Blue and the Flu

For the first time in a long time, I find myself in complete agreement with Bono and U2 - it IS a beautiful day! The reason? The donkeys are back, baby! For those who still don't get it, I will dumb it back down to the normal 6th grade level (ha ha). Since I first voted in college until today I have voted Democrat. I do consider myself a Democrat, although I would categorize myself as "center - leaning left."

Believe it or not, I actually sort of liked Bush when he was first campaigning against Gore and was tempted to vote for him. I didn't, thank goodness, but I considered it. The reason, of course, was that he ran his campaign at the time on a "center - leaning right" platform that resonated just fine with me. But after he was elected and into his second term, the President and this country has been slowly but surely moving farther and farther right. To the point where I really wasn't recognizing this country anymore. And I wasn't alone. When people outside America pick Bush as a greater threat to world peace and stability then Kim Jong CrazyPants, then something definitely went wrong somewhere.

So today I am glad because the Democrats have regained control of Congress and finally the "sleeping Giant" has awoken. The Legislative branch of our government has a real responsibility to act as a check and balance against the Executive Branch, but it has been asleep at the wheel for far too long, rubber stamping everything and anything. The American people have had enough of it and I am glad. It's nice to see the Blues back in power. Hopefully the Reds get pushed back a bit.

In other news, today Erika and I are getting flu shots at my office. I DREAD shots and needles and blood and anything that even closely resembles it. As such, I have already pushed my deodorant past its breaking point today. What's funny is - like flying for me - the anxiety associated with getting a shot is actually MUCH worse then the shot itself. I have been trying to help myself today by staying busy and reminding myself that the whole experience will be about 3 minutes long. Sure, confronting the needle will not be fun, but I know it will be over faster then it takes for me to get all riled up. The good news, too, is we are getting the shots at my work so I have extra incentive to not be such a complete wuss. I'll play it cool and then go outside and faint I am sure.

Wish me luck, and GO DEMOCRATS!