A year's work

After a brief stop in to work to check out, I'll be home tomorrow. And in a week, in Portland. But first, Thanksgiving dinner at my house on Sunday. It features:

• Cauliflower soup
  
• Bread
  
• Turkey
  
• Mashed potatoes
  
• Mac and cheese
  
• Stuffing
  
• Brussels sprouts
  
• Squash
  
• Pie
  
• Kuchen
  
• Cheesecake

the end is near

By week's end I will be home, preparing for a Thanksgiving meal at my house seven days from now. It's been a long grind in Austin, days off few, work aggravating and frustrating at times. Sadly I still haven't spent much time in Austin enjoying the city, so worn down I am after work. Taking December off should help me recharge, help me prepare for a January return to Texas.

tonight

Tonight we began to move past our history of slavery, of segregation, or prejudice, to embrace that which can be good and not that which might be ill, to reject fear and the worst in each other.

Tonight isn't about Bush. Tonight isn't about McCain. It's something much greater, something much more important than that. It's about moving past the small politics of character and news cycles and silliness and to embrace the idea that our nation, the leader of nations, can again be great, can again lead the world, rather than demand it follow us.