Feeling More Like Fall

There's nothing like a campfire on a brisk October night, complete with marshmallows to roast and s'mores to make, as well as three guys with guitars and a host of old time protest songs, to make us feel like fall is really here. On Saturday, Norm and I went to book club (the book was Daughter, a novel by Asha Bandele) and then after lunch we showed up at our church for a yard cleanup day. (Photos and accounts of that are on Compton Cares Update). The yard cleanup was followed by a campfire on a condo patio, with the aforementioned sing a long.

We are enjoying a visit from Ava yesterday through Wednesday while Barb goes to market in New York. Several of the plants moved inside yesterday, with more to come today. This afternoon it is supposed to get to 70, then much cooler and rainy mid week. We keep saying "tomorrow" for turning on the boiler for our radiators. We want to avoid that high natural gas bill as long as we can.

St. Louis has been in the political spotlight lately as both presidential candidates are paying visits. Obama had a huge rally at the Gateway Arch grounds on Saturday. Some accounts said 100,000, which I can believe after looking at pictures. One of my neighbors went and she was so excited about it. McCain has a rally today at New Town, a planned community (a lot like Celebration in Florida, if you've ever been there) in nearby St. Charles. They expect about 5,000 (it's a smaller space, and tickets are required). Dick Cheney is also in the metro area, for a private fundraiser for Missouri's Republican governor candidate. And Bill Clinton will speak at Webster University tonight on behalf of the Democrats. They are certainly keeping the airport and the Secret Service busy. But that's life in a swing state, where the urban areas are solidly blue and the outstate areas are mostly red, with a purple spot or two. The last poll showed the presidential race too close to call (49-48) so the robo calls, the incessant ads, and maybe more personal appearances will be in our backyard for the next two weeks.

One of my former journalism students, Clint Zweifel, is running for Missouri State Treasurer after three terms in the Missouri House of Representatives. Clint was Managing Editor of the paper the first year I was an adviser, 1994. He's a hard worker and honest. He's got my vote!