Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone that reads this blog has a great and safe holiday.

I am thankful for 808s & Heartbreak right now. Love Lockdown is on repeat, and I can't help but get hyped about going out tonight and kicking it with my friends and family.

I have alot of other things to be thankful for. The big G has really been looking out for me and my family this year.

You're all in my thoughts and prayers.

Don't eat too much!

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

So How Do You Feel?

At around 11pm, when I first heard the numbers, my mouth just fell open. I had been expecting a very close race, so, imagine my surprise when Obama was doing laps on McCain. I felt victorious.

Then, I was frozen. I just sat there, in silence and stared at the screen. I felt amazed.

Then, my mom called me. She was crying. 'He did it Penni' she said. 'He did it! I'm just so happy.' I felt happy too.

Then, my eyes got a little misted. I felt overwhelmed.

Then, I saw my sorors and some other college kids at the AUC in Atlanta. Purple hats were bobbing through the crowd and gold boots were electrified.
I felt excited.

Then, I saw Jesse with tears streaming down his face. I felt grateful to him. Because even though it took him a while to come around to the new way of thinking about race and politics, he did put in a lot of work for my community and I can't discount that.

Then, I saw him and his family walk out on stage. I felt so proud. I couldn't stop noticing the number of times he and Michelle touched. They touch each other alot. It's odd to notice that. I think I notice it because it's in direct contrast with every other politician I've ever seen. Even Biden didn't touch his wife as much or in the way that Michelle and Barack touched. I mean at some points it seemed like he was letting her know that he was going to give it to her POTUS style later...and she replied with a flirty smile.

Then, I felt embarrassed. Because I caught myself thinking that they probably have quality sex often. I guarantee that this point will be brought up in the coming months in the media. It's so obvious that these two people genuinely like each other and are not just having a partnership to get the job done.

Then, I was back to feeling proud. His speech was well written and delivered. He set out to manage the expectations of the electorate, which I thought was a smart move. Let folks know up front that change doesn't happen overnight and this is just the first step.

So, that's how I felt.

How did/do you feel?

Holla

Here's How We Did It

Just in case you're not on the Barak Obama for President mailing list, here's what he emailed out last night before his historic speech in Grant Park...


Penni --

I'm about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first.

We just made history.

And I don't want you to forget how we did it.

You made history every single day during this campaign -- every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it's time for change.

I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign.

We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next.

But I want to be very clear about one thing...

All of this happened because of you.

Thank you,

Barack


******

Holla

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

President Obama!

He did it...

OUR BOY DID IT!!!

OH MY GOD! I AM ON THE PHONE WITH MY GRANDMA NOW. SHE SAID SHE NEVER THOUGHT SHE'D LIVE TO SEE THIS DAY.

she wishes that her mother, Parren Mitchell and Shirley Chisolm were alive now to see this historic event. (i know, what a medley of people - but that's my grandma)

i don't know what else to say, except...For the first time in my life, I can say that I am proud to be an American!

Holla Back!

333 to 156 WHAT WHAT???

Exhaling

So, now that I've voted, I can finally exhale.

siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiighhhhhhhhhhh

That felt so good.

For me exhaling also means trying to figure out what I'm going to do for my birthday next week, listening to my newest music purchases, catching up on my TV programs and basically falling back into my regular life.

I've been tracking the last minute deals for a trip next weekend. The jury is still out on whether or not I'll find something appealing. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I am listening to John Legend's Evolver and I love it! I know that I have a slight John Legend bias, but aside from that, I think this CD is pretty good from start to finish. I like it more than the last one and as much as the first. I wasn't expecting much, so maybe I was easy to please.

Although the best sneak hot CD this year was Ashanti's. That playlist got me through many miles of jogging this summer. If you haven't gotten it yet, you should. This is the CD that Kelly Rowland should've put out. But hey, Kelly is the bomb in the UK. I guess you have to plant seeds in nurturing soil and the UK is definately that for her. If Ashanti had worked on her dancing and stage presence, she would've been tough to beat this year.

Now that I have DVR, my whole TV watching life has changed. I don't plant myself on the couch at predetermined times anymore. I've been recording and saving The Game. I am loving this season. Girl Melanie is acting her @ss off lately. I might've been a fan of Sister/Sister if she was that good then. I wonder what's going to happen with Malik and Robin. I love that they are showing an athlete in an atypical relationship.

The other show that I've been getting into is True Blood. I won't spoil this week's episode for anyone that hasn't seen it, but, woah! I want to rent that movie She Moves because Tara is my new TV BFF. She's so honest and loyal and damaged and vulnerable all at the same time. I wish she'd get more roles. And on HDTV you can tell that her skin is absolutely FLAWLESS unfortunately Sookie's looks like grits.

I've been disappointed with Heroes, Dexter and Entourage this season. I can't wait until Tell Me You Love Me and The Tudors comes back.

I've only taken a couple of days off of my workout regimen. So far I feel tighter and I think I'm a third of the way to my goal, pounds and inches wise. It is soo much harder to get in shape when you're a bonafide grown up. I can't wait until I cross this particular finish line.

Well, that's all for now.

Holla

I Knew We'd Get Here

This has been the longest, most stressful election campaign I can remember. I'm soo glad it's finally over. I have been consumed by all of the faux rhetoric surrounding my candidate and bowled over by the bright people I know that have fallen for it at some point during the last year and a half.

I'll admit, I do have an advantage. I have been exposed to the concealed, sometimes unaware racism that the Obama campaign has brought out in mainstream America.

I have been labeled 'inexperienced' for jobs that I could do, and have done, in my sleep.

I have been called for 3 in person interviews for one job to 'prove myself' to the hiring manager.

I have been questioned and challenged on jobs, in a way that my white friends have never experienced.

I have been 'friends' with white people and then get the side eye when something untoward goes down at work. After having lunch together every day, when something is stolen, why are they looking at me like, 'I thought she was different, but how well do I really know her?'

So, when Obama was hit with all of these same tactics. I saw that it was a diversion. I knew that the issue was his blackness or self identified blackness that was unsettling to the mainstream. He didn't fit into the easily identifable categories of black success. He wasn't a star athlete, he couldn't sing or dance and he was actually kind of nerdy. "What kind of black man is this?" they thought. So, they set out to test him. Some of you fell for the okie doke in the beginning and decided to back Hillary early on.

I remember getting into debates with people that thought she was more 'experienced' by virtue of sleeping with a two-term president. Some people actually reasoned that if she were in office, it would be like Bill having a third term. They didn't believe me when I said that she is nothing like her husband. I liked Bill, but never subscribed to that 'First Black President' bullshit. Straight insult.

Then Iowa happened, and folks were jumping on the Obama Express. I wasn't mad at them. It just takes some people longer to see what's been staring them in the face all along. LOL

Now, after almost two years of campaigning, I'm seeing articles about how biased the press is, favoring Obama at every turn. Mainstream America has an acute case of victim-itis. I don't remember a time in my life when I've seen so many prominent, affluent white people considering themselves victims. I mean really. I'm amazed. I've read more articles and seen more television personalities *cough* Hasselbeck *cough* that are crying about fairness than I ever have in my life.

I'm just glad that today is the grand finale. I just spent a total of 10 minutes casting my vote for Obama. I knew he'd get to this point and I hope he wins.

But, even if he doesn't, the way he's run his campaign has changed the landscape forever. And I'm proud of that.

Holla