and one day i’m sure i’ll be sitting somewhere, maybe here, maybe not, wishing for that sunny afternoon in mt. pleasant, sc, with no real obligations, a bike ride, and a diet sunkist.

glorious.

i’m accepting donations and any ideas on how to raise $499 ASAP.

target has their candy 75% off and i couldn’t pass it up. unfortunately i have no self control, so after a day of gorging myself on chocolate i force myself to hand it out to everyone in the office. makes everyone else happy and me less likely to gain 10 lbs in 3 days. because i will eat it all. don’t underestimate me.

i’m sitting here at 4:25 pm on election day also thinking about what the aftermath of these elections will look like. frankly, i’m tired of hearing about them and talking about them. this is something i sort of alluded to in a previous post, but…will the nation continue to be this passionate about all of the issues we claim to be important even when the person we didn’t vote for gets elected? will republicans still fight for the right of the unborn? will democrats still campaign for the welfare of the poor? because quite honestly these things cannot be cured by one very, very flawed man (mccain or obama). i speak for myself here just as much as anyone else. it seems like we get really worked up during election time, but then settle back into our self-indulgent lives once so-and-so is elected. let’s not let that be the case. and let’s not place all of our hope in a man who is flawed and bound to screw up. obama or mccain cannot save us.

2. a margarita.

3. an obligation-free day, save the stack of books i’ve been meaning to get to.

4. a party to host.

5. a creative outlet.

6. discipline.

7. compassion.

8. a bear hug.

9. a good, hearty belly laugh.

10. a new friend.

11. a new band to love.

12. joy. no matter what.

13. a good conversation, with someone new.

14. a bona fide date.

15. a reason to be nervous/excited/expectant.

16. a bowl of chili.

17. a trip to the county fair.

you?

anyway, i have to admit i’m a smidge jealous of right her right now. she’s gone and purchased a sewing machine and in just a short time she’s opened her own etsy shop! i’m so impressed with her determination and dedication to this project. i too own a sewing machine and i can confidently say it has had less thread pass through its needle in over two years than kelly’s has in 4 months. however, there is hope in this story. last week i purchased a half yard of fabric, off of etsy:

ok, so i’m not going to sew with it. i’ve been trying to find cost-effective (aka cheap) ways to decorate. not only do i have a bedroom to decorate, but now i have an office. a girl can only take so many “man, this place looks like a cave” comments. granted, the fact that it has no windows might be part of the problem (we’re talking about the office, here). but at least i can strive to have a well-decorated cave. and after moving approx 10 times in 3 years i haven’t accumulated too much decor for my house. thus launches the “decorate jenn’s life for under $___ (price TBA)” project. i think i’m actually going to frame this fabric in several smaller frames and mount it on a wall interspersed with some framed B&W photos i took/developed in college. so it’s gonna be a collage-type wall in my office. i’m thinking for the walls at home i’m going to start with some fabric-covered foam-board panels of different sizes and then go from there. i’ll let you know how it goes (unless it looks horrible. assume no news is bad news). i know you’ll be waiting on pins and needles until then.

also, tonight, i have big plans to make some sort of soup involving chicken (it was on sale at bi-lo). i’m debating between something mexican or something southwestern chili-ish. hellllllllo fall!

i keep reading everywhere that christians only vote republican because they’re told to do so, or christians think that anyone who votes democrat can’t be a christian. i don’t agree, in either case. the only thing i would i would expect/request is sound reasoning (biblical, if you claim to be a christian) for either decision. i also think non-christians can just as easily vote republican. it’s not all or nothing on either side.

ok, so that’s behind us. one thing that i’m really struggling with today is compassion. we’re told to have it. we should have it. we should give it without the government telling us to do so. what i can’t seem to piece together is the democrat’s seeming care for the disenfranchised through social welfare, programs, etc., but their blatant disregard human life. it doesn’t add up. so we only have to care for people once they are out of the womb and until they encounter an atrocity that makes them unable to care for themselves? i don’t care what you believe, it doesn’t take too much to argue that human life starts at conception. this isn’t simply a matter of religion, or me trying to “shove my beliefs down your throat.” i simply cannot vote for someone who has an obvious disregard for the sanctity of life, not matter how great their healthcare plan. and this isn’t just something “pastor billy bob told me i need to do, so by golly i’m going to do it.” i am an intelligent human being, and how dare anyone classify me as being stupid or uniformed for being conservative. i can think for myself, thank you very much.

