Resoundingly, by 349 to 163 Electoral votes and with 53% of the popular vote, Barack Obama is the new President-elect of the USA. But you know that! (I'm nothing if not current!) Two days after the election and people are still struggling to wipe the smiles off their faces. People were hugging and high-five-ing their way round the office on Wednesday. Everyone was in a very ebullient mood. Even the Republican voters seemed pretty upbeat considering that their guy got thrashed. There is an appetite for change and a palpable air of excitement. Its an amazing time to be living here.
Stephen tells me that the recession appears to be over too. Starbucks has been deserted for the past couple of months (who can afford the luxury of latte when their stocks have plummeted?), and for the past two days it has been queued out the door! So either the recession is over, or people are throwing caution to the winds and celebrating Obama's win (and proposed middle-class tax cuts).
Gas is also at a low of (please look away now if you are upset by the price of petrol in the UK...) $2.35 per gallon. Heck, even I'm thinking about buying a truck!!
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Election Night
There are reports of people waiting patiently for 6 hours to vote in some areas today. No election scandals (as yet), but it seems that Virginia were having problems counting damp ballot papers and were urging people to dry off before going into the booth (it has been raining - they're not going in straight from the shower!). People were being assured that, as long as they were in line by the time the polls were due to close, they would get to vote - even if that took several more hours.
The first of the polls closed nearly 3 hours ago (at 6pm eastern) and the news stations are trying to predict which way the states will go based on exit polls and initial returns. Hardly an exact science at the moment, as when I switched the TV on 2 hours ago they had only counted 1% of the vote in some areas. (For example one state closed, it was showing Obama had 55% of the 1%, but they were still calling it for McCain. History is important!)
Due to the voting system here it is possible for a candidate to win the popular vote, but still lose the electoral college (as happened in 2000 with Bush/Gore). Each state gets a number of votes in the Electoral College based on population. For example Alaska gets 3, Virginia gets 13 and California gets a whopping 55. The race is on to get to the magical figure of 270. Currently (at 9:15pm) McCain has 64 and Obama has 174.
Apparently Missouri has backed the winner in every presidential race since 1904. Nevada also has a habit of picking the winners.
Its now 9:34pm. CNN are predicting Obama will carry Ohio. This is one of the key battleground states. This puts the tally at McCain 69 Obama 194. Bearing in mind that the Democrats traditionally carry Hawaii, California and the other Pacific coast states which carry 77 Electoral votes we can safely say that Barack Obama is the new President of the United States. All that remains to be seen is how much of a landslide this will be. Voting continues in the western states....
The first of the polls closed nearly 3 hours ago (at 6pm eastern) and the news stations are trying to predict which way the states will go based on exit polls and initial returns. Hardly an exact science at the moment, as when I switched the TV on 2 hours ago they had only counted 1% of the vote in some areas. (For example one state closed, it was showing Obama had 55% of the 1%, but they were still calling it for McCain. History is important!)
Due to the voting system here it is possible for a candidate to win the popular vote, but still lose the electoral college (as happened in 2000 with Bush/Gore). Each state gets a number of votes in the Electoral College based on population. For example Alaska gets 3, Virginia gets 13 and California gets a whopping 55. The race is on to get to the magical figure of 270. Currently (at 9:15pm) McCain has 64 and Obama has 174.
Apparently Missouri has backed the winner in every presidential race since 1904. Nevada also has a habit of picking the winners.
Its now 9:34pm. CNN are predicting Obama will carry Ohio. This is one of the key battleground states. This puts the tally at McCain 69 Obama 194. Bearing in mind that the Democrats traditionally carry Hawaii, California and the other Pacific coast states which carry 77 Electoral votes we can safely say that Barack Obama is the new President of the United States. All that remains to be seen is how much of a landslide this will be. Voting continues in the western states....
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Election Day
Election Day is here at last. The polls are open, the queues are long and America decides on who will be its next President.
There were a couple holding Vote Obama signs at an intersection where we were sitting for a few minutes waiting for the lights to change. I would say, judging by the tooting and thumbs up drive by poll, he might be the winner....
