Preparing for the 4th

In honor of Independence Day this week, I'm going to post great words by the man intimately intertwined with the writing of the Declaration and the founding of our nation, one who inspires me easily... Thomas Jefferson.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and

free, in a state of civilization, it expects

what never was and never shall be."

~ T.J. 1816

The Mosaic Challenge

Thanks for the idea, Renee!

Want to play? Here's how:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.


The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name. (kid version: favorite animal?)

Hwy to Heaven

Do you remember that show with Michael Landon and Victor French? (aka Charles Ingalls and Mr. Edwards).

This is a rather cryptic-looking photo taken while I was driving home from Harrisonburg on Thursday night. As I approached the crest into the gorgeous Shenandoah Valley, the huge yellow moon rose slowly above the horizon.

On my last uphill ascent, the moon lined up exactly in front of me and just for a few moments it seemed like I was driving straight up to it. It was a magical brief suspension of reality. I snapped this picture with my cell phone to remember the moment, knowing the captured image will never match what I saw.

This reminded me of three other instances during my life I felt a similar moment of awe.

1. Star gazing in Kim's backyard - Kim had an annual slumber party for her birthday each year. We would make foil dinners, inaugurate the pool season and sleep outside beneath the stars. One year in particular, I remember being awake longer than anyone else. While the other girls slept, I kept my eyes on the heavens, my gaze pacing from side to side not wanting to miss a single shooting star. Truly, the night sky has never seemed as close as it did in southern NM.
2. I spent Thanksgiving 1996 in Colorado with Megan and her family. One of the things we did while there was to drive up on the Grand Mesa for sledding. It was a heavy overcast day with more snow on the way. The drive to our designated sledding spot was marked with many switchbacks and winding curves taking us slowly higher and higher into the Rockies. At one point, we noticed the ceiling of clouds was getting nearer. Then, for a couple minutes we were caught in the heavy fog. Finally, in one instant, we broke through the clouds to the gorgeous sunny sky. The clouds were now a floor rather than a ceiling. I will always remember the beauty and how it reminded me that even when life seems dark and gloomy, the sun is still shining. You just have to look beyond the clouds.
3. The most recent of these moments happened in January along the campaign trail. During my time in Florida, we stayed with a host family in Palm Beach. The home sat on one of the most breathtaking pieces of land. It was a bittersweet experience to stay in such an amazing place with no time to enjoy it. On one of the nights, after a typically long campaign day, I took a walk into the backyard/pool area before climbing into bed. Although it seemed unseasonably warm, the 70 degrees was a normal late Jan. evening blessing for the citizens of Palm Beach. I laid on one of the pool lounge chairs for a while and watched the fast moving clouds race across the sky, backlit by the moon and stars. It was silent and peaceful, and I felt that the scene in the sky was meant just for me.

Do you have similar moments in your memory?

Father's Day - Not just for Greeting Cards

Let me get one pet peeve off my chest before addressing Father's Day specifically. I've grown increasingly less patient when someone.. anyone... makes a comment that a holiday (take your pick, they say it about ALL of them) is only made up by the greeting card companies as a marketing ploy.

You know, I can honestly say, I haven't had a GREAT romantic Valentine's Day since 1995. In more serious dating relationships since that point, things always manage to be rocky around mid-February (probably a good indicator it wasn't going to last). But, that doesn't mean I can't appreciate a day once a year that friends and family let each other know they love them. I'm not bitter. I don't call it "Single's Awareness Day", and I don't dress in black. Isn't love something to be celebrated? Who says you have to purchase a card to do it?

Therefore, I am a defender of holidays. I like Mother's Day. I like Father's Day. I rarely celebrate such occassions with consumerism, but I do take the chance to make someone feel special. What's wrong with that?

(Stepping back down off of Soapbox Now)

We are celebrating a little early today by going to a matinee of Indiana Jones and then eating buffalo wings. It's great to do some things that Dad loves, and I guess it just goes to prove the point that I'm my Father's daughter because I feel like it's just as much of a treat for me.

To read my talk on Father's Day at church last year - click here.

Capitalism and Thrift

Ran across this one today and thought it was worth passing on...

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/RebeccaHagelin/2008/06/12/encouraging_thrift_just_makes_cents?page=full

Somewhere in last last several years, too many of us (myself included, at times) became enamored with judging ourselves financially by how much credit we could obtain instead of how much we could save. This is a good reminder.

Couldn't Be Prouder

Cute, eh?

Congratulations to my gorgeous, kind, loving, charismatic, compassionate and brave sister on her graduation Friday. I don't know what it's like to be a parent on a day like this, but I do know what it's like to be a big sister... and it was one of the best days since she was born. I'm so proud!

Breaking up is Hard to Do

(Photos in this post from Jane @ Conservativa - Good, isn't she?)



For the first time, I've experienced how strangely my emotions coming off of working for the Romney campaign have been mirror images of tough breakups. Initially, I went through the "I'll never feel the same about another candidate" and "Maybe there is something more we could have done" feelings.

This last Thursday Mitt came to VA and I got to see him. This is the first time I've seen him in person since Minnesota just prior to Feb. 5. I was suprised at how fast the next breakup similarity hit me upon sighting him. This time, it was as if the months of getting "over it" were gone in an instant and just seeing him again brought all the pain back. It was bittersweet.

Hearing him speak again and shaking his hand again, I got choked up. I can't wait for 2012.

These photos also showcase my new boss. These are two great men I feel priviledged to labor for - to get to the positions we need them in.

Here's to Bill and Mitt!

A High Blood Pressure Kind of Day

I've always been one of those nerds that doesn't sleep all night while watching voting returns on election nights. I live for watching the precincts report, figuring out which stongholds for which candidates have come in and the chosen timing of the victory speeches. Ahh.... the joy!

Tonight, while the spotlight is on Obama's clinching of the Democratic presidential nomination, I am tucked away keeping an eye on the Republican Senate Primary in NM where my former boss, Heather Wilson, is in a tight race with Steve Pearce (who took the place of my even more former boss Joe Skeen) to replace Pete Domenici. It's a nail-biter. I admit, I never got to know Pearce, but I have a very deep admiration for Heather and am rooting for her. She's brilliant and has her heart in the right place. The US Senate would be lucky to have her.

The other race I'm keeping tabs on is the Republican primary for the California State Assembly 15th District. My buddy, Marissa, from the Romney days is managing the campaign of Judy Lloyd for that seat. This is the last Republican seat left in the San Francisco Bay area. The polls have been closed less than an hour out there, so it might be a while before the outcome is known. You can follow along at: http://vote.sos.ca.gov/Returns/stasm/1559.htm