Miscellaneous Missives

Happy Halloween!

I hope that the lines are long all day on Tuesday (except when I approach the line to vote). It seems as though long lines will mean a victory for OBAMA! Election Day should be a federal holiday. Maybe the day after too!

I thank McSame for not vetting Palin because it will make it easier for Obama to win the election in five days.

Driving home today I had a splitting headache. My mind was reeling with thoughts of failing students, crazed parents, and a irrational staff members... really. In front of me I saw a car with a bumper sticker. It seemed to say "Republicans for Obama." With a closer look, I realized it really was a "Republicans for Obama" bumper sticker. This evening I Googled it . Wow! Maybe next Wednesday will be a day of celebration after all!

It is difficult to believe I will being voting a week from now. Actually it is more likely that I will be standing in line waiting to vote. As the polls make it look like Obama will indeed win the election, I am reminded of the last two elections. A week ago I received this e-mail, and I believe these are good reminders as some begin to feel complacent. TOP 5 REASONS OBAMA SUPPORTERS SHOULDN'T REST EASY 1. The polls may be wrong. This is an unprecedented election. No one knows how racism may affect what voters tell pollsters—or what they do in the voting booth. And the polls are narrowing anyway. In the last few days, John McCain has gained ground in most national polls, as his campaign has gone even more negative. 2. Dirty tricks. Republicans are already illegally purging voters from the rolls in some states. They're whipping up hysteria over ACORN to justify more challenges to new voters. Misleading fliers about the voting process have started appearing in black neighborho...

Do I need to tell you we have eight days until the 2008 Presidential election? Today I received an e-mail from a friend inviting me to watch the election results next Tuesday. She mentioned that she has been praying about this election. I will have to admit I have also been praying about this election. It looks like we are not the only two praying about this election! In eight days we will be able to cast our vote for Barack Obama.

Today is one of those days when I have more questions than answers. This became apparent as I talked to my pastor before church began this morning. I was questioning whether or not I should go into urgent care today to get my stitches, which came off early this morning, reapplied. As soon as the S saw my face, she said I definitely should go to urgent care this morning, after church of course. Our conversation changed from my stitches to politics as we discussed the stressful month of October. One question I've been struggling with recently is my vote for Franken. I often wonder if I should vote for Barkley instead of Franken. Maybe it's all of Coleman's negative ads, but I admit there are times I feel doubt. Being a Democratic I feel the need to vote for and defend Al Franken, but I always have the feeling that maybe he isn't the best choice. After watching the debates, I feel Barkley would do OK. This leaves other questions: 1) Is a vote for Barkley a vote f...

With ten days to the election I am tired. Although some may wish I was tired of writing about Obama, writing about Obama does not make me tired. It gives me hope in the future of our country. Again, I'm probably unpatriotic because I don't think our country is super great, but I do think our country has the potential to be super great. I am tired of the RNC propaganda, the Bachman statements and ads, the obnoxious Coleman ads. Today I woke up and turned on my computer revitalized. It was more than sleep. Daily Kos reminded me that today is the sixth anniversary of Paul Wellstone's death (and yes, I am crazy enough to think it may have been more than an accident). Paul Wellstone was a fighter, a fighter for the same people Barack Obama wants to help, to change their lives. Although I am a Minnesotan (at least in part), I never had the opportunity to meet Wellstone. The election is ten days away. WWWD (What Would Wellstone Do) bumper stickers showed up after Wellsto...

Halloween is next Friday. Do you have your pumpkin carved? I haven't yet purchased or carved a pumpkin, but this makes me want to give it a try! If I had any artistic talent, it would be another way to show my support. Maybe I'll get a pumpkin tomorrow at the farmer's market and give it a try.

An ad on television plays as I am typing this post. "Low, Lower, Lowest," says the announcer. Gee, these words seem to describe the RNC's latest mailer. This mailer says, "TERRORIST don't care who they hurt..." on the front. The inside has a picture of Barack Obama. I am amazed by these tactics. Oh, the Republicans must be getting a bit nervous. Yea! In twelve days, I get to vote for change... real change. Vote Obama!

Tonight I have a language arts steering committee meeting that goes from three o'clock to five o'clock. The main speaker tonight is a high school teacher who is going to talk about technology and language arts in the 21st century. Although the topic sounds important, it is difficult to take it seriously. When we have our beginning of the year meetings at the high school, they use overhead projectors instead of LCD projectors. I'm not sure that this is the best person to tell me about technology. On our committee we actually have a middle school technology person who would be able to give information about something she is currently using which would be more helpful. Let me give you an analogy. It would be like John McCain (who has "done the google") telling Barack Obama about technology. Yes, this is one more reason to vote for Barack Obama the president of the 21st century not the 19th century.

