Happy Thanksgiving!

Tonight I went to the Beach where every Wednesday night there's a farmers market down one of the main streets. The night was filled with the sounds of conversations, a performing rock band that wasn't very good but added to the atmosphere, and with flowers. People were carrying around huge and gorgeous Autumn bouquets and there was the usual marketplace vision of dozens and dozens of white plastic buckets filled with bunches and bunches of flowers spotlighted in the early evening darkness (BTW, it gets dark so early now!). Vendors sold baked goods (pies looked especially good), organic fruit and vegetables, and one booth of special interest offered chili peppers of all kinds for sale.

I found free parking and I didn't even have to park illegally. I was returning to a bead shop that my friend, N. took me to once. She bought a wooden beaded bracelet and necklace. I was unimpressed, thought it was a waste of money at the time, thought I was hiding my lack of enthusiasm. She lost the bracelet and called me the next day saying that she threw it in the trash by mistake. I had a necklace that I wanted to fix tonight and I think I must have it either in the front seat of the car or I also threw it away by mistake. What is in it for people to throw away something of value by mistake, anyway? Guilt?

Well, tonight, I was down the street from my car and in the bead shop before I realized that I didn't have the necklace with me so I described it to the bead person. I have to give credit to these people, they're talented and patient. Thanks for the generosity with their time and expertise in helping me put together a necklace and bracelet that I absolutely love. Thank you again, so much, ladies.

A word about the beads, they are African trade beads, ceramic, tubular, and are like Murano glass in that the inside is the same pattern as the outside millefiore in Italian or million flowers. They are absolutely beautiful.

I don't think that Thanksgiving is a meaningful holiday because I believe that the Native Americans, the "illegal aliens," and the Blacks, not to mention the sacrificial turkeys and pigs were robbed. I know it is an occasion for families to get together and eat well and for all of us to give thanks, for me it is a time to feel guilty that things are not so equal and that some have very few things to be grateful for. I can think of the condition of the Earth and it seems like a time for reassessment rather than a selfsatisfied, eyes wide open blind gluttony. I usually cook my own specialty because I am vegetarian and the fall vegetables are delicious. Anyway, for what it's worth Happy Thanksgiving.

Our Hats Off to All Vets!

As I was saying to a friend and former boss, today as we celebrate Veterans Day--it is actually tomorrow (Saturday)--we should give thanks to the men and women who served proudly to protect our freedoms, or what there are left of them. We should buy a drink or raise a glass to those who make it possible for us to have a day off, some of us that is (Not people like Cabby who goes the extra mile, literally, in his cab that is) . I'm not picking on you Cabby, just teasing a little and I thank you too!

That was pretty embarassing that this week an audiotape surfaced from one of the Al Q'aida leaders saying that President Bush is the dumbest president the US of A has ever had and that he should take an easy out like his pal Rumsfeld who recently resigned and who is being sued as responsible for the tortures at Abu Graib. The young upstart further made threats on the White House as the next target of the terrorist organization. This should illustrate that the war hasn't accomplished much, in fact, we're back to square one.

In spite of the present leadership which the majority of the people did not vote for it should be remembered that the troops deserve our thanks. (Thank all the voters too, who turned out to elect enough Democrats to put the brakes on what Bush and his henchmen want to do.) Now we have the House and the Senate back. Whew!

President George W Bush and Representative Nancy Pelosi, who is set to become the top lawmaker in Congress, exchanged greetings on Thursday. The two politicians met at the White House two days afterDemocrats took control of the House and Senate, ousting Bush's Republicans "after months of bitter feuding on the campaign trail. Pelosi, one of Bush's harshest critics, is in line to become speaker of the House, making her the highest elected woman in US history. Pelosi has referred to Bush as 'oblivious' and 'dangerous.'" I think she has called him a lot worse too. It's going to be fun watching things unfold and the new era of open debate about to happen! LOL! Now maybe we can begin to clean up the mess that this man and his backers have made of the World!

Peace

Election Day

It is just like the time inbetween buying a lottery ticket(s) and learning the winning numbers. During this magic interval one is potentially a winner with millions of dollars. The time between voting and actually finding out who won and what measures passed gives one hope and faith in the system.

After voting tonight, J and I went to Wal-Mart to get a few things and I decided to wear my pride on my sleeve, you know, that little red, white, and blue sticker that says "I voted" or in Spanish if you prefer "Yo Voté." I was just waiting for the dummy to come along and ask the obvious question to try to make me feel like an idiot, "Did ju vote?!!" J said, she probably didn't vote herself which makes her the more foolish of us two. I don't know why I pull peoples' legs like I do. Do I think this girl will as a result of our encounter go out and vote next time? No, not really. I yelled back, "Did YOU?????? Have a good night."

Claire