When I was in middle and high school I wanted to be the first female president or at least the first biracial female president LOL.  Naturally I decided to run for class president my senior year of high school.  I figured I could be Vice-President since I thought one of the other candidates would do a good job too.  She became president and I lost the vice-presidency by like 3 votes.  This kid got on stage and did the C-walk and got it.  If only I could dance lol.  Lorain Admiral King HS was a special place.  Below is my speech.  I think I would have gotten it if it wasn't for the rumor that someone else wrote the rhyme. 

Good morning!

For those of you that don't know me my name is Joanna Lopez.

I stand here, before you asking for your vote for Class President.

Your senior year will go by fast
So help me make it a blast.
We want good memories to last
So let votes for me be cast.
Show you care and be fair.
Vote for the best and
Lay this popularity contest to a rest.
I have faith that while you're listening to my voice
You'll make the right choice.
I make these suggestions
But there's only one question
Who will it be?
I hope the answer is me
Because your class president I strive to be.
Don't fear
I'll always lend you my ear.
If you want your ideas heard
Just say the word.
I have my priorities straight
So don't wait till it's too late.
Now you have the chance
So take a second glance.
Make your decision
Because I have a vision
That this can be the beginning
Of a senior year that is fulfilling.
So for the last time
At the end of this rhyme
I remind you
Voting for me, Joanna Lopez
Is just the thing to do
If you have a clue.

As the days soar by

Aches await the relief

That is destined to return.

Placebos prescribed perpetually;

Addicted to the reaction,

Rehabilitation for these vices

Is yet to exist.

Solo in a congregate;

Miles isolate beings,

Crossing borders like a nomad;

An aerial gypsy of sorts;

Sort of a Sir Galahad of the 21^st century;

Marvel status with a lair so distant,

The land lacks an element

That cannot be replenished

When out of the code.

Clouds casting showers of testosterone to compensate;
If only a replacement could be found;

But masterpieces stand alone,

If the prodigal son returned;

Shouldn’t the provident one, drop by?

When those wings coast to a landing,

Near the lion’s den, may the purr

Reign loudly as a roaring fleet.

Let it be known

Legend is what you are.

Are you registered to vote?

You can visit the web site of the Secretary of
State, www.sos.state.oh.us,  to register.  Ohio doesn't let you vote online but you can print out the form and mail it to your local board of elections.  You can find out that info on the site too.  Ohio has a 30 day rule: your last chance to register for the March 4^th primary is Monday, February 4^th. 

Those of you that have to work, or go to school or just think you are too busy to go to the polls that is no excuse.  You can also print out an absentee voter application.  The earlier you send it in the better.  They will mail you your absentee ballot and you just have to get it back to them before 7:30pm of election day. 

If God forbid you end up in the hospital on election day for an unforeseeable reason and can't leave if you contact the Board of Election before 3pm on election day, you can still vote.   They will bring you your ballot and return it themselves.  Oh and if you know anyone out of the country on election day they can vote too. 

If you need any more information on anything I just said or you want to work on election day let me know.  They pay really well and you just have to go to a training session and be available on election day.  You have to be registered though.

> If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM
> machine, you can notify the police by entering your Pin # in reverse.
>
> For example if your pin number is 1234 then you would put in 4321.
> The ATM recognizes that your pin number is backwards from the ATM card
> you placed in the machine.
>
> The machine will still give you the money you requested, but unknown to
> the robber, the police will be immediately dispatched to help you.
>
> This information was recently broadcasted on FOX TV and it states that
> it is seldom used because people don't know it exists.
>
> Please pass this along to everyone possible.

I got this from a forwarded e-mail so I don't know how accurate it is... But if it is that's pretty cool...

Okay I’ve been reminiscing about some more random childhood memories so of course I’m going to share them with all of you.

When we were living in the apartment when I was little I was reaching to grab something and burnt my arm on a pink curling iron.  It left this ultra pale spot that was about 1 inch in diameter about 2 inches from my wrist.  Sometime in high school it started to get some color but I still can see it.

I remember one night we were walking into the apartment and for whatever reason my mom was like “God is gonna help us.”  Most likely she was referring to something important/ serious.  I asked her about it but she can’t recall exactly.  But I remember asking her that night, “Is he [God] gonna help me clean my room”.  I don’t remember her response but that was a classic moment. Innocence and oblivion all twisted into one.  I can remember cleaning my room that night too.  I was struggling with figuring out how to hang up this one shirt that had a hood.  I really thought the hood should go over the part of the hanger that actually hangs on the pole but it wouldn’t work.  My mom set me straight though.