And remember we're in staunchly republican Virginia - although I think Northern and Southern Virginia are different prospects. I would think that the southern part of the state might not be as swayed.... we'll see!
There were a couple holding Vote Obama signs at an intersection where we were sitting for a few minutes waiting for the lights to change. I would say, judging by the tooting and thumbs up drive by poll, he might be the winner....
And remember we're in staunchly republican Virginia - although I think Northern and Southern Virginia are different prospects. I would think that the southern part of the state might not be as swayed.... we'll see!
Monday, 3 November 2008
Dark and yukky
I hate this week of the year. Although I appreciated the extra hour I got in bed, I hate that its dark when I'm driving home. We've caught up with the rest of the world and changed the clocks at the weekend, and I don't like it!!! It takes me a week or two to come to terms with the lack of light in my life. Roll on the weekend!!
Our NYC photos
On your marks. Get set. GO!!!!!This is what we had to get across, trailing a case!!
Me, colour co-ordinating with the billboards in Times Square
Up close with the Empire State
Marvellous Macy's. The worlds largest department store.
Enjoying the sunshine at the plaza beside the Flatiron building.
The Empire State building
At Rockefeller Plaza
The skating rink at the Rock
St Patrick's Cathedral
Inside the cathedral.
Skating at Bryant Park
The Chrysler building
Times Square
Taxi! A busy Times Square from the bar in the Marriott Marquis
So very busy!
The Empire State Building from the Top of the Rock.The glow on the right is Times Square.
The Chrysler Building peeking out from behind the MetLife building
Flags encircling Rockefeller Plaza
The Rock at night
The street outside the SNL Studio - police cars, ambulance. The crowd ahead was made up of police, paparazzi and a few inquisitive by-standers..."McCain is in the building"
Times Square in the morning
The Chrysler building from 6th Avenue
Guarding the NY Public Library
Cold Fall sunshine filtering through the trees of Central ParkSunday, 2 November 2008
In the city that never sleeps
Just because we had nothing planned for the weekend (other than Halloween on Friday) we decided to book a trip to New York on Thursday. So at 6am on Saturday morning the alarm went off and we fell out of bed, into the shower and into a taxi. At 8am we were on a flight to La Guardia and at 10am we were checked into the hotel and walking down to Times Square in search of coffee!
Our taxi from the airport was having trouble turning off 5th to cut across to our hotel. All the streets were barricaded. We said we'd just jump out and walk as we knew we weren't too far from the hotel. We got to 6th Avenue and discovered why the roads were closed. There were thousands of runners running up the road...and our hotel was the other side!! Imagine then, Stephen and I waiting for a suitable gap in the flow of runners and then running across the street (and these streets are wide) dodging the runners bearing down on us, trailing a wheelie case behind us! It was the International Friendship Run apparently. They certainly seemed friendly!! There was a samba band following them, and lots of people draped in flags cheering them on.
Once we'd had a coffee I made a quick trip into Macy's and managed to solve one of my long-standing dilemma's - what to wear to Matt & Jane's wedding in a few weeks. I got a gorgeous jacket, and what was even better, it was reduced by 50% AND I got an additional discount as I'd registered with their visitor centre. I LOVE that store!!! I didn't want to spent too long shopping, but I did glimpse GirlyHeaven.... the elevator doors opened at the 5th floor and my view was filled with shoes and boots as far as the eye can see!!
When I'd reclaimed Stephen from outside we headed further down 5th Avenue until we go to the Flatiron building where we paused to sit and enjoy the blazing sunshine. We decided to head back to the hotel and ditch the shopping and jackets as we were too hot, so we jumped on the subway back uptown. We wandered for miles around 5th Avenue, the Rockefeller Plaza, Bryant Park where we watched the ice skating and finally onto Times Square. We headed up to the 8th floor bar which overlooks Times Square and enjoyed the spectacle as the sun set and darkness fell.
We went to Ruths Chris for dinner which was delicious as ever. We had a really leisurely meal - which makes a change from some of the dinners we've had recently! Our waiter Jimmy was a hoot - like Chris Rock, but without the profanity! After we'd scoffed ourselves into a stupor on lobster bisque and fillet we went to the "Top of the Rock" to admire the Manhattan skyline from on high. The great advantage it has over the Empire State building is that the lines are shorter (non-existant v's 40+ minutes), its much quieter (20 people vs 200) and you get THE most fantastic view of the Empire State building!!
