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do not use this group as a podium to force feed people your views. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and everyone is entitled, and encouraged to express that opinion.


Lori, I think I should've been kicked out a long time ago. With my Twilight hate comments and Gemma Doyle comments. Haha.

Random thought... I love ny book group!!!!

I really don't like grasshoppers. It isn't fair that they can jump long distances AND fly (especially when they are doing it straight at you!!)....it should be one or the other.

Cicadas also suck. One flew into my face today. Stupid, giant ugly bugs!

ugh, I hate cicadas too. There are dozens in the tree outside our window and they start chattering the second the sun comes up. I really hate it on weekends when I get a chance to sleep in.

and here I am not even knowing what cicadas are...guess we probably don't get many of them around here.

Totally, Logan!

Jaime - I'm sure you have cicadas. They look like gigantic flies and they make loud chirping noises.

I had a lot of fun volunteering today. I called exactly 200 people from Pelham, NH...all have a last name beginning with H. Only 2 said that they were voting for Obama. 1 was undecided but said that she was leaning more towards McCain now that he chose Palin as his VP.

I felt horrible after one call, when the guy who answered yelled at me because the woman that I asked for died about a year ago. I probably like ruined that mans night.

Some people yelled at me. We dont start out the greeting saying that the call is paid for by the Republican party. But some asked and them one yelled at me and said the no one in the house would ever support a republican and hung up. I so guess she is voting for Obama so I just went through the survey and filled in that.

But yeah the survey questions were:

1. Do you support John McCain or Barrack Obama for president?
2. Is your support for your candidate stong, weak,or average?
3. Do you support John Sununu or Jeanne Shaheen for u.s. senate?
4. How strong is your support for you candidate?
(If they chose McCain or Sununu):
5. Would you like to volunteer to help John McCain or John Sununu in your area?


Overall I loved it, got into a talk about Nixon with two other volunteers, because I'm wearing a button with his face on it and another campaign button that says nixon in bright red letters, and they agreed that he wasnt a bad guy but pointed to the huge Ronald Reagan poster and said that he was a guy who's face they would wear..and I agree.


Sorry this is so long, but I'm really excited and I cant wait until Wednesday to do it all again.

Had my eyebrows waxed a couple days ago and my waxer must have accidentally let some wax slip to the top of my eyelid because she pulled some skin off - ouch - it feels like I've grazed my eyelid on the gravel.

Mandy...that really really sucks...OUCH!

About cicadas, last year here in Chicago was teh 17 year. It was my first experence and I will be unavaliable in 16 years. It was the most disgusting thing in the world. The first day they started coming out it was rather interesting, we got to see some crawl out of the ground, out of their shells. Within about 48 hours I couldn't drive with my windows down because about 15-30 of them would be flying all over in the car. When you went for walks or bike rides you could hear their bodies crushing under the weight.

Their little claw like things would stick to your clothes. They were so numerous that you couldn't hear anything outside. It was utterly disgusting. Our friends and us had a little contest to see how many black garbage bags of cicadas we could fill. I filled five they filled six. But then a guy at the farmers market was buying dead one's and shells as he is/was making soap. Nothing like a cicada in a soap & soap on a rope. I ended up filling & selling him several bags.

It was disgusting. I can handle the normal amount we have right now but they are still utterly loud & disgusting.

I can hear that cricket still. I think it is in the walls of my laundry room. I am finishing putting up dry wall and I think it found it's way back their. I hope it dies soon it's so loud & annoying.

Sounds like your having fun She'Devia. More young adults need to get involved like you are.

Charity: I don't like grasshoppers either they are so yuck!

No offense, but I hate hate hate telemarketers! I used to answer the phone and tell them politely not to call me again and that I wasnt interested.
Some would respect my reply and tell me to have a good nite.
Some would put the pressure on, and thats when I would become a bitch.

Twice, the same place called me three times in one day.. the second time I was huffy, and told them to remove me from the list. the third time, I screamed at the ass to put thier manager on, and threatened to sue the company. Calling someone after they ask not to be called is Harrassment!!! The orginal caller was from a debt consolidator and had the balls to tell me that they could see i was IN NEED of thier services when i turned her down and asked her not to call me again... WTF!!!

