I am sick and tired of polisci kids thinking that because they are a polisci major they somehow are more worldly and knowledgeable than I am. That they are somehow better than I am.

And this not voting shit? WHAT THE FUCK.

I don't care if your hippie ideals don't fit with the world you live in. You live here. I'm sorry your dreams are being crushed but this is the real world.

For fuck's sake, you're a woman! I hate to pull the starving children in China routine but you are damn lucky you even have this opportunity. I don't care if you think your vote is supporting some corrupt system. If your vote doesn't count, as you say it doesn't, how could it support anything.

Sitting at home not voting and thinking about how the world could be better does nothing. I'm not saying voting will but at that point, doing anything will.

The world won't change in a day. It won't change with your increasing polisci knowledge, it won't change with my vote. But maybe the person I vote for will change something small.

Even if that doesn't happen, I can do something. You can do something. Wars aren't won as wars, they are won as battles. My vote changes something. In that decision, universes split off.

I just don't understand how someone as intelligent as you are can be so stupid.

"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy."

Fred Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

Every presidential candidate should visit one of Michigan's unemployment offices.

Oliver lost his job last week. Katti and I accompanied him to the unemployment office Michigan Works!. I can only assume the office was named by someone who actually has a job in Michigan. Not the 25+ people I saw who didn't.

In the ten minutes we were there, I saw three different people who represented what is happening today to average American citizens.

One man was on the phone with his bank (or trying to be on the phone with his bank...no one was answering his phone calls) trying to figure why his house was being foreclosed. The bank he had his mortgage through went under and another bank bought it out. He was upset that he didn't have a say in what happened with his money and his house.

Another man was wondering why he needed his birth certificate for his new job.

And then there was Oliver. Oliver worked for two and a half years at the same job, was making $14 an hour plus commissions. He was not allowed to take time off when his niece had a funeral for the baby she miscarried. He almost couldn't take time off for his sister-in-law's wedding and rehearsal dinner. Then he slowly got crappier and crappier shifts as they brought in new people who they could pay less and the company went under. He was just an average unemployed guy and like every average unemployed person in that room, he had no idea how to apply for unemployment.

The unemployment website and process is confusing. He did everything that he thought he needed to do, and they told him he was okay but he still had no idea if he was done, getting unemployment or if he still needed to do something. And he's pretty smart.

How can a system help people when the system can't even explain itself well enough for those who need it to understand what they need to do?

Instead of going to big rallies and stupid debates where they repeat the same things over and over, someone needs to see what's happening here. Someone needs to talk to us, to find out what we need.

Because we need help.

Names have been removed so you don't hunt me down and kill me

I knew you were head over heels for God but I didn't know it was the spirit healing, homosexual-hating, anti-abortion, god.

I should have guessed as much when you couldn't live with your fiancé before you got married but I held on to hope that our god was the same god. It apparently is not.



RE:[...]HATES living in GR, and wants to move, and is terrified because someone tried to break into our house last night, after breaking into our car AGAIN! ugh!

"Crime happens everywhere and once it happens to you it puts fear in you. Did [...] ever have anyone pray through that house before he moved in? The property? We should come over and anoint the house, the property, and your vehicles. I'd be happy to do that and I'm sure I can find some others to do that with us. I think you will see a big difference. Now is not a good time to sell your house so we need to pray and let God show you what a great protector He can be."

Project Runway is dead to me.

That is all.

Crosslisted

Nick's little sister got married on Saturday. She turns 20 in November. As much of a horrible ideas as I thought getting married at that age was, after it all, I am so happy for Jess and Ryan. They obviously love and care for each other quite a bit and share the same ideas and faith. They're both silly and a little ditzy. And besides, people probably think the idea of Nick and I getting married is ridiculous too.

In the end, I had so much fun dancing and dressing up and partying and celebrating with them that none of it mattered. Not waking up at 7 to get my hair sprayed into a fake updo with 38 bobbypins at 8:45. Not getting my makeup done and feeling guilty about Nick's mom spending over 200 dollars. Not the stupid fights we had only weeks before. The only thing that mattered was seeing Jess walk down that aisle yesterday and feeling so happy for her. For everyone.

Congratulations, you two. And good luck.

I love you all.

P.S. I did not cry at the wedding (I almost did when she walked down the aisle and was sure I would) but I cried writing this.

The Wedding: a schedule

For those of you who are visiting this weekend, and wish to see me all done up, the wedding schedule follows.

Friday: I have class and work until 3. Everyone else is cleaning and decorating the church and reception hall. Dinner is at 5. I have not determined what I am wearing yet. It all depends upon the weather and if I want to shave my legs.

Saturday: Katti, Jess, Hazen Mom and I are getting our hair done at 8 or 9 and our makeup done at 10. (at this point, one car will be taken up to Rockford since someone had the genius idea of having the wedding in Ada and the reception in Rockford.) At noon, we go to the church where we get ready and have prep photos taken. Jess and Ryan will have their photos taken at one, we all hang around until two or so then group photos start. These photo sessions are supposed to last until the wedding at 5. After the wedding, we help move decorations and carpool up to Rockford for the reception. Then we socialize until it is the appropriate time to bail.

It's a pretty crazy day. If you want to see me all dolled up, I don't know when or where you want to be. Maybe I'll just call you when we're finally home. Let me know.