Ginko.

Gorgeous Fall Ginko tree on the way to work...

Swing!

Just Shoppin.'

Look ma!

No Hands!

Well, let's see...we're still all reeling from the events of the last couple weeks.  But onward and upward, and now it's almost Thanksgiving.  We'll be headed up to Woodstock for a turkey day with Nonnie and Papa, and that should be very fun and very picture worthy.

In other Booboo news, she's working on her standing.  (Whoohoo!)   At present, her favoritest thing to do is to stand, leaning on the chair, and pick up stuff on top of the chair seat.  (I know, I know, sounds like scintillating stuff.  But when you've never seen the top of the chair seat before, it's pretty novel, I tell you.  And when you can pick toys off that very chair seat that eluded you for so long, well, you can understand just how that must feel!)

We are greatly looking forward to the visit of the 3 C's, which is just around the corner.  A necessary family trip to take care of Daddy C's dad makes us the happy recipients of a nice long visit.  Toddle C is about 6 months older than Booboo, so it will be great fun to see how the girls interact.  A trip to the fabulous Please Touch Museum is in the plans.  Can't wait to see it!

We interrupt this Historic Moment to give you...

PIE MONSTER!

Well, Senator Obama is now President Elect Obama.  Now how about that.  And not a moment too soon, I may add.  I have to admit, I've been a political junkie for the last few months, and am still sort of in a state of shock. That what we waited for for so long is actually true.  I have to admit, I was slow to the Obama camp.  I saw positive and negative traits and attributes in both him and Hillary, and was a fence sitter for the longest time.  And then he gave his speech on race.  That's what did it for me. Sure, cynics may say that it was the only choice he had, that he would have been creamed otherwise, that it was politically expedient.  Well, I'll tell you what I thought.  I thought this man gets it.  He really gets it.  And in this time, this place, this country needs him and needs him to be the next president.  We turned the page.  We turned the page on the last eight years, on all the fear mongering and stupid decisions, the pandering, on all of it.  

America, this crazy country we still love, who elected a second-rate first class idiot not once (well, maybe) but twice, has the chance to start anew.  Of course it's an uphill battle he inherits, and a deep hole to help us climb out of, but for once we have a president appealing to "our better angels."  For once, there is a leader who is demanding of us sacrifice and hard work, rather than to go shopping.  And my child will never know a time when there wasn't a President Obama.  It is a righteous time in our country's history.  Maybe we did grow up.  Just a little bit.

Oh, and Mr. Tea makes damn good pie.  Just ask Booboo.

Daring to Dream...

Please read Maya Angelou's lovely words...and then, GO VOTE ALREADY!

Maya Angelou, novelist: 'If he wins, it means my country has agreed to grow up'

I never thought I'd see a black president in the White House in my lifetime. I didn't even dare dream it. I feel like a child approaching Christmas, you can't believe election day is finally here. It's been so long since we've had people -- Asian and black, white and Spanish-speaking -- come together and say YES. Some did during the civil rights struggle but not as many as today. What it means if Mr Obama is voted in, is that my country has agreed to grow up, and move beyond the childish idea that human beings are different.

I'm talking to friends in the UK, in Italy, in China who can't vote, who cannot press anything other than the point home, so I know the world is watching. We have lain so long in the undergrowth of ignorance. Can we really be saved from the rage of consumerism where we identify ourselves by our spending: 'I'm a shopper'. What kind of stupidness is that? Buying things we cannot afford and do not need.

I'm no prophet, I'm no seer, I'm a beseecher -- so I have been out to thump the drum for Mr Obama. I started out in Senator Hillary Clinton's camp and I thumped the drum for her.

When it was proven that the majority of people wanted Senator Obama, she stepped out of the race and began to thump the drum for him, and so did I.

I think he has simply proven to everybody that he is very intelligent -- and by that I'm referring to what used to be called common sense, which is terribly uncommon these days. You can see him thinking before he speaks, which should be a presidential prerequisite but rarely is. Most of the candidates all the way back, save for two or three, seem to just punch a button. There's a question and they punch number seven and out comes an answer, which had been stored up.

Senator Obama has proven that he knows how to be a president to all the people, not just the rich and mighty, not just to whites, not just to blacks, but all the people. I'm so excited, the excitement can hardly be contained. How will I be spending election night? On my knees. Maybe getting off them to have a very nice Scotch and then getting back down on my knees again.

(quoted from The Independent)

GO VOTE!

Booboo says...GO VOTE!  (for my sake)

Taggie!

Feel the love.

I keep forgetting to mention that Booboo's Blankie of Blankies is a very special "taggie blanket" that Auntie E made for her months ago.  It is a treasure, and this pic captures just how special Taggie is.  Never nap without it.

On the Towpath.

 

Driving w/ Book.

 

On the Canal Towpath

Today Mr. Tea, Booboo and I went for a lovely walk on the Canal Towpath, in Manayunk. The Manyunk section of the Schuylkill Canal was established in 1818 for work animals to haul barges down the canals.  Another fun bit of trivia--this area also contained a branch of the Reading RR, you Monopoly fans.  (The Railroads were always my favorites.)  You can walk it all the way to Valley Forge, if you like.  Only about 13 miles from where we were.  Lots of bikers and joggers were along the path, and Booboo had to check out every one as they sailed by.  Water "wawa" is still one of her favorite things, so it was a good chance for her to try out her new words.

In other Booboo news, we are close to the pulling up.  She is doing lots of kneeling, even a little lunging and downward dog.

Balancing on One Knee.

Baby yoga.

Later at home, we were playing soccer with Percy and Gma Lala.  Cat/Baby soccer, what could be better?  We hope to catch them on tape one of these days, we'll have to see.

Halloween was pretty low key around here, although Mr. Tea and I did go to an amazing Gypsy Jazz concert downtown.  If you have the opportunity, check out these guys, they're great.  Takes you back to the days of Django Reinhardt and company--quite impressive.

We are the champions...

                    30 People Deep, 2 Blocks away from parade.

                                             Start'em young.

                                    1346 Chestnut Street

Most of you know I'm not really a baseball fan, but hey.  It's not every week that your adopted city wins the World Series, and the parade literally went straight by my work.  The energy and enthusiasm was absolutely palpable.  This town was starved for a winning season--25 years since their last championship win, and that's sports of all colors.  And Phillie phans are diehard fans, including some hometown boys who haven't lived in the city for years and requested clippings...I did what I could, gentlemen.  I hope you get a chance to savor the victory. 

From what I could tell, it really seemed like a group effort--this is not a team run by all-stars. Everyone pitched in--including former Mariner Jamie Moyer.  They all seemed like just regular guys, many of them with wives and children riding the floats with them, really it was quite sweet.  There was a couple of minutes there when we were waiting for the floats that I almost made a crack about how it felt just like a baseball game--lots of standing around, just kind of waiting for something to happen--but of course I kept it to myself.  I would have gotten my head bitten off in that crowd!