A Friend Moves On, the Election, Republicans, and the Power of Skype

My New Theme...

From Andrew Sullivan at the Daily Beast is an article about mental illness.  Here is a quote from the author, Jon Crispin,  that touched me, " I think the stigma of mental illness has evolved from something shameful to something that’s much more medical and much more accepted. It just happens to people."  Last week a friend quit his job suddenly and I hope that he can get some peace and help so that his years of retirement are pleasant.  Life certainly is challenging and there but for the grace of God....

Winter is here this morning.  It is 22° with a 14 mph wind.  I am riding with Karyl.  Saturday it was 65° and then early Sunday morning you could hear the rain and wind and the new front came in.  Yesterday the temperature seemed to drop all day long.

The election was last week and Barack Obama won a second term in office.  Nate Silver's "538" site did an excellent job of calling the election.  I love that arithmetic can tell us what is going to happen and how to manage what we want to have happen.  Obama's people seem to have studied each precinct quite thoroughly and they determined where they needed to get out the vote.

For Republicans, it is time to rethink the message and who we want in the party.  There are not enough white people to support the immigration, abortion, Tea Party platforms that have been the standard of late.  I can foresee a time when the Tea Party becomes its own party...A scary thought...

We Skyped with Gaylord and Jon last night.  It was nice to see them.  Skype is wonderful, even when your daughter is telling you that she has news that you won't like.  That was two Skypes ago.  So now we are planning for an early January wedding of some type in Boston.  Details to follow...