It's A Friday Thing..

Ok.. courtesy of Heidi:

1. Would you ever get married in Vegas?
Nope. Already did the church thing in Buffalo.

2. Favorite game show host?
Ben Stein. Back when I watched. Not that I ever did.

3. Next movie you want to see in the theaters?
Well, let's see. I would like to see Being Julia when it comes out just for the name alone. I have a bizarre interest in seeing Surviving Christmas. Then there's Ray of course and Shall We Dance?. But I'd like to the see the original first before I see the American-ized version.

4. Have you ever been a vegetarian?
No, although I did try eating a lot less meat and more items with tofu for awhile in college. I still look for vegetarian kinds of meals.

5. If you could go on a sciencey/nature type trip, where would you go?
I'd love to go back to Prince Edward Island to North Cape. Seals are part of the habitat there at certain times of the year. Plus, the geography of the land is interesting with its red dirt and wind swept shores.

Summer In Autumn Party

This past Saturday we had our "Summer In Autumn" party at our house. With the craziness of the past week and a half, the theme really only extended to the fact that I made sangria, Lori brought a sun-shaped birthday cake, and I had sent out summer-themed evites.

The party ended up being more about watching the Boston Red Sox win the first game of the World Series.


Here's Kevin sporting the "Johnny Damon" look while Clair plays with Buddy

Later on we broke out Scene It for two games.


The Party Revelers take a break from the game.

Clair and Kevin helped break their old record of 27 1/2 hours of partying by hanging out with us until 11:30pm the next day. We consumed more wine, beer, pizza, and various party treats while watching the Sox whomp the Cardinals in Game Two of the series.

Good time all in all.

When You Thought It Couldn't Get Any Better...

Today has been one of those super-happy-fantastic days. I got offered another job by a not-for-profit organization that pays more than what I was offered by the group I alluded to on Tuesday. Benefits are through the roof as well.

So I'm quite happy to say that I will become a full-time employee again on November 8th. More details in the coming weeks.

Phone In My Pocket

I rarely carry my cell phone on me. It usually languishes in my purse, crammed in under my journal, wallet, and whatever else I picked up along the way. Today's special item is dog biscuits in a plastic bag.

But today is different. Today I'm waiting for a call from a prospective employer. Either they will thank me for coming in twice to interview, but I'm not a perfect fit for the organization, or they'll happily tell me that they would like to hire me and the salary they're able to offer me is such-and-such sum per hour.

Did I mention I'm at work? I felt awkward and a little traitorous as I spoke to my current boss this morning, nodding as he explained he wanted to change one of my responsibilities, "Next time we record radio addresses, just use bullet-points if there is a list of items. It's easier to read that way." I thought, "But I might be gone before then." I smiled guiltily at his jovial face, and starting getting suspicious. "Maybe he knows!" I wondered. A series of possible conspiracies ran through my mind.

Shooshing my wild imagination, I sit here. Waiting for that call.

Addendum: Got the call. Got the job. Next step is to inform my current boss and decide on a departure date from my current job. My feelings are really mixed on this, but I'm also happy to finally find employment.

I am Progressive Girl Click on the picture below to read more: Take the 'What Kind of Girl Are You?' quiz at CookingToHookup.com

Falling Around Us

I woke up in the middle of Autumn today. Even though we have been carefully marking the change in colors on the trees, the rain rushed in with some bulky, gray clouds and firmly stated that it is, indeed, Autumn. And somehow, that surprised me. I'd dare anyone in the Western New York region to disagree that the foliage colors have been outstanding this year. Matt and I even made it out of Jamestown for a day trip to Letchworth State Park last Saturday with Richard and his girlfriend, Kim.

The latest bit of news that's not weather related is my new membership in the Warren Civic Orchestra. It's hard to fathom that I've lived in this area for over five years, and never knew that this orchestra existed a mere 15 miles over the stateline. The music they play is college-level, which is throwing me for a loop because I've been "stuck" in the first violin section. Arguably, I suck right now due to years of non-performance, but it's coming back slowly. Hopefully a little practice on my part and the remaining month of rehearsals will find me in passable shape.

