My Crush on Michelle

This is Michelle on Ellen. First of all, I think she is GORGEOUS, secondly, she seems really nice and thirdly, she obviously has a great sense of humor. = *crush*



Here is the intro to the show--it's really cute:

Apt

I was just reading this op-ed piece by The World Is Flat author Thomas Friedman. The part that really struck me (and speaks to my issue):

"there is no sustainable political/military power without economic power, and talking about one without the other is nonsense. Unless we make America the country most able to innovate, compete and win in the age of globalization, our leverage in the world will continue to slowly erode. Those are the issues this election needs to be about, because that is what the next four years need to be about."

You can read the entire article here.

Getting it Together

Dave and I have been watching Design on a Dime. I must say, the ideas on that show are truly inspiring.

This post would be a lot better if I had a picture, so I will try to remember to take one. BUT, I think the next room we will be focusing on (which is funny bc I think my problem is as we are working on one room, I am fantasizing about another and Dave often has to clap to make me focus again) is downstairs.

Challenges: this is our tv room. it is also the cats' bathroom. It's small and dark and the stairs are precarious. There are also a ton of spider sightings this time of year.

Goals: make it cozy and inviting and not smelly or scary.

We've made good headway in that we tore up the old carpet and Dave plugged in some air fresheners. What a difference that all made! Now, we just have to "bring it all together" and add in a few design elements that make it more cozy.

Will report back soon!

One more thing--as Dave and I (okay, more me than him) realize that simplicity is best (ie, not keeping everything), my q for you is: what the heck do we do with all our books?!

My electoral map

The Washington Post has started a contest for people to predict the 2008 election by filling out their own electoral map. Here's a link to mine:

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008/pick-your-president/3907/

OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA!!

Watch SNL this weekend

2 Reasons:

=====================







Oh, and something about some guy named Michael Phelps. Who's that? The Olympics? That's SO 3 weeks ago!

P.S. Did anyone see Sarah Palin's first interview? She sucked. Obviously not ready to be VP. Don't let those Kool Aid drinkers tell you she did well...

Confession

I started another blog.

Now for MY top issue

Okay, it's too hard to narrow down, but I guess my biggest concern in the forthcoming election is the future of this country. Economically, socially, politically. Barack Obama is my President and speaks to my concern.

McCain--nothing against the guy--but... he doesn't even use a computer. How is he supposed to lead us into the future?

What's your top issue?

When I talk to people who say they are going to vote for McCain, I ask them their top three issues. The one recurring issue I hear from McCain voters is "national security". The perception seems to be: McCain = military experience = Commander-in-Chief.

The perception from this side of the fence is:
Barack Obama has held assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations and Veterans' Affairs and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. He also became Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on European Affairs. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama has made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. He majored in political science with an emphasis in international relations. (Not to mention, of course a law degree.) The guy is Smart (that's with a capital "S") and I don't think even McCain supporters would put McCain on par with Obama as far as intelligence. (Courage and moxie, sure)

Disclosure: McCain had stints on the Armed Services Committee, Commerce Committee and the Indian Affairs Committee.

What I thought was really interesting and revealing, though, are the answers of each of the candidates to the question "If you become President and knew Bin Laden was in Pakistan, would you send US troops in after him?"

Watch the video, but in short:

Obama: "if we have Bin Laden in our sights... we take him out"
McCain: "I'm not going to go there. Pakistan is a sovereign nation"

I am all for the Rule of Law, but international law also says the U.S. could pursue bin Laden in Pakistan as an act of self-defense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_SOvB5VNvY

Is anyone out there?

Cancer Panic

For those who know me only from the blog, you may not know that I am a bit of a hypochondriac.  Specifically, I am scared that I am going to get every kind of cancer there is.  I cannot imagine a worse fate than cancer.  But, while many hypochondriacs seek out the advice of a physician a little too often, I am too scared to go.  Why?  Because they'll tell me I am going to die of every kind of cancer there is!  

