Eating the Red Crayon

I just updated my Facebook status to let the Facebook Kingdom know how happy I am that the map is getting filled up with blue states. So, I wrote:

"Donna is liking what she sees so far on the map that's getting colored in on CNN.com. Now if a small child could just come and eat that red crayon, it'd be swell!"

Then, just out of curiosity, I did some quick but thorough research and I found a little baby named Maddie who has her own website who is qualified for the job. This litle tyke will surely eat the red crayon so no more states get colored in with red this evening.

She only likes red. She will safely protect the periwinkle, the Cerulean, the royal blue, the sky blue, and the standard blue.

And here's a little tidbit of Binney and Smith trivia that has nothing to do with the 2008 presidential election but really everything to do with the election: BLUE IS THE MOST POPULAR SHADE of Crayola crayons. = )

Don't Pick Trash This Election Day

A portion of Kingston Township in Pennsylvania is a whole lot cleaner, while a few co-workers and I are a little dirtier. I don't want to re-write the whole post, but you can read about the my company's Adpot-a-Roadway program here, and how a half-dozen of us volunteered the Saturday after Halloween to clean up some very strange litter. (Normal litter, too.)

However, what I could not share on my company blog was this photo. In a sheer moment of genius, I said to a pair of co-workers, "Holy crap, look at that big piece of trash. I've got that one boys!" So, I ran over and tried to bag it up. You can see it here, in Exhibit A:




Okay, so I didn't really steal the sign. Why would I incriminate myself anyway? But really, it's garbage. It's not even Red, White and Blue!


Consider this blog post a PSA. A lesson that the McCain/Palin signs don't belong in yards-- they belong in dumpsters.

Go Obama. Don't pick trash on Election Day.

Children of Illegal Immigrants Deserve a Chance- Dream Act 2007

I heard a story on NPR this afternoon relating to a immigration bill. I heard this America Dream Act 2007 (H.R.1275) discussed before on NPR and I guess today congress voted on it-- and it failed by eight votes. This upsets me. Mostly because I think all kids should have a chance for a quality life and future, no matter what wrong their parents have done.

To bring anyone up to speed, this Dream Act would put children of immigrants on the path to citizenship. I guess this would have the potential to help 1.1 million young people become citizens. But before you holler and scream, this act has some measures that give some motivation to not just make these kids American citizens, but BETTER citizens and there are guidelines.

-They must have arrived in America when they were 15 years or younger,

-They must have lived here at least five years

-They must complete at least two years of college or two years in the military (my goodness- that's more than millions of true Americans do!)

I live in Northeast PA and am a supporter of Hazleton mayor's Lou Barletta's stance on illegal immigration. I do not think anyone should be here illegally. But the bottom line is- the children who come with these folks are only doing what their parents tell them to do. A four-year-old does not know well enough to say, "It's illegal to go to America. I am not going." These children are not here on their own accord and should not be punished for it as they grow up.

Senator Harry Reid, who sponsored the Dream Act said these children should not be penalized for the fault of their parents and that most of these children don't even remember their home countries. To me, that makes perfect sense.

I don't think, like some opposers say, that this act would put "illegals" ahead of US citizens, nor is it an amnesty bill. This is not giving amnesty to just anyone.

Another Dream Act sponsor, Senator Dick Durbin said to look into the eyes of these children. The soundbyte from Durbin on NPR today, when he said, "Give these kids a chance..." you could hear his voice crack. To me, this shows that he has some real heart into this matter. Some people care deeply for the future of our children, and others-- like those who oppose the Dream Act- do not.

SIGN THE PETITION & Support the Dream Act!

I just signed a petition to show my support for this. You should too.

I will miss Tom Curry....

When I get a message from someone I haven’t talked to in a while, something in my stomach starts to feel funny. Like I know something is wrong.

I got a message on MySpace from an old young democrats friend saying to call him right away. When we spoke, he told me an a friend of ours Tom Curry lost his battle with cancer this morning. I broke down for a little while. Then I got angry. At cancer.

I was active in the young democrats back in 2003-2004 just when things in our area were starting to take a positive change—since the people we helped vote into office took over the administration, Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County has never been better. But, this post isn’t about politicians. It’s about Tom.

Tom had a passion like no other for local politics. The last time I checked out his MySpace page, there was a picture of him and Governor Ed Rendell. His caption next to it said, “Current governor with future governor.”

I started to cry again when I thought about that statement. Tom never got his wish. When I think back of that picture, and all the times I had with Tom I see a young, ambitious, smart young man who probably would have became president.

While it was a message of hope from Todd Vondeheid’s campaign website that propelled me to volunteer for his county commissioner campaign, and while it was Danny Bauder who recruited me to the YDs at a victory party for Todd Vonderheid and Greg Skrepenak, it was Tom Curry who really got me excited about local politics. He played a huge role in getting me involved with local and statewide campaigns.

Sure, I had always cared about issues—but I never was involved with the people who could create change before. So, through Tom, I learned a lot more about local politics. I attended the YDA national convention in Buffalo in ’04 and met some great friends. I went all over the state campaigning for people and just had so much fun. But, I was just doing what Tom told me to do. He had such a way of getting our group the things it needed to help these candidates. He was an experienced campaign manager. He was just great. He will be sorely missed.

I think back to how I went back to school and started working full-time and how I didn’t have time to dedicate myself to these causes. That doesn’t make me a bad person- I know that. But when I think about someone like Tom who gave so much to so many people, I feel ashamed that I can’t give more of myself. His passion was a constant. He never tired of doing the things he believed in. And a lot of big time people believed in him because of this dedication.

I lost touch with the YDs when I went back to school full-time, as I said. My heart never left. But now, that heart is bleeding. Upset, I needed to see Tom again. I’ve moved twice since the YD days, so I tore through my attic trying to find the photos I took while I was secretary of the Luzerne County YDs. I couldn’t find them. I was upset. Then, I decided go back upstairs once again. I didn’t want to give up. I found them. There were pics of us at victory parties, fundraisers, the convention and more. Pictures of Tom being serious, and pictures of Tom having fun. God, these pics made me miss those days dearly. I wish my heart was only as big as his. I posted some of those pics here, and I will surely pass them along to anyone who would like them, either by email or making a copy at those CVS photo booths.

So, this is my tribute to my old friend, Tom Curry. I am thankful for the time we shared as friends. I am thankful for what you taught me. I am thankful for those drunken escapades, too. After all, we were 'young.' I know that Tom loved karaoke, he loved an occasional brewsy and of course, a good cigar. After all, politics is all about a smoky room, right? (just kidding)

I am sure Tom will find a way to fight god to be president of heaven. I just know it.

Link to his Times Leader obit.