I'm paraphrasing Gerald Ford in his inaugural address. But I'm not talking about Watergate and miscellaneous lawbreaking of the Nixon administration. I'm talking about the 2012 Presidential election.
I realize that Presidential campaigns begin immediately after the previous Presidential election. Did hundreds of Republican primaries start early in 2009 or does it just seem that way?
Political commercials have inundated the airwaves--thank you Supreme Court. Jeff started to hit the mute button every time a campaign ad came on TV.
Jeff and I voted this morning--not a big crowd in Norwalk, CT. CT went for Democrats Obama, Murphy, and Himes (our representative.) No one was surprised that Obama took the state. Murphy's margin over WWE magnate, Linda McMahon, surprised me. Local news pundits suggest that voters resented McMahon's use of her own millions for her campaign.
CNN says it may not be as long a night that they thought: good news for President Obama (and me.)
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
Hooray for the Birthday Boy
Today is a special day--Spike turned 12.
In addition to our normal neighborhood walks, Jeff and I took Spike to Taylor Farm dog park around noon. After several unsuccessful attempts (my battery was low and Spike always looked away at the last second), Jeff was able to get his picture.
We picked up sandwiches at Blue Cactus, Spike's favorite neighborhood deli (and ours) for lunch.
For dinner, we cooked a duck breast--one of Spike's favorite foods. He had a Frosty Paw for dessert.
Time to relax after a busy day.
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In addition to our normal neighborhood walks, Jeff and I took Spike to Taylor Farm dog park around noon. After several unsuccessful attempts (my battery was low and Spike always looked away at the last second), Jeff was able to get his picture.
We picked up sandwiches at Blue Cactus, Spike's favorite neighborhood deli (and ours) for lunch.
For dinner, we cooked a duck breast--one of Spike's favorite foods. He had a Frosty Paw for dessert.
Time to relax after a busy day.
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Sunday, November 4, 2012
Fall Back Day
This morning at 2 am, daylight savings time officially ended. I didn't bother to change the clocks on Saturday night before we went to bed. After all, our cable boxes and cell phones did it for us--giving us a frame of reference. Today, we adjusted the rest of the clocks.
I keep thinking that I should write a poem, "Fall Back", as a companion piece to "Spring Forward." I've scribbled a few lines but nothing seems to work. Maybe something will come to me in the future.
I never really understood the whole daylight savings rationale. I react badly to the spring habit of losing an hour. And it doesn't seem like a great boon to get the hour back now.
The first impact today of falling back was to adjust the time of our visit to the dog park. We left about an hour before sundown; it quickly grew cold and dark: no more dog park Fridays for some time.
I keep thinking that I should write a poem, "Fall Back", as a companion piece to "Spring Forward." I've scribbled a few lines but nothing seems to work. Maybe something will come to me in the future.
I never really understood the whole daylight savings rationale. I react badly to the spring habit of losing an hour. And it doesn't seem like a great boon to get the hour back now.
The first impact today of falling back was to adjust the time of our visit to the dog park. We left about an hour before sundown; it quickly grew cold and dark: no more dog park Fridays for some time.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
NaNo/NaBlo
Two people asked me if I were going to participate in National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo) this year. The idea is to complete a novel of 50,000 words working only in November.
I've participated in four NaNoWriMos: I washed out early in two, made a good showing in one (40,000 words) and won one.
This year I had no interest--no inspiration. I wrestled with ideas that I can't wait for inspiration; that not entering may be a self-fulfilling prophecy--i.e. that I know I'll fail so I won't try.
Ultimately, my heart isn't in it.
I've also been thinking about how far from my annual goals I am. I decided to try National Blog Writing Month. I can't find an official site; here is information from last year. I will post every day on this blog; I can't promise all posts will be meaningful, but I will post.
I also need to focus on some other writing. I decided on a goal of 10,000 words this month. Easy, compared to NaNo's 50K.
Right?
ETA: Apparently the correct term is: NaBloPoMo
I've participated in four NaNoWriMos: I washed out early in two, made a good showing in one (40,000 words) and won one.
This year I had no interest--no inspiration. I wrestled with ideas that I can't wait for inspiration; that not entering may be a self-fulfilling prophecy--i.e. that I know I'll fail so I won't try.
Ultimately, my heart isn't in it.
I've also been thinking about how far from my annual goals I am. I decided to try National Blog Writing Month. I can't find an official site; here is information from last year. I will post every day on this blog; I can't promise all posts will be meaningful, but I will post.
I also need to focus on some other writing. I decided on a goal of 10,000 words this month. Easy, compared to NaNo's 50K.
Right?
