I was a delegate this past Saturday at our Sentate District Convention. Fortunately, my wife who had agreed to be an alternate tagged along. Our little precinct got 21 delegates, 12 for Hillary and 9 for Barack. Hillary's organizational structure being what it is, four of the 12 didn't show up. The two alternates took the place of two no-shows (after the Obama folks backed down after claiming they got to pick the replacements), but one Clinton delegate was replaced by an Obama delegate. Obama's people are exceptionally well-organized, thought more than a little underhanded in the way they try to manipulate the process.
My biggest take-away from the event? The Democratic Party in Texas is a remarkably disorganized beast and will succumb of its own miserable inertia unless it gets in gear. It was embarrassing, watching all of these ostensibly intelligent people trying to perform the simplest tasks and failing miserably at ever attempt. Horrific disorganization, exceptional levels of internal partisanship, and barely any effort at all trying to persuade the rag-tag masses that, regardless of which candidate comes out on top, the Democratic candidate is the candidate of choice. I overhead way too many Obama supporters say they would not vote for Clinton is she ends up on the ticket and I heard similar numbers say the same thing from Clinton supporters who would abandon the party if Obama gets the nod.
Fucking idiots!
The experience taught me something. Rather, it reinforced something I've known for a long, long time. We need at least one strong third party, maybe a couple more. We could get along well if we had the Practical Democrats as a moderate arm of the wig-outs. And even Fiscally Conservative Social Radicals would be a good party. Or the Humanistic Pragmatists.
Or something.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
A 33 Year-Old Jalapeño Sandwich
I re-read a post on Indian Food Rocks this morning and it made me think back to a time in college when I went on a geology field trip. The author (who's name is Manisha) wrote the post about her daughter encountering difficulties with her classmates who made fun of her for the "funny" food she brought to school for lunch. Her daughter hasn't yet reached the point of feeling comfortable telling the other kids to take a hike. I'd personally love to hear about the girl explaining to her classmates that their lack of maturity and intellect is "your problem, not mine, thank you very much, and I happen to enjoy chutney-cheese sandwiches far more than I like rancid peanut butter!" But that's not what this post is about.
What I recall about that field trip, for reasons unknown, is that I had damn near nothing in the apartment to eat. And I had absolutely no money to buy anything. But I had to take a lunch, for it was an all-day field trip to a geological formation quite a distance from Austin. I rummaged around in my pantry and refrigerator and came up with the only thing I could: a jalapeño sandwich. I used all I had to make my lunch: four pieces of dark rye bread, slices of the three or four remaining pickeled jalapeños and carrots in the usually-full Tupperware container in the refrigerator, and the tiny little bit of mayonnaise left in the jar, spread on the bread.
Actually, this was not a particularly unusual sandwich for me, though I usually didn't eat it for lunch and I made it a bit different than normal. I'd make jalapeño sandwiches for snacks when I came home from class for the day, but I used white bread instead of rye (for some reason, the white bread tended to tone down the heat of the sliced jalapeños) and I added iceberg lettuce for some added mass. I really liked those sandwiches! In fact, I mayhave to buy some white bread and some iceberg lettuce just to see if I still like them, now that I'm thinking about it.
Back to my story. For this field trip, out of necessity I made an unusual version of my snack, with dark bread and without the lettuce. Once I made those two sandwiches, my place was utterly and completely bare of food. I went on the field trip and, at lunch time, I sat with a girl whose name was, unless my memory is playing tricks on me, Patty McClung. As she and I talked, she expressed a fascination with my sandwiches. I don't think it was a fascination as in, "may I have a bite?" but, instead, it was a fascination as in, "is this something you'd usually eat?" For some reason, I felt proud that I had brought something unusual for lunch, something no one else brought.
I'm appreciative that my refrigerator and my pantry are no longer so barren. I don't recall what I did for dinner that night, nor when I was able to replenish the larder. But I still remember how my "choice" of a field trip lunch made it easy for me to talk with Patty McClung. We became friends for the remainder of that semester, but I lost track of her after that. I wonder if she remembers the boy who brought that unusual lunch on the field trip.
What I recall about that field trip, for reasons unknown, is that I had damn near nothing in the apartment to eat. And I had absolutely no money to buy anything. But I had to take a lunch, for it was an all-day field trip to a geological formation quite a distance from Austin. I rummaged around in my pantry and refrigerator and came up with the only thing I could: a jalapeño sandwich. I used all I had to make my lunch: four pieces of dark rye bread, slices of the three or four remaining pickeled jalapeños and carrots in the usually-full Tupperware container in the refrigerator, and the tiny little bit of mayonnaise left in the jar, spread on the bread.
Actually, this was not a particularly unusual sandwich for me, though I usually didn't eat it for lunch and I made it a bit different than normal. I'd make jalapeño sandwiches for snacks when I came home from class for the day, but I used white bread instead of rye (for some reason, the white bread tended to tone down the heat of the sliced jalapeños) and I added iceberg lettuce for some added mass. I really liked those sandwiches! In fact, I mayhave to buy some white bread and some iceberg lettuce just to see if I still like them, now that I'm thinking about it.
Back to my story. For this field trip, out of necessity I made an unusual version of my snack, with dark bread and without the lettuce. Once I made those two sandwiches, my place was utterly and completely bare of food. I went on the field trip and, at lunch time, I sat with a girl whose name was, unless my memory is playing tricks on me, Patty McClung. As she and I talked, she expressed a fascination with my sandwiches. I don't think it was a fascination as in, "may I have a bite?" but, instead, it was a fascination as in, "is this something you'd usually eat?" For some reason, I felt proud that I had brought something unusual for lunch, something no one else brought.
I'm appreciative that my refrigerator and my pantry are no longer so barren. I don't recall what I did for dinner that night, nor when I was able to replenish the larder. But I still remember how my "choice" of a field trip lunch made it easy for me to talk with Patty McClung. We became friends for the remainder of that semester, but I lost track of her after that. I wonder if she remembers the boy who brought that unusual lunch on the field trip.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Weather Expectations
There's a promise of Spring weather today. Fifties and rainy for much of the day, with the skies turning belligerent and surly from time to time, followed by periods of driving rain and fierce winds with intermittent periods of roiling clouds and rolling thunder. Occasional outbursts of lightening and other shuch demonic displays are to be expected.
Friday, March 28, 2008
The Work Week is Offcially on Temporary Assignment Elsewhere
Tomorrow, I get to spend the day in the madness that is the District Democratic Party Convention. I'm getting increasingly upset with the two Democratic candidates over their annoying bickering and name-calling and flat-out lies about their experiences.
I have actually found myself agreeing more and more with McCain on some isues, specifically the proposals to reward irresponsible homebuyers for getting in over their heads with mortgages they could not afford. Don't get me wrong, the mortgage bankers were equally irresponsible, but my progressive tendencies don't give the home-buyers a free ride on my coattails, either. But, that notwithstanding, I could never, ever vote for McCain for hundreds of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that the warmongering bastard isn't smart enough to separate his Vietnam psycholgical experiences from the realties of our illegal attack on a country that had not attacked us. He equates the two so much that he is utterly unable to deal with reality.
