A Storm is Blowing In

We're having a change of weather. The temperature is falling pretty fast. A wind will blow in and the leaves on the Green Ash will start to fall. It is the first tree in the yard to turn and turns spectacularly yellow in a couple of days. The leaves stay on the stem until a gust of wind brings them all down at once. It's breathtaking. I have just cleaned the dead leaves off the deck and out of the gazebo for guests last Sunday. I left the blower and extension chord outside and will have to tuck them away in a minute. But before the leaves are gone, here is a shot of the yellow leaves on the Green Ash against a blue sky. It's hard to get an idea of the size of this tree from this photograph, I will try to give it scale and post a series of photos of it later.

Writers United

Well you lucky creative writing bloggers, Dusty has set up a site. I have already posted two pieces I'm working on. Dusty has three or four pieces up. So let Dusty know that you are interested in posting there, and we can work together to inspire each other with our compliments and suggestions. The editorial help never hurts. And since we are in the construction phase of this project any suggestion you have to make the site work best for you should be directed to Dusty. Sadly, I have no finely honed computing skills, so I will be of no use at all. I don't even know how to post my photographs prettily, or find those snappy photographs other bloggers use with such artful ways to illustrate their posts. It's just not fair. And I think my administrator is actually working. To make a living. Christ, times are getting tough.

Now Is Not The Time For Complacency

I have talked about this great site often. It is linked at the top of my side bar and I call it the best little polling place in the world. I look at it several times a day just to keep my spirits up. Todays piece is instructive for all of us feeling good about the race for the White House so far, but Barack Obama is not feeling so complacent. Do not forget "The Bradley Effect." Yes, maybe Obama has a "big" lead in your area, but if you don't vote, imagine how many of your fellow voters are doing the same thing. No, now is not the time for complacency.

How Racism Works

I received a lovely email from a dear friend of mine who lives in New York. She sent me this piece from a friend of hers, and without anyone's permission I post it here.

How Racism Works...

What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review?
What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating
class?

What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said 'I do'
to?
What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no
longer measured up to his standards?

What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became addicted to
pain killers, but acquired them illegally through her charitable
organization? What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?

What if Obama were a member of the Keating-5?
What if McCain were a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the
election numbers would be as close as they are?
This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes
positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities
in another when there is a color difference.

You are The Boss... which team would you hire?

With America facing historic debt, 2 wars, stumbling health care, a
weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, mortgage crises,
bank foreclosures, etc.

Educational Background--

Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in
International Relations
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

McCain:
United States 0Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899

Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism

Now, which team are you going to hire?

(Oh, and by the way, what if Barack Obama had an unwed, pregnant
teenage daughter?)