Photo slide show of Sarah Palin protect

On September 14, outside on a lawn in front of the Loussac Library in midtown Anchorage, a group of women collected to make the statement that Sarah Palin does not speak for all Alaska women.

Also:
PBS has a poll going: Do you think Sarah Palin is qualified to serve as Vice President of the US?
Voting started at about 66% NO; 30% YES. YES now has 51, NO 48. The right wing has an email campaign going to turn the results around.
Please go vote. It's only a matter of clicking a radio button, Yes, No, or Don't know.

After you vote, please send this to others.

The woman who was trying too hard

I don't know why, but I've been thinking about a three second encounter I had in the elevator for several days now.

I was leaving the office on my way home from work. The elevator opened and another woman got on.

You know how sometimes you size another person in a split second? I took one look at her and thought, "She's trying way too hard."

She was very heavily made up. She had obviously read the beauty magazines with their advice about creating contours with shading, and her lips were heavily outlined. Her hair was long, a color probably not original, artfully tousled--except that the effect was a little diminished because it was stiff with hairspray. Clouds of scent roiled off of her, to the point that it was almost difficult to breathe. She had spangles sewn on her chemise, heavy fashion belt, designer handbag, high-heeled fashion shoes.

Now, I wear makeup, but I go for a much more understated look. I was wearing my grubby knit pants and a T-shirt, with a dorky orange safety vest with reflector strips sewn on it. Beat up running shoes. I had my helmet on, and I was carrying my bicycle's front wheel, bungee cords, a utilitarian purse, gym bag with my clothes, and stainless steel commuter cup with water. I was definitely the caterpillar to her butterfly.

"How far do you bike?" she asked me, smiling pleasantly.

"Not far. Only about five miles."

"Not far?" She shook her head in disbelief, as if five miles were a trek to Siberia. The elevator door opened up, and she walked out first, mincing a little because her shoes were so tall. "My, my," she said as she walked away.

I don't know why I've been thinking about her repeatedly since. I realized, as I watched her go, that I felt a little superior to her, and I've been trying to scold myself out of that ever since. Why, for heavens sake? Well, I have a hunch she's a stranger to exercise (she was carrying a few extra pounds, just a few, and she certainly doesn't do any running in those shoes.) She was perfectly nice. But she seemed so . . . artificial, in a way that I can't help will make her look sort of shopworn as she grows older. I wonder if she is happy with her life.

I also wonder what she thought of me.

Overheard at the dinner table

Fiona said, "I got into a fight with Corwyn today."

"What about?"

"We were having a disagreement over a term I used: splendid rage. Corwyn said it was an oxymoron, and that there was no such thing."

I snorted. "Of course there is. I have them all the time."

Rob rolled his eyes. "Well, I wasn't going to say it.

100 Pushups Week 5, no Week 4

I bombed out on my first attempt on Week 5.

I managed 30, then 24, then I collapsed at 12. Dammit.

Okay, I'll give myself a day of rest, and then I'll go back to week 4. Dammit, dammit, dammit. I'll try to do the third column at least.

I could really feel strain at the surgical scar. I thought it would be all the way healed by now.

Wizard Rock Starter Pack

The editor at Wizrocklopedia (wizrocklopedia) has put together a Wizard Rock Starter pack. Use the player here or visit the Pack's page at Archive.org. All free. Some sucky ones are there, but some good options, too.

Trompe-l'oiel

sartorias points to this wonderful basement trompe-l'oiel, made by someone with a steady hand, an imagination, a sense of humor, and a bunch of Sharpie pens.

Cool.