Enough of the political ranting.
We got our new electric stovetop, so we no longer have to worry about our old stovetop starting a fire and burning the house down. I'm actually very impressed with the new electric cooktop, but I'd still rather have gas. One day, when I grow up and get a real job that pays real money, maybe...
We're going to Chicago in early-mid-May. Yay! We'll meet one of my favorite sisters-in-law and the man with whom she shares an illicit life, living in sin, in Boston. They will be there from Saturday until Monday. We go up Thursday and leave Tuesday morning. The hotel we're staying in doesn't have internet access in the rooms...only in the lobby. I may break my internet addiction over those five days...or I may break instead several Starbucks stores after they close and check my email.
I have actually found myself agreeing more and more with McCain on some isues, specifically the proposals to reward irresponsible homebuyers for getting in over their heads with mortgages they could not afford. Don't get me wrong, the mortgage bankers were equally irresponsible, but my progressive tendencies don't give the home-buyers a free ride on my coattails, either. But, that notwithstanding, I could never, ever vote for McCain for hundreds of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that the warmongering bastard isn't smart enough to separate his Vietnam psycholgical experiences from the realties of our illegal attack on a country that had not attacked us. He equates the two so much that he is utterly unable to deal with reality.
Enough of the political ranting.
We got our new electric stovetop, so we no longer have to worry about our old stovetop starting a fire and burning the house down. I'm actually very impressed with the new electric cooktop, but I'd still rather have gas. One day, when I grow up and get a real job that pays real money, maybe...
We're going to Chicago in early-mid-May. Yay! We'll meet one of my favorite sisters-in-law and the man with whom she shares an illicit life, living in sin, in Boston. They will be there from Saturday until Monday. We go up Thursday and leave Tuesday morning. The hotel we're staying in doesn't have internet access in the rooms...only in the lobby. I may break my internet addiction over those five days...or I may break instead several Starbucks stores after they close and check my email.
Monday, March 24, 2008
My New Hobby
I need a hobby. No, not more blogging, I need an actual hobby, wherein I create something or otherwise can point to the outcomes of my endeavors. I don't want to point to more words on the screen that people never read (I know, you're people, but not many of them). What I need is real hobby, something people who know about these things would say, "Yes, that's a hobby alright, no question about it."
The things that come to mind are building model railroads (which I could do, but have no plans to do), creating and flying radio controlled model airplanes (another thing I might find interesting, but not my ideal hobby), and making pottery. I would like to make pottery, but I'm reserving that hobby for the time when we move onto an acre or two in the country and I can build a little pottery shack, complete with kiln. Stained glass has always been of interest but, again, I'm lacking the studio and, for the moment, the skills.
So, what shall it be? Well, my friends, I just might make things! The thing I found most fascinating is the high speed photography kit, which attracted me right away. Of course, I'll have to upgrade my camera and will probably have to build a workshop for this one, too, but I think this is an endeavor that could really capture my fancy!
The things that come to mind are building model railroads (which I could do, but have no plans to do), creating and flying radio controlled model airplanes (another thing I might find interesting, but not my ideal hobby), and making pottery. I would like to make pottery, but I'm reserving that hobby for the time when we move onto an acre or two in the country and I can build a little pottery shack, complete with kiln. Stained glass has always been of interest but, again, I'm lacking the studio and, for the moment, the skills.
So, what shall it be? Well, my friends, I just might make things! The thing I found most fascinating is the high speed photography kit, which attracted me right away. Of course, I'll have to upgrade my camera and will probably have to build a workshop for this one, too, but I think this is an endeavor that could really capture my fancy!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Home Exchange
Today, my newest interest is in arranging a home exchange. I've heard of this before, of course, but this morning I stumbled across an advertisement in The Guardian and, after looking for more information, came across this website.
People all over the world are interested in exchanging homes for a week or a month or 3 months. Our problems, of course, are: 1) we can never find more than a week at a time to be gone; 2) we live in Dallas, so the number of people who might be interested in an exchange will be small; 3) we live in a modest home, so people who want to exchange their 7 bedroom ocean-front homes may not think our place would be a good exchange; and 4) people who might want to exchange for our home probably live in the bowels of Calcutta.
Oh well, I like the concept.
People all over the world are interested in exchanging homes for a week or a month or 3 months. Our problems, of course, are: 1) we can never find more than a week at a time to be gone; 2) we live in Dallas, so the number of people who might be interested in an exchange will be small; 3) we live in a modest home, so people who want to exchange their 7 bedroom ocean-front homes may not think our place would be a good exchange; and 4) people who might want to exchange for our home probably live in the bowels of Calcutta.
Oh well, I like the concept.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Body of War
I just caught the last few minutes of Bill Moyers Journal tonight. I wish I'd seen the entire thing. The topic of the conversation I saw was a documentary entitled "Body of War," a film that tells the story of the impact of the Iraq war on a family and tells the story of how the family reacts with bravery to try to put an end to the war. Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue are the people behind the film, producers who obviously have strong feelings about the war.
I'm disappointed that it does not appear that I'll be able to see in it Dallas in the foreseeable future. Here's the current schedule, from the film's website:
April 4
E-Street Cinema
Washington, DC
April 9
IFC Center
New York, NY
April 11
Kendall Square
Boston, MA
April 18
Embarcadero Cinema
San Francisco, CA
Shattuck
Berkeley, CA
Varsity
Seattle, WA
April 25
Nuart
Los Angeles, CA
May 2
Ritz at the Bourse
Philadelphia, PA
May 9
Ken Cinema
San Diego, CA
May 16
Tivoli Theater
St. Louis, MO
Lagoon Cinema
Minneapolis, MN
Century Center Cinema
Chicago, IL
I'm disappointed that it does not appear that I'll be able to see in it Dallas in the foreseeable future. Here's the current schedule, from the film's website:
April 4
E-Street Cinema
Washington, DC
April 9
IFC Center
New York, NY
April 11
Kendall Square
Boston, MA
April 18
Embarcadero Cinema
San Francisco, CA
Shattuck
Berkeley, CA
Varsity
Seattle, WA
April 25
Nuart
Los Angeles, CA
May 2
Ritz at the Bourse
Philadelphia, PA
May 9
Ken Cinema
San Diego, CA
May 16
Tivoli Theater
St. Louis, MO
Lagoon Cinema
Minneapolis, MN
Century Center Cinema
Chicago, IL
4x4 Meme
A Meme, courtesy of Konagod, via Jami Ward.
