Self Sabotage

I've been working on the Christmas Tree and the novel today. I would decorate for awhile, then write for awhile. Tonight I checked in on a couple of blogs I read and Jen Lemen has written a really funny - and yet horrifyingly accurate - list of 40 ways to sabotage ourselves. Apparently I was engaged in Number 36 when I ran across this.
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A New Day

Will.i.am, the Black Eyed Peas front man, debuted his new video "Brand New Day" on the Oprah Show yesterday. I watched it last night on the rerun and just loved it. You can go to youtube and see the Oprah version too.

Some of the lyrics include:

I went asleep last night
tired from the fight
I been fighting for tomorrow all my life
Yeah, I woke up this morning
feeling brand new
'cause the dreams that I been dreaming has finally came true
It's a New Day.

Here's the Oprah version where he performed it live.



Below is the video Oprah references that was done earlier.



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Why Do You Write?

Mark David Gerson has a blog post inquiring why people write. I follow Mark on twitter and thought that was an interesting question to ponder. Of course, it has been asked before, but it's always good to come up with an answer. Below is mine.

I write because it is a natural part of who I am. Most of my writing for public consumption is done at the keyboard, but my soul-searching writing happens with pen and paper. The connection of brain to hand to paper is one I will never let go of. There's a magic to seeing words appear that never gets old.


Pop over to Mark's blog and read the answers and add your own.

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The Day

This was a very full workday, but I got through it thinking about dinner with Teresa, Jocelyn, Greg and Sharon. Trish had planned to join us but couldn't at the last minute.

We wanted to go out to talk more about the election. Obama got 41% of the vote in Kansas, but only 37% in the county where I live. This is a red state. A blood red state. But, I just keep reminding myself that more than 1/3 of the people around me are in agreement.

After dinner Jocelyn called about something else and we were chatting. I told her I still feel so optimistic, so hopeful. We talked for a bit about how powerful it is that so many people have that feeling of optimism right now. I know that's a positive force. Oddly enough, tonight I checked in a couple of blogs I read and one of them mentioned the very same thing.

I'm so glad it's the weekend. I'm looking forward to doing some things around the house and decorating the tree. I finished the lights last night - I have just a couple of touchups - and this weekend I'm going to work on the ornaments. I love putting ornaments on because so many of them have a memory attached. Ultimately, I'm a sentimental mushball, and Christmas brings that out in me. It's one of the reasons I love it so much.
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The People We Are

I'm still feeling wonderful about the election. Hopeful for the future. Optimistic about things. That the world is full of possibility.

I've been thinking a lot about how we get to be the people we are. What makes us a person who wants to run for president? What makes us someone who wants to be an executive, a nurse, a bird-watcher or a stock broker? What is that driving force, the motivation?

I don't want to be any of those things, but I'm thankful there are people who do. Every four years I'm astonished there is a whole field of people who seek the presidency. Obviously, anyone who does so feels a great desire for it or they wouldn't undertake the arduous process.

The experts would tell us we're all a mix of nature and nurture and we can't ever be sure how much of which because neither exists independently. I suppose that makes sense, but I do wonder how we get to be the people we are.

Yes We Can Music to Celebrate

It's also worth a visit to www.palinaspresident.us again.
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This Defining Moment

I was brought to tears tonight, watching the vote tally go over the necessary 270 to send Barack Obama to the White House in January as the 44th President of the United States of America.

It's hard to explain all I felt at the moment and what I'm still feeling. Relief. Hope. Pride in my fellow Americans. I'm feeling more patriotic now than I've ever felt in my life. I'm proud of this nation.

At this moment I know - for the first time in my life - racists are a minority in this country. Finally. We have reached the tipping point. There are more of us now who judge people on things more meaningful than the color of their skin. I've been waiting for this day for a very long time. A day when we would chose a person for a job based on nothing more than their qualifications. It's big. It has so many ramifications for so many things. It's exciting. It's hopeful.



Trish had an election watch party and I'm so thankful I was able to be with her and Teresa and other supporters tonight. We were all hugging and feeling a hope we haven't felt for the last eight years.



There were many milestones along the way, but I was holding my breath at each stage, waiting for the moment when he would go over.



It felt good to celebrate with other people as the various states went to Obama.







Although most people left after he won, Trish, Teresa and I couldn't wait to hear Obama speak to the nation for the first time as President-elect.





Many of us were on our cell phones - texting and calling family and friends tonight. Andrea was holding the phone up to the TV so her sister in Virginia, who doesn't have a TV, could hear some of the proceedings. I was thinking about how technology has affected this election and even our processing of the election.



