Now that I've completed my voting, I can get on to more important things than politics.

CATS.

Surely you want to know all about Kitty Survivor!  I'm going to start our cat, Princess Peachpit, on a strict training regimen so she can get in.  She's a bit fat.  But she did chase off a neighborhood cat not to long ago, so that must count for something.  I don't know if she'd do well in the challenges, but I think she'd prosper in the cut-throat social environment.  She has such a "better than everyone in the universe" attitude.

Cats are truly the only thing worth our attention, anyways.  She whispers that into my ear every night while I sleep.

Help!  Nolan has turned into a zombie!  I knew that trip to the corn maze would end in trouble.  If only he hadn't nibbled on that corn...

Nolan the zombie was our only trick or treater.  I'm so glad he stopped by!  His dad took him out about town to gather scads of candy.  What a great costume.

Well, time to vote.  It can no longer be put off.

Aaaaaagh!  I can't believe it's only 6:40 in the evening!  It feels like at least 9:00.  Well, early to bed for us then.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

What does an active volcano wear for a Halloween costume?  Snow!

Let us not forget in all of our Halloween excitement one of the most fascinating holidays, the Mexican Day of the Dead celebration, which begins today (october 31st) and runs through November 2nd.  While I don't claim to know much about the holiday, I have always been drawn to the imagery associated with it, especially the skeletons.  Here is a passage from an article that explains the abundance of skeleton people:

Mexicans have a distinctly different view of themselves in the afterlife. First, you keep your identity, since to return to this world for the Day of the Dead, you must remain who you were. This explains the profusion of skeletons of all sizes, doing ordinary day-to-day things. If uncle José was a barber, he continues as a barber after death. Placing a skeleton figure of a barber on your altar reaffirms to uncle José that he has not been forgotten on his spiritual return.

José Guadalupe Posada is one of the most well known artists associated with the skeleton imagery.  Here are two of my favorites by him.  The first one always makes me think of an exciting moment in the Eco-Challenge or some other long distance bicycle race.  And the second picture just looks like such a nice party.

What would fall be without a visit to the local corn maze?  I don't know, because we visited our local maze today.  We were blessed with beautiful sunny skies, spooky wind blowing the corn stalks around, and mud mud mud!  It was a great time.  And here friends, are the pictures to prove it.  Oh - did I mention there were zombies in the corn maze?

Happy day, off to a cheery start

If only the little girls could see this picture...

Freedom is on the march!  Tra la la!

Hello, I'll be your tour guide today - follow me!

The last outpost...

Oh no - turned into a zombie!

Oh the madness of it all!

Tasty corn - or zombifying poison?  Bwa ha ha ha ha

I'm just sure this is the way out...really...I just know it...

The wind is blowing like crazy here tonight, so I think I'll sign of from computer land for a while.  Better go light some candles too.

Blessings and peace to you all!  Good night, good bye, poof.

What with all the strange election season news, I feel like I'm living in a bad movie.  And it just keeps getting weirder.

We got a box from Florida today at the library - I was just sure it was those 58,000 missing ballots gone astray.  But no, it was some books on tape that somebody had taken cross country and sent back when they were finished.

Our weekend isn't too busy.  Nolan has a soccer game at 9:00 tomorrow morning (too early!), and I imagine in the afternoon we'll carve pumpkins.  Then, in the evening, we'll be going to a carnival at Nolan's school.  Sunday he's going trick or treating with his dad.  As you can see, lots of fun, close to home.

I ought to go crochet.  I think I'll feel better.  It's a real activity that doesn't occur in bad movies.

In case you're wonderng whatever became of the mysterious bulge under W's jacket at the debates, check out this story.  Leave it to the physicists and geologists to make the effort to get the truth out.  And hooray for remote sensing techniques!

PEACE, TRUTH, LOVE, and goodnight!

Well kids, I know things are just too exciting around here for you what with all the contests, volcanic eruptions, and giant insects buzzing around.  But I did promise you that I'd post some of our eclipse pictures from last night, and here they are.  It wasn't easy, due to the fact that as you increase the zoom the camera is much more subject to every little movement you make (merely existing, for example).  We did make the best of it, and here are the fruits of our efforts!

Really wiggly early attempt by me

Very artistic incorporation of lights down the street

The picture Nolan took

At this point Chris took over.  He did some purposeful wiggling to get neat effects, and also built a little base out of books to stabilize the camera.

This one turned out - purple?

The coolest picture of them all

Bouncing moon

Grand finale - full lunar eclipse!

The other night we posted a contest and had almost zippo response.  So let's give this another try.  The first contest still stands, and here are two more chances for you to win win win!

Here's how it works - name either one of the following people, and tell us what they do.  Each correct answer will get you 10,000 tbucks - so if you get both of them, that's 20,000.  I also award tbucks for partial answers that show good effort.  Please send your answer as a private message, since this is a contest that can have many winners as long as you don't give the answers away.  Good luck!

Well, did you all get out and take a look at the moon tonight?  We did, and it was awesome.  We took a bunch of pictures, but I will have to go through and pick the best ones before posting them.

In the meantime, here's ONE MORE picture of Mount St. Helens that I got today, during sunset.  Don't forget, you too can check in on volcanic activity anytime (okay, during daylight hours) just by clicking HERE.

Sunset on the volcano

Cheers to you all on this beautiful evening!

p.s.  Nemo doesn't seem to be doing too well.....

Look at that!

Another beautiful day at Mount St. Helens.

We have another guest in our house for a few days - a goldfish named Nemo.  My coworker asked if I could watch it for a few days while she's on vacation.  He just sort of swims around in his little bowl in the corner.  He's not nearly as scary as the scorpion was (who will be returning for an encore performance in January).  And I'm off the hook if he dies while I have him, as apparently he's lived well past his expected lifespan.  Whew.

Sure is purty, huh?

Okay, that's all I have to share right now.

There is a little tiny moth fluttering around me and my computer screen (which I can't seem to drag myself from today).  Billlyryan, I know you are somewhat afraid of moths, so I will stand in your place when dealing with moths becomes necessary.  I love them.  One of my favorite parts in The Fellowship of the Ring was when the moth came to visit Gandalf.  They flutter so beautifully.