4 jobs I have had:
1) Animal keeper [primarily for monkeys and other primates] at a U.S. Army medical research facility (one summer while I was in college
2) Research intern [for the Texas prison system, while in graduate school]
3) Grocery store stocker/bagger [in high school]
4) Senior vice president of a professional association [among many other association-related jobs]
4 TV shows I actually watch:
1) 24
2) Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
3) Homicide: Life on the Street (I used to...it's been off the air for years)
4) The News Hour with Jim Lehrer
And I do a lot of channel surfing, news mostly.
4 places I have been:
1) Dubrovnik, Croatia
2) Christchurch, New Zealand
3) Moscow, Russia
4) Beijing, China
Many, many other places...but not enough other places
4 foods I like:
1) Gored-gored, a spicy Ethiopian dish
2) Pad kee mow, a spicy Thai dish
3) Bun thit nuong, a Vietnamese rice noodle, pork, and veggie dish that I spice up
4) Liver & onions served with fried okra and fried green tomatoes, evidence of my upbringing
I like almost all food...especially very spicy food. I'll try anything at least once.
Tagged: If you are reading this, you're tagged. And I know that you're reading this.
4 jobs I have had:
1) Animal keeper [primarily for monkeys and other primates] at a U.S. Army medical research facility (one summer while I was in college
2) Research intern [for the Texas prison system, while in graduate school]
3) Grocery store stocker/bagger [in high school]
4) Senior vice president of a professional association [among many other association-related jobs]
4 TV shows I actually watch:
1) 24
2) Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
3) Homicide: Life on the Street (I used to...it's been off the air for years)
4) The News Hour with Jim Lehrer
And I do a lot of channel surfing, news mostly.
4 places I have been:
1) Dubrovnik, Croatia
2) Christchurch, New Zealand
3) Moscow, Russia
4) Beijing, China
Many, many other places...but not enough other places
4 foods I like:
1) Gored-gored, a spicy Ethiopian dish
2) Pad kee mow, a spicy Thai dish
3) Bun thit nuong, a Vietnamese rice noodle, pork, and veggie dish that I spice up
4) Liver & onions served with fried okra and fried green tomatoes, evidence of my upbringing
I like almost all food...especially very spicy food. I'll try anything at least once.
Tagged: If you are reading this, you're tagged. And I know that you're reading this.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
John Adams
I watched the first two segments of John Adams on HBO last Sunday night and I was extremely impressed. In fact, the reason we have HBO, at least briefly, is because I saw some trailers for John Adams and, the more I saw, the more intrigued I became. So, I subscribed to HBO so I could watch it. And I'd pleased I made the decision to do so. I just found a website address for it...I encourage you to take a look.
I had never had a deep interest in U.S. history until I began to sense that what I once considered our way of life from now on was threatened...thanks primarily to George Bush, but with some help from a bunch of nutcase religious zealots based in Afghansistan.
But, watching the first few minutes of John Adams, I developed a keen interest in history. I know the film is artificial and interpretive, but I believe it reflects the life of the late 18th century very well.
Have any of the other two of you watched it?
I had never had a deep interest in U.S. history until I began to sense that what I once considered our way of life from now on was threatened...thanks primarily to George Bush, but with some help from a bunch of nutcase religious zealots based in Afghansistan.
But, watching the first few minutes of John Adams, I developed a keen interest in history. I know the film is artificial and interpretive, but I believe it reflects the life of the late 18th century very well.
Have any of the other two of you watched it?
Jumping Around
A shout out to The Mistrel Boy at Harp and Sword for calling attention to this piece from Wesley Clark. Read it and be proud to have been associated with a country that has since disappeared.
I fell in love with a woman today. She called me from North Carolina and I fell in love with her accent and her genuine friendliness and her willingness to be helpful and give me the benefits of her experience. I had asked for advice, on a listserv to which I subscribe in my real world experience, about negotiating with hotels in Miami, FL. I asked for people to contact me directly, versus respond by email to the list. She responded by calling me. And I fell in love. But I didn't get her name or number. That's good. My wife would have disapproved.
I fell in love with a woman today. She called me from North Carolina and I fell in love with her accent and her genuine friendliness and her willingness to be helpful and give me the benefits of her experience. I had asked for advice, on a listserv to which I subscribe in my real world experience, about negotiating with hotels in Miami, FL. I asked for people to contact me directly, versus respond by email to the list. She responded by calling me. And I fell in love. But I didn't get her name or number. That's good. My wife would have disapproved.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
They Don't Call Me Mellow Yellow
Explosive outbursts should be followed by mellowness, since the outbursts ostensibly relieve the tension.
But that's not always the way it works.
I still say we should explore revolutionary change.
But that's not always the way it works.
I still say we should explore revolutionary change.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Goddamn Us! We Let This Happen!
The economic quagmire in which we find ourselves is of our own making. All of us who sit idly by, watching this administration flush away our treasury are to blame. All of us who allow a fraudulent election to name our president are to blame. We, who bitched about the invasion of Iraq but did diddly shit to stop it are to blame.
All of us are so goddamn good at bitching and moaning about our elected officials, but so completely impotent at doing a fucking thing about it.
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution reads:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Shall we petition our Government for a redress of our grivances? And when the government ignores us, as it always does, shall we invoke the Second Amendment?
The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads:
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
I don't want to bear arms. But unless the government listens...unless we first SPEAK VERY, VERY LOUDLY...we will have given up our options. We will have but one options, against a government whose power of arms we have been funding to our disservice for years and years and years.
We're stupid. But if we act soon, we still have a chance.
All of us are so goddamn good at bitching and moaning about our elected officials, but so completely impotent at doing a fucking thing about it.
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution reads:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Shall we petition our Government for a redress of our grivances? And when the government ignores us, as it always does, shall we invoke the Second Amendment?
The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads:
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
I don't want to bear arms. But unless the government listens...unless we first SPEAK VERY, VERY LOUDLY...we will have given up our options. We will have but one options, against a government whose power of arms we have been funding to our disservice for years and years and years.
We're stupid. But if we act soon, we still have a chance.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Mexene Chili Power. Life is Good.
Mexene brand chili powder is, in my estimation, the best all-purpose chili powder on the market. But it can be extremely hard to find. When we do find a store that stocks it, we generally buy two or three 3-ounce bottles, but those go extremely fast. As a result, we're regularly on the hunt for a source for Mexene chili powder. I found nirvana today. You can order all manner of Mexene products, especially large stashes of chili powder at this URL.
Because I am such a fanatic about chili powder and use so much of it, I decided today to order a four-pound container of the stuff! Life is good.
Lute Riley Honda. Service? What Service?
I have no patience for most new car dealerships. Lute Riley Honda in Richardson, Texas is one such place, I discovered yesterday. My wife and I drove to the dealership yesterday with the expectation that we would be able to test drive two vehicles: a Honda Element and a Honda Pilot.
