The Plus Side of Insomnia

I've been having a tough time sleeping lately. Falling asleep is no problem, staying asleep is. Even with the CPAP for the sleep apnea. Of course, that could be part of the issue itself. Either type of mask I wear has been causing me to break out in eczema right around the nose. It's pretty embarassing, as some days it is so bad I look like a junkie. ;( Finally getting that under control, but it makes wearing the mask at night irritating.

Anyway. I've been waking up around 1am-2am just about every night. Dogs love it because they get to go outside. To get back to sleep, I put the TV on for background noise, with the sleep timer. Our local "government" channel (not PBS) usually has clips of ballets and operas, etc, at that time of night. So it's relaxing go to sleep music.

The other night, they had something else on. Some guy dressed up as Thomas Jefferson was speaking before a crowd. Turns out it was the last 20 minutes of a presentation from 2001. But it was fabulous. I stayed up for the credits and wrote the guys name down. It's Clay Jenkins, and he does what is called the Jefferson Hour.

Long story longer, I've subscribed to the podcast (first one ever for me). Have about five downloaded to my iPod so far. Was listening to one last week, titled "Civility" (show 904). Imagine my surprise when about 20 to 25 minutes into it, he started discussing the very thing I posted about last!

If you have time (and the interest) I recommend listening. It's pretty interesting. At least to this history buff, and self- professed geek. ;)

'Tis Winter Solstice Eve

It's Winter Solstice tomorrow, and there's a total lunar eclipse tonight, and it's a full moon! It's the first time since 1378 that there will be a lunar eclipse for the Winter Solstice.

I'm thinking of getting up to see it. Shouldn't be too hard. The dogs wake me up between midnight and 4 am every morning anyway. Now if there will only be clear skies tonight!

Maybe that accounts for the Congress repealing DADT. Still can't quite believe they did that; especially with the Reps gaining more "power" come January.

Maybe it was part of a backroom deal to get the '01 and '03 tax cuts and unemployment continued, and that ridiculous payroll tax reduction (what were they thinking?). Not to mention the inheritance tax break. Gimme a break.

warning - political rant ahead

I really do wish someone would stand up and say "Hey. We know it bites big time, but we are going to have to go back to the tax levels before 2001. We know the economy is still fragile. That's why we are going to do this slowly over time."

They could have done that and saved face for all. Except maybe the Reps with the highest earners. But they could have negotiated it to extend the income tax cuts for everyone making less than $500k, instead of $250k, etc. And gradually lowered that to get us back to 2001 tax levels. But nooooo. We have to keep it going, and add stuff to decrease the money coming in even more!

It boggles my mind how they can cut the payroll tax 2% for the next year. Isn't social security hamstrung already? For Pete's Sake.

And this one Rep. I heard on the news. OMG. He brought up the usual talking point that the extension of uneployment benefits should be paid for first (fully funded), but when asked if that should apply to the continuation of the tax cuts, he said "No, it's not the same thing." Really? Then what the hell is it?

You're still reducing money the government has to function. Front end or back end, it is the same thing. And arguably the cuts of  '01 and '03 helped place us in the current mess we are in. Reducing income while increasing or maintaining spending never leads to a positive cash flow. I can tell you that from personal experience. And don't give me that "It's not money the govt has anyway". Well, it is money the government used to have, until they gave it away without funding it.

I'm also tired of all the whining that comes when anyone tries to close loopholes for those making millions and so on. Let's face facts. The rich have a lot more opportunity to take advantage of tax shelters and loopholes than the average person. I can't hire Suz.e Or.man or her like to give me tax advice. But the rich can. There are so many ways to set up your money and estate to avoid taxes upon your death. Give me a break. They don't need that inheritance tax exemption for up to $5 million and a reduced rate!!!! They should have kept it at $1m and just reduced the rate to 35%.

I should stop now. I can feel myself tensing up. Which is why I haven't posted for awhile. Too much going on that I'm thinking about but makes me mad. On a local political level as well.

Repubs here gained advantages in our state legislature riding on the "economic woes" ticket. Their first stated agenda item? Eliminate ab.or.tio.n in this state. For the third session in a row, they're going to try to get a bill passed stating conception begins at birth. Even though the people of this state, by fairly decent margins, have voted no on two constitutional initiatives that tried the same thing. What the hell are they doing? The people of this state have said no twice already. Yet they are going to waste precious time and money on this issue, instead of facing the budget shortfall and economy. I'm going to pull my hair out.

Anyway. It all just drives me crazy. I'm going to stop now and think about the eclipse tonight, Solstice tomorrow, and the 3-day weekend coming up.

Other People's Words

Found an interesting link on BBC today, about the difference between religious tolerance and freedom that I think is worth sharing:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-11200987

From there I found another link about the meaning of the word "liberal" that I thought fun. And confusing in a light-hearted sort of way.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-10658070

Just some things I'm thinking about lately. Especially the first one. It amazes me how people can believe in religious freedom so fervently, yet show very little tolerance. For me, they should be one and the same. I've been reading up on Is.la.m, and am finding (duh!) that the basic beliefs are extremely similar to Chri.sti.ani.ty (gasp!), J.ud.ais.m, and other religions. If people would just take the time to shut their mouths and use their brains to learn about what they don't know, instead of blindly following the loudest pack leader...

Papers, Please

I'm baffled, horrified, and yes, a little bit frightened by the new Arizona immigration law. Not that it will affect me all that much where I live. But the concept of the police being able to stop me because I "look" Hispanic and I would have to have papers on me to prove I'm a citizen. In Arizona. A US state. It's surreal.

Odds are I wouldn't get stopped, as I don't look extremely Spanish. But what about my mother? A legal immigrant and a US citizen for umpteen years? She looks Spanish. Very fluent in English, yet speaks with a Spanish accent.

In Arizona, she would have to carry proof that she is an American citizen. What the hell is going on with this country? And does anyone think that this is going to stop illegal immigration? Do you think these people are going to be scared of this? With the risks and dangers they face just to get here in the first place?

And what about those people of Hispanic origin, like my sister in law, or some friends of mine in CA, that are American born, American citizens? What about their kids, who look Hispanic? My nieces, nephew? They'll have to carry proof they're legal citizens if they're in Arizona or go there? WTF? And what is the proof? Social security cards? Birth certificates? Passports? All items we're not supposed to carry on us because of identity theft.