Luna Moth

I've had such a mellow weekend that my political mood has been on low-drive.  I believe this has been good for my general mental state.  HOWEVER, I came across the following article that lays out very succinctly, with references, 100 reasons why Bush should not be re-elected.  Take your pick, pick your reason.  And if you happen to be a Bush supporter, please try to see and understand why those of us that do not support him feel the way we do.  We have very legitimate concerns that four more years of the same will be devestating to this nation.

I don't normally cut and paste, but this one is worth it.

100 Facts and 1 Opinion

The Non-Arguable Case Against the Bush Administration

by Judd Legum

[from the November 8, 2004 issue of The Nation]

IRAQ

1. The Bush Administration has spent more than $140 billion on a war of choice in Iraq.

Source: American Progress

2. The Bush Administration sent troops into battle without adequate body armor or armored Humvees.

Sources: Fox News, The Boston Globe

3. The Bush Administration ignored estimates from Gen. Eric Shinseki that several hundred thousand troops would be required to secure Iraq.

Source: PBS

4. Vice President Cheney said Americans "will, in fact, be greeted as liberators" in Iraq.

Source: The Washington Post

5. During the Bush Administration's war in Iraq, more than 1,000 US troops have lost their lives and more than 7,000 have been injured.

Source: globalsecurity.org

6. In May 2003, President Bush landed on an aircraft carrier in a flight suit, stood under a banner proclaiming "Mission Accomplished," and triumphantly announced that major combat operations were over in Iraq. Asked if he had any regrets about the stunt, Bush said he would do it all over again.

Source: Yahoo News

7. Vice President Cheney said that Iraq was "the geographic base of the terrorists who have had us under assault for many years, but most especially on 9/11." The bipartisan 9/11 Commission found that Iraq had no involvement in the 9/11 attacks and no collaborative operational relationship with Al Qaeda.

Source: MSNBC , 9-11 Commission

8. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said that high-strength aluminum tubes acquired by Iraq were "only really suited for nuclear weapons programs," warning "we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud." The government's top nuclear scientists had told the Administration the tubes were "too narrow, too heavy, too long" to be of use in developing nuclear weapons and could be used for other purposes.

Source: New York Times

9. The Bush Administration has spent just $1.1 billion of the $18.4 billion Congress approved for Iraqi reconstruction.

Source: USA Today

10. According to the Administration's handpicked weapon's inspector, Charles Duelfer, there is "no evidence that Hussein had passed illicit weapons material to al Qaeda or other terrorist organizations, or had any intent to do so." After the release of the report, Bush continued to insist, "There was a risk--a real risk--that Saddam Hussein would pass weapons, or materials, or information to terrorist networks."

Sources: New York Times, White House news release

11. According to Duelfer, the UN inspections regime put an "economic strangle hold" on Hussein that prevented him from developing a WMD program for more than twelve years.

Source: Los Angeles Times

TERRORISM

12. After receiving a memo from the CIA in August 2001 titled "Bin Laden Determined to Attack America," President Bush continued his monthlong vacation.

Source: CNN.com

13. The Bush Administration failed to commit enough troops to capture Osama bin Laden when US forces had him cornered in the Tora Bora region of Afghanistan in November 2001. Instead, they relied on local warlords.

Source: csmonitor.com

14. The Bush Administration secured less nuclear material from sites around the world vulnerable to terrorists in the two years after 9/11 than were secured in the two years before 9/11.

Source: nti.org

15. The Bush Administration underfunded Nunn-Lugar--the program intended to keep the former Soviet Union's nuclear legacy out of the hands of terrorists and rogue states--by $45.5 million.

Source: armscontrol.org

16. The Bush Administration has assigned five times as many agents to investigate Cuban embargo violations as it has to track Osama bin Laden's and Saddam Hussein's money.

Source: sfgate.com

17. According to Congressional Research Service data, the Bush Administration has underfunded security at the nation's ports by more than $1 billion for fiscal year 2005.

Source: American Progress

18. The Bush Administration did not devote the resources necessary to prevent a resurgence in the production of poppies, the raw material used to create heroin, in Afghanistan--creating a potent new source of financing for terrorists.

Source: Pakistan Tribune

19. Vice President Cheney told voters that unless they elect George Bush in November, "we'll get hit again" by terrorists.

Source: Washington Post

20. Even though an Al Qaeda training manual suggests terrorists come to the United States and buy assault weapons, the Bush Administration did nothing to prevent the expiration of the ban.

Source: sfgate.com

21. Despite repeated calls for reinforcements, there are fewer experienced CIA agents assigned to the unit dealing with Osama bin Laden now than there were before 9/11.

Source: New York Times

22. Before 9/11, John Ashcroft proposed slashing counterterrorism funding by 23 percent.

Source: americanprogress.org

23. Between January 20, 2001, and September 10, 2001, the Bush Administration publicly mentioned Al Qaeda one time.

Source: commondreams.org

24. The Bush Administration granted the 9/11 Commission $3 million to investigate the September 11 attacks and $50 million to the commission that investigated the Columbia space shuttle crash.

Source: commondreams.org

25. More than three years after 9/11, just 5 percent of all cargo--including cargo transported on passenger planes--is screened.

Source: commondreams.org

NATIONAL SECURITY

26. During the Bush Administration, North Korea quadrupled its suspected nuclear arsenal from two to eight weapons.

Source: New York Times

27. The Bush Administration has openly opposed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, undermining nuclear nonproliferation efforts.

Source: commondreams.org

28. The Bush Administration has spent $7 billion this year--and plans to spend $10 billion next year--for a missile defense system that has never worked in a test that wasn't rigged.

Sources: www.gao.gov/new.items/d04409.pdf, Los Angeles Times

29. The Bush Administration underfunded the needs of the nation's first responders by $98 billion, according to a Council on Foreign Relations study.

Source: nationaldefensemagazine.org

CRONYISM AND CORRUPTION

30. The Bush Administration awarded a multibillion-dollar no-bid contract to Halliburton--a company that still pays Vice President Cheney hundreds of thousands of dollars in deferred compensation each year (Cheney also has Halliburton stock options). The company then repeatedly overcharged the military for services, accepted kickbacks from subcontractors and served troops dirty food.

