For those of you who don't know, I live in Southern Illinois. Carbondale, to be exact. Carbondale is a cute town. We've got the University, a Barnes & Noble, a few good movie theaters, a decent mall, an independent weekly paper, The Nightlife, and an okay bar scene. I've lived here since I came to college when I was 17.
When I was younger I used to say I never wanted to live in one place longer than 5 years. There were just too many places I wanted to live and I didn't want to waste time. Well, this fall is my 11th fall in Carbondale. I've lived here more than twice as long as I wanted to live in one place, and I'm feeling restless. I need to get out of this town (I'm sure there are about 1000 songs I could reference here...but I'm not thinking of any at the moment so I won't).
I've got a long list of places that interest me and I've got a few criteria I'd like to try and meet if possible, but other than that I'm open-minded.
Places that seem interesting:
Boston, New York, Burlington (VT), Manchester (NH), Philly, Baltimore, DC, Richmond (eh...may be a bit too south for me...not sure), and Providence. I could go on...but I'll stop here.
My criteria:
Preferably somewhere eastern coast (as you can probably tell already)
near or in a fairly large city (i.e. bigger than 50,000)
I like green...trees and stuff...at least nearby
Something to do besides dinner, a movie and a bar (so sick of this)
These are the factors I'm considering as I'm applying for new jobs and moving away from "the dale" (spoken by many residents with a slight southern twang...including me sometimes because I've been here so long). Of course, my plan is to move somewhere within the states...but while I've been thinking through the reality of a probable move (once I find a new job), I've also been doing some fantasizing about where I'd live if money and my passion for politics weren't a factor.
So, dearest readers, I'm not asking you tonight to tell me where I should live...I'm asking you to tell me where YOU would live if you could live anywhere in the world and if money wasn't a factor.
Personally, if I could live anywhere and if money weren't a factor I'd choose Mallorca, more specifically, Palma de Mallorca, the main Island in the Balearic Islands. It has lovely shopping, some mountains, nice sandy beaches, and is located in the Mediterranean Sea. Ibiza (party central) is just a quick sail away...and there's lots of Sangria. I could sunbathe topless on the beach and the only thing I'd have to watch for is those darned German tourists playing nude badminton (yeah, that happened, and all I can say is that it was more than I ever wanted to see!). I could check out cute guys and they would have accents or they would speak in Spanish or Catalan(swoon...accents are good). And if I decided I wanted a bit of a faster pace...I could just pop up to my fabulous flat in London :-)
Okay...so that's my fantasy "If I could live anywhere" and money wasn't an option...at the moment anyway :-) I'm sure I'll change my mind. I have before! Please share yours in the comments below!
And now for the Top Comments:
From nonnie9999:
I am sure that Elizabeth Edwards needs no pimping from me, but nonetheless, I loved her comment today. continued good health to Mrs. Edwards, and I thank her for her compassion for other mothers.
In pontificator's diary about Faux News's plan for a rightwing Daily Show, Arturo52 starts a very funny thread (and only goes on for a mile and a half, but there are some gems in there). kath25 has this to say. churchlady had this to say (isn't that special?). KingOneEye (check out his website!) has an excellent point.
From carolita:
concernedamercian asks a good question and KilljoyTxinMI has a good answer.
From sardonyx:
From The Most
Memorable Moments of Daily Kos diary by Delaware Dem, there's a
very long thread started by a gilas girl with her point that there
are too
many moments, and continues with Big Tent Democrat through a layered flirtation and a discussion of civil engagement on a blog vs.
empty civility to a point where SusanG "barges in" and the discussion broadens to cover the trouble people have separating themselves from the ideas they hold, with various side threads and a few new commenters along the way. There's also a bonus extra thread that branches after mcjoan asks about the life-size monopoly game, and ends with crossword puzzles. It's so like Daily Kos that a diary about past memorable moments should create its own new memorable moments.
Earlier in that same diary, there's a good discussion of feminism on
Daily Kos, which basically starts with an a
gilas girl comment on DKos after the Pie Wars, and then goes off in all sorts of directions in the thread below, including aspects of the aforementioned feminism, but also on the basic focus of Daily Kos now and why certain types of issue-oriented discussions will never be the focus of this site, with more than one thoughtful post also by both MissLaura and Big Tent Democrat.
Also, Delaware Dem nominates I
remember... by Derelict Dog as being the best comment in the diary barely 75 minutes into the diary's existence; as the odds are he didn't send this in to TC himself, I'm including it here as it is very funny.
