Check out Talya and First Friday in Anchorage!

I feel so responsible, because . . .

This really shouldn't impress me as much as it does, but every time I go to the polls I feel very inflated with civic pride. Even if, when I arrive, I find myself completely surprised (and uninformed) about some of the questions. Totally forgot about the judges this time. No research done at all.

And, of course, living in Alaska gives you some interesting voting experiences. More than a few times, the race has been finished before most of us have even voted. Sure, our population is pretty meager, but still! At least act like we matter.

Just another day spent in the College Gate cafeteria, standing amongst grade-schoolers eating lunch and shooting curious looks our way . . .

Blake & Brin celebrate in '08!

Chandra and Greg are raising some cuties!

rahniREADS (October '08)

Just keeping track for my own bizarre reasons:

~Transfer of Power (Mitch Rap series #1) - Vince Flynn (because I liked Term Limits so much)
~Term Limits - Vince Flynn (Chandra recommended it to me via Gordon? or via Joseph? via a Wilde.) ;o)
~The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch (prep for November book club)
~Archangel - Sharon Shinn (fast bathtub re-read)
~Harris and Me - Gary Paulsen (book club book)
~Invasive Procedures - Orson Scott Card (purchased when stranded at SEATAC )
~50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days - Dean Karnazes (reread to prep for St. George Marathon)
~Ultramarathon Man - Dean Karnazes (I'd already read 50/50--this man is crazy but amazing)
~The Lost City of Faar - D. J. MacHale (because I keep directing kids to this series, but I've never read it myself--not as good as I had hoped, but somewhat entertaining)

If you get the chance, check out Nick Hornby's book--The Polysyllabic Spree. He's the author of About a Boy, High Fidelity, etc. It's this great collection of articles he wrote for a magazine, just essays detailing what books he bought that month versus which books he actually ended up reading. It reads more as a collection of memoir snapshots and observations on reading, on human behavior, and--of course, with him as an author--a lot of dry British humor. Good read.