Thanks, and have fun running the country

Listening to This American Life in the car the other day, I was enchanted by a story about a project to have kids across the country write letters greeting Barack Obama to office and giving him advice on how he should spend his time. The project was started round the corner from where I live, at 826 Valencia, and the collection has just been published as a book, Thanks, and Have Fun Running the Country.

On the radio they had a couple of the original authors (the kids) read their letters. I was utterly charmed. Here's one:

Dear Barack Obama, one thing you could fix is the economy. Something happened to me. I went out for lunch at Starbucks and I wanted to buy a cup of whipped cream. And normally it's 43¢ but now it's 74¢. The price raised 31¢ for no reason! So you should probably try to change things like that from happening. You should keep an eye out for things like that. I wish you good luck.

PS. I love whipped cream.

Love,

Alexis Feliciano, age 9, Brooklyn.

Here's another, which wasn't on the show but is in the book:

Dear President Obama, I have a great idea for you: you should set up a special phone, a special place just for kids to call the president if they find things that are dangerous and can affect people, like someone smoking. This would be a special place for kids to talk to Barack Obama and let him know what's going on.

Dhamaril Nunez, age 9, Boston.

Great, no? I think I'll buy the book. You should listen to the show. Alexis reads at 17 minutes, 20 seconds; worth hearing.

Here's an old one of Matt, taken in July 2000. He hasn't changed much.

Long Weekend

This weekend was a long weekend in the US, so we got to do twice as much as usual. Not only did I get a chance to take these shots of a day in Healdsburg (the place we got married in October 2007):

but I also got to take these shots of my walk through the Mission night-time that Sunday evening:

Grimble

For Christmas, Wendy bought me an original late-60s copy of Grimble. I read Grimble and Grimble at Christmas as a kid and I've been loving reacquainting myself with the stories.

The station was at the end of the street and Mr Wheeler was in charge of it. There were two little shops on the station, one of them selling newspapers, and the other things to eat — like old sausage rolls and sandwiches that were wrapped in bits of paper as if no one expected anyone to unwrap them. There was also a machine with a sign on it saying Platform tickets 2d. and the 2d. had been crossed out and 3d. put in its place.

Grimble wondered why it was now more expensive to stand on a platform, which is all you are allowed to do with a platform ticket, and Mr Wheeler had explained that it was probably because you now had to wait longer for trains.

I went on a walk yesterday with Wendy and Ros. Took these shots:

Feeling Lucky?

Well? Are you?

Bernal Sunset

I was walking on Bernal Hill today during a lovely sunset. I took a few photos:

New Year in Tahoe

I'm up in South Lake Tahoe with Wendy, Matt, Mary, Craig and Hannah to celebrate the New Year. These are some of my very favorite people in the world; it's great to be here.

What's more, I've been using the time productively on the laptop: not only have I firmed up my schedule for my first week back at work; (sabbatical ends this weekend) but I've finally put together and published a set of my Playa Del Carmen photos from 2006:

I also took a photo of Craig today which I liked: