The Obama-Nation

I was inspired by you, Kacy. I voted today. Well, OK not today. In Oregon, we vote by mail - everyone votes by mail, so there really are no polls. It is great for its convenience (I voted for last Friday in my PJs on the couch with my wife) but not so great in the sense that there is no sense of showing up to be counted and no free sticker that entitles you to free donuts and free hot chocolate at various places. Bummer. Originally the plan was to have the voting be a family activity and talk about why we vote and teach the kids about civic duty. Then the kids were hellions that day and went to bed early and we were exhausted and I am sure I ate something fattening and then we watched the Amazing Race. Its all part of the primrose path, my friends..

But I voted. And I voted for Obama. I like his message of hope and change. And I really believe (if he wins) that there is some truth in there and that it won't just turn out to be political rhetoric. I like his stance on health care, and on education and the environment. This is the first election I have really been informed in, and I loved it. I like feeling like I am part of something.

I feel like in our PC world, sometimes we feel like we can't say who we are voting for. Because that would encourage discussion, which might lead to debate, which would lead to contention and woosh there goes the spirit. But isn't politics all about discussion and debating and challenging ideas? I was afraid to tell my mom who I was voting for for fear of the debate that would ensue. Then lo and behold, she is an Obama supporter too!

So vote, if you haven't. And if you did, be proud of it. And talk about it. And ask other voters why they voted. Toby Ziegler always says that decisions are made by those who show up. So go show up, already.

Note: Most of my political understanding is shaped by Josh Lyman, Toby Ziegler, and sometimes Sam Seaborne. So sue me.

Spooky Pumpkins

Don't you love the fall? P & L posed the question "Are you one of the Autumn People?" I answered a resounding "Yes." And coincidentally won this book for doing so:Thanks P & L!!

And if you think you have seen autumn splendor, then you need to make a trip to Oregon. (I know this blog is a love affair with Oregon. Sorry. Deal.) The leaves are turning copper and yellow and orange, outlined with the green of all the pine trees. And it the morning, a mist hangs over everything. It is spectacular.

On Saturday we (with the assistance and guidance of Ms. 5) took the kids to the Baggenstos Farm and Pumpkin Patch.

This in Noel's face on the way to the Pumpkin Patch:Poor little tortured boy.

Who loves funny pictures where you put your heads through things? I do!

There were lots of fun things for kids to do including Pumpkin Bowling. Dee-lightful.
Do you see the little dance of joy at having knocked over some pins?

We loaded into the hay wagon and headed off to pick our pumpkins.

Mine was a big one that was sort of green and orange. Lovely. Jonah promptly picked out the ugliest, most misshapen sideways pumpkin I have ever seen, as he is want to do.
Noel almost immediately started calling out for a Baby Pumpkin. "Baby Pumpkin! Where are you?" Unfortunately in the actual patch, there were no little pumpkins - but we did find one once we got back to the farm store.

And tonight, we carved. Anyone know if pumpkins carved on a Tuesday night will last until Friday? Let's see. Jonah and Noel were too grossed out by the seeds and guts so I got to do all the gutting. (De-gutting? What is the verb here?)
And all of the carving...Because who wants to give a knife to the 3 year old and tell him to stab something? Not me. We did leave baby pumpkin unscathed and Noel felt good about that. Here are the results.
Spooky! Happy Halloween!

For more fun Halloween reading, check out P & L, Tookie, Kacy and The Craig Report. And go see this play. Because I can't and it makes me sad.

I Run for Life

Lately, the Binghams have taken up running.

WHAT?!!

I know it sounds like a horrible lie, but when I can drag myself to the gym (do not judge me on this week's attendance) I have been running. Amy is running as well, and doing quite well. And we both really like it. I think the goal is to eventually run a 5K, which is longer than it sounds. We'll see. Amy even made a running mix for the iPod because Amy was sick of getting shanghaied by Rufus Wainwright and songs from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode while she was working out. It is quite good. If you ever need a workout mix, talk to her. A little Kelly Clarkson, a little Aerosmith, and when you really need a push, some Melissa Ethridge. She runs for you mother, your sister, your wife. And so will you when you hear her sing about out-running cancer.

Jonah likes running too. Today he was such a lunatic little boy that I finally told him to go outside and run laps around the yard. And he did. And when I saw him slowing down I would yell out the window, "Keep going!" And he would.

Amy's good friend Amanda told us about an event hosted in the area by the high school track teams. Amanda's husband Tony is a track coach, so he should know. Every Tuesday afternoon there is a free cross country run for kids. They break the kids into age groups, assign each group some "rabbits" (high school track kids to lead the race) and off they go. The distance they run is reasonable for a pre-K kid, but it is not short. This is not your grandma's fun run. The first time the boys went, they were raring to go.

Jonah did some pre-race stretches:
Who teaches him this stuff? Not me. We didn't say, "Jonah! Make sure you warm up!" He just does it.

At the starting pistol (and yes, they do use a real pistol. And yes it makes me incredibly nervous, even though I know it is incapable of firing anything. This is why I vote Democrat.) they were off. And after about 20 feet, Noel was done. He had that realization that all non-runners have of "Why am I doing this?" and was back to wait out the outcome of the race with Amy.

Look at those legs go!
Jonah came in 8th the first time. Not bad for a really long run where some of the kids are 1 year older than him! (Granted, he is taller than all of them, but we'll take athletic advantage where we can get it.) He'll never win until the Jones boy moves away. He is in our ward, and black, and beats all the other kids by about a mile. He is a legend. (I think they move this week! Finger's crossed!) What? I'm just saying.

One thing I love/drives me crazy about Jonah is his determination. He wants to accomplish things on his terms. And when he is working at something, there is no joy, just single-minded focus and drive. That is why he often cries when he tries to make toys into some gravitationally impossible stack and they keep falling over, and he keeps trying (and crying) no matter how many time you tell him that the laws of physics will prevent that tower he is building from ever standing up. The second race was long. It would have winded me. Tony had to carry one of his kids over the finish line on his shoulders. (Tony runs the race with his kids. Remember, he is a track coach. I just watch. Remember, I am a novice runner.) And even though Jonah looked exhausted, he was determined to finish strong.
Look at this face:
There is no joy. Just an iron will. And he finished.

Is it just me...

Is it just me or is it really annoying that Oprah doesn't have guests anymore and she just "Skypes" people in? I mean, I know gas prices have gone up and we are all feeling the pinch. But you have more money that Mr. Moneybags.
Fly some guests in, will ya?

And have you seen when it is the "Friday Live" show and these three talk about whate'er?

Why do I want to hear Mark Consuelos' opinion on anything other than how Kelly Ripa is so Kelly and so Ripa?