Thursday, September 29, 2005
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
-Unmatchable-
I was going through some email last night before I went to bed, and I happened to get one that would normally be deleted immediately but caught my eye. It was for a "personality profile" of 29 different things by a place called eHarmony.com. I've heard about this before, because Boyfriend's parents live next door to a couple who was married after having met on the service. When he told them about me & how we met (on webcams), they told him how great eHarmony had been for them. He & I had talked after that about signing up for it just to get our profiles and see if we're compatible according to their survey. So when I got the email last night, I was intrigued.
I went to the website, and of course there are loads of things to fill out. Email addresses, passwords, birthdates, etc. And that's just the intro page! So, after I dutifully filled out all that crap, I got to go to The Survey. To me, this survey seems kind of generic. It's like one of those paperbacks you see in the checkout line at the grocery store that promises to "find your IQ in 10 simple questions!" Then you read it, and realize not only does it ask the same question with different variations 10 different times, but they're not actually administering an IQ test. It's as much of a waste of time as a romance novel. And then you realize you're not that smart after all because you shelled out $3.95 for it.
As I was answering the questions, I was struck by how often they want to know if you're "liberal" or "conservative." In this polarized nation of 51%-49%, it's become passé to want a relationship in the spirit of James Carville & his wife, Mary Matalin. (They also inspired a romantic film with Michael Keaton & Geena Davis back in the early 90's called Speechless, BTW.) Another thing is, eHarmony doesn't give you the option of being a "Man Seeking Man" or "Woman Seeking Woman," or, hell, even "Open Minded Woman/Man." Apparently in eHarmony Land, it's just the breeders who need love.
I filled out page after page of questions like "I'm attractive" and then having to choose a number between 1 and 10- 10 meaning you're Cindy Crawford and 1 meaning you're up in the bell tower most days. One question like that after another, and what I want to know is, who is going to describe themselves as "unattractive," "unmotivated," "lazy," "undependable," or "argumentative"? It seems unlikely that every person who participates is going to be 100% honest and share every character flaw BEFORE THE FIRST DATE. Of course, I did, because I don't have anything to hide. I was just doing it for fun, and actually feeling a little guilty that some men might see my profile & fall desperately in love with me, only to find that I'm taken. That's when I found out, after answering 10 minutes of insipid questions, that I am "unmatchable."
That's right. No one in North America at the present time is suited for me. My options are to... move to another continent and cross my fingers; join a convent; collect 15 or 16 cats; or blow my brains out. Maybe they should ask you from a scale of 1-10 which you'd most like to do after they deliver that delightful synopsis of your personality. They DO take great pains to remind you, however, that it IS only a "snapshot" of your current state of mind. You are more than welcome to retake the Survey at any time in the future (that is, if your ego isn't too bruised already). Well, I have my own survey in which I would ask people:
1. Do you think it's a good idea to meet someone from an online matchmaking site, which is likely to be absolutely wrong about you, and setting you up with people who aren't really compatible? Isn't it more likely than not that most people on there are lying to some extent, anyway?
2. Doesn't it matter more whether the person you're considering as a "potential mate" is willing to perform oral sex on you than if they're "rather impulsive"?
3. Finally, upon being told that you are "unmatchable", how does it make you feel to know that you're incompatible with so many?
I have one thing to say to eHarmony. I'd like to step into Jerry Springer mode for just a moment, if I may: Bitch, I have a man! And we are VERY happy, mmm-kay? So get to steppin' before I slap that smile off yo' face! Do NOT mistake my kindness for weakness, cuz I am NOT no FOOL!
Yes, Ladies & Gentlemen, my Man is very lucky indeed. And he didn't even have to pay a finder's fee...
posted at 3:53 PM |
I was going through some email last night before I went to bed, and I happened to get one that would normally be deleted immediately but caught my eye. It was for a "personality profile" of 29 different things by a place called eHarmony.com. I've heard about this before, because Boyfriend's parents live next door to a couple who was married after having met on the service. When he told them about me & how we met (on webcams), they told him how great eHarmony had been for them. He & I had talked after that about signing up for it just to get our profiles and see if we're compatible according to their survey. So when I got the email last night, I was intrigued.
I went to the website, and of course there are loads of things to fill out. Email addresses, passwords, birthdates, etc. And that's just the intro page! So, after I dutifully filled out all that crap, I got to go to The Survey. To me, this survey seems kind of generic. It's like one of those paperbacks you see in the checkout line at the grocery store that promises to "find your IQ in 10 simple questions!" Then you read it, and realize not only does it ask the same question with different variations 10 different times, but they're not actually administering an IQ test. It's as much of a waste of time as a romance novel. And then you realize you're not that smart after all because you shelled out $3.95 for it.
As I was answering the questions, I was struck by how often they want to know if you're "liberal" or "conservative." In this polarized nation of 51%-49%, it's become passé to want a relationship in the spirit of James Carville & his wife, Mary Matalin. (They also inspired a romantic film with Michael Keaton & Geena Davis back in the early 90's called Speechless, BTW.) Another thing is, eHarmony doesn't give you the option of being a "Man Seeking Man" or "Woman Seeking Woman," or, hell, even "Open Minded Woman/Man." Apparently in eHarmony Land, it's just the breeders who need love.
