I am not going to get into any details, but I am witnessing some really fucked up stuff here lately. It’s really sad and I wish I could change minds, change the way things are.

Months and months of hard work have paid off. We won Ohio and the election. Lucas county, where I was working, voted Obama 65% to 34%. That is wicked awesome. It means we did out job, and did it well. Succeeded in our goal and won by a large enough margin to offset the red rural areas where sadly race and other prejudices are still the only issues.

E-day GOTV was slightly crazy. We had an awesome team and our chemistry and flexibility made things run so so smoothly. We actually got out of there at a reasonable time. We got the call to pack up for the night and get our asses over to the after party. I had to make one last stop to collect some number from a dear of a volunteer, then headed over myself.

I was on the highway driving to what could be a really awesome or really disappointing party, when i got the call. We won Ohio. I cannot describe the rush that went though my body. I tried to control myself and my tears long enough to get safely to my destination to begin the celebration. The party was huge. News crews all around, Marcy Kaptur, who was re-elected then too, was there, just as she was before GOTV began, to give us a pep talk and a pat on the back. The energy was crazy. Everyone hugging, shaking hands, toasting and basking in the glory.

After a few drinks we decided to head home, we had been up since 4 a.m. after all. I rushed home, still in pure shock of what we had accomplished. We had always been told that if we win Ohio, the election is over. But between all the excitement that fact was gone from my head. I was still so nervous as to how the rest of the night would play out and remembering the all-nighters watching CNN in the past.

I walked inside and turned on the TV. CNN had called it. Barack Obama was the winner. That is when i really lost it. I could barely stand up or walk, despite my very full bladder. I sobbed for a good hour, just long enough to hear McCain concede.

About a dozen cigarettes later, I finally got myself together, then Barack spoke and I wept again. There is something about his words that are repeatedly compelling, inspiring and empowering. He was done campaigning, he had already won, yet he continued to excite, energize and ignite everyone watching or listening.

I am so proud to be part of his campaign and his movement. It’s not everyday that someone can say that because of their actions, the world will never be the same. But becuase of my work, and the work of hundreds of thousands like me, the world is forever changed. I was part of history. I am beyond proud to have played even a small role in what happened Tuesday night. I can only hope to be part of something so epic again.

As much as the word is beyond overused here lately, epic is the perfect word to describe this election.

As much as I have been bitching and complaining about being tired and stressed, there is not a single thing I would rather be doing right now than working with the Obama campaign. Our grassroots local ground campaign is unprecedented and unrivaled. We have worked so hard for months, put in so many hours, gave up so much of our own lives along the way, while still staying positive and not resorting to the dirty tactics that the McCain camp has been forced to use. They are getting nasty becuase they know they are up shit’s creek with no paddle. They have no policy and their main campaign strategy is to disrupt ours. But they are failing. In 88 counties across Ohio we have over 50,000 volunteers. That breaks down to over 500 volunteers in each county. A recent article in the LA Times said that there were a whopping nine people doing phone banking at one McCain local office in Ohio. 500 and nine are vastly different and reaffirm my drive. If the Obama campaign is bringing in that many more people than the McCain campaign, Barack’s vision, policy and passion must be what people need and want.

With less than 24 hours before the polls open here, my field organizer sent us a heartfelt and inspiring email. He described how important we are to local efforts as well as the entire world. Its so surreal that my actions are helping change the world forever. It has always been our message that if we win Ohio, we win the general election, no questions asked. The last candidate to win the general election without winning the state of Ohio was John F Kennedy in 1961. While we are talking numbers, John Kerry was reaching 100K homes each weekend this time four years ago. We are now hitting nearly half a million each day. Overall we have spoke to 1.13 million people this last weekend, nearly 10% of everyone in Ohio. That in itself is epic.

The empowering feeling rushing through me cannot be explained. This is shaping up to be the most important and historical election I think this country has ever seen. I am so proud to be involved and so blessed to have such a strong team with me. Barack always says “With your help, we can win this state, win the general election and change the world.” As much BS as politicians spit out, I believe that statement in my heart.  Reminds me of a quote from Herb Brooks, someone I respect and admire to the fullest, “This is your time.”

Need to run, got two long, exciting and monumental days ahead. More to come.

