I’ll be brief. I could ramble for days on my joy I feel about our state right now, but I’ll just say a couple things.

First, I’d like to thank Maureen Walsh, Republican Representative from Walla Walla who spoke from her heart regarding same sex marriage. Maureen, your courage to stand up for what is noble, honorable, truthful, and just is likely what got you to where you are today and will keep you there going forward. While Washington is generally split politically by the Cascades, you have done our state a tremendous service by uniting our hearts. Thank you. On behalf of my cousin and her wife and numerous friends who will now be one step closer to having the same rights my wife and I share. Thank you for standing up for the incredible bonds that many people have had for years, but haven’t legally had the representation to claim. For those of you who haven’t seen the video, please take a minute and watch it below.

Second, Governor Gregoire, your leadership over our state has ebbed and flowed over the years, yet you have finally hit your stride on this one pivotal point. I’m elated that you have not only taken this stand, but have also spearheaded the measure. To know that you have personally struggled through your own religious views to come to the consensus that your views shouldn’t be imposed on the freedoms of the people you represent shows maturity and compassion that I hope spreads across our nation. I applaud your fervor to embrace love within our great state, regardless of whether or not it’s bound by the traditional view of marriage. You have done right by our state on this and have set the mark for other governors to hit. As you said in the video below, “religions can decide what they want to do, but it’s not ok for the state to discriminate.” Hat’s off to you Chris.

To all of my friends, family and fellow Washingtonians who embrace love across gender, congratulations. We’re one step closer to compassionate freedom and justice.

Today is the last day you can mail in your ballots in Washington state. There are a lot of things in this round, most notably I-1183, which would shut down state run liquor stores and open it up to privatization. I was a bit torn on the issue because I like the idea of boutique liquor shoppes, but at the end of the day, I’d rather get money flowing into the state and if that means Safeway and Costco profit off of it too, so be it.

On to Helen Hayes. I read this great synopsis of her life on her site. What an amazing life she had. Helped fund the polio vaccine after her daughter, Mary, died of it. Is one of two women who has received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. She had a massively long career spanning over 50+ years. Really, such a great tribute to a stamp and I’m glad she’s carrying our votes to the election board. Juxtaposed, I’m torn that she’s having to carry our ‘yes’ votes for 1183 given that her husband died of alcoholism. Fingers crossed that doesn’t come about a tremendous amount more within Washington after the passing of this legislation.

The media and police are out for another big day with the Seattle Occupy folks at Westlake Center Plaza. I like that the protestors have a tent with a sign up describing arm bands for social functions. Getting more organized.

I don’t touch politics with a ten foot pole. I vote, but mostly per the recommendation of cheat sheets in The Stranger ( unless I’m compelled by a certain issue or candidate to sway me otherwise ). I keep my nose to the grindstone, doing what I do best with the expectation that elected officials and people watching over the financial backbone of my country are doing the same. I am, let’s face it, optimistic to a fault.

So when it comes to these sorts of crossroads when protestors decide to Occupy Wall Street, flags go up … and not the ones that have Obama with a Hitler-stache. These aren’t the standard raver kids in Westlake dinking around with their baggy pants, neon beads, and pitbulls. These aren’t the chuggers that I loathe so badly with clipboards standing in your way at every moment they can to shake your hand. These are people who have come to a spot where sitting at home awaiting change in solitude is no longer an option. They choose instead to sit in public, sans-umbrellas (thanks Mayor!) in hopes of their nationwide voice growing to a point where they can’t be ignored any longer. We are at a crossroads that could result in a financial revolution.

So where do you stand in this? I assume that whether you’re in favor of the protests or not, you are technically a part of the 99%. Do you think these groups need a leader? If so, who? Do you foresee this ending well? Should I be toting along a mask in case my commute winds through the next WTO riot?

What’s your 2¢ on being a member of the 99%?