And those ID thieves will have a hey-dey. Anyone of Hispanic origin in Arizona will now become a target for mugging and theft, just for their identity papers. And isn't that a scary phrase "identity papers."  Hate to trot out the trite comparison with Nazi Germany. But there it is.

Are the cops even going to have the time or the will to implement this? I just can't see how this will be effective. Maybe it'll just be used on people that have been stopped for other crimes, serious crimes, not just traffic misdemeanors. I can hope, can't I?

If we are serious about immigration reform, we need to change our guest worker policy and the way we grant visas. Stop the "family first" and create a policy that responds quickly and efficiently to our economy and its needs first. Then we'll get in the workers we need, people will stand a better chance of getting in, therefore cutting down on need to come here illegally. Our current system and quotas are inefficient and dumb.

And personally, having been stopped by armed police in South America who demanded to see my passport and visa, it's a horrible feeling. Not something I'd want my mother, sil, nieces, nephew, friends or anyone else subjected to.

"Turkeys Voting For Christmas"

Interesting article with some fun lines about why people "vote against their own interest". I have to admit, it's something that has often puzzled me. And makes some (preliminary) sense on why facts seemed to get lost in the furor last summer.

Best line in the article:

"It's like a French Revolution in reverse in which the workers come pouring down the street screaming more power to the aristocracy." Thomas Frank (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8474611.stm)

And it gave me a few more books to add to my library list. ;)

Positive News Day

As hard as it is to believe, it's a positive news day. At least, from my perspective.

Heard on NPR this morning that the US is changing our policy on family planning abroad. I know Ob.am.a moved on this last year, but it's nice to have H. Clin.ton reinforcing it through the state department. Yay! I'm not talking about ab.or.t.ion here. I'm talking about birth control, HIV education, the ability to work with organizations that do provide abo.rt.ion resources. And yes, even abstinence. Allowing US funds to go to organizations working with others already on the ground that provide abo.rt.ion services isn't harmful. It allows people to coordinate resources better, educate better. Be more effective.

Frankly, in countries as poor as Africa (an example) I think birth control needs to be an option. Women need to be educated, have it made accessible. Although there are a whole host of logistical problems with taking daily BC pills, or monthly, it needs to be an option. It can only enable women to gain better health, have healthier children, and become more active in their communities.  Especially when you consider that with immunizations, etc, more children are living longer. I know, it's harsh of me, but seriously. In poor lands, how can we justify consigning these women to having more and more children when there are ways they can choose for themselves to change this? By all means, let's have tons of children, keep them alive and "healthy" and living in a poor country with inadequate food or water or education or work or....

I'm all for the ABCs (abstinence/birth control/condoms) to be taught. I'm also a believer that they should have access to abor.t.ions and make their own choices...but that's a whole different post.

Second bit of good news is the move to eliminate "Don't Ask Don't Tell". About darn time! There's a good article on the BBC today about what happened when the UK was forced by the EU to change their rules. Guess what? The doomsday predictions didn't happen. ;) Go figure.

Beeing Me

I guess I’m having a hard time being positive today. Although I’m sure if you look back at my entries that’s not a new trend. Sometimes I feel like I’m excessively negative/down. Oh well.

The last eight days have been rough. Bad dreams/nightmares every night. Hard to get away from the Haiti earthquake, politics, and so on. Dreamt last night I was turned into a bee (trying to hide from someone or some group that was chasing me), then stung someone and was dying. But we (?) pulled the stinger out of the hand of the person I stung. It turned into some kind of tiny rock (looked like lava hardened in the ocean - ever seen that??) that was really my heart, and we went racing off to find the magician/wizard who turned me back into a person. Bee-zarre. (groan)

Most of my current angst has to do (you guessed it) with politics. I'm just so incredibly frustrated with the politics in this country. I know (and how!) that it can be – and often is – much worse in other countries. It’s just that I live here and what I see happening just drives me batty.

I’ve tried not to be too negative about the Republicans, because not everyone in my life believes as I do. But for Pete’s Sake. The past year has just seemed to me to be more of a churlish second-grade playground loser attitude of “I’m just going to make your life difficult” because I don’t like you. I hate to use the phrase, but “the party of no” seems to fit. From my perspective, if feels like the Reps in congress are obstructionist and blocking anything from moving forward just because they lost the election and don’t like not having control. Even the things experts for both sides agree on.

It’s petty, pandering to a select few, short-term personally motivated, and party thinking that’s just screwing us up over and over again.

Yes, the Dems are messing up. Maybe the prez should have been more forceful to start with. But considering he ran on the message of ending Dems Vs Reps, how could he do otherwise? The miscalculation was in thinking the other party would be grown-ups and come to the table.

The Dems aren’t perfect, I don’t agree with them 100%, but at least they are trying to do something. The Reps had eight years under Bush to address health care (including 6 with control of Congress). Yet they didn’t . And they blocked it under Clinton. I’m not saying that his was a good or bad plan. Just pointing out that when it comes to health care reform over the last 17 years they’ve shown no initiative other than to say “no”. They’ve had control of both houses of Congress from 1994-2006 (with the exception of the Senate 2001-2002), and the White House from 2001-2008.

When is it time to say enough is enough? To accept that not everything has a business free-market solution to it? Because free-market does not equal equality or fair access. Access to basic and preventative health care should not be based on income or luck of birth. It should not be a commodity with profitability as a factor.

I know; drastic words from someone with an economics degree and normally libertarian leanings. And it’s not like I’d be all that thrilled with our government running a program. But frankly, that has more to do with the way our society thinks/acts as a whole when it comes to money. We’ve been living on this spend more than we have mentality for decades and decades. It’s been a big driver of our economy, consumer spending. But we can only spend so much.

Anyway. I’d better stop this rant now before a blood vessel bursts in my head.

Stepping Into the Fray

Okay, you knew I would do it. I ended up checking out the news. I  just have to comment on the Stupak Ammendment to the Health Care bill.

So if I can't afford the premiums and need assistance to pay for my health plan (something that is not too far-fetched of an option for me), I can't have a plan that allows me to choose if I want to have an abortion or not. Unless I purchase a rider. Okay. A) That's assuming insurance companies are going to make these available and B) My employer will offer that and C) I'll be able to afford it. Considering I can't afford the regular plan, odds are I won't.

And there is an interesting impact - this applies if the small business you work for takes advantage of the tax credits. They won't be allowed to offer abortion as part of the plan. Even if the premium is paid for without any subsidies. And what small business won't take advantage of every tax credit they can? Again, this pushes women to have to buy separate coverage. A) Assuming insurance companies will offer it and B) Assuming the employer will offer it to their employee and C) Assuming the employee can afford it and D) Assuming there will be no fear of retribution from employers and coworkers for those employees who do opt to purchase abortion coverage.

