The Great Presidential Debate

Kaci — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:28:39 +0000

I posted a question on my facebook fan page – and was really intrigued by the responses I got. The question was, “It’s President’s Day…. Which one would you like to talk with?”
Out of almost 30 responses, Lincoln topped the list with 6 votes, Jefferson, JFK and Reagan tied for second with 5 votes each, Teddy Roosevelt came in third place with 3 votes, Truman and Washington each scored 2 votes, and a single nod each was given to Taft, Taylor, FDR, Jackson, and John Adams. Here are some of the quotes that went with the votes:
” Abraham Lincoln – his writing is so poetic.”
“it would be Lincoln….no doubt.”
“lincoln baby!”
“I am thinking Lincoln and JFK…..both served in turbulent times, and I would love to hear about JFK’s “other” love life!!!”
“I agree about JFK and his other life in general! He has more than just a secret love life!”
“Ron Reagan, he tore down the wall”
“Jefferson….no doubt.”
“the first one ,,, i have some questions,,,”
I myself have always been fascinated with Andrew Jackson – long before I called Nashville home. My family visited The Hermitage when I was young, and I always remembered the big mural on the wall when you opened the front door. I visited again in 1996, and fell back in love with not only Andrew, but Rachel Jackson. I love that they are buried together beside her garden, and though Rachel never lived to go to Washington with Andrew, he buried her at the Hermitage and planted Weeping Willow trees around her grave to mourn her while he was away. I always thought that showed such a different side of such a strong and turbulent man.

I also saw a special Presidential Exhibit at the Smithsonian around 2000, and was blown away at the sight of one of Abraham Lincoln’s top hats, and a real uniform of George Washingtons. The actual articles sort of brought the dull history book stories to life. Our history is so colorful and young!

I recently watched “John Adams” that was made for HBO, and once again my fascination with Jefferson was brought back into the front of my mind. As a really small girl, our family visited Monticello, and my mother says that once we completed the tour I went back through at least 3 more times. She laughs remembering wondering just WHAT it was I wanted to see. In my memory, I can recall a red velvet couch in a room full of his inventions. It was a “half-couch” – like in the old black and white movies with Bette Davis or someone draped over it with a long cigarette. I could completely be making that up I’m sure….but I believe I even have a postcard from the gift store somewhere in mom’s basement. Maybe my fascination is more with the decor and fashion rather than the people. Well – I believe they go hand in hand. (that’s my story I’ll stick to at least.)

The question peaked my interest about which of the wives people would want to chat with. Almost 30 responses came in quick – and I not too many surprises there. Jackie O came in strong with 5 votes, Nancy Regan and Eleanor Roosevelt tied for second with 3, Pat Nixon, Dolly Madison, Mary Todd Lincoln, Abigail Adams, and Michelle Obama scored with 2 votes each, and a final nod went to the Bush Ladies. Here are some quotes:
“Nixon’s wife would probably be pretty good convo!”
“I would love to chat with Pat Nixon ”
“Nancy Reagan a year after Ronald was diagnosed. Her example of sickness&health really struck a chord with me. When she was asked about it, she said “he would have done this for me.” What a strong woman.”
“Definitely Jacqueline Kennedy”
“Jackie O!!”
“Alive or dead….definately Jackie O!”
“Michelle. Obviously. She’s smart.”
“Eleanor Roosevelt…strong, independent and smart woman!”
“Eleanor Roosevelt. She was awesome”

Oh. There were quite a few responses that were to be expected, not really pertaining to the questions. But it’s a free country and it always keeps things interesting. An example for the wife question:
“Todd Palin!!! Oh, wait…”

Nice…:)

January

Kaci — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:27:22 +0000

So….January. I’m really never sure what to do with myself in January. It’s odd to me that though it’s supposed to be the month of fresh starts, new beginnings, and clean slates – that it often times ends up being sort of a month of a long….never ending….gray…..”Pause” button. What do I mean?
Well – take February. People are either falling in love with love and being swept away with oversized cards and singing Hallmark gorillas, or crashing off their New Year’s diets in the Walgreens aisles of red and pink heart-shaped crack. But you see with either end of the spectrum….ACTION
Oh…but March, you say. What is March? For the Irish or Irish tendencied March has a fanciful fest fit for frothy freaks. Those March flowers pop up….it’s either coming in or going out like a lamb or a lion. And the very word – “March”. Uh….hut 2 – 3 – 4……
April – April showers bring may flowers, And MTV spring breakers in from their week of sun and soul damage….or it gives them an easy excuse for a wet t-shirt contest.
May……May I bring warmer weather? May I help you celebrate with the cinco’d fiesta? May I linger here a bit until I bring you summer? May I have this dance? (skip the pole. MAYpole. geez.)
June: watermelon. junebugs. june cleaver. all good here.
July: fireworks. heat. lightening bugs
August: Back to school plaids are in the stores. Backpacks and lunchboxes are bought. Tans are compared. Naps are taken. Days are long. School is anticipated. What teacher did ya get?
September: apples and schoolbells and labor day and hint of fall to come.
October: ahhhhhh. my favorite. brisk pumpkin pie cinnamon apple leaf colored candles burning and coats of many colors and kids ready for candy.
November: The world celebrates my birth. Everyone is thankful for once at the same time. People are allowed to eat and it’s cool to bust your jeans button for an afternoon. Naps can legally be blamed on turkey and no one flinches. Siestas are needed for the month to come.
December – hustle bustle frosty and rudolph and traditions and packages and hurry hurry hurry hurry. To that one last night. The night where the world can agree on one thing. There is no arguing that there is a new year coming. No disagreement that at midnight out with the old and in with the new. All around the ball of blue and green we watch and count and wait and kiss and then……crash from 11 months of memories we’ve made and people we’ve welcomed and said good-bye too. We all sleep, and wake up to start fresh…which brings me back to ….January.
Maybe it’s because I lost my dad on a January 2nd. Maybe it’s because I watched Dick Clark too many times alone – a chronic teenage drama queen choosing solace and avoiding the chance of a kiss going wrong. Maybe I was once asked “what are you doing New Year’s Eve?” – and I fell hard for the line and now every new year I have a flash back. Maybe the gray? The Rain? It’s hard to forge ahead in a constant rain spatter. Maybe it just slows us down on purpose. Maybe January is just that……a pause…….
I adore the pause button on my dvd player. I adore the pause button on my ipod. Like a bookmark in a great novel. Like the 10 minute ‘adult swim’ our pool used to have to make us rest at 10 til every hour. Maybe a pause is a good thing. Maybe there’s too much pressure to start new resolutions, when we havn’t even been able to soak up what happened the last half of our year to see what we NEED to ‘resolute’ ourselves to. Maybe a new year’s resolution for January is to pause – take a breather from all the 11 months that just flew by, and appreciate, laugh, cry, and get ready for the Walgreens Crack aisle for February Valentines.
January. A pause button. I like it.

Kaci Bolls » The Everyday Things

The Great Presidential Debate

January