"Hey Brett. Up here. Near the Blimp!"

As a treat to myself, I bought a ticket via eBay for last nite's Packers - Seahawks game. Any chance is a welcomed chance on my end when it comes to seeing the Pack, especially as a MNF game. Not to neglect mentioning what may be a last run for Brett Favre. Seattle got a chance for the first time since I've been here to host a snow game. Existentially, the Pack sucked. Even more than the Seahags. Literally, same deal. I did my best to sneak throughout Qwest Field's plush although savvy interiors, including an hour spent on the Club Level (if you go, that's where you undoubtably want to be). But this post's pic was taken from the vantage point that was alleged to be my seat up in LoserLand. I didn't stick around long enough to see much more than how the upper deck is full to the brim with really boisterous but entirely unlikable Hawks fans. Many others that I met along the way were much more interesting. The Pack lost. But I loved seeing things up close. Qwest Field earns a B-Minus rating. A snowy Monday Night in Seattle earns a solid A.

Hope your seats give you a clear shot at the Queen's underpants. Rock on.

Black Friday goofiness for a well-fed Nation

We're in Santa Barbara, doin' a delightfully vacation-like version of the Thankgiving weekend. Unlike most, we flew on TurkeyDay morn. And it was a piece of cake. Maya took the direct flight in stride, nappin' and yappin' like a good girl should. Yesterday's NFL games were as thrilling as a "What I'm Thankful For" sermon from Ted Haggard. But the meal and associated thankiness with my wife's side of the family were wonderful. We didn't kill our own bird. Not many of those critters running 'round this neck of the woods. But it tasted so good you could have sworn we'd raised it or ran over it ourselves.

Now that we've moved onto "Black Friday" and everyone's prepared to cast aside yesterday's uncommonly good principles in hopes of scoring a Playstation 3, time for two brief bitter nuggets that are stuck in my craw.

First of all, I'd love to know which Bushie came up with the idea of having Dubya not-at-all randomly call 10 lucky "members" of the military. Worst. Token Effort. Ever. Did anyone suggest giving 10 random folks an honorary release from duty? When you consider the WashingtonPost piece posted today that scandalously notes 16,000 SINGLE MOTHERS have served in Iraq...well, I just can't imagine how we can be doing that to our people. Or maybe Dubya should have randomly called 10 citizens not in the military to get their opinions on the conflict. Oh, wait - he doesn't listen to the polls. Whatever way you kick this can there's little doubt in my mind that the Bushies are completely flummoxed by the need to come up new misleading imagery to better put a bowtie on this historic turd.

Secondly, I will start by admitting a certain appreciation for the classy discount retailer, Target. When I went to college in Minneapolis (where Target/Dayton's is based), Target supplied me and my equally poor cohorts with basically everything. Often on a short-term unofficially-leased basis (translation: lifetime return policy). They still blow away other retailers when it comes to charitable giving. In that light, they hitched their philanthropic wagon to David Blaine. His latest stunt was horribly contrived - hanging in shackles above Times Square for 2 days only to free himself this morning just in time to take a bunch of needy kids to a Target in New Jersey for a shopping spree. Seriously. Except Blaine didn't stick the landing. At all. Went through the plywood floor. Went to the hospital. And the kids? They don't really factor into the stories anymore. Ooof - now that's how NOT to run a publicity stunt.

Finally, the Dubya twins turn 25 tomorrow. And Jenna just got her purse snatched in Argentina, even while followed by the most entertained detail in all of the Secret Service. No follow-up joke there - I trust you've got plenty to say on your own. Discuss amongst yourselves.

Hope your own stunts involve secure flooring today. Rock on.

Maya prepares to paint most of the house.

Maya prepares to paint most of the house.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Green with glitter. The perfect counterpoint to all the blood red messiness ground into both Maya and the carpet.

Green with glitter. The perfect counterpoint to all the blood red messiness ground into both Maya and the carpet.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

"Hello, brush. Prepare to be amazed by my mastery."

"Hello, brush. Prepare to be amazed by my mastery."
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Suggestion #493 for connecting with your child - Stupid, classic, undeniably fun hats.

Suggestion #493 for connecting with your child - Stupid, classic, undeniably fun hats.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya's view of yoga is entirely concerned with the comfort of the mat.

Maya's view of yoga is entirely concerned with the comfort of the mat.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Haven't we all dreamed of a portable potty for home use?

Haven't we all dreamed of a portable potty for home use?
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

The look of a girl who REALLY needs to take a cathartic dump.

The look of a girl who REALLY needs to take a cathartic dump.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Not to mention the rips on Minnesota...