I work in a small office. I can guarantee you, we all know who has what, does what, chooses what.

It just pisses me off. Why the hell aren't we hearing about ammendments that affect coverage for men? I know, I know, pro-choice and pro-life isn't as simple as that. But it should be. I want to be able to choose on my own. To make my own decision based on my life, my beliefs. Others want only one choice. Based on their belief. Let me choose yes or no, and you choose no. I won't force someone to have an abortion, just don't force me to go through a pregnancy. (Which has a whole set of health issues & mortality fears of its own! Something like 11-13 in every 100,000 live births results in the death of the woman in the United States. And it's most likely an under-reported figure. Race also plays a factor. African American women are 3-4 times more likely than white women to die in or because of childbirth. No one talks about that, do they?)

I'm sick and tired of having my choices limited because I'm female and not wealthy. God damn it. And you know, sometimes, there are only so many things I as a female can do not to get pregnant. Abstinence is unrealistic. And frankly, in my mind, for 100% of your life it's not healthy! Mentally or physically. Birth control is only 99% effective. It just pisses me off. It puts the burden, the onus, on women. I guess that's what pisses me off the most.

The only effect this ammendment is going to have is further restrict the ability of women to choose for themselves.

And I'm sure this post is going to anger people I know and further confirm the opinion that I'm a flaming liberal. I just am tired of it all.

Wading In

So I've been preoccupied, naturally, with the health care reform attempts going on in Washington. Especially now, since my employer lost a government contract that provided a third of our income. It also cost us three full-time and two part-time employees. We are a small business. Even smaller now. Only 5 of us. And our premiums increased 35% last year, when we had 8 on staff. Who wants to bet our premiums won’t increase again in January? Didn’t think so. Odds are it will go up substantially (especially since I’ve had some medical costs – about $2000 out of pocket so far. And several co-workers have had health issues this year. We are also predominantly over 50. Only 2 of us are under that.) I’m expecting to have to start paying part of my monthly premium. Which is at $383 now. If it stays the same, if I only have to do maybe half, I could squeak by. But all extra spending would go out the window. And if energy costs or gas costs go up… After months of thought, research, and unending news coverage (ad nauseum!), here's what I keep coming back to: The free market isn't working for health care. We need a public option. Frightening, no? Especially for me. Because as the years progress, I have developed a less-is-better mentality when it comes to government. You could say I'm Anti-Federalist. But the fact of the matter is that the free market/capitalism isn't working when it comes to health care. A) It's not really a “free” market. Example: limited competition. For instance, we have 3 carriers in my state. And one of them only became available in my state about 3 years ago. So we have one big player, and two small ones. Making it easier for insurance companies to do business across state lines may help, especially in more populous areas. But not for me. There’s just not enough population, ie premium volume, in my state. Too many small businesses. B) The market is going to focus on profitability, economies of scale, supply & demand, etc. That's just the way it works. Which means there will always be a section of the populace insurance companies won’t cover, and a section they’ll try to drop, and coverages will decrease as premiums increase because costs will keep rising. C) Health isn’t a product. It isn’t a commodity. It isn’t a thing. But insurance is. So we are combining the two. I just think the public option should be a choice. Is it a perfect one? No. Will there be problems? Yes. Do I entirely trust our government to manage the program efficiently when it comes to money? Not entirely. But while the insurance companies might manage money more efficiently, they’ll cover fewer people, with less benefits. Arghh. I’m giving myself a headache. I want the public option. But I also want cost cutting. Price standardization (ie, same price for same procedure for same area regardless of who you have insurance with, or if you have insurance at all.) Reform of the court system (you think changing health care is bad…the lawyers are worse!). Something has run amok here. Maybe an easier solution would be for small businesses and individuals (whether because self-employed or pre-existing conditions) who can’t get affordable insurance on their own should be considered federal employees for the purposes of health insurance and allowed access to the vaunted federal insurance program. That would allow entry into an already existing pool, allowing for more affordable premiums. Supposedly. An intermediate step, so to speak. All I know is the system so far isn’t working. More of the same isn’t an option. The Republicans have had nearly 16 years (8 of them with White House control) to do something. It’s time to put up or shut up. Seriously. To me the rancor has more to do with the fact that they not only lost the presidential election and control of congress, but they lost to a black man advocating change. The bogeyman is in control. Sorry, but I really believe for many that is what they subconsciously feel. Racism is alive and well. They’re angry and they’re scared. The system as is, the status quo, has served them all quite well. But when you aren’t the one orchestrating the change…yeah. Reactionary fear.

Too Many Thoughts

I've had so many thoughts lately I want to blog about. But when I actually sit down at the computer, my mind's a blank. Things that have skittered through my mind -

• Sotomayor hearing/confirmation
• Health reform
• Returning home
• Books I've been reading

and more I just can't remember. I managed to listen to the Sotomayor hearings while at work. And watched some of it on television. I have to say, I was impressed with her performance. The way she just wouldn't rattle or lose her temper, etc, was great. She came across to me as steady, thoughtful, intelligent. And frankly, someone willing to acknowledge that we all have biases and it's good to recognize that in ourselves and understand our bias for what it is, well...she has my vote. And while I'd love someone who would stand there and say reproductive rights for women come hell or high water (ie, no overturning R v W) it's okay with me that she's moderate. It really was quite the contrast seeing her facing down a table of white haired men. I've long felt that congress doesn't have a clue where I'm coming from as a single female in her thirties. It's a frustrating feeling, really. Am I really represented? Who knows. Oh, and every time someone said (or says even now) "legislate from the bench" it drove (drives) me nuts. They are interpreting based on law and precendent. And people's interpretations/definitions change as culture/society changes. Really. Otherwise, whites could not marry blacks, women wouldn't have the vote, it would be legal to not hire minorities (including women) because of their minority status, abuse would be accepted...Legislation doesn't always keep up with changes in societal beliefs and thinking. It's often controlled by congress pandering to the loudest voting blocks in their districts, not what's best for the majority of the people in their districts, regardless of party affiliation or votes. Or it's motivated by fear; fear of something or someone different, of losing something, of that great unknown change signals. I find it hollowly amusing when legislators complain about the courts and judges not doing what they want them to do when it comes to legislation. In other words, saying that their legislation isn't legal. For Pete's Sake. That's what they were designed to do. The justice system is supposed to be a check and a balance against the legislature. They are supposed to be independent. Did nobody get taught about the deliberate checks and balances of the US system? He-llo-oh...