Sources: The Washington Post, The Tapei Times, BBC News

31. The Bush Administration told Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan about plans to go to war with Iraq before telling Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Source: detnews.com

32. The Bush Administration relentlessly pushed an energy bill containing $23.5 billion in corporate tax breaks, much of which would have benefited major campaign contributors.

taxpayer.net, Washington Post

33. The Bush Administration paid Iraqi-exile and neocon darling Ahmad Chalabi $400,000 a month for intelligence, including fabricated claims about Iraqi WMD. It continued to pay him for months after discovering that he was providing inaccurate information.

Source: MSNBC

34. The Bush Administration installed as top officials more than 100 former lobbyists, attorneys or spokespeople for the industries they oversee.

Source: Source: commondreams.org

35. The Bush Administration let disgraced Enron CEO Ken Lay--a close friend of President Bush--help write its energy policy.

Source: MSNBC

36. Top Bush Administration officials accepted $127,600 in jewelry and other presents from the Saudi royal family in 2003, including diamond-and-sapphire jewelry valued at $95,500 for First Lady Laura Bush.

Source: Seattle Times

37. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge awarded lucrative contracts to several companies in which he is an investor, including Microsoft, GE, Sprint, Pfizer and Oracle.

Source: cq.com

38. President Bush used images of firefighters carrying flag-draped coffins through the rubble of the World Trade Center to score political points in a campaign advertisement.

Source: The Washington Post

THE ECONOMY

39. President Bush's top economic adviser, Greg Mankiw, said the outsourcing of American jobs abroad was "a plus for the economy in the long run."

Source: CBS News

40. The Bush Administration turned a $236 billion surplus into a $422 billion deficit.

Sources: Fortune, dfw.com

41. The Bush Administration implemented regulations that made millions of workers ineligible for overtime pay.

Source: epinet.org

42. The Bush Administration has crippled state budgets by underfunding federal mandates by $175 billion.

Source: cbpp.org

43. President Bush is the first President since Herbert Hoover to have a net loss of jobs--around 800,000--over a four-year term.

Source: The Guardian

44. The Bush Administration gave Accenture a multibillion-dollar border control contract even though the company moved its operations to Bermuda to avoid paying taxes.

Sources: The New York Times, cantonrep.com

45. In 2000, candidate George W. Bush said "the vast majority of my tax cuts go to the bottom end of the spectrum." He passed the tax cuts, but the top 20 percent of earners received 68 percent of the benefits.

Sources: cbpp.org, vote-smart.org

46. In 2000, candidate George W. Bush promised to pay down the national debt to a historically low level. As of September 30, the national debt stood at $7,379,052,696,330.32, a record high.

Sources: www.georgewbush.com , Bureau of the Public Debt

47. As major corporate scandals rocked the nation's economy, the Bush Administration reduced the enforcement of corporate tax law--conducting fewer audits, imposing fewer penalties, pursuing fewer prosecutions and making virtually no effort to prosecute corporate tax crimes.

Source: iht.com

48. The Bush Administration increased tax audits for the working poor.

Source: theolympian.com

49. In 2000, candidate George W. Bush promised to protect the Social Security surplus. As President, he spent all of it.

Sources: georgewbush.com, Congressional Budget Office

50. The Bush Administration proposed slashing funding for the largest federal public housing program, putting 2 million families in danger of losing their housing.

Source: San Francisco Examiner

51. The Bush Administration did nothing to prevent the minimum wage from falling to an inflation-adjusted fifty-year low.

Source: Los Angeles Times

EDUCATION

52. The Bush Administration underfunded the No Child Left Behind Act by $9.4 billion.

Source: nwitimes.com

53. In 2000, candidate George W. Bush promised to increase the maximum federal scholarship, or Pell Grant, by 50 percent. Instead, each year he has been in office he has frozen or cut the maximum scholarship amount.

Source: Source: edworkforce.house.gov x

54. The Bush Administration's Secretary of Education, Rod Paige, called the National Education Association--a union of teachers--a "terrorist organization."

Sources: CNN.com

HEALTHCARE

55. The Bush Administration, in violation of the law, refused to allow Medicare actuary Richard Foster to tell members of Congress the actual cost of their Medicare bill. Instead, they repeated a figure they knew was $100 billion too low.

Source: Washington Post, realcities.com

56. The nonpartisan GAO concluded the Bush Administration created illegal, covert propaganda--in the form of fake news reports--to promote its industry-backed Medicare bill.

Source: General Accounting Office

57. The Bush Administration stunted research that could lead to new treatments for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, spinal injuries, heart disease and muscular dystrophy by placing severe restrictions on the use of federal dollars for embryonic stem-cell research.

Source: CBS News

58. The Bush Administration reinstated the "global gag rule," which requires foreign NGOs to withhold information about legal abortion services or lose US funds for family planning.

Source: healthsciences.columbia.edu

59. The Bush Administration authorized twenty companies that have been charged with fraud at the federal or state level to offer Medicare prescription drug cards to seniors.

Source: American Progress

60. The Bush Administration created a prescription drug card for Medicare that locks seniors into one card for up to a year but allows the corporations offering the cards to change their prices once a week.

Source: Washington Post

61. The Bush Administration blocked efforts to allow Medicare to negotiate cheaper prescription drug prices for seniors.

Source: American Progress

62. At the behest of the french fry industry, the Bush Administration USDA changed their definition of fresh vegetables to include frozen french fries.

Source: commondreams.org

63. In a case before the Supreme Court, the Bush Administrations sided with HMOs--arguing that patients shouldn't be allowed to sue HMOs when they are improperly denied treatment. With the Administration's help, the HMOs won.

Source: ABC News

64. The Bush Administration went to court to block lawsuits by patients who were injured by defective prescription drugs and medical devices.

Source: Washington Post

65. President Bush signed a Medicare law that allows companies that reduce healthcare benefits for retirees to receive substantial subsidies from the government.

Source: Bloomberg News

66. Since President Bush took office, more than 5 million people have lost their health insurance.

Source: CNN.com

67. The Bush Administration blocked a proposal to ban the use of arsenic-treated lumber in playground equipment, even though it conceded it posed a danger to children.

