Happy 2009 from Arizona!

Happy New Year everybody! Even though we consider ourselves proud Coloradans, Julia and I decided to be adventurous and spend our Christmas and New Year's week on a trip to Arizona, in which neither of us has spent extended time before.

We climbed the Grand Canyon, explored the eerily beautiful Mojave Desert, hiked along the beautiful trails in scenic Sedona, and witnessed some awesome animals in the Phoenix Zoo (you haven't lived until you've seen the multicolored splendor of a baboon's ass!). To top things off we spent New Year's eve in a festive block party on Tempe's Mill Avenue, meeting some cool new friends and seeing Styx (yes they are still alive, and their big 80s hair hasn't changed a bit) kick off 2009 in classic rock and roll fashion.

Julia has posted her photo album of our trip. I have posted my pictures too, grouped by days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, though I use a pretty cheap and simple camera that only stores 26 pictures and can't handle low light conditions (but it is extremely portable, fun, and convenient, which is why I carry it around).

We hope you had a fun and safe New Year's, and let's all have a 2009 full of adventure, goodwill, and a sensible work/life balance!

Change From a Fuzzy Distance

One of the most exciting things I experienced during this election season was the chance to see Barack Obama, up close, in a Pueblo rally.

I took the day off from work to drive a couple hours south to this Colorado town in which we had never previously spent time. I was surprised at how... gosh darned All-American it was. I drove past the high school with its football team practicing, with smokestacks from struggling factories silhouetted in the distance. It was a scene straight out of Friday Night Lights.

The rally itself took place in a honest to god State Fair, where I could see people of all ages, races, and backgrounds streaming in to see our next president (we hoped!). Everyone waiting in the long line to the rally was excited, and I made friendly conversation with a smart, politically active woman who worked in Boulder and a good natured kid wearing a Chuck Norris T shirt who went to the local high school. It was inspiring to be around all this great energy, and when we finally got to see Obama, walking to the podium just meters in front of us, the whole fairground practically shook from the cheering and excitement.

Unfortunately Julia couldn't come to the rally, but I did take a bunch of pictures, which I have posted to my new photo album site (by the way I definitely recommend using Google's free Picassa application to organize and host your photos on the web - it's really convenient, and again, free!). My pictures aren't very good, and they can't capture the feeling of actually being there, but I do attempt to inject some narration via the captions.

Thank you Colorado...

... for contributing to Obama's commanding victory, and for playing a leading role in the Democratic redrawing of the electoral map in the Mountain West. For that matter, Julia and I are proud of our former home, Florida, for going Blue - something I didn't think would happen in my lifetime.

Last night clearly marked a turning point in American history, and we feel privileged to have been a part of it. It reaffirms my faith in the intelligence and higher expectations of American voters today. As evidenced by last night's results, we respond positively to a candidate who speaks to us as an adult, and who treats complex issues with the respect and intelligent analysis that they deserve. We reject - resoundingly - a campaign that simplifies issues into "us vs. them" and tries to persuade us through fear and xenophobia.

Julia and I ate dinner at Sengers on the Fax, a classy but casual restaurant traditionally frequented by yuppy Democrats such as ourselves ;). We drank Miller lite while cheering along with the other patrons, every time Wolf Blitzer would announce another Democratic victory on the large screen TVs. Afterward we crossed the street to the hipster hangout Rockbar, which morphed into "Barackbar" for one night. They set up chairs for viewing CNN while serving free Heinekens to people wearing Obama gear. Everyone was in high spirits, even the Sarah Palin-costumed cross dresser we sat next to (she stayed in character, chiding us every time we cheered Obama).

When Barack came out to give his beautiful and moving victory speech, there was hardly a dry eye in the crowded room. When he was done, the DJ lay down some appropriately Obama-themed dance grooves, to which everyone was more than happy to shake their booties. It was a great way to share our enthusiasm with like-minded Democrats and the perfect way to release some steam after a seemingly interminable and nail-biting general election.

Vote Early

Also, if you live in Colorado and don't have a mail-in ballot, you can (and should!) vote at an early voting location. The lines and wait could be very long on election day, especially due to the large number of constitutional amendments on our ballot.

