But seriously, VOTE!

I finally got around to watching this, and am re-posting it everywhere I can.

Oh, and PS

I submitted my absentee ballot today!

This time Tuesday, we may just know who our next President will be...so get out there and VOTE!

Also, I know I mentioned them earlier, but they're worth mentioning again. Margaret and Helen. Check 'em out.

Political Pumpkin! ...and a super-cute standard one too!

The Boy and I (finally) carved pumpkins tonight, and I have to say, they . look . AWESOME!!!!!

I used a stencil from Yes We Carve

Illuminated!

Artsy!

They look even better in person...come on by on Halloween and check 'em out! Wooooooo! By the way, I am really excited - even though I don't *technically* have a costume yet. Oh well. I have a bucket full of candy, and I'm ready for fun!

Fabulous Fall!

I believe it is officially Autumn. It was foggy all day, and even drizzled a bit. And the leaves on the trees near work are decisively changing color. Indeed! Some photos to get you in the spirit...





This last one is actually at my apartment...I put these little ghost window clings up in a West-facing window, and when the sun is setting in the evening, it creates these neat little shadows up and down the shades. Cute!

The Most Awesome Kids

Chrissie sent me this video, and it is awesome.



Also, check out this blog. Only if you want to read the awesome political rants of some hip old ladies.

Awesome.

um, duh...

So, I forgot to mention one VERY CRUCIAL thing that I am doing tonight - besides carving political pumpkins - FILLING OUT MY ABSENTEE BALLOT!

I am going to sit down with the large and in charge voter information pamphlet and my sample ballot and mark it all up! Only when I have filled out my sample ballot and am 100% certain I won't mess up will I put a pen to the real thing. Messing up is costly, as I found out during the primaries...not that it makes a huge difference here in CA, but it takes a LONG time to get a new absentee ballot if you mess up on the first one.

And I'm not gonna risk it!

Mail your absentee ballots by Saturday to make sure they get in by EOD Tuesday! And go out there and Get Out The Vote!

Not sure where your polling place is? www.maps.google.com/vote

Only 5 days left!!!

Plans for Tonight

I have just been going crazy lately, what with volunteering for Obama, lots going on at work, and still adjusting to being back from vacation. Oh, and there's an economic crisis that, while I don't *totally* notice in my personal life (except cheaper gas! yay!), still holds an impressive weight over my head.

So tonight, I am taking it easy. I know it's silly and indulgent to post a list here of what I want to do tonight, but it will make me feel better to put it out there on the internet and will perhaps further motivate me to actually do it.

The Plans:

• Go to Walgreens to purchase some candy for Trick-or-Treaters and sour cream for onion dip. Maybe chips too.
• Light delicious pumpkin spice candles and make my apartment feel all warm and cozy.
  
• Carve pumpkins. Perhaps I will make a "campaign-o-lantern" out of one of them.
• Watch Obama's mysterious and magical 30 minute address at 8pm.
• Watch Obama on Jon Stewart at 11pm.
• Collapse into bed as soon as that is over.

And that. Is. All.

No on 8

My buddy Cheshire, fed up with the current "No on 8" ads that he feels are not getting the point across, made his own ad. It's pretty strong...check it out.

Videos Politicos

Great videos that Emily shared...

An Obama supporter from Ohio...


The Obamas discuss dressing on a budget...

Click here to watch one where he stands up for his dance moves, and makes a funny joke.

Palin doesn't know what a pre-condition is...


And here's a pretty good No on 8 Ad...

I know I don't usually get too political...but...

The next (less than!) two weeks are pretty important. There's this election coming up, you know, the outcome of which could really change this country for the better. Yeah, yeah, I know that politicians promise a lot of things that don't always happen, but I have to believe that Barack Obama has the right intentions and the right kind of support (like, say, from most of the world) and mostly, the right attitude. What this country needs is someone who believes in hope and equality and helping people and not starting wars for all the wrong reasons and education and giving people the right to choose! And yes, you all have the right to choose who you want to vote for, and what propositions you're behind and all that...so no matter who you're voting for, I urge you to get out there and find your polling place and just do it!

And I have to add that if you feel really strongly pro-Obama, or even a little strongly, volunteer with Obama's campaign! This election is too close right now, and with just under two weeks to go, now is the time to get off your couches and do something about it. It doesn't take much -- you don't have to quit your job or drive to another state or knock on doors or even buy anything. Stop by your local headquarters (mine is here) and ask what they need help with. Chances are, they need people to call the registered voters in swing states and just ask if they've decided who they're voting for. If they say Obama, remind them where their polling place is and mostly just encourage them to vote! Tell them what I'm telling you - that every vote counts, and we need those votes!

If you're not comfortable calling people, you can do data entry (I entered the results from those phone calls, as well as the contact information of new volunteers last night!) or help set up at an event, or bring food to the callers, or print up fliers...the opportunities to get involved are endless! But the point is that we need your help.