Source: Miami Herald

68. One day after President Bush bragged about his efforts to help seniors afford healthcare, the Administration announced the largest dollar increase of Medicare premiums in history.

Source: iht.com

69. The Bush Administration--at the behest of the tobacco industry--tried to water down a global treaty that aimed to help curb smoking.

Source: tobaccofreekids.org

70. The Bush Administration has spent $270 million on abstinence-only education programs even though there is no scientific evidence demonstrating that they are effective in dissuading teenagers from having sex or reducing the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.

Source: salon.com

71. The Bush Administration slashed funding for programs that suggested ways, other than abstinence, to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.

Source: LA Weekly

ENVIRONMENT

72. The Bush Administration gutted clean-air standards for aging power plants, resulting in at least 20,000 premature deaths each year.

Source: cta.policy.net

73. The Bush Administration eliminated protections on more than 200 million acres of public lands.

Source: calwild.org

74. President Bush broke his promise to place limits on carbon dioxide emissions, an essential step in combating global warming.

Source: Washington Post

75. Days after 9/11, the Bush Administration told people living near Ground Zero that the air was safe--even though they knew it wasn't--subjecting hundreds of people to unnecessary, debilitating ailments.

Sierra Club , EPA

76. The Bush Administration created a massive tax loophole for SUVs--allowing, for example, the write-off of the entire cost of a new Hummer.

Source: Washington Post

77. The Bush Administration put former coal-industry big shots in the government and let them roll back safety regulations, putting miners at greater risk of black lung disease.

Source: New York Times

78. The Bush Administration said that even though the weed killer atrazine was seeping into water supplies--creating, among other bizarre creatures, hermaphroditic frogs--there was no reason to regulate it.

Source: Washington Post

79. The Bush Administration has proposed cutting the budget of the Environmental Protection Agency by $600 million next year.

Source: ems.org

80. President Bush broke his campaign promise to end the maintenance backlog at national parks. He has provided just 7 percent of the funds needed, according to National Park Service estimates.

Source: bushgreenwatch.org

RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES

81. Since 9/11, Attorney General John Ashcroft has detained 5,000 foreign nationals in antiterrorism sweeps; none have been convicted of a terrorist crime.

Source: hrwatch.org

82. The Bush Administration ignored pleas from the International Committee of the Red Cross to stop the abuse of prisoners in US custody.

Source: Wall Street Journal

83. In violation of international law, the Bush Administration hid prisoners from the Red Cross so the organization couldn't monitor their treatment.

Source: hrwatch.org

84. The Bush Administration, without ever charging him with a crime, arrested US citizen José Padilla at an airport in Chicago, held him on a naval brig in South Carolina for two years, denied him access to a lawyer and prohibited any contact with his friends and family.

Source: news.findlaw.com

85. President Bush's top legal adviser wrote a memo to the President advising him that he can legally authorize torture.

Source: news.findlaw.com

86. At the direction of Bush Administration officials, the FBI went door to door questioning people planning on protesting at the 2004 political conventions.

Source: New York Times

87. The Bush Administration refuses to support the creation of an independent commission to investigate the abuse of foreign prisoners in American custody. Instead, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld selected the members of a commission to review the conduct of his own department.

Source: humanrightsfirst.org

FLIP FLOPS

88. President Bush opposed the creation of the 9/11 Commission before he supported it, delaying an essential inquiry into one of the greatest intelligence failure in American history.

Source: americanprogressaction.org

89. President Bush said gay marriage was a state issue before he supported a constitutional amendment banning it.

Sources: CNN.com, White House

90. President Bush said he was committed to capturing Osama bin Laden "dead or alive" before he said, "I truly am not that concerned about him."

Source: americanprogressaction.org

91. President Bush said we had found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, before he admitted we hadn't found them.

Sources: White House, americanprogress.org

92. President Bush said, "You can't distinguish between Al Qaeda and Saddam when you talk about the war on terror," before he admitted Saddam had no role in 9/11.

Sources: White House, Washington Post

BIOGRAPHY

93. George Bush didn't come close to meeting his commitments to the National Guard. Records show he performed no service in a six-month period in 1972 and a three-month period in 1973.

Source: boston.com

94. In June 1990 George Bush violated federal securities law when he failed to inform the SEC that he had sold 200,000 shares of his company, Harken Energy. Two months later the company reported significant losses and by the end of that year the stock had dropped from $3 to $1.

Source: The Guardian

95. When asked at an April 2004 press conference to name a mistake he made during his presidency, Bush couldn't think of one.

Source: White House

SECRECY

96. The Bush Administration refuses to release twenty-seven pages of a Congressional report that reportedly detail the Saudi Arabian government's connections to the 9/11 hijackers.

Source: philly.com

97. Last year the Bush Administration spent $6.5 billion creating 14 million new classified documents and securing old secrets--the highest level of spending in ten years.

Source: openthegovernment.org

98. The Bush Administration spent $120 classifying documents for every $1 it spent declassifying documents.

Source: openthegovernment.org

99. The Bush Administration has spent millions of dollars and defied numerous court orders to conceal from the public who participated in Vice President Cheney's 2001 energy task force.

Source: Washington Post

100. The Bush Administration--reversing years of bipartisan tradition--refuses to answer requests from Democratic members of Congress about how the White House is spending taxpayer money.

Source: Washington Post

OPINION

If the past informs the future, four more years of the Bush Administration will be a tragic period in the history of the United States and the world.

A couple of weeks ago the local fire department did a practice burn on a house that was on the lot where Chris' new work shop is going to be built.  I was working, so missed the gala event, but Chris went out and got some good pictures.  I've been meaning to post them, and since my feet are so cold today it seemed like a good idea to think of something warm!  Enjoy!

This morning I went to the Society of Friends (Quaker) meeting as I mentioned in an earlier post.  I'm really glad I went.  I ended up going by myself, which was good as this was something of an exploratory mission.

Have you ever sat in silence with others for longer than a minute or two?  The group today was small, seven total.  This included one woman and her daughter who spend part of the time in another room.  So, there were just five of us sitting in a circle in complete silence for almost an hour; the woman and her daughter joined us for the last ten minutes or so.  When the meeting was finished, we stood around talking for a few minutes, then away everyone went.