The dealership was full of cars, balloons on strings, and sales people. There were masses of sales personnel who looked like a pack of starving dingos, ready to pounce and rip the meat off the carcasses off prospective car buyers. I was prepared to deal with absurdly aggressive sales personnel, all of whom had been programmed with the same sales strategies. I was not prepared to watch a bunch of idiot salespeople sitting on their hands while prospective customers inched their way through the lot, trying to find a place to park.
When we arrived, I turned into the dealer's lot, weaving among an enormous mass of sales personnel who were scattered all over the lot. I could tell they were sales personnel because they were all dressed in long sleeve shirts with slacks and ties and they had the same message written all over their faces that said: "I'm stupid, but greedy. My desire for income trumps your need for a car that fits your budget and lifestyle."
These mindless apes obviously did not give a shit about prospective customers; they were too busy bullshitting among themselves. These morons just stared at us with mindless grins on their faces as we drove through the clogged lot. There was no place to park. We crept through the lot, looking for a place, but could find nothing. After trying with no success to find a place to park (despite driving right past what appeared to be a "valet" spot with two guys who just stared as we crept by), no one offered to assist us in finding a place to park. We decided to leave.
Obviously, Lute Riley Honda does not think it necessary to give customers any customer service. I've heard similar comments from others who have been to the dealership. You'd think the owners and management would catch on. Not yet, it seems.
Let me encourage anyone in North Texas who wants to buy a Honda: go someplace else. Find a dealership that cares enough about customers to treat them like...customers.
The dealership was full of cars, balloons on strings, and sales people. There were masses of sales personnel who looked like a pack of starving dingos, ready to pounce and rip the meat off the carcasses off prospective car buyers. I was prepared to deal with absurdly aggressive sales personnel, all of whom had been programmed with the same sales strategies. I was not prepared to watch a bunch of idiot salespeople sitting on their hands while prospective customers inched their way through the lot, trying to find a place to park.
When we arrived, I turned into the dealer's lot, weaving among an enormous mass of sales personnel who were scattered all over the lot. I could tell they were sales personnel because they were all dressed in long sleeve shirts with slacks and ties and they had the same message written all over their faces that said: "I'm stupid, but greedy. My desire for income trumps your need for a car that fits your budget and lifestyle."
These mindless apes obviously did not give a shit about prospective customers; they were too busy bullshitting among themselves. These morons just stared at us with mindless grins on their faces as we drove through the clogged lot. There was no place to park. We crept through the lot, looking for a place, but could find nothing. After trying with no success to find a place to park (despite driving right past what appeared to be a "valet" spot with two guys who just stared as we crept by), no one offered to assist us in finding a place to park. We decided to leave.
Obviously, Lute Riley Honda does not think it necessary to give customers any customer service. I've heard similar comments from others who have been to the dealership. You'd think the owners and management would catch on. Not yet, it seems.
Let me encourage anyone in North Texas who wants to buy a Honda: go someplace else. Find a dealership that cares enough about customers to treat them like...customers.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Angryjournalist.com: Read It, Goddamn It!
There's no vetting of the content, of course, so there's no way of knowing whether any or all of the lamentations in the posts on www.angryjournalist.com are legitimate, but I suspect most are.
It's actually very funny, in a horrifying, freedom-killing sort of way.
It's actually very funny, in a horrifying, freedom-killing sort of way.
Hey, Baby, I'll Let You Buy Me a House
My distaste for the conservatism of the place I live is reinforced when I read that Texas has three cities in the top five most conservative cities in America. Two of the top three, Arlington and Plano, are very close by; Plano, in fact, is less than a two minute ride by car. Blech!
Not surprisingly, California has four entries in the list of the top 25 most liberal cities: Berkeley, Oakland, Inglewood, and San Francisco.
I found some really interesting information in a separate study that identified the most progressive places in the country, by state. After a quick skim of the information and descriptions of the progressive cities, I've decided that Arcata, California, on Humboldt Bay, is my kind of place. Its city council has twice voted in favor of impeaching George Bush and Dick Cheney, which is indicative of something I like in a city council:impotent fury "quixotic pursuit of justice."
As I searched for my new home near Humboldt Bay, I found a mobile home on just under one acre for only $295,000. I continued my search, looking a bit further out (Seiad Valley, CA is in the area of the following places) to see if could find something closer to my price range (e.g., I could pay cash, since I won't have any income when I go). Here are several properties that look especially intriguing. You'll notice that none of them have homes on them and all are "unimproved," which means I'll need to figure out some way to get electricity, water, and septic. Hmmm. This may not work, after all. I forgot I'm getting creaky bones and my knees won't bend like they once did. And I need a high-end bed to sleep in; tents and bedrolls are no longer options.
OK, maybe I better look closer to what's now "home." Fayetteville, Arkansas gets a pretty high ranking for progressivism (as measured by percentage of the population that voted Democrat in 2000). My cybersearch for housing revealed a "one-of-a-kind" funky house on 2.5 acres for only $149,900. Now we're talking!
Well, it's easier said than done, of course. There are all the messy details like closing down my business, selling everything we own, counting pennies to see if we can afford to buy the place AND have enough money to cover our expenses for the next upteen years AND have reserves sufficient to pay medical bills, including any unexpected major medical stuff like we've dealt with in the past.
I'm not expecting to be rich, of course, but I do need to figure out those cash flow requirements. Keb 'Mo ends one of his songs, Whole 'Nother Thang, by saying, "Hey, Baby, let me buy you a house." I'd like to reverse it and ask you to buy me the house. If you do, I promise to always have a place for you when you come to visit.
Not surprisingly, California has four entries in the list of the top 25 most liberal cities: Berkeley, Oakland, Inglewood, and San Francisco.
I found some really interesting information in a separate study that identified the most progressive places in the country, by state. After a quick skim of the information and descriptions of the progressive cities, I've decided that Arcata, California, on Humboldt Bay, is my kind of place. Its city council has twice voted in favor of impeaching George Bush and Dick Cheney, which is indicative of something I like in a city council:
As I searched for my new home near Humboldt Bay, I found a mobile home on just under one acre for only $295,000. I continued my search, looking a bit further out (Seiad Valley, CA is in the area of the following places) to see if could find something closer to my price range (e.g., I could pay cash, since I won't have any income when I go). Here are several properties that look especially intriguing. You'll notice that none of them have homes on them and all are "unimproved," which means I'll need to figure out some way to get electricity, water, and septic. Hmmm. This may not work, after all. I forgot I'm getting creaky bones and my knees won't bend like they once did. And I need a high-end bed to sleep in; tents and bedrolls are no longer options.
OK, maybe I better look closer to what's now "home." Fayetteville, Arkansas gets a pretty high ranking for progressivism (as measured by percentage of the population that voted Democrat in 2000). My cybersearch for housing revealed a "one-of-a-kind" funky house on 2.5 acres for only $149,900. Now we're talking!
Well, it's easier said than done, of course. There are all the messy details like closing down my business, selling everything we own, counting pennies to see if we can afford to buy the place AND have enough money to cover our expenses for the next upteen years AND have reserves sufficient to pay medical bills, including any unexpected major medical stuff like we've dealt with in the past.
