Obama

Every once in a while, every once in a while a moment comes where you have a chance to vindicate all those best hopes that you had about yourself, about this country, where you have a chance to make good on those promises that you made in all those town meetings and all those constituency breakfasts and all that traveling through the district, all those people who you looked in the eye and you said, you know what, you’re right, the system is not working for you and I’m going to make it a little bit better.

And this is one of those moments. This is one of those times where you can honestly say to yourself, doggone it, this is exactly why I came here. This is why I got into politics. This is why I got into public service. This is why I’ve made those sacrifices. Because I believe so deeply in this country and I believe so deeply in this democracy and I’m willing to stand up even when it’s hard, even when it’s tough.

Every single one of you have made that promise not just to your constituents but to yourself. And this is the time to make true on that promise. We are not bound to win, but we are bound to be true. We are not bound to succeed, but we are bound to let whatever light we have shine.

-This man is not perfect, he's not a silver bullet and he has disappointed in so many ways already. But goddamn if he doesn't talk like the president we wish he was. The president I still hope we deserve.

House! We're (most likely) Buying a House!

So after realizing how we could pay only slightly more each month and own a house... and hearing lots about the tax credit and subsequent extension of the tax credit, we started talking about buying a house. And in what seems like a very, very short amount of time, we have an accepted offer on a house about half a mile from where we live now- with a big fenced back yard, a fireplace and a wood-burning stove and lots and lots of room for visitors.

Barring anything weird with the upcoming inspection, we close December 18 (a month from yesterday!!!) and will be in our new house by Christmas. Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus, I bought you a house. I am so excited to paint walls orange and do whatever I want... well, within limits of what the fellow I've taken to calling my JWTROS (that's Joint Tenant with Right of Survivorship to those who either never took Property or have blocked it...) will allow. So far, so good because he's given the thumbs up to orange.

Come visit! In the mean time, here are some photos from the listing. More when we move in, obvio.

For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People

On Thursday we went to a sneak preview of the new Ken Burns' documentary about the National Parks. There's an article about it in today's NYTimes. It was really wonderful. Not, like, accompanied by a performance by Allison Krauss and Counting Crows, but still really nice. The theater had good microbrews and popcorn. We were perhaps 15 years younger than most anyone else there (except the kids who got dragged along with their parents.) I am excited for the series because of I think what Burns says in his interview, the "who are we?" of the Parks is pretty compelling. There's a lot of emphasis on democracy and equality in the Parks, which I am not sure is completely true, but obviously I like the idea of quite a bit. (A side note in the ny times story is that I used to work with Burns' daughter, when she was in the mentioned "internship" where she/they got interested in the Central Park jogger case.) In the parts we saw there is also the story of the evolution of the parks, showing that the first struggle is to get everyone on the same page that we want these at all... but it doesn't end there, there is an evolution of people thinking about how we want to run them. Parks existed completely for peoples' amusement for a long time and it took another kind of revolution in thought that not only do we want parks, but we want them to be faithful to the needs of the environment. There are some natural parallels, I think, to some of other hot debates of democracy today. I am also saddened to see the NYTimes predict the public option is dead today, as well. I'm not sure, but am thinking along the lines of the story of the parks, that perhaps doing it at all is the first step and then we can work towards doing it right.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Democrats

This is all a little tongue in cheek, but I've really been appreciate President Obama and the dems lately. Maybe because I am the not-working poor.

Some examples:
I listened to a lot of NPR on my drive home from Michigan yesterday. Judge (soon to be Justice?) Sotomayor is so great. What a cool, calm, collected, smart, experienced choice she was. Also, this is maybe my law nerd side, but everyone needs to shut up about how judges are supposed to be umpires. This may be more true in trial court or even appellate court. But one thing I learned from my stint at the WI Supreme Court to a lesser extent, is that cases only get up to that level because they are tough calls. And because both sides have a strong argument and could possibly prevail. Sometimes precedent needs to be overturned-- or we'd be stuck with b.s. like segregation. I know she wasn't supposed to say it, but Sotomayor's quote about policy being made in federal appellate courts... is true. And I for one would rather have someone smart and fair who understands how it works. She's totally not perfect, seems to be really law & order (not in the re-run good way) and pro-prosecution, but criminal cases are really infrequently heard by the Court, comparatively. And I'd rather have that lady, with her experiences and biases, evaluating my case than Clarence Thomas. Once he figures out how to tie his shoe. Also, hip hip hooray for Al Franken's first, well, really anything since getting sworn in. He was smart and humble, I thought. Just how I like my men...

