So, we're back from New Zealand. I actually cried as we took off from LAX; not bawling, tantrum crying but a few quiet tears. New Zealand offered a kind of simplicity that I liked (particularly in Mangawhai and the smaller towns), but perhaps I'm more afraid that I will become complacent and not travel outside of what I know again. I'm also a little nervous about starting school and finding employment that meshes with my schedule, but I suppose I just have to take everything as it comes.

Otherwise, things are going well. Dre is amazing, and I feel so lucky and happy everyday to be with him. We had Christmas with both of our families in the Springs, and a good friend of mine from preschool visited today with her mom. We met almost 17 years ago, but since her father was in the military she moved frequently. Nevertheless, we kept in touch (did you ever have a penpal?), and it was so good to see them again.

In a totally unrelated subject that I've deemed blogworthy, I've been thinking a lot about how opinions are formed. In high school history class, I always envied the kids who seemed to know how to argue for or against some president or idea or policy. I just never seemed to know where to start, particularly with policy issues (take privatizing social security, for example. I can't make up my mind on this one.)

Now, almost five years later, I feel more informed and more aware of things going on, but I still feel like there's so much I don't know. I feel like I can read and read about a certain viewpoint, but then I come across another source and my developing opinion is turned on its head. Maybe the real question I'm asking is how you're supposed to find an unbiased news source. I love to read the NY Times, just for the variety of articles it offers, but some would say it's hugely "liberal". Maybe this is a dumb question, but what makes it "liberal"? Furthermore, where does one find a balanced news source?

Anyway, maybe I'm just spinning my wheels, but it's just a random thought.

So last night, we had a party with our Russian and Korean flatmates. We had some vodka, hummus, chicken (for all the non-vegetarians), potatoes, Korean pancakes and little "pockets" that kind of looked like ravioli (but were stuffed with veggies and noodles), and tomato/onion salad. It was a lot of fun, and it makes me sad to think we're leaving them next week; I will miss talking to and getting to know them. I really do hope we stay in contact.

Perhaps what I enjoyed most was sitting with people, some of whom might have been described by the American government as "the enemy" some twenty-thirty years ago, and realizing that we are, essentially, all the same. Oleg, Viktor and Sam are in New Zealand to learn English so they can better the lives of themselves and their families. We all have the same desires: education, enough to eat, clean water, opportunties for our kids, gainful employment.

I found yesterday night to be a testament to the fact that we are all part of the same human family, and that at our most basic level we aren't very different and strive to meet the same needs.

We will be home three weeks from today! Dre and I just spent the last 45 minutes looking at prospective houses, and emailing the contact info to his mom back home so she could check them out for us. She's so good to be willing to look at them on our behalf, and I hope we can have a place lined up before we get back.

I've been applying for scholarships on fastweb and scholarships.com, and I have hope that maybe I'll get something from them, who knows. UNC has yet to package my award letter, which is frustrating but I just have to be patient.

We had Thanksgiving here in New Zealand, and it was fun. Our flatmates made Korean Japchae (sweet potato noodles, mushrooms, carrots, soy sauce), pumpkin pie, and these little kumara/milk/ honey morsels, and we made the turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. Yumminess all around.

Anyway, we're looking forward to being back. I can't wait to see friends, family, and the kittens. The landlord here is also dodgy, which makes things uncomfortable sometimes. Anyway, we just had two Russians move in, and they are keen on the idea of a flatmate party on Saturday. We have already experience firsthand their fondness for Stolichnaya, so should make for an enjoyable weekend fest.

We're leaving for Australia on December 14th, then going back to Auckland, then flying home. We went to Mount Cook two days ago, and walked around there a bit. It was foggy and rainy but still offered decent walking and lovely scenery which reminded me a lot of Colorado. We also went to the Orana Wildlife Park yesterday, and finally got to see a kiwi! Funny little birds they are.

Love to you all, and see you soon!

