Friday, March 7th - Friday Potpourri

This has been a pretty eventful/uneventful week for me. Yeah, I realize that is kind of a fractured idea, but is the truth:

The highlights: Hillary staging a comeback of epic proportions; getting to ride my bike and getting back to the gym (finally); deciding to review American Idol; participating in verbal fisticuffs with Obamaniacs on MyDD and other places.

The lowlights: Most of my evenings were spent on the couch watching TV. Now that I am much more financially stable, it is time for me to get out and do some things I've put off for a while. I really want to take an Art Class, preferably something that has the possibility of doing bodily harm to me like glass blowing. lol

Onto the bullets:

• American Idol: Even though I was loath to make actual predictions of who would be eliminated, I am happy to say that 3 of the 4 in my bottom 2 for the guys and gals were sent packing. Thankfully, my stripper boy was not the surprise of the night, it was Asia'h Epperson, and I was truly a bit upset that she got the boot. She was not the best singer of the group, but there is something to be said for middling vocals but amazing stage presence. Kristy Lee Cook just kinda stands there, legs spread, and sings. She is truly Carrie Underwood, Jr....ugh, here's to hoping she gone in the first two weeks.
• Money, Money, Money: I've mentioned before that I was approaching the final goal of paying off all my accumulated credit card debt, and I am happy to say that all the money has finally changed hands and registered in the various accounts. It was SO gratifying to log in and see the big $0.00 balance on those final two cards. I will not say just how much debt I was into, but seeing as it took me nearly 4 years of stifling bi-weekly payments, you can probably do the math. I take full responsibility for living outside of means when I first went out on my own, but considering how bad the economy has become, this level of debt is unfortunately possible for anyone, even to make ends meet, and if you're having issues with it, I really do encourage you to stop paying those minimums and get on a plan to pay them off. It is really like a weight has been lifted from me, and while I still have student loans, a trip to Vegas, and a computer to pay off, it just feels so good to not have those high interest rates hanging over my head.
• Politics: Both Blanche and I have been feeling the Primary Fatigue that has set in, which is actually rather amazing when you consider this has really only been going on for a little over two months. At least we have a bit of a break until another big state with Pennsylvania on April 22nd, and then they're off to North Carolina, Indiana (WOO HOO!), and Kentucky. It has been 40 years since Bobby Kennedy campaigned in Indiana for the Democratic Primary, and it has been 44 years since Indiana has gone Democratic in a Presidential Election. So, I will enjoy this primary, but the chances of my vote really counting (as far as the Electoral College goes) in November is pretty slim. My closing political musing is that Obama really needs to get his people under control. Between the NAFTA kerfluffle, Susan Rice (foreign policy adviser for Obama) saying that NEITHER Obama or Hillary are ready to answer the White House phone at 3am, and now, Samantha Power (another foreign policy adviser) calling Hillary a "Monster" in an Irish newspaper, he is starting to look like his campaign is in major disarray. This is not the way to prove false the meme that you are not ready for prime time.

Finally, I wanted to share with you guys some stuff from when I was in DC for the general election in 1996. I interned with the Democratic National Committee in the research department (yes, the source of opposition/negative research), and since we won in 1996, I was afforded some amazing opportunities, like going to the election night party at the Capital Hilton and the party on the White House lawn the next day to welcome Bill, Hill, Al, and Tipper back home. I just found these, and I decided to scan them in for posterity. Also, I have a news clipping from The Washington Post, that shows a blurry version of me out in the audience smack dab between Bill and Al. Yes it is me, though I obviously had more hair at that time. :-)