Mount N Erupts...

Sitrep: 2x Walk (30 minutes each, with Scully)

Okay, you've been warned. Today's post is a bit of a rant. I really, really, really hate it when people forward me those stupid chain emails about a political issue that is designed to inflame, and is completely out of date. Got one today about a Supreme Court case that was already decided. In fact, it was decided over a year ago. And in "favor" of the person who sent me the email's viewpoint. Why does this bug me? Well, frankly, it makes me think I'm dealing with a bunch of idiots here, who get inflamed for no reason and can't be bothered to check their facts. They don't really care because they're too damned lazy to find out. This is why it is so easy for the fanatics to manipulate the masses. God, it drives me crazy. It took me two minutes to find out the status of the case. Seriously. And that's without even knowing the court case name. Just the generic details. Within 5 minutes I had the actual name of the court case, plus multiple articles about it. Including current articles on what's going on now, one year later. CHECK YOUR DAMN FACTS PEOPLE. Stop spreading wrong and inflammatory information, for Pete's Sake. No wonder this country is in such a mess. We're all a bunch of moronic sheep being herded this way and that by the powers that be. I just want to scream. So here goes: ARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Justified Outrage or Double Standard?

Sitrep: 30 mins Yoga (bad workout), 1x Gym (weights-legs, abs & 40 min treadmill)

So the battery on my MP3 player gave out just as I was getting onto the treadmill last night. Which means I plugged into the TV hookup. At first it was Biggest Loser, but that's losing interest for me, so when I saw Anderson Cooper 360 was starting with Obama, and the caption says "Obama Says He Screwed Up" (or something along those lines), I switched over. I have to wonder at everyone's outrage over Daschle's tax issue. Seriously. Why is everyone so upset? Because he made the mistake in the first place? Because he didn't pay it back right away? Admittedly, I haven't read any details recently. Way back this summer/fall I remember coming across something on this, but it's a vague memory at best. The way I look at it, we have a double standard for politicians and rich people when it comes to taxes. We love to flay them alive for tax mistakes, not paying enough taxes, etc. Yet how many of us scramble each year on our own taxes to pay as little as possible? How many of us have made errors and don't know it yet because we're small fry where IRS audits are concerned? How many of us have deliberately misrepresented facts or left off income all-together? What about my little sister's step dad, who had a home business with his first wife (decades ago) and she didn't file their taxes like she told him she did? It took until a few years ago for the IRS to figure it out and start attaching his refunds (and stimulus checks; his new wife's too, since they filed jointly when they got married, having no knowledge he owed back taxes.) No body is flaying him alive, or denying him a job (and yep, he worked for years where he managed budgets and finances for an adult group home.) And I gotta say, how many people when contacted by the IRS run right out and write that check. Wouldn't logic say "Look into this? What's going on?" Seriously. Is the issue in Daschle's case fraud? Was it deliberate? Will it affect his job performance? What if he didn't have the liquid funds to just write a check for $100,000? (That's the figure I thought I heard?). Speaking for myself, I'm going to do everything I know to minimize how much tax I pay. And if my CPA makes a mistake then so be it. If I ended up owing, you better believe I wouldn't be writing a check willy-nilly. Not with the horror stories I've heard about the IRS. I'd be demanding a review or whatever. And delaying as long as possible before paying the money. (And yes, my CPA has made a mistake, only it was in my benefit. He caught it after the fact and we filed the papers necessary to correct.) Maybe I'm being too generous here, but really. Is it justified outrage, or double standard? *I'm not a big Daschle fan, so my thoughts aren't out of partisanship or anything like that.

The Reason I Cringe

"the proposal is big and the reason it's big is because it's a big problem". G.W.Bush That's the best our president can do? That's the best he can say? God. No wonder confidence is crumbling. If all the people surrounding him can't come up with something better than that to explain the madness of our government's actions this week, we are in dire straits indeed. It's the reason I cringe when I turn on the news now. Where the heck are the economic and business advisers? The REAL ones, not the ones that got us into this mess. Why isn't anyone standing up in front of the people and saying "This sucks. We know it sucks. But we have to do this without a guarantee of getting all the money back. Even then, the economy will get worse before it gets better. The taxpayers are going to take the burden. CEO salaries and golden parachutes ARE NOT THE PROBLEM THEY ARE A DISTRACTION. Right now we HAVE TO FOCUS ON STABILIZING THE FINANCIAL SECTOR. After that we can deal with the salary cap issue. After that we can deal with the wrong-doers, the speculators. But WE HAVE TO STOP THE CHAOS FIRST." We need to be told in blunt terms the average person can understand that this is not a bailout of the CEO's. This is a bailout of the economy. Which affects all of us. Yeah, no ones paying my mortgage. But financial stability is necessary for economic growth. We may not reach the levels of the Great Depression, but things aren't going to be great for a few years. Unemployment will rise from historic lows, interest rates will go up from historic lows, home buying/values will still decrease from historic highs...But these are all things that need to happen. The economy cannot sustain a high forever. Corrections are needed. We can't hold them off. And the longer we hold them off, the harsher the correction is going to be in my opinion. I'd apologize for yelling, but I need to vent in a BIG WAY about the stupidity of Congress finally listening to "what the voters want" when most of the voters (myself included, even if I do have an Economics degree!) don't have the slightest clue how the economy works, how everything is inter-related, how the banking & finance system works, or the short and long-term effects of bailout vs no bailout. NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO LISTEN TO JOHN Q PUBLIC. Once again, politics trumps doing what's better for the people/country as a whole.

calm, rational thought returns

Sitrep: 10 mins Boot Camp, Lawn

Now that I'm ~somewhat~ more calm, I'm able to blog. I was extremely upset yesterday and simply couldn't find the words. Astonishing, I know! It looks like the open cut mine, the gravel pit complete with batch plant, asphalt plant, etc, is going to be built in E.H. Just blocks from my house, next to two elementary schools, next to several parks, and surrounded on 3 sides by existing residential neighborhoods. Oh, and did I mention it's already a Superfund site due to freakin' Asa.rco and a century of their mining? We've almost got that cleaned up and now this...