Of course, The Lope was in attendance. He agreed to a photo op with Sharon, Jocelyn and me. Those are three happy Obama supporters - four including The Lope.



The Hutchinson News was at the election party and captured a photo of me, too.

To those of you who voted for John McCain, I ask that you give us the pleasure of celebrating for awhile. And then I ask that you give Barack Obama a chance to be the president for ALL of us.

I know how those of you feel who are scared. I've been scared since Bush took office - truly frightened - of what would happen next. Although you may not think there was any reason to be frightened, I was, and still am. So, I understand that you're frightened of what the future holds. Really I do. I know nothing I can say will address that. So, I just ask you to give Obama a chance to treat us all well, to lead us into a new future where you and everyone else can flourish.

None of us ever knows all that the future holds, and I have no doubt Obama will disappoint us at some point - even those of us who have been gung-ho supporters - because politics sometimes requires more compromise than anyone finds palatable. I'm just asking you to give him a chance to be good for all of us. Just a chance.

We face a difficult road ahead. Regardless of who won tonight that would have been the same. Surely we can all agree on that and maybe we can find a way - together - for solutions. I just ask you to give him a chance. And hope that maybe you'll come to see Obama as bringing something valuable to the table for everyone, regardless of who you voted for in this election.
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I Voted

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VOTE

Barack the Vote

Barack

the Vote

Get out and Vote on Tuesday, if you haven't already voted. Take everyone you know with you. This is one of the most important elections in our country's history, which is why turnout is expected to be so high. VOTE! If you don't go to the polls, you're voting for the winner, whoever that is. Speak your piece.
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Early Voting Affecting Election

We've all been hearing a lot about early voting this year. CNN has been tracking it in each state where it's available. You can go to this map and see how many early ballots have been cast in your state. Some states are broken down by democrat and republican votes. It's up to date as of the end of October for Kansas and more than 223,000 have voted. That's just incredible. Very interesting how this will change the face of elections.

I have not voted early - I want to go to the polls. I just want to be part of the experience of voting on this historic days. But, I could have voted early and may well do it in the future.

This is fascinating to look at.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/
early.voting/index.html#cnnSTCOther1

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Tea in St. John

I went to tea in St. John today with Teresa, Julie and Jan. This was the first time Teresa has been to this tea and, unfortunately, it was not their best year. Last year it was just stunning with quilts for table cloths and amazing entertainment from Barry Ward.

They did have some beautiful china in use today and that's always fun. This was the cup at our table. I loved the silvery gray color. I took bottled water with me because I can't have caffeine and I think it's unreasonable to ask people to manage bringing me water when they're juggling three different kinds of tea for everyone else to choose.



As always, there were not enough savories compared to sweets - a problem at every tea I attend - and something I try to address with my teas. The only non-sweet items were the mini-quiche, the puff, and the cucumber sandwich. Everything else was sweet - even the scones had chocolate chips in them. I always leave tea sugar-logged.

I chose tea today instead of going to see Jungle Jack Hanna at the Fox. Tickets were the same price for both. I had no qualms about my choice when I made it, but in retrospect I think I made the wrong decision.

Greg and Mia went to the Fox and report that Jack Hanna had not only the expected large snake, but also a cheetah. I wish I'd seen the cheetah on stage. Oh well, we live and learn. Besides, every experience has some good in it and this was no exception. Today I got to hear beautiful harp music but missed seeing a big cat. Always choices.
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Internet Fun - Palin as President

This is a really funny little widget. http://www.palinaspresident.us/ My favorites at the moment are the door - click it multiple times, and the light switch. If you just move the cursor around all over it, it will change when you can click on something. It's fun.

Mark sent this to me some time ago and I looked at it. Shortly after that Cleta sent it to me but it was much the same. Recently Steve sent it to me again and when I looked at it this time it has some different stuff. He said he thought it was being updated.

Fun!
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A Weekend of Friends

Kris and I took another "cute girl pic" tonight. We forgot to do one last time we were together, so we had to make up for it tonight.

Kris, John, Andrea and I went to eat at the Renaissance Cafe in Assaria, Kansas tonight. The food was fabulous! They had all been before, but it was my first time. The population in Assaria is less than 450, but they are serving some wonderful food there. The cafe is the upper level of a sunken gym. It's an unusual setting but a great experience.

At some point during the evening, we realized it was "jean jacket night" because all of us were wearing them.



John, however, did not get the telepathic message about the jackets. He and Kris are such a great couple.



My favorite photo of the night was this candid of John and Kris...



