Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Hope Takes Over 1-20-09
I love Barack Obama. Tonight he made my heart swell with hope. I'm not being dramatic. He exudes confidence, and intelligence, and that's what gives me hope. Perhaps it's because what we have now is such the opposite. Perhaps it's because I work in social services. Perhaps it's because my boyfriend was laid off and has no healthcare and it has hit really close to home what this economy is doing.
I laid on the couch and was moved tonight. I know some of you are skeptics. I know some of you are not in love. But I'm excited in a way I think my parents were excited for John Kennedy. I am excited that we might look back in 20 years and say, we were there, we voted, we watched it all change. We remember when people were living comfortably and the paradigms that were keeping the American people down were changed for good. When Obama was the fulcrum for change in a government that made drastic changes and figured out how to take care of all people in the country.
We are watching his 2004 speech at the DNC. He speaks like a preacher and inspires hope the same way. Like religion there will always be naysayers, there will always be non-believers and that's the way the world turns. I do think that Obama has laid out an auspicious plan that is probably not able to be accomplished in whole. I do think that his goals are idealistic. I do hope he brings Colin Powell onto his first line staff.
I believe that Obama is transparent. I believe he believes in accountability and hard work. I see that he has worked hard and is a man of integrity and dignity and he expects the same of people in the United States. I want to be that person. That's what he does to me. He reminds us that, "Our moment is now".
He is a different kind of man than we are used to. I fear for his life and his ability to change the cynics before something terrible happens to him. I fear that Americans want change but fear change. I hope they are listening when Obama says that we must choose courage over fear. Change is never easy.
I've never been really patriotic. But he has given me hope for our whole country and all the people who need help now. Maybe what we need right now is a little idealism. What we need right now is a little hope. We need a government accountable for the taxpayers' money it spends and a government made up of representatives who are willing to work together to make progress. It doesn't have to be liberal progress or conservative progress, it just needs to move us forwards and not backwards. It needs to build on change that people have fought fiercely for before us and it needs to reward the people who are making progress one motion, one idea, and one person at a time every day.
I can't wait to look back and remember how our lives, our neighbors lives, and our parents' lives changed in 2009. The hope makes me almost too excited to wait for the future.
I laid on the couch and was moved tonight. I know some of you are skeptics. I know some of you are not in love. But I'm excited in a way I think my parents were excited for John Kennedy. I am excited that we might look back in 20 years and say, we were there, we voted, we watched it all change. We remember when people were living comfortably and the paradigms that were keeping the American people down were changed for good. When Obama was the fulcrum for change in a government that made drastic changes and figured out how to take care of all people in the country.
We are watching his 2004 speech at the DNC. He speaks like a preacher and inspires hope the same way. Like religion there will always be naysayers, there will always be non-believers and that's the way the world turns. I do think that Obama has laid out an auspicious plan that is probably not able to be accomplished in whole. I do think that his goals are idealistic. I do hope he brings Colin Powell onto his first line staff.
I believe that Obama is transparent. I believe he believes in accountability and hard work. I see that he has worked hard and is a man of integrity and dignity and he expects the same of people in the United States. I want to be that person. That's what he does to me. He reminds us that, "Our moment is now".
He is a different kind of man than we are used to. I fear for his life and his ability to change the cynics before something terrible happens to him. I fear that Americans want change but fear change. I hope they are listening when Obama says that we must choose courage over fear. Change is never easy.
I've never been really patriotic. But he has given me hope for our whole country and all the people who need help now. Maybe what we need right now is a little idealism. What we need right now is a little hope. We need a government accountable for the taxpayers' money it spends and a government made up of representatives who are willing to work together to make progress. It doesn't have to be liberal progress or conservative progress, it just needs to move us forwards and not backwards. It needs to build on change that people have fought fiercely for before us and it needs to reward the people who are making progress one motion, one idea, and one person at a time every day.
I can't wait to look back and remember how our lives, our neighbors lives, and our parents' lives changed in 2009. The hope makes me almost too excited to wait for the future.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Hibernation Begins
Heat-related issues have begun to plague the penthouse condo (that's what we jokingly call the 3rd floor. When we have the shades down we can then pretend it's not in a shady neighborhood and instead is in Bel-Air.)