I have been soooo busy lately it’s crazy. Between work, sports, campaigning and trying to find time to sleep, shower, run and eat, I have been really neglecting my blogging duties. Lots of fun stuff this week though, so while I have a minute, here is a quick recap.

College football has been pretty exciting. The Alabama-Georgia game this Saturday is going to be huge. Georgia Bulldogs are planning a black-out, with the players and fans all wearing black. NHL pre-season also opens this week, meaning hockey season is about to blossom and NHL rumors are running rampant as to the last-minute trades and signings. In NFL news, lots of upsets in Week 3, Miami beating the Pats?!? Yeah, big WTF there. Matt Millen is finally out of Detroit, Brian Westbrook is hurt and Plaxico Burress was suspended, but plans to appeal.

In other news, Halloween is coming up, thats always fun. Baked pumpkin seeds, caramel apples and beyond entertaining costumes. It also means that Starbucks will have my favorite seasonal treat, pumpkin spice, bug yum!

Crap, literally as in my puppy had an accident on the floor. Ugh, back to the grind.

I am not a morning person at all. If I am out of bed before 10 a.m. something big must be going on. This morning I was up at 7:30. I was not to happy about it but after a quick shower and a cup of strong coffee I was functional.

I decided to attend a local rally where Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden was speaking. I had to park like a mile away and wait in line for about an hour, but once I got through all that it was a good time. Biden was introduced by a local woman, who just a few years ago, faced breast cancer. She explained that her and her husband, who is self employed like me, didn’t have health insurance and was forced to pay for surgery, chemo, radiation and everything else out of pocket. She was fortunate to beat the cancer and has been healthy for two years now. Although you could tell she was nervous, she gave a good speech, told her touching story.

Biden spoke for about 45 minutes. Yes he is a bit long winded, I will agree to that, but he brought up a lot of good points. He talked about out how McCain has been twisting quotes in his television ads and making political, not policy, flip-flops here lately. He talked about his and Obama’s plan to create jobs, so people like us can actually afford to fill our gas tanks up all the way, by creating green energy jobs. He talked a lot about transparency, which was really refreshing. He talked about taking the 10 billion that Bush spends in Iraq each month and spending it here. What he didn’t do was fluff us with talk of change, but no policy. He also didn’t make any personal attacks on McCain, Palin or even Bush. It was all business, none of the catty BS. It was well worth the 7:30 wake-up call and I can only hope to see him and/or Obama here again soon!

Ok so continuing my rant about things that piss me off, I have decided to write a list of deal breakers when it comes to my men. I have had a bad stretch here lately. Sure they have been good in the sack, but far from keepers.

1. No drunk dialing or texting. Don’t get all wasted and call me. I will follow the same rule. This also applies to if you are with me and we are both drunk and you call another bitch. Completely unacceptable.

2. No military. Don’t romance me, then a month later go off to war for two years. I have complete support for our military, just have no desire to date them. Been there, done that.

3. I am not your mother. I will not clean up after you, do your laundry or pay your bills.

4. Don’t fuck with my dogs or my car, both are off limits and include taking my dogs anywhere without my permission and driving my car.

5. If I am busy, back off. If I say I am busy, I am. Don’t call me every five minutes or tell me it can’t wait. Unless you are missing a limb or something else along those lines, wait, I will get to you when I am good and ready.

6. My house is not your house. You don’t live here, I do. That means no getting up in the middle of the night to cook, leave the stove on and pass out in the plate of half eaten food on my couch.

7. Don’t bring drugs to my house. This includes showing up under the influence or buying and selling on my property. Short story: addicts need not apply.

8. No name tattoos. Do not tattoo my name, picture, likeness on your skin becuase i have no intention to tattoo you on me. Any other tattoos, excluding those discriminatory or idiotic, are encouraged.

9. Must like sports. Ok, I know this seems like an easy one, but there are actually grown men out there that do not follow or play any type of sport whatsoever. If anything, a man should know about sports than I do, come on I am a girl.

10. (I am leaving this one open as I am sure I will discover something I have forgotten soon.)

Additional notes:

Do not even try if you are unemployed, married, in prison, smell bad, homeless, a liar, a cheater, a thief, an ex of one of my friends, missing teeth, terminally ill, like to touch feet, screw animals or touch little boys (or girls for that matter).