Day 2 Day radishes

October 31/ Press

I was listening to Michael Medved today and he said that during the same period, Time Magazine had ten issues with Obama on the cover, and four issues of McCain on the cover. The Obama issues were about the wonder of Obama, and three issues of the four of McCain were negative. Not having verified this information, let us say that Obama had six cover issues and only two of the McCain cover issues were negative. This is a big difference.

The press has ignored Rev. Wright. If you hear a tape of Rev. Wright, you can not conclude anything other than the man has hatred for America. Rev. Wright is not the norm. Mr. Radish and I have driven leisurely across the southern part of the United States listening to black preachers. Although they were addressing a black audience, and acknowledged the fact. They were still focused on the Gospel, discussed God, and how to meet God’s needs with our lives. And . . .they were very entertaining while doing so. I do not believe that I ever heard hatred.

I feel that the press is a major hidden issue for this country. Part of this election is about freedom. Part of the election is about reporting reality and facts. A lot about this election is about what you do not know, because it has been hidden from you.

October 30/ Berkeley and the 60's

Someone once told Ernest Hemingway that to begin to write, just write one true sentence a day.

My sentence is the following. Crowd mentality is alarming. People who are normally sane become insane. I was in Berkeley just before the big riots on campus. We lived two blocks from Sather Gate. I walked to my work place just inside the gate at Sproul Hall, the Administration Office.

It was at this time that Mario Savio founded the Free Speech Movement. He was at the gate ranting, and there were Black Panthers who greatly intimidated me. One day while I was working at the Admissions Office, Mario, some Black Panthers and students, but mostly non students came and surrounded the building closing off the entrances. The Police were there, and I mainly remember how mad and frightened my coworkers were. This was 44 years ago and I have forgotten a lot of the details.

But what I do remember vividly is the civil unrest, mainly of young people who were not students. They wanted to destroy the businesses on Telegraph Ave. One day Mr. Radish and a friend made what was to be a quick trip to the mom/pop grocery store on Telegraph Ave. We found what little we wanted, and then got in the checker line. In front of me was a hippie/dippie young man and woman. In their cart was all of the tiny items in the store. Those were things like razor blades that had to be checked separately. Chap lipstick, cigarettes, gum etc. They had a whole cart filled with small items.

This man and woman were in front of me, and people crowded behind me and beside me. I was trapped. The young clerk patiently rung each piece up on the cash register. And this took quite a long time. Finally the clerk finished. And the young man then said, “I do not want any of this stuff.” The clerk was dumfounded. “It will take an afternoon to reshelf these goods,” she said.

Meanwhile I could not escape. My husband couldn’t move, nor our friend. Then I went into a screaming fit of amazing filthy language, which has only been surpassed by child birth old style. I think the police showed up; I really do not remember how I got out. But I remember the feeling of trapped panic there in the crowd. The regular customers where outraged, and the Free Speechers were smug. “Smug” never sits well with me.

I am for John McCain, and I approve of this message.

October 29/ Election party

My friends and I are getting the election day party ready.  We are getting the stage and dance floor ready. Even though Mr. Radish does not know dance music if he waltzes into it, he can be in charge of music.  As I write the radio is saying that Obama is 16 points a head.   But distress us, not at all. Although comfort food has been suggested for a menu, we are going ahead with gin, steak, baked potatoes, and apple pie, the last, a little Americana.

We are coming with our suggestions for appointments to McCain’s  cabinet.  We are going to send in our applications for Nannies for the Palin children.  We are going to dance the night away. We are going to get out our check books and start Christmas shopping via the Internet.  A friend knows where to get Eileen Fisher on the cheap. We are going to have some wine (we will even give the dogs wine should they care to imbibe) and really, truly thank God. Maybe I will get a pen pal in Israel.  Oh yes, maybe I can continue to pledge to the church.  We are going to help hunt down the corrupt.  We are going to petition Congress to try McCain’s health plan.  We may invite people  in off the streets. Oh that’s right, they are going to be rioting.  I am going to make good my bargains with God. 

October 18/ Hope

Yesterday, I did indeed go to wave a sign at our main drag onto our island.  It was an invigorating experience.  Not only was it chilly, but the approximately 30 people were nice, and our reception was terrific. 

Washington, being a blue state, leaves a Republican feeling isolated.  The papers report only Democrat news, and only if the Republican news can be conceived as bad.  You do not know if people are Republican or Democrat because Republicans are afraid to ask, and Democrat friends assume because you are nice that you too are a Democrat.  This last statement has happened again and again to our family. 

