A New Day Dawns

My week has been reeling with the unprecedented exposure Americans have received do to the inauguration of our new president, President Obama that is. I just love saying that and get teary-eyed each time.

I had a bird’s-eye view from the multitude of television stations broadcasting the festivities. Starting out with NBC in the morning, testing Fox (they went to commercial of course), then to CNN and MSNB on separate TVs. You’ve got to hand it to our liberal media, they really know how to cover an event. That evening, I joined many like-minded people at the Gulfport Inaugural Ball. A bit for the oldish sensibilities with the closest song to my era being “What I Like About You” by the Romantics, the ball was a nice place to celebrate such a fabulous day. Renee, Guy and a worthwhile group of know-it-alls joined me in the festivities as we oohed and aahed over Michelle’s gown (quite tasteful) and the new president’s fancy footwork (nice!)
Bush was gone and all was well, even though people are still losing their homes and their jobs, but we finally have hope again!!!!
And finally I am proud to be American!

But the rest of the week carried on with only the feeling of the new regime in my heart and head, but still no change in my general day-to-day tasks. Saturday I am having a garage sale (the next step at decluttering.) Guy and Ronn are joining me and we have a crap load of stuff for those with eclectic tastes. From mannequins (mine), to vinyl records (Guy) and stylish home décor (Ronn) we are sure to at least make some cash. I need it too. With my new addition, Finn, I need funds for the vet, food and other puppy accessories.

This will not be the last of my garage sales, but only the first as I am already planning on having a table at the Crescent Lake Sale. I think with that one I will include some knitted items like scarves, dog collars and other simple accoutrements that people appreciate. If I had scarves this time, I would sell them, but I gave my stash away at Christmas.

After that, I figure once a season I will encourage strangers to come to my home and finger all my treasures selling them to the highest bidder and donating other specks for a tax write off. What’s a girl to do??

Hi Ho Hi Ho, It's Off to Vote We Go

I have never been so excited about voting. Twice I checked out early voting and both times Ronn talked me out of it since the lines stretched around the corner and then some. Part of me wanted to stay in line so I could talk to the people and let the effect of the moment arouse my patriotism. But the heat of the day and the standing for hours waylaid that frivolity and instead I waited until the day of. I couldn’t sleep on Monday night.

Before bed I had gone out with friends to dinner and to a Rock the Vote concert event they were doing downtown. We got there around 7 p.m. and it was dead. There were three stages set up; the central Jannus Landing stage, the outdoor side stage and the indoor stage of the Tamiami. During the hour we spent there, we witnessed a band that looked and sounded very new agie meets Jethro Tull rock, but without the flute. You could tell half the band had been rockin’ for a few decades and even though one guy had the most beautiful feathered hair (I would have killed for that back in middle school), it just lacked the emotion I sought in a rock show. Plus this local wonder, called Dream-something, was on the side stage and that brought back bad memories of a birthday concert I attended a couple years back with Flock of Fleabags – a major disappointment.

On the main stage was a band called, Trace of Day, and they seemed young and hip and energetic, but I really wanted to get home to see the SNL show. Tuttie agreed and we left, not really emboldened by the event, but in no way dissuaded by voting the next day.

I went to bed early missing most of SNL, after I had set out my clothes for the previous day and making sure the alarm was set. I tossed and turned and kept wondering if I should just get up and get ready so I could be at the polls when they opened. Finally, at around 5 a.m. I said the hell with it and got up chomping at the bit like a kid waiting for Disney World.

There were about 100 people in front of me at the polls, but the whole experience only took about 45 minutes. I didn’t care. I was psyched. I listened to “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me” on my iPod and kept my patience with ease. Then off to work.

Election night I went to Ronn’s and plugged myself into NBC news to catch the results. Even then I wasn’t able to relax. I couldn’t do anything more and it was all in the hands of America and I just hoped it would turn out for the better this time. By 10 p.m. I felt more confident and completely exhausted from my short-lived experience of not eating or sleeping. I went to bed, but could not sleep like I should. I was woken up by the phone blaring and Renee screaming in ecstasy that we had won. I went back to my light sleep and still could not grasp the thought that it had really happened. The next morning at 5 a.m. again, my best wishes had truly come true. Oh happy day!