Hump Day Distractions

If you own a dog, you get it:)

1) It's f'ing freezing outside; 2) This is my first 5-day work week in a while; and 3) I'm in the middle of a good book that I really wish I could just curl up with and keep reading. Hump day like whoa... let's distract ourselves:)

* Simple and glamorous (like them).

* Humans are capable of amazing things (worth watching all the way through:)
* A really interesting article about our brains and why they make high school so damn challenging.

* The easiest way to "have" a lion for a pet.
* I'm an ENFJ. What are you? 

* Definitely the coolest Valentine's Day cards I've ever seen.

* It's freezing here so THIS obviously needs to get made and put in my belly. ASAP.

* I dare you not to smile.

* These people are my heroes. Way too much time on their hands, but heroes nonetheless.

On this day...

Inauguration Day 2009 - Before sunrise

... we, as Americans, have a lot to be proud of, and much to hope for.

Last time, I was there:)

"With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations." - Barack Obama, January 20, 2009

"As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead."

Here's to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the hope that our past trials will lead to a brighter future for all those who dare to dream.

We the people...

Voting. So hot right now.

I've spent a lot of time debating whether or not to get political on SeektobeMerry. As you might imagine, this girl (a Washington DC university attending (go GDubs!) poli sci major, who digs a good constitutional conversation and crushes on George Washington) is acutely focused on the current Presidential election and has some well researched and highly opinionated thoughts on all things Obama v. Romney. However, I have made the executive decision (a "Blogger Executive Order"!?) to make this a non-partisan space. Politics can be very divisive and with a mission to make you merry, I don't think my political opinion should be part of our conversation. 

But the fact is, I care. I care deeply and I think that you should too. Are the Democrats or Republicans a perfect embodiment of all your political beliefs? Probably not, but at the moment they're what we've got. Are either of these candidates going to make dramatic changes to your everyday life? Again, unlikely, but their actions will impact you and the actions they each intend to take are VERY different. I think you should be informed and you should exercise your right to have an opinion and cast a vote (a right which people fight to the death for in other nations). Your vote isn't going to fix the economy, end discrimination or stop terrorism, but it is a tiny piece of the puzzle that you get to be as an American citizen (and we all know that puzzles with missing pieces are the WORST). So this fall, take a moment to educate yourself on where these two candidates stand on issues that you feel passionately about. Few of us will have time to know every detail (lord knows I'm trying!) but we can think about things that have meaning to us (education? financial reform? gay rights? the environment? student loans?) and cast a vote for the candidate who comes closest to representing our beliefs on those issues. We the People must always believe in the possibility of a more perfect union, and we must do what we can to achieve it. VOTE!

* To check your voter registration status, find your local polling place or request an absentee ballot, click HERE.