Dear Mr. President

Dear Mr. President,
It hasn't even been two weeks since you've left the office, yet I miss you. Like crazy ex-girlfriend miss you. As I think back on the first week of a Trump presidency, my heart is heavy. Sometimes I catch myself thinking, or maybe hoping, that this is all just a very bad dream and that I'll wake up soon. However, what I've come to realize is that this is actually a very slow, very real train wreck that we're all being forced to watch, and I'm just hopeful that things won't be as bad as they seem.

Saying goodbye to you and your family was surprisingly personal to me. I suppose this makes sense since you have been president for most of my adult-voting life, and therefore I'm bound to have some attachments.  I know that it is not just my loathing for our new leader that made your exit sad- I would've been just as upset to see you go had Hillary been your replacement. To me, you represented a new kind of hope. For the first time, I felt that my beliefs were truly being represented, and by a minority like me, no less! Your poise, kindness, wisdom, and joy in representing the American people always made me feel proud to be an American. And don't even get me started on how much I love and idolize your wife.

I know that as president, there were times when you were not perfect, and many have criticized you for being nothing more than a good orator. And while I do agree that you are a great speaker, I think that your actions and success were also something to be applauded. Unfortunately, the thoughts and beliefs that we share were a divisive factor for others. After all, it is hatred and anger that catapulted a thin-skinned businessman into the most prestigious office in our land. From the Election Day forward, I knew that things would be different now. I've felt many emotions since this day ranging from anger to fear to unbearable sadness. But ultimately, I was back to feeling not only that I wasn't being represented, but that everything I stand for and believe in was on the chopping block where a clueless man waited with a butcher knife held in his tiny hands.

As I watched Don taking the presidential oath on January 20th, I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone. I've never watched the show, but I imagine it to be a very confusing place. In all the days since, it's been one jaw-dropping action after another. Even my husband, who is typically quiet about politics, has been fired up by the shocking actions of our Commander in Chief. As I marched with thousands of other Coloradans in protest of the Prez and his outlandish pledges to take away women's rights, burn bridges with our foreign allies, make it okay to be racist, and build that damn wall, he spent hours defending the size of his inauguration crowd. To be fair, size does matter...like the fact that the size of the Women's March was the largest protest our world has ever seen. And despite all this, he sent out Sean Spice Girl, not to address this massive protest, but to tell us that he's the best, (didn't you know he WON?) period. Seriously?

The craziness continues as he allows our environment to be destroyed in the name of business and creating jobs, (jobs for a Canadian company, I might add), blocks the EPA from communicating, threatens Chicago with "the Feds", cries about voter fraud in an election that he already won, pisses off our neighbors in Mexico, lies about who will pay for his stupid wall, hangs up on the Australian Prime Minister, and to top it all off, bans immigrants to "protect" us, and fires those who dare question his judgement. To this list of nonsensical executive actions, I'd like to add that just because you don't like the news being reported, does NOT make it fake. Also, an alternative fact is not a thing. Talk about a long week.

What bothers me the most is knowing that there are people out there that are actually in favor of all of these moves. They talk about being an American and that all lives matter, yet they are quick to turn a blind eye to the Iranian immigrant who is working hard and just wants to be a part of something better. Why? Because he is different than them. All I keep thinking is how shameful it is for us to chalk this up to "being American." When did we become so disrespectful to one another? How is it even possible to be so full of anger and hatred to an entire group of people? And when did it become the norm to spew profanities towards one other? Until we can respectfully listen to one another and truly work towards compromise, nothing is going to get better. As I say when I call my representatives each day, you are not your party. Just because you lean towards a certain side on one issue, doesn't mean that you can't switch sides on another. Nothing is that black and white, nor should it be. I can only hope that these lines of division will soon start to blur.

As I'm winding down this letter, I want you to know that despite all of the negative energy that pervades our country right now, your message and legacy still remain.  The morning before we marched, we watched the video below.

Fired Up from Dan Fipphen on Vimeo.