Mark, Mia and Greg went to an Exotica concert in Lawrence tonight. I already had plans to go to Assaria, but that isn't exactly my thing anyway. Mark is going on home to Kansas City but Greg and Mia will be back yet tonight.

Greg still has Halloween things to take home. He did quite the extravaganza last night. I snapped this photo of him working on setup Thursday. That's a real tiki mask - not plastic - wood. Heavy sucker, too.

Last night was a really fun gathering of friends - not to mention getting to hand out candy. I grew up in the country, where there was no handing out of candy because there were no trick or treaters, so I still get an unnatural thrill out of it. It's so fun to see the kids in their costumes. And I remember how incredibly cool it was to fill up your pumpkin with candy. Oh my gosh, it was so fun. So, I like being on the other side of that.

I got a lovely surprise when I walked out of the house yesterday. The night before Greg, Mia, Sharon and I had gone out to get a bite to eat and I had been debating what to be for Halloween. One of my options was "farmer," which I thought would be warm and could involve the jeans and jean shirt I already had. I was lamenting I didn't have the appropriate straw hat. Sharon said she had one I could borrow.

When I walked outside yesterday, right by my front door I found...


Sharon is so kind and generous. This is the same Sharon who gave me the gorgeous purple mum I shot a few days ago. I want to plant it so it will come back next year.

Anyway, it was a lovely surprise. You know I adore happy surprises! I ended up not using the hat because it was too warm to be wearing jeans. The pumpkins really added a lot to the decor. Hopefully I'll get to enjoy them through Thanksgiving.

Fun with Friends... A lovely weekend so far. And, tomorrow, I get to go to tea with Teresa, Jan and Julie. Of course, you can expect tea photos.

This is the St. John tea where last year I met Barry Ward, who was performing. Andrea told me tonight that she saw Barry at Winfield and he remembered me and said to say hello. I was flattered he remembered me at all. Not sure what the entertainment there is tomorrow, but this is always a fun tea.

Isn't it funny how things just work in circles sometimes? I love that.
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Happy Halloween

Hope you had a lovely Halloween. As usual, Greg decorated my house and we gathered here to hand out candy. He outdid himself this year - with some new additions, and some old favorites like the fog machines.





Mark and Mia are both here for Halloween. Sharon and Amy came over and Brian and Lisa stopped by for awhile. It was a really fun evening.


That's Amy in the purple in front, and Sharon beside her. Then Mia and me, and Lisa in the back.

As usual, I had difficulty deciding what to be for Halloween. I debated being a farmer, but it was really warm, so I went with the gypsy idea instead.

It started really slow - we only had one trick or treater until after 7 and then it was a pretty steady flow.

My former neighbors, Alex and Nicole, came by with their four little boys. They're all in school now. Justin, the oldest, is in 6th grade and the youngest is in kindergarten. It was really good to see them. One of the boys told me they missed me. I miss them, too. 

We saw some really, really cute costumes tonight. One little girl about four was a witch and she was the cutest kid I've seen in ages. I wanted to tell her parents - get this kid an agent - she is adorable.

One of the funnier moments of the night was when these folks came toward the porch ...


Mark said, "ah, Insane Clown Posse..." as they were walking up. They were so excited they started running over toward Mark, to shake his hand, because he knew the band. It was a really fun moment.

They were one of only two or three groups of older kids, and all the ones we had tonight were really fun like them. It was a neat evening.

Greg, in addition to doing all the decorating, took these photos. I'm sure he'll be posting more over at www.thelope.com eventually.
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Book Discussion on Southern vs. Plains Literaure

Tonight I went to a book discussion at the library. The book was Bailey White's "Mama makes up her mind and other dangers of southern living." At some point the leader mentioned how she was sure there was a kernel of truth in each of the characters. I mentioned that having grown up in the south they rang true to me.

This led to an interesting discussion about the differences in culture seen in the literature from the plains and from the south. The book discussion leader is an expert in Great Plains Literature. She said the literature of the south  is much more about characters and the plains literature is much more about the work.

I've often observed that in the south, "people take precedence" and here in the midwest the to-do list rules. It seems the literature backs that up. The great puzzle is why that's the case.

I posed that question and people suggested climate, but of course the climate is very similar in some places so I don't think that's the answer. The leader suggested the south was a plantation mindset, i.e. one of leisure and the midwest was a farming background. I told her I grew up on a farm and no one I knew had a plantation.

Ultimately, there didn't seem to be a real answer I could ferret out, but the question remains an interesting one.

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Blogging Classes and Mummies

Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning I took some time to go visit with blogging classes at the Hutchinson Public Library. This is Kristine, who teaches the classes.

