beyond words, but I'll try

 This small and powerful exhibit is on tour from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Don't miss the video when you visit. I think my favorite part was reading about the two black artists and how they worked and what they felt as they painted these two iconic leaders. The two reference photographs (top) are fascinating too. At the deYoung ~ go.

she is still Becoming

This is a very satisfying documentary on Netflix. Michelle Obama's book
tour with her best-selling Becoming memoir. No more "stand by your man
and worry about your family" stuff, she wants her own life. Such a charming
and brilliant woman. An inspiration.

two old and trusted friends

We watched the new David Letterman "Needs no Introduction" program
on Netflix and it was so refreshing to be with such an intelligent and
thoughtful president. My, how we miss Barack Obama. Great TV!

ahhhhhhh, goodbye

Pete Seeger lived a good, long time ~ 94 years. I was reviewing his life
this morning and just admiring how much he gave to us all as he
fought for the common man and woman. I think Potus was influenced
by him, too, in his State of the Union speech last night. He was in a
fighting mood and I think we'll see some progress in the months to
come. Raising the minimum wage is a good start ~ it's $10.50 here in
SF and our economy is thriving. Plus that keeps out Walmart and that's
a very good thing. Vultures. RIP and thank you, Pete Seeger.

catch-up post

Last week Husbando and I had a reasonable and d-licious lunch on the
patio of T-licious (Taco-licious) on Valencia Street across from Paxton
Gate. I can't believe it was that warm only a week ago. Note the
glorious Paul Madonna wall mural of Mission High School and beyond.
It was election day and people were wearing their "I have voted" stickers
and we were both very nervous about the outcome. Honestly, after
post-season baseball and such an important election we all just need to
exhale for a week or so before the holidays. And yes, we are thankful
indeed. As one Facebook website says, "I like waking up every morning
knowing that Obama is President." True.

elated...

We are sitting at the airport waiting for Flight 136 to take off for Philadelphia.
Last night was amazing ~ none of us expected such a quick WIN.  It was
very special being with friends to hi-five and hug and finally to stop worrying.
Obama's speech was wonderful and even Romney was a gentleman about
the whole thing. I'll be interested to see how/if the GOP changes their direction
(or not) in the immediate future. Can they rid themselves of the destructive
Tea Party people? Time will tell.

Next post will be from Philly. Ginger and I just studied the map and of
course we'll remember every detail. Lots of walking ahead. The airplane
is slightly delayed, rain in the City of Brotherly (ahem) Love.

from Andy Borowitz

2012 Election Cancelled

Obama Buoyed by 100 Percent Approval Rating

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) – In what historians are calling an unprecedented development in American politics, both major parties decided today to cancel the 2012 election.

The decision to scrap the 2012 contest came on the heels of a new poll showing President Barack Obama with an approval rating of one hundred percent, believed to be a record high for an American president.

Mr. Obama even polled well among Republicans, with a majority of GOP voters agreeing with the statement, “I no longer care that he wasn’t born here.”

The new bipartisan spirit sweeping the nation was captured well by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who tearfully told reporters, “This is a great day for America… oh, leave me alone, goddamn it.”

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump made no official announcement, but sources said he was considering running for Prime Minister of Canada.

The cancellation of the election comes in the aftermath of the death of Osama bin Laden, whose last words reportedly were, “I knew I shouldn’t have signed up for Foursquare.”

Of all the major news networks, Fox News did not report news of bin Laden’s death, saying that it would air cartoons “until further notice.”

In Libya, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi issued the following official statement: “Uh-oh.”

In North Korea, President Kim Jong-Il said this: “I have lost my last friend on Facebook.”

And in Wasilla, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said this: “We must find and kill Osama bin Laden.”

lots of incredible

First, we both thought that President Obama's speech was outstanding
and this morning I said to Husbando, "I'm currently very pleased
with our president, our governor and our mayor." Have I ever been
able to say that before? Hmmmmm, I don't think so.

After the speech, we watched Good Hair, the documentary by Chris
Rock about the black hair industry ~ relaxers, weaves, perms and
processing. A very upsetting look at how the quest for "white beauty"
is completely dominating many black women. Most of the black
hair products are from white-owned businesses, plus they are
dangerous chemicals and the average weave takes 5 or 6 hours
and can cost $1,000 or more. Chris decided to investigate this
because his very young daughter told him she wanted "good
hair." Here I thought we had all worked on this problem years
ago, but no, it is still with us. Black women are so beautiful
just the way they are, but I guess they don't see it that way.

proud to be an American (again)

What a wonderful night. Here is what I want to remember:

• the quiet, happy crowds in Chicago, NYC and at the White House
  
• Jon Stewart telling us that Obama is our next President
• we get a new puppy in the White House
• Anderson Cooper asking, "why do we pay for these?" when for the umpteenth time one of the pundits said, "you can't believe these exit polls"
• that beautiful acceptance speech
• Jesse Jackson's tears
• hearing that Pennsylvania was "ours"
• waiting for the polls to close on the West Coast so victory could be announced
• McCain's nice speech and the few nasty boos from his audience
• the way Obama thanked all the people who ran his amazing campaign

And now for the world reaction. I can hardly wait!