Happy Birthday Mr. Obama. Errr.........or something like that. And a Happy Election to all you Republican suckers out there. I've never felt so American in my life as I do right now. People in Japan are surprisingly interested in the US's political dealings. They always tell me, "It's because we don't get to vote like that." and I want to say, "Our votes don't do shit in the end." but maybe, just maybe today my faith has been restored. With the redemption of my own home state (thanks for 8 years of screwing with people Jeb Bush...) and the rise of a new era of Democratic power I might just see my way back to the land of the free sometime in the next 5 years or so.

On the subject, but a smaller scale my friends are giving me a bit of cause to worry recently. I have a pretty solid group of six (well, 6 including me that is) that I hand out with. It couldn't be more ideal really, 3 girls, 3 guys, different ages, different races, different backgrounds and apparently nothing at all in common yet somehow it works. If we're not all together than almost always in some combination of 2's or 3's or 4's. The last month has been hard on everyone in different ways though and the strain is starting to show. The splinters are poking out and driving themselves in between us. I remember thinking, "this can't possibly last," back in the end of summer when everyone was ridiculously happy for no reason at all. And so I tried to enjoy it. Let it go the way it would. But now....now, I want it back, inevitably. And who wouldn't? Those idyllic moments of laughter, drunkenness, and just simple togetherness were good. Better than good. They were real. And real is something I haven't experienced much, even in 29 and a half years. I can't be the only one. I know it. Can we have a little solidarity please?