Thanksgiving was not always celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. The Continental Congress issued its first Thanksgiving Day proclamation for December 18, 1777... The purpose:
"That at one Time and with one Voice, the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that, together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favor; and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits of JESUS CHRIST, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these States respectively and prosper the public council of the whole."
Source: WORLD; November 15/22, 2008; page 9.
ALSO... My first and only niece made her appearance at 1:15am on Thanksgiving day! Her name is Evalynn Mae Holland... isn't she beautiful! Look at all that hair!
I'm sitting here still awake trying to stay up to find out about Coleman vs. Franken...
But, with this whole presidential thing... I wish I understood why popular vote and electoral votes don't correspond with each other what so ever... Why does 52% vs. 49% become 338 vs 159 electoral votes? Seems to me it should be somewhat closer to 258 votes vs 239 votes with those percentages... which would mean neither one would be the winner yet. I just don't get it. I'm probably more frustrated about it because I'm tired.
AFTER SOME RESEARCH...
Ok, so today I'm working on figuring this whole thing out... For those of you who are curious, this is how it works...
*The number of electoral votes a state gets equals the number of of the states Congressional delegation. This means: the number of US Senators (which is always 2) PLUS the number of US Representatives. *Ok, so the current number of US Representatives is 435 - assigned to states proportionate to the population. BUT each state is entitled to at least one representative. *This means that even sparsely populated states get 3 electoral votes... and California has the most electoral votes at 53 because they have the high test population. *The District of Columbia gets 3 according to the 23rd Amendment.
So, this seems somewhat fair to me... but I still don't understand why the popular vote percentage and the electoral votes seem off if the number of electoral votes is actually based on the population of the state... oh well, I guess I don't' have to understand.
Ok, so that's my basic understanding 18 hours after the original post.
Ok, so if you didn't hear... the house in Isanti I was going to buy had a crappy inspection... so I didn't buy it. Still waiting to get my ernest money back... grrr...
BUT... I found a house outside Milaca I liked too. Not nearly as much character... but a cute split-level on just over 5 acres. Little creek goes through the back yard... It's about 17 miles from work, which isn't bad at all. AND... if all goes well, we'll close in 2 weeks so I almost have a home! Yay!
So, Wednesday I arrived in Chicago. I was kind of planning on taking a cab into the city from O'Hare (which is 17 miles)... but then as I was walking out of the airport I saw the public tranist maps and realized that was going to be a whole lot cheaper. So, I took the El/Subway to the fanciest hotel I've ever stayed at. So, I had tried to find a cheaper hotel downtown, but I couldn't find enough of a price difference that would make up for the hassle of having to find my way to the hotel by 7am each morning if I was staying somewhere else. So, alas, I ended up at the Hotel Inter-Continental where this conference was held. I go up to my room... and it looks nice... until I look at the bottle of water which informed me that if I drank it, $6.95 was being charged to my room. There was a nice basket of snacks too, but agian, it informed me that the regular sized bag of M&M's was $4 if I caved and ate it. Also, no free complementary toothpaste if you forget yours: agian, $4. I go to log onto the internet, agian... $13.95/day for internet access. You'd think a $240/ night hotel would suppy a few of these things for the cost? (thank goodness for a CME stipend from work and that I'm not paying for this) Anyway... next time, I'm finding a cheaper hotel. At the Holiday Inn Express (one of my favorites)... Free wireless internet, no taunting snacks (and a reasonably priced vending machine down the hall), and often times a mini-fridge to keep my Diet Coke cold. No more fancy hotels. Screw this. And there was a banging noise in the wall every time the fan turned on. Anyway... enough about the hotel.
Wednesday night before the conference started... I went walking around and started getting cold, so I decided I had to do something inside. I decided to go to the Shedd Aquarium. It was kind of fun, but not the coolest aquarium I've been at. Maybe something to do with the fact that the outdoor part with the dolphins is cosed for renovation. :( Also, my camera was apparently not fully charged, so I didn't get many pics before it died. Also, that resluted in only one picture of the bean mirror in Millenium Park. They were busy setting up for the Chicago Marathon in Grant Park, so on my walk I saw the most big white tents and the most port-a-potties I've seen in one place in a very long time. Before I went back to the hotel, I went to Walgreens and bought my Diet Coke, granola bars, pretzles, and E.L. Fudge cookies at a NORMAL price to ward off any inclination to even TOUCH the super expensive snacks taunting me. Then I went shopping. I mean, my hotel was on the "Magnificant Mile"... how could I NOT go shopping? I got my first pair of LUCKY jeans ($30 of normal price - YAY!) and so far I love them. I also got 2 pairs of good shoes that I've been drooling over and I FOUDN THEM ON SALE! YAY! Big city shopping is awesome, lots of sales. Then I hung out in my room for a bit and attempted to sleep. I sleep like crap in new places.
