Whatcha Think

Leave the Iraq war costs on the the blog?

Anyone Watching the Debate

I think Hillary is holding her own. Comment now...

Bon Voyage

Dad and Elsie are off on their three week cruise tomorrow. They fly to New Zealand tomorrow and then cruise to several historic WWII sites including Guam. Dad was stationed on Guam for 18 months during WWII. He always likes to tell us he served with Henry Fonda there. It will be interesting to hear is reaction 63 some odd years later.

Before we left for Atlanta, we stopped at O'Charley's in Aiken for lunch. From O'Charley's to New Zealand. What a world.

Hello Dolly!

The new Dolly Parton CD, "Backwoods Barbie," was released today. It is her first mainstream country CD in a long time, but her songwriting is still amazing. Jim and I have tickets to see her at the Fox in Atlanta, but her tour has been postponed a few weeks. There is a great song called, "Jesus and Gravity." The lyrics are divine – YouTube posting of the song below. I highly recommend this CD. Go ahead, embrace a country legend if you dare...

You Go Tina...

And The Oscars Go To

Costume - Elizabeth the Golden Age
Animated Feature - Ratatoullie
Makeup - Le Vie En Rose
Visual effects - The Golden Compass
Art direction - Sweeney Todd
Best Supporting Actor - Javier Bardem - No Country for Old men
Live Action Short Film - Le Mozart des Pickpockets
Animated short film - Peter and the Wolf
Supporting actress - Tilda Swinton - Michael Clancy
Best Screenplay Adaption - No Country For Old Men
Sound Editing - The Bourne Ultimatum
Sound Mixing - The Bourne Ultimatum
Best Actress - Marianne Cotillard - Le Vie En Rose
Film Editing - The Bourne Ultimatum
Foreign Language - The Counterfeiters
Original Song - Once - "Falling Slowly"
Cinematography - There Will Be Blood
Original Score - Atonement
Best Documentary Short - Freeheld
Best Documentary - Taxi to the Dark Side
Original Screenplay - Juno
Best Actor - Daniel Day Lewis - There Will Be Blood
Best Director - No Country for Old Men - The Coen brothers
Best Picture - No Country for Old Men

How about worst dress

I vote for Jennifer Hudson. Yuck.

Best Dress

Ok, who is wearing the most fabulous dress? We'll have the E! run down tomorrow.

Hey Kids, Sunday Night Pop

Oh, Paula Paula

Oscars

We watched Michael Clayton today. It's a great movie. Well worth a nomination. The only movie we didn't see of the top five was No Country For Old Men. I think the buzz is that it will win. I still am hoping for There Will Be Blood.

Are you going to watch?

First signs of spring

It's been a loooonnngg winter here in Seattle. It's a beautiful sunny day and the temps are supposed to be in the 50's today. My hellebores are blooming and the crocuses are just about to bloom. Yeah!!!

Scan Happy

I figured out how to use our scanner.
Watch out.
Dad and Elsie's wedding - 1996

Theone and Jim at the Cabin

I think this picture was taken in 2003 after we had the family reunion in Warroad. I have always liked it. Just what were we thinking?

Rock On, Family

Science

Anyone see the eclipse last night? It was eerie and awesome.

First Planning and Zoning Meeting

I attended my first planning and zoning meeting tonight. We voted on a conditional use request for a group home. We were informed by the city attorney that we really had no choice since the state could mandate the placement of the home. So, not quite sure why we even voted. I did ask why the organization put $150,000 into the project and then asked for the permit. Of course, I got an answer about the ex-mayor wanted the process to be transparent so it ended up coming before the commission. What I say is bull sh^%. Oh well, at least I got the question and answer in the public record.

The evening started with a two hour training for members of the planning and zoning commission and the variance board of appeals. Bill is a member of the variance board. There was a speaker from the Atlanta Regional Commission who was very interesting. Then a self important property rights attorney who spoke and then our city attorney. Some of it was interesting. It's going to be a fascinating experience.

One Cool Chick...

Tatum catching some rays (filtered) here in Arizona.

For the Curlers!

Well you may have lost your matches, but at least you all have good hair! And that is all that really matters, right? Greetings from other curlers around the country!

Curling

We lost our first draw of the bonspiel by one point in the last end. Pictures later.

bogie bogie par par curl curl

word on the street is that jim, bob and tonya's team lost by just one point in the first end – not bad kids! throw good rock tomorrow, and ice one down for me!

Valentine Treat II

Not quite as sweet as Tatum, but a treat nonetheless...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Harbinger...

The first daffodil of the year. The daphne odora is blooming and should be knocking us out with its fragrance very soon.

