Change is in the air.

When I decided that I was going to volunteer for the Obama campaign last month, I really didn't have any idea of where I wanted to go. My only criteria were: I wanted to spend my time in a state that really mattered, and I wanted to go somewhere I had never been before, preferably out West.

I consulted 538's Tipping Point and ROI charts, and at that time in early September, the main battleground states out West were Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada. I've been to NV several times, so my choice was between CO and NM. I've always wanted to visit Denver and see the Rockies, so I went with the Centennial State.

I ended up convincing my friend Orlando to tag along. Since neither of us had budgeted for this spontaneous trip, I dipped into the ThankYou points I've accumulated over the years to pay for the airfare. Fortunately, free housing was arranged for us by the campaign, so our only remaining expense was the car rental.

When we first arrived on Wednesday morning, we picked up our car and headed North to Rocky Mountain National Park. It's generally not a good idea to go rushing from the sea-level elevation of NYC to 11,000 ft. heights in a single day, but we were short on time and I wanted to do some sightseeing before we went to work on the campaign the next day. (I did pay for the rapid elevation change with a dull headache for all of the first day, but it was nothing serious.)

We had originally reserved a compact car for our trip. When we got to the rental place, we managed to upgrade to a Pontiac G6 for a couple of bucks. It had a grand total of about 24 miles on it. So we essentially got to toy around in a brand new car. Pretty sweet.

We managed to get a decent amount done in our limited time at RMNP. We started off with the easy hikes around Bear Lake (where I took the photo above) and Sprague Lake. Unfortunately, it was a little early for foliage as the aspen trees really hadn't turned golden yet except for some scattered stands here and there. It was still beautiful, of course.

We finished up driving along the amazing Trail Ridge Road. We even saw some moose, elk, and goats along the way, which for city slickers, is pretty cool. We went as far as the Forest Canyon viewpoint before we had to turn around due to the setting sun. Our hosts were waiting for us, and we still had to drive a few hours back down to Aurora.

Oh, right. Aurora. We never did end up in Denver. More on the campaign work in the next post.

Obama's recent surge in the polls can primarily be attributed to the economic crisis that has befallen our financial system. But I think where McCain may have started to lose this election was when he picked Sarah Palin to be his runningmate.

Palin has widely been credited for solidifying and re-energizing the Republican base. What I don't think has been as discussed is how she has done the same for the Democrats, perhaps even more so. It was her presence on the ticket that finally got me off my ass to say, "I cannot let this happen."

Although I had been talking about volunteering for Obama's campaign for awhile, it wasn't until the evening of September 3rd, 2008, after Palin's convention speech, that I finally put action to words. I made my first donation to Obama's campaign that night. In the proceeding days, I decided to truly get involved by booking a flight out to Colorado to help the campaign's effort to win a critical battleground state (more on that trip later).

While working in Arapahoe County where I was stationed, I came across many individuals who shared similar thoughts. The out-of-state coordinator at the Aurora, CO headquarters told me that he was prompted to action by Palin's selection as VP. I met several undecideds who told me that they were leaning towards Obama primarily because the idea of Palin being so close to the presidency frightened them.

In the end, yes, it's all about the economy, stupid. But I do think Sarah Palin was the start of the end for McCain's presidential hopes. Yes, she did give McCain a bump in the polls to the point where he even led Obama shortly after the Republican convention. But once the shine wore off and voters found out more about her, the boost has turned into a drag, pulling the GOP ticket into the abyss.

With three weeks to go, time is running short for McCain to find any way to climb out of the deep hole he's in. Yet I still worry, in spite of the polls, that somehow they can come up with something to steal the election. That's why I'm still planning on going to Pennsylvania to help the campaign there. Until Obama reaches the magical 270 electoral votes mark on Election Day, I'll still be keeping my fingers crossed.

The one exception has been Avenue Q. I've been wanting to see the show since it first debuted to rave reviews a couple of years ago, but for whatever reasons, I hadn't been able to. That is, up until last night, when I finally went and saw the show for the first time.

I had gone in with pretty high expectations based on how much some of my friends had enjoyed it. The show was actually better than I had imagined. It was absolutely fantastic, filled with great songs and lots of laughs. (The sex scene and Trekkie Monster were the stand-outs.) There was also a message behind the entertainment about searching for one's purpose in life that I am sure spoke to many people who are in their mid-20s and aren't really sure what they're doing or where they're going.

