tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43927989126462771292012-01-05T12:31:22.139-08:00travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.comBlogger371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-2125681727517956742009-04-30T09:41:00.000-07:002009-05-11T23:03:23.730-07:00

Smell - brisk, fresh air, fall, sausages and kebobs, the fried deliciousness of 'teacher sticks' at Tivoli, flowers, and the moldy musk of a thawing ground.Taste - zesty balsamic mixed with a smooth creamy cheese clump, but lightened by the watery crunch of lettuce. mostly light and healthy tiny portions with the occasional greasy chicken of a kebob. the hint of vanilla lightly perfuming lovely

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-50292798771513676462009-04-23T21:00:00.000-07:002009-04-23T21:48:11.039-07:00

‘The Golden State’...this sprawling state is named that for multiple reasons, the most obvious being the Gold Rush, but once you get here there are so many other reasons one never thought of. The sunshine, golden opportunities, and the amount of gold it costs to live here. Coming from 'The Buckeye State' myself that nickname leaves very little room for interpretation. Since moving out here I have

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-58735893779710024142009-03-31T19:46:00.000-07:002009-03-31T20:25:32.497-07:00

the bands of muscles strapped across my shins unleashed a burning scream against the current wanting to waver like strands of seaweed in the tide. if i let myself stop and pay attention to my body it was heaving. my lungs were burning, filling my mouth with the taste of metallic blood as if i had just finished the annual high school mile. and when I went to use my arms they shook and wobbled

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-86509492806258346342009-03-14T21:07:00.000-07:002009-03-16T22:12:48.260-07:00

Looking at Maria Forde's drawings I was certain of one thing...I wanted to be her friend. Her show at Needles and Pens on Friday night consisted of a series of drawings with cut out bits of text bearing advice from each person pictured, such as, "Please recycle", and, "My mom says you should never buy a new car". Each sketch was simple, but beautifully rendered bearing each pencil mark and brush

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-64950059367153449222009-03-10T00:22:00.000-07:002009-03-11T08:55:11.588-07:00

As most of you know I am working at a lovely little travel store in Hayes Valley. The store is cleverly designed like the cabin of an airplane with rounded corners curving over the five hundred dollar Jack Spade bags and twirling racks of travel books. The crowed that frequents this store is pretty tame for the most part ranging from poodle toting all male couples to families just passing the

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-54818932459624625922009-02-17T17:52:00.000-08:002009-02-18T15:49:40.699-08:00

Yesterday I went to lunch with my friend Lisa. We walked to this generic lunch spot that actually has good salads and lentil dishes that I get mostly every day. I held the door for her, and as I did, this short, rotund, black Time Warner Cable lady approached standing in the opposite direction. So there I am, standing there, holding the door for her as well. I was like "After you..." She replied

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-88519835259173958612009-02-02T13:35:00.000-08:002009-02-02T13:57:38.466-08:00

As you can probably tell from my previous post I am searching for clues to unlocking my future. I have recently abandoned the notion that fate is a farce and coincidence is reality...my life is piloted by fate these days and applying some higher meaning to most events. Moving to one of the most expensive cities about four weeks ago with high hopes and finding absolutely no work has probably lead

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-55851999792384282922009-01-27T09:41:00.000-08:002009-01-27T11:31:47.317-08:00

Going with my gut was sort of the theme of my existence yesterday. There is a rather pressing decision on my current horizon of whether or not I should join my family in the Bahamas. Of course I want to go, but money is an issue, plus, I am still trying desperately to stay put, get a job, and be normal. My very understanding and intuitive flat mate, who would be joining me on this excursion, told

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-37413795262777403572009-01-24T11:26:00.001-08:002009-01-24T11:39:55.393-08:00

I am sure many of you are sick of Obama, and how Obama-saturated my updates tend to be, but this Obama story was too good not to report. As we all know, he was inaugurated into the White House on Tuesday. San Francisco was buzzing with joy, people were permitted to come into work late, and his voice seemed to linger in the air everywhere you went. This story starts with a very long street that

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-56229118810975255342009-01-20T11:04:00.000-08:002009-01-20T11:29:16.174-08:00

They say a rolling stone gathers no moss. Well, I have stopped rolling recently and I'm learning how to grow moss again. I am learning that this kind of moss does not grow in sunlight; it grows while being in the gaze of the same people day in and day out. It grows in being a consistent presence in someone's life. I feel this soft green covering growing when a consistent joke crops up among my

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-49355364971085834492008-12-08T20:37:00.000-08:002008-12-08T20:47:26.707-08:00

These train yards, houses, shacks, look uninhabitable. Like ancient burnt out relics. I would like to walk across this countryside of Bulgaria. Follow the stream to Romania. The solid green fields butting up against the pure blue sky brings me back to kindergarten. I see pages from a coloring book. Flat blocks of color. Trying to stay in the lines. At this rate we are never going to get to

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-17028150598457474242008-11-14T09:58:00.000-08:002008-11-17T14:47:35.449-08:00