Being able to play with high-level musicians isn't the only bonus to this orchestra. The half hour drive back has shown it can be deliriously fantastic. Since gas is about $0.06 to $0.10 cheaper just over the border, I have been making it a point to stop and fill up my tank on my way home. Last night I was feeling a little wiped out after a long work day and a hard practice, so I dropped into the station store to buy a cup of coffee. The girl behind the counter laughed as I babbled happily about the freshly brewed pot of coffee, danced around the prep area looking for the cream, which was right in front of me; and proudly counting out my change at the cash register so I didn't have to break a $20 bill. I needed that caffeine.

With Miles Davis' Kind Of Blue playing in my car, I took off. The first sips of the so-so coffee gave me that jolt I sorely needed. Every mouthful of burning coffee afterwards resulted in loud exaltations of "Praise Jesus!" and "Oh it's so good!" When caffeine courses through the veins, life, the universe, and everything seems perfect. The feeling hearkened back to nights spent in the coffeehouses of my youth. It's good to find that again, even if the coffee is of gas stop quality.

New Addition To The Family

Next Wednesday, we'll be bringing home the little guy below. Everyone, meet Angus, our new black Laborador:

Black Angus

Matt found him at the Chautauqua County Humane Society's stray shelter. I'm not much of a pet person but I had to relent when Matt looked at me with big, puppy dog eyes. He's a nice dog. Angus, not Matt. He didn't bark the whole time we were at the shelter and he's already trained to sit and shake hands. The next step is to dog-proof our house and buy pet accessories (dog bowl, dog toys, dog food, dog treats, etc.). I'll take more pictures after he's here at home.

The Best Advice for the Young Professional

I've heard a lot of advice from professors and those working the "real world" when it comes to succeeding post-college. Some of the best advice I've received is to read everything. This is no exaggeration. I'm glad to see that Jennifer Weiner is passing on this advice on her blog in a section called, So You Want To Be A Novelist?

Read everything. Read fiction and non-fiction, read hot best sellers and the classics you never got around to in college. Read men, read women, read travel guides and Harlequins and epic poetry and cookbooks and cereal boxes, if you're desperate. Get the rhythm of good writing in your ears. Cram your head with characters and stories. Abuse your library privileges. Never stop looking at the world, and never stop reading to find out what sense other people have made of it. If people give you a hard time and tell you to get your nose out of a book, tell them you're working. Tell them it's research. Tell them to pipe down and leave you alone.

If everyone read just one more book, one more magazine, surfed three more news sites, added a few blogs, and added a newspaper to their monthly routine, I think we'd have a much more educated public in terms of current events and cultural awareness.

Pre-Debate Re-Cap Laugh

Ok.. as if most of you haven't seen this already. It's good for a laugh again:

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: First Presidential Debate Recap

Meeting the Future Vice President (Hopefully)

Julia Meets Senator John Edwards

Okay, finally got a chance to add to this post. I'm beat, but I do have an interesting story to relay. This morning, I parked my car on the lake side of the Athenaeum Hotel. The motorcade cars were starting to line up, so I walked up the road to the Hotel Annex and cut across the dewy grass to the "back" door of the hotel. Seeing no volunteers in the lobby to herd upstairs to our designated area, I wearily climbed the stairs to the second floor. The lack of secret service people at the landing struck me as odd, but I continued on, figuring that someone would have stopped me by now if they were restricting the area.

I sensed in my peripheral someone walking just behind me on my right side and decided to offer a "good morning." I was pretty tired, but figured I had to put on a smile at least for those who were working even longer hours. Turning slightly to my right, I offered that smile, and got one back. Then I did a stunned doubletake, saying, "Oh! Hi!" It came out more as a question than a greeting as I realized the man next to me was no other than Senator John Edwards. He returned the "Hi" and I mumbled, "Sorry to bother you!" as I rushed down the rest of hall towards the volunteer area. His familiar-from-tv drawl sounded as he answered a question from someone in a back office. My heart thudded as I entered the annex lounge, the double wooden doors closing behind me in a soft woosh.

