Life at the cottage, taken in the morning because I was sitting on the loveseat, still drinking my second cup of coffee.
Wow! The convention was terrific. I liked it so, so much better than the usual fare. Truth be told, I usually zone out during conventions, waiting to hear the big speeches. All of the hoopla, signs, funny hats, balloons, and noise is distracting, so I usually busy myself with something else until Don says, “So-and-so is going to speak!”
This year’s experience was intimate and powerful and so well done, especially since the Dems had to invent an entirely new convention. Bravo! Last night; the young boy with the stutter who spoke so movingly, the words of the Biden family, the stories of Joe’s kindness and compassion and strength in the face of despair. His speech may be the best I have ever heard from him. He was magnificent.
I’ll be glad to get back to our regular sleeping schedule, but boy, staying up late was worth it. I feel hope again.
And Steve Bannon was arrested. Perfect. Grifters, one and all.
We came up with our voting plan this morning. We will vote in person, but early. This is the first year that New York has had early voting, and we can vote in our neighboring town at the Community Center from October 24 – November 1st. We don’t trust the mail simply because OM is doing all he can to keep us from voting by mail. So we figure we’ll be able to vote sometime within that nine-day time period and social distance while doing it. If it seems crowded that day, we’ll come back later or the next day. That’s our plan.
I’m close to finishing Hamnet. I cannot say enough how beautifully written it is. Extraordinary. And since it deals with death in the time of the Plague, it doubly resonates. O’Farrell writes about grief so movingly; the pain, the raw, laid-bare emotions, the sense of unreality. I have to put it down at times because it is so beautifully, excruciatingly painful. It’s a gem.
The newest James Lee Burke is sitting here waiting for me after I finish Hamnet.
We mowed like crazy yesterday and we were pretty tired for the rest of the day. Today? Hopefully, I’ll get to the organization in the office that I wanted to do earlier in the week.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
HI,
Comment from a Salt Lake Tribune reader:
“RNC announces change in theme for convention,
“If you’re not indicted you’re not invited.”
Take Care,
Kaye
Park City, UT
HA HA!!!!
Love it!!😂
LOVE it!
Thanks, Kaye!
Stay safe.
Hamnet sounds fantastic…anything about that time period. Have good good day. brenda b
It really is, Brenda. I’m getting close to the end, but it’s very emotional and raw, so I had to stop until later this evening.
Stay safe!
Yes…it was a wonderful speech by Biden last night! I too, liked the virtual convention format…I hope that continues. It was much more personal, I felt.
And, overall, it was an absolute pleasure to listen so many intelligent people for a change!
In Madison, we are getting 17 ballot drop off boxes…can I get a whoop whoop? So, we will be filling out our absentee ballot as soon as we get them, and dropping them off. If some thing unthinkable happens with our ballot, like we never get them…then we will vote in person. We must vote, we need every vote.
After all that mowing, sounds like you could use a day of rest. Stay safe! ;)
I haven’t heard anything about ballot boxes here, though, knowing Cuomo, that will probably happen.
Stay safe, Donna.
Details can be found at Ulster County NY Board of Elections. Looks like the way to go.
xo
Such a serene interior scene. Thank you, Claudia. So many other things in life are chaotic at the moment, but your scene, your words, the convention last night, all restore me.
Oh, thank you, Martha!
We all need some restoration at the moment. I’m going to miss watching the convention. It filled me with hope.
Stay safe!
I did not see the convention. I have enough things to tense me out, but glad it was so beautiful. We vote by mail in our state, and drop off in boxes outside the library and then they are picked up and taken to the counting area. I think this is a really good way. We usually hear pretty soon who won. If only other states would try it they would probably love it.
Oh, the convention wouldn’t have made you tense, quite the reverse. It was beautiful and hopeful and I’ll miss watching it tonight.
Stay safe, Jan!
I hope you google the speeches Jan……they were wonderful!
My husband and I are voting the same way here in NC – early and in person. It is so important that the votes count! I also really loved the format this year. I felt it was more powerful.
Much more powerful – no distractions.
Thanks Jane. Stay safe!
I’m glad you found the convention hopeful. I’ve heard bits and pieces but I’m scared to hope. So much stuff going between now and Nov. I’ve also decided I want to vote in person. Heaven knows I don’t want Covid, but 4 more years of destruction I don’t especially want to live thru either. Your plan is solid. I’m going to see if our town does the same. Thanks for the snapshot of your charming morning scene. Stay safe!
I’m also curious whether NY State will have ballot drop-off boxes. I hope so! Everyone would feel much more secure if that was the case.
Stay safe, Nora!
I’d be amazed if your Gov. didn’t have them. They are going up in MA. We have one outside our town hall in Plymouth.
I’m sure we do. Thanks, Donna!
Stay safe.
Claudia, I am so glad to hear that you also love James Lee Burke. He’s not for everyone!
No, but he sure is for me!
Thanks, Carolyn.
