What a drag. Switching to the "blogger Beta"!!!! Haven't yet had a chance to see what that will do. Anyway here we are in the suburbs of St. Loius called Ballwin. Left home last Thursday, Stayed over night with Nan and Cindy then headed south and west.
Of course Thursday a Canadian Clipper came south and inundated the mid continent with sleet, rain and snow as far down as Texas.
As we drove south the overcast intensified and we eventually ran into heavy rain after Harrisburgh, Pa. There was a warm front coming north and a cold front coming east. the temperture was in the sixtys most of the day. At the height of the rain we could see the blue sky on our right. Eventually we broke through into the clear. To our left there was a north-south bank of cumulus clouds that shone in the slantig sunlight and looked like huge piles of fluffy whipped cream. At the intersection we headed south west until we finally got on I-64 which we followed the rest of the way. This took us over the undulating Apallachin mountain range. There were steep ups and downs and twisting turns for hundreds of miles. The next day we got on to more level ground and the road straightened pretty much. About 40 miles east of SL, the temperture has been droppmg, we began to see ice on the tree branches. With the sun behind them they glinted like crystal. By the time we arrived in Ballwin the snow and ice were in great profusion. Many branches were broken off of trees and roadways were narrow. It was good to stop and be with family. According to the "trip-tick" we travelled 1200 miles in the two days. Probably next time we will fly inspite of the hassle that entails.

In my previous blog I exulted in the election results. The bums are out in good measure but , true to form, the Dems are in some disarray. Many talk sweetness and light but it rmains to be practiced. The Baker Comm. has made its well publisized report. The Pres. has made his standard retort to questions of change. "We will stay till victory is won". In actuality no so called "change" at this time will solve anything as long as Bush is calling the shots. Up to now he hasn't gotten anything right so the liklihood of that record changing is not good.

In pursuit of more definitive information about the war I bought Peter Galbraith's book, "The End Of Iraq". He has been an inside government player for many years and very intimately acquainted with the ME. Through his many contacts and ability to travel extensively he has had first hand experience with the war's venue and the depradations of Saddam Hussein over many years. He is also intimately knowledgeable about the machinations of our own government and its foible during both Rep. and Dem administrations. It is not a pretty picture from any angle. I'm hopeful that the second half of the book contains some practical suggestions for future courses of action. From all reports so far there are very few viable options left to us.