Today is Sunday.

Like most church-going folks and other non church-going folks, I believe in treating people the way you would like to be treated.

While this is not a political blog, I would like to comment on the current political atmosphere.

I voted for Obama. I campaigned for him. It was the first time that I was so heavily involved in a political election. I am proud of my work and my OBAMA sticker remains on my car.

So here's my beef: my husband was driving the car yesterday, waiting at a stop light, a large SUV pulled up aside with windows open; the father and teenage son started chanting Obama s-----, repeatedly.

First, what are teaching your child and second, let's be more intelligent about the facts.

Then later in the day, I was driving the same car with the OBAMA sticker, waiting at a stop light, a van pulls up with a late middle aged man driving, who stares at me, then uses a vulgar gesture. I was rattled. It was creepy.

"Shrill political rhetoric and a demoralizing election" NYTimes

Most people know more about their local college football team stats than about the issues that will determine the election - they say "Don't bother us with facts, we have got our minds made up" Bill Clinton

"Where is the science, truth, and facts in the discussion?" John Kerry

Do people really know how their vote will affect them? Do they understand what is propelling the fierce political atmosphere - money - estimates are $4 billion - from the concealed corners of special interests. Do voters know who will help them? Something tells me it is not the fat-cats who are donating annoymously to the campaigns all over the country.

Are voters just angry about the state of their job/pension fund/retirement benefits/house value? Who is to blame for the state of the economy? These problems did not happen overnight...deregulation and greed, a toxic mix, were the main reasons the economy has been shattered. And it could have been a lot worse.

Where are we headed with all this belligerence and negativity?

With all the rhetoric, has anyone provided any real solutions or is it just slamming the opponent?

I guess the media is right, 2010 is the year of the angry voter.

This winter I did a series on the artists in my family:

here and here and here and here

and now for the latest installment

TA-DA

the work of the one and only

miss is,

my lovely daughter,

who is 18 today.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

We have a tradition of making our own cards for birthdays

and Valentine's Day.

And for the last few years miss is created special artwork

as Christmas presents.

Last year I received the charming vignettes above

to illustrate our monthly activities.

I love it.

This happy piece hangs proudly in my day-office cube.

Gotta spice that place up!

Below is the Christmas present from 2008.

I made a little book with the watercolor sketches.

It is a work in progress...

I plan to add rings or ribbon to hold the book together.

We campaigned for Obama as a family.

Here I am making calls to Pennsylvania voters

miss is and dh canvassing in Rhode Island

Campaign headquarters - downtown Philly

Voter registration in Philly on Easter weekend

We hung out on a street corner in North Philly

trying to get people to register to vote in the primary.

and our invitation to the inauguration

(along with millions of other people)

We watched from the comfort of our cozy cottage in Connecticut

WHERE WE HAVE BEEN

The theme for Inauguration Day is "A New Birth of Freedom"

in honor of the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth

Obama has been studying FDR's presidency, his first 100 days specifically.

This history is important as we navigate tough times. 

HERE WE ARE

"The road ahead will be long.

Our climb will be steep. 

We may not get there in one year

or even in one term.

But, America, I have never been more hopeful

 than I am tonight that we will get there.

I promise you, we as a people will get there."

Barack Obama

Grant Park, Chicago, August 2008

I am baking a lemon tart to celebrate the Inauguration

"Lemon is considered the fruit that gives you the energy of the sun.

Some believe that when you eat a lemon, 

your body discharges an electric, positive force."

from Patricia Wells, At Home in Provence

LEMON = SUN = HOPE = OBAMA

Images: 

Lincoln: Maira Kalman

FDR: Wikipedia

Obama: Elect Obama Campaign

Martin Luther King Day

National Service Day

 Join our President-Elect Barack Obama

in service to our country today.

"Renew America Together: A Call to Service"

One of the opportunities in my town

The local farm that I have written about many times before is organizing 

a food drive in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Be inspired by Dr. King's service to our country and to others."

Board of Ambler Farm, Wilton, Connecticut

The time is always right to do what is right.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Real integrity is doing the right thing and 

knowing that nobody's going to know

whether you did it or not.

 Martin Luther King, Jr. as paraphrased by Oprah Winfrey

YES WE DID

I AM SO PROUD OF OUR COUNTRY

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

TODAY'S THE DAY

CHANGE IS GOOD

The excitement is building, but we are not there yet.

our mail box

Check out this blog - A Shaded View of Fashion, 

written by Paris-based Diane Pernet - 

she has a terrific post on the OBAMA energy from Chicago headquarters  -

 check out the mix of people - so much enthusiasm - 

2 days to the election

our cars with stickers

I have never been so involved in a campaign.

  I have never donated before,

 never put a political bumper sticker on my car, 

never worn a button, 

never canvassed voters, never registered voters,

never dialed for a candidate; 

this year is different. 

I am so excited and so happy that I have been involved.  

You can still help by dialing to help get out the vote. 

Go to OBAMA.com to get started.

BE PART OF THE CHANGE

my bag

Isabel's statement

Our enthusiasm is a family affair

we have all been involved.

Ready for the debate tonight?

I am .

I am ready for OBAMA to CRUSH McCain.

Isn't about time that America moved forward.

Just look at the photograph below.

A friend of my husband's took this photograph two days ago

on Mickle Hill Road in Warren County, Pennsylvania.

Feel free to forward.

Denver, 30 January 2008

Check out the two cute faces in the crowd, lower right,

my 12 year-old twin nieces, Lilly and Charlotte.

They were thrilled to be so close to Barack Obama.

"He shook Lilly's hand and smiled at Charlotte."

Denver, 28 September 2008

so exciting

everybody is talking about the possibility, the hope, the change

and drawing parallels to JFK and 1960

I'm an Obama Mama

my pocket book

Found this pin from 1960 at my father's house this winter

same excitment today