Kenneth Armbrister

BAD people get elected because GOOD people stay home and don't vote.

James Ira Brown

I voted at 1 pm and there was a light turnout but hoping it will pickup later on.I have voted

every election since I was old enough to vote.If you havn't voted please do .

Richard Meek

Good afternoon Waltripians. I just got back from voting. A little later than planned but done. Like Jimmy I think I've voted in every election since I could vote. I will admit that I have missed some primaries but not any elections, to the best of my recollection. I was pleasantly surprised that my precinct is just a tad below the presidential election two years ago. When I heard that I thought well the no longer young voters turn out don't they. Just then a young woman walked in to vote. The election judge asked her if this was her first time to vote and she said it was. He welcomed her and encouraged her to come vote in every election. Made feel good that some one that young gives enough of a hoot to come in and vote! Hope you're all taking advantage of the freedom to vote!

Dance like no one is watching,

Richard

Linda Webster

 Amen to what you said Ken!!!!!!!!

Mildred Sue (Suzie) May (Cunningham)

Report from La Grange, Fayette County, Texas, USA:

No trick or treaters. Living on a US highway is probably the reason.

Voting in LG is very different than voting in the big city. I voted early in the court house. I colored dots! It's a lot like taking a test in school. Votes are counted by running the ballots through a Scantron type machine. Last night, about 9:00, we went to the court house where updates of the results are tacked on a cork board outside in an entry area. Jim remembers going with his parents when the updates were written on a chalk board near a large oak tree on the court house lawn. I'm anxious to find out what percentage voted in Fayette County. That info will be officially reported on Friday in The Fayette County Record (published twice weekly).

Richard Meek

Suzie, I thought I heard them say on Ch.2 last night that the voter turn out exceeded the 2008 election. If I heard correctly I wonder if that has ever happened before when an off year election exceeded a presidential election year. I still think most politicians are so arrogant they aren't listening to what the majority of the people want. They just keep pushing their party agenda, whichever side they're on. Well it pretty much sounds like what has been going on since the founding of the Republic in 1776. So I guess that means things are normal. Yikes that is a scarey thought.

Stephen Ray Puckett

Good afternoon, Waltrippers.  Here in Albany we had about 30 at our door for trick or treat.  We live in a quiet neighborhood and folks drive their kids over to our streets because it is safe and we welcome the kids.  I do wonder, though, about the 'kids' that seem to be older teenagers <grump, grump>  In years past I would wear a glow-in-the-dark alien mask  and wear a robe & big gloves. Unfortunately, this seemed to scare too many kids so the last 2 years I have been dressed normally but with glasses that had lizard eyes on them.  Kids liked that but the little ones wanted to stay at the door and stare at my face!

Voting here was simple. I voted after supper, taking 15 minutes to leave the house, vote, and get back. Much as I hated enabling some of them back to the public trough, I figure the alternative may be worse.

Maybe I should dress as Henry Hudson next year.

  Henry Hudson coming ashore at Albany

James N (Tam) Siedow

Richard: When you are married to someone from South Dakota it turns out you NEVER miss an election, primary or otherwise.  Which reminds me of when I was a postdoc at Rice in the mid-1970s.  We went to vote in the primaries and on the ballot for a place on the State Supreme Court was a Ralph Yarborough.  I noted to Mary that he had been a pretty decent and even liberal senator from Texas for one term back when Lyndon had stepped down to become VP.  We both voted for him as did a lot of other Texans because he won and was unopposed on the ballot for the general election.  It turns out he was something of a nutjob who was not that Ralph Yarborough at all but rather had run for the office because "God had told him to."  I think he later got removed from the court for lack of qualifications or something to that effect.  So much for good intentions.

I cannot say I personally am thrilled with last night's outcome but we are a conservative electorate and it will be interesting to see what the Republicans come up with since I never could figure out what they were running for (i.e., only against). 

The big winner last night I believe is Ingrid because if Prop 19 had passed I figure the number of people going to CA to visit her would have gone up considerably.

Kenneth Armbrister

Susie and all, you can go to the Sec. of States web page---www.sos.state.tx.us--- and get all the returns and turnout info, so you dont have to wait till friday.

The election was good and now over--Now they have to Govern.

From my take it was'nt so much about D's and R's--It was more about get Government out of our everyday lives and business.

Richard Meek

Well heck Tam I think we should organize a field trip to visit Ingrid in CA regardless of the outcome on Porp 19. Ingrid you wouldn't mind 35 or 40 people visitng you for a week, maybe two would you?

Tam I really wish that the majority of the people in this country would do something to be more active. What I read makes me think that that majority is moderate. Some a little right of center and some a little left of center but their apathy is letting the extremes of right and left control elections. Which ever side does the best job of turning out their extremists wins that election. Oh well I guess we'll keep muddling along. If everything got perfect including the weather what would we have to talk about? I expect by the end of year we'll begin to have people declaring themselves candidates for  the Presidency. Well it's not even two years away. . .they need to beat us senseless with their advertising. Before they start let's get that California trip. . . California dreaming on such a winters day.

Stephen Ray Puckett

Well, Jan, my recollection of Texans is that 'politics' was always good for a few hours of discussion - that and 'southern baptist politics'. 

I've noticed that my family members in the Blue Ridge Mountains don't seem to dote much on political discussions, except sometimes to grumble that they are all a bunch of scoundrels. Perhaps that attitude is what moved them to the mountains in the 1700's in the first place! 

Well, enough about that.  Here we had the first heavy frosts the last coupla nights. This is good for me because it will help keep the spore count down from the piles of moldy leaves and so lessen my hayfever Many trees are bare now but many others are not.  We have only a few leaves on the lawn now, many of which blew in from neighbor yards.

