Halloween is tomorrow already?!?

Boy, what a month. Sorry to be absent here again for so long...since I last posted:

* We remodeled a bathroom (the downstairs powder room)...it's mostly done. George put in a tile floor, re-installed the toilet, put up beadboard paneling, new trim, and installed a new sink & vanity...I peeled wallpaper, painted and assisted. Still left to do: paint & hang mirror, last painting touches here and there, switch out the light fixture and put in the door!

* Christopher was baptized! And we had family in town...which was part of the incentive to finally get that bathroom done (it'd been ripped apart and unusable since last DECEMBER! I know, forever!)

* I just wrapped up 2 weeks of intensive artwork...hoping for good news to result from that.

* Presidential election debates, etc... I am so caught up in this, it's not even funny. Frankly, I'm obsessed and I know it. I check the polls daily and my 2 favorite news sites periodically throughout the day for the latest news. It'll be a relief for the election to happen next week, no matter who wins, simply to shake myself free of this obsession. I led the discussion at book club this month & had chosen Mitt Romney's book "No Apology"--we had such an awesome discussion that night.

* We were invited to a Halloween Party & of course George & I had to dress up...I'm never content just to use some old typical costume...I spend a good amount of time planning & executing these things, and my efforts paid off as we *won* the costume contest that night (though I must say the competition was tough! Everyone looked so great!)

* I really do intend to keep documenting my summer trip. It's still coming.

* And Halloween is tomorrow! How did that happen?

So going back to the election...things are close I know but I really feel like Romney could and will win this thing! I have been watching these polls (as admitted to above) and things are entirely favorable for a Romney win. Of course only time will tell if this is true--I don't put it past certain Democrats to attempt some election fraud, sad to say (why else would they ever oppose voter ID laws?!?) After all the obsessive research and study I've done learning about Mitt Romney, I just know he is meant to be where he is at this time and I pray the American people choose him! He's a good man and will be an awesome president. The future will absolutely be brighter with him in office. Make sure you go vote, even if you're in a solid blue state--every vote counts and we need you!

Go Mitt!

I am going to interrupt my trip travelogue here to just say

MITT WAS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME 

in last night's debate.

And Obama...I almost feel sorry for the guy. I'm enjoying watching the complete meltdown of the left. Have you seen Chris Matthews' response? Michael Moore's tweets? Andrew Sullivan's play-by-play? Oh man, so funny.

What's not funny though is Obama and this economy, the deficit, the foreign policy mess--specifically the recent terrorist attacks, Fast & Furious, etc, etc, etc. In my heart of hearts, I do NOT understand anyone voting for him and wanting him around for 4 more years. And yet he's still polling right up there with Romney. I'm praying that people were paying attention to this debate and now will listen more closely to Romney and consider voting for him. Not just consider, but actually show up and vote for him. I only have a handful of Obama-loving friends who ever read my blog, but for the few of you out there, I am really curious, why on earth would you vote for Obama? How has he made your life better in any way? Are you not concerned by the astronomical deficits and debt, the terrorist attacks, the painfully slow economic recovery? I heard Democrats last night (and Obama himself in the debate) criticize Romney for not being more specific in his plan, but exactly WHAT is Obama's plan for the next 4 years? He has no plan other than "Forward" with the status quo as far as I can tell.

Romney looked and sounded every bit as presidential as I know he can and will be. He is a leader. He knows how to work with people of all different persuasions and make things happen. You might not agree with him on social issues but his record as a leader and successful businessman is indisputable and this country needs to get back on track economically or else none of those social issues will ever matter. We NEED Romney.

And I can't wait to see the Vice Presidential Debate next week...should be lots of fun. : )

East Coast, Part 2: Independence Hall

If you missed it: East Coast, Part 1 here.

Finally the time of our tour was approaching so we headed into the Independence Hall tour waiting area, through which you had to pass security...on the other side they were gathering up people for the next tour and we learned that if they had space in the tour they could take some extra people...so we lined up with them & squeezed in on that earlier tour, yeehaw!

I'm so glad we did get in on the earlier tour, not just for the sake of our packed schedule but also because we got the most awesome tour guide. He didn't just tell us what took place in those rooms, he acted it out and told the story with such passion...really it was a treat. The best part for us though was that he singled out Anthony for a special gift...which I will share a bit more about shortly.

Tour began in the East Wing where our guide first asked everyone where they were from--I love learning where everyone is from and there were people there from SO many different states, plus some Europeans too--along with a short history lesson before entering Independence Hall itself. Once inside there, we started in the Supreme Court room, pictured below.

And then we went into the Assembly Room--the boys all recognized it from the movie/musical 1776. 

: )

And a highlight of course is George Washington's original Rising Sun chair:

This is the part I loved best with our tour guide, as he jumped from chair to chair sharing the "play-by-play" of events surrounding the Declaration of Independence. 

And his most poignant story was that of Cesar Rodney's courageous and timely ride from Delaware to cast the deciding vote...very much an unsung hero.

To cap off his tour, our guide handed Anthony the Delaware quarter, which features the image of Cesar Rodney on a horse on that crucial ride to Philadelphia. Throughout the tour our guide would ask questions of Anthony & allude to the gift he would give somebody--it was so neat for Anthony to get that quarter & at the time Anthony said, "I'm never going to spend this quarter!"

We exited out the back past this stairway where the boys & I looked at each other and with a twinkle in our eyes sang "You're obnoxious and disliked, it cannot be denied..." (one of our favorite parts of 1776.)

When we exited Independence Hall, a crowd was gathering outside in the courtyard as the park was preparing to present their annual reading of the Declaration of Independence, just as it was read from that very spot in 1776. THAT was awesome and we had no idea that would be happening that day--our timing couldn't have been better if we'd tried!

The man read it out loud and with high feeling and drama (with a sign language interpreter alongside, I'm pretty sure they didn't have one of those in 1776, tee-hee.) We sat there on the ground for what felt like forever--the Declaration is much longer than I usually think of it as...but still a cool experience.

Following the reading, we got in line to tour the Great Essentials exhibit in the west wing.

This is the inkwell that they believe was used for BOTH the signing of the Declaration of Independence AND the Constitution.

And then we toured Congress Hall. I think this was where the House met.

I believe this is the Senate Chamber:

I like seeing the old printing equipment. I think I would have enjoyed being a printer....books & pictures are right up my alley. : )

Love the old windows & stairwells.

Zac saw the bootscraper and thought it made a perfect seat. 

Yet another pic of the clock tower. I love it.

At the reading earlier, they had been handing out free copies of the Declaration of Independence... I love Benno's pose here as he imitates that dramatic reading earlier.

We left Independence Hall to explore a little more of Philadelphia. Liked "The Signer" statue.

Beautiful city...at least this part anyway.

And we made our way to Franklin Court. Wish we'd had more time to explore more of this--the street looked really cool. We did go in one building, which will come in my next segment...