I Am Back....

It has been several months since I posted, and I promise it won't happen again in the foreseeable future.

You might remember, or you might not at this point, I agreed to run for House District Representative in my home district. Election Day was November 2nd, and like most first time runners, I lost. I am not devastated, and I had my mind set that I would lose. I am tired, but fired up.

I thought I would share with you some of life's lessons along the way:

* We live in a great country. We live in a place where people give their lives to live.

* I was amazed and excited at how our country realized the path it was going on, and changed it's direction in one election. This all despite what the media, naysayers, name callers, and just plain dirty politics all said.

* I am amazed at how crooked ALL of our politics are. I am a conservative Republican. I won't hide that, although in my district it can get you assaulted. Any time I looked at a policy, a law, a bill, a proposal, etc. It's crooked. Truly all of us need to beware.....if someone says a bill is benevolent and meant for the betterment of mankind....peel back the onion and find out who is greasing what hand. There is no such thing. You truly do have to pick your battles, and you do need to recognize the powers in the room and who had a "dog in the fight".

* I am a more jaded, pessimistic, glass half empty person as a result of this process.

* I am fearful of our children's future. I am fearful of their ability to make a living and build a life for themselves in our current state of affairs. Unless the new Congress make strides to commit to a free market, principles our founding father's committed to that have made our country great for 300+ years that no other country has achieved....we are doomed to become just another socialist state. Ask Greece and France how that is working out for them.

* I am thankful to get back into my normal routine. It's been an adjustment. I have been breathing politics for over a year now.

* I am not done. I have our state's charter school law to continue to fight for. I have our legislature to continue to fight for to be more balanced, instead of the super majority it was that just whizzed through legislation without regard for consequences. We have broken that in our state, but it is tenuous at best, and we have a dolt for a governor. How do I know this? He served eight years, eight years ago, during an economic boom, and left office with an increase in unemployment of 65%....during a boom. Welcome to Oregon. Did I mention I am more pessimistic these days? I call 'em as I see 'em.

* I am looking forward to reacquainting myself with my family. Enjoy my dog. Hug my kids for moments longer. Having fuzzy cats warm my lap. Not wake up cranky and go to bed cranky.

I am thankful. We as Americans have much to be thankful for and to continue to fight for.