Thirty days, and counting

Ok, so we're almost at the one-month-remaining mark of our time in New Zealand. We're in Christchurch now, on the south island, and just got back from a trip to Dunedin (sea lions, Larnach Castle, yellow-eyed penguins), Queenstown (a killer uphill walk leading to views of the mountains/lake), Fiordland National Park (Milford Sound), Franz Josef Glacier, and Puzzling World in Wanaka (Dre had a particular interest in the large labyrinth and puzzles there, and aptly described it in a postcard to his brother as a "geek paradise"). So, all in all, a good week.

We live in a house with three other girls, two from Korea and one from Japan. We're planning a potluck-style Thanksgiving dinner with them, and are going to try and scout out a turkey tomorrow. Maybe it will be a cornish-hen Thanksgiving, we'll see. I've decided that I will allow myself to eat poultry only on Thanksgiving (henceforth branding myself a "flexitarian"), but after that it's back to vegetarian business as usual.

I've been reflecting a lot on our time here, and my initial reason for suggesting to Dre that we do this: To see something different. After we had decided to come to NZ, a friend of mine who had spent some time in Thailand said, "You see, for me, that wouldn't be different enough." I don't know why, but that sometimes pops into my head. Different enough. True, there are a lot of aspects of life in NZ that prevent us from feeling like fish out of water (ie, language, government structure, to name a few). I don't know how I feel about that yet . . . I suppose I am just so grateful at this point to have had the opportunity at all.

The last three months

Wow, I just realized I've neglected writing here for almost a solid three months. In any case, quite a bit has happened. Dre and I got married in August, and we were fortunate enough to have quite a few family members and friends come out for the ceremony. All in all, it went wonderfully, and I have such good memories of that day.

The first few months of marriage have treated us both well; given that we're in another country without the familiarity of home, there have been some stressful points, but we've pulled through. New Zealand is an utterly amazing country: so much beauty, and it seems that people from all over the world come here. We've met people from Israel, India, Korea, China, Germany, UK, Austria, and have had the chance to travel to Hahei (where there's a hot water beach), Whangarei (to see Zion Wildlife Gardens, a sanctuary for endangered big cats), Mangawhai Heads (where we worked at a backpackers), Kaikoura (seal colony!), Tongariro National Park (we did the walks to Taranaki Falls and Silica Rapids), Rotorua (a thermal activity and Maori cultural center), Omapere (to see the two largest Kauri trees in New Zealand), the Bay of Islands (we went on a 22 hour boat trip around here and sea kayaked, snorkeled, fished for snapper, went night swimming, and ate sea urchin eggs: http://www.rocktheboat.co.nz/), and Auckland (we had the opportunity to walk along the ring outside the Sky Tower, thanks to my dear friend Ray).

I will be able to register for school soon, and we are still planning on coming back a few days before Christmas. I think we are both a bit ready to get back to our "normal" lives. Nevertheless, we are enjoying our time in NZ immensely, while it lasts. Our next big trip a few years down the road will hopefully be an African Safari; the people who we covered for at the hostel in Mangawhai Heads run a tour company, and it involves camping along sites in East Africa (http://www.africantouch.net/). So, something to save towards when we get back :)

Anyway, I suppose this is a sufficient update of what I've been up to since July. Cheers!

Cauliflower ear . . . so hott right now

Sometimes I read things that I really don't expect.

Apparently, according to this article, mixed martial arts (M.M.A.) has a trademark deformity called "cauliflower ear." It is caused by repeated blows to the ears, and develops when the injured ear is left untreated.

You can get an idea of what it looks like here, in a fight between James Thompson and Kimbo Slice.

Apparently, chicks dig this kind of stuff. There's nothing like a bloody, pus-filled ear to make 'em swoon.

Anyway, moving on. Dre and I are tying the knot a week from this Saturday. We saw a lot of people last weekend in the Springs, which was really, really nice. I did alright on the GRE; I know I could have done better if I just could have had a little time, but I suppose all that matters is the fact that my score is good enough for the grad program I want to get in to.

I'm taking the GRE tomorrow at 8:00. I feel confident about the 400-some words I've been studying since April 7, and fortunately the math isn't calc, advanced trig, etc. etc. Wish me luck . . .