I know because I'm one of those people. Up until recently, not knowing what I wanted to do in life really weighed me down. A few years out of college and inching ever closer to 30, I was beginning to feel like I was wasting away my life. What compounded the anxiety was the fact that many of my friends had already achieved much in their careers. They seemed to know what they wanted and where they were headed. As I compared myself to them, I felt increasingly like a laggard. If they can figure it out, why can't I?

Then over the course of the past year, I came across many others my age who were just like me -- who didn't know what their so-called purpose was in life. In doing so, I came to realize that I wasn't alone and more importantly, that it was okay to be a little lost and confused. During the same time, I also met several people older than I who told me about their journeys -- ones that were full of missteps and uncertainty. Yet here they were now working in careers that they loved.

The search for my "purpose" continues, but I've grown more comfortable with its elusiveness. It doesn't mean that I am happy with it, but I have come to accept it. I can enjoy life for what it is now instead of constantly fretting about what might be missing from it.

I know, I know. With the notable exception of The Apprentice and MTV's Newlyweds, I have long opposed the proliferation of reality TV. In fact, American Idol has actually been a frequent target of my criticism of the genre because of its overwhelming popularity.

I admit to having watched the audition episodes every year because they've always been damn funny. However, I inevitably tune out once the real competition starts because the spectacle never really catches my interest. To me, it was like a glorified Star Search. I've also never bought into the karaoke craze either, something which I am sure has contributed greatly to the show's following.

So I've long bemoaned reality TV, particularly American Idol; yet here I am coming out of the closet to confess that I have been secretly recording every episode with my DVR since this newest season began, even after the auditions were over. Being the thoughtful person that I am, I had to wonder: What brought about this sudden interest?

Upon reflection, the answer was clear: It's the talent and, perhaps more important, the personality of this season's contestants. Although I never really paid much attention to past contestants, I don't think I'm going out on a limb here when I say that the talent was never really mindblowing. Kelly Clarkson, whom I like very much, has been the only one who has actually achieved pop star status. (I mean, the girl won a Grammy this year, which is amazing when you consider where she started from.) All the other contestants have pretty much disappeared because they were completely forgettable, with last year's Carrie Underwood being a possible exception.

I would hesitate to call any of this year's contestants a breakout star, but there's some definite talent there. More importantly, from my prospective at least, is that many of this year's competitors are exceedingly likable. That's what has really gotten me hooked on the show this time around. I want to see some of these people win, and that's what keeps me watching.

With that said, who are my favorites then? Well, I absolutely love Kellie Pickler, as I'm sure many, many other people do as well. She has an incredible back story, a fantastic personality, looks adorable, and can actually sing (oh yeah, there's that). Unfortunately, I don't think she has the talent to win, but I think her endearing presence will carry her far.

So who do I think will win? Honestly, I think the field is so close this year that it's too early to pick a winner yet. If it were up to me, I'd choose Chris. From his initial audition, I have always thought he has had the most talent and charisma. He has a kick ass voice, but the question is is whether people will vote a rocker in as the next Idol.

From the girls, I would pick Katharine. She's attractive, charming, and has a great voice. I think she's got the whole package. Of the others, I'd be remiss if I didn't give a nod to Taylor. I get a kick out of each of his performances. I dig his voice and his Ray Charles-que dancing gyrations are fun to watch. Those are the three that I'm rooting for this year.

I like Lisa as well, and Paris has pipes, but I'm not a fan of her personality -- she's a great performer but a little too cocky for my tastes. Mandisa can wail and Elliott's pretty good, but I just don't think they have the "It" factor. The rest? Well, they can all go home in my opinion.

Holy crap, did I just spend ten paragraphs talking about and analyzing American Idol? Dear god, I really am addicted.

For the past month, someone named Spring has been masquerading around in your stead. Mild temperatures reaching up into the mid-50s, people walking around in short-sleeves and sunglasses, eating at tables on the sidewalk - it seemed more like mid-March than the middle of January. Some people were actually declaring winter over and done.

Well, you certainly showed them. And thensome. The biggest recorded blizzard in history sure does prove that this is still your time of year, and that we better respect. (Twenty-six inches of respect, in fact.)

