Welcome Jade

It has been a week since we got back from Maine and Jade is settling in as part of our family. She spent the first night in our bedroom with us, but we let her out into the main part of the house the next morning. She walked the perimeter a few times and seemed okay with the house...and all the other cats did was hiss at her. We have found out that Jadehas very good manners and doesn't hiss back very often. She also immediately started using the litterbox with the other cats and eating their food like she had been here forever. She lays on the couch next to me while I'm on the computer and runs out to meet uswhen we come home. She particularly likes to help me get dressed (I have an inkling that she just likes to get into the closet) and she loves to watch the shower run.:) My favorite part about her is that she LOVES to have her tummyrubbed...as you can tell by the photo of her here on the blog. OH, and I love her little stubby tail.:)
The other kitties are getting much better-they touch noses every once in a while and only hiss every other time and they share quite nicely...it was a little rough at first, but I think we are becoming one big happy family.
I Love Cats.

All good things must come to an end...

Sunday was a relaxing day for us. Robert went to town to check out some more stuff he wanted to see (ie SHOPPING). HE came back with a Moxie (this is a local Maine drink...google it), which we had all been telling him to try...he wasn't all that enthusiastic about it. Then Heather came over to say hi and so I could see how pregnant she was and moon over her a little bit.:) She looks GREAT! I am SO excited that she is having a little girl! I can't wait to send off some clothes and things that I am collecting from all my family down here who have had little girls lately.
Then PJ came over and hung out for a while too-it was nice to have some alone time with PJ cuz we just don't ever get enough of that. Mom was in a good mood, so PJ and Jesse were invited to dinner with us at the Samo that night and we all settled down to rest for a little bit.
The big project for the day on Sunday was to go pick up Jade, PJ and Aaron's cat. See, they can't keep her anymore and she was originally from MY house (part of the very last litter of kittens that we had before I moved out), so when PJ told me that they had to find her a new home I just couldn't think that she was going to go anywhere else. So, Robert said I could have ONE more kitty, but only because this one was special. So, we went to pick Jade up from Aaron's house...it was a very sad goodbye with lots of last pats and meowing on Jade's part, but we made it back to mom's without too much trouble. Jade found a corner to hide in while we went to dinner, so we headed off for some "Coastal Cuisine with a Southern Flare".
The restaurant mom works at is owned by a young couple-she's from Maine and HE is from ALABAMA! Too funny, really. But, their menu is awesome and we always enjoying eating there when we come home. And it's a great place to run into old friends, which is what happened after dinner. My friend Larry (who was the one who made Robert's bachelor party interesting last year) showed up to give a hug and hang out for a little bit. Larry is a True Mainer. He is proud to be from Maine, proud of his accent, proud of being a Coastal Critter in every sense of the word. I Love him because he's wild and crazy and unpredictable and he tells the BEST stories in the world. We were treated with one such story on our last night in Maine: something along the lines of jumping the deck at Shaw's Wharf, swimming around the point to his apartment in the Back Cove, and showing up on the lawn of one of the summer homes across from Shaw's "woohooing" at the top of his lungs. Someone eventually came across the harbor in a boat to get him and, as he was walking up the ramp from the dock with his dry clothes in arms and in nothing but his wet boxers he ran into the owner of Shaw's who asked, "What happened?" Larry says, "Well, I fell overboard, but it's all good..." I love Larry.
On that note our departure was set. We left Monday morning after giving Jade her sleeping pill and picking up the box of Lobsters and Clams that Buzz had prepared for us. Mom was very good and didn't even cry when we left. Jade was very good and didn't even meow on the way to the airport. Check in was great (I love Portland's Jetport because it is so small and comfy) and, even though Jade didn't fall asleep much on the plane, she didn't meow too much either.
Still, by the time we made it to Charlotte we were tired and worried that Jade hadn't had enough water, so we decided to let her out to walk around. This is when I was SO thankful that PJ had trained Jade on a leash. I know, you don't hear about leash trained cats very often, but Jade was great-she even made some friends! She got her second sleeping pill, slept for our 4 hour layover (I love Charlotte airport too) and then proceeded to meow the entire flight to Gulfport. We were exhausted and grumpy, but glad to be on our way back to our house and our 3 other kitties, so we persevered and thanked God that we had asked Jenny and Bryan to pick us up.
And the trip to Maine was over. Sad, but fun...maybe not restful, but not regretful.
So, then we had to get ready for Luke's gig in a week, Holly's visit, and the family reunion in 2 weeks. I love being busy.:)

The Prettiest part of the trip to Maine...