Yesterday I brought in a contractor to tell me how much it would cost to blow in insulation. Of course, until I owned a home I never knew that such a thing existed. But I guess they can take big tubes and blow insulation into walls. Especially in old houses, from what I understand, the spaces between the beams go all the way from top to bottom. So the contractor told us what I kind of expected - that there is NO insulation in the entire house. So the F-bag who renovated these condos put NO insulation in. No wonder we were so cold last year. I mean, I'm talking double sweatshirts and hats to bed. So as soon as I'm done writing this I'm going to look up the City code for house flips and see if we got screwed. If we did, I'll be calling on the law clan to help me draft up a court case.
Anyhow, so the good news is that Keyspan/National Grid whoever they are these days offers a 75% rebate if you add insulation! I don't care why or how - but it's bound to save money not only this winter but in the long run too. To insulate just my floor will run me about $600 - this is clearly worth the cost - and the comfort! It was 57 in my house when I get out of the shower this morning. And dammit, it was one of those mornings when bed was extra comfortable and the shower temperature was just right.
So that's good news. I do not have a fall coat which is kind of annoying right now. Due to my work transitions I've tried to clean up a little bit in the past year and feel I really need a more professional coat to wear with work clothes so that's on the docket for this weekend along with an eye exam, fixing my glasses, two tutoring sessions, and a gala dinner tonight at the Hah-vahd club. See it's fancy being the big boss!
I ran down and took pictures of the orange tree yesterday to share with you because I was afraid I'd miss out on the chance to record it so I can revel in it during the next six grey, bleak New England months (sorry pessimism soapbox!). Isn't it exceptional? I hope the people in that neighborhood appreciate Mother Nature's outstanding work!
Yesterday I brought in a contractor to tell me how much it would cost to blow in insulation. Of course, until I owned a home I never knew that such a thing existed. But I guess they can take big tubes and blow insulation into walls. Especially in old houses, from what I understand, the spaces between the beams go all the way from top to bottom. So the contractor told us what I kind of expected - that there is NO insulation in the entire house. So the F-bag who renovated these condos put NO insulation in. No wonder we were so cold last year. I mean, I'm talking double sweatshirts and hats to bed. So as soon as I'm done writing this I'm going to look up the City code for house flips and see if we got screwed. If we did, I'll be calling on the law clan to help me draft up a court case.
Anyhow, so the good news is that Keyspan/National Grid whoever they are these days offers a 75% rebate if you add insulation! I don't care why or how - but it's bound to save money not only this winter but in the long run too. To insulate just my floor will run me about $600 - this is clearly worth the cost - and the comfort! It was 57 in my house when I get out of the shower this morning. And dammit, it was one of those mornings when bed was extra comfortable and the shower temperature was just right.
So that's good news. I do not have a fall coat which is kind of annoying right now. Due to my work transitions I've tried to clean up a little bit in the past year and feel I really need a more professional coat to wear with work clothes so that's on the docket for this weekend along with an eye exam, fixing my glasses, two tutoring sessions, and a gala dinner tonight at the Hah-vahd club. See it's fancy being the big boss!
I ran down and took pictures of the orange tree yesterday to share with you because I was afraid I'd miss out on the chance to record it so I can revel in it during the next six grey, bleak New England months (sorry pessimism soapbox!). Isn't it exceptional? I hope the people in that neighborhood appreciate Mother Nature's outstanding work!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Me Likey
The goodies from our latest run (read: walk) for breast cancer included Sip for the Cure red cherry white tea.
YUM.
It's made by The Republic of Tea. I was sad to see that it was mighty expensive to buy. I am using my last bag of it now.
It would look lovely wrapped in Christmas paper with a nice bow though.
Just saying.
YUM.
It's made by The Republic of Tea. I was sad to see that it was mighty expensive to buy. I am using my last bag of it now.
It would look lovely wrapped in Christmas paper with a nice bow though.
Just saying.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Bullets
* I turned the heat on. I feel some bank guilt. But it's 40 degrees. What's a girl to do?
