What the hell?

Today's Horoscope for Libra

Your situation at home appears to be getting better every day. Or, perhaps, you have an opportunity to heal a family wound, especially if you've been involved in an emotional conflict recently. You really don't need a cosmic excuse to do something you should have already done. There's really no time like the present moment to make things right.

Wishing you all a Happy Tofurkey Day!

I'll be back in a few. You know, just your usual anxiety attack inducing family obligations. See ya soon!

Gulp. Happy Thanksgiving?

Today's Horoscope for Libra

Buried family secrets may be unearthed during the coming years, revealing aspects of your past that can change the way you look at yourself. If you are confronted with new data about your parents, siblings or children, don't be like an ostrich that attempts to bury its head in the sand. Instead, accept what you learn and then adapt to it as you are able. It's not necessary to take it in all at once as long as you don't fall into denial.


By Rick Levine
More from Tarot.com

Big TTA news!

Just so y'all know, on Monday morning, the Triangle Transit buses begin using the new and improved Transfer Center at 901 Slater Road in RTP. The drivers also switch routes. I have no idea who my drivers will be, so I'll keep ya posted about that. You can go here to see the new routes. Personally, I am excited about shortening my commute by 10 minutes. I'll try to remember to bring my camera for photos of the new digs.

There hasn't been much bus news lately. Sorry about that.

Sarge, in his typical "why be on time when you can be early" spirit, decided we needed to get used to the new schedule today, so I nearly missed my bus, as did Chatty Cathy and her new BFF. There's some woman who's also new on the bus. They share a bench in the morning and smoke themselves silly. Takes the pressure off me to be nice at 7 AM.

Floyd has decided to work the 3 PM to midnight shift driving the express routes, so I won't see him again for 6 months probably. This is too bad because I really like the guy.

Cherry Cough Syrup Lady has finally toned it down. A week or two ago, on a Thursday I was sitting up front chatting with Boyfriend, as usual. When we got to the park and ride, I saw her waiting for the bus, so I got up and bolted for the back of the bus. When we arrived at the Transfer Center, I walked up to the front of the bus to talk to him. He thought it was funny. He also thinks she reeks. He told me it's actually hairspray, not perfume. What's especially amusing about that is what her hair looks like. She always has a big clump sticking straight out in the back. Same spot, every day. It's awesome.

Okay, gotta go...NCIS is on. Have I told y'all I'm addicted? Seriously. I got it bad for this show.

Why do I even bother to turn on the TV?

In a rare (what is less than rare?) moment, I have Inside Edition on. (Yeah, I know.) They had this woman on, whining about her life. She owned an executive recruitment company that went belly up after September 11th. (Okay, that sucks. I'll concede that.) The Inside Edition "reporter" goes on to talk about how she became depressed and started taking in stray animals into her gigantic mansion with marble floors. (Okay, depression happens, but you're starting to lose me, lady) According to IE, she ended up with a grand total of 120 cats and dogs. The marble and hard wood floors were ruined by animal waste. The place had to be gutted. It got so bad that her husband was, according to IE, literally kicked out of his country club. Their friends turned their backs on the couple. They tragically lost their mansion when it went into foreclosure and sold for $1.2 million (again, according to IE) less than half of the appraised value! Gasp! Even more tragically, they are forced to live in a three bedroom apartment, which IE is pleased to report, is immaculate. IE also reports that about half the animals were adopted, the other half euthanized. You know what? Fuck you, lady, for being more upset about your dear husband being asked to leave his country club that the welfare of your "pets." Fuck you, lady, for being embarrassed about living in an apartment with more room than you need while so many others are on the street. Fuck you, lady, for whining that you "lost everything you built" and not showing any remorse for the rotting animal carcasses in your basement. Fuck you, lady.

Read more here.

The More You Know

Welcome to the first ever Meg On The Bus Public Service Announcement. I feel I need to bring up an important subject here today. Dear Readers, there has been much discussion recently at my new favorite blog, Pulsipher Predelictions, about a very controversial subject. I try to keep out of this blog my very personal thoughts or convictions, however I feel I can no longer remain mute. Folks, I need to speak to you about something near and dear to my heart. Chocolate covered bacon. (You heard me.)

