Getting out of my comfort zone...

Today I volunteered for the Neighbor to Neighbor program supporting Barack Obama. This was not an easy decision for me. Those of you who know me are probably aware that I do not align myself with any particular party but I feel very strong about the outcome of this election. Anyway, I have a list of neighbors I am supposed to contact. It will definitely be a stretch for me to do this. I'm not anxious to approach people I don't know about something so sensitive and important. Who knows what will happen. I guess I'll find out. I'll keep you posted.

New lows...

Let me preface the following links with saying that I was pretty impressed with John McCain when he ran against GW. Let me also say that I do not have any party loyalties, I've voted for Republican, Democrats and Independents in past elections. However, I'm disappointed in the John McCain this presidential election is revealing. The following links show some of why I feel the way I do. The infamous Karl Rove comments on current election ads and a montage of the inaccuracies in the McCain attack ads. Feel free to comment...particularly if you disagree with me.

If you are interested in T. Boone Pickens, the guy in that montage check him out at the Wikipedia entry on him and his "Pickens Plan" website.

Today minus 7...

Wow, a two post day. That's huge! I'm sure many of you have had thoughts about this being the anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001. At this time seven years ago Erik and I were in Mexio City, Mexio - stranded halfway home from our honeymoon. I think we actually may have been visiting the pyramids at this time, somewhat unaware of just how serious things really were and how despite being booked on flights several times a day for the next 4 we wouldn't be home for nearly a week. We were also unaware of how everything else would be different. Some changes were obvious as we we finally arrived home via our "around the mulberry bush" type return trip though Toronto, Windsor, Detroit, etc. Airport secuity was like we had never experienced - new searches, new questions, new fears. There were American flags everywhere - on people's houses, cars, along the roadside. There was a sense of togetherness, kinship and patriotism I had never known. I don't ever remember feeling so unified with citizens of this country who I could not see and would never meet. Erik commented many times on how the stress of the wedding was followed by a realxing few days in Costa Rica only to be thrust into far worse and disconcerting stress by being stranded from home and then returning to a home that was so different. Gradually over time, things returned to "normal," but not the same. There is a sense of vulnerability that changed how I think about our future: travel, home, work and dreams. This type of change seems to have been the only thing that continued and propegated after the attacks. That sense of unity ebbed away far too soon. In the wake of the Republican and Democratic national conventions I'm reminded of how much we've lost since that time. As I listened to many of the speeches I was disheartened by the lack of respect party enthusiasts have for their "opponents." It's as if the United States political culture has become so egocentric that they've really forgotten that we're one country. We all live, work, and vote as a single body of citizens. Now, we obviously don't all vote the same way or have the same values but when this election is over we are actually all citizens of the same place. Obama may be McCain's president or McCain Obama's. I know this seems obvious but our behavior sure doesn't indicate that. I guess I see the partisan bickering and divisiveness as seven years-worth of steps back from where we were after those horrible attcks seven years ago (hence the title "Today minus 7" - explanation provided for husband who was confused). We've forgotten we need to work together for the good of each other as countrymen and for the rest of the world and stop trying to just be the loudest and last one heard. That means speaking, thinking and acting with integrity, consiousness, honesty and open minds. I know it's a tall order at the moment but it would be nice for me to feel like I could write a blog post this time next year that was titled "Today plus 8" because we've made so much progress.

I found something I like...

Maybe everyone who reads this already knows about it and I'm just lame and out of touch. But, today I stumbled on this http://www.pandora.com/ I am enamored!! I've discovered numerous artists that I wouldn't have ever found just by them analyzing my tastes. I love it. The essence of what I like about this is not only that I'm finding music I like but the spirit behind this operation. Music seems less show-bizzy this way. I know that Pandora doesn't have the corner on this market movement but it's the electronic and digital age of music that I like. I like that I don't have to purchase entire albums anymore, I like that I can listen to stuff without waiting for it on the radio or listening to those endlessly annoying dj's. Music is supposed to be artistic...it's nice that it's being presented and sold as such rather than as mass media that must be crammed down our throats with the agenda of some super marketing/publishing company. These are exciting times, no?