I'm not expecting to be rich, of course, but I do need to figure out those cash flow requirements. Keb 'Mo ends one of his songs, Whole 'Nother Thang, by saying, "Hey, Baby, let me buy you a house." I'd like to reverse it and ask you to buy me the house. If you do, I promise to always have a place for you when you come to visit.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The World Without Us
This morning, my brother, his wife, my wife and I went to breakfast at a nearby deli. It was late morning, so it's understandable that some of us had breakfast and others (my wife and I) had lunch. During the ambiguous meal, our converation turned to a book that my brother and his wife read recently: The World Without Us, by Alan Weisman. The book responds, apparently in extraordinarily researched and legitimate detail to the question: if Earth were suddenly to be devoid of human inhabitants (name your reason: disease, nuclear war, religious rapture, etc.), how long before it reverted to its natural state, with no trace of humankind?
I won't go into the details they shared with us, bt suffice it to say that I was extremely interested in the premise of the book and in the meticulously researched answers.
Here, from the Amazon.com website, is a snippet of a review from Publishers Weekly:
I want to read this book!
My brother and his wife left shortly after lunch, taking with them the 1995 Mercedes E320 Cabriolet. They're on their way on a cross country adventure, to New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Oregon! Would that I could make the trip with them.
I won't go into the details they shared with us, bt suffice it to say that I was extremely interested in the premise of the book and in the meticulously researched answers.
Here, from the Amazon.com website, is a snippet of a review from Publishers Weekly:
Days after our disappearance, pumps keeping Manhattan's subways dry would fail, tunnels would flood, soil under streets would sluice away and the foundations of towering skyscrapers built to last for centuries would start to crumble. At the other end of the chronological spectrum, anything made of bronze might survive in recognizable form for millions of years—along with one billion pounds of degraded but almost indestructible plastics manufactured since the mid-20th century. Meanwhile, land freed from mankind's environmentally poisonous footprint would quickly reconstitute itself, as in Chernobyl, where animal life has returned after 1986's deadly radiation leak, and in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, a refuge since 1953 for the almost-extinct goral mountain goat and Amur leopard. From a patch of primeval forest in Poland to monumental underground villages in Turkey, Weisman's enthralling tour of the world of tomorrow explores what little will remain of ancient times while anticipating, often poetically, what a planet without us would be like.
I want to read this book!
My brother and his wife left shortly after lunch, taking with them the 1995 Mercedes E320 Cabriolet. They're on their way on a cross country adventure, to New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Oregon! Would that I could make the trip with them.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Or Maybe Just Quit
My brother and his wife came in today. They're leaving tomorrow. At least we got a chance to talk a bit and we went out to dinner tonight; except my wife had a work commitment, so she didn't share the full evening. Tomorrow, they're off again, visiting other relatives and friends and driving across the U.S. I want to retire, or maybe just quit.
I'm not convinced it will ever get any easier.
I'm not convinced it will ever get any easier.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Twenty Photos Meme Time
I'm staying home today because I have a major gut ache...I ate too many raw carrots yesterday, which doesn't agree with my Crohn's disease (mine is, at present, very mild, but I should be smarter). Anyway, as I bounced between telecommuting and blog-viewing this morning, I came across a twenty-photos meme at Konagod's blog and have imposed it on my self. His is much more interesting.
1. Go to photobucket.com
2. Type in your answer for each question into the PhotoBucket search bar.
3. Choose your favorite photo to represent your answer.
4. Copy the html and paste it here.
5. Answer only in picture form.
1. Go to photobucket.com
2. Type in your answer for each question into the PhotoBucket search bar.
3. Choose your favorite photo to represent your answer.
4. Copy the html and paste it here.
5. Answer only in picture form.
What is your first name?
|
When is your birthday?
|
What kind of car do you want?
|
Where did/do you go to school?
|
What is your favorite season?
|
What is your favorite type of shoe?
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What is your status?
|
What is your favorite movie?
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What is your favorite song?
|
Who is your favorite Disney character?
|
What is your favorite clothing line?
|
What is your favorite vacation destination?
|
What is your favorite dessert?
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What is your favorite letter?
|
What are you most afraid of?
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What is your favorite TV show?
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What annoys you the most?
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What is your job?
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What is your favorite animal?
|
How old are you?
|
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Do My Job for A Week
I have to admire Sean Aiken. He's a young guy who's not quite sure what to do with his life, so he come up with a creative way to try out lots of different fields, all the while doing something valuable for others. He embarked on a "one job per week" campaign that is now on week 49. He's donating his "pay" to charity, living on the charity of strangers and on $1,000 per month donated by a sponsor. I just learned about it this morning...otherwise, I might have adapted and adopted his approach by now. The list of his previous jobs looks interesting...at least some of them do.
Ever since reading about this, I've been wondering...can I adapt this somehow in a way that would be fun and informative, both for to me and for others? I think I'm on to a idea. Here's a possibility: I'll offer people the opportunity to do my job (I'll be available to answer questions, coach, and jump in if necessary) for one week, in return for a donation to a charity.
It would be good for takers' resumés (OK, it may not impress you, but some people would be impressed by "served a one-week stint as president of small corporation as part of a donation to a charity"). It would be good for me (something new, a challenge to deal with many other personalities, an opportunity to raise money for charities).
Since I can't really reveal my true identity here for fear of a backlash from clients I've complained about or who are deeply Republican, I'll have to formalize the offer on a different blog, then swear it wasn't me.
Ever since reading about this, I've been wondering...can I adapt this somehow in a way that would be fun and informative, both for to me and for others? I think I'm on to a idea. Here's a possibility: I'll offer people the opportunity to do my job (I'll be available to answer questions, coach, and jump in if necessary) for one week, in return for a donation to a charity.
It would be good for takers' resumés (OK, it may not impress you, but some people would be impressed by "served a one-week stint as president of small corporation as part of a donation to a charity"). It would be good for me (something new, a challenge to deal with many other personalities, an opportunity to raise money for charities).
Since I can't really reveal my true identity here for fear of a backlash from clients I've complained about or who are deeply Republican, I'll have to formalize the offer on a different blog, then swear it wasn't me.
Food Around the World
Here are some photos I find really fascinating...and jarring. I found them at Fixing the Planet, a site operated by or for Ed Begley, Jr.
