Breathe Deep

Tomorrow we leave for vacation.

I had so wanted to take a "real" vacation involving a flight to somewhere new, pretty scenery and fruity cocktails. Just the two of us: our first real vacation with no secondary agenda. But then, an unexpected new car purchase, an unexpected oral surgeon expense (thanks to no dental), and hopefully a wedding on the horizon, all made it just too much of a stretch right now. Alas. We are still getting the hell out of Dodge. And by Dodge, I mean this nutty little corner of the world: Long Island.

We need it.

We are getting in the new car tomorrow and driving South to North Carolina. All I know is destination #1 is to see my Dad and Jan. They've lived down there a good 3 or 4 years now, and this is my first trip to their home. Amazing, I know.

Beyond the obvious happiness to see them, I am really excited about a few boxes of nearly forgotten belongings that I haven't seen in about 10 years (due to their various moves, and mine). I have no idea what I stored in these boxes when I packed them up upon graduating from college. I suspect many many photo albums, some boring old yearbooks, a stuffed animal or two, and God knows what else. It will be like my own private Christmas where 22 year old Terra left presents for 34 year old Terra. Sweet.

Maybe I will get to Raleigh to see old H.S. friend Colleen, or maybe we will go further East to the Outter Banks. Maybe we'll just hang with my folks. We have No Plan.

It is strange not to have a plan. I do so much travel and event planning for others now that I dread doing my own. And it's both a blessing and a curse that Damir doesn't take on the planning himself. In theory I wish he would, but I think I might be too much of a control freak to leave him to it in peace. So, we both win, I guess.

I left the office tonight in knots of stress. Feeling like I left too much undone, too many questions not fully answered. I walked the 12 blocks to Penn Station with tightness in my chest, barely noticing the beautiful crisp fall evening. But then, upon descending into the bowels of the station, I chanced upon this awesomeness:



Man, these guys went at it for a good 10 minutes, I filmed the last few on my blackberry, so sorry for the shitty quality. But can you see how fun they are? They made me wish I could play an instrument. That I hadn't quit the flute in the 4th grade after I slammed it in the car door in the grocery store parking lot. That I didn't quit the guitar in the 7th grade after getting discouraged that I would never be the next great Singer-Songwriter. If I had experienced music being played like this, with such abandon and in birkenstocks, maybe I would have stayed with it. Ack. Probably not.

Anyway, it made me breath again and realize it doesn't matter where we go as long as I have my baby by my side.

If you enjoy talking to strangers...

...Wear an Obama '08 T-shirt like this one:
I recently received my shirt in the mail (for a cool $20.08) and on the few occasions I have worn it around Long Island, I get a slew of comments from random strangers. Thankfully comments so far have been positive, most people just say, "Nice shirt", and 4 or 5 ladies have stopped me to ask where I got the shirt. (Answer: Here)

With massive media attention on all these supposed white women who are flocking to Palin (what are they thinking?!), wearing the t-shirt to the grocery store, the mall, running errands, the nail salon, etc., is my own small way to show this white woman's support for Obama.

I got an Obama magnet for the new Jetta too, but Damir is nervous to put it on. He's worried that some rebel Republican will key, or otherwise damage, the new car. Once he said that, it made me nervous too, so I am looking for another use for the magnet.

I am starting to panic and feeling very eager for the debates. I am hoping that Palin's lack of experience, in comparison to the loquacious Biden, will be too much for these independent swing voters to ignore. Plus, you know they're going to ask her about creation vs. evolution, which I can't wait to see her answer.

In case you were wondering, here is the debate schedule:

1. First Presidential Debate:

- Date: September 26 (next week y'all!)
- Site: University of Mississippi
- Topic: Foreign Policy & National Security
- Moderator: Jim Lehrer

2. Vice Presidential Debate

- Date: October 2nd
- Site: Washington University, St. Louis
- Moderator: Gwen Ifill

3. Second Presidential Debate

- Date: October 7
- Site: Belmont University
- Moderator: Tom Brokaw

4. Third Presidential Debate

- Date: October 15
- Site: Hofstra University
- Topic: Domestic and Economic policy
- Moderator: Bob Schieffer

All four debates will begin at 9pm ET, and last for 90 minutes.


Hmmm. Hofstra. That's just down the road. I wonder how I can get tickets? That would be awesome!

May Peace and Tranquility Return Once More

Every year on this anniversary, I come back to these words written by Anne Frank and quoted by a rabbi at the non-denominational service I attended on September 12th, 2001 at an Anglican chapel not far from my apartment in Amsterdam:

"It's Difficult at times like these: ideals, dreams and cherished hopes rise within us, only to be crushed by grim reality. It's a wonder I haven't abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impratical. Yet I cling to the them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.

It's utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation of chaos, suffering and death. I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness, I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too, I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for better, that this cruelty will too come to an end, that peace and tranquility will return once more."

