I voted. I'm glad I did. If all a new President can really do in the grand scheme of things is deliver a kick ass speech, that was one for the history books. If Obama can deliver even a fraction of the change that America craves over the next four years, our country should be headed in a good direction. 

Of course, my favorite part about this whole scenario is that Sarah Palin is gone daddy gone.

However, after watching the SNL rap song I actually felt extremely sorry for her. For a gal who was not accustomed to the instant fame she experienced, for a woman totally unprepared to be in the spotlight to such a degree, she handled herself pretty well I guess. I probably would have had a mental breakdown by week two. And no way could I have endured that rap song. I would cry myself to sleep for years after that. It was sad.

Anyhow, just thought I'd stop in for a big Hooray Obama! That was a pretty epic moment in history, and I'm glad I was a part of it. (I'm not really blogging. I'm not.)

Dear Readers,

Thankfully, when we spend time reading each other's blogs, we are usually ogling over some fun crafty item or reading a funny story or getting a sneak peek into each other's lives. It is a virtual world that is usually a comforting space, a place to escape from our troubles if only for a while. I know my last blog post was supposed to be just that-my LAST blog post-but I had to come back for this final post.

The story I'm about to share with you is absolutely heart wrenching. I am telling it for a very specific reason: I want your help. This is an occasion to which we must rise as virtual friends. As people who care for each other, though we may never meet. We have the opportunity, and really the duty to make a life-saving difference to a fellow human and blogger. I think once you hear this story, if you aren't already aware of it, you will want to do what you can, be it big or small. What happened in this story could have happened to anyone but as fate would have it Brit Leis, 35 and his fiancee, Lia, 24 are bearing the brunt of an absolutely brutal, confusing and horrifying twist of fate. They desperately need the global community to come together and lend a hand.

Britt and Lia are one degree of separation from me, I don't know them personally. Even if I had heard this story as you are, and not from a friend of this couple, I would have felt moved to help. Because this really could have been anyone. My dear friend Chris, who I've known since high school in San Diego, now lives in Bend, Oregon where he became good friends with Britt and Lia. That's how I heard this awful, nightmarish news.

Recently, Britt and his fiancee, Lia were on the adventure of a lifetime to South America. Their adventure ended prematurely, a week ago yesterday, in a horrific turn of events.  While in Ecuador, enjoying a romantic walk together they were brutally attacked. Brutally is putting it mildly. The people who attacked them did it for sport, they didn't even rob the couple; they had no motive but sick, violent, senseless cruelty.

Britt was stabbed twenty four times from his upper chest down to his small intestine. Lia (who happens to be a medical translator in Bend - Spanish, luckily) was also beaten and assaulted, but she was able to get help. Britt was taken to a hospital in Ecuador where he stayed from Thursday until this Tuesday morning, when a Medevac plane took him to Miami and then on to Loma Linda Hospital in California. He remains in critical condition, but is conscious and fighting to survive. In an almost unbelievable miracle, not a single one of the TWENTY FOUR stab wounds punctured a vital organ! However, there is serious infection. Lia, thankfully, was not hospitalized for her wounds.

Britt & Lia need our prayers and also our active help with paying for the Medevac transport, whose tab was a hefty $55,000. Britt, like so many Americans, has no insurance to offset this cost.  I think it's safe to say that WHEN he recovers from this horrific event, the last thing he needs is an astronomical bill to worry about. The physical and emotional trauma alone of such a senseless attack is more than any one person should have to bear.  I can't even imagine what Lia must be coping with, having seen her honey beaten and stabbed that many times, and been beaten herself. It's mind boggling. What a strong woman to be focused only on Britt's recovery right now. What a hero.

Several friends of the couple have stepped up to make it easy for us to help, regardless of our own financial circumstances. Of course, if you can afford ANY amount at all, cash is a great way to make a difference, and every dollar counts. Every single one. If you can only afford to give up your Starbucks money for the week, please consider doing that. Consider that if you had a friend in this much need, wouldn't you want people to pull together, even perfect strangers, to help - even with just five bucks if that's all they could spare?

If there is any sense at all in such a senseless act of violence, it is that it results in the bonding of our fellow humans, the coming together to prove that we are stronger than the criminals who did this, that together we can make sure that Britt wins this fight by surviving and being able to continue his life unburdened by medical bills. Please join me by doing at least one of the following:

• Donate to the Britt Leis Fund via paypal by visiting the Britt Leis Fund.
• Donate one of your lovely craft or art pieces or services to be auctioned in an Ebay fund raiser. Every penny will go into the Britt Leis Fund. Information can be found by visiting the Donation Options page at the Britt Leis Fund website. 

No matter what you do, PLEASE spread the word, this is a chance to really utilize technology to Pay it Forward. You need something to blog about. Dedicate a blog post to a fellow blogger. Copy this post and put it on your blog, and while you're at it, email this info to everyone you know. If you want the HTML for this post, just email me at 88words@gmail.com. I'll send it right over.

