The Reps made a good choice in Palin didn’t they. She’s a reformer like Obama wants to be. I’m tempted to vote for Republican because I believe in smaller government but I think McCain is too deeply entrenched with the “good ol boys” to let Palin affect his presidency. Should he win I think she would disappear. Biden didn’t do anything for me in making the Obama ticket more inviting, I was already leaning that way as I feel McCain defended the policies of the last 8 years despite the mess this country is in.But Biden is old school democrat and Obama’s talk of change is lessened by a VP who embodies those qualities no matter his qualifications.
An Obama/Palin ticket I would vote for in a heartbeat. Two reformers with different outlooks hammering out a compromise between them for the good of the American people. I love that idea.
Just had a great dinner with Dave and Kristie and their two daughters. Adorable by the way. I miss my friends. Don’t get me wrong, I love Charlotte, best place I’ve ever lived. And it’s sad that D&K are the only friends I have left in my hometown - Jeff went to Pittsburgh, Tim is in Hilton Head, Karl reportedly is in Madison, WI, I just found Eric in Raleigh recently (we’re gonna have to get together) and Dale is in Las Vegas. So it’s not like Maumee has this strong pull - it’s just great to be able to fall back into this easy camraderie that comes so naturally, so effortlessly because these people know you so well. I miss that. And it doesn’t hurt that their kids are about the same age as mine. Watching Erin play with Kacie and Maya was awesome. The best was after Maya and Erin had accidentally let their balloons float out-of-reach to the ceiling, Kacie let her’s go on purpose. I’d like to see that more than once a year. Hell I’d like to see all of them more than once a year. I’ve got friends in Charlotte but nobody compares to the friends I made in high school. I miss all you guys.
But it is something. With the passing of my grandfather Harry today at age 96 I realize I have been kind of ignorant all these years to his advanced age because he was always such a picture of perfect health. He took me fishing on Lake Michigan a few times when I was a kid and I treasure those memories. Now that he’s gone I’m sad that my idea to someday share a boat and tackle with him and my own son will never come to pass. But realistically that was never going to happen had I taken the time to actually consider the time. I didn’t start my family until I was in my thirties and he was in his nineties, my son Jacob isn’t even a year old. But I never thought that far ahead, I just liked the idea of buying Jacob a fishing hat, us all sitting around on a misty morning laughing and catching a little something and in the end probably throwing it back. I’ve only gone fishing once without my grandpa, in high school with a friend. It was allright, I remember one of my boots having a hole and my foot freezing as my sock got water-logged. But I haven’t spoken to that friend in 19 years and now I wonder if Jacob and I will ever go fishing or if that is something else I lost today. I hope Harry has reunited with his wife (my grandmother) Celia and the two enojy as great an afterlife as they did here on Earth. I miss you both.
So after getting through the awful trip down there, the rest of our time in Myrtle Beach went swimmingly, literally. I mean we pretty much spent the entire time in the pool. Yes you read that right, the pool. After the first few minutes swallowing salt water Erin decided she liked the swimming pool a whole heck of a lot better. We slapped her “water wings” on her and I held on to her for about 5 seconds than launched her away from me. It took her about 2 seconds to stabilize herself and then she was off and kicking. It was awesome! She had the greatest time making her way around the pool with me occassionally chasing her or swimming alongside offering tips and tricks. Jacob usually spent the mornings down on the beach or in the pool with us but then he and Jessica would retire upstairs for his nap and her rest. It was a nice relaxing time for all. Of course we got stuck in traffic coming back home - we drove 3 miles in 80 minutes - but I’m not gonna try not to focus on that.
Holey Moley! That was a terrible trip down to Myrtle Beach! Google directions were awful and misleading, the service at Wendy’s in Monroe was terrible and the food wasn’t much better, then we had a run-in with a rude manager at a c-store who was taking pictures of the place to sell it. But finally we made it to the condo here. Took a short walk out on the beach to satisfy Erin’s curiousity then made dinner, put Jacob down in the master bedroom and then settled down on the thin, lumpy pull-out beds from one of the couches here in the main room. Jessica would eventually move to the other unfolded couch to sleep for the night. “Not much” was her answer this morning when we woke and I asked if it was an improvement.
Erin has started watching this show the last couple weeks and loves it. They could have a marathon running all day and I don’t think she would get bored. This from a girl who barely makes it through the 22 minute running time of any other kids show, and forget about a 90 minute Disney movie… unless it’s Cinderella. Me, I don’t get Spongebob. Whatever brain cells are necessary to take in and assimilate the humor there are missing from me. It’s all just inane drivel.
I hate to oversell a movie, especially since I went into Get Smart! just looking for a few good laughs. I mean the trailer looked amusing and I like both Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway but its a feature film remake of a late 60s television show. I wasn’t expecting a lot. But I laughed. And laughed. And laughed a whole bunch more. It was kind of ridiculous how much I enjoyed the film. I would even go see it again. And its not like the story was anything special but the actors really carried off the humor extremely well. And there were so many funny parts. From start to finish. I recommend this movie for anyone who needs some cheering up or an escape from the doldrums.
I heard on the radio today that Barack and Michelle Obama are quietly trying to make the “fist punch” handshake they enjoy - go away. The rumor is that it isn’t seen as being very presidential. I guess I’d like to know what is presidential then? I mean we’ve had powdered wigs,a lovenly dresser, a music haters, one who enjoyed riding mechanical horses, a cat hater, several adulterers, and at least one idiot who likes to chest bump graduates. You know what I think would be presidential - if the Obamas didn’t give a crap about something so mundane. Of course I blame the media for this ridiculousness.
