This month a new magazine launched in Reno called Reno Tahoe Tonight, an arts and culture showcase full of local talent, including myself.  The website saw some issues/delays a first, but now is up and functioning well. So her I am, pimping out not just the new magazine and website, but myself, and the hard work I put in to this piece. My piece is very personal- not a feature about a movie, or a bar, or team- it's a different opportunity for me to write more creatively and see where things can take me.

Please check it out, read, comment??

Reno Tahoe Tonight: How Burning Man Changed My Life

Bearings: My couch What are Tags?: awesomeness, linky link, my life, only in nevada, reno tahoe tonight, victory!, writing

Too much happened for me to give you a real idea of what it's been like to work so hard for the Obama campaign these past couple of months, and honestly, I worked with so many people who have been at this for FAR longer than I was, so really this victory is theirs, but I would like to try and tell you about last night...

You should have seen my house- it was a staging location for the last five days, and I was the Location Director.  Over that time period we had 50-60 people a DAY in and out volunteering to talk to people, hang door-hangers, knock on doors, drive people the polls, etc... At 6:45 we called all of our canvassers back and every time a group came through the door we had rounds of applause and cheers and hugs going around through the people crowding the family room, living room, and kitchen anxiously watching our tvs...  No matter what happened we knew we had put up the best fight possible, we had all made sacrifices and given everything we could-everyone here was a hero. 

We were flipping between CNN, BBCA, Comedy Central, and MSNBC, practically DYING to hear some news on returns as the polls closed on the east coast and across the nation.  There was definitely trepidation- we all watched nervously and reassured one another when McCain received the early lead (the only time that night it would turn out), but quickly we saw Obama pulling in state after state.  We still weren't certain, we weren't even confident, we were buffered by caffeine, carbohydrates and hope. We would cheer after every additional electoral vote gained, but still returned to near-silent angst as we kept our eyes on the states we knew would make or break the election. Then Pennsylvania went blue.  The cheers that erupted from the crowd were deafening, and as the stations increased Senator Obama's electoral count, we all saw very suddenly that the victory we'd been working so hard for was actually within reach.  One after the other the states began reporting numbers, and the votes began piling up faster than anyone could have anticipated.  Ohio went Blue, and it was all over.  There was screaming and jumping, hugs and lifting of people off the ground.  John McCain gave a gracious and elegant concession speech, reminding us of the proud, passionate American he is.  We had done it. There was no way Obama would fail to achieve the magic 270.  After the initial burst of excitement and flurry of phone calls and texts to loved-ones near and far, we settled again, anxious to hear just how many votes the new President-Elect would earn, waiting to see if what we had done here, the unprecedented effort we had put forth in Nevada, would amount to anything.  He didn't need those five electoral votes, but we did.  And we got them.  Nevada went blue with an overwhelming margin causing yet another eruption of cheers and elation, possibly louder than all the others.  The numbers kept climbing, states we never expected to win went to our candidate, and people cried, hugging each other tightly.  The crowd at my house began dispersing for the victory party.  As a few remaining volunteers who'd taken time off and driven here from San Francisco remained we toasted our friends, colleagues, and our new President with some homemade hard cider, and awaited his victory speech.  The speech, as I'm sure everyone will know and remember, was moving, it brought tears to my eyes, and those of the men surrounding me.  This great and proud Nation had chosen a new leader, and had not given to terror, fear, or prejudice.  

Afterwards, Russ and I attended the Victory Party at the Grand Sierra Resort, and I gave and received hugs from many people who I will likely never see again.  For me there is a bittersweetness to this victory- I am losing all those great and passionate people with whom I have spent so much time with over the past months, but I woke up today with a great sense of pride, and still hope, that we can once again prove our potential to be the greatest Nation on Earth.

Yes. We. Did.

Mind-set: accomplished What are Tags?: activism, awesomeness, barack obama, life, only in nevada, politics, victory!

I can't help but love him for addressing the President with the righteous anger that we should all carry.

What are Tags?: activism, awesomeness, news, politics, squee, victory!

I'm actually having a very productive day at work, despite what my posting may seem to indicate...


The country that was still under Apartheid until 1994 first to acknowledge equal rights for all couples- South Africa has passed a law legally recongnizing marriages and civil unions between ANY two persons, while allowing ministers who morally disagree to opt out of performing such ceremonies.

Mind-set: contemplative Tunes: Phones ringing What are Tags?: victory!, work

WE WON WE WON WE WON WE WON WE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I would have updated much earlier but I was already having trouble textmessaging whille jumping up and down- let's just say I don't think my laptop would appreciate the jostling as much as my phone did.  OMG ITALY FUCKING ROCKS! VIVA ITALIA  VIVA CALCIO!  YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  PS Russ rooted for FUCKING FRANCE!  argh
That's all about the World Cup for four years- let's just say, I had so very much fun watching my team win and win and win and, for AN ENTIRE MONTH, win...  Huzzah.  Also- I'm going next time, damnit!  If not to the Cup itself, I'm going to cheer for my team IN ROME!  There have got to be some SLAMMIN' parties there right now...

