Canadian sunsets

I've seen a few Canadian sunsets and they have been very pretty.  My son just got back from spending a week there (more space study) and said it was a really nice place.  I go to Stratford, Ontario for a long weekend of theater every summer and Stratford is a charming small city. I could probably get a job in one of the little galleries or shops there. You may sense from these musings that I'm a little upset with the way the election returns are coming in. I thought I'd better write this before I can,t see the keyboard for my tears. Ah well, at least some of the local candidates I voted for won. All is not gloom and doom.

Now where did I put my Teddy Bear?

I have a friend who brings her stuffed bear along when we go places together in my car. It helps her relax and avoid anxiety attacks, and no, in case you're wondering, it has nothing to do with my driving. I know she would appreciate that, according to my nifty calendar (November edition), today is "Hug a Bear Day".I'm assuming that it means hug a Teddy Bear because there's no way I'm going to track down a real bear to hug. They have nasty big claws. Perhaps it means "Give someone a bear-hug." My family is big on hugs. But thinking about bear hugs or hugging bears as a way to relieve stress, I think I will find my old Teddy Bear, close my eyes, hug it close, and stay in bed with the covers over my head at least for the next 48 hours or maybe for the next four years. Happy election eve everybody.

Being stretched keeps you flexible.

At least that's the positive attitude theory I intend to cling to until my replacement is hired and I am once again retired.  Notice I used the word stretched not stressed.  Again thinking positively.  Between weekend company (lots of fun but still time consuming). my "part time" job, chairing a committee that's almost a job by itself and picking up grandchildren after school almost every day, I am feeling a little stretched. I shall try to remain flexible, mentally if not physically, and remember my dear mother's often repeated words of wisdom "This too shall pass."
On a much more upbeat note, I attended the Fort Wayne Children's Choir "Harvest Concert" this evening and it was lovely.  My favorite selection was "Psalm 23". I appreciated that the texts of all the songs were printed in the program and this program also contained several appropriate quotes from several poets.  The one I appreciated most
"Places I love come back to me like music,
Hush me and heal me when I am very tired" by Sara Teasdale

It is November, right?

Mind you I'm not complaining.  We are, so far, having a beautiful November after a warmer than average October.  While I'm loving the fact that I can open windows and don't have any heating or cooling bills (I just paid an electric bill for $26) I do have one concern.  Some months ago I agreed to help out my pre-retirement employer by going back to work for "a couple of weeks". We're into the fourth month now, and while they are interviewing applicants, I haven't had any indication of how soon someone will be hired except one casual reference to mid December.  I think where I made my mistake was telling them I absolutely wanted to be re-retired before snow flies. The way the weather is going that could be next April.

Vote early and vote often...

That's the old joke about Chicago politics. I did vote early. Yesterday morning a friend and I walked from the church where we both work to the nearest voting location.  A friend who is working the polls told us to come early so we arrived about 9am and there were only about 20 people in line in front of us.  We were in and out in less than a half hour but by the time we left the line of waiting voters had more than doubled. Based on what I saw and the TV reports of long lines there probably won't be anyone left to vote on November 8. If everyone votes early does that mean they can stop running the political ads early?

I can't watch.

But I am watching. The Cubs and Indians are tied in the 8th after the Cubs led for 7 innings. I was at a meeting earlier where two of the six of us were Indians fans while the other four were Cubs fans, so no matter what, I know someone who will be happy when this is over.  Actually, I'll be happy when this is over because I can't make myself got to bed until it is. I'm not a huge baseball fan, although I do like the game, but this particular series is such a good story.
Here's something else to think about  - today is "Deviled Egg Day". Not sure why that would come in November. I associate deviled eggs with summer picnics and Easter dinner. It's not a typical Thanksgiving treat in our family. But then, I'm not the one making up these days.  I wish I knew who was.

another election option

i'm not sure if this will actually be an option when I go to vote tomorrow but here's a statistic I heard earlier today. Some time ago a pole was taken asking people if they had the choice would they vote  for Clinton, Trump or a giant meteor to strike the earth. 13% opted for the meteor. How sad is that? I'm going with a friend to vote early tomorrow. I've made my decisions, I'll cast my vote then try to relax and assume that no matter what the outcome next week life will go on.
In the meantime I found my November apartment newsletter tucked under my door and, hooray, hooray, it has another calendar listing several special days this month.  They range from "Cake Day" to "World Freedom Day" and lots of fun days in between.  Stay tuned.