Today one dancer tried to make the world a better place knocking on one door at a time.

Bellagio with Addie.

Today was not as good a day as yesterday.  It started and ended beautifully, but in between I saw a whole lot of ugly.  One of our first stops was with a  woman from the Philipenes who just became a citizen last year.  She was very happy to be voting in her first presidential election and wasn't sure who she wanted to vote for yet because she took voting very seriously and didn't want to make a mistake.  After speaking to her for awhile it was obvious she was leaning Obama.  I was inspired and reminded what a privilege it is to be able to vote.  Next came the whole lot of ugly.  White people ugly who seem to favor pit bulls.  It took us half a day yesterday to realize that "undecided" usually is thinly disguised racism.  Today we were lucky enough to encounter pretty obvious racism as in, "I will not vote for a black man."  coming from a  life long democrat, but I must say not very bright (or attractive, but that shouldn't matter) woman.  She told us she wasn't going to be voting to which I replied, "Good".  Then RoseMary said, "Thank you for your honesty." and dragged me away from the door.

We ended on a great note speaking with a young woman also voting in her first election.  She was very excited to talk with us and had many very educated questions.  Her mother was quietly folding laundry and listening.  She was beaming with pride at her daughter and as well she should have been,

So with a few houses to go back in the pit bull neighborhood we decided to skip those and end on a high note.  When I got back to the hotel I slapped on some lipstick and fake hair and Addie and I headed over to the Bellagio to see the garden and Chanel (Happy 4th AA birthday to me).  Addie, Sofie and Andrew are why I am here.  I feel there is a shift in the wind.  A change coming.  Even if, God forbid Obama loses this election a spark has been fanned and we can not go back.  I will stay out here going door to door to make sure my children have as great a country to grow up in as I did as long as it takes.  Pardon the party line, but YES WE CAN!!

What a day.  Long,  hot ,at times irritating, but if we got a few more votes all with it.  Thank God I was with my co Team Fred member RoseMary.  She is great and we really worked well together.  We knocked on 79 doors and only had 4 people tell us they were for "the other guy".  One man who was afraid we would take his guns thinks Sarah Palin is "real sharp and quite a looker".  For God's sake.  We had quite a few undecided which after talking to people you come to realize actually means racist.  One elderly woman told us Barack was mocking the bible and that he was a muslim.  She said she always voted democrat, but just wasn't sure this time.  We spoke with her along time....who knows.

All in all I am so happy I am here doing this.  Thanks Don for holding down the fort at home.

Addie spent the day with her babysitter Miss Sandy who I am pretty sure is Harvey Firestein in drag.  They had a grand time and Addie had donuts, cookies, and ice cream and candy.  What happens in Vegas......

The Debate

Exploring Hotel

Nachos

The Mad Greek

Addie and I left today for Las Vegas to campaign for Barack Obama.  After stopping for coffee we made it all the way to Glendale (5 miles) before we had to exit and fix the headphones for the DVD player.  It took 15 minutes, but it was either that or listen to Nihao Kailin for 4 hours.  I have so many memories of  driving to Vegas.  We went to Wyoming every summer and Vegas was our first pit stop.  I remember when I was ten we stopped at Calico Ghost Town.  Who would even look up there for silver?  It is out in the middle of no where.  We stayed at the campground overnight and the generator went out on the Winnebego so no air conditioning in July in the desert.  Mom let us have a pepsi in the middle of the night to cool off.  It was fun.

Addie napped and then we stopped for lunch at The Mad Greek in Baker.  I was beginning to regret my decision to wear my Obama t-shirt. I know you can't tell by looking (always)  but it looked pretty Republican.  I assured them we were just "passing through".

Our tradition when arriving in Vegas is to get nachos and diet coke at the Forum Shops.  Then Addie got to pick out a lot of toys at FAO Schwartz because mom is leaving her with a babysitter for a long time tomorrow.  I am going into the sun and talking to strangers which are probably the two thinks I dislike the most.  I must really love Obama.

Addie loved the debate.  She is so into politics.  I'm not sure who won, but McCain has that Republican smug smirk down to a science.  Ew.