There is no food that cannot be improved by either chocolate or bacon. Am I right? Following that logic, adding bacon to chocolate can only make chocolate yummier. Thus adding chocolate to bacon will only make bacon better too. Chocolate covered bacon is good. Very good. Like any food, the quality of the finished product is a direct result of the sum of its ingredients. People, use the good stuff. Buy the thick cut applewood smoked bacon. Buy a fancy-pants brand of chocolate. Treat yourself. The holidays are coming. (Ho ho ho, y'all.) There seem to be two schools of thought here. It appears most people like to coat a whole piece of bacon in chocolate. Personally, I like to cut the bacon into nice bite size pieces. Truffles, if you will. I have had these delectable bacon morsels lovingly dipped in dark chocolate with just a dusting of grey salt. Several folks, including Mrs. Pulsipher, have topped theirs with crushed almonds. I personally wonder if crushed smoked almonds might be very nice as well.

In stores, one might be inclined to buy a certain hoity-toity brand of chocolate bar with bacon morsels for the low, low sum of $8. ::cough, cough::Vosges::cough, cough:: Do not be fooled. It is not nearly as good as what you are capable of making at home. (Nor will you enjoy the weird after taste of that bar, which will be noticeably absent from the stuff you make) You can do this. You will enjoy this.

Here are a few places to get started:

Kevin's CCB

Yum Sugar's Chocolate Covered Bacon

He's an Iron Chef. I think he knows what tastes good.

And knowing is half the battle.

...and you can go to Helen Hunt for it, part five.

Found: Three Krispy Kreme glazed original donuts

Where: On the sidewalk in front of my apartment building

When: Saturday afternoon, day of Christmas parade

Thank you.

...and you can go to Helen Hunt for it, part four.

I have to wonder how a pair of boxer shorts ends up on the sidewalk on Hillsborough Street. Please, someone, explain to me how you lose your underpants. Presumably, you're wearing pants...so they just can't fall off, right?

Alas, there are things that I am just not destined to understand. Why I must step over a blue plaid pair of boxer shorts on my way to the bus stop every day this week is one of those things.

Ho ho ho, Merry Thanksgiving!

Today I can use three words I never thought I'd use in the same sentence in reference to Raleigh, North Carolina. Especially not before Thanksgiving or in the same week even! Those three words would be "our" "second" and "snow." For reals, peeps. We got a second round of snow/flurries this morning. As always, it was beautiful. I arrived at the bus stop a bit early, which I means I got to enjoy those big, fluffy flakes for about 20 minutes. My bus was late. It was the same jerky driver who is ALWAYS late...remember him? Last time he told me that I should have left earlier. blood pressure rising, moving on! Because he was late again, I missed my second bus. I had to stand outside waiting for the next bus for about 30 minutes. Quick math tells me that was almost an hour. Did I mention it was around 35 degrees this morning? Yeah. I was mighty cold once I finally arrived at the office. This time of the year, I am very thankful to have steam heat in this apartment. It's so toasty warm in here and it's free. Never again will I rent an apartment without radiators.

Tomorrow morning is the 64th Annual Raleigh Christmas Parade. You remember, the one that nearly kept me from being able to move in last year. Yeah, that parade. Since I'm on the first floor, I'll have box seats for the parade which starts right outside my building. I'm having a few friends over to watch the parade. It should be a lot of fun. I'll report back with pictures soon! This area looks weird since there's no parking anywhere near here right now. It's like a ghost town!

The Nearest Book

A college friend posted this on her Facebook page and I thought I'd bring it to y'all!

Here are the rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now. Don't hunt on a book shelf for something to impress us, but it has to be a real book!
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence and reference the book in the comments.

I'll get y'all started.

"He was free from that spell, that sorcery, that obsession!" Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good ni-iiiight.

Today is Thursday, which means I get picked up by Boyfriend in the morning. This morning, we chatted as usual about the up coming weekend, what's new and exciting in our lives, my current knitting project. He always asks me what I'm working on. Even if I am sitting in the back of the bus, he'll yell back at me. He's funny.

This morning, not so funny. He told me that effective Monday morning, he's moving to the maintenance side of the TTA. He will not be driving the bus anymore, thus, I will not see him anymore. Unless a bus breaks down next summer.



*ahem*

I am a Dork. With a capital D.

There is a guy who lives somewhere in my neighborhood. I see him around sometimes, and he rides the bus. I see him in the evenings usually. Over the past couple months, we have started chatting. I'm not going to lie. He's H-O-T hot. Smart, funny, nice, hot. Oh, and I'm 60-73% sure he's gay. Given my long and sordid history of falling madly in love with gay men...Well, never mind. I'll save that for a good therapist.

