Louise's post-Thanksgiving holiday film clip #3

Hannah and Her Sisters, by Woody Allen.  

It may be my favorite film of his, let alone of all time.

Story centers around several members of Hannah's family, who unite at Thanksgiving.
To be honest, it's during another Thanksgiving scene in the film that I find most moving, but I couldn't find it on YouTube.   If you haven't seen this film, yet.  What can I say?  Do.   It's wonderful.  You don't even have to love NYC, although it certainly helps if you do.

Here's the opening clip of Hannah... justifying it's presence on my holiday-themed film clip list.

thanksgiving road trip

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Over the river. And through the woods.

To Grandmother's house we go. To the suburbs of north California. To, Fair Oaks.

We started in the day before Thanksgiving post-fire rainstorm.

Car packed to the gills with too many clothes and car-fun items. Too little sleep.

Family gathering of 35+ await us after spending the day on the 5.

The way to Grandmothers house was strewn with doll parts. Cactus plants. Power lines. Cars. Peeing in soggy, crowded Del Tacos. Homeless lying impossibly under rain-soaked blankets in the back of fast food restaurants somewhere south of Gilmore.

Anderson Pea Soup. Almost there. But not quite. Patience is a virtue, we tell the kids. We drive farther from home, closer to our destination. I worry about things, yet to come.

Faithful, patient cows and sheep farm nibble for something green at the foot of scorched hills. Blackened posts man fields of barren land. Lone power lines the only sign of life past the grey smudge of a horizon.

We note the amount of drivers who brazenly talk on cell phones while driving. We count Obama stickers, then happily loose count. We note the absence of McCain ones, with more wonder than victory. We are still collectively holding our breath.

We tell ourselves we can hold it for the next exit.

Over the hills. An hour passes.

And through the woods. Then another.

We pass miles wide open space planted with nothing onto other fenced off land smattered with rows of nameless produce flickering past the rain spotted windows. I play disk jockey with the "i Am Sam" soundtrack and, momentarily, "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown."

People must live out there, I speculate, gazing into the beige grey smudge hovering above the fields.

I read from a library book sale copy of Jack Handy's Thoughtful Moments. Levity turns to dismay as I fail to proof read something deeply disturbing my 7 year old. Later, I console a child who sorrowfully wails that she mad about my reading "that thing Al Franken said about biting into a head." I kick myself for playing to the older crowd on this car ride. Bad mommy.

To Grandmothers...

And I get closer and closer to the exit off the 5, with any luck, is not ironically called "Greenback."

We pull off into more California suburbs. A pizza joint inexplicably advertises "Large Cowboy. 8.99"

We turn onto a lane with a name I suddenly remember sounds, inexplicably, just like a brand of prophylactics. I note that I have gratitude that my PTSD can't be nearly as reactive as, say, Iraqi war veterans.

Bad mommy.

We see familiar cars parked in front of familiar ranch house of this massive gathering furiously tapping into my inner mantra that "it will all be okay," this time. And that all marriage is built on compromise.

I breathe in and out doing inner car-yoga.

Exhale. I tell myself that I really do love my kids this much. The kids can't wait to see their younger cousins and I let their enthusiasm wash over me.

I will wear their sweet love and joy around my shoulders like a mantle of protection.

I remind myself there is so little to lose now at these times and wear my fearlessness like a parachute on my back, knowing I can pull the cord whenever it's required, something I, Dorothy-like, never knew I could do, till now.

I breathe.

The car crunches up to it's final parking spot behind the other cars. And I take one last breath.

Finally we are "there, yet."

Tomorrow we all four pile into my cozy van and drive straight up the center of California to the city of Fair Oaks, for a big family Thanksgiving visit with husband's family. It's a large gathering and we will have about 30+ people for Thanksgiving dinner.

Lots of family love and laughter. Seriously, what could go wrong?

And so, in light of the advent of our entire holiday season, I am embarking on my own holiday salute.

Louise's Holiday Film Clips.

(All courtesy of YouTube.)

Tonight, the night before the day before Thanksgiving I salute: Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

Louise salutes holiday film clips: The Ref.

If you have to spend time at home with family this Christmas, and that doesn't always sound like the easiest thing to do -- and ---

If you and your spouse don't always see eye to eye with each other about the kids and your parents, then here's your movie.

