One More Week

One more week until the masses hopefully vote for a change for our country. But, I know people who are voting for Bush. I know one who is even voting for Nader. I know that Kentucky will remain red. Kerry is only polling at 39% in Kentucky. So, here's my hope that Ohio will go blue. Its the motherland, so do me proud.

A week from today I'll be in Charleston, SC with Josh packing a lot of sight-seeing in so we can watch the results come in once darkness falls. If anyone has been to Charleston and has any recommendations, please comment. I went there on a day trip from Hilton Head a couple years ago and was very limited on time. I think we'll be limited this time around too, even though we're spending one night there in the middle of our Hilton Head week.

A couple things via The Hegemo from Columbus:

Political Bumpers lists the left to right sway factor based on car ownership, which is right up my alley. I sway to the left with a Mazda (100% left) Sedan (59% left). My little Protege isn't common enough to be listed by model.

Something that I smile at every time I read it:
My vote for political ad of the year:
Spotted this billboard on Main St. in downtown C-Bus today:
Picture of John Kerry with the words "He believes in God too. Just doesn't use Him as a P.R. Man." It's sponsored by some group called "Rednecks for a Better America."

Thanks to the Hegemo!

Civic Duties

As I've posted, I've got jury duty for the month of October. I was on a two day civil trial last week, and since we were let out somewhat early on the second day, a fellow juror and myself committed two civic duties in one day by placing our absentee votes. (I think I've also posted that I'll be enjoying the shores of South Carolina on election day.)

In Fayette County, it is done in pencil on a paper ballot which you place into a kind of large deposit machine. I hear in Montgomery County, where our vacation group of my boyfriend, parents, and their friends are placing their absentee ballots, it is done by the usual machine used on election day. I actually find that odd, that we're using paper and pencil in grand Lexington, but my little hometown is doing it the electronic way.

I've been voting since I was 18, and I can honestly say that I feel that this vote actually matters. In the past, it always seems like picking the lesser of two evils, but this time it is different. I do like John Kerry. I do like John Edwards. My opinion of Kerry grew with each debate, and I feel that he is the right choice for this country. We do need a change; we can't handle four more years of BushCo. I hate to think what it will be like if he does win. What other civil liberties will be erased? Will we alienate the few allies we have left? Will we keep pouring money into fabricated wars while we have many domestic issues that are in crisis?

I was in Hilton Head, SC on election day last year, and from the bar we were calling folks at home wondering what the outcome of the elections were since CNN was reporting that the incumbent Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) was beating challenger Ben Chandler (D). I didn't believe anything CNN said the rest of the night if they got information that Fletcher was the incumbent. Paul Patton was the governor at the time, so it was a lie, or mis-information from some source at AP I suppose. As I sat at the bar and listened to the results, I was disheartened. It was practically a Republican sweep, as I sat looking at my beaming father, the conservative of the family. Kentuckians thought it was time for a regime change as we had "suffered" under 30+ years of Democratic rule. Well, guess what. Ernie is now hated across the state, and people are finding out that the Republicans didn't change anything, in fact they made it worse in one year, and we still have 3 more to go with this administration.

This past Saturday I had the pleasure to attend the Montgomery County Democratic breakfast with Josh, and listen to many honorable Democrats speak. Wendell Ford got the crowd riled up, Daniel Mongiardo really impressed me, and Ben Chandler gave a passionate speech in which he spoke more about voting for the other candidates than he did for himself. I was lucky enough to shake his hand and talk with him a bit later in the morning. One thing he did speak of was religion, which is something you don't hear much from the Democratic side. I am a proud Presbyterian, but grew up Methodist. I came to find out he is a proud Presbyterian but grew up Episcopal. He talked of Democrats having a strong, deep faith but the Republicans seem to have this lock on religion, like they're the only ones with the faith. Why is it that way? Why don't Democrats talk about their faith more? Are we not allowed?

Anyone who knows me knows that I will forgo the rule of 3 my mom taught me: Don't talk about politics, sex, or religion with people you don't know very well. I will talk about religion with anyone who wants to. I will respect your opinion so long as you respect mine. Friends of mine have called me a heathen I lean so far left when it comes to religion, but in the end I hope that they still respected my opinion. I'm less vocal on politics, especially now since our country is so divided. I don't find as many people with open minds on this issue. It is basically black and white now as we are in the final days. There are a couple people at work who are raging conservatives and some who I haven't quite figured out yet. I know I should be campaigning wherever I can, but it has come down to arguments at the lunch table lately, so I just let them call me a liberal, give them a look, and go on. We've agreed to disagree. I've never liked pushing my beliefs on anyone. If you want to have a civil discussion where we both might learn something, then great. If we're going to come to blows, then I'll pass.

I guess I should warn you now, that my thought process is very stream of conscious, and that flows directly into my writing. I can get wordy, and rambling, but I hope you'll forgive me for it, or even enjoy it. I've heard from friends lately that they do enjoy reading this little blog, and I do enjoy writing it. Thanks for reading.

