Boston Birthday

I spent my lonely birthday evening taking pictures. Here's my self-portrait with Boston landmarks:

You gotta have the Pru!

As should be clear by now, I'm spending an inordinate amount of time using the digital camera to take pictures that are very hard to pull off with film. I've always been a huge fan of real night shots. And now I can take them, provided I have something to brace the camera on.

Barbara Weighs In

One of the joys of being a Bush-Cheney campaign volunteer is that you get delightful personal messages like this missive from Barbara. Predictably, in W's world it's the mother who has to put out for Mother's Day. I wonder if she brought him flowers too?:

With Mother's Day coming up this weekend, I've been thinking about how proud I am of our children.

And it's with a mother's pride that I'm writing you today to ask you to support our eldest, George W., and his re-election campaign with a donation of $1000, $500, $250, $100 or $50.

George W. has been President during challenging times and he has met the tasks at hand with a steely determination and clarity of purpose.  From fighting the War on Terrorism to defending the homeland, the President has shown steady and strong leadership.

He has worked with Congress to lower taxes three times so American workers and entrepreneurs can get the economy growing again; pass the No Child Left Behind Act to help every child learn to read; and provide seniors with a prescription drug benefit.

The President has accomplished a lot in the past three and half years but there is much more he would like to accomplish.  He will continue to help strength our homeland defense and lay a strong groundwork to win the War on Terrorism.  He has put forward plans to save Social Security, secure pension plans and enhance retirement security for all Americans.  And he has a comprehensive energy plan to make America less dependent on foreign oil.

Earlier this week, our son's re-election team announced their "March to a Million" campaign.  Never before has a presidential campaign received contributions from over one million supporters.  With your help, we'll make history.

This election is going to be a tough one.  That is why I'm asking for your support.  For months the President has been facing negative advertising from John Kerry and all sorts of pro-Kerry groups. I've been particularly disappointed in the personal attacks.

Your donation, no matter what the size, will help advertise the President's positive agenda for America and deliver his compassionate conservative message directly to the voters.

America needs a strong leader like George W. Bush.  He is the right man to lead America during these challenging times.

Thank you very much for your support today. I hope you and your family enjoy a wonderful Mother's Day.

Sincerely,

Barbara Bush

I have to agree with Barbara that her son's refusal to engage in negative advertising has elevated him above the unseemly morass of the Democratic attacks on his person. Keep on being steadfast and kind, George: America needs your shining example.

Chinese-Cuban

I'm sitting here at Betty's diner on Huntington, billed as a noodle house, but apparently one with a Chinese-Cuban fusion dimension, since I just ordered a Cuban sandwich with wok-cooked vegetables. I've always been interested in "authentic" -- meaning arrived at without a self-conscious desire to fuse -- fusion cuisines and am delighted to be getting the chance to enjoy the much-lauded Chinese-Cuban approach, particularly at bargain lunch prices.

I guess the wireless thing works even better in a densely populated city like Boston, since I'm enjoying the open network called "Sparkles II" as I prepare this entry.

Well, my sandwich is here. And it looks yummy!