Dennis Leary and Judy Davis aren't just funny, they're razor sharp-hilarious in this film.  

In my personal best movies book, this one is a classic.  But, you do have to have a cynical side to enjoy it.  If you are zen and yoga and light and love, then this probably isn't your kind of flick.   But, if you find family issues as thorny and challenging as I do, then I highly recommend this movie.

Let me put it like this, when it came out it made me laugh so much I actually went out to buy a copy.

And that was when one bought them as tapes. As in VHS.

That was then, this is YouTube.

Lucinda Williams. Righteous, naked (figuratively) and stronger than ever.

Lucinda Williams played at The Wiltern last night.

It was the last stop on her long tour promoting her newest CD Little Honey, and yet, she sounded as strong and real as if it were their first show out.

I've seen her shows before, and I can tell you that her voice is even mightier now than it was in the past. She's expanded the intensity her range both musically and artistically. And talk about power. She's got it in spades, let me tell you.

This woman is my inspiration for how to Not Go Gently Into That Good Night. But, meet every stage of our journey with grace, love and a deep appreciation for what is good about this Sweet Old World.

Anyone who had wanted to be there, but couldn't make it? Well, sorry, but, you missed a fine night of great of great roots, rock 'n roll.

Forgot to mention that she was joined for a few songs by Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs (who, for the record, has much better legs than Matthew.) for a cover of Cinnamon Girl. (Matthew Sweet is the guy who made many great albums, my fav being the early 90's Girlfriend, I still consider Girlfriend to be my personal soundtrack of one particularly pivotal year in my life. I digress. Anyhow, these guys joined Lucinda and Buick 6 and brought with them a tune off of recently put together collection of 60's covers called... "Under The Covers. Vol 1." We were told Friday by Lucinda that it is soon to be joined by a Volume 2. Cool.

And it was a moving night for everyone, it seemed, naturally for Lucinda and each of the amazing Buick 6 members. I was touched to be there at their band's final performance of their tour. It was clear this past journey together had been deeply meaningful to them coming as it was during our recent historic election.

but, her band (and opening band) Buick 6 was a powerful, atmospheric ensemble filling the Wiltern with a blues-fueled rock jam setting the stage for her entrance later that night. Their music is like one long, sexy Paris, Texas soundtrack. They have to get some work doing moody film music after this tour. Seriously, they were sizzling hot to hear as well as behold. I wanted to be Dave Sutton's bass. They all seemed to have a close and personal relationship with their instruments, which I only offer as the highest of compliments.

There was a lot of "Rightous" love at The Wiltern last night, with good reason. They are the best and give each other the space to do what they do; make fine music. Together they intuitively rose to musical heights on each and every song, as if it was the first time covered.

Lucinda was strong and vulnerable and open -- as always, but I have to say -- a bit more secure than I recall her being in the past. I don't know what it was. Her new contentment. Her body of experience. Her appreciation for having made it home safe and sound after a long few months...I don't know, maybe all of the above, but, her voice, I just felt it was at it's best that I've ever heard it. I was surprised it was this clear and supple after being on the road so long. She had some kind of range and power last night. You can also read my husband's "real" review of the show, here.

She had many poignant moments with the audience while introducing her work to us. I was impressed by her heartfelt dialogue at the end sharing with us just how engaged they'd been with her audiences over the past few months during our political turmoil, offering us a reminder that it is a new world.

And that we have only just begun to make changes. That we only now have begun to roll our sleeves up to get to work.

Last night she brought the audience a love for her work, her musicians and this country which I found inspiring and was grateful to be part of.

On a personal note: Also missed was the presence of singer and fellow-musician, Jim Lauderdale, because nobody's ever quite the same without him.   Nuff said.

Here's some photos of the show. My camera's battery was fried. Spent too much juice on photos of my second grader's school assembly earlier yesterday.

But, the crazy blur of the images also -- I think -- capture a certain raw spirit of how it felt being at her concert, as well.

I'll try to post more thoughts about last night when I get more time this weekend, but wanted to post this for now.

Enjoy.

Still standing -- for freedom and equality for all in California.

I'm very proud to know people like the ones who made this video -- People who have the courage to walk the walk and talk the talk, the kind of people who are willing to stand up for justice.

I don't want to know the haters, I want to know the people who stand up for what they believe and aren't afraid of their own uniqueness. Those are the people I want to know.

