Yes We Can

Yesterday, I voted on a historic Election Day in US History. See? I've got the sticker and free cup of Starbucks coffee to prove it:

I reminded my girl that we were watching US history in the making as we all watched as our first African-American president give his victory speech last night. He kicked it off with inspirating words confirming that still, "America is a place where all things are possible." While he recognized the accomplishments of teamwork, focus, and hope, he soberly relayed that there is yet an uphill struggle, "two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century", and that we would all have to pitch in and work together to succeed, because, America, yes, we can.

We also watched John McCain's concession speech. I have to confess that I haven't seen a lot of these types of speeches but I found McCain's speech a class act with a determined tone to still serve the US, and encouraged his supporters to rally behind our new president. Honestly, I have a lot of respect for McCain--as POW hero to the way he stood up against the current administration and, yes, his own Republican party, on the use of torture in US interrogation. Eight years ago, he was more moderate than the candidate he was in this election. After all, Rush Limbaugh had denounced the possibility of McCain running as the Republican party presidential candidate because Limbaugh deemed McCain wasn't conservative enough. With an non-endorsement like that, I had to give McCain some respect. And last night as he exited the presidential race, he retained honor and respect with his acknowledgment and reverence of this historic election and urging "all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited." Optimistically speaking, thank you, Senator, yes, we can.

On a less optimistic front, Proposition 8 seems to be passing here in California. Currently, eliminating the gay marriage is leading 52% to 48%, with 96% of the precincts reporting. Though I can't believe that a discriminatory amendment that is in violation of the current constitution that bars discrimination based on gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation can be made (and I would wholeheartedly support that fight), it is a sad recognition of civil rights in this state that so many people would vote to support it.

On a related front, since my Amy Winehouse temporary tattoos have outlasted daily showers and 3 trips to the gym since Halloween, I was considering doing a No on 8 version of Conan O'Brien's strike beard. Unfortunately, with the likelihood of the voters passing Prop 8, I might just have to finally scrub these off:

I've been wearing long sleeves to the office, but I have to confess that I've started getting attached to the ones on my forearms:

My daughter, however, is tired of the booby pin-up girl and says I should at least paint a bikini top on her:

Well, with the depressing turnout of trampled civil rights, what excuse do I have to try and keep these temporary tattoos on?

Off to Vote

It's the big day--Election Day.

I wish I had researched voting early or voting by mail because now I have to stand in line. In the rain. How did that happen? I'm in So Cal and it rains like, twice a year. And it rains on a day when I'll be waiting in line outside.

But obviously, I'll do it. Going to make sure that there is another vote for civil rights and equality for all by voting No on Prop 8.

Happy voting to all--

Halloween recap

I dressed as Amy Winehouse for Halloween and I was psyched I was able to do it low budget. The most money I spent was the $20 on the temporary tattoos I ordered from England that are duplicates of all of her tattoos. Obviously I'm nowhere near "heroin-chic" thin, but I told people, it's like Amy Winehouse gave up crack and got addicted to carbs instead. I didn't get my hands on the black foam to get the major beehive going, unfortunately,--so in some ways, except for the tank top and temp-toos, I kind of looked like I normally do at work in the afternoon:


Trick or Treating was a bit of a let down--a lot of houses were dark. Wha?! Did people have something better to do on a Friday night than to hand out candy? There were a few haunted porches and at one house, a mom came out on the patio shrieking a la the Wicked Witch of the West, hands clawed down, cackling "Be Afraid, Be Afraid!"--dressed as Sarah Palin. Some houses were decorated with lit porches and jack o'lanterns, yet no one came to the door. It was as if some folks got into the Halloween spirit but then left for a better party someplace else. Weird.

So the haul was a bit smaller than usual, but it didn't stop us from eating a ridiculous amount on the couch, post-T'n'T.

We're looking forward to the next Halloween already--

Happy Halloween

Our annual Barfing Jack O'Lantern is ready:

And from Velina's artistic sketches of her costume (perhaps this is the Project Runway influence):

She is wearing this:

For the sharp-eyed: yes, there have been some changes from the original sketch. And such changes are soooo Project Runway, yes?

And we haven't eaten ALL the Halloween candy.

So, yeah, we're ready for Halloween.

Hallow's Eve

Wow, is it already the day before Halloween?

I sewed Velina's costume over the weekend, which ended up being a simple sateen red sheath (she's a Devil Daughter) but took me a while to make, between the pattern cutting and wrestling with my sewing machine. After 5 hours, I finally held it up, Ta Da! The girl sighed and said, why can't we just buy a costume?

I spared her my opinion that the Costume stores are not fully labeled as they should: "Halloween Costume Store for Skanks who Want to Be Ripped Off" and that I had no desire to shop the picked over leftovers with a minor.

Instead, I enthusiastically told her that we'd make it work.

So tonight, we slam out the Halloween magic. And because all the 100 Grand bars are gone, I will be fueled, of course, with the rest of the Heath Bars.

The Skeleton is Up

Getting a late start on Halloween decorating, I know. But the beauty is, the skeleton will stay up until I get my Christmas wreath.

On a weak note, we opened the bags of Heath bars and Butterfingers. There goes my WW points. For a month.

It's like breaking a twenty

Last night, while watching "Ark Monster" which we had DVR'd off Sci-Fi channel, we cracked open the Halloween bag of fun-size 100 Grand bars. Which, like breaking a twenty dollar bill, means it's gone. When I got up this morning, I waded through the empty wrappers and saw there are 7 bars left. Sorry, Trick-or-Treaters, the 100 Grand bars are toast.

But don't worry, we still have 7 other sacks of candy, including a mega sack.

For now.