Friday, August 29, 2008

my two cents

so those of you who know me know that i don't spout political agendas, i don't like to debate in public forums, i really don't even talk about politics at all with the majority of society (with the exception of my sister). i try to be generally aware of peoples' differences and respect their opinions.

but i cannot remain silent on this one. i am so incredibly proud of barack obama and the speech he made last night. in a country where i and many of my friends and family have lost hope, lost the belief that our government cares, lost some of our personal freedoms, it is refreshing to see a leader stand up and have the guts to say that he stands for change, and will do his best to see those changes made.

do i believe that most of what he claims will come to fruition? no. no one in politics can affect change that drastically. washington's corrupting influence is strong. government is no longer about the people and their needs, but rather about money and the greed of those who have it.

so yes. i'm cynical. i don't believe that change can happen. i have to be proven wrong.

so last night when i sit down to watch the convention, i realize what a dramatic moment we are living in. here we sit, on the 45th anniversary of what may be one of the world's most famous speeches by one of the greatest civil rights leaders who ever lived, listening to a (half)black man, who is now the official democratic candidate for president of the united states, talk about change. we are witnessing history in the making, and it is awe-inspiring.

dr. king talked about change. he talked about the american dream and how our nation could rise up from its differences, its despair, its turmoil and hatred. he said we could come together not as black and white, man and woman, adult and child, rich and poor, but as a nation of one--a united states. not since the days of the great speech-givers have i been moved during an address. not until michelle obama's speech on monday, and barack's speech last night. barack's statement that "something is stirring" in america moved me to tears. he is right. for once in this country and in my voting career my vote, my voice, has been truly heard. i voted. i caucused. i helped put him on that stage.

forty-five years. that's a long time. a long time since this nation had hope for a better time, hope for a better life for its citizens. yet this, more than anything, is what the obama camp has given me.

there's a line from the declaration of independence that reads: "but when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security."
i'm not supporting anarchy or taking up arms against the government--what i'm saying is that it is our responsibility to correct that which we see is wrong with our government. that is the principle that our country was founded on, and it is one we should continue to respect today. i don't like the way washington has been going these past eight years. our lives as americans have only gotten harder during bush's two terms. while that may not be directly his fault, he does have a role in it. it is now our time--our charge--to "throw off such government" and to provide "new guards" for our "future security."

i claim no official party line. i have voted republican, democrat, and everything in between. those who know me well know that i vote for the person i feel will do the best job that they can. i am saying right now, that in my mind, after last night and the 18 months preceeding it, i believe that barack obama will do a better job of providing a hospitable environment for change, a better job of funding innovations and advances that will take us into the next century, and a better job of leading this nation and joining us together as a whole than any other candidate seeking office.

obama, you have my support. for what it's worth.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

just in case you were wondering...

tropic thunder = awesome


that is all.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

random survey thing...

TEN HOW'S:
How did you get one of your scars? falling down the stairs while going to see shrek 2 with gabe.
How did you celebrate your last birthday? brandipalooza 2007 involved a kid-themed birthday party at my house. we had a pinata, played pin the tail on the donkey, and had cake and icecream. yeah, it pretty much rocked.
How are you feeling at this moment? beat down.
How did you meet the person you're dating? not dating anyone at the moment. sorry.
How did you do in high school? top 10%, but could've done way better if i actually applied myself.
How did you get the shirt you're wearing? target.
How often do you see the person you're into? every once in a while. i'm not really "into" him, just infatuated. he's kind of strange. and that's interesting.
How much money did you spend last month? entirely too much.
How old do you want to be when you get married? dead.
How old will you be at your next birthday? 26.

NINE WHAT'S:
Your Mom? is watching synchronized diving on the olympics. how does one get involved in synchronized diving? are you jumping into a pool one day thinking to yourself "gee, this would be more fun if i had a partner?"
What did you do last weekend? worked. a lot.
What is the most important part of your life? surviving the rest of this term and getting off on a good foot in the fall.
What would you rather be doing? sleeping. or reading. if i had a new book...
What did you last cry over? pain. i've had a tension headache for like a year now.
What always makes you feel better when you’re upset? movie night with my buds.
What’s the most important thing you look for in a significant other? humor.
What are you worried about? figuring out how in the hell to teach writing.
What is your favorite movie? too many choices...i pretty much like everything.

