Rainy Sunday in North Carolina

coffee shop

I'm here at a coffee shop.
coffee in a to go cup.
I'm staying. I'll go eventually.
I'm sure it pisses off the young, sullen, struggling kids behind the bar.
That pleases me.
I smile.
They frown.
At last, an expression, movement.
My work here is done.
I shall go now.
More coffee?
Sure, why not? Pour it into my to go cup.
Afterall, I can be green too.

Happy Gobble Gobble to all

Here is wishin you all a very happy and splendid Thanksgiving.
Whether you are with family, friends, pets, the television, in the country, in the city, eating dinner at 2pm or 6:30pm, I so wish you all the ability to give true thanks for all you have or for that matter do not have. I am truly thankful for you, this blog and my life right now. It is not anywhere near where I thought it would be at this point or even at all imagined yet here I am and therefore I am thankful.
Eat it. Sleep it. Thank it.

psst...as a side note; doesn't my head in this picture look like it has been shrunk and put back on my body? And are my arms on steroids? Still thankful. Hey, I got arms!

It's been a good Tuesday, for a change!

an email I got today from the O camp that I wanted to share...

Friend -- (that is me! I know that this is a mass email that went out to all supporters of the O, but it is still cool to see my name in print)

Today and yesterday, President-elect Barack Obama announced key members of an economic team tasked with creating jobs, stabilizing the economy, and getting our country back on track.

Barack is bringing together some of the best minds in the country to make swift progress on the economic challenges we face.

Timothy F. Geithner, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, will serve as Secretary of the Treasury. Lawrence H. Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury under President Clinton, will serve as Director of the National Economic Council.

Christina D. Romer will serve as Director of the Council of Economic Advisers, Melody C. Barnes will serve as Director of the Domestic Policy Council, and Heather A. Higginbottom will serve as Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council.

Peter Orszag, currently Director of the Congressional Budget Office, will serve as Office of Management and Budget Director, and Rob Nabors will serve as Deputy Director.

Michelle Maclay, currently a Public Communications Specialist at the UNC School of Medicine, a part time writer and comedy open mic host will serve as the White House in-house clown, chick of all laughter supplier, new puppy petter, and all around representative for good times in the new administration. She will stay in Chapel Hill, NC and visit the White House on the weekends and via satellite when needed, on call so to speak. During the month of December Michelle will be hiring various staff to support the funny. Do not look for her in any pictures as she will be keeping a low profile and is not interested in stealing the thunder of the First Michelle.

Barack's economic team has already begun work on a recovery plan, and he'll provide progress updates in the coming weeks. He'll also provide their initial recommendations to the incoming Congress.

You'll be instrumental in generating support to pass legislation that puts America on the road to recovery.

While we can't underestimate the challenge we face, we also can't underestimate the opportunity we have to bring the change our country needs.

Thanks,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

this weekend I heard and I liked...

1. "I'm desparate, that doesn't make me wrong"
2. "Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever."
3. "see you sug"
4. "that is the zesty BBQ sauce"
5. "Nice to meet you all, well I didn't meet you, but I am sure you are quite lovely."
6. "Santa beer? Ok sure why not."

This week we give thanks to...[insert what you are thankful for here]
Think on it as I am sure there is plenty to fill in. I know for me there is...

there is always one in the crowd...

i am pretty sure she has been to one of my shows!

Tuesday tatter...on a Wednesday. That is just like Tuesday!