What makes America great is our very spirit of mandating equality and freedom for all which is the heart of what I am most proud of about being American.

It is this fighting desire for a common equality that I love about America, but it requires a very important quality -- that we continue to keep our hearts and minds open. If this process stops, if we throw in the towel toward and give in to religious fundamental dogma, then we are doomed. Doesn't anyone take history anymore?

Closed minds miss the boat when they refuse accept the one quality which will keep us alive, prosperous and relevant -- to recognize and grow with the natural changes that occur in our moral evolution.

America is supposed to be a place where equality, justice and freedom for all is a given without question or religious nit-picking.

We know all too well that we aren't always born with the right answers, but greatness doesn't come from just having answers, it comes from having the ability to say "We can make a better choice today than we did yesterday." That's an American quality I want to remind us of. We are big enough to make better choices than we have in the past.

Anyhow, I just want to say that I think this a great slideshow that celebrates the very spirit of what it means to fight for equality.

Apparent the sky wasn't falling, it was just cremated fauna.

And we didn't burn up, our neighbors did.

And last night the show did go on.  And today it will, too.

My daughter is more stressed by her homework than the air quality, so that is a pretty good barometer of how life just goes on in California.

I should add that this doesn't mean I don't feel horrible about our neighbors houses going up in smoke, we all do.

I find it horrific. And it's mind numbing. We go outside, cough, and try to ignore that we're inhaling someone's apartment complex on the way to work.

We turn on the TV and watch the virtual fireplace in our livingroom, and have to work hard to keep in mind this is not fake, but, is, in fact, a very real part of our own county burning.

It happens so often, here in California. Disaster seems like it's part of the culture here.

"Oh, a fire is burning in so-and-so's neighborhood."

"Oh, the ground is moving. So what? I've seen worse. See you tomorrow. same time, same place."

Truthfully, I find it very unsettling, bleak even, to see people's very world's go up in smoke like clockwork, every year.

But, out here nobody seems to think that's uncommon. I know when I lived in New York City, I thought my California relatives deserved to slide in the Pacific if they were stupid enough to live in somewhere so precarious. But, now I live here. Not, by design, perhaps, but, never the less, it's where we live now. So, I need to figure out a way to make this balance out, or I'll go crazy.

Perhaps, we all live somewhere dangerous. We all, one could argue, "pick our poisons."

And in light of Katrina and various other world disasters, I suppose life in California really is just "business as usual."

Apocalypse Now in O.C. November, 15th 2008

When I woke up there was a hot, crazy wind blowing.

I went outside and it felt like the devil's hairdryer was left on.

A hot wind was blowing all the leaves, and dirt and branches about in a crazy manner, not gusts -- just hot, swirling wind...it's an odd and disturbing sensation being in this insistent, hot dry wind.

And then in the early afternoon, I took the kids to GoodWill to find some treasure, but once we actually saw the distant sky, we drove home immediately. It was a thick, brown-black band of an almost liquid that spread out over the distant horizon on what was otherwise a clear and perfect day.

Hate kills. All hate kills.

I admit it.

At first, the title of this post was something weak and whiny like "Stand with me against hate!" Later, I changed it to an equally pathetic plea, "Take a stand with me against hate!"

Then, I realized it. I'd been spending way too much time at middle school with my 6th grader, looking at the club signs, on the school grounds, there.

So, let me say this differently, now.

I'll say what I mean as adult to adult, as possible.

Hate kills.

All hate kills. Homophobic rage. Racist rage. Rage kills.

We have to stamp out the fires of rage before they become a sick wildfire.

Hate is a part of us, the potential for this is in our human DNA. However, what make us human is to recognise it's a constant defect we must check ourselves against. It does exist, but so does cancer. Both are not something we want to encourage.

My father served in WWII. The holocaust is only one generation away. Hate kills. And hate is contagious. We need to take action to stop it as soon as it rears it's ugly head.

Whether it be religion sponsored hate toward homosexuals and lesbians, or turning a blind eye to an anti-black surge in our country.

To ignore it is to give silent permission to it.

This weekend Benjamin Upshaw, a 47 year old man who had moved to "the O.C." from Chicago, was beaten and robbed out by two men simply because he was black. He was walking to the store when these two, ironically, Latino, men approached him, robbed then beat him -- all the while cursing Obama and black people.

