Sounds of Laughter Shades of Life

Here is one of the last photos I took of beautiful Fall foliage. The other day, there was a huge gust of wind and I saw almost every leaf fall off the tree outside my window at work. I'm sure all these trees met the same fate.

Soooo, I went out tonight and it was fun. I drove, because I didn't think I'd feel like drinking. But you know how it is, Erik bought me a beer and then K.'s boyrfriend, A. bought me a beer and next thing you know, I'm wishing I had walked downtown.

At one point, my friend K. was trying to help me out by being my wing person, but she was a little too drunk to do the job effectively. She saw a hot guy standing behind me, holding his jacket and waiting for his beer. So, she turned to him and said, "Hey, if you want, you can put your coat underneath her and she'll sit on it for you..." He looked confused and then horrified and then K. and I started laughing hysterically at how NOT helpful that was. He very politely declined and then I'm sure he made that twirling of his finger around his ear motion to his friend, to indicate how crazy he thought we were. Again, it's not like I'm looking anyway, but I'm glad that happened, because I'm sure we'll laugh about that for years to come.

I switched to drinking water and was trying to sober up, when we left our bar stools and went to sit at a table with some friends. Of course, I sat in between two people, one of which I knew and the other was someone I didn't know, but from the conversation it sounded like she might be currently dating the guy I dated last Winter. Which was fine, I like meeting new people. As it turns out, she and the guy who was sitting on the other side of me, both just happened to be Republicans. I really like the guy, no matter what his politics, but I also really don't want to have to talk about Obama's tax policies at a bar. I'd also rather not have someone try to convert me to their religion at a bar either. If you want to talk about sex, or drugs we used to take when we were young and stupid, or music, or which Star Trek movie sucked, or point out hot girls or guys to me, I'm right there for that, but anything very serious, makes my head hurt. The good thing was, it sure sobered me up really fast. I was in great shape to drive K. and A. home and get to my place as well.

The moral of the story tonight is, don't let your friend try to hit on a guy for you by asking him if he wants you to sit on his coat. Trust me, it doesn't work. And if you're trying to sober up, just sit between two people who want to tell you all about tax policies, it is one sure fire way to do it.

It's Been a Long, a Long Time Coming

Coadster and her Obama fake tattoo she wore all day at school. She went to see Obama speak on Earth Day in 2007 and was very impressed with what he had to say even back then.

I'm going to write a short post tonight. It's been a long and happy night at our house. As I write this, we're listening to Obama's acceptance speech. We heard McCain's earlier and I thought it was very gracious, and in the spirit of cooperation that this country REALLY needs right now.

I'm not going to write a huge political post, because there are others who do that so much better than I, and tonight I'm so excited that all I can say is, YEA! YEA! YEA! I wish my mom were alive so I could call her and we could woo-hoo to each other and spaz-out over the phone.

The sign in front of the Deadwood today.

I figured it was pretty monumental when my sister told me that my Uncle voted for Obama, because I don't know if he has voted for a Democrat president in my lifetime. I'm not sure, but Kennedy could have been the last time for him.

I'm also thinking of Poptart, who worked so long and hard canvassing in and around Illinois. I hope she's at Grant Park right now, celebrating. She deserves it. The last time I was there was in 1984, when I went with a busload of people to hear Jesse Jackson speak the Summer before that election.

We've been hearing firworks since Obama was projected the winner. I can't imagine what it's like in big cities.

Okay, that's enough of me and my blathering. Happy election day to you all. I hope your voting lines were short.

I Need a Drink and a Quick Decision

Here is a blurry photo at the caucus of the head of the writer's workshop and one of my favorite writers/readers. If you ever get a chance to hear Lan Samantha Chang read, I highly recommend it.

So, last night I caucussed. I went to City High and there were well over 700 people in the cafeteria there. It was hot and loud, but the whole process was pretty interesting. There was all that wheeling and dealing and yelling and chaos. It kind of reminded me of playing the game Pit when I was kid. Basically, even at the beginning it was all over but the shouting. Obama took it hands down and Edwards had enough people to remain viable. Many of us were surprised that Hillary didn't have enough people initially to remain viable, but acquired the 108 she needed to get herself a delegate.

Erik was at Hoover, so we were texting each other back and forth about who was at our caucus and all the drama that was taking place at both. He texted me a photo to show me how crowded Hoover Elementary was and I texted him this picture of my Hotz Street neighbor's butt supporting her candidate. I figured he'd be interested in that.

We were done with the caucusses by nine. At that point I dropped off my friend K. and her neighbor Jen and Coadster and I finally made it home. I messed around with the computer and had no idea what I was doing. Erik tried too, but couldn't figure it out either, so now I'm waiting for the cable people to call me so I can run home and get things going and get my fix. God, I hope they can fix it today.

Of course, the end of the caucusses also means that Erik is leaving. He has to work at a couple of different places in the Midwest,with the tentative plan of coming back in ten days. I'll be fine for ten days, won't I? I'll definitely miss getting picked up from work everyday, and having food made and dishes done when I come home from work, but mostly I'll miss having Erik around being all fun and hot and shamelessly dorky. So, the countdown starts anew...

If They Got Thunder Appeal, Let Them Be On Your Side

I went to the cable place last night and got a new modem but didn't get it set up yet. Erik and I spent some time hanging out with the girls before they went to their dad's house and we went to Devotay to meet our friends and celebrate Ondine's and H.'s shared birthday. It was our last night together without my girls, so after dinner we went home and took some time to talk about what we want to do from here on out.

I've decided to caucus tonight. I was hesitating a bit because I wasn't sure what the girls were doing and it does take some time. But Coadster is going to shadow caucus (since she's not 18 yet) for Obama and Stinky is babysitting for some people so they can go to the caucusses. I haven't been to the caucusses since the eighties, so it will almost feel like the first time.

Okay. Since everything is conspiring against me blogging, I better go now. Work is insane right now because of a certain deadline for a certain graduate MFA creative writing program that apparently all thousand applicants waited until the last minute to apply to.

***Finally, I'm adding this because I keep forgetting to do it. The word for next week's Saturday Scavenger hunt is "NEW". Because it's timely this time of year...

Look What's Happening Out in the Streets

Coadster protesting something when she was younger.

Today Coadster participated in a walk-out to protest the war in Iraq. A bunch of kids left school at noon and assembled in front of the high school to paint peace signs on their faces and then march downtown to the Ped Mall where there were bands and speakers and people wearing patchouli and eating lots of hippie food.

I thought it might be a good experience for Coadster to exert her constitutional rights and increase her awareness about political issues. Um, I must have been smoking crack. Coadster is dangerously close to turning fifteen. Apparently, she was mainly aware of the fact that many of the guys who marched were totally hot. She even used her sharp, organizational skills, to put them in order from super cute, down to just okay. I did try to find out more from her, besides which guys were attractive.

Me: So, what other things did you learn from the rally.

Coadster: Well, I noticed that all the college kids who organized it were kind of hairy.

Me: The guys or the girls?

Coadster: Both. None of them shaved and so there was just a lot of hair all over people.

Me: Welcome to the wonderful, hirsute, world of left-wing politics.