"It looks like fog," I said as we drove our rental car from the airport to the hotel in Scottsdale on New Year's Eve.   Looking closer at the haze under the streetlight, I noticed a yellowish tint.   "Maybe it has something to do with the smog warnings I read about on… Read full post »

    Technological innovations have impacted society, forging changes in our culture and how people view the world.  The telephone, radio, and automobile were innovations with the strongest impact in the early 20th century. 

     During the 1990s, the… Read full post »

There are so many ways to achieve sustainability as a country that it is difficult to single out one issue.  However, President Obama could focus the country's attention on sustainability by using the power of example.   He could do so by making  the White House and grounds into… Read full post »

For the last two years I have crafted holiday wreaths for the birds. Last year, it didn't work too well--I tied ribbon around the balls of homemade bird cake. One nibble or two from a woodpecker and the balls fell off the wreath. This year, I used cookie cutters and then… Read full post »

 Grand Canyon Sunset December 26, 2005 

"You're spending Christmas at the Grand Canyon?"

 That was my friend's reaction when she asked me where I would spend the holidays in 2005.   She thought I would freeze or worse, slide down the canyon on an icy trail.  &… Read full post »

 I filled up my tank today and only paid $14 because the gas was only $1.40 per gallon.   That contrasts with the $30-35 I was paying last summer.    I had to pay in cash--no credit cards or checks were accepted at any of the cheap gas stations. It felt… Read full post »

The worst job I had started out to be great.  I was  a file clerk in January 1967 at the Army Records Center (now called the National Personnel Records Center)  in St. Louis.  By the summer,  it turned into the worst job ever. 

The previous fall,  I sold cashews an… Read full post »

As I write on the computer, I see the Carolina Wrens flying at their usual time, right after sunset, to retire for the night in a clay birdhouse I hung right outside the window.   I am reminded of a time last year when they used that… Read full post »

The mad pace of campaign work leading up to the absolute exhilaration of election night has finally worn off.   I still keep up with the latest political news. However, reading about recommended first dogs, chief of staff appointments, and Palin's continued woes does not elicit the same sen… Read full post »

Here's a note I sent this morning to Obama folks in Giles County:

2:59   p.m. 

When I went back to the Obama campaign office after doing some very last minute canvassing, people were sitting around talking, all pretty tired.  We all agreed we had done as much as we could do to turn this Republican area blue.  Our main hope is that Obama… Read full post »

Yesterday was my last day of canvassing in Giles County, a rural area in the southwestern part of Virginia.    On Monday, we will put hangtags on every door of the voters we have identified to be Obama supporters to make sure they make it to the polls on Tuesday.   I… Read full post »

Photo: Oct. 29, 2004  

This time four years ago, I carved two pumpkins that reflected my mood—depressed about the upcoming election.   Although the poll numbers were close, I did not believe Kerry could pull it off.  I sent the photo to… Read full post »

 After standing in line for two hours in the rain and going thru security, I was finally in the Roanoke Civic Center to attend the Obama rally last Friday.  As I approached the doors , a guy yelled "Hey, Virginia Tech."   Both the man in front of me… Read full post »

My friends and I have been obsessing about Sarah Palin.  Last week, Karen forwarded me a  photo of Palin in a swimsuit with a gun.   The photo looked suspicious so I  googled to find out it indeed was a fake photo.  I emailed my friend to reassure her.  She quickly … Read full post »