Unfortunately, I have been personally attacked because of something outside of my control. I can tell you, it's a sick way to learn how powerful and toxic the "pack mentality" is. I remember being ganged up on and, yes, even beaten, just because I was different.

I know the feeling of powerlessness and fear that comes from living through that. And the damage on the inside. You always remember who hurt you and who, if anyone, who stood up for you. You never forget that.

I haven't.

So, no, I'm not gay, but still have something personal to say about this. I hate that some people do not have the same rights that the rest of us do because some of us think they're not worthy of belonging.

I'm not black, but I can't stand the thought of people hating others over the color of their skin. Or worse, that violence about this is ever justified.

We need to stop it before it grows.



Please sign this petition as soon as you can -- like right now -- because our friends and family need to know we care about putting an end to toxic hate.

It's toxic to all of us. You do not have to be gay to care deeply about this issue. You just have to care about being a human being.

ice cream

Cindy McCain Having John Edwards Baby

Not really.  Almost.

This kind of caught my eye on Huff Post.

The ENQUIRER's exclusive bombshell expose as Sen. John McCain's wife, Cindy, is caught with another man!
Not only that but multiple witnesses have caught the pair lip locking on several other occasions.
"I couldn't believe I was watching Cindy McCain passionately kissing and hugging another man!"...

  Can you really blame her?  

Chef Neil Ravenna makes "Tomato Pie"

This is Neil Ravenna.   Chef Neil Ravenna.

And this is also a testament to how cool technology can be:

Neil is a very, very, very old friend of mine. Knowing him goes so far back, it's almost a reptilian memory for me, it's so old. Therefore, finding him, via facebook, was something of a shock to my memory cells. I simply didn't think they worked that far back.

Turns out even though I knew him as a kid in pre-1970 Vermont -- he's now gone even farther back to my old stomping ground, (the south.) And is currently a chef at Miss Melissa's Cafe in Moundville, AL!

Holy Moses!

This is from a podcast off their site called The Liars Table. I love it.

Here he is cooking something so delicious that I'm going to have to go out and make it for us all tonight.

Yes, Chef Neil Ravenna, you do need a cooking show. A cool one. Complete with Lucinda Williams, Jim Lauderdale on the radio over your grill and finishing by enjoying desert with you out in your Mary grotto.

I finally found "J.T.!"

...The Monkees was occasionally pre-empted for the CBS Children's Hour, a highly acclaimed hour-long series of 3 specials beginning with Jane Wagner's poignant teleplay J.T., the story of a shy Harlem youth's tough Christmas with an injured stray cat that he can't bring home because of his grouchy dad.

So, does anyone else remember the line, "I want me this cat I found?"

Well, it's from the TV movie. "J.T." which I've been trying to find for years, which aired one fateful Saturday afternoon on CBS in 1969.

Here's how someone else on IMDB described "J.T."

"I first saw J.T. in the late 60's or early 70's on a show possibly called "CBS Children's Television Workshop". It was on Saturday mornings about noon after the cartoons were over. It was aired sporadically after that around Christmas in the mid 70's. It isn't a Christmas movie per say but the plot is set around the time of Christmas. "

Well, let me cut to the chase: I just found a DVD of it online, bought it and I can't wait to share it with my kids.

This film's plot is what a "Christmas story" is supposed to be about.

I have no idea why this hasn't aired on TV more. No doubt it's outdated in some non-PC kind of way, however, Wagner's J.T. embodies a real sense of humanity, not to mention the real spirit of what Christmas is supposed to be about.

I mean, very few writers have gotten this message right. Obviously, Dickens, but -- I just have to tell you, this movie made a HUGE impact on me at the time.

Here's a few interesting facts about "J.T." I never knew -- till now:

It was written by Jane Wagner, who went on to win a Peabody for it. Later Wagner went on to be partners (personally and creatively) with Lily Tomlin.

Oh, what joy! I can't wait to see this again!

December 4th update to my original post:

I have received several requests for info about where to buy a copy of J.T.

And, I am happy to share that with you -- I bought it from a vendor on a site that is similar to eBay called iOffer.

Here's a link to that site here.