Our biggest adventure during our trip to Maine was taking the Ferry out of Lincolnville to go see my friend Lauren on a little island off the coast called Islesboro. I haven't been to many of the islands off the coast and I was pretty sure I hadn't been to Islesboro, so I was excited to go see it and to give Robert a taste of what a Maine coastal island is like (very different from a Gulf Coast Island like Dauphin Island). I am not much of a ferry person, but I had this flashback when we got on-I think I was about 10 years old and I remember seeing my dad at the helm, or the wheel, or whatever...it was very weird, but comforting. Plus it was a beautiful day as long as you had a good jacket on, and I hadn't seen Lauren in 3 years.
It was only a 20 minute ferry ride to the dock on the island, which is in a little harbor and right at the historic lighthouse the island is known for. Lauren was there to greet us and it was like no time had passed at all. She and Robert had not met yet, so I was excited for them to meet and see what they thought of each other. I think they hit it off right away because Lauren is so sharp and witty. Her commentary as she drove us around the island was hilarious and entertaining and set Robert right at ease.:)
Despite the fact that she is on crutches because of having knee surgery a few months ago she took us from one end of the island to the other (14 miles) and got out to show us different places along the way. We got lunch at one of the 2 markets on the island (home made greasy pizza and yummy cookies!) and at it at The Narrows-the part of the island that is only, like, 100 feet wide (it's skinny). There was a beautiful sea wall that was built to keep The Narrows from flooding during storms and people had built pretty cairns on top. Lauren said some of them have been there for quite some time.
After our lovely lunch we went looking for my ancestors! My grandmother informed me that some folks we descended from on her birth mother's side were founders of the island of Islesboro! I was psyched to find this out and Lauren was really intrigued too, so she took us to 2 of the oldest cemetaries on the island. I didn't really expect to find their graves, but, at the second cemetary, we found them! Samuel and Lucy Pendleton were right there in the middle of the cemetary with their children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren all around them. There were lots of other Pendletons in the cemetary too-all of them tied to the sea as Captains and those sorts of things. It was SO cool to find them! Later on we sat down and figured out that Sam and Lucy were my greats 5x over. Their daughter Niobe (I'm still wondering where that name came from) married a Bachelder and that's how she ended up on the mainland and my family descended from there.
After our very exciting cemetary search we went back to Lauren's parents' house-where she is staying during her recovery-and found a lovely little home-made house with an amazingly huge garden (WHY I didn't take photos I don't know). I got to see her kitties again and we got to meeet her rats for the first time! Yes, I Know, Rats don't sound very appealing, but they aren't your regular sewer rats. They were all very sweet and polite and totally excited to be hanging out with new people. They remind me of cats that actually love to hang out with people. They ran around on the bed and climbed all over us...it was awesome! I'm still a little weirded out by the hairless tail, but I am totally sold on rats...even after one of them got excited and chewed a couple little holes in the pocket of my hoody.:)
Sadly, the day had to end there and we got back to the ferry to make it back to the mainland by 5:00pm. It was sad to say goodbye to Lauren, especially since she is moving to Arizona soon, but at least we got to re-connect for a little while. *Tear*
After 3 days of non-stop, we went home to eat with mom and Buzz and go to bed early-which was SO nice to do. I Loved going to sleep with the windows open and nothing but Peepers calling to each other outside the window. Luke's cat Murphy came in to cuddle with us for a little bit and we slept really well.

...and then there was Schooner Fun!

