Great Times to Barack Obama

So a couple days before the election we began explaining the process to Olivia. At 4 1/2 kids pretty much mimic their parent's, but she was clear that she wanted Rock Obama to win! Kim explained to her that after the President was named there would be parties (innauguration) and many people would be celebrating.

After Barack (Rock) Obama won, Olivia wanted to know when we were having our party. Paul and Larry were coming over that evening anyway, so we told Olivia that our party would be that evening. Of course, we made cupcakes. It isn't a party without cupcakes. The biggest problem was explaining why Rock Obama wouldn't be coming to his own party.

Paul played a number on the piano to celebrate, "Great Times to Barack Obama!"

Excuse the mess in the kitchen, we were in the midst of making homemade pasta (it was fantastic, by the way!)

That's a tall order, but I'm working on it

Halloween 2008!

Just a couple photos. Yes, I know it is November 9th.

Olivia and her cousin getting ready to go trick-or-treating.

O and one of her friends at a birthday party the weekend before Halloween. I was the only one who found it ironic that there was a tortoise and a hare at the party.

Enough already.

Now this is what I call a mandate!

It's 11:40pm. I'm dizzy with lack of sleep and joy.

Now the hard work begins. It will not be easy to move our country back to a place of great respect and security in the world. I have great confidence that President Elect Obama can lead us there.

Check out this story, no, this passion in the 2008 election!

Determined Texas woman, 92, votes in ambulance
Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO – Betty Owen is 92 and after a stroke four years ago, needs a feeding tube and can't walk. But she was determined not to miss Tuesday's election. She arrived at her polling place on a gurney in an ambulance, where an election judge and support worker climbed aboard with an electronic voting machine and let her cast her ballot.

"And you have voted," precinct judge Sam Green said after Owen pushed the red button finalizing her choices. "You know, you look so pretty in that red dress."

Owen grinned, the San Antonio Express-News reported in Tuesday's online edition.

Her daughter arranged for the ambulance ride at the last minute after Owen failed to get an absentee ballot.

Owen, a Marine Corps veteran who served in World War II, cast her first ballot for Wendell Willkie, a Republican running against Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940.

She became a Democrat after voting for John Kennedy in 1960. She cast a straight Democratic ballot Tuesday.

Could I BE more anxious?

I said a little prayer and pushed the screen for my candidate at 6:56 am. I knew when I voted that this would be a moment I would look back on, decades from now, and try to remember.

And the waiting begins. (Regarding the picture: Can anyone name the movie?)

The Pictures! Thank you Chris K!

St. Paul's resident photographer (blessed be his name), Chris K, posted the photos from the Wild West Auction on St. Paul's website this week. I stole some of them to post on my site. I'm giving Chris (not sure if he wants his full name posted) full credit for all of these wonderful photos. Cruise on over to http://www.stpaulschatham.org/ and click on photos to see the rest.

The event was a wonderful evening. We netted over $22,000 for the youth of St. Paul's.

Here are a few pictures. I wish I was more Steinbeck-esque and able to properly describe the the transformation that took place in that fluorescent-filled parish hall. But, alas, I'm not. I can only say that Brian and Janet (our resident architects) had a vision and made it a reality.

Enjoy the photos!

Here is the parish hall. It was much darker in person... the lights strung on the ceiling looked like stars over the big sky. That's John and Tom up there auctioneering the evening away.
Check out the flags on the walls and the sign on the stage.

The kitchen crew! The food was amazing! Pulled pork, ribs, chicken, salad, a potato bar and apple crisp with ice cream!

That's Martha, Ann, Pam and Chris. Ann and Pam spearheaded feeding us all. They did a fantastic job.

Me, making an announcement. I believe that is an adult beverage in my hand. A good time was had by all.

Notice the sign over my head. That was completely constructed from wood.

Tom and John in the background. Three of the kids who were all an enormous help to the success of the evening.

My gorgeous bride.

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I just loved this photo.

Wild Bill S! (Hope you don't mind the photo Bill!)

These are the people with the vision! They drove the transformation of the parish hall. Brian and Janet are good people!

Two of our dear friends, Pam and Lora (the Bandito).