I, for one, am glad, to see your comeback because I'm one of those people that actually enjoys winter. To see the spring-like temperatures of the past month troubled me. I took it as yet another indication of the damages occuring to our global climate that are caused by our abuse of the environment. Even if it could be explained away by another cause though, that kind of weather just didn't feel right. I like bundling up against the cold, witnessing the beauty of freshly fallen snow, and seeing my own breath as I breathe. It's winter, a natural part of the cycle of the four seasons of the year. For it to be absent was not right.

So I welcome you back heartily, old friend, to your proper place in the order of things. You certainly made up for your absence in one short day, although it would've been nicer if you had spread the love out over a few separate storms instead. But I'm not complaining. It's just good to have you back. (Now, if I had to shovel all this snow, I might be feeling a little differently.)

Okay, okay, "robbed" might be a little strong. But the officiating was awful tonight, especially on a few critical calls that cost the Seahawks a fair shot at winning the thing. The big ones:

• The offensive pass interference call on what should have been Seattle's first touchdown. Yes, technically he did give a slight push-off, but it didn't make any difference in the result of the play. This is the Super Bowl for crying out loud. You've got to let the players play, not call ticky-tack fouls like that. I'm watching to see the players determine the winner, not the men in stripes.
• It was close and will probably be widely debated, but I don't believe that Big Ben broke the plane when Pittsburgh scored their first touchdown. The on-field official gave a very delayed TD signal. What he should have done if he wasn't sure was to call it down before the end zone and let it go to replay. It's harder to take away a touchdown than it is to award one.
• The phantom holding call on the play where Seattle completed a long pass down to the Steelers 1-yard line when the score was 14 - 10. Even Michaels and Madden thought it was a bad call. I thought this was bigger than the Big Ben TD, as a couple of plays later Hasselbeck threw a big interception. Instead of being up 17 - 14, Seattle ended up down 21 - 10. A huge momentum swing. The ridiculous cut block foul on Hasselbeck on the ensuing return didn't help either.

I went into this one without really caring who would win. My only hope, as with any Super Bowl where the Giants aren't involved, was to just to have a close, entertaining game. But due to the bad calls, I found myself rooting for the Seahawks as the game progressed because I felt they were being cheated. I can't imagine what Seattle fans must be feeling when I, as a neutral fan, even feel outraged.

Despite the bad calls, however, the Seahawks still had their chances. They hurt themselves with way too many dropped passes, dumb penalties, and some downright atrocious clock management at the end of each half. I mean, what in the world was the coaching staff thinking having a run play at the end of the 1st half with time winding down? And then the playcalling at the end of the game made no sense. Go for the field goal and on-side kick!

In the end, the Steelers might just have been a team of destiny this year. Has any team had a playoff run filled with such incredible luck in recent memory? The Bengals' Carson Palmer tearing up his knee on the first drive; the Colts' inexplicable though not surprising choke (highlighted by Nick Harper running himself into The Tackle); and Denver's embarassing self-destruction that saw Jake Plummer finally being Jake Plummer again. Thus the poor calls tonight were merely a continuation of good fortune for Steeler Nation this post-season.

It wasn't a great Super Bowl, but it was certainly entertaining to watch because of how strange the whole game was. But when history looks back, the little details aren't going to be remembered. The only things that will be remembered about this Steelers team are the storybook ending of the Bus's career, and of course, The Tackle. Perhaps it wasn't the prettiest ending to their title run, but it certainly was fitting.

As a self-proclaimed foodie, I have looked forward to these promotions every six months to score great meals at a terrific bargain. Lately, however, the value of these deals has decreased dramatically (seemingly along with the portions and quality of food). When it first started a few years ago, they were indeed a terrific bargain. But after having two disappointing dinners last week (and a few from the previous RW), I was beginning to question whether these promotions were worth it anymore.

My first dinner this time around was at Pampano, which is touted to be one of the Top 101 Restaurants in NYC, according to New York Magazine. With high praise like that, I went in with some understandably lofty expectations.

Disappointment doesn't even begin to describe what I experienced. The appetizer (calamari) was okay though unspectacular, while the main was awful. The chicken I had was terribly dry and tasteless. I've had better chicken from my local diner. Judging from my friend's lackluster reaction to her halibut, I don't think she really enjoyed her order either. And don't even get me started about the desserts. My friend took one bite of hers and left the rest, while I forced myself a few spoonfuls of the flan in the vain hope that maybe I could convince myself that it wasn't that bad. It was that bad.