Cut to my arm.  I have a red bump that I first noticed probably two years ago.  At my last job, I had an HMO.  When you have an HMO, you have to get a referral to see a specialist.  So, I went for a physical and casually mentioned the ENORMOUS RED BUMP on my arm.  The Nurse Practitioner (are you KIDDING?!  You don't get to actually SEE a physician with an HMO!) said it was nothing, but she offered to lance it off for me.  I said I'd "think about it" which is code for "you'll never see me again".  

About a year ago, my Aunt died of cancer.  This scared me enough to go back to the physician for the ENORMOUS RED BUMP on my arm that I had convinced myself was growing.  I now have a PPO.  Two things: (1) it's much more expensive to have a PPO and (2) you no longer need a referral.  Too bad I didn't know that last part.  I scheduled an appointment and went on my lunch hour (which turned into my lunch two hour when I had to sit in the waiting room for 45 minutes).  When I actually saw the physician (lovely woman, btw), she looked at me like I was nuts when I said I wanted her to look at my mole.  She handed me a card for dermatology and suggested I call.  I said I'd "think about it" which is code for "not on your life".  

But then I read something about skin cancer recently, which scared me enough to make an appointment with the dermatologist.  This was exactly four weeks ago today.  I work for a small University which is part of a major medical center here in the city.  Turns out, the person examining me was none other than a student who I had just helped in my office.  It also turns out that not only did they want to check the ENORMOUS RED BUMP on my arm, but they wanted to do an all-over body check.  Now, when I say all-over, I MEAN all-over.  Soup to nuts *pun*  Alsomyanus.  ANYWAY... turns out the ENORMOUS RED BUMP on my arm is nothing.  Phew!  BUT... the dermatologist found a mole on my back that I didn't even know I had.  He scheduled an appointment with me two weeks later to have it removed.  Meantime he gave me pamphlets on melanoma to read *faint*

Note: do not simply give a hypochondriac a pamphlet to read on some life threatening condition.  Also, do not casually speak about "scooping out" a mole from one's back.  Nor should you casually mention that your patient's entire family should get checked for melanoma immediately.

Two weeks later, the mole was removed.  It left a 1cm hole in my back which will take 8 weeks to heal.  It will leave a scar.  I am applying vaseline and a band-aid to it daily.  I also had to wait two full weeks for the results.

Cut to today, 2:30CST.  I waited for 40 minutes in the waiting room.  I then waited 10 minutes in the exam room.  

Derm: *hurriedly walking in* Sorry I'm late.  Say, did I give you those pamphlets on melanoma last time?

Me: Y-yes.  

Derm: Good.  I need to make some notes in your file here.  I will go over the "path" in a minute.

*five minutes go by as I listen to him clearing his throat and scribbling*

Derm: OK, well it's not cancer.

(THANKS FOR MENTIONING THAT UP FRONT, A-HOLE!)

Derm: But it is a dysplastic nevus.  Your entire family will need to be checked.  Get dressed and meet me in the front and I'll give you copies of this.  

Me: *quickly dress, scoot to front* So what does this MEAN?

Derm: Well, it means you are seven times more likely to get melanoma when you get these types of moles.  It also means I need to see you in six months.  See you soon.

In summary, I am happy I am not going to die tomorrow.  I am not happy that I have to go get prodded and poked by people I see daily every six months.  I am also switching dermatologists. 

Bad Day Act I Scene 2

Recap of scene 1: Paul got to work at 6 AM. At 6:10 AM, when Erik showed up, Paul realized that he looked at the schedule wrong and didn't have to be to work until 7 AM. The day turned out to therefore be almost an hour and a half longer than it should have been.

SCENE 2

It's 9.5 hrs later. Paul is just getting off work. After missing one bus, he finally got on a packed bus. 20 minutes later, he exits the bus and heads towards Jewel-Osco...

