Last Thursday, Sam, along with his coworker and her 11-year-old daughter, and I stood outside in the getting colder to see John Kerry in the Metrodome parking lot. I’m terrible at great masses and distances—so, uh, there were an awful lot of people, and we were awfully far away from the podium. Kerry delivered the familiar stump, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t thrilled to hear it, at least what I could. We were so far back, we couldn’t hear Walter Mondale or Max Cleland at all—it was weird. It seemed less a matter of cranking the volume and more that we were just that far away. When people at the fore started a chant, it took seven or eight times until it tumbled back loud enough so we could hear it and fall in proper rhythm. Kerry carried better ’cause you know, he’s just so damn presidential. Minneapolis mayor RT Rybak was also loud enough; I’d never heard him speak before, and he sounds just like Tom Hanks. Since I couldn’t see him well enough to lose this impression (and whenever people raised their signs, which was all the time, the stage was eclipsed entirely), I went with the illusion woo-hoo! it’s Tom Hanks! Uh… yeah. Hee hee.
The best part was when I got home and uploaded my pictures. I knew they’d be a million-mile-away wretched and “neat” only in that it proved I was there (c.f. the giddy forty-something woman who fluttered her fingers before my face and squealed, “I touched his hand last spring!! I touched his hand! Hey, hey! What’s the difference between Vietnam and Iraq? Bush had a plan to get out of Vietnam!” …Hi. Wow. Okay.). But what I didn’t know was that in darkness enveloped by bright red, white and blue lights, flanked by a throng and awe, the Metrodome looks like a spaceship! Just look at it! Bwahahahahahaha! TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER. Yes, we will! RESISTANCE IS FUTILE. Hooray!
I know I’m not alone in looking forward to the campaign hoopla coming to a close. I’m not sap enough to give a crap about the polls, but the process is still a heavy one, and I want to put it down. I just hope it ends when it’s over. Rawr. Original, I know.
On Sunday I craved homemade soup. Paging through my earthy-new agey, hip and hippie cookbook of delicious-sounding but mostly too intimidating recipes, I stumbled across the simple and straightforward Spanish Potato Garlic Soup. It beckoned like a cartoon aroma. The ingredients were familiar and inexpensive, and cooking would warm up my apartment. Though I was essentially sold, the soup’s description and suggested accompanying ambiance tethered me to action through stupefaction and the awakened mystique of the cookbook copywriter:
What could be better than potatoes and onions in a steaming hot, garlicky red broth? Serve it in earthenware bowls. Let there be classical guitar music. Discuss passion and death.
–Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites
Oh hell yes! 
It turned out rather tasty.
The other night I had a hard time falling asleep. When I finally dropped off, I dreamed I couldn’t sleep. Thoughts?
I made some Moosewood shortbread the other day. It turned out well, though I overbaked it and the edges were a tad crispy. But when I put it in my mouth (straight from the oven, because I’m impatient), it crackled as it melted. Very nice.
Nice mouseover, btw. And no, I will not be voting Kerry. There is never a good time for change.
i think kerry would be a change—not as much as desired, perhaps, but another four years of bush ensures a continued f’ed up foreign policy, poor economy and outragous culture war swing this country will take generations to undo (and it will already take years). i want to have kids someday but not born into indentured servitude to a national debt–and oh oh the poor future maybe children… what about our lives, too, hm? what about the Surpreme court? i don’t want to bury you in 60 years with that rag still around your arm, my friend.
i know better than to idlely try to change your mind, and i want to respect your decision (as i respected mine in 2000, and as i stand by it today). but but but! but we’ll discuss later. when we doorknock, perhaps… but who are we knocking for?
And another thing…I would be proud and honored to be buried with that rag on my arm.
We are knocking for America Coming Together.
I’m not one of those “there is no difference between the parties! Yahhhhh!” people, which you know. But I do see that there is not enough of a difference between them. And beyond that, there will never be the real kind of system change as long as they keep getting elected. They don’t want to give up power, but system change will force them to do just that. They have a vested interest in keeping things the same. I mean, cripes, debates were open to more than just two parties before 1998, you know. Wtf, eh?
But there’s lots of time to talk about it…about 3 hours’ worth. E-mail with details coming your way.
with “that rag” reference… i meant it’d be nice—if by the time you die at an old age—you no longer had to wear it because it was no longer an issue. you would be proud and honored to be buried in it—but i’d think more proud and honored not to have to.
…of course, i’m attacking you where passion is the strongest. we’ll have to discuss more, yes. it’s gonna be hilarious—we’ll be knocking on people’s doors, they’ll answer and wait expectantly, but we’ll just be debating amongst ourselves on their doorsteps.
i just heard Eminem’s Mosh for the first time: http://www.gnn.tv/content/eminem_mosh.html
i’ve always been more or less indifferent to Eminem–but this actually made me a bit teary.
I am thinking about going as a touch-screen voting machine, but I will probably be too lazy to do that.
I sent the video to my brother earlier this week, and he loved it, and called and asked about the World Bank and the IMF after reading the link I sent him about the Black Bloc tactic. He’s considering majoring in political science. You think you know a person…
my vote counts?
dude, you gotta smack down that definition of marriage amendment in nodak.
VOTE OR DIE!!
i heard on NPR that young blacks were citing the “vote or die” initiative as the reason they were at the polls. um… cool, i guess.
i voted! i didn’t die! yay.
This just in..
I’m officially a Minnesotan now.
I’m afraid of Americans
I’m afraid of the world
I’m afraid I can’t help it
I’m afraid I can’t
I’m afraid of Americans
Johnny’s in America
re: jeff’s official minnesota-dom
feels good, doesn’t it.
in related news, i want to go back to bed. possibly for four years.
Quote of the Day from a BB that I frequent.
“I don’t care what the world thinks.”
How can someone say that, seriously? When this latest tragedy really hits me it will hit hard – I will be sad. I’ve got this clip that plays over and over in my head. You know the one where, Arnold “I’ve-lived-here-for-a-helluva-long-time-yet-I- can’t-seem-to-lose-this-accent” S. chants along with the crowd, “Fo’ mo’ years, fo’ mo’ years…”
It’s a shame too. I really like Kindergarten Cop when I was young.
nevermindthesudan k thx
Um, happy birthday? Meep.
HB, Meg. I will drop something off for you later tonight.
i am so sad (disappointed, frustrated, angry, confused, embarassed, outraged… sad).
i’ve been listening mad world for over an hour now (d/l soon, i won’t keep it up long…). says enough, says it all… waiting for the day i feel good… happy birthday, happy birthday….