How We Survived a Republican Fundraiser - Part 2

So Ash & I got all dressed up and headed downtown to meet up with his boss and some other co-workers for the Governor's Ball last Friday. I successfully found something to wear...the jewelery ending up being the biggest pain in the ass (thank you, Banana Republic for only making expensive bracelets INFANTS can wear!) But I think we looked pretty snazzy.

Anyway, we got there and found the bar (complete with sparkling apple cider and sprite on full display... silly Utah), found Ash's boss, got our picture taken by a row of flags, and headed to our table.

Ash, his boss and his other boss (who he calls 'the bish')

Unfortunately, I have to admit the night wasn't as craptastic as I had hoped (you know, for the sake of the good old blog). After surviving an annoying, washed up news anchor as the emcee, the Governor basically just got up on stage and kissed all of the corporate sponsor's' asses. Then they gave money to the Utah Food Bank. No political speeches, just thank you's and a hokey story about how the Governor evidently still shops for his own groceries yet still doesn't get recognized correctly at the supermarket ("Man, you sure do look like the Governor!").

The Governor came around to our table and thanked us all for coming. Ash actually fist bumped him. It was funny. After that, I can't really remember what he said to us because I was trying really hard not to laugh too hard about the fist bumping.

After that, we finished up our dinner (it was OK, not the best food I've ever eaten) and then the 'program' began. A slew of Utah-native, former Dancing with the Stars and American Idol contestants did a melange of spooky, scary Broadway tunes that were actually very good and entertaining. Ash couldn't get "Puttin' on the Ritz" out of his head afterwards and I came away really, really wanting to see Wicked.

Oh, I almost forgot....the funniest part was when they performed Michael Jackson's Thriller -- the singing and the dancing -- and the Michael Jackson stand-in kept doing this weird fake crotch grab instead of just going all the way with it. It was like someone was all "Whoa people, we've got sparkling apple cider drinkers in the crowd....definitely don't REALLY grab your crotch."

-Emily :)

Protect Insurance Companies PSA

Protect Insurance Companies PSA

I'll keep my opinions to myself at this point since I'm really supposed to be working right now. :)

-Emily :)

The first President I actually voted for...

Seems like everyone has been posting about how Obama being sworn in as president made them feel and how great it is (Tish & Kim did two great ones)...which I totally agree with 100%. But since it's already been done...I'll save the sappy stuff and I think I'm going to post my personal wish list for Obama. Because, ya know, he's expected to do all things for all people. And, I'm a punk of the 'entitlement generation'.

Dear President Obama:

1. Just for 2008, could I get a one time tax credit equal to the losses in my 401(k)? Maybe even just a percentage of those losses? I know I don't retire for another 40 years, but it would really make me feel better right now.

2. Ashford respectfully requests you come to our house just to give him a high five. Oh, and if you could teach Helena to fist bump while you're here, that would be sweet.

3. That $300 billion dollar infrastructure investment you keep pitching would be awesome. Daddy needs some more road projects to bid on out here in Utah.

4. I really hope you get to addressing our health care system (and not just providing everyone with more insurance options). Unfortunately, I know this falls behind in the priority list...but once you get the economy back on track, out of at least one war and restore peace in the middle east, maybe you'll be able to make some progress.

5. This isn't really a wish persay, but just so you know, I'm liking what I'm seeing so far: economic stimulus (although it's a little disheartening that we're not sure it will work), and accountability for those funds in the future, undoing a bunch of Bush's secret executive orders, and taking the first steps to close Guantanamo. Good job. Keep it up. And congrats on getting to keep your Blackberry. A fight worth fighting for sure.

-Emily :)

My own little billboard...

A little inspiration for the historic events that will transpire tomorrow:

(Read: I'm 72 years younger than John McCain).

Seriously, have you ever seen a better t-shirt?!?

But all politics aside, people, just go out and vote for who you believe in. And let's just all hope we know who the next president will be by Wednesday and not 2 months from now. It's not humanly possible for me to watch any more CNN than I already have been the past month or so.

-Emily :)

Making History

Ash & I just got done watching Barack O-Fucking-Bama's presidential nomination acceptance speech. As cheesy as it is, I've gotta say that guy makes me tear up tear up a bit. Ash goes more of the goose bump route. But I think he hit that speech out of the park. So exciting. I'm going to be majorly depressed if he loses in November, but I've got a good feeling. The last two elections were so very depressing. Momentum is on our side.

And I know this might sound politically superficial, but how cute are his kids!?! I just love how they're on the world stage right now and are totally oblivious to it - yelling into microphones to talk to their dad via satellite, picking up streamers as they walk off the stage in front of 80,000 people...so great that they're able to keep on being real kids.

In keeping with the political spirit, here's a couple of articles and a website that are pretty funny. Feel free to discuss below! :)

www.thingsolderthanmccain.com - All I can really say is: So freaking hilarious.

This is a link to a top ten list of both Obama & McCain's favorite songs. Hopefully this isn't too old of a story...the lists came out a couple of weeks ago. The 'youngest' song McCain picks is over 30 years old. I hope when I'm 75 I can at least think of a song in the last, oh, DECADE that I really like enough to put a nationally publicized list. And Obama picks a song that was written about him. Even if you really like it, maybe pick something else for humility's sake? I wonder what Joe Biden's list looks like.

-Emily :)

What exactly do ya 'do', here?

I saw a disturbing / funny news story this morning on CNN. Jeanne Moos did a story on the computer skills of McCain, Obama and George Bush. (Watch it here).

The gist of the story, if you don’t have time to watch it, is that McCain doesn’t know how to use a computer, he has his wife help him. Obama is fairly competent. George Bush seems to have his own set of issues (surprise!) with using and referring to technology in general. My favorite line in the story is when he says "you can go on the Internets..." during a speech.

But back to McCain. Really? Computer ILLITERATE? I understand that he has been a very important political figure for a very long time and probably has better things to do than surf the Internet and people to do other computer-related tasks for him, but seriously? If you’re campaigning to be the President of the United States, shouldn’t you at least learn enough to get by? And I know, he’s really old (check out http://www.thingsyoungerthanmccain.com/ for a few laughs) and that a lot of 72-year-olds don’t use computers…but many do…and as the older woman in the CNN story said…IT’S NOT THAT HARD!

I’m not sure about you all, but I want someone to be president who is a superior intellectual being to more than 90% of the general population. I want someone who I feel is at least smarter than me. That would include having decent computer skills. Something I think most of us can agree is essential in today’s society. There's no programming necessary, but one should know how to check e-mail and look something up on the Internet and maybe create a Word document or Excel spreadsheet or two for Christ sake. If Presidents don't use computers, do we really need a President?

Maybe this is a dirty little secret of politicians everywhere. Kind of scary, I think.

One more reason we've gotta vote, people!!!

-Emily