I filled out page after page of questions like "I'm attractive" and then having to choose a number between 1 and 10- 10 meaning you're Cindy Crawford and 1 meaning you're up in the bell tower most days. One question like that after another, and what I want to know is, who is going to describe themselves as "unattractive," "unmotivated," "lazy," "undependable," or "argumentative"? It seems unlikely that every person who participates is going to be 100% honest and share every character flaw BEFORE THE FIRST DATE. Of course, I did, because I don't have anything to hide. I was just doing it for fun, and actually feeling a little guilty that some men might see my profile & fall desperately in love with me, only to find that I'm taken. That's when I found out, after answering 10 minutes of insipid questions, that I am "unmatchable."
That's right. No one in North America at the present time is suited for me. My options are to... move to another continent and cross my fingers; join a convent; collect 15 or 16 cats; or blow my brains out. Maybe they should ask you from a scale of 1-10 which you'd most like to do after they deliver that delightful synopsis of your personality. They DO take great pains to remind you, however, that it IS only a "snapshot" of your current state of mind. You are more than welcome to retake the Survey at any time in the future (that is, if your ego isn't too bruised already). Well, I have my own survey in which I would ask people:
1. Do you think it's a good idea to meet someone from an online matchmaking site, which is likely to be absolutely wrong about you, and setting you up with people who aren't really compatible? Isn't it more likely than not that most people on there are lying to some extent, anyway?
2. Doesn't it matter more whether the person you're considering as a "potential mate" is willing to perform oral sex on you than if they're "rather impulsive"?
3. Finally, upon being told that you are "unmatchable", how does it make you feel to know that you're incompatible with so many?
I have one thing to say to eHarmony. I'd like to step into Jerry Springer mode for just a moment, if I may: Bitch, I have a man! And we are VERY happy, mmm-kay? So get to steppin' before I slap that smile off yo' face! Do NOT mistake my kindness for weakness, cuz I am NOT no FOOL!
Yes, Ladies & Gentlemen, my Man is very lucky indeed. And he didn't even have to pay a finder's fee...
posted at 3:53 PM |
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Randomness.
I've been thinking about this, because I am determined to have a puppy as soon as I can move to a place that allows dogs, and I'm 95% sure of what I want to name it. Way before Paris Hilton, we had Zsa Zsa Gabor. Though she hit her stride long before I was even a twinkle in my father's eye, whenever I saw her on TV I always enjoyed her wittiness and glamour. I remember the Zsa Zsa of the Hollywood Squares years, (along with Charo, Rip Taylor, & JoAnne Worley) the Dynasty era Center Square who didn't hesitate to put people in their place when they stepped out of line. She slapped a Beverly Hills police officer, for God's sake! The woman was fierce! She also had a sister, Eva Gabor, who was really only famous for being on Green Acres & dating Merv Griffin. Nothing against Eva, but Zsa Zsa always intrigued me much more. She had countless rich husbands and an amount of precious jewels that would rival Elizabeth Taylor's collections, but best of all, the strongest sense of self of all the stars.
On November 29th 2002, she was badly injured when her hairstylist lost control of the car they were riding in and hit a pole in West Hollywood, California. Since then, Zsa Zsa hasn't reappeared once. She's now 87, and I don't believe we'll ever see her again. Her pride prevents her from being seen as anything other than what people are used to. What an appropriately dramatic end to a storied Hollywood legend.
posted at 6:21 PM |
I've been thinking about this, because I am determined to have a puppy as soon as I can move to a place that allows dogs, and I'm 95% sure of what I want to name it. Way before Paris Hilton, we had Zsa Zsa Gabor. Though she hit her stride long before I was even a twinkle in my father's eye, whenever I saw her on TV I always enjoyed her wittiness and glamour. I remember the Zsa Zsa of the Hollywood Squares years, (along with Charo, Rip Taylor, & JoAnne Worley) the Dynasty era Center Square who didn't hesitate to put people in their place when they stepped out of line. She slapped a Beverly Hills police officer, for God's sake! The woman was fierce! She also had a sister, Eva Gabor, who was really only famous for being on Green Acres & dating Merv Griffin. Nothing against Eva, but Zsa Zsa always intrigued me much more. She had countless rich husbands and an amount of precious jewels that would rival Elizabeth Taylor's collections, but best of all, the strongest sense of self of all the stars.
On November 29th 2002, she was badly injured when her hairstylist lost control of the car they were riding in and hit a pole in West Hollywood, California. Since then, Zsa Zsa hasn't reappeared once. She's now 87, and I don't believe we'll ever see her again. Her pride prevents her from being seen as anything other than what people are used to. What an appropriately dramatic end to a storied Hollywood legend.
posted at 6:21 PM |
Monday, November 08, 2004
Lots of stuff today. Today is Boyfriend's & my 2nd anniversary, which is special because we're engaged now. Also, it feels like we've known each other our whole lives, but more on that in a minute.