Thursday... 7 hours of continuing education lectures with psych topics... un-interesting to most of you, so I'll leave that out. At lunch I went wandering a bit and took some fun pictures. After we were done... I went over to the Sears Tower, the tallest building in the United States and saw Chicago from up high. When I was in Chicago for my rotation, Alison and I went to the Hanckcok Tower that time, so I decided to do the other this time. Then I went to a show "No Country for Old White Men" which is essentially a sketch comedy show at Second City comedy club. A lot of the famous people on SNL, MadTV, and some movies trained here before they were "discovered." It was actually quite awesome. Then I went home late and slept.
Friday... 7 more hours of continuing education lectures with psych topics. Then I walked down to Navy Pier. Much more going on down there than there was when I was here for 6 weeks in February and March... Took a 30 minute boat ride tour of the Chicago Skyline. Pretty cool new view. Ate some food. Took some pictures. Then I went to another comedy club called: iO (improv olympics)... this is by Wrigly Field. Pretty much all the famous comedians who didn't train at Second City trained here (including Tina Fey). This was pretty funny too, totally worth it. :) Then I packed and went to bed!
Saturday... 5 more hours of continuing education... this just finished... now I will be heading to find some Chicago Style Pizza before heading to the airport... agian on public transportation. Hooray! Back in MN tonight!
Pictures will be uploaded later tonight or tomorrow (I hope).
So, agree with me or not, I wanted Mike Huckabee to be the Republican nominee... now I'm stuck not liking EITHER choice for president (or MN senate for that matter)... but I still get Huckabee e-mails a couple times a week... this was from yesterday...
Dear Huck PACkers-
I wanted to write you to convey my disgust with the passing of this 451 page bailout bill. Wall Street has gone trick-or-treating in Washington a little bit early this October. Wall Street is getting the treats and America is getting tricked. The “Axis of Arrogance” has tried to pull the wool over the eyes of the Main Streeters and in doing so hid a sty full of pork in a bill whose constitutionality is questionable at best. Friends, the folks in Washington continue to treat your wallet as their tip jar and this has to stop.
Just check out a few provisions in this bill:
Sec. 211. Transportation fringe benefit to bicycle commuters
Sec. 308. Increase in limit on cover over of rum excise tax to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Sec. 309. Extension of economic development credit for American Samoa.
Sec. 312. Deduction allowable with respect to income attributable to domestic production activities in Puerto Rico.
Sec. 317. Seven-year cost recovery period for a motorsports racing track facility.
Sec. 322. Tax incentives for investment in the District of Columbia.
Sec. 325. Extension and modification of duty suspension on wool products; wool research fund; wool duty refunds.
At a time when we are at “ground zero” and on the verge of an all out financial collapse, I am disgusted that these provisions were made.
At a time when Congress had the opportunity to do something to help the American economy, they lived up to their low approval rating. The only thing we can thank Congress for right now is that they are consistent. They are consistently spending money that doesn’t belong to them, consistently expanding pork projects, consistently doing nothing to help rebuild the American economy and consistently hurting the future of our country. Ultimately, they are consistently ignoring their own values, principles and beliefs and as a result, the American People are going to have to suffer.
Without the bailout there might have been some temporary hurt, but the long term effect will be far worse because of the precedent this bill has set and the “Bail-Aholics” it will create. Within minutes of the bill passing the state of California was already in line asking to be the next recipient of a Government hand out. We are creating an economy where you cannot fail and by doing so disabling our ability to ever truly succeed.
I am afraid this is just the beginning of the bailouts. We must not go silent into the night, we have to continue to fight and stand up against these legislators.