From newhorizons:
This is a great slap-down by kingubu on an unimaginative troll!
From Clem Yeobright:
sen bob has a scary question for everyone.
From daulton:
I tried to pick out a top comment, but there were just too many. I nominate the whole lot. Fox News Preparing a Right Wing Daily Show, by Pontificator.
My Top Comment Choices:
Meteor Blades on what tv show will replace OJ's.
HeyThereItsEric is up to his old tricks, check out the comment...and here's the link he mentioned... if your computer can handle diaries with 2077 comments, that is.
ilona's Tip Jar is amazing. Also check out her diary, PTSD Combat News Roundup: Nov 2006.
The fabulous clonecone asks John Edwards some tough questions!
clonecone also gives us some behind the scenes info on the new Republican version of the Daily Show.
And major props to BeninSC for Top Mojo tonight (thanks Ben, I couldn't have done it without you!!):
Top Mojo - excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments and C&J comments:
1 Just him. --- Bob Johnson - 126
2 It's also Clark's lack of slavish self promotion --- Tom Rinaldo - 124
3 Republican Humor is an oxymoron --- JohnGor0 - 120
4 Here's my story --- Ivan - 116
5 I don't object --- Jerome a Paris - 105
6 The show will be called --- The Gryffin - 101
7 No, no, no! It's so easy to understand! --- BenGoshi - 72
8 Repeat: --- Randomfactor - 70
9 The Day the Humor Stood Still. ( nt ) --- BenGoshi - 68
10 it's my wife's --- theyrereal - 67
11 "Did you hear the one --- kath25 - 67
12 after each "joke" --- seesdifferent - 62
13 Judging from your diary ... --- highfive - 62
14 As an additional comment --- Jerome a Paris - 58
15 When 3 pals of GHW Bush's are in the room --- LondonYank - 57
16 My father in WWII . . . --- antifa - 54
17 Oh this is fun . . . --- nyceve - 53
18 No, Dorgan and Conrad are the real deal --- mldostert - 53
19 Clark is easily our best candidate --- Rex Freedom - 49
20 Well That's Good --- kath25 - 48
21 What a beautiful --- Dreaming of Better Days - 48
22 The one thing that Charlie Rangle --- high uintas - 47
23 I found the one third yesterday --- Richard Carlucci - 46
24 I van to congratulate you on your forthrightness. --- David Boyle - 45
25 No doubt these people are among us. --- Joe Bob - 44
26 You are welcome... --- boilerman10 - 44
27 Thanks to everyone who has continued to help... --- ilona - 43
28 The reason the pundits can't... --- SaneSoutherner - 43
29 I'm an --- zenbowl - 43
30 "Didja hear the one --- kath25 - 43
Top Mojo - everything included:
1 Tip Jar --- dengre - 341
2 Tip jar --- Carnacki - 194
3 tips --- thereisnospoon - 179
4 Another late night screed --- Granny Doc - 133
5 Just him. --- Bob Johnson - 126
6 It's also Clark's lack of slavish self promotion --- Tom Rinaldo - 124
7 Jerome, I hope you won't object that I used . . . --- nyceve - 123
8 Republican Humor is an oxymoron --- JohnGor0 - 120
9 Here's my story --- Ivan - 116
10 I don't object --- Jerome a Paris - 105
11 The show will be called --- The Gryffin - 101
12 The War on Christmas... --- wmtriallawyer - 84
13 Brickbats and billyclubs --- The Lighthouse Keeper - 81
14 *Rolls Eyes* --- Arturo52 - 75
15 No, no, no! It's so easy to understand! --- BenGoshi - 72
16 Repeat: --- Randomfactor - 70
17 The Day the Humor Stood Still. ( nt ) --- BenGoshi - 68
18 it's my wife's --- theyrereal - 67
19 "Did you hear the one --- kath25 - 67
20 Can't get a handle on Clark --- witchamakallit - 66
21 Judging from your diary ... --- highfive - 63
22 after each "joke" --- seesdifferent - 62
23 Tip Jar --- BeninSC - 61
24 As an additional comment --- Jerome a Paris - 58
25 When 3 pals of GHW Bush's are in the room --- LondonYank - 57
26 "Sorry I'm late" tip jar --- AAbshier - 55
27 My father in WWII . . . --- antifa - 54
28 Oh this is fun . . . --- nyceve - 53
29 No, Dorgan and Conrad are the real deal --- mldostert - 53
30 Clark is easily our best candidate --- Rex Freedom - 49