Here are a few pictures from Christmas with my brother, dad, mom, and I.

Today was a busy first day back in the District. I went into the office around 10 am to back up my computer before going the Apple store. Of course, it makes the popping noise all morning until I get to the store. They don’t do anything unless they witness it. Whatever.

I continue home and go grocery shopping. An hour later I’m off to Ikea to get a bed frame. After not wanting to spend $300 on a frame, I go into the “as is” section and find the $300 frame I want but for $175. I ask the guy if he has another piece of the footboard because it had a crack in it. He looks around and finds another one that is almost perfect. It’s really busy so it’s taking him a while to put all this together for me. But when he came back, he hooked it up. My new bed frame had a price of $104.50! It’s the Hemnes bed if you look it up. It actually sits really high because of the box spring. Loaded it up in the zip car and it was time for Target.

Grabbed some toiletries from Target and I was home bound. The bed is assembled, my belly is full, time for the Dark Knight in 1080p!

Overall, a good day.

Just landed at Reagan National Airport. The flights weren’t bad. I’m a little sad to be back in DC because it was a lot of fun being at home and seeing familar faces. I ate everything I wanted to eat…mainly REAL Mexican food. Didn’t see everyone or even make it to PB but next time. I kinda wanted to go to Disneyland but that didn’t happen either!

Thanks Kerin for sharing your bed with me the last three nights!

Not sure when my next trip home will be but I know it’s not soon enough.

So my favorite Mexican food restaurant has been torn down! I’m pissed! They are building a Walgreens! There are 3 drug stores on Mira Mesa Blvd already!

Goodbye Teo Leos. You made me and my stomach very happy.

Eeek! I’m a little late. Hope everyone had a nice Christmas.

But I was reading Red State and came across the answers submitted to the six men who are running from RNC Chair by Morton Blackwell. Question 14 is of great importance, not only because of my affliation with the CRNC, but also because I think the youth vote is often hyped up but then overshadowed in the General Election. I’ve copied the answers below. While most the answers sound okay, I feel the GOP has no idea how to approach the youth. They talk about using social networking sites and field programs but we’ve been doing that! Their “ideas” aren’t new and I think the issue of the youth effort will just get swept under the table after the Winter meeting in January.

14.Exit polls show that students and other young voters voted about two to one for Barack Obama.  In part this was because leftist groups and Democrats spent huge sums of money identifying and organizing college students in 2008.

Many studies have shown that, when young people start off in politics with a political party, they tend to favor that party for the rest of their lives.

Years ago, for legal reasons, the RNC stopped providing direct financial assistance to the College Republicans, and very few Republican campaigns invest in mass-based youth efforts.

Yet decades of experience show that large numbers of college students can be identified, organized, and activated in Republican campaigns where someone talented and skilled is provided the resources to do so.

As RNC chairman, what would you do to make sure College Republican field work is generously funded and to make sure that future Republican campaigns devote the time, talent, and money necessary to recruit large numbers of college students into Republican activity?