Ok, also, I was getting really jazzed about Dr. Regina Benjamin for Surgeon General. Maybe I'm being naive and we'll learn she has a Cruella DeVille coat made of puppies... but so far, she looks awesome. Coastal Alabaman community doctor for the poor?? Swoon. Again, good work President Obama.

Now on to the personal. I just renewed a book from the Madison Public Library online. This may sound simple, but it's really, really cool that there is a free place that anyone can go and get books. Kids and moms and homeless people and-- me! So, thanks, government for funding the library.

My foodstamps card came finally! I'm officially on the dole. No, this is not how I pictured life after law school... but I am very happy to live in a society where we have things like food stamps. And I will continue to happily pay into these programs for the rest of my working life.

And, finally, thanks to the Dems for getting me relatively cheap COBRA health insurance coverage. You guys are the best!!

Last week recap (fewer to no links)

Since the last time I wrote, we got a new president, I got a cold, school started, my internship at the Supreme Court started, Chuckles and I had a Manniversary (it's an Anniversary, for men!) and tried to develop a new plan of where we will go and what we will do when school ends in May and we are (ack!) lawyer. Ack. Oh, and Anwar and I got a stalker.

First things first, GoooooOOOObama! It was wonderful, I stayed home that morning and cried into my oatmeal. And a few hours later, cried into my turkey sandwich. So much has been said, you don't need me.

School is annoying, although I only have two classes- Immigration and Trusts & Estates. Those actually seem like things that might come up for you or your friends, so keep me in mind if you ever move to another country or die. Wi. Supreme Court is good, so far. I have a "bench memo" to write about an interesting case... so interesting it's pretty hard to think about and what to do. I can't tell you about it, though, so please stop asking.

For Manniversary, we ate steak at home and drank wine and watched Pineapple Express and didn't use phones or internet. It was very fun. Figuring out what comes next is not as much... we have some irons in the fire, still. It's just hard not to become discouraged by the very worst time to be trying to get any job, much less a government-funded one. And there really hasn't been a wave of people getting the kind of jobs I/we want, and we're just left out... it's slow going, the timetable is later, etc. It's just hard to remember and not be stressful. Waa waa.

In the most important news, yesterday at Indian Buffet lunch with Anwar, we got a stalker/"new friend." He was nervous and blond and told us he used to be in law school but dropped out and now plays online poker as his job. And (not surprising based on the previous sentence) he and his girlfriend are trying to meet more people. Those people are supposed to be us. Naturally, I gave him Anwar's real name and email address... so they may be together right now, enjoying life as new friends. Or Anwar may be fighting for his life. Either way, adventure!

Resolved

I don't think I really made a New Year resolution before last year. Like, a real, tangible one I could hold myself accountable for. My previous "resolutions" were things like to be nicer... but I think I've made some major gains in the past 1, 2, 5, 10 years. I see a difference, at least. I am a lot less angry than I was, I am still working on keeping "mean" in the realm of sassiness.
Last year, I privately resolved to avoid bottled water. Kind of for environmental reasons, kind of just because it seemed like a good idea. Now, the environmental angle has some flaws because choosing a soda or bottled juice instead is still problematic, but in 2008 I drank predominantly water from the tap/Brita, coffee and diet coke. Don't make me give up the Diet Coke...
This year the best resolution I can come up with is to run the Madison Crazylegs at the end of April. It's a 5 mile fun-run type thing, starting at the capitol and going all around the isthmus. Now, my limited readership probably knows, I am not a runner. This fall was probably my most concerted effort at becoming one... and I was sidelined by insane shin splints. So, I am back with a ease-in-to-it plan and some good (expensive-ish) insoles.
So, I won't go so far as to vlog it. But for the first time, I am making my New Year's resolutions public. So enjoy it and I'll let you know how it goes.
In other news, I found myself at a bit of a loss in writing New Years cards (they are like xmas cards but 50% off and for people with finals.... also everyone is forced to abide by the Roman calendar...) In the past, well, as long as I have been writing them, I have wished people a better next year than this year. Because each year was so disastrous and depressing. 2008 has been pretty amazing, though. And since none of my recipients have 401ks worth noting... I guess my wish for us all is to have a 2009 on par with 2008. I hope 2009 is filed with excitement and community and inclusion and hard work and big fun.
I got this CD from MoveOn.org in 2004, which includes the song "This Will Be Our Year" by Ok Go. I just realized I am a little bit fearful of resting on laurels and thinking that "our year" just happened. It didn't. 2009 will surely be a challenge, still. But 2008 really did convice me that we're up to it.

