Abandon Ship!

Before I start, my mind was just put at ease. I heard a rumor not too long ago that Shepherdstown doesn't really recycle. That the waste management sends out recycling bins to give off the illusion of recycling, but that the truck takes the items to the same dump as my Thursday trash pick up. 

I have good news, though. I just saw the recycling truck and it was definitely one of those jobs that sorts through the different types and they left a few of my neighbors items. Why bother doing that if the waste doesn't really go to a recycling center? Good job, Apple Valley Waste Management. 

Anyway, I abandoned NaBloPoMo for one very important reason. I would rather have a blog of substance rather than a blog that is updated quickly at 11:30 at night when I don't have much to say. My blogs on dating and voting, I liked those. I'm very interested in what is going on right now. The state of the world is a big pile of negative energy right now. I'm interested in that. You're interested in that, not what I ate for dinner last Friday (pasta). 

Not to say this is going to turn into something neo-political, current-event bashing blog. I like fluffy stuff, like the weather and my house. Those things will be in here. 

There will just be substance, things you're interested in and, hopefully, things that will make you laugh. Keep reading, 'it's getting better all the time...'

Thanks! 

V-O-T-E

The NaBloPoMo theme for October is vote, and I just watched the last presidential debate (thanks, DVR), so...now a rant. 

Many states' voter registration deadlines have already passed, but you can find out here when your deadline is coming up, and the other laws regarding your state and how to make a change this November. Lucky you, Connecticut, you have until November 3 to register to vote, so no excuses. Maine, they're even more lax on you, you can register to vote on election day. That Web site also lists the laws pertaining to absentee ballots, if you're not currently in your state and won't be on November 4. Ever heard of early voting? Click on the words early vote to see if your state participates. This makes it easier for people who may be traveling or out-of-state on election day. College kids? Take your laundry home, get a meal cooked by mom (or dad) and cast a ballot if your state is on Rock the Vote's list.

Look, I don't care how you do it, who you do it for or what your reasons are. I just want you to vote. If you haven't, check out Barack Obama and John McCain's Web sites and read into the issues that matter to you most. The campaign slogans and ads won't get you anywhere as far as being an educated voter is concerned, but both of those Web sites break down the candidate's take on an issue by topic and everyone has issues that matter to them. 

In this country, voting has really come a long way. In 1776, most of the people I know wouldn't have been going to the polls in November. The privilege was only given to white, property owning, Protestant males who were over the age of 21. In 1830, states dropped the religion and property ownership aspect of the law, but only my while, male friends could speak their mind every four years. The 15th Amendment happened in 1870, giving African American males the right, nation wide (still, had it been me, I would have been bugging my male friends to cast a vote for me). In 1920, we passed the 19th Amendment, a woman's right to vote, and in 1947 Native Americans could hit the polls. Now, all of us, 21 and older are pulling levers and bubbling in bubbles and hanging our chads. 

1971? Big deal. The U.S. decided that if you could go to war and die for your country, you could help choose your Commander-in-Chief at 18. 

It's important, and for most of us, that right has not always been there. This country was founded when colonists sought to escape a monarchy and royal blood. We formed a system that allows us, as citizens, to help choose who makes our decisions and represents us on a global scale. (Though, the electoral college still blows my pretty little mind, I'm working on it) Bi-partisan may not be the best way to go and I'm pretty sure you have to be insane to run for president, but the point is, we have a choice that a lot of people don't have. 

If nothing else, don't listen to me, listen to third debate moderator, Bob Schieffer's mom - "Go vote, it'll make you feel big and strong." (Plus, when you need to complain about something after November 4th, you'll have a right to...) 

Seriously...you have a little under a month to get your political rear in gear. 

Thanks for reading. 

Brain Mush

I had my hair cut last Thursday, back on my old stomping grounds and saw an ex-boyfriend, his wife and his wife's baby bump. This isn't a good representation of the haircut, but it's Wednesday and I'm home alone playing Scrabble and drinking lemonade on my red living room couch. 

Two weeks into my outlet job and I'm already itching to be back in class. The economic disaster of last week has really brought shopping to a bit of a halt for the time being, and when I've worked this week we've been unbearably slow. I organized pantyhose and panties today, and discovered a box of red bras made for people with breast sizes in the upper letters. You can't even imagine my excitement. 

On Wednesday nights, John plays soccer. I have a really hard time following the sport, and when his cousin Bret's girlfriend, Chi, doesn't go, I have no one to talk to. So I've taken to spending time on and with myself on Wednesdays, which has proven to be therapeutic. 