What made the experience even more disappointing (on top of the totally overpriced meal for the quality we got) was the pushy service. Our waiter took forever to take our order. When he finally did, he kept trying to get us to order add-ons and didn't seem too pleased that we were doing the RW menu.

The sad part is that their regular menu looked very good, and I wouldn't mind going back to try something from there. But the piss-poor service and horrible food (they clearly weren't trying very hard with the RW stuff) really put me off from ever going back, especially when there are so many other great restaurants in the city.

That's the thing I don't get about how some of these restaurants approach this promotion. They should view it as an opportunity to draw diners in to sample their food. If people like it, it's likely that they'll return for more. With that in mind, you would think that they would all put the effort into crafting great meals for RW. But in my experience, many do not, and it boggles my mind as to why. (I had an experience last year where the wait staff was flat-out rude to us once they found out we were doing the RW menu.) If they turn up their nose to RW patrons, then why bother participating at all? It only creates bad feelings and turns away any chance of repeat customers. Sure, they sucker us in for $30 or $40, but at the cost of negative word-of-mouth and any chance of going back? Doesn't seem like good business sense to me.

Luckily, my second dinner, at Eleven Madison Park, was much improved, though it still left me wanting. Literally. The food, while good, was served in such small portions that everyone in my party was still hungry afterwards. Perhaps our appetites were too big, but I doubt it. We saw other diners order the à la carte versions of some of the dishes on the RW menu, and their portions were clearly much larger. I can understand having reduced portions because of the price, but at least size them enough so that diners can leave feeling satiated after shelling out a good deal of money.

The funny thing is that I went to the same Eleven Madison Park a few years ago during another RW promotion, and remembered it being a much better experience. Clearly, the value seems to be on the decline for these "deals," especially when you factor in the $5 increase in the prix-fixe prices this time around.

So just as I was losing my belief in this enterprise, along comes a fantastic lunch at the famed Union Square Cafe to restore my faith. It was simply wonderful, from the outstanding food to the friendly service, and epitomizes what the whole RW promotion should be about. All four of us that went absolutely loved it, from app to main to dessert. And here's something amazing: we all left feeling totally full! (Even one of the people with us who always complains about portions at fancier restaurants had nothing bad to say.) I now understand why it's consistently rated the #1 restaurant in New York City according to Zagat year after year. It was a such great experience that I'm already planning to dine there again soon, even at their regular menu prices.

See, that's how this whole RW thing should work. Let diners sample some great food at an affordable price and get them hooked. Really now, is it that hard to do?

Through it all, I'm learning to take things in stride and avoiding the extreme highs and lows that probably would've plagued me in the past. I view everything as an experience that's worth having regardless of the outcome. I've always felt this way in some fashion, to do certain things merely for the sake of doing and not so much for the end result. But now I'm applying it in more areas of my life now, and it's leading me to learn and experience more of... well, life, quite frankly.

I'm still a perfectionist, and I still do not handle failure all that well. However, the fear of failing does not stop me from trying as it once did. Now I try to go into things thinking that the experience itself is the reward, the outcome secondary. Success is fantastic, but I try not to expect it or anticipate it. Failure is still disappointing and frustrating, but it's not as demoralizing as it used to be.

I still have a long road to travel to get to the person that I want to be. But now I try to focus on the ten feet ahead instead of the ten miles beyond.

The highlight of my year was the four weeks that I spent in China and Taiwan back in March and April. It was unquestionably one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I saw and felt so many things it's almost impossible to recall them all. I am so glad that I was able to keep a journal of my thoughts and experiences during that time because it allows me to always look back and relive some of those memories.

2005 was a year of many other firsts besides my first trip to China. There was my first Shakespeare in the Park. My first house party. My first classical concert. My first Knicks game. And a few other firsts that will go unmentioned but will undoubtedly be remembered.

I also had one of the most fun and enjoyable summers that I can remember. I met a lot of new people, and I finally feel that I am moving forward in my life again. It's cooled down a bit in the fall and winter (both literally and figuratively), but I still say goodbye to 2005 with a big smile on my face.

It's almost a pity that this year has to come to an end, but I look forward to the year ahead with eager anticipation. Happy New Year, everyone!