Anyway...I haven't seen him in the past couple weeks because of my work schedule. He got on the bus tonight and was about to sit a couple seats in front of me when he saw me, looked happy to see me and proceeded to sit down behind me. He starts talking to me and what happens? I feel like I'm going to vomit and can't think of ANYTHING to say.

I need to have an exorcism of my inner 7th grader. Quick.

Why I love Macy's, or I'm sorry...I saved how much?

In case you haven't checked the weather in Raleigh lately, it's butt ass cold here. Cold enough, in fact, for it to snow today. Yup, peeps, we gots flurries. And, yes, I went running outside each time it started "snowing" today.

It also made me realize I needed a new winter coat. For some reason, I have never had a long black wool dress coat. I am not sure exactly who is responsible for this oversight, however, I am willing to let this go since the situation has been rectified. I have a bunch of cool coats, but they all end at the waist. When it's 28 degrees at the bus stop, I'd like a little more coverage.

I hopped a bus to the mall and hit Macy's. I got there a little after 7 PM and had a hair appointment at 7:45. I've learned a time limit is crucial in this process. There was a lovely girl working in the coat department. I told her I wanted a knee length wool black coat. She kept picking up short coats and asking me, "what about this?" She tried to give me a fuzzy one, but not good fuzzy. Just cheap K-Mart coat fuzzy. I tried on a few coats, one Guess, one Kenneth Cole, one Larry Levine (like, who?). Knowing how much I was planning on spending, I was looking for a good style, a good fit and a designer name. (I'm not going to lie here. The label was as important as the style. But you have to believe I don't usually care about that kind of thing. Much.) I was distracted by the hats. I found a black wool and velvet cloche that I wore home, thankyouverymuch. As I was about to give up, a divine light shone down from the designer heavens on a lovely DKNY coat. The fit was perfect. The style? Definitely that French girl look I love. Oh, but wait, there's more! The price? $295. (Eeeep!) The sale? 50% off. Let's see, I do the math and came up with roughly $150. Okay, I can handle that. Sales Girl rings me up and the coat rings up for...$118. Boo-yow. With the hat, I ended up spending the $150 I had planned on the coat alone. I also made my 7:45 appointment.

I love Macy's because I seem to have a psychic connection to their marketing department. Anything I need, a coat, kitchen stuff, a couple new dress shirts...there ya go! It's on super sale. Always. When I moved in last year, I needed a bunch of new kitchen stuff, colanders, pots and pans, etc. Macy's had the Martha Stewart stuff on sale. With my extra 20% off coupon, it was a mega sale. I think I got a 10 piece pot set, two colanders, a chili pot, and four small cast iron casseroles for less than $200. No really, I did.

I can't wait to wear the coat tomorrow. Now I just need the perfect scarf.

Relieved? Yes. And no.

In the past months that I have been riding the bus, I've missed out on fuel shortages, $4.25 a gallon, and a lot of stress. I have met some really cool people and I have also learned to problem solve, in a way. For example, I am learning that this is the time of the year that makes my neighborhood both a good and bad place to live. What I mean by that is there is tons going on, road races, parades, etc. This also means that the streets are blocked off for the better part of the weekend day and there's no bus service. If I need to go someplace outside walking or biking distance, say Whole Foods, I need to work out where else I can go to get the same thing or how else I can get there. I have to say the past many months sans auto have been, well, fun.

I had to get work done on my car. It's not the only reason why I've been riding the bus, but it was certainly a big factor. My car was just sitting. I was okay with that. I took it to Whitewall Auto here in town on the recommendation of a friend. They were great, honest, they fixed my car in a day because they had all the parts either on hand or easily accessible and charged me about half what I was expecting. They also let me pay over the phone and left the keys for me. They trust me, ergo I trust them. If you find yourself in the area and in need of service, I whole-heartedly suggest you go see them. Finding a good mechanic is possibly higher on my list than finding a good hairdresser and probably equal to finding a good gynecologist. (Who's with me on this?)