Today's big pronouncement - Glenn Beck on CNN's Headline News hates our freedom. He just interviewed newly elected Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first Muslim elected to the U.S. House. Beck tossed nothing but hateful, uninformed, anti-Muslim, anti-Democratic turdbags amidst his floundering caveats. I only watch Headline News if I'm in a gym. Or a holding cell. Here's a promise that I'll hereafter always request a channel change if I ever see this Beck dooshbag therein.

It stopped raining today. Briefly. Sun's out and the whole shebang. Seattle's been up to its musty flannel collar in rain recently. In fact, we've already broken the alltime November record (11.64 inches this month) and stand based on the forecast to break the alltime alltime monthly record. And we're only halfway through the month. Yet another reason why I bring the sunshine all the time here at and the Family Buick.

Hope all your own unbroken records are vinyl today. Rock on.

Rich Little - NOT dead

I still appreciate Letterman more often than not. He's gone through his musty periods, but he's a man to be admired. Actually, all the late night jockies get TiVo'd in our realm and I often do the 6-minute version of their various yet ridiculously similar hour-long shows. Still, one thing from last night's Letterman caught my eye. Rich Little, as the first guest during "Impressionists Week". I sincerely thought he was dead. But he looks absolutely THE same as I recall him seeming just behind the impressions viewed on those stolen occasions via a hotel TV or something equally exotic as a kid in the 70s. Little didn't do his signature Nixon, which was an absolute travesty. Whatever. He killed. If you remember him, you owe it to yourself to watch it.

A quick shout out to the NFL - yesterday's games were a total delight. The Bengals-Chargers game was sporty Viagra. And how 'bout Favre winning impressively in the Metrodome? Whoa. Savor it, America. Not many more of these outings remain for Country. They're all still sweet, nonetheless.

Hope you're not a crook either, all day. Rock on.

Feingold '08 - R.I.P.

The LaFollette Wisconsin Reunification Tour's been cancelled for '08 - Russ Feingold's officially out of the race for Prez. Admittedly, he was the one guy I would have worked for in a heartbeat. For those of you looking to read the tealeaves of Dems in newly important Congressional positions, look no farther than Feingold's hat-tossing-retraction announcement in, of all places, the liberal blogosphere. Wherever that is. The Fightin' Feingold can't foresee being able to focus on his upcoming Committee requirements in the Senate if he were required to campaign for Prez (TRANSLATION: "raise money 24/7"). Still, this man still has the largest, brassiest balls in either chamber. Seriously. Two divorces, tons of enemies, the smell of inevitable anti-semitic ads tossed in his wake wherever he might campaign, yada yada yada. But just like my personal politically-irrelevant hero, Bob LaFollette Sr., Russ has those unmissable balls. Good luck with your mission to stink up the joint, Senator. As much as the Bushies will be dragged kickin' and screamin' to admit, even they will be soon forced under oath to acknowledge that you da man.

Hope your own campaigns are well funded today. Rock on.

"But Dad, what's an election?"

"But Dad, what's an election?"
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Score one for the Reality-Based Community

Everyone's taking their Friday swings at summing up the Election. What can I say that everyone else hasn't or isn't saying? Let's see.

Iraq swayed the middle enough to throw things entirely away from the GOP. The Bushies were castrated. Dubya and Cheney are facing the two toughest years of their lives. Can't really see how they rescue their legacies, certainly not while they're still in office. The current/past GOP leadership are now tainted beyond recovery. Look for Guiliani, Pataki, McCain and the handful of remaining successful GOP Guvs to represent the class ascendant. Boehner's more dated than crack jokes - his time is done. Hastert will probably soon have that overdue heartattack. Just try and name a GOP House figure worth mentioning as a Party leader. Just one. On the other hand, the Dems look smart. Surprisingly disciplined. Nancy Pelosi is very good with the bright lights on her and she's the smartest person in the room almost every moment of the day. Harry Reid looks like a pharmacist or barbershop quartet First Tenor. But he's really so stealthy and Nevada sneaky smart I'd check his boots for a weapon every time he came in the room. If the Dems keep it focused and find that shining star (Obama, anyone?) to run for Prez in '08...well, they could become incredibly powerful people.

Who deserves blame in all this? Hell, all of us get a smidge. Living is crime enough in some enlightened cultures to feel reverence and blame at the same time for surviving. But the leaders that took us to "War" deserve the real blame. And by pandering to their evangelical base yet again without delivering the goods the Bushies just may have peed in the entire punchbowl for the GOP. Now that we've got split rule, what sort of bones do you expect to be thrown to the Dobsons of the political barnyard? Zilch. More on this historic shift as it occurs to me and naptime permits.

