Christmas at the White House

Tonight I'm watching Christmas at the White House on ABC Primetime with Oprah...here are a couple of fun facts from the show:


1. The annual White House gingerbread house this year is 390 pounds. 140 is of gingerbread and 250 is of the white chocolate. The house itself took over 6 months to design.

2. The Blue Room Christmas tree (visible from the White House windows) is currently over 18 feet tall and took 15 years to grow in West Virginia.

3. On the Blue Room Christmas tree, there are about 800 ornaments the Obama's sent to various towns, villages, etc. around the country for the citizens to decorate and then send back for the ornament to be hung on the tree.

4. In traditional White House fashion, the Blue Room Christmas tree is brought into the White House yard via horse-drawn carriage.



Also, in the newspaper a couple of days ago, I found some cook facts about "Santa".


1. Professional Santas who go to the malls can demand up to $250 an hour for one-time visits. They will make an average of $8000 for an entire holiday season.

2. The average mall Santa will have about 100 children sit on their laps a day.

3. Each Santa that is hired by either "talent" agencies or malls MUST pass a background check to make sure they are allowed around children.

Sad day for California

I know there are some who read this blog who are happy with the decision of the CA Supreme Court to uphold Prop 8. Then there are others, like me, who are disappointed and honestly, quite furious at the state right now.

California has always been made fun of as a "progressive" state with nothing but hippies and liberals. Today's decision is a huge step back for California, in my opinion. Writing this post, I'm almost in tears because I cannot imagine a place I call home telling me I can't marry the person I love. I'm going to try not to write this out of emotion, but if I do, please forgive.

I have always said EVERYONE has the right to be happy, no matter who or what makes them so. Just because it's different than what we're used too, or what we believe, doesn't make it wrong. Love is never wrong. In times like these with so much violence and a war going on, I would think this would send a huge message of tolerance, saying to the world "Hey, we accept ALL people and they are ALL equal". Just because someone is gay doesn't mean they're some sort of subhuman alien a la boogeyman who's going to eat children alive. They're just PEOPLE, like you and I, who were just told by a government they PAY TAXES too that they can't get married because they're different than what convention calls for.

I know there are some who will probably quote the Bible when I say this: but I don't believe gay people are an abomination. I've been raised to believe that God doesn't make mistakes and He has a grand plan for all of us. He designed us for exactly who we are supposed to be. If this is true, then wouldn't God have made gay people the way they are? I believe God loves all people, no matter who they are. If someone who has raped or murdered can be accepted by God, why should gay people be any different? I don't believe God made a mistake in creating someone who is gay. It's just one more trait to make someone unique and somewhat different than the rest of us. A few decades ago, it was thought an abomination for interracial couples to marry and have children. If that's true, then one family member in particular would be considered an abomination, but he's not. He's a bright, beautiful human being that I love dearly. Just because he's different, doesn't mean he's destined for a firey pit headed up by the Devil.

There are some things people know about me, and others that some don't. But when I've needed support, my family and those whom I love have always been there for me. They have shown me that compassion goes a lot farther than prejudice and hate. Life is too short to tell anyone that just because they exist in a different spectrum than you do means you're right and they're wrong. This may make me a hippie, but there's too much hate passed around. We need to spread the love.

Also, to Katie and Lori: Jake and I will always be here for you no matter what. We're so proud of you and hope to spend more time with you in the near future.

A new era begins...

Tomorrow, our country will welcome the first African American president of the United States of America.

Whatever your political stance, you have to admit it's exciting. It's at times like these where I'm most proud to be who I am living in such a wonderful country. 4th of July doesn't even come close to the excitement I feel for tomorrow's events. To see a person of a minority with such a volatile past to get where it is today stand in a position that no one ever thought would occur in their lifetime is beyond words. We've truly embraced a new era as a nation.

I know our new leader has a lot on his plate: a drowning economy, shabby foreign relations, a 7 year old war, and then some. I won't say he will be without faults. We all have faults. But tomorrow I am fully giving Barack Obama my support, because it's at times like these where beggars can't be chosers. We've begged for lower gas prices, lower taxes, and for the "war" in Iraq to stop. Now we have a chance to make this country better. We have someone who has a vision to take our country to the next level. Why not support him? I will...

Here's to a new era with a wonderful leader....CHEERS!

Frustrations and complications

I apologize if my last post offended some people. I don't believe I should be censored in my own blog space. I consider myself a very tolerant person and always willing to look at everyone's opinion without prejudice.

I understand there are many people I know who voted for McCain and were just as proud as I am to have voted for Obama. This doesn't make my views wrong, or theirs wrong either...they're just different. I believe Obama will do a good job as president, as I know a lot of people who read this blog believe McCain would have done a good job as well.

Again, I'm sorry if I offended anyone, but please remember this is my blog.


In other news...

According to my physical therapist, I have a lower back problem. Yay for me. He says within 2-3 months, I should see an improvement in how I feel. That's tough news when you're in constant pain now.

My MIL surprised me last night while we were discussing Thanksgiving plans. Jake and I are going to his family's dinner on Saturday. She asked me "What would you like me to say or not say regarding you and Jake trying to have a baby?" I knew that question would be coming, but I wasn't expecting it right then. I gave her my answer and Jake agreed. Hopefully there won't be any questions, but rather an announcement at the dinner, but I'm trying not to put all my eggs into one basket. :)

Now that the election is over...

I will state, with immense pride, that I voted for Barack Obama.

The reason why I haven't stated this before is because when I have stated it, I've been attacked verbally by those who disagree. But let me say why I voted for him.

When I was younger, I was so upset that Bush, Sr. lost the election to Clinton that I sent him a letter with stickers to try and make him feel better. I've never been one for change. Of course, as I grew older I realized how issues we face in this country effect me as well...as a person and as a citizen. I have been registered as "Non-Partisan". I vote for whoever I feel will do the best job, be it Republican or Democrat. I understand that the position of president is not an easy one. You literally have the weight of the world on your shoulders.

However, I believe at one point, Bush sort of abandoned this country. His hell-bent paths of trying to find Saddam Hussein, al Qaida and Osama bin Laden left our country vulnerable. Gas prices skyrocketed to the highest they've ever been in history. Our economy has sunk deeper and deeper into a hole than never seemed to end. It's been a scary 8 years to me, and I believe Obama has his work cut out for him.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have been totally devastated if McCain had won. However, I know the American people spoke, and the spoke loudly! They believe the Republican party has had the chance to change this country, and it obviously didn't work. Let's try something else, something new, something historic. This country has been plagued by racism and inequality since it's beginning and I believe we, as a people, have overlooked our differences and accepted such a change from our "norm". We have elected the first African American president in US History.

I for one am proud to be an American today. As I see the numbers of voters, I am glad and proud that I live in a country where masses and lines of people wait for hours to have their voices be heard. What other country has that?

I believe Obama has the vision, fortitude and opportunity to change this country for the better. I believe he has realistic goals for this country and realistic avenues in which to do them. I believe he has the drive to fix problems we have had in the past decade and build our country to a new glory, a country we ALL can be proud of. Of course, I know he is not without faults...and as he is human, he is bound to make mistakes. We all do. But I do believe I was right in putting my faith, and vote in Barack Obama.

McCain is a good sport and was extremely classy in his speech. I respect him, and I know it's a tough loss to bear. However, I know we shouldn't, as a country, look back on what could've been. But rather we should look to what will be.

Congratulations to Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States!

I voted...

I woke up a half an hour earlier than I usually do to vote.

Have you used your voice this election?

:)