where I've been the past few days:

1. Finally got to meet Barack Obama at the Apna Ghar fundraiser (told him I'd vote for him if he ran; he winked at me) (ps. I love the man)

2. Ran all around the city and got to hang out with Hardee, Jobear, Robyn, and Sanj all in one super crazyfun day.

3. Biked 13 km on Lake Shore Drive with Hardee
(who's really talented at capturing moments - he took this pic)

4. Went out to Jon and Chien's show at the AA showcase- got to meet up with Vincenzo and Sara... (aka "Melissa") (who both helped me in covert changing operations outside the fitting rooms.)

5. Hit Champaign with Jenaiya for Mikey's birthday- huge reunion with Erock and her crew.

"Rups, no one cares what you do or where you've been the past few days! What is your point?!?!?!?!?"

Well, the point is that, recently, I have been ALL OVER THE PLACE. Then, yesterday morning, I realize that my bracelet isn't on my wrist. Most of you guys know- it's the silver "Papu" bracelet that my mom made for me when I was in high school. I haven't taken off that bracelet since I got it; that bracelet has seen me through ten years (!!!) of my life. (crazy no? and I know, at this point Robyn is thinking, "damn, that is the most committed that girl has ever been to anything!") (haha, shutup Rob)

Anyway, I've been running around so much that I wouldn't even know where to begin to look. I've decided that it's ok though. I've grown a lot better at letting go of things. Loss and renewal. I've still got everything that bracelet represents- my mom and her thoughtful creativity, my brother and the glimpses of him before he entered his weirdo teenager-ness, and, of course, 10 years of my life lived.

I'm sure there's more philosophical stuff I could throw in the mix but I'll spare you.

Point is: Let me know if you see a silver bracelet laying around that's about 10 years old and says 'papu' on it. :)

(wait! what if..... (how awesome would it be) if Barack was the one who found and returned it to me???!!? and then he fell in love with me, but recognizing his greater love for his beautiful wife and daughter, instead asked me to be his running mate and it was an ideal world where we didn't need to elect bad people when they make us fearful..... and good people actually won elections ......and Barack won and took me with him .... and, by some strange ideal fluke of nature I was suddenly VP of the US of A????!! First order of business would be to get everyone a new pair of socks (because all new beginnings should begin with new socks) and then we would start asking some tough questions about such thaings as economic disparities, and political motives and foreign policies... and every individual in the nation would take a good hard look at themselves and the world around them... and then encourage each other to envision a better world that they'd build together, because the only thing you can think about when you are wearing brand new socks.... (don't believe me? try it. I dare you))

(this tangent is sponsored by: my eerily similar schoolgirl crush on Zakir Hussian.... (before I knew he was much older than I thought and married) and my fantasy tour with him on a make-the-world-dance-tour (like the dancing Zion scene when they finally win the battleship war in the Matrix))

Lessons learned:
1. I need to keep better tabs on my sh*t.
and, more importantly,
2. No more typing when I'm deliriously tired.