Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Hungry for Change

As did many Americans, these Altadena citizens spent last Sunday raising money for Barack Obama's campaign as part of a nationwide bake sale. I heard about it through MoveOn.org and went to check it out.

It was over 100 degrees out, but that didn't dampen the spirits of these neighbors. You could pay what you wanted to, and I got chocolate chip cookies, cranberry bread and a bumper sticker for $40. I call it a bargain.

Small groups and small donations like mine have put Obama where he is. This bunch started at high noon and planned to stay until 4:00. By the time I got there at about 1:15 they'd already collected a fat wad of money. Hope was high and there was talk of Obama as "our president."

*****
In posting this I devoured the last chocolate chip cookie and thought, "maybe I should give equal time, go find a McCain event to post about." And it struck me that if you read Pasadena Daily Photo, by the very nature of blogging you're going to get my view and only my view of Pasadena.

There are a lot of blogs in Pasadena. They cover all kinds of subjects: food, politics, homemaking, the arts, you name it. I hope if you want to know about Pasadena you'll read them. But I suggest you begin with Pasadena's other daily photo blog, Ben Wideman's The Sky is Big in Pasadena. I don't know Ben's politics, but he and I are different people. He's relatively new to southern California, he sometimes posts from far afield, he's younger than I am, and he's a guy, so right off the bat you're going to get a different point of view. Plus it's a darned good blog. So there ya go.

20 comments:

John Sandel said...

When I got to my local bake sale, they still had some Obama blintzes, but the Obama oatmeal cookies were all gone. As I was driving away, I spotted a fragment of Obama brioche tumbling down the street. "He's the Willy Wonka of hope!" I thought, and turned, um, left.

Pascal Jim said...

Petrea..The bright spot of any day are your pictures/comments of the Pasadena area. One most outstanding picture, The Casting Pond, finally surfaced on my ancient coal fired computer. Just beautiful.
The bake sale picture displays hope for all. As an old flag waver, learned that the United States Flag should not touch the ground. Oops.

Knoxville Girl said...

Petrea, what attracts me to these blogs is that personal viewpoint: I get to see a part of the world through someone else's filter. I come here interested in your vision of Pasadena, and your bits of knowledge and experience of other places, too. And dammit, I missed the Obama bake sale in my town.

Pont Girl said...

Great photo, Petrea - I hadn't heard about this, but it's a great idea! At the City Hall Farmer's Market a few weeks back, I bought a t-shirt from an Obama booth that said, "No more drama, vote for Obama." When the guy handed me back my change, he said, "And on behalf of Barack Obama, I offer you change." Pretty cute.

Lydia said...

Hey, the volunteers are baking too!
It's generous of you to recognize a fellow Pasadena blogger. ok, I'm marching outa here for the day...
LEFT, LEFT, LEFT, rt., LEFT!

Tash said...

Petrea, I just noticed you changed your avatar? picture. Is that your drawing?

Petrea Burchard said...

I love today's comments! "The Willy Wonka of hope!" Bernie, you kill me.

"Coal fired computer" also has me laughing, Pascal Jim. Yeah, oops on the flag. But I believe those patriotic Americans meant no harm by it.

You have a good point, Knoxville Girl. It's what makes a blog a blog.

I like that one, Pont Girl. If I help out on the next fundraiser, I'll use it.

Lydia, I like your blogroll. I think I'll do something like that here, because there are probably a hundred great Pasadena blogs and I didn't have room for all of them in the post. Since we have two City Daily Photo blogs here, I decided to start with Ben's.

Ah yes, Tash, you've noticed my artistic genius.

ben wideman said...

Aww! Thanks for the nod. You're right that blogs give you different takes on the world - yet if you are open to learning about new perspective that probably defines you right there. Three cheers to open mindedness.

Barak 'n Roll!

Petrea Burchard said...

Hey, I like that! I hope you got some traffic, Ben. 'Cause you rock, too.

John Sandel said...

All:

Old Stars'n'Stripes has withstood far worse than merely to be held in the hands of an old patriot & touch native gravel—being burned, stomped on, used to wrap the pole-as-a-spear, and other fates pathetic & scatalogic which I need no more enumerate.

But flags are only emblems & don't matter a damn. It's our republic which endures attack & sully with inspiring strength. Do what you will to the particolored nylon. These colors will not run.

Jim Klenke said...

Great post and I have enjoyed reading all of the great comments. Lets hope we can make it to November.

Profile Not Available said...

This is the first time, in a long time, I have been...is the word I am grasping for excited? About a campaign.

Loved the comments on this post!

dianasfaria.com said...

great post Petrea. I love the tone of your thoughts, very giving and open.

Petrea Burchard said...

Truly spoken, Bernie.

Which is why we'll make it, Jim.

Kelly, I think it's because we've had so many good candidates to choose from in the Democratic primary. It wasn't "lesser of evils" this time, it was a plethora of greats.

:), Lily.

Patrizzi Intergarlictica said...

There is such a sweetness in this photo. I really like it.

Jilly said...

Great post. I'm staying in Ohio, where my best friend works for the Obama campaign locally. Good to see your photo and read your words, Petrea.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, Miss H. I had to ask everyone to step out from under the umbrellas, because in the shade my camera didn't pick up their smiles. It was over a hundred degrees out. They were happy to do it. The photo reminds me of a family reunion shot. During this campaign, I'm feeling more united with my fellow citizens than I have in a long time.

Jilly, welcome to the States. OH NO! Who's blogging in Menton and Monte Carlo? Denton, is my guess. Thanks for visiting here, I'm honored. I love your dog blog!

Susan said...

Amen to change! Photos of people in the area always make for a personal connection. :)

Lindsey said...

Patriot much, Petrea?

Petrea Burchard said...

You betcha.