Wanted: Country that needs slow, awkward, did I mention slow, cross-country skiers who can navigate zero to ten degree slopes.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Saturday, February 09, 2008
OBAMArama vs. tHrILLARY
Or . . . How we rocked it with our caucus out! With the Washington caucuses actually meaning something this election cycle Bridget and I headed to the carpenters union hall for our Democratic precinct meeting. I had never been through a caucus before and since Bridget is from Iowa she is more familiar with the process. It's a lot different from simply going into the voting booth and flicking some switches. It's more vocal, at times heated and impassioned and much, much messier.
Our precint met in a large room with several other precincts. The party organizers who were able to maintain some semblence of control said they sat out three times as many chairs than they did four years ago but there still weren't enough seats for everybody.
Twenty people showed up for our precinct and we quickly elected a chairman, secretary and tally clerk. Next, everyone signed in and wrote down either the name of their preferred candidate or "uncommitted." The tally clerk then counted the votes and calculated the initial division of precinct delegates. The votes were seventeen for Obama and three for Clinton and meant that our precinct's three delegates were initially allotted to Obama. A dispute then arose over the initial allottment of delegates when a Clinton voter argued that Hillary should be allotted one of the delegates. After much debate on how to calculate the delgate allottment and even calling over one of the organizers the Clinton supporter felt he wasn't being permitted the opportunity to explain his case and so he got up and left. Political drama at its best!
He should have stuck around since the next step was to allow each side one minute to convince any uncommitted voters or opponent's voters to switch their votes. Had the angered Clinton supporter stayed and been able to sway one Obama voter to change his or her vote Hillary would have scored a delegate. In the end, no one changed the way they voted leaving the final tally the same as the initial count and Obama receiving all three delegates.
We then moved on to choosing our three delegates for the Legislative District caucus in April. This is where I decided to throw my hat into the ring and was chosen as one of the delegates. It wasn't pretty but it sure was fun.
Our precint met in a large room with several other precincts. The party organizers who were able to maintain some semblence of control said they sat out three times as many chairs than they did four years ago but there still weren't enough seats for everybody.
Twenty people showed up for our precinct and we quickly elected a chairman, secretary and tally clerk. Next, everyone signed in and wrote down either the name of their preferred candidate or "uncommitted." The tally clerk then counted the votes and calculated the initial division of precinct delegates. The votes were seventeen for Obama and three for Clinton and meant that our precinct's three delegates were initially allotted to Obama. A dispute then arose over the initial allottment of delegates when a Clinton voter argued that Hillary should be allotted one of the delegates. After much debate on how to calculate the delgate allottment and even calling over one of the organizers the Clinton supporter felt he wasn't being permitted the opportunity to explain his case and so he got up and left. Political drama at its best!
He should have stuck around since the next step was to allow each side one minute to convince any uncommitted voters or opponent's voters to switch their votes. Had the angered Clinton supporter stayed and been able to sway one Obama voter to change his or her vote Hillary would have scored a delegate. In the end, no one changed the way they voted leaving the final tally the same as the initial count and Obama receiving all three delegates.
We then moved on to choosing our three delegates for the Legislative District caucus in April. This is where I decided to throw my hat into the ring and was chosen as one of the delegates. It wasn't pretty but it sure was fun.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
The Road to Khajuraho
Some photos from our trip to India are posted below (under the cross-courty skiing entry). Enjoy.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Are you guys going skiing? Awesome!
So said the young girl as we walked through the Sno-Park lot. What a nice way to begin our holiday outing. We got up early this morning, before the sun even, and drove east to the Cascades and the cross-country ski trails.
Afterwards, in order to recharge the batteries, we stopped in a West Seattle bakery for some twice-baked almond croissants. Yum!
Afterwards, in order to recharge the batteries, we stopped in a West Seattle bakery for some twice-baked almond croissants. Yum!
Coming soon . . . India pictures.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
India Express
Our first full day was in Mumbai (Bombay). The streets were bustling with activity as we all shook off the jetlag.
We made a brief stop at the Dohbi Ghats, an outdoor laundry area.
Next, we took a ferry to the Elephanta Caves and Hindu temple.
After our day in Mumbai we traveled to Kanha National Park, one of India's several tiger reserves. We spent the days on jeep safaris viewing the park's wildlife. Below is a photo from one of our morning safaris. There was plentyl of wildlife to see and we were always on the lookout for tiger tracks. 
Spotted deer
Malabar hornbills
Another spotted deer 
Every morning the park's "mahouts" take their elephants out in search of tigers. If a tiger is found they contact the park authorities who then decide whether or not to allow tourists to approach the tiger. If permission is granted the mahouts take the tourists to the tiger on the elephants. Below is a mahout on a road in Kanha.
While at Kanha we were able to see one of the park's tigers. According to our guide it was a female who has four cubs. The mahouts found the same tiger the day before but the park authorities did not allow the tourists near her because she had just made a kill and did not want to disturb her and the cubs. When we saw her the cubs were no where in sight and she was taking a nap in some bamboo.
Our next stop was Bandhavgarh National Park, another tiger reserve; smaller in area than Kanha but with a higher density of tigers. On the first morning safari at Bandghvarh we recieved word that a tiger was found so we headed to the elephants. Below you can see Bernie, Bill and some other tourists on their way to see the tiger.