We saw Pirates last night and that was a load of fun, despite the fact that the girl who was there to save seats for our group, saved two, one for herself and one other.... there were 8 of us.  Anywho.  Very silly movie, unfortunately the sequel curse struck with the trite manipulation of already thin characters ~glares at Kiera Knightley~ and the tedious repetition of formerly clever jokes.  I mean, Johnny Depp was spot on, and the movie had intriguing characters and such, but the Matrix-esque two-movies-one-story thing was a little disappointing, and worrisome.  Some scenes were stretched longer than need be to play off their sheer silliness.  But we shall see what happens in 2007.  =)  Plan ahead, and pack the Rum.

ANyway, we're being terribly lazy as it is right now, watch some stuff about pirates (hmm, wonder why that's on every channel?) and now I'm watching Gladiator (shut up, it's a good movie) and listening to the rain while the parkinglot of our apartment complex floods.  

Mind-set: Calcio e` vita! Tunes: Russ' "Coneheads" quotes What are Tags?: awesomeness, geekdom, movie reviews, victory!, weather

Today I dropped the Mustang off at RDW Automotive to have my spankin' new interior installed.  Once the seats and carpet are done, all that is left for me:
1. Driver's Door Panel (I have this)
2. Dashboard paint (I have this)
3. Dashpad
4. Instrument Bezel (I have this)
5. Upohlster the center console
6. Upohlster random panels, etc.
7. Replace Headliner

So- Not too much work.  =)  And, I'm supposedly getting a spiffy new engine for her this summer.  That and a Vinyl top will make my baby complete.  YAY!!!!!! Nobody probably understands- but looking back on my purchase 5 years ago, and the car accident that almost totalled her 3 years years ago, I really couldn't ever imagine this happening.  SO FREAKING EXCITED to see my baby- supposed to have her back before Saturday- maybe as soon as Wednesday.  =) YAY!

The rest of my day was uneventful.  Russ was awesome and left me the rodeo for after I dropped my baby off and today was my little sister's 20th Birthday.  I got her a pool  =) and my parents got her a computer cabinet and chair.  My poor dad had to deal with Office Max because the one that he bought was supposed to be "complete" and "undamaged", but was actually missing all of the hardware, and one of the sides was BROKEN IN HALF.  So he had to go down there and take care of things.  Thus- I am the furniture assembling QUEEN.  And I'm dirty.  But it looks nice, and my sister was happy.

W00T
Yes, I rock, lest ye all forgot.

Bearings: Village at Wildcreek, Sparks, NV Mind-set: chipper Tunes: NIN What are Tags?: birthday!, geekdom, mustang, russ, victory!

Yesterday I graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political science and a minor in Criminal Justice. Russ also earned his Bachelor of Sciences degree in Computer Science with a minor in Math.

Then there was much partying, and lots of people, lots and lots of people... and 10+ gallons of alcohol... So yeah... I slept at my parent's house and when I got up this morning, there were only 2 gallons or less of beer left... heehee! We partied like it was 1999, yo, and if you missed it, we missed you. Thanks for all the best wishes.

I will not be moving away, I am not quitting my job, we are not eloping, we're just going to work, save money, plan a wedding, and see where life takes us next.

What are Tags?: awesomeness, diploma, geekdom, russ, school, victory!

YO! COLLEGE Graduation! Saturday Morning- at UNR for the boring part.


BUT! If you want to have a GREAT FREAKING TIME! With lots of food and beer, be at my parents house between 2 and 8pm to shake what your momma gave you! Call me or message me if you need directions or whatever!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mind-set: ecstatic What are Tags?: awesomeness, diploma, victory!

Ok- so now that I'm able to form sentences... My friend Colby is going to med school and he got in to not only his 2nd choice school (my father's alma mater) but also his FIRST CHOICE school in Canada! SERIOUSLY yo! He gets to go to his first choice school, AND it's cheaper... YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



ON top of this spectacular news... My very good friend Brieanna, who has been an aspiring author for as long as I've known her (since fall 1997, y'all) is getting PUBLISHED! An EPublisher is buying ALL of her books, and I mean multiples! They'll be available for pay download on the net at first, and then published traditionally. This girl SERIOUSLY writes these great fantasy novels, and even WHOLE SERIES... My friends and I used to BEG to be allowed to read them as she was writing them... and I haven't read them since then, but she's been fine-tuning and editing them... I'm so freakin' excited. So keep your eyes pealed, because I will be pimping the HELL out of her books once they're available, and likely buying multiple copies, especially once their in print.

What are Tags?: awesomeness, good news, victory!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What are Tags?: victory!, weirdness