Getting up early!

I need a good alarm clock for this Saturday morning, when I have to get up at 5 am. I will be picked up my EFM friends to take me to the mystics talk in San Antonio, so I need to be ready by 5:45 am. (Going by myself, I would leave at 6:30) It will be nice to travel with some friends. The talk will be on Meister Eckhart, which I really want to hear.

Will of God

Often we anxiously seek the will of God,
as if God had gleefully hidden dreams for us
deep in unfathomable places.
As if it were God's intention
that our whole lives be spent
in endless searching for signs and directions
buried in obscurity.
The will of God is that which brings us
peace and fullness of life.
The will of God is the seed of our dreams
ever gestating with possibility
and longing to leap forward
scattering new and surprising blessings
in our gray reality.

~~Edwina Gateley

Source: A Mystical Heart

From Inward/Outward. Subscribe here.

Insomnia

Carve a pumpkin!

CARVE YOUR OWN PUMPKIN!

Hope--Hold onto the Hope!

From Inward/Outward today. I am touched and holding on.

"They were nothing more than people, by themselves. Even paired, any pairing, they would have been nothing more than people by themselves. But all together, they have become the heart and muscles and mind of something perilous and new, something strange and growing and great. Together, all together, they are the instruments of change."

~~by Keri Hulme

Source: The Bone People

From Inward/Outward. Subscribe here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AND did you know that on Monday Inward/Outward quoted one of Mike's posts from his Mercy Blog?

I voted!

I voted today in the early voting offered in TX. I'm glad to be done with it!

Still, I worry about these voting machines. Where is my vote stored? Also, that dial on the right is tricky to use; I hope it didn't slip for someone so that when he/she pushed "enter," the wrong choice was selected. There were various elderly people there who seemed confused. And now there's even people writing about malfunctioning voting machines.

Have to remember (and hope and pray that) "...All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well" (by Julian of Norwich, 14th century mystic).

350 Still Images of John McCain's Anger Management

A friend emailed this to me, and I had to post it here:

Thanks to Andrew Sullivan again, here's a spot to visit. TPM (Talking Points Memo) displays various public figures, reporters, and newspapers with their latest opinions about Sarah Palin. Click on the person and his/her comments come up. Click: (and scroll down)

The Palin Effect

10 Reasons for Conservatives to Vote for Obama

Andrew Sullivan of "The Daily Dish" wrote TEN reasons for conservatives to vote for Obama!

10. A body blow to racial identity politics. An end to the era of Jesse Jackson in black America.

9. Less debt. Yes, Obama will raise taxes on those earning over a quarter of a million. And he will spend on healthcare, Iraq, Afghanistan and the environment. But so will McCain. He plans more spending on health, the environment and won't touch defense of entitlements. And his refusal to touch taxes means an extra $4 trillion in debt over the massive increase presided over by Bush. And the CBO estimates that McCain's plans will add more to the debt over four years than Obama's. Fiscal conservatives have a clear choice.

8. A return to realism and prudence in foreign policy. Obama has consistently cited the foreign policy of George H. W. Bush as his inspiration. McCain's knee-jerk reaction to the Georgian conflict, his commitment to stay in Iraq indefinitely, and his brinksmanship over Iran's nuclear ambitions make him a far riskier choice for conservatives. The choice between Obama and McCain is like the choice between George H.W. Bush's first term and George W.'s.

7. An ability to understand the difference between listening to generals and delegating foreign policy to them.

6. Temperament. Obama has the coolest, calmest demeanor of any president since Eisenhower. Conservatism values that kind of constancy, especially compared with the hot-headed, irrational impulsiveness of McCain.

5. Faith. Obama's fusion of Christianity and reason, his non-fundamentalist faith, is a critical bridge between the new atheism and the new Christianism.

4. A truce in the culture war. Obama takes us past the debilitating boomer warfare that has raged since the 1960s. Nothing has distorted our politics so gravely; nothing has made a rational politics more elusive.

3. Two words: President Palin.

2. Conservative reform. Until conservatism can get a distance from the big-spending, privacy-busting, debt-ridden, crony-laden, fundamentalist, intolerant, incompetent and arrogant faux conservatism of the Bush-Cheney years, it will never regain a coherent message to actually govern this country again. The survival of conservatism requires a temporary eclipse of today's Republicanism. Losing would be the best thing to happen to conservatism since 1964. Back then, conservatives lost in a landslide for the right reasons. Now, Republicans are losing in a landslide for the wrong reasons.