I was quickly brought to tears with your reminder that even in these times of serious fear, doubt, and anger, we DO have the power to do something positive- to stay informed, to call our representatives, to protest, to volunteer, to be active and responsible citizens no matter what side of the aisle we are on. I feel that I owe this to the hundreds of students that I have taught, to my grandparents and great grandparents who immigrated to this country to give my family a better life, and to the thousands of women and men before me who have fought for our rights. With the help of 5 Calls, I've made daily contact with all three of my representatives, and even have their numbers saved in my phone. And so, for what will likely not be the last time, thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for inspiring me to stay optimistic, for reminding me that my voice makes a difference, and for giving me the audacity of hope.

I'm fired up! And ready to go!

I Like Big Books and I Cannot Lie

I can't remember the last time I actually kept a New Year's resolution. We all know how it goes, January 1st rolls around and we are suddenly filled with the best intentions. Our fridge is stocked with the widest array of fruits and veggies that you can find, we can't find an open machine at the gym as we patiently wait with our shiny new FitBits on our wrists, and for about a month we are on a roll! Sadly, more often than not, I wasn't all that successful.

At the beginning of last year, I decided to aim for a more reachable goal- to read more. I've always loved to read, but sadly when things got busy, it was usually the first to go. My pile of books would sit on my nightstand gathering dust while I spent my time checking on Pinterest or watching TV. But why do I feel like I need to read? Well, for me, reading is quite relaxing. It's the perfect way to unwind at the end of the day, not to mention I love falling into a story. So with the help of Goodreads and my ever-present competitive nature, I managed to read...50 books in 2016! My hope is that this little story might persuade you to pick up a book as well and enjoy a resolution that you might be able to keep as well. To get you started, below are my 5 top picks and bottom 5 you should avoid.

TOP 5

Wonder	I read this book to my class and fell in love with this amazing story about a boy who is born with major birth defects and is going to school for the first time. I laughed, I cried, I loved every single Star Wars reference. This may very well be one of my favorite books of all time. You’ve got to read it, you won’t regret it!
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore	A secret code that gets solved by a secret society by checking out books from a 24-hour bookstore...I didn’t think I’d be in to this, but I read it in two days! I loved how the story incorporated technology, mystery, and history to make a great read.
The Rosie Project	Told from the point of view of an autistic man who has a plan to find himself a suitable mate. I loved the quirky nature of this story and the unique perspective. I will add that, sadly, I didn’t love the sequel as much.
Modern Romance	I read a lot of comedy books, but this book was more of a mix of comedy and facts about the modern dating world. I was fascinated by the findings of Aziz and found myself laughing at the crazy world that is now online dating. #hotstuff
Career of Evil	Surprise! Robert Galbraith is actually J.K. Rowling! This series of books however, is no Harry Potter. This is the third book in the series about an undercover detective. Great mystery/thriller type books and I can’t wait for the next one to come out.

5 TO AVOID

The Girl in the Spider's Web	Coming from someone who loved the first three books in this series, this book was no comparison. I know that the author is different for this one, and to me, it was definitely obvious. Between the Swedish words and the 9 million characters, I didn’t even bother finishing this one.
Schroder	This book is about a man who kidnaps his own daughter for a few days because...well, because he’s crazy. I read this book super fast, but mostly because I skipped a bunch of it. Weird premise, weird outcome, not worth your time.
Go Set a Watchman	Is there anyone who doesn’t love the classic, To Kill a Mockingbird? I was so excited to read this book and was so very disappointed. The story was super slow, the characters weren’t very likable, and it didn’t seem anything like its predecessor.
The Royal We	When you look at the cover, you’d think I’d be able to tell this was Princess Kate fan fiction. However, it took me about 200 pages to figure out that this story was a no more than a weaker version of the true Windsor romance. It’s way better to read about the royal family in People than it was to read this book.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder	I’m all about the baking-themed books. Essentially, if there is a cupcake on the cover, I’ll read it. However, from the very start of this book, I could not get over just how bad the writing was. It was super predictable and unrealistic and I can’t believe there are 24 books in this series!