I got a call a few weeks ago from McCain. It was a recorded message. Well, well, well.... THe presidental wannabes have taken up telemarketing. Will the madness ever stop?????

(uhm, nothing personal She'Davia)

Oh, I am soooo the same, Lori. We've put our number on the list that means you're not supposed to get these kinds of calls but we still get them every now and again and always at the most annoying of times, right when we're having dinner!!

Its not telemarketing, we're not trying to sell people stuff. We were only calling independent voters so its not like were calling hardcore republicans and saying "VOTE FOR MCCAIN".

And we're really pleasant.

And even if you are on the do not call list for telemarketers your still going to be on our list. Because its nothing like TELEMARKETING!

I guess in a way you're trying to sell the government though.

well, to each thier own really. That would mean if Im not registered, I shouldnt be getting a call?
(Crosses fingers and hopes this is true!)

For me it's any of those things, including competitions, charities, polls, et cetera. Just always seems to be inconvenient times they call our house and it feels like an intrusion.

we're not trying to sell the government we dont even tell them to vote. just ask them their views or what ever. if they dont have any then they can just hang up, or tell us that, and we will say

"Thank you for your time. This call as been paid for by the Republican Party of New Hamsphire, (something) by John McCain for President and Team Sununu"

Mandy, the only unwanted phone calls I sit through are the surveys you get after you rent a car, visit the hospital, or have your car serviced at the dealer. I always answer thier questions nicely and politely because i am terrified that they will put a black mark next to my name and make me wait HOURS and overcharge me if I dont... teehehehe

Well, She'Davia, if you happen to get my phone number up on the screen, please please please delete it..Hee hee.. Unless you are willing to ditch the presidential push and chat with me about books :D

Government and city agencies are not put on the DNC list - so, we get calls all the time for money for the fire and police departments.

Lori, you are the people they want to call - those that aren't voting, registered, or registered with a certain party. My husband is not affiliated with either party, so we get called by both sides...quite annoying.

I agree, they seem to always call at dinner; only because they figure most people are going to be home at that time. Um, yeah - at home EATING!

Good thinking, Lori!

The other day, some telemarketers called, and had been calling, and my husband answered the phone, sreaming at the TOP OF HIS LUNGS...(and I quote...) "F@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#$%$%$%$%$%$%K YUUUUUUUUUOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I was quite shocked!

And Shedavia, you say its not like you are calling hardcore republicans? Do you mean hardcore democrats?

On my caller ID, it says political call. We are registered republicans. I just don't answer it.

Ann, I used to be like your husband, but only when the same place calls more than once. I start out nice. "Hi, No, Im not interested, please remove my number for your list, have a great day." I turn all HULK on thier ass when they cant let that be that, and start trying to weasel in on me.

I was bored one night and decided to have fun with one of the people who called me. When I told them I wasnt interested and they tryed pushing me, I asked, in the sweetest nicest voice I could muster... Wow, you must really like your job? Do you like harrassing people? What do you do when telemarketers call your house?... the dude HUNG UP ON ME.. can you believe that? Sheesh.. he had no idea he caught me on a good day!

Charity LOL!I hate grasshoppers too.

Emilee,totally gross!

I had the Conservative party (much like the Republican party I think)call me shortly before our provincial election.It was a lot of fun to be able to ask him some rather pointed questions,but in the guise of not being sure why anyone could have been so shortsighted as our premiere had been in some of his policies.It was entertaining to actually hear the man verbally squirm and then to say very politely that no you may not count on my vote.(Interestingly enough,he was still foolish enough to ask if I would be supporting him LOL)

Lori,that gave me a good chuckle!

I'm registered Independent, and I get calls DAILY from BOTH parties. They're all about getting your vote. She'Davia, I commend you on getting involved and doing a job I could never do...but don't take offense if I hang up on you! LOL
I know who I'm voting for, but I don't need to tell someone over the phone. You'll find out in November!
Lori: You naughty girl. Get registered!!!

Yeah, April, I know. (ducks to avoid the bashing)
Im just so lazy when it comes to anything political. If the country is in need of my one little vote as the tie breaker, then gimme a call. Till then, We get who we get. Damn~~ Im such a product of my times. We genX'ers are horribly unmotivated at times!

