My Story as Told to the Obama Website

It's strange how giving a little more money to a political campaign can bring out such sentimental thoughts, but it did. I just donated my last of the election and was provided an outlet to tell my story of why I became involved in Obama's campaign and this is what came out:

I have long thought that my story set me apart and somehow kept me from experiencing the "normal life." I was raised by a single mom and didn't know my dad until I was 26. As the youngest of three, I was an only child after my brother and sister moved out. In some ways, they were lucky to leave before my mom's alcoholism began to consume her. I took a trip to Australia after graduating high school. When I returned, my mom told me the news that she had moved from the our home of 11 years and was now living in a one bedroom apartment. If ever I was growing up faster than my peers, it was then. Four years ago, I lost my mom. She spent the last two years of her life bumming her way down the Eastern seaboard. From Virginia to Florida, she was incommunicado and relying on homeless shelters and the kindness of strangers. When she returned we were able to get her into city housing and on SSI due to debilitating mental illness gradually made worse through years of denial on her parents part and decades of alcohol and drug abuse. On Tuesday November 2, 2004 we lost her to liver failure. The same day, I watched as John Kerry failed to beat Bush. Since February, I have volunteered for this campaign because I believe in our candidate. I know he will change the direction in which this country is going and help improve the lives of many people like my mom that are caught up in circumstances beyond their control in a society that is rigged against them. I am truly inspired by his story and his presence and am convinced that if my fellow momma's boy can do so much starting out from so little I can as well.

I'M SORRY!!!

I'm Sick with This

It breaks my heart that so many people are losing their houses and livelihoods because of the foolishness of a few. I have no doubt that the huge bill passed recently was a needed measure, but the way in which it was presented, explained and crammed down our throats was awful. The leadership that Bush has shown leading up to this was reprehensible much like what he offered in the lead up to the Iraq war. This is especially so given the real cost of both in human life and American livelihood.

I teared up a little when I watched this:

I don't much like William (Bill) Kristol either.

Here you go:

I don't much like David Brooks

It's good to hear someone point out that David Brooks is a conservative and a backer of John McCain. He and Bill Kristol are trotted out all over the place and put forward as unbiased commentators without even a mention of the ideological leanings. I tried to call in to Talk of the Nation when Mr. Kristal was on there commenting about the presidential race. I wanted to point out that he is an informal adviser to the McCain campaign (which should be disclosed). The producer said she had no way to check that fact. "Thanks for calling, Good Bye."

In this clip Tom Brokaw continues to suck on those marbels in his mouth and reads from Brooks' op-ed in the NYTimes about Obama's Berlin speech. It is too bad that nobody in the MSM will point these things out. Here Brokaw pulls him out and Obama has to do it for himself. Of course he does it well.

The Candidates on Education

Education is an issue that is close to my heart. As a student at Dale Elementary in Dale, OK, I recieved much of the nurturing and care that was lost on me and my siblings at home. I was the kid that stayed behind to help my teachers with menial tasks just to have those precious moments with a responsible adult. I'm sure they knew what was happening but they'll never know the extent to which they helped me.

After having taught in public and private schools, I am still a staunch supporter of public education. At its best public education is the great equalizer providing a ladder out of an unacceptable situation. At its worst it serves to reinforce the status quo by sending students living in fractured inner city communities to crumbling schools to share outdated classroom textbooks and students in shiny new suburbs to state of the art schools with sparklingly clean floors and updated laptops.

How do the candidates for president see the future of public schools after January 20, 2009? Here are the two candidates speaking about their vision for public schooling along with links to their plans for education.

First John McCain:





McCain's Stance on Education



Next we have Barack Obama:


Obama's Stance on Education

My New British Friend: Elvis Costello

I attended another Elvis Costello show on Wednesday. It was a lot of fun. I showed up 30 minutes early and stood outside signing up volunteers for Obama (yes I'm just another drone that believes in one of the presidential candidates).

I was only able to get 2 new volunteers. I'm going to chalk that one up to the rainy weather (or the fact they needed to get their drink on before the show). I did have loads of people stop to get stickers. As the show grew closer, there were a hand full of people trying to sell extra tickets, which isn't the easiest thing to do for a 3/4 capacity crowd. At one point, there were five of us: me recruiting volunteers, an African American fella selling flowers, a woman trying to give away a single ticket and a guy selling a pair for $10 a piece (regular price: 44.50 plus handling charges).

The show started right on time with Elvis and the Imposters rocking out a couple of songs from his new album "Momofuku" (named for the inventor of the Ramen Noodles b. 1910 d. Jan. 6 2007). I had bought the LP on the way in before they sold out and was able to hold it aloft when he mentioned how big the thing was (I am an EC drone as well).

The sound kind of sucked. I could barely hear the vocals and the instruments were muddled. 30 minutes in, he asked for a new mic, which helped a little. The best part of the show was when Elvis recounted his trip to the studio of WFPX earlier in the day. He was quickly corrected by the crowd, proud of one of their local public radio stations WFPK the coolest station this side of anywhere. While there, he met a local artist named Brigid Kaelin
who was there finalizing the arrangements for her Live Lunch performance that Friday. They got to talking and Elvis asked if she would like to join them on stage. She played accordion on a cover of the Velvet Underground and Nico's "Femme Fatal."



Brigid had a HUGE smile on her face the whole time and lipped "this is great" a number of times. During the first of four encores, she came back with her saw in tow. The eerie sound of the saw spooked "Mr. Feathers," another song from the new album.

As is his practice since the Iraq War began in March 18th, 2003, the last song was "What's So Funny 'bout Peace Love and Understanding?"

Elvis Costello - Peace Love And Understanding (2004)


Classic Elvis Costello - Peace Love And Understanding
(original video - 1979)





After the show, I explored the building a little and found the back door. I had hung out after a show once before and know he is very congenial and willing to stop and sign a few autographs so I waited. He came out a few minutes later and went out of his way to meet us and sign some autographs.









Needless to say, it was pretty cool to talk with him for even 15 seconds and get my picture with my new British Friend (do better than that Stephen Colbert).










I could think of no connection for this video, but wanted to put it here anyway. The man is truly a genius.

Elvis Costello - The Scarlet Tide