For the Love of the Game

Have you heard? The Cubs are playing in the World Series! No one is quite sure who they are playing because the country appears to be having a love affair with "Flying the W" while shouting, "Go Cubs Go!" Okay, I'm stretching this a little bit because really, everyone knows that Rick Vaughn is only one win away from glory. It's playoffs season and while I spent a lot of hours wishing, hoping, and praying for my team to pull through and win, things didn't exactly pan out for my Lovable Losers. Sigh, another season, a fresh start- 31 years as a Dodgers fans teaches you the meaning of patience.

At any rate, I love this time of year because a season full of hard work is finally culminating in the ultimate victory. And as I've sat watching game after game of October ball, I found myself trying to explain to Hot Stuff that baseball isn't just a game. Because to those of us who bleed blue (or whatever your team is), it's so much more than that. It's all your hopes on a line that your dad will finally get his championship, that a city will swell with pride, and that for the first time in your adult life you will be victorious! Okay, so maybe I'm being just a smidge dramatic. But it is that drama that makes baseball the best. You haven't seen crazy and dramatic until you've met someone who's drunk the baseball Kool-Aid.

Example 1:  When we were kids, the Dodgers won, and dad took us to get ice cream. When we lost, dad said he was taking us to get ice cream but took a half hour detour as he was lost in thoughts. It's these childhood experiences that teach you not to always think with your stomach.

An ice cream starved girl with her 1988 Championship tee.

Example 2:  We are ridiculously superstitious. Most recently, we were playing well right after I had finished combing my hair. I proceeded to hold on to my hair brush for the rest of the game because I was convinced that changing any of my behavior would somehow influence the outcome of the game. I've changed shirts, not washed shirts, sat in identical positions for hours, refused to send texts, you name it, I've tried it. Because as far as the fates are concerned, there is no messing around.

Rolling on the field for good luck because, why not?

*Also one of my favorite pictures of my mom :) 

Example 3: We take rivalries and competition to a whole different level. Let's just say that people have threatened to not show up to the family Christmas dinner due to a loss against a rival team. And I won't even begin to tell you how many Cubs fans I've unfollowed on Facebook due to their incessant whining...kidding! Whether it's someone glaring at your hat on the subway or me shouting, "Go Dodgers!" to you from across the gym (true story), team pride is the badge we wear with honor.

Boo Giants aka "The Midgies"

Example 4: Baseball fans are purists. We like to actually sit and watch the game, and we never leave early. We get angry when you buy shirts with our team's name on it because you're nothing more than a bandwagon-er.  We take trolling comments on social media to heart and we only support other teams when we're cheering for someone else to lose.

My sister: Not on a bandwagon. Baby, she was born this way.

Example 5: Losing hurts. It hurts badly. And sometimes it even makes you cry. So when your team has just gotten killed by the Cubs, it really means something to have your Cubs-loving colleague bring you a latte to soften the blow.

A show of sportsmanship before the Playoffs began.

So despite all this craziness and drama, what is it about baseball that is so important to me? Well, I like to think of baseball like the glue that bonds my family together. It has always been something we do together, and in the case of my dad, virtually the only thing he ever talks about. There's just nothing better than going to your first game of the season in the spring, stuffing your face on Dollar Dog Night, and singing "Take me Out to the Ballgame" like you're Harry Caray. In many ways, to me (like Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez), baseball is life. So will the Cubbies win it all? Only the goat will tell. Play ball!

The Pursuit of Perfection

The fall is absolutely flying by! Maybe it's the days starting to get shorter, but whatever it was, I've spent a lot of time feeling like I'm doing sprints on a hamster wheel. And when I start feeling like this, I wonder why we are always pushing ourselves to do it all, and have it all, in hopes that we might someday capture this notion of a perfect life. Whether we know it or not, pursuing perfection is something we all seem to do. You know, the goals that we all have- a good job, a happy marriage,  a healthy lifestyle, a plentiful savings account, and on and on. I want life to be good, no, better than good. I want life to be perfect. Or do I?

Let's start with the basics- a good job. It's where we spend most of our time so we should probably feel pretty happy there right? Well, I'm a few months in to my new job, and so far, so good. In fact, when one of my friend's was asking me how things were going, he laughed and said, "Wow, that's the first time I've heard you say positive things about your job since we've been friends!" Yikes! Well, I guess the change was a long time coming. Yet I still catch myself wondering, is this what I'm supposed to be doing? Do I have a better work-life balance? Do I have a supervisor who sees my potential and encourages my growth? Am I getting paid what I'm worth? Is my work effecting others in a positive way? Because if I don't have definitive answers to these questions, I manage to talk myself into searching for yet another new job. This makes me tired.

