Convening in the North Metro

Pictures from Little A & Little B's first party. The party was in Mike and Mary's patio, yard and garage. Mike's garage makes men jealous.

It Could Be a Big Blow to Two Towns

After two years of anticipation and preparation, Hurricane Gustav may postpone or diminish the GOP Convention in St. Paul. The morning paper says John McCain will only visit by satellite if it strikes the Gulf Coast cities as a 5. Of course the president and vice-president would cancel.
That would be a disappointment here, but the real disaster would be in the coastal cities. This warning will be heeded. People are evacuating, but another great property loss would probably doom future rebuilding. In this part of the country the land would be designated a flood plane and left fallow. Isn't that reasonable? This choice seems practical to those not personally involved, but must be devastating if that is your home.
So many people have generously poured their sweat, flexed muscles and donated money to help rebuild after Katrina. Our church and many others sent work crews and funds to help. Tough, determined people have rebuilt and resettled only to be threatened again with wind and water. Our hearts and prayers are with them. We pray this storm lesssens and they are spared.

Anxiously Awaiting Tuesday November 4th

I am anxious for the big event--the hype--the revelation. I am anxious for the buildup the weeks before--the anxious hours and moments on the last day. November 4th. It will be a nailbiter. It has been a long time coming. Seems like years but it has really only been since February that the major players were announced. November 4th is Mary's due date for those twins!

We don't know their names yet. One boy. One girl. With a possibility of an election day birthday, how about Sarah Jo and John Barach? I don't think that will fly.

Today we are going to a barbeque/shower hosted by friends and Mike's aunt and mom for the babies.
This is what I put on our gift:

Little A and Little B
Welcome kids to the family.
Mike & Mary thought they’d be 3
Adding one bambino to the family tree.

What a surprise when the Dr. said “two”
We’ve watched mom’s tummy as you grew and grew
I’ve seen you on ultrasound, it’s twins –it’s true
Election Day, November 4th, is when you‘re due.

Daddy and mommy are preparing the way
To welcome you here on your birthday
The nursery is painted, the layette put away
A safe delivery –the grandparents will pray.

I Like Her Glasses

First words out of my mouth when I heard John McCain's VP pick yesterday, "Sarah who?"
I did some homework on the web reading about Sarah Palin and watching her speech on You tube. My conservative brother in law seems to approve. She seems to meet the approval of Dobson and Limbaugh who remarked , "We have a babe on the ticket". Rush said that, not Dr. Dobson. No wonder Hillary and him don't get along.

I am glad to see a woman in the mix. This past week I figured McCain would pick a woman. I guessed the wrong woman. I also figured our governor was not from a state with enough votes. Wrong there. Alaska has a smaller population. This was an effort to appease conservatives and balance the ticket. She is a beauty and I like her glasses. She looks like Hollywood's choice as the first female president. I always thought if we had a female president we might have less war. Less testosterone=more diplomacy. I'm not sure about this gun-totin' mama and will reserve judgment until I am better informed.

Tim Pawlenty had charm, youth, social conservatism and more administrative experience than Gov. Palin. Was he passed over because he was a man? Has anyone cried "Sexism"? Gives one pause. There are now more women who attend college. Can it be long before men have minority status in power positions? Will men's support groups thrive? Should I be concerned about my grandsons' future?

If Minnesotans don't have a governor in the race, we will have to focus on our senatorial campaign. Mr. Franken and Sen.Coleman are slinging mud already. This is more than a local race. It is about the balance in the senate. While both major parties are pouring money and ideas into our senate election, they had better keep an eye on Dean Barkley. He is running as an Independent candidate for senator. Barkley was the campaign manager for our illustrous former Gov. Ventura. They grew the third party quietly garnering independent voters. They showcased Jesse as a cheeky independent--a third choice. They beat Norm Coleman in that race. Ventura has sulked away and lives in the Baja region of Mexico. Barkley went on to manage Kinky Freidman's Texas campaign. He didn't promote that guy as well. Maybe Texans are more savy. Maybe they liked their first two choices on the ticket. Maybe Minnesotans don't and you will hear more from Mr. Barkley. Time to watch those independent voters.

Wing

Not Wings. Not Paul McCartney. More like Linda Eastman. Wing on You Tube at a sold out performance in San Francisco. Wonder what they were smoking. She is a cult favorite and verifies that all those bad contestants on American Idol probably don't know they are bad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef0M-u1D208

Home Alone

I'm tagging along with my friend Mary today and volunteering at an adult day care facility most of the day. They are having a Labor Day barbeque and need a few extra hands to get the clients outdoors.
Jon will be home alone. Not a bad thing to have the house to yourself for a day. He already told me he plans to cut the grass. I told him not to. Too wet. There is a soggy corner in our yard and we had 2.5 inches of rain yesterday. When he uses the riding mower, which he will, it leaves deep ruts. I guess I am a control freak. He can figure it out by himself.
Hope I don't get a call to bail him out of jail. The squirrels who raid our bird feeder have been getting his goat. We have hummingbirds and lots of goldfinches at those feeders and a few big, plump-tailed leaping rodents. When Jon spots them he reaches for the BB gun. I cringe. Not legal in town and what about the neighbor's cats who slink around back there? Still he continues to take pot shots at those squirrels. I don't know if they learn from hearing BBs whiz by their heads. I don't think the gun is true enough to hit anything. A couple days ago I thought I heard him chasing one around the house and shooting. I was wrong. He only does it from the deck. Just call him Bwana. Great White Hunter. Score so far: Jon -- 0. Squirrels--a lot of nice snacks. I'm not sure anyone can win in a head to head match with them. So far the cats look healthy.

Out on a Limb

I'm going to go out on a limb with a political prediction. Should know tomorrow how this turns out. I think John Mc Cain is going to pick a woman as his running mate. A Texan, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson is my guess. I was leaning toward our Governor, but don't think he is well enough known around the country and we are a state with a smaller number of votes.

Hurricane Gustav is taking aim at the Gulf Coast and may hit New Orleans on Labor Day, the day the Republican Convention starts. He may need to do something to upstage a hurricane. Picking a woman would get attention. Oprah and Caroline Kennedy are already alligned with the opposition. There are other women who are republican but it would be hard to resist having a Texan on the ticket.