In an effort to save my brain from the inevitable turning to mush that is starting to happen as I get farther and farther away from my post-secondary education, I decided to leave the TV off tonight, with the exception of my Yoga DVD. Yoga has become a welcome challenge, and it really does improve my ability to breathe and think clearly. I pulled out my Scrabble board and to the tune of my dishwasher I played against myself. I have two difficult letter combinations right now, so I figured I would start of NaBloPoMo attempt two right with letting all of cyberspace know how lame I am...

I play Scrabble alone.

It does help, though, to get the brain cells pumping a bit faster than they have been. I really need a hobby, or something new to get into. I miss the benefit of being in a communications department with new software to play with, I can't afford these things on my own. John has taken to reading some of my old textbooks that I could never bring to sell back to the book store. I need something like that to look into. Or maybe a graphic novel. I've never given those a try and they seem to be pretty big right now. 

I also have a copy of Brain Age 2 for the Nintendo DS that helped my general alertness over the summer. Maybe I'll get that back out. I feel lethargic and stupid today. I should be proactive about it. 

I wish I had more to say than that. No complaining tomorrow. Really, I just wanted to share a picture of my haircut, couch and Scrabble letters. 

Have you been to Shepherdstown? I hear it's nice in autumn...

Here I am. Stomach down on my fluffy white carpet, my favorite position to write, in my favorite dress. It's a beautiful 65 degrees in Shepherdstown, all of the windows in my house are open letting bug sounds in (I don't mind them when they're outside...). It seems like the construction has stopped for the day. It's nice and quiet (save some rumblings from my neighbor's kids running up and down her stairs). The breeze feels nice and smells so much better than air conditioning. Today will be a good day. 

Last night, we ate at Kazu for Neena's birthday. Kazu is a Thai/Japanese restaurant on German Street, and it's pretty amazing. Not a regular for us, though, as for a college student/recent graduate $12-20 a plate can be pricey. I had the shrimp pad thai, most everyone else had chicken pad thai or sushi and my boyfriend, John, had chicken pad see ew. Afterwards, John and I took Neena to the Mecklenburg Inn (to be known in the future solely as "The Meck") for a few birthday drinks. His cousin, Bret, joined us and after four beers (two apiece for John and Bret), a Long Island Iced Tea (mine) and three Sex on the Beach(es?) (one for me, two for Neena) we headed back to Birch to drop Neena off and head back to my house. 

As always, the company was wonderful. This is the thing about Shepherdstown, you're guaranteed to run into someone you know, be with people you like and have a really great time. There were eight of us indulging at Kazu and the waiter knew us all...once we arrived at the Meck we all new a few people and knew exactly what to expect. The outside patio area is, as I describe it, a fairy land. The stone tables, tiki torches and brick walkways similar to those that wind through town make you feel like you're at home only maybe slightly less afraid to spill a drink. The bar kitty was there, a friendly orange tabby with a stubby tail, and the whole scene of last night made me feel so happy to be here. 

Shepherdstown is one of those places that sucks you in so you don't want to leave. It's unlike any place I've ever lived or visited. A few years ago, I would have sworn that I'd never end up one of the Shepherd grads that scours German Street for a drink, swearing never to leave this town. It has that 'never-never land' quality to it. (Note: the land, not the ranch) I'm happiest here, wandering the streets looking in stores I've looked in before, sipping smoothies at Mellow Moods or coffee at the Lost Dog. It's just nice, especially this time of year when the temperature drops and the leaves turn over to match the bricks on the rumbly sidewalks. Oh so perfect. 

While at the Meck last night, on a trip to the restroom, I noticed a sign above each bathroom door. Where LADIES and GENTLEMEN were written, the sign read: City of Westminster. This was perhaps the first time I realized that had I gone through my original post-graduate plans I would have just arrived in London for my year at University of Westminster. Seeing those signs and realizing those facts made me realize that I made the right decision not to go. While a year abroad surely would have opened my eyes to other cultures and people and I would have received top-notch journalism training, it's not for me. Not now at least. There is something about this town and this country that needs me here right now...and the more I think about starting school, the more I get excited about teaching and learning about teaching. I'm in the right place this time. Train whistles and all. 

Also on a side-note, I registered with NaBloPoMo yesterday. It's a monthly challenge to blog every day for a month, so I figured that since I'm trying to turn over a new blogging leaf and bring in readers and do a bit more writing than I had been, it would be a nice challenge for me. I urge you all to check it out, too...

Thanks for reading.