Silence is something we don't get to experience very often.  Of course, it was not COMPLETE silence.  There was a space heater running (it was soooooo cold in the room), people moved and shifted from time to time, and a couple of times I could birds or cars outside.  No speaking though.  What does one do with their thoughts in a situation like this?  It can be uncomfortable if you haven't done it before, especially for such a long time.  I had been to a couple of "silent sittings" (for lack of a better description) when I was in school, so was prepared for the silence.  I concentrated on my breathing, and was mindful of my thoughts.  I tried not to let them wander too much.  I thought of Nolan, and Chris, and how my feet were really cold!  I really enjoyed just sitting with no interruptions - there was nowhere I could go, nothing I could do for that time.  I was just THERE.

Although I may not make it back every week (it was a long drive), I look forward to returning soon and getting to know the people in the group.  As I'm just beginning the learning process, but so far am pleased with what I've found.

Peace.

Yup, it's contest time here again!  And a strange one it is indeed.  I will confess that I have a secret crush (okay, not so secret, Chris knows) on the following guy.  If you can tell me his name and what he does, I'll send you 10,000 tBucks!  If you can tell me what he has a college degree in, that will get you an extra 5,000 tBucks.  WOW!  This is a contest that can have limitless winners as long as I still have tBucks and everyone sends their guesses via private message - no giving it away now!  Good luck!

Today, we almost drove to Montana.  But we didn't.  In the end, it was too much time in the car for not enough time on the ground there.  It would have been fun, but...

Instead, we drove about an hour to a town where we could go to Barnes & Noble.  We wandered, looked at lots of books, but bought nothing.  In the end, the only book I really wanted I can get for half the price from Amazon, and the rest can be had for free from the library...

We also went to Nolan's soccer game early this morning.  They lost again, but today it was only 2-1.  In the end, although they're improving they're still a bit too nice...

I'm happy to be home now.  I started feeling anxious again as we were driving home.  I'm not sure what it is, really.  The world seems so out of balance right now, and it's difficult to tear myself away from fixating on the political goings-on.  I wonder if it's just body changes as I'm getting older.  Whatever the case may be, I just know that lately I've been wanting to stick close to home.  We heard today there's a lunar eclipse and a full moon coming up soon.  Is the change in gravity messing me up?  In the end, feeling anxious is foreign to me, but my tension tamer tea seems to help...

Tomorrow morning I'm going to do something very different than I've ever done.  I'm going to a Quaker worship meeting.  I've been moving toward this for some time, and there is something about Quakerism that seems to draw me - certainly enough for me to attend a meeting and see what it is about.  I've never been a "churchy" person; we didn't go whan I was a child and for most of my adult life I've been pretty ambivalent about it.  No more though.  Quaker meetings come in two styles, programmed (sermons) and unprogrammed.  Unprogrammed meetings are conducted in silence, until somebody feels compelled to speak.  It is highly possible that at a given meeting nobody will speak aloud.  The meeting I'll be going to (and Chris too) will be unprogrammed.  I'm still learning about Quakerism, so at this point I don't have much more to say.  I look forward to sharing my experiences with you all.  There is no in the end here, because it is more of a beginning...

My crochet is calling me, so away I go to create something cool - pioctures soon!

Peace and blessings!

It's windy here tonight, and it's got me hankering for a good strong wind storm.  I'm one of those people that wishes the power would blow out more often than it does.  I'm always amazed at the power wind has.  Here's just one example, from 1940, when the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed due to high winds.  Amazingly, the whole thing was caught on film!

Tacoma Narrows Bridge, aka "Galloping Gertie"

After the fall

This second picture is great - I can't recall ever seeing it before.  It looks to me like a long thin lady's arm and hand, dropping some distasteful object into the water.  Very cool.

So the next time the wind blows in your area - stay off big bridges and carry rocks in your pockets!

I've just spent the last hour or so poking around on a great website called Crafster.org.  It's basically a forum for people to share pictures and ideas for interesting projects.  It was great fun to browse around and see what people make!

Marshmallow peep necklace

Marbled shaving cream cards

Board game table (I love this one)

Felted crochet handbags (these are gorgeous, and oh so inspiring)

License plate purse

These are just a few of the amazing projects on the site.  I especially like the projects where people have recycled the least likely of old things into something new.  I'm inspired - gotta go crochet now!

Well all my great plans to stay up late blogging last night were put to an end by a nasty headache that lasted until about noon today.  Argh!  I'm happy to say it is gone.  So maybe tonight I'll manage a few of those posts I've been wanting to do.

In the meantime, here's a lovely visual representation of $87 billion, which is the amount of extra money that is to be spent this fiscal year to fight terror in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I love things like this.  The visuals, not the debt that is.  I wonder where the money actually goes, don't you?

I'll tell you what's annoying - the ridges on the can of cream of mushroom soup that ensure I can't get all of the soup-goop out of the can, even with a spatula!!!  I paid for it, I want it all!!!

Of course, eating the green bean casserole that was the destination of the soup has made up for my earlier annoyed state.  Yummmmmm.

I find myself here at home this afternoon, walking in circles from task to task and not able to really sit down to one thing.  I suppose this is okay, as long as I eventually get the things done that I want to.

I'm listening to DJ Irish.  And the sound of my overalls going around and around in the dryer.  I just ate a bowl of leftover colcannon, with a little bit of cheese mixed in.  There is laundry to be folded, and a table to be cleaned off.  Too many library books!  And crochet to do.

There are so many things rolling around in my head right now.  I want all of this election madness to be over with.  The hostility between people is very unhealthy for the country.  And just think, on November 3rd, half of the country is going to be really upset, no matter which way it goes.  Kind of sad, really.  I have more political things to say, and some things to point out, but they will have to wait for a later post. Maybe I'll stay up late tonight, and get out some of these things that have been bothering me.  I'm not going to keep quiet anymore though.

Well, there's the dryer buzzer.  Gotta run.  Okay, amble.

I got this great joke in an email today.  I think it's important to keep a sense of humor during this tense time.  Also, I think it reduces what the current administration does to a level of complete absurdity - showing just how absurd their behavior is.  Like it or not, here it is...

