thoughts this thursday

i can't believe tomorrow is friday. it's been a short week with the monday holiday, but i feel like this week is dragging on. most likely that is a direct result of the hours i've spent in my car - not just traveling (sitting) to and fro but also the time i've spent trying to come up with errands to run while waiting to actually travel to and fro. i hate that wasted time. perhaps i just need to live with it - or break my workouts into 20 minute sessions and just do it 6 times a day.

umm...i think i'd rather poke my eye out.

so i've been pretty politicky this year - listening to my talk radio, watching the convention coverage, reading my newsweek, us news and world report, and time magazines cover to cover. i just find it all very fascinating. i was especially intrigued at hearing the reactions to senator mccain's choice of running mate, sarah palin, and her speech last night. i happen to think she's pretty great, but truthfully have yet to make up my mind about the candidates right now.

i have definite opinions on the issues and i think the best thing that any of us can do is take the propaganda and the sarcastic jibes from each side with a grain of salt, stick with our gut and be sure to make our voice heard and V O T E. how lucky we are to have that right and the opportunity to exercise it.

if i were president, the first thing i'd do is shorten the election (*yawn*) season. can you imagine all the 'other' news the media would have to come up with to report on; if a candidate had to state their positions on the issues, debate, and we had to vote and elect a new president in like, say, 6 weeks? i'd love to see that race. and all the money raised for campaigns could go toward oh, say, fighting poverty... and other worthy efforts.

"The summer surge pushed Obama over the $400 million mark for what he's raised over the entire campaign, to $401 million. McCain has raised about $171 million, less than half as much."
www.politico.com

that's some serious moolah...of course most of it has been spent and each candidate likely still has debts to pay. i feel validated by glenn beck who says american's feel - "disconnected from politics in america." it just seems that each election it becomes less and less about "we, the people."

maybe i'll take my dad's advice and do a little politics myself one of these days. i bet the good 'ol southern boys would love a canadian-american on their city council in our little north carolina town! i don't know...could be fun?

thanks to those of you who expressed sympathy with the whole backpack saga. it is nice to know that my feelings were shared by many of you. i really feel the need to not dwell on it too much and to certainly not let my frustration fester. i'm aware of so many family, friends, and other bloggers dealing with real pain and real issues - matters of life and death in some cases. keeping things in perspective helps me let the bright warmth of my blessings fill my life and i find that i am more patient, and desire to continue to grow in those good ways.

and those, ladies and gentlemen, are my thoughts.