I took my grandmother out to lunch today. I love her. I've always admired so many things about her. She was born in 1920, in a different place and time that I like to daydream about sometimes. When she was a young woman, she got to see three of the greatest films of all time make their debut: Gone With The Wind, The Wizard Of Oz, and Citizen Kane. (I admit I've never actually seen Citizen Kane, but I know the American Film Institute ranked it #1 in the history of all films and I'd like to see it one day.) It's nothing short of remarkable that all of these movies came out in the same year: 1939. My grandma was 19, not much younger than I am now. Chivalry was alive & well, there was still a moral code, and places like Los Angeles still had open land and skies that you could enjoy. Unfortunately, equal rights for everyone wasn't even something that was imagined- racism and sexism and homophobia were just "the way it is." For the issues of equality alone, I wouldn't want to live in that era.
My grandma was the first to do a lot of things in her family. She was the first woman in her family on both sides to get a driver's license. She would drive herself around to the envy of her sisters. She was the first woman in her family to have a job, and a good one at that, at a high profile insurance agency. She was married & had two children, and then unfortunately, she became the first woman in her family to get a divorce. When she retired, she made it a point to go around the world and see how other people lived. She has a globe which she stuck thumb tacks in to commemorate where she has been. When I was little, I would look at that old rickety globe with all the little pins stuck in with amazement. I would imagine what all the places were like, and she would show me pictures and tell me stories about being on the plains of Africa, where they actually got to see the wildlife up close. She would tell me about China, where they would eat with their fingers on the floor and the people were so adoring of Americans. She loved Greece & Singapore, and she still talks about them like she was there yesterday.
Unfortunately, my grandma is out of touch with reality now. She lives alone, at her insistence, but she requires lots of help from me & the rest of my family. She stays in her apartment most days, unless she has a doctor's appointment or we go to lunch. She's on oxygen full time, and she walks with a walker. She sits at home with Fox News on in the background. She never really watches anything else. She thinks Bill O'Reilly tells the truth. She thinks Bush is the best president ever. She worries that if another Democrat gets into office, we'll have another terrorist attack. She knows my views, and constantly tries to bait me into political arguments. The saddest thing for me is that one of the strongest female role models I've ever had has disappeared.
Today at lunch, she started in about the election. She knows I don't want to discuss it with her, because she doesn't listen to me, anyway, and besides, it's over & done. Bush is going to be our president for the next four years, barring a major surprise, and that's the way it is. So, she starts in about all the celebrities who said they are going to move abroad if Bush is reelected. "Well, good riddance to them. Those evil- Bronwyn? Brawlin? Boilyn?- boys, (it's Baldwin, btw) they should move to Ireland or the UK. In fact, let's send them to Iraq!" Then later she says, "Bill O'Reilly said 'Good Riddance!' to all those stars." And she laughed.
Later, we got into the issues I'm especially passionate about, women's and gay rights. First, after I explain to her that if the Bush administration has their way, they'll elect judges who are anti abortion, she says, "So, you're planning on having an abortion?" Then I explain to her, like I do to everyone who is so narrow minded, "I don't personally ever want to have an abortion. But just because I don't want to, doesn't mean that it shouldn't be available for everyone else." Later about the gay marriages, she says, "I say, give them all the legal rights they want, just don't call it a marriage. After all, the bible says..." That's kind of where I tuned out, so shocked that the woman who has told me for so long that the bible was written by men, and men who were wrong, is now using that as a reason to support Bush & his cronies governing hate, bigotry, and prejudice. I was done with the conversation completely after that.
Then she wanted to go to see her seamstress. Her seamstress is a woman of about 70 who lives on the third floor of an apartment building that looks like it was built in the 50's and has no elevator. She is incredibly active and in good shape, and she is also very nice. Her apartment is a small one. It looks like a one bedroom, but may be two. I've never been down the hallway, past the beads she hung up in the entry way of the hall. The apartment is exactly what I would like for Boyfriend's & my first place in California. Unfortunately, if you were to rent that apartment in California instead of Tucson, it would probably be like $1500 a month, at least. She has it decorated very nicely, with white carpet and pastel colorings. She has family pictures set all over the place in really nice frames and lots of books about health and religion. She seems very religious, but I'd bet dollars to donuts that she's a Democrat.
Today when we went there, the woman was so happy to see me. She hugged me and I sat down and waited for her to measure my grandma's pants while we all talked and laughed. She also has a strong German accent, as she is from there. She doesn't have a car- she walks everywhere, which is hard, because everything here is so spaced out. On our way out, she said to my grandma, "Your granddaughter is so beautiful. This- this is the face of a model!" I was very flattered, and then my grandma said, "Yes, don't you like her hair today? Usually she wears it down, and it looks like it's in strings, but that's how all the girls wear their hair today. I like it up, just like this." What my grandma didn't know was that all day while she complimented my hair, it was actually a Toni Pony that I ordered from QVC. It works like a scrunchy, but it looks like hair. So when you put it up, it looks like you just got it styled at the salon. I like the way it looks, but best of all, I always wear my hair up in the daytime, anyway, so now it looks nice, too. The woman, though, knew immediately. "Oh, I love when my granddaughter wears her hairpiece, too! It's so pretty!" I kind of laughed at having been called out like that. It makes me wonder how many other people know it's a hair piece, too, though. Especially since the lady who created them and sells them on QVC constantly talks about how "no one will know!" Oh, well. I only paid like $15 for mine. It makes me happy.
