disappointment

as required by california state law, i went to a 2-hour sexual harassment training yesterday.

turns out it was sexual harassment awareness and prevention.

what a disappointment.

electoral

*this* is why my vote won't matter in this presidential election:

(this map was put together by liz green for her blog post, "looking for the magic number 270? turn your eyes to the state polls" for yahoo news.)

as many of us may not remember, the presidency is not decided by popular vote. it's decided by the electoral college. we vote on nov-4; they vote on dec-15 this year. the candidate who gets a majority of the electoral college votes wins, so we really only need to be concerned with what collection of states a candidate can put together to get to 270 (a simple majority; there are 538 total electoral college votes divvied up among the states as shown above).

which then just becomes a math game ...

(i know, "math" and "game" aren't usually used together in a sentence, and certainly don't usually denote anything fun ... but stick with me here.)

okay. come tuesday, i won't actually be voting for obama or mccain, i will be voting for my state's electors. california has 55 electors in the electoral college, the most of any state.

according to wikipedia, "electors are technically free to vote for anyone eligible to be president, but in practice pledge to vote for specific candidates and voters cast ballots for favored presidential and vice presidential candidates by voting for correspondingly pledged electors. ... the ticket that receives the most votes statewide 'wins' all of the votes cast by electors from that state."

what does that mean? except for in two states in the union, each state's electors are all or nothing. which means that whichever ticket wins a majority of the popular vote in the state, wins all of that state's electoral votes. so ... whichever ticket wins a majority of the popular vote in california, wins all 55 electoral votes. as few as 50% of the california population plus 1 person can vote blue and all 55 of my state's electoral votes go blue. hmmm.

which is why my state has usually been blue and will probably be blue for the foreseeable future. the same is true of states like utah (whose 5 votes almost always go red), texas (whose 34 votes also usually go red), and new york (whose 31 votes usually go blue).

as you can see, unless you live in one of the "swing states" (which are denoted as grey in the map above, and this year they are colorado, florida, indiana, missouri, nevada, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, pennsylvania, virginia, and new hampshire), the decision is generally already made for you. i hope you swing staters realize this and get out and vote; make your voice heard.

my intention is not to encourage a lack of participation in our country's election, nor an indifference or sense of disempowerment. i am frustrated with the way the system works. i can believe that when the electoral college was set up, it was necessary in order to conduct an efficient and effective election that provided for the interests of both the individual citizen and the states. i don't believe we need it now. i believe that we do not so much define ourselves as citizens of states, but as citizens of this country. i believe that the electoral college represents better the voices of states over the voices of individual citizens because i believe the system as it is now blocks my voice from being heard at all.

...

and i know that unless obama, mccain, and all the 538 members of the senate and the house of representatives read my blog and think i actually know something of which i speak, none of this ranting will matter. but i just can't hold it in any longer!

don't think less of me.

:P

please note that, yes, i am going to vote. despite all these frustrations, i believe that we should vote. i have already received my absentee ballot, which i am going to mail in tomorrow. as my mom always says, "if you don't vote, you don't have room to complain". and i like to complain! ha!

(ps -- if anyone has input or enlightenment to share with me as the necessity of the electoral college and the purpose for its existence in our nation today, i would really like to discuss. really.)

yes

in case anyone is looking for some info online about prop 8 here in california, here's a collection of vidoes and stuff i just got in an email. with the upcoming election, i thought i'd get this out there for anyone interested ...

yes on 8 youtube videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI-GjWY-WlA -- this is one of the best: proposition 8 in plain english (especially good for kids... and adults)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kKn5LNhNto -- 1st ad from protectmarriage.com (gavin newsom)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PgjcgqFYP4 -- 2nd ad from protectmarriage.com (i can marry a princess)

https://www.icontribute.us/protectmarriage/initiative/schools-web -- 3rd ad from protectmarriage.com (it's all about schools)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2JOe04h1pI -- ad showing the slippery slope of how marriage becoming everything to everyone will make marriage nothing to anyone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko2-EQss0V4 -- party a & party b spoof ad

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1815820715?bctid=1822459319
-- frc mini documentary on the parkers in massachusetts

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1352578267?bctid=1784553601
-- frc on black race vs. sexual preference

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1352578267?bctid=1784521903
-- frc parkers and wirthlin on massachusetts gay education

