Senator O returns to Springfield

It really seems as if it was yesterday when my husband was in DC having breakfast and doing a photo opp with Obama and shortly after that we were shivering, but front and center, at his presidential announcement at the Old State Capitol downtown-Springfield.
Now he's coming back to the same place and may be bringing his VP. I'm not certain we'll be able to go but it still quickens the pulse. We may choose to NOT deal with the crowd.

But, what does this say about Obama? He is sentimental - coming back to the place where he first served, to where he first launched his campaign. I like that in a leader.

I'm still not sure about policies - his or McCain's. That means I'm firmly rooted in the Independent column and don't do polls. So much is rhetoric these days. Each candidate repeats what he is handed with little time to review materials. Do they each go to sleep at night wondering what they said and if it makes sense?

Maybe there's too much talk, just too much. We're already spinning from the whirlwind travels and he said-he said blah blah blah.

Maybe that's why this action - this coming back to the base - is so vitally essential and key to me.

Since I struggle with both presidential candidates (and would have it were Hillary and anyone) I guess my vote will be for the VP! Anyone with me on this?

Quotes to consider:

Whenever I hear people talking about "liberal ideas," I am always astounded that men should love to fool themselves with empty sounds. An idea should never be liberal; it must be vigorous, positive, and without loose ends so that it may fulfill its divine mission and be productive. The proper place for liberality is in the realm of the emotions.

Divide and rule, a sound motto. Unite and lead, a better one.
both from J.W. Goethe

I Remember When They Asked "Beach Volleyball is an Olympic Sport?

Yes, it seems there was a day when Beach Volleyball was not considered worthy of Olympic game status but it's not a day in the year 2008! I'm not following the men, although I should. But those women ROCK. It may be I skip my book group tonight to see them play. We're reading JANE EYRE.
She never played volleyball anywhere! No doubt the Bronte sisters led much less public lives than the vast majority of females today.



Anyway, I enjoy the games and the commentary about where our tremendous duo goes, that they each got married, etc. It's nice. And we need nice in our lives.

Flex your muscles, ladies! Guys - what can I say? These are exciting times and we should all be excited for each of the athletes and their accomplishments.

When the Games are done I'll go back to reading the Classics.

Rock-a-bye Baby

Last night was going to be a great night for sleeping outside in the hammock. That was my own assessment. I invited Ed to come along. But I ended up with two of the dogs at my side, on their recycled bedding.
It was a great night - lots of nature noises and nothing else.
But it got cold quickly and I learned, once again, I should have listened to Ed and put the sleeping bag inside the hammock.
This morning the hammock, flashlight, and dog beds were right where we left them when we came in and got a good night's sleep.
Ah, camping out in the backyard - Isn't that what all adult women want to do?

Fun At Night - It's All In The Game

Instead of our small group (faith-based) study, we all agreed to go to the championship game of our local baseball team, The Springfield Sliders. Nomenclature sensitivity is exampled at its finest in that choice and the competition's - The Danville Dans. Yes, there were two Dan's on the team. So be it.
We won, by a landslide - thus justifying the name, even though the mascot is a red slider turtle, not exactly what comes to mind when conjuring up a foreboding competitor. But it is the early stages of league play so let's give it to 'em.
The point is, this was great fun! It was spontaneous, corny, healthy, nostalgic, friendly, safe, reasonably priced - all of what we need to keep life in the proper perspective; I know I haven't listed all the qualities. When we left we felt good about having been there. That's nice. It was restorative.
Sometimes the best we can do for ourselves and others is the simple activity. The team has a tradition of doing really goofy fan competitions. Every kid wanted to participate and every winner (all of them) glowed with the thrill of victory.
It wasn't about WII, GameBoy or any other techno-wizardry. It was about what is REAL.

Final Fair Views

Lead the way!

Happy is as happy does.

While you guys are chewing the cud, how about getting a little something to snack on?

The sky riders take it all in from high above - the carts can't compete with this!

Did someone steal the sign that said, "Abe Lincoln drove this car"?

Fair Focus

The baby Clydesdale - through the fence, of course!

In Conservation World there are plenty of live critters but this 124 lb. catch of the day was enough to tell a whopper of a story.

Watch dog - she watched everything that went on in her barn.

Big, bold, beautiful, and graceful - wow.

Sure-fired, guaranteed tummy ache stand

Our Lt. Governor had a nice "green" tent. And he had some artsy thing going on - I liked what was out in front of the entrance.

What would any summer fun carnival be without the Ferris Wheel? It was first built in nearby Jacksonville, Illinois. Betcha didn't know that!

Carts are a way of life for the Fair. It's gotten better - there are fewer of them so people can walk around more easily, like we used to do.
Whoever said, "Boys will be boys" were right. They entertain themselves, in the horse barn. Out of camera range are mom and dad - doing the daily chores.

Every young 'un needs a fair break now and then. Check out the after lunch break time. I want my blankie and my spot on the floor in the kindergarten room :-)
The State Fair brings babies of all types and the 4H-ers are happy to let humans go through and see the newborns. The ducklings are only a couple of days old.

What a sweet boy! Right now he is a bull. We learned cows poop 15 times a day. He is a week old today.

These two oinkers are FAIRly new. Like all babies, even these are cute when they sleep. Kevin BACON and Dennis CHOPper. I don't want to think of their futures.


Cattle of another sort - the ever-sought butter cow; this one with a calf who approaches butter skunks! And, I found a metal cow, out of the mainstream and with no long line to see it.