People-OCD Dog-Plastic

It rained really hard as soon as Rodger and Connie's back yard party started last night. It lasted about an hour and we all retreated under the patio cover, although later in the evening it was really nice.(You can click on the pictures to make them bigger, and then click the back arrow to return.)

This is Ed Mahr. He spent time working as a reporter and editor for the Albuquerque Journal before deciding he would break into the political arena as a lobbyist for many clients at the legislature. One thing Ed and I, and most everyone at this party, have in common is a general dislike for the direction our country has taken under Bush. Ed told a great story about a conversation he had with a Postman in his neighborhood.. They were both lamenting the fact that this country is spending 940 million dollars a day in Iraq. Ed is livid that his daughter, who is a 35,000 dollar a year school teacher in Albuquerque, has to spend 400 dollars a year on school supplies for her class room out of her own pocket while this kind of money is being spent on an uncessary war. Ed said the Postman retorted that he hates delivering Social Security checks to people with Bush bumper stickers on their cars. That is funny.

This is Gieger. He is Rodger and Connie's Sheltie. He is one truly obsessive compulsive canine. Every time a jet airliner passes over head, he chases it. Every time. Really. And, when it started raining last night he didn't take shelter. He stood in the middle of the yard looking straight up and barked at the rain, for an hour.

Remember in the movie "The Graduate" when Ben is at the pool party and the family friend advises him on his future in one word. "Plastics". Well, I think he was right. This is a picture of a plastic Little Tykes toddler picnic table that Bobbi and I bought for Justin when he was about two. Both he and Noelle used it extensively. We then gave it to Rodger and Connie so all of the nieces and nephews could use it. It looks exactly the same as when we bought it 23 years ago. It has been out in the sun and elements and has aged better than any of us. Plastics!

This is Jolene Mahr. She too was a Journal Reporter before going to work at Albuquerque's Technical Vocational Institute. She has been there during its years of astonishing growth and service to our region. She has helped create a very good image for that institution.

This is John Wertheim. I blogged something about him and his wife Bianca being a power couple a couple of days ago. I better show him too. He was at the party and tried to get me to sign up for a New Mexico Democratic Party Visa card. The Party makes a dollar for every one hundred charged. He was doing his job as Party Chairman.