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1352578267?bctid=1749436976
-- frc about the importance of voting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puI4pfRB0w0 -- parkers in massachusetts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx-glEL5SHE -- uk warns us "don't follow our lead"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDwIy3mT1Po -- vote "yes to proposition 8" (same sex marriage) / part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXjrULY3RMw -- vote "yes to proposition 8" (same sex marriage) / part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsiZ3crfXXc -- vote "yes to proposition 8" (same sex marriage) / part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeUJd4y87iU -- support prop 8 - newt gingrich on judicial tyranny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjC4lQ90Sas -- governor romney on gay marriage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8EwbEh8EKo -- catholic bishop speaks in support of prop 102 (arizona)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_V76Gbrpys -- tom minnery of focus on the family introduces glenn stanton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZk5lew9vMA -- glenn stanton preface to his 10 questions and talks about how to engage this issue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL2MJ6hah-I -- glenn stanton question 1: how will my same-sex marriage hurt your marriage?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p81mkYOtJMU -- glenn stanton question 2: is same-sex marriage like interracial marriage?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEL0f2yuqLo -- glenn stanton question 3: where does it stop?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF6w2ILsyUA -- glenn stanton question 4: can't we have religious marriage and civil marriage?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9cYmAGbREA -- glenn stanton question 5: what public good does marriage provide?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5QYnJwQttQ -- glenn stanton question 6: is it healthy to experiment with children?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8P3x0UsTNQ -- glenn stanton question 7: haven't experts said same-sex parenting is fine?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx3IqxKFCp4 -- glenn stanton question 8: how do we know what kind of families kids need?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDOJdIQbGIE -- glenn stanton question 9: are the needs of kids or adults more important?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YmONdhwXCg -- glenn stanton question 10: does gender really matter?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiX5APGCroU -- young adult video shown during prop 8 fireside with elders ballard, cook & clayton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewXaVmfOj2w -- elder nelson on marriage

http://www.preservingmarriage.org/videos.html -- lds church's multi-media site on prop 8. this has lots of really good videos from church members

http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/media/mediaplayer.swf?media=http://broadcast.lds.org/newsroom/video/flv/California_Broadcast_8Oct08.flv&type=FLV -- excerpts from the proposition 8 broadcast for california latter-day saints, october 8, 2008

websites

- http://www.blogger.com/www.ProtectMarriage.com

- http://www.blogger.com/www.Focusonsocialissues.org

- http://www.blogger.com/www.JohnRankin.org

- http://www.blogger.com/www.Standformarriage.com

the price of gas

when i left for chicago on oct-12 (2 weeks ago, today), the price of gas at my nearby shell was $3.37. on the way home from church today, i saw this:

yes, friends, we have broken $3 in california. the good way. that's a decrease of 38 cents in 2 weeks. yea! that's more than an 11% decrease! in 2 weeks! annualize that and you get ... well, something only an accountant should know ... so i won't subject all y'all to it. just know that it's really good, okay?

what's the price of gas in your neck of the woods?

baby daddy

volkswagen is brilliant. as part of the marketing plan that was launched for the new routan, they have made available to the masses a very valuable tool that allows us to see into the future. no longer do we need to wonder what future children will look like. we can find out ahead of time. with vw's help ...

all you need to do is upload a picture of mom and a picture of dad. press a few buttons and -- pronto! -- insta-super-powers! you can look into the future!

after first hearing about this from a friend of mine, i wanted to help those near and dear to me, so i ran a few for some loved ones ...

eden & clint, your child due in january:

inge & jared, after dodidley gets a little bigger, he's gonna wanna be a big brother to this lil tike:

(hmm ... apparently this one is going to spend a lot of time out in the texas sun.)

after forwarding the above results to eden, she suggested that i use this see-into-the-future tool to my benefit. she suggested that i use multiple possible routan daddies to then be able to see which one would give me the best looking baby. then i can go after that guy ... which is a *perfect plan*!

and now i am asking for your help. i have "made babies" with several young men using this amazing vw technology. what i need from you is to help determine which of these is cutest and should thereby be my baby daddy. please leave me a comment and let me know which routan baby is cutest. i've withheld the daddies names so as not to sway your votes.

number 1: number 2:

number 3: number 4:

number 5: number 6:

number 7: number 8:

and thank you ahead of time: you will be helping future generations.

square one

i was ambitious when i first got hired here at grant thornton. within my first 3 weeks, i signed up for and paid the fees for all 4 sections of the cpa exam. and started taking them. my strategy: start with the easiest one first and work my way toward the hardest.

perhaps not the best strategy:

i passed BEC (economics, IT, and hodge-podge of leftovers), AUD (audit & attestation), and FAR (financial accounting) straight out of the gate.

REG (taxation) killed me again and again. and again. and again. ... and again. (please remember that, any of you that are thinking of asking me to help with your taxes this coming spring.)

and so this is where i stand:

back at square one. a clean slate. as if i haven't done anything yet. poised behind the starting line.

again.

ai ai ai.

wanted for murder

the suspect:

the victim:

times two.

yes, two black widows in my house.

found and killed both during one weekend.

productive weekend.

romance

(this story has been a long time coming, so hold on tight.)

the most romantic evening of my life was probably somewhere in the realm of "nerdiest evening" for most of all y'all normal people out there.

one day in early may, i was sitting at my client's office, working and minding my own business, when got a pleasant surprise. my phone buzzed and the following text message battle with an old friend ensued ...

the captain: christianna ... we need to talk.

me: what's up?

the captain: i posted something to your wall on facebook.

me: okay. lemme look at it.

the captain: fancy.