Paul: (Thinking to himself) My ass is still wet! I hope that was just rainwater from yesterday on the bus seat.

Paul enters Jewel. After picking up his purchases and paying, he heads to customer service to get 2 rolls of quarters. An old women stands at customer service while looking desperately through her grocery cart that is littered with used / reused plastic grocery bags.

Old woman: OH NO!

Paul: Oh shit. Everytime I need to go to customer service, there is some old woman there making a stink about something. What could it possibly be this time??

Enter stage left fat cow Jewel employee with fake red hair. After obviously seeing 2 people, including an old woman, at her customer service stand, she walks right past and barks commands to some of her employees.

She then approaches the stand and speaks to the woman.

Fat cow: Yeah, what do you want?

Old woman: I spent $90 here.

Fat cow: Yes, that's nice. What's your point? What do you want?

Old woman fumbles with a tied plastic bag. Her old, shriveled, arthritic hands can't open the bag.

Old woman: Here, open this!

Fat cow rips the bag open without even trying to untie it. Inside the bag is 3 roles of adhesive tape.

Old woman: I want to return this. I don't have a receipt. I spent $90 here. They don't work.

Paul: Oh my f***ing gawd! Why does this ALWAYS happen to me.

Fat cow: What do you mean they don't work?

Old woman: They don't open.

Fat cow: Yes they do, see this green thing here? You pull up...

Old woman: Don't you tell me they work! I don't want them. They're old. They're all old and obviously not good anymore. Just give me my money back, I don't want them.

Fat cow: Whatever, you obviously are the expert. You know what you're talking about. But they work.

Old woman: Don't work!

Fat cow: That's nice. What's your point?

Old woman: I've been coming here for 36 years. Don't give me attitude. I come all the way from Dempster.

Fat cow: Yeah? So do I. What's your point.

Old woman: You drive. I take a PACE bus.

Fat cow: What's your point? Here's your money back.

Fat cow slams money on counter in front of old woman.

Fat cow turns to Paul.

Fat cow: Can I help you?

Paul: Can I have 2 rolls of quarters?

Fat cow: I can sell you 2.

Paul: **blank stare** THAT'S FINE.

Paul exits the store exasperated. It's been a long day. About 3 blocks away from Jewel and about 2 blocks from home, he stops.

Paul: F***! I forgot lettuce. I've got to go to the other Jewel. DAMMIT!

Ugh, fine.

The blog is turning very political. I was trying to fight that, but I'm giving in. For those of you who aren't interested in politics, sorry. I spend a lot of time these days watching coverage, so it tends to take up a lot of thought. Also, this is a very important election for those of us who feel like we've been living in an alien nation for the last eight years. I grew up (at least when I was becoming the person I am today) during the Clinton years, so this has really been something. Also, I'm gay. Also, I like to think that the government should help people. Anyway...  

I guess my biggest problem with "Barracuda" (which dictionary.com defines as slang for "a treacherous, greedy person" -- but the campaign is calling her that. I didn't make it up!) is probably something everyone who was old enough to vote during the Bush/Quayle elections went through. "Oh my God, what happens if the VP has to take over?!" That said, and assuming McCain wins the election and becomes incapacitated, I will thank Jeebus himself that we have a gubment of checks and balances. But wait... I've seen what that gubment does in times of "terror" and fright. It bends to the will of the moment instead of looking at the situation sans emotion (see the wars we are entrenched in for more information). Probably one of the most frightening things a country could go through is the death of their leader, so I guess that's why I'm scared. McCain is 72. Assuming he stays in office for eight years, he will be 80. It's no secret that the stresses of office tend to age a President anyway. You can see where I'm going with this.

