Obama Polls Best Among Rogues and Shamans

Looks like McCain has an uphill battle if he doesn't want to lose the coveted Night Elf demographic, too.

Hope is Coming

With the election only 12 days away, I thought it was time to remind ourselves about the possibilities that face us if, and when, we all stand up together and make the right choice on November 4th. That choice is for a future of opportunity, not fear. A future of unity, not division. A future every American can be proud of.

A future filled with hope is within our grasp, and on Election Day we can change the world.

Yes. We. Can.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

--Barack Obama, January 8, 2008

A Montana Morning

Sonja and I took advantage of the beautiful Montana autumn morning to take the dogs for a walk through the neighborhood and down to the Middle Fork of the Flathead River (which forms the boundary of the park). Lots of fun was had by all...



Both the larch and the birch were resplendent in their autumn hues.

We found the schoolyard at West Glacier Elementary to be pleasantly unoccupied. Translation? Playtime!


Two very different styles of frisbee catching. Luna keeps her eyes on the prize while Harvey barrels down the field full-steam, trusting that the frisbee will find its way into his mouth.


This is our new house, although we haven't been able to move in, yet. Next month it'll be ours.


A final thank you kiss from Luna makes it a perfect walk for a perfect morning.

The Endorsement to End All Endorsements

Colin Powell has officially redeemed himself (to a point) in my view. This is arguably Obama's biggest and most influential endorsement, and should put to rest any further discussion about his readiness for the job of President.

If you don't feel like watching the entire seven minute interview, fast forward to 4:25 and listen to Powell's statements about some of the "accusations" McCain's supporters have been making about Obama. It's quite inspiring.

And then there was this:

"We've got two individuals, either one of them could be a good President. But which is the President that we need now? Which is the individual that serves the needs of the nation for the next period of time? And I come to the conclusion that because of his ability to inspire; because of the inclusive nature of his campaign; because he is reaching out all across America; because of who he is, and because of his rhetorical ability, and I think we have to take that into account, as well as his substance, he has both style and substance, he has met the standard of being a successful President...of being an exceptional President. I think he is a transformational figure, he is a new generation coming onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Sen. Barack Obama,"

I couldn't have said it better myself, General Powell.

100,000!

Today Sonja and I spent a couple hours volunteering for the Obama campaign in Kalispell. I didn't even have to twist Sonja's arm to get her to help me knock on 50 doors to distribute information packets and encourage people to vote early (have you voted, yet??? Why not?!?). It felt really good to contribute to this historic campaign, and made me even more excited about the seemingly very likely possibility of an Obama Presidency. Sonja even got to speak to a Vietnam Vet who will be voting for a Democrat for the first time in his entire life. He said that Obama's lack of military experience is completely irrelevant and that Obama "has the right ideas."

Rock on! Talk about breaking down barriers!

Obama held a campaign rally underneath the Arch in St. Louis today. I hear a couple people decided to show up and see him:

And here I thought Missouri was supposed to be a "red" state. I think it says something quite profound when over 100,000 people show up ANYWHERE, let alone a Republican stronghold, to see a Presidential candidate. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. This makes me so incredibly hopeful for the future of this country...a feeling I have never had.

Has McCain ever drawing a crowd even 1/10th of this size??? How inspiring is it to see so many people take the time and energy to go listen to a Presidential candidate? It's like New Years Eve at Times Square! Or the Superbowl! I never thought I would see so much excitement, so much energy, so much enthusiasm and passion for politics in America. Has Obama turned American voter apathy on its head?

It sure as hell looks that way to me!

And if you weren't amazed enough, check out this story from an Obama volunteer in Pennsylvania, reported on my new favorite website:

So a canvasser goes to a woman's door in Washington, Pennsylvania. Knocks. Woman answers. Knocker asks who she's planning to vote for. She isn't sure, has to ask her husband who she's voting for. Husband is off in another room watching some game. Canvasser hears him yell back, "We're votin' for the n***er!"

Woman turns back to canvasser, and says brightly and matter of factly: "We're voting for the n***er."

In this economy, racism is officially a luxury. How is John McCain going to win if he can't win those voters?

Shocking and sad, but hilarious!

When Life Imitates Art

I'll let you decide who is imitating who.

Personally, I don't think I could ever have come up with a better comparison. Either the producers of Batman were incredibly prophetic...or the McCain campaign stole all their "best" lines from this episode.

Hazy Shade of Winter

The snow has been steadily creeping lower and lower on the mountainsides this past week. Sonja captured this image on Monday as the clouds began to lift. While we haven't had any snow falling at park headquarters, yet, we did have a pretty hard frost last night, and when I took the dogs out for a walk this morning I could smell winter in the air.

This is one of my favorite times of the year, and something I really missed while we were in Arizona: the crisp, clear air filling your lungs, snuggling under a blanket with a warm cup of hot chocolate, the snot-cicles freezing on your beard...

I also missed living in a place where the ecosystem is largely still intact. A place where most of the large predators still roam the forests. A place where, every time you go for a hike in the woods the instinctual knowledge that somewhere out there, perhaps close by, is a large, furry animal that could eat you still has a ring of truth to it.

I was reminded of that very thing this morning while taking the dogs for their walk. As I stood on the trail, waiting for Harvey to finish one of his ten-minute marathon pees, my ears perked up as a mournful and haunting sound in the distance echoed over the tree tops. It was followed by others like it, some higher in pitch, a few quite deep. It was a sound impossible to hear in most parts of this country...the sound of wolves.

There's no other sound (except, perhaps, the cry of a loon on a fog-shrouded lake in the great north woods) that captures the essence wildness like the howl of a wolf. And I feel fortunate to be able to call them neighbor.

"That One" for President!

Want to show your support for "That One"? Visit my store and buy a cool new bumper sticker I just made!

This Makes Me Happy!

So does this...

And this...

And especially this.

Have I mentioned that blue is my favorite color? And 270 is my new favorite number?

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

For the few of you out there that have yet to discover the magic of NPH in this brilliantly tragic comedy musical, I urge you to sit back, press play, and enjoy 45 of the most enjoyable minutes ever created for the internets.


And we finally got the internet tubes installed at home, so I intend to be a bit more active here in the future. In the meantime, go back and watch Dr. Horrible again. This time, sing along!