One day I was at my grandparents and I was wearing some worn out white and pink gym shoes…My grandpa being the special person he is told me that I needed to tell my dad to get me some new ones.  So the next time I seen my dad I didn’t even say hi.  The first thing that came out of my mouth was “Grandpa said you need to buy me some new shoes”.  Being the nice person he was I got them ASAP.

For some reason I couldn’t drink fruit punch when I was little.  I liked it but I used to throw it up at night.  So when my grandparents would baby-sit my mom would tell them not to give me any but they didn’t listen so they’d call my mom and be like she threw up and my mom would be like that’s what you get for not listening.

I loved riding my bike when I was little.  My grandpa taught me.  I think my uncle helped.  I was like 4 when I could ride w/o training wheels.  But I thought it was cool to not ride in a straight line.  Basically I’d dodge anything and everything that was on the sidewalk.  My mom thought I was incapable of riding in a straight line b/c she thought I was clumsy.

I fell off my bike once and that was only because my laces got tangled in the chain. Boy I was all scraped up.  My grandpa laughed.

Ok it has been was of those classic lazy days...Pjs were the garb of choice of course....I devoted my day to reminiscing...I watched videos Jessica, Candice, and I made in highschool....I updated a photo album and I read old  diaries....While doing so I stumbled on a silly "poem/song" I wrote in 2000....Here it is...Enjoy LOL

It is the first day of winter
and my true love said to me,
"You're so sweet I'd really like it if you went to the Winter Formal with me"
I said, "Of course, you know I would 'cause you're the fliest guy in this neighborhood
You're ghetto fabulous and pretty hilarious,
You're truly smart 'cause you won my heart
I'm really looking forward to being with you
So I'm glad that's what we are going to do
Since I think you're really great
I can't wait for this date"

Well as you may already know I got my BA in Political Science and Spanish.  But that doesn't mean much when it comes to my knowledge of politics.  I don't pay as much attention to the news as I should but I believe politics is rooted in much of what affects are daily lives.   Religion, education, work, economy, environment, anything related to money, of course the government and so much more is tied to politics some way or another.  With such an important election coming up Nov. 6th of 2008, I am trying to register as many Clevelanders as possible during my ACORN/ Project Vote internship. 

Now before you say you have already registered ask yourself: Did I move without re-registering?... For those of you that are registered you are not off the hook yet.  A rumor has been spread around Ohio saying that those whohave been convicted of a felony can't vote.  Well that isn't true.  As long as you aren't behind bars you can vote.   What convicted felons can't do is register others to vote.  Did you know that if you go 4 years without voting you are no longer a registered voter?  Did you know if your name changes like when a women takes her spouses last name she has to re-register?  So if you know someone that falls into one of these categories inform them that they need to re-register.   If they think they have but 8 weeks later they still haven't received a voter registration card then they need to do it again.  Don't worry though if you get your card and lose it before elecion day you are still eligible to vote. 

Lastly for those of you that don't believe in voting, why fall into the trap elite republicans have set for you?  Yeah the 2004 election was utter bull but we can't allow that to happen again. Roughly 150 million Democrats that are eligible to vote live in the US in contrast to 100 million Republicans.  Their views keep getting represented because in communities such as Pepper Pike 90% of the residents vote while only 30% vote in innercity Cleveland.  So if you want the right to complain about the government and injustices period you need to earn it by voting.  Too many people fought to get suffrage for minorities and women, don't let their work been done in vain.  I'm going to be registering people to vote at the Westside market tomorrow from 3:30 to 6:30 so feel free to stop through.  If you can't but need to be registered let me know and I'll keep you informed of all the sites we wll be registering people in this summer.

I wrote these in high school....I think I was a freshman so gimme a break...I was a youngin...LOL

Questioning
When I looked into his eyes I could have sworn I seen the truth
but was I mistaken?
Did he show me sincerity or deceitfulness?
Only him and the Lord know...
I wish I knew, I wish I just had a clue,
Give me a hint, just tell me if I'm getting hot or cold,
Was he fate
or a mistake?
Is he part of a dream
or a night terror,
not letting me overcome the shock of reality,
hitting my face like freezing water
traumatizing my emotions
and paralyzing my soul?
Am I moving on to the future
or living in the ancient past?
Am I staring at a promising destiny
or just an unreliable mirage?