How Many Members of the Bush Administration Does it Take to Change a
Light Bulb?
 
The Answer is TEN:
 
1. One to deny that a light bulb needs to be changed,
 
2. One to attack the patriotism of anyone who says the light bulb needs to be changed,
 
3. One to blame President Clinton for burning out the light bulb,
 
4. One to tell the nations of the world that they are either for changing the light or for total darkness,
 
5. One to give a billion dollar no-bid contract to Halliburton for the new light bulb,
 
6. One to arrange a photograph of Bush, dressed as a janitor, standing on a step ladder under the banner "Light Bulb Change Accomplished",
 
7. One administration insider to resign and write a book documenting in detail how Bush was literally "in the dark",
 
8. One to viciously smear #7,
 
9. One surrogate to campaign on TV and at rallies on how George Bush has had a strong light-bulb-changing policy all along,
 
10. And finally...  One to confuse Americans about the difference between screwing-in a light bulb and screwing the country.

Nietzsche shows off his new bag

It's official.  I have completely lost my mind.  I have sunk to the depths of posing my sock monkey for pictures while home alone on a Monday morning.  Is there no hope for me?

Oh yes, and notice his jaunty leopard print fleece shorts, which can double as a cape if need be.

I know you're all just dying to see my latest bit of crochet.  I have had total success, and I actually made a thing today!  Here's a picture -

Tiny crochet bag

And because it's so awesome, here's another picture, only more close up!  This one is almost exactly life size when I hold the actual bag up next to the computer screen.

Other side of tiny crochet bag closer up

I'm thinking this little bag will be a perfect accessory for our sock monkey.  He's a very stylish guy, you know.  I may make him a hat next, as I continue practicing my new craft!

But for now, good night and God bless!

I've been spending the morning reading some news articles on the web, and kind of monitoring the "new post" list on the left side of tBlog, just to see what's up.  Very few of the post titles lure me into a further look, but I've especially noticed today that there is a very hostile tone on both sides of the political debate, which in some cases has fallen to the depths of foul language and name calling.  I understand that everybody is frustrated, and as the election draws closer I expect the hysteria meter to peg out very soon.  But you know, if you have something to say, say it with respect and thoughtful intelligence.  There's a good reason I don't read the cut & paste blogs much - I can find those news articles by myself, and I'd rather read some thoughtful commentary on the issues.  Instead of wasting bandwidth by just repeating a story, why not post a link and tell us why YOU think it's important.  What are YOUR motivations, how are YOU affected?

We've all heard it a million times - after 9/11 the world changed.  But it didn't take a fool to notice that all the patriotic fervor we felt as a nation quickly subsided into stickers and flags on our cars and life for most people went back to normal.  Or did it?  The Patriot Act was quickly passed, even though many of the politicians that passed it didn't have a chance to read it.  Mostly, it seemed like a good idea at the time.  Have you read it?  It's long and technical, and I imagine most people can't or won't read it.  I've skimmed it, though it was some time ago.  However, my point is our lives are affected by this, whether it seems like it or not.

Since 9/11, this country has become more divided than any time in recent history.  Again, it doesn't take a fool to notice this.  However, it has become so nasty between the sides now that I'm just sick of it.  It is no secret that my leaning are toward the left, they always have been.  So of course I have a tendency to notice what I believe to be extremely hostile and hypocritical behavior by some of those on the right.  Notice I say some.  It is not ALL people on either side that behave poorly.  But it is the bad behavior and comments that draw the most notice. 

I am highly disturbed by the blind following of some of the people on the right.  This administration DOES NOT care for the little guy.  Period.  The little guy is just slave labor, consuming masses, or cannon fodder for their imperialist dreams (this article ought to scare the pants off everyone).  I do not understand how or why people support the president, after it has become so clear that he and his administration lie and mislead at every turn.  They have alienated just about the entire world, and set the precedent that lying and secrecy are okay as long as you get the results you want.  I could go on and on about this, but shall refrain for now.

So - here is why I'm voting for Kerry.  I care about Peace.  I know that if Kerry wins, there will not be instantaneous peace, but I believe that changing attitudes and direction will be a positive step.  I care about our troops in Iraq.  I want every last one of them to come home safe to their families, and I don't want to see more of them sent into unnecessary danger.  I care about security, and I believe Bush has made our world less secure.  Four years ago, I never would have thought I would be worrying about nuclear weapons, but here we are with Iran and North Korea expanding their nuclear capacities while we mess around in Iraq.  Never mind the conflict between India and Pakistan, which could deteriorate into nuclear usage any time.  I care about the environment.  We have only one earth, and if we wantonly destroy it for immediate gain (and just who's gain is it, anyhow?) that's all there is.  We don't get to start over.  I don't doubt that earth will outlast this virus calles humanity, but let's not tempt fate, shall we?  I care about people.  They annoy the heck out of me sometimes, but I still believe that everyone deserves the chance to make the most of their lives.  This doesn't mean providing endless handouts, but it means making sure people can be responsible and get somewhere for making the right choices.  Don't tell me that those people that have lost their jobs to overseas workers can just go to school and learn something new.  I'm sure most of those people were perfectly happy with their jobs, and probably don't want to learn something new.  They just want to work and take care of their families.  Finally, I care about America.  I care that we set a good example for the rest of the world.  Rather than forcing democracy on others, why not work to be the stellar country we're supposed to be?  It's hard to make your case when the truth is your own country is riddled with problems.

Please, think before you cast your vote.  Know why you selected the candidate you did.  Think of the big picture, think of the future, and follow your heart.

The Honky Tonkers for Truth have released a wonderful country song that represents all those country music fans out there that may not agree with our current administration.  I've just listened to it, and it's great!