Lori, I'm not going to give you the whole speech that I've been giving my sister. About how voting really is important. And how you really cant complain about anything the government does if you didnt vote. And how we have a democracy for a reason, and that in some countries they cant vote, so we should feel priviledged (especially woman). And how I cant wait unitl January 10, 2010 because I will finally be 18 and be able to register to vote.

But I'm not going to say any of that ;P

Hmmm SheDavia,sounded like the whole speech to me.

I would also add that I'd never let a little thing like not voting get in the way of a good bitchfest.Especially about the government.

And how you really cant complain about anything the government does if you didnt vote.

Sure you can. America is full of people who love to bitch. America is beautiful like that. Frankly, the ones that don't vote are the ones that the politicians love to hear because they are hoping to win them over. Bitch on, I say.


Kinda sounded like a speech to me, too.

Canada too.It's a regular bitchfest here.Makes me choke up with patriotic love for my country with all the bitching we got over here.Mind you I get choked up in a different way when I contemplate the reasons I have for bitching.

I was idealistic once. It was nice. Then I did She'Davia's job for two years straight for the Repubs (it's very ironic that such a vile company was based out of Eugene, OR, which is pretty much head central on the West Coast). Now I don't think I could be more misanthropic if I tried.

LOL Logan!

Logan taught me a new word today - thank you!

Me too, Mandy! At least something good came from Logan's time on the political phones!

She'Davia, not that I dont appreciate the fact that you are excited about politics and making a change, and looking foward to voting.... (all great things!) ... But I think I can handle making the choice of "to vote or not to vote" without being coached by a highschooler :P

Ive been in this world a wee bit longer than you have, and perhaps that has jaded me some. Politicians all talk the great talk to get the votes, they say what they think america wants to hear, and once in office, I fail to see the great changes they promised. Its all a puppet show with the big bad wolf parading around behind the scenes calling the shots.

However, She'Davia, I can see you must be the STAR pupil in your Goverment classes.... Are you thinking of teaching for high school once you graduate college? What better way to shape the future of American Youth than by teaching them something you are passionate about!!!

we definitely should get away from the blue vs. red talk because it's easier being friendly when you don't know people's political views...unless they are the same! :)

I know I'm a bit guilty of it in this thread, but I propose we ditch all political speak in Good Reads.

I'm curious what you are planning to major in, She'Davia....my daughter is your age, and we are very passionate about our politics here in our house as well, but she's never even thought about volunteering (and actually, neither have I, since '92, when I WAS really passionate about my choice for Pres.)

I really admire you volunteering your time for your candidate AND I would def. include same on your college applications ;)

Ken

I can identify with your day - a quiet house is worth a cup of tea! I'll be sipping my chai tea in a few minutes! My first week of work is light so I take advantage of the calmness in my busy house!

Bravo to She'Davia for having a political belief at her young age. But don't call me!:)
You cicada and cricket hater people- Eat them roasted. They are good!

Blech!

Pumpkin, I really really hope you are joking about roasting and eating them....

I was going to give my big push for Ron Paul and his Rally for the Republic, but I see I am a few hours too late. We are cutting the politics talk I see. I guess I can respect that.

Oh, but I will say that when I used to live in a swing state, I loooooved getting pollsters calls. And some of the push polls were just unbelievable. Seriously, I think we got one that said "If you discovered so-and-so had been arrested not once, but THREE times for a DUI, would that make you more or less likely to vote for him?" Talk about a leading question, it just cracked me up!

Random thought: I hope my son takes a nice long nap this afternoon!
:)

Haha, Sherry, I feel the same way. We are Canadian. We bitch! It's a god given right!

Nikki, it sounds like you probably got calls from my old company. Our polls were always twisted like that. It's not quite slander, because we're not really saying they did it, but it plants the seeds of doubt in the listener's mind. Easily one of the dirtiest tricks in the political playbook.

I really like a lot of things about Ron Paul, but his archaic stance on women's choice as well as his relatively tight connections to white supremacist groups mean that I can never actually vote for him.

Random Thought: Are dog's sense of sight limited to moving objects? Because my dog will chase crickets for days but the moment they stand still, he can't find them, even if his nose is right on top of them.

You just need to make it louder, whinier, and dripping with a sense of entitlement like Americans. :-)

Haha! Canadians don't do entitlement, everything else, I think I can do.