{we are beginning our descent}

three weeks

Three weeks.  That's how long I have before the  second class in this graduate certificate program, Course Design & Evaluation, begins.  That's three weeks of reading whatever books I choose (on my list: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close; Outliers; The Other Queen; The Omnivore's Dilemma (finally!)), writing Christmas cards instead of papers, and generally doing whatever the heck I feel like doing. 

I really enjoyed this first class, Principles of Training & Development.  I learned a lot about adult learning styles - how to anticipate what they are for a given audience and how to address them in training - and motivational strategies,  I got a nice introduction to intercultural and ethical considerations for training, and I've already been applying what I've learned to my work.  I worked my ass off and got an A+ on my third paper.    I met some fantastic people, and will be seeing several of them again in the next course. 

But until then, I'm just enjoying that my time is my own again.

not your typical breakup post

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
I do believe I have been changed for the better
But because I knew you
Because I knew you...
I have been changed
For good

from Wicked, Original Cast Recording

scenes from Portland's Prop 8 protest

I know it sounds silly - and futile - to hold a rally to protest an initiative in another state, especially after that amendment has already passed.

I'm not the only one who thinks so:

A representative of the Proposition 8 campaign said the protests would have little effect. "They can protest all they like, and it doesn't change the fact that Prop. 8 has passed and the election is now over," said Frank Schubert, manager for the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign.*

So why did I drag myself out of bed and downtown for Portland's Prop 8 protest after just 5 hours of sleep Saturday morning? 

Prop 8 passed, yes.  The people of California have spoken.  But the way I see it, the denial of civil rights to gay Americans isn't something that should be up for a vote.  It should be an assumption, a truth we hold to be self-evident, if you will, that all of us are created equal, and that the right to marry the one you love - with all the privileges that marriage currently allows, and for the same cost - falls under those unalienable ones of which our founding fathers wrote: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I'm not alone in that feeling, either:

Pam Chan and her husband brought their two children -- Kalea, 6, and Koa, 2 -- to the demonstration in San Francisco.

"We want our kids to learn they can grow up in a place where everyone is equal," said Chan, 34. "Marriage is for everyone."*

And it was for that reason that I was energized at the protest, and proud to be standing there with my friends and folks from my community, gay and straight, coming together to say that while this particular battle was lost, the fight against closed-minded bigotry continues.

*LA Times

friday 5's: it's been awhile

I was looking through my blog archives yesterday and I came across my old Friday 5's posts from last year - man,  I can't believe I forgot about those!  If you're new to Friday 5's, here's how it works: I tell you five things that made me happy this week, and then you tell me five things that made you happy this week.  (I like to keep things simple on Friday afternoons.)

Without further adeiu,  Friday 5's for 11.14.08:

1.   Scoring an A- on my first back-to-school paper (for my Principles of Training & Development class).   [I wanted an A+, naturally, but I'll take anything in the A range.]

2.  Peanut butter & jelly.  Not the sandwich - the amazing dessert at Noble Rot.  We had dinner & wine there Monday to celebrate LT's birthday early (Doug had to go out of town this weekend and is missing her actual bday celebration tonight), and the entire meal was delicious - but this dessert, oh wow: peanut butter bread pudding, marionberry jam, and peanut butter ice cream.  be still my tastebuds - so, so good.

3. Seeing the Dark Knight again, this time at Laurelhurst ($3 tix!) - I so totally dig that movie!

4.  Craft night at BT's!  He made some delicious chili, there were a bunch of super cool people I hadn't met before all engaged in different crafts, and I even got a little bit knitting done.  Looking forward to this Sunday's "crafternoon" at Naomi's, too!

5.  Being Franchesca's guest at Grandparents & Special Friends Day @ Woodstock Elementary again this year (here's 2007's event) - seriously, few things make me feel more special than to have my dear third-grade friend invite me to this event.  [Check this out: They were in gym when the event started, and I was super impressed to learn that she can climb to the top of the rope!]

  

front row seat to history

photos from last night's revelry:

11:01 p.m. ET

 

just before the acceptance speech. 

at first I called them hope cakes, so as not to seem overconfident.  at 11:00 ET they became victory cakes.  and yes, they were supposed to be blue, but Whole Foods' blue food coloring is made from blueberry extract.  which is actually purple.  [false advertising: that's not change we can believe in.]

   

yes we can

Happy Election Day

June 2008:

October 2008:

 

our daughters' daughters will adore us

And now, at the close of a hundred years, as the hour hand of the great clock that marks the centuries points to 1876, we declare our faith in the principles of self-government; our full equality with man in natural rights; that woman was made first for her own happiness, with the absolute right to herself—to all the opportunities and advantages life affords, for her complete development; and we deny that dogma of the centuries, incorporated in the codes of all nations—that woman was made for man—her best interests, in all cases, to be sacrificed to his will.

We ask of our rulers, at this hour, no special favors, no special privileges, no special legislation. We ask justice, we ask equality, we ask that all the civil and political rights that belong to citizens of the United States, be guaranteed to us and our daughters forever.

Circular, National Woman Suffrage Association, Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States, July 4th, 1876

More:
A celebration of election day and the power of women voters on Jezebel.com
Iron Jawed Angels [HBOFilms]

"every pole in SE Portland"

the inspiration:
 

the costume:

 

(me with Naomi, aka Magnetic Poetry)

FYI, walking around with posters taped and pinned to you all night is uncomfortable.  driving is also a challenge.  but, as a testament to how many poles in Portland are covered with these promotional posters, every single person I saw last night knew exactly what I was (well, except for that one "junk mail" guess). 

In a stroke of serendipity, at the second party we went to (after the pre-party, and the stop at Roots for pumpkin ale) I was starting to lose some of my posters.  And then I ran into this girl:

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin as Duct Tape Girl!  Seriously, this gal helped me tape myself back together and is therefore my favorite Halloween person ever.

Jess and I are off to Multnomah Falls.  Happy first day of November!

happy halloween!

It's the last day of October, and the beginning of Portland rainy season, too, if the weather today is any indication.

Jessica arrives from Colorado tonight, with her Halloween costume in her suitcase (which she is not checking because she is a savvy travel gal!  go Jess!) - we'll head over to Lauren's for the pre-party and then ... plans are still up in the air.  I'll post photos of my totally original, totally Portland, not entirely comfortable costume this weekend, in between showing Jessica around this awesome town and working on the paper that's due next week.
----

also, this was on the back of my starbucks cup today and i liked it:

The world bursts at the seams with people ready to tell you you're not good enough.  On occasion, some may be correct.  But do not do their work for them.  Seek any job; ask anyone out; pursue any goal.  Don't take it personally when they say "no" - they may not be smart enough to say "yes."

Keith Olbermann, broadcast journalist and host of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann (which I've taken to watching online every night, along with The Rachel Maddow Show)

the girl effect

worth checking out.

because all girls have the right to:

• identification that allows them to prove their age, protect themselves from child marriage, open a bank account, and vote
• go to school on time and stay there through adolescence
• protect their health and their bodies
• be empowered and supported in their choices
• safe & decent work
• aid dollars
• to be recognized as a distinct group, not just "future mothers"
• advocates
• accountable representation
• our help

[with thanks to Jezebel]
[related: The Importance of Educating Girls (Jonathan Alter for Newsweek)]