So, onto my anniversary. If you wanna know how Boyfriend & I met, blah, blah, blah- I've written about it on here many times, especially on all the November 8th entries. Basically, we met online one night at the most unexpected time for both of us, we met in person a month later, and we've been together ever since. I love Boyfriend more than I ever imagined I could love anyone. He has taught me the fine art of balancing my needs with his. He makes me smile when I think about him & laugh when I'm with him. He puts up with my quirks- I watch certain movies incessantly (i.e., When A Man Loves A Woman, My Best Friend's Wedding, Steel Magnolias, and Poetic Justice); I love to cook & eat huge Italian meals at 3:00 am; I want to travel constantly, even when it's cost prohibitive; etc. I'm sure there are many, many more, but those are the ones that come to mind immediately. I think the thing that touches me most about our relationship is that Boyfriend has opened himself up in so many ways since he met me. He is an independent person, an independent thinker, and he needs lots of space. But damned if he doesn't spoil me more than anyone ever has. He calls me "Princess" and he'll say, "Come here & sit on my lap, you're my big beautiful baby." That sounds kind of offensive when you read it and don't understand it, but trust me, it's the most romantic and sweetest thing, and I long for those times when we have to be apart. What else can I say? I can go on & on & on about him and our relationship, and I'm sure I will in the future, too. I'm just so proud to have a man like him. I hope everyone who reads this and has a mate is as happy with them as I am with mine. And I hope that after reading this, you'll go & give your partner a big sexy kiss on the lips. The world needs more passionate love. And to my man-
i love you, sweetheart!!!
posted at 4:52 PM |
I took my grandmother out to lunch today. I love her. I've always admired so many things about her. She was born in 1920, in a different place and time that I like to daydream about sometimes. When she was a young woman, she got to see three of the greatest films of all time make their debut: Gone With The Wind, The Wizard Of Oz, and Citizen Kane. (I admit I've never actually seen Citizen Kane, but I know the American Film Institute ranked it #1 in the history of all films and I'd like to see it one day.) It's nothing short of remarkable that all of these movies came out in the same year: 1939. My grandma was 19, not much younger than I am now. Chivalry was alive & well, there was still a moral code, and places like Los Angeles still had open land and skies that you could enjoy. Unfortunately, equal rights for everyone wasn't even something that was imagined- racism and sexism and homophobia were just "the way it is." For the issues of equality alone, I wouldn't want to live in that era.
My grandma was the first to do a lot of things in her family. She was the first woman in her family on both sides to get a driver's license. She would drive herself around to the envy of her sisters. She was the first woman in her family to have a job, and a good one at that, at a high profile insurance agency. She was married & had two children, and then unfortunately, she became the first woman in her family to get a divorce. When she retired, she made it a point to go around the world and see how other people lived. She has a globe which she stuck thumb tacks in to commemorate where she has been. When I was little, I would look at that old rickety globe with all the little pins stuck in with amazement. I would imagine what all the places were like, and she would show me pictures and tell me stories about being on the plains of Africa, where they actually got to see the wildlife up close. She would tell me about China, where they would eat with their fingers on the floor and the people were so adoring of Americans. She loved Greece & Singapore, and she still talks about them like she was there yesterday.
Unfortunately, my grandma is out of touch with reality now. She lives alone, at her insistence, but she requires lots of help from me & the rest of my family. She stays in her apartment most days, unless she has a doctor's appointment or we go to lunch. She's on oxygen full time, and she walks with a walker. She sits at home with Fox News on in the background. She never really watches anything else. She thinks Bill O'Reilly tells the truth. She thinks Bush is the best president ever. She worries that if another Democrat gets into office, we'll have another terrorist attack. She knows my views, and constantly tries to bait me into political arguments. The saddest thing for me is that one of the strongest female role models I've ever had has disappeared.
Today at lunch, she started in about the election. She knows I don't want to discuss it with her, because she doesn't listen to me, anyway, and besides, it's over & done. Bush is going to be our president for the next four years, barring a major surprise, and that's the way it is. So, she starts in about all the celebrities who said they are going to move abroad if Bush is reelected. "Well, good riddance to them. Those evil- Bronwyn? Brawlin? Boilyn?- boys, (it's Baldwin, btw) they should move to Ireland or the UK. In fact, let's send them to Iraq!" Then later she says, "Bill O'Reilly said 'Good Riddance!' to all those stars." And she laughed.
Later, we got into the issues I'm especially passionate about, women's and gay rights. First, after I explain to her that if the Bush administration has their way, they'll elect judges who are anti abortion, she says, "So, you're planning on having an abortion?" Then I explain to her, like I do to everyone who is so narrow minded, "I don't personally ever want to have an abortion. But just because I don't want to, doesn't mean that it shouldn't be available for everyone else." Later about the gay marriages, she says, "I say, give them all the legal rights they want, just don't call it a marriage. After all, the bible says..." That's kind of where I tuned out, so shocked that the woman who has told me for so long that the bible was written by men, and men who were wrong, is now using that as a reason to support Bush & his cronies governing hate, bigotry, and prejudice. I was done with the conversation completely after that.
