Halloween's Not Just for Kids It Seems

My son Adam is a technical engineer for Clearwire, a wireless provider and for the past few days he has been telling me about all the serious planning for the Halloween blowout at his office. Even he was amazed at all that was going on -- decorating all the offices, costumes -- the works. So, this morning he asked if I'd like to go over and see for myself. Of course, I grabbed the camera and said, 'let's go!'

Even after all he had told me about it, I was amazed when we walked in and here are a few shots of what grown-ups???? can do when they play like kids! It was really fun to see all of the offices on two floors totally dressed up to entertain the ghosts and goblins! Hey, whoever said we had to stop playing just because we got big? As usual, you can click on the photo for a scarier look!

After the Rain

It was a rainy day today, that is until just before the sunset and I decided to see if I could get some photos. As I went out to my car I looked up and saw a tiny sliver of a rainbow -- you may have to enlarge the photo to see it(click on the photo), but it's there, a tiny sliver of hope for a better day and I thought -- how appropriate!
Then I headed to the park above the harbor and caught the sun making a surprise appearance before settling down for its evening rest.
And as it broke through the clouds I thought -- again, how appropriate for now, those fingers of light that drive away the darkness.
Then, on my way home, I saw another one of those brilliant red trees/bushes! Not sure exactly what they are, but from what I've been able to find out they're in the maple family. Needless to say, it was a fun way to end the day. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed taking them. Happy weekend!

Nuevo California : A Letter from Blue States to Red States

My daughter who lives in California sent this to me today and I decided it was too good to keep to myself. So, have a laugh on me tonight!

Dear Red States:

We've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren't aware, that includes California , Hawaii , Oregon , Washington, Minnesota , Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all of the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California. To sum up briefly: You get Texas , Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem
cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood. We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss. We get 85 percent of America 's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama. We get two-thirds of the tax revenue; you get to make the red states pay their fair share.

Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms. Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro gay-rights, pro-choice and anti-war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they're apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don't care if you don't show pictures of their children's caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq, and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to spend our resources in Bush's Quagmire.

With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent of the country's fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 95 percent of America's quality wines, 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy
and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford , Cal Tech and MIT. With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University
of Georgia. We get Hollywood and Yosemite , thank you.

Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the war, the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you are the people with higher morals than we lefties.

Finally, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico .

Peace out,

Blue States

A Brighter Day

In four days we will decided who is to lead this country. And it is not just the people in this country who are watching, following every twist and turn of this campaign, right down to the last minute. The whole world is watching and hoping, just as we are.

Obama’s sister once said that, “He can be trusted to be in dialogue with the whole world.” That dialogue not just with Americans, but the rest of the world has been a consistent theme throughout his campaign. Obama sees, understands that we are not all separate entities. Years ago there was a song called “We Are the World” and while I have always felt that was true, never was it truer than it is today.

Obama once told NYT Op-Ed columnist, Roger Cohen: “Part of our capacity to lead is linked to our capacity to show restraint.” Never have we seen this more clearly than during this campaign. While his opponents have ranted and raved and pulled up every possible nasty, negative issue – most with no believable basis whatsoever, Obama has shown consistent restraint, and his opponents have for the most part, defeated themselves. And now when the world teeters on the brink of financial disaster, when more war and terrorist threats are seen on the horizon every day, what we need, what the world needs is a leader who believes in dialogue with those who see the world differently than we do. We need the quiet, steadfast patience and wisdom that this man has already demonstrated. “Temperament does, indeed, trump experience and every instinct of this man, whose very identity represents an act of reconciliation, hones toward building change from the center.”

What we all need today are leaders who inspire all of us to some form of greatness; that help us to see the interconnectedness of all people, races, creeds and colors. Our world is “one” world, we are “one” people and it is time to stop focusing on the differences that divide us and, instead, focus on the commonalities that unite us. That could begin with Obama and not just for our country – he can help us be a beacon to the rest of the world. That requires a vision and unlike many, Barack Obama has a vision.

I fervently hope that we love this country, this world, enough to elect a leader with vision, with hope, with wisdom; a man who can and will lead us to a new and brighter day.

