Friday, December 08, 2006

Hello from Rainy California!

We had a glorious sunny day yesterday while at the Monterey Aquarium, but we are now an inch deep in rain here in Watsonville.

All is well and the two kids with me (Liam and Caitrin) and having a blast with their cousins. I wish I had something profound to share but alas, no time to think.

I will recommend the "Elle" magazine article about Barak Obama. Read it on the plane. Outstanding. The excitement for Obama builds. He's my age (45) and that feels interesting too.

I know Ampersand has swooningly devoted more than 30% of her blog to Obama, but what about the rest of you? Are you aware of him, entranced by him, smitten with him, worried about him, suspicious of him?

See you soon.

10 comments:

Ampersand said...

LOL, I guess we do know where I stand on Obama, don't we?

I will be really interested to read what everyone else thinks.

Kim

NoVA Dad said...

I currently work on the opposite side of the Hill from Obama, and there is definitely a great deal of excitement about him among Democrats. The Washington Post is also taking notice -- they ran a lengthy article today about the "conflict" (real or otherwise) that appears to be building between Obama and Hillary. It's going to be an interesting primary season!

Glad to hear you're enjoying the trip -- it's freezing here in D.C.

- Matt

David Blakeslee said...

I haven't given much thought to jumping on the Obama bandwagon yet - I'm neutral, I guess, even though if pressed to state a preference I would prefer Obama to Hillary Clinton as a candidate. I am willing to hold off on leaning this way or that until 1) the political landscape of 2008 has come more clearly into view (we still have to see what the Democratic Congress and a lame-duck Bush admin. can come up with) and 2) all the contenders have had their turn on stage. It's a bit early to start casting votes in the next "American Idol" competition.

kc bob said...

Supposed to be 50 today in KC ... so sad trying to put a happy face on midwest winter :(

I like what Barak Obama said about his faith journey in his Call to Renewal speech:

Faith doesn't mean that you don't have doubts.

You need to come to church in the first place precisely because you are first of this world, not apart from it. You need to embrace Christ precisely because you have sins to wash away - because you are human and need an ally in this difficult journey.

It was because of these newfound understandings that I was finally able to walk down the aisle of Trinity United Church of Christ on 95th Street in the Southside of Chicago one day and affirm my Christian faith. It came about as a choice, and not an epiphany. I didn't fall out in church. The questions I had didn't magically disappear. But kneeling beneath that cross on the South Side, I felt that I heard God's spirit beckoning me. I submitted myself to His will, and dedicated myself to discovering His truth.

Unknown said...

I love that quote too Bob! It spoke to me when I first read it. What I liked was that it struck me as honest, not canned or scripted or recalled merely to appease a constituency. I got the sense that he discovered something in his church, in his faith community, in his hopes that led him to take a knee. That moved me.

Julie

Chuck said...

I'm rather excited about his candidacy, but I haven't dug deeply into his stand on various issues. I do have his recent book, "The Audacity of Hope", and plan to start reading it this week. Being oriented toward a realistic hopefulness myself, the title alone intrigues me.

Anonymous said...

Glad you're having a good time Julie!

I happen to read Obama's autobiography at the library one day before I had any idea who he was. Literally AT the library--picked it up, was riveted and sat down. I read it in one sitting -- an engrossing life indeed.

As to him politically, sigh, I guess my age is showing. I am adamently opposed to Hillary Clinton running because there is so much animosity toward her that I think would be an unnecessary complication.

Otoh, there's a long time to go before the election. More than enough time for a promising candidate to self-destruct, as way too many have.

So I'm cautiously interested but politically I only expect pain anymore ;-)

Rebecca

Anonymous said...

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a great place!

Steve said...

Obama seems a geniune article faith-wise, and I am interested. However, putting someone with his lack of international knowledge in the White House seems frightening at this point in history.

However, we do have a President Huckleberry in now, and look where that has gotten us!

Dcn Scott Dodge said...

He seems to have reached the point already at which he is repeating himself on well-worn themes. Of course, here in the U.S. that probably makes him an ideal candidate. On my part, I think he needs to step back, assess his chances and his experience before proceeding. He seems to have a lot of depth as a person, but his inexperience is already beginning to show. Senator Clinton can and will exploit that vulnerability early on. I think he needs to look beyond 2008.