Schooner Landing is as local as you can get in Damariscotta Maine; so local that Nick asked if Alex was cooking (and he was), so Nick said, "Just tell Alex to whip me up something special." I love it! Emily is one of my oldest friends and Nick was one of Cool Guys I had a total crush on when I was little.:) They are such a great couple and we all get along so well...it was a great dinner! Then everyone started showing up to see me and Robert and to hear Luke play...we were bombarded by people: Old friends, OLD OLD Friends, high school friends, best friends, our cousin Cassie drove up from Portland...even one of the folks I went to Australia and New Zealand with and our old elementary school computer teacher showed up to see Luke play! I felt so loved and was so proud to have so many people to show up and support Luke! It was so crazy because there were more people there to see Luke play than there were to see the other band he opened for who have been around New England for YEARS. AWESOME, huh? Mountains in the Moon and The Loblolly Boys rocked it OUT. There was dancing, there were lots of photos, there were hilarious comments about "great music" from Uncle Josh the Musical Genius. Luke even got to see some people he hadn't seen for years.I was so happy, we had so much fun, and I had my first Irish Car Bomb, which was actually really good. Still, I don't know how all these old friends continue to drink the same way we used to when we were 21. I felt like an old woman watching them take shot after shot after Jaeger bomb. Robert kept up, but I sure didn't.:)The night ended with a companionable closing of the bar at 1am (Robert didn't get this idea that the bar actually had to close at 1am) with my friend Jim (who is the bouncer) yelling, "GET OUT! We're CLOSED! Get out!" We all walked across the street to Boo's apartment where everyone parks, and split up-some to go to the after party-us to go upstairs to Boo's and sleep so we could get on the ferry the next day without puking our guts out. Boo and I got some bonding time and then some good sleep. Seriously, I was just so happy to see everyone come out for us and Luke. It was touching! It was awesome! I just loved it. Robert had to get some air before we went to sleep, but we both woke up to meet the new day with a great breakfast at the local breakfast place and just enough energy to make til rest on Sunday.:)

Day #2 (or 3)-Common Ground Fair...

I SWEAR that next time Robert and I go to Maine I am NOT going to schedule every moment that we are there.:) But, with Luke and the band playing 3 gigs it was hard NOT to do that this time. PLUS Robert got to see one of the coolest events that Maine has, so why should he be complaining?:) We left Mom's (with mom in tow) at 9:30am to make the 1 1/2 hour drive North (away from the coast). It was a BEAUTIFUL drive up there. We even drove by this beautiful Pumpkin patch! I wish the light had been better because it was amazing!
Anyway, the Fair was AWESOME. It was created by MOFGA: The Maine Organic Farming and Gardening Association. SO, everything there is organic, Earth-friendly, all natural, and family fun related. We saw all kinds of cool crafts, cute animals, and ate some awesome food. Mom's old 6th grade teacher and his wife had a booth for their home-made Chinese food, so we had that for lunch. They had the BEST crab rangoons I have ever had. Then I had a Strawberry Cheesecake piecone for dessert and I am kicking myself for not getting a photo of it! Mmm yummy! Our entertainment at lunch was the Kids' section of the fair doing a parade where all the kids were dressed as bugs, plants, and animals that are a part of the garden...some of the kids were just TOO cute in their little costumes. Some of these mothers must do this every year because these costumes were pretty amazing! I absolutely loved the girls on stilts and there was a teenage boy playing the bagpipes-really well!
After lunch we went to visit my friend Jenfah at the Politic Action tent where she was teaching kids how to throw pots on a little wheel and then we were off the see Luke play at the Ampitheatre. On the way we saw people spinning their own wool and got to walk through the Farmer's Market...there was just SO much to see! We even saw some cars that run on the leftover oil from restaurants WITHOUT having to run it through a cleaning system first. Then there were all the arts and crafts tents...just couldn't resist the home-made soaps and little girl clothes for our niece Lily June. Mom's favorite is the home-made, all natural laundry detergent. She got a bucket for $38.00 that will last her for a year (until the next fair, right?). She got the Jasmine scented and it smells SO good. I wish everyone could go to the Common Ground Fair!
ANYWAY...Luke played at the Ampitheatre with his great band and they were ABSOLUTELY awesome...the acoustics were great
becauseof this hill across from the stage...where all the kids were sliding on cardboard boxes. HA! You know you're with the hippies when the kids are entertained by a simple cardboard box and a hill with freshly mown grass.:) Luke has a great photo on his blog of him going down the hill.:) Anyway, the atmosphere was great, the music was great, the audience was having fun listening, dancing, playing frisbee, sliding down the hill, and watching me walk around photographing the band. I particularly loved watching my Uncle Josh be the Rockin' bass player. Look at that hair flowing in the wind!
Sigh. Good times. Plus, it was, like 65 degrees the entire time. Lovely, just lovely. I absolutely enjoyed myself and I think Robert did too...until I made him walk to trail BACK as well.:) We were a little late getting out, but made it back in time to take a breath and go back to mom's to change before we had dinner with Emily and Nick at the restaurant/bar that Luke and the band were playing at that night.