The Fuzz

There have been quite a few bands that have disbanded over the last few years that I have mourned, but the one that struck me the deepest was a band by the name of Supafuzz. It has only been two months since the announcement, but it is a tragic loss to me.

I heard their first label cd while still in college but didn't actually see them in person until late 2000 when they opened for Tonic (another favorite). We couldn't believe what we were hearing. Why had no one told us about this band? It was back to good old rock and roll; amazing, intoxicating, and magical. Every friend I have was dragged to a show at least once, and they usually enjoyed themselves. From that first show I think I only missed 1 in Lex, and maybe a couple in Richmond. As my friends tired of going to see them at least once, maybe twice a month, I began to make friends at the shows. I may have gone alone, but once I got there I was among friends brought together by the fuzz.

And the fuzz became friends with their fans. I became a friend of their bassist, Jay, early on. He is the most humble and gracious musician I have ever met and he is a fabulous musician. He is also one of the most energetic and lively bassists I have seen on stage. By him, I was introduced to Dave, the consummate performer and ring leader handling lead vocal and guitar duties, with bleach blond hair spiked a foot off his head in all directions. He was very gentlemanly and you felt he was truly engaged in whatever conversation you were having with him at that moment. The crunch of his guitar is unmistakable and his voice could go from screaming banshee to melancholy child in a moment. He liked to talk between most songs with a tremendously funny banter that you came to understand the more shows you attended. Through my friendships I began hanging out backstage after shows and going to after parties where I met even more wonderful people and saw many crazy things including the Kentucky wristwatch. I still miss that camaraderie; the familiar faces, hanging out before and after the show with friends I only saw those few hours, catching up with Jay, trips to the Waffle House at 3 am, and above all, watching my favorite band perform their hearts out each and every show, so close I could touch them. I wouldn't trade those years for the world.

Another band, which included 1/2 of Supafuzz, emerged during this time called Devil May Care. It is helmed by a woman with so much poise, grace, determination and moxie by the name of Aleah X. She is the wife of Dave, and they have made beautiful music together. I became an acquaitenance of hers by keeping a front row position at their many shows, and have come to know how truly nice a person she is. Without even knowing my name she gave me a hug thanking me for coming to their shows, and asking where I was if I missed one. She admitted that she still gets nervous before shows, but then when she is up there she is fearless. I am shocked that she doesn't break down every show, her lyrics are so powerful and personal. I am happy that they are continuing on.

The Supafuzz website is still in existence, do go check it out. You can also listen to a couple tracks while there in the media section. You can also check out the label started by Dave, called Mine's Bigger Than Yours where you can hear streaming audio of their cds. They've disbanded, but the music will last forever, at least at my house.

Jury Duty

Yesterday I began my service as a juror in Fayette county. On the first day of service I was picked to be a juror in a trial. I was actually a tad excited. I thought it would be very interesting, and its a day out of work and there's nothing they can do about it.

I arrived at the courthouse at about 8:30 am, and we all were escorted into the courtroom within the half-hour. We were not released until 9:30 pm that evening. It was a long, drawn-out case which we all thought would end much earlier, including the attorneys and judge who apologized for the late time at the end. I came away with my respect of judges and lawyers intact. I have been told, throughout most of my life, that I should be a lawyer, but I never thought I would enjoy it, and that was definitely reinforced today. It is a difficult job. I was surprised at how much I remembered the testimony since I had taken very few notes, and even noticed an attorney got some testimony wrong on two occasions during closing arguments. One good thing about the late hour, they brought in menus from Columbia's Express, so we all got a nice steak dinner in addition to our $12.50 pay.

Josh says that I will be picked by the defense often since I am a young female and to expect to be picked for more trials. That will be fine so long as they don't last so late into the night. But, I don't get much say in that.

The great news is when this is over, I'll be heading to the lovely island of Hilton Head for a much deserved break.

Wash, Rinse, Repeat...and Repeat...and Repeat

I watched the debate last night and came away feeling better about Kerry. He seemed presidential; stately, knowledgeable of the facts, relaxed and even-tempered even when attacked.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Bush squirm, roll his eyes, smirk, scowl, and get angry while looking to the audience for some back-up because he couldn't think of anything else to say. He repeated the same lines over and over again which got old quickly, but also gave me the impression of 'How dare you question what I am doing.' He was on the defensive and he didn't like having to answer for his actions. Then Bush actually said that the enemy attacked us when talking about Iraq. And I'm glad that Kerry repeated what he said and showed how he moved away from the one who did attack us and transferred resources to one that had not. Then, in the end he said he's a laid-back guy. Right, you've been laid-back all night as you look like you're close to crossing the 10 feet to Kerry to punch him.

But all this is from the view of a Democrat for Kerry, who was about to go ahead and cast my absentee vote yesterday since I was downtown for jury duty orientation. (I'll be vacationing in South Carolina election week). But, I figured I'd be downtown a decent amount over the next month, and decided to do it a bit closer to the election.

I look forward to the next debates, especially on domestic affairs. I just can't see how Bush is going to come out of that one with a perceived draw.