Ok, so after this process of looking and looking some more I finally picked a house AND they accepted my offer. So, now I have to get an inspection and apprasail and all that jazz which is complicated by the fact that someone stole the power line from the pole to the house... Anyway... this house in in Isanti, just outside of town, on 4 acres. Brick, wood floors... really fun. The windows and shingles are pretty new. It was built approximately 1900... but when we were there yesterday there's a little board hanging from the peak of the roof that we believe says 1882... so it may be 100 years older than I am.
If you want to see all the pictures... here they are.
MICHAEL PHELPS IS MY HERO. 8 Golds and 8 World Records in one Olympics. Will it ever be matched? Will it take 36 more years (9 summer olympic games)??? I guess only time will tell... for now it's Michael Phelps...
The crazy thing is that in 36 years I will be 62 years old. Wow. 32 years ago I was negative approximately 9 years from being concieved. Weird thought.
So, I have a cousin who is an olympian! Actually, she's my mom's cousin's daughter.. which makes her my first cousin once removed... but once when we were in elementry school, we caught frogs in her yard. And their gerbils died after we put them in the fisher price merry go round. Oops. Anyway... click here to check out her olympic bio on the NBC website. Considering she's a wrestler... that probably won't make the NBC broadcasts... but I'm related to an olympian none-the-less. I also found this which has a link to actually watch her wrestle live on the internet. That's my somewhat exciting information of the day. :)
My friend Joslyn had a new baby boy yesterday, June 29, at 1:48pm. He is a very big healthy boy weighing in at 9 pounds, 7 ounces.
Here is mommy enjoying her new baby...
And here is the new baby sleeping in mommy's arms.
Babies are such a blessing!
(I haven't been doing much but work lately... so, that's why I have to post about my friend's baby, and not my life, the new baby is so much more exciting.)
So, only a couple days out from the release (you gotta forgive me, I was working)... tonight, after finishing the PHA event, alone on a rainy day in Milwaukee... I got my butt out to see The Dark Night.
It was the most amazing movie I believe I have ever seen. And it's not just because of my love of Heath Ledger. Heath Ledger's Joker was the most amazing character portrayal ever. I believe he had to be half crazy to portray the joker in that way. Even apart from the Joker it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I'm going to need to see it again. As much as I LOVED the move, I left the theater somewhat saddened at the thought that Heath's Joker will never be reprised.
I loved Heath Ledger from the moment I first saw him in "10 Things I Hate About You"
Who would have thought THIS would be his final character...
An amazing finale for Heath Ledger... just far too soon...
So, I just finished my first PHA (periodic health assessment) through Logistics Health. They flew me out here yesterday from Minneapolis, and because you have to pay to check your bags now... people are carrying on EVERYTHING. And nobody is watching to make sure people are staying under their carry-on limit. Frustrating to find overhead bin space. But then I got here, and went to pick up my rental car. You know what kind of car I got? The car I have picked on the most since the day it came out. The PT Cruiser. So I'm driving around Milwaukee in a bright blue PT Cruiser. Very funny. I got to the hotel and THIS is what they got me... A suite at the Residence Inn. And that is just the main part of the room.
And this is the view from my window. First you can see the river, and way at the end of the road is Lake Michigan and the weird building that looks like it has wings is the art museum.
I went for a walk downtown to the Lake Michigan. This is a picture of the outside of the art museum.
Then I had a meeting with the other providers from 9-10:30am.
Then I got up at 5:30am to get ready for the day. We headed out at 6:45am and went to the Navy Reserve center. Did histories, focused exams, and made suggestions for referrals. This is to keep the health up of the service members. It actually went pretty well for my first event. I will likely keep doing more of these as an extra income.
Now I'm just hanging out waiting to fly home at the crack of dawn tomorrow (Sunday).
In other news...
I FINALLY GOT MY ECONOMIC STIMULUS CHECK!!!
AND... MY DELL COMPUTER IS ON IT'S WAY!!! After 4 delays after ordering it Memorial Day weekend. It's shipped!!! Yay!!!