Japan: The Ukita family of Kodaira City Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or $317.25
Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11 Favorite foods: fish, pasta with ragu, hot dogs, frozen fish sticks
Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07
United States: The Revis family of North Carolina Food expenditure for one week: $341.98 Favorite foods: spaghetti, potatoes, sesame chicken
Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09 Favorite foods: pizza, crab, pasta, chicken
Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27 Family recipe: Pig's knuckles with carrots, celery and parsnips
Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53 Family recipe: Okra and mutton
Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo Food expenditure for one week : $31.55 Family recipe : Potato soup with cabbage
Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03 Family recipe: Mushroom, cheese and pork
Kuwait: The Al Haggan family of Kuwait City Food expenditure for one week: 63.63 dinar or $221.45 Family recipe: Chicken biryani with basmati rice
China: The Dong family of Beijing Food expenditure for one week: 1,233.76 Yuan or $155.06 Favorite foods: fried shredded pork with sweet and sour sauce
United States: The Caven family of California Food expenditure for one week: $159.18
Favorite foods: beef stew, berry yogurt sundae, clam chowder, ice cream
Mongolia: The Batsuuri family of Ulaanbaatar Food expenditure for one week: 41,985.85 togrogs or $40.02 Family recipe: Mutton dumplings
Great Britain: The Bainton family of Cllingbourne Ducis Food expenditure for one week: 155.54 British Pounds or $253.15 Favorite foods: avocado, mayonnaise sandwich, prawn cocktail, chocolate fudge cake with cream
Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23 Favorite foods: soup with fresh sheep meat
Japan: The Ukita family of Kodaira City Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or $317.25
Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11 Favorite foods: fish, pasta with ragu, hot dogs, frozen fish sticksGermany: The Melander family of Bargteheide Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07
United States: The Revis family of North Carolina Food expenditure for one week: $341.98 Favorite foods: spaghetti, potatoes, sesame chicken
Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09 Favorite foods: pizza, crab, pasta, chicken
Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27 Family recipe: Pig's knuckles with carrots, celery and parsnips
Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53 Family recipe: Okra and mutton
Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo Food expenditure for one week : $31.55 Family recipe : Potato soup with cabbage
Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03 Family recipe: Mushroom, cheese and pork
Kuwait: The Al Haggan family of Kuwait City Food expenditure for one week: 63.63 dinar or $221.45 Family recipe: Chicken biryani with basmati rice
China: The Dong family of Beijing Food expenditure for one week: 1,233.76 Yuan or $155.06 Favorite foods: fried shredded pork with sweet and sour sauce
United States: The Caven family of California Food expenditure for one week: $159.18
Favorite foods: beef stew, berry yogurt sundae, clam chowder, ice cream
Mongolia: The Batsuuri family of Ulaanbaatar Food expenditure for one week: 41,985.85 togrogs or $40.02 Family recipe: Mutton dumplings
Great Britain: The Bainton family of Cllingbourne Ducis Food expenditure for one week: 155.54 British Pounds or $253.15 Favorite foods: avocado, mayonnaise sandwich, prawn cocktail, chocolate fudge cake with cream
Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23 Favorite foods: soup with fresh sheep meat
Sundaily
If you lived in Nederland, Colorado, you might be partaking in this weekend's celebration of the town's Frozen Dead Guy Days®. I know I certainly would. Who wouldn't, if they had the opportunity to see and hear Ukulele Loki's Folderol Follies? The Gadabout Orchestra is playing, too, so if you're nearby, run on over and see them. I learned about this riveting event online, as I was reading China Daily.
Speaking of China, who wants to go with me on a smuggling trip? I'm thinking of going over, buying some bootleg Chinese folk music CDs, then smuggling them over here, where I'll mass-produce them and sell them on the black market. I'm guessing there is a huge demand for bootleg Chinese folk music. The best thing about the idea is that almost all the money involved in the deal stays in the U.S.A. Oh, no, I just thought of a possible snag...MP3 players...maybe the music is already here and is spreading virally.
Speaking of China, who wants to go with me on a smuggling trip? I'm thinking of going over, buying some bootleg Chinese folk music CDs, then smuggling them over here, where I'll mass-produce them and sell them on the black market. I'm guessing there is a huge demand for bootleg Chinese folk music. The best thing about the idea is that almost all the money involved in the deal stays in the U.S.A. Oh, no, I just thought of a possible snag...MP3 players...maybe the music is already here and is spreading virally.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Saturday Stuff
My favorite wife and I watched a DVD tonight...Fracture, with Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, et al. It was well-done. Entertaining, provocative (to a limited extent) and generally worth seeing. I wouldn't pay a lot, though. But, all in all, I'm glad we watched it. It challenged us to try to figure out how Hopkins so successfully staged his "innocence" for a while.
I made my infamous chana dal, garbanzo, and tomato soup today, adding a few ingredients this time around: moong beans, caulflower, and broccoli. I just realized that I forgot the onions, but it was just fine. We have plenty left over for lunches next week, if I can convince myself to stay out of it. While my wife was working today, I was at home, plotting Indian food meals and doing a bit o clean-up around the house. And, of course, I went to the Hispanic and Indian groceries that my wife isn't crazy about visting...but I had to restock my dangerously low suppies of garam masala, ground coriander, and various other stuff.
I worked from home for quite awhile today, while my wife was at the office. I succeeded in (finally) getting the minutes of a client meeting done...from early last month. I truly loathe minutes. I'd have someone on my staff do them, except that the meetings in question are held from 6 to 8 pm and I have to be there, anyway. But minutes suck!
Tomorrow, Sunday, should be a relaxer...we'll see.
I made my infamous chana dal, garbanzo, and tomato soup today, adding a few ingredients this time around: moong beans, caulflower, and broccoli. I just realized that I forgot the onions, but it was just fine. We have plenty left over for lunches next week, if I can convince myself to stay out of it. While my wife was working today, I was at home, plotting Indian food meals and doing a bit o clean-up around the house. And, of course, I went to the Hispanic and Indian groceries that my wife isn't crazy about visting...but I had to restock my dangerously low suppies of garam masala, ground coriander, and various other stuff.
I worked from home for quite awhile today, while my wife was at the office. I succeeded in (finally) getting the minutes of a client meeting done...from early last month. I truly loathe minutes. I'd have someone on my staff do them, except that the meetings in question are held from 6 to 8 pm and I have to be there, anyway. But minutes suck!
Tomorrow, Sunday, should be a relaxer...we'll see.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Gnarly
It's Friday night and I'm feeling a bit gnarly. Whatever that means. My intent is to convey that I'm not feeling good, positive, and comfortable. Just the opposite. But not to an intense degree.
Mad at Hillary
I got mad at the Hillary Clinton campaign today, after getting an email asking me to fund a counterattack ad against Obama in response to his staff member who called Clinton a "monster." You know, the staff member who got fired. But that doesn't matter, does it? This is politics. Let's attack Obama. And, of course, let's ask yesterday's donors to pony up again. I got mad and told them to fuck themselves. I suggested that, if they don't cut that shit out, I'll switch my allegience. In a fucking heartbeat. I won't put up with either of them doing that. I'll sit out the November election and vote in a South American country later. Assholes.
Ethiopian Lunch
My wife and I met a former colleague of mine for lunch today at an Ethiopian restaurant. This colleague and I try to have lunch occasionally, but I think it's been well over 2 years since I last saw her. Anyway, she loved the Ethiopian food, even the gored-gored, raw cubesf of beef marinated in a wonderfully spicy Ethiopian sauce. My colleague voted for Obama. She drives an almost-new Lexus. I don't understand how that works.