HS&G was able to use their money to sue DEQ and get a court date within days of filing their suit. Nice, huh? They got their permit to mine the 111 acres the day before final approval was to go through on the zoning of EH, which would have prevented the mine. The issue was DEQ has been consistenly underfunded and understaffed and unable to complete environmental assessments within 90 days. They had to extend the comment period to the public on this one because there were only 2 notices, as required by law, in the paper, but they were right at the holidays... pretty convenient timing, huh? Not. It was deliberate, as the permitting process was started last June. Why wait until December to notify the public? Because many would be out of town or so busy they'd miss the notices, that's why. Anyway. The courts said that DEQ had to issue the permit at the end of 90 days even if the EA was not finished, and that the Opencut Mining Law trumps the Environmental laws in the state.

Miracle of miracles, the EA was finished that very day. Guess who paid for an independent firm to do the EA? Yep. HSG. And the DEQ has the nerve to say even though HSG paid the contractor, DEQ is the one who hired them? Huh. I don't mean to accuse the firm of anything shady...but it smacks of conflict of interest and impropriety to me. And reading the final EA, that addressed concerns submitted by residents, the responses were pretty much "it won't affect you badly because we say so". Right.

And it's not like this is simply a case of NIMBY (Not In My Backyard). There are some serious concerns about health, water, & safety. The H. Valley has been struggling with water quality issues for years. EH has additional water quality issues with Asar.co and it's lovely contamination of the area. The land they are seeking to dig up and disperse all over the property is contaminated with lead, arsenic, selenium. Testing has shown areas with more than 2x the EPA limit that requires cleanup. Yet they're simply to "move" it? Their plan is to mine within 5-6 feet of the groundwater level. Yet they have no study showing where it is. In addition, they are going to be filling a lot of their water needs from the existing irrigation canals in the area...one that many farms rely on. And these aren't your big commercial ones, either. Considering we've been in drought for years...

Then there's the safety of the trucks on the two-lane road that is barely adequate to handle existing traffic. A road already known for bad accidents. Theses trucks will have to pass the schools, go through EH...yet no traffic study, no improvements to the road are required. Our activism did manage to get some restrictions placed on their hours of operation...they were planning on 20 hours per day! Get real...They're now restricted to 5a-7p weekdays, shorter on Saturdays, none on Sunday...UNLESS they're under contract deadlines. Since they are the monopoly here, and are the only supplier for the state/county road improvements - which take place at night - the asphalt plant, etc, will be running, you guessed it, all night. They are also not allowed to drive their trucks during the school "arrival" and "departure" hours. Trucks aren't allowed to idle more than 15 minutes either. But who's gonna enforce that????

All the "precautions" HSG is required to take to diminish aesthetic impacts are ones they are supposed to be doing on their current property that I drive past daily. It's an ugly scar on the landscape, and the trees planted to block the view??? Dead, all but one. Nothing was done, and where's the enforcement? Dust, noise, lights from the current operation - nothing mitigated. Complaints have been steadily rising since the local owners were bought out 3+ years ago by an international firm. It's all words on paper... the fines are minimal and have no effect on this company as the past years have shown. Why would it, they're a monopoly and growth is strong in the valley. Demand is high. Although if people knew they were getting stuff from land contaminated by Asar.co that hasn't been cleaned up...

The final commissioner meeting was yesterday for zoning, and it was supposed to be finalized. But all of a sudden, they've extended the deadline until next week for "comments", and are considering giving HSG a variance allowing the remaining 389 acres of the property to be mined. Dammit. The citizens have done everything required of us by law...it's CITIZEN INITIATED zoning, out of legitimate concerns over air quality, noise, roads, water, lead/arsenic contamination...We have a right to direct how our town develops and grows. So yet again I've written the commissioners, as hopefully the rest of EH residents have. But I'd bet everything HSG gets their variance anyway. Regardless of what more than 80% of the citizens want or not.

It sucks. It really does. We don't have the money to appeal the courts decision (which I'm betting in future gets overturned by a higher court - there are other cases in other counties pending on this very issue) because the law requires us to put up a bond if we want to appeal.

Anyway. It just makes me want to cry. A giant pit in the center of my beautiful town. Air quality is going to be bad - the smell from the asphalt plant alone will cause headaches for me, the dust is going to kill my allergies. Not sure what it will do to my dog's asthma. I guess I'm going to have to figure out how to get AC installed in my house before that goes on line...Too bad, because one of my favorite things about living out here is the fresh air.

Keep your fingers crossed, say your prayers, send your positive energy this way...whatever you have, we need it to keep them restricted to at least the 111 acres.

What's white with green splotches and red bumps?

Sitrep: 1x Lawn Mowing, Trimming, Edging

My legs after trimming/edging the lawn, that's what. They look like I was attacked with the blunt end of a pencil while being eaten alive by giant bugs. I've got little round bruises and red welts all over my legs from mid calf to mid thigh. Mostly around the knees/thigh area. Who knew trimming and edging the yard was so hazardous?

I admit to trimming only once last year...this year the quack grass has made it a necessity to trim just about weekly. This is the first day since I've had the trimmer/edger that it was warm enough to wear shorts. Actually, warm enough to require shorts. Too bad the stupid thing is so noisy, or I'd trim earlier in the morning before the heat gets too much for yard work in jeans...I guess I'd better get some light weight yard work pants.

But my yard looks nice. Mowed, trimmed, edged. Just don't look at the flower beds. Eeek. Gotta buy some weed killer and tackle that tomorrow. If it doesn't rain. It's already clouding up.

So I think I mighta upset my dad yesterday. Political stuff, naturally. [rolling eyes] I just never know when to shut up. It was about the political candidates and taxes and the housing crisis, and you know me. Run off at the mouth....or the email, in this case. ;) But I think all of 'em - Dems & Reps alike - have some stupid plans that will just waste money, and result in the taxpayer paying more. They might not officially raise taxes, but the end results will be the same....I was in a rush when I replied and referred him to one of my favorite sites - http://www.factcheck.org/ - and think I came across harsher than intended. :( I'm sorry Dad.

Well. Maybe I'll tackle the flower beds today...It's still lovely outside, and I'm actually feeling like being outside...even if the lilacs are blooming and the sky is clouding up. Maybe I'll get lucky and another team of fighter jets will fly over...that was spectacular this morning...there were 5 or 6 of them I think. Enough to have many of the neighbors coming outside to see what was up. An unusual sight and sound around here, even with the Fort. They were painted differently than I've seen before...maybe they were from the airshow up at Malmstrom last weekend. They definitely looked like an airshow team. And the way they were moving, the speed and maneuvers, coming from all different directions...Thrilled this AF Brat. :) It wasn't the Thun.derbirds or the Bl.ue An.gels. Maybe the Canadian team? The name escapes me momentarily, darn it, but they were at the airshow last weekend. I should make plans to take Shanni to it next year. That would be a blast!!