If you have even an hour after work over the next two weeks (two weeks! that's it!) that you could spend volunteering instead of watching TV, know that it could just make the difference this country needs!

I've been devouring a lot of articles, blogs, photos, reports and such lately, so check out my shared items to see what I've been reading if you're interested. Big props to Emily, who is the main source of my political information online.

Yay!

My favorite gal, Anne Hathaway, is going to be on Broadway...and Perez Hilton posted about it. Including the following video. Which I saw live...duh, like I would have missed the Stephen Sondheim tribute at the Hollywood Bowl. Re-watching it just now made me so happy.

Dancing Otters

Shared by Emily:

Autumn Apartment

I mentioned recently that I was all excited because I made my apartment all fall-ish. Here are some photos I promised you!

pumpkins and candles!

ah, the warm glow by a prickly plant

a table full of fall...oh, and a turtle from kauai filled with chocolate/macadamia nut chocolate

bowl of scented fall stuff

another view of the pumpkins and candles...and yes, the candles smell like pumpkin and spice

another fall-stuff basket

pumpkin-cranberry-oat muffin with tea (and silicone baking cup!)

pumpkin-chocolate chip-oat muffin...

Sunset Photos

Here ya go...some photos from the sunset I was talking about yesterday...taken tonight, when the sky was less orange, but still lovely.

Sadly without camera...

Me to The Boy over gChat...

me: can you see the sky form where you are

lordy

it's bright orange and so gorgeous (to the west)

Sent at 6:41 PM on Monday
me: from the shuttle, i just saw the SF skyline as a dark gray silhouette against the orange sky

holy cow that's beautiful

It was seriously beautiful. I wish I had had my camera. I brought it today though, so hopefully it will be just as nice and I'll be able to snap a picture through the window of the bus.

Vote!

I say this a lot, but I have some really awesome friends.

I forgot...

...that the lovely crisp air and pumpkin spice candles of autumn also come with the darker mornings (and darker evenings). This morning, I had to force myself out of bed in my unusually dark bedroom, and it dawned on me that this is the beginning of the cold, dark mornings.

It is so not easy to wake up for work. Do any of you have any tips or tricks for dragging yourself out of bed when the room is cold and dark? I know many of you live in places where it's even colder and darker...how do you deal?

A spoiled CA girl, I am.

Ah, It's Fall

It's a lovely fall (ish) Saturday up in Berkeley, and I am ready for it. This weekend's plans are filled with getting settled, cleaning the apartment, seeing an old friend, and decorating for fall. It should come as no surprise to you all that I love seasonal decoration. I bust out the pumpkin spice candles and the gourds and mini-pumpkins around this time of year, and it really puts me in the fall mood...even if the weather is still mostly mid 60's and sunny.

Emily has been posting lots and lots of fall pictures lately, and that has only enhanced the falliness of it all. Love it love it love it.

Vacation!

So, to make you all insanely jealous, here are a few select photos from our recent trip to Kauai...we kayaked, snorkeled, hiked, and yes, spent some time just hanging out on the beach. It was a glorious and much-needed week away (ah, to be a grown-up, taking a real grown-up vacation!), and it was certainly difficult to come back to work. More vacation, please! :-)

dolphins!

saw this hanging up on a tree branch...

we kayaked to a rainforest and hiked to this giant waterfall, where we got to swim!

beautiful beach, almost sunset

from our hike up to kalalau valley - we also saw this view from the water one day...

ahhh beach

sunset at ke'e beach

If you're ever going to Kauai (or any of the Hawaiian islands), I highly recommend The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook (available for any of the islands). It was the only book recommended by every single person I asked, and it absolutely was the best thing we purchased for the trip...except maybe the flights and hotel. Maybe it was even better than the hotel.

Vote!

The awesome Brett wants you to vote!

Bye Bye Cookies

I just heard some very sad news, via Emily and then via the internet. Mother's Cookies is going out of business. I've written before about how much I love their Circus Animals (and their Iced Oatmeal), and I'm really really sad to see them go. Ideally, they would be bought out by a company that wants to maintain the company's integrity, recipes, packaging...basically just finance whatever it takes to keep everything as is.

I might end up buying some from their remaining stock...even with the sad realization that there will likely be no more. Ever. Sad face. Maybe I'll stop by Safeway and pick some up (if they even have any) instead of ordering online (approx $8.00 per bag of cookies seems a little pricey, even though it "includes" shipping, $5.50 per bag if you order 12). Somehow that seems wrong though, not to support the company...though I guess they're bankrupt so the money wouldn't go to them anyway? I don't know how it works.

Sadness, anyway.


Sorry for the lack of posting...I have just returned from a week-long vacation in Kauai with The Boy. More on that to come!