Yesterday I taught a lesson about true, truth, and truthful. How does one know if what they read or watch is truthful? Of course I needed to start the hour by explaining the cuts on my face, so I told the story about the dog bite which according to my students looks like a smiley face. We then proceeded to talk about the current political advertisements. Most agreed that most ads were not completely true. After we talked about needing evidence/support, I asked them how they knew my story about the dog was true. We discussed the support they had gleaned from my story and decided there wasn't enough evidence to make it true. Honestly, it was an interesting exchange which concluded with the fact that I had earned their trust and had no reason to lie to them, so they could believe me. Today the conversation continued as we talked about non-fiction and fiction. We did an exercise in which students had to read a sentence and decide if it was fiction or non-fiction. At the end w...

Today was a difficult day. One of the major reasons had to do with the fact I had to work after a four day weekend. The kids were a bit crazy as they adapted back to school. My cheek was a bit tender and wasn't sure that moving all day as I talked was the greatest thing. Things became more crazy and tense when I checked my e-mail tonight. I was forwarded an "Open Letter to Barack Obama." After reading the first two lines I had to pause and breathe. The women who sent this blasphemous letter at one point didn't have health insurance, and at one point I believe was near bankruptcy even though her and her husband work. Instead of reading the entire letter, I skimmed enough to send a response. L- I was quite disturbed by this e-mail. As a Christian, a middle class citizen, someone who struggles with health care cost, someone who works her butt off in our education system, I find this person ignorant. There are no facts to support this rage. Please refrain from ...

Barack Obama made history again yesterday after drawing the highest American crowd of this year's presidential campaign. Today Colin Powell says he will vote for Barack Obama. He also admits he's concerned about Palin... ME TOO! Hey, I think I'll vote for Obama too.

This morning after a dog bite to the face, I had the opportunity to spend an hour in the ER. As I was waiting (and waiting I did), I thought about the numerous people who use the ER because they have no insurance. Our healthcare system does need reform. It's more than the insurance companies and drug companies, our healthcare providers need reform. Without giving you a run down of my impatience with my visit the the ER (from check in to examination), I want to remind people that the hospitals are also "big business." This summer Blue Cross and Fairview were at odds. IMHO both need to come down on their expenses and the expenses to their patients. We, Americans, need a healthcare system that works without costing a fortune. Who can make this change? Barack Obama... thanks for asking! In 17 days, we can make a change. Vote Obama!

My father has left, and the list of chores is complete. I am blessed to have a Dad who is able and willing to help with major "fix it up" projects. Besides tile and woodworking he worked on plumbing and heating (one of his careers). Today as we were replacing my toilet, I asked him if he was a certified plumber. It seems my Dad is no more a certified plumber than Joe. Speaking of Joe the Plumber and politics, we were also able to watch Obama who was speaking in West Virginia as we did some woodworking. Obama is amazing and will change our country which is contrary to the old man (listened to as I was getting coffee) who announced that no one would have a job with Obama as President. I found this amazing since the unemployment rate is at record highs. Where do this people get their misguided information?

The day after the last debate has been full of three trips to the hardware store and two trips to Home Depot (I hate Home Depot.). Dad has started tile work in my kitchen, started making boards for my windows, put a shelf in my laundry room, and fixed the blinds in my bedroom. Throughout the day we've laughed about many things including John McInsane and last night's debate. I also showed Dad a great picture of Obama (thx Jdoc) saying, "Everyone chill the F--- out! I've got this." It added laughs to the day which was a good thing especially when we drilled into the sewer pipe. With 19 days to the election, Obama is reminding voters not to be complacent. Don't listen to the "landslide" talk. Everyone needs to get out and vote for OBAMA.

I realize this might be sacrilegious, but I couldn't help but think of this upcoming election as I sat through Bible study talking about the reversal of fortunes. Yes, for me everything is about the election for the next twenty days. A vote for Obama isn't necessarily a complete reversal of fortunes, but it is a lifting up of the people in poverty and the middle class.

OK- Until this morning I had never heard of Hayden Panettiere. I heard this on the radio. Although I'm not a fan of the F word or of actors doing lame commericals, I am still a bit humored by this. Besides after a day of workshop, I have nothing nice or wise to say. voteforchange.com 20 days and counting... VOTE!

I was looking at past Obama posts trying to find the post from my visit with Obama in Iowa. In the past eleven months, I've written at least 47 posts about Obama. It's been ten months since I had the opportunity to actually talk to Obama. My support of Obama has only grown since this meeting. What is my point? I think I handled it fairly well when a colleague riding in my car said he didn't know if he was going to vote for Obama . Really? Are you an idiot? A teacher with a wife in the health care industry who came from a farm family doesn't know if he is going to vote for Obama. What? My thought is that he needs to turn of KFAN (sports station) and turn on public radio or perhaps read something about the two candidates.

