I've just gotta get this off of my chest....

I don't particularly like getting into political discussions, but ..... wait!.... this isn't really a discussion, because it's all one-sided now, isn't it. Sweet. I can say what I want. For those of you who aren't politically minded, stop reading now, and I'll get on to something lighter later.....

I have been hearing for weeks, and reading for months, and talked to people for I-don't-know-how-long, and I keep getting the same sick feeling every time I hear this. I wish I could just get over it, but.... what can I say... I can't.

Dane came home from school the other day, and after an extensive conversation about the faux election they had in middle school, asked me this question.... "Do you suppose if Obama gets elected they will stop calling him 'African-American?" He asked me that because, technically, as an African American he isn't eligible to be president of this country. He must be an American. Everybody knows that - including middle school kids (guess they teach them something after all!). Thats why Arnold can never be the Prez, since he's Austrian.

Here's the issue... I've never once heard John McCain referred to as an Irish-American, (or whatever country the McCain name originated in). I've heard him called a brave American, a heroic American, and even a great American, but never a hyphenated American.

Apparently it has something to do with Obama's tan.

He was born in America, granted it was a palm tree ridden, sun shiny, paradise-like America, but America nonetheless. Why can't he just be an American? When my ancestors came here from Norway and Prussia, they came to find a better life. I hope that they think they found it. They didn't do it that long ago, though, and I'm only a 3rd generation American. Nobody has ever called me anything hyphenated.

I'm fairly certain that the skin color issue is a self-perpetuating idea that will only go away when we quit seeing it. I remember when we would give strange looks to male nurses, or male teachers, or female construction workers. After a while we got used to it, and it went away. Why is this not going away? I think it's because we, or possibly just the media, want to prove that all of the folks with differences are treated just the same, differences and all. Here's why I think that.....

Several years ago I was watching an ice skating championship, possibly even the Olympics, and Kristi Yamaguchi had just won the event. The press immediately stuck microphones in her face and asked this question.... "Tell us Kristi.... what does it feel like to be the first ever Japanese-American champion in this sport?" Her response will never leave me. She said that she was a 7th generation Californian. At what point does she get to just be an American? Good question.

It's sort of like women though, in that it wasn't that long ago when women were considered chattel property and could be killed for a good reason. A slave couldn't be killed, but a wife could. Hhmmmm..... So flash forward to 2008, when women are about 50% of the population, and a huge portion of women work outside the home. A big percentage of them work in professional fields and are extremely well educated and intelligent. Why are they not leaders? The polls all show that the public is willing to accept women as leaders yet we rank 69th in the world ranks for women leaders (below North Korea and Iraq!). I guess I will spend my life empowering people to do what they can to cause change.

Here's a thought to leave you with.... "Those who have the ability to help, have the responsibility to do so."

Now cut back to my comment from Dane..... "My answer to his question about the African-American term (see the beginning of this rant) was simple. I said 'it probably won't end in my lifetime, but if you work really hard, maybe in yours.'

Another one in the record books.... phew.....

What a relief! The convention is finally over.... yay! I really enjoy them, but I am totally exhausted. The Colorado Association of Realtors annual convention at the Broadmoor ended with the Board of Directors (which I am one of) meeting that lasted until 12 ish. Right after that I got to have lunch with my Crystal! I always love having lunch with her, and it used to be a regular event. I guess life has gotten in the way for both of us. What a wonderful day we had. I have wondered for weeks what the problem was, because she was always to distant. Now I know! For those of you reading this who 'get it'..... yay! I am so excited for all of us. More on this later, once everybody has had the chance to hear it from somebody besides me.

So, after many evenings of working on my speech, I think it went off without a hitch. I tried really hard to not offend anybody, and to cover all of the issues I wanted to cover. Tadd said it was good, so did George, but they're prejudiced towards me. Hope it was good. Now I am officially the State President of the Women's Council of Realtors. When I talked to Robbie right after the installation, (my predecessor) she asked if I would meet her in the parking garage. I was puzzled, but went anyway. Now I am the proud caretaker of 'the boxes' which are apparently the past propaganda, finances and paperwork for the past umpteen years of WCR. Oh boy. I have since learned that every president since Roosevelt (kidding....) has carried these boxes around with them. I don't know what's in them, but it must be mission-critical or we wouldn't carry them from year to year, right?! Oh well, some evening this winter when I'm bored I will go through them.

On a fun note... I stopped at the dive shop this afternoon, before lunch with my Tootsie, and picked up Dane's Jr Open Water package. He's really stressed about getting the book work done by the weekend, but I know he's excited too. His classroom stuff is this weekend and next, and his open water testing will bein Cozumel in November. Yay! How exciting!

I'm dead-dog tired, and trying to decide who's cooking dinner tonight (because it's clearly not going to be me). I think either Pizza Hut or Quizno's. hhmmmm....... Tough call. I'll leave now, and let you know tomorrow.

Thought for the day..... Never underestimate the power of one person to make a difference in this world.

Welcome back Crystal and Joe!

Even though it seems like a month since they left, Crystal and Joe finally got back from Indiana after their vacation. I don't suppose you can understand how frustrating it is not to be able to keep up with them (read that:her). Poor George gets stuck listening to me ramble on about the mundane everyday things that somehow Crystal and I can spend 1/2 an hour or more every morning catching up on. I almost think he missed her more than I did (not!). I guess they had a good trip, even though it was to Indiana. I'm not picking on Indiana, but coming from Wisconsin, I get it.

Crystal was telling me about the adventures along the way, especially since they took 'the kids' with them this time, instead of leaving them home. My oldest grand-dog, Ty, is pretty sane and is apparently the king of the pack, but his little brother Moose is a hoot! When Crystal tells me stories about the kids and Indiana, I can almost see them and it makes me laugh. I'll include pics as soon as I can.

I stopped by Heather and Chris's house today too, to see my little MB. (Thats monster baby for those of you who don't know...) My little Morgan (pics to follow) is quite the young man now, and I just love to be around him. I had to go by and drop off the wagon we borrowed this past weekend to use at the Chili Festival in Pueblo (whole other post,...). I had a wonderful, albeit short, visit with my number one grandson and then it was back to work for me.

It was a beautiful day here in WP today, nearly cloud-free, perfect sweater weather, and clear all day. That's why we love it here!

On a more amusing note... When I came home from work Hollers were out searching for their missing beagle pups again. Seems when the kids let them out, they take off to go on an adventure. Ah, the life of a pup. I hope they found them, but I never heard. More info tomorrow. For now, I'm off. ttfn!