The Case for Hope

I first became interested in the life and politics of Barack Obama in 2004 when he gave the now-famous keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention. It was one of those rare moments in American politics where you believe that the politician is sincere. I knew, and I think many knew that signaled the beginning of something, of some kind of movement.

I wanted to read his first book, Dreams of My Father, for personal reasons. As a person of mixed race, I seek to inform my own search for identity with the personal experiences of others. But it became much more than that - I was facinated by his life. From living in Indonesia for 4 years, to struggling in high school, to transferring to Columbia for his BA, to ending up in Chicago, to travelling to Africa, to attending Harvard Law School and becoming editor of the law review, I was awe-struck. Plus, I must say, he is a brilliant writer. I know that seeing someone like him be so accomplished has made me believe in myself, and believe in my potential.

It was obvious that he might run for President. As much as people can say he doesn't have experience, running for President isn't something you wait for, the timing might never be better so you have to jump on it when the opportunity is there. Plus, with his state and local governement experience, no one could say that he didn't know the game. The criticism citing the number of 'present' votes he cast highlights that experience.

What I have found remarkable about him is how people have rallied around him. His age, charisma, and overall aura of "coolness" obviously make him a friend of the young. But the way in which political strategists, other Democratic leaders, and lifelong voters in the party have embraced him and his ideas is very inspring for someone as young as me. To see people participate in the process, to pay attention and to care, is great, and I hope that this is something our country can build on.

So, what I'm saying is, if someone like him can do it, can bring this country together, can get people involved in the political process, then who knows that we can accomplish.

Moment of Truth, and other brainless television

Thank to the writers' strike, there isn't much quality TV out there. Here's a rundown of what I've been watching:

The Good:
American Gladiators - I loved the show with I was little and I love the show now. I only wish they spent less time interviewing the contenders.


Deal of No Deal - I've had an odd relationship with Deal or no Deal. At first I couldn't watch it because I couldn't watch people act irrationally. Now I'm addicted, because I crave the uncertainty of what's in each case.

Project Runway - The ONE show that I usually watch that is still new. Thank goodness :-)

Honorable Mention: "A" Daily Show and the Colbert Report. You can't have (in)Decision 08 without them, and even without writers they have yet to disappoint.


The Bad:
Repeats of Gossip Girl - I love that show, but these kind of shows depend on fresh stories, so I have to say that I hope this strike ends soon because as much as I hate to admit it, I'm losing interest.

Making the Band 4 - Aubrey obviously loves the attention, the boys are too young for my taste, and Diddy has yet to convince me that he can put together the next great act.


The Ugly:
Moment of Truth - I don't understand this show. First, there's no point in lying because everyone is going to find out the truth anyway, unless the lie detector was wrong. Plus a game show that relies on a lie detector is pretty sketchy anyway.

Dance War - In all fairness, I usually end up watching American Gladiators or Deal or No Deal instead, but from the little I've watched, it's awful. I hate that the stage is huge and that the camera keeps jumping around so you can hardly see anything. Carrie Ann and Bruno seem very awkward in this environment, and how can this show compete with AI?

Fortunately - Big Brother is coming back, and it's on 3 times a week, as well as Survivor and ANTM. Also, Lost starts up again tomorrow so I think I might finally jump on the bandwagon.

I hope the strike ends soon! Go writers :-)

Planning a Wedding (481 days to go!)

After seeing "27 dresses" and looking at more wedding stuff, I'm beginning to understand why it's so stressful and why seemingly friendly women turn into "bridezillas". I was flipping through save-the-date samples and it occurred to me: this is the only save-the-date I will ever choose. Of course, I realize that not all marriages last, but your second wedding is never as big as the first, so everything that I choose - from the attendants to the flowers to the dress, will be the first and last decision I make in this category. So I'm torn between choosing the first thing that is remotely right and waiting for the "perfect" invitation or the "perfect" dress to appear before my eyes.

So, I promise not to be difficult, but understand that I'm trying to make decisions that will make me happy for years to come. Of course, I already made the crucial right decision: which guy to spend my life with =).

Update

So I'm finally posting again, with some updates :-)

School: I heard from one other school, so I'm excited to report that I was accepted into George Washington Law School in Washington D.C.! I'm very happy because it's definitely a school I'm considering, with an excellent reputation. Of course, making the trek to D.C. for three years with Curtis would be a dramatic lifestyle change for both of us. I am still waiting for 9 more schools to respond, so keep your fingers crossed that I hear from some of them soon.

Wedding: We set a date! I will become Christine Hart on May 23, 2009. It's going to be in Mission Viejo: The ceremony with be at my church, Shepherd of the Hills UMC (www.sothumc.org) , and the reception is at the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course nearby (www.arroyotrabuco.com). I tried on my first dress last week, which was really fun. I'm hoping to go shopping with my mom over presidents' day weekend for dresses. I'm going with daisies as a theme, with the primary color being yellow I think. I'm very excited about doing the bulk of the planning this summer during my break between work and school.

Work: Work has finally calmed down. It's still just me working for the whole department, which is inherently stressful, but I'm getting off work on time so I've been able to go to the gym more and get more sleep. I'm hoping it will stay like this until I leave in July, but I'm not counting on it.

I think that's it for now, I better get back to work ;-)