The Personal: Life Plans & Vacation

( I obviously wrote this when I was in Kauai - big think it's still worth sharing - I'm back now; more to come soon)

So I'm here! This island is even more beautiful than I remembered and I still can't believe I am spending 3 weeks here. It's been 3 days, my skin is a little darker, my feet are a lot smoother from all the sand abrasion - which I love!

This morning was probably the most amazing moment in time I've ever spent. At first it wasn't easy... I had resigned myself to the possibility that snorkeling simply would never be my "sport" ....Jeremy was patient, and convinced me to just keep trying. So I did. GOOD THING!!! Because there was a whole world going on under my feet while I was swimming around the ocean in the past 2 days. We saw huge fish of all different sizes, and these funny little yellow and black ones seemed to really like me - I think it's because I was using a long noodle like floating helper...(don't laugh, it wasn't water wings - just a Styrofoam thing in case I might get tired - and yes I was the only one using one....except for the really nerdy couple who wore wet suits in 85 degree tropical weather)

ANY WAY....I was so excited by everything I saw - it was like swimming in an aquarium-and I felt like I was a voyeur - looking into a world where I wasn't invited, really---but the fish didn't seem to mind.

THEN....Jeremy was swimming to my right and I looked over at him - Just in time to see a GIANT turtle RIGHT NEXT to him...I freaked out - in a good way....grabbed his had and pointed. The turtle was majestic and slow as he swam by and we able to swim right with him. Jer was braver than I and could almost touch him (but he didn't 'cause you aren't supposed to do that)...I kept a distance at about 10 ft. He swam so slow and graceful it was amazing and he/or she...was HUGE! We could see the barnacles on his body and occasionally he moved his head looking back as if to say.."come on" or maybe "hey, leave me alone." ...here's a picture of him from a far:

Anyway it was great...


So now we are planning our days for the rest of the trip which has lead me to this blog....as we plan out our days fairly meticulously - although leaving room for adventure I wonder if this is the way I/we should plan out our lives. We have only a few more days left (well I have 2 more weeks - but Jer. only a few more days) on this journey...and we know exactly when it will end. We had decided what we want to do and see before we leave this island and have left plenty of room for spontaneity along the way. Tomorrow we will hike, visit an old town and a different beach...but if we meet someone new, or happen upon an interesting trail - we'll take it and see what happens. We don't HAVE to stick to the plan, but we have a rough outline.

Seems a good metaphor for life -however cliche....I think I spend too much of my time in the unknown minutes - which have proved to be wonderful --- although I think I'm simply lucky.....so could use some more consciousness that this could end...this whole thing and so maybe I need a few things that I will do -- no matter what -- BUT if I'm derailed along the journey -will courageously check it out.

The Personal: Heading Out

This is where I will be for the next few weeks! ( i took this picture last year) Yes...FEW weeks. I'm heading out to Kauai, Hawaii tomorrow and will not be back until December 8th! Unheard of, I know! I'm so sick of those Brits who go on "Holiday" and are gone for months at a time - so I'm taking my "Amercian Holiday" which would normally be about 2 days - and extending it to 3 weeks. Most of my time will be spent right here:

Yes that is me in that very spot last year....

For part of the time I hope to be here:
Anyway - I'm out--- Jeremy and I will be there together for the first week, then he's comin' back to Seattle to run the marathon (he's an over acheiver but, whatever) - and my family will join me at the end of the month. I am very excited -- obviously about this trip. I hope that it will bring some much needed relaxation and perspective to my life. I have a lot of hikes planned, some yoga (what good liberal wouldn't do some yoga on a beach vacation?) - lots of reading and mostly sippin' cocktails and watching sunsets.

I will try to blog from there - but lets be honest-- I shouldn't.

There are some BIG BIG things happening for me in January in regards to politics and work - so please come back then...because really I'll be more diligent about bloggin' then because I will have soooo much to say. I will be in the heart of things the start of the new Legislative Session when Nanc takes the wheel and creates some much needed change in this country -- I am so excited to see who will be the Majority Leader as well...Murtha, for sure will bring some Spice to the new year...I can hardly stand it all!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving - Give Thanks, it's good for you.

Best.

Politics and the Personal: Democracy Works!

This is a photograph from the Seneca Falls Convention, July 19th, 1848.

The Seneca Falls Convention held in New York was the first women's rights convention held in the United states, and the start of the Women's movement in this country. It was only 158 years ago that the first spark of possibility that women MIGHT be able to vote came to pass. My birthday is July 19th so I immediately locked this event in my brain when I learned of it in the 6th grade - (thank you Mr. Growth). ..( i know....i was a bit of a self centered 6th grader).

SO...why do I bring up the Seneca Falls convention now? Well - besides the fact that it was on the same day I was born - The convention was the start of something - the beginning of women participating in this wonderful thing we call Democracy. It's inspiring to me to know what these women did so that I can vote today ....and I did!

I just returned from the elementary school up the street where I was proud to fill in each and every bubble on my ballot. When I got home I turned on the television to learn that the Democrats are sweeping these mid-terms - the first thing I thought was, AH! DEMOCRACY WORKS!!

And it does...so much for voter apathy and lazy Americans who don't care. Turns out we do care and when the country wakes up (as we have) and takes action, Democracy actually works! I am inspired by the results of this election and for the first time in a long time I feel hopeful.

I believe Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Katy Stanton and all the women who fought so that women have the voice they deserve in our Democracy are smiling down on us today as we celebrate the new Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi-only 2 short spots away from the President....and perhaps only 2 short years away from a woman President of the United States.

Thank you ladies!