To answer a question many women have asked me, yes, he as handsome in person as he appears on tv. I don't say that about too many politicians either.

Now, you'd think I'd be well-poised when I finally got to shake Sen. Edward's hand and to offer some good luck on his debate but I think I managed to turn into a bit of a starry-eyed, young girl and babbled something about thanking him for letting us work for him or something. Bwah! At least I got some nice shots from the week. I probably will post some of the other ones over on Fiercest Calm when I get a moment.

Vice Presidential Candidate John Edwards Visits a Local Fruit & Vegetable Stand

Senator Edwards actually took a break from debate preparation and left the Chautauqua Institution grounds to enjoy the beautiful Autumn day here in the county. I wish I could say I was there to take these pictures, but I wasn't. Lucky for me, Bonnie Jean, who is on the Kerry-Edward's staff, took my digi with her to get some snaps. So at least I have a couple pictures. The two below are my favorites.


Senator John Edwards Greets Local Chautauquan

Note the logo on the right side of John's fleece. This is the "Official Fleece" for the Debate Camp. Only staffers and the traveling press corp received these though.


John & Elizabeth Edwards Buy A Pumpkin

I understand that the Edwards bought their pumpkin at Half Acre Farm on Route 394 just outside the village of Mayville. I cropped the photo so that you didn't get all the mic booms, reporters, and motorcade vans in the picture.

So this was my main excitement for the day. That and nearly getting run over by the motorcade as they took Senator Edwards to the site where he's been practicing. I had to yell, "Car!" while I was riding around with Bonnie Jean in a golf cart this morning. She mentioned that motorcade cars really don't stop for anything, so we would have been smooshed if she hadn't stopped in time. Otherwise, I'm home a little earlier than planned since things are pretty quiet at the Institution. It's been a cool experience all around though. Tomorrow we'll see if my digi gets some more use, with me in front of it with the Senator this time!

Last note: Sen. Edwards did make a stop in Erie, PA on Friday before coming over to the Institution to buckle down and work. Here's the link to that story.

Quickie...

I'm finding it hard to believe I'm up and functioning before 7am on a Sunday, but I wanted to leave a quick post before I headed back to Chautauqua Institution. The volunteering is going well as it could considering how different an event this is for John Edward's staff AKA this isn't a one day rally-deal where you get in and get out in 24 hours. We actually had to cut back on volunteers!

So I'm driving a golf cart around a lot between press sites aaaaannnnndddd that's about it for the moment. However, I have passed by Mrs. Edwards although I didn't initially realize it was her. A nice lady. By nice, I mean that she smiled and said hello. I've run into some local politicians that don't always do that! I hear that today may be more eventful in terms of what there is to do around our location. When all this is done, I'll fill you in on what I assume I'm allowed to. Lots of rules about keeping our mouths shut due to privacy issues. Until then...

Choosing What Matters In the Long Run... With A Twist

Over the past two days, I've found out that I'm going to miss out on a chance to work with the press for when Vice-Presidential candidate John Edwards comes to Chautauqua Institution. I'm a little bummed about it since it would have been a great experience in many ways, but I know that attending a life-long friend's wedding is more important. A short post, yes, but I don't think I need to say anymore.

Addendum:

My mom surprised the heck out of me. Well, not really, but I guess I was a little surprised. I will be the media volunteer person for the Edwards visit afterall. Basically it came down to the fact that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, there's a slight chance I might get paid (which is important when you consider my financial situation), and the fact that my friend and her family know what it's like to be looking for a job and then having something temporary come up that you can't turn down.

So I will have no life from now until next Tuesday. I'm headed back to the Institution this morning, with return home uncertain. I'll try to do some blog updates over the next few days because I'm sure there will be a lot of interesting things to tell you all about.