With 99 days until Bush is out of the White House, I received this e-mail. If you think liberal is a bad word, you probably think Bush was a good President, or do you?!

retold by Joe Biden quoted from Casey: You can't call yourself a maverick when you've always been a sidekick.

Today marks 100 days until Bush leaves the White House. Cheers! Today is also Children's Sabbath, and the message was hope. As the scripture ("...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give hope and a future..." Jeremiah 29:11) was read, I thought once again of the upcoming election. I am voting for Barack Obama (Have I mentioned this before?) because for me he is the hope. My beliefs and way of life are congruent with his message. Our opening reading this morning included the line "It's not a matter of faith; It's a matter of practice." Although many Americans have faith in Obama, he is more than an icon of faith and hope. He will make the middle class (and impoverished) stronger, and our country (not merely the wealthy) will once again have hope in the future.

Twenty-four days until I am able to vote for Barack Obama. Twenty-four days of McInsane's people yelling (hang him, terrorist, Muslim) at Obama. Twenty-four days of Palin (abused power as governor) explaining how she would like more power for the VP. Twenty-four days of McSame's negative ads. Twenty-four days of until I am able to stand in line with other intelligent people who will vote for Barack Obama. Twenty-four days until November 4th. This may be better than a countdown to Christmas.

This evening my neighbor came by to discuss our broken window (broken since I moved in). I invited him in to share an e-mail address when he noticed a piece of mail on my table. "Interesting," he commented. Across the top of the rather large postcard it says, "Change is all you'll have left if Obama is elected." It surprised me when I saw it in my mailbox as much as it surprised him to see it on my table. As I pointed out the card's assertion that a box of rifle ammo would cost $500 and a new hunting rifle would cost $5000, we agreed that even if this was true, Obama was a change we could afford which was contrary to the card The piece of propaganda came for the NRA (National Rifle Association). It was actually forwarded from my previous address. I'll try catalogchoice.org to see if I can get my name off the list. Since I've never owned a gun or voted Republican, I find it interesting that I'm on the list. At least they had to pay first cl...

Is it really difficult for McCain to shake Obama's hand? Maybe a little civility would help him as he's dealing with "that one." Did he really call Obama (our next President) "that one"?

When I was in Okoboji, I bought sweetcorn and tomatoes from Tim the Corn Man. Anyone knows it's the best sweetcorn. I have now eaten three pieces of the corn. Each piece had a critter eating the top end of the corn, so I had to cut the top part off and put the critter in the garbage disposal. After the third creepy crawly insect, I had to call an expert to make sure the visitor wasn't harmful. A fan of pests I am not! BTW- This is my new favorite flair.

Last week I took the advice of a friend, who knows everything, and picked my tomatoes before the frost and put them between newspaper. Tonight I checked again and two of the tomatoes had ripened. I will admit I know little about gardening, but it seems strange to me that this actually works. It looks like I'll have ripe tomatoes every once in a while for the next week or two.

I'm planning on correcting papers during the debate to ease my nerves.

The truth is I'm obsessed with this election and getting Obama elected.

Once I have reconciled with the fact that summer is over, I truly love fall. The colors on my drive back to Minneapolis were lovely. Unfortunately fall does bring problems. Fall is the season of: 1) correcting papers 2) Cubs losing 3) Rams losing (not today... bye week) and 4) closing windows and turning on heat. I will rejoice in the wonderful colors as I deal with the problems.

This weekend I went back to my home town as I do every six weeks. I admit I love coming back to Okoboji because I find it to be "home." Maybe it's because of family (my dad) and friends (two high school friends whom I adore), and maybe it's the Taco House. My guess is it's a combination of all. The lakes area is beautiful and vibrant. Tomorrow I will drive back home and worry that I didn't get my school stuff and reading for Bible study done, that I have laundry and household chores to do, that the weekend goes too fast, but tonight I enjoyed wonderful people and a gorgeous sunset (too bad I only had my cell phone and not my camera to capture the beauty).

Last night I sat down to watch the VP debate. Fourteen minutes into the campaign Palin mentioned "Joe Six Pack" and "hockey mom." At this point I needed hit the power button. No one annoys me as much as this lady. She is a performer, beauty pageant contestant, and hockey mom. Would you like me to go into my prejudice against "puck heads" and their mothers? Make her stop!

My colleague and I have been planning the first month together. Yesterday she showed me this video which we used to teach suspense. Although the kids were entertained and learned suspense, they were more intrigued about the fact that I was able to access Youtube.com which is typically blocked. Teaching is not the same as it was when I started. The video is entertaining and worth watching.

Am I sexist if the only people I find remotely interesting in my 2 1/2 hour Bible study are two males? At least the females in the book club before are intelligent and entertaining. I wish I could spend an hour at the Bible study and 2 1/2 hours at the book club. Maybe next week I will find something admirable about the other Bible study members.