I met Tiki Barber. I tried to remain calm. I did admit that I was a Cowboy fan. Nico took our picture....wait...let me start from the beginning...
Tiki Barber, former running back to the New York Giants (for those of you who do not know), came in the store to do a signing for his new book. Also, for those of you who do not know, I am a huge Tiki Barber fan. I realize being a Cowboy fan this is considered a act of treason and on more than one occassion by more than one friend (namely Christi and Jen) when the Cowboys were playing the Giants, I would get a talking to about knowing where my loyalties lie (with the 'Boys of course!).
But I was still excited that Tiki Barber would be in the store!! Of course, I didn't really expect to meet him because I had no intention of buying his book--but a girl can hope that perhaps I would meet him in the offices before/after the signing. Nico, who is helping control the crowd, calls me down and says "do you want to meet him?" but I can't. Okay, if I'm buying his book and getting him to sign it or he comes to the cafe or I see him down in the office area, but I can't just walk up and ask to be introduced.
So Jason (my boss) comes up to the cafe and says "Tiki wants to take you to dinner." I will refrain from writing my response in the event small children are reading this. ha ha...he's so freaking funny. Jason says "c'mon I'll take you down"....and after a bit of cajoling (yes, my rarely seen shy side had kicked in) I finally follow him downstairs, where I went and stood next to Nico just to observe.
When the line finally had a lull, Nico (who kept commenting that she needed to get a mop for all the drool I was producing) called Jay (her boss) over and asked him if he would introduce me to Tiki. Jay was a bit hestitant, afterall, I AM a Longhorn fan and Jay's a diehard Sooner (boo!), but gives in and introduces me. :)
ooh...I wonder what my hair looks like....sorry....ahem...
I shake his hand and say that it's a pleasure, as I'm a big fan...and I shouldn't be because I'm a Cowboy fan (what??? I couldn't lie to him!!). So he stands up--as he noticed that Nico had out her camera--while shaking his head about being a Cowboy fan. Nico comments that she's going to send the picture to my entire family--to which I respond, "please don't--I don't wanna be disowned." Tiki laughed and said, "just tell them it's Ronde!" (again, for those of you don't know his twin brother who plays for the Buccaneers, who are NOT in the same division as the Cowboys).
ahhhh...I think I'm still glowing.
:-P SHEZ
19 November 2008
17 November 2008
It's A Small World After All...
We just got a new Dean of the Sociomedical Dept, whom I met last week. Rumor had it that she was from Austin. Turns out she's from Amarillo, but went to school in Austin...and studied widowhood...in FREDERICKSBURG! ANNNNNNNDDDDD....her dad? Dean of the Psychology Dept at WTAMU (where I did my undergrad for those of you who were wondering...)
It's a small, small world!
:-P SHEZ
It's a small, small world!
:-P SHEZ
05 November 2008
The Times, They Are A'Changing....
Congratulations to Senator Obama. Congratulations to everyone who got out there and voted or served as election officials or campaigned or actively got involved in the debate.
This is a monumental time in American history and one that we can all be proud of, regardless of who was voted for on this ticket. If you voted Democrat, you voted for potentially the first Black President. If you voted Republican, you voted for potentially the first female Vice-President. History would have been made regardless of the outcome. 100 years ago, either scenario would have been thought inconceivable. 50 years ago, either would have been considered incongruous. 25 years ago, improbable.
Yet here we are.
The country has spoken: it's time for a change--a time to move forward. Our first Black President. That alone speaks volumes. The road has been long and tumultuous for Black people in this country and I don't profess to even begin to know what that feels like. I grew up in a very sheltered existence smack dab in the middle of Texas. But this morning in class, my professor provided a very emotional insight into just how significant yesterday's result. He was a family friend of Andy Goodman, a NY civil rights activist, who--along with fellow activists James Cheney and Michael Schwerner--were abducted, tortured, and killed by local Mississippi Klansmen. The three men (Goodman and Schwerner were from NY, Cheney from MS) were participating in Freedom Summer, 1964, where thousands of civil rights activists came to Mississippi to register Black voters, where virtually no Blacks were registered to vote, mainly due to fear of being persecuted by the Ku Klux Klan. During the 10 week program, 4 activists were killed, 4 critically wounded, 1000 arrested, 80 beaten, and 67 churches, homes, and businesses were bombed or burned.
My professor talked about the climate of the time in New York--he was asked to stay with the Goodman family to lend support for his friend, Andy's younger brother, while the family focused on trying to find Andy and friends who went missing on June 21st and whose bodies were not found until August 4 buried in a dam in the swamps. They died because they believed that everyone had a right to vote. They died because they chose to do what was difficult. They died because they believed.
But their fight persevered, and 44 years later here we are--with 122 million (at the last count...and they're still being counted) people going to the polls to cast their vote. It's estimated that this is the largest voter turnout since 1960 Kennedy/Nixon race. Of course we'll have to wait for the final numbers, but it's estimated the voter turnout to be around 63%--and that my friends is very exciting!
I truly believe that many of the problems facing our great nation have been caused by apathy by the American public to be involved in politics. Everyone is bitching, yet no one wants to stand up and do something. Until we can talk and discuss and debate the issues, we can't fix them. Until we start taking an interest in our political future and holding politicians accountable for their actions, we can't fix anything.
Unfortunately for Senator McCain, after 8 years of Bush and Cheney, the Republican Party had to be held accountable for their actions. I do have to commend him on his concession speech--it was eloquent and very thought provoking and I hope that Senator McCain will continue to be the Maverick and bring the parties together for the benefit of this country. Now more than ever it is important for our country to continue to grow and move forward. Regardless, I am quite sure whatever endeavor he embarks upon from here, he will be successful.
