VOTE!

If you do just ONE thing today: 

VOTE.

 

ROMnipotent?

Jeddy turned to me yesterday and asked, "Mom, do you think Mitt will be ROM-nipotent....? 

 om·nip·o·tent

1

often capitalized : almighty

2

: having virtually unlimited authority or influence <an omnipotent ruler>

3

obsolete : errant

Hmmmmm.... we will know that answer in less than 24-hours.

Is the President of the United States of America really Omnipotent?  Does he have unlimited authority. What about the Senate and the House of Representatives? Is our government based on a system of checks and balances? Yes. No. Maybe. Depends?

Is President Obama currently Obam-nipotent (just doesn't seem to flow in the same way....)

Chance Encounter

One of my goals during the election season was to not only talk with the Republican candidates, but candidates from all parties. I failed that part of my goal. However, today I did see one of the Democrat candidates. I won't say who or where in this blog, but she was sitting next to me while we were both waiting. She spent the entire time talking on her cell phone and texting. In her phone conversations she talked about being glad the election was nearly over and how she couldn't wait to be able to spend more time with her children again.

My thought was that all candidates from Romney down to the judges on the bottom of the ballot must feel the same way.  I know many of the volunteers at the Victory Center can't wait for this to be over. It takes a lot of effort to run for any office. It takes a lot of people to be successful. It is nice to know that in 26 hours this race will be over.

I was glad this candidate didn't turn to me and ask for my vote. I have voted and I did not and would never vote for her.

Muertos y Marigold Parade

I love attending the Muertos y Marigold Parade in Albuquerque's South Valley. This is a Day of the Dead celebration. Although it isn't part of the culture I was raised in, I do love the Hispanic culture. I lived in East Los Angeles for nearly two-years before moving here and my youngest son (El Jay Rey) is 7/16th Mexican and 1/16th Apache. The other half is my huge mixture--Scottish, Swedish, Welch, Swiss Jewish, Spanish. However, all of those are subjects for other blogs, someday... maybe... or not.

The parade was Sunday, November 4th. Of course there were quite a few social and political causes involved. I took 1000 pictures and it will take a week or two to finish processing them. Here are three political groups or floats.

Stuggling with Math Again

In high school my Algebra teacher told us we would use math everyday of our lives. He was right. Maybe not the type of problems I am doing in my algebra class right now, but I do use basic math daily. I add, subtract, figure percentages. When I did special event planning I was able to calculate multiple item quotes--like, the client needed a balloon arch that was to fill a space that was 18 ft long by 12 ft high, using 11" helium filled, latex balloons, plus 20 centerpieces, shimmer curtain along the back of a stage that was 24 ft long,  a balloon drop measuring 15 X 15 ft, and Winnie the Pooh, a face painter, and a clown for two-hours.... .I was able to calculate all of that and give a rough estimate that was usually within 5% of the written quote, I would later give. (Back then I would have charged around $3600 before any discounts or taxes for an event like that.)

(look for a balloon photo to insert here)

When I design a quilt, I am able to figure how much fabric I will need. I've never taken a quilting class. I never use a pattern. I draw it out and figure yardage. Add to that calculating a quote for a client? Yes, I can do it, mostly in my head. The quilt below is a crazy quilt and is primarily made from fabric scraps. However, the squares are made with a foundation, so I need to figure how much yardage for the foundation, sashing, border, backing and batting. Plus the cost of each of those items, the cost of the fabric scraps, and my time.... (This quilt was a gift to my son when he got married. This is a time intensive quilt and I would charge $1750 for a 6 ft X 6 ft guilt like this.)

I have to go to UNM today to take an Algebra test. The class  is online--but you are required to take two face-2-face tests, so they can verify that you can and are doing the work.....  I was up four hours ago to study. This semester, I have to take really good notes and study right before the tests, or my mind goes blank. It took me two hours to do the first 9 problems and now I cannot remember what I have studied. I have to leave in one hour.... and????? I'll push myself a little more, but I have this huge block up and I have convinced myself that I cannot do this. I can't. I will fail.... I am trying to battle that, but..... my brain is unfocused and I feel foggy. I have to pass this class to graduate. At this point, will I ever graduate?

I wrote this in hopes of getting centered and of convincing myself that I CAN do it, but..... I doubt I will succeeded. The time would have been better spent focusing on the test problems.....or trying to.

District 13

I was going to write this post and say I live in the New Mexico House 13th District.... I looked at a map last night and I was sure I was in one little corner of the 13th District, but before writing this BLOG I thought, I really should verify that and guess what? I'm not. I am two-blocks from the farthest North- East edge of the boundaries. 

I am still going to write this blog and tell you that I met Jose Orozco tonight. I like him. Yes, if I lived in his district, I would not hesitate to vote for him. I think Jose will make an awesome State Representative. He needs your votes. Only about 10% of the district are registered Republicans. This is also a district that has poor voter turn out. So, please, no matter who you vote for and no matter what district, get out and vote!

A Voting Non-Experience

On Thursday after school I took Jeddy to vote for the first time. We went to the Satellite Voting Location on 98th St at Central.

As a quick reminder; Early voting ends on Saturday, November 3rd at 8pm. You can find a list of location at the Bernalillo County Clerk's office.

If you don't vote before then, or aren't voting absentee, you can vote on Election Day, November 6th, in the regular polling locations.

It wasn't a real positive experience for either of us. Jeddy had registered to vote. He had the little slip of paper, but he was not in the system. He didn't have his social security number with him. He couldn't vote. He will go back later.

I was told that because of privacy issues, I could not take pictures in the Early Voting location. I already knew that and I feel I can shoot informative documentary type pictures without violating anyone's privacy, but I also know that if you let one person slip by, someone else will yell that they were treated unfairly or their rights were violated. I was asked to leave, but I stayed inside, next to Jeddy, because the kind man helping us was trying to help Jeddy find his registration..... one of the other people working there kept glaring at me and as we walked past her to leave, she mumbled something about people breaking laws..... Did I really break any laws?

For the record, my philosophy is to shoot first and ask permission later.