This having been said, after it arrived, I realized with some degree of shame, that this is a bootleg copy of this wonderful movie.    And, therefore, this means that the very talented folks who created it will not see one red cent of royalties from our patronage.

So, my advice is this:  Buy it where you can find it, now.  Then make a promise to yourself that you will do some research and find out where to send a request for someone to re-release this movie.

Jane Wagoner, at the very least, should know how much we still love and appreciate this film.

By The Way:   Super quick review of having seen it:

The seller sent it to my immediately, and it was all there.  It played, but the copy of it on this home-ripped DVD is a bit fuzzy and worn.

As for the actual content of the film:  It's old and funky and dated.   It's also still as heartbreaking to me today as it was the first time I saw it, and I have to confess that I was balling like a baby in front of my kids when I sat with my kids and husband to watch it with me.  

It makes me appreciate that our world still has a deep need for film that tells stories to kids that isn't sugar coated or loaded with crappy laughtracks.  We need the story-tellers to come up with more work that is moving but not cloying and sentimental.  Relevant, but not preachy.  Sad, but not afraid to be sad about kid's lives.

We need good story tellers and people brave enough to put some financial muscle into bringing it to life.

(Are you listening, Nickelodeon?)

See this, even if it's only a fuzzy, badly done copy of the movie.  It still has a great message to get out to kids.  Even if you have to struggle to articulate all sorts of stuff about the 1970's you never dreamed you'd have to remember, let alone explain.   It's all worth it.

Good movie.  That poor cat.  

RANDOM FACTS ABOUT "J.T."  -- The couple in the deli?  Apparently, the female actor was an actual holocaust survivor!  

Also, this first film for Kevin Hooks led him to be in Sounder (another amazing film, based on a book that is even better than the film, with all due respect to everyone great in that film.)

I wish I had more time to post about J.T.   I loved seeing it again.

Remember if you buy from a bootleg seller, that's your call.  But, try to morally make up for it by letting the original creators know there's still a market for their stuff.

Thanks.  -- Louise

wise up

anna lily's time bomb

back by popular..., okay, by my second grader's demand...

Dark Shadows: It explains a lot.

Clearly, this was a show that didn't seem so far fetched to a kid abruptly transplanted from New Orleans, to New England, who now lived in a cluttered little home across the street from a graveyard and abandoned church in Vermont.

A place so rural and peculiar that kids skinny dipped at recess, or counted beans for math and some even smoking pot by 4th grade. A place where the Grown Ups lived for The Opera, or attending Bach organ recitals held in derelict barns, and would think nothing of driving hours down to New York City just to see anything starring an Original British Cast. This was a world were there were wild winter storms, and long, summer days where not even a plane over head could disturb the remote cool green of the summers days. A world where grave stones were places to play hide and seek, and no matter what time of day, the Grown Ups never missed even one cocktail party being thrown by Vermont's most glamorous Episcopalians. It was elegant, and eccentric and lonely and often melodramatic and very, very isolated and it all became very good reason to assume Dark Shadows was just another daily soap opera, just like any of the others.

This clip is just more evidence why I'm like this.

Election Day is over, can we have fun, yet?

I was going to ask if it was okay to have some post-election coverage fun, yet, but, apparently the folks at Somethingawful.com already has been for a while now.

So, why didn't I ever know out about Photoshop Phriday, before this?

These two images are from their Election 2008: Tasty Surprises and Election 2008: Fuzzy Surprises sections.

Stop saying Democrats have "disrespect for the rule of law"

I saw Bill Maher last night and his "New Rules" was so absolutely perfect that it had to go into my blog.

As always, Bill Maher was entertaining, but he did, however, become quite profound, I thought, with this line:


"You know what phrase ( from Republicans ) I do not want to hear used frivolously for the next four years?...'Disrespect for the rule of law."

Right, so, we won. They lost, and the ugliness is only getting started.

Look what they did to Clinton when he was in power, and all the others like him. -- We have so much work to do, please don't let them pull any evil, distracting, expensive, "Ken Starr" crap, now.

Not right now with our planet as seriously in crisis as it is.

We have so much work to do. We can't afford to become more divided. Can't we put partisan fighting aside for the sake of our kids? They deserve a better world than, well, the last 8 years provided them with.

Palin's whining that she never did anything wrong.  McCain could barely look at her on election night.  The rats are seriously jumping ship and this means that they are already trying to find ways to blame Democrats and Obama supporters for what will be the toughest next four years in history.