Saul Anuzis:  I have consistently encouraged both College Republican and Teenage Republicans in the process.  We have organized campaign school, assisted in bringing students to CPAC, etc.  I believe expanding our ranks among young voters needs to be a top priority.  However, this work cannot be left only to the College Republicans.  Every program in our party needs to look for ways to reach out to young people.  If we are going to be the party of the future, everyone needs to make young people a priority.
Ken Blackwell:  College Republicans is the most important recruitment organization of new people into our party and volunteers for our candidates. It is true that people who commit to a political party while in college are likely to stay with that party throughout their life. It is a terrible shame that the College Republicans are no longer working in coordination with our party and our candidates because of their legal structure. I would work within the law to change that immediately.
I would encourage the College Republican National Committee to re-organize itself either as a party organization or a political action committee with the FEC or in a state with favorable political organization laws. Just as Mitt Romney successfully utilized State PAC’s in his efforts to help elect Republicans in 2006, the CRNC could similarly organize itself as a state or federal level political or party committee. This would allow the Republican National Committee and Republican candidates to once again coordinate their activities with the national and local College Republican organizations.
Once they are re-organized in a manner that satisfies all legal requirements, I would implement full funding for a national field program of well-trained College Republicans to storm campuses in all 50 states. They would implement a national field recruitment program in the fall and an aggressive training program in the spring for young conservatives. I would not micro-manage this program, but I would make it clear that significant RNC funding would be immediately available for such a program.
Katon Dawson:  We cannot limit our ramped-up outreach to minorities alone. In order for our party to thrive in the future, we need to court young voters. In addition to persuading donors to generously fund College Republican programs on promising campuses, we need to revamp our outreach to mesh with the online networking systems that are integral parts of how younger Americans interact. Once campaigns see the demonstrated effectiveness of such an online system   a system that Democrats have down to a science, making it easy for young people to be active in the party    campaigns will devote the necessary time, energy and money into recruiting the youth vote. The RNC needs a robust and open social network that allows young Republicans, as well as other activists, to network and share ideas to make them more effective advocates for our party. The network should allow activists and users to create their own applications to improve and expand the network. Regional eCampaign Directors will be responsible for the growth of the network and coordinating the social network with large-scale RNC projects, such as voter registration, early/absentee voting, fundraising, candidate recruitment/vetting and driving home RNC message/communications initiatives.
Mike Duncan:  As you note in your question, the legal constraints of BCRA prevent the RNC from coordinating with or funding College Republicans, as CRs are a 527 organization.  The constraints are so egregious that the RNC cannot even provide any direction to CRs about strategy, fundraising, and outreach efforts.  Our successful challenge to BCRA will allow the RNC to again provide the leadership and guidance to CRs, Young Republicans and other organizations that can maximize the youth vote for Republican candidates.
As Chairman, I have visited many college campuses and met with CR chapters across the country and I will continue to do so.  I am committed to opening our training colleges at the RNC to CRs and other qualified college students.  Finally, we will continue to work with CRs and organizations such as the Leadership Institute to recruit political field staff for campaigns.
John “Chip” Saltsman:  Young and college-aged Republicans aren’t the future of our party… they are the very heart and soul of the present party – and they must become an increasingly integral part of every Republican campaign from city council to the presidency. As RNC Chairman, I will devote substantial time and energy to engage these young activists, particularly through the development of vibrant, open and exciting online communities. But Republicans misjudge 2008 if we simply chalk up Democrat successes to money and technology. Democrats motivated young people by offering a positive, youthful, attractive candidate and a coherent message. Let’s not forget that in 1984, Ronald Reagan won 18-24 year old voters by a margin of 61-39 and 25-29 year old voters by 14 percentage points. Without a message and the candidates to deliver that message, Republicans will continue to trail Democrats in appealing to younger voters among others.
Michael Steele:  The College Republican National Committee is a vast and un-tapped resource. Sadly, they are used for Volunteer Deployment and not much more. This must change. Not only are CR’s the future of our party, they are the current foot-soldiers and leaders of our Party and we must keep them mobilized and engaged.
I’m committed to reviving the youth efforts that helped to elect Ronald Reagan. Because the CRNC exists as a 527 political organization, current law constrains the RNC’s ability to fund them directly.  Nevertheless, I will do everything I can within the parameters of the law to keep them engaged, well-trained, and well-funded.  The College Republicans were my biggest grassroots asset as County Chairman, State Chairman and certainly in my campaigns for Lt. Governor and the U.S. Senate.  I have had the privilege of addressing CR groups across the Country and have been so proud of the contributions they continue to give.  They effectively raise money, actively recruit members on campuses all across our Country and provide local volunteers for party-building and winning campaigns — a gift that will keep on giving for the future success of our party.
One of my first actions as Prince George’s County Chairman, was to contact the CR chapter at University of Maryland so that I could get them involved in Party activities and get their input and support. I will lead by example in visiting college campuses, including historically black colleges, and urging state and local Republican leaders to do likewise. We will provide funding for state party efforts, including staff, aimed at enhancing student recruitment and integrating student volunteers into Republican campaigns up and down the ticket.
We will: 1. Create online opportunities for social networking among college campuses; 2. Provide funding for state party efforts, including staff, aimed at student recruitment; 3. Work hard to integrate student volunteers and other young people into Republican campaigns up and down the ticket; and, 4. Make college campuses and other youth-oriented venues hotbeds for volunteer recruitment, professional campaign training messaging.

I think a person’s taste in music says a lot about them. I’ve decided to share my favorites at the moment.

I’m so happy to be home. The weather is cool–high 50s, low 60s. (Better than the 26 degrees I left this morning in DC!) I landed at 12:30 local time and immediately went to grab some Mexican food. Carne Asada chips with cheese and sour cream only. I posted a picture in my other posting believe. It was delish.

This afternoon I did my rounds with the family. I’m currently at my dad’s house watching them play Price is Right, family style on the Wii.

Tomorrow I’m picking up Mom from the airport and heading to the apple store. My iphone won’t call out for some reason.

Oh and Cubby got a haircut!

I leave on Thursday to head home for 10 days! I’m really excited to see friends and eat real Mexican food! Mmmm delish.

Contrary to what people think, I really am a simple person to please. I like puppies, stress-free situations, good times, and good people. Not much to ask for, right?! This year for Christmas I want what I can’t have.

Here is what I can’t have with an explanation below each photo:

1.

No, I don’t want Jessica Simpson. I want her dog. Not her dog, but a dog like hers. Why can’t I have a dog? Because my building does not allow pets. I’ve thought of numerous ways that I can “sneak” a dog but I can’t get past the barking issues. How do you teach a dog not to bark?

2.

Why can’t I have a Range Rover Sport for Christmas? BECAUSE IT’S NOT AFFORDABLE. One day Tierra…one day.

3.

A million dollars. Whoever said money can’t buy you happiness wasn’t buying the right stuff.

4.

Skinny. Why can’t I be skinny? BECAUSE I LIKE TO EAT. It’s not so much I eat a lot…I don’t. I just don’t like to run…for obvious reasons. Getting old sucks because I gain weight simply by looking at food.

5.

That is the Capitol building in Sacramento. I am applying for this fellowship and won’t actually find out if I get it until early next summer. It would be a paid fellowship and would put me back in California. Don’t get me wrong, DC is fun. But I miss everything most people hate about California.

So there you have it. My 2008 wish list. Am I going to receive any of thoes items? Probably not but let’s keep our fingers crossed for number 5.