the tie incident.

It's 6:30 AM and I'm already blogging? Here's why. At 5:28 AM Tim comes stomping into the bedroom, flash light in hand because he's trying not to wake me; his mutterings undecipherable. He's already been up for a while and as I glance at the clock I see that he has to leave in something like three minutes to meet the guys to go to work. I'm still refusing to let my brain fully wake up as I try to process the reason behind his need to tear the bedroom apart at this hour. He's looking under the bed, in/on/around the desk, in the closet. Back in the kitchen I can hear him open and close the dryer.

I'm awake enough to know that he obviously can't find something.

He's back in the bedroom, and in that half-annoyed-but-not-really-annoyed-still-half-asleep kind of way I ask him the inevitable "what are you looking for."

"I can't find my tie," at which I don't respond because initially I assume this is a problem he can solve himself. And then - more to himself then to me - "where the hell is it?" and then "watch your eyes." And, before I realize that this latest comment is actually directed at me, and before I can process the need to actually shield my eyes, the bedroom light comes on. Well, I'm awake now.

I ask "is it in the washing machine?"
"No," as he's back in the closet, fully tearing it apart.
"Is it in your bag?"
"No."
"Did you leave it in the car?"
"No, I had it in my hand when I came in the door last night."
"Don't you have another tie?"
"Yah, but I only have one clip."
"Does someone else have another one you can borrow?"
"No."
"And, it's not in your bag?"
"No," at which point I've given up on sleep, and I also know that he's hoping I get up to help, but doesn't actually want to ask me to get up and help, so I get out of bed to help. My initial thought is to check all of the places he's already checked - because, well, I don't really know why, but this just seems logical. So, the first place I check is in his bag.

I walk back to the bedroom. There are now socks strewn all over the place.
"Tim?" He turns around.
"Here." As, I hand him his tie.
"Where was it?"
"It was in your bag."

And so here I am, unable to get back to sleep at an hour that I haven't seen since, well, since I actually had a job, and I'm blogging. And instead of asking all the obvious questions about how his tie could actually be in his bag when he so definitely thought it wasn't, I'm instead asking myself how it's possible the government can issue a person two ties and only one tie clip. How much sense does that make?? They really can't afford two clips? Seriously? Seriously!

Seriously.

Back to bed.

one step forward and three steps back; isn't that how it goes?

I'm not as pessimistic as my title suggests, just a bit disappointed, that's all. Our country did a good thing on November 4th in electing Barak Obama as #44. We did what just 40 years ago wouldn't even have been thought possible. We made a giant sized step in the right direction. But, we've still got a long long way to go, and at the same time, on the same day, we took a few big ole steps backwards too.

As millions accross the world rejoice in this historical election, we have to also look at the states of California, Arizona, and Florida who, as of late last night had approved amendments to their state constitutions to ban same-sex marriage. Proposition 8 in California was approved by 52%, and is a proposition that actually overrides a state Supreme Court rueling that legalized same-sex marriage just six months ago.

So, as a country we're not done jumping hurdles yet, and maybe that's the beauty of it, because I don't doubt that we'll get there. Thanks to what happened on Tuesday, at least now I know that we're capable of it.

it's election day, hurray hurray!

Today I get to be proud that I’m an American. I get to be proud that tomorrow we all get to wake up having participated in the largest voter turnout in 100 years. I get to be proud that regardless of a blue or red victory we’re going to end up with either this country's first African American president, or our first female vice president (though I'm hoping whole heartily for a sweep for the Dem's). I get to be proud that tomorrow starts the long road to healing for this country. I'm worried about that regardless of who wins.

Today we get the opportunity to change the world with the force of our fingertips, and at the same time help change the course of history. Today we all get a voice.

So get out there and get your vote on.

The lines are long, so vote early. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a book, a jacket with a hood, and a cup of Starbucks (they'll give you a free cup o' joe if you mention that you voted). But most importantly bring your brain, and don't mess this one up. And, if you're from Oregon, you haven't voted until you actually drop off your ballot, so don't forget to do that, OK? And, just as a reminder, the presidency isn't the only thing we're voting on today. There are hundreds of state wide measures, and governor races, and house/senate elections up for grabs. Don't let all the other important issues fall by the wayside just because your pumped up for the president.

If you have any problem voting, need to know your polling location or find a way to get to the polls, please call a voter hotline: 1-888-696-7622.

And, come tomorrow lets all wake up with a big grin on our face, knowing that we did this. That after two years of campaigning, insult throwing, catch phrases, ads, conversations about black vs. white, jokes, analysis, and headlines, that we went to the polls, exercised our brains, and made our own informed choices. Lets be Americans and let's be proud of it.

Happy voting.

And for those interested in how I predict it will turn out, here's my electoral vote projection:

oh, to be a tourist

We've done the tourist thing a couple different times now. The first time I didn't take any pictures. Why? Well, it was an utterly dreary day which ended with us sprinting to the Metro stop in a total downpour. Definitely not picture worthy. The second attempt was better, though. No rain in sight; no clouds either, for that matter. So, here are some of the classic, though cliched Washington DC shots.

A few random observations:
*The city is smaller then I remember it
*The White House isn't quite as big and grand as I remember it being. Though, that is more likely due to my opinion of it's current resident. I suspect it's about to get much cooler.
*The distance between the Lincoln Memorial and the Capital building is definitely as long as I remember it. So much so that we didn't actually end up making it all the way to The Capital building.
*The Smithsonian museums are still cool (not to mention free), though I learned that going on a weekend isn't cool, unless you like crowds and hearing "ooooh, look how big it is" in reference to The Hope Diamond in 122 different languages.
*There is no shortage of Starbucks.
*The Lincoln Memorial is still my favorite. And as a side note, on the north wall, in the midst of an inscription of his second inaugural address, there is a spelling error. The word "future" is spelled "uture." This amuses me greatly.

That's all for now.