* On a related note, I'm debating the plastic on the windows. I don't know that it really did anything last year. Tell me I'm being ridiculous and I'll listen to you.
* We went to a pre-season Celtics game this afternoon. It was fun. Leon Powe is my favorite Celtic. He's like Mike Lowell, just of the Celtics. Sure, steady, and you can tell he's just a good guy. Unfortunately everyone sitting behind us had SO MUCH to say about all the players and last season and BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. SHUT UP!
* There is this amazing tree in downtown Dorchester that is bright orange. I love it. I will take a picture for you.
* I can see the city again out the kitchen window which means most of the leaves have left the tree. Remember the tree we watched through the seasons last year? I'd find the posts for you but I am lazy.
* I am tutoring this 6th grade middle eastern girl. I soooo feel for her as she is so on the cusp of some very awkward teenage years. With dark skin comes dark hair and really definitive mustache. I hope her mom steps in soon to keep her from being picked on. She's chubby and just developing a chest that needs some support. But she's the nicest and shyest little girl. I hope she does well on the test we're preparing for and kicks some academic ass. She's a real smart kid who just needs a little confidence.
So funny story about our tutoring session today. I was describing the National Spelling Bee to her today and was telling her how it's on ESPN. I'm like do you know ESPN? She said no, which I chalked up to her being a 12 year old girl and not an 18 year old boy (slap on the wrist for sexism, moving on). Later on we were doing some vocabulary and I ask her if she's seen that silly show on MTV where the girls have these outlandish Sweet 16 parties. Finally she says to me, 'no actually, I don't want TV'. Whoops! Note to self, the best kind of teaching probably does not involve TV nor references to it. (* For the record I watch plenty of adolescent shows on MTV and count MADE and REAL WORLD among my favorite all time shows).
* I often tell you about how much I love living in Boston. I mean somedays I just hate it but there's nowhere else like here - where Rajan Rondo comes out onto center court before the Celtics game and says thanks for the support, go Red Sox! Where the jumbotron spends half-time finding people at the Celtics game with Red Sox gear on and strikes up a round of Sweet Caroline. Where else in America can you always count on such athletic excitement all the time? There is such a spirit that brings people together here. Kind of religious...kind of.
* On a related note, go Dustin Pedroia! He has finally figured it out!
* We still haven't heard if we won the $52 million contract for Liberia that I have been working on since June. It's getting to be unnerving. I may have the opportunity to go back if we win.
* Did I tell you I'm the Operations Manager for the 1-800-TRY-TO-STOP hotline? Smoke? Know someone that does? Can we help you quit?
* On Friday I am going to a dinner where Gloria Steinem is the guest speaker. Savory Man will go for the food at the Harvard Club but he's not so hot on Gloria. If you're interested in going, holler.
* On a related note, I'm debating the plastic on the windows. I don't know that it really did anything last year. Tell me I'm being ridiculous and I'll listen to you.
* We went to a pre-season Celtics game this afternoon. It was fun. Leon Powe is my favorite Celtic. He's like Mike Lowell, just of the Celtics. Sure, steady, and you can tell he's just a good guy. Unfortunately everyone sitting behind us had SO MUCH to say about all the players and last season and BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. SHUT UP!
* There is this amazing tree in downtown Dorchester that is bright orange. I love it. I will take a picture for you.
* I can see the city again out the kitchen window which means most of the leaves have left the tree. Remember the tree we watched through the seasons last year? I'd find the posts for you but I am lazy.
* I am tutoring this 6th grade middle eastern girl. I soooo feel for her as she is so on the cusp of some very awkward teenage years. With dark skin comes dark hair and really definitive mustache. I hope her mom steps in soon to keep her from being picked on. She's chubby and just developing a chest that needs some support. But she's the nicest and shyest little girl. I hope she does well on the test we're preparing for and kicks some academic ass. She's a real smart kid who just needs a little confidence.