Sky Watch #16

Skies in Oregon and Washington

Click on any photo to enlarge.
It seems that everyday here in Washington and Oregon the skies become more beautiful, a testimony to the fact that there is still so much beauty in the world -- in this case overhead -- and all we need to do is lift our heads and raise our eyes.

A Little of Everything from Seattle

Evening colors.
Stand of trees at the Harbor Park. There's green along with the fall colors -- trees and thick grass.
Another park above the Harbor park and only a few blocks from the house. Lovely view of the Sound.
An uncertain dawn. I can get good shots of the sunsets without the distraction of cables and wires, but dawn is a different matter. Still, I couldn't pass this one up.

Welcome the Time to Move Beyond

"You said the time has come to move beyond the bitterness and pettiness and anger that's consumed Washington. To end the political strategy that's been all about division, and instead make it about addition. To build coalition for change that stretches through red states and blue states."

Senator Barack Obama told this to a crowd that had come to hear his victory speech at the Iowa caucuses. He has said this over and over from the beginning, but it is something that John McCain still just doesn't get.

For the Republicans and John McCain it is still the old fear card that they are so good at waving -- and it has worked for them very well over the past eight years. But now it is also the "Joe the Plumber" card. And Palin is actually an affront even to many Republicans not to mention women in general.

John McCain has all but made a total mockery out of this entire campaign, he's out of touch with most of the people in this country, he doesn't seem to recognize that the country as a whole have had it with the Bush administration and it's repeated demonstration of incompetence. And, to add insult to injury, he has chosen the most unbelievably unprepared Palin to be his running mate. And these days they don't even seem to be talking to each other. Palin is doing her own thing more and more, even contradicting McCain altogether. What kind of unity does this show?
When will McCain wake up to the fact that the politics of the past are simply not going to make it these days?

Our country desperately needs new leadership, a new plan, a new dream to finally move us into the 21st century. This is not the time to fall backward, to depend on the things that have obviously not worked and have all but destroyed this country -- not only for us, but in the eyes of the world. And the eyes of the world are on us right now -- hoping to see new leadership, a new and better way of handling the problems that are plaguing not just our country but the rest of the world as well. We need to see hope for, not fear of the future.

I believe that Barack Obama is that hope. I believe that he can bring a new day to, not only our country, but to the world. And that is why I will vote for him next Tuesday. I hope each of you will do the same -- for our country, the world and each of us individually.

More Friends from the Harbor Park

Enjoyed slipping quietly up near a creek that runs through the park where we were earlier today and seeing the ducks. It was so quiet and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. The dogs must have thought so, too and they were very respectful, not barking, just observing quietly.

You'll have to forgive me for the photos lately, but I am having so much fun! Hope you enjoy seeing more of the lovely place where I live and it's various inhabitants. Remember, you can enlarge the photos by clicking on the one you want to see better.

One week from today and hopefully we can all get a life outside of following politics!

Flowering plants at the entrance to the park.

Update on Rebecca Roth

Before I lost access to my old blog, I had posted a story about one of our neighbors ex-wife who is imprisoned in Mexico on baseless charges. You may remember the post, it was an article from The Oregonian, Sunday, October 12, by Margie Boule

I just received this email from her sister and I told her I would post it on my new blog.

Thank you for your wonderful blog. I am Rebecca's sister and I have been here in Mexico with her since the night of her abduction and immediate imprisonment. I can tell you all we have been to HELL and back. Rebecca likens this experience to Alice in Wonderland, "Falling through the Rabbit's Hole."Please write to the State Dept., please write to your senators, please ask your local press to come to Mexico and interview Rebecca. No one from the press has come to interview her in the 2+ years she has been in prison. NO ONE!!!! Canada had press, TV, Politicians all over their citizen's story. Rebecca has been ignored except for the courageous articles written by Margie Boule of the Oregonian and one written by the Willamette Weekly.Please pray for us. We continue to need strength and hope to continue believing that she will be acquited of the phoney charges. Her case has been in appeal since April. We wait.You can email me at eslbjm@hotmail.comThank you again for caring. Barbara Roth

