Obama quotes from Acceptance Speech

"We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country. The reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than for those plagued by gang-violence in Cleveland, but don’t tell me we can’t uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals. I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in the hospital and to live lives free of discrimination. Passions fly on immigration, but I don’t know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child or an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers. This too is part of America’s promise – the promise of a democracy where we can find the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in common effort.


I know there are those who dismiss such beliefs as happy talk. They claim that our insistence on something larger, something firmer and more honest in our public life is just a Trojan Horse for higher taxes and the abandonment of traditional values. And that’s to be expected. Because if you don’t have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare the voters. If you don’t have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from.


You make a big election about small things.


And you know what – it’s worked before. Because it feeds into the cynicism we all have about government. When Washington doesn’t work, all its promises seem empty. If your hopes have been dashed again and again, then it’s best to stop hoping, and settle for what you already know.

I get it. I realize that I am not the likeliest candidate for this office. I don’t fit the typical pedigree, and I haven’t spent my career in the halls of Washington.


But I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the nay-sayers don’t understand is that this election has never been about me. It’s been about you."

Quote taken from Obama's acceptance speach at DNC. For his campaign info visit:
https://donate.barackobama.com/page/content/splashsignupcky/

Mayhem

This week has been absolute mayhem and I'm just recovering on Saturday. Its kind of ironic that I wrote a blog earlier about trusting God and yada yada. Well God wanted to put that statement to the test this past week. Starting the week out was me trying to register for my LAST class I will EVER need to FINALLY graduate in 2008. So yeah, a little bit of pressure on getting into the class. To add onto the fact that I enrolled into school as a Non Degree seeking student which basically means that I am just taking one class at the university to then transfer back to U of A. So, needless to say, the University of South Florida does not prioritize someone who's only taking one class and then transferring it. As a Non Degree seeking student you are not allowed to register for classes until the day of classes. So I went to the class I was trying to get into (before that I tried desperately to meet with the professor- to no avail) clean & polished- front row and smiling. But then I notice that the class starts filling up...people are sitting on the floor even, its so full. During the break when I was going to see if the professor could add me to the class 5 OTHER people were trying to do the same thing. With Degree Seeking priority. Reminder- I HAVE to get into the class as the U of A pre-approved this class to transfer back as my LAST credit! So I absolutely had to get into the class. For those of you that remember the past two summers and the failures I encountered at studying abroad in China (delayed passports and earthquakes). So I really already had a defeatist attitude. So after talking to a very indescernable and confused professor (he was an adjunct faculty from China- English...not so good) who really didn't know what to do I just decided to try fate and try to register through updating the computer every 5 seconds or so. That's when David and I found out I had some random hold on my account from the Student Health Services who needed a shot record form. Wasn't told earlier by any document that they needed it but didn't seem like a problem, just had to call U of A to send the fax. After some drama with sending the fax, no printer ink and a sketchy scanner we got it there....only to find out they needed ANOTHER form (why didn't that @$#%&&* lady tell me before???) So I scramble to get this other form to David to then fax...oh yeah, no printer ink...go to Staples...fumble around with the confusing printer/scanner and finally get it to David. Call the lady...didn't get the fax. Call David, oh wrong fax number...great...resend. And then not a minute after the Health Services cleared my hold--BOOOM--I am enrolled in the class. First try. Amazing. This is all sandwiched in between a nasty cold sore that grows with every stressful phone call as well as a dissapointing job interview I had been waiting 3 weeks for. Lovely. So God's faithful....but man, it sure wasn't an easy day.

Divertido con los locos

Thoughts

So right now in my life I am processing things a bit more. With my job being part time, and with it being in the evening, I have plenty of time to myself. For the past 6 months or so I have had plenty of time to read, clean, dream, organize, journal and just...think. And though at times I complain about being lonely or bored during the day, I am realizing that this time has been almost necessary for my sanity. I realize that God hasn't been punishing me, but more or less forcing me to face my fear of being by myself. Granted, being lonely down here has been a frequent feeling of mine- leaving all friends and family for a new place isn't easy. Finding friends hasn't been a huge struggle but getting past that point of shallow friendship has. I'm a person who thrives on truely fellowshipping with another person. Getting to know someone deeply...and being known by another. At the same time I find that David and I are becoming greater friends. Yes, we've been friends for awhile now but not deeply friends. But in the absence of girlfriends David and I have grown that friendship. I've heard somewhere that love is "friendship on fire," and I can truely relate to this. He's funny...I mean really funny in the sense that its weird, quirky and original. He's a great listener and problem solver. These are roles I think I usually went to my mom or Heidi for, but now I turn to David. I relish our time together in the evenings, laughing at each other. And I think being away from friends and family has cemented this in our hearts. This time together is to be always cherished. But again, beyond David's friendship I don't have the true friends I once had. But God has shown me the beauty in stillness, in contentment with yourself- beyond what your doing or who your with. He has provided a friendship as well, through his Word, Christian literature, through the beauty here in Florida. At this time in life I am going through many trasitions- possibly a new job, starting a class in the Fall, starting a ministry at the church and I just want to chronicle God's faithfulness. His enduring frienship for those who ask for it!