So funny story about our tutoring session today. I was describing the National Spelling Bee to her today and was telling her how it's on ESPN. I'm like do you know ESPN? She said no, which I chalked up to her being a 12 year old girl and not an 18 year old boy (slap on the wrist for sexism, moving on). Later on we were doing some vocabulary and I ask her if she's seen that silly show on MTV where the girls have these outlandish Sweet 16 parties. Finally she says to me, 'no actually, I don't want TV'. Whoops! Note to self, the best kind of teaching probably does not involve TV nor references to it. (* For the record I watch plenty of adolescent shows on MTV and count MADE and REAL WORLD among my favorite all time shows).
* I often tell you about how much I love living in Boston. I mean somedays I just hate it but there's nowhere else like here - where Rajan Rondo comes out onto center court before the Celtics game and says thanks for the support, go Red Sox! Where the jumbotron spends half-time finding people at the Celtics game with Red Sox gear on and strikes up a round of Sweet Caroline. Where else in America can you always count on such athletic excitement all the time? There is such a spirit that brings people together here. Kind of religious...kind of.
* On a related note, go Dustin Pedroia! He has finally figured it out!
* We still haven't heard if we won the $52 million contract for Liberia that I have been working on since June. It's getting to be unnerving. I may have the opportunity to go back if we win.
* Did I tell you I'm the Operations Manager for the 1-800-TRY-TO-STOP hotline? Smoke? Know someone that does? Can we help you quit?
* On Friday I am going to a dinner where Gloria Steinem is the guest speaker. Savory Man will go for the food at the Harvard Club but he's not so hot on Gloria. If you're interested in going, holler.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Well...part II
I just saw gas for $3.09.
I also saw a humongous city rat run in front of my car. It made my feet tingle. Ick.
I made meatball spinach soup tonight and pumpkin bread. And my mixer fell on the kitchen floor.
I am now without a mixer.
Floor 1, Kristen 0.
I also saw a humongous city rat run in front of my car. It made my feet tingle. Ick.
I made meatball spinach soup tonight and pumpkin bread. And my mixer fell on the kitchen floor.
I am now without a mixer.
Floor 1, Kristen 0.
Well...
The water thing is working just fine...when I fill the glass up.
It however has not stopped me from eating egregious amounts of food during potluck lunches.
It however has not stopped me from eating egregious amounts of food during potluck lunches.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
What I learned at the gym
Well, first I learned that I should be going to the gym more often. Whatever. Working on it.
I am trying a new strategy at work so I'm not constantly dehydrated, which I am. I brought in a regular house glass. I filled it up on my way past the kitchen and just kept doing that all day. It was a good strategy. Water is just better in a glass than it is in a paper cup or in a Nalgene. Let's see how it goes.
At the gym I watched CNN and heard that if gas had stayed at $4 a gallon the average family would spend $4800 this year to feed their cars. But it is down to $3.19. They say that people will now have an extra $783 to put back into the economy. Tell me, are you putting your extra gas money into new clothes and dinners out?
They also said that there has been a run on safes because, I guess, people are thinking that safes are the best place to put their money right now. Well...I don't know. I guess if I wasn't 32 and gainfully employed I might be more fearful. I think if I was a senior citizen, I would be scared. Bastards are taking away all of our money. Social security, 401Ks, pensions...
They also were saying that a result of an economy that's in such a shithole as ours is, there is going to be a higher rate of theft. Resultingly, there has also been an increase in home security systems. Something tells me we better all invest in some back pocket and purse security systems too.
Lastly, I was in Worcester earlier in the week and saw this sticker on the window of a truck:
I'm a little dismayed. Maybe a little humored too. But only because we live in a political vacuum here and that guy is shit out of luck. Take that.
I am trying a new strategy at work so I'm not constantly dehydrated, which I am. I brought in a regular house glass. I filled it up on my way past the kitchen and just kept doing that all day. It was a good strategy. Water is just better in a glass than it is in a paper cup or in a Nalgene. Let's see how it goes.
At the gym I watched CNN and heard that if gas had stayed at $4 a gallon the average family would spend $4800 this year to feed their cars. But it is down to $3.19. They say that people will now have an extra $783 to put back into the economy. Tell me, are you putting your extra gas money into new clothes and dinners out?
They also said that there has been a run on safes because, I guess, people are thinking that safes are the best place to put their money right now. Well...I don't know. I guess if I wasn't 32 and gainfully employed I might be more fearful. I think if I was a senior citizen, I would be scared. Bastards are taking away all of our money. Social security, 401Ks, pensions...