Stay safe!
hope you’ve had a good day today, spent exactly as you wanted and that you and don are well-rested and feeling good.
did you see the video that steve bannon and the founder of “we build the walls” made to promote their “work”? though they are obviously not on a boat, bannon makes a “joke” about them being on a yacht purchased with some of that group’s funds and they laughed. wonder if he’s laughing now.
speaking of … three days ago i mentioned two people went together to complain about me to my boss, saying my wearing a mask and staying six feet away from them “made them feel like they were contagious” and how they were going to take up a collection to buy me a haz-mat suit. while it doesn’t make me happy to say this (i don’t wish harm on anyone), one of those two people told my boss today that she has covid-19. me? i hope she gets better soon and i am not going to wait around for her to retract (to my boss) her complaint or apologize to me. i am just glad it’s friday, i am home, showered, had dinner and done a bit of puttering. need to wash the dishes, but there’s plenty of time to read that agatha christie book!
have a nice, safe night!
kathy in iowa
Yes, I saw that video. What an arrogant ass he is. They always think they’re going to get away with it.
I’m sorry about your co-worker, but it isn’t a surprise. When one chooses to remain willfully ignorant about the coronavirus…. Well, I don’t have to finish that statement.
Have a safe weekend, Kathy.
thanks, claudia.
hope you and don are in the middle of a nice, safe weekend, too.
kathy in iowa
Karma??? When will people learn. Hope you have a safe and relaxing weekend Kathy.
hej, donna …
thank you.
maybe they will learn when it happens to them or someone they love …?
hope you have a nice, safe weekend, too.
kathy in iowa
Everything you said about the convention I agree with. I loved the format. I hope they never go back (they will, they all will) but I wish they could do it this way forever!
Must read Hamnet.
I’ll get an absentee ballot and drop it off in person. I think they mail them around the first of October.
I finished Hamnet this morning. Incredibly beautiful and powerful. Read it!
Stay safe, Jeanie.
I really enjoyed this format for the convention as well. I don’t like lots of people en mass, and noise all around me, so, like you, I always busied myself with something else just waiting for the speeches. I loved hearing his grandkids talk about him last night and how he talks to each of them every day. And the little boy with the stutter, and the little girl separated from her mom…. it was all so moving. I am sure next week will be much bigger and louder and pretty awful. There won’t be any adhering to wearing masks or social distancing. Ijust can’t…… I have to say, he always goes on and on about the alleged crimes that immigrants commit. Someone should really point out to him that the amount of his good buddies he has brought into the WH who have done some mighty horrendous things and are jailed now. And the funeral at the WH today. Seriously???????
I agree. I felt it was inappropriate to hold a relative’s funeral at the White House.
Many families suffering in Covid have been denied proper funerals for their own family members. I’ve lost track of how many people in our town, over the past five months or more, have delayed the funerals and memorial services of their deceased loved ones. On almost every obituary, there’s an ending sentence about their funeral or services being postponed due to Covid (which just contributes to the grief).
On the one hand, I realize it’s the private home of any president, but The White House (although owned by the park service), in theoretical circles, belongs to the People.
There was a day when I’d never comment on something like this; because I too have lost a brother and our hearts would normally go out to anyone suffering such a loss. But Trump brings criticism on himself with the ‘entitled’ way he always does things, pushing against convention and tradition (which I feel is disrespectful).
I was watching the post-convention panel on MSNBC and Nicolle Wallace said of the repubs and their convention, “Who’ve they got?” Who can they parade out in front of the cameras who is anyone we’d look up to, or to whom we’d pay any heed?
I have always believed that we must “know our enemy”, but I don’t think I could bear to watch their shenanigans next week. It will be disturbing and depressing, and there is enough of that going on without extra hours focused only on their nonsense.
I really do like Nicolle Wallace, and we can hear the heartbreak in her voice when she looks upon the Republican party, which was her party, and has collapsed into such a horrific mess.
He is insane. And I’m so sick of him occupying space in my head. I want him gone. I want sanity and peace and goodness. We’ll get that with Biden.
Stay safe Chris!
Thoughts for a new President of the United States of America.
I’ve been inspired this week by the wonderful people who have stepped up to speak up! Life seems to be going too fast and it’s easy to miss the sense of where you are going and why. Life is fragile and more intricate than the mind comprehends ~ find the goodness, the decent, the moral, the dependable, kindness and a new leader of the free world ~ one you can believe in.
A wonderful message, Louise.
Thank you!
And stay safe.
Yes, such a powerful, thoughtful and intelligent convention ! Moved me to tears .
We have voted by mail for years with no problems.
Keep safe !
Of course you have. The ‘problems’ are lies, of course.
Thanks, Sandy.
Stay safe.
I loved the DNC convention too. It was so uplifting! Morals and character are more important than any 401K. So many wonderful speakers. It inspired me to be more positive about our future and work towards change by registering young voters.
Our plan is to drop off our ballots at our Registrars office to ease pressure on the USPS. And we’ll track them to be sure our votes are counted properly. Not that we’re expecting any shenanigans, but I want the confirmation since this is the first year I haven’t voted in person. Learning curve!
Good idea to track them, Roxie!
Thanks so much.
Stay safe.