Skull Fracture
A blogger acquaintance from Austin posted some very disturbing news recently. He and his partner had been at a friend's party and they both got smashed. As his partner walked home, something happened...fell, pushed, whatever...and broke his skull, doing bad damage to his ability to speak. Very nasty, unpleasant scene. It sounded godawful, exacerbated by the fact that the blogger didn't even know it until much later because he got hammered and stayed at a friend's place until he was sober enough to walk.
Fat and Getting Fatter
I'm appalled at my gut. Bigger than it's ever been. I've decided that, after my brother and his wife come to visit next week, I'm going to go on a "change my life" adventure. I'll eat much more healthy foods, eat less, and get exercise. And to give myself and incentive, I'll have my wife take two photos of me every morning, one front view, one side view. I'll print those photos and will put them on the wall in my house. I'll take them to my office and post them in plain view if I don't lose at least 10 pounds a month for the next six months.
Some Days are Just Sad Days
I don't know why, but some days just seem so, so sad. This is almost one of them. I just wanted to stay in bed and keep as far away from the world as I could. But, I got up and eventually it got better. But some days are just sad days. They make my eyes leak for no apparent reason.
Mad at Hillary
I got mad at the Hillary Clinton campaign today, after getting an email asking me to fund a counterattack ad against Obama in response to his staff member who called Clinton a "monster." You know, the staff member who got fired. But that doesn't matter, does it? This is politics. Let's attack Obama. And, of course, let's ask yesterday's donors to pony up again. I got mad and told them to fuck themselves. I suggested that, if they don't cut that shit out, I'll switch my allegience. In a fucking heartbeat. I won't put up with either of them doing that. I'll sit out the November election and vote in a South American country later. Assholes.
Ethiopian Lunch
My wife and I met a former colleague of mine for lunch today at an Ethiopian restaurant. This colleague and I try to have lunch occasionally, but I think it's been well over 2 years since I last saw her. Anyway, she loved the Ethiopian food, even the gored-gored, raw cubesf of beef marinated in a wonderfully spicy Ethiopian sauce. My colleague voted for Obama. She drives an almost-new Lexus. I don't understand how that works.
Skull Fracture
A blogger acquaintance from Austin posted some very disturbing news recently. He and his partner had been at a friend's party and they both got smashed. As his partner walked home, something happened...fell, pushed, whatever...and broke his skull, doing bad damage to his ability to speak. Very nasty, unpleasant scene. It sounded godawful, exacerbated by the fact that the blogger didn't even know it until much later because he got hammered and stayed at a friend's place until he was sober enough to walk.
Fat and Getting Fatter
I'm appalled at my gut. Bigger than it's ever been. I've decided that, after my brother and his wife come to visit next week, I'm going to go on a "change my life" adventure. I'll eat much more healthy foods, eat less, and get exercise. And to give myself and incentive, I'll have my wife take two photos of me every morning, one front view, one side view. I'll print those photos and will put them on the wall in my house. I'll take them to my office and post them in plain view if I don't lose at least 10 pounds a month for the next six months.
Some Days are Just Sad Days
I don't know why, but some days just seem so, so sad. This is almost one of them. I just wanted to stay in bed and keep as far away from the world as I could. But, I got up and eventually it got better. But some days are just sad days. They make my eyes leak for no apparent reason.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Leprechuans in Control of the Weather
It's Thursday night. Lots..I mean LOTS...of snow today. Miserable, slushy, wet, cold, and otherwise nasty describes our after-work experience today. What the hell is happening to the weather? I think drunk leprechauns have taken charge of meteorological controls. Dammit. I should have kept them in the box. Didn't I tell you? I have a box full of leprechauns. At least it used to be full. Dammit.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Listen to Scott Ritter--Don't Let It Happen Again
I recommend viewing and listening to Scott Ritter, before the U.S. invasion of Iraq, expressing his views of the Bush administration's policies and actions. This one speech sufficiently explains why Bush and all who support him are very, very dangerous to the future of the United States. We cannot afford to let another Bush take office. It cannot be permitted, under any conditions.
Blog Writing
I've never mentioned it on this blog before...at least I don't think so...but I have several other blogs. They're all related to my busines and my clients' businesses, but they do require time, thought, and energy. Well, not all of them. I started one of them about 2 or 3 years ago and have done little with it since. Another one started about the same time, but I've been doing a bit of writing for it off and on every since. A couple of others are a little more recent and they are the ones to which I tend to pay the most attention.
I sometimes wish I could put some of my posts from those blogs here, just to show the people who "know" me what my business writing style is like. It's very, very different from my casual writing style. It's radically different from my fiction style...ifI actually have a fiction style.
But my political views and my rants and vent-a-posts here could get connected with my business life and the "wrong" people might be reading this blog and learn the real-world identity of the Geezer. That could cause a major shift in the direction of the universe and the wheels could come ripping off.
I sometimes wish I could put some of my posts from those blogs here, just to show the people who "know" me what my business writing style is like. It's very, very different from my casual writing style. It's radically different from my fiction style...ifI actually have a fiction style.
But my political views and my rants and vent-a-posts here could get connected with my business life and the "wrong" people might be reading this blog and learn the real-world identity of the Geezer. That could cause a major shift in the direction of the universe and the wheels could come ripping off.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
I'm in the Political Process Now
We voted this morning, then participated in the precinct caucus this evening. I was astounded and delighted at the incredibly large number of people who attended the caucuses.
Three or four precincts voted in an elementary school near our house. This evening's caucuses were located at the same place. I was expecting a handful of people in our precinct because...we live in a deeply Republican area. When we got there at just after 7:00 pm, there were well over 500 people crowded into the school cafeteria...it was pandemonium.
Our precinct, by far the smallest of the three, left this cafeteria and went into the gymnasium. Our precinct had 165 plus people present, which I am absolutely certain was a record...I've never been to one before, but I'm sure the turnout was crazy.
The Democratic caucus process is utterly ridiculous...convoluted beyond belief and ideally suited to be manupulated by damn near anyone who wants to manipulate it. I'd like to see it drastically overhauled. That having been said, I'm deeply into it now. I was one of twelve people elected as Hillary Clinton delegates for the Senate District convention on March 29; nine people were elected to serve as Barack Obama delegates. In our precinct, at least, Clinton won with 55% of the popular vote to Obama's 45%.
My wife was elected an alternate delegate for Clinton. Both "elections" were more a matter of being among the few who were willing to serve.
Despite my vote for Hillary Clinton, I have been extremely impressed with Obama's organization, up to and including tonight's process. No one in the room was particularly well-versed in the caucus process, but the Obama voters had the benefit of having had an incredibly well-organized political machine in Texas. I was impressed with the way they did things. Clinton's political "machine" was non-existent; it was as if her supporters were much less sophisticated about the election process.