I'm trying to buy a house. I'm told with the market and all, I should be able to get a house without paying anything down and getting the seller to pay the closing costs so I only need like, $1000 to buy a house on closing day. So far, the house I chose to put my first offer on... the seller still wants me to come up with $3000. Plus, I'm not in love with that house... so I think I'm starting again, and trying to find another one I like. Joy to my realtor (who is also my friend)... she's already showed me 30-some houses. Hehehehe... Anyway, maybe next week I can see some more houses next week... which may be tricky... being my realtor headed to the hospital this afternoon to have her baby... so, I may not have a house as soon as I hoped... but my friend is having a baby. :)
Work... I have oriented. I'm hoping I'm at least temporarily credentialed by tomorrow so when I work all day Friday, July 4th... I can help with the craziness of the holiday instead of being in the way "training."
Twenty-six. Today was my first full day of being 26 years old. When did that happen? And may I mention... gas prices have quadrupled in the ten years since I started driving? So, in the past year... what's happened in my life?
June... My sister got married. I now have a brother-in-law. July... I can't recall anything interesting in July... August... I judged at the state fair, I love judging at the fair. September... Alison and Jeff moved to Mora and bought a house. The end of the month I took off to England for 11 days with Rose & Korey. October... at the beginning, we were still in England. It was wonderful. My first out of the country trip that wasn't planned for me. November... I went to a medical conference at the Mayo Clinic for 3 days. That was a lot of information from some very smart people. December... Christmas, I got to go home for about 2 whole days since Christmas was in the middle of the week. January... Hit my one year anniversary of working at Gundersen Lutheran. Finally I feel I can look for another job and at least I've been at my job for a year, and leaving won't look so horrible on my resume. I interview for an ER job in St. Cloud... and I wait. Also, my friend and neighbor, Sharron, has a baby girl named Aspen. February... I FINALLY find out I didn't get the job in St. Cloud. I had been looking around for other jobs, I really didn't like my job. When I found out I didn't get the St. Cloud job... I signed on to work for Delta Flex Travelers as a traveling PA. March... Last day for Gundersen Lutheran. Move out of my apartment in LaCrosse. Start my first travel job in Mankato. I'm now a nomad with my possessions in various places. April... I go to a Focus on the Family Medical Conference in Colorado Springs... it was an amazing conference. I just wish the weather had been a bit nicer for some more sightseeing. I also find out my sister and Jeff are going to me make an aunt this fall! How exciting!!! May... I take a long weekend and visit Rose & Korey who have recently moved to South Carolina. Korey happened to be working out to Charleston that week... so I visited them there. June... I interview for a job in my hometown of Mora, MN. And I decide that if they offer me the job, I'll accept and move home. The travel work is not good for me. I'm too Type A for my life to be so up in the air and unpredictable. The day before my 26th birthday, they offer me the job and I accept. I'm moving to Mora.
My 26th year will start with a new job, a move back to my home town, and hopefully the purchase of my first home.
Right now I'm waiting in limbo. Except when I'm working. I'm here working in Mankato for 2 1/2 more weeks. My last day here is June 20th. What I'm doing after that is where this waiting comes in...
Option 1 - Last week I interviewed for an Urgent Care job in my hometown of Mora, MN. The ER is overwhelmed with patients who cannot get in to see their primary providers in a timely matter for acute problems. As a result, the Kanabec County Hospital is hiring 2 PA's or NP's to see the urgent care problems that come into the ER. Pay and benefits would be pretty good. Plus I'd live in the same town as most of my family. If I get that job it'd start in July. And I'd probably buy a house. I was told I should know by the end of the week.
Option 2 - If I don't get offered that job... I'll be staying with Delta Flex Travelers until I find another premanent job opportunity that sounds worth it. It sounds like they will be sending me to Appleton, WI for an Urgent Care/Family Medicine job next. That's about all the details I have on that... again, waiting to hear more.
Saturday I'm going to Jen & Mark's wedding. I'm so happy for those two that they are finally "tying the knot." It should be a nice day, I'll get to see some college friends I haven't seen since graduation (can you believe that it's been 4 years since I graduated from St. Scholastica?).
Besides that... I rented Bella and The Great Debaters over the last few days (since I don't have very many hours at work this week). Both movies are AMAZING - you should see them if you haven't yet.
So, I got home from Charleston, and I worked. I've worked a lot this week.
Except yesterday. Yesterday I went garage sale shopping for the baby in my sister's tummy. Yup, for those of you that don't know, I'm going to be an auntie this fall! Yay! I do believe I may end up making this child the most-spoiled-by-an-auntie-baby ever. And it's till the size of my thumb in there! Baby clothes are so fun!