At some point, Peggy took one of her classes and mentioned my blog to her. So, Kristine now uses this blog in her classes as an example.

She asked me a few months ago if I'd be willing to come in a talk about my experience with blogging. I told her I would and this was the week. It was a cool thing to do. I kind of warmed up a bit last night and this morning was really fun.

I really like Kristine. She's a bubbly person and I can tell she's someone I would enjoy knowing better. There were some people in the classes I'd like to get to know better, too. Hopefully it will all work out that that happens.

This evening after work I worked on the Christmas tree more. At one point, I could see the orange glow from the pumpkin in my front window reflecting on one French door, and the lights of the Christmas tree reflecting in the other French door. I have "seasonal blending" at my house. That's my new term for it.

But, tonight I updated my facebook status that I was working on my tree, and Tara commented that she already has hers up and decorated. Mary Ann told me the other day she had hers up but not yet decorated. So, I'm not the only one. The Christmas season is very compressed this year - Thanksgiving is very late. So, I want to make sure I've got everything done before Thanksgiving - otherwise I won't feel like I'm getting a full Christmas season. Last year's ice storm made that one feel very shortened so I need to make up a little bit.

But, I love Halloween too. And, Greg is planning to do some pretty major decorating this year. In fact, tonight he was working on this mummy.



I'm looking forward to Friday night!

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Quote of the Day

"Your life is an expression of all your thoughts."
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.

I am looking for book clubs willing to read and critique my novel when it's completed. If your book club is interested, please email me at patsyterrell@gmail.com. Thanks!

Vintage Doily

This is one of my recent thrift store finds. I absolutely love hand crocheted items. I have quite a large collection of doilies and other linens. It has been said my house looks like an elderly grandmotherly type lives in it. Of course, people have been saying this about me since I was in my 20s so I'm somewhat used to it.

I love the pineapple, which is one of the most popular designs. Pineapples were a symbol of welcome to the Victorians, which is why you see them in things like this and often as finials in homes from the time period.

I have to confess, I've never crocheted one. But, I've bought quite a few of them. Does that count? I do have a pattern book I bought for $2 at the MCC sale last year that has a number of different pineapple designs in it. Isn't it amazing that women used to have time to do laundry and cooking and dishes and dusting AND crocheting?!?!? I'm astonished.

Of course, they weren't blogging, I say, thinking about the pile of dirty clothes on the bathroom floor. Maybe I should stop blogging, too, for tonight. I'm not going to break out the crochet hook, but I do have some things I need to do.

One of those is go pick my herbs. It's already 30 here now and it's supposed to get down to 24 tonight. I want to save my rosemary, sage and lavender. I think I'll let everything else go. I picked the green tomatoes a few days ago, but I guess I will ignore the rest.

I suppose I'd best go do my herb cutting. It's not like it's going to get any warmer before I go to bed. Of course, I could have done it one day the last week or two but - did I - no, of course not. Why do that. It's so much more of an adventure to do it when it's below freezing, seeing only by the security light.
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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.

I am looking for book clubs willing to read and critique my novel when it's completed. If your book club is interested, please email me at patsyterrell@gmail.com. Thanks!

A Full Weekend

Sharon gave me this beautiful purple/coral mum last week. It has been too windy to have it outside much, but I set it out today to get some sun. It's such a pretty color and mums mean fall.

Fall is in full swing and I knew this without a doubt Saturday morning when I had to scrape frost off my car. Lots of frost. Why, you might rightly ask, was I up so early on a Saturday morning? Not just up, but doing something that involved the car.

Saturday morning I went to the Kansas Underground Salt Museum for volunteer training. For reasons I can't explain I really want to drive the little trams they use underground. I got to do it Saturday morning. It was just as fun as I expected it to be. Hopefully I'll get to volunteer there soon, although I don't think I'll do it much until after Christmas. We'll see how it goes.

They do the training before the museum opens, but as I walked into the new building, with the train that was used to move the salt in its new home next to the building, the sun was just coming up.



I had two big projects this weekend, other than that. One was to finish up the window I replaced on Friday and get the storm window repaired and back in place. I was able to do that.

My other big project for the weekend was to get started on the Christmas tree. I know, it's not yet Halloween. I know this because there's a pumpkin in my front window casting an orange glow onto the lawn, and I haven't yet handed out candy, which I love to do. But, I also know if I don't get started early for Christmas it becomes a chore and I don't want it to be a chore. I want to enjoy every moment of the holiday season.

So, my living room is now a staging area for the tree. I've got a couple of rows on, with lights.