On my way home from work, I called that friend to thank her for the recommendation. She said, "that must be a big relief for you." My reaction...meh. I mean, yes, it's a relief I found a good mechanic, they were reasonably priced and super fast. Yes, she's right. But at the same time, I wish I didn't have a car. Yes, it's convenient to have a car if I need to run to the drug store at 10:30 on a rainy night. I am hoping it will not become too convenient. Between my apartment and this friend's new house lies a huge hill. It's a bitch to bike up. It will be nice to drive over. I don't want to get back in the habit of "running quickly" to the market. I hope that I continue on this path I am currently on. Certainly, I will take the bus to work. Traffic around here during evening rush hour in particular is a Nightmare. I will do my best to not drive. When I moved into my apartment, I decided to allow myself to drive once a week. I am now amending my decision to next to never.

To be honest here, I also have a small anxiety about driving. Since owning a car, two actually, over the past 15 years, I have had 9 accidents. Before you freak out, let me finish... None of these accidents were my fault. In most of them, I wasn't even moving. My anxiety about driving? I'm tired of being hit. Wouldn't you be?

Boating is fun, we'll show you how!

Just past the Fairgrounds and the Vet School there is a building with the words "United States Power Squadrons" on it. Out front is something that appears to be a ship's mast, but there is never anything hanging on it, you know sails or flags or whatever. Finally, there is a parking lot out front which is always empty.

Now, my more astute readers may have inferred by this point that I have perhaps a more...active...imagination than most. As well, you may not know that I like comic books, more the graphic novel variety, but I like the men in tights kind too.

I keep forgetting to Google United States Power Squadrons. This morning I remembered. I hope I can express the depth of my disappointment in learning they actually deal in safe boating. The whole boat thing? Not really a disguise! I was truly expecting to learn we had secret spandex-clad super heros right here in Raleigh. I was hoping to find on the website a signal or call or something to summon these guys when I witness or suffer an injustice. Alas, the only thing they can help me with is a boating safety course.

For those who don't know, Raleigh is completely and totally landlocked.

I don't know whether to be offended or not.

Do you watch Food Network? Specifically Rescue Chef with Danny Boome? The premise is that he goes to people's homes and helps them overcome a personal (culinary) stumbling block. Or so they say. My take on the premise....he goes into the home of a dippy Barbie doll that fawns and giggles while he flirts. The personal stumbling block? Intelligence. Never have I seen the guest as anyone other than a mid-to late-thirties, perfect size four, long Farrah Fawcett hair, nails just done for TV, asking retarded questions like, "isn't that going to burn in the oven?" Clearly the General Population thinks he is hunky, at least partially due to the Brittish accent. Could this be the second coming of Jaime Oliver? (Personally, I'm a Duff Goldman kind of girl. wink, wink, nudge, nudge.) Seriously, has there ever been a dude on the show? How about an older woman, say, a bit chubby?

This particular episode is featuring what appears to be a yuppie stroller mommy (kid art on wall behind her), Carrie, who apparently isn't holding back the inuendos. Did she just stick her chest out?

I can't watch this. It's too painful.

Ps. I just noticed he's not letting her handle the sharp knives. 'Nuff said.

Be sure to bring only small, unmarked bills.

This week at the Fairgrounds, there is a Seized Jewelry Sale. So, you know, if you, like, need to buy your jewelry back...it'll be at the Fairgrounds.

Your schedule of events

My route to and from work takes me past the NC State Fairgrounds, the site of the now World Famous North Carolina State Fair. Outside the fairgrounds is a giant lighted sign that scrolls through upcoming events there. If you in the Raleigh area, I thought you might like to know there are a number of things to do. Sure we have the Flea Market on Saturdays and Sundays, but did you also know you can get your Sears Contractor Training in the Dorton Arena too? Yes siree, Dorton Arena isn't just for roller derby any more folks!

Upcoming at the fairgrounds THIS WEDNESDAY are the Structural Pesticide Exams in the Martin Building. I'm tempted to just show up and see how I do. I'm guessing not well.

Y'all come now, hear?

Your daily dose

PARANOID? (Not really. Should I be? Why do you ask?)

GOTTIVO? (No, but I wish I did.)

NVRGNVUP (Since this was on a brand new, shiny Cadillac, I have to wonder what he's not giving up on.)

Mr Sandman, bring a dream

Watching people fall asleep on the bus is funny to me. Invariably there's the guy who falls over on his side and out of his seat or the woman who's head nods back and jerks forward. Falling asleep on the bus isn't so funny. I wake up ever two minutes terrified I've missed my stop. The last two days I've fallen asleep on the bus. I've also managed to stay asleep for most of the ride home. Last night I got a total of six hours of sleep. In a row. I have hope that this awful awful insomnia might actually pass in this life time.