i can’t even imagine how difficult an unplanned pregnancy can be. i don’t mean to slight the feelings of a mother caught in the overwhelming situation she finds herself in. i don’t mean to say that these women don’t need support, care, and help. we do need to help them, but not at the expense of another life. i know that you might say “a child doesn’t deserve to be born into such and such situation…” how do we know what their situation will be? we don’t. and not only is their concern for the child, but it doesn’t take much research, much conversation, to know the (unexpected) trauma that many women feel for the rest of their lives after they have an abortion. i’ve watched it happen to close friends. lives are forever changed, and not for the good.

we are told to care for the poor and needy, which, at best, we suck at. to be honest. and sometimes voting democrat seems appealing because they address this issue. but those who vote democrat for that reason, let me ask you – what are you doing right now, in your town, in your neighborhood to change things? if this is something we really believed in we should start in our own backyard, not count on the government to take care of everyone for us. we should love and care for one another. the government can only do so much, and it generally ends up falling very short of anything genuinely helpful. it might help for a minute, but how many people are learning to become contributing members of society? how many people are being educated on how to break the cycle of poverty rather than receiving some money or food here or there? there has got to be a better way. and i would imagine it starts with people helping people. will that ever happen?

Carolyn:I’m going to go and make some chili, etc. Also wanted to let you know that I am speaking at a luncheon on November 8th in Orangeburg. Renee wants to go since she met some of the ladies at the retreat. Thought I’d see if you would like to go, too. That night is the dancin’ in the streets of St. George gala. I am the emcee for that, too. Will be a busy and diverse day.

At first glance it’s just another recap of a normal day in my mom’s life, but let’s break this down a bit. First, which is i guess not too abnormal, she’s about to go make chili. At 9:30 am. Next, in the same day, she will be speaking at a luncheon in a town an hour away and then EMCEEING  (is that a word?) her town’s “dancing in the streets.” She’s always been a great speaker and has spoken at many, many retreats, conferences, etc., over the years. It’s not unusual for me to introduce myself to people in certain social circles and have them say, “wait, are you CAROLYN’S daughter? Yes? Give me a hug! I love her!”

Also, ever since her and my dad moved to a small farming community about 4 years ago, she’s really gotten involved in community events. In that short time she has managed to have a regular column in the town newspaper, have a part in a town play, which led to her being chairman of the theater’s council, and now she is also the lion’s club president. On top of this she has a full time job, is a grandmother to two, maintains an active Facebook account, and finds time to worry about me. And best of all, everyone that meets her immediately loves, respects, and admires her.

I have big shoes to fill, but one day, I hope I can be as cool as her.

i know it’s scary to think about what will happen in the immediate future without the bailout, but i’m almost more scared to think about what will happen in the years to come with the bailout.

anyway. i have been “tagged” by someone who will remain nameless (kelly). evidently in internet world ”tagging” gives you a pass to spew useless knowledge about yourself. i think i prefer the classic chasing people in circles version. but i’ll try my best to unveil the many, or at least the required seven, mysteries of jenn. drumroll, please. I now present to you seven things that you may not know (but probably do) about me:

1. i was once chased by a man in an el camino in mexico. i was on foot. he did not like americans. he had an ice pick.

2. i have a closet love for the band paramore. i particularly enjoy listening to them while i work out or in my car. i guess i still have some pent-up punk rock teenage angst somewhere inside. this helps release that. i would like to redeem myself by saying i also own multiple cure and radiohead albums. but that may not be enough.

3. my grandfather came over from italy “on the boat.” his birth surname was badalassi, but he eventually took his stepfather’s last name, who was also italian, which is where roman comes from. on this same note, if i had to rename myself i think i’d go for cecilia for the italian flair.

4. i’ve never had a boyfriend. “WHAT?!” yes, it’s true. i’d like to think my wit, charm, and amazing good looks are just too intimidating.

5. i’ve always wanted to get my nose pierced. not like a ring, but a cute little diamond stud. (hi mom! i love you!)

6. i made several appearances in commercials for our local fox station in middle school. including promos for frankie’s fun park (we got to drive the go carts FOREVER), basketball camp (awkward when you don’t know how to play basketball), and voice-overs for their holiday commercials (“Merry Christmas from the Fox 24 kids club!”).

7. one of my biggest regrets is quitting piano after five years when i was in high school. stupid teenager.

ok. so i’m supposed to tag 7 more people, but i don’t know 7 people with a blog. so you get these seven fun facts about me just for the fun of it. wooo! don’t get too excited.