I have to plug in the lights so I can see which ones blink and which ones burn steady so I get a good mix on the tree. These are now on the tree, so I'll bring more up from the basement and repeat the process. This isn't my favorite part of the process, but I love the effect of the sparkly lights when it's done. So, gotta do this part.

Tonight Teresa and I went to see the Diamond W Wranglers at the Fox Theatre. It was terrific. They played for three hours, with only a 15 minute intermission, and ... get ready... I did not get at all restless!

If you've read here for any amount of time you know it's difficult for me to sit still for very long, which is one of the reasons I don't go to movies very much, why I don't like meetings and why I'm very careful to not get myself involved in things that require a lot of focused attention on just one thing.

But, the Wranglers were so good I loved every minute of it. They play at Cowtown on a regular basis. I've been to Cowtown before, but I haven't gone to see them there. I need to do that soon.

Afterwards they were out chatting with people and signing CDs. That's Jim in the purple - he's married to Martha, next to him is the drummer Steve, and Stu in the red and black shirt. Stu sang almost every song, with Jim taking lead on a few, and I couldn't believe he was still talking after all that singing, but he didn't seem phased.



They were fabulous, and I can't urge you strongly enough to go visit them at Cowtown. They start their Christmas program in early November. You can get a sneak listen by going to the website. Hit refresh if you want to hear yet another tune.

All in all a very full weekend. I have to go to Manhattan for a meeting tomorrow and will need to leave early so I'd best get some sleep. No more tree assembly or concerts for me tonight.
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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.

I am looking for book clubs willing to read and critique my novel when it's completed. If your book club is interested, please email me at patsyterrell@gmail.com. Thanks!

Opie, Andy and The Fonz Endorse Obama

This is the most creative endorsement you may ever see - three endorsements in one - with appearances by Opie, Andy Griffith and The Fonz. Regardless of who you're supporting you can appreciate the creativity involved in this.

Thanks to Martha for the heads up.
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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.

I am looking for book clubs willing to read and critique my novel when it's completed. If your book club is interested, please email me at patsyterrell@gmail.com. Thanks!

Vintage Rick Rack

At one of my regular thrift store stops the other day I found this vintage rickrack. Isn't it wonderful?

I'm not sure what, exactly, it will find its way onto, but I knew I couldn't pass it up. Total price - $1. Usually I find things like this at the MCC sale in April. It's unusual to spot it any other time of year. My guess is it just gets tossed when people are going through things. But I'm sure it's destined for something fun yet to be discovered.

I've been playing around with photoshop lately and this seemed like a great photo to experiment with the color on - desaturating it a bit...



I like the antique-y look of that. I also like the fact that all of those are colors that would be great to have anyway.

Of course, it could go all the way to black and white...



I suppose that's really more shades of gray than black and white but I like the look of it.

It seems there's always something to play with, and just not enough time to do it all.
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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.

I am looking for book clubs willing to read and critique my novel when it's completed. If your book club is interested, please email me at patsyterrell@gmail.com. Thanks!

Replacing Window Glass

I can now add "replacing window glass" to my resume. I took the afternoon off to take care of a broken window in my home office. Of course, I could have taken care of it sometime this summer, but naturally I waited until it started to get chilly. Then I had to wait for a day that was going to be dry and warm enough. Today was the day.

It got broken sometime during the winter. I don't even know what happened. I was sitting in my office one night when it was really cold and thinking... geez... my feet are freezing. I'm going to have to put plastic over the window by my desk. The next day I pull back the drapes to tackle this project and find the window is cracked - that spider crack on the left side that goes in all directions.

It was way too cold at the time to have a big hole in my house so I patched it as best I could until warm weather. Now, months later, I'm finally getting around to dealing with it. In the meantime, I went to the Window Workshop, which came in handy today.

Today, getting the glass out, I broke it into about four different pieces. There was a point I just could not get out. I eventually had to break the glass and pull it out around it, then I just bent the point flat to the edge. I tried everything I could think of but I just could not get it out.

I knew I needed to take the glass in to Sturgeon because I don't measure well. At all. I know this about myself. I'm not sure why, but I am just not good at that. If I have to have something precisely measured I have someone else do it. When I called Sturgeon to ask about this, and told them I was bringing in the glass she said, "Yes, please, bring in the glass, that's best." I guess other people can't measure either.

They cut it for me today while I waited, which was nice. I just happened to catch them when they weren't busy. And, I managed to get the old glass out and the new one cut and in, complete with points and glazing, and only bled a few drops. I consider that a rousing success.
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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.

I am looking for book clubs willing to read and critique my novel when it's completed. If your book club is interested, please email me at patsyterrell@gmail.com. Thanks!