More license plates!

PROTOPIA

RUMPOLE

ASA RTR (initials, maybe? that's big here)

MKAWUFLY

AMBSMINI (on a Mini...oh, so that's what they look like!)

IFAKEDIT

REDVINO

OTBSOLNS

Plus a bonus bumper sticker:

"I'm a constitution voter" (Er, as opposed to?)

On the New Girl, Amy Number One, and hand-knitted items.

There's a new girl on the bus. She has mousy reddish brown hair, wears way too much brown and has an unfortunate predilection to Fun Fur scarves. The first week she was on the bus, she was under the impression that Sarge should magically or telepathically know when and where to let her off the bus. Finally this week she started to ring the buzzer like everyone else. This week she has also decided to pick up the bus at my stop rather than her old stop, where ever that was. I really don't care where she gets on the bus, except that she is lacking any ability to mind her own business. Someone coughs on the bus? She has to see who it was. Someone get off, she has to say goodbye to them. She's not special, just annoying. I head to the bus stop around 7 AM. At that time of the day, I'm not so interested in making friends. Especially with the recent insomnia thing, I'm not at my best at 7 AM. She, however, appears to be bright eyed, bushy tailed and chatty at 7 AM. I'd hate to have to choke her with that Fun Fur scarf.

This morning, Chatty Cathy tried to star a conversation with me. I wasn't having it. We got on the bus, I sat in front of Amy Number One, she sat across from her. I pulled out a hat I'm knitting for my friend Cailin (of Five Kids, Two Labs, One Lizard and a Hermit Crab fame). (Oh, by they way, Cai, you're getting a Christmas hat, but that's all I can tell you right now.) Anyway, Amy of course asks me what I'm making...I swear one of these days, I'm going to have to teach her to knit...

Amy: What are you making?
Moi: It's going to be a hat.
Amy: For who?
Me: For my friend Cailin.
Amy: Cailin.
Chatty Cathy: That's a pretty color red.
**Cai, you know you asked for a red hat, so no shocker there**
Me: Yes, it's going to be a Christmas present.

I wasn't talking to her, I was talking to my pal, Amy. Okay, yes, it is a lovely red color, but still...this is an AB conversation so see yourself out lady! (Or however that stupid phrase goes.)

------------------------------------------------------------

I also found out today that Floyd's name is not actually Floyd. I've been calling him Floyd for six months and he hasn't corrected me. I feel like a complete dork. I also learned he does yoga. He is definitely my favorite bus driver. I get about 15 minutes to talk to him in the morning. I've learned all about his family, his former job as an EMT. He's a neat guy. I'm going to miss him when they switch routes. I will not miss Special Ed trying to butt into our conversations in the morning.

New routes and schedules are posted!

Go here to see the changes Triangle Transit has made to their routes and schedules effective December 1.

I am happy to report this will not affect my commute negatively, and it looks like I might get a few extra minutes in the morning. Woo hoo! I am as equally happy to report that a new Blue Urban Bikes hub will be stationed at the new Transfer Center.

Two thumbs up to the staff of the Triangle Transit Group for doing a bang up job. I have no doubt this will be a seemless transition. Their planning group had to recalculate all of the time tables, create new routes, move existing routes and somehow keep everyone happy. What a daunting task.

And now we resume your regularly scheduled programming

Another accident? This one was involved a school bus. A friend of mine was on the bus and I believe everyone was okay. Thankfully.

In case you haven't heard...

We elected a black man to Commander In Chief. He will be sworn in one hundred years after the foundation of The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or NAACP. In so many ways this was an historic election. In 1984, Geraldine Ferraro was the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee as the running mate to former Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee Walter Mondale. This year, the Democratic Party had a dogfight to the nomination between a former First Lady and a black man. The Republican party nominated a woman as the Vice Presidential nominee, the highest honor bestowed on a woman by the Republican party to date. Regardless of who was chosen as the 44th President, we were going to make history.

