Obama Day

I don't really have anything to write about today...

US President Obama is in town, but all people got to see was the cars in his entourage. That's pretty much what I expected. I didn't even go to the Hill to look. First of all I was at work on a teleconference call when they pulled in on the Hill and also, it's snowing and I can see most of this on TV later. Am I being apathetic? Not really I think. I just had a few other things to do.

In addition - today makes me think of the last Bush visit and the 15 000 people that came out to protest. It was an amazing day that day! The way people came together to have their say. It seems positive the way I'm describing it. I'm a bit at a lack for appropriate words on this one today I think. For me it was positive as I was working on legal support for the demonstrators that day and arrests were low and following those that were arrested through the system was relatively easy for once. The numbers of protestors were high obviously, the politics expressed were diverse and it seemed like a...united front against a common enemy if this makes any sense. The atmosphere to me felt supportive or at least neutral - from those watching on the sidelines from the office buildings for the most part. I remember sprinting past my own office building and how my coworkers were cheering me on! It was pretty funny. But I was also surprized. I didn't know they were supportive of me and what I had been doing. The energy of the day was charged. The organizing had gone very well, the speakers did their thing and did it well - even if the Jack Layton show that day got a bit out of hand (even if I personally vote and generally support the NDP it was a bit much). All in all it was a good day. I don't think I'll ever forget it.

Today was in comparison in some way like a friendly media event. But that's ok also. Maybe Obama will make positive changes...but so far his track record on things that matter to me smells a bit...Afghanistan, Palestine/Israel,... But then on the other hand we have him as the first African American US President, the order to close Guantanamo Bay, his efforts at attempting to improve the US economic system (incl. the issue of pay equity), his initial efforts on the climate change front (although he seems to think that coal mining is ok and that the use of coal is a form of producing clean energy - let's not even think about the effects of mountain top removal coal mining - ugh!), his efforts or at least the intent at improving the US health care system. For me things are hanging in the balance at the moment. Ok, that's overstating it. But I guess I'm skeptically hopeful. More skeptical than hopeful. Let's see how things will progress...let's hope they don't regress...

On the other hand, my friend Michele is in town from Nunatsiavut and it was sooooooo great to see her! She is one of my dearest friends and I wish that we could see each other more! But it is what it is and Facebook is a good way to keep in touch. Anyway, we were on the conference call together and after that headed out for Moroccan food for lunch. It was really great food and we had a fun time hanging out! I threatened to cook for her when she comes back this way again! :)

Theo woke up in quite a good mood this morning. It was very nice. We had breakfast together and then Jamie and Theo drove me to work. And then they headed off to daycare (Theo took his super hero cape with him to daycare today to show it to everyone - he calls his cape his 'super hero' - he kind of leaves out the 'cape' part - *smiles*) and then Jamie drove himself to work. That's pretty much our routine in the mornings.

Tonight is the first night that I'm going back to stained glass class in a couple of months. I'm really looking forward to it. I haven't really done any work on my latest project since the last class I had attended. Should be great fun.

And here I thought that I didn't have anything to write about today...

Over and out for now!