Tea on a Fall Evening

It's a wet, chilly autumn evening here. I decided to made some mini pumpkin bread loaves. I want some for one of my holiday gatherings and pumpkin bread freezes with no ill effects, particularly in this sort of a time frame. So, I thought I'd whip up a batch. I need to make three more batches to have enough.

Of course, as soon as they were coming out of the oven I had the urge to make some tea and have a couple of little loaves. Then I remembered these dishes I had bought at Goodwill a few months ago. They're just perfect for an autumn evening I think. For some reason, tea always tastes best from a pretty cup.

I love evenings like this. It's chilly enough to want to be indoors, but not so cold that the wind has found every spot not covered three different ways to get inside with me. It will be no time until my evening's uniform will include long underwear so my legs don't freeze. In fact, I think I'd better order a couple more pair so there's always one clean.

I'm one of those people who gets cold the first time there's a cold snap and I just stay cold until spring. The one time I'm warm is when I first wake up under my electric blanket. But the first moment I stick a toe out from under I'm cold again. Last night I got out my electric blanket but decided to not put it on until I change the sheets again. But, very soon it will be time. I consider electric blankets to be one of the great inventions of our era.

Well, I'm going to stop writing on the blog and work on the book some more. I'm writing one of the complex scenes now so it's going much slower, but it's coming along. However, not a darn thing happens unless I stay at the keyboard and work on it so I suppose I'd best do that.
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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.

I am looking for book clubs willing to read and critique my novel when it's completed. If your book club is interested, please email me at patsyterrell@gmail.com. Thanks!

Conservatives Support Obama

Christopher Buckley, son of the late William F. Buckley who founded The National Review, has decided to vote for Obama. He announced it on "The Daily Beast" blog.

Far be it from me to summarize what so eloquent a writer as Christopher Buckley can say in his own words. The uproar over his column was such that he offered to tender his resignation from the National Review, where he wrote a column, and they accepted.

I rarely agreed with the senior Mr. Buckley's politics, but I appreciated his insights. It seems his son is just as brilliant where politics is concerned.
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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.

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Living Libraries

Some libraries have been doing programs called, "Living Libraries," where people can "check out" a person who is an expert in a particular way of life. They have 30 minutes to learn about being a vegan or a Buddist or whatever.

It was designed to address prejudice and I can see it as a fascinating way to do that, but I think it could be expanded into other arenas too. It seems like it would be very interesting to be able to have 30 minutes of conversation with someone about anything from antique linens to big game hunting.

One of the things I always loved about interviewing people was what I called, "dropping into people's lives" for a short while. I learned that someone who was passionate about something could generally make me appreciate it. I'm not likely to take up ice fishing, but I'll bet there are some interesting things to know about it.

Once you start talking to people in your community, you're amazed at how many of them are fascinating. Within an hour's drive of where I live is a man who was a pivotal figure in reforming mental health care in this nation. He was a young attorney who took on a case no one else would touch that ended up going to the supreme court. That case also catapulted a young reporter named Geraldo Rivera onto the national scene.

Living here is a man who is considered the world's best crow hunter, a former Radio City Rockette, and members of a family who were held hostage during an international hijacking. There are many other examples of interesting stories waiting to be told - people who have had extraordinary experiences or jobs or honors. Ultimately, many, many people you cross paths with have great stories to tell and are leading extraordinary lives. That's really what it boils down to - interesting stories from extraordinary lives - they so often go untold.

There's a story about Living Libraries in Santa Monica. It seems like a great way to get to know folks in your community.

I'm thinking about library programs because next week I'm going to be involved in three of them - two as an "instructor" and one as a participant. I was asked some time ago if I would come to some classes at the library and talk about blogging. It will be interesting to meet the folks taking the class. I'm not sure what I can tell people about blogging, but I'm sure I'll think of something between now and then. I guess, in a way, I'm going to be the living library entry for that short while.

Later next week I'll be participating in a library book discussion about Bailey White's "Mama makes up her mind and other dangers of Southern Living." It's a very quick read and a fun book. I listened to Bailey White on NPR for years, so I was eager to read this book and discuss it with others. I'm also reading "War of Art" by Steven Pressfield, which I heartily recommend. I need to just buy a copy of it because I can tell it's a book you want to highlight as you read.

I'm going to think more about this idea of Living Libraries. I think there's something important there to work with. I'm always looking for ways to build social capital in my community and this sounds like a great way.
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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.

I am looking for book clubs willing to read and critique my novel when it's completed. If your book club is interested, please email me at patsyterrell@gmail.com. Thanks!