I have no doubt that every one of you has experienced the challenge of returning to your “real life” after a long and exquisite vacation. Well, I recently returned to my life that is not exactly real at the moment because I live in China. There was nothing fictional about the amazing month I had just spent traveling in Southeast Asia with my boyfriend, but as all good things must end, he boarded

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-67272163945653293572008-11-13T18:46:00.000-08:002008-11-13T18:49:11.139-08:00

Jury duty is the hugest load of North American hooey I have ever experienced! The whole thing is totally disorganized, and incredibly inefficient. I suppose I am spoiled after working on the largest and most organized political campaign in history. President-elect Barack Obama raised record amounts of funds using the internet, and mobilized millions of people worldwide. Somehow he still managed

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-76799235075362385922008-11-05T21:58:00.000-08:002008-11-05T22:04:16.282-08:00

Rosa sat so Martin could walk, Martin walked so Barack could run, and Barack is president so ALL our children can fly.Thank you for joining me on this historic journey.There will be more adventures soon...Love,travel-pants

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-61656161544663545112008-11-03T08:10:00.001-08:002008-11-03T08:34:28.399-08:00

"Obama wants to kill our unborn children! He wants to give abortions out like candy! Jesus does not want us killing babies! And what would happen to our population? There would be no people left! I am voting for McCain!"I explained a few fundamental facts about the global population, and the difference between being pro-choice and pro-abortion. Then we chatted about the escalating price of gas, a

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-71768533863342917732008-10-31T20:40:00.000-07:002008-11-01T17:29:12.605-07:00

Tonight I was having a very interesting and important discussion with Barbra in Elyria, OH when her husband John strolled into the room and shouted at me as he passed through, "If your for Obama, your a socialist. Get out of my house! You are not welcome here!" Barbra tried to use her little voice to shush him up, but he just kept ranting over her like a crazed maniac. As Barbra shooed me out the

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-69279621738260474052008-10-31T07:59:00.001-07:002008-10-31T08:04:31.995-07:00

"McCain has got experience, but in stealin' money, and I don't have any! This election is making history and I never thought I would live to see it. These past few months with Obama running for president have restored my pride in being American." - David - 45 - Euclid, OH

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-62349777614303346562008-10-30T06:51:00.000-07:002008-10-30T07:24:47.443-07:00

Joshua tried to slam the door in my face. He pulled the door open in anger and demanded I explain myself immediately. I fumbled over my words, trying to be kind, while explaining that I was not selling anything. Finally he exclaimed, "What could be so important that you need to interrupt me during Barack Obama's infomercial!" I took a quick sigh of relief and smiled and said, "I'm with Obama's

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-50207964171555260882008-10-29T07:40:00.000-07:002008-10-29T07:48:33.773-07:00

"Obama was born in Kenya and then his mother flew him to Hawaii the day after and had a duplicate birth certificate made." Everett exclaimed furiously.Already knowing the answer I calmly inquired, "Really? Where did you hear this?""On the radio." He shortly answered"Did Rush Limbaugh have anything to do with this idea about Obama?" I said in jest.He didn't think it was funny and asked me to leave.

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-14501907969814308342008-10-29T07:39:00.000-07:002008-10-29T07:40:36.106-07:00

Sick day. Sorry, no updates from Cleveland. Although, it is snowing here!

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-66288952980815990892008-10-28T07:35:00.000-07:002008-10-28T07:42:40.230-07:00

"I flew planes with John McCain during the war.""Wow! Really? That is exciting. So do you plan to vote for your buddy John in the presidential election?""Um, no...we may have fought in the war together, but he would just make this economy crash even more then it already has if he got into the White House." - War Veteran - Middleburg Heights, OH

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-81217757184011860422008-10-27T07:00:00.000-07:002008-10-27T16:12:18.955-07:00

The life of a canvasser is not elegant, or glamorous. We battle the elements everyday from rain, snow, sleet, land-mines of dog poop, slamming doors, extremely awkward situations, and above all the American public. Sometimes these interactions are a joy, they remind me of what I am out here freezing my ass off fighting for, other times I am not so lucky. I still remember meeting Frank in Parma,

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-33055952569491123152008-10-25T07:00:00.000-07:002008-10-25T07:04:54.718-07:00

"Its too bad terrorists will be taking over this country. And no, I will not be voting for Barack Osama!" - Nancy - 57 - Bedford, OH

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-75334696214041498802008-10-25T06:55:00.000-07:002008-10-25T07:00:28.163-07:00

"Whoever fills this next presidential seat is doing America a huge favor. It seems that the presidents go into the White House with dark hair and by the time they come out it has turned gray." - Amber - 46

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-70472658305488932622008-10-24T08:45:00.000-07:002008-10-24T08:57:11.079-07:00

Old people seem to be the heros of this election. I met another oldie, but goody today named George. He is 97, and pushin' death, which he mentioned quite frequently in our conversation. In regards to the election he said,"I'm not gonna be here much longer, and I am ready to go. I asked the Lord to do one thing, one last thing for me in this life...I asked him to keep me here to see Barack Obama

