Color Me Lethargic.

If you haven't voted yet, please immediately stop reading my post and do it now.  If you have - good for you.  I owe you a cookie*.  (Cookie must be redeemed by personal presence at my home sometime in the near future)

So... I have a little gripe.  I understand that there are long lines to vote.  Some polling places are small and it takes a while.  That's cool.  HOWEVER, what I don't get is all these people trying to vote who can't.  I'm not blaming the staff - I'm blaming the VOTER.  C'mon, people -  if you moved since you were last able to vote, you should have re-registered.  If you didn't, then you don't vote.  Honestly, if you didn't move very far, just GO BACK to where you last voted - your registration probably hasn't changed.  ANY TIME YOU MOVE, YOU NEED TO RE-REGISTER TO VOTE.  There's a simple form you can print out online and mail in, OR you can go to your local DMV, OR you can go to your local courthouse... seriously, its not that difficult.

Grrr! 

I moved 3 months ago.  Guess what?  I got to vote today without problems.  Watch the news and pay attention every so often.  I really could give two craps less who you vote for, as long as you exercise your right to vote.  Of course, if you don't follow directions, you give up your right.  Easy enough.

Don't get me wrong, I am sure there are plenty of situations out there where someone followed the rules and got hosed - crap happens.  If that is the case, you can put in your provisional vote and prove you were eligible (may be difficult) and (hopefully) your vote counts.  Doubtful.  Regardless, I'm sure that more people just assumed they could show up at the nearest polling place and magically be eligible to vote there.  Here's a hint: you had to tell the mailman and electric company you changed addresses - you have to tell the government, too.

OK, so I think I'm off my rant for the time being.  I voted today, but Adam and the rest of Illinois cancelled me out.  I did, however, vote Green and Libertarian for the first time in my (short) voting career.  It was... um... green and liberating?

~*PEACE*~

The Granite City APA will be hosting CRITTERFEST at Wilson Park this weekend.  Please check out http://www.gcapa.org for more information.  There will be a petting zoo, face painting, games for the kids, animal adoptions, $25 pet microchipping, and much more!  Come and join the fun and bring your leashed critter!

Adam and I are going to Meramec State Park this weekend with Schwierjohn's.  We've been looking forward to it for a month! 

Have a great weekend, all!

~*PEACE*~

Adam got a job in his field!!!  He is now the district-wide 3rd and 4th grade BD teacher at the grade school 2 blocks from our house.  Its overwhelming right now, seeming he was hired a month into the semester, but he's really excited about it.  I got off work early on Friday and helped him set up his classroom in a space theme.  He's so excited and nervous - I know how much he loves the profession, so I'm really excited for him.  He's getting a really decent starting salary and his benefits are nice, as are his co-workers.  I'm so proud of him!!! 

My baby sister, Terra, turned 22 yesterday.  My, how the time flies!  Whew!  Happy birthday, Terra!

Speaking of yesterday, it was MAYHEM around here!  The remnants of Hurricaine Ike (now tropical depression Ike) came through and caused flash-flooding.  I saw SO many cars flooded an stalled on major thoroughfares it was rediculous.  I felt like we were playing Oregon Trail trying to get home - do we a) pay the ferryman to take us across the river b) caulk the Jeep and float it across or c) attempt to ford the river?  We forded it!  Whew!  There was a Celica parked a few blocks away and the water was up to their hood.  Luckily, our house is 2 blocks away from flood plain, so there was no flooding for us, but we had a hard time getting home.  I'm just glad everyone I know is safe and sound.  I hate natural disaters - the feeling of helplessness that coincides is awful.

We're all unpacked and organized.  The one thing I've put off doing is hooking up the VCR, Sega and GameCube to the big screen.  The GameCube is easy; it'll just port up to the front.  The Sega I have to channel through the VCR to the cable jack and pray.  Its an old Genesis - I've had it since I was 11 and still love it.

I'm having a PartyLites party at the house on Sunday, September 21st at 4pm.  Invites went out Friday, I think.  Let me know if you plan to attend!  Even if you weren't invited, if you'd like to join, just send me a message.

Work has stayed busy, which is nice.  I'd rather work my tushie off than attempt to make myself appear busy when I'm not.  We just got a LOT of new cars, so business should stay pretty steady over the next few weeks.  The new cars are NICE, too. 

We're considering having a Halloween party - any takers?

Andy and Michelle Schwierjohn need to join Facebook. 

I love our home.  Its so nice to come in from work to my wonderful, adoring husband, my sweet and obnoxious kitty and my dumb but loving doggie.  We're on a sort of schedule now, which is nice.  We get up, let the dog out, make breakfast and pack lunch while watching the news, shower and dress - both out the door by 8am.  Adam gets home a little after 3 and I get home closer to 6.  Adam normally tidies up when he gets home and changes into comfy clothes.  I get home, change and start dinner.  We eat by 7 and then sttle down to play with the critters or have some down time in front of the TV.  I usually read if there's a game on.  We're normally in bed by 10 (at the latest) and start the whole process over again.  The weekends are our time to clean and get stuff accomplished.  Its a nice little schedule. 

Anyway, I hope all is well with everyone.  Have a great day!

~*PEACE*~

Well, most of the unpacking is done, but we haven't really touched the (potential) baby's room yet.  As of tomorrow, there will be a bed, dresser and bookcases in there.  That's just another project we're actively avoiding.  There's just SO much to do!  We're having a yard sale a week from Saturday to get rid of some of the excess, so its our goal to be done by then.

The ladies (not so much girls anymore... sniff!) start high school tomorrow.  Adam constantly reminds me how he used to wipe their tushies.  :-)  I remember how scared I was to start high school - I had just moved from Wesclin (I have 86 people in my class) to Granite (I had 800+ in my class) and I knew maybe 2 people.  I threw up that morning out of nerves.  We all go through it!  I just know that those ladies are AMAZING and can tough it out through anything... even high school.

The annual Brewer Horseshoe Tournament is next weekend.  My brother has to defend his title as grand master B, so I'm looking forward to it.  Should be a fairly small crowd this year, as the Brewer drama thrives this year, but its always a good time.

Junebug, out new dog, is doing well.  She's very sweet and seems starved for attention.  Plus, she has abandonment issues.  She HATES to be left outside on her own.  She's a really good girl, though.

Silly is doing well in the new house.  He knows his territory and has taken to standing guard on the top of the sofa.  He likes to climb everything, too.  Its nice to have him somewhere welcoming and homey.  Its nice to have me there, too. 

I miss my friends a lot.  Adam and I have been so busy with marriage and pregnancy and loss and moving and unpacking that we've had next to no time for people other than immediate family.  While I love and appreciate my family, I miss the companionship of my friends.  Feel free to call or stop by!

The home is GOREGEOUS.  Its home and I love it.  I come home every evening to find my husband, dog and cat all happy to see me.  That beats anything, I think.  Well... it'll be nice to have a baby some time, too.  We're going to start trying again in September (when my system straightens out). 

Feel free to call or write.  Much Love!

~*PEACE*~