The Barack Obama Rally in Kansas City

I promised more details about the Obama Rally Greg and I went to in Kansas City on Saturday. Multiple people have asked for lots of specifics so I'm going to try and answer the questions here.

The upshot of it was that it was a moment. A real moment. I felt honored to be a witness to it.

Obama gives me hope. True hope that things can be better - for everyone - rich and poor alike. He gives me hope that there will never be another New Orleans, where our fellow Americans are left to die because the party in the white house has no compassion for those who are not rich enough to contribute to political campaigns. He gives me hope that all children will have an opportunity to go to school, because education really is the key to changing a life. He gives me hope we can have an administration that believes health care for everyone is a right, not a privilege only for those who can pay more than a thousand dollars a month for insurance. He gives me hope we can do better for the environment and improve our standing in the world.



It was incredible to be present with such a diverse group of people all focused on one goal - to elect this man president.



It was a process to get to the point where we were able to witness this. I found out about the KC rally Thursday evening at the Obama rally in Hutchinson. Apparently I had gotten an email but they come in so fast and furious I hadn't yet read it. But, Samantha Finke, the Obama person in Kansas, mentioned it in her remarks.

I asked her afterwards about the possibility of press credentials and she told me what I had heard before - that the Obama folks are pretty friendly to bloggers. It makes complete sense, of course, particularly for bloggers like me who are very friendly to the campaign to begin with. Obviously, I'm not likely to say much negative. This blog isn't news. I did impartial news for a long time. This blog is just my opinion and thoughts - not news - and I have no reason to be impartial. So, they're likely to get some really positive comments, which are then read by others, who may pick them up and spread them further, making it the very definition of grass roots. Of course, they also gave press credentials to bloggers not so friendly to them at the convention.



Anyway, that night I emailed my board asking if someone could work Saturday afternoon for me at a health fair the MHA was committed to. Two folks said yes, and that meant I could proceed with going to Kansas City. The doors were supposed to open for the Obama rally at 4 p.m., and he was supposed to speak at 6, so I figured we'd get there in time to get through the doors since we're about a four hour drive from KC.

Friday Greg and I applied for press credentials. They said they would let us know if they could not accommodate us. We kept checking our email all afternoon and evening, relieved every time that didn't have an email from them.



Saturday morning I went to the MHA event and Greg called the press contact to confirm we were good to go. He also talked with the editor of a magazine we had worked for before, who sent us an assignment letter in case we needed it because she wanted some material from the event, too.

By 12:05, we were leaving Hutchinson because my board member arrived early. Thank you, Betsy! We made a beeline for KC.

We came in on 70, and planned to take Main Street but saw the sign that it was closed from 4-6 p.m. So, we went in on Broadway. We were stopped as the motorcade passed by. We can't say specifically that it was Obama, but we could see the media in one bus, secret service in multiple vehicles, and the whole convoy being escorted by police.

As we got closer to Liberty Memorial, but long before we were near the grounds, we could see people lined up waiting to get in. It was 4:08 p.m.



At first I was confused because people were headed both directions in places. Then I realized that people were walking toward the back of the line, which stretched blocks into the distance from Memorial Drive, which comes off of Main Street, where you walk up the hill to approach the long drives going to the memorial. Later we learned they had opened the doors early because the crowd was so large.

We proceeded on and eventually parked across from Union Cemetery at about 29th and Cherry Streets, up a hill that seemed much bigger when we were walking up it after the event was over.

I did this map so you could get a sense of the layout. It's followed by one of Greg's photos that shows the setup. You can see just how many people are there. They estimated 75,000.





The people sitting down here are in the handicapped section. There were no other seats for the public. The press platform is behind them. Greg took this from the far end of the platform.

I was standing right at the barricade between the press area and the handicap section and had an edge on view of the podium. Greg took this photo of me from the other press platform. You can see me in the green, and the edge of the press platform and steps to my right.



Before Obama spoke I moved up a few steps to the barricade, which was near the guy in the yellow shirt. He is leaning on it from the other side. Below is a photo I took from that location, where I stayed the whole time except one brief foray onto the podium to look out at the crowd.



I didn't crop this any closer so you could see the Secret Service guy in the lower right corner. They're always watching you watching whatever. And I'm thankful. I want them watching out for Obama.

An opening prayer was offered for Obama's safety, and also for McCain's safety, and that of all other candidates.



When we arrived, we had no idea where to check in for press, but eventually found it. We had to go through a security screening, as you would expect. We were wanded - like they do at the airport, and a dog sniffed our bags for explosives. Once we were in the press area we were not allowed to leave that secure area.