PS - Everyone repeat after me "Nat, you do NOT want a Pla.ystat.ion 3. NO YOU DON'T"

Choices, Choices

Sitrep: 0 No excuses, no explanations. Just ZERO. [hanging head in embarrassment]
Goal (4/14-20): 2x Arms, 2x Abs, 1x Bootcamp (as much as I can get through b4 collapsing)

So. It has been very difficult for me to make up my mind as to who I'm voting for in Montana's upcoming primary. To those who know me, it's pretty obvious I'm not picking McC.ain, and why. The next president is most likely going to have the opportunity to appoint one, if not two, Supreme Court justices. The court is already swinging to the conservative side, and that scares me. I don't want women to lose the right to free choice when it comes to our reproductive choices. Whether it's birth control or abo.rtion, I don't want Government mandating what I, my sister, my mother, my female cousins, my nieces or my little sister can do. It should be left as a personal decision. And whatever critics may say, McC.ain's record on these issues is conservative.

For me it's between Oba.ma and Cl.inton. If you look at their positions, they are pretty similar on just about everything. Having listened to the recent speeches in Montana, and watched them replayed on TV (on a local government access channel), I think I've made up my mind. Last night's "Compassion Forum" on C.NN helped affirm my choice.

I'm putting in for Oba.ma for this reason: His ability to inspire, his facility with words, his ability to relate to emotions that the not-so-rich are feeling. Both he & Clin.ton have the ability to be good presidents. I'm just not so sure that Clin.ton will be able to convince anybody to do anything. I don't think she'll be able to get Dems and Reps to work together, and might just be enough of a polarizing force as to make things worse. I worry that if she gets the nomination, that will mobilize many people that "hate" her (I don't get that, but ok) to vote Republican just to vote against her. (A bit of cut your nose off to spite your face if you ask me, but...)

I think Ob.ama doesn't have that negative baggage, and combined with the "freshness" of his "limited" years in D.C., his ability to inspire and talk well, he might have more of a chance to get things done. Domestically & internationally. He has experience, I like his background in Constitutional law, and I think he's smart enough to appoint a broad range of people to his cabinet. I think he's willing to listen to other voices than his own. It's a chance, but both of them are, if you ask me.

And frankly, I'm voting for him because he's half African American/half white, and because he spent some formative years overseas (Indonesia in particular). I believe that gives him a different view of the world. And in some cases, maybe a more realistic one. (I know, I'm making assumptions here.)

I'm ready for someone other than a middle-aged "WASP" (no offense intended, okay?) making decisions that affect me. IMO, a 60 year-old white male born & raised in the USA does not have much in common with me, or much of an understanding of what affects me as a single female in her mid-thirties. I just feel we need fresh ideas, fresh views of the world in the Wh.ite H.ouse.

Clin.ton in my opinion, fits too neatly into the "WASP" category. She comes closer than many others to understanding where I'm coming from, etc., but she still isn't that far out of the box. Especially when you factor in her husband's years in D.C.

Maybe I've seen the movie "Mr Smith Goes to Washington" (The James Stewart version, thanks) too many times. Maybe my idealistic side is coming out (that's how I ended up in the Peace Corps). Maybe I just want to believe in something other than the status quo.

But when I listen to Oba.ma speak, when I read his "blueprint", I want to believe he can get something done. He says thinks that I've been thinking. Puts to words what I've been feeling/wanting to express. Do I think it will be easy? That he'll get a lot done? That everything will be perfect once he's been in office? Nope. But I'm hoping they'll be better. And I think with Mc.Cain they'll be worse, with Cli.nton status quo.

So. I'm buying into the hype, buying into the "dream". And hoping that we'll get some decent leadership in Washing.ton DC come 2009.

And if that isn't enough food for thought, think of this (thank you CrankyOtter for pointing me in this direction):

1981-1989 Vice President = George HW Bush
1989-1993 President = George HW Bush
1993-2001 President = Bill Clinton
2001-2009 President = George W Bush

For the past twenty-eight years, there has been a Bush or a Clinton in the Wh.ite H.ouse. That is 80% of the time I've been alive. For twenty of those years a Bus.h or Clint.on has been President. I'm just saying.

Oba.ma/Clin.ton Photos

I know I said I'd blog about my choice between the two today, but I'm exhausted (too many dreams the last few nights) and can't think straight. Also a little stressed as my annual board meeting is tomorrow. I desperately need to get ready for that and am mostly working through lunch today.

But here are a few pictures. I took several hundred, but since I was using my zoom lens without a tripod in low lighting, many of the shots came out blurry. They should not have had a bright red background in my opinion...Very hard time using the autofocus, but was too paranoid to use the manual focus. Kept the camera on auto settings most of the time, played with some settings once I had plenty of supposedly good automatic shots. :) Still, thank goodness they're digital and I could adjust the saturation & hue of the red tones, and adjust the lighting levels. These are grainy because they're small. I took the originals at the maximum size/quality my camera can handle. Good thing I have a 2GB memory card. [g].




And here's a picture of my most favorite politician in all the world:

Jag, our Governor's dog. Who accompanies him just about everywhere, including the state capital building during work, and to this fancy
fund-raising dinner!

He was restless on stage, though. It was way too hot. Felt like yelling down at them to give the poor dog some water!

He reminds me of my Scully, and Roadie, who belongs to one of the ladies on the bulletin board.

And here he is again with the Governor:

And because I know Mom'll get upset if I don't share it, here's a pic of me and also a group shot:



Geez I look young. And no, it's not edited. It's the lighting...and makeup! Maybe the shade I'm using is a bit too light. Or I'm really just that pale in winter!

P.S. Hey, Tomara! Recognize the green shirt? That's the one you had me try on...I found another shirt I can wear with it! Whaddaya know...I might have some girl genes after all. ;)

Montana and the O/C Fest (part 2)

Goal: 2x Arms & Abs, 2x Floor (scraping/sanding)
Sitrep: 0x anything. ;)

So. Where was I? By the time Ob.ama left, I was shaking (internally). Partly from the fact that I was in a crowd of around 4k people and I don't do crowds well, and partly because the man is a great speaker.