Okay, what about your health? Well, thanks to a pedometer challenge at work, I've become quite obsessed with how many steps I get in a day. I love how this has made me much more aware of the time I spend being active. It has also made me aware that I need more comfortable work shoes. At any rate, monitoring steps is good, but what experts also tell you to monitor is your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar levels, heart rate, water intake, calorie intake, stress levels, and sleep cycles. That's a lot. That also explains why so many people have a Fitbit. It seems like a healthy lifestyle should be easy to maintain, yet there is constantly something that makes you fall off the horse...like french fries. And cupcakes. Why must these taste so good? And why must the couch be so comfortable? Ugh. This makes me feel defeated.

If you still don't think there's enough out there to perfect, let's add in some relationships. You've got to have your family time, your husband time, your girl time, your time with other couples, your time with his friends, your time with your friends, and then with whatever there is left, you get time for yourself. And don't forget that everyone else is also doing this at the same time and only by some miracle beyond time and space, the stars align and you actually get together for an evening. And when this happens, it's so much fun! You laugh, you tell stories, you get the scoop on each other's dirt, and you remember why you are so grateful to have these amazing people in your life. It makes me wish that it could happen more often, which in turn, makes me a little bit sad.

Tired, defeated and sad...sounds a little less than perfect, right? But while I have these less than stellar feelings, I just have to remind myself that it's all about a change in perspective. So, going back to my original statement, should we all be searching for that perfect life? I think maybe not, because quite frankly, I'm not sure it exists. I'd rather be fabulous and happy, ready for the hanging curve that I can hit out of the park, than constantly searching for the best and feeling defeated when I miss. My wisdom says take a walk, ask for the raise, hug your husband, always eat the cupcake, and you'll be just fine.

Bangkok Has Him Now

Sa-wat-dee Kah! If you read the previous blog, you know that Hot Stuff and I packed our bags and headed to Thailand for some much needed R and R and honeymoon fun. The Land of Smiles was Hot Stuff's first journey to the Far East and we both quickly fell in love with the people, the food, and the beautiful landscape that is Thailand. 

Our journey began with the longest day of travel that I've ever completed- 2.5 hours to Seattle, 10 hours to Seoul, and another 6 to Bangkok. Feeling exhausted, and rather swollen from the airtime and turbulence,  we arrived to a rainy Lebua hotel, home to the Sky Bar of the Hangover 2. While we didn't see Bradley Cooper, we did manage to score a pretty sweet view of the city. 

We began our trip by heading to the biggest sites in the City of Angles, the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. I can honestly say I've never seen anything like this in my life. There are numerous mythical animals, temples, pagodas, and statues throughout the Palace that were so intricate and detailed, it was impossible not to be in awe. 

When you think Thailand, you don't necessarily think England, right? Well, when you walk around the Palace, you notice a lot of British influence.  We learned that the movie The King and I was based on a real Thai King who had a British teacher that influenced not just his learning of English, but also the side of the road that they drive on as well as architecture and government. However, the movie is actually banned in Thailand because it presents the idea that the King falls in love with Anna, so most Thais have never seen it...crazy right? Irregardless, I'm guessing this is one of the few places where you can pose with an elephant statue and a guard.

After checking out the grounds of the Palace, we moved over to Wat Pho. Wat means temple, and there are several throughout Bangkok, but this one is famous because it is home to the second largest reclining Buddha in Thailand. This one was also incredibly impressive, right down to the pearl ridges in Buddha's toes. Just remember not to point your toes at the statue, cover your shoulders and knees, and save the PDA for later.

Our next day of sightseeing took us to the places that gave Bangkok it's nickname- the Venice of the East. We traveled about 100 km outside the city to check out the markets. I've definitely seen my fair share of markets throughout my travels, but nothing prepared me for the Maeklong Railway Market. The shops are literally set up all around the railroad tracks to clear a pathway for people to walk. Then suddenly, the people part, the shop owners yell at the clueless tourists, and a train barrels through. Hot stuff was a little close for comfort...

