And now Christine Gregoire has pulled ahead by less than 200 votes..........I see a recount coming. And speaking of politics, with Colin Powell's resignation (read fired), we have lost the last (and only) bastion of sensibility and reason of this administration with regard to foreign relations. I never would have believed I would be saying that about a four-star Army general! Condie Rice is so much not her own person, but Bush's puppet, that we will see even more aggression and complacency; none of it in the right places.

The weather foiled Brian's efforts to come to McChord AFB yesterday, so we missed him both coming and going. We are in the midst of about a full century of clouds, fog, and rain. I don't think the forecast shows a glimmer of sun for the next week.

We have a couple of appointments today, financial planner and then a haircut for Helen, and then we will decide if we want to prep the motor home for a 2 or 3 day outing. As noted in the aforementioned paragraph, it will all be with rain and clouds. But I can sit, with a drink in my hand, and look at the stormy Pacific for hours on end! No need to bother with the grill and charcoal, but better be sure we have the wellies and oilskins!

Ken spent the better part of yesterday slugging away at the concrete floor in the basement to create a well for a sump pump. The entire town of Steilacoom sits on a sidehill that is full of springs, so when the rains come, there is just too much water to be absorbed fast enough. He is installing a proper automatic pump since we will be away for the first part of the year - the rainy part.

Better buy your turkey - Thanksgiving is less than 10 days away.

Ciao