Also, I'm offended on behalf of women everywhere. Andrea Mitchell (from MSNBC) said just this morning that she thinks Palin was a "smart pick" for McCain to attract women, and that women are moving to Palin in increasing numbers. Now, if you are a woman and you agree with Palin, that's one thing. But who in their right mind would vote FOR someone because they have a vagina EVEN IF they feel differently about what you can do with that vagina? I mean, I am sure there are people out there like that, but come on! Is that most of us? I hope not. The people they are interviewing are coming out to see the McCain campaign when it totters through town. That leads me to believe they would have done that anyway (or at the least would have voted for McCain come November). And it's not just the abortion issue. She's uber conservative on all issues that I've heard her talk about.  

That leads me to: her positions. Dear Media, stop saying she's trying to attract Hillary voters. She is the Anti-Hillary. She believes nothing that Hillary does. Deep down, she HATES Hillary. Personally, I tend to agree with Hillary's positions (yes, there are exceptions). Therefore, I find Palin to be a nightmare in terms of who I would like to see leading the country. That is precisely why I vote, even in the most mundane of elections (see County Water Commissioner election of recent history).

Oh yeah, and here's another reason. No spousal rights for gay couples, and if that wasn't enough... let's try to get them into lasting straight relationships. FU, Barracuda. To be fair, Palin hasn't officially endorsed converting people from gay to straight, but it's not a giant leap. Only bad people would want to keep committed couples from being able to visit their loved ones in the hospital as if they were married (= spousal rights). Luckily for me, that would never be an issue. P's and my families are very loving and accept us both with open arms. Other couples aren't so lucky.

Things that made me angry this week

Hey all...P here. Sorry I've been away. I know the blog has suffered in my absence. And to the blog's loyal fans, I am sorry for this lapse. I could make excuses (working too much, my brother's wedding, finishing a manuscript, miserable job...I could go on) but I...just did.


Anyhoo, in the spirit of the Republican National Convention, I'm going to use this blog to talk about what makes me angry instead of giving my fans a blog of substance. So here's to you, right-wing assholes.

Things that made me angry this week:

1) Sarah Palin. Not only is McCain's pick of her as a running mate an obvious political one (an attempt to get women and pander to his crazy right-wing nutjob base) but she would be a scary person to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. Can you imagine her being the leader of the free world? Oh my god, where should I move...Montreal or Vancouver? And is it just me or is her voice like nails on a chalkboard? Something like Francis McDormand's character in "Fargo" only more high pitched and histrionic. And is it just me or is it totally insulting that this woman is out there smugly insulting Barack Obama and the democrats considering she is a NOBODY that NOBODY has heard of from po dunk Alaska. And I'm sorry, don't give the media a hard time for wanting to know about your background...you are asking us to pick you as second in command of this country and you think it's unreasonable that we want to know more? DOUCHE!!

2) John McCain. I'm sorry but I'm supposed to believe that you are going to reform the Republican party while being in power? Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. You now get a time out to think about what you've done for the last eight years. And when you are ready to really admit how YOU AND YOUR PARTY are the ones that have put us on the wrong track over the past eight years, well then maybe we'll let you come out and collect speaking fees for talking to nursing homes and VFW posts. So go to your corner and face the wall. P.S. your speech sucked, didn't inspire at all and presented nothing of substance regarding how you would "change" this country. My ass you are an agent of change.

3) Residents and nurses that talk down to me like I'm dumb and beneath them. I reported 2 choice (dripping w/ sarcasm) people this week at work because they used these lines on me when I called them out on violating a protocol: "I put the order in, I'm the doctor...this is holding up the patient from going to the OR. I need this now," "Who is your manager?" and "This is ridiculous, I'm tired of dealing with this." Oh really, you are tired of dealing with evidence-based medicine and playing by the same rules as everyone else? TOUGH! (I'd explain this more but it would take a whole post).

4) M. Night Shyamalan and "Lady in the Water". This was by far one of the dumbest movies I've ever seen in my life. Horrible acting from good actors (mostly due to a bad script), a bad script (mostly due to a bad writer) and a bad writer (all due to M. Night Shamamlalanon). It's become apparent that he got lucky with "Sixth Sense" and "Signs". I would reserve my Republicanesque rancor and spare M. were it not for his massive ego and complete lack of humility (I'm sorry but you wrote, directed and starred in this film...I just threw up a little bit in my mouth). GIVE ME BACK THE LAST 110 MINUTES OF MY LIFE!!