I'm meeting with an advisor at UNC on Friday to go over the classes I have to take. I made a three semester plan of all the speech language pathology courses I need, but I'm not sure how my CSU core classes transfer to UNC. I guess I'll find out soon enough.

The wedding is a month from tomorrow, and I think we've got everything in place. Can't wait!

I've been having this recurring dream where I'm back in high school, and I have an English/ history class that I'm taking, but I don't know all the requirements for it. I have a big paper due, and everyone around me is almost done, but I haven't even started. I know I need the class to graduate, but I just can't get it together to do well. I had it for the third time yesterday . . . ?

Only about one month left until the wedding. We need to start calling people who we haven't heard from, and get the DJ squared away. Other than that, we're ready . . .

People have been asking me about having "cold feet," and I can't say I've had that at all . . . it makes me happy to know that Andres will be the only one for the rest of my life. I wouldn't want it to be anyone else :)

On a completely different note, I was just reading about a diploma mill (an "entity that awards degrees for 'little or no' coursework and that lacks accreditation by any government-recognized entity") that got shut down in Washington (read the article):

A 2004 report by the Government Accountability Office, which surveyed only 2 percent of federal employees, found 463 who had bought degrees from three diploma mills, but warned that the true number was probably much higher.

More than half worked for the Defense Department, where the then deputy undersecretary for personnel and readiness, charged with overseeing two million Pentagon employees, claimed a master’s degree from Columbus University, which left Louisiana after officials there demanded proper accreditation.

Is that not scary?!?

A new favorite song . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHTsc9PU2A

So my job ended at the school district on Friday, since school let out for summer. I'm working at summer school, which is only a month long . . . I will be kind of sad to leave the kids and the school. Hopefully I'll get to stop in sometime next year.

Andres and I booked our flight to New Zealand. We leave August 19, and come back a few days before Christmas . . . so it will be a solid four months. I am starting at UNC in January in the speech pathology program; where we live will depend on where Andres can get a job.

Sooo . . . things are starting to get rolling.

I heard about this during this past weekend: http://www.earthwatch.org/expedition One of Andres' neighbors did it, and I think it's up our alley. Some of the expeditions include surveying Bahamian reefs, butterflies on Mt. Fuji, and carnivores of Madagascar . . . yesssssssss.

So, of all the unexpected things that can happen, a mile-wide tornado touched down in Windsor today:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080522/ap_on_re_us/tornado_colorado

Wow . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/14/us/14visa.html?ref=us

Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of my graduating from college. A lot's happened in the past year, which probably is what makes it seem like it's gone fast.

We picked a flight to New Zealand, and I started a second job at an agency that helps people with disabilities. Our wedding is three months from yesterday . . . crazy!

I submitted my application to UNC for the speech pathology program, with intent to start in January. We'll need to decide where we want to live while I go to school, either in Greeley or outside of it.

Worth a read.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/washington/20generals.html?em&ex=1209009600&en=3ee3387c020a7f71&ei=5087%0A

So the past week was a little wild, but it's all calmer now. Dre helps keep me sane :)

I'm thinking that my next step, i.e. grad school, will be for speech language pathology. I'm looking at programs at UNC and CU Boulder. I know that I want to work with people with special needs, and I can see myself doing what the speech teacher at school does. So, after New Zealand, that's the plan.

Wedding prep is coming along. We've only got the small details to hammer out. It's getting so close!

There's no doubt that the health care system is in crisis, which affects so many people in negative ways. We have the highest infant mortality rate and lowest life expectancy in the industrialized world, yet we also have the HIGHEST cost for health care. Medical bills are sending families into bankrupty, and check out this article from the NY Times today:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/business/01disabled.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=insurance+social+security&st=nyt&oref=slogin

I've heard a lot about the single payer universal health care plan, and I hope that you will take a few minutes to consider it:

http://healthcareforallcolorado.org/

Dennis Kucinich also introduced H.R. 676, a bill that would provide universal health insurance:

http://www.hr676.org/

So Andres and I got back from Budapest and Prague about a week ago, and is was great. In Prague, we spent a lot of time walking around the Lesser Town Square (Malostranské námestí), where one of the St. Nicholas Churches is, and spent a day around Hradčany (the castle district). St. Vitus Cathedral was located in the latter area, and it was quite beautiful. Of course we walked across the Charles Bridge (Karlův most), and saw the Gothic astronomical clock, Strahov Monastery, Loreto, the Tyn Church, and some of the Easter markets that were taking place. I have to say that I liked the more secluded areas, however. We took a walk along the Divoká Šárka Valley, a large nature preserve which reminded me of pictures I've seen of Ireland's countryside. I would have liked to spend a little more time here, but it was cold and rainy and I don't know if my hiking spirit was up to snuff that day.

