Bus Time Truths

Often I use a bus along route 48 while in Seattle. This bus runs from Loyal Heights all the way to Rainier Beach.

Something about this bus ride will give anyone who is even remotely observant a peak into the current state of society.

Getting on this bus up near University of Washington one will notice that the vast majority of the passengers are young people of Caucasian or Asian decent all dressed similarly. About the time the bus hits the medical center or the highway bus stop nearby, most of these individuals are no longer on the bus. Going through Montlake and then up into the Central District the face of the passengers changes.

Skin color darkens and clothing styles begin vary greatly.

It's no secret that, economically speaking, this part of northern Seattle is better off financially. What created this schism between these two areas and why is there such a noticeable difference in the types of people who live in them?

People created it. People in our past created this "difference" we see between each other. Obama's election gives some credence to this reality. He's the first African American president. Everyone has feelings regarding this statement, whether elation or despair, proves one thing: there is still racism.

The apparent ethnicity of an individual should not matter. Their skin color should not have bearing upon their financial opportunities, their health care provisions, the goods made available, or the quality of education received.

Race is a social construct. It needs to end.

I can't fathom why the "creators of racism" thought the way they thought and often I people watch with an extreme amount of sadness for the current state of things.

What on Earth can I do?

Negative Count

So, celery takes more calories to digest than it provides. Now, I don't like the taste of celery one bit. I do like the Greek Salad Dressing I bought today for my own version of my Greek French Fries (which I am completely chowing down on right now) so if I add the dressing to the salary the caloric count will basically just be the dressing.

I think I can handle that. Next week is celery and salad dressing.

But, I'm going to take some advice and add in some tomatoes with mozzarella and basil for dinner.

That's enough to get me skinny again!

I'll be ready for Ohio. I hope they will be ready for me.

Tricks, Treats, Social Experiments, and Summaries

Tricks: Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year. Never have been really sure why but there you have it. Maybe it's the candy maybe it's the costumes. Or, maybe it's the opportunity to get someone to watch a scary movie with me! This Halloween I decided to be a white trash vampire. Yeah, really. I think a new show called True Blood gave me the inspiration. I mean, the vampires in this show are hideous. Not just slightly, but fugly. Yeah, fugly. I am really used vampires being pretty, attractive, seductive. Not so much these ladies and gents. I haven't been attracted to a single one since the show aired and that's an abnormal thing. If vampires were real, I would totally fall fast.

Treats: I spent Halloween with some friends from City Year. We attacked Fremont, an area of Seattle, and dominated. Well, Katie, Tai, and Sara did. The rest of us sort of went along and laughed a lot while trying to look as cool as those three. I received a box from Mimi and PopPop, my stepdad's parents, full of candy, popcorn, and the traditional chips and salsa. They know the way to my heart: chocolate and chips and salsa. Well, there are many ways to my heart, those two are just two of frontrunners. French fries, hotwings, fried chicken, oreos, and ice cream are all extremely close seconds. I didn't get to see a certain Jughead, which isn't really a treat but was supposed to be, but I did get to stalk pictures on Facebook which I guess will have to suffice.

Social Experiments: I'm trying to cut back on party factor. For a variety of reasons. I want to start saving some money instead of living so paycheck to paycheck. Also to gain some... I guess it's self confidence. I know that the purpose, or the effect, of alcohol is to lower inhibitions. That's just the thing; if alcohol lowers inhibitions then how I act while drunk is still me. I want to claim the good parts: the outgoing-ness, the fun factor, whatever, and make that a part of me all the time. I've made huge strides at various intervals in my life. Josh-highschool is very different than Josh-college and even now Josh-Seattle is an entity all together different, and greater, than both of the other two combined. A very good friend of mine from college, Amy, was always able to party with our group of friends and would never have to be drunk to do so. I admired that about her and prayed that some day I would be the same. I want it to happen now. I took the first steps on Saturday night, and while things will be tough, I think I can pull it off.

Summary: I have completed my essays for grad school! I have people looking them over right now and helping me edit them. I also have 1/4 of my letters of reference in. It looks like school is really happening!

Summary: In two weeks I leave for Ohio and my mom's family. I haven't seen them since I moved to Seattle over a year ago and I am so excited to see them.

Summary: My sister's second child is due in less than a month. I've only seen her first child once, at her wedding, and I feel extremely bad about not being a part of either of my niece's or my nephew-to-be's lives.

Summary: Obama won an obviously historical election. I had imagined a long time that if this had come to pass I would be sitting waiting to hear what was to happen. That something profound was meant to happen. Or something horrible.

Summary: Proposition 8 passed in California. I'm sure that everyone has heard way more than they wanted to regarding this motion but it still has to be reiterated: this is discrimination all over again. It adversely affects life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. How can something like this be allowed to exist?