This has been such an exciting and even exhausting election. I am not one that has ever been overly political, but I found myself getting, not just caught up in all the excitement, but deeply concerned about what was happening and what was going to happen to me.
Dealing with our economy, war stuff, and all the other problems we face, and now our new president-elect faces, I found myself getting informed about what things meant, what they did and why it is the way it is. And by association, I felt it necessary to exercise my right to vote for one of the very few times I have ever done so. In fact, this is my first time ever voting for president. It was extremely exciting for so many reasons.
Obviously, it is amazing, and quite the statement that we have elected our first african-american president. And it was just exciting to be apart of that of course, but also, that it was the first time I didn't feel like a candidate was just feeding me political rhetoric and buzz phrases like "Maverick" and such garbage. It really was the first time I took this bizarre, interesting and unique process seriously. In the aftermath of the election I actually feel, not only relieved, but proud that I got involved, and did my part.
His acceptance speech was celebratory, and yet sober with an undertone of "ok, now that we have made this happen, now the hard work really begins." I think it showed that he is fully aware of how hard it will be to deal with and recover from our current state of being in this country. And there are so many things that are weighing heavy on our society it will truly be an uphill battle. But I feel that the right candidate came along at the right time, and was able to be victorious in the way that he should have been.
I am also not an overly patriotic fellow either, not that I am not patriotic, I just have a different idea of what that word means than most. But I feel, really for the first time in a decade, that I am not ashamed to be an american in the face of the rest of the world. Having dealt with a rootin'-tootin' Yosemite Sam for president the last eight years I have become very cynical about the whole thing. But I feel like I can change that outlook for the next four years, if not eight more years and I am looking forward to Obama's presidency.
I am sad that Prop 8 passed here in California, but I feel like that is the least of our problems at this time in our society and why we wasted so much time and money on this I don't understand.
Once again, I bring you Jim McAuley. This time in a fantastic smattering of duets with several other exquisite musicians. On this two-disc album Jim is paired up with the late violist/violist Leroy Jenkins, fellow guitarist Nels Cline, Bassist Ken Filiano, and percussionist Alex Cline. This album has some of the most hauntingly beautiful music I have heard in a very long time, if ever. In particular I really am drawn to those tracks done with Filiano, there is such a sonorous feel with these two that really excites me about what is going on. I highly recommend this album, you can buy it at The Jazz Loft, among other places. 