Like the other tiger, this one was resting in the bamboo. It's in there, trust me.
The safari times are regulated by the park authorities and it can be a mad dash to get through the park gate. Every now and then you would hear the crunch of jeep fenders as they crashed into each other while racing towards the gate. (When attempting to reach the gate it doesn't hurt for you guide to start yelling "VIP's, VIP's!") Each jeep is assigned a route through the park to another gate. Upon reaching the other gate the jeeps are free to roam the park on any route.
Langur monkey.
Peacock by watering hole.
Sunset at Bandhavgarh.
On our second morning at Bandhavgarh we made our way through gate on our assigned route. As we rounded a bend in the road we saw several jeeps ahead of us straddling the road. Our guide shouted, "Tiger!" and our driver sped ahead. The tiger was walking down the road and then crossed over into the open brush. We (and several other jeeps) followed the tiger for a minute or two before it disappeared into the jungle.
Parakeets.
Reclining Vishnu at Bandhavgarh
We spotted the same tiger that afternoon. As we and other jeeps parked on the road next to a fire break the tiger came around a small bend and approached us. He displayed no fear and actually walked through the throng of jeeps parked on the road to continue his walk along the fire break.
After Bandhavgarh we drove to Khajuraho, home to a complex of ancient temples dedicated to various members of the Hindu pantheon.
Lakshmana Temple, dedicated to Vishnu.
Detail of Lakshmana Temple.
Kandariya Mahadev Temple, dedicated to Shiva.
Our next stop was the city of Orchha, the one-time capital of Bundela Kingdom in. For a one-night visit by Jehangir, the Mughal ruler of the time, the Bundelan king built the Jehangir Mahal, as seen below.
Detail from Jehangir Mahal.
From Orchha we drove to Jahnsi where we caught the Shatabdi Expess to Agra. Next morning we awoke for a sunrise viewing of the Taj Mahal.
Mosque at Taj Mahal complex.
Taj Mahal detail.
That afternoon we visited the Agra Fort with it's red sandstone walls and palace complex.
Entrance to Jehangir's palace at the Agra Fort.
Detail of Musamman Burj at the Agra Fort.
Musamman Burj at Agra Fort.
From Agra we drove to Fatehpur Sikri which served as the Mughal capital for a brief period in the th Century. The complex is composed of several palaces and audience halls. Below is the Diwan-I-Khas or Hall of Private Audience.
Palace of Jodh Bai, Fatehpur Sikri.
Fatehpur Sikri is also home to the Jama Masjid (Dargah Mosque). In the mosque's courtyard is the Tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti.
That evening we made our way to Bharatpur in Rajahstan. While there we went to the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, a bird sanctuary.
Sambar deer in Keoladeo.
Sunset at Keoladeo.
Crested serpent eagle at Keoladeo.
Our next stop was the Pink City of Jaipur. It is known for it's old walled city and maze of bazzars. Below is the Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds, from where the royal ladies watched street processions and parades.
Outside of Jaipur was the Amber Fort, the former palace complex of the local Maharaja.
Jai Mandir (Hall of Victory), Amber Fort
That afternoon we visited the Jantar Mantar, an observatory built by the Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh.
We then caught a flight to Udaipur, the Venice of the East. Below is a photo of a temple in Udaipur.
From Udaipur we drove to Ranakpur, a Jain temple built in the 12th Century.
Our final stop in Rajasthan was the city of Jodhpur in the Thar Desert. We made a morning visit the Meherangarh Fort.
The Jaswant Thada, a memorial to the former Mahraja's of Jodhpur.
Palace in the Meherangarh Fort.
The Maharaja's bedroom in Maherangarh Fort.
View of the Blue City from the Meherangarh Fort.
From Jodhpur we flew to Delhi, capital of India. In the morning we visited the Red Fort.
From the Red Fort we took a rickshaw ride through the Dehli streets and Chandani Chowk, a market area.
In the afternoon we visited the Qutab Minar.
Our final stop was the Mughal Humayun's Tomb.
Sunset at Keoladeo.
Crested serpent eagle at Keoladeo.
Our next stop was the Pink City of Jaipur. It is known for it's old walled city and maze of bazzars. Below is the Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds, from where the royal ladies watched street processions and parades.
Outside of Jaipur was the Amber Fort, the former palace complex of the local Maharaja.
Jai Mandir (Hall of Victory), Amber Fort
That afternoon we visited the Jantar Mantar, an observatory built by the Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh.
We then caught a flight to Udaipur, the Venice of the East. Below is a photo of a temple in Udaipur.
From Udaipur we drove to Ranakpur, a Jain temple built in the 12th Century.
Our final stop in Rajasthan was the city of Jodhpur in the Thar Desert. We made a morning visit the Meherangarh Fort.
The Jaswant Thada, a memorial to the former Mahraja's of Jodhpur.
Palace in the Meherangarh Fort.
The Maharaja's bedroom in Maherangarh Fort.
View of the Blue City from the Meherangarh Fort.
From Jodhpur we flew to Delhi, capital of India. In the morning we visited the Red Fort.
From the Red Fort we took a rickshaw ride through the Dehli streets and Chandani Chowk, a market area.
In the afternoon we visited the Qutab Minar.
Our final stop was the Mughal Humayun's Tomb.
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