um also

I have a job now.

I start on Wednesday. It's a pretty entry-level position, but for a really good company. I've had friends who've had this same position and found it a great place to leverage from. I knew I'd have to take a few steps back to start on a different career track, so that's okay. It's a 4-mos contract position, so I'll be busting my ass to get them to hire me full-time so I'm not in hell again come February. Quick bus commute to downtown. I love working downtown. The hustle and bustle and energy. Also, downtown Seattle is pretty. And my new office is a short walk to Elliot Bay Bookstore.

Maybe things are going to be okay.

I, however, need clothing. As charming as my pajama pants are, I don't think they fit under the purview of business casual.

Went shopping today with brabble. Um. What the fuck is the deal with all the pink? It looked like the mall had been hosed down with Pepto-Bismol.

Since I only have one more day to get things settled at my old job, clean my flat, grocery shop for the week--I'm skipping the trip I planned to Auburn Supermall (too damn far away, no chance of getting there after work, voting, and getting back in time for step aerobics) and will just hit Nordstrom Rack downtown. Hate clothes shopping. Haaaaaaaaaaaaate. But do love having new clothes. It's a conundrum, you see. But look, I am going to buy this -------------------> Isn't it cute??

I know, I know. Not business casual, either. But so cute!!

I've got to buy some more dressy pants and a few knits. Also must take quick trip to REI for fleece-things. Will definitely need mittens as my hands turn to ICE in the winter.

Sarah's also talked me into this nice, classic white button down. And I'm going to be buying some exciting, fleece-lined jeans! I always bundle up in sweaters and jacketses, but my legs freeze. Should also buy some silk thermals. Don't fancy walking around in the rain, freezing to death this winter. Also, I need a tan jacket. Or a chocolate one. There was a very cute one at Eddie Bauer that we saw. Can't find it online, though. May have to trudge out to Supermall on Sunday.

Wow, it's late. I'm going to bed. It's going to be early nights from now on!

grrr

I hate Ralph Nader.

desiderantes meliorem patriam *

Andrew Tanenbaum rules.

Just wanted to share a snippet from his FAQ page on why he's set up Electoral Vote Predictor 2004.

Why Did You Do This?
In a nutshell, because living abroad I know first hand what the world thinks of America and it is not a pretty picture at the moment. I want people to think of America as the land of freedom and democracy, not the land of arrogance and blind revenge. I want to be proud of America again. The U.S. media do a spectacularly bad job of informing Americans about what is going on in rest of the world. After Sept. 11, the U.S. could do no wrong. The entire world was on America's side. The invasion of Afghanistan was seen as completely justified. After all, the Al-Qaida leadership had to be decapitated. No one questioned that.

But Iraq was a completely different matter. Bush, Cheney, and Powell said they had conclusive proof that Saddam had WMD and could attack at any instant. The rest of the world wanted to see the proof. No proof was forthcoming. The answer was "trust us." We now know there were no WMD. There weren't even factories or labs to produce them. Saddam was an evil dictator with evil fantasies but he was no threat to America. Yet former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said that the planning to invade Iraq began the day Bush was inaugurated. The administration simply misused the horror of Sept. 11 as a convenient excuse for doing something that was already in the works.

Let me tell you a short story. When I was in elementary school, the school was plagued by a bully. He was the biggest, strongest kid around and would beat up anyone he didn't like. We were all exceedingly polite to his face, but hated his guts behind his back. One day he was chasing some poor kid and he tripped and skidded a considerable distance, scraping his face on the rough asphalt of the playground. He was bleeding and in pain, screaming for help. But nobody came to help him. We all just walked away. George Bush is the world's playground bully. The world sees him--and by inference, America--as arrogant, self-centered, and mean. I spoke to Americans from dozens of countries at the DA caucus. Everyone told the same story--the world hates America. When talking to foreigners, I can tell them about the Bill of Rights or freedom or World War II, or whatever I want, but all they see is this big, stupid, arrogant, playground bully and a stolen election in Florida last time. I think America deserves better. I want America to be respected in the world again, and John Kerry can restore the respect America deserves.

I might have slightly reworded the last sentence to "John Kerry can restore America to a country that deserves to be respected," though. As much as I passionately believe in the ideals this country was founded on, I feel we've fallen pretty far from grace. We will have to work hard to again become the country we should be.

I'll be voting after work at 2pm today. I still can't believe how close this election is.

[* Order of Canada motto. This honor was presented to Joni Mitchell yesterday. It means "They desire a better country." --snagged from nikkinewsnet]

wow

Even my parents, who have voted as fiscally-conservative Republicans their entire lives, voted Kerry/Edwards today. My dad called me to make sure I was going to vote today (he's never done that before, either). He happily said he voted a straight Democratic ticket.

*beam*

Go Mom and Dad!