i'm tired of being the go to person

What a strange little debate Friday night. I don’t remember ever having a format like that where the candidates were encouraged to confront one another. Though both were shaky at the beginning (and, quite honestly, as they started with the financial crisis which is political suicide for every politician right now, I don’t blame them), but I thought Obama rose to the occasion and at least attempted to engage McCain. In case anyone was counting? McCain didn’t look at Obama once. I think the format helped Obama given he actually attempted to state his opinions on issues and respond directly to what McCain said whereas McCain was clearly more interested in the same old same old sound bite-type debate. I know the pundits are calling it a draw with Obama coming out stronger on the economy and McCain being stronger on foreign policy, but I thought he was repetitive a lot: “Well, I’ve been to insert-relevant-country-here and I know said-leader and I have experience dealing with issue XYZ.” That line seemed to be he favorite opener. I’ve heard many a people criticize Obama for not being tougher with McCain, but I thought he held his own. I don’t want Obama to sling mud. That’s not the type of candidate I’m interested in. Peter put it nicely when he compared Obama to an athlete and McCain to a performer. Obama was on the Olympic wrestling team and McCain was WWF-ed out. Thursday night I’m heading over to my friend Michael’s house to watch Biden pummel Palin. I’m really looking forward to that.

In other news, I’m still wheezing through my days. I’ve decided that lungs be damned tonight after work I’m going for a run. I’m sure it’s going to end up being more of a walk, but I can’t take it anymore. I’ve been out for 2 weeks. I know many a people who think it’s lame, but running/biking is therapy for me. I’m happier when I do it. And lately? I’ve been not so happy. With summer waning and winter looming it’s more important than ever I start attempting to curb my tendency toward melancholy.

things to do: get well

I am thiiiis close to an ear infection (hence the reason I can’t hear out of my left ear) and thiiis close to bronchitis according to my doctor. I’ve opted out of antibiotics for now as, according to Peter, my personality has returned so I must be feeling better. I’m on Mucinex D, 600 milligrams of ibuprofen, and more water than I ever thought I could possibly need. I’ve spent most of my infirmary watching seasons 5 and 6 of The West Wing and reading “Home” by Marilynne Robinson (see previous post where I urged everyone who hadn’t read “Gilead” to read it. This is a companion book. Heartbreakingly beautiful) though Peter did surprise me with a little treat: season 1 of Mad Men.

Woot. Woot.

I’m in love. The art direction of that show is incredible. The clothing, the sets, the 3 martini lunches, the way women are treated like doormats…sigh. We’re trying not to do what we always do which is breeze through it though the first night we were only supposed to watch 2 episodes and we ended up watching 3. We suck at moderation.

Let’s see…Sarah Palin now has all the foreign policy experience she needs thanks to a handful of photo-ops with various UN members and Henry Kissinger. Seeing the two of them together completely creeped me out. I would assume John McCain has ceased to suspend his campaign now that Congress has a bailout plan for Wall St. Too bad for him as I would suspect he was hoping to swoop in and save the economy singlehandedly. I found that whole charade so disingenuous. C’mon, John, everyone knows you’re 5-10 points behind Obama on just about every single economic issue these days. And it’s amazing to me that this government is capable of coming up with $700 billion to bail out Wall St. So what’s it going to take for our education system to be an emergency? What’s it going to take for our health care crisis to deserve this much attention? I just love that our entire economy is dependent upon borrowing: borrow money to buy a car, borrow money to buy a house, borrow money to buy more and more and more and more.

I’m starting to suspect I just don’t belong here.

it's probably got something to do with me watching season six of West Wing but

this editorial by Maureen Dowd/Aaron Sorkin is pure genius.

latest wildlife encounter: freaked out possum

I find it completely unfair the weather outside is practically perfect and I’m stuck inside at the library all day and coming down with something or suffering from really nasty allergies. My throat hurts and my sinuses are potentially troublesome. Not. Fair. I was considering pretending I feel just fine and attempting to rally but alas I have no one to rally with as it appears Peter has made plans to attend Autumnfest at NHB and the lesbians are up north at the cottage. The Traverac has left me a message on my phone which I suspect has something to do with a bike ride and I’m not quite sure I’m up for that much activity. Sitting around watching football? Yes. Biking to Saugatuck and back? No.

I guess I’ll just have to see.

I resisted buying any of the winter squashes today as I figure I’ll have my fill soon enough. Instead I focused on the last of the tomatoes, red peppers, kale, bibb lettuce, carrots and the most delicious potato in the world: the german butterball. I was also the recipient of 10 lbs of honeycrisp apples for a mere $7.50 thanks to a former coworker who went and picked them herself. I cannot get over how expensive they are in the store or even at the market. Rumor has it they keep for a year in the fridge.

Read Gilead by Marilynne Robinson if you haven’t yet.

You won’t be sorry.

this is why i don't invest in anything

Sunday night was a full moon.

I could tell yesterday at work.

At least I don’t have to worry about being attacked by feral hogs. Thanks, Metal, for making sure I occasionally look on the bright side of life.

By the time I got home from work, cleaned out my fridge, chopped up some veggies, cooked them, consumed them, and cleaned up after myself it was 10pm. I was tuckered out. I think I spoke with Peter when he got home from work, but aside from begging him to crawl into bed to keep me warm (it got down to 40 degrees last night and I’m not ready to surrender to the down comforter) I have no recollection of a conversation. This morning I think he mumbled something about a chill in the air, but I don’t count that as a conversation either.

Maybe tonight we’ll get to talk to each other about something more substantial.