1. The War Against Islamist terror. The strategy deployed by Bush and Cheney has failed. It has failed to destroy al Qaeda, except in a country, Iraq, where their presence was minimal before the US invasion. It has failed to bring any of the terrorists to justice, instead creating the excresence of Gitmo, torture, secret sites, and the collapse of America's reputation abroad. It has empowered Iran, allowed al Qaeda to regroup in Pakistan, made the next vast generation of Muslims loathe America, and imperiled our alliances. We need smarter leadership of the war: balancing force with diplomacy, hard power with better p.r., deploying strategy rather than mere tactics, and self-confidence rather than a bunker mentality.

Those conservatives who remain convinced, as I do, that Islamist terror remains the greatest threat to the West cannot risk a perpetuation of the failed Manichean worldview of the past eight years, and cannot risk the possibility of McCain making rash decisions in the middle of a potentially catastrophic global conflict. If you are serious about the war on terror and believe it is a war we have to win, the only serious candidate is Barack Obama.

Only nine days ago did I write about my daughter AE and her partner KA getting a little cocker puppy. Today on AE's blog was posted this darling picture of Morgan (the puppy) after her first bath:
Poor Morgan didn't like it. Isn't she cute?

Morgan is my third grand-puppy!

Remember Opie?

Maybe because it's my birthday and I am feeling nostalgic, but I laughed and enjoyed this video I found at Fran's featuring Ron Howard reprising his roles in "Andy Griffith" and "Happy Days." If you're old enough to remember those shows, watch this! (Even if you're not, the message is for Obama!)

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

Cheesecake Story

My children and friends know the story behind my annual cheesecake on my birthday. When CB was in grad school at Oregon State University in the 1970's, we were good friends with Steve and Gayla. Steve was in the chem department graduate program along with CB; Gayla and I were both elementary school teachers; and we all lived in married student housing. That's when I learned that Steve always baked Gayla a cake for her birthday! That seemed like a good idea, so I suggested it to CB, and for the past 34 years he has done this for me.

My cake of choice is cheesecake, and CB bakes the best one I've ever had. He follows Craig Claiborne's recipe as adapted by Maida Heatter (in Maida Heatter's Book of Great Desserts), and he has a few changes he's put in, himself. It is simple and GOOD:

2 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 eggs

Beat and add to springform (cheesecake) pan and bake at 350 degrees F. for 90 minutes.

