"In an interview with his younger sister, Doro Bush Koch, the president said he was forced to make several difficult choices during his tenure in the White House, but added "I darn sure wasn't going to sacrifice [my] values."" (cnn)

...but it isn't all about you. being president of a diverse country where the values are more varied than the colors of our skin means that in making decisions you need to consider more than just YOUR personal values. YOUR decisions affect not just the diverse population of the US, but the entire world.

i guess, for reasons of cognitive dissonance, i tried to ignore the sheer egoism and blatant stupidity of our president because, in my mind, there was no other choice in 2004. in order to sleep at night i needed to be able to reassure myself that the country is in more capable hands that it would have been if the ketchup heir won, and honestly to this day i stand by my decision.

but now as his term comes to a close, im realizing more and more how ridiculous a public figure he is and why foreigners have the idea that we're rich and dumb. hopefully the next 8 years will bring us an america we can actually be proud of instead of something we have to turn a blind eye to in order to live with ourselves.

symptoms of cultures shock...

taken from this source.

Sadness, loneliness, melancholy [check]
Preoccupation with health – multiple system complaints.
Insomnia, desire to sleep too much or too little.
Changes in temperament, feeling vulnerable-powerless [check]
Anger, irritability, resentment, unwillingness to interact with others [check]
Identifying with the old culture or idealizing the old country
Loss of identity. Feelings of inadequacy or insecurity [check]
Trying too hard to absorb everything in the new culture or country [check]
Unable to solve simple problems [check]
Lack of confidence [check]
Developing stereotypes about the new culture
Developing obsessions such as over-cleanliness
Longing for family [check]
Feelings of being lost, overlooked, exploited or abused [check]

at least there's an excuse, right?

hahahahaha...

i think japanese zoos may need better vets.

for thanksgiving...

i actually really really wish i was home. instead of wishing that though i need to concentrate on what i am thankful for, and the first thing i am thankful for is a reason to really really wish i was home.

oh how true...

"i love fall, and colder weather, but only if its by choice, because it loses its appeal the minute you do your first fishtail" (elise)

I FOUND IT!!!!!

the quote that sums up ergonomics perfectly:

"Ergonomic thinking considers the entire environment and how it supports and interacts with the human body. " (educase)

finally.

mother

ma.
how i love you
while you break my heart
because you don't.
power, control
all in your hands
though hiding behind the apathy
54 years in the making.

you give the love you never got
to all
except one
if you really love
you'll give the love you give us
right back 'atcha.

poops

father
unaware of how you touch
your silent power
making me better than before
letting me do
while keeping me close
baiting me with respect
and love.

regret
slaps you everyday
with every show and ashtray
understand i wish it too
but let it go
and follow through

something else is waiting
get off your ass
drop routine
and find it.

my own postsecret

i dont think about you that much any more, but when i do i dont feel anything, good or bad. i think my mind has blocked out any emotion tied to you because im ashamed that you made me feel the way you did. your unconscious behavior made me hate myself for almost a year and now im terrified to let anyone else in for fear i will go through it again.

the only thing i ever wanted from you was validation, but you are so damn self involved you couldnt even give me that.

postsecret

i think postsecret is one of the most ingenious social art projects of our time. it gives people an emotional and artistic outlet that can be shared anonymously with the world. it makes me think about if i have any secrets and makes me want to create cards for them, though not necessarily mail them to frank warren. theres only one side effect that worries me: should those secrets come out or are they better laying dormant in my subconscious, slightly bubbling to the surface every-so-often? im prone to being emotional (obvi.) and overthinking things, which makes me think the cognitive dissonance that keeps these secrets out of the lime light may be doing more good than harm.

something to ponder, no?

you never know what your friends associate you with...

"you were in my dream last night I ran up and gave you a hug at the salvation army" [kara capelli]