ETA: Apparently the correct term is: NaBloPoMo
Friday, November 2, 2012
Face Off Season Three Finale
I've written about my love for Face Off before. The Season Three finale was this week. We found a Face Off marathon on Tuesday, leading up to Part One. This year, SyFy showed the final competition on Tuesday with the artists returning to hear who won on a live Halloween broadcast on Wednesday.
The three finalists were problematic. I'm not sure I agree with the returning contestant idea, although I like Nicole. She made the the final, along with Laura, who produced stellar work all season long, and Derek, who was up-and-down all season. I think Roy would have been a better choice than Derek.
Nicole won. I was happy because she was likable and her work was good since her return (notwithstanding the standard werewolf.) I also would have been happy if Laura had won.
I enjoy that I can appreciate the final results (even if I don't get a close-up physical inspection) compared to shows such as Top Chef (in which I don't get to taste the dishes.) The best part of the show is the way the contestants support and help each other and (for the most part) seem to like each other.
Looking forward to Season Four.
The three finalists were problematic. I'm not sure I agree with the returning contestant idea, although I like Nicole. She made the the final, along with Laura, who produced stellar work all season long, and Derek, who was up-and-down all season. I think Roy would have been a better choice than Derek.
Nicole won. I was happy because she was likable and her work was good since her return (notwithstanding the standard werewolf.) I also would have been happy if Laura had won.
I enjoy that I can appreciate the final results (even if I don't get a close-up physical inspection) compared to shows such as Top Chef (in which I don't get to taste the dishes.) The best part of the show is the way the contestants support and help each other and (for the most part) seem to like each other.
Looking forward to Season Four.
Venturing Out
Sandy brought strong winds to Norwalk, CT from Monday morning through Tuesday afternoon. Luckily, we didn't get much rain. Jeff, Spike and I hunkered down late Sunday afternoon after a dog park visit, only emerging for walks. We were glued to local TV and CNN for much of Monday and Tuesday morning. (until I found a Face-Off marathon and switched back to news during the commercials.)
Wednesday, we went a few blocks away to pick up a pizza for lunch. But it wasn't until Thursday that I left town. I had a tutoring student an hour's drive away. I saw that large stretches of my route were without power. I was stuck in traffic but figured it was worth it because the delays were due to electric repairs. I saw lots of debris, including large branches and tree-trunks--many chopped along the side of the road.
Close to my destination, I had to pass under a few trees propped against other trees--scary. Then the road I normally take was closed. I finally made it to my student's home, after a confusing, alternate route about a half hour later.
That wasn't the worst of it. On my way home, I passed through an intersection that normally has a traffic light. I couldn't see anything without streetlights; it wasn't at one of the intersections that I recognized. A driver pulled out in front of me and I jammed on the breaks. Luckily he stopped midway through the intersection. Otherwise, I don't know where I would be right now. It was scary. It reminded me like nothing else to slow down and be extra careful. I needed to get back home to Jeff and Spike.
Wednesday, we went a few blocks away to pick up a pizza for lunch. But it wasn't until Thursday that I left town. I had a tutoring student an hour's drive away. I saw that large stretches of my route were without power. I was stuck in traffic but figured it was worth it because the delays were due to electric repairs. I saw lots of debris, including large branches and tree-trunks--many chopped along the side of the road.
Close to my destination, I had to pass under a few trees propped against other trees--scary. Then the road I normally take was closed. I finally made it to my student's home, after a confusing, alternate route about a half hour later.
That wasn't the worst of it. On my way home, I passed through an intersection that normally has a traffic light. I couldn't see anything without streetlights; it wasn't at one of the intersections that I recognized. A driver pulled out in front of me and I jammed on the breaks. Luckily he stopped midway through the intersection. Otherwise, I don't know where I would be right now. It was scary. It reminded me like nothing else to slow down and be extra careful. I needed to get back home to Jeff and Spike.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
An October Should-Have Post
October was Adopt A Shelter Dog Month. Better late than never. It's always a good time to adopt a shelter pet.
Many people think that there is something wrong with shelter dogs. I'm sure there are a few bad dogs. But for the most part, they are just victims of bad luck, especially in these tough economic times.
Spike is not technically a shelter nor a rescue dog. But he is a dog who needed a home when we wanted to have a dog join our home. We can't imagine our lives without him now. He has brought us love and joy and helped introduce us to a group of new friends. A win-win-win situation.
Many people think that there is something wrong with shelter dogs. I'm sure there are a few bad dogs. But for the most part, they are just victims of bad luck, especially in these tough economic times.
Spike is not technically a shelter nor a rescue dog. But he is a dog who needed a home when we wanted to have a dog join our home. We can't imagine our lives without him now. He has brought us love and joy and helped introduce us to a group of new friends. A win-win-win situation.
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