Hi-larious

My family gathered this weekend to "clean up" the timber (forest on our land) for deer hunting season, which begins in December. Since half of us are pinko Commies and the other started-shitting-themselves-on-September-11-2001-and-have-yet-to-stop-Republicans, well... just say we Trotskyites were really, really, REALLY looking forward to this weekend.

Several things-

1. The aforementioned Repubs walked into the dining room wearing t-shirts saying "Palin 2012." I don't know what reaction they were expecting, but I don't think it was hysterical laughter.

2. One of my cousins (insane) was spouting the party line about how Obama was going to take everyone's guns away. One of my other cousins (non-insane) told him,

"If at the end of Obama's second term, gun ownership is illegal, I WILL GIVE YOU A THOUSAND BUCKS."

THIS.

Cousin Bill for the win.

Rosace

Rosace, originally uploaded by Ariane Gaudefroy.

Random ten

1. A Thousand Trees- Stereophonics
2. Who's Got A Match?- Biffy Clyro
3. Stormy Weather- Billie Holiday
4. Cologne Hotel- Helsinki
5. All You Need Is Love- The Beatles
6. Strict Machine- Goldfrapp
7. Reason Is Treason- Kasabian
8. U Got the Look- Prince
9. Biology- Girls Aloud
10. My Way- Aretha Franklin

Bonus-
11. Son of a Preacher Man- Aretha Franklin
12. Come Together- Primal Scream

HELLS YES

Mom and I openly wept during our new President's speech. And when I say openly, I mean freely and with lots of Kleenex.

And this family.

THIS FAMILY.

Awesome

Jim Bowman, a Tuskegee Airman from World War II, is also 86. He voted early, almost a month ago, he was so eager to vote for Obama.

“I haven’t cried in a long time,” he said, “but just thinking about it brings me to tears.”

Bowman had a father who told him he was going to college, and that was that. It was pay as you go, but he made it through and eventually became a war hero and, as Dr. James Bowman, became the assistant superintendent of the Des Moines Public School system.

“To see this happen,” he said, “is one of the greatest blessings I’ve had. I don’t take lightly the progress we’ve made in this country. I’m thrilled with it. But there are barriers still. I hear people say they just don’t think they could ever vote for a black man — for some offices, maybe, but not this one. Well, I can’t help thinking the good Lord is working overtime on some folks.”

Hmmm

When I go to vote in about an hour, I'm thinking I'm going to bawl all over the ballot.

*shakes Magic 8 Ball*

Yep, looks likely.

God, I'm a sap.

Tomorrow

Well, today first.

We've started the "floor move" at Iowa's Coolest Flower Shop AKA setting up for Christmas open houses (which start this weekend). It's a time-consuming and painstaking process, so naturally we chat quite a bit during this.

Since tomorrow is the election, it unfortunately came up. I say "unfortunately" because, let me put it this way, 4 of us are placing our votes for the next President of the United States, and 2 for the also-ran.

An argument ensued, causing me to exclaim the following to deflect the tension-

"Oooo, look at the sky!" (it was 8 o'clock)

"My GOD, would you look at that. There's GLITTER all over the floor."

"Holy shit, it's the Pope!"

"LOOK OUT, I HAVE A LIVE HAND GRENADE."

Okay, I just came up with the last two, but still.

Anyway.

Tomorrow.

I'm all choked up over what (hopefully) will happen, so much that I can't express myself in my usual semi-incoherent fashion.

But what TBogg said.

I'm just thinking about all my former students in Houston, the vast majority who were of color, and what they must be feeling right now.

The kids that initially assumed that since I was white, that I must be racist, due to some asshole teachers they had in the past. That couldn't believe that I was "cool."

That they now know that they can achieve whatever they set out to. The yes, hope for a better future.

And then I cry.

So tomorrow, I'm casting my vote in honor of all my kiddos. And everyone who laid the groundwork for this historic, amazing event.

Awwwwwwwwww

Our next president (please, Jesus) takes wee Sasha trick-or-treating.

And for more SQUUUEEEES,

Lacroix, sweetie darling

LOVE.