The desire and hope for change has crossed party lines, racial lines, gender lines and has made me very proud to be an American. One way or the other this is a historical time, we’ll either have our first African American president or we’ll have our first female vice president come 2009. That is a very cool, very historical thing and we all got to take part in it!

I am also very proud that so many young Americans got involved in this election and made it out to vote. The numbers aren’t out yet but voter turn out was definitely up here in Indiana and also in Arizona. Plus, so many more people got involved and did much research on the candidates for this election. All this involvement, turn out and research is a great and it truly does make a difference in the direction of our country.

I also think this time is especially cool for those older Americans who were touched by slavery, our country has come so far with regards to this and to have lived through so much contrasting change must be truly magical for them.

The state of the economy and the relivant issues of the time have urged us all to take this election very seriously. We are all Americans and we all generally want the same basic things. We may have differing opionions about how to best obtain these things but generally we are all in need of the same things.

Regardless of who wins the election we are headed for a positive change, I mean anything is better than where we are right? Both candidates have plans for change and aim to pull us out of the economic mess we are in so I am stoked. I just can’t wait to be done with Bush already!

So what are your thoughts on this day following the election of 2008?

The post What a historical time!! appeared first on Updates from Ryder Family Farm.

Our neighbors warned that fleas were big here and that we needed to get treatment for our outdoor pets in order to avoid major infestation. Unfortunately we weren’t quick enough and now the indoor cats have a few fleas that were tracked in by Dixie.

It is time for a flea battle now! We got the liquid stuff you put on the animals and we are treating the carpets and linens too. Good times!

Also, I made a pretty big mistake in forgetting a major bill this month (rent!). People keep saying forgetfulness is part of pregnancy but I hate forgetting stuff. Especially major “awe crap” stuff. And I think someone is stole some checks from our outgoing mail last month. So now I am trying to sort my way through money crap and make it all right.

Lastly, thanks to everyone for the well wishes and congratulations. We are quite happy (I am very relieved too) now that we have heard the baby’s heartbeat and know that things are going perfect.

The next appointment in is December and I wont have to give blood, yay! Giving blood always makes me woozie, I just can’t believe I ended up on the lab floor while giving blood yesterday. How embarrassing!

So, did you vote today? Are you happy that this race is almost over? Will you be watching the news tonight to get the scoop on who the new president will be or do you prefer to just wait until the following day for the results? I just want the damn political ads to stop!

The post Damn fleas and forgetfulness… Random musings. appeared first on Updates from Ryder Family Farm.

At 9:45 am we were married on paper and official for the insurance that kicks in tomorrow, November 1st. Talk about cutting it close huh? Now our documents are official and our unborn child will have access to prenatal care through N’s insurance. We don’t see ourselves as husband and wife though and I wont be changing my name until we have our actual wedding with the family and friends after the baby is born.

We also enjoyed the cluster-fu@& that is early voting today. We headed to our local library at 12:30pm to get in line for the early voting that began at 1pm. When we arrived the line was already stretching the entire length of the library and was almost out the front door. Today was the last day for early voting and we did want to try getting it done so we could avoid the chaos of election day.

In Indiana voter turn out is expected to be record breaking  on November 4th, 2008. Many are speculating that election day voting will be a headache because of lack of preparation for the record voter turn out among a number of other things. Anything to avoid that is good right? Even if you have to wait forever just to vote early…

To make a long story short we waited 2 hours from the time we joined the line until we got to vote but we did it, we cast our votes! I am ready for a nap!

N and I are ready to be done with all of this election stuff. The ads are getting especially annoying in Indiana. For those of you in the states, did you take advantage of early voting for the election or will you just vote on Tuesday, November 4th 2008?

The post On Halloween we got legally married and voted. appeared first on Updates from Ryder Family Farm.

When he found out his first reaction was, “How am I going to keep from laughing through the entire interview?”. We are not fans of hers if you can’t tell. I said he could chew the inside of his cheek or pinch himself to inflict some pain and keep him from laughing in her face.

This whole presidential election has provided us with a few eye opening experiences. For example, when we lived in Flagstaff, AZ a few months ago N was often set to interview John McCain. Funny thing is actually having those scheduled interviews pan out is rare.

Once N was booked to talk with McCain (McCain’s press people sought the station out to book the interview) after he arrived in Northern Arizona, he went waited and when McCain landed his entourage surrounded him and quickly shuffled him in to the motorcade while his press people shouted to N that the interview was off.

It seems the trend is to repeatedly treat members of the media like the dirt on the bottom of your shoe because I just got word that Palin didn’t show for her scheduled interview this afternoon. N camped out waiting to try and get an interview with her late last night. If you want to see more you can follow the story here.

Dealing with The Secret Service was and exciting and surreal experience for him. The security checks were very detailed and Palin’s media people even needed all his interview questions a day in advance. This especially made him mad. “I don’t want them coaching her on what to say beforehand.”

All in all it was an eventful experience for him, he was Palinated as he calls it. We still wont be voting republican through. So, have you even met a politician face to face? If so how did you feel afterward?

The post On politicians and real life… appeared first on Updates from Ryder Family Farm.

I mean there are too many other important issues to focus on right now and all we can dwell on is the celebrity ads. I have already made up my mind about the candidates but isn’t this petty stuff just ridiculous?

What are your thoughts on it all? Here are the videos in case you missed them, though I doubt you did.

The post The Celebrity Ads, what are your thoughts? appeared first on Updates from Ryder Family Farm.