Then she wanted to go to see her seamstress. Her seamstress is a woman of about 70 who lives on the third floor of an apartment building that looks like it was built in the 50's and has no elevator. She is incredibly active and in good shape, and she is also very nice. Her apartment is a small one. It looks like a one bedroom, but may be two. I've never been down the hallway, past the beads she hung up in the entry way of the hall. The apartment is exactly what I would like for Boyfriend's & my first place in California. Unfortunately, if you were to rent that apartment in California instead of Tucson, it would probably be like $1500 a month, at least. She has it decorated very nicely, with white carpet and pastel colorings. She has family pictures set all over the place in really nice frames and lots of books about health and religion. She seems very religious, but I'd bet dollars to donuts that she's a Democrat.
Today when we went there, the woman was so happy to see me. She hugged me and I sat down and waited for her to measure my grandma's pants while we all talked and laughed. She also has a strong German accent, as she is from there. She doesn't have a car- she walks everywhere, which is hard, because everything here is so spaced out. On our way out, she said to my grandma, "Your granddaughter is so beautiful. This- this is the face of a model!" I was very flattered, and then my grandma said, "Yes, don't you like her hair today? Usually she wears it down, and it looks like it's in strings, but that's how all the girls wear their hair today. I like it up, just like this." What my grandma didn't know was that all day while she complimented my hair, it was actually a Toni Pony that I ordered from QVC. It works like a scrunchy, but it looks like hair. So when you put it up, it looks like you just got it styled at the salon. I like the way it looks, but best of all, I always wear my hair up in the daytime, anyway, so now it looks nice, too. The woman, though, knew immediately. "Oh, I love when my granddaughter wears her hairpiece, too! It's so pretty!" I kind of laughed at having been called out like that. It makes me wonder how many other people know it's a hair piece, too, though. Especially since the lady who created them and sells them on QVC constantly talks about how "no one will know!" Oh, well. I only paid like $15 for mine. It makes me happy.
So, onto my anniversary. If you wanna know how Boyfriend & I met, blah, blah, blah- I've written about it on here many times, especially on all the November 8th entries. Basically, we met online one night at the most unexpected time for both of us, we met in person a month later, and we've been together ever since. I love Boyfriend more than I ever imagined I could love anyone. He has taught me the fine art of balancing my needs with his. He makes me smile when I think about him & laugh when I'm with him. He puts up with my quirks- I watch certain movies incessantly (i.e., When A Man Loves A Woman, My Best Friend's Wedding, Steel Magnolias, and Poetic Justice); I love to cook & eat huge Italian meals at 3:00 am; I want to travel constantly, even when it's cost prohibitive; etc. I'm sure there are many, many more, but those are the ones that come to mind immediately. I think the thing that touches me most about our relationship is that Boyfriend has opened himself up in so many ways since he met me. He is an independent person, an independent thinker, and he needs lots of space. But damned if he doesn't spoil me more than anyone ever has. He calls me "Princess" and he'll say, "Come here & sit on my lap, you're my big beautiful baby." That sounds kind of offensive when you read it and don't understand it, but trust me, it's the most romantic and sweetest thing, and I long for those times when we have to be apart. What else can I say? I can go on & on & on about him and our relationship, and I'm sure I will in the future, too. I'm just so proud to have a man like him. I hope everyone who reads this and has a mate is as happy with them as I am with mine. And I hope that after reading this, you'll go & give your partner a big sexy kiss on the lips. The world needs more passionate love. And to my man-
i love you, sweetheart!!!
posted at 4:52 PM |
Friday, November 05, 2004
How Can It Be?
I've really been depressed for a few days. I feel like I've been in this funk, and I think it was brought on by the stupid election. I have tried so hard to be positive- to be progressive, forward thinking about the whole thing. Yes, I really do believe that one day things can be better. But, will they? Will the religious right, which has hijacked half of the country's minds, ever let go enough for us to truly be the Greatest Country In The World again? I'm not so sure.
The day of the election also happened to be Boyfriend's last day here. He had come the day before Halloween, and on that same day we actually volunteered at the local Democratic Party Headquarters to call people and see if we could depend on their votes for Kerry. Most were really nice, but one was downright freaky. They give you these cell phones with only local calling plans on them, and you call down a list of names & numbers given to you. So, I called one and asked for some guy, and his wife answered. She asked who was calling, and I said, "Oh, it's okay, I'll call back." I learned this early on in the calling, because just because someone at the house answers doesn't mean they share that same opinion with the person on the list. So I got an earful from two different people prior to this particular call. The wife says, "Okay." And we hang up. Ten minutes later, my phone starts to ring. I looked at Boyfriend, and I said, "Ummm... What do I do?! It's not supposed to ring!" So he said "Here, give it to me." I guess when he answered, the guy gave him hell. He said we should have left our names and why we were calling, etc. I think his wife thought he was getting a call from another woman. Seriously, either that guy has a history of cheating, or his wife is completely insecure. Either way, I don't think they were voting for our side. Oh, well.