We took a night train to Budapest, and I have to say that the Prague train station was probably one of the more sketchy places of the whole trip. I went to the bathroom, and it reminded me of walking into a seedy bar you see in the movies. I paid my 7 Koruna to use the bathroom, grabbed a piece of toilet paper from a big roll next to an overflowing ashtray where the two women manning the station were playing dice, and walked into the back. The attendant came with me, said something in Czech while unlocking my stall, and as she did so an elderly woman and young man came out of the stall next to me. There were people gathered in one corner of the restroom, saying a lot that I couldn't understand, and all that I could make out in a quick glance was someone holding a belt. So, choose your own conclusion about what was happening there.

In Budapest we saw St. Stephen's Basilica, the Chain Bridge, St. Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion. Again, a lot of our time was spent walking around, taking in as much as we could. We saw the Buda Castle and Parliament from afar, which look so majestic on the horizon. I feel like we saw so much, and in a lot of ways it seems that pictures can do the best job . . . check out facebook.

I am glad that the next major trip we're planning to do is New Zealand. As much as I've enjoyed Europe, I'm feeling ready for something a little bit different. We've been budgeting and getting our plans together, and it's hard to believe that in less than 6 months we'll be on our way . . .

In other news, I was hired on for summer school to be a para for another autistic student I work with. It's only three hours a day for four weeks, so I'm in the process of lining up something to supplement.

Dre is sitting here working on the wedding website, and we're about to send out invitations within the next week. We've got a reception place, and I found a dress when I went shopping with my mom and sister the week before spring break. I won't go into detail about it, because I know Dre reads this and he wants to be surprised, but I will say it was the first one I saw when I walked in the door. It fit perfectly, and the only alteration it needs is the addition of a bustle. I'm going to wear my mom's veil, which will be special.

Someday?

How cool is this?

http://www.ocregister.com/news/dan-coonce-david-1975716-whiting-outdoors

The other day, I was at the dentist's office, and picked up a travel magazine to pass the time. While flipping through, I saw an ad for a trip to Budapest. We had been planning to go to Ouray (in CO) for spring break . . . but whenever I get a crazy idea, I can't help but investigate it. The price range for Prague/ Budapest seemed that it could be affordable . . . and after some research and number crunching, Dre and I have decided to go for it.

The plan is to spend three days in Prague and three days in Budapest over spring break, with a night train connecting us between the two cities. I've looked up things that we should check out, just to have an idea before we go. Is there anywhere where we absolutely MUST go?

Only one month away . . .

Wow, another week of 2008 has come and gone. Andres and I went and checked out the Marriott last week, and it seems that it may be viable. We looked at the outdoor pavilion, which I really took a liking too, but the fact that August is HOT may be a factor. Hopefully we'll find more out about that tomorrow.

I need to start looking for a dress. I've asked my sister to be my maid of honor, and two of my dear friends to be bridesmaids. I know one of our colors is going to be purple, but I need to figure out the rest . . .

I watched Andres teach his recitation on Thursday. He really is a gifted teacher, full of passion, and I liked watching him (even though I had no idea what he was talking about). He's very clear and good at questions, and I think that if he was to choose to go in that direction, he'd be great . . .

I'm coming to realize that without fail, I've always, always loved animals: working with them, playing with them, taking care of them. Maybe at some point (either during or after New Zealand) I could get a job at a humane society, or non- profit that helps animals. I suppose I'll just have to wait to see where this leads . . .

So I've decided two things:

1) I'm going to go vegetarian, with the exception of fish now and then.

