In just a few short days, North Carolina will be heading to the polls to cast its vote for a democrat presidential candidate. When news first broke that it may be North Carolina and Indiana - two states thought to be voting too late in the process to make a difference - who may determine the candidate, everyone here was all a tither.
But then it became the only thing we ever heard about. Now, I feel like North Carolinians are haggard and war-torn, tired of the pandering and ready for this whole thing to be over with. I concur. I'm ready for just two candidates.
Next Friday, North Carolina will also be holding other primaries other than the presidential one. Based on the signs I've seen at intersections, there's School Board, County Commissioner, Governor and State Senate. What exactly is a County Commissioner, anyway? And does anyone really care?
And the signs! I feel like we're running for high school Student Body President again. Colorful signs at every intersection shouting "Vote for me! Vote for me!" There are so many, I can't even remember who's running. It's all just a popularity contest, especially when no one even knows what your office does.
I'll be so glad when all this is over and the real fun begins!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday Laughs
Happy Monday!
Q: What did 50-cent say to his friend who knitted him a sweater?
A: Gee, you knit?
Q: What did 50-cent say to his friend who knitted him a sweater?
A: Gee, you knit?
Oh, New York
I was in NYC this past week/weekend. I worked during the week, and then extended the trip to the weekend to see my sister, grandma and friends. Every time I go back to the city, I realize how much I miss it. It's like meeting a friend you haven't seen in awhile - at first you have to remember which way is North, that avenues go from East to West, and then you're back in your comfort zone again. It's like you never left.
It's strange that I find comfort among so much chaos. I guess the rest of my life is kind of the same way...I thrive in chaos. But what's great about New York is that, just when the chaos and the crowds may be getting the best of you, you can duck into a museum, or a book store, or a coffee shop and escape for a bit, find a bit of quiet and comfort amid the storm.
I've written before about how my infatuation with New York. I guess I thought that that preoccupation with the city would die down over time, that I would become one of those people who say they love the city, but could never live there. I guess you don't know until you're actually stuck there (yes, in the tiny, cramped apartment). Maybe I see the city through rose-colored glasses (that's my specialty, after all), but there is still something that draws me to the city, that fits me just like an old friend.
It's strange that I find comfort among so much chaos. I guess the rest of my life is kind of the same way...I thrive in chaos. But what's great about New York is that, just when the chaos and the crowds may be getting the best of you, you can duck into a museum, or a book store, or a coffee shop and escape for a bit, find a bit of quiet and comfort amid the storm.
I've written before about how my infatuation with New York. I guess I thought that that preoccupation with the city would die down over time, that I would become one of those people who say they love the city, but could never live there. I guess you don't know until you're actually stuck there (yes, in the tiny, cramped apartment). Maybe I see the city through rose-colored glasses (that's my specialty, after all), but there is still something that draws me to the city, that fits me just like an old friend.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Happy Earth Day!
Hopefully everyone will do one great thing to help the Earth today. Our firm encouraged everyone to work from home today, to help keep 40 cars off the road. So I'm sitting on my porch, typing out a report and reducing my carbon footprint, while enjoying the beautiful weather we're having here.
In honor of Earth Day, and in the spirit of bringing the Earth to the forefront of our everyday thoughts and actions, here are 10 Ways to Go Green!
Happy Earth Day!
In honor of Earth Day, and in the spirit of bringing the Earth to the forefront of our everyday thoughts and actions, here are 10 Ways to Go Green!
Happy Earth Day!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Pope Mania
I've been surprised by the amount of news coverage that the Pope's visit to America has received. As a Catholic, I know the Pope is a big deal to our religion, but I'm not used to everyone being as interested in him as we are.
JP2 had a big following, and I guess I could understand why he was so popular among Catholics and non-Catholics alike. He had charisma, he did a lot to bridge gaps between religions and countries, and he appealed to a lot of young people. Up until now, I thought if people liked the pope, it had more to do with JP2 than it did with the position itself.
Now I'm not so sure. Every major news channel, including CNN, broadcast the entire Papal Mass yesterday. That's several hours of continuous coverage on just one event. That's amazing to me. Why the interest in the Pope? Why are people from all religions and backgrounds interested in his visit to America? No other religious or political dignitary has ever gotten this kind of press or coverage. No president, no religious leader, no one. What gives?
Maybe it's a mystique around the office. Maybe it had something to do with the sex scandals in the Church. Maybe there's just nothing else going on in the world at this moment.