He finished speaking at 7:30pm, and Clin.ton wasn't scheduled until 9pm. So there was quite a bit of "down" time. Senators Tes.ter and Bau.cus spoke, followed by Gov. Sch.weitzer accompanied by Jag, his faithful border collie (who reminds me of my sweet - hah - Scully.) Then a senator from South Dakota spoke. She was pretty good, but admittedly not many people were listening. They should have given a half hour break after Oba.ma so people could talk about his speech, wind down a bit, and then give their attention to the in-between speakers. None of them got a lot of attention, which I thought was very rude. They could only stretch out their talks until 8:40, so there was a twenty minute break before Hillary Clin.ton appeared.

She got kind of a raw deal speaking so late; I'm not sure who arranged the times, etc, although there have been lots of rumors that they refused to speak too close together, and wouldn't be in the same building together. Sounds a bit too petty to me, and I think it probably had more to do with their schedules than anything else. But by the time she spoke, people had been there for six or more hours, and everyone was exhausted. And had been drinking. She wasn't heckled or anything, but the energy was waning - fast. In spite of that she got a good reception. I'm not sure if it's because she gave more specifics or because I was tired or because I was less moved, but I got more notes from her speech.

Clin.ton comes across a lot better in person than on TV. Speaks smoother, jokes are funnier/smoother, etc. It took her a little longer than Oba.ma to get the crowd warmed up. But I'm not sure if that was her or the late hour. I think it was both. Overall I got a very favorable impression from her. She came across as very capable, and committed, and as knowing her stuff. Experienced, knowledgeable, factual. But she's not as talented as Obam.a for motivating and inspiring, I think. At least, that's how I felt during/after her speech.

Here are the notes I took:

• "we don't even know what damage has been done to our country" (speaking about current administration policies, etc.)
• using politics of fear & fatalism has harmed us
• she'll be ready on day one to end war in Iraq and keep America safe
• focus on improving the economy
• we need a fighter
• she'll be a president who'll "work her heart out for you"
• for her it's not about the next election it's about the next generation
• need to put to work the "entrepreneurial energy & innovation" of the US
• work on/focus on:
  -expanding/developing infrastructure
  -renewable energy
  -middle class in jobs where they can afford to raise their families
  -rein in special interests
• proposes $100bn middle class tax cuts for health care, schools, and so on
• take away $50bn in tax cuts to corporations
• provide tax cuts to companies that keep jobs in the US, not for corporations sending jobs overseas
• return to fiscal responsibility, pay as you go
• trim/cut the budget
• No more no bid contracts (Haliburton)
• Will back a strong Farm Bill:
  -permanent disaster relief
  -renewable energy
  -country of origin labelling
  -a bill that works for real family farms
• will have US people sign a "Declaration of Energy Independence"
• invest in bio fuels, clean coal, wind energy, solar
• "We are more dependent on foreign oil today than on 9/11"
• need to develop and expand energy Transmission and Distribution system
• need an alternative energy plan
• $50bn Strategic Energy Fund paid for by:
  -taking tax subsidies away from oil companies
  -oil companies can reinvest in alternative energy solutions, clean up greenhouse gas emissions
  -or face Windfall Profits Tax
• She'll stand up to China (we send our jobs and money there, they send us lead-tainted toys, tainted dog food, etc)
• Universal Health Care - 47million uninsured ($160k in MT), there are insured but insurance companies refuse to pay,
• If you're uninsured, under insured, or not happy with your insurance, she wants to open up the Congressional health plan
• If you're happy with your current insurance you don't have to switch
• Provide tax credits
• Limit amount ever having to pay for premium to a small percentage of your income
• Regulate Insurance companies so they can't discriminate based on health
• End "No Child Left Behind"
• universal prekindergarten, early head start
• make college affordable for every single student
• Fully fund Indian Health Service
• bring respect, government to government representation/communication
• Pledge to do whatever she can to make that happen
• Social Security - no privatizing
• "You don't have to worry about privatizing social security"
• She'll restore leadership and moral authority
• End war, bring troops home as quickly and responsibly as possible
• "Lead way to new global agreement...include India, China..." [talking about global warming]
• "Comprehensive global diplomatic efforts" using respected people from both parties
• need a new 21st Century GI Bill of Rights - money for college, homes, businesses
• Force is a last resort, not first
• Restore Separation of Powers between the branches, Checks & Balances
• Start bringing troops home within first 60 days
• Home Mortgage Crisis - "if we can find $30bn to bail out one firm on Wall Street, we can find $30bin to help homeowners stay in their homes"

She finished speaking, and we were out of there...I turned around and the people I was riding with were already leaving. So no seeing how she interacted with people on the floor on her way out, like I could with Oba.ma. Overall, her speech was specific and knowledgeable. Not as inspiring or hopeful as Obam.a's, but confident, sure, capable.

Anyhow. Lunch is almost over and I need to eat. Tomorrow I'll sum up my feelings on the two; which one I think I'm voting for and why. I'll post pictures, too.

Montana and the O/C Fest (part 1)

Last Week's Goal: 3x Arms & Abs, Gym Night
Debrief: 2x Arms, 3x Abs, 20 min Basketball (Gym Night)
Goals (4/7-13): 2x Arms & Abs, 2 nights finishing bedroom floor (scraping, sanding)

Mid-day Saturday I met up with friends at the local Wal.Mart just off the interstate. We piled into one car and headed off for Butte, MT (or "Butte, America" as everyone's fond of calling it.) Roads were clear, only "bad" area was Elk Park, with limited visibility. Blindingly white from snow, glare and mist/fog. Very weird.

We met up with 2 coworkers at the civic center around 3:00 pm. They had gotten our tickets earlier that morning (wrist bands, really) and were already in line. I wasn't expecting it to be that long. It took 2 hours to get inside, but the doors didn't even open until 3:30, and considering we had to go through security that's not so bad! We got some good seats. Off to the side of the stage, second section. Good thing I had my zoom lens, though!

The wind was bitter standing there in line, but the sense of excitement more than compensated. Many local/state candidates up for election in November were there, and tons of campaign volunteers for Oba.ma and Clin.ton. My coworkers loaded up on the campaign stickers & buttons. I only took two, one for a candidate for our Congressman At Large position (I want the incumbent out) and one to stop a Constitutional (State) Initiative to declare life begins at conception.

