give thanks with a grateful heart.

i don't know why we sometimes wait for one day to say what we're thankful for. there is so much i'm thankful for [like God's endless love]. there are also many people that i am forever thankful for. my family and friends are an endless sea of support and love~ and i'd be lost in an infinite abyss without them...but with them i have companions to explore it.

this one's for you.

thank you for:
caring about me.
believing in me and my larger than life dreams.
understanding {or pretending to understand} my style.
understanding {or pretending to understand} my logic.
understanding {or pretending to understand} my vision.
not giving up on me.
being patient.
hugs when i need them most and least.
answering my calls. [especially the really late ones]
encouragement.
having confidence in me that i sometimes fail to possess.
not judging me {or at least keeping the really judgmental things to yourself}
in-depth, soul-searching conversations.
superficial, unimportant, fun gossipy conversations.
walking by my side.
holding my hand.
car-rides.
shoulders to cry on.
basically putting up with every illogical emotion i have.
reading this blog {that really could have gone on for longer}

and loving me...which i know can be hard to do.

so thank YOU!

BOOM box

dope.
2-finger ring.
that i want.
it's like i'm radio raheim.

do you live?

I'm a recent college grad. [insert excitement here]

according to societal norms I should have a job at this point in my life. most likely some entry-level office job (since my ideal job pays no $) that i'll be stuck at for a couple years. it'll serve its purpose of getting me accustomed to making money so i'll never be able to leave in search of my dreams cuz i don't think the 'starving artist' look suits me. @ least my friends and i will be able to share our "happiness" for a couple of hours following our day's end.

unfortunately? (word choice is still up for debate) i still have no job.
instead i spend my days in front of my mac&cheese (macbook pro) searching for a job to teach english in latin america. ay que bueno. my parents have been very supportive of me wasting away at their dining room table (i have no desk), but eventually one (that'd be me) starts to wonder if and when life will start to take direction.

the haunting question lingers over my head: what are you doing with your life? cue: fake smile, witty comment about how i thought living off my parents was a job, and explain that i'm still trying to figure that out. not a satisfactory answer- too bad. there are 2 types of responses from 2 types of adults. 1: the cynics/critics/haters: (generally an older person who hates their life choices) they say: well you have any idea of what you wanna do? [insert my ideal job response] that's a real hard field to break into- everyone's trying to do that. what would you really like to do with your life? <<<< dream killer. 2: the optimists/supporters/dreamers: (generally an older person who followed/tried to follow their dreams) they say: oh don't worry, you have plenty of time to figure it out! <<<< thanks!

i know i don't have all the time in the world...but just give me my time and space...lots of space. and it'll come to me. [crosses fingers and prays]

what am i doing with my life? living it. you should go out and do the same.

change we can believe in!

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA will be the 44th PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES!

After a hard uphill battle Barack Obama has defeated John McCain and I couldn't be more ecstatic!

Since the beginning, every negative thing they've tried to pin on Obama has been what has made me love this candidate. His "inexperience" has proved that he is not tainted by the Washington machine. Corruption and greed do not determine his actions. To actually think that there may be a President in office who looks out for the benefit of the American people is well, quite shocking!

His "idealism" is a page taken from my book. People look at idealism and fear that those who dream big don't recognize what is happening in the present. WE recognize! But you can never move forward staying stuck in the past. If you have to envision your future, why not see it in the best light that you could possibly imagine?!

I'm especially proud to be a young person in this campaign and happy to know we've found our voice and cause. We've learned with unity you can make a change!

whatever happened during the campaign- none of it matters. OBAMA is MY president...and I couldn't be any more thrilled.

my first time was AMAZING

my first time really was amazing. the rush of emotions were more than I expected. I anticipated greatness, but nothing like this. my first time voting will really be an experience I'll always remember. :)

politics has never been my thing and in many ways is still foreign to me, but like many people in this election, OBAMA gave me a reason to educate myself. i've been amped about being a part of history and voting for my first time for the man that i knew would instill a faith in me that i have never felt in my government.

so- as a way to commemorate my 1st voting experience- i'll capture it in blog:

The day of the election I woke up eager and excited to vote. I was singing songs that I could add Barack's name to, my favorite being Michael Jackson's "Rock With You"- "I wanna Barack with youuuu, all night." You would have thought it was Christmas the way I was dancing around the house. (I'll always have the childish spirit)

But it wasn't all positive energy. There was a great mix of fear involved. I kept envisioning McCain and Palin winning and red, white, and blue balloons falling from the sky, while Palin waved and winked incessantly. These visions were all the more reason to vote and to make sure everyone else I knew did as well.

My mom and I went to our polling location and I was super giddy- absolutely ecstatic- a grin from ear to ear- still singing my songs. I went inside completely clueless. I signed my name and proceeded into my booth. (There was no line despite the fact that in other locations there were people waiting for up to 3 hours!)

And then I saw it. Finally, after all these months of following this election there he was. My man- Barack Obama. I clicked his name and this beautiful, glowing, bright green X appeared. I watched it for a while to make sure it didn't switch to McCain or disappear- but nope- it stayed. It was all that I needed to know I'd done my part to bring about change.

X really did lead to treasure. The treasure was never what I expected, but more than I could ever imagine- the promise of a brighter, limitless future.

What's your voter story?

I'm a BLOGGER!

I used to look at personal blogs and say "who cares what that ONE person has to say...why do they think their opinion is so important that they deserve a blog?!"

Well now I am that person! And it's not because I think my opinion is 'oh so great' (even though at times it may be)...but because I like the fact that blogging affords me the opportunity to express myself in MANY ways and WRITE...which I should be doing everyday.

I have too big of an opinion on most things to keep it all contained in my migraine-filled head. I value thoughts, ideas, debates, intelligence and now have come to the realization that any forum which allows for such things to grow and be shared amongst a collective is something I need to be a part of!

So...Hello Blog World...I'm your new neighbor!