It is amazing, the change--overnight--in this city. Everyone was smiling, everyone was laughing, floating on Cloud 9 if you will. No one is naive enough to believe that are problems are going to magically disappear, because they're not. This administration has a long and difficult road ahead of them, but I think that they can do it. I personally think we are on the right path. I realize that 56 million people disagree with me, but part of what makes this country so great is that we get to disagree and it's okay. We get to debate and it's okay. We get to move forward and make this country a better place for our children and their children because, as Eugene reminded me yesterday, while we all have different theories on how it should be done, we all want what's best for our country and our fellow countrymen.
I feel that the time is now and we have exciting times ahead of us. And I hope that this election will serve as a springboard for open communications and a renewed and continuing interest in our nation's political interests. That is truly how Change Can Happen.
:-P SHEZ
This is a monumental time in American history and one that we can all be proud of, regardless of who was voted for on this ticket. If you voted Democrat, you voted for potentially the first Black President. If you voted Republican, you voted for potentially the first female Vice-President. History would have been made regardless of the outcome. 100 years ago, either scenario would have been thought inconceivable. 50 years ago, either would have been considered incongruous. 25 years ago, improbable.
Yet here we are.
The country has spoken: it's time for a change--a time to move forward. Our first Black President. That alone speaks volumes. The road has been long and tumultuous for Black people in this country and I don't profess to even begin to know what that feels like. I grew up in a very sheltered existence smack dab in the middle of Texas. But this morning in class, my professor provided a very emotional insight into just how significant yesterday's result. He was a family friend of Andy Goodman, a NY civil rights activist, who--along with fellow activists James Cheney and Michael Schwerner--were abducted, tortured, and killed by local Mississippi Klansmen. The three men (Goodman and Schwerner were from NY, Cheney from MS) were participating in Freedom Summer, 1964, where thousands of civil rights activists came to Mississippi to register Black voters, where virtually no Blacks were registered to vote, mainly due to fear of being persecuted by the Ku Klux Klan. During the 10 week program, 4 activists were killed, 4 critically wounded, 1000 arrested, 80 beaten, and 67 churches, homes, and businesses were bombed or burned.
My professor talked about the climate of the time in New York--he was asked to stay with the Goodman family to lend support for his friend, Andy's younger brother, while the family focused on trying to find Andy and friends who went missing on June 21st and whose bodies were not found until August 4 buried in a dam in the swamps. They died because they believed that everyone had a right to vote. They died because they chose to do what was difficult. They died because they believed.
But their fight persevered, and 44 years later here we are--with 122 million (at the last count...and they're still being counted) people going to the polls to cast their vote. It's estimated that this is the largest voter turnout since 1960 Kennedy/Nixon race. Of course we'll have to wait for the final numbers, but it's estimated the voter turnout to be around 63%--and that my friends is very exciting!
I truly believe that many of the problems facing our great nation have been caused by apathy by the American public to be involved in politics. Everyone is bitching, yet no one wants to stand up and do something. Until we can talk and discuss and debate the issues, we can't fix them. Until we start taking an interest in our political future and holding politicians accountable for their actions, we can't fix anything.
Unfortunately for Senator McCain, after 8 years of Bush and Cheney, the Republican Party had to be held accountable for their actions. I do have to commend him on his concession speech--it was eloquent and very thought provoking and I hope that Senator McCain will continue to be the Maverick and bring the parties together for the benefit of this country. Now more than ever it is important for our country to continue to grow and move forward. Regardless, I am quite sure whatever endeavor he embarks upon from here, he will be successful.
It is amazing, the change--overnight--in this city. Everyone was smiling, everyone was laughing, floating on Cloud 9 if you will. No one is naive enough to believe that are problems are going to magically disappear, because they're not. This administration has a long and difficult road ahead of them, but I think that they can do it. I personally think we are on the right path. I realize that 56 million people disagree with me, but part of what makes this country so great is that we get to disagree and it's okay. We get to debate and it's okay. We get to move forward and make this country a better place for our children and their children because, as Eugene reminded me yesterday, while we all have different theories on how it should be done, we all want what's best for our country and our fellow countrymen.
I feel that the time is now and we have exciting times ahead of us. And I hope that this election will serve as a springboard for open communications and a renewed and continuing interest in our nation's political interests. That is truly how Change Can Happen.
:-P SHEZ
04 November 2008
ROCK THE VOTE!
It's Election Day here in America! So if you live the 50 States take a bit of time and GO VOTE! If you don't vote, then I'm sorry you can't complain! I don't care if you exercising your right not to vote, that's fine, but then I'm exercising my right to not listen to you!
So, I'm geared up for the long lines they're predicting here in NYC--estimated 1-5 hour wait! eek! good thing I have a good book I'm reading (and that I have to finish for class tomorrow!)
In the wise words of Florida--vote early, vote often! Just kidding, contary to popular belief you can only vote once, you have to be alive and over 18, and there's nothing wrong with the polls--do not wait until tomorrow!
:-P SHEZ
So, I'm geared up for the long lines they're predicting here in NYC--estimated 1-5 hour wait! eek! good thing I have a good book I'm reading (and that I have to finish for class tomorrow!)
In the wise words of Florida--vote early, vote often! Just kidding, contary to popular belief you can only vote once, you have to be alive and over 18, and there's nothing wrong with the polls--do not wait until tomorrow!
:-P SHEZ
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