They also were saying that a result of an economy that's in such a shithole as ours is, there is going to be a higher rate of theft. Resultingly, there has also been an increase in home security systems. Something tells me we better all invest in some back pocket and purse security systems too.
Lastly, I was in Worcester earlier in the week and saw this sticker on the window of a truck:
I'm a little dismayed. Maybe a little humored too. But only because we live in a political vacuum here and that guy is shit out of luck. Take that.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Quickly
* It was 47 degrees when I got up this morning. It has gone from so humid I can't dry my hair in the morning up here to long-sleeved shirt, hoodie, and sleeping socks, virtually overnight! I will be putting the down comforter on the bed today.
* Gas is $3.29. I'm disturbingly excited.
* I put $1400 towards credit cards this month. All of this extra work is beginning to pay off!
* And more from another blog I follow. I echo the sentiment: Seriously?
Maybe I'm stealing a lot from her (go check out the electoral map on her site, I'm too lazy to save and repost). But here's a new desktop for you. Well, at least for your home computer!
*thank you Ashley, whoever you are!*
* Gas is $3.29. I'm disturbingly excited.
* I put $1400 towards credit cards this month. All of this extra work is beginning to pay off!
* And more from another blog I follow. I echo the sentiment: Seriously?
Maybe I'm stealing a lot from her (go check out the electoral map on her site, I'm too lazy to save and repost). But here's a new desktop for you. Well, at least for your home computer!
*thank you Ashley, whoever you are!*
Friday, October 3, 2008
Huh, who knew?
Well, maybe you did. But for me, this ranks up there in the category of 'all the magical information you can find on the internet whilst wasting time at work between games of WordTwist on Facebook'.
This is from a blog that I follow.
This is from a blog that I follow.
Here's the Thing
Sarah Palin did a respectable job last night as a debater. Though she spoke superficially about a lot of topics and really only had substance on taxes and off-shore drilling, she didn't fall apart and she was confident the entire time.
I am REALLY not impressed with the statistics they had pulled for her to use which Joe Biden so amazingly countered each time. "Barack Obama did not vote to raise taxes. The vote she's referring to, John McCain voted the exact same way. It's a bogus standard". That happened more than once and it's sheisty. Sheisty I say. Why is that not coming up as a word in Blogger's dictionary? Did I spell it wrong? Regardless, what I take away is that you are manipulating data and using it opportunistically even if it's not right. I've got ZERO tolerance for that. I'm all for opportunism, just not at the expense of other people and not when it's blatantly false and incomplete information. Now she has colored all Republicans like that for me. Perhaps it's not fair of me, but if the great minds of McCain's campaign are behind prepping her for the debate, then that's what I have to go on. Great minds in the Republican party are sheisty.
Secondly, she totally overdid the Joe SixPack and Main Street hockey mom stuff. I don't know about you, but I don't want an ordinary, average person in the White House representing my entire country to the world. I want a genius!
That's all I have to say and I am now stepping down from today's soapbox.
I am REALLY not impressed with the statistics they had pulled for her to use which Joe Biden so amazingly countered each time. "Barack Obama did not vote to raise taxes. The vote she's referring to, John McCain voted the exact same way. It's a bogus standard". That happened more than once and it's sheisty. Sheisty I say. Why is that not coming up as a word in Blogger's dictionary? Did I spell it wrong? Regardless, what I take away is that you are manipulating data and using it opportunistically even if it's not right. I've got ZERO tolerance for that. I'm all for opportunism, just not at the expense of other people and not when it's blatantly false and incomplete information. Now she has colored all Republicans like that for me. Perhaps it's not fair of me, but if the great minds of McCain's campaign are behind prepping her for the debate, then that's what I have to go on. Great minds in the Republican party are sheisty.
Secondly, she totally overdid the Joe SixPack and Main Street hockey mom stuff. I don't know about you, but I don't want an ordinary, average person in the White House representing my entire country to the world. I want a genius!
That's all I have to say and I am now stepping down from today's soapbox.
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