Dear America

Hey, America! I could care less who you vote for. Just vote!

I'm not going to preach about which candidate you should or shouldn't vote for, you can make up your own mind. That's the beautiful thing about being an American. But I am going to tell you to get out and rock the vote tomorrow. Get off your butts and show up to your polling station! What's a chunk out of your Tuesday once every four years? Nothing! It's time we as women and young people and everyone else stop being passive about our government and take charge! This is our right as a citizen of this country and it's about time we start exercising it. People all over the world have given their lives in the struggle to vote freely and countless more will. Think government isn't about you? How many of you have student loans to pay? How many have credit-card debt? How many want clean air and clean water and civil liberties? How many want jobs? How many want kids? How many want their kids to go to good schools and walk on safe streets? Decisions are made by those who show up! You gotta rock the vote!

"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for, at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
~Senator Paul Wellstone

Tell Me What You Really Think, America.

Click on the image to make it readable. It's worth it. Trust me.

Apparently All The Grown - Ups Have Gone Home

Upon returning from a business trip in Malaysia Cat, a co-worker of mine, presented me with a beautiful pashmina in hues of warm honey, chrome blue, and woven florals. I don't know how she found it, but it screams me, right down to the metallic silver threads that twinkle when the light catches it just right. I decided to wear my pashmina to work, determined that it be worn for more than just keeping warm on the bus. That's where it all began.

Throughout the day I was showered with compliments about my pashmina and, of course, this made me feel great and international considering my earrings were from Prague and the Pashmina from Malaysia. Well in addition to the compliments John, another co-worker, made it known that the way I was wearing afore mentioned pashmina reminded him of a fighter pilot. He also proceded to tease me about it. The bantering back in forth between he and I that ensued continued throughout the day and eventually came to (what I thought was) a hilarious climax.

3:45 p.m. the office is quiet. Most of the senior administrative types are at meetings...
The community printer located in my cubicle begins to groan to life.

John: (from his cubicle which is next to mine) " Hey Bridget, could you grab that document for me and just hand it over the wall? I'm being lazy.

Me: "Sure thing." (Cross over to printer)







This prints out -







I bust out laughing and stagger over to the cubicle wall that separates John and I and demand an explanation as he stands up (taller than the wall) and gives a huge grin.

John: "I thought it was appropriate."

Me: (Handing the picture over the cubicle wall behind me) Lee, check this out! This is what John thinks I look like!

Lee: (chucking her aviator glasses over the cubicle wall) "Here put these on."

Me: (turning to John's cubicle and posing like the above picture) "Here how about now?" I siad through stifled giggles.

John: (Busts out laughing) That's brilliant!

We all start laughing and Lee says from her cubicle, "Apparently all the grown-ups have gone home."

We continued to laugh...

Oratory

For as long as I can remember being interested in politics I have yearned for the political duologue of the past, believing that oratory was no longer eloquent or inspiring in contemporary politics. I longed for the speeches of the Kennedy brothers, wishing their speech writers would magically become young again and eager to inspire. I dreamed of what it would have been like to be in the same room as Lincoln or Jefferson as they gave resounding voice to our dreams and hopes as a nation; to be in awe as FDR healed our wounds. Perhaps it is a characteristic of our generation to be jaded and cynical for I believed the modern politics consisted of nothing more than going through the motions.

Last night I turned on the Democratic National Convention in hopes of learning more about a candidate that I admittedly know very little about, a candidate whom I was supporting simply becasue I don't like the other guy. I was wrong. Never in my life have I been so inspired by speeches given by my contemporaries. Never has my heart been so filled with hope and confidence by politics. In an era where attack adds are king and violence plagues the news I heard in the voices of those speaking a glimpse of the past. I heard passion, inspiration, hope , and most of all I heard truth. I believed what was being spoken. I believed those whom I never thought I would believe, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Teddy Kennedy, and Michelle Obama. I wanted to grab a sign and shout at the top of my lungs that this is what our nation has been lacking, this is what politics should be. In an era where politics mostly focuses on the negative, I, for the first time as an eligible voter, felt positive about my choice for president.

Please, if you have a chance, watch the rest of the convention. See if you can feel what I am writing about. If you missed last night's speeches, you can hear them at www.npr.org under "Elections 2008" or go to http://www.demconvention.com for the videos and transcripts.

Thing I Learned About Weddings

Here are a few things, for future reference, I have learned about weddings:

- Have the wedding indoors. This will eliminate 90% of the stress about the weather.

- Do not split up couples. If one is in the wedding party, the other should be as well. Otherwise it's just too awkward.

- Invite the brothers of Alpha Sigma Phi

- Real flowers over fake.

- A photo booth is a must!

- Dance lessons should be required.

- Music plays a bigger role than you would think.

Mr. and Mrs. Rachel and Joey Wood

Well, I did it. I went and I didn't let my unfounded jealousy take over. Maybe only for a few moments here and there but overall I actually enjoyed myself. To be quite honest, it was the most fun wedding I have ever been to. And the ceremony was beautiful too, not only visually but meaningfully as well. Too bad I'm Catholic and have to have a priest officiate because I would have Uncle John preside over my wedding any day. ;) I have never been to a ceremony that was filled with so much love and reverence for the two people about to become husband and wife; and so much respect for the meaning of marriage.

I don't know how to make this next part come out right but I'll give it a whirl. It was wonderful to be a part of a wedding that had next to nothing to do with religion or God. That's not to say that God wasn't there or mentioned because he was. Perhaps more so than if it were all about the religious aspect. This truly was a celebration of two people's love for each other, their commitment to one another. Is that not the purest form of God's love? Why muddle it up with all the heaviness and pressure that comes along with religion? I don't know what else to say other than that was the most beautiful ceremony I have ever been to and the only ceremony I have physically felt the love radiating from everyone present.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Wood.

Who Would Have Thought?

Well there actually is something about Western that I like.

I absolutely love being put on hold when dialing across campus! I mean, have you ever truly listened to the hold music? It's classical; and not only that, it's beautiful! I've never heard such beautiful music while on hold- anywhere. Usually I get cheesy elevator music or obscure contemporary classical. But no, not at Western. I just wish they'd chime in and name the compositions so I could go out and get them for myself.

I <3 Western's hold music.