07/28/04, 5:31pm.
...
From the Democratic National Convention speech given by Barack Obama:

I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America.

(APPLAUSE)

There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America.

(APPLAUSE)

The pundits, the pundits like to slice and dice our country into red states and blue States: red states for Republicans, blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the red states.

We coach little league in the blue states and, yes, we've got some gay friends in the red states.

(APPLAUSE)

There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq, and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq.

We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.

Obama for President...I mean senator. Vote for him.

Current Music: What is This Thing Called Love? - Cole Porter

07/24/04, 11:20pm.
How could I have known that you'd ever say 'goodbye'...?
Long day. I have a headache. Too much staring at screens, methinks.

Candace, Zoe and I theatre hopped from Bourne Supremacy, to Cinderella Story [much to my dismay], to I, Robot. The first and last being good and well worth the $2.33 we ended up paying for each. The middle left much to be desired and there were so many flaws that it was irritating. I wouldn't pay more than 25 cents to see it.

That made for a long day, so we came back to my house to chill while eating dinner and hanging. On TV, we switched between George of the Jungle and Rat Race, the latter which is very good and I've recently purchased. Then Chazz came and Candace left and State and Main was watched. I am so movied out right now. And That's so the source of my headache.

Therefore, I'm going to read a bit before hitting the hay. I'm expecting calls from Whitney and Becca, so I don't want to crash before I hear from both of them. But I'm exhausted. Tomorrow will probably be a day that I try to spend as much time with Chris as possible. Get away from life here for a while.

Here's a toast to hoping you are in a better mood than I am at the moment.

Current Music: The Dance - Garth Brooks

07/23/04, 11:43pm.
Inside, I know, I know, I know that I'll feel this way all day...
Busy day. Work was really relaxed. We were all ready for the weekend, and so we kinda slacked. It also had to do with the amazingly cool temperature, which was a MUCH welcomed break from the hot and humid death we've been bombarded with all week.

Directly after (without even having a chance to change clothes), I drove my parents to the airport. They are in Florida for 10 days. The drive took 2 hours there and back with rush hour, Friday traffic on 294. Crazy.

Almost immediately once I got home, I was out the door again. I had 15 minutes to change clothes and relax before heading to the gas station, then to pick up Candace to go to Evanston. More driving. It sucked asshole.

We ate dinner at Giordano's, and my lovely Anneliese joined us after work. So good to see her. She then came with us to see Falsettos at NU. Very good show. And we got to see Jason briefly, as he was running sound.

I drove home and got here at about 11:20. This is my first time really just letting go all day. It's been so tough. Overwhelming. I need a break. And yet tomorrow I'm planning to spend the entire day in a movie theatre. Sounds rather hellish right now. Maybe we'll get caught hopping and be kicked out early. Silly thing to wish for, eh? Maybe if I was feeling happier, it would be better. I need a severe attitude lift. If only they had surgery for that. Oh well, I'll still with my bitter, angry, angsty, crazed, terrifed self for a while. *rolls eyes*

Current Music: Dizzy - Tabitha's Secret

07/22/04, 3:31pm.
...
Been a couple long days. Saw Alanis and BNL yesterday. AMAZING. So good. I love Alanis so much. And BNL is always fun.

Today was very long and hard at work. I didn't think I would make it. But things got a little better in the afternoon. Unfortunately it was Parent Day so we had to be peppy and all that jazz. It was tough. Very tough. But I made it, and I'm still standing. Sort of. Sitting is more like it. I've decided not to join Annie at a demonstration outside of the Training facility in Glenview where Bush will be speaking at 4. I might still join her for dinner if I ever hear from her again.

I'm going to be lazy for the rest of this rainy afternoon until I go grocery shopping with mommy. Need food for the week she'll be gone. Fun fun fun.

Current Music: Nothing.

07/18/04, 9:16pm.
You can check out anytime you'd like...
It's been a while. Today, my life was turned upside-down and nothing seemed to make sense...but later was resolved. I'm so bad at getting unexpected news.

I would also like to request that it be two years ago right now. Thanks.