Clearly the ugly, divisive, immoral "blame game" has begun -- But, Bill Maher, isn't afraid to confront these issues right away.

I hope they're listening.

Not so alone in the OC, after all!

What surprises me the most is when they honk from behind.

This is new for me.

But, twice today I've been honked at and passed by drivers thrilled by my Obama stickers, giving me an enthusiastic "thumbs-up" sign as they gleefully pass me. One even rolled down his window to shout "Me, too! I thought I was the only one, here!"

Huh? When did it get to be cool to support Obama in the OC?
Seriously, this is Orange County. I thought I was the only one.


When you live here in Orange County, CA, it's easy to think you're the only Democrat or Obama supporter in town. But when you look at actual final vote count, it's clear you've got a lot of company.

Check out the numbers from Tuesday:

McCain: 430,360 votes for just 50 percent of the total.
Obama; 401,605 votes for 47 percent of the total.

That's the best a Democratic presidential candidate has done in the OC since at least 1964, and also the worst a Republican has done since then.

So it goes to show you what can happen when a guy like Obama expands the playing field and brings in tons of new voters -- young people and Latinos in particular in Orange County.

To put Obama's vote totals in the OC in even more context, his 401,605 is more than Obama earned in five different states that Obama won: Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Delaware.


So, it turns out I'm not so alone in the OC, after all!


(beep! beep!)

Some "Must See" photos of Obama's journey to victory

Thanks to someone with very good taste (okay. My husband.) I'm have a link to one of the best photo books regarding President Elect Barack Obama, out there.

Seriously, I know you're like, me. Tired and happy -- and feel entirely sapped and saturated with his awe inspiring win, but this is so big. You just have to take another moment to absorb it and see it from all sides, to fully appreciate.

This Boston Globe photo collection of President-Elect Barack Obama includes astonishing images from over the past several months. (35 photos total.) Check them out.

Take a look back at Barack Obama's rise to victory.

YES WE DID

Last night I "had"  to be away from home due to a rehearsal responsibility I had to some fellow singers, and even though I previously, in writing, requested not to be rehearsing from 7 - 930 PM Election night, I was told I would not be "off the hook."   Okay, so I honored my commitment.  I left my kids at home, even though they were so sad knowing how personally important this night would be to me.

And I went into rehearsal.  But, once I got there -- still,  all I heard from people running the rehearsal were dismissive comments about our missing the election results -- such as "Oh, well I'd rather be with my friends singing than just watching TV.   I can watch it later on TV, anyway." 

What?!   Sorry, but that's offensive to me.   I have spent a great deal of time and energy working so hard to do what I could to help get Obama elected, local Democrats into office, and -- this is what really strikes me as unfair -- I've done so much to prevent Prop 8 from passing, an issue that was cited as "the only issue" that "really mattered" to the person running the show last night.  Well, fine.  But, stop thinking you're concerns and needs are the only ones that count.  I'm pretty upset about this.  This may have really defined something about loyalty to me, for good.

Well, God knows I love my fellow singers deeply, but last night was different.  And now that I have some perspective, I do regret not being home with my kids last night -- Because last night wasn't "just TV," last night was history.

THIS WAS SO LONG IN COMING BUT -- YES WE DID.

( By the way, buy the Tee Shirt -- right here on my blog -- Just click on the Busted Tees icon to share the glory and wear this news loud and proud;  YES WE DID )

Some last minute political oddities in Orange County, CA

The day began on a happy note, and the children's sincere enthusiasm for this historic election day had my spirits high..., but then , after I dropped them off I began what I can only describe as a creepy ride home on Election Day, in Los Alamitos, CA.

Then, I started noticing the signs...Which I think were actually pranks, but only showed up now.

I don't know who "B.A.M.S.M.A.S.H." is, but they managed to plaster the area this morning with some bizarro signs.

Later, I passed a Prop 8 Rally where the demonstrators were people happy to show their colors -- until,that is, I pulled out my camera...then they hid behind their signs. Pretty funny, actually.

See for yourself the kind of signs I saw today on the way home from dropping my kids at school.

I don't even get some of these signs...

Kids Care About The Election, Too

From the moment we woke up...

( "Mom! Today we decide who our President will be! " )





...To dressing for school in celebration of our right to vote.