After mucking about trying to get a photo of me with the Empire State building behind, we decided to go to the official photographer. What a disappointment!! When we went to view them, the first two shots were blurred and the 3rd wasn't a great photo, so we passed. I did suspect that they weren't going to be great when I saw other people's photos displayed. The point of taking your photo there is to get the Empire State in the background, and in some of the shots all you could see of it was the very edge of the building! Talk about terrible framing!
By the time we'd descended down the 70 floors to street level it was about 11:30. We'd heard that John McCain was going to be on Saturday Night Live, and knew that SNL was filmed in The Rock, so it was no great surprise to find the whole street bristling with police and paparazzi waiting for him to reappear. I think we narrowly missed him coming out of St Patrick's Cathedral this morning too. There were lots of police cars parked and a couple near us were shrieking "They're coming out. They're posing for photos"... if we could have been bothered to run across 5th Avenue we could have seen him in the flesh...but hey... Now, if it had been Brangelina that might have been a different story!!
I put the apathy down to the freezing temperatures this morning. What a contrast from yesterday!! We were muffled up to the eyeballs and still feeling cold. I thought my ears were going to drop off!! I need earmuffs!!!!! After breakfast we walked up to Central Park to watch them set up for the finish line of the marathon, then back down 5th, up 6th, over to 7th.... By that time it was time to check out the hotel. We decided just to jump in a cab over to the airport in case we were delayed in any way by the NY Marathon. Thankfully we weren't and got to the airport just fine. We actually arrived in time to check in for the earlier flight - which was just as well as our flight had been cancelled!!! Helpfully, the airline had left a message on our home phone to tell us....I'm pretty sure that they have our cell phones on the booking, but hey...at least they made the effort!!
Our taxi from the airport was having trouble turning off 5th to cut across to our hotel. All the streets were barricaded. We said we'd just jump out and walk as we knew we weren't too far from the hotel. We got to 6th Avenue and discovered why the roads were closed. There were thousands of runners running up the road...and our hotel was the other side!! Imagine then, Stephen and I waiting for a suitable gap in the flow of runners and then running across the street (and these streets are wide) dodging the runners bearing down on us, trailing a wheelie case behind us! It was the International Friendship Run apparently. They certainly seemed friendly!! There was a samba band following them, and lots of people draped in flags cheering them on.
Once we'd had a coffee I made a quick trip into Macy's and managed to solve one of my long-standing dilemma's - what to wear to Matt & Jane's wedding in a few weeks. I got a gorgeous jacket, and what was even better, it was reduced by 50% AND I got an additional discount as I'd registered with their visitor centre. I LOVE that store!!! I didn't want to spent too long shopping, but I did glimpse GirlyHeaven.... the elevator doors opened at the 5th floor and my view was filled with shoes and boots as far as the eye can see!!
When I'd reclaimed Stephen from outside we headed further down 5th Avenue until we go to the Flatiron building where we paused to sit and enjoy the blazing sunshine. We decided to head back to the hotel and ditch the shopping and jackets as we were too hot, so we jumped on the subway back uptown. We wandered for miles around 5th Avenue, the Rockefeller Plaza, Bryant Park where we watched the ice skating and finally onto Times Square. We headed up to the 8th floor bar which overlooks Times Square and enjoyed the spectacle as the sun set and darkness fell.
We went to Ruths Chris for dinner which was delicious as ever. We had a really leisurely meal - which makes a change from some of the dinners we've had recently! Our waiter Jimmy was a hoot - like Chris Rock, but without the profanity! After we'd scoffed ourselves into a stupor on lobster bisque and fillet we went to the "Top of the Rock" to admire the Manhattan skyline from on high. The great advantage it has over the Empire State building is that the lines are shorter (non-existant v's 40+ minutes), its much quieter (20 people vs 200) and you get THE most fantastic view of the Empire State building!!