All these years, I've been pleased and proud of my husband (with the children's help) making me a birthday cake every year. MJ came home from college last night and participated in this annual cooking event. I'm glad my children have seen their dad, my husband, make this effort, even during the times that our marriage was strained. What a gift to us all!
~~~~~~~~~~~

But what is really sad is the news I received from Gayla yesterday in a birthday card. (Our friendship has fallen to exchange of birthday and Christmas letters in cards every year.) She wrote to tell me that Steve asked for a divorce in the past year, and it is now final. She still sounds overwhelmed and confused. I'll be calling her today for the first time in about 30 years; she wrote down both her cell and (new) home phone numbers.

The Birthday (or Cheesecake) Cake story is still a good one, especially as CB continues the tradition. Even if Steve doesn't.

I feel ever fortunate, even though today I turn:

CROP Walk 2008

About 36 hours ago I learned that the Corpus Christi CROP Walk was scheduled for Nov. 9, and I knew nothing about it. I've walked in the annual CROP Walk for 13 years, since moving to Corpus Christi. Last year was the first year All Saints Episcopal Church participated in the CROP Walk, and we raised almost $3,000! In fact, I blogged about it last year.

However, NO ONE contacted All Saints or me about participating this year. I was very irritated about this until I realized that I've wondered off and on for several months when the CROP Walk would be, but did nothing about that. So I can't really blame everybody else. . . .though it does seem like the organization should care about including a church that was just beginning its participation to encourage persistence. . . ."Shoulda' - woulda' - coulda'!"

Finally, I contacted several people who arranged for walk packets for volunteers, posters, and info about the CROP Walk to be delivered to All Saints. As I wondered if there is enough time to get people involved, the only two people I've mentioned this to signed up to walk! The church secretary, who happens to be a Quaker, is helping me out with publicity and her enthusiasm. So the way seems to be becoming clearer. . . .

AND now if any of you blogging friends want to contribute to the CROP Walk, go here. In each area that a Walk occurs, 25% stays in the community and the rest goes to alleviate worldwide hunger through Church World Service.

Freecycle!

Freecycle: Changing the World One Gift at a Time

When I was in Canada, the daughter of my cousin Margaret (and thus my third cousin, I believe) NF showed me how she "freecycles." While I was there she picked up a stack of exercise books that were all pretty new on someone's porch, absolutely free! There were even duplicate copies, so she gave me one!

I am a clutter person and somehow have a hard time giving things away unless it is for the "right" person. That's very self-defeating, which is why I have so much junk, especially in my closets. Though I'll continue to drop off stuff at Goodwill and the Women's Shelter, this seems like an excellent idea for the uncertain items, like a rarely used onion chopper.

Go here for the history and background of the movement that was started in 2003 in Tucson, Arizona, and now its current numbers are:

Number of Freecycle™ Communities:	4,121
Number of Freecycle™ Members:	3,890,000

"The Freecycle Network™ is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by clicking on the region on the left. You may then go directly to your local group by clicking on "Go To" or you may immediately joining by clicking on "Join." It will generate an automatic e-mail which, when sent, will sign you up for the local group and send you a response with instructions on how it works. Can't find a group near you? You might want to consider starting one (click on "Start a Group" for instructions)." From their "Welcome"

(This is one of their bumper stickers--sounds perfect for me.)

A World of Prayers

A World of Prayers

Written by Mark W. Muesse

"Belief divides the religions of the world, but prayer unites them.Across ages and cultures, prayers of Jews, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, and even non- theistic Buddhists have been strikingly similar in form, substance, and intention…apart from their names for the divine, people throughout the world pray for the same things and in much the same ways."

Various prayers are given as examples.

Read more from A World of Prayers

Palin on Federal Marriage Amendment

Tree of Progress!

I love trees. What a symbol of life and growth.

Via Border Explorer, I just found Watergate Summer, who has this poster on her sidebar. I vividly recall the "Watergate Summer," because that was the time that CB and I packed and moved ourselves from VA to OR so he could go to grad school at Oregon State University. Right before that we spent several days in the gallery of the U.S. Senate watching all the arguing about Nixon.
~~~~~~~~~~
I have since learned that this was a limited edition poster designed by Scott Hansen for the Obama campaign in May 2008. I do not know if it is still available, but this is what I could find out about it:

"The official Barack Obama store commissioned another great campaign poster, this time by Scott Hansen (aka ISO50). It is a massive 23″ x 40″ lithograph, has an edition of 5000, and is $70. If this one is anything like the Shepard Fairey version, the large edition will do nothing to detract from demand on this."

An Election Guide

I am taking the second year of EFM where we end each session with a TR (Theological Reflection).

Today's reflection was suggested by the two leaders, who are each strongly in favor of different candidates for President. They felt that the column by Joan Chittister from Sept. 2, 2004 was apolitical and could apply to either political party.

Were we all surprised when one member of the class kept hammering at the rest of us with points from the column that she said were biased:

"The truth is that there are more than enough poor that we as a country no longer count: The unemployed who drop off the welfare rolls, the underemployed who get no benefits, the children without health insurance, the fetuses being disposed of for the sake of convenience, the Iraqi civilians being killed for the sake of macho, the elderly who are facing even more poverty in years to come as Social Security fizzles in the wealthiest country in the world while we go on investing more money in death these days than we do in life?

"I think we better listen, as well, to the cries of the poor of other countries who, because of our economic or foreign policy plans, get poorer every day, fear us more every day and hate us more every day.

"The list goes on and on. Tell me again, who is "pro-life"? Where is the morality of saving life at one end only to starve it in mid-flight or kill it off cavalierly at the other?"

