Blue state

Last night the state I was born in went blue (Colorado) and the state I live in went blue. That was a first for me. I'm very happy to be in a blue state. I cried a little when the election results came in at 11 pm eastern time. Tears of disbelief and joy. As much as I've hoped for this day and campaigned and volunteered for this day, I didn't really believe it would happen. Call me jaded, but I thought the Reps would find a way to steal it. In any case, this is a new day and provides a new dream for many people who had never had this chance before. There will be a whole different kind of presidential portrait. There will be a different kind of first family. I can only rejoice and pray that he is well protected and that, along with all his other advisors, he allows God to guide. I'm very excited, and that's all I'll say. For now.

This might be TMI

I spent part of Monday morning throwing up. For no apparent reason. No flu, no food in my belly (I mostly threw up the apple juice that I drank when I woke up). That, combined with another odd symptom or two, which I will not list here because they are too private, had me convinced for a couple of hours that I would soon be in for mommyhood. I counted back to when I went off my birth control shot. Only about a month. And now I'm on the patch. Surely I'm not that fertile, right? After consulting some internet chat rooms about the effects of going off the Depo shot and then consulting my home pregnancy test, I am not pregnant. But that was a scary couple of hours. Thank goodness for the internet to ease my fears. Apparently the effects of going off Depo can be pretty strong, although I had no such symptoms last time I went off. Then again, I was on it much longer this time.

Anyway, Tuesday was fun. Students and staff members assume that if I'm sick or have a doctor's appointment that I'm pregnant. And they feel free to ask me. I was glad that I could laugh it off. At least for now.

School is still going well. I feel much more energized and happy and just in my comfort zone than I did last year. It almost makes me wish that we weren't wanting to leave, if it just gets better every year. I'm busier, with the extra class and supervision, but I also feel more connected to the students and more fulfilled. So all around goodness. I do miss my husband, but I guess I'll see him at the end of May. And maybe it will be a little better after the Democratic National Convention is over.

Best Monday Ever

So I haven't talked about this on my blog yet, but Michael's been campaigning for Obama. He went out and signed up voters and then he canvassed, and basically, has been getting really involved. I don't know if any of you knew Michael 6 1/2 years ago, but he was an uninvolved Republican. Then we argued about stuff a lot. Then finally I brought him over to my side. Now he's a really involved Democrat. I've created a (good) monster. Anyway, I'm really proud of him. However, I was beginning to miss him and resent the campaign for taking away my husband.

Until today. At about 3:00 this afternoon Michael came into my office and said, "There's a 90% chance that Obama will be in Reading in 30 minutes, do you want to go?" So I unplugged my computer, we ran home, I got my camera and we drove like a bat out of hell to get there in time. It seemed like we hit every red light, and of course the schools were getting out right at that time of day... Anyway, we got there in time. We went into this little diner and got a table in the back. And waited. Everyone there was so excited, and wearing an Obama button. After 15 or 20 minutes a big bus pulled up and the crowd went wild. All the security and reporters came into this tiny restaurant, and then Obama came in. He just said a few sentences, thank you for your support, etc. Then he walked around and shook everyone's hand. So he came up to Michael and asked how he was, what was his name, where did he go to school... So Michael corrected him and said that he's not a student, he's a teacher. Obama remarked how young Michael looked. Then he moved on to me. I got to shake Obama's hand! He asked me how I was, what my name is, what I do. He remaked about how young I look. He had a nice firm handshake. Although his hand seemed small. It was quite an exciting moment.

Then I looked behind me and there was this older gentleman in a trenchcoat. He looked strangely familiar. I asked Michael, "Is that Dan Rather?" He said, "I don't know." So I convinced him to go ask. Michael, "Are you who I think you are?" Dan Rather, "That depends who you think I am, I'm Dan Rather." So Dan Rather was very nice and we got our pictures with him. He was kind of like a grandfather. Friendly, and joking a little and just kind. He told me it was an honor to meet me. What a nice guy. So here follow some photos and maybe a video-if it will work with me. Of our exciting moments in the presence of (hopefully) our future president. And Dan Rather.