Copyright ©2007 Joanna Natasha Lopez

If I were your girlfriend ...
If I were your girlfriend
would you treat me the same or would put me through pain?
If I were your girlfriend
would you stare into my eyes or would you only tell me lies?
If I were your girlfriend
would you dance with me
or would you just let me be?
If I were your girlfriend
would you treat me like dirt or would you be a big

flirt?
If I were your girlfriend
would our love blend
so that our friendship would never end?

Copyright ©2007 Joanna Natasha Lopez

I wrote this 4 my own sake more than yours....so don't feel bad about not reading it cuz it is long.

You are doing fine.  It’s still early. You got time to meet quota.  Just keep being confident. Keep eye contact. Control your pen and don’t talk too fast.  Just cuz they don’t support the issue doesn’t mean you won’t find enough tonight that do.  Just stay positive.  It is a beautiful day.  The sun is shining so you might actually get that tan you’ve been wanting.  So what you’ve been walking since 4pm and it’s almost 9pm.  You may have actually burned off that cheesecake  you ate earlier. 

Well it was only your 3^rd day of training and you did your best.  You took all the trainers advice.  You were much more successful yesterday but maybe it’s the community.  They simply don’t care.  You did your very best and you know it. 

Besides everyone may have had a bad day if it was just an apathetic community…Right?  The time has come so you will finally know.  What? Aaron…white boy that went to Case just like you but is on his 8^th day of training had a rough day too but he still was way more successful than you…Well there are still the others….Ok veteran canvasser got $125 from one person...but he has experience…ok that girl did pretty good too and of course the trainer did….Now it’s your turn to tell the canvasser you went to 74 doors ….were able to speak to 47 people but only got 8 ppl to sign and 2 to contribute…so all your enthusiasm and effort…all 110% of it made you a whopping $26….

Yeah this isn’t going to work…Today is gonna be your last day…you drive 45 mins., pay for gas at $3.49/gallon, pay for 5 dollar parking….get to work at 1pm and are scheduled to leave after 10pm and you make $13…It’s as common sense as the issue you were trying to inform people about.

But while you tell your trainer that you got to call it quits your eyes can’t help but get watery…It’s dark and your outside so you hope she can’t see the tears glistening…You can’t let them see you in that condition….So you hop in the car…blow ur nose….wipe your tears and hope the others are clueless…In your bag u find the apple u forgot u had so eating that keeps ur mind off crying….

 For the rest of the ride from Westlake to the Rockefeller building you laugh sincerely…The rock music that’s playing you find to be special and the people that you are riding with are pretty cool….You get back to the office and u see the one other person that looked a little like you decide not to take the job after the observation day….You think…Why didn’t I do that?  You want to scream after her… “You made the right choice”….Instead you wait until it is your turn to talk to the boss…She assures you she did just as bad her 3^rd day and tomorrow will be better but u’ve already made up ur mind…You let her finish her spiel and politely explain to her that you can’t return…Your proud of yourself for smiling the whole time and not letting any tears out…You slip out the office wishing you could keep in contact with some of the people you met….

So u call ur mom to let her know u quit….The waterworks start and they won’t stop…U get in the car and start to drive…ur gasping for air…u remember crying like this as a child…the crying makes u unable to talk…breathing is even getting hard….if only you had a paper bag….you really should pull ur car over but at least ur aren’t speeding…your eyes start to sting so you wipe them to the best of your ability….you’re hot…It is 88 degrees out but you’ve been walking all day this is internal heat rising…..u can feel your face getting red and you feel a tinglingg sensation all over your body…it starts at the top of your head and reaches the ends of your fingers….your ability to drive throughout this is amazing…You’ve never felt this way in your life…You can hear your mom on the other line asking you if you are alright …she’s pleading for you to breath…Finally the panic attack comes to an end…ur still bawling but you can actually express yourself…You have come to the conclusion that discreet discrimination hurt you more than blatant racism…The night before while your were with 3 blondes in Medina a truck drove by and screamed the N word…You were shocked but it was 2 people so you excused their ignorance but today people looked passed you….through you….if you looked more like them would they have given you the time of the day? Would they have felt comfortable making a contribution? Would they have thought you belonged?