Eight years ago, we elected George W. Bush as the 42nd President. In a gross oversight, we elected him again as the 43rd President. In the course of these eight years, George W. Bush has managed to bring our country to an economic crisis almost as severe as the Great Depression. Nearly one third of Americans, or 90 million people, under the age of 65 did not have health coverage between 2006-2007. His zeal for deregulation led the way to predatory lending and lack of personal financial responsibility. He has given tax cuts to big business which send jobs to overseas. He has disputed the validity of Global Warming. For absolutely no reason, he invaded a country under the guise of The War on Terror. This country had no ties to the organization responsible for the tragedy on September 11. He falsely reported finding Weapons of Mass Destruction in this country. He has allowed spending upwards of millions of dollars a day on this fictitious war. When he was sworn in as Commander of Chief, a gallon of gasoline was $1.44. This summer those lucky enough to find gasoline had to pay around $4 a gallon. He has supported the torture of "enemy combatants" (and liberal definition of the term "enemy combatant") and assisted in the creation of the USA Patriot Act, a convoluted piece of litigation which allows the federal government to toss civil liberties out the window.

While this seems in and of itself a pitiful legacy for a President, none of this adds up to the largest embarrassment and most tragic failure of his presidency.

The failure of the Bush Administration to respond to the crisis of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation of the Gulf Coast still brings tears to my eyes. After the hurricane, I tried very hard to avoid the news, both online and on television. I knew what I would see and knew I might not be able to handle it. I was unable to avoid it completely. I will never be able to forget the image I saw of a woman who had been waiting outside the stadium, sitting in a lawn chair, hoping to get relief from her environment. Unfortunately, she died before she could get help. The citizens of New Orleans had no choice but to leave her where she was. Even more unfortunate, this was not an isolated event. The scope of this tragedy was unlike anything we had ever experience here. The City of New Orleans is still recovering to this day. I cannot speculate on the motives of the Bush Administration to act so slowly in response to this disaster. I certainly hope the ethnic diversity of the population of the Gulf Coast in general and New Orleans in specific was not in any way a factor.

Last night the United States made history by electing a black man as President. We elected this man, Barack Hussein Obama, in a near landslide, 349 to 162, with two states still pending confirmation. In some ways, it is not surprising that we elected a Democrat to this office in reaction to the mess created by the previous Republican administration. What may have made this election a nail-biter was the ethnicity of the Democratic nominee. In the end, the American people stepped up and voted on the issues and what truly mattered. We needed change, and the contents were more important than the packaging.

I am very lucky to have so many friends and coworkers who self-identify as either Democrat, liberal, or both. I have not heard anything negative about President Elect Obama. On the New York Times Online, there is a video feature here. Individuals from key states had their thoughts recorded about our new president. The bulk of these folks have positive comments. One woman is identified as Amy Ridolfi, 28, from Philadelphia. She claims to be a Democrat who voted for McCain, because she feels the world is not ready for a black president. She feels the world will view the United States negatively because we have "switched parties" and this will have a negative impact. In the past eight years, The Bush Administration has alienated the United States from many of our allies. Those not alienated are too afraid to speak up. Reviewing the news from abroad, it is easy to see that the rest of the world is welcoming the change this election has brought. The Obama Administration has a long road to travel, but I feel we can expect our wronged allies to be willing to mend fences.

She makes the statement that the world is not ready for a black president. Given the results of the election last night, one could say with total certainty that she is wrong. If the time was not right for a black man to assume the highest office in the land, I would be saying President Elect John McCain with much disdain. America has spoken. Barack Obama is the best man for the job, regardless of color. Having a leader who is something other than an affluent white man will boost the credibility of this nation. Shall we remind Amy that the vast majority of the world of which she speaks does not self-identify as white?

I think we can expect great things from Barack Obama. I feel we can also expect him to demonstrate that he is a President who is black and not a black man who is President. In 1984 and 1988, the Reverend Jesse Jackson was a candidate for the Democratic nomination. He was not successful. In my opinion, he was a black man running for President. Throughout this race, Barack Obama has demonstrated that he has the qualities required of a President. He has been incredibly even-tempered and an excellent speaker. He is known as one who thinks before he speaks. He has not made his ethnicity a factor, although the opposition tried. This election makes me believe it was more the candidate than the timing. Now more than ever the world is ready for this man to lead the United States out of this terrible place. The color of his skin is merely a bonus. I commend the Americans who voted with their principles and their open and educated minds, and not with their bank accounts and prejudices.

To those of you who may feel alone in a Red Sea, take heart. There are many, many more people out there who think like you. When the current state of the union turns around, remember to say, "I told you so."


For information on the Electoral College, go here. I won't even try to explain it.

Finally.

