Reading

Several weeks ago, someone asked me what I was reading. I answered by saying that I was reading a book for one of my classes. I wasn't reading it for fun, I was reading it because I had to.

The thing is, I've never been much of a book reader. I hear people say things like "curling up with a good book", but, to be honest, that does not sound the least bit appealing to me. I told Lauren the other night that I'd rather clean our kitchen than read a book. Almost all of the book reading I've done in my life falls into two categories: I had to read it for school or I was traveling - when I travel, I read when I feel like I have nothing better to do.

Recently, I've been doing a lot of online reading; like many people, I've become obsessed with the election and I read several articles a day on election-related topics. I also read a lot of sports articles - this time of year, I read about college football (this past weekend was a crazy college football weekend).

I've been thinking about why I like to read online articles, but not books and I think it has to do with length. I like to know the end sooner than a book lets me. A novel might take a week or 12 for me to get through. Some people like that, I don't. I like my movies short, my stories short (there's nothing like someone who tells a story that drags on and on), and I like what I read to be short.

I hope that if/when we have kids, they take after Lauren and enjoy reading books. I think it's good to be well read and I wish I was, but I'm not.

20 Years Ago....

On September 13, 1988, my family arrived in the U.S., moving out of Nigeria. I lived in Nigeria until I was 12, and even though I had visited the U.S several times, I was (and still am, to some degree) a fish out water in this country.

Today marks 20 years since I've lived in the U.S. - more than half of my life - and I still don't feel "American". I don't think I ever will.

1988

Speaking of politics....

I usually don't do politics on this blog, mainly because I have never wanted this to be a place where I try to sway opinion.

That being said, there has been something about the election cycle that has bothered me. I've seen some people become supporters of candidates because of who they are and not necessarily what they stand for.

I was talking to my sister over the weekend, and we were discussing how some people will vote for McCain-Palin, simply because Palin is a woman (or vote against because of Palin's gender). We also agreed that the same was true for the Obama-Biden ticket, with some people voting for the ticket because Obama is black (or vote against because of Obama's race).

I find this the dumbest possible reason to vote for anyone. I have far more respect for someone who supports a candidate I don't, for valid reasons, than a person who supports a candidate I do, for the reasons listed above.

I was watching an interview with some of Palin's friends from Alaska last night. One said she didn't agree with Palin's politics, but would vote for her because she was her friend. I guess, because she's Palin's friend, I can see it, but I know that there are a lot of people out there who will be voting for (or against) one ticket or the other, because of who is on the ticket, and not what that person stands for. If you're one of those people, stop reading my blog, because I have no respect for you.

That being said, please vote this year, but inform yourself before you do, and make sure you vote for a candidate for the right reasons.