After mucking about trying to get a photo of me with the Empire State building behind, we decided to go to the official photographer. What a disappointment!! When we went to view them, the first two shots were blurred and the 3rd wasn't a great photo, so we passed. I did suspect that they weren't going to be great when I saw other people's photos displayed. The point of taking your photo there is to get the Empire State in the background, and in some of the shots all you could see of it was the very edge of the building! Talk about terrible framing!
By the time we'd descended down the 70 floors to street level it was about 11:30. We'd heard that John McCain was going to be on Saturday Night Live, and knew that SNL was filmed in The Rock, so it was no great surprise to find the whole street bristling with police and paparazzi waiting for him to reappear. I think we narrowly missed him coming out of St Patrick's Cathedral this morning too. There were lots of police cars parked and a couple near us were shrieking "They're coming out. They're posing for photos"... if we could have been bothered to run across 5th Avenue we could have seen him in the flesh...but hey... Now, if it had been Brangelina that might have been a different story!!
I put the apathy down to the freezing temperatures this morning. What a contrast from yesterday!! We were muffled up to the eyeballs and still feeling cold. I thought my ears were going to drop off!! I need earmuffs!!!!! After breakfast we walked up to Central Park to watch them set up for the finish line of the marathon, then back down 5th, up 6th, over to 7th.... By that time it was time to check out the hotel. We decided just to jump in a cab over to the airport in case we were delayed in any way by the NY Marathon. Thankfully we weren't and got to the airport just fine. We actually arrived in time to check in for the earlier flight - which was just as well as our flight had been cancelled!!! Helpfully, the airline had left a message on our home phone to tell us....I'm pretty sure that they have our cell phones on the booking, but hey...at least they made the effort!!
THE Halloweeen Street retains its title!
Wow! I have never seen so many people on Lee St as there was on Friday night for Halloween. I'm sure it wasn't so busy last year! Honestly, I think they must bus kids in from miles around to go trick or treating here!
The kids were all adorable in their costumes (and they don't need to be scary - you just need to dress up), and there were some pretty impressive adult costumes too! I saw a Jack Sparrow who was voice and mannerism perfect - and relentlessly chatting up all the young women!!
There was also a contingent walking the street trying to get Mr Pumpkinhead elected President. They consisted of a couple of secret service minders, a first lady in a very Jackie O outfit complete with pillbox hat, a campaign manager handing out stickers and Mr Pumpkinhead himself. He was actually wearing a giant pumpkin head, complete with carrot nose. They were a popular draw and everyone wanted photos.
The police had closed off 5 blocks of Lee Street for the event, and the place was thronged. Soooo many of the houses had made a huge creative effort and transformed the outside (and inside in some cases) with halloween decor. Some houses had tableau you could admire from outside, and the former Governor's house was once again a really spooky Haunted Mansion. There were strobe lights, fog, lots of cobwebs and people dressed up as spooks and ghouls. Some of the little kids were a bit freaked out - it was quite intense!
The kids were all adorable in their costumes (and they don't need to be scary - you just need to dress up), and there were some pretty impressive adult costumes too! I saw a Jack Sparrow who was voice and mannerism perfect - and relentlessly chatting up all the young women!!
There was also a contingent walking the street trying to get Mr Pumpkinhead elected President. They consisted of a couple of secret service minders, a first lady in a very Jackie O outfit complete with pillbox hat, a campaign manager handing out stickers and Mr Pumpkinhead himself. He was actually wearing a giant pumpkin head, complete with carrot nose. They were a popular draw and everyone wanted photos.
The police had closed off 5 blocks of Lee Street for the event, and the place was thronged. Soooo many of the houses had made a huge creative effort and transformed the outside (and inside in some cases) with halloween decor. Some houses had tableau you could admire from outside, and the former Governor's house was once again a really spooky Haunted Mansion. There were strobe lights, fog, lots of cobwebs and people dressed up as spooks and ghouls. Some of the little kids were a bit freaked out - it was quite intense!
Mr Pumpkinhead in full campaigning mode.
Photo courtesy of Marie Taylor-Morrison
who was there with camera where we failed to snap!
Thanks to Jackie O for the offer of a photo!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)