Thanks Uncle Jim & Bill...

for my very cute valentine bunny.

Grammy

Amy Winehouse won record of the year agreeing with 4 out of 6 in our poll. Herbie Hancock won album of the the year.

It's Oscar time in two weeks. Feb 24. Look for a new poll soon.

And the winner is...

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

* Call Me Irresponsible
Michael Bublé


Not his best performance, but it is embeddable

Bob in the Blogosphere

I added a link to Bob's blog to the link list. Check it out --->

He'll want to know if you still have your meniscus?

The Randall Family Goes to Caucus

I'm going to start by saying Washington has the strangest candidate nomination process in the nation. For the democrats all of the delegates are awarded via the caucus and state conventions, ignoring the primary on February 24th. However, the republicans are picking half the delegates from the caucus and half from the primary. The caucus started at 1 so we strapped Tatum into her Baby Bjorn and we walked up to the elementary school where our caucus was being held. We live in probably the most liberal district in Washington (Fremont). There were A LOT of Obama volunteers (all very young) and I noticed more of Obama signs than Hillary. We all broke out into small groups depending on our precinct. Then we signed in and declared who we wanted to vote for. At 1:30 we did the pledge of allegiance (it's been awhile) then they collected all the sheets and tallied up the numbers. The first go around was Obabma 55 and Hillary 11. I was one of the 11 for Hillary, while Tim went for Obama. Which meant 6 delegates for Obama and 1 for Hillary. The delegates will go on to the legislative district caucus on April 5th and then I think there is another county caucus and then state caucus. So not sure how they determine the delegates on TV this early, but I don't quite understand our nomination process. Someone stood up and gave an Obama plug and another for Hillary. No one changed their vote. Tim volunteered to be an Obama delegate so he is going to the legislative caucus! He's excited. It was fun to go and talk to the neighbors and be involved, but I'm not quite sure why we don't just have a primary. There were a lot of people at the caucus but I'm sure it wasn't everyone that is registered to vote in our district. It was a fun experience and I'm glad we did it. Here is a picture of us in the room:

ok, one little question

Jill, did you go to the caucus?

Jim

Amaryllis

I potted this amaryllis around Thanksgiving. The room it's in is cool so it has taken a long time to bloom. I read today that you can plant them outside in our zone. I think I will try to plant it outside once it is done inside.

What up at CCH?

Did I dream that Jim texted me that CCH lost their liquor license, or is that a fact? If indeed a fact, do you still go there on Friday's? What is Friday evening with out trash mex? Um ver....

Tatum Rolled Over!

Vote Julie!

In support of a moment of levity, here's a trailer from the film "Away From Her" starring the incredible Julie Christie. It is out on DVD now, and she is nominated for an Academy Award. Let's hope the academy votes for the strong female with experience! Rent or buy the movie now. It is incredibly poignant, and Julie Christie is incredibly beautiful, even at 67 years young...

Blue Skies in a Red State

I am often asked, "how you can live "down" there?" There are many many reasons, but today held one of the sparkling ones. It's Feb 7 and I worked with my window open. The sky was so blue that one could just fall into it.

Spin

I'm spent from all the political spin.

What's up kids?

I Love These Guys

Enjoy

Polling Place Project

In 2006, AIGA, the professional association for design, launched the Polling Place Project to document the various conditions and problems with the voting process. The New York Times joined in our efforts this year, and it is very cool. Check it out when you get a chance, and take your camera along next time you vote! Anyone can contribute.

Here are some photos I added from this morning when Jim and I voted in Canton:

Super Tuesday – Canton, Georgia

Country meets Rock and Roll

Genius



From Van Lear Rose

A different take on Krugman

It doesn't get any easier. I thought I saw something on Krugman today. Click here.

Happy Monday!

Here's some cuteness to get you through the day.

Krugman: No Chance of Universal Healthcare with Obama

And with that, we rest our case for Hillary.

01-20-09

I love me some Barbra!

Henry Wellington Storm

Obama

Quite the creative...

iPhone Club

Big news: Effie joined today.

Storm's (Maybe) New Addition

Tomorrow we are taking a road trip to maybe get our own Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The ones we are looking at are Blenheim coloring, just like Winston.

Dam Update

The lake behind Hickory Log Creek Dam is beginning to rise. We have had rain lately which has helped. It's on our "tour of Canton", so if you have been here, you may notice the difference. I thought about trying to document it each week, but haven't succeeded yet.

I continue to have mixed feelings about that fact that it was created. On one hand, at least someone was thinking about future water needs. On the other hand, around 500 acres of forest was destroyed. And, that's just the start of it.

So, here the dam update

Rock On

I'm going to participate in my first bonspiel Feb 15.