The night of the election, I voted early & then Boyfriend and I had the whole rest of the day together, until his plane took off at 8:30 that night. We decided to go to our favorite mall, because it was close to the airport and there really wasn't anything else for us to do. As we walked through the mall, people kept commenting on my "I VOTED" sticker. When we went into the Discovery Store, this nice girl who worked there came over and said, "You voted! Good for you!" And we started kind of discussing what a crazy election year it had been, etc., but never really said who we voted for. Then, she says, "Well, someone earlier asked me who I voted for, but I wouldn't say because that would associate my political views with the Discovery Store's, and they wouldn't like that." I nodded in agreement. Then about one minute from there in the conversation, she says, "You know, they say voter turnout is going to be heavy because so many people are still angry about how they think Bush stole the election in 2000... But, it's ridiculous, because what Mr. Clinton did in the oval office was MUCH worse." I kind of smiled at her, but it was in that moment that I realized she thought I was "one of them." I kind of ended the conversation quickly, and that was that. It may be horrible of me, but I'm so passionate about all this, I can't chat it up with people who are so opposed to what I believe.
Later, in Border's, the girl who worked behind the counter said, "You voted, that's good. I wish I didn't have to be here. I want to be at home watching the results come in. Do you know anything? God, I hope Kerry wins. I'll be up all night biting my nails if I don't find out. I can't stand it!" She & I had a nice long conversation while she was checking our stuff out, and I felt a real sense of this is what most Americans wanted. So I thought.
It is so depressing to me that more exit polling showed people's #1 issue for voting Bush to be "moral issues" (i.e. abortion, gay marriage) than the war in Iraq, terrorism, the economy... How is it possible that so many people in our country, so many fellow Americans, are so dumb? Why would you be more concerned about denying two people of the same sex c legal marriage rights than, say, health care? Or, I dunno.. the war that just goes on & on? I would just really like to know. The so called "moral issues" are the biggest thing for me, too, but I think supporting people's rights is actually more moral than trying to suppress and deny them. It's really bugging me so much that I can't watch Fox News now. I can't even watch the nightly news, because everytime they show Bush's cocky smirk, it makes me physically ill. Truly it does. If someone has an answer, please let me know. Because for now, I feel like I'm fresh out of them.
posted at 9:48 PM |
I've really been depressed for a few days. I feel like I've been in this funk, and I think it was brought on by the stupid election. I have tried so hard to be positive- to be progressive, forward thinking about the whole thing. Yes, I really do believe that one day things can be better. But, will they? Will the religious right, which has hijacked half of the country's minds, ever let go enough for us to truly be the Greatest Country In The World again? I'm not so sure.
The day of the election also happened to be Boyfriend's last day here. He had come the day before Halloween, and on that same day we actually volunteered at the local Democratic Party Headquarters to call people and see if we could depend on their votes for Kerry. Most were really nice, but one was downright freaky. They give you these cell phones with only local calling plans on them, and you call down a list of names & numbers given to you. So, I called one and asked for some guy, and his wife answered. She asked who was calling, and I said, "Oh, it's okay, I'll call back." I learned this early on in the calling, because just because someone at the house answers doesn't mean they share that same opinion with the person on the list. So I got an earful from two different people prior to this particular call. The wife says, "Okay." And we hang up. Ten minutes later, my phone starts to ring. I looked at Boyfriend, and I said, "Ummm... What do I do?! It's not supposed to ring!" So he said "Here, give it to me." I guess when he answered, the guy gave him hell. He said we should have left our names and why we were calling, etc. I think his wife thought he was getting a call from another woman. Seriously, either that guy has a history of cheating, or his wife is completely insecure. Either way, I don't think they were voting for our side. Oh, well.
The night of the election, I voted early & then Boyfriend and I had the whole rest of the day together, until his plane took off at 8:30 that night. We decided to go to our favorite mall, because it was close to the airport and there really wasn't anything else for us to do. As we walked through the mall, people kept commenting on my "I VOTED" sticker. When we went into the Discovery Store, this nice girl who worked there came over and said, "You voted! Good for you!" And we started kind of discussing what a crazy election year it had been, etc., but never really said who we voted for. Then, she says, "Well, someone earlier asked me who I voted for, but I wouldn't say because that would associate my political views with the Discovery Store's, and they wouldn't like that." I nodded in agreement. Then about one minute from there in the conversation, she says, "You know, they say voter turnout is going to be heavy because so many people are still angry about how they think Bush stole the election in 2000... But, it's ridiculous, because what Mr. Clinton did in the oval office was MUCH worse." I kind of smiled at her, but it was in that moment that I realized she thought I was "one of them." I kind of ended the conversation quickly, and that was that. It may be horrible of me, but I'm so passionate about all this, I can't chat it up with people who are so opposed to what I believe.
Later, in Border's, the girl who worked behind the counter said, "You voted, that's good. I wish I didn't have to be here. I want to be at home watching the results come in. Do you know anything? God, I hope Kerry wins. I'll be up all night biting my nails if I don't find out. I can't stand it!" She & I had a nice long conversation while she was checking our stuff out, and I felt a real sense of this is what most Americans wanted. So I thought.