What's funny is that when I read the entire column, I liked it so much that I thought I would post the entire "guide" on this blog. Instead, I realized that I did not consider it to be a biased writing until I heard this other member of our class pick it apart. Since I agreed with Chittister's conclusion that one should vote for someone who has positions supporting the poor, I had not realized other people would feel differently. An "a-ha" moment!

The conclusion is:

"If you want to cast a moral vote, print out one of the many comparative lists of the issues espoused by each candidate. Ask yourself the question, "Will this proposal, this position, affect the poor of this country or the world positively, negatively or neither? Ascribe to each of the items in the platform or on the proposed legislative agenda a plus, a minus or a zero. Now count up the pluses. The program that will bring the most aid to the poor is the moral position. That is the way you and I are really expected to vote this year.

"How do I know? Easy. You see, what God says to Moses at the burning bush after "And I mean to deliver them" is this: "So I am sending you to pharaoh to say, 'Let my people go.' "

"That's the most direct election guidance I've seen so far -- including what we're getting from bishops and campaign committees.

"From where I stand, sending that message to pharaoh is the only real reason to vote."

After four more years of war and worsening economic conditions, this column is even more relevant than it was in 2004.

Go here to read the column!

The Sound of Silence

Non-Duality Cartoons

Before the Goldrush

Jiff posted this at her blog An Orientation of Heart:

"Happy Art" by Caroline Blum

Jiff writes:
"I'm in love with the music on a new project called "Before the Goldrush".
It's a project to benefit Teach for America. New artists with wonderful talent cover songs from artists such as James Taylor, Jim Croce, the Beatles and more.
You can learn more about this terrific project here."

I went to look at the link and am so impressed with the repertoire and it benefiting Teach for America that I wanted to order it, but am discouraged because I do not have an MP3 player, though all my children do. . . .

Do You Live in a Pro-America State?

I'm a little slow on the latest news, but from Oct. 17 it appears that Sarah Palin talked about "Pro-America states" of the USA. I wonder which ones are NOT??

"Check out this little nugget buried in a report about a fundraiser Sarah Palin spoke at last night:

Palin also made a point of mentioning that she loved to visit the "pro-America" areas of the country, of which North Carolina is one. No word on which states she views as unpatriotic."

by Greg Sargent

UPDATE: The McCain campaign offers some context for the quote.

Ginger the Cat for President!

Though almost 7 minutes long, this video about engineers, cats, and the election is a funny way to start the day! You'll be smiling and laughing. Thanks to my daughter AE for sending it to me.

Remembering Joe

I've gotten early birthday presents from my two oldest children and their partners--multiple presents but the best from each are See's Bordeaux milk chocolates, which I'm trying discipline myself to ration, and a book entitled Borderlands: The Best of David Adam's Celtic Vision. I've wanted this book ever since I read from it the last time I was with my friend Joe before he died. The following is the prayer that Joe spontaneously echoed after me, a prayer that continues in my heart and memory. I wish I could live it as Joe showed me.

An Oblation (94-95)

I place my hands in yours Lord
I place my hands in yours

I place my will in yours Lord
I place my will in yours

I place my days in yours Lord
I place my days in yours

I place my thoughts in yours Lord
I place my thoughts in yours

I place my heart in yours Lord
I place my heart in yours

I place my life in yours Lord
I place my life in yours

All that I am I give you Lord
All that I am I give you

All that I have I share with you Lord
All that I have I share with you

All my life is yours Lord
All my life is yours

All my desires are yours Lord
All my desires are yours

All my hopes are in you Lord
All my hopes are in you

All I want is you Lord
All I want is you

Jan in Banff

Two weeks ago I was in Banff. That's hard to believe. Tonight I am one of the co-hostesses at a wedding shower for a friend of my oldest son DC and the best friend of DC's wife. (This couple met each other at DC and AA's wedding two years ago, and now they're getting married!) DC and AA are in town, though not right now at home--their huge and snuffling (sweet) bull dog, Sampson, is lying on the floor next to the desk.

I haven't posted my trip pictures yet, but here's one of me taken at Banff that I've put on my Facebook page:

Surprise puppies!

I've been feeling burdened with all the negativity I posted yesterday about Bush, Palin, and the election. They were funny/sad posts and so I will not delete them.

