Gabby Giffords Honored at Scripps

Gabby Giffords was honored at her alma mater, Scripps College, last week as the third recipient of the Ellen Browning Scripps Medal (along with Hillary Rodham Clinton and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor). This medal "is awarded to a woman whose accomplishments have made a significant and positive difference in the possibilities available in women's lives, enabling all women to live more confidently, courageously, and hopefully."

As shown on this news report about this event, Scripps has a graffiti wall which is signed by all graduates. When I walked over to the wall today, I found the class of 1993 with no problem, but I did not find Giffords' signature, although you can see it in the video. I will have to go back sometime with someone who has a better eye than I.

Voting Day

I may not vote often today, but I did vote early. Here is the line at Sycamore around 7:30 this morning. This time it took about 10-15 minutes. Usually we walk right in.

Voting Venue

On this June gloom morning, I voted in a new location - Sonja Stump Photography on First Street (between Harvard and College).  We usually vote at Sycamore Elementary School, but Sonja reported that the school said there were too many things happening there today, so when they asked Sonja (who usually runs our precinct elections) where they could hold the election, she thought about her business.  It's not in the correct precinct, but apparently you can hold your polling place in an immediately adjacent precinct.

Sonja is not only very active in all things Claremont, but she is a great photographer and all-around-great person.  She has taken the high school senior portraits of my daughters as well as a family portrait which sits in our living room.

I'll Take a Pass

Trolling on our merry way this morning for our Saturday constitutional to Starbucks, we waved to JoAnn in her kitchen window as she was baking, baking, baking. On the way home we noticed a familiar face on her doorstep. Here they are, together.

Why I have Hope!

I am not usually political in my blog, but this is such an historic moment in time, and I have such strong feelings, that I will divert from my usual ramblings and just say this:

If President Obama runs the government the way he intelligently ran his campaign, by bringing people together, by listening to the corners of the country, by working hard, by exciting people who have been weary to go out and become pro-active in their communities, then I have hope that the future will be bright. I have hope for our young people. I have great hope for our future.

Historic Voting Day

Hal and I woke early this morning and made it through the drizzle to our polling place around the block by 6:45. We were the 25th and 26th people in line. It was like a block party with people we don't usually see in the morning.

I have never felt excited to vote before, but when I slid the little card into the machine and pressed my inkadot pen into the first slot, I got a little lump in my throat.

We were out the door by 7:20, not too bad. We walked to the Village for breakfast and started out at Starbucks. We'd heard that although Starbucks was giving a free tall brewed coffee for voters, it was illegal in California to give rewards to people for voting. So we ordered our decaf and because it wasn't quite ready, we were given two free cups anyway. To go with our priced-right coffee, we dropped some money at Some Crust Bakery for a chocolate croissant (Hal) and a pumpkin danish (Charlotte).

Tonight is dinner with friends (big pot 'o soup and we all bring appetizers) while we watch election returns.

An Alaskan's Opinion

From someone who knows Sarah Palin on a first-name basis, here is a letter outlining Palin's actions as mayor of Wasilla, including the attempted censoring of books at the public library, the expansion of government and raising of taxes.

The letter: http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/kilkenny.asp