EIGHT HAVE YOU’S:
Have you ever had your heart broken? yes.
Have you ever been out of the country? not yet. hopefully soon. london is calling my name.
Have you ever done something outrageously dumb? more times than i would like to confess to.
Have you ever been back stabbed by a friend? yes. but not in a couple of years.
Have you ever had sex on the beach? no. sand in places you don't want sand.
Have you ever dated someone younger than you? yes. my first semester of college.
Have you ever read an entire book in one day? too many times to count. did it yesterday in fact. and last wednesday.
Have you ever surfed? me and a surfboard. HA!

SEVEN WHO’S:
Who was the last person you saw? my mom.
Who was the last person you texted? gabe.
Who was the last person to call you? nick.
Who did you last hangout with? erin.
Who is the last person who texted you? gabe.
Who was the last person you said 'i love you' to? kris.
Who are you missing right now? my sister. and my life and free-time.

SIX WHERE’S:
Where does your best friend live? denton and dallas.
Where did you last go? to work.
Where did you last hang out? at the movies and denny's.
Where do you go to school? i teach at north lake and tcjc.
Where is your favorite place to be? home.
Where did you sleep last night? my oh so comfy bed.

FIVE DO’S/DOES:
Do you like someone right now? not really.
Do they like you too? doubtful.
Do you ever wish you were someone else? nope.
Do you know the muffin man? the muffin man? the muffin man. yes, i know the muffin man. he lives on drury lane.
Does the future scare you? hells yeah.

FOUR WHY’S:
Why are you best friends with your best friend(s)? because they love me despite my flaws, that and they're pretty much a big deal.
Why did you get a myspace? to catch up with old friends.
Why did your parents give you the name you have? my mom let my dad decide. he and my sister really liked the name. i happen to hate it.
Why are you doing this survey? bored out of my mind and avoiding real work.

THREE IF’S:
If you could have one superpower, what would it be? teleportation.
If you could go back in time and change one thing, would you? pretty much no. all the movies say that that would make everything else change.
If you were stranded on a deserted island & could bring 1 thing what u would bring? my ipod with a fully charged battery.

TWO WOULD-YOU-EVER’S:
Would you ever get back together with any of your ex’s if they asked you? nope.
Would you ever shave your head to save someone you love? duh. who wouldn't.

ONE LAST QUESTION
Are you happy with your life right now? kind of. i've had some ups and downs lately. more up than down, though.

Friday, August 8, 2008

hello, my name is duessa...

...and i'm a bookaholic.


i binged a couple of nights ago. it had been two months since i last purchased a book, then all of a sudden i realized that i was ten pages away from finishing the only book i own that i hadn't read and i had a little bit of a book anxiety attack. 


i bought six new books. six bright, clean, and delicious new books. i can't wait until they get here so i can begin devouring them one by one. 


don't you just love the way books smell? it's one of those smells that always reminds me of my childhood. it takes me back to walking into a library the very first time and realizing how freaking awesome it was to be surrounded by all those books. yep. 

turns out i was always a nerd. NERD. epic proportions.


so there's my confession. i am a bookaholic. i'm not ashamed.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

new book...

yay! my new book came in the mail today! it's been so long since i've gotten to read for pleasure that i've kind of become a book junkie this month.

so i've started percival everett's erasure. i'm only 22 pages in, but so far i really dig it. i don't read contemporary fiction very often, but this guy's a tenured prof at USC, so i figured i could give it a try. plus it was recommended by a coworker whose opinions i value. so here i am in the middle of a book about the "black experience," or rather the lack of the "black experience," and i'm freaking loving it. 



everett kind of reminds me of hemingway. in a short, choppy sentence layered with meaning kind of way. 


here's to broadening one's horizons.

Monday, August 4, 2008

sad day.

aleksander solzhenitsyn died yesterday. that makes me very sad.