Constant Readers,
As you all know, I am 100% public about my loves. In no particular order, they include Katy, Beth, Wild Berry Skittles and Jackie Speier. So, when two of my wonderful friends at SFSU said I should come see Jackie speak at SF State and promised dinner at Chevy's after, I was SO in. (Add "warm chips with margaritas" to the list of loves.)
So there I was yesterday, looking like Elle Woods at Burning Man with my high heels, pencil skirt and Burberry coat on the SF State campus. Being single, I was looking forward to practicing my Cougar ninja skills. But when I got there I remembered: I didn't like college guys when I was IN college. (There's a reason why I went to Mary Lyon Seminary.) They seem even more skinny and smelly now.
I settled in to watch Jackie and she started by giving a speech about her incredibly fascinating life entitled, "I Was A Bigger Badass At 15 Than You Will Ever Be" (or something like that). Seriously, by the time she was my age, Jackie was a member of the San Mateo Board of Supervisors. I'm all, "I have a blog...."
Then the real fun started: Question Time. I was hoping for some insipid awesomeness and the folks at SFSU did not disappoint. There were some good questions but there were also the folks who wanted Jackie cure cancer and asked questions like, "How will you fix the economy?" and "How will you stop the shrinking of the middle class?" Hello people: she ain't running for Empress. She'll be one of 435 congresspeople in the House of Representatives - she'll be lucky if she can get a few minutes on CSPAN.
But my favorites were the academics. They asked questions like: "Angela Davis was here a few weeks ago and talked about the prison system as a functioning representative of...blah" and "Privacy in the digital age has been broken down to the point of kd*&ldskj%hf." At least that's what my notes say.
Then there was the guy who asked (swear) whether Jackie's strength and fabulitude is inconsistent with her view of government as an agent of social change. I had had enough. I actually said: "That's the stupidest fucking question I have ever heard." One of my friends 'shushed' me. But Jackie didn't skip a beat and answered with aplomb. She's my SHEro.
I was going to ask my questions after the session ("You look amazing! Where did you get that suit!?" and "How will you handle it when Ted Kennedy makes a pass at you?") but didn't get to because she was swarmed with students.
And I had warm chips and cold margaritas to get to.
It was quite possibly the perfect night.
--Melissa
OH MAN, WE LEFT OUR WALLET IN OUR OTHER PANTS...:At Tuesday's Board of Supervisor's meeting, the Board will vote on a resolution put forth by Supervisor Peskin asking the State of California to pay the $1 million cost to conduct the April 8 District 12 special election ordered by Governor Schwarzenegger. One million dollars!! Now we know that any candidate running against Jackie is officially making us waste one million dollars. Which is just one more reason not to vote for them.
Again, so confused. You're single?
Posted by: tashab | March 14, 2008 at 11:24
Love you too!
Posted by: Beth Spotswood | March 14, 2008 at 11:34
tashab - I have never lied about that. Been single since I started the blog...wonder if there's a connection?
Posted by: Sweet Melissa | March 14, 2008 at 12:06
Yes, but sometimes men pull her aside and declare their undying love at empty restaurant tables...
Posted by: Beth Spotswood | March 14, 2008 at 13:12
sorry SM; new reader, haven't read the whole blog. I think I read on Spots' blog that you were having man troubles, so I assumed you had a partner.
Posted by: tashab | March 14, 2008 at 13:47
Ex, dear. Ex. You are great for following it, though.
Posted by: Sweet Melissa | March 14, 2008 at 13:53
We're lesbians now...
Posted by: Beth Spotswood | March 14, 2008 at 14:54
Beth - you are SO out of my league...
Posted by: Sweet Melissa | March 14, 2008 at 15:00
how funny. I was actually going to go and bring a piece of direct mail I worked on for her last State Senate race to autograph, but couldn't make it. D'oh!
Posted by: Greg | March 14, 2008 at 15:02
But you've got such a great personality...
Posted by: Beth Spotswood | March 14, 2008 at 15:59
You're not even on each other "Top 5 Lists" - there's no way you're lesbians.
Posted by: vansmack | March 14, 2008 at 16:55
>>"How will you handle it when Ted Kennedy makes a pass at you?"
Easy. Roofies.
Posted by: DJTennessee | March 15, 2008 at 14:34