Words. Ideas. Actions.

28 March 2023

It’s late as I start this tonight. And we’ve been traveling all day. So this will be pretty short. But I didn’t want this day to end without extolling the virtues of libraries. Even in a state like Florida.

On our way from one set of grandparents to the other, we wanted to stop at a favorite spot for lunch. On the way, we made a detour at the Volusia County Public Library. And I have to say, it was almost like being in one of those amusement parks this state is so known for. 

We got to help create a space-themed, community pixel art project, go on a scavenger hunt, enter a spaceship-naming contest, grab a handful of books and puzzles in the very inexpensive book sale, get new library cards for the entire family, pick out a free beaded keychain craft kit to make, and get so much help, care, and information from the many, many librarians working there today. All in a state that is taking books out of classrooms. 

The contrast between the people so willingly trying to fill our heads with so much knowledge and information while the elected officials in this state fearfully cower from any information which may be new or uncomfortable to them was really quite stark. It almost makes you want to move down here and force every single one of these closed-minded officials to spend just one hour in a public library their tax dollars help fund. Maybe they’d learn a thing or two.

See you tomorrow?

08 December 2022

This is probably going to be a short post tonight, mainly because I’m in anticipation mode. The World Cup quarterfinals quick off in the morning, and the waiting around has me reminiscing about a past life where I worked so hard, of so long, to then just wait for the results: the 2002 Florida gubernatorial election.

I joined the McBride campaign in August of that year, a couple of months before the primary. The favorite was former U.S. Attorney General, Janet Reno. She had a professional staff. She had money. And, obviously, name recognition. We were doomed. But we worked every angle we had, relying on our candidate’s local charms, to win votes one by one. And in those two months, we cobbled together enough support to come out ahead. After a recount, of course.

But for all that work — spending every waking second talking to reporters, setting up rallies, rearranging travel plans at the last second — on Election Day, there was basically nothing to do but wait. And wait. And wait. Thankfully, I had taken on the task of setting up our election night party, so there were details to finalize and speeches to revise. But mostly, we waited. And watched the election totals trickle in. And wait. 

I’m anxiously excited for the next matches to kick off. But at the same time, I don’t want this tournament to end. The unpredictability has been remarkable. And the joy in the underdogs’ faces with each positive result is powering me through the oddity of having to watch this problematic Cup in the winter. So, I wait. And hope it never ends.

See you tomorrow?