2) I've signed up for the 100 mile bike ride again in Buena Vista on May 17th. It will give me motivation to get off my lazy arse and start running/ biking again . . .

Things are mostly good, with the exception of reception halls that aren't 100% straightforward. We checked out the Hilton, and were told we could rent a ballroom for $54 per person (which includes food, setup, cleanup, cake cutting, room rental, butler passed champagne, taxes, etc.). We also were told that a cash bar is extra. HOWEVER, we weren't told that for the ballroom, we MUST commit to paying for 160 people. I expect 100-110 people to come to our reception, which is a significant difference from 160 (obviously).

It really annoys me that they didn't tell us these things in the beginning. When we left, our understanding was that the cost would be somewhere in the ballpark of $6,000. Instead, we're sent a contract in which (if we sign) we agree to pay a MINIMUM of $8,640. Why weren't we told that at the start?

Ok, enough meck mecking. Time for exercise.

Tonight Libby and I went to hear Janet Napolitano, the governor of Arizona, speak on behalf of Barack Obama. It was thoroughly energizing, and I was able to pick up some more info on Barack.

Sometimes, I feel that the state of affairs in the United States is just so . . . gloomy. Even though, I see hope and leadership in Obama, and I'm beginning to feel more optimistic.

Caroline Kennedy recently endorsed him as well:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/opinion/27kennedy.html?em&ex=1201582800&en=68dbeb8e37c848ac&ei=5087%0A

If you haven't read his keynote address from the 2004 Democratic Convention, it's inspiring:

"On behalf of the great state of Illinois, crossroads of a nation, land of Lincoln, let me express my deep gratitude for the privilege of addressing this convention. Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let's face it, my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely. My father was a foreign student, born and raised in a small village in Kenya. He grew up herding goats, went to school in a tin-roof shack. His father, my grandfather, was a cook, a domestic servant.

But my grandfather had larger dreams for his son. Through hard work and perseverance my father got a scholarship to study in a magical place; America which stood as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before. While studying here, my father met my mother. She was born in a town on the other side of the world, in Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs and farms through most of the Depression. The day after Pearl Harbor he signed up for duty, joined Patton's army and marched across Europe. Back home, my grandmother raised their baby and went to work on a bomber assembly line. After the war, they studied on the G.I. Bill, bought a house through FHA, and moved west in search of opportunity.

And they, too, had big dreams for their daughter, a common dream, born of two continents. My parents shared not only an improbable love; they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or "blessed," believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success. They imagined me going to the best schools in the land, even though they weren't rich, because in a generous America you don't have to be rich to achieve your potential. They are both passed away now. Yet, I know that, on this night, they look down on me with pride.

I stand here today, grateful for the diversity of my heritage, aware that my parents' dreams live on in my precious daughters. I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that, in no other country on earth, is my story even possible. Tonight, we gather to affirm the greatness of our nation, not because of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy. Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over two hundred years ago, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles. That we can tuck in our children at night and know they are fed and clothed and safe from harm. That we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door. That we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe or hiring somebody's son. That we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will be counted -- or at least, most of the time.

This year, in this election, we are called to reaffirm our values and commitments, to hold them against a hard reality and see how we are measuring up, to the legacy of our forbearers, and the promise of future generations. And fellow Americans -- Democrats, Republicans, Independents -- I say to you tonight: we have more work to do. More to do for the workers I met in Galesburg, Illinois, who are losing their union jobs at the Maytag plant that's moving to Mexico, and now are having to compete with their own children for jobs that pay seven bucks an hour. More to do for the father I met who was losing his job and choking back tears, wondering how he would pay $4,500 a month for the drugs his son needs without the health benefits he counted on. More to do for the young woman in East St. Louis, and thousands more like her, who has the grades, has the drive, has the will, but doesn't have the money to go to college.

Don't get me wrong. The people I meet in small towns and big cities, in diners and office parks, they don't expect government to solve all their problems. They know they have to work hard to get ahead and they want to. Go into the collar counties around Chicago, and people will tell you they don't want their tax money wasted by a welfare agency or the Pentagon. Go into any inner city neighborhood, and folks will tell you that government alone can't teach kids to learn. They know that parents have to parent, that children can't achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white. No, people don't expect government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a change in priorities, we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. They know we can do better. And they want that choice.