The Trip of All Trips: Maine-the way life should be

So, we are back from our whirlwind 6 day trip to Maine (yes, that includes travel time) and I don't even know where to start with my blogging...I'm not a big fan of the really long blogs installations like my lovely brother is doing, so I think I'll be separating events, maybe. It's not necessarily going to stay chronological, but bear with me and enjoy.:)
We left for Maine on Wednesday morning at 4:30am, left Gulfport on time for once, and made it to our 2 hours layover in Atlanta without any problems. It was going to be a good trip! And then the shit hit the fan...boarding trouble, weight trouble, engine trouble...1 1/2 hours later we leave Atlanta, MAKE IT to JFK with 5 minutes to spare, but docking at the gate NEXT TO where we are leaving from so we are going to make it...and then the gate was all ready taken! SO we not only had to wait for another gate, but we had to walk from the entire OTHER SIDE of the airport to go find out what kind of flight we could get to Maine since we missed ours by 5 MINUTES! Needless to say, Robert was pissed. I would have gotten a photo, but I was slightly afraid he might get arrested for harrassing the airline folks, so I just ran along behind him while he walked the entire length of the airport in 5 minutes. Once we got to the other counter a nice lady helped us and he calmed down, even though we had to wait 6 hours in JFK for our next flight. Molly had warned me that JFK sucked for layovers and I had said, "Oh, don't worry, we only have a 40 minute layover"...and the curse began. But, hey, they gave us $7.00 food vouchers, right? HA!
So, we made it to maine at 11:30pm instead of 5:30pm, got our rental car (I have to say that the Hyundai SUV is mighty comfy), switched on my favorite radio station, and made our way up the coast to the comfy bed we knew was waiting. Boy, what a day. But, we slept well, mom made us an AWESOME breakfast of furtada and REAL Maine bacon, and we were good to go on our explorations for the day (with Lobster and Shrimp to look forward to when we got home).
Off to Brunswick we went to see our friend Molly and meet her new boyfriend. We made a detour to stop at the Walmart in Brunswick because Robert loves the Walmart and Lowes in Brunswick (they are right next to each other) because they don't LOOK like big ugly stores like they do down South. SEE?:
Downtown Brunswick is SOOOO nice! We ate at the Big Top Delicattesen where Robert had a "Gobbler" (Turkey dinner in a sandwich!) and I had an "Avacadowich". MMMM Yummy! Another reason to visit Brunswick next time! Molly looked great, he boyfriend was cool, and the weather was chilly, but PERFECT with a fleece.
Then we went to Boothbay, East Boothbay, and Boothbay Harbor to see the sights, because I have been promising to let Robert choose some stuff to do when we are in Maine...but it was busy and we didn't get out of the car and my still tired brain totally forgot to take some photos, still... it was a good little drive.
Home to the Lobsters and Mom's freshly fried, oh-so-sweet Maine shrimp, and then off to Luke's gig at mom's restaurant-The Samoset. This was a "practice gig", but it was great and it was fun-even if the acoustics aren't that awesome. A good handful of old friends (AND former babysitters of mine! ha!) showed up to see The Luke play...it was Great and hilarious to hear their comments...my old babysitter Emily asked me, "Is that moustache real or is Luke in disguise?" The photo to the left is not a good example of how his moustache looks right now, but I'll get a detailed photo when he stops here in P-town on Sunday. Anyway, I was blown away by Krista's vocals, not having heard them before. And it was so neat to see my brother and my uncle Josh play together (that's my uncle on the bass to Luke's left). Josh never quite got his career where it needed to go, but he's got talent and it's so great to see how much he loves to help Luke and to also see how different they can be in their music, yet how similar. It makes me have a little tear in the corner of my eye.:) My grandmother even came out for this gig, so we had some family bonding time interspersed with my mother visiting the kitchen to make sure everything was going well, my best friend and her boyfriend staying in the bar so as not to encrouch on Mom Time, and my mom getting to that lovely point where she starts heckling and saying, "Luke, play "when the curtain falls"! Lane, why won't he play it? Why?" I love my mom when she gets carried away with her love for Luke.;) She even had her friends at the restaurant yelling out her requests with her.
We were pooped, so we were off to bed by 10pm so we could be ready for the fair and the Schooner gathering the next day.