As far as work, things are alright. I realized recently that nothing makes me as truly, deep-down, fuzzy & warm-type of happy like kids. They are so sweet and innocent. And seeing them 6 hours a day is really good. I never thought I could be an elementary teachers until this past week. But it's still not something I'd actually want to do. Because there are also "those kids" that make you realize how horrible human beings can be. We have a couple kids who are just mean-spirited and vicious. They almost make me want to cry, let alone the other kids on whom they take out their aggression. Epitome of "mean girls."

Getting paid Friday definitely felt good. And it made the week not quite so harsh. I can't even remember what I've been doing this past while, but a lot of hanging around with people, I guess. Like always. That's summer. Last night, we partied in Evanston in Santi's (Allie's friend from school) dorm. Good time, I guess. It was odd at parts, I suppose. I don't know much how to describe it other than that.

I've been doing a lot of reading lately. Last weekend, I took the kids to Barnes and while buying them books, picked up The Da Vinci Code, which is quite excellent. That's it. Nothing exciting.

Barenaked Ladies/Alanis Morissette concert on Wednesday with Allie and Carly Schoenstadt. Should be good. Also, Anneliese will be working in Evanston, so I'll try to get down there to meet her after work sometime soon. Right now, I'll probably be going out soon to see my Beccalina who's home from Interlochen. Good stuff.

Current Music: Hotel California - The Eagles

07/10/04, 12:44am.
I said 'Be careful, his bowtie is really a camera'...
Parents out of town. Watching Mike and Zoe. They are sleeping now, so a few of us are watching Untitled (the director's cut of Almost Famous). So wonderful. Love it.

Camp is finally done for the week. Thank god. Too much kid-ness. Not too bad today though. It would have been better if this was payday, but I said that earlier this week, and thus I shall have to learn patience, and to stop bitching all the time.

In other news...

Yeah, I got nothing.

I gave kitty a bath last night. It was sad, she cried, but I think she feels better today. I need to get her some spray stuff to keep her from itching. I was thinking about getting her one of those horn things they put around animals' necks after stitches...but it would be too sad and I couldn't do that to her. But she's hurting herself.

*sigh* Crazy stuff. I'll be watching for the next couple hours, then getting to bed.

Current Music: America - Simon and Garfunkel

07/08/04, 12:31am.
She's frequently kind and she's suddenly cruel...
The suburban wildlife is out to get me...

First there was the opossum crossing my lane, which I almost hit and had to swerve to miss. Then there were THREE raccoons, just chilling on the side of the road, waiting for me to come before they decided to walk the white line a mere foot from my car. THEN, there was a deer in the bushes that I was CERTAIN was about to jump out. It didn't help that Candace yelled "DEER!" and the blood rushed out of my hands and face. I think I my heart stopped for a beat.

Oh, but that's not all. TWO rabbits hopped across the road in front of me, less than 25 feet from my house. Like they had to get one last jab at me before letting me get to the safety of my home.

I hate animals. Especially those seven.

In other news, camp was easy today (as predicted) and tomorrow will be moderate. And King Arthur is surprisingly good. Try to forget anything you may "know" about the legend, because this has a different take than most of the stories. Who's to say what's right or wrong based on something that happened over 1500 years ago? Even without all the history to Arthurian tales, it was a good movie.

One element did seem a bit odd, however. Not bad, necessarily, but it felt weird. Maybe it was because I was expecting a different kind of story, with castles and showered heros, but I kept waiting for the fairy tale to start. This messed up my entire perception of the film's timeline, because things that were rising action, I thought were only exposition. And thus, the conflict resolution didn't feel completely resolved, because I wanted more and I was waiting for what happened next. Of course, it never came. This wasn't really bad, nor did it take away from the film as a whole. It was just a personal problem of mine.

And now...sleep because I am lacking the ability to be coherent, and I have to wake up in 7 ½ hours. Ah, the joys.

In a small side note: I ache for a life I've never lived and a place I've never visted. My heart and soul long to be in France, raising my children in a beautiful village with cafes and goverment-funded schools up through the university level. All people should be educated for 16 years for free. Europe is incredible...but I wouldn't really know because I've never been there.