...To the kids at Juliet's middle school, all clearly as happy as we grown-ups are to see that it's finally ELECTION DAY, at last!

The excitement -- everywhere-- is infectious.





Some photos of this early morning's events...

Kids care about this historic election, too!

First, there was the general excitement at our house about this historic day as we left home to go to school.

Turns out my oldest daughter's middle school is having their own election today. She and my youngest daughter showed off their pro-Obama Biden duds for the camera!

The kids at school were very excited, today, as well, as you can see by their election day signs and T-shirts.

The California Yard Sign Wars

So, according to "a very, very good friend" of mine, not all marriages are in agreement as to how far one should go to fight for their beliefs.

Take, for example, the subject of Yard Signs. Or rather, the removal (?) of them.

Is this act always officially considered to be "foul play?" Even if the yard signs are mean lies?

Well, this was the subject of some debate for a "good friend" of mine last night.

According to my good friend, here's how her day went yesterday, on this very important final Sunday prior to the all important Election Tuesday.

At the encouragement of her family, my "friend," (let's call her "Emily") spent the afternoon at a rally for Debbie Cook (running for Congress in her area) and then she came home and did some online work blogging for her, after going door to door in her district handing out fliers where registered Democrats could find their polling spot...

Then, later on, post sunset, with her two school age kids in her van their (only momentarily criminal) mom did the unthinkable, she stole some"Yes on 8" signs. With her kids in the van. Cheering her on. In the dark. Inside their van from across the street.

Now, I happen to know "Emily" quite well, so I can vouch that her story is entirely true.

So, yesterday -- after weeks of staring at what seemed to be an endless parade of "Yes on 8" signs on just about every other lawn, this normally proper, well-behaved mom threw in her towel of propriety and found that in a few hours time "Emily" could accomplish a lot.

She found that in very little time she could...

A.) Remove and dispose of nine "Yes on 8" signs.

B) Put up two big cardboard "Debbie Cook For Congress" signs --

C) "Emily" was also able to put up three more big old "No on 8" signs and even had time to "re-position" some other formerly badly placed "No on 8" signs.

But, when "Emily" returned home, did her husband, (let's call him "Sam.") a fellow liberal Democrat, rejoice in her progress? Did he support her efforts to make the point that sometimes "you have to do what you have to do?" Was this what "John Adams" would say to his "Abigail?" Hardly.

In other words, did Emily get any high fives from her spouse for this? Nope. Not by a long shot.

The reality was that Emily came home exhausted after a long day of fighting for democracy only to be spoken to like a child who'd stolen candy from the dime store.

I just want to say, off the record, that I think Sam should have kept his Boy Scout mouth shut, since it was clear that "Emily" so didn't need to be lectured by a husband who, in point of fact, totally knew what she'd been doing, but once his wife verbally admitted to her sordid deeds (I think what she said was something like "I've been busy, you know, just hanging signs and stuff") suddenly decided to become Super Bad Cop.

"Just like him," I told her, on the phone, later, "to make a decision about something AFTER it matters. He always does that."

But, in spite of herself, "Emily" felt a certain amount of distance creep in regarding his lack of support at that moment. It wasn't the first time he'd enabled her behaving badly only to recount having done so later on. That's just wrong, she decided.

Surrounding herself with people who did this to her was a habit she said she'd finally decided she just had to break. She said it was getting old feeling betrayed out on a limbs she was sure someone somewhere said would be brave to venture out on.

"Emily" described that particular marital confrontation, last night, to me as something that went like this:

Sam: "I know what you were doing."
Emily: "Yeah, and so? I told you I had signs from the rally that I had to hang up and you knew I'd take down those other signs and you never said anything before I left."
Sam: "Well, you can go to jail for that!"
Emily: "But, I didn't, did I?"
Sam: "They can write your license number down."
Emily: "If they see me. But, I park across the street and pick moments when nobody is driving by. Look, I'm the one who's good at this, you're the one who's slow and conspicuous.
Sam: "And what will the kids think?"
Emily: "They were proud of me. They didn't want the people on Project Runway to be denied their rights. They know Prop 8 is wrong. What?! We teach them about Martin Luther King every year in school, and then not do something about civil rights when it matters? What kind of lesson is that? Besides, you knew I'd do this, tonight. You talked with me about it earlier today, so why wait till now when it's done to pretend it's wrong? You knew what I was doing."
Sam: "Well. It's just not what Obama would do."
Emily: "Well, I'm not Obama. I'm not running for President. I'm trying to help someone else run for President."
Sam: "Right."
Emily: "You be Obama, okay? You can be Obama, and I'll be Bill Maher."

