Clintonite Part: I don't even know anymore

Guess who is coming to Kentucky on Friday?



I'm not kidding.

I'm in the very early stages of deciding whether or not to go. But as an official Clinton Groupie I must admit this is VERY tempting.

Also tempting?

This guy:

will be holding a rally in Indianapolis on Thursday morning. The big bummer part of that is I do have some school commitments that day that I'm not sure I can get out of yet. But, I'm totally trying.

I'm having so much fun making calls on behalf of the Obama campaign to independents in Indiana. And calling for Bruce Lunsford in Kentucky. This weekend I'm spending a few hours at the Democratic Headquarters in the Highlands.

Forget Christmas, election time is the most wonderful time of the year.

Or I'm just a big giant dork.

(I don't really care. I love all this stuff. And forgive, but it's been a long frustrating 8 years for me. This is all a gigantic breath of fresh air.)

In other news I made cinnamon rolls from scratch yesterday. I woke up and thought, hmm...spending an entire day rising dough and kneading it and rolling it out and taking forever sounds like a FUN IDEA. Stop me before I do that again.

Don't get me wrong, they were DELICIOUS. But it's an exhaustive thing. Probably because I'm terribly impatient.

I used this Paula Deen recipe. I do highly recommend it. I should note I do have pictures of them. But it's late, I'm tired and Anderson Cooper is on my television. So I don't feel like getting up and finding my camera right now.

Tomorrow, Scarlett.

Clinton-ite

First things first, if you read me at Myspace it would appear I'm unable to cross-post there this morning. (Anyone else having a blog problem at myspace?)

Second things second, if you read me over at myspace chances are you are not reading this. So who cares?

Anyways.

I've skipped the remainder of the day's classes because Chelsea Clinton will be on campus later on this afternoon and I need some time to eat first. She's, from what I've heard, fielding questions from students for about an hour. I've been plotting the perfect question and if I get a chance to ask it I'll be sure to tell you all the details later.

Not that anyone cares. My Bill Clinton story dropped like a boulder. ;)

But it is important to me. I'm very loyal to the Clinton family and it will be fun to see Chelsea in person today. After her, I'll only have Hillary left to see. And given the word out of the KDP, all three Clinton family members are going to be hitting Kentucky hard in the coming weeks.

My mother, an ever faithful Clinton-ite as well, is growing increasingly jealous of my hobnobbing. Poor thing. ;)

So in addition to my Clinton schmoozing my parents are still on the hunt for a car. Which with my vehicle needs on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Mom's new job requiring her to travel to the hospitals has them renting a car this week. I am beyond ready for them to just buy something. But Mom wants an Odyssey so they can eventually travel more when she scales back work in the next few years and Dad wants a good deal.

My father, let it be said, is a very frustrating person to car shop with. It's why I went a year without a vehicle once, and it's the reason Mom is dealing with it now. He is the worst consumer...ever.

But today he's foregoing the car search because our other outside cat showed up a couple of days ago with a gash on his side just like his sister a couple of weeks before. Dad and Jon are taking the cat to the vet, in what I'm sure will be an experience for them both. I don't think they've ever done it without me and I'm a bit worried.

To say I'm a mother hen would be an understatement. I tend to want to hold their hands through everything they do. Perhaps it's codependence. Perhaps it's just because they simply cannot manage without me.

Or perhaps it's because I know that while my Dad drives a hard bargain on a vehicle, he'll get himself taken to the cleaners at the Vet's Office.

Either way, I'm focusing on my day with Chelsea. And only periodically checking in on my boys.

Best Response So Far on my Bill Clinton Story

Upon telling said person about shaking his hand: "You washed it right? I mean, you know what he does with it..."

Me: "Uhh, yes, I washed it. But umm, pretty sure he managed to go hands free most of the time."

Off the Deep End

I've been operating under a Clinton Induced High since yesterday. I failed to watch my favorite show, Dancing with the Stars, last night after I completely forgot it existed. And at various points in the evening I would announce to anyone listening, "Oh my God...I met Bill Clinton."

This behavior was very similar to that of a tween girl who'd just met a Jonas Brother. Just saying.