Making up for the full moon yesterday, today appears to be adorable baby day. There are lots of chubby legged, chubby cheeked cherubs on the hips of hot moms. Tuesday is significantly better than Monday.

I think the Palin tide is turning. When Karl Rove says you’ve gone too far with “stretching the truth” you know you’re in trouble. This morning I had a visceral reaction to her voice. It’s like nails on a chalkboard. Plus? I really resent her droppin’ her gs and calling us folks “guys and gals.” This isn’t a hoedown, Sarah, this is one of the most important aspects of democracy you’re fortunate enough to be a part of. Her fifteen minutes are just about up.

Tonight: Have a conversation with Peter that doesn’t involve text messaging, work, or the weather.

nothing like quoting milli vanilli

David Foster Wallace appears to have committed suicide.

Well, huh.

I’ve attempted to read “Infinite Jest” a bunch of times and always gave up because, well, it’s “Infinite Jest” for chrissake. I’m notorious for going after douchebags who spout off about his genius and his innovative prose and his David Foster Wallaceness. I’ve always said I’m sure he is a genius but who can tell as he’s virtually unreadable and if you’re virtually unreadable what’s the point of being a writer? One of these days I’ll get through that book and maybe then I’ll get to be one of those douchebags.

The circle of life.

It rained all weekend. Hard. And it wasn’t one of those cold hard rains that are really enjoyable this time of year. Instead it was a moist damp hot rain that was unrelenting and unsatisfying. Hmpf.

Friday night I watched The Interview. I was somewhat heartened by the fact that Palin didn’t deliver. She looked Bush-like: deer in headlights, scanning her brain for the appropriate talking point she didn’t seem to really understand. The general consensus amongst the talking heads was that she didn’t screw up so she was fine which I think is setting the bar a little low for someone gunning for the VP spot, but what do I know. I have yet to read the Sunday Times which I’m sure will be chock full of illuminating coverage.

Better than Palin was Tina Fey playing Palin on SNL.

Oy this is gonna be a week. I have to work all weekend which is actually worse than it sounds as I have been switched to a different Saturday. I used to be on the A-team Saturday and I’m now on the C-Team Saturday. This will assuredly make my Saturday really sucky as my coworkers are the slowest and oldest of the whole team. Super! I also work Sunday which isn’t so bad except for the whole working 7 straight days in a row thing.

My mood isn’t good.

I’m going to blame it on the rain.

it was like no cake i've ever had

You plan and you plan and you execute said plan and said plan goes off without a hitch.

That was Peter’s birthday.

I’m calling it a success.

The cake was fabulous. As was the grilled chicken. And the cherry pie. And the fire. And the company.

I hate to amend my previous entry, but I’m starting to get worried about McCain and Palin. Their pig and lipstick response was so infuriating. I feel like we’re Mozart and they’re Miley Cyrus. Who do you think is going to sell the most albums? Not Mozart. Not when Miley is out there wielding a gun, waving a flag, and somehow managing to make offshore drilling look sexy and viable. Their whole campaign is so Rovinian it makes me sick. Let’s not talk about actual responsible energy policy. Instead let’s start chanting “Drill, baby, drill.” Let’s not talk about economics and trade and immigration and social security and education and health care reform and Iraq because the American people? They’re too stupid and lazy to put any thought into it. They’d rather vote for the one-liners and the sexy up dos. Thanks to Palin this election has become a popularity contest. And when your guy is out there trying to inspire people to take responsibility for the future of this country and their guy is out there making transparent sweeping statements like “we’re gonna throw out those self-serving bums in Washington” I wonder who the American people are going to “like” more.

I have no faith in the small population that actually votes in this country. They re-elected W. ‘Nuf said.

I think I’m going to try and read The World Is Flat. Or The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Or The Audacity of Hope. I’d like some nonfiction that’s going to get my brain going and give me someone’s perspective.

Suggestions welcome.

i ain't afraid of no alaskan

That was an inSANE week. I survived. Enough said.

So how's about that Sarah Palin. Isn't she something? I've almost gotten over how much I think it seems like she's on the verge of whipping off her glasses, taking down her hair and giving John McCain a lap dance. I've almost gotten over my incredulousness at McCain choosing her. Honestly? I think this will prove to be the nail in McCain's coffin. Seriously. Now, I know, people are all "Oh, but she's such a good speaker and she's exciting people and she's mobilizing the Christian Right." I'm not worried. There is zero substance to her. Zero experience. Zero depth. Biden's going to chew her up and spit her out in the debates. Plus she's only been around for 10 days. There is so much time for her to fuck up and trust me she will fuck up. I don't care if she can shoot a big gun and skin her own moose. Living in Alaska for one's whole life doesn't really adequately prepare ones self for the intense media scrutiny she's going to continue to be under. She's gonna break and we'll all get to see it.

I can't wait.

An overview of one of the best weekends I've had in a long time:

Went to the market
Shopped at TJ Maxx for new clothes for Peter.
And a new lamp.
And a new pillow.
Went to OBI which officially makes me a real Hollander
Walked out on the pier at the State Park and sat on a rock.
Came thiiis close to finishing the GR Press Sunday crossword puzzle.
Made a yummy frittata.
Drove to Glenn and went down to the area my family used to vacation.
Both houses have been demolished.
The outhouse stands.
Wandered around Sunset Junque.
Bought some sweet nude drawings for $5.
And a birthday Desert Storm Keychain for Peter for $1.
Ate amazing food at Rye.
Drank an amazing Pale at Saugatuck Brewing Company.

If ya'll happen to be around the western Michigan area Wednesday night around 8ish feel free to stop by for some cake and hopefully a fire--weather permitting--in celebration of Peter's 28th birthday.

Should be pretty swell.