Luke Kalloch, Mountains in the Moon, and The Loblolly Boys

PS: Luke has a blog up for his tour, but I can't figure out how to subscribe to it, so here is the address: http://theloblollyboy.blogspot.com/
It's REALLY long, but REALLY awesome, so check it out...I took many of the photos in Maine.:)

Maine Cats and such

Just a bit of a moment to sit down in the whirl-wind of the past 2 weeks...we made it to Maine on Wednesday the 17th and are getting ready to leave tomorrow (the 22nd). We have had a busy, but BEAUTIFUL and fun time up here visiting with friends and family. We just went and picked up Jade, my best friend's cat, who will be making the trip back to MS on the plane tomorrow! WHEW...it should be fun. Hopefully the sleeping pills that my sister in law Laura gave us will work well (Laura is a vet tech, so I know she knows what she's doing). The sleeping pills ARE for the cat, not me.:) Poor Jade YOWLED for the 10 minute ride back to Mom's house and is now hiding in the back of my brother's horribly crowded closet.:) I'm sure it will just take some adjustment...let's just hope she's not one of those cats that is immune to the sleeping pills!
More about Maine when we get back! And LOTS of photos!

Maggie Lane Knowles

I would just like to say that I am so incredibly honored and touched-and have been since I heard from Heather on Monday. She and Jason are having a little girl, which is so very exciting within itself, but what is even more exciting for me is that they are giving her MY middle name! Maggie Lane Knowles: is that not the most beautiful name ever?
I really do not think I have ever been touched by a gesture as completely as I am by this. I am so honored, I feel so special, and I am totally ready to assume the responsibility of having a "niece" who carries my name. I really couldn't believe it when Heather told me, but I asked her if maybe Jason had Lane as a family name or something and she said, "No, I'm just naming her after some crazy girl I know." :) I'm tearing up just thinking about it.:)
Life is Good.

The CMA Festival

All I Have to say is THANK GOD for Country Music. I can't believe I'm saying that because I used to swear that I wouldn't ever LIKE country music, but, well, people change.:) I was just so amazed at the day and night difference between the honesty and personal comfort of the country music stars singing at this festival compared to the CRAP that was on the other night at the VMAs. Look at Gretchen Wilson: she has been really Big Famous for, what, 4 years? And last night she was still performing in a little bar in a tank top and jeans without her hair all styled up and with her country girl makeup. Faith Hill: beautiful in a simple vest, white T-shirt and Jeans singing about growing up in Mississippi. Even Keith Urban, with his bad rehab press, was just happy to be up there singing his songs-and, when they showed him meeting some fans, you knew he really WAS happy to meet them. Even Taylor Swift, who seemed so fake reading off of a prompter (maybe she just didn't want to be there?), came across as a person so very grateful for her fans and everything that she has been given by her career; she was sweet and I actually LIKED her for the first time. Then, my favorite, Kelly Pickler who is just so glad to be there, to be singing, and to be herself-she just makes me LAUGH because she can't be anything but herself.:) And Don't forget Dwight Yoakam-"the sexiest ugly man I know"-so my sister-in-law Janet says.

The great realization I had last night was this: pop stars (the smart ones) are starting to defect to Country music: Jewel and now Jessica Simpson...who WILL be next? How many more will there be?
Thank God for Good Music. Remind me I want to go to the CMA Music Festival someday. And thank God for a sense of Fun: I love this photo of Sugarland making their way up to the stage!