Those things are really the only things I wanted to rant about. Did I sound like Sarah Palin because I didn't offer anything of substance, only criticism and partisan vitriol? Oh, sorry...that WAS MY GOAL.

Two things

1. Since this blog is now overrun with political posts (J), I won't go on forever. But I feel I need to say this. John McCain is a D-Bag. There. I said what everyone was thinking even IF they aren't going to admit it.
   
2. Today on the train ("Oh boy! Another train story!" say our loyal readers), I was just about to sit down when this mentally challenged* man accosted me. I was literally in the act of sitting, about to let gravity take over, when this man came running on to my train and squeezed between me and the seat. He then hooked his foot around mine and starting pushing me away from the seat. All the while he was saying things like "don't stand there, you're going to fall" and "get out of my way" and "you need to move".
   
   *I say "mentally challenged" which is true. I'm just not sure if that is how he was born or if he did it to himself. He DID have a coke nail.
   
   In any event, I let him have the seat. After I moved, he continued to yell at me about invading his space (!) until he decided it was time to pick on the unlucky passenger that decided to sit down next to him. He pointed out that her fat butt was hanging over the center line. Her reaction was priceless, but I'll leave her to blog about that on her own site.

Happy weekend!

My latest idea

I am tired of the personal attacks (of which I hear in the media both sides are guilty, but after what I heard this week at the RNC, I call bullsh*t). I think the election this November is going to come down to policy. And, even as interested as I am, I still need to brush up on and be able to speak about. So. My latest idea is to host a Liberal Study Group. I will structure it around Don't think of an Elephant
by George Lakoff.

I haven't read it yet, but 1. it's SHORT and 2. Dave has and he raved about it.

My idea is to get passionate people to be super-informed so that they can speak intelligently about the issues and point out the weaknesses of the republicans' platform (change?? really??).

If any of you are looking for a party idea, you could do it, too!

FOR EXAMPLE, some of the things Dave mentioned reading in the book were very apparent last night in McCain's speech. (paraphrasing) "Let the government work for you... (well, not ALL of you, just you, you and you)" "The government is the problem, don't trust the government" "Taxes are bad and the government is too big" --the ideas seem to be to leave ordinary people OUT of government and trust some rich white men to run it for you. Whereas I genuinely feel that Obama's campaign reiterates the message of community organizing and involvement--that it's not ME, it's US; that only with the help of people who passionately care about the fate of our country can we succeed at this critical point in our history.

Whatever people think about Obama or Democrats, you gotta admit, it's not a bad idea to get people involved and to remind Americans that this is a participatory democracy.

Don't Think of an Elephant! is the definitive handbook for understanding what happened in the 2004 election and communicating effectively about key issues facing America today. Author George Lakoff has become a key advisor to the Democratic party, helping them develop their message and frame the political debate.

In this book Lakoff explains how conservatives think, and how to counter their arguments. He outlines in detail the traditional American values that progressives hold, but are often unable to articulate. Lakoff also breaks down the ways in which conservatives have framed the issues, and provides examples of how progressives can reframe the debate.

Lakoff's years of research and work with environmental and political leaders have been distilled into this essential guide, which shows progressives how to think in terms of values instead of programs, and why people vote their values and identities, often against their best interests.

Don't Think of An Elephant! is the antidote to the last forty years of conservative strategizing and the right wing's stranglehold on political dialogue in the United States.

Read it, take action—and help take America back.

More of the Crowd Chanting

Barack Obama

Other pictures

Notice the snipers.

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter








Colorado Congresswoman Diana DeGette



Al Gore

Standing Ovation for Gore

Video Clip of Exiting the Stadium