I ask only for the strength to defend my people.

What the SH**?
( 2005-06-06 @ 11:17 p.m. )

AARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

And stuff.

That is my noise of discontent at not updating until now. I apologize profusely for this. Busy, busy, busy, busy.

My sister has recovered from surgery, my Aunt now has health issues. Keep her in your thoughts please.

Sooooooooooooooo what has happened in the life of Ivy since last we spoke?

Remember my fight against the County against the nasty, icky, rigged Diebold voting machines? We had a HUGE protest a few weeks ago, right before my sister had surgery. 125 person turnout, I returned as the Statue of Liberty with a sign that said "One Nation under Diebold with Liberty and Justice for No One!"

I made it into three different newspapers on the same day, NOT to mention the news. I-WAS-ON-THE-NEWS!

HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAH! I was in hysterics! Twas so funny...IVY! ON THE NEWS! FOR POLITICS! I was also interviewed and had a rather huge quote in the Orlando paper.

BWHA!

I did good, I did damn good. Now let's see, after that came Star Wars....I am a Star Wars geek. I went to the midnight premiere IN COSTUME as Aayla Secura {yes leeku and all} which was amusing. Damn hilarious, had to beat off random geeky Star Wars FanBoys with very expensive light saber! RAWR!

FEAR MY JEDI WRATH!

BWHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!

What else has changed? Ivy has black and silver hair, and I fucking mean silver...dont ASK me how that happened.

I dont know it just IS.

OH OH OH! I have THIS new diary that I share with a *VERY* special person, not much in it at the moment BUT I am working on amazing Star Wars Fan Fic that is...w.ell it's amazing, it will be going there. Until then, please....go and bug the Jedi, we don't bite! Well Obi-Wan doesn't anyway.

So there's that, now on to today. Today was new phase in my fight against the *cough*rigged*cough* Diebold voting machines. Did you know, these machines suck so BAD that California DE-CERTIFIED them?

Well let me explain, for SOME reason {stupid Governor Jeb BUSH} FLORIDA is the only state in the country that has to comply with the handicapped voting regulations by JULY 1st 2005, a month from now, the REST of the nation has until January of 2006. Basically SOMEONE is trying to force us into buying Diebold machines, now Diebold's chairman PROMISED the state of Ohio for Resident Bush so I Wonder......hmmmm......anyone smell conspiracy?

Smells like Bantha Poo-Doo!

so I was back at the county council again today. Up at 6:45 am.......ready to speak.

I did the best I had ever did. Instead of alienating the handicapped I reached out to them. I said at the end of my speech.

"I see there are several representatives here from the disabled Community. I admire and respect these people strongly for their advocacy because I to am an advocate. We are passionate in our beliefs, even if large corporations want to put us at odds with one another. I see no need for that, we are all Americans, we have that in common. I fear however if Diebold is brought into Volusia County the general populace at lrage will have something ELSE entirely in common with the disabled community. We will have our votes taken away, and then our voices will be silent, and that Members of the Council disables ALL of us."

I thought I had done ok until I excused myself for a walk to stretch my legs. As I walked down the hall, a blind man, and another visually imparied man stopepd me and asked if I was the young lady who had just spoke. I replied that I was and immediatley asked if I oculd help with anything. He took my hand and said.

"I have been at the past 4 meetings and I had not made up my mind, but after hearing you in there speak I know now in my heart Diebold isnt the right choice for the disabled community or Volusia County. Your a well-spoken wonderful young lady, I know you mentioend a career in politics for yourself and I can see that. Thank you for reaching out to us."

I nearly cried. I talked to them both for a bit as we discussed compromises far better than Diebold. Then....the unthinkable happened. After our defeat at the last meeting, four of seven council members {one of them republican} stood up and said NO! Despite threats from Sec of State and the Governor to un-seat us if we do not comply with the deadline we REFUSE to be backed into a wall, we do not accept this contract.

Thats right, they stood up to THREATS of losing their jobs. Now THAT takes guts....REAL guts and I was so thrilled I started crying.

Sure, we havent won, Diebold may try and negotiate another ocntract BUT there is a legal team scrmablign to protect these brave four from legal action taken against them by the state. That takes BALLS people........THAT is democracy in action.

Going, being HEARD....I did cry and I ran up to thank my councilmen for their support. There were hugs, shakes of hands and alot of talking all around. One councilman in particular I am fond of told me how amazing I did and how he loves to hear me speak. I said that was nonsense but soon one of the others backed him up and I effectivley had my own pep rally urging me to pursue political office.

It felt good to stand up, and hey...I did it for all of YOU! If we can set a standard, maybe your lawmakers will as well. I also said in my speech.

"I come here again to speak for my age group, some f us have jobs but are not fourtanate to get tiem off, others have families ot take care of, and others still are afraid to speak but I AM fourtanate and I am NOT afraid to speak. So I will speak, young people HERE are watching and young people in other states are watching and I speak for those who have no voice on their behalf. We must set a standard against cynicism and hypocrisy and we look to you with trust."

And we set that standard.

Sorry had to share.

Now on to random nonsense shall we?

I like being random.

We all have comfort zones don't we?

Not me, I abandoned mine last year. It was the best thing I ever did. You see most of us are AFRAID to leave said comfort zone or "bubble". That's scary, things and people outside that bubble are scary.

I didn't really speak my opinon alot. I kept quiet....that was comfortable. Then I got afraid of being comfortable, I burst the bubble and ran like hell.

I learned fear is a TOOL. No seriously, see I was TERRIFIED of a leadership position, scared to stand on a streetcorner with a sign, but a leadership position scared me even more.

Then I realized I was more afraid of someone corrupt using that position to their advantage so thusly, fear motivated me to be afraid enough to take my position despite the fear. You CAN use fear, you just have to know HOW. I learned how,fear of people worse then me trying to help others keeps me motivated to keep said position despite being afraid of said position in the first place.

Did that make sense?

No, probably not. Think about it.

Moving on. Some people find me scary.......no seriously.

Why?

I am loud, outspoken, motivated, passionate, I break the mold, Im driven and selfless. Those are considered weird, out of the box qualities.

Well, think about said qualities, am I really that odd, or is the society that TELLS you those qualities are odd the one with the problem?

Ok, I am NOT demure and shy like osme girls. I am not a trophy so to speak, I want livley debates and heat and passion in a relationship. I want to be equal, but that's WEIRD?

I don't think I'm the oen with the problem.

I mean coem on now, do you want the girl who gets up in the morning and carelessley puts on lipstick? Or the girl who gets up and BEFORE applying said lipsticks makes sure said lipstick is NOT tested on animals and will not harm the enviroment?

Ooops, s'cuse me for having a consience.

Seriously people, dont THINK outside the box, GET outside of it, then run like hell. How much enlightenment can you get from reading the same book your entire life?

A quote form me "To FEAR is human. It's what you chosoe to DO with that fear that seperates the average from the heroes."

Just remember people, there is no passion in saftey, there is no growth in saftey only stagnation and contempt.

Also remember sometimes you cannot see the rain until you are in the sunshine. Meaning you cant recognize you were in a box, until you get out.

That is all. Sing my G-Book please, leave me love!

Love You all.

Home Is Behind // The World Ahead