plan to bring out again - but as cute as it is, it's depressing bringing it out of hiatus so soon. You shouldn't have to wear brown until the leaves turn. Fucking fall. And all of you warm-blooded fuckers out there who are praising this 'beautiful weather' and the lovely breeze and the crispness of the air are really just making it worse - and pissing me off. This is not lovely. 10 degrees warmer - a brighter sun - less clouds (typing this as I look into the clear sky does seem slightly ironic, I know) . . . that would be lovely. Being able to shower without goosebumps forming the second the faucet has turned off - that would be lovely. Restaurants that don't have their airconditioning on 60 degrees - you know, just in case that stinking thermostat creeps above 70 again - that would be lovely.

Hi. I'm Sponge. Must have cleaned up some milk - cause I sure am sour today.