What is it about a Pope that garners so much interest? Yeah, the Catholic religion is one of the oldest and there's a lot of history (good and bad) with the religion and its leader. Maybe it's that few other religions have a head person like this, but still...there were CNN reporters - non-Catholics - who attended the Mass in Yankee Stadium and whose responses were those you'd expect to hear from someone who was Catholic. What is it about this one man - about this office - that generates this excitement?
It sounds like his visit went really well, and hopefully the first steps were taken to really heal the wounds of those victims and those of US Catholics. It will be interesting to see how his visit energizes our faith. And, it will be interesting to see if this visit will energize the rest of America, even those who just see him as a Pope.
JP2 had a big following, and I guess I could understand why he was so popular among Catholics and non-Catholics alike. He had charisma, he did a lot to bridge gaps between religions and countries, and he appealed to a lot of young people. Up until now, I thought if people liked the pope, it had more to do with JP2 than it did with the position itself.
Now I'm not so sure. Every major news channel, including CNN, broadcast the entire Papal Mass yesterday. That's several hours of continuous coverage on just one event. That's amazing to me. Why the interest in the Pope? Why are people from all religions and backgrounds interested in his visit to America? No other religious or political dignitary has ever gotten this kind of press or coverage. No president, no religious leader, no one. What gives?
Maybe it's a mystique around the office. Maybe it had something to do with the sex scandals in the Church. Maybe there's just nothing else going on in the world at this moment.
What is it about a Pope that garners so much interest? Yeah, the Catholic religion is one of the oldest and there's a lot of history (good and bad) with the religion and its leader. Maybe it's that few other religions have a head person like this, but still...there were CNN reporters - non-Catholics - who attended the Mass in Yankee Stadium and whose responses were those you'd expect to hear from someone who was Catholic. What is it about this one man - about this office - that generates this excitement?
It sounds like his visit went really well, and hopefully the first steps were taken to really heal the wounds of those victims and those of US Catholics. It will be interesting to see how his visit energizes our faith. And, it will be interesting to see if this visit will energize the rest of America, even those who just see him as a Pope.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Look Ma, no helmet
In anticipation of the warming weather, Scott and I had our bikes tuned up. New tires, new tubes, new brakes.
So I went out for a ride this afternoon and felt a bit naked. I didn't wear a helmet.
See I grew up in the generation that never wore bicycle helmets. My sister (six years younger) started wearing one when she become of bike-riding age. So I guess I just missed it. Since it was a foreign concept to me growing up, it just seems weird to wear one now. So I zipped around the neighborhood and felt a bit out of place. I felt that people were judging me because I wasn't wearing a helmet.
I can't help but think that riding a bike would be a whole different experience with a helmet on. No wind rushing through your hair, decreased field of vision, a strange balancing act, now that there's extra weight on your head. Not quite as carefree as careening on your bike without a helmet.
I guess we should probably get helmets, since it seems the vogue thing to do now. But it doesn't mean I have to like it.
So I went out for a ride this afternoon and felt a bit naked. I didn't wear a helmet.
See I grew up in the generation that never wore bicycle helmets. My sister (six years younger) started wearing one when she become of bike-riding age. So I guess I just missed it. Since it was a foreign concept to me growing up, it just seems weird to wear one now. So I zipped around the neighborhood and felt a bit out of place. I felt that people were judging me because I wasn't wearing a helmet.
I can't help but think that riding a bike would be a whole different experience with a helmet on. No wind rushing through your hair, decreased field of vision, a strange balancing act, now that there's extra weight on your head. Not quite as carefree as careening on your bike without a helmet.
I guess we should probably get helmets, since it seems the vogue thing to do now. But it doesn't mean I have to like it.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
When did I become old?
Reason #6: I was reading CNN.com today and came across the following story: New Kids on the Block Reuniting. In a nutshell, the NKOTB (New Kids on the Block) are getting back together, creating new music together. That, in itself, wasn't such a big deal, but the following statement in the article turned my blood cold:
Twenty years? Seriously? I feel so old.
The boy band New Kids on the Block, which sold 70 million albums in the 1980s and early '90s, has reunited and plans to release a new album and go on tour. The reunion comes 20 years after the release of the group's multiplatinum album, "Hangin' Tough."I bolded the phrase in question. Twenty years? They had to be mistaken. So I quickly did the math...I'm 28 years old (going on 29), which would have made me eight or nine when the album came out, which would have put me in 4th grade. Yep, that's about right.
Twenty years? Seriously? I feel so old.
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