Мы, вновь.

So, the United States of America has once again transformed itself and transformed the perception the world may take of us. Absolutely amazing. Until I stayed up all the way up to the 8am local time mark (shortly following Obama's victory speech), I had only somewhat grasped the unimaginable importance of this election. Sitting through the ups and downs and pundit raffataff engaged in a color-by-numbers exercise carries across a sort of Christmas feel in itself. Add elements of discussion concerning national, racial, international and inter-demographic firsts, and the magic began to swell.

I took some time trying to track down a decent station to watch throughout the debate, which was somewhat harder than it should have been. Part of this could be my distance from the continental US, or even Obama's childhood palm tree state, or even our shoot-marmots-from-Apaches northern outpost. Regardless, the internet offers just about everything (Obama forgot to mention that it won the election in his speech as well), and I was able to sample somewhat. CNN offered a live stream, however it was different from the 'real' CNN broadcast by sattellite, and thus somehow allowed to be anchored by the worst fake-tanned bag of duchery I have witnessed outside of MTV in some time. I kept BBC's live text in the background, which was somewhat interesting. At a certain time, BBC World started its coverage, which in theory should have been spectacular. This opportunity for a fresh US-British approach on the matter was ultimately shut down and put on Xanax by a combined 4,000 years of age between the four pundits. It was the worst stereotype of old British gentlemen, by old British gentleman, that I have been exposed to live (using the word liberally). So, scratch that one off.

Took a while to connive my computer into showing a Comedy Central stream, in anticipation of the John Stewart/Steven Colbert Indecision 2008 broadcast. Once it came to fruition, however, I found that the special was limited to an hour long starting at 10pm Minneapolis time. I firmly believe that all-night coverage by the pair could have been worthwile, not to mention filled with a larger cast of cockatoos.

At last, I was able to hold a fragile streaming connection to MSNBC and spent the rest of the election indulging in the commentators' witty banter amongst themselves and African American guests (plus Tom Delay and the respective campaign managers). I have to say that the 'racial equality' themes and undertones implicated in the selection of our 44th president were a realized though non-deciding element of the race for myself. I, and I believe President-Elect Obama himself, take this as a monumental step, though one which is not the only cause and only motivator for the wider sense of 'change' which is just beginning to inspire and call to action our nation. In his victory speech (which I have yet to pore back over, though will address in a later post), I remember that during one of the multiple and building climaxes, Obama pointed out that we have achieved change in his election, but that this is not what the election was about itself. This is only the start of things, a moment in the wider renewal and re-realization of our fundamental constitutional principles, and we have chosen a challenging and uplifting road for ourselves.

Digressing, the crowd receiving this speech and the entire electorate which has chosen Obama did so not primarily out of racial issues. However, the immediate and resounding effects which this vote has in that very topic is humbling and unspeakable in its magnitude. Seeing the faces of several prominent and ordinary African Americans, hearing the accounts of their own astonishment and joy at the achievement of this; not a president with a special focus on African Americans, but at the achievement of greater equality.. seeing and feeling their wordless amazement and love for the ideals which are America.. well.. this is an election, a time and a movement which I and all citizens who cherish our constitutional principles and rights will never forget.

Whoo, tingly! Haha.. We the people have the electrifying ability to be awesome sometimes. Go America.

Shifting for the moment aside of political discussion, I am becoming stoked up for the (real) return once more! Importantly, an element of political fear has been removed as of yesterday, though overall the realignment of my internal compass Minneapolis-ways is charging me up. In the last few weeks I've been fighting a pull towards the dulling of motivation .. not specific to moving, but in just about any aspect including sleep. Plans with Tori to get another 2-bedroom somewhere stuttered out from this and that, though we'll probably be hanging out just as much in Bully's (with free popcorn) as we would in a shared apartment. I had sort of counted on that as a 'certainty' in my move back, which added some comfort to the general flurry of confusion still healthily carried out by job searching. Moving at any time and in any circumstances seems to promote the kind of stress that reflects when you are plagued by some minor cold, though you're not sure if you really have a cold or have just been off beat for a time, or if a real cold will actually come, or.. Whoa, I just made myself want a beer.

All things end up coming around however they will, though, and disperse stress along the way. Beer also helps that.

Между прочем, thanks to my friend Awesome-Squad Melissa Lam and her own surprise array of awesome-squad friends (squad members, really.. and yes, everyone gets a glock, except for the interns, who all share one).. I have a potential apartment-mate set up for December! Following the slightly awkward (should donate some 'musing' time to what kind of a person Kim would come off as in such a situation) Facebook exchanges confirming that the other person doesn't make multiple fake Beastie Boys videos on Youtube (always an important question) and is not a permanent cult member, we have now started getting down on the getting down of actually finding a place.

She works for the state Senate (let me know if you want me to lobby at home for any bills limiting the number of tax credits possible for promoting anthropologically-themed squirrel accapello duos.. I've got the ins now), and I only have a scattering of interviews and unresponded CVs, so we're looking to settle down around Uptown or the Selby/Grand area. I'm excited to relocate back to an area of the Cities in which I've only roamed before, though I will miss proximity to THall. On Dasher, on Dancer..

My one-night readjustment to US Eastern time and then flip back again is tapping me on the shoulder, thus I'll shade in and dimple some blanks while making more in the next few days.. This whole 'Change' thing got be so charged up that I'm ready for a nap! Haha, aaahhh.. election humor.. Well done.

I should really commit myself to writing posts in that energized period of post-morning tea and pre-post-evening-wine. Ideals.

Edasi, вперёд..