talk. politics.

Lately, with all of the primaries going on, and the political talk that has been increasingly heated over the last six months - I've found out a lot about the people vying for the nominations, and the people who are voting them into office. I consider myself to be a fairly aware citizen of the United States. I do my best to educate myself on issues concerning the nation and people around the world. I admit that I don't know everything there is to know about politics, I still have a lot to learn, however - one of my biggest annoyances is when people run their mouths off about politics and political candidates when they have no idea what they are talking about. Regardless of whether they are acting in support of, or against a certain political party - it's simple people, don't open your mouth and give your opinion unless it is an educated one and you have taken the time to learn about policies and issues. don't be liberal because it's cool and don't be conservative to grow against the grain. I have also become acutely aware that for the general public, most people are single or two issue voters. Most people find one or two issues that they have an opinion for, and that is why they vote for certain candidates. I have also found that the majority of the time, these issues are "simple answer" issues....take gay marriage, for a conservative voter, the answer is easy "NO". take healthcare...for a liberal citizen, the answer is "universal healthcare". easy enough right? take abortion...either side it is easy to answer, pro life or pro choice. Unfortunately, most people pick one or two of the most popular issues on each side and that is what they base their votes off of. I'm not saying I completely blame people for this, or that I am guilt free in this area - generally speaking, most people need an emotional or immediate connection with something in order to actually take action. However, I still consider it unfortunate for all of us because I think we could have a lot stronger and better government if we were more than "single" issue voters. take the issue of abortion for example..... one of the biggest issues within conservative circles is that of abortion. the sanctity of life. a lot of people vote based solely on this issue.....don't misunderstand me, I am not trying to say that people should not vote with this in mind, however I find it unfortunate when people look at a candidate, discover that they are pro life (versus the other politician being pro choice) and they immediately decide who's side they are taking when that particular person could have terrible policies in every other area regarding the sanctity and rights of life. "pro-life" all too often just means protecting the right of a child to be born...and neglects that life after it is brought into this world. healthcare for children and mothers, education and opportunity, safety here and abroad, war...these are all issues that deal with the sanctity of life, yet why are they considered less important? why is it not considered worth our "christian" time to deal with the issues of genocide and starvation and the AIDS epidemic of millions of people globally, yet it IS somehow worth our time and efforts to stop abortion here? i consider myself pro life, but not just when it comes to abortion....pro life means caring for all life, those who are abused, left unprotected, and cast aside by the many. I cannot consciously vote for candidates who have terrible policies in issues such as health care and education solely based on the fact that they are pro life. i understand that everyone, including me, has their "issues" that are most important....however, i'm just honestly so tired of people hating or loving a candidate based on one issue that they heard about. how can this country truly improve if the citizens aren't willing to step up and really take part in the government? sick of war? tired of the healthcare problems? annoyed with the economy? hate big business? do something about it.

Purple Martini

here are just a few pictures of everyone out at Jill's birthday party at the Purple Martini in Boulder. The first is of Jill and I (the birthday girl) and the whole group of us that went out. Thanks to half price happy hour - I was able to try an array of tasty martini's, such as Raspberry Lemondade and a Peach Martini. I usually am not willing to spend $10 on a drink i'm not positive that I will like. all in all, it was a lovely evening - i enjoyed being out with the ladies! it was the first time in a long time that liz was able to go out with us since little harper made his appearance, so i enjoyed having my friend "back". I have to say that i have been tremendously blessed by moving here and being able to meet all of these amazing women. when i left connecticut, i was convinced that i would never find friends like i was leaving behind....dovon, courtney, ricci...these women were my family, like my sisters. 7 months into living here - and i have found so many amazing friends, not all of whom i am in the exact same place in life with, or who i share everything in common with, but that regardless i am connecting with them, growing in friendship, and learning from them. not that i have replaced my "old" friends, i'm not really ever looking to....i'm just pleasantly blessed and surprised that i've found so many amazing friends here in colorado.

so here's to ladies nights, laughter, and dancing at 'round midnight in boulder with my "new" friends.

...

two weeks from friday and i'll be headed out of the united states....

luckily i was able to book my flights to bangkok with Aiyana and Michelle - the two other women going on the trip. I originally thought that I would have to make the trip alone, and then meet up with them once I arrived in Thailand. Thank goodness that I don't have to! I was looking at a multiple stop ticket and a ten hour layover in Korea by myself....not ideal really. Well it worked out financially and time wise to travel with them, yay! So the tickets are booked....now all I need is to get my name change done on my passport and my typhoid shot. Thankfully, Denver is one of very few locations in the US that you can walk into a building and get your passport back in the same day...the only problem is that it is in south east denver. the exact opposite side from where we live....and since I can't really take another day off of work, I have to go down and fill out the paper work one day, and then drive back and pick it up another day. ugh. just what i want to do...drive an hour each way twice in one week.....not to mention i'll have to maneuver the giant sinkhole that's formed in I25. wish me luck i suppose.

tomorrow night for valentines day we are spending the evening with three of our close friends/couples. instead of each going out, we are getting together and cooking dinner together and drinking wine, while the guys do "man things" and drink beer in the living room. :) then we will just all hang out for the evening....steef and i also decided that instead of buying eachother something we didn't need, we are going to pick two different organizations and donate money to them instead.....i think we have settled on Love146 and then purchasing an item for a family through Heifer. Maybe some chickens or something. :)

i hope everyone has a wonderful valentines day together.