it's in the mail

Nathan made two different kinds of enchiladas for dinner. Living in sin is awesome. I made a pillow out of the log cabin block I've been working on this weekend. I'm working on another one; I'm going to start making blue & red blocks with scrap fabric for a large quilt. Exciting! No school, no work, this blog should be all crafty, all the time. Also, news. And history. Always history. What do you want me to write about? Wait, don't answer that, I don't care. If I did, this would have more readers. (Obviously that's why I have no readers, I'm not even trying to be "popular" or whatever. Haha, just like when I was unpopular in high school!)

ask me about IRV

You should read this article in the New York Times about possibly automatically registering every eligible voter in the country and expanding early voting to every state (currently, 32 states allow early voting). I'm really interested in electoral reform, which I usually think of as getting rid of the electoral college and using instant runoff voting, but the ideas mentioned in this article seem like they would make the actual voting process much easier and would encourage more people to turn out. On a related note, the biggest problem that I have with Ralph Nader is that instead of using his time and renown to push for electoral reform that would make it actually possible and relevant for a third party candidate to run for President, he conducts these ridiculous vanity presidential campaigns. Oh by the way, did you hear about how Nader called Barack Obama an Uncle Tom the day after he won the presidency? Classy.

jack mcbrayer is pretty funny

Hey, I learned how to make Log Cabin quilt blocks. Well, I taught myself. And I'm pretty sure I did it right, but who knows. Photos someday. Maybe tomorrow? I restarted my Etsy shop. You forgot I even had one, didn't you? I haven't added anything new yet, just relistings of what used to be on there. I'm working on a new bag; I'll finish it as soon as I can concentrate on it. My mind is just everywhere today! This is why I don't do drugs, I drank a 20oz soda and I'm practically twitching. Which is weird when you consider I drink at least 3 cups of coffee every day... Weird! In conclusion, I want to start volunteering at Voces de la Frontera, either teaching English classes or doing research. Or whatever they'll let me do. I think I'll call tomorrow after class.

excellent

[awesome illustration by Patrick Moberg]

[edited for formatting and to more properly give credit.]

wow

I can hear people cheering, still. Granted, there's a bar across the street that's full of Obama supporters, but I can hear people from other directions too. McCain's speech was gracious and reminded me of what he used to be, and Obama is going to be a great president.

A New Day in America

!!!!!!!!

Please Go Vote

Right now. Please, please, please go vote. Vote vote vote. Especially if you're in a swing state. And if you're in Milwaukee, you should really vote today, because there's a referendum on mandating paid sick days for all businesses within the city of Milwaukee. I bet there are a lot of other important referendums in your district as well. And obviously there's a presidential election going on, but since I am technically a state employee, there are rules about when I am and am not allowed to tell people who I think they should vote for, and I don't think it matters what I write on my "blog" (ha, on several different levels) but I don't want to lose my job, so yes. Go vote. Now.

what is going on around me

You know, haven't we all agreed, collectively, as a society, that we're going to pretend we aren't assholes? I mean, isn't that what society is? Pretending you aren't a total asshole? I pretend that I don't hate stupid people, you know? I pretend that I'm not a pretentious douchebag elitist, you pretend you don't see through me, right? And yet, people are willing to say on camera this completely racist bullshit about Obama? I mean, since when is it okay to be racist, much less openly racist? What the fuck, you're going to admit to You Tube and your mother that you're an ignorant, racist douchebag? What is going on? I thought we were at that point in this country's history where there's still all this terrible ingrained, institutionalized racism, but at least no one will admit they're scared of young black men and all them job-stealing Mexicans or whatever, because they know fundamentally that they're wrong, you know? Or they at least know they should be ashamed of thinking it. And don't even get me started with that "Obama is a Muslim" bullshit, like (a) no and (b) since when is that a bad thing? Jesus Fucking Christ, what is wrong with you people?

I am exhausted

but I do not feel like I'm about to have a nervous breakdown. It's all about the small victories.

In other news you can use, Sarah Palin is a fucking moron. In case you hadn't heard. What else? Oh, apparently there are rumors Putin is going to marry a Russian rhythmic gymnast half his age, except he hasn't announced a separation (much less a divorce) from his current wife. Hilarious! Also, I bought a table and 4 matching chairs from Ikea for $129. Score! Nathan said he'd put them together for me today, after he goes grocery shopping, so I'll be eating dinner at a table tonight. Double score!

In conclusion, never ever rent a car from Budget car rental. Ever.

exhale

Holy shit, the past five days have been a fuck. I feel like I just ran a marathon.