Yesterday waving signs was a shot in the arm.  It was encouraging.  Republicans were very keen on honking, or waving, or giving a thumbs up. One large dump truck came by and gave a blast on the horn that nearly blew us off the street.  One little and very old lady jumped up and down in her passenger seat.  Republican drivers were so happy to see us.  Once I counted 6 cars in a row that were Republican. 

I did profiling.  The hardest to read were young women.  They could have just been concentrating on the road, but they nearly all stared straight ahead. We have to give them up to Obama.  People with children were split, but the kids were all into it, no matter who they were backing. Pick up trucks were for McCain.   The people in sad cars were for Obama.  Skuzzy people were for Obama.  Only young men gave the finger.  And there was not a man or woman on a motorcycle that was not for McCain.  Senior citizens were for McCain.  However there were so many of them, that is maybe only wishful thinking. 

Here is the bottom line.  There were more people for Obama, but I try to remember that east of the Cascades there are more Republicans.  Maybe we can help them.  We are not alone.  And lastly, waving the signs and flags was a lot of fun.  It helped my mood a lot. 

October 27/ Gumption

Alas it has happened, I have writer's block.  I am having a great deal of trouble being positive. 

Today on the Internet is a picture of a mannequin of Sarah Palin with her head hanging from a noose. Maybe the way to look at this election is that I do not want Sarah to win due to what may befall her.  Although it is Halloween season, it seems that for some, this idea of hanging her, is viewed by likely more than one person.   Talk about your high tech lynching.

My mother would have said that Sarah has gumption.  Let me tell you there are worse things than gumption.  Sarah has the ability to see clearly and make the right decisions.  Harvard or any Ivy League school cannot give you gumption. Perhaps Kansas state, but I am not sure.

Gumption is the courage to take what action is needed.  It comes from within.  Gumption is common sense.  For instance:  it is common sense that if you lend money to someone who cannot pay you back, they will not pay you back.  It is common sense that you are known by the company you keep.  It is common sense that if you distribute the wealth, some people are going to be mad. 

There is little to do, but I am going out this afternoon to wave a sign to the homeward bound traffic.  Sounds geeky, doesn’t it?  I do not expect to change one vote.  But perhaps the local Republicans will feel comforted that they are not alone. 

Also there is encouragement by a Catholic Bishop to pray to Our Lady of Victories this week. 

October 21/ Taxes

Obama is going to hold a job conference with all our governors. That event will put about $500,000 or more directly into the economy, which will pay to have their suits cleaned, shoes polished, transportation, the work up for the presentation, hotel rooms, tips for the cab driver and room cleaners, food and a few drinks. A half a million is good.

Let me give a Joe the Plumber scenario for me. If my taxes are raised, since my stocks are so low, I will cancel the house cleaner, never have anyone to work in my yard which will infuriate my neighbors. I will go to fewer movies but there are not that many anyway. I do not know if I can avoid buying books. There, I am weak. My husband and I support restaurants in town for lunch. It is now pea soup at home. No more good waitress tips from my husband.

But the main thing which will change is my charitable donations, mostly to church. I will feel that I have given at the office so to speak. I have never understood why our donkey friends have begrudged the charitable work that is done by churches, but feel that it is patriotic to pay taxes. At least te churches decide where the money is to go and see where is the greatest need. The food bank is very big in my town and supports many of the seasonal workers, among others. Many churches here contribute money and time. Those volunteers know who the poor people are.

October 20/ Day to day to the election

Joe Biden was here in Washington yesterday. He came to Tacoma and Seattle where he has made his statement that for sure by six months into Obama’s term there will be some huge crisis created by foreigners to test Obama. And he said (talking to liberals) that they might not like how Obama handles the situation because they will not know the end game. But we need to stick together.

Frankly, who knows what is going to happen, but do we want someone who their own Vice President says may not be competent. To announce this to the world is quite astonishing. I guess Biden is giving him lots of foreign affair tips.

I did not laugh on Sunday when my Priest started talking about one person’s ability to change something. In this case he was talking about elections decided by one vote. Then he mentioned the Washington Governor’s last race in 2004. He said that Rossi after the first count was 46 votes ahead. But after the third count Christine Gregoire won by 126. “Tell me that people voting don’t count”, he said. He really believes that they found more real and valid ballots? Ballots that just were never turned in? This from a man who loves to tell the old ladies at church about scams to be aware of.

Does anyone feel like this is the Puritans verses the King. My beloved Poldark where are you?