Current Music: She's Always a Woman to Me - Billy Joel

07/06/04, 11:53pm.
You remind me of the babe...
Camp on Monday was a joke. We had 15 kids, that by the end of the day, was 12. 12 of 30 were actually there. And yet we still had all 6 counselors, 1 CIT, and a site director. 8 people for 12 kids is highly unnecessary.

But then today the number shot up to 27 and it sucked because camp is so much better with fewer kids. Oh well, what can you do? Overall it wasn't a bad day though. And tomorrow we are at Maplewood Park for almost all day, so it should be a pretty easy day. Playing and stuff instead of trying to find ways to entertain. When outside, they can do it themselves.

I wish this Friday was payday. It would at least make it a bit more bearable that I have to pick up Zoe from camp and watch her AND Michael all night and the next day until 6pm. That's 26 quality babysitting hours. Meh, I'll have people over Friday night, and maybe I'll be a good aunt and take the kids to a movie or something on Saturday. Which would be easier if I was getting paid Friday, but whatever. Family rocks...and all that jazz.

Tonight we watched Labyrinth. God, I love that movie. And I love David Bowie. Rocks my socks. And now...bed!

Current Music: Magic Dance - Bowie in Labyrinth

07/04/04, 10:14pm.
She's never coming back, I fear. Anytime it rains, she just feels a lot better...
Went to the Taste with Allie, Santi and Nikki to see Counting Crows. Whitney joined us and it was good times. Here's the set list:

Rain King
Raining in Baltimore
Mrs. Potter's Lullabye
Mr. Jones
Big Yellow Taxi
Daylight Fading
Accidentally in Love
Four White Stallions
Omaha
Miami
Anna Begins
Long December
Hard Candy
Sullivan Street
Hanging Around
Holiday in Spain

Really good time. Home now. Eating dinner. Late.

Current Music: Amy Hit the Atmosphere - Counting Crows

07/04/04, 12:49am.
I have nothing to give, I have so much to lose...
Fireworks were cancelled. Not cool, but a bunch of us hung out at Mulder's, so it was all good. Got to meet Allie's Santi. Much approved. Especially considering the last one... *is evil*

Tomorrow, I think I'll be going down to Grant Park to see Counting Crows with Allie, Santi and Nikki. I'm really excited, cause I adore them and have never seen them in concert. Plus, it's free. The downside will be the horrible crowds and the fact that it's an afternoon concert.

And now, I sleep.

Current Music: Fear - Sarah McLachlan

07/03/04, 1:52pm.
I would do anything to end your suffering, but you would rather walk away...
Third of July and it's raining. Me thinks the fireworks will be cancelled this year. Boo. But we have a back-up plan to hang at Mulder's.

Today I'm being lazy. I stayed up late and slept in, and haven't done much since then. It's an exciting life I lead, these days. My world is consumed with work, and I can't seem to escape it. It's all I think about and talk about, which is not cool. I love my job, but when I'm home...kids are the last thing I want on my mind.

Last night, we saw Fahrenheit 9/11. Was not impressed. I wasn't expecting much, so I wasn't disappointed...but I was hoping to have been wowed at least a little. Oh well. I still need to read House of Bush, House of Saud...but I have no money for books. Or anything else for that matter. I just got paid yesterday, but $100 went to shopping for summer clothes because I had nothing. Then $160 is going to pay off Allie for concert tickets. So...there goes my paycheck! Two more weeks...

And now...I go be productive. Or not.

Current Music: Not Coming Home - Maroon 5

07/01/04, 10:21pm.
Cause your presence still lingers here and it won't leave me alone...
Tired, so I'll make it quick.

Camp today again lacked the enthusiasm of good days. It's too close to the weekend and payday to want to be there anymore. Luckily, tomorrow is Friday!

Got my oil changed today. Now my car is healthy again.

Watched CSI and had dinner with my big sis'er tonight. Relaxing.

And now I'm so incredibly tired that I'll be hitting the hay early, yet again.

Current Music: My Immortal - Evanescence