Fun in the Fog

It was very foggy this morning and my son, Adam, mentioned it might be good for some interesting shots at the beach. He was working from home today and about lunch time he suggested we take off and see what I could find. We loaded both dogs into the car and took off. It was perfect! Here you see an empty nest in a nearly bare tree. Click on any of the photos to enlarge.
Here on the sand I could look up and see all the fall colors. It could have felt really lonely and isolated I guess, but it didn't. There was a stillness, a peacefulness that made it one of those priceless moments that you know you'll never forget. Just me and Adam and the dogs and beauty all around.
A lone crow in another nearly bare tree and Adam and Mojo on the sidewalk.

Autumn in Seattle -- Another Part of My World

We don't have the brilliant autumn colors here in the northwest that you find in New England states, but as I drove around our neighborhood yesterday I found a few beautiful colors along with one of my favorite parks overlooking Puget Sound. We've had some truly beautiful days lately and they have helped soothe all the bad feelings regarding the election, the nasty plots, the fear, the anger and concern. We need these beautiful things, scenery to nourish our hope, to remind of us of what is really important. It is there all around us in nature, in the faces of children, the closeness of families and friends and pets. But we do have to take off the blinders and remember to breathe deeply. So, I wish you all a beautiful day from Seattle.

My World for Tuesday

These are three of my favorite places to go, to spend time. These are sailing boats on Puget Sound.
The Oregon Coast.
Orcas Island off the coast of Washington To see more photos of our world visit: http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

Who’s Hoity Toity? But That's Not All

I know, I know! What was that about my dropping politics? Well, I made the mistake of reading the New York Times and both Maureen Dowd’s and Kristof''s Op-Ed pieces last night and sure enough, the bile and the real concern overflowed so here I am again.

With all this talk about Obama being an elitist and that McCain and Caribou Barbie are just like the “common folk”, how do these numbers grab you?

The McCains own 13 cars, eight homes and access to a corporate jet and Vanity Fair calculated that Cindy’s outfit for the convention cost $300,000, with three-carat diamond earrings worth $280,000, an Oscar de la Renta dress valued at $3,000, a Chanel white ceramic watch clocking in at $4,500 and a four-strand pearl necklace worth between $11,000 and $25,000. While presenting herself as a I’m-just-like you hockey mom, frugal enough to put the Alaska state plane up for sale on eBay, Palin made her big speech at the convention wearing a $2,500 cream silk Valentino jacket that the McCain staff had gotten her at Saks. So much for the Wal-Mart mom! However, the homespun gal that is so much more American than that elite, foreignish Obama, was all dolled up in Italian couture.

Palin, who used to get her hair done at the Beehive in Wasilla and shop at an Anchorage consignment shop called Out of the Closet, paid her traveling hairstylist – recommended by Cindy McCain -- $10,000 for the first half of October. She’s had a voice coach and the expense was listed in finance reports as Operating Expenditures and Get-Out-The-Vote consulting. Undoubtedly, getting out the vote includes teaching a potential vice president the correct way to pronounce “nuclear.”

According to Dowd, the conservative big shots who still think Palin is “the one” and that she can still be a Reagan in a Valentino skirt are furious at those who have mishandled the governor and dimmed her star power. Ah, what a pity! Now she may have to wait until 2016 to get rid of the phony stench of designer populism.

Hopefully, before then Moose Gal will have shown us even more reason why she needs to pack up, go back to Wasilla and try being a real Mom to her five children.

But it's not just Palin. Consider the fact that Al Qaeda announced that they will have to support McCain in the coming election. According to Nicholas Kristof, this endorsement left the McCain campaign sputtering and noting foolishly that Hamas appears to prefer Obama. Hmmm, guess Al Qaeda's enthusiasm for McCain is definitely not reciprocated.

Richard Clarke and Joseph Nye have both suggested Al Qaeda prefers McCain and might even try to use terror attacks in the coming days to tip the election to him. Nye says that from Al Qaeda's perspective, a continuation of Bush policies is best for recruiting and that McCain is far more likely to continue those policies. And that is just one more very scary thought.