And after that, I got my Charleston pictures uploaded. MyPhotoAlbum.com link is on the left!
Now I must go to the laundrymat. I hate the laundrymat.
So, I got to Charleston at about 6:30pm last night (only a half hour late - not too bad considering the problems there have been with airlines lately...)
First we went to the Isle of Palms beach for a bit to get an ocean view before the sun went down.
So, I think those doomsday global warming people should have been in Minnesota last night. I can't believe I woke up to snow this morning... April 26th... ridiculous.
So, what I've been considering for the last week or so... I jumped on it today. Rose & Korey just moved to a suburb of Charlotte, NC... I'm going to go visit them. Next weekend. Turns out that they will be in Charleston, SC for a couple weeks for Korey's work... so I'm going to go visit them there instead, which works out well considering it's further south, warm, and includes the ocean. I love the ocean. And I've never been to the Carolina's... at least one more to check off on my goal of making it to all 50 states! Charleston, South Carolina here I come! (May 2-6th) Yay!
My day off was semi-productive after I finally rolled out of bed around 10am.
I hung out with Daisy for awhile. Daisy does not like getting her picture taken.
Then I went to get my hair cut and highlighted. I struggled to get a good picture of it for you... this picture doesn't do it justice... it's pretty fun. :)
I stopped at Scheels while I was at the mall and got myself a chair to sit on outside and read in the BEAUTIFUL weather.
And, last but not least... I changed my license plates! My car has Minnesota plates for the first time! Yay!
Last night I got to hang out with Sheree, Corey, & Zach. They are so fun. After dinner Sheree and I decided we needed something sweet. So, first idea was Special K Bars... but, unfortunately there was no more Caro Syrup in their house. But, there was a box of fudge brownie mix. We decided brownies would work well too. Turns out Sheree doesn't eat eggs anymore because she's allergic to them, so she had a box of powdered egg substitute. That should work right? Well... no. The mix looked good when it was liquid... but we opened up the oven when they should have been done... and the brownies were boiling! I've never seen brownies boil. Turns out the oil kind of came to the top of the brownies... so when it cooled off Corey tried to dump the oil off the top. What we left underneath was fudgy brownie goo... but it was actually kind of yummy.
And... a week later, I finally have my Colorado pictures up for you to look at... link on the left.
Wonderful. This is where I've been the last few days.
I have gotten 12 hours of continuing medical education... but more importantly i got to be encouraged in my faith by hearing some big names in the Christian world who are wonderful speakers and can proclaim God's word in amazing ways.
Friday morning: Henry Blackaby - who wrote http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Experiencing-God-Member-Book/Henry-T-Blackaby/e/9781415858387/?itm=3. He said we must have an unhurried time with God every morning, and that that time is the best way to always be aware of and responsive to God's leading in your life. That was something I really needed to hear. AND... Del Tackett from The Truth Project.
Friday evening: Gene Rudd, MD who is the Christian Medical and Dental Association Senior Vice President Gene Rudd on suffering: "Is it necessary for you to know why? Or is it acceptable to know God who knows why?"
Saturday morning: Henry Blackaby again (see link above) "In EVERYTHING you should seek to please God" AND... John Patrick Dr. Patrick on how not to offend people with your thoughts or beliefs: "Never make a statement. Always ask a question. There are no politically incorrect questions."
Saturday evening: KEN HUTCHERSON "You cannot fear and have faith at the same time - you can switch back and forth real quick - but you can't do both simultaneously.
This is just a short summary of the last couple days. It was totally worth it... if you want to know more, just ask! :)
Yesterday was my day before the conference begins to explore the Colorado Springs Area. This morning was supposed to be as well, but unfortunately the weather did not agree, so I'm hanging out in the hotel until the conference starts at noon. Here's a synopsis of yesterday...
I started out the morning at the Garden of the Gods. It's a big area of red rocks standing upright in interesting formations. Beautiful. The sad part is that the coolest part is paved trails that you're not supposed to leave. Bummer. But there were some other areas I discovered that you can hike around.
I had to leave Garden of the Gods before I saw everything to make my reservation for the 1:20 Cog Railway ride up Pikes Peak. Here we go... you can see the peak out in front of us...
