For Christmas, for the first time I can remember since I was little, I wanted something specifically American. I remember at school, before you were supposed to really think for yourself, it was really wonderful to be proud of your country. The Fourth was as exciting as, well, at least as exciting as Valentine’s Day, and wearing our nation’s colors was a part of it. And after the elections I wanted to feel some of that excitement again. I found a belt at Urban Outfitters that fit the bill: stars and stripes in grayscale that didn’t shout “Red White and Blue” too much but still got the point across. And I am really proud to wear it! I admit that it is a tiny bit cheesy, and I’m a little self-aware about it… but that’s just a spectre of the old me…a guy that was kind of embarrassed about feeling national pride.

Not that I didn’t have reason to be embarrassed, I don’t think. It has been an embarrassing eight years. But yesterday, as I listened to our new President’s inauguration speech in my car, and actually cried (have I ever cried during a political speech?), I was pretty excited about not being embarrassed any more. I was meeting a friend for lunch and as Obama closed I jumped out into the snow, which was suddenly less annoying and more beautiful to me, and actually skipped a little bit to my friend’s door. Again, cheesy. But his speech was about remembering what we used to be, and finding those old feelings again, about getting back to what we once were. And for a second I felt like a kid again, and it was wonderful to feel that pride.

I don’t know whether he’ll do even a fraction of what he wants to do, of what everyone expects him to do, what everyone needs for him to do. The cynical side of me knows that what he’s up against is daunting for anyone, and he only has a relatively short time to try to right some serious wrongs, and chances are he won’t be able to get it all done. But he has already broken so many “rules”, and done it so gracefully, and intelligently. So I’m wondering if I’ll even care if Obama completely fails as our 44th President. He might get lost. It’s human nature to do so. But for the last few months he has given me back something I have been missing for a while; missing to the point where I didn’t even really realize how much it meant to me in the first place. And I really think that this slightly corny feeling of Hope will stick with me for a while, along with this slightly corny belt I wanted to signify this American feeling of mine.

thanks to my friend Adam for sending.

I know that the word is good, that he’s up in the polls…but it truly isn’t over yet. I spent nearly three weeks trying to get an absentee vote to South Carolina, and finally did (thanks, Nick!), so I can relax a bit. But to those of you that have an easier time of it tomorrow: don’t forget, for God’s sake. And don’t be wishy-washy about it. Is there anyone still undecided? Seriously, write me, here, and I’ll help you decide. Heck. Call me at 843.853.7099. If I can answer, I will.

This is such an important one, folks. It’s vital. A change has to happen, and though they say that they’re “maverick”, nothing they say has convinced me that we won’t be cruising down the same depressing path that we’ve been on for eight years. You are guaranteed an immediate change with Obama in the White House. To prove that we as a country are not as conservative, not as complacent, not as race-obsessed as the rest of the world thinks we are. The man is 1. intelligent, and 2. passionate, which is already more than what we’ve had for almost ten years. I’m not necessarily saying that he’s going to save the world, or even this country, but it’d be a damn good start, in my opinion.

Whew. I can’t relax until tomorrow is done.

Cousin Tim is a Republican!

Actually, I just found this sign. I don’t know Tim Bivins, and am probably not related to him. But I do like the fine print at the bottom: “Paid for by the Citizens for Bivins”. I would love to have things paid for by the Citizens for Bivins! Honestly.

I’m seriously caught up in a Political Fever. I listened to my weekly dose of This American Life while walking the dogs. Ira’s program was about Pennsylvania, and how it’s a swingy state this year, and McCain is hitting it hard. There are lots of Democrats fighting for the Republican candidate, and plenty of Democrats going after the Red swatches of state. It’s still really fascinating to me how people could be undecided in this election. To me, it’s a no brainer. But I got to thinking about how some of my friends might be on the fence, too, and it’s unsettling.