Then things just go back to normal and you can go back to buying your dinner. Delish!

We also got a chance to climb into a boat and head through the mazes of the floating markets. Here, you battle other long tail boats to get to everything from snacks to paintings. Word of the wise, it's probably best to avoid drinking an iced coffee from a women without shoes or a reliable source of ice...can you say Buddha belly? 

We soon headed on to the next part of our trip, the southern island of Phuket, otherwise known as paradise. I mean, what is not to love about white sand beaches, lush tropical forests, and our own personal villa complete with personal pool and breakfast delivered daily? We climbed the crazy hills of this island where the locals called us, "Mister Dan" and "Madame Ming." It was the part of the trip where you just cycle back and forth between the beach, the pool, and the cabana while dining on coconut smoothies and food, glorious food! Are you sensing just how much I loved this place yet?

Also, we really liked the bathroom in our villa. There were flower petals floating in the bathtub everyday. Is this real life?

A highlight of our time in Phuket was when we decided to rent a motorcycle. This was equally exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time. Nothing like curvy, steep roads to test out the brakes of a rental and the abilities of a driver on the wrong side of the road. Despite the fear that came with every turn of the corner, it was pretty awesome to see the "Elephant X-Ing" signs.

While not moonlighting as Wild Hogs, we took a trip into Old Phuket Town where we had our best meal of the trip. I said no spice in my curry, which didn't appear to mean anything to the cute little man taking our order. Luckily I had a Thai iced tea to put out the fire. Hot Stuff had some amazing noodle bowl complete with all the chilies you could think of, I guess you could say we have different tastes. All this deliciousness for $9. Incredible.

I'll admit that I was pretty sad to leave Phuket, but was excited to check out some of the smaller surrounding islands. Our next destination was the small and isolated Phi Phi Island. After experiencing our first monsoon (I'm talking DOWNPOUR) while driving to the port, we hopped onto the ferry boat for the two hour ride dotted with tiny limestone islands along the way. The island is so small, there are no roads, so they wrapped our suitcases in plastic where we got on yet another boat to coast to our hotel. The tides were crazy here and came in and out twice each day. So we were greeted by a tractor that drove out on the beach to pick us up.When in Rome?

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this island that has a reputation for being a "party island," but overall, I was very pleasantly surprised. We stayed in a little hut, just steps from the beach where we spent the day on the sea kayak in water that was so turquoise and clear you wanted to dive right in. We also took a bumpy speedboat trip to visit the infamous Maya Beach where I white-knuckled the rails on the side of the boat as the waves picked us up and threw us down repeatedly until it felt like we all had a slipped disk. It was all worth it though as this was by far the most beautiful island I've ever been to. Diving off the boat and snorkeling around the coral made for a much smoother ride back.

After all the eating, touring, and traveling we had done, we were definitely ready to do as the Thais do and enjoy a traditional Thai massage. We had a massage in each city that we visited, but the one in Phi Phi was pretty much the best three hours ever. That's correct, I said three hours. We were scrubbed, rubbed, twisted, and contorted until it literally felt like you were floating. The lady even braided my hair into an immaculate updo. Seriously, if there was one thing that I wish I could've brought back as a souvenir, it would've been that little Thai lady. She was worth every penny and every minute.

Soon we were headed off from the island, but not before I managed to find Phi Phi Bakery which was supposed to be home to amazing coconut donuts. Sadly, they were a bit disappointing, but the Thai iced tea did not disappoint.

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and we made our way back to Bangkok for one last night. After listening to some epic 90s hits in the shuttle, we checked into our hotel and headed up the river to Asiatique, a neighborhood filled with shops and restaurants for one last fill of Thailand.

The next morning we headed to the airport to begin our long journey back home. We were both sad to leave and agreed that we'd be back someday. Thailand was an incredible trip for me, not only because it was our first as husband and wife, but because it was so wonderfully unexpected in every way. Food, friendly people, beautiful vistas, amazing history and culture, they truly have it all. One night in Bangkok and the world really is your oyster.