Excellent Editorial By Novelist Indicting Bush

This is a piece written by novelist E.L. Doctorow. It first appeared in the September 9th issue of the East Hampton Star/Long Island, New York. Link to Source:

The Unfeeling President
by E.L. Doctorow
I fault this president for not knowing what death is. He does not suffer the
death of our twenty-one year olds who wanted to be what they could be.

On the eve of D-day in 1944 General Eiscenhowerprayed to God for the
lives of the young soldiers he knew were going to die. He knew what death was.
Even in a justifiable war, a war not of choice but of necessity, a war of
survival, the cost was almost more than Eisenhower could bear.

But this
president does not know what death is. He hasn't the mind for it. You see him
joking with the press, peering under the table for the WMDs he can't seem to
find, you see him at rallies strutting up to the stage in shirt sleeves to the
roar of the carefully screened crowd, smiling and waving,triumphal, a he-man. He
does not mourn. He doesn't understand why he should mourn. He is satisfied
during the course of a speech written for him to look solemn for a moment and
speak of the brave young Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their
country. But you study him, you look into his eyes and know he dissembles an
emotion which he does not feel in the depths of his being because he has no
capacity for it. He does not feel a personal responsibility for the thousand
dead young men and women who wanted be what they could be. They come to his desk
not as youngsters with mothers and fatheror wives and children who will suffer
to the end of their days a terribly torn fabric of familial relationships and
the inconsolable remembrance of aborted life.... they come to his desk as a
political liability which is why the press is not permitted to photograph the
arrival of their coffins from Iraq. How then can he mourn? To mourn is to
express regret and he regrets nothing. He does not regret that his reason for
going to war was, as he knew, unsubstantiated by the facts. He does not regret
that his bungled plan for the war's aftermath has made of his
mission-accomplished a disaster. He does not regret that rather than controlling
terrorism his war in Iraq has licensed it. So he never mourns for the dead and
crippled youngsters who have fought this war of his choice. He wanted to go to
war and he did. He had not the mind to perceive the costs of war, or to listen
to those who knew those costs. He did not understand that you do not go to war
when it is one of the options but when it is the only option; you go not because
you want to but because you have to.

Yet this president knew it would be
difficult for Americans not to cheer the overthrow of a foreign dictator. He
knew that much. This president and his supporters would seem to have a mind for
only one thing --- to take power, to remain in power, and to use that power for
the sake of themselves and their friends. A war will do that as well as
anything. You become a war time leader. The country gets behind you. Dissent
becomes inappropriate. And so he does not drop to his knees, he is not contrite,
he does not sit in the church with the grieving parents and wives and children.
He is the President who does not feel. He does not feel for the families of the
dead, he does not feel for the thirty five million of us who live in poverty, he
does not feel for the forty percent who cannot afford health insurance, he does
not feel for the miners whose lungs are turning black or for the working people
he has deprived of the chance to work overtime at time-and-a-half to pay their
bills --- it is amazing for how many people in this country this President does
not feel. But he will dissemble feeling. He will say in all sincerity he is
relieving the wealthiest one percent of the population of their tax burden for
the sake of the rest of us, and that he is polluting the air we breathe for the
sake of our economy, and that he is decreasing the safety regulations for coal
mines to save the coal miners' jobs, and that he is depriving workers of their
time-and-a-half benefits for overtime because this is actually a way to honor
them by raising them into the professional class. And this litany of lies he
will versify with reverences for God and the flag and democracy, when just what
he and his party are doing to our democracy is choking the life out of it.

But there is one more terribly sad thing about all of this. I remember
the millions of people here and around the world who marched against the war. It
was extraordinary, that spontaneous aroused oversoul of alarm and protest that
transcended national borders. Why did it happen? After all, this was not the
only war anyone had ever seen coming. There are little wars all over the world
most of the time. But the cry of protest was the appalled understanding of
millions of people that America was ceding its role as the last best hope of
mankind. It was their perception that the classic archetype of democracy was
morphing into a rogue nation. The greatest democratic republic in history was
turning its back on the future, using its extraordinary power and standing not
to advance the ideal of a concordance of civilizations but to endorse the kind
of tribal combat that originated with the Neanderthals, a people, now extinct,
who could imagine ensuring their survival by no other means than pre-emptive
war.