I found this article. He doesn’t tell you who to vote for, just gives some ideas of how to make up your mind. I’ve been having a really really difficult time trying to get Charleston County, SC to send me an absentee ballot this year, and I’m really going to be cutting it close. I decided to stay an official South Carolinian just a little longer so that I could cast my vote for my candidate in a state that might need it more (or less, depending on how you see it), but the struggle to get it here, the stress, is kind of invigorating. If my ballot doesn’t get here in time, I’ve threatened to drive back to SC to vote. I don’t want anyone I know to not vote in November. I’d do anything to get people to vote, and have offered to drive people there myself on the 4th.

I knew who I was going to vote for before he officially decided to run for office; I’ve been an Obama fan ever since his speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention. It was a no-brainer for me. I don’t care “where he came from”. I don’t care about his “lack of experience”. If he actually became a Muslim in the next week and a half, I’d still vote for him. Whether it’s this year or another, Obama is going to make changes, has already done so, in my opinion, simply by the nature of who he is, and I hope that this country lets him give being President a shot.

But still…I’ve said many times, I remember being a McCain fan in 2000. If he can keep from leaving us with Palin, hang in there for at least four years, I’ll live. Four more years of the same Republican Party shenanigans could really do some major damage, but I’d imagine it’s going to be much easier for me to weather a total economic meltdown than most, because I’m very used to not making any money, anyway. Thanks to Dad, I know how to handle a gun, safely. And I’ve been putting off taking those Chinese lessons for too long.

The main thing is to vote. The main thing is to vote. The main thing.

In other news, I had my first official Chicago improv performance last night. With a group formed out of iO classes. We call ourselves “How to Fight Wolves”. We had a 20 minute set last night at a bar called Ginger’s. It was fun; it’s nice to just try and keep something very fun. Evan and I are moving right along with the book for Kiki, a main reason we’re here. And I finally start a job, in two weeks, as Tech Director for a dance company. Back on the road! But this time, behind the scenes, and not nearly as long. It has been so strange for me to be jobless for this long. A great learning experience, though. I’m a workaholic, I now know, and quitting cold turkey was just what the doctor ordered. But back to it!

Mmmm. Cold turkey.

I know this picture is funny. It’s a joke. And I’ve been kind of quiet about politics this year. Might be because the last time I got all political I got enough hate mail to…well…I got a lot of hate mail.

But Palin isn’t a joke, to me. This woman scares me even more than Bush did, eight years ago. I don’t mind the NRA thing, I guess; my father was a hunter, too. And I like that she even mentions special-needs children. But anyone that is against rights for gays, anti-abortion, and wants to teach “optional” creationism in schools just shouldn’t have that much power in this country. I appreciate the fact that she takes a stand, but…creationism? And the possibility that she would be in the White House as VP is even more scary knowing that Mr. McCain might not live for another eight years, bless his heart.

Hey. I’m sad that Barack didn’t pick Hillary as his running mate, too. I would love a woman as Vice President, I would love a woman as President. But not this one. Please, please, not this one.

I’ve been a fan of Barack Obama since 2004. I never expected him to run, never expected him to get this far. But now that he is, it’s the most exciting thing to happen to our country in almost a decade, and I’m really worried about how close the race is.

I tend to get preachy. I won’t. But I truly want to understand how people could be apathetic about this election. I saw a bumper sticker on a car yesterday that listed the candidates and had a checked box beside “None of the Above”. What? And I also want to understand how people who were Hillary supporters would vote for McCain. Isn’t that taking it a bit far? Why would this country want even one more year of the same brand of politics we’ve been enduring for the last eight?

I have actually been a McCain supporter, in the past. When he was more forward-thinking, back in 2000. Before he took on more of the current administration’s backwards policies. But now…and after picking ultra-Conservative nut Palin…I can’t be, any more. I can’t wait for Bush to be gone, but we have the option to replace him with people that are interested in growing, and not staying the same.

This is a great site with some facts. If you’re feeling apathetic. And if you are, well, get over it. Apathy is so 2000. and 2004.