Watching her Sleep

As you watch your lover sleeping, enjoying her peace equally with yours—you become familiar with her breath. You see her life force expand and retract: inhale and exhale. So the night is intimate. It rejuvenates life. It creates life. It connects us.

And so too insomnia familiarizes me with Ann Arbor. We have become connected because I see her at her most vulnerable moments—those without the heavy distractions of city congestion, when the lights are dim and the moon is bright.

I walk the streets and find the familiar places devoid of calamity. They are empty and dark and stagnant and empty. And in those spaces, peering in through mirrored windows, I see that they are tanks without fuel. They need us. They want us.

Ann Arbor breathes us into her every day and exhales us out of her every night. So if you want to see her—become acquainted with her nature—see her at night. Watch her sleep.

The Power of Pronoun

You are a random assortment of beautiful energies, aligned perfectly to extricate every semblance of civility out of me. You are the bane of my existence—the eternal devil’s advocate to my serenity. You are the constant thought. You are the ever-present interpretation. You are the complicated and surreal. You are the reason I fail to reason. You are my emotional catalyst; my heart pounding; my chest sinking. You are my driving force and fascination. You are my never-ending chess board and the best player I’ve ever played. You are the yin to my yang and the yang to my yin. You are variety and I am choice. You are challenge and ease. You are comfortably and awkwardly. You are.

After the Sunset

You are sunsetting— But I will feel the burn once more

It’ll shake my bones
And hold my breath
It’ll beat my heart
And hold my hand

You are sunsetting— But I will burn straight to the core

Pride

Do you feel it?

Taste it. Smell it. Grab it. Record it. Enjoy it. --This is what it feels like. It begins as a tingle—quivering our fingers into vibration. It flows up our arms and into our chests. Our hearts begin to shake, our knees heavy, and even those of us most hardened…feel. Tears are held or released but either way it’s overwhelming. We are overwhelmed.

We have in one day, with one unifying voice demanded the world’s respect. We have proven that our expressions match our convictions—that our words compliment our actions—that we are the most progressive, malleable, and forgiving nation this world has ever seen. It is pride my friends—and we all feel it today.

USA! USA! USA!

Why do we care?

I saw Bruce Springsteen in Ypsilanti on Monday. I was on the cover of the Ann Arbor News. Cool.

Although, when Bruce talked about why the crowd should vote for Obama he spoke of those people in our country who are at their worst: those who don’t have healthcare, have trouble affording childcare, can’t buy reliable transportation, and even those who budget for cheap food.
The crowd was somber, and mostly in agreement. But then it struck me—on a Monday afternoon those who are struggling the most don’t have the time, inclination, or the opportunity to be at a Springsteen concert.

Those of us in attendance weren’t in desperate need; most of us looked just fine. So then why do us liberal elites, us who own houses, have jobs, have educations, and share relative security—why do we care so deeply about those who don’t? It’s a fundamental difference—we believe that in the wealthiest most developed nation on Earth it is a shame that hardworking able bodied individuals can’t afford basic needs (i.e. health care, childcare).

We care about each other, and we care for justice—often more than our own self interest.

Think about it.

Random Venting

I haven't written in a while but I have a few observations to share.

1. (again) stretch pants/tights/leggings are NOT fashionable on any planet. --especially when worn with a giant white t-shirt and bumble bee sunglasses. You WILL have to explain this outfit to your children. You WILL.

2. Why do people have backpacks with wheels--that they roll? We shouldn't call these BACKpacks if they aren't worn.....you know.....on the back.

3. When a group of people are having dinner and everyone looks at the bill and pays for their part PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't just look at the total next to the item you ordered and pay for that. The TAX and TIP are not included in with that number--- :Burger and Fries-4.75:--- don't just leave 4.75!!!!! People don't think. If you do this you leave someone else, who is actually aware of the world, responsible for picking up the tab for your tax and tip.

4. Seriously---register to vote.

5. I've recently switched from thinking that Libertarians were better than Republicans but after more careful analyses I now think Libertarians are much worse. (yes--that includes Ron Paul)

6. Not a huge revelation...but...I've been reading a lot of religion lately and have come to decide that many world religions' traditions and foundations were heavily influenced by etheogenics (especially eastern).

Support our troops?

The budget for next year’s Iraq spending is being debated and passed in Congress currently. It comes in total to about 165 billion dollars, and includes an increase in pay for the troops of 3.9 percent. The Democrats in Congress increased this raise from the White House’s suggested 3.4 percent. Last week President Bush released a statement saying the extra raise was “unnecessary” and that he “strongly opposes” the pay increase. So I ask all the flag-wearing bumper-sticker-donning half-hearted Republicans who have tried to patent patriotism—who supports the troops?

Stop it!

I am not an environmentalist and am brutally disinterested in animals. I know. So certainly I am not the most credible source for critiquing litterers, but when the aesthetics of my hometown are at stake I must speak out. Rarely does someone walking down the street throw their trash on the ground, next to a bench, in a potted plant, mixed in with the mulch—it is quite lazy let alone reprehensible. Everyone must agree; littering is bad. Then why do smokers find it completely appropriate and normal to throw their dirty burning cigarette butts around the community? It is a piece of trash. Just because you are addicted and have to annoyingly carry the remains of your habit around once every three hours it does not excuse littering. If you are a smoker and throw your butts wherever you happen to be when finishing, you are a strain on the community and make our cities look worse. Stop it!

Side note: CNN just did a story about a girl who was choking and was saved by her teacher. How many times has everyone seen that happen, experienced it, or known someone that it happened to? It is quite common. Considering a war started a few hours ago in Lebanon, at least 20,000 died in Myanmar, and gas prices hit an all time high again for the fourth straight day—you’d think they’d talk about something worthwhile? Slow news day? No—they just have mixed up priorities.

Don't forget to put the seat up

My cousin recently commented how men never put the toilet seat down in the bathroom. And how this makes men inconsiderate. But if we actually analyze bathroom etiquette I believe women are getting a far better end of the bargain.

If I use the bathroom after a woman who left the seat down I have to not only pick up the seat at the bottom end (which is grimy and germ-infested) but after going to the bathroom I have to put he seat back down (the end that the lady just sat on). That is a double-grab, or more specifically, a double-touch.

What does the woman have to do? Nothing. So who is inconsiderate? If we really want equality here I suggest women start putting the seat UP for men. That way both sexes are equally responsible for the others’ sanitation.

Political rhetoric is always relevant

History is a master of hindsight--so there will be hesitation. But still, it must be our conviction to make those difficult choices when on the doorstep of our future. We will only be held accountable for those lives we leave unaffected. Today then, even though difficult--let's dedicate our ambitions to not leaving any.