As we came around the corner of the building and the door came in sight, the crowd sort of parted by the vendor tables for O and C. I saw the sign first, then I saw the neanderthal holding it. The sign said "America's not for N-word". To say I was shocked, horrified, sick to my stomach puts it mildly. I have never been confronted face to face (so to speak) with that kind of hate before. Obviously, the guy holding the sign was a skin-head; bald, swastika-wearing, stereotypical neo-Nazi. And just a few feet away from him was an African-American male working the Obam.a table, selling buttons, t-shirts, promoting his candidates...Now that is courage. I'm not sure I could have done that. Not one single person in the crowd paid any attention to that hatemonger. Everyone (while I was out there) turned their backs on him...refused to give him the attention he wanted. Best thing for me though, was the fact that that guy was alone. It was only one person, far outnumbered. Maybe it's false hope, but that made me feel a little better, somehow. Only thing I could think of was KT, Shanni's sister. She's half African-American. And this guy was....I'd better not go there. I'll tear up again from anger and fear and sorrow...

We got inside and were at our seats by 5pm. The event started at 6pm. Let me just say here and now, that the evening did not help me make up my mind. At least, not entirely, and not right away. By the time Oba.ma was done speaking, I was determined to vote for him. Ten minutes into Clin.ton's speech, I wasn't so sure. Sigh. After a few days now, I think I've made some headway in my choice. But I'll get to that later. There were around 4,000 people in attendance, 2400 in the bleachers, the rest on the floor, apparently.

O.bama took the stage at 6:40, and his reception was wild. From the second he stepped out from behind the curtain it was insane. We were sitting between two groups that were definitely for Obam.a. I thought my head was going to explode. LOL. Here's my impression of him, from the notes I took. I will admit, it was hard to take notes while taking pictures, cheering, etc. Sometimes I would only catch the first part of his statement because everyone would start screaming, and I'd miss the rest. [g]

He is a phenomenal speaker. The pitch, tone, phrasing...masterful. He was poised, confident, radiated strength and capability. Humor, as well. The best lines of the evening were when he was talking about Bu.sh leaving the W.H., and taking "my cousin Dick Cheney with him." Pause for light laughter. "That was really embarrassing [when that came out]." laughter "We've been trying to hide it for a long time." Brought the roof down with that one.

He captured the crowd within the first few minutes. I haven't seen someone work a crowd like that since I attended a Gar.th Bro.oks concert years ago. I'm not saying this was a performance, I'm just saying it was that kind of energy, electricity. At least, for me! FYI, when I'm in crowds I tend to get drained fairly quickly, am too sensitive to the energy, etc. It's one of the reasons I don't do crowds or big cities. One of my coworkers said she wasn't moved by him at all; I got chills quite a few times during his speech. He's a great motivator. He made me believe what he was saying. I believed change can and will happen, that we can make a difference, that Washington and politics doesn't have to be the way they are. He used his voice well; smooth, soft, booming when needed. Controlled the flow very well. Was extremely comfortable giving the speech; impassioned, serious or firm or humorous when called form. Varied between those. Was not nasty about opponents (C or M) or Bus.h.

Anyway. Here's what I managed to write down:

• "American people are desperate"
• "pain is trickling up"
• "I am many, we are one"
• focused a lot on positive aspects of the US and our past
• "[focus] on talking to not just our friends but to our enemies"
• examples of good things US has done, "something, something, Peace Corps Volunteers to forgotten corners of the world"
• He or Clin.ton would be better than McC.ain
• "Party will be unified"
• Need new kind of politics, no money from special interests
• He wants to be "not just president of blue or red states, but President of the United States of America"
• Change from bottom up
• Mother died of cancer @53, remembers her lying in hospital bed reading insurance forms/policy because it was a new job and the insurance company was trying to claim it was pre-existing condition.
• He knows what it's like to fight insurance companies
• tax breaks to working families, seniors, homeowners
• no tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas
• give tax breaks to companies that keep jobs here, invest in US economy
• $150billion over 10 years to sustainable energy - wind, solar, bio fuels
• Used example of going to moon - no one said couldn't be done, President said "Go" and we did.
• What's holding us back? [Someone in crowd yelled out "R.ehberg" - our republican congressman at large.]
• focus on schooling, health care, taxes
• no more No Child Left Behind
• no teaching to test, teach music, science, literature [said more, but was drowned out by cheers]
• $4,000 tuition credit for community service
• "We'll invest in you, you'll invest in America"
• first job as president is to keep us safe
• he won't hesitate to strike against any that threaten to do us harm
• take care of our troops, including when they come home - care, VA, etc.
• use our military wisely
• end war in Iraq, win war in Afghanistan
• rebuild our strong [something, something] world? (I think it was moral standing)
• focus on common threats - terrorism, nuclear weapons, poverty, global warming - work with rest of world on this
• close Guantanamo
• restore habeus corpus
• "only standing here because someone stood up for me"

Overall the speech was inspiring, but not extremely specific on how he would achieve these things. But I've been getting that specific info from research, etc. Last thing I wrote in my notes for Oba.ma was "words, power, strength - capable". Like I said earlier, I got chills several times during his speech.

Anyhow. Lunch is over; must return to work. I'll try to get online tonight to post my notes on Clin.ton, and then my overall feelings comparing the two.

On the Exercise Front

Last Week's Goal: 3x Arms & Abs, Gym Night
Debrief: 2x Arms, 3x Abs, 20 min Basketball (Gym Night)
Goals (4/7-13): 2x Arms & Abs, 2 nights finishing bedroom floor (scraping, sanding)

I just wanted to pop in with a post on my exercise for last week. I feel much better, almost made my goal. Only short one Arms workout. Also got in some stair climbing via the bleachers at the dinner on Saturday. And does it count that we stood in line for several hours? In the "bitter wind and snow" to quote the local paper? It was cold when the wind blew. Enough to make a person move around alot. But I did the layers thing which was smart. Because it was darn hot inside. At least up in the bleachers. Too many politicians campaigning on the floor. ;)

Will download pics to my computer today from the rally, and compose a post. Lots to think about. It was an amazing evening. Left me completely exhausted yesterday. Managed to hangout with Shanni and KT though. Watched "Sweeney Todd" (excellent, if bloody - had to make Shanni cover her eyes for some of it), and "Enchanted" (fun, different.) I guess it was a day for musicals of a different color...ST is on my "buy" list for DVDs now. Hint, hint. (Hey, someone has a birthday coming up in oh, ten days?)

Be back later with info on Montana's O.C. ;)