Unfortunately, we couldn't go all the way to the summit because of all the snowstorms and wind in the past week, they can't keep the tracks clear. The road hasn't been open in over a month either. So, the only way up to the top now is to hike through snow deeper than you are tall... or a helecopter. This is where we had to stop and turn around because of the snow.
Then I headed to see the ancient cliff dwellings. They were cool, but not my favorite part of the day.
Then I went back to Garden of the Gods and did a bit of hiking around and taking more pictures from the good photo opp places before the rain/sleet/snow started. I got wet getting these pictures, but it was worth it. :)
All my pictures will be up soon... you can see them using the link on your left...
Today I dropped Daisy off at a new kennel in Mankato and drove off to Colorado Springs. In the just over 13 hours alone in the car I learned a few things...
1 - My newly LASIKed eyes are still sensitive to bright sunshine. 2 - I re-discovered how yummy Little Debbie's Star Crunch. Yum. 3 - Did you know Nebraska is the "Home of Arbor Day"? How can a state be a home of a holiday? I mean... Israel could be considered the home of Christmas or Easter... but how is Nebraska the home of Arbor Day? 4 - 13 hours in the car alone is about the limit of my sanity. 5 - I really miss the mountains. I could spend a lot more time out here... 6 - Why is Jesse Ventura back in the political scene? We had enough of him in Minnesota.
Well... now some rest. Tomorrow is my day for adventuring before the start of the conference.
Scheduling is kind of a mess, and overwhelmed me yesterday... hopefully we'll get all that worked out tomorrow. I'm just praying I get at least full-time hours every week that I don't have days I need off. Hoping at least the next couple weeks will be planned out by tomorrow.
Housing... I am moving into the Windsong Executive Townhomes this week. I'm in the GrandStay Suites until Thursday morning. Thursday morning I'll move my stuff over there... and at 10am they will deliver me furniture.
Then... I'm driving back to LaCrosse, hopefully leaving Mankato by noon on Thursday. Packing up my stuff in LaCrosse. My dad is coming down early Friday to load up his truck and trailer with my stuff. Then I'll stick around and clean, see if I can get all the cleaning done or not. I have to head out Friday evening back to Mankato, because then I work Saturday. After working Saturday I'll be heading to Mora for about 24 hours and get stuff unpacked and see my family for Easter.
Whoo... In a week I think life may finally be somewhat normal. I hope the transition isn't this rough with every new assignment.
So, I arrived in Mankato today. My condo was not quite ready, so I'm at the GrandStay Suites for a few days or a week until the condo is ready. It's nice, small... but nice. The challenge is going to be getting Daisy to stay quiet enough to not get us kicked out... the rules say dogs are supposed to be "Quiet (no barking or whining) at all times." That may be a challenge for Daisy. I feel mean, but the bark collar may just have to stay on. So, I have about 36 hours here with Daisy to convince her that she can't bark at the noises in the hallway. Right now she's relaxing at my feet. She's a good dog in general... but barking is one of her faults.
Monday I start at Mankato Clinic's urgent care. And hopefully I'll get a schedule for at least the next couple weeks so I can plan when I'm going to get back to La Crosse to finish packing and get moved out of that apartment before the end of the month.
So, today was supposed to be the day that the fancy laser machine made me see. The apparently the fancy laser machine didn't want to work yesterday. It couldn't be repaired until today. So they canceled my appointment. Tear. Like everyone keeps saying... at least it didn't break while they had my eye sliced open. So, now I have the day off. Well, except that I had to drive 40 miles to pee in a cup for a urine drug screen for my new job. Joy. Now I'm packing and trying to sell stuff on craigslist so I don't have to store everything. Tonight I'm going out to dinner with some friends. Yay. I think I need a nap first.
Agree with me or not... but today is a sad day knowing that Mike Huckabee is out of the race. I have been a Huckabee supporter since last spring when I first heard about him and his desire to be our president. He made it further with little to no resources than anyone has in the past. I believe he ran this race with intregrety, and conceeded with intregrity and humility.
Today he sent a letter to his supporters, copied below:
Dear Faithful Friends,
Last night was a tough one for all of us. While Janet and I stood on the stage, we felt as if we were surrounded by a much larger family than our immediate family. We have been surrounded throughout the process by a large and growing family of faithful friends whose efforts in the campaign have humbled and amazed us day after day. I regularly wept or choked back tears just reading comments on the blog when I realized the sacrifices that so many have made for the campaign.