"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The American people have spoken and they have spoken clearly." Senator John McCain

Election resource

New York Times
If you click on a state, you'll actually get a county by county breakdown. The nerd in me (what? me? a nerd?) finds this fascinating.


Presidential Election Results
You can get the predictions from all of the news bureaus, without the holograms.

Update on the Chapel Hill accident

The driver was charged.

Sad bus news from Chapel Hill

Pedestrian dies after being hit by bus. Chapel Hill is a part of the Triangle area where I live.

And if you're in California...

Vote NO on Proposition 8. It's discrimination.

You have no excuse.

Not sure where to go to vote? Click here.

This was my Halloween costume a few years ago.

Never before was a Barbie doll so cool!

My bike gang is cooler than your bike gang.

I forgot to add this bit of awesomeness from my bus ride yesterday. As I was waiting at the bus stop in front of my building, they rode by like they do every Saturday. I am not embarrassed to say I look out the window every time I hear them.

cough cough sniiiiiff ahem

I don't feel good. It's just a cold, but all I want to do is lay on the sofa, eat junk food, and watch crazy old TV shows. I also know I'm sick because I get cranky when I get sick. Like everyone and everything annoys me. A lot. So, bear with me here.

We have a TV channel called RTN that plays old shows. Not the same stuff on TV Land, but stuff like Magnum PI, Ironside, Kojak, Simon and Simon, the Rockford Files, Alfred Hitchcock Hour and Presents (my favorites), and what I'm currently watching...MacMillian and Wife. Coincidentally, this episode of MacMillian and Wife centers around a traveling carnival. Mac had to chase a suspect to the Ferris Wheel, where he found a dead body in a seat. The Ferris Wheel wasn't working so he had to climb it. Just as he got close to the top, another bad guy made it start to move again until the safety bar broke and Mac was hanging on for dear life. Uh huh. See? It's not just me. Oooh, Airwolf is on next.

I felt the need for junk food today, which I rarely keep at home. I went up to the Fresh Market and got the following:

Vanilla Piroline cookies

Raspberry filled "Whippets" (not those kind of whippets, think Mallowmars)

hummus and baba ganouj and tortilla chips for dipping

miniature croissants and a can of almond paste (the bakery was out of almond croissants, so I'm making my own.)

a big bottle of Bolthouse Farms "C-Boost" juice smoothie...oh my god this is good! It has cherries, mangoes (which I normally don't like), apples, maitake mushrooms (!!!), echinacea (which may be misspelled) and 1200% of my daily Vitamin C needs in ONE GLASS!!!!! I know I'll drink the whole bottle this weekend, so that means I'll have 48 days worth of Vitamin C in two days. If that doesn't make me feel better, I don't know what will.

Embarrassed by my purchases, I felt the need to explain to the check-out girl that I wasn't feeling good. I think she thought I was a bit crazy.

On to the bus riding!

I finished my shopping and sat down to wait for the bus. An older woman sat down on the bench next to me and was talking to herself. A guy came over and sat down on the sidewalk and started smoking a cigarette. He had a giant Army olive green duffel bag backpack and was carrying a smaller black duffel bag. He looked vaguely like the kind of guy who would tell you he was crashing with a buddy while he was looking for a new place to live, if you know what I mean. When he got up the bottom of the green bag was dripping and wet. There was a puddle on the ground that hadn't been there before. A man pointed it out, but the guy said he had sat on something wet. Ooooo-kaaaaay. The man that pointed it out was with his very young daughter, 2 or 3 maybe. She was carrying a library book, which he told her not to lose because it cost $100. I'm sure she understood that one crystal clear. My favorite was this guy....he's wearing grey super baggy jeans and a white hooded sweatshirt. He asked me and the old lady if we had been waiting long. He then took out a full sized aerosol can, sprayed his right side, and put the can back into the front pocket. He walked around the brick column of the bus shelter and leaned up against the other column. I saw that he had the sticker on the leg of his jeans. 34x34, even though he looked more like a 30x30. He lifted up his sweatshirt to reach into his pants pocket and I saw that he still had the tags attached to the waistband too. Then I started wondering where he could have boosted them. The bus that runs by Cameron Village also goes to the mall. But why keep the stickers and tags? Luckily, all of the people got on the Number 12. I needed the Number 16. My bus came, I boarded and sat down behind...MSG! I usually see him on the bus on the weekends or evenings. He had also been grocery shopping.