I hadn't been to the dentist in six years.

(i love ducks + geese.  don't know why.  at park.)

Okay, seven.

I know.

I have had some pain in a molar: Can you say root canal? Well, you don't need to, because my teeth are just fine! Mostly. The pain was a little mystery crack, easily fixed. 

Essentially, I went to the baby dentist. They have Otis Spunkmeyer cookies, fountains and soothing music. Plus, everyone treats you like a bff, and you get your very own t.v.! I watched the food network, which we don't get, not having tv and all. Then, I slid down a rainbow into a meadow of unicorn's breath.  Or, maybe that was the laughing gas.  Anyways, it was dreamy.

(b being all kinds of present + some charming old stairs.)

Then, we went to a park and took some pictures. Some good, some bad; I can't always figure out how to change what it is I'm focusing on. I'm a little confused about aperture as well. There were some times that the light was just breathtaking; however, the photo came out either super dark or super bright. I believe aperture has something to do with light? It seems I could change this and get the beautiful shot that my eyes saw into the eyes of the camera.

(goose @ river in the park.)

After that, I was at the gym (yes, I went inside!) watching Oprah, and it occurred to me: Tomorrow, Barack Obama is going to become our president. It is a work day for me, in that I don't teach class but get to work on all the work I need to work on; we'll see how much work I get done. I believe some will be surprised by the heightened emotions of this historic, historic day. I feel teary just thinking about it, and that is just me; I truly cannot manage to mentally put myself in the place of any of my friends and co-workers who are African American.  The emotional impact this must have upon their entire families must be indescribable.  

Let's face it, sometimes the rest of us take it for granted that the effects of racial discrimination are not a thing of the past.  It took teaching and living in a diverse, urban area for me to really and truly get (to the point where I am now, that is) the cross generational rippling effects of slavery, pre-civil rights, racism. This is momentous, and merely the beginning. 

MLK day obviously held special significance, both because of the racial barrier our country busted through but also because we have a service-minded president again (Kennedy: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.").

It is beautiful. It feels beautiful. No one can stop us now. Peace and beauty and goodness win, all the time. If they aren't winning, the game isn't over. I can barely believe we are where we are. I feel so very blessed.

(gang of geese.  crips, i think.)

  

Makes me think of my attitude a couple of years ago, and less, to be honest.  I've joked that when I travel overseas, I'll wear an "I heart Canada" shirt.  And yes, I'm ashamed of some of the things our country's leadership has done.  But now, I'm also a little ashamed by my ship-jumping thinking.  I'm so proud to be American, because of the ideals inherent to our country.  Because of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Liberty Bell.  Instead of wanting to jump ship when things like corporate government, corrupt government and shoddy leadership in general happen, the person I want to be doesn't jump ship but gears up in a positive & productive way.  

In conclusion, a recovering fair-weathered friend will soon proudly travel as an "out" American citizen.

Another thought occurred to me at the gym:  I don't know if I told you, but I just cut out four hours of my work week.  This means that on Tues/Thurs I can leave at 3:45 instead of 5:45.  That's huge!  While watching Oprah on the elliptical, I thought, "I can be here Tuesdays and Thrusdays by 4:00 to watch Oprah!  Holy heck, that's exciting.

Barack Obama, actually going inside the gym, no root canals.  Somebody pinch me.