I'm slowly, but surely, coming out of my euphoric state and am now fully able to realize how proud I am of myself. Not for shaking Bill's hand or anything like that. But for going. For showing up when I had no idea how to get there. And for going with my gut in such a spur of the moment circumstance.

You see, doing what I did yesterday off of the cuff is actually quite unlike me. I meticulously plan things like that. I print maps and make sure my family knows what is going on ahead of time. I'm cautious and careful to the point of miserable.

I want so desperately to be the kind of person who just hops in the car and goes for it. Whatever it may be. And yesterday as I hightailed it to Paris I was actually happy and giddy. Somehow I don't think that happiness is just from The President. It was an adventure. I was alone. I had no map. I had to become resourceful.

And I did. Which, in the process, led me to actually seeing Bill Clinton speak. Even after I thought for sure I wouldn't get to. That was an amazing stroke of luck. Or fate. Or just the universe's way of proving to me that sometimes going off of the deep end is worth it.

I kind of liked the deep water.

Accomplished (Seriously, A Dream Come True)

I woke up to one of those mornings where everything that can go wrong will. I got up too late, I had an exam that I hadn't studied enough for at 9:30, I was moody, everyone was annoying me and I couldn't find my jeans.

But most of all I was pissed that my 9:30 exam was going to clash with a 10:30 rally in Frankfort featuring Bill Clinton.

My one chance, or at least the only chance I am currently aware of, in which to see President Clinton speak. And I had to focus on effing Biology.

Somewhere around the 3rd or 4th light before the parking garage at school I had an epiphany. Perhaps it was the radio people talking about going to see The Prez in Bourbon County that did it, perhaps it was my mother's subtle urging that I should really try to make it to Paris. Other classes be damned.

And so I did. Except I was wearing sweatpants because, as mentioned, I couldn't find my jeans this morning. AND I didn't have my beautiful camera with me, because when I left my house I had no intentions of seeing Mr. President today.

I may or may not (totally did) get lost in Paris. As I later discovered it was a straight shot to the place where he was speaking. At any rate it added a good half hour off of my arrival time. As did the trip to Target because I had to buy a crappy disposible camera.

Upon arrival at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds I discovered I was late and according to event coordinators and the FREAKIN' SECRET SERVICE nobody else would be allowed in the building.

Which was fine, I figured I'd stick around with a few other folks and at least watch his motorcade arrive.

He ended up running nearly 2 hours behind due to a large crowd in Frankfort. A few people left the venue, tired of waiting. And around 2:00 the SECRET SERVICE informed us they would let about 20 of us "motorcade waiters" into the building. I was #18 of the 20 they counted out to go in.

Since we arrived late we were shuffled in a side door, which...to the chagrin of those already inside, offered us prime Clinton watching spots. We proceeded to listen to a speech from a Clinton Pledged Superdelegate and after that, former Miss America, Heather French Henry. Then it happened.

The most charismatic, surreal, unbelieveable politician I've ever laid my eyes on arrived.

Let me tell you this, everything you've ever heard in relation to Bill Clinton in person is true. He commands an audience like no other, is well spoken and has this way of looking into a room full of people and making you think for a split second that he is speaking only to you.

I swear we made eye contact like twice.

And I'm not lying when I tell you he is sexy. Is he the most attractive man ever? No. But sexy he is. I totally got it.

I also got his message about his wife. I think she will end up doing well in this state based on what I heard from other voters. He gave solid reasons why she is the better candidate. And I, for one, completely agree.

But politics aside I want to get to a much more personal notion here.

There are many things I want to see and accomplish in this life. Writing most of my 100 Things To Do Before I Go list this weekend has really helped me to set solid goals for myself and outline exactly what I want from my short time on this earth.

And I wasn't kidding about #76 this morning. It has always been a dream of mine to specifically see President Clinton speak in person. It was icing on the cake to get to shake his hand today. I can honestly say today's experience has made my year.

1 down, 99 more to go.

( http://www.kentucky.com/263/story/356517.html ) That is a story and actual video from the event I was at in Paris.