Find your early voting location here:
http://co.barackobama.com/page/content/coloradoearlyvote
and vote today!

Voting in Colorado 2008

Julia and I just sent in our mail-in ballot for the 2008 election in Colorado, which contains a staggering number of constitutional amendments. If any of you live in our great state, I'd recommend coloradoballot.net as a progressive source of information on what each amendment means and recommendations on how to vote on them.

We only disagreed on Amendment 51 (Increased Funding for the Disabled) - we voted Yes, because we believe it to be a worthy and underfunded cause.

Whatever you do, don't forget to vote (for Obama of course)!

who knew ecuadorians are hip hop?

I could easily take a moment to focus on all the negative things going on right now, but I will abstain. Actually, I think I'll talk about my brother-in-law Tod.

One of the things that attracted me to Drake was his genuine love for animals. Though his webcomic might lead you otherwise, you should see the way he talks to our cats and his jubilant smile when showing me an adorable animal photo that's made it to Yahoo's most emailed photos. As if it's the first photo he's ever seen with so much ridiculous cuteness.

Drake's dedication to animals pales in comparison to Tod's. See, Drake and I talk TO our cats, but Tod actually translates for us. In a recent visit he said, "Domingo likes to be pet while he eats" and "Amira wants you to follow her." Tod is a kitty whisperer.

Last year he took a huge step and left his cushy, NYC tech-job (he worked for J Crew and did freelance writing reviewing video games - how cool is that?!!) and joined the Sea Shepherds in the Pacific Ocean to protect whales from illegal Japanese hunters. As much as we knew the dangers involved Drake and I still encouraged him to 'go for it!.

It wasn't long after returning from his Sea Shepherd adventure that he set off on a new journey in the Galapagos to save and socialize animals that are both threatening and being threatened in this fragile ecosystem. His first blog post to SuperVegan was put up this week and talks about the groups he's volunteering for. There are also vivid photos of the works he's doing with the animals.

I became especially intrigued with his new adventure after his first email noted, "I´m probably doing a lot of medical stuff that you´re probably not allowed to do if you´re not in a third world country, and I´m currently covered in feces at this hip hop obsessed Ecuadorian internet cafe."

What a great, yet gross, statement!

At a time when my desk job is getting the best of me, these little glimpses into Tod's (somewhat) selfless adventure remind me that following one's passions can lead to the most success and content.

Of course this altruistic journey of his doesn't come with a paycheck so my support for him also comes in the form of a plug for his personal donations page. Kitty food is hard to come by.

and..... cut!

The DNC is over and the city has settled back into normalcy. We had a fantastic time just being in the center of it all. Paparazzi were everywhere and for a short time Denver was very starstruck. I have to admit I was even strolling the streets with my eyes peeled for someone famous. Annette Benning, John Turturro, and others were reported at a restaurant I frequent for happy hour. Hillary and friends were staying at the hotel next to my office. Spike Lee was hanging out at a local Mexican restaurant my friend's boyfriend works. My coworker was making a phone call in the lobby of our building and Sean Penn walked right by with no entourage and a single cigarette. Ohhh, it was all so cool!
I really enjoyed all the merchandise being sold along the streets. There were Barack action figures, a medley of pins, and shirts of all sorts. Drake and I couldn't help ourselves and bought the Obama, "That's my DJ" shirt.
The Civic Center was used exactly for its purpose. Activists took turns on the stage chanting their messages while others set up in the grass. Someone's slight attempt to recreate the Boston Tea party made me laugh as the tea didn't even color the entire fountain.
One night we went to the park next to our house for a Young Dems party. The chance to see JJ Abrams was our real reason for going as he was on the agenda. We didn't see him but stayed through to hear Joey Pants (from Sopranos) struggle to relate his diagnoses of chronic depression to the importance of health care (uhhh.. vote Demorcrat right?).
I've uploaded our DNC photos. I know there's tons of cop photos but as Drake pointed out to me, "people take pictures of what is out of the ordinary."

As a side note, I also uploaded some photos we took during our visit to Charlotte, NC to visit Drake's parents.