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-47213490862121739672008-10-22T08:44:00.000-07:002008-10-22T08:52:13.554-07:00

Walter's 85 year old body hobbled out of his house in Parma, OH, and cut me off immediatly when the word election left my lips by saying, "I don't pay attention to that stuff!"Apparently he does though because when I asked him who he would vote for he said, "Oh, the colored guy...not that crooked guy who is just like George Bush."Just to clearify I asked, "You mean McCain?"He replied, "Yeah. And

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-18845011424890893422008-10-22T08:35:00.000-07:002008-10-22T08:44:10.852-07:00

"So what is the most important issue to you in this presidential election?" I inquired of a 54 year old man in Olmsted Falls, OH."Getting Bill Maher off the air!"

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-19119652311831229382008-10-20T08:11:00.000-07:002008-10-21T20:23:58.437-07:00

I met Anthony in the Cleveland ghetto on Saturday. He flung the screen door open slamming it against the side of his dilapidated house. His long brown, wavy, unkempt hair swung from side to side in his green bandana as he lumbered toward me. He had a sturdy handshake and thick swollen fingers. He proved to be a very pleasant, but uninformed voter. After negotiating an agreement with him to vote

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-77460690021558513882008-10-18T05:29:00.000-07:002008-10-21T20:26:04.182-07:00

As my canvassing days wear on I am discovering some new lingo. We have coined a new verb "canvassed", or "to canvas something". This verb is used to describe things you receive from people you speak to at the door. So far I have "canvassed" a bottle of water, a baby flashlight, and a can of Pepsi. However, last nights canvassed prize was top of the line. Upon engaging a lovely couple from India

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-15835174359988637512008-10-17T07:15:00.000-07:002008-10-17T07:28:05.381-07:00

Two young boys were playing with trucks in an apartment parking lot in Ohio. I asked where their mom was and they informed me she was not home so I told them I was for Obama. They yelped, jumped, and screamed his name with joy and enthusiasm.Then the younger of the two admitted, "I don't even know how to spell his name."By now the older boy was dancing around singing "Obama, Obama, Obama!" and he

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-11031894509492806162008-10-16T07:16:00.000-07:002008-10-16T08:43:37.424-07:00

I marched up Alice’s driveway yesterday evening ready to enlighten her on Barack Obama's awesome policies. I bypassed the front door and headed for the open side door. Seeing as she was pushing 90 I knocked once and settled in to wait for her old tired bones to make it to the door. To my surprise a little head peaked around the corner almost immediately. She was a very frail thin woman wearing

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-17210821048646927712008-10-14T20:31:00.000-07:002008-10-25T06:54:32.133-07:00

One of my Chinese students wrote this in an e-mail to me today..."During the four-year presidency, Bush pulls the U.S down, also the world economy down.THe money he spend on the war is much bigger than what he wants to spend on saving the market.Stupid. I hope Obama can win the election. "CHANGE" Change the States and change the world. I hope he can change the history of the USA."- Maverick - age

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-59930737796036357572008-10-13T20:21:00.000-07:002008-10-13T20:24:25.869-07:00

'Have you considered voting for Obama in the upcoming election?'The older African American woman replied, "Is that the black dude?" - compliments of Ted G. during his canvassing in North Carolina

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-38110133674484039442008-10-11T17:47:00.000-07:002008-10-11T17:53:56.752-07:00

"I'm a Democrat, I always have been, but I'm votin' for McCain."'Really, why? What is keeping you from voting for Obama?'"I am gonna be honest here...I'm not votin' for Obama because he is black."'Wow, really. You are the first to say that.'"Well, I'm probably just the first to admit it." - Delores - age 72 -

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-91343344085528090722008-10-10T21:03:00.000-07:002008-10-10T21:12:18.306-07:00

"Obama wants to kill our unborn children and give abortions out like candy. Jesus does not want us killing our babies! And what would happen to our population? There will be no people left!"A rosary was strung from two hooks on her front door and a giant wooden cross was staked into her front lawn.I replied, 'So you plan to vote for McCain then?'She responded with a conflicted look on her face, "

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-78696649328660983592008-10-06T21:32:00.001-07:002008-10-09T19:02:02.038-07:00

The air is chill, tensions are high, families are divided, and some friendships are being broken...yep, it is that fun-filled time of year again, election season. For the first time in my life I have jumped headfirst into politics by joining the league of canvassers that interrupt your dinner, wake your children, and rile up your dog while your watching the evening news. I took this job because I

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4392798912646277129.post-87605926834860509142008-09-28T14:15:00.000-07:002008-09-28T14:33:18.777-07:00

Tell me, what does being American mean to you? Is it a threat, privilege, burden, sacrifice, or simply a pleasure? Being American meant little to nothing to me until a man pulled a gun on me in Sydney for the simple fact that I was American. It was the middle of the afternoon and my friends and I were enjoying some Australian sun in a park when some bloke struck up a friendly conversation with us

travelpantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05679954656090140264noreply@blogger.com0