It is so depressing to me that more exit polling showed people's #1 issue for voting Bush to be "moral issues" (i.e. abortion, gay marriage) than the war in Iraq, terrorism, the economy... How is it possible that so many people in our country, so many fellow Americans, are so dumb? Why would you be more concerned about denying two people of the same sex c legal marriage rights than, say, health care? Or, I dunno.. the war that just goes on & on? I would just really like to know. The so called "moral issues" are the biggest thing for me, too, but I think supporting people's rights is actually more moral than trying to suppress and deny them. It's really bugging me so much that I can't watch Fox News now. I can't even watch the nightly news, because everytime they show Bush's cocky smirk, it makes me physically ill. Truly it does. If someone has an answer, please let me know. Because for now, I feel like I'm fresh out of them.
posted at 9:48 PM |
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
After almost two years of wondering, waiting, obsessing, reading, analyzing, and just plain hoping, it has finally come to end. Yesterday, a record number of Americans turned out to the polls and the result is that they want George W. Bush for four more years. I must admit that I was more than shocked at this outcome, given the polls and the volumes of people I came into contact with my volunteer efforts, the Internet, and just plain discussing it with people. Is it merely coincidence that exit polls and poll results don't match up? Due to no paper trail on half of the electronic voting machines, we'll never know. John Kerry had my support from the beginning of his presidential campaign, and I still feel he was the best man for the job. It's no surprise that he won all three debates, by a wide margin. He is more intelligent than our president, and he is also more realistic about the needs of our people. But he is not our president, at least in these next four years.
What I was most struck by was the immense hopefulness that so many Kerry supporters showed. I have never seen a desire and a will so strong in so many people about one thing before. It was the idea that We can make the world a better place, despite all the setbacks our government has caused it. It was the idea that maybe all the kids sent to Iraq needlessly wouldn't have had to die in vain. It was the feeling that We could see a brighter day on the horizon, rather than a gloomy one on a war field. It was the intention of bringing peace & equality back to everyone, instead of a constant military presence reminding us that we as a nation are now not above starting wars with countries for no reason.
Today, corruption & greed has superseded democracy & good intentions, but this is not forever. On the contrary, if We mobilize our efforts, it will not have all been a waste. Those of us who supported the ideals that our forefathers put forth that We are One Nation With Liberty & Justice For All, can walk with our heads held high in the knowledge that it is Our common sense that makes this country great, not theirs. Those of us who weren't fooled by negative campaign ads and mean spirited nicknames and faulty electronic voting machines in the president's little brother's state can take comfort in the fact that We didn't sink so low. We made the difference, and We will continue to. Don't ever give up hope. For as much of a blow as this election's results are to our rights, We will fight even harder. In terms of Bush being able to say he was reelected, it doesn't much matter. You see, yesterday, we proved that We have a voice that stands together in unity & solidarity. It's stronger than Karl Rove. It's bigger than Bush's ego. We ring out with love & clarity. We Win, because that is what we must do to stay alive. We will never stop.
If I could tell the world just one thing it would be
That we're all okay
And not to worry
Cause worry is wasteful
And unless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with dispair
I'll gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear
My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours they are my own
And I am never broken
Poverty stole your golden shoes
But it didn't steel your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasnt ever after
We'll fight, but not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There I shall go singing
My hands are small, I know,
But they're not yours they are my own
And I am never broken
In the end only kindness matters
I will get down on my knees and I will pray
I will get down on my knees and I will pray
My hands are small, I know,
But they're not yours they are my own
And I am never broken
We are never broken
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's mind
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's heart
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's eyes
God's hands
posted at 8:42 PM |
What I was most struck by was the immense hopefulness that so many Kerry supporters showed. I have never seen a desire and a will so strong in so many people about one thing before. It was the idea that We can make the world a better place, despite all the setbacks our government has caused it. It was the idea that maybe all the kids sent to Iraq needlessly wouldn't have had to die in vain. It was the feeling that We could see a brighter day on the horizon, rather than a gloomy one on a war field. It was the intention of bringing peace & equality back to everyone, instead of a constant military presence reminding us that we as a nation are now not above starting wars with countries for no reason.
Today, corruption & greed has superseded democracy & good intentions, but this is not forever. On the contrary, if We mobilize our efforts, it will not have all been a waste. Those of us who supported the ideals that our forefathers put forth that We are One Nation With Liberty & Justice For All, can walk with our heads held high in the knowledge that it is Our common sense that makes this country great, not theirs. Those of us who weren't fooled by negative campaign ads and mean spirited nicknames and faulty electronic voting machines in the president's little brother's state can take comfort in the fact that We didn't sink so low. We made the difference, and We will continue to. Don't ever give up hope. For as much of a blow as this election's results are to our rights, We will fight even harder. In terms of Bush being able to say he was reelected, it doesn't much matter. You see, yesterday, we proved that We have a voice that stands together in unity & solidarity. It's stronger than Karl Rove. It's bigger than Bush's ego. We ring out with love & clarity. We Win, because that is what we must do to stay alive. We will never stop.