Ok, enough slop. Now enjoy the song (please ignore the Finding Nemo graphics)-- and HAPPY NEW YEAR!:

Obama Fever. Yes, I still have it.

Barack Obama seems to be a really good dad. I love that. And I love those girls. Look at these (and these) pictures and love them, too.

OK, so what was the best part?

Was it literally dancing in the streets?

Was it drinking champagne and crying?

Was it running into a french-canadian acquaintance who embraced me and said, "thank you?"

Ok, how about the smile and tingle each time the radio says "President-elect Obama?"

Or maybe hugging and hi-fiving strangers?

Or maybe talking to loved ones far away, every so completely joyous?

This has been an awesome 18 hours or so. I've had an election-hangover all day. Kind of fuzzy and unsure what happens next. And feeling like spending money and being decadent and thinking about the future....

And I loved Obama's acceptance speech and the emphasis on this not being the end of things, instead the beginning. Which is true. But right now we still need a couple more days of ICANTEVENBELIEVEITOHMYGOD!!!!!!!!

And, let's be honest, probably a lot more crying.

Also, turns out I'm still really white.

Welcome Home!

Remember to Vote and Ethical Dilemma

I know 2 people personally who are voting for McCain. Not bad... One of them is from Illinois, in Wisconsin at school with me and asked yesterday where to vote early.

Ethical dilemma!

Keep your nasty old John McCain vote away from me! I told her, "Illinois."

"Ha, ha, but really?"

Um.... so I told her.

I feel overwhelmed and scared and excited. The NYTimes.com has a feature, asking voters to describe how they feel in one word- my first one this morning was "aflutter." I can't concentrate on anything, I am pretty sure by this afternoon-- and definitely by the time I have my first beer after class tonight-- my word will be "hotmess."



Also, looks like McCain himself made the right choice:

I'm Endorsing Obama and Crying All the Time

Ok, I mean, duh, right? I have endorsed Obama for President since 2004. There is a moment stuck in my mind and it comes up whenever I think of Barack Obama. Election night, 2004 in the old apartment in Brooklyn. Erica and Daniel are watching coverage on TV and I just can't handle it anymore, so I am in bed, listening to NPR. They report from the living room that Kerry has conceded Florida... and I start crying. NPR announces Obama has won in Illinois, making him the third black senator since reconstruction. And that was when I started wailing. Not only were were looking down the road of another 4 years of George Bush... but howfuckedupisthewholefuckingcountryanywayohmygod.

I've been getting really emotional about the election recently. I voted yesterday and started crying while connecting the arrow next to the Obama/Biden ticket.



Perhaps it was that I had waiting in line for 2 hours... but I think maybe the Hope has gotten to me. And not really hope for the country or hope that things could be better, but hope that it's my place after all. By far the hardest thing in 2004 was feeling like I could see so clearly how badly things were going, what a schmuck G.W. is, and then the country voted (and even if not all the votes were counted) many, many (most) of them voted for Bush. I felt so alienated from my country and just kind of afloat. Now, the idea that most people could vote for Obama... well, obviously it makes me cry. But for partially very selfish reasons-- it means my home is a place I want to be.

I cried about the election a second time yesterday. After voting, I was driving to get some Halloween supplies and passed a man standing on the side of the road, wearing Obama gear with a giant handmade sign that read, "VOTE!" I honked and gave him the thumbs up and we shared a milisecond of smiles.

And then I started crying again...

This time, I think, because it has also been so touching and inspiring how people have gotten into this election and taken ownership of the process and the candidate. Every election I've been able to vote in has been a disappointment... but all these people, they have that Hope, too. And they're making their own signs and spending Friday afternoon standing on a street corner.

There is a lot I can identify with in this article. Until about a week ago, I couldn't let myself go- we've been so devastated before. I can't let my hopes rise to have another 2004.. but maybe that's been this "hope" thing the whole time. And I don't want to live in fear or be a victim of the political process in my own country. Apparently, neither do others-- and so this is what has been so exciting about this election.

And, also... YAY! There will be crying on Tuesday night no matter what (Charlie, be warned). Here's to the happy kind!