Please Happy

Seriously.
Yes.
We Can.
VOTE!!!!!!

As my friend Jim canvassed and knocked and rah-rahhed for Jim Roscoe, running for Representatives for Wyoming House District 22, I threw a pumpkin carving party.

For those of you who don’t know, this is the Wyoming bucking bronco, featured on snowboards, bumpers and Quarters in this great cowboy state.

I’m festive for candidates and holidays. I’ve been festive for Obama, for Trauner, for those running for local office. And last night, I was festive for gouging out gourds and lighting them up.

Because I’m luxury camping in my condo – sleeping on the floor, sans “modern accoutrements like beds, forks, cups, etc. – the evening was BYOP,K,S,B,C,T (Bring Your Own Pumpkin, Knife, Spoon, Beer, Cup, Tarp). My fellow cardi-ho made cider and I made pizza.

Check out the pics. I love traditions. I love wigs. I love dressing up. I’m finally the girlie girl I never was as a child. My grandmother, who always asked my muddied tomboy self “where is your pretty dress,” would be proud.

The prom queen I have always known I could be, embraced by a gorgeous French lawyer, yacht racer.

Ben Roth gettin’ into it.

PETA posterchild: Rolando Whaley

The hottest architect in the room.

The most deformed pumpkin and the one we all wished was ours.

Love and the PhilliesA postgame reaction.

So, I’m not a Phillies fan. In fact, after leaving Baltimore, home of Camden Yards and Grandpa’s season tickets, I never really got back into baseball again.

But, that’s not the point. Blogger Jake de Grazia nails it in this video.
He is overwhelmed, giddy, ecstatic, elated, awesome, awesome, manic, moved … Hell yeah. It’s the best feeling ever.

That’s how I felt when in a crowd watching Obama speak, when dancing a wedding with my best friends, when singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” with my ENTIRE FAMILY at my dad’s 50th birthday, when singing “Viva La Company” to a crowd of parents and friends after my 45 day Arctic canoe trip, when being part of something bigger than myself with a million other small, elated humans.

If it’s the Phillies that do it for you, the Orioles, Obama or a family reunion … smile big!

We’re in it together. Thanks for the reminder, Jake. Yeehaww!

A few years back in my home town, there was an anti-drug/clean-up-the-streets campaign called Believe. because of our accents in Baltimore (Balmer), we added a “hon.” Café Hon in Hamden made black bumper stickers with white writing – “Believe, Hon” – which were soon plastered on bumbers, windows, binders and laptops.

I feel the time has come again to Believe. Believe in this country of innovators, of hard workers, of cooperators, of REAL AMERICANS. The belief, the hope is in all of us, and it’s starting to come out – in phone calls home, in letters, in door knocking, in editorials, in grassroots organizations, in churches, in prayers, in town council meetings across our amazing country.

Barack Obama has given me hope that our country can turn around and resume its amazing status as world power, and regain the respect we deserve. He’s given me hope that I can still do whatever I want to do with my life. He’s given me hope that my Catholic, born-again Christian, Buddhist family can unite under the term American and vote for change. We deserve it and we demand it.

(The video is a bit long, but it’s worth the watching.)

Vote Obama on Nov. 4.

Who hasn’t – at least once – said “Whaaaaaaassssssssssupppppp?” in that slightly annoying, raspy elongated way the Budweiser guys made famous eight years ago? It’s more than an irritating beer-drinking cult phrase now, it’s part of our vernacular.

That was then, when dudes were dudes and money flowed like beer.

Now, after eight years of embarrassing representation, war, war, economic devastation, “natural” disasters and downright shittiness, the Whassup guys are back with a TRUE message about the state of our country. Props to them for reclaiming their original idea from Budweiser (which paid a paltry sum to use the Internet commercial) and for using a cult classic to remind people not only to vote, but to vote for Barack Obama, the intelligent voice for hope and change. Check it out:

In preparation for Halloween and simply to learn one of the best dances of all time, some friends and I attended a Dancer’s Workshop workshop of Michael Jackson’s Thriller dance. And we pretty much rocked. Some wore 80s garb, some wore jeans, some were full-fledged zombies. You can watch us here. My favorite move happens at minute 9:06. You can see me to dancer’s right/looker’s left of the main dancer!

Rare moment of Nic Gladd funkiness: Nic, Dan, Me gettin’ doooowwwwwn. Pic by Kelsey Dayton.

The following pics are from Jackson photographer Andrew Wyatt, who shot from behind a sequin-clad Santa suit.

Happy Halloween, enjoy the pics. Vote Obama!!!*

*Everyday until election day, I will at least write “Vote Obama!” and/or list reasons why.