Thursday, October 9, 2008
The New West
It's a little bit of "the Old West" sort of superimposed on "the new West". Those are the Bradshaw mountains in the distance, part of the town of Prescott Valley a little closer (where the trees are) and a small herd of cows on what apparently is still ranchland.
Kinda neat, huh?
Would have been better if I'd have stopped to take the picture when the cows were right up by the fence.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Smears, Lies and Politics as usual
You can find Senator Obama's explanation on this web site.
I must admit I have never been a fan of Senator John McCain but I sympathized with him when his 2000 presidential campaign was derailed by smears and lies from the George Bush campaign in South Carolina.
What really disappoints me is that Senator McCain has now adopted this same campaign tactic to try to defeat Senator Obama.
Johnny, we hardly knew ye.
p.s. I voted yesterday by early ballot. For Senator Barack Obama.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Adaptation
On moving day, Jazz holed up on a shelf in a bedroom closet and stayed there for 8 hours or so. Finally, in the evening, she came out and walked (or stalked) very slowly over to the big couch and carefully began sniffing it. Not only is it new, it carries the scent of a couple of strange cats.
But by last night, Muggles (left) and Smoke (center) seem to have made their peace with it. Jazz (right) is still sniffing.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
McCain v. Obama
During the primary season, I was a strong backer of Hillary Clinton, which led to a bit of a contretemps with Phoebe Fay, during which we didn't talk for quite awhile. But I'm over that now. Her guy won and I now support him fervidly.
So fervidly, in fact, that I am ready to wring John McCain's neck. This guy, who had a pretty decent reputation except for his temper, the Keating episode, his drinking, his gambling, his disgraceful treatment of his first wife and, of course, his lying ways that pissed off many voters in the Arizona Republican (not to mention Democratic) party. Even McCain has said "Barry Goldwater never liked me. I'm not sure why." Well, hell, John, I think I can tell you. Barry was a man of his word and you never were, in spite of all your politi-speak bullshit about "straight talk" and "maverick". We could trust Barry, whether we agreed with him or not, to say and MEAN what he said. That was REAL straight talk.
Yours - isn't.
But even more so, in this campaign, against a Democratic candidate who seems to be, above all, decent . . . you, John McCain, have been a complete ass. Your arrogant attitude at the first debate. The lies you or your campaign have been spewing forth while you keep talking about how honest and straightforward you are. Your complete rudeness to Barack Obama when he tries to "make nice" with you.
I'm sorry, my fellow Arizonans and Republicans nationwide, this guy (McCain) is running a desperate campaign worthy only of Karl Rove and his numbers are sinking by the day.
O.K. That's enough.
For now.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Moving Day
Frankly, I think I would be a little concerned about the names of these guys but . . .
Actually, Frank and Jesse were nowhere in sight. The boss guy was Bill and I forget the other fellow's name but they worked like galley slaves for five hours filling their truck with the contents of the BRD's half of the duplex.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Favorites
I'd have to argue for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" with his buddy, Robert Redford.
Then, of course, there was that irrepressible bad boy in "Cool Hand Luke."
Southern charm, with Elizabeth Taylor, in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."
Paul got back with his pal, Redford, in "The Sting".
Ah, there were so many great movies. Newman made about 60, including "The Hustler", and it's sequel "The Color of Money", "The Long Hot Summer", (this picture may have come from that one.)
There was "Exodus", "The Silver Chalice" (that's the one Paul hated), who could forget "Hud" (Patricia Neal certainly couldn't!), "Winning" (the movie that started his interest in auto racing), "Sometimes A Great Notion", "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean", "The Verdict", "Mr. and Mrs. Bridge", "Road to Perdition" and "Empire Falls" . . . just to name a few.
Newman said he didn't read reviews of his movies because the good ones give you a fat head and the bad ones make you depressed for three weeks.
But . . . what was your favorite Newman movie?
Whatever it was, we'll remember this guy, and those amazing blue eyes, for a long, long time.
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Debate
SWMBO and I agreed (Amazing) that it was pretty much a draw. I thought McCain lost points by his constant repetition of "Senator Obama just doesn't understand" . . . and his refusal to ever look in his direction. But, as far as talking points went, we thought it was about a draw.
Everyone I've talked to since says the same.
But that's good for Obama. (And I might add, good for America) He was ahead and this should keep him ahead.
Let's face it. John McCain is not someone we want for the next president. And, more important, Sarah Palin is not someone we want for the next vice-president. Or, god forbid, the next president.
So let's face it, folks. This year, vote Democrat!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The ramp is done!
So, SWMBO and I groaned and strained and finally finished treating it yesterday with something that makes it look a little bit like redwood.
By the way, if you click on that second photo to expand it, you'll see how nice the "redwood" ramp plays off my coveted bright orange screen door!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Around the neighborhood
The next time I tried to shap the shutter, the camera told me the battery was too low.
So ended my photographic adventure with the fair, though I did walk through, sampled a Santa Barbara wine, watched a mime (VERY briefly), and headed for home.
