I saw you there with your hands above your head, spinning around, trying not to look down-

Hey. This post is purely "what has happened."

Last Thursday morning Jeff and I went to Birmingham; we visited with his parents and grandmother and then I went to meet Lance at P.F. Chang's for our long-overdue date! We sat outside and got to talk and enjoy the delicious food. Afterwards we met Jeff at Barnes and Noble, then Lance went home and Ricky picked Jeff and I up to go visit at Justin's apartment. We spent the night at Ricky and Josh's house, from which we left early the next morning for Pensecola! I road in a car with Patrick and Zack (two of Jeff's friends I hadn't met before, but who I really enjoyed) and Jeff; we were following Ricky, Josh, Justin, and the wonderful Chris. The ride down was fairly uneventful, with ideal driving conditions and funny commentary (we had walkie-talkies) and the gayest music I've ever listened to (Britney, Mariah, Destiny's Child, Madonna, Beyonce...). We checked into the hotel, got our backpacks and headed to the beach to set up camp. Speaking of camp... wow.

We did some walking and whatnot as the boys said hello to their friends from years back, and then we went to Peg Leg Pete's (Jeff's favorite restaurant) and ate dinner with Jessica! We had a rowdy time and got to harrass some really attractive waiters. I left with Jessica amidst a downpour and we headed back to her apartment in Destin (which f-ing rocks, btw). The next morning she went to work and hung out with her roommate, Amanda. We did a little grocery shopping before going on a mini-adventure trying to get into the complex's pool, where we got to play with a beautiful little three year old. A combination of beer, distraction, and not having a key and therefore not being able to leave the pool led us to become quite red. By red, I mean roasted. Like whoa. That night Jessica and I went out and about and saw Baby Mama, which I really enjoyed. We capped the night by splurging on some toasted brie with honey and almonds.

Sunday I went to work with Jessica, where I finished The Testament. Jessica ended up getting of work for Monday, so we didn't go from there to P'cola as planned; instead we went home to take a nap and then went out with Amanda for a fire works display! Jessica and I had a crab and arichoke pizza that was fanastic.

Monday morning we met back up with the boys for the trip home; Jeff and I left from Birmingham and ate with his dad in Cullman; we got back at about 9:50 and I got to work around 10:05. I got off at 6 Tuesday morning, picked Jeff up and came over the parents' house. Jeff and I went with the parents to take Lindsey to the Huntsville airport to catch her plain to D.C. We went to Ruby Tuesday's for lunch and came back home.

Sometime in the days to follow (or was it before all that?) we ate lunch at Casa with Meaghan, Shareese, and O'Brian before chilling at M-dawg's house before work. Last night we ate with the same crew plus T.J. and Nick and then hung out at the apartment for several hours. My friends are the greatest.

I've also played pool a couple times with Mom, Graham, Meagan, and Moonie, but I'm not sure when that was. I will update again soon with something more intesresting, I promise... for now, I'm glad to have this recorded. :)

It's not my fault if you get wierded out.

I was watching Rachel Maddow and Geraldine Ferraro on MSNBC this morning speaking on gender issues and how they played into the presidential race. Maddow mentioned the incident pictured above, in which two men raised these signs and chanted during one of Senator Clinton's rallies. I'm not the most politcally aware person out there, but I keep fairly good tabs on current events; I hadn't heard about this until today. I looked for the story afterwards, finally finding a Fox report on it. Most of the hits were about the same sign being held at a golf protest. Maddow asked how the audience would have reacted had two men help up a sign that read "Shine My Shoes" at one of Obama's events.

Wow.

I'd actually just been thinking about that after a recent A Softer World comic which I believe addresses the same issue. (The comic touches on gender roles and stereotypes rather frequently*, as if I didn't have enough reasons to love it.) Personally, I don't support Clinton. While I find her charismatic, I am more interested in the things Obama has to say. However, I do not want him to win because Clinton has been criticized constantly and consistently for being either too manly (ie, assertive, well-spoken, successful) or too emotional (ie, feminine (and a stereotype that may harm men even more than it does women)). This is similar to voting for Obama simply because he's black. While I am thrilled to be a part of what will hopefully be the first black president, I want him to win because most of the country comes together to support the ideas he presents. I don't want his win to be tarnished by claims of victory for blacks in America or whatever else the headlines may read. His election would be a victory for all of us, both because of his ideals and ideas which may help our country and because of his status as a minority.

I've sidetracked to race, however, which is an entirely different kettle of fish (or is it, considering the average black family consists of a mother and her children? Some day soon...). The two are certainly bedmates, however, when it comes to accepted discrimination. Everyone of of us comes from a background of degredation and humiliation, whether it was because of a family's race, religion, nationality, or social status. While black enslavement has been one of the most recent shames in our troubled human history, it is still just one of many plights we have inflicted on each other. Today, passive aggressive racism is still very present though not condoned. Women, however, are still widely regarded as second class citizens, and I'm talking here in our own backyard, folks.

I'm not sure how to change things, though I think the first step is awareness, so I hope this has been somewhat enlightening. Mostly right now, I just hope that my daughters never want those popular shirts that say "Future First Lady."

I have much to tell you soon, dear Reader.

*Here are some others that I feel address related issues:
I used to want to plant bombs, the night of the prom.
serious inquiries only
She's never too tired.
nice girls don't
well, and playing with myself a bit too.
I contain a factory for producing my own prison.
any sufficiently complex system is hackable
Fuck this coy shit.

Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned.

Yep... that title is a quote from God. It sounds more like something from Titus Andronicus.

Moving on- I'm starting a spice garden! Today I got rosemary, basil, and fennel. I'll probably go back and get oregano and parsley as well, but I'd like to see how these do first. I'm so excited! Morbidly enough, I got the itch to finally start this little project (which I've been thinking about for a while) after watching Rosemary's Baby last week. The witches have a spice garden. Also last week we watched Angela's Ashes, which was about as depressing as the book (and pretty good except for being so long and gray).

It doesn't make sense to pay four dollars for dried spices when the plant costs 3, provides, fresh herbs, smells lovely, and provides an endless supply of the product. I got them with Mom today; I spent the night here at the house last night and then went out with her on errands (which included flower shopping). Oh, I also got a cutting board today!

In other cooking news... I've been working on a chocolate souffle! I've done three in the last two days, trying to get it just right. I'm going to make one for Mother's Birthiversary Day.

I'm going to finish this book I've been reading called On the Prowl. It's got short stories buy Patricia Briggs (I love everything she does), Eileen Wilks (whose story I am enjoy immensely), Karen Chance and Sunn (I haven't gotten to their stories yet). Good day!

You can't disappoint me, because whatever you are is exactly what I want.

I have discovered something about myself thanks to the Grammar class I had this semester. I'm still trying to figure out how I made a college course entirely devoted to sentence structure relate to my life, but did it I did. (Analyze THAT!)

I've struggled for a while to reconcile two sides of my nature. Part of me is compulsive-- the part that only likes to walk on bricks pathways and who doesn't like the television volume to be on an odd number (unless it's a multiple of five) and who WILL NOT drink milk past the sell-by date. Part of me is disaster-- the part who goes on spontaneous road trips and plans last minute picnics and never wears matching socks.

Well, here's what I discovered: I like boxes. I like things to have labels, a place to go, a category in which to fit. BUT I like when things escape those boxes. I like knowing that things have a category they have chosen to abandon, rather than thinking they are worldly misfits. I guess this doesn't make sense. I like it, though.

I thank God tonight for the light I got in music...

I'm getting kinda tired of this campaign game. I really like this quote from Obama: "You have a real choice in this election. Either Democrat would be better than John McCain – and all three of us would be better than George Bush." I know he's said before than electing McCain would be like four more years of Georgie, but at least we'd get a new face. Anyway... go Dem's.

Jeff had work this morning so I came over to the parents' house to visit with Mom before she went to work. Now we're under a tornado warning; Graham fixed me some brown sugar oatmeal and we're watching The Daily Show.

Could you all take a second and listen to this song? It's really beautiful. You don't have to watch the video; it's just done by some kids on youtube. Shareese, I think you'll really enjoy it. Beautiful.

I may still have some stuff due at the Women's Center today, but aside from that I'm finished with this semester. I have summer courses starting on June 3 and ending June 27.

McCain is actually on the Daily Show right now... Jon Stewart is so freaking hilarious. I believe I've expressed before my desire to marry him. Also, McCain is really adorable, but in a Teddy Ruxpin sort of way. I wouldn't trust him.

In my head there's a Grey Hound station where I send my thoughts to far off destinations...

I do believe it's true that there are roads left in both of our shoes, but if the silence takes you than I hope it takes me, too... so brown eyes, I'll hold you near, cause you're the only song I want to hear-- a melody softly soaring through my atmosphere.

My body is a movie...

I have gotten better at pool; Meaghan might not believe so after the two games we just played, but trust me, I have. :-p She met Graham and I at DPs this evening for some pool shooting fun. Yay!

What's been up... man. Okay. School is almost out. That's good.

I'm working tomorrow from 9am to 10pm. It should be a fun day; I actually have to be up at 6 to take Jeff to work so we can both use the car. Oh, and my client that was sick is now better,although another client is currently unwell, so if you've got a moment send a prayer to her... I can't tell you the name, but God will know who you mean.

I had a really fun time at work last Friday. I only had one client, and he and I spent most of the day at the park before going to Wal-mart to get stuff for an apple pie. I saw Karen there. It was kinda surreal. I kinda think of her every day. It is very hard for me to accept the demise of a friendship. The slow fade of love, perhaps, but an end to which I have not consented bothers me horribly. She was with her dad, I suppose, and I was with my client. Anyway, I got my client home and watching a movie and then I stepped outside for a good cry.

In other depressing news... Bo's missing again. As of tomorrow morning he'll have been gone for two weeks. I've had about three good long cries about him, but I think the lack of finality in a disappearance is keeping me from mourning as he deserves and as I need to move on.

In good news... most of my family went to Tuscaloosa Tuesday night to see Lindsey's documentary! It was fantastic, as were all of the shows. Jeff and I left that afternoon and picked up Meagan and Moonie in Birmingham, then we met Mom and Dad there. Afterward we (sans Lindsey, who was celebrating with her classmates at one of the local pubs) ate at this lovely Italian restaurant where (apparently) Chris Cook works! Chris is one of my favorite people in the world, so it was, as one might imagine, a fantastic surprise.

I've been through a lot of phone havoc recently, but I think I'm semi-set now. Still no internet at the apartment. Boo.