It was an exciting night…hanging out in the Big I watching the election returns in what turned out to be the most exciting election in the last 45 years. I confess that I teared up as the projection that Obama would win the presidency flashed up on the screen just after the clock counted down the close of the west coast polls. The electoral count was 333 to 145 or so after California, Washington and Oregon counts were shown. A small cheer arose from the crowd (mostly just me) as it became clear Obama was our new president elect. A couple hours later the count from Alaska came in with McCain cornering 62% of the vote here. Which explains why the people in the bar weren’t all that excited about Obama’s win.
Annie wanted to go over to the Westmark Hotel to continue the non-partisan celebration that was happening there. I was happy to go with her, Ted, and Wally because she is one of the few other liberals that hangs out at the bar. The hotel provided food and a large screen TV. Occasionally, there would be a cheer about some local or state race so I’d wander over to the group standing in front of the big screen and find out what the excitement was about.
Annie gets some vegis in the food line...
Enjoying the food and fun...
One of the few times I could actually see the big screen.
I agree with that...
Not many of these around in this red state.
Wally making a point...
One of the young Obama fans...
Ted making a point...
Annie getting ready to walk home...or getting ready to mug Wally, not sure.
Everyone enjoying themselves...
Now that a couple days have passed since the election, the amazing response from around the world is making news as people from all walks realize what this election means. We have now garnered bucket loads of good will around the world. Especially since the Obama victory was nearly a landslide in individual votes and was a landslide in electoral college voting. The widely hated Bush Doctrine will soon be a thing of the past, thrown on the scrap heap of incredibly bad ideas.
In other news, I spent a couple three hours on Monday past at the base getting my yearly physical. Nothing looks to bad, minor problem here and there but not much to worry about. I really need to start exercising but it’s difficult here with snow on the ground and not being able to shower regularly. Oh, I didn’t tell you about that did I. See, I don’t have city water, and the well the owner tried to put in last year came up empty and she didn’t try this year. Which means I could have water delivered by a water truck ($60 for 600 gallons, I have a 233 gallon tank) but in order to save money and to get the exercise I do from lugging around 40 lb jugs of water, I opt to carry the water myself in 20 liter jugs. Which means I don’t have a full tank most of the time. Then the pipes from the bathroom to the septic tank don’t have much drop so things get caught and then freeze so I get a back up from time to time. It all conspires to make the bathroom a ‘situation’ that I have to deal with far to often and makes me have to take my showers at the campground. It is a hassle but better then having an outhouse…which is what a lot of people here in Fairbanks have to deal with. One of my friends, a bartender at the Big I, also lives in a cabin but she has to deal with going out at -20°F to use her outhouse. No fun.
Anyway, I’m pretty healthy overall but need a serious way to fight my weight right now in order to get my blood pressure down since it’s creeped up a little since I got up here to Fairbanks. That could be the result of the excessive air pollution (lots of wood burning stoves, heaters, & furnaces up here), my lack of exercise, and my diet not having enough vegi’s like I’d like. Much easier in Mexico to get fresh vegi’s. And whenever you go out to eat, the resturants there always bring you a vegi tray before your meal. So I’m thinking of getting some exercise equipment…now if I could only find something free up at the transfer station.
if mccain had won, wouldn’t that mean that sarah palin wouldn’t remain governor, or is she already a “former” governor? if mccain had won then she’d be in washington and away from making trouble and other illegal thing in the state, right?
maybe it was alaska’s way of getting rid of palin?
Yes, true, if McCain had won, Sarah would have to resign as Alaskan governor. Remember that 62% of Alaskans voted for McCain so as you can imagine, she has a huge following here. One sad thing that most of us that are liberal notice is that whenever you try to criticize her to someone, they usually mention how pretty she is. Makes me sick. What does that have to do with being a governor? So, no, Alaska is not trying to get rid of her. Sadly. She is a strong extremist, does not believe in a woman’s right to choose, gay rights, stem cell research, or most other pro human stances.