If I could tell the world just one thing it would be
That we're all okay
And not to worry
Cause worry is wasteful
And unless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with dispair
I'll gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear
My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours they are my own
And I am never broken
Poverty stole your golden shoes
But it didn't steel your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasnt ever after
We'll fight, but not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There I shall go singing
My hands are small, I know,
But they're not yours they are my own
And I am never broken
In the end only kindness matters
I will get down on my knees and I will pray
I will get down on my knees and I will pray
My hands are small, I know,
But they're not yours they are my own
And I am never broken
We are never broken
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's mind
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's heart
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's eyes
God's hands
posted at 8:42 PM |
Monday, October 04, 2004
A Day In The Life Of Joe Republican
Joe gets up at 6 a.m. and fills his coffeepot with water to prepare his morning coffee. The water is clean and good because some tree-hugging liberal fought for minimum water quality standards.
With his first swig of coffee, he takes his daily medication. His medications are safe to take because some stupid commie liberal fought to insure their safety and that they work as advertised.
All but $10 of his medications are paid for by his employer's medical plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance - now Joe gets it too.
He prepares his morning breakfast, bacon and eggs. Joe's bacon is safe to eat because some girly-man liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.
In the morning shower, Joe reaches for his shampoo. His bottle is properly labeled with each ingredient and its amount in the total contents because some cry baby liberal fought for his right to know what he was putting on his body and how much it contained.
Joe dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean because some environmentalist wacko liberal fought for laws to stop industries from polluting our air.
He walks to the subway station for his government-subsidized ride to work. It saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees because some fancy-pants liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.
Joe begins his work day. He has a good job with excellent pay, medical benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some lazy liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joes' employer pays these standards because Joe's employer doesn't want his employees to call the union. If Joe is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed, he'll get a worker compensation or unemployment check because some stupid liberal didn't think he should lose his home because of his temporary misfortune.
It's noontime and Joe needs to make a bank deposit so he can pay some bills. Joe's deposit is federally insured by the FSLIC because some Godless liberal wanted to protect Joe's money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the Great Depression. Joe has to pay his Fannie Mae-underwritten mortgage and his below-market federal student loan because some elitist liberal decided that Joe and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his lifetime.
Joe is done at work. He plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive. His car is among the safest in the world because some America-hating liberal fought for car safety standards.
He arrives at his boyhood home. His was the third generation to live in the house financed by Farmers' Home Administration because bankers didn't want to make rural loans. The house didn't have electricity until some big-government liberal stuck his nose where it didn't belong and demanded rural electrification.
He is happy to see his father, who is now retired. His father lives on Social Security and a union pension because some wine-drinking, cheese-eating liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Joe wouldn't have to.
Joe gets back in his car for the ride home, and turns on a radio talk show. The radio host keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. He doesn't mention that the beloved Republicans have fought against every protection and benefit Joe enjoys throughout his day. Joe agrees: "We don't need those big-government liberals ruining our lives! After all, I'm a self-made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have."
posted at 6:26 AM |
Joe gets up at 6 a.m. and fills his coffeepot with water to prepare his morning coffee. The water is clean and good because some tree-hugging liberal fought for minimum water quality standards.
With his first swig of coffee, he takes his daily medication. His medications are safe to take because some stupid commie liberal fought to insure their safety and that they work as advertised.
All but $10 of his medications are paid for by his employer's medical plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance - now Joe gets it too.
He prepares his morning breakfast, bacon and eggs. Joe's bacon is safe to eat because some girly-man liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.
In the morning shower, Joe reaches for his shampoo. His bottle is properly labeled with each ingredient and its amount in the total contents because some cry baby liberal fought for his right to know what he was putting on his body and how much it contained.
Joe dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean because some environmentalist wacko liberal fought for laws to stop industries from polluting our air.
He walks to the subway station for his government-subsidized ride to work. It saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees because some fancy-pants liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.
Joe begins his work day. He has a good job with excellent pay, medical benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some lazy liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joes' employer pays these standards because Joe's employer doesn't want his employees to call the union. If Joe is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed, he'll get a worker compensation or unemployment check because some stupid liberal didn't think he should lose his home because of his temporary misfortune.
It's noontime and Joe needs to make a bank deposit so he can pay some bills. Joe's deposit is federally insured by the FSLIC because some Godless liberal wanted to protect Joe's money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the Great Depression. Joe has to pay his Fannie Mae-underwritten mortgage and his below-market federal student loan because some elitist liberal decided that Joe and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his lifetime.
Joe is done at work. He plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive. His car is among the safest in the world because some America-hating liberal fought for car safety standards.
He arrives at his boyhood home. His was the third generation to live in the house financed by Farmers' Home Administration because bankers didn't want to make rural loans. The house didn't have electricity until some big-government liberal stuck his nose where it didn't belong and demanded rural electrification.
He is happy to see his father, who is now retired. His father lives on Social Security and a union pension because some wine-drinking, cheese-eating liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Joe wouldn't have to.
Joe gets back in his car for the ride home, and turns on a radio talk show. The radio host keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. He doesn't mention that the beloved Republicans have fought against every protection and benefit Joe enjoys throughout his day. Joe agrees: "We don't need those big-government liberals ruining our lives! After all, I'm a self-made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have."
posted at 6:26 AM |