To lighten my mood, here is a picture of daughter AE and partner KA's new cocker spaniel puppy:I am jealous that they got this cute puppy the day after I left Seattle! She's named Morgan. Still, I am happy imagining AE walking into KA's office at the end of the day, holding this little black bundle as a surprise!

About 12 years ago, when MJ was in first grade and AE was in high school, AE surprised me with a little blonde cocker spaniel, who is our elderly, deaf Baillie today.

MJ and Baillie 1996

Friday Five: Coin Toss Edition

Songbird at RevGalBlogPals writes:
Well, Gals and Pals, this weekend we'll be rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and that has me thinking about coinage.

1) When was the last time you flipped a coin or even saw one flipped in person?
I don't remember.

2) Do you have any foreign coins in your house? If so, where are they from?
Yes--from Japan, South Korea, Germany, Zambia, and Canada.

3) A penny saved is a penny earned, they say. But let's get serious. Is there a special place in heaven for pennies, or do you think they'll find a special place in, well, the other place?
I don't think pennies matter that much or any other coins in the afterlife. I know my mother said as she aged that what mattered more and more to her was the love she felt with and for others.

4) How much did you get from the tooth fairy when you were a child? and if you have children of your own, do they get coins, or paper money? (I hear there may be some inflation.)
I think I got coins, but I don't remember how many.

Our older children received coins and later bills.

The story that stands out was when my third child BJ lost a tooth in 1992 at my parents' house when my mother was dying of pancreatic cancer. He was only 7 years old. The night before I'd convinced my mother to drink some high-protein drink because she could eat very little; this caused her to vomit repeatedly. I was so worried about her that I did not sleep and completely forgot about my little boy's tooth. When I woke up the next morning, BJ and the other kids were sitting around watching tv. BJ sadly said that tooth fairy forgot him, and my restrained father leaned over him, asking him, "How much does the tooth fairy leave? $5? $10? $20?" I finally said $5 was enough, while I felt terribly guilty as a mother. I know that's the day BJ stopped believing in the tooth fairy. Only now can I appreciate my dad's concern for his grandson. This is the story I always think of in relation to the tooth fairy now.

5) Did anyone in your household collect the state quarters? And did anyone in your household manage to sustain the interest required to stick with it?
Daughter MJ is still collecting state quarters.

My dad (who died in 2002) hoarded silver quarters and dimes, which are in a safety deposit box somewhere. I guess his grandchildren will get them someday.

Good Night, Bush

One of my favorite books to read to my children was Good Night, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. They grew up looking for the little mouse, who moved to different locations in the colored pictures.When I was in Seattle, my daughter AE gave me a copy of an "unofficial parody" of this classic children's book--Good Night, Bush!


This sarcastic adaptation even has its own website. It's relevant to the past eight years, with such phrases as "Good night, Constitution."

Palin for President?

Possibly our future president??

Go here and see what the future could be. . . .And click on various objects to be surprised.

Campaign Symbolism

My sister-in-law JT sent this to me. I especially like the last one.

Church banners I endorse

I saw these banners on the front of the University (of Washington) Temple United Methodist Church in Seattle. Perhaps I would have stayed in the Methodist Church if these were endorsed at my former church.

Happily at home!

I'm home! I was very pleased to cancel my flights from Austin to Houston to Corpus Christi, because daughter MJ drove from San Antonio to pick me up at the Austin Airport and then husband CB met us in San Antonio for dinner! It was wonderful to be with both of them and to get back home about an hour ago.

I was lucky enough to have friend JJ drive me to the airport very early this morning. Instead of Pacific time, I hope that I will quickly adjust to Texas time again, because I had to awaken this morning at 4:15 am! Amazingly (for me!), I learned how to use my cell phone as an alarm clock on this trip. I'd only "heard" of such a thing before but now can finally use it.

With easy access to my own computer at home, I look forward to blogging again and visiting my blogging friends. Tomorrow.

Trip almost over

My trip north is almost over. Friend DJ continues to loan me his car, so today daughter AE drove her partner KA and me to Bellingham for my in-law's 50th wedding anniversary! It was a happy coincidence that my husband's family decided to celebrate the anniversary on the one weekend I would be in the northwest. It was a happy day with much laughter, talking, and eating. Three-month-old Hayley, the first great-grandchild, was also there--the center of everyone's attention as only a baby can be. And I was happy that I could be there with my two daughters.