Tuesday is…Tuesday is that day where things seem to come, to happen all at once.
Monday was ok cause the residue of the spent weekend has not quite yet seeped into your skin.
Then here you are…the second day of the work week and all is crashing down.
Wednesday seems too far in the future and that leisurely, blissful Sunday afternoon is now lost way back there in the past.
Off from the day you go to the place where it can all be made better, for a while.
That local pub, bar, gathering house.
You walk in and people smile, greet you, say, “hey” and call you by name.
A beverage is had, and a friend asks you, “How was your day?”…and they truly want to know.
A college basketball game is on the small screen. The team you loved as a child and that team is winning; killing the other team.
It gives you solace and you purr deep down inside as you listen to the announcer scream in the background while you laugh, give a high five to that gal pal you just met.
Another beverage is consumed and a squeeze, a smile from that handsome man you think is cool continues your therapy onward.
A heated interesting discussion with a Brit inspires you and in the back of your mind you write another chapter to that book that is still cataloged deep down in your soul.
Standing by the back door you and two strong women you think a lot of debate, dissect and laugh on a common problem. And your therapy leaps upward and onward.
Then you must go home, to eat some late dinner, go to bed for the next day is soon approaching.
You lay your head down. Within minutes the alarm goes off. Light shoots through the blinds.
Up you rise, rinse and slurp the first cup of java for the day. Thankful that even though you did live yesterday as if you would die tomorrow, you are not dead.
And as you park your car, lock it up and stroll to that bus that will take you to your next work day you say under your breath…
”Well hey it’s Wednesday, Friday is just around the corner and ain’t that grand?”
Then you touch your head, actually feel the headache on your finger tips from the Co2 of last night liquid and it hurts, but you don't mind. You just get on that bus and you go.

Monday wisdom

Getting a permanent job with health insurance isn't really about me and making sure I have coverage in case something happens. It is more realizing, acquiring the knowledge that now I have no burden of being a burden to those that love me. That is what health insurance insures for me.
And then in turn, that realization is actually a sign that I am getting wiser...not more mature necessarily (as if, ga, for reals, awesome!), only gaining a broader perspective and getting more little bitty lines around the eyes and mouth. Yet being ok with those lines...most days.
I did decide this morning, as I realized that my birthday is now less than a month a way (barely), that from now on out I am the age I am now, from here on out till I actually look like that age. Or until people consistently guess my correct age.

Random things I heard on Friday night...

"pick a card"
"shit you are the funniest chick in chapel hill I mean really!"
"it is not real, I mean damn you all are being fooled!"
"nice shot!"
"another PBR please"
"this is my down fall, Michelle, really"
"the internet is out for sure. and now the television? can we turn off that snow?"
"i remember my mom letting me stay home from school for a mental health day"
"you wanna again?"

Yipeeee!

I had a feeling even back then...

well more than likely not. That night was probably focused on trying to make people laugh...but at least I had enough sense to have my pic taken as I am under the right sign! This is me on the shore way back in the beginning, at First Wednesday...so wonderful, so fantastic. see Virginia, Hope is a good thing.

this just in

michelle seen buying a bumper sticker. michelle seen estimating placement of said bumper sticker on back bumper of car. oh my. michelle seen not following through and actually sticking it on the car bumper. michelle seen getting into back of car and placing bumper sticker strategically just above the back break light - not sticking it mind you, placing it. when she presses on the breaks it will light up. michelle seen smiling at her success. she is making a statement yet at any time she can remove that statement. michelle seen realizing she likes that. she is confident that she can make a statement, it can mean something yet she doesn't have to stick it to her car! the bumper sticker?
"read my lipstick. I vote democratic"

Yesterday I went inside a booth, filled in some circles, took a vote.
A short amount of time in my day yet a large impact on my life.
I had forgotten how amazing it was to vote. It is a feeling of such
hope and power. I felt empowered and invincible. My headache of the
night before filled with beer, whiskey, and ghoulish figures seemed to dull, to fade and float away.
If I owned a cape I would have tied it on and worn it with pride all day.
I just walked right into that place, gave my name, confirmed my address
and they handed me a ballot, a pen and said, "over there, that one is empty"
And just like that I struck a pose and cast my opinion, my right I did express.
A gift I've been given, bestowed to me simply due to my birth in this vast land.
To take that for granted, to not do it, would be, is so much a crime.
I want this change badly and feel our country's heart is literally breaking.
Inside of my chest, down deep inside of me I can completely feel my soul shaking.
I am sure it is quite obvious who I am for, who I know can lead us and start the mending process of our country that is truly falling apart. Yet I am not here to tell you who to vote for, who to choose.
I am only telling you to go out, get off your couch, get your cape on and vote!
Do it for you, do it for me, do it for us all, just do it.
For I fear if you do not, we all lose.