That endorsement reminds me of the endorsement that the Palm Beach Post gave to the man who ran against the woman responsible for the butterfly ballot as Supervisor of Elections. Basically it said that the man wasn't even remotely qualified and a horrible idea, but they just couldn't bring themselves to endorse the woman responsible for the debacle that was the 2000 election. He won, and was then defeated handily the next time around.

sarameg, the times that I have been on the receiving end of the condolences line it has meant a lot to me when people who barely knew my loved one cared enough to attend. It is a comfort to hear how many lives have been touched by the person we have lost. It's a good thing that you went despite your discomfort level.

Yeah, nobody really likes any of the governor candidates this year. My basic feeling is that their answers to the big issues in this race, the budget and corruption, are both bad, so I'll go with the one who's pro-choice and in favor of legalizing gay marriage. Even though abortion will never really be an issue that would get through the NJ legislature, and I'm not sure how much influence the governor has over legalizing gay marriage.

And, interestingly, both candidates are in favor of medical marijuana.

I'm skipping 700 posts because I really do need to get some sleep, but I wanted to thank everyone for the First Day of Work wishes.

I just finished my first full week and it really is a huge relief to have somewhere to go each day. I wish it were in the same town I'm living in, but that is a tiny little problem compared to being unemployed!

Congrats to Dana (I think, it's late!) and ita.

Sorry, if I've missed any more recent developements.

Now, to bed!

I normally like rain. Hell, I don't even have a leak now. But it woke me up, not sure how, just unrelenting. Now hate rain.

Why is it that I can name, from memory, every single monarch of England in order but can't name all the US Presidents in order?

I can tell you which English kings were deposed, murdered and what royal house they belonged to and if there was a civil war going on during their reign but I can't name very many Vice-Presidents.

I am such a bad American.

I get that funerals are a community thing, and I'm sure that my one extra body did something for his family (god, his little sister about broke my heart) but...it's still hard for me to not feel like I'm intruding on something private.

When my parents died, having people we'd never met come up to us (my remaining family) at the funerals and tell us what our parents meant to them was very helpful and comforting.

Cashmere, in your defense, Vice Presidents are very rarely memorable -- in fact, they're often chosen for that quality. t /cynical

My mom bought noah a harmonica. WHY? And why did she get one for herself and why are they both playing them before 6:00 AM?

My mom bought noah a harmonica. WHY? And why did she get one for herself and why are they both playing them before 6:00 AM?

I've suggested getting musical instruments for toddlers, but pretty much as a joke. Huh.

My noisy neighbor downstairs sorta' woke me up at 7:00 by loudly singing the theme to Gilligan's Island. He was also making noise at 2:00 am. The angry guy across the hall was angry; he called the landlord at 2:00 and yelled at him for not doing anything about noisy guy.

Wow, Kat, that tops of the noisy gifts my kids' grandparents have given.

We always try to "forget" anything that makes noise at the house of whomever gives the gift. That doesn't work if they bring them to your house, however.