In this election, we offer that choice. Our party has chosen a man to lead us who embodies the best this country has to offer. That man is John Kerry. John Kerry understands the ideals of community, faith, and sacrifice, because they've defined his life. From his heroic service in Vietnam to his years as prosecutor and lieutenant governor, through two decades in the United States Senate, he has devoted himself to this country. Again and again, we've seen him make tough choices when easier ones were available. His values and his record affirm what is best in us.

John Kerry believes in an America where hard work is rewarded. So instead of offering tax breaks to companies shipping jobs overseas, he'll offer them to companies creating jobs here at home. John Kerry believes in an America where all Americans can afford the same health coverage our politicians in Washington have for themselves. John Kerry believes in energy independence, so we aren't held hostage to the profits of oil companies or the sabotage of foreign oil fields. John Kerry believes in the constitutional freedoms that have made our country the envy of the world, and he will never sacrifice our basic liberties nor use faith as a wedge to divide us. And John Kerry believes that in a dangerous world, war must be an option, but it should never be the first option.

A while back, I met a young man named Shamus at the VFW Hall in East Moline, Illinois. He was a good-looking kid, 6'2'' or 6'3'', clear eyed, with an easy smile. He told me he'd joined the Marines and was heading to Iraq the following week. As I listened to him explain why he'd enlisted, his absolute faith in our country and its leaders, his devotion to duty and service, I thought this young man was all any of us might hope for in a child. But then I asked myself: Are we serving Shamus as well as he was serving us? I thought of more than 900 service men and women, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and neighbors, who will not be returning to their hometowns. I thought of families I had met who were struggling to get by without a loved one's full income, or whose loved ones had returned with a limb missing or with nerves shattered, but who still lacked long-term health benefits because they were reservists. When we send our young men and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world.

Now let me be clear. We have real enemies in the world. These enemies must be found. They must be pursued and they must be defeated. John Kerry knows this. And just as Lieutenant Kerry did not hesitate to risk his life to protect the men who served with him in Vietnam, President Kerry will not hesitate one moment to use our military might to keep America safe and secure. John Kerry believes in America. And he knows it's not enough for just some of us to prosper. For alongside our famous individualism, there's another ingredient in the American saga.

A belief that we are connected as one people. If there's a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even if it's not my child. If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for her prescription and has to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandmother. If there's an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It's that fundamental belief -- I am my brother's keeper, I am my sisters' keeper -- that makes this country work. It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family. "E pluribus unum." Out of many, one.

Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America -- there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.

In the end, that's what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope? John Kerry calls on us to hope. John Edwards calls on us to hope. I'm not talking about blind optimism here -- the almost willful ignorance that thinks unemployment will go away if we just don't talk about it, or the health care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it. No, I'm talking about something more substantial. It's the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs; the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores; the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta; the hope of a mill worker's son who dares to defy the odds; the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too. The audacity of hope!

In the end, that is God's greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation; the belief in things not seen; the belief that there are better days ahead. I believe we can give our middle class relief and provide working families with a road to opportunity. I believe we can provide jobs to the jobless, homes to the homeless, and reclaim young people in cities across America from violence and despair. I believe that as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can make the right choices, and meet the challenges that face us. America!

Tonight, if you feel the same energy I do, the same urgency I do, the same passion I do, the same hopefulness I do -- if we do what we must do, then I have no doubt that all across the country, from Florida to Oregon, from Washington to Maine, the people will rise up in November, and John Kerry will be sworn in as president, and John Edwards will be sworn in as vice president, and this country will reclaim its promise, and out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come. Thank you and God bless you."

The Neediest Cases

Another reason why I love the New York Times:

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/newyorkandregion/neediestcases/index.html

So a year ago today, Dre and I met at a Starbucks after a night of revelry and decided we would give it a shot. That was a strange time . . . I was thinking about joining the Peace Corps, I had just finished a crappy 2006, and everything felt uncertain. There was something there, though, that told me to just try . . . and I'm glad I listened to it.