MTV VMAs 2008

I don't even know how to express my disappointment in the world of music today. I'm glad that I am lucky enough to know that there is a musical world beyond MTV, but, after watching this "awards show" last night I am truly frightened for the children who are allowed to watch shows like this, who are stuck in the mainstream, and who don't know any better.
I have nothing against the British, but his Russell whatshisname is the low end of British talent. He bases himself on his ability to speak fast and be as obnoxious as possible and this who hipster/rocker sheik thing he's got going? What is THAT. I was disturbed and disgusted to see him between acts and award presenting. ICK. If we have to bring in the Brits, let's bring in some talented, SMART people to influence our kids/teens/etc.

Then there were the "musicians". I watched the show because I wanted to see Christina Aguilera's performance because she really IS talented. But, every other act was so incredibly bogus, ridiculous, full of CRAP, and just plain disturbing, it took everything in me not to leave the room and go read my book on the couch. The perfect example:
Lil Wayne is nothing more than a media seeking piece. Period. HOW are these people considered musicians? How can they walk out on stage with their ass hanging out of their pants and think that is cool? Who actually feels good about getting paid to put these people in this kind of wardrobe? This is absolutely aweful, aweful, aweful. The thing that shocked me the most about the entire show? Britney Spears was the NORMAL one.

When I was young enough to really enjoy the VMAs they were about popular music, but the "bad" kids were N*Sync or Busta Rhymes and LL Cool J. When LL and Busta looks good compared to the "talent" of today, when you can see Busta, clean shaven, barely even clapping for the performance that Lil Wayne put on, well, THEN we really know that there is something wrong. I remember watching Britney in her barely-there outfit in, what 2000? This was a shocker. Today it's not about how much skin the girls are showing-that is no longer a shock factor. It's the underwear showing, it the ridiculous hats, it's the makeup, it's saying "F***", and "Shit" and "Dick" and actually being drunk on stage. How can we let our future generations aspire to this?! HOW?! How have we let it come this far?!
I applaude Janet and Perry for being determined not to let Sarah and Abby watch TV on any sort of scale until they move out of the house. I never thought I would be a parent who refused to let my children watch something like the VMAs, but when popular television has deteriorated as much as it seems to (Paris Hilton's new TV show "My new BFF"?!)...what choice do we have if we expect our future generations to do anything but drive the country into the ground.

Robert says that it's not just about the TV, it's about the home life-because THAT is where we see it living here in the South, but I remember seeing the influence that television had on the kids I went to school with. Growing up in small town Maine we didn't know what it was like to live near the ghetto, to see the illiteracy and the stupidity of people who "don't know any better". This stuff is real, but people who don't live around it only see the glamour of the baggy pants, the "bling" and all that stupid stuff. All those "Wiggers" (or whatever you want to call them) who think they are rappers and are proud of being "ghetto" even though they live in Nowhere Coastal Maine-the ones who take it from the television...they are bringing these influences from the big cities that can't avoid it and spreading the sickness to the far reaches...make it stop!

the new 90210 vs. old 90210

Well, I didn't want to watch it, but I couldn't help it when it came on as a repeat the other night... and I think I might have to watch it. The fact that they are using some of the aspects of the old show-like Kelly's all grown up sister Erin being part of the new group, Nat still running one of the hangouts, the (Peach) "Pit" still being around, and Kelly being the guidance counselor...makes it slightly more appealing. I thought it was just going to be a bunch of kids trying to be the old "90210" characters, but I'm seeing some potential here. I'm also surprised, but happy to see Laurie Loughlin (of "Full House" fame) picking up a mother role on the show. If they keep up the great music, the many different types of characters, and the old school tie-ins I think they might have a hit.
PS: Did I seriously hear The Offspring playing during the lacrosse tryout scene?! THAT is a throwback for sure.

McCain VS. Obama

After so much time not knowing and not caring about who becomes our president I finally find myself curious about the process. I didn't feel the need to watch Obama's speech because I felt like I knew what he stood for. McCain's speech was one that I wanted to watch because I really didn't know what he stood for yet. I am proud to say that I Tivo'd his speech last night.

