Letter to the Editor

My stepfather had a letter published in yesterday's Seattle Times calling for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney, and while it's not what I usually post here, as my friend Nancy said, It's "a great letter. It's really refreshing to hear this kind of view from the kind of person no one would ever write-off as simply being a bleeding-heart liberal."

Off they go

Our Constitution is in tatters. Our rights, the rights of Congress to
oversee the actions of the executive and serve as a check and balance to the
executive, and our country's reputation are constantly under assault under
the guise of the "war on terrorism."

Our standing in the world as a defender of human rights has plummeted.

Recent overseas polls show that the United States of America is considered
by many of our friends as inimical to world peace as those states and
political philosophies that we consider antithetical to what this country
used to practice and stand for.

Unless we perform the act of impeachment, future presidents of any political
persuasion will only build on the presidential power as currently exercised.
Power corrupts and the absolute executive power now being claimed as
required to fight a so-called never-ending war will destroy this country.

This country is no longer the "shining beacon" I spent almost 28 years of my
life defending.

-- James R. Wright (col., USAF [ret.]), Edmonds

To view the letter on-line, go to:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003809282_sunlets29.html

The Long Journey Home(Wisconsin -- part 5)

Zoe at a Rest Stop in Indiana at 4:00 AM
Originally uploaded by oldforest

We're back home -- finally. After 11 days away from home, 9 nights in Wisconsin, and a grand total of 3,381 miles driven. We pulled into the driveway in Bethesda about 7:30 last night

Had insomnia the last night in Wisconsin, probably should have known an 1,100+ drive home wouldn't be easy on 5 hours of sleep, never expected 29 hours in a mini-van though -- we did make 3-hour detours to Madison and Pittsburgh. In Madison, we had dinner with our friends Bailey(long ago he had been an assistant manager at the White Flint Borders) and Kathy, but didn't have time to catch-up a few other old friends. In Pittsburgh, we visited with Leslie, who I've known since I was in high school. She works at the Warhol Museum and she gave us an impromptu tour. It was a nice break from all the driving, and girls got a chance to stretch their legs and work out some energy. I've eaten a lot of tofu in my life, but until lunch at the museum cafe, I can't recall having barbeque tofu(I was also pretty punchy after over 20 hours in the van).

Zoe melted down so completely upon arriving home that she fell asleep with her mouth and both eyes open.

time to clear out all the things that went bad in the refrigerator...

We Don't Get To Run Through Mud Puddles Back Home...(Wisconsin -- part 4)

We Don't Get To Run Through Mud Puddles Back Home...
Originally uploaded by oldforest

We start the long drive home tomorrow(later this morning actually)...

It's going to be a little uncomfortable for Heather, since she managed to sunburn her back yesterday at the "beach" at Conner's Lake -- we were quite diligent at slathering the girls in sunscreen and covering up the boy -- yet, somehow never thought to worry about her(It seemed absurdly hot and bright to me at the time, but I never bothered to connect the dots).

Zoe continues to be out of sorts, or more accurately homesick. Yesterday morning when we took her out of her Pack n' Play(what she sleeps in at the hotel), she walked to the bathroom, took a look inside and said, "not my house"...

Watched fireworks at the Hawkins Mill Pond picnic area. I'd guess there were over fifty cars there, so literally the majority of the town was there. Didn't see any other Maryland tags(big surprise). Had another great BBQ pulled pork sandwich from Porky Pine Pete's, who set up a food trailer at the fireworks. We had actually had lunch at the restaurant which is located on Highway 8, in Hawkins across the street from Jeld-Wen Windows factory(where Heather's mom works). The restaurant has only been Pete's since November of last year(it was the Whispering Pines on previous visits) and the owners hope to make it a a roadside attraction, evidently Patrick(age 8?) the owner's daughter is working on a 40-foot cactus for the front. As for the fireworks, only Zoe made it to 9:30 to see the festivities and she wasn't thrilled by the noise or rain showers, but said she liked the big lights(especially when back inside the safety of the van. Not exactly like watching fireworks on The Mall, but I doubt that they would have allowed someone to propose to "Kelsey" in lights back in DC.

got my fingers crossed for nice driving weather...

Travels Through America's Heartland(Wisconsin -- part 3)

Zoe on the Pontoon Touring Dairy Land Flowage(Lake Flambeau), 7/1/07
Originally uploaded by oldforest

Nothing absurd or funny to report...

Will never get used to all the driving. We took a day trip to Minneapolis yesterday(6 hours roundtrip from Ladysmith). Visited with Heather's grandmother and an aunt, as well as one her college friends. We didn't go to the Mall of America(I've been), but we did end up at a mall named Eden Prairie(akin to Montgomery Mall, only smaller) -- ate at a decent Chinese restaurant called Great Mandarin, where the waiter called me "buddy" about a dozen times.

One of Heather's aunts(from Milwaukee) had a family cookout at their "cabin" on Dairy Land Flowage(formerly Lake Flambeau) today. The girls got to swim and everyone got a nice tour of the lake by boat. Rather nice actually.

Zoe's beem completely out of sorts for stretches the past couple of days, not our usual happy go along, occasionally stubborn little girl. I reminded of our visit to Cape May last summer when she refused to drink anything for a couple of days.

time to sleep...