Loose Leaf Notes

1. I drove over the remains of a smashed pumpkin on the way to town the other day. Getting smashed in the road is not a completely uncommon way for a pumpkin to meet its end, as opposed to THIS.

2. A new take on election yard signs HERE.

3. Apparently, I’m the last to know about the puking pumpkin phenomena. It’s all over google images and youtube. See the last photo HERE.

4. The two herbs I quickly go through time of year: cinnamon and cumin. In other words, my menu staples right now are apple crisp and chili.

5. THIS is the video clip I forgot to post a few days ago. Wait for it … Now … Nice catch!

6. Watching the results of the election last night was a lot like New Years Eve. I even had a hangover the next morning from staying up too late.

7. I can tell I have post-election fatigue when I make the drive to Blacksburg, like I did today, and don’t pull over to take a picture when I see a spectacular scene or some other kind of photographic opportunity.

8. McCain gave a class act concession speech and Barack’s post election speech exemplified that fact that he’s a true leader. I don't see how anyone could have heard it and not be moved. My favorite line was when he told his daughters how much he loved them, and then said, “You earned the puppy that is coming with us to the White House.” THIS is my other favorite part (yes, the whole 17 minutes).

9. At 6:20 p.m. on Election Day night I got a call from Barack Obama. Even though I knew it was a robocall I was stunned and star struck so much that I talked back to the recording. “I’ve already voted, Barack,” I said.

10. Floyd for Obama on the Huffington Post HERE. Those are the same activists and friends I shot photos of which made it to the Floyd Press. See HERE

11. I look forward confidently to the day when all who work for a living will be one with no thought to their separateness as Negroes, Jews, Italians or any other distinctions. This will be the day when we bring into full realization the American dream -- a dream yet unfulfilled. A dream of equality of opportunity, of privilege and property widely distributed; a dream of a land where men will not take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few; a dream of a land where men will not argue that the color of a man's skin determines the content of his character; a dream of a nation where all our gifts and resources are held not for ourselves alone, but as instruments of service for the rest of humanity; the dream of a country where every man will respect the dignity and worth of the human personality. ~ Martin Luther King

12. I celebrate that Barack will be our country’s first African American President, but I didn’t vote for him for the color of his skin. I voted for him for the content of his character. Not since JFK (who was killed when I was a teenager) have I felt so enthusiastic about a President’s ability to lead, to inspire, and to unite our country. Barack is rational, articulate, calm, caring, humble, and has demonstrated that he has a grasp on national and international issues.

13. After the last presidential election in 2004 a friend drove over to our house, shaken and with tears in her eyes at the result. This year another friend had a similar reaction but for the opposite reason. Our candidate won AND Virginia went blue. Click your mouse HERE for a virtual Victory celebration.

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