The president we get is the country we get. With each president the
nation is conformed spiritually. He is the artificer of our malleable national
soul. He proposes not only the laws but the kinds of lawlessness that govern our
lives and invoke our responses. The people he appoints are cast in his image.
The trouble they get into and get us into, is his characteristic trouble.
Finally the media amplify his character into our moral weather report. He
becomes the face of our sky, the conditions that prevail: How can we sustain
ourselves as the United States of America given the stupid and ineffective
warmaking, the constitutionally insensitive lawgiving, and the monarchal
economics of this president? He cannot mourn but is a figure of such moral
vacancy as to make us mourn for ourselves.

E. L. Doctorow is an American novelist. His works are noted for their
mingling of American history and literary imagination through the interaction of
fictional and real-life characters

Another excellent mid-day perusal: "If America Were Iraq, What Would It Be Like?

Taking Over Small Town America One Cup of Coffee At A Time...

The "big" news around here is that Starbucks is finally going to open a shop in the Greater Jamestown Area AKA in the town of Ellicott. While I've been saying for over five years that I would be thrilled if a Starbucks came to town, I'm feeling a little guilty since we just discovered that one of the local shops, Rider's Cup, is now open on Fridays and Saturdays until 10:30pm. They also offer free DSL hook-up for lap-top users whereas Starbucks charges for this perk.

Either way, it will be nice to have another choice in town, even if I don't like the coffee at Starbucks.

Here's the news story:

Starbucks Coffee Will Soon Be Brewing In West Ellicott

By STEVEN M. SWEENEY

WEST ELLICOTT - Developers for Starbucks are getting ready to fulfill Jamestowners thirst for high-test java.

According to Ellicott officials, the internationally recognized coffee house chain will put up shop on Chautauqua County's commercial strip at the corner of Fairmount and Wicks Avenues - site of the former Owl's Nest gift store.

"We've known about it for a year and a half," said Pat Tyler, Ellicott town supervisor. "Starbucks is one of the originals that had expressed interest in that site. Anytime you can develop a site in the town, it's great."

Lamparelli Properties, Inc., is the Buffalo-area owner of the land and developer for the project which initially included a Starbucks and a Montana Mills bakery.

"We didn't know what was happening, but it was kept alive in all that confusion," said Randy Woodbury, Ellicott's code enforcement officer. He was speaking of the confusion that resulted from the changes in site plans when the second franchise withdrew. The developer is now clear for one building.

"They've been through the planning and zoning boards and through several appearances and several changes," Woodbury said. "There is going to be a drive-through with an entrance and exit off of Wicks Avenue. Their plan is code compliant."

Attempts to reach the company were unsuccessful. Minutes of board meetings indicate the company's agent, Fred LoFaso, has frequently appeared to answer questions before the zoning and planning boards on issues ranging from drainage to store hours for nearly a year and a half to satisfaction.

Woodbury said the finished building will be approximately 50 by 24 feet or 1,200 square feet excluding accompanying parking. Lamparelli Properties will also seek approval for more than one sign.

"They've chosen to have their sign on the building,'' he said. ''If they want a sign on a pole or elsewhere, they will need a variance."

Ellicott's zoning board of appeals is holding a mandatory public hearing on the matter at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23 in the town's office on S. Work Street in Falconer.

It's merely a another step on the road to future development - a trend Tyler hopes to continue.

"Anytime you have a choice to do things'' they go at them, Tyler said. ''New businesses bring new money. We keep pursuing them."

Going Home...

This weekend, Matt and I are traveling back to Rochester for the first time since the beginning of July for an early celebration of my mom's birthday. When we arrive Friday night, the current plans are to go bowling and then have a few drinks with Heidi, Ryan, Sean, Anne, Beth, Jeff, Ben, Susan, and possibly Courtney if she gets out of work at a reasonable time.