Ingrid Sears (Spiteri)

Yes, election results in California were very disappointing.  Not only did Prop 19 go down in defeat, but we ended up with the Wicked Witch of the West (Boxer) and Gov. Moonbeam (Brown) again!!!

It may not be a Winter's day here, but it is Indian Summer.  98 degrees outside...and for those of you in Houston who don't remember what it is like not to have humidity...it is at 12%.

Hey, everybody is welcome out here, whether Prop 19 passes or not.  It's not going away and I'm sure it will be on every California ballot until it passes...max 10 years.

Ingrid Sears (Spiteri)

You're right Robby, I have all my windows open, it's delightful...have not had the a.c. on in several weeks and probably won't turn it on again until next June or July.

Ingrid Sears (Spiteri)

Just saw your Governor Perry interviewed on the Today Show.  I love his politics...wish we had someone like him out in California.  Makes me want to move back to Texas...almost.

Richard Meek

Ingrid, come on back. Moonbeams are to be looked at and enjoyed on starry nights, not be governors. I won't even get into Sen Barbara "Mam" Boxer. You could still visit California. Heck if you lived here your kids and grandkids would find out what a great place it is and move here too. I don't think they have Waltripians in California except for a few transplants.

Richard Meek

Oh well, Molly Ivins tagged Gov. Rick Perry with the moniker "Governor Good Hair".

Talley Hudson

Checking in from the Great Northwest--we've had recording-breaking warm weather for November.  OK, I realize 75 isn't a big deal to the rest of you but for November 3 it was a big deal here.  Only lasted a couple of days and the forecast today is for 50s with rain coming.  And we go off DST this weekend, which means soon I'll be coming to work in the dark and going home in the dark.  I am already getting into hibernation mode!

Our elections are all by mail now.  I signed up for absentee ballots years ago, so this is nothing new to me.  I enjoy filling out the ballot in my own living room and dropping it in a box.  I agree that most of us are somewhere in the middle--the "silent majority."  I would really love to see things swing to the point that someone can actually come up with a new idea that appeals to more instead of holding on tenaciously to extreme outdated ideas and just battling all the time.  Isn't that the definition of insanity?  I would have loved to hear someone come up with a plan as to what they wanted to accomplish rather than just bashing the other side.  Now, we'll just continue the cycle, as Richard said.  Oh well......  I guess you just can't please all the people all the time; I just wish someone would really listen and try!!

And, I work in the Mayor's office in Redmond, Washington.  Someone called yesterday and asked me who won the Governor's race in California.  I actually knew the answer, but really??  We have our share of wingnuts here--do I need to know California race results, too?

OK, enough of that.  I had a lot more trick-or-treaters this year than in years past.  Not sure what that means.  I moved into my townhome on November 1, 1991--19 years ago.  My neighbors were mostly Caucasian retirees.  My trick-or-treaters this year were Indian, Asian, Russian or some other nationality--not one Caucasian.  I don't mind one bit--so please don't take it that way.  It was just an observation as to the changing demographics in my area.  Of course, I am one mile from Microsoft, which attracts people from all over the world. 

So, now that the elections are over we will trade mud-slinging ads for incessant ads for Christmas.  Oh joy!

Happy Friday everyone!

Richard Meek

Hey there muchachas y muchachos don't forget that tomorrow , Tuesday, Nov. 9th. is the Waltripian gathering at Fuddruckers's on Hwy 290 in Houston, 6:00 until.................Good time, good food and solving world problems!!!!

Bernard Brady

Hello to my Texas resident Waltripians- Our moving van arrived

the end of last week in San Angelo.  So did Susan and I. We are

officially Texas residents again after being gone since June, 1974.

My top feeling is gratitude. It is so good to be home.

To all non-Texas Waltripians. If you can come home after

retirement, consider it. It just does something wonderful to ya.

We feel so blessed to be back. Colorado for 12 yrs and Tenn. for

24 were wonderful,  but nothing like this. I'd say it's the Texas people.

There is nothing like 'em.   Yeee-hawwwwww .  Love ya all, BJ

Linda Webster

Welcome home BJ & family and I hope to see you and all the Austin area Waltrip Alumni at The Iguana Grill on November 16.

Have a great week everyone!!!!

Richard Meek

Welcome home B.J. You have clear evidence that the old saying "Texas is a State of Mind" is accurate. Another one I really like is "If you meet a man for the first time don't ask him where he's from. If he's from Texas he'll tell you soon enough. If he's not, don't embarrass him."

Keep on dancing,

Rich

Richard Meek

Hey Rob, a 20 miler after 8:00 on a school night? I admire your tenacity but it brings to mind a line from an old Willie Nelson song "Still crazy after all these years"!

You missed a good night at Fudds. Good friends, good conversation and we still a few world problems unsolved!

Keep on dancing,

Rich

Richard Meek

Rob, someone mentioned recently they thought Jennie and family were on a cruise. As long as it has been it must be an around the worlder! You should scoop up one of those raccoons or possums yourself and put it in the stew pot in these hard economic times! You know that during the great depression of the 30's, armadillos were referred to as Hoover hogs in E. Texas!

Stephen Ray Puckett

BJ - Welcome back to Texas!

Glad you folks are getting all MOOOOved in!

Kay Watters (Greene)

Looks like Turkey Time again...gobble, gobble.  Anyone ever do a "different Turkey Day celbration, as in differnt foods served, traditions, and perhaps, really good restaurants that serve on this day.  I have a really good one......Stagecoach Inn, in Salado, TX.....just feel free to spill any comments.