Obama/Biden...all the way to the Whitehouse

I can't even begin to express my happiness, excitement and sense of hope that I have...that Barack Obama was elected President last night. I am so thrilled that the race wasn't even close and that Obama was able to win some of the usual Republican states...such as Indiana (that shocks me...I lived there and that state was always ALWAYS red), Virginia, Ohio, etc.

First of all, I will say that I have an incredible amount of respect for John McCain. I don't think he is a bad man, even though I happen to believe he ran a bad campaign. I think he truly wants to serve his country and put country first. Unfortunately, the man I had such fondness for 2 years...I barely recognized on election day. I think sometimes people change so much...in hopes of getting elected that they start to no longer recognize who they are anymore. I hope to see more of that true maverick, John McCain...in the years to come. I personally thought that McCain's concession speech was amazing...it was a glimmer of that guy who a couple of years ago, I thought I might be able to vote for. He talked about coming together and finding a solution to our differences...because both he and Obama have a great love for this country and long for its prosperity. So, my hat is off to you John McCain. I didn't vote for you, but I have nothing but respect for you.

And...in my moment of pettiness, which I am trying NOT to do. I am attempting to be a humble winner and what not. I will say...it brings me such joy that the "fake Americans" as the RNC so often liked to point out...elected Barack Obama as our new President. We stood in line (some for hours...) and selected a man to bring hope and opportunity and honor back to the White House and the United States. So...whoo hoo for FAKE AMERICA!

Race wasn't a huge issue for me...personally. I did not vote for Barack because he was black. I voted for him because I believed in his policies and saw that he could lead us out of this financial and international mess we are in. However, I will say that the idea that our country has just elected an African American to the White House for the first time in our history...gives me goosebumps. I hoped that I would see this withiin my lifetime, but I didn't think it would be so soon. Honestly, I didn't have this much faith in our country...with the deep seeded, instituational racism that still exists in this country.

I think it happened...because it was Barack Obama. He is not only an incredibly intelligent man, but someone who inspires people and reminds them of what makes this country the best in the world. He reminds us that we have a voice in the process...and to never take it for granted. He reminds us that with hope and hard, down in the dirt work...we can change anything and everything about this country. The way he speaks to people...is eloquent, but not arrogant. It's intelligent, but not elitist. He reminds me a lot of what I was so drawn to in Bill Clinton as a teenager who was just engaging in the political process. Clinton was a great talker...and he also carried a sense of truly wanting the best for the PEOPLE of the United States. I see the same ideology when I see Barack Obama. And now..is the time for Obama to put all those words into action. He has a lot of work ahead of him and the expectations could not be higher.

But before we delve into all that...I am just going to glow in the fact that a black man named Barack Hussein Obama was elected President in the US of A. There might be hope for us yet.

Happy NO MORE GWB Day!!!

Happy Election day all y'all....I hope people get out there and vote, no matter who you vote for. Yes, I would prefer it if you voted for Obama, but I strongly believe that our country is at its best when the most people participate in the process. I believe that the only way we can take back the power that is inherent in a democracy from the clutches of lobbyist and money based politics...is to get out and vote in droves. I believe that my foremothers fought for my right to vote for 72 years, so I vote because it is important and because it matters....but also in homage to those brave women who championed for my right to do so.

I am voting after work...and then hoping to watch the election coverage tonight on TV. It's no shock that I am hoping for an Obama win. I am hoping the polls are right. And...I am hoping that the race isn't even close, so we aren't up into the wee hours of the morning with a race that is just "too close to call." I think I still have a slight case of PTSD after sitting up all night in 2000....just waiting for the race to actually be won by someone...and being so dumbfounded in the morning that the race was still going.

And for those undecided voters? Let me tell you how much I don't get you. This election has been going on for TWO YEARS. How can you still be undecided? Seriously, I would like to know. What magical piece of information are you waiting to here?? I was originally in the Hillary camp...and was saddened when I saw her presidential dreams go up in smoke, but it took me about 2.2 seconds....to know who I voting for in November. And with the differences between Obama and McCain...and the differences between Palin and Biden.....I just don't get how someone could still be on the fence. Oh you undecided voter....I think you are just attention deprived and want people to covet you and your special vote. I think in the next election...I am gonna pretend to be undecided...and just watch people ooh and ahh over my inability to make a decision.

Vote early...and vote often!!! lol

Weekend Update with Shelley....

Hey all...in the lovely internet world. I've survived Halloween and not eaten my body weight in candy. I've survived daylight savings time and am adjusting to the new time and that extra hour of sleep (which always messes me up more than it helps me).

I worked on Saturday...taught a class in the morning. So, my Saturday didn't really feel like Saturday. Kind of like Friday, take two. When I woke up on Sunday...in my mind, I thought it was Saturday. I knew it was Daylight Savings Time day...and that should have reminded me it was Sunday. I changed all my clocks and just lounged around in bed. Since I thought it was Saturday, I completed spaced and missed church...even though I was awake and planned on going. Oops...

And since I wasn't being a good ol' Christian girl by going to church, I decided to jump right down into the "going to hell" territory and went with 2 friends to see Kevin Smith's new movie, 'Zack and Miri Make a Porno.'

So, what did I think? Well...let's start the conversation with what a HUGE fan I am of Kevin Smith. I just think he's the bees knees. His movies are so crass, but also off the charts funny. Plus, the guy just in himself...is one of the funniest people on the planet. He can tell a story like no other. If I am in a bad mood, I will often put one of the 'Evening with Kevin Smith' DVDs in...and just laugh all my negative vibes away.

So...yeah...I liked the movie. It is like a funny mix of all things K-Smith and all things Judd Apatow. Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks are adorable...and once again, Seth gets to play the party of the pudgy guy who gets the hot chick. Ahh, he gives all comic book nerds hope. It's a quirky movie about these two slacker/losers...who can't pay their bills or make rent, so they decide to make a low budget porno to get some much needed cash. It has all the bathroom humor and the F bombs galore that I expect from a Kevin Smith movie. I think people who decide to hate this movie...probably aren't prepared when they are walking into the movie theatre. There is one moment gross beyond description...but the rest...is just usual Kevin Smith antics...with a lot of wit and humor surrounding it.

The one thing that surprised me..is that Kevin Smith was able to convince the ratings board to give him an R rating. They initially gave him an NC-17 rating, but he won them over upon appeal. I am honestly...shocked. One, it shows some filming of the "porn" scenes in more detail than I thought they could get away with...and it also shows some frontal male nudity. Usually...you can show all the lady parts you want in a movie and still get an R rating, but once a guy drops his shorts...it ends up getting rated NC-17. And...having the word porno in the title...I am just surprised it didn't get a harsher criticism, especially since we have learned that the ratings board can do whatever they want since they have no one to answer to and no defined standards. Ok...soapbox over.

All in all...it's a bathroom humor movie about a group of slackers trying to make a porno. And, in the end...I walked about thinking it was a pretty fun show. Don't bring your kids to it...but anyone with a sense of humor can't deny that there aren't a lot of chuckles throughout this thing.