Last night we went to a play in Capit0l Hill in Seattle called "God's Ear." Our prime reason for going was that the daughter of friend NM (who was one of my bridesmaids long ago) had a part in it. It was funny and thought-provoking and was about a couple whose son accidently drowned and how they coped afterwards with their surviving daughter. Libby was wonderful in her part. We got to see her after the play, and she was surprised that we had come to this small, bare theater. That was a happy moment for AE, KA, and me to greeted by Libby, a star!

Capitol Hill was also where husband CB and I first lived when we had graduated from college. Until he got a chemistry job, he painted houses and I was a substitute teacher. We moved there because I had a long-term sub job while the teacher I'd student with went on maternity leave. Soon after, CB was trained in Oregon, and later we moved to VA!

Seattle!

I am in Seattle, which is much warmer than Calgary. My good friend DJ picked me up at the airport and now has taken his two dogs for a walk, leaving me with a computer that allows me to log on to my blog--yay! The one that I got to use sometimes in Calgary usually did not let me log on to blog or to make comments, but then there wasn't that much time to spend on the computer, either.

It is much warmer here than it was in Calgary, though not as warm as it currently is in Texas (80s F.). The weather was quite nice for most of my stay in Calgary. What was interesting was that when I arrived the trees were full of bright yellow leaves, but by the time I left, most of the leaves had fallen. Temperatures drastically fell yesterday so that it even lightly snowed, with nothing sticking. Last night it got down to -3 degrees C. (26.6 degrees F.) and was expected to stay around 5-7 degrees C. (41-45 degrees F.) for the rest of the week.

I had a wonderful time and will write about my trip when I return home on October 14 when I can also download some pictures.

DJ and wife TFJ (my friend since high school and who accompanied me to our 40th high school reunion in August) are always gracious and hospitable. DJ is retired, and TFJ still works. DJ has offered his car to me for my entire four days. Although when I told him how much I dislike Palin (when he proudly showed me McCain/Palin posters in his house windows), he teased me and said he didn't know if he'd let me use his car. . . .

So I am driving over to Ballard around noon to meet my daughter AE at her apartment. We'll go out to lunch and spend the day together. I've brought her a book about Canada (Canadians: a Portrait of a Country and Its People by Roy MacGregor, because she is always talking about emigrating there. Though I'm supposed to have dinner with TFJ tonight, I am enticed by a lecture AE told me about that will be at the University of Washington tonight--how religion is affecting this presidential election!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But now at 5 pm, it's 50 degrees, and I'm cold. Maybe I've turned into a "Texan" after all. No lecture for me tonight, so the book may be added to my reading list for the future: The God Strategy: How Religion Became a Political Weapon in America.

Calgary!

This is my third beautiful day in Calgary, where they are experiencing a sudden Indian Summer. The fall leaves, mainly yellow, are magnificent, and it is wonderful to be outside! It has been in the high 70s each day, with cool, cool mornings. I am having a difficult time converting Celsius to Farenheit--husband CB always quickly calculates temps with a complicated formula that I never can remember. Don't tell me here; I don't really want to know. So cousin Margaret has a broken thermometer that has both ways of reading the temperature, and I can cheat by going to look at the scale and choose the corresponding temp.

Being her reminds me of living in RI and NJ, with the fall leaves, tall trees, and two-story houses (not new). The University of Calgary is only a few blocks away, so students with backpacks are always walking by. There are many rooms rented in this neighborhood. In fact, my cousin rents out the basement to a college student.

Margaret's daughter NF, who is living with her while finishing her master's in engineering, left her laptop out on the kitchen table for me this morning. I get up before everyone else, so I am using it while Margaret and NF are still in bed. (I also go to bed much earlier than they do.)

This laptop has been iffy about logging on. I hadn't been able to comment on any blogger blogs or sign in here, until just a few minutes ago. So I thought I'd better grab the chance.

The Canadian Premier debates were on last night at the same time as the v-p debates from the US. So we had two tvs going, so we could each watch our respective country's shows. Go read Fran, the Quaker Agitator, and Angry African, among others for good observations about the debates. All I can say is that Biden convinced me overwhelmingly to vote for him and Obama, even though that was my original intention.