Ladies and Gentlemen: The (potentially) Next Vice-president of the United States of America

Couric: Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend 700 billion dollars helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas, and groceries, allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy rather than helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?

Palin: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, we're ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. Um, helping, oh, it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions, and tax relief for Americans, and trade — we have, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as competitive, um, scary thing, but one in five jobs created in the trade sector today. We've got to look at that as more opportunity. All of those things under the umbrella of job creation, this bailout is a part of that.

A seating area near the fireplace inside Timberline Lodge. More detail by clicking on the thumbnail. Mt. Hood, Oregon, September, 2008.

A rock climber does his thing. Smith Rock State Park, Terrebonne, Oregon; June, 2008.

Field burning, a rather controversial practice used by grass seed farmers to rid their fields of pests and disease. They say it's the best and most complete way to do it. Others, who have to breathe the smoke, don't like it. It's more controversial in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, where weather patterns and hills keep the smoke low and compacted. Here in the more open high desert of central Oregon, the practice still has its detractors, but not to the degree that the Valley does. Near Madras, Oregon; September, 2008.

Mount Hood peaks up over the trees surrounding Collins Lake. Government Camp, Oregon; September, 2008.

A creek runs through a park next to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival theaters. When the colors turn in the Fall, it's incredible. To get a better sense, click on the thumbnail. Ashland, Oregon, October, 2006.

Sunrise on Cortes Island, British Columbia, Canada, with Vancouver Island, BC on the horizon. March, 2006.

Leafed-out trees that have been trained to grow in an arc create a living canopy to this grass walkway. Dundee, Oregon; June, 2006.

A bumblebee gathers pollen. Much more detail by clicking on the thumbnail. Salem, Oregon; August, 2008.

The Palace of Fine Arts at night. As with all photos on this site, click on the thumbnail for more detail. San Francisco, California; January, 2008.

The full moon rises over the high desert of central Oregon. Along the flanks of Mt. Hood, Oregon; September, 2008.

The last vestiges of the sun splash across Mt. Hood to cast a slightly orange alpineglow. That large snow area at the lower end of the mountain is the Palmer Snow Field, about the only place in the northern hemisphere one can ski all year long. If you click on the thumbnail to get the full-sized version, you can see a tiny dot, which is a snow plow working to ready the field for the next day's skiing. Timberline Lodge, Oregon; September, 2008.

The first harbinger of Autumn? Maple leaf turns red. More detail by clicking on the thumbnail. Clackamas, Oregon; Sept. 2008.

Lucinda Williams does an encore at her Bend, Oregon, show and to our week here at the Grind. September, 2008.

Obviously, I didn't take this one. I'm on a board of a local non-profit that produces plays. Right now we're producing Driving Miss Daisy, with the title character being played by Michael Learned of The Waltons fame ('Night, JohnBoy!). We had a reception last night for the cast and here I am pictured with our leading lady. Bend, Oregon; September, 2008.

The cemetery at the Old First Church. Just past the hedge on the left is where stood the house of Ethan Allen, commander (along with Benedict Arnold) of the Green Mountain Boys during the American Revolutionary War. Bennington, Vermont; August, 2007.

The dining terrace, Red Rocks Amphitheater. Check out the view by clicking on the thumbnail. Morrison, Colorado; August, 2007.

Lucinda Williams cranks it up at a recent show. Bend, Oregon; September, 2008.

Ok, we'll end this week's flower arrangement the same way we started it: with a dahlia. Salem, Oregon; August, 2008.

Today, let's add a sunflower to our arrangement. Madras, Oregon; August, 2008.

More color from this galardia to add to the flower arrangement we're creating this week here at the Grind. Milwaukie, Oregon; August, 2008.

Here's another, with the passion vine's colorful addition to this week's flower arrangement. Milwaukie, Oregon; August, 2008.

It's flower week here at the Grind. We're building an arrangement and we're starting with this dahlia. Salem, Oregon; August, 2008.