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Thanksgiving come and gone. This time of year always blows by with great speed. Now that we have Greer in the mix, it is all the more so...

Visited the inlaws in Olympia again, and stayed for a four day duration. Much sitting around - eating - watching movies - eating - watching football, dog shows, et al.... Much the same as it has been for the past few years. Given the recent upheavals...it's somewhat comforting to have a routine of sorts....even if it's mandated by holiday.

All three of us were fighting colds in one shape or another. Greer was up and down with a fever, which made sleep an uneven endeavor. Even so, after a late night trip on Thanksgiving to Safeway for children's Motrin to quell a fever - things turned out o.k.

All back home now - safe and sound. Alex's mom is visiting for a week to provide childcare while our nanny recoups from the birth of their second child.

Decemeber and 2005 is right around the corner....

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TRYING TO MOVE ON

What a difference a couple months make. Our nation has decided to continue traveling down a dark path with Bush at the helm - and things on a personal level are in upheaval.

Rule #1: Beware making important decisions during election season.

The new job is a monster. I love the people and the atmosphere, but the work is more technical than I bargained for. While I feel that I can get a grip on it eventually, I'm not sure it was the right decision in hindsight. Because of the media saturation of Providence, I am reminded almost every day of my previous gig and the security/benefits/opportunities that it provided. I am in between the proverbial "rock and a hard place" and hoping that I can adapt or find a way to get back in balance.

And then there are the elections...

The only silver-lining to all this was the Tom Potter mayoral landslide. It was great to celebrate his win at the Melody Ballroom and I'm hoping that his progressive stances will help moderate the conservative direction that out our country seems mired in.

As for the big ticket item, Karl Rove won the day again...

The GOP created this stink about "morality" by introducing those state constitutional ammendments on marriage - thereby guaranteeing the evangelical vote. Combine that with the Southern vote, Diebold electronic voting, voter challenges/obstacles, media collusion, congressioal redistricting, etc...and you have the election.

Whether it was the lies fed to the general public or the attempts to swing the advantage, I believe the Bush administration stole the election for a second time. By playing on fear and loathing in America, he hijacked the vote and sent us down the path away from democracy. My only consolation is that the Iraq war will eventually catch up with him. Four more years of aggression will drive this country so deep into debt and internal conflict that something will have to change.

I just hope it's not too late.

Rule #2: Kicking yourself is pointless. Move on.

Whether it's the electoral outcome, or personal career decisions - nothing will get accomplished until you can let go of the past and start clearing a path in front of you.

For the dissappointed and dissolusioned, the fight for America goes on. We have to stay firm in our resolve and continue to be the change we want to see in the world.

For me....it's a daily battle to move forward in my new gig and try to create something positive. I don't know what that looks like, but I pray that I find it soon.

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AN OPEN LETTER TO GOD

Lord, it's Election Day, and I'm afraid to go outside. The rain is falling. Is it a bad omen, or your way of signaling change? Either way, it's a reminder of the dark days to come. Difficult and painful, but necessary.
I pray that you will open the eyes of the public and move them to vote their conscience - instead of their religion or pocketbook.

I pray that you would deliver us from propaganda and false prophets.

Please help us to divine the difference between democracy and the abuse of power.

Give us leaders who will represent the will of the people and are not pawns of corporate governance.

This may be a lot to ask for, but I have faith.

Selah...