All those tears….45mins of sobbing….You feel as if a cycle of stereotypes is goin to be perpetuated b/c u left….Your not a quitter but you won’t let your self-esteem be destroyed….You had the right attitude…If they don’t realize their race/looks give them an advantage and you don’t carry a chip on ur shoulder…that u worked just as hard or more so and would have had to sacrificed more than you could afford to reach nearly the amount of success…it’s their problem…you know you were all for the cause and if they can’t see then so be it…

  I desperately search
for a way to reveal
my thoughts, my empathy,
my happiness,
and yet,
I don't say a word.

The solution stares me in the face.
Just speak your mind,
let it out,
so they know there is so much more
and yet,
I don't say a word.
Why is it so difficult?
There is no barrier,
though I feel there is.
I should not have to surrender
to something that cannot stop me,
and yet,
I don't say a word.

Why is it that I have
given fear a chance
to hold me back
I could choose any moment
to break away
and never return,
and yet,
I don't say a word.

Ok I’ve been wanting to blog for a while now but I was busy but when I finished with school I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to write about…First I thought I ‘d talk about my job search but since that is still in the works I thought I’d wait on that….Well I was in deep thought about some random stuff about myself and my childhood and I thought I’d share it with you since Kent said I’m officially part of the Multiply Family aka Team Random…So here it goes…Brace yourself for random stories you prolly didn’t want to know but you may find special regardless….

I started walking at 9 months but I never crawled so a Dr. said my clumsiness was due to the fact that I never developed my coordination skills which apparently would have happened if I wasn't in such a hurry to grow up.  Maybe that's when it all started. As you see being an overachiever has its setbacks. 

My uncle/God father is a real jokester like most of my family so when I was really little he would try to get me to say bad words...At the time I didn't know they were bad words I figured he was trying to make me learn his name or something cuz isn't that what people do to little kids...So one day we were in Value City and my mom was like, " Tell your Tio (uncle) to come here".  So just like a lil kid instead of literally getting him I beckoned, "A**hole my mom wants you"....From then on he never tried to get me to curse again...

On another occasion my Uncle knew the guy that operated the ferris wheel and they had me chillin on the top of it for a while which seemed like forever at the time and till this day I haven't been on another one...But I love rollercoasters so its really retarded.

So when I was little about 3 or 4 I was afraid of my shadow….One day I was outside our apartment and I just started running and screaming “It’s chasing me!!!!” or something along those lines….My mom was with me and she thought it was a bug ‘cause I wasn’t a fan of those at all but she was mistaken….I had just discovered my shadow and I was terrified.

Oh another interesting discovery I made was when I noticed that people swung their arms when they walked.  For whatever reason I didn't relaize I did it too.  So in my mind I had actually made an effort to start swinging my arms like everyone else. 

So one day my mom had company over so she wante me to entertain myself...She was "letting" me play with this doll she had since she was a little girl...It looked like a female version of Chuckie to me....I swore it's eyes moved by itself...When we moved to a house I made her keep it in the basement and when I started goin to the basement to do laundry she had to get rid of it.  I didn't like clowns either b/c of "It".  Bozo and Ronald McDonald were ok though.  I love scary movies regardless.

My mom discovered I was dyslexic when I was like 4 and my theory is that even though it doesn’t effect my reading now it affects other aspects of my life.  I personally don’t think dyslexia is limited to seeing letters in reverse.  Someone should do some research on this but when I was learning how to do maneuverability in my car I had the most difficult time figuring out how to reverse in terms of turning my wheel way and the car going the other way.  I would also say it plays a role in my ability to look at people dancing and my ability to do it myself.  It kicks-in in many other areas too so I’ll keep you updated.

When I was like 5, I got a wart on my belly.  I swore that a frog jumped through my shirt while I was standing it from of my grandparents’ house.  I was a very honest child but I think I had a very vivid imagination.  Till this day I feel as if it could have happened even though frog-giving warts are a myth.   

I am self-conscious because of my forehead.  I always wore bangs and it wasn’t until like my Senior year that I got rid of them.  They returned but that looked a lot better than the ones I used to have.  The reason I bring this up is because I spent the night at my grandparents and my grandpa did my hair.  He put it in all in a ponytail so I had no bangs.  Man, my mom came to pick me up and she was upset.  She was like, “You see her forehead she can’t have her hair back like that.  I’ve never done her like that” Again this is a very rough paraphrase cause she wasn’t happy.  I think from that day forward I never liked how I looked with my hair completely back.  Thanks Mom…Lol j/k

Ok well I think that’s enough random childhood memories.  Hope you enjoyed the random ride down memory lane.