We had held out hope that we would win enough delegates to keep the contest going, but had vowed that if Senator McCain actually got the 1191 delegates, we would accept the will of the voters. In the end, the relentless hammering of the media that we "couldn't win" influenced enough voters and while we campaigned long and hard in the final states, it simply wasn't enough. I congratulate Senator McCain and will do what I can to assist him and influence him to take strong stands for issues that we conservatives cherish.
I don't see the long journey having reached its destination, but merely taking a detour. As my Marine friend Clebe McLary says, "I didn't lose--it's just that the game ended before I got finished playing."
In the immediate days ahead, we will be transitioning from campaign mode. For 14 months, there have been a lot of things put on hold in our lives. We have to join the many incredible people on our staff to figure out "what's next?" But this much I can tell you---we want to stay in touch and start now building a platform to continue addressing issues that brought us together in the first place.
Throughout my life, I've found that there are sometimes three possible answers to our prayers--"Yes," "No," or "Not Now." I would like to think our prayers were answered with a "Not Now."
We will keep our website up and as we transition, will want to create a way to keep in touch and continue the battle for our families, our freedom, and our future. We will also focus on assisting conservative Senate and House candidates, in places where we know our investment of time and energy can make a real difference. You can expect us to be active online as we do this and to regularly solicit your opinions and support. Too many big issues are at stake for us to sit on the sidelines.
In the immediate time, we have to make sure that we help our staff find ways to earn a living, and make sure that we don't lose the momentum of the past 14 months, but instead follow the plan:
REFLECT, REST, RENEW, and RE-BOOT!
I really welcome your input and thoughts during these coming days. Pray for us as we seek wisdom as to what steps we take now. Despite what some have thought, we really didn't have a "Plan B' in the wings--we always thought we'd be in this until the inauguration in January of 2009!
God has been so good to us! We can never fully express our gratitude for all you have done and how you have touched and blessed our lives. I truly hope I didn't let you down. I promise to you that I gave it all I had to the last minute and left it "all on the field." What is more amazing is how you were willing to be "poured out" to the point of empty in order to be with us all the way. I stand amazed by it all and overwhelmed with gratitude.
We will dust off, pick ourselves up off the canvas, and answer the bell for the next round, whatever that may be. We love you all, and trust that the journey has just begun!
On the left is a link to my new online photo album. So far it contains pictures from the two biggest events of 2007... Alison & Jeff's wedding, and the top 150 pictures of my trip to England. More to come.
So, apparently it's been exactly one year today since I last blogged. I stopped because my life has been farily boring this last year except for a few exciting interruptions like my sister's wedding and a trip to England with Rose & Korey. Now, in the next couple weeks my life is going to be fun agian (I hope).
1 - On Friday (March 7) I'm getting LASIK... no more glasses or contacts! Woo hoo!
2 - I am quitting my job, March 14 is my last day with Gundersen Lutheran - this job has driven me nuts for 14 months too long and it's almost over!
3 - My restless spirit has taken over and I took a job with a Locum Tenens medical staffing company called Delta Flex Travelers. Assignments are usually 13 weeks in length and I get to help pick where I go. My first assignment is in Mankato, MN working in an urgent care. I will be there March 17-June 20. Then I don't know where yet, anywhere in the US, depending what's open and what sounds good. This job is sounding great because like I said, I'm restless... I can't decide where I want to "settle down"... ALSO, they pay amazingly, I get a free furnished apartment, my dog Daisy can come with me, on top of my amazing houly pay I get a car stipend and a per diem that are untaxed. I'm going to pay off my student loan debt! Yay! My new goal = Debt free by 30!
4 - If approved, I am going to start doing some independant contractor work with a company called Logistics Health which is based here in La Crosse, WI. They do Periodic Health Assessments and Post-Deployment Health Re-Assesments for military personel. That's a good gig too.
5 - I'm going to Colorado in 6 weeks! It's for a Christian Medical Conference sponsered by Focus on the Family. Sounded fun. Plus it's right by Pike's Peak, so at minimum I'll get to go up Pike's Peak on those fun train-type things!
So, that's my life now! I will keep you all posted!