Coming back to these thoughts yet again seem even more relevant this year as I reflect on all that has transpired in these 7 years and feeling as though we are all standing on a great precipice. I pray to God we make the right choice this time.

September is off to quite a start

This month has already proved to be an interesting one.


On the first of the month we bought a new car. It's so cute! But don't let it's cuteness fool you-- she has a big engine and lots of zippitydodah. We weren't planning on getting a car, but the truck more or less died, so we didn't have much of a choice in the matter. We do lots of driving on day trips and such. Given our living situation, we need to have a car-- our ticket to freedom. No bones about it. I am psyched to go from about 12 miles per gallon to about 30. Awesome!

Around the same time we bought the car, we decided to take a week away! The expense of the car ruled out any major vacation plans, so we are going to see my dad and step mom down in North Carolina and then maybe a few days on the Outer Banks. I don't really care where we go... as long as its away. We leave on the 20th. Yay! And we're driving the new car down there. I haven't been on a road trip for a while, so this will be great fun. As long as I am the one driving.

Then of course the saga of the tooth. The evil tooth was demanding a potential 3rd root canal (and being uninsured for Dental, this would run about $1300 between procedures and new crown) so I opted instead just to pull the damn thing for about a third of the cost. Ugh. Still in pain from the procedure with Dr. Hottie McHottie, but glad that it is done with.

I hit my first goal with weight watchers: I lost 10% of my body. TEN PERCENT.

We haven't done a lick of wedding planning. I am in that stage where more or less everything looks good. Cabo? Awesome! St. John? Beautiful and easy! Florida? Cheap and convenient! The Carolinas? Close to my folks and pretty! New York? No.

But today I read a bit about a wedding in Venice...oooohhhh Venice. Imagining a rented palazzo...rehearsal dinner en masquerade....ceremony on the terrace overlooking the canals...bellinis for everyone...a cheesy gondola ride in a white dress....I love Venice. I think I have been at least 4 times between work and pleasure. But my guess is not many other friends/family would be keen for that choice. Alas. The search continues across the US, Caribbean, Mexico and just about every other corner of the world.


But...Maybe I can convince you?

Love the Gunn

You may or may not be aware that I love Tim Gunn. The only thing that could make me not like this guy is if John McCain picked him for VP. I love it on the show when, like tonight, Tim tells the class to go caucus with their challenge partner. I never heard anyone talk about caucusing like that, outside of the political arena. I love it so much that just maybe I will ban all meetings in my office (what few we have) and demand for more caucuses. Dig it.

To My Evil tooth... (Part Enough)

Dear Evil Tooth,


You had to have it your way, as if my mouth is some kind of anatomical Burger King. You didn't listen to antibiotics or even the vicodin the last time we duked it out. So I did what I had to do.

I pulled you, motherfucker.

I wanted us to work it out. I wanted to keep you in there, happily chewing my meals. But you just had to be a rebel. You thought you were so James Dean, but I think you were more Sarah Palin. A faux-badass.

But let me tell you: this road has come to an end. As you started up again today, just 2 short weeks since our last battle of wills, I knew I had to just pull the plug. So, I trekked in the middle of my busy workday the Oral Surgeon, Doctor Hottie McHottie. And Dr. McHottie did the deed. He pulled your faux-badass out of my jaw. It took him all of 45 seconds once he numbed me up and grabbed hold of you. How badass is that?

And I say good riddance. Pretty soon I won't even remember you were ever there.

Love and more antibiotics & vicodin,

Terra

Sure, I am biased...but...

Sarah P's immature digs and shallow put downs littered throughout her speech are quite annoying. Just saying.

Civic duty is painful

I feel it only just to watch the Republican convention to balance my democratic tendencies. Though I know which way to vote, it is my duty as an informed voter to at least try to listen to both sides of the microphone. The problem: I can't stand to hear Republican speeches.

As I type, Fred Thompson is telling us the story, yet again, of McCain's POW experience. I think he is 5 minutes into the story, which puts him at the point where John refused the pardon to leave the POW camp (GWB told us the same story nary 15 minutes ago). Now we're hearing about the intense beatings he suffered there. How very painful and awful they were and exactly which limbs were broken. Don't get me wrong: I am sure they were unbearable. An experience I cannot even imagine. Thompson says, "Being a POW doesn't qualify you for President, but it does reveal character." I am sure there are lots of folks out there with perfectly fine character who would still make a terrible President.

But I want to shout to the Republicans, "I GET IT. HE WAS A POW. THAT IS AWFUL. NOW, WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE?"

I could go on. In fact, I could write volumes on this frustration. I am getting all in a tizzy about this. This and GWB's speech where he reminded us again of Sept 11 and how we are still on the brink of another disaster, which through his leadership we narrowly avoided. Yes, give us more politics of fear! In fact, just for kicks why don't you go back to raising that terrorist threat color bar? CODE ORANGE EVERYONE! Just for fun to get everyone all heated up and remind us of the good old days.

I am turning the channel. I can't take it.