My first thoughts on his speech: He is NOT a good speech giver. He might even write his own speeches because what he said was simple and muddled, but almost to the point. He often looked as though his teeth were going to fall out and he had no idea how to speak with the flow of the audience.

I was not very interested in his "Service to his country", but I did appreciate how he incorporated it into the idea of a Bigger Peace. I was glad that he took time to speak about the energy crisis and his ideas about how to change that. I was not happy that he left it to the end of his speech-like an after thought. He said a lot of good things about lower taxes; a better health care plan than the country-wide plan that Obama talks about; about how he understands the everyday person needing a better job, a better education, and lower oil prices; he even talked about drilling here in the US instead of overseas. But then things went off on a weird tack: I'm sure he brought up the whole Russia thing to show that he was also worried about foreign policy, but it didn't work with the flow of his speech.
And then there was the idea that the government needs to be more responsible. The government needs to be able to support the people of its country and change things so that the government runs for us, not just the people who are running the government. That sounds good...

So, I had to watch Obama's speech because I wanted to see if all the things that McCain said Obama wasn't going to do were true (he won't bring in new teachers, he will raise taxes, he doesn't want to bring back nuclear power, his health care plan sucks, etc).
My first impressions of Obama's speech: He is a GREAT public speaker. He knows how to work with the audience. He is passionate. He is full of a need to get his point across. And he has numbers: unlike John McCain, Obama gives himself 10 years to get the energy crisis in order. He offers 5 million new jobs, and tells us that he will spend specific amounts of money, but will save this money in other places. He is specific about ending this war and FINISHING the Taliban, specifically. He talks not about abortions vs. life, but about reducing unwanted pregnancies to begin with! He talks about immigrants taking American jobs because they will take lower pay and how that is NOT okay...He points out the differences, but shows the path around those differences of opinion.
Obama talks about the country working as a whole-not just money wise, but every individual person working with the next to make a bigger, better impact. He gives us the responsibility that we should be taking to help make the country a better place: "Mutual responsibility". I Like this (too many people live off of the hard work of others). He also brought up the things that John McCain never mentioned. Obama talked about the fakeness of speeches, the lack of faith in the government, and so many other things that I have said make it hard to decide who to vote for...McCain never mentioned any of this.
The only thing I didn't like about Obama's speech was when he pulled the Martin Luther King Jr. card.

My last concern is: who has been voting for what while in the senate? Did Obama and Biden really vote against the English language as the official language for the United States? Did McCain really vote for all the tax cuts for the oil companies? What else don't I know?

CONCLUSIONS: Both candidates said that the other one wasn't going to do this that and the other thing. They really accused each other of NOT doing the same things. SO who is really going to do it and who isn't? Who is more believable? The real question is "who is more TRUTHFUL?" Barack Obama can speak. He brings up the hard points. He makes the specific promises. He knows how to speak WITH the audience...and he has a DAMN good speech writer.
John McCain is quiet. He talks about some of the right things. He sometimes makes himself heard with passion. He really DOES want this job. But he can't speak in public. So, should I believe Obama because he seemed to mean it? Because he was more passionate? Because he is a better public speaker? What if he just has more charisma? Can we really base our presidency of the next 4 years on CHARISMA?
My feeling right now is that maybe Obama IS being truthful. So, YES. When Obama brought up all my own reservations and concerns at the end of his speech it left me with such a small percentage of dissolution with his campaign that I am considering him to be my candidate right now. John McCain didn't do that. He didn't inspire me. He didn't make me nod my head at the computer screen without even realizing it. McCain has some good ideas and I think he does want to try to follow through with them, but haven't we had enough years of old men who can't speak? Let's go for the younger man, the more passionate man, the man who can verbalize his specific promises, the man who wants to fight back and get results (to make the waste of lives worth while), the man who is willing to admit the downfalls, the hurtles, and the mistakes. If nothing else, at least we will know that we can understand his addresses for the next four years instead of turning the TV off and going, "HUH?" like we have so many times with George Bush.
Barack Obama, I'm giving you a shot-for now.:)