I decided not to vote early because I wanted more time to research the candidates in my district. And after spending a couple hours reviewing the sample ballot on my county Web site, checking out candidates’ home pages and watching YouTube videos of speeches, I actually have changed my mind who I will vote for as the Illinois representative to congress. With less than 24 hours before I cast my vote, I can’t believe I am still changing my mind.

This will be the third presidential election I am voting in. I look back to when I cast my first presidential vote and see how much I have change politically. It amazes me to see how a little more life experience has changed what matters to me and what I believe is important. While I hope I have still kept some of the passion and faith in the American political system I had at eighteen, I know I cannot go back to the way I was before.

In the past ten years, I have seen the governor I used to work for and believe in go to jail for illegal acts he performed when he was Secretary of State. I watched as my contacts in the Department of Defense went through Rumsfeld’s resignation—and many of them did not come out the other side. And I have seen how corrupt politics  and inept politicians have left communities in which I used to live in shambles after Hurricane Katrina. Though I have tried not to let this disappointments make me lose faith in the political system, I know I am ready for a change. I believe in the power of one vote, and I will use my vote to make a difference.

On a less philosophical note, I planted my mom’s tulips today. My nails are dirty and I don’t know if I’ll ever get the mud out of my jeans, but it felt good to be working in the garden again. I miss my canister garden in Salt Lake City, but I LOVE having my parents’ huge yard just a couple miles away so I can play in it.

I rode a CTA bus for the first time in about twenty years this weekend. I am a big fan of the commuter train and the L and sidewalks, but I NEVER ride the bus. When I was living in D.C. I rode the bus all the time and I even rode it a few times in Salt Lake, but it was never on time and always crowded. Plus, riding in city traffic in a vehicle that my apartment could fit in scares the bajeebers out of me. But we wanted to go to the Lincoln Park Zoo, and it’s either take the bus or walk two and a half miles. On the way there, it was fine—the train was on time and we even got seats. But stupid me got on the wrong bus going home. We had a scary bus driver, so I was afraid to ask for an emergency transfer, plus I figured the bus would have to turn around at some point. But that never happened. By the time they switched to a really nice drivers and we got a transfer, it took us an hour to get where we were supposed to go. Busses—NEVER AGAIN!

Anyway, we had fun at the zoo. We packed lunches and eat as we walked. The weather was great and they had giraffes.



We were kind of speeding through it all and not really reading any of the signs or caring what animals we were looking at. I finally asked Leah if she liked animals, and we found out we both never really cared about animals. (It’s not that I hate animals, I just don’t relate to them or particularly care to have them around—you know, like the French. (I am so just kidding!)) Even when we were kids and all of the girls in our grade were obsessing about horses and cats and fuzzy bunnies, we were more into hiking and camping and baseball. (Okay, I was into baseball, Leah could care less.)

So we left the zoo and went to the Lincoln Park Conservatory instead.



That is the coolest place ever! I wish we had spent all day there instead. They had the most beautiful flowers and the greenest plants I have ever seen in once place.

We want to go to the Garfield Park Conservatory soon because I hear it’s even bigger and more beautiful. I can’t wait.