Sigh. Those 8 years just flew by, didn’t they? For those that hated Obama, these are happy days indeed with today being Obama’s last full day as President. I can’t share any outlook (as most of my family on pretty much all sides does) on tomorrow and the next four years that is positive, as come on. Just the transition efforts alone, and the choices for the Cabinet, and him still fucking TWEETING like an idiot, getting riled up at a moment’s notice….whooo boy. It just puts in stark relief what we’ve had these last 8 years.
I’m going to miss President Obama and his family quite a lot. I’m bracing for whatever comes next, and holding on to some tiny shred of hope that the next 4 years aren’t a complete shitshow. So God speed President Obama, and good luck to us all, especially to the incoming President. Let’s hope that somewhere deep in his being, there’s someone who actually does want to improve things for the country and its people. I should probably drink more wine.
Man oh man, each day we tick towards the 19th, it’s just like a giant UGH, especially when reminded of what we’re about to lose. Joe Biden is awesome, I love his emotional style and his DGAF (in a good, useful way) attitude, and I love all of what the video shows. The memes about Obama & Biden’s friendship are epic – this link has a few choice entries:
Anyway, le sigh. 2017 will be something, won’t it?
And dammit, I missed posting yesterday due to not getting home until late due to a work dinner for the team that we had at Public School 213 just a block away from the office. It was a lot of fun, but dammit, my streak is ROOND. And only 11 days in, too.
I’m excited that the museum that George Lucas is going to build, the Museum of Narrative Art, is coming here to Los Angeles! Of course it’ll be a great place to see some Star Wars stuff, but it’ll also have plenty more there too. And suck it, San Francisco!
In sobering and fairly sad news, President Obama’s last speech to the nation was today, and it’s just too hard to contemplate what we’re about to lose compared to what we’re about to start having to deal with. This really will be quite a fucking shitshow, won’t it? And like Michancy continues to remind us, none of what he’s doing or saying is normal. Nor can we be accustomed to it and let it be normal.
…and I’m in Dallas for some anti-money laundering training for the WEEKEND never thinking how huge a day June 26, 2015 was going to be. Â Fuck. Â What I wouldn’t give to be back home today and celebrate this amazing day with Larry, my family, my friends….
Of course, first, we had the sensational news that the Supreme Court had effectively stricken down the laws against gay marriage in states that had them, and thus gay marriage was legal throughout the country. Â About fucking time. Â I’m going to quote here, for posterity, the wonderful statement made in Justice Kennedy’s remarks:
No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. Â In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. Â As some of the petitioners in this case demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. Â It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Â Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Â Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. Â They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. Â The Constitution grants them that right.
The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is reversed.
It is so ordered.
SO ordered, indeed. Â I can’t wait to get home and start really getting ready for my completely nationwide-legal wedding to Larry!
Later in the day, as President Obama was speaking his eulogy for the slain pastor from last week’s slaughter in Charleston, he sang “Amazing Grace” and reduced anyone watching to tears:
Incredible.
I will miss this President when his term is finished.
And so now I sit here and wish I was back home. Â Tonight is the Sound of Music Sing-a-long at the Hollywood Bowl, which is way earlier than it has ever been before. Â My mom is using my ticket though so at least something good is coming of it as she’s not had the experience. Â It is the 50th anniversary of the movie, so maybe some awesome surprises are on their way? Â For my part, I’m listening to the soundtrack (“My Favorite Things” is currently playing). Â GOD DAMN, why didn’t I look at my fucking personal calendar before signing up for this fucking training????? Â I am actually physically angry at how this turned out.
The one good thing that I really am going to focus on is that things are going to work out and I’ll get to see my dad tomorrow after the session is done! Â It’s quite a schlep he’ll be making so I’m super appreciative. Â Can’t believe how long it’s been, yet again.
Finally, after today’s session, I quickly hightailed it over to the Book Depository here in Dallas, TX. Â After reading 11/22/63 and of course just the morbid fascination that such a place in history holds, I knew that if I was going to do anything touristy, that would be it. Â It ends up being quite an experience, as they’ve put up a very intense and immersive experience on the 6th floor of the depository, which is where Oswald carried out Kennedy’s assassination. Â The corner of the building he was situated in has been recreated to look like it was, and it’s decidedly creepy. Â A very good exhibit nonetheless – I’ve taken pictures but I don’t have an easy way that I can think of at the moment to get them here…but I may update this post shortly as I’m thinking of something.…Yay, Google Photos – thanks for making this work out after all…Pictures!
June 26, 2015 – Visiting the Book Depository in Dallas, TX
These pics are great - if you get close, you'll see they're composed of thousands of tiny pics...26-Jun-2015 17:58, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200
Last night’s State of the Union from President Obama was a really good recap of all the things that have been accomplished while also laying out hopes for what can be accomplished in the near future, including trying to get past the massive amounts of gridlock and over-politicking (not a word, I know), but dammmmmnnnn, the moment that just made anyone’s jaw drop who was watching was this moment below:
I just loved that first Obama smirked when he got the predictable cheers at  his statement about no more campaigns to run, and then makes that split-second decision to not let it go.  LOVED IT.  I loved the cheers and standing ovation it got.  It was awesome and cathartic.
Gawker’s post about it cracked me the fuck up too, as not only is the article funny (and has a much more direct clip too) but the commenters there have some fucking hilarious GIFs and JPGs. Â So good.