Look, we all do those silly blog awards and get-to-know you-games, which are fun-but ultimately without much purpose. This is a chance to spread some real, tangible love. The effects of posting this on your blog and urging people to help will make a serious difference for Britt and his family. Not only financially, but the power of prayer is not to be underestimated. Britt needs some hardcore prayers to heal from the infections, and for his & Lia's spirit to persevere through the emotional trauma of this horrible experience. You can help. Just do it.

For updates about Britt's recovery, visit Britt and Lia's blog: SudAmericaAdventure

Many blessings to everyone who chooses to dedicate a blog post to this young couple, and to everyone who helps with a donation.

Hey folks. Shoot. I just have so much going on in my life right now, it's really hard for me to be consistent with this blog. It weighs on my mind, and then days go by and I don't blog, and then I just know that I've got bad blogger karma headed my way. I can't take another episode with a spricket or Cyrus going bonko.

I think I'm going to have to just make it official, and shut down this blog until I have a better clue about what I can realistically handle in my life. I'm sure that at some point in the future I'll be back, maybe not here but maybe somewhere else. Maybe I'll even have a focus other than the random crap I post lately. I don't know. Things are weird.

If anyone out there would like to contact me, I would be more than happy to hear from you. You can email me by clicking that email me link underneath my photo.

Thanks to all of you for being so good to me over the past while and a half. In my friendless world, you have been my friends, and I appreciate you all so much.

Ta ta for now, and don't be afraid to keep in touch. I am good at returning emails.

Best,

Chelsea

I've done a quick sweep for typos in last nights' post, because yeah. There were like twenty. You try typing one fingered from your iphone while fearing for your life.  And I've also found a picture of what Satan's little helpers look like:

Turns out they are called Camel Crickets, Cave Crickets or Spider Crickets by some, but people who know and fear them (which seems to be everyone) call them Sprickets. Ew. They got this name by having every possible creeptastic characteristic of a spider, with the ability to jump pyschotically far in any direction, with the added bonus of totally erratic directional preferences.

Usually, they just go for your face, no matter where you are or how fast you can bust out the bug dance. Doesn't matter if you're a super ninja with cat-like reflexes. Your face your face your face.  Get it offff meeeeeee! The only other universal nickname I found for these is Godammits. For totally obvious and appropriate reasons. Oh, plus they are huge. HUGE. Pretty much this photo is life sized. Unless you're looking from your iphone. Actually, if you have like a 30" screen, this photo will probably accurately represent the true nastitude of this hideous creature.

There are about three kajillion of these sickos living in the crawlspace under my house. They like it dark, hence the cave cricket moniker. Anyhow, why don't you just do a little Google search for either Camel Cricket or "creepy spider cricket thing" and you will see that I join pretty much every Virginian in blogging history in my deathly fear of this (harmless, apparently) Spricket of Doom.

In the form of a gigantic prehistoric freak of a cricket. In my room. Under my bed. Right now. Plotting to kill me. It's freaky friend has taken over the bathroom and I can't get in there to pee. Which, of course I reallllly wish I could do right now. They did this on purpose. Totally trapped me on the very center of my bed quivering in fear while they laugh and laugh in those chirpy cricket ways, just waiting for me to either die of having to pee real bad or by taking me out if I dare try to get to the bathroom. It's times like these I wish I had grown up in Alaska and wasn't a stranger to a ginormous gun or five. I bet Sarah Palin would eat these crickets for breakfast. Like seriously, on her Wheaties. For some extra crunch or whatever. Alaskan granola.

I can't sleep with this killer in my room. Do you think calling 911 to have the cops come and arrest these crickets would just be too much? What's really creepin me out is that they're being all quiet and sneaking around. One in a while I think I hear a wee hop/ping! As one hits it's head on the underside of my bed. I shouldn't have to live in fear of my own bedroom/bathroom should I? Aren't the police around to protect and serve? These crickets are criminals. They really must be stopped. I'm soo scared. (cut to Blair witch camcorder shot) I wonder if I can just stay up all might typing this blog post (on my iphone) forever until morning. Why are bugs so much freakier at night? The crickets in VA are seriously terrifying even in the day. I have not met a creepier bug. Besides the potato bug. That is a freaky bug. But these hunchbacked, spiny, freakishly bendy kneed long feelered things gross me OUT. They aren't normal crickets, which can actually be sort of cute. These crickets are the scary badass psycho crickets with super hopping powers and a lust for blood, I am sure of it. Good god I am so tired right now AND I have to pee soo bad. Honestly. This sucks. Off to see if I survive the cricket takeover. Where do they get in is what I'd really like to know. Ugh. Shudder. Do not like.

PS they are way too big and crunchy for my shoe. I don't have an empty jar gigantic enough to trap them, and if I did- no way would I risk a full face attack by one of these vicious ninja bugs. Yuuuuuuck.

Where have I been?

Well, Cyrus has a cold and has been a barnacle, attached to me all day every day, an keeping me up at night. Also, I've been writing a lot (in other places) which is good

Brain is full of cobwebs today, can't think of anything good to say. Plus, the barnacle needs me.

xoxo Hope everyone is having a fab week!