I like anniversaries, because they allow me to look back over the past year and see how I've changed in stride with life events. I can review what I learned from the bad, celebrate the good, and sketch out a mental map of what the next year will bring. Here's to good things to come!

When it comes to the environment, I sometimes feel like I have little, if any, control over what happens in the grand scheme of things. I don't know where to start to reduce large scale waste, destruction of habitats, pollution, and the like. I recycle, try to be conscientious of what I use, and only drive if I need to, but today I was shipped a medication (per the procedure of my insurance), and they sent me a cardboard box with two giant styrofoam packings, all for one little prescription refill! I get a refill of these every month, so that equates to twelve styrofoam packings in a year! Think of how many customers Medco serves! What am I supposed to do though, call up customer service and complain?

Does anyone else feel this way?

One thing I can do is recycle plastic bags, and I'd like to eventually move away from those completely. What else can one do, alongside recycling?

It worries me because like it or not, we are destroying our planet. It's going that way for both us and future generations, and it's tragic.

On the subject:

www.storyofstuff.com

So, first things first. One thing that peeves me is when people in cars don't yield to you when you're walking, or, even worse, make it seem like it's your fault when they come within six feet of you with the front bumper of their car. Dre and I were walking back to our apartment with a bag of cat food and groceries tonight, and we began to cross a street. When we were in the middle of the street, this car comes (crossing Drake) towards us, and someone yells something out the window at us. ARGH! That bothers me to no end!

Anyway, moving on. When I worked at the Olive Street Bakery about five months ago, I remember this customer came in, and somehow we began to talk about her son. He was married, probably a few years older than me, and he and his wife were living in some country, it was either Lithuania or Lichtenstein. She made the comment that they both had jobs in this particular country, and they had lived somewhere else beforehand. It seemed like they just got up and left whenever the mood seemed right.

That conversation came back to me today. Dre and I are spending the first part of our married life together in New Zealand after the wedding, and more and more I find myself wondering what will happen after that time is over. I don't think either of us are closed to the idea of wandering around the world a little bit, as long as we have each other. Hmm, food for thought.

New Zealand!

So, two days ago, amid drinking of sparkling grape juice to celebrate our new year, Dre and I applied for our New Zealand working holiday visas. Today, we got email notification that we've been approved! We have until January 1, 2009 to travel to New Zealand, and can stay for up to a year. When we get there, we have to say we need a work permit, and then all systems are a go!

I want these next seven months to fly by, and I'm sure they will. We've been calling different places to find a reception hall, and we were both set on CSU. Unfortunately, they don't accept reservations until the end of April. All we really need is a big room . . . that isn't too hard to find, is it?

The only thing I'm a bit nervous about is finding a home for the cats for the year after we leave. I almost feel guilty for adopting them. Given, we took them in before the idea of New Zealand was on the horizon, but still. We'll just have to find someone who can love them as much as we do.

Auld Lang Syne

So Dre and I got back a while ago from a New Year's get together at a friend's house. I thought this would be a fine opportunity to wish anyone who takes the time to read this a happy new year, given that you are probably asking, "Why is Karin up at 2:42 am making a blog post?"

I go back to work on January 7th. Christmas was nice; I spent some time with Dre's family, and a few days in Springs. On the last night we spent in Springs, my dog slept on Dre's bed downstairs with him for the whole night. She never sleeps downstairs, not even with me. He must give good vibes :)

I've decided I want to learn how to play the piano. I borrowed my sister's Casio keyboard from home, and I'm waiting for an AC adapter to be delivered via priority mail. Dre's mom let me take some beginner piano books that he and his brother used when they were first learning. Stay tuned . . . (haha)

I found the following in an old blog post of Dre's, and am posting it just because.

HAPPY 2008!

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 121.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
5. Don't search around and look for the coolest book you can find. Do what's actually next to you.

1. The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli
2. Pg. 121, sentence #5: "As I said above, the Consul and the Roman army were being besieged by Samnites, who had imposed very shameful conditions upon their surrender (this involved passing under the yoke and returning disarmed to Rome)."