There was a tent set up for the traveling press to file their stories, and tables with power set up for other press outside the tent. There were two platforms. One to the south of the stage so you were looking at his left side, and one to the west so you were seeing him straight on.

You can see the press tent in the background here. I took a photo of the volunteer passing out the signs people are holding up. They just had a big stack of them on a table in the press area and when the speakers started they began passing them out.



The orange sticker you can see on this woman's Mizzou sweatshirt was an essential to get in. Everyone filled out a little form and you got a sticker to indicate you had done it.

It was shortly after 5 when Governor Sebelius came out and took a photo of the crowd with her phone.



She was one of the speakers along with the Missouri State Auditor Susan Montee, former Kansas City Mayor and current Congressman, Emanuel Cleaver, Representative Ike Skelton and others. They were all pretty brief, and Obama started speaking about 6:15. Greg shot a video of the introduction.



The crowd went nuts when he was introduced. People near me were beside themselves. People were clapping. People were cheering. People were crying. I was talking to an elderly lady nearby who said she "never thought she'd see the day" when she would be able to vote for a black man for president.



It was a moment to remember. Just to be witness to it was incredible. They say the 100,000 people in St. Louis was his largest crowd for a rally yet, so the 75,000 in KC had to be a close second I would think - and both of them were in the same day.



Obama gave his standard speech, with some slight changes, as is the norm at these sort of things. But I was moved to see him in person.

As I wrote the other day, he gives me hope. I want the things he talks about - not just for me, but for all of us. I want everyone to have healthcare and good education and decent jobs and a stake in the American dream. His ideals are mine. He's much more eloquent about them than I am, but his thoughts about how all Americans should be able to live are what I want.



I have no problem with people being rich. I know some people who would qualify as "rich," even by McCain's standard of making more than a half million dollars. They're nice folks. Many of them are Obama supporters. They, too, want education and healthcare and a better environment and economic well-being for everyone because they understand that when one of us suffers we are all diminished.



Seeing Obama was inspiring. Not just seeing him, but seeing people react to him. This is a moment in our nation's history. A real moment. It felt so wonderful to be in a crowd of people of all colors and ages, all of us supporting the same man to lead us from the dark days we are in now.



We are in definite need of change. No question about it.



I've never identified too much with the democratic party, as opposed to the individual candidates, until the last few years when the Republican party became the party of the Evangelical Christian Right. I'm afraid I can no longer distinguish the two- they are one and the same now. I keep expecting "true" republicans to split and form a new party, leaving the remains of the republican party to the religious right.

For the first time in ages, we have a democratic candidate who has served notice he will not allow attacks to go unanswered, he will not have his patriotism questioned, and he will put forth true ideals of how things can be for the average person.

We are close to having him elected. We are very close. But you need to make sure everyone you know votes on November 4. We're feeling good but we cannot let that become complacency and lose this in the last stretch. It's not done. Do what you can. Make sure those in your own circle are voting. Call people in swing states. If you can give money, do. Just don't assume we're done. We're not done until the polls close everywhere on November 4. I think I'm going to take the day off to make calls to swing states.

MoveOn.org offered these ideas today and I think they're good ones. Forward to your friends.

TOP 5 REASONS OBAMA SUPPORTERS CAN'T REST EASY

1. The polls may be wrong. This is an unprecedented election. No one knows how racism may affect what voters tell pollsters—or what they do in the voting booth. And the polls are narrowing anyway. In the last few days, John McCain has gained ground in most national polls, as his campaign has gone even more negative.

2. Dirty tricks. Republicans are already illegally purging voters from the rolls in some states. They're whipping up hysteria over ACORN to justify more challenges to new voters. Misleading flyers about the voting process have started appearing in black neighborhoods. And of course, many counties still use unsecure voting machines.

3. October surprise. In politics, 15 days is a long time. The next McCain smear could dominate the news for a week. There could be a crisis with Iran, or Bin Laden could release another tape, or worse.

4. Those who forget history... In 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote after trailing by seven points in the final days of the race. In 1980, Reagan was eight points down in the polls in late October and came back to win. Races can shift—fast.

5. Landslide. Even with Barack Obama in the White House, passing universal health care and a new clean-energy policy is going to be hard. Insurance, drug and oil companies will fight us every step of the way. We need the kind of landslide that will give Barack a huge mandate.

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Many of the photos here were taken by Greg.
See Greg's post about the event:
http://www.thelope.com/2008/10/barack-obama.html

See my earlier post:
http://www.patsyterrell.com/2008/10/barack-obama-rally.html

________________
Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.

I am looking for book clubs willing to read and critique my novel when it's completed. If your book club is interested, please email me at patsyterrell@gmail.com. Thanks!