"Emily" didn't remind him of the night when they'd both high-fived over Bill Maher's comments a few months ago, that he'd be happy to send in a donation check to Obama along with a note written on it, "Now fight dirty."

"Emily" also didn't remind him of certain incident much earlier in their personal history when Sam was a team member on a certain journalistic project on which he'd won a certain amount of, well, journalistic acclaim which, actually, involved, let's just say -- having to behave (within the law, perhaps) but, no doubt, badly. He didn't complain about it then.

Who do you think was the one who wore socks and her dark pajamas one night, about a decade ago, to pull leaky a trash bag into the back of his own old Volvo station wagon?

Yeah. He didn't mind so much her behaving badly, back then.

"Emily" mulled over the way time had shaped their values.

And then, she called me.

The latest GALLUP POLL during the final stretch

no need for this now...

Proud to support Debbie Cook for Congress

 

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2008 -- Some photos I took today at 

the local Progressive Democrats For America rally for  Debbie Cook For Congress,   in Huntington Beach, CA

Today is the Sunday before election day.  Just two days to go.

I've already voted. 

I have been blogging for Obama and to support voting No on Prop 8.  However, due to having had a cold for a while, so I haven't been to a rally for a long time.

Luckily for me, there actually was one near my house today.

This one was for Debbie Cook, our Huntington Beach, CA mayor who is currently trying to unseat Dana Rohrabacher for Congress.  

This may sound easy given the support for Obama and other Democrats lately, but here in Orange County, a largely very red population, this will not be an easy victory. 

In fact, she may lose if every one of us doesn't do everything we can to help her win Tuesday.  

So, I went to the Progressive Democrats For America Rally for Debbie Cook...

Get Out The Vote Rally

and neighborhood outreach

Nov. 2, 2008

11:30 AM

Patrick Kelly, Teamsters Labor Leader Local 952

Norman Solomon, Healthcare NOT Warfare Campaign

Tim Carpenter, PDA National Director

IAM Union Hall

5402 Bolsa Ave.

Huntington Beach

There I learned that she and I stand on the same page about many issues I care about, the economy, the environment, schools for our kids, and not discriminating against anyone. You can click here to read more about where she stands on the issues.

What I didn't see on her issues list, that's really been of concern to me, was where she stands on the very controversial Prop 8.  In fact, I didn't recall her mentioning that today, in person, either.  So I did some more research (in the internet) and found a great video recording of the recent (OCC) debate between the candidates at Orange Coast College:  And, bingo, there was her views and stand on Prop 8.  For the record:

Debbie Cook is voting NO on 8.   She's absolutely against it.  

In fact, I really liked the words she chose (during the debate between herself, and two other candidates and the entirely useless Dana Rohrabacher) to describe her opinion on the subject.

See link to view entire debate -- Excellent video from Eugene Garcia of The Orange County Register.

Here's what Debbie Cook says about Prop 8 --

"I am opposed to measure 8.   I support full marriage equality.   America is changing, at least California is. I think it is wrong to use constitutional amendments to limit our liberty."

Okay.  Done.  I'm even more on board now, than I was before.  I picked up a pile of door hangers and volunteered to drop them off in a part of Huntington Beach today. 

I came away from the rally proud to be a supporter of Progressive Democrats and their choice of candidates. Clearly these are the people to point us in the right direction during these very challenging times.

Below are more photos from today's Huntington Beach rally. Check out grass roots at work. What was that Sarah Palin was saying about Obama being "just a community organizer?" Obviously Palin's a woman who simply did not study American History.

My one regret was allowing myself to be interviewed on camera about why I'm choosing to support Debbie Cook on camera.  I wasn't prepared for this and worry I may have sounded a bit like I had been hitting a stash of medicinal weed.  I don't know why I get so nervous on camera.  

Oh, well.   I hung up lots of door hanger flyers for her.

Will have to see how I can be most useful tomorrow to help get as many good Democrats into Washington as possible.