To listen to it yourself, go the their website, takinmycountryback.com.  In the meantime, here are the lyrics:

TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK

COUNTRY MUSIC'S GOT MAMAS AND DADDYS
WE GOT BAR ROOMS AND OLD HEARTBREAK SONGS
BUT I 'M HERE TODAY TO STAND UP AND SAY
HOW I FEEL ABOUT MY HOME SWEET HOME
WHAT'S LEFT, WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG... AND

I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
SON, YOU AIN'T BEEN DOIN’ HER RIGHT
OH I BEEN WATCHIN’ YOU AND I DON’T LIKE
HOW YOU'VE BEEN TREATIN’ MY STARS AND STRIPES
YOU TOOK OUR JOBS AND SENT ‘EM OVERSEAS
NOW WE OWE BILLIONS TO THE RED CHINESE
YOU BLEW THE BUDGET AND YOU BOTCHED IRAQ
SO I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK

WE HAD A BUNDLE IN THE TREASURY DRAWER
MORE THAN THERE HAD EVER BEEN BEFORE
BUT EVERY DAY WE'RE DROWNIN' DEEPER IN DEBT
MAYBE FOUR YEARS SHOULD BE ALL YOU GET
THEN YOU GAVE TAX BREAKS TO THE MILLIONAIRES
AND TRIED TO MAKE THE WORKIN’ MAN PAY
BUT YOU CAN’T TAX A MAN WHEN HIS JOBS NOT THERE
NOW LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE TODAY…HEY

I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
SON, YOU AIN'T BEEN DOIN’ HER RIGHT
OH I BEEN WATCHIN’ YOU AND I DON’T LIKE
HOW YOU'VE BEEN TREATIN’ MY STARS AND STRIPES
YOU GOT TOO MANY FANCY FRIENDS FOR ME
THE SAUDIS TREAT YOU LIKE YOU'RE ROYALTY
YOU BLEW THE BUDGET AND YOU BOTCHED IRAQ
NOW I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK

NOW I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WERE HOT
'CAUSE BIN LADEN NEVER DID GET CAUGHT
SO YOU SAID WE HAD SADDAM TO BLAME
TRIED TO TELL US IT WAS ALL THE SAME
BUT NOW THE YEARS ROLL BY AND OUR KIDS KEEP DYIN'
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A PLAN TO BRING 'EM HOME
AND THOSE W.M.D. YOU PROMISED ON T.V.
HEY ADMIT IT, YOU FIGURED IT WRONG... SO I'M TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK

NOW YOU DON’T KNOW MY NAME, BUT YOU KNOW WHO I AM
I'M YOUR EVERYDAY WORK HARD, PLAY HARD
RAISE KIDS AND PRAY HARD COMMON MAN....
AND LORD KNOWS I LOVE THIS LAND...THAT'S WHY

I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
SON, YOU AIN'T BEEN DOIN’ HER RIGHT
OH I BEEN WATCHIN’ YOU AND I DON’T LIKE
HOW YOU'VE BEEN TREATIN’ MY STARS AND STRIPES
YOU SAY "UNITE" BUT YOU DIVIDE US MORE
CUSSIN' EACH OTHER ON THE SENATE FLOOR
AIN'T WE SUPPOSED TO BE ABOVE ALL THAT ?
HEY I’M TAKIN’ MY COUNTRY BACK
I GOT MY FAMILY AND MY CHURCH AND FLAG...
NOW I'M TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK

We just finished watching The Day After Tomorrow a little while ago.  That movie just creeped me out.  Probably because I know too much about science and just how a abrupt climate change could happen.  There was only one unrealistic (ha ha) thing in the movie though - the president would have survived because he would have been vacationing on his ranch in that very large southern state that borders Mexico.

Sweet dreams!

Today is Saturday, so it must mean Nolan had a soccer game.  Yup.  He did.  Sadly, his team didn't win, but that's okay.  I took a few pictures in the woods before the game.  Here is the best one, along with a picture of Nolan the soccer star.

Oh where are you going, sluggie?

Nolan mulls over the first half of the game

The soccer game was quite early (especially for me), so we were left with the rest of the day to fill up with interesting and mundane activities.  Gotta love the weekend!

Chris has been puttering around the house, and at this moment is organizing our CD collection.  We have a few.  He unearthed the soundtrack to Pirates of the Caribbean that we have out from the library, so that is what we're listening to at the moment.  It's perfect for out cloudy afternoon.

Nolan and I ran errands, such as stopping at Mal-Wart to get another crochet hook and some yarn.  Bigger, so I can actually see what I'm doing while I learn.  Might be helpful!  I'll post more pictures as soon as I make something.  I'm planning to work on it tonight while we watch the movie we got - The Day After Tomorrow.  Nothing like a good natural disaster movie now and then!  Is abrupt climate change really possible?  I wonder.  We also went grocery shopping, which is always a hoot.  Um, yeah.

The big purchase for Nolan today was two small dragon figurines to add to his collection.  We bought them in the store on the dock, and this is the view from the dock (though not taken today, of course).  The wire you see in the lower right is actually fishing line strung to keep seagulls from landing on the railing and pooping where people might want to put their elbows.  Today lots of seagulls were floating around in the water, and we even saw a loon!

A quaint seaside village

Nolan is currently playing the new PS2 game, Star Wars Battlefront.  Having a jolly good time with it, as he is in a chicken walker.

Well, there you have it folks!  A little glimpse into our day.  Hope you've all had relaxing time just like we have!

I'm so excited - tonight I crocheted for the FIRST TIME EVER!!!  I suddenly felt compelled to learn recently, and happened to find a good book at the library.  Today I went to the dreaded Mal-Wart (I know, I know, but it is truly the only place in town to obtain craft items) and bought a hook and two balls of cotton yarn to get started.  The hook is small (4/2.0MM to those in the know), and so my chains are pretty tiny.  It was a bit tricky at first, but I'm starting to get the hang of it now.  And so here are my first two attempts at the basic chain stitch:

My first crochet - isn't it lovely?

The top little snake lookin' thing is actually my first try, the one on the bottom the second.  I am definitely improving already!!!  I have a long ways to go before I actually make something tangible, but am on the road to a new creative adventure.  And just think, I'll be able to do this when I'm in the car (not driving of course).

Okay, I just wanted to share this because it is completely good news and has absolutely no bearing on the negative outside world and I am happy!

As promised, here is the latest Mount St. Helens update for all you volcano fans -

LAVA IS NOW VISIBLE AT THE SURFACE!!!

It is still possible that the mountain could have a more violent eruption at any time, but scientists are unable to say when or how big it might be.  For the time being, I have observed a steady steam emission as I've monitored the webcam.  I'm still hoping for a bigger blast, but for now I will have to be happy with this, an unidentified blob.  Sigh.