... i checked facebook and saw a somewhat long message that ended with "maybe i can take you to dinner next week sometime?" i responded via text.

me: dinner next week sounds great. actually, dinner anytime sounds good to me -- like to eat dinner at least once a week.

the captain: you are the awesomest. i think i owe you a year of dinners.

me: ha. that's a lot of dinners. just don't make me eat them all in one sitting. i'd just embarrass myself.

the captain: yeah, i don't want you to get fat. actually, you might die. i'll need to check with science on that though. also, i think you know exactly what i mean. i hope.

not really.

me: i don't want to die, so let me know when you hear back from science on that one. for now, i am going out of town on wed next week. so ... monday for dinner?

the captain: what about tonight? it'd have to be at 9:45 ish because i have to help fix someone's computer. but monday is still good.

me: tonight works better, actually. where do you wanna meet? or whatever?

the captain: don't wait to eat if you are hungry. we could probably just go get some ice cream cones from mcdonalds.

the captain: oh and i know this is very random but i can explain everything.

me: that works, too. you don't want to tell me what this is about? you okay?

the captain: i'm fine. i've had a rough week but i just think it's satan getting after me. no, wanting to see you is because i want to see you. i've been going the wrong direction for a year. sorry to be so deep or whatever.

ummm ... what does that mean? ...

me: okay. glad you're okay. i'll see you tonight. it *has* been way too long.

the captain: don't we know it.

and then i waited for the evening. totally and completely unsure of what was coming.

at around 930 i caught my first glimpse of what was coming as i opened the door and watched as a very anxious man walked up the drive trying desperately to pull *on* his red jacket. (as he was coming *into* the house? hmm, okay.) he got to the screen door and i was waiting for him there.

it was good to see him. i told him so.

i welcomed him into the house. this kid was nervous. apparently. he had some trouble mastering the function of the screen door, which, i know, is harder than it looks: guess not everyone is capable of timing it just right so as to *not* hit himself/herself in the face. so count yourself blessed and talented if you can.

having hit himself in the face with the screen door, the captain was rubbing his temple as he stepped across the threshold. but upon entering, he landed on me with a fabulous hug. after a little minute he asked, "hugging's good, right?" (p.s. little minute is a direct translation from the português minutinho. i haven't been able to shake that phrase in the past 4 years.)

"yeah, hugging's good."

we stood there a minute longer. then after the embrace that i didn't want to end, the captain took his red jacket off (hmm, okay) and asked to use the bathroom. i showed him the way and witnessed the second clue of his heightened nerves: as this young man walked past the bed to access the bathroom, he kicked the footboard (which is something i have done many a time), which tripped him and sent him headfirst to the ground (which i have *not* done many a time). oh, my goodness. i don't even know if i was able to contain my laughter. thinking back on it, though, i kinda hope i did, because, yeah.

the captain seemed to calm himself down a bit in there, because he came out more cool and collected. it was kinda late at that point, so we were going to just go grab some ice cream, but we just got to talking at the house.

i sat down on the couch and he asked, "can i sit by you?" okay, maybe he wasn't as cool and collected as i had thought. oh, well.

we talked for a while, just kinda catching up and other small talk. but soon he got a little more serious and was like, "well, i've known this for a long time ... and it was like a year ago when we first met. and i dunno, i kinda felt like there was something that could be there ... and then i was stupid and i went to idaho and got wrapped up in something that was really not a good relationship ...

"and you and i, we've been friends. and then i broke up with idaho and dated this other girl for a while back in february. but that wasn't right.

"and i was kinda wondering ... and i don't know if you liked me back then or what you think of me now ... but i was kinda wondering if there might be an opportunity for me to ...

"...

"maybe

"...

"have ... an opportunity?"

i had no idea what to say.

he continued, "i mean, i don't know what's going on with you at all right now ..."

as i processed all this information, the only thing that came out of my mouth was, "okay ..."

[stay tuned]

long awaited

sorry for the delay, guys ...

... you wouldn't believe how crazy busy my life is.

but ... better late than never ... right?

wha' happtened?

okay. i still haven't taken any good pictures of my new haircut to post ... so you're gonna have to settle for a listing of reactions thus far and just let your imagination run wild for another couple days. i promise to get something up here soon for ya.

sister: cute!

mom: i love it.

dad: you look like sandra dennis.

mom: who's sandra dennis? do you mean sandy duncan?

dad: ... you look like sandy duncan.

me: who's sandy duncan?

co-worker: oh my gosh. so cute!

co-worker: so you really did it? i love it!

friend: how do you do a cat call over text? looks really good.

co-worker: wow, it makes you look taller. [p.s. -- i was wearing 4-inch heels that day.]

co-worker: whoa. that's really different. like bad-break-up different.

joe wren [to my mom]: if she starts to think that she doesn't like it, you tell her that joe wren says it's cute.

co-worker: it makes you look ol-- uhh, more mature. yeah, now you look 24-ish. it definitely adds about 4 years. [p.s. -- i'm 28.]

co-worker: and i was just thinking, 'gosh, that girl looks like christianna.'

roommate: oh, my goodness! and i just invited a man i met on the plane over to have dinner because i told him you had long, blonde, beautiful hair!

sister: makes you look like mom.

nephew [pointing at my head]: wha' happtened?