October 17/ Grateful

Things I am grateful for at seventy.

I am grateful that I am seventy. Many times I wondered if I would get here. I wondered that in the middle of the ocean in a small boat. I wondered in the hospital when my heart was bad. I wondered that when I had several depressions.

I am grateful that I was born in America. Freedom is a passion. And there is not much that I am embarrassed about for my country. I like it all. The health care, the landscape, the food, the can do spirit. I lied, education is bad, and I do not like Congress.

I am grateful that I am a woman, as a man I would have had a terrible time finding a career. Motherhood suited me.

I had the good fortune to marry an outstanding man, who though a curmudgeon( of which he is proud), and takes everything I say, and puts it in his own words. But I never questioned for a moment that he loved me, that he also liked me and would to the end. He has provided well for me. We have share some interests, some not. We have shared an interest in politics, some sports, current events, but mostly we have enjoyed our family. Alas, he has not been interested in my crafts. But even now when he kisses me in the morning with his scent of Old Spice, he is the guy.

God blessed me a million fold when he gave me my daughters: NoName, Margaret, and Meredith. Yesterday No Name and I were driving, and we discussed if there were any unresolved issues. There are none. Especially now that she has stopped telling me about the peasant dress that I made her wear to eighth grade graduation. Fortunate us.

October 15/ Birthday

This is year 70 plus day one. Boy has it been fun. I have accidentally erased my blog on the Calligan party. But NoName has written it up very well. So if you are interested go to

www.expatprincess.wordpress.com

 

To go out to dinner at Campagne on Saturday night my girls, and my son-in-law each wore clothes that I had made in the past. I am sure that this came about because when one daughter asked how would I like my funeral to be run, I responded that I would like things I made over the years displayed. I have a large body of handcrafts that I have made and maybe people would see what I have been doing all these years. Well this need for my work to be displayed has been fulfilled. We can skip that part of the funeral.

One daughter wore a navy swing coat that I had made her in college and while she did like it, I think it was not in the frame of what a Berkeley junior thought she should be wearing no matter from what prospective you looked. But in fact, that coat still did look well constructed and current.

NoName wore this quilted coat/jacket I had made from bits and pieces of either old clothing or scraps from making something else, in one case jockey shorts. I would wear this coat with jeans, and the coat never stayed on my shoulders. But I could never throw it away as it had a piece of Margaret’s dress she wore to nursery school. Also It had a piece from a shirt in which my husband had looked very handsome. The best part of the coat/jacket was that it had velvet pockets, and my hands always felt elegant. People would stop me on the street saying how fascinating they thought the coat was.

Poor Margaret wore my tour de force. This was a sweater that I knit wrist to wrist in the style of designer Kaffe Fasset. I used over 30 different yarns, maybe 50, and made a bordello flame design. Once you knit this sweater you are in an elite club of knitters. It was hard and it took a long time. But the sweater was never right. It hung all wrong, the ends of the yarns, though knit into the sweater, started sticking out. Because of this, I never really wore this sweater very much. It was enough to have knit it. What should have happened is that the sweater should have been hung on a wall for decoration. The sweater looked like a bolero on tall Margaret.

Bill, the chauffeur, wore a sweater that I knit him, and while a little dated, it still looked like a regular sweater. Margaret had bought him a chauffeur’s cap.

I saw these daughter’s dressed up in these outfits and I realized what they had been trying for years to tell me, they had a kookie mother. I always considered myself a little free spirited, but the fact of the matter is, they were right, I am a kookie mother. At this late date, I would like to say publicly, I am sorry that I drove you nuts all those years. And my sister sent me this hat which did nothing to discourage the appearance.

Anytime someone sends you a pasties for a hat, I think you ought to wear it.

The dinner was great fun. The restaurant was all that I hoped it would be. I had pate, pickled seasonal vegetables with mackerel, roast duck, and a cheese course. It was deeeevine. I shall never forget how well the wine went with the duck. I never want to know how much this meal cost. But I will say that I am going to make every effort to be in good form for my 80^th birthday, because I want to do it all over again.

October 11/ Away for a few days

I will be gone for a few.  NoName is here and we are celebrating this weekend.  She has been helping me with the storage room and cleaning it.  It is busy.  I am loving it.  Tonight is the big night at the fancy restaurant with all my girls and we are going this afternoon for pedicures. We even are having photos at five.   i am hoping that it is by the photographer that fixes our skin. 

Then Monday Mr. Radish has cataract surgery.  This is all before the birthday. 

Love to my readers.  All will be well.