Saturday, the only plans set are going to The Reunion with my parents and my Aunt Carol and Uncle Don for dinner to celebrate my mom's birthday and belatedly celebrate my Aunt & Uncle's 30th wedding anniversary. Afterwards is dessert, featuring the most delicious ice cream cake from some bakery in Webster. My dad has been getting this cake for my mom for over 20 years I believe. It's a layered cake with vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream; next to layers of frozen, crushed pineapples and strawberries.

Sunday, I hear the "boys" are going golfing while the women are going down to Naples for the Annual Grape Festival.

Truth is, I miss "home". I got that pang of homesickness when I saw the featured photo of the O'Rorke Bridge. At least I'll be back there again next weekend as well for a wedding, so hopefully I can get in some of my favorite things to do while in Rochester over these two weeks.

The Next Day..

On the flip side of my whine/bitch day, I do have to comment that we've had an unbelievable string of fantastic days here in Western New York. Aside from the deluge we experienced for all of two days when remnants of Frances swept through, the month of September has been spectacular.

It's also been a mite quiet at work, so I indulged myself a little and dreamed over different music play lists on WBER and essential music lists on Amazon. If there's one thing that could easily bankrupt me, it's my addiction to music. Here's a list of some of the albums I've recently acquired:

Basement Jaxx - Kish Kash
Depeche Mode - Music For The Masses
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
Howie Day - Stop All The World Now
Junior Senior - D-D-Don't Stop The Beat
Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue
Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News
The Smiths - The Smiths
Thornley - Come Again
Tori Amos - Tales of a Librarian

Coming soon to my mailbox:

Keane - Hopes & Fears
The Killers - Hot Fuss
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever To Tell

Top 5 Must Have CDs on My Wish List (in alpha order):

Beastie Boys - To The 5 Boroughs
John Linnell - State Songs
The 6ths - Hyacinths & Thistles
The Cure - The Cure
Various Artists - Future Sound For America

Honorable Mention: Oasis - Definitely Maybe

Some Cheese With This?

Okay, this is probably going to break down into a huge whine/bitch session, so be forewarned.

I'm done.

I'm done with campaigns. I'm done with politics as much as possible. I'm just done.

I've spent the past 3 years and 5 months using up every ounce of sanity I have supporting numerous candidates, successful and unsuccessful for political offices; working in a job that tries to balance a severe line between politics and working for the good of the people, and having to dedicate huge amounts of my personal free time toward political causes, political committees, and political events.

I'm done.

I have less than 3 months in this job that has been a part-time job since January. I have applied for five jobs, some I was over qualified for, some I didn't have the experience needed, in an attempt to find employment before my status at work ends. I had one interview. I'm competing with many people in this area with similar experience, who are looking for similar jobs, in a seemingly, increasingly tight job market. I can't move, or look for employment in other cities, because my husband has a good job with excellent benefits where we live now.

I guess the let down of last night and the fact that I'm facing some potentially hard times after years of good luck in the job market is a little bit of shock to the system. I even missed my turn off to get on the expressway this morning on my way to work, only noticing after I had driven nearly two miles past the entrance.

I know I'm not as bad off as other people in this area and around the country, but I can't help but take some of it personally. For those who know the background of more of this, you know why I say that. I'm just hoping that something, anything, comes up in the next couple of months.

Addendum: Post-election/primary day is always a crash. Phew. Somewhat back to my normal self. It's all good.

And This One Ends...

Well... my boss didn't win the primary. And so it goes. Life may or may not get a little quieter for the next few weeks. Just a little tired after working hard the past weeks on this effort. But what can you do? It's just too bad I'm not the most enthusiastic supporter of the candidate that won the primary.

Where The Buzz Started..

I took a quick break to finally add a picture to my profile on the right. I took this picture in Java's back in May 2003 after seeing A Mighty Wind. I have many other older pictures from the original Java Joe's, but since our scanner needs to be stomped on and tossed out, I doubt I'll be uploading any of them any time soon.

Otherwise, my last note until tonight, perhaps, is to urge you to get out to vote if the party you're registered with has a primary today.