Goodness gracious!  I've been really busy the last few days.  Too busy to BLOG.  Oh no.  I suppose I ought to just go point by point.  Look out, I'm going political tonight.

1.  Chris and I watched Fahrenheit 9/11 Monday night.  Wow.  I don't need any convincing, however, there was so much information there.  Everyone should see this movie with an open mind.  For instance, just last night in the debate Bush lied about never saying he didn't think Bin Laden wasn't as important anymore.  Hello!  There it is, right in the movie.  If Bush didn't say it, then who was that man?  An imposter?  Anyhow, the extensive ties the Bush family has with Saudi royalty is horrifying.  Is Bush working in the best interest of America?  No.  The scene with the Iraqi woman screaming at the camera was also very poignant.  I generally avoid politics here on this blog, but I'm beginning to think the time has passed to keep quiet.  We live in a very scary world, and staying quiet is the same as going along with what you don't believe in.

2.  Last night we watched the last debate at our neighbors house.  I found it to be a little less exciting than the first two, as Bush managed to maintain his calm a bit better.  Was it just me though, or did that look like he was foaming at the right corner of his mouth?  And what of the mysterious hump/lump under his suit that has now appeared in all three debates?  See for yourself:

First Presidential Debate - what is that under his jacket?

Second Presidential Debate - are we really not imagining things?

Third Presidential Debate - hmmmm, there it is again!!!

So really, what the heck is going on?  What do YOU think it is?  There are several ideas, such as a listening device, or a defibrillator.  Either way, the denials by the administration that there is anything there and it was just a pucker in his suit are very weak.  As I was checking around for my links, it appears now that people are starting to ask questions about Bush's health.  What are they trying to hide?  Is Bush suffering some horrible health problem that would render him unfit for leadership?  Did he jut flat out cheat?  Whatever the case may be, something is very fishy in Bush-land.

Well, I think that's enough politicking for me.  Time to get back to geology, giant insects, and volcanic updates.

Blessings to every one of you.

Do you suppose it ate the fly?

One of the benefits of having a pro account with tBlog is that I can look and see who has visited my blog.  When it's another tBlog user, I like to go visit them and return the kindness.  However, there are a large number of people that look at my blog that aren't tBloggers, and they show up only as "outside user."  So - WELCOME to all of you that stop by!

Another neat thing we can see is where people have come from, whether it's a link on another site, or a Google search (see "How people are finding us" down there on the left).  I appreciate that people have taken the time to check out my blog during the course of their searching.

Anyhow, thank you all for visiting, and please - don't be shy!  You can leave comments too.  The more the merrier!

Well, it's Monday and Mount St. Helens is sending off a lovely little puff of steam.  The weather is gorgeous and so is the mountain, with its dusting of new snow.  You can even see the lava dome in the crater today.  Enjoy!

Beautiful!

Welcome to the first of my geologic pondering responses, this time to Andaloo.  He has asked about the black sand beaches of Granada, Spain:

Where I used to live (on the coast of Granada) the beaches are black sand, which I'm told is the result of an earthquake. What are the chances of them ever reverting to golden sand?

Andaloo - Thank you for your question!  It has not been easy to find good information for you, but I think I can send you in the right direction.  First, with regards to black vs. golden sand - sand is a product of the rocks of the area that have been eroded over long periods of time.  Black sand generally comes from basaltic rocks, golden (or white) sand comes from rocks made of quartz and other lighter minerals.  Therefore, your black sand beaches must have come from a nearby source of dark minerals.

As for the earthquake causing the black sand beaches, I'm not really sure.  I'm assuming you are talking about the 1884 earthquake, although there appear to have been many more in the past.  It sounds like you live in a very seismically active region!  Earthquakes can cause a great deal of uplift and shifting around of things, so I suppose it could change the source of sand for a beach.  Will your golden sand beaches return?  Probably not in your lifetime.  Sand does move a lot, but if the ultimate source is a dark rock, you're kind of out of luck.

I was hoping to find a good website about the geology of spain, but have not had much luck.  I would recommend going to a local library (hopefully there's a good one) and requestion information about the geology of the Granada area.  I would think there would be some very good print resources available locally.  The internet still pales in comparison to the old tried and true book when it comes to information like that!

I hope my answers have been helpful, they are somewhat generalized.  Let me know if I can further explain anything!

Well the geology questions are rolling in; I've got a bit of research to do but I'll try to answer them all!  Varied and interesting they shall be.  I may not answer them in the order received, some will definitely take a little more searching than others.

More important to report - Nolan's team won their soccer game yesterday, 5-1!  Nolan had an assist, but still prefers playing defense.  I'm looking forward to his game next week, though we have to be there at 8:30 a.m.  That's a little early in my book.

Chris and I are planning to watch a couple of movies tonight - Fahrenheit 9/11 (oh boy!!!), and Ned Kelly.  We haven't been watching many movies lately, so I'm really looking forward to it.

Cheers, tally-ho, and here's hoping for a lovely volcanic eruption!

Geology questions answered here!  Wondering about those rocks you saw by the highway?  Whether you should be concerned about earthquakes where you live?  The difference between Hawaiian volcanoes and Mount St. Helens?  I would be happy to answer your questions.  Ask away!!!

I am trained as a geologist and a librarian, so if I don't know the answer I can find it for you!!

Yes kids, here it is Friday night.  Shortly I'm heading off to bed to read a bit before I go to sleep, as I must get up and go to work tomorrow morning.  I feel like writing, but am not sure about what...

I did put us up for the endless featured blog vote, so be sure and vote for us if you haven't already used up your vote weeks ago like I did!  Ho ho ho!

Speaking of voting, I watched (not just listened) to the debate tonight.  Sigh.  As I have mentioned before, I will be so glad when all of this is over.  At least then I will know what to expect, and how to proceed with my own life.  I am very interested in the outcome of this particular election, much more so than in the past.  I make it a point not to discuss politics here on this blog, and for the most part will keep to that.  All I will say tonight is I hope Bush doesn't win.  It makes me sad to think that no matter who wins the election, there will be half the country that is so upset they won't be able to see straight.  You know I'm right.  We seem to have forgotten the ide