We'll see how it turns out. I'm guessing Obama will squeek out a win in Texas, but maybe not. I'm afraid this race will get nastier and bloodier, on the Democratic side, which might play right into McCain's hands...and deliver the White House to him in November.
If Democrats would just force the issue and insist on a quick decision if there is insufficient movement toward nomination with these races, we might be OK. Otherwise, we'll have done it to ourselves.
Three or four precincts voted in an elementary school near our house. This evening's caucuses were located at the same place. I was expecting a handful of people in our precinct because...we live in a deeply Republican area. When we got there at just after 7:00 pm, there were well over 500 people crowded into the school cafeteria...it was pandemonium.
Our precinct, by far the smallest of the three, left this cafeteria and went into the gymnasium. Our precinct had 165 plus people present, which I am absolutely certain was a record...I've never been to one before, but I'm sure the turnout was crazy.
The Democratic caucus process is utterly ridiculous...convoluted beyond belief and ideally suited to be manupulated by damn near anyone who wants to manipulate it. I'd like to see it drastically overhauled. That having been said, I'm deeply into it now. I was one of twelve people elected as Hillary Clinton delegates for the Senate District convention on March 29; nine people were elected to serve as Barack Obama delegates. In our precinct, at least, Clinton won with 55% of the popular vote to Obama's 45%.
My wife was elected an alternate delegate for Clinton. Both "elections" were more a matter of being among the few who were willing to serve.
Despite my vote for Hillary Clinton, I have been extremely impressed with Obama's organization, up to and including tonight's process. No one in the room was particularly well-versed in the caucus process, but the Obama voters had the benefit of having had an incredibly well-organized political machine in Texas. I was impressed with the way they did things. Clinton's political "machine" was non-existent; it was as if her supporters were much less sophisticated about the election process.
We'll see how it turns out. I'm guessing Obama will squeek out a win in Texas, but maybe not. I'm afraid this race will get nastier and bloodier, on the Democratic side, which might play right into McCain's hands...and deliver the White House to him in November.
If Democrats would just force the issue and insist on a quick decision if there is insufficient movement toward nomination with these races, we might be OK. Otherwise, we'll have done it to ourselves.
Monday, March 3, 2008
A Cold Day in the Neighborhood
I was concerned this weekend that I had missed the opportunity to plant some more trees before the arrival of Spring. It has been so warm that the leaves have begun budding and bulbs are already growing and in flower. Tulips are beginning to be visible all over. And I thought, "damn, you missed it again."
Last night, a string of ferocious bands of thunderstorms began moving through, preludes to some truly rambunctious weather. It rained today as the temperatures continued on their nosedives. It was 77 degrees yesterday afternoon about this time, a scorcher. It's 37 degrees now. Let me tell you, 40 degrees makes a huge difference.
And the meteorologists are forecasting snow tonight, claiming there may be accumulations of 1-3 inches. I do not buy that; flurries, maybe, but not 1-3 inch accumulations
Tomorrow, my wife and I will get up early and go vote for Hillary Clinton...unless I change my mind between now and then. As I've said, I'm not thrilled with either of them, but I'll be deliriously happy if either of them take the White House this November.
Last night, a string of ferocious bands of thunderstorms began moving through, preludes to some truly rambunctious weather. It rained today as the temperatures continued on their nosedives. It was 77 degrees yesterday afternoon about this time, a scorcher. It's 37 degrees now. Let me tell you, 40 degrees makes a huge difference.
And the meteorologists are forecasting snow tonight, claiming there may be accumulations of 1-3 inches. I do not buy that; flurries, maybe, but not 1-3 inch accumulations
Tomorrow, my wife and I will get up early and go vote for Hillary Clinton...unless I change my mind between now and then. As I've said, I'm not thrilled with either of them, but I'll be deliriously happy if either of them take the White House this November.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Out in the Country
My wife and I made an almost spontaneous decision to invite ourselves to see my brother in Falba over the weekend. I spoke to him by phone on Friday night and, out of the blue, asked if we could come visit on Saturday...he had told me he was planning a barbeque on Sunday evening, but I suggested a Saturday visit. He agreed, my wife agreed (though she had already planned to work half the day on Saturday, so it would have to be later in the day), and it was a done deal.
Yesterday (Saturday), after my wife spent her half-day doing what I should have been doing, we had lunch, then hit the road for Falba. About 4/5 of the way there, she suggested we get off the Interstate to take some more leisurely back roads the rest of the way. Alongthe back roads, we saw redbud trees in blossom (an absolutely positive sign that Spring is about to visit east Texas), along with an amazing variety of other less obvious but no less attractive flowering trees and bushes. Brillian red cardinals flew across the road many times and zipped along the side of the highway, looking almost like streaks of red paper trying to keep up with the car.
When we got to my brother's house, it was locked. After looking for, and finally finding, the extra set of keys, we still could not get in, so we drove down the road to his friends place, where we saw his truck far aross the pasture next to his friend's daughter's place. He had seen us coming and just about the time we started making our way across the pasture on a not-so-obvious path across the grass, he came wheeling toward us, then saw that we already knew where to find him, so he turned back and we followed him over.
Shortly after we arrived, his friend got there (he had been getting cleaned up over at his place), then a while later another friend, a woman both my brother and his buddy know, showed up. And then my niece and her husband got there. It was really a party!
As we were waiting for the whole brisket and the two slabs of baby back ribs to finish smoking in my brother's monstrous cast-iron wood smoker (it's on wheels and fitted out with a trailer hitch, which is the only way to move it around), we chatted, sitting on the open-air 12-foot-deep covered porch that surrounds the house on three sides. The other three males decided to go down to the "bottom" of the 150 acres to see a horse that had, a few weeks earlier, thrown my brother's friend's daughter, resulting in a bone-through-the-flesh broken ankle. She's on crutches and will be for some time. I figured if the horse was that ornery, I did not want to give it an opportunity to express its disdain for humans by doing some damage to me. I stayed back and chatted.
It wasn't too long before dinner was ready and we had some spectacularly good brisket and baby back ribs, along with accompaniments like potato salad, macaroni salad, ranch style beans, and jalapeños. It was worth the trip.
My niece and her husband had to leave early and head back to Houston, a good hour and a half trip, but the rest of us sat around on the massive porch, listening to stories and just enjoying ourselves immensely,
At one point in the evening, I asked my wife to step out with me into the pasture, away from all the lights of the house, and look up into the sky. It was a magnificent night and the stars were bright and just filled the sky. It was a beautiful sight. We got a pair of binoculars and saw a much closer view of several constellations, including Orion and the Little Dipper. We can never see those sights in or near Dallas.
We finally headed back to my brother's place about ten o'clock and my wife went to bed, but my brother and I stayed up for quite some time talking. It was a great time! I hated leaving this morning, but business calls. I need to make more opportunities to get away like that. It was a blast.