Hope your weekend includes heaps of fun to jump into. Rock on.

"How's that garden burger, heh heh heh...?"

Wowza wowza - the newzy post-Election garbage dumps just keep on a comin'. The Pentagon released the investigation report of Pat Tillman's death. Whoa. Cover-up. Disgraceful delays. Skim the first reports and grimly await the Larry King, etc. interviews upcoming. The Tillman Family, at the very least, deserves attention. Greatly wronged, unimpeachably just Americans. Larry? Notsomuch. Sorry, Lair.

My new favorite parlor game surrounding Rummy's cut 'n runnin' - whether Dubya could have tilted the Election if he'd announced the resignation beforehand. My bet is that this just wasn't well-planned, and they're lying about THAT, too. Modus operandi for the Bushies. I mean, Dubya wanted to pick an Aggie? Who worked for his Dad? No way - Dubya didn't want to do this. But the Bushies couldn't allow Rummy to be called under oath by both chambers. No frickin' way. Picking Robert Gates was like choosing off-white for bathroom tile. Safe-ish. And regrettable. Just because. If I could be a fly on any wall today, it would be in the home bunker above the booze shelf in the Rummy compound just up from Cheney's on the Maryland shore.

I'm not going to bother putting up my Election nite blather. My predictions were close-ish - got the House spot on and missed a few races in the Senate that made all the difference. I expect I did about as well as most of you overly-informed newsdroids. Besides, we all know what happened. The Dems are jazzed. Can't wait for Macaca's concession speech. Or the stories describing what Dubya and Pelosi had for lunch. I'd bet they had a salad. Check back for a full breakdown.

Hope your own menu includes the pickled heart of your enemies and maybe a nice autumnal soup today. Rock on.

"And goodness gracious, don't let that door hit you in the ass."

It's Rummy. He's resigning. Today. I hope FOX takes this story down soon. Otherwise they'll look a bit foolish. Or foolful. Yet another domino falls. Holy. Crap.

Yahtzee

Tester (D-MT) just claimed victory on CNN. Webb (D-VA) has also done so, although everyone expects Allen to run around with the ball for as long as he can as time runs out. The Bushies are trying to push that Dubya's prepped to drop a big newsy turd on the Nation at his upcoming presser. I'll be watching. Much more to come.

Hope you're wondering at long last what sort of country you woke up to today. Rock on.

America - F**K Yea!

Election Day. Like it or loathe it, we now all get to see where the chips fall. Or maybe we're about to embark on a replay of 2000. I've stayed away from speculating over the past week, mainly because the winds seem so uncertain and the counterspin has already begun. But from my perspective, it looks like turnout will be big. Maybe even huge. After dropping off Maya at her morning daycare, I made my way to my polling place. Yet another Lutheran church in Ballard. Fair enough - if I'm gonna trust leaving my daughter under their care, I certainly expect they can handle counting the neighborhood's vote. The voting early crowd was pretty thick. This is Seattle, though. You can't swing a burning American flag anywhere around here without flicking ash onto a crowd of well-informed gawdless Commies. We'll see what the rest of the country does and then I guarantee you a sizable blow-by-blow on the whole spectacle from my perspective. Please check back.

Hope your own polling gives you a significant head of steam today. Rock on.

UPDATE: If you watch one campaign ad this entire Election season, make it this one. George Michael and Dubya indellibly linked. Brilliant. Liberal gutcheck as all get out. Enjoy.

Maya was all smiles before we got to wrasslin' over this year's Halloween costume...

Maya was all smiles before we got to wrasslin' over this year's Halloween costume...
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya got her chicken costume from Aunties Katie and Becca. Getting Maya to wear it had been a total non-starter prior to zero hour. Yet we stayed officially optimistic about the outcome. We prepped for Trick or Treating briefly in our neighborhood and then with a group of families near Green Lake. I can confidently conclude that Maya had a great time. Us, too. But it was touch and go there for a while.

Hope you enjoy a few quick photos of early stage of the Event. Rock on.

Maya tests the danciness of her costume's lower half.

Maya tests the danciness of her costume's lower half.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

"You can't make me wear this. What's my lawyer's name again?"

"You can't make me wear this. What's my lawyer's name again?"
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

"Carve this bird up - I'm outta here!"

"Carve this bird up - I'm outta here!"
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

As soon as the first door opened, Maya stopped her protests and had fun for the rest of the evening.

As soon as the first door opened, Maya stopped her protests and had fun for the rest of the evening.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.