Mourning

We are going to sell the family property in Dublin that has been in my family for almost 200 years. I've known this was coming for some time; as a family we have been negotiating with the City of Dublin to turn the property into a park so that the mounds and the history of the land can be protected. It all seems so hollow to me, though. There is no amount of money, no plaque, no dedication that can begin to account for the life that has been lived on that property. It can't account for the ways that we have been molded and changed into the people and the family we are today. Without question, I am crushed. I don't know how to mourn the loss of a space, when the space is so much more than simply that. I don't know how to get over the loss of the place that has comforted me through the loss of those that are dear to me. I define my sense of place through this land. I define my sense of self through this place. How do you say goodbye to that?

Whew!

President Barack Obama! I feel giddy when I say it! I have to admit that I'm drinking the koolaid a little bit, but not just because of what I think he will do, but because I'm proud to be an American now. I believe that we can begin to make changes that will not only make life better in the short term, but will be the catalyst for lasting, broad-reaching change. I'm proud that Obama is our president because he has the power to inspire people to become better citizens. He has the ability to speak our language and to ask us to do our part. Will he disapoint me in policy along the way? Without a doubt. Will he make all the right decisions? Not a chance in hell. But if we can continue to ride the wave of hope and humanity that has energized so many of us, then he will have done his job.

It's time

It's time for a change. It's time to take responsibility for our actions. It's time to take responsibility for those who need our help. It's time for diplomacy. It's time for love. And most importantly, it's time to find hope, even in the places where there doesn't seem to be any left.

Politics are in season

As much as the candidates on both sides of the line have spoken about changing politics and reforming Washington, this is turning into the most divisive, polarizing campaign in quite some time. Granted, this will only be the fourth time I've been able to vote in a presidential election, but the "water-cooler" talk allows for no middle ground.

It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I'm an Obama supporter. I can't envision a time in the foreseeable future where I would vote republican. But I also would not call myself a democrat because there are many things in the democratic party that I disagree with (but there are few things in the republican party with which I agree). This time, though, I'm inspired by the democratic candidate. I'm voting *for* someone, not against the republican. I'm encourage by the promise of a new kind of politics, by a person who thinks before he speaks, by someone who believes in diplomacy, by someone who voted AGAINST the war!

We desperately need this as a country, both because of the policies Obama wants to enact, but maybe more importantly, because it's time for a large population of people, who have been disenfranchised since the birth of our nation, to have a voice. The time of the old, white politician will not end, but the time of the non-white politician will be born. When all groups are represented, only then will the needs of our country as a whole be addressed.

And yet, as I watched the RNC last night I was profoundly disturbed. Not because of the personal attacks launched by the speakers. This is a form of campaigning that has been successful in recent decades, so why quit now? I was disturbed because people buy it. Because people laughed and jeered when the fact was brought up that Obama was a community organizer. When did this become something negative? Obama spent years of his life helping those less fortunate try to get back on their feet, to empower them to help themselves, and an entire convention of people LAUGHS? What does that say about us as a people?

I sat on my couch, watching the TV, feeling utterly and totally helpless and defeated. We do not have to agree on the policies it will take to get to a better America. In all likelihood, neither party is completely right about anything. But, are we so far gone that we can't agree that there is a lot of common ground on where we want to go? And if so, is name calling and jeering going to get us there?

Lest we forget that less than 250 years ago, most of our ancestors were foreigners, coming to this country to make something for themselves. Many of them were given land or purchased it through land grants, making it accessible to those who came here with virtually nothing. This is a country of immigrants, a country that was founded on the ideals that anyone can make it if they work hard.

When it becomes acceptable to laugh at those trying to help their fellow man, how can we possibly dig ourselves out? I'm concerned that we have landed in a place that is so far removed from what our founding fathers envisioned that it's too late to go back. Of course it is natural to evolve as a country. We should. The global economy, the pressures we face as a nation, could not have in any way been anticipated centuries ago. But the vision of our Democratic country that is championed as a mainstay of our identity as Americans by conservatives and democrats alike, has become nothing more than rhetoric.

Long time, no talk

I guess I haven't blogged in awhile. So, quick synopsis...

I moved into my house. I love it, although things are progressing more slowly than I had intended. I haven't had a housewarming party yet--I haven't even unpacked most of my boxes. But, I didn't want to sacrifice training time, so this is how it's going to be. I'm ok with it, I just kind of wish everything were done already.

I finally bought a new bike, after about 2 months of no bike. It's a used Cervelo, but I LOVE it. I'm still getting used to everything, the gears are in a different place, the handlebars are different, and it actually fits! I'm so excited. Today I've been contemplating what race I want to do. I had originally thought I would like to race a 1/2 ironman this year, but without a bike, I had abandoned that idea. But, now I'm back to contemplating. I know I won't be as fast as I would have been had I been training all summer, but I think I can do it.

I will post more pictures here and on my flickr page soon of the house and other summer pics.

who needs underwear?

Last night I came home to find that Larkin had taken every single pair of underwear out of my laundry basket (I've been living out of laundry baskets until I move), and alternately chewed them up, eaten them, and hidden them around the house. I found underwear hidden in three different rooms in about six different places. She was so neurotic about it that she made the top of her nose bleed from trying to bury them. Of course, she ruined all the good pair and left the granny pants in one piece.

This is why dogs are better than men...

Because they don't get married and then hit on single women anyway.