Today, SWMBO decided we should go up to the top of Mingus Mountain for a picnic. Nice views from up there.
The actual mountaintop is electronic with television towers every few feet.
So ends my adventurous weekend.
As usual, all of the photos are more impressive if you click on them for the larger shot.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Growth is a good thing!
Sam's Club and the Cracker Barrel restaurant are not far behind.
Prescott Valley is growing!
Monday, September 8, 2008
McCain & Palin
She would open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in a heartbeat --- something Mr. McCain continues to oppose. She has sued the Bush administration for declaring the polar bear a threatened species, fearing it would interfere with oil exploration in Alaskan waters. She has questioned whether humans are responsible for climate change. Governor Palin's views are alarmingly out of touch with reality. No less alarming was Mr. McCain's decision to welcome them into his campaign.
We must be very, very careful in the voting booths eight weeks from tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The Eagleton effect
So, now we have Sarah Palin named by John McCain as his choice for the v.p. nomination and the media is going crazy as revelation after revelation comes out. Rather than detailing them all here, I urge you to go to the Colonel's blog and read his multiple postings on the subject.
So...is Governor Palin this year's Eagleton? Will she survive? It's not looking good for her at present but John McCain is a stubborn man. At any rate, for this blogger, politics has become fun again.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
American Politics
But what now? Not only has the attention to Palin been taken away by the oncoming Hurricane Gustav but the Republican Convention is in turmoil, with McCain on t.v. today telling his folks to "take off their Republican hats and put on your American hats." (He had barely finished speaking when I received a telephone call from a friend who asked "What is McCain doing? He was talking like he already has been elected and is running the country!") Gustav has also caused the cancellation of speeches by Bush and Cheney to the convention and apparently shortened the convention itself.
Earlier today, the BRD called to say "Remember how the Republicans were praying for a thunderstorm to wash out Obama's speech the last night of the Democrat convention? Now look what's happening to their convention! They should be careful what they pray for!"
I was tempted to call her back later and sing "Obama will win now . . . with God on his side!"
Meanwhile, back to Palin. I have several friends who live and formerly lived in Juneau, Alaska. While one says she is smart, tough and dedicated to her family, others deride the choice of a woman with so little experience being a heartbeat from the presidency. Particularly with a 72 year old president with health problems.
She also believes in:
- Teaching intelligent design alongside evolution in the schools.
- Drilling for oil in the ANWR area of Alaska.
- Global warming is NOT human-caused.
- Women should not have the right to decide for themselves whether to end a pregnancy.
- The war in Iraq is a good thing.
She also refuses to live in the governor's mansion in Juneau, preferring instead to remain in her home in Wasilla, a long air flight away. And, despite campaign promises to the contrary, would like the state capitol moved from Juneau to Anchorage.
I'm sorry, folks, this woman is not playing with a full deck, no matter how many fish she catches and how many moose-burgers she consumes.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Sarah who???
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Transformation
People began to notice him.
Tonight, I can't imagine anyone, even my lifelong Republican father, who couldn't have been moved by this speech. Granted, he is a natural orator. But tonight he overcame all the rhetoric and got down to the points of his "change."
I was a supporter of Hillary Clinton to the end of the primaries. But tonight, I totally came over to the Obama side. For the first time, I saw not only the high-minded speechifying but the true measure of the man.
I will be proud to do what I can to elect Barack Obama the next president and I think he may go down in history as one of our best.
====================
Other convention highlights:
The speeches of Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton. I thought Joe Biden's speech was good but not great. Although I didn't see all of it, I gather the speech by the governor of Montana was quite a barnburner too.
I was quite happy not to see any sign of John Edwards.
Contrary to the view of Colonel Colonel, I think the Clintons were spectacular at this convention and both of their speeches were great.
================
AND, I thought Michael McDonald's verson of "America" was nearly as good as the late great Ray Charles'.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Carpentry
So she hired a carpenter. The guy she had used once before, who did exemplary work, never answered her phone calls this time so she found a different guy.
SWMBO asked if she could have him build a ramp down from our back door to the ground, a distance of about three feet. SWMBO's ailing knees can't handle steps very well any more but since we would now be using the back yard for our outdoor time, she needed a comfortable way to get down there.
Well, after two or three weeks, here's what the guy has accomplished. (And he hasn't shown up since last Friday.)
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Miss me?
So . . . what do you all think of the Democratic Convention so far? It was good to see Ted Kennedy last night although he seemed to have trouble reading the teleprompter. But he can still stir up the crowd. His niece, Carolyn, comes from good stock but she definitely is not a spellbinding speaker. The biggest surprise of the night for me was how good a speaker Michelle Obama is. Her talk even kept me away from the Diamondbacks game for an inning or two.
It will be interesting to see how this 70 day election cycle plays out. I hear both Bush and Cheney are going to speak at the Republican convention. What can they say? How will the conventioneers treat them? That should be interesting.
Equally interesting: How this 70 day election cycle will play out.