I'm A Sally

I'm not really a crafty girl. Creative, yes. The truth is, I don't enjoy most crafty stuff. In crafting everyone follows the same pattern, personalizing their work by color choice. But I'm ususally not satisfied with the presented options. I'm difficult. When given the choice to paint with red or blue, I mix the two to make purple.

It never fails to draw comments. And I get those comments in restaurants, too. AlthoughI must say that my reputation for tweaking is grossly exagerrated. I order straight from the menu all the time. Truly I do.

That said, I wish I could tweak the menu on November 4th. I would order up a hearty serving of fiscal Dem spike with moral Republican. Too bad it's not an option. Because I have issues with the red and blue.

First, for all the talk against big government, the GOP seems to spend a lot. It's irresponsible! Somebody has to pay. sarcasm alert If we all ran our budgets like the government... oh, wait. A lot of us have been doing just that and isn't this a fine kettle of fish?

Second, I believe we have a responsibility to help others, even if the welfare system needs work. I also believe that we are all God's children, even Muslims (sorry -- ran into an offensive ad on YouTube that juxtaposed Obama's views to that of the so-called Christian right).

On the other hand, I am, generally speaking, against abortion. And gay marriage. Even though it hurts and offends people. I don't want to hurt or offend people, but there you are. We disagree. I also don't agree that it makes me intolerant. Why are my feelings less valid than someone else's? Maybe they are the intolerant ones.

You might have noticed that there are a lot of people who think you have to support gay marriage and be pro-choice to vote for a Democrat. You don't.

I was a state delegate for Obama. Even so, I'm no groupie. I think he is smart. And hardworking. And I think the diversity of experiences in his unconventional upbringing has exposed him to many different viewpoints and loyalties and ideas. And that's a good thing. I think he will choose smart people to advise him, and I think he will listen to them and think before acting. I think he will restore some of the dignity our last two presidents took from the office.

But even so... wish I could tweak the menu.

Ragnar

That's the name of the relay race my crazy running friends did last week... the one I drove for, made an out-of-control coconut cake for, and slept on the floor of a van for. You can read/see all about it at http://www.runningfromthekids.blogspot.com/

See the crazy person on the hood of the van, in silhouette against the sunrise? Yup, that's me.

If you'd like to take a crack at the coconut cake -- aka Ragnar Cake -- you can find the recipe at
http://creampuffsinvenice.ca/2007/06/22/coconut-my-love/

But be warned that it took almost as long to make as our team spent running from the kids.

err... Driving from the Kids?

My crazy running friends -- and I say that with much affection -- are running a relay race from San Antonio to Austin this weekend. The team name is "Running From the Kids" and since I am going along, albeit as driver of the support van, my name is on the tee shirt.

In the future, unsuspecting gym gawkers who are in-the-know will see my tee shirt and suppose that I participated in a big fat relay race.

Or maybe not.

On Apples & Autumn

Honeycrisp apples are sooo good. Firm flesh and a sweetness that is not cloying, yet falls short of tart. I should be more like a honeycrisp apple.

Just so you know, I got to put on a sweater today, a first for the season, and closed-toe shoes to boot. Of course the sweater is cotton and the shoes open-back clogs, but it is a small victory nevertheless.

Two days ago I set out the tiny maple which is a token of the potential glory of this, my favorite season. It is a souvenir from a Wisconsin trip a few years back where the air was beyond crisp and the trees ablaze in fall color. This little tree sits near my kitchen sink and gives me a touch of autumn that is sorely lacking around here. And it makes me smile.

Autumn is a golden afternoon with fallen leaves crunching under your feet and lending earthy pungency to the air. Pumpkin patches and hay rides. Soup on the stove and fresh bread in the oven. Hot apple cider with cinnamon donuts. Apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. Acorn squash roasted with butter and pepper. What's not to love?

It is no secret that I consider it a small crime that fall comes so late, so sporadically, and with such mediocrity to Texas. And although I know it is stupid to let the weather dictate my mood, pretty much anytime in October the thermometer dips below 70 it's a cause for celebration (after twelve years, I no longer entertain hope for September) and today is one of those days.

Hooray!