When I heard about McCain's Vice Presidential pick, my chief reaction was "Huh."

What do you think about McCain's choice of Sarah Palin?

by all at this weekend's Brown/Baldridge wedding.  My niece, Deanna, married her wonderful beau, Tim, in a gorgeous (if sultry) wedding at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. 

I started tearing up when Deanna's cousin, niece Amy, walked down the aisle.  She was Deanna's Matron of Honor just as Deanna had been her Maid of Honor a year ago.  They both looked drop-dead gorgeous last year and, impossibly, even more beautiful yesterday.

Part of the teariness came from remembering holding Deanna when she was a wee babe, (or was it Amy?) in my lap during photos on our long-ago wedding day.  Remembering the history of this crazy-quilt family as my brothers and their wives had children, raised them into amazing human beings...it reminds me what a privilege it is to be part of the Baldridge clan.

Part of the teariness came from knowing just how hard Deanna worked to pick herself up after an earlier heart break.  The conversation we had just before she met Tim was so impressive.  She shared how she had come to some brave and momentous decisions, despite knowing how painful the road would be.  And she never seemed to lose her faith that there was someone out there for her.  And that when she was ready, he would be too.

Another part of the teariness came from time I was blessed to share with Deanna's parents, Dean and Donna, with Tim and Deanna (and Diana, her friend) last year in Hawaii.  I was able to get to know Tim a bit, to appreciate what a gem he is (and how much he reminds me of another laconic man in my life).  So knowing that Deanna was joining her life to his was especially sweet.

Of course, those few suppressed tears were nothing compared to the tears I shed during Dean's amazing tribute to Deanna and to the women in his life.  He made us laugh and cry, talking about Deanna; Donna; his mother, Pat; our (step)mother, Sally; his mother-in-law, Susie.  I was honored and humbled to by his words as he added me to the list.  Even now, I'm pressing the red rose he gave as a token. 

Other wonderful treats this weekend included spending time with our friend, Meredith on Friday afternoon.  Hanging with family on Friday night and limo-ing over to the restaurant with David having the time of his young life playing with all the buttons.  Golf (and some rare time) with Matt and Dale on Saturday morning.  Then lunch with Mom in Little Italy followed by a coffee shop visit with her friend, Tom.

To sum up the weekend, it was a gathering of family and friends.  Dean has a quote that he used...I feel it captures an important aspect of life, especially life as part of the Baldridge clan. 

It's a group where friends are family and family are friends.

Indeed.  What could be better?

My niece, Deanna, is getting married this Saturday...we're nearly packed and ready to go for an early start to the festivities.

Our schedule looks like this:

Friday:  Early golf with Dad, followed by a visit with Dad, Sally and great-nephew, David.  Then we hope to hook up with our friend, Meredith.  After that it's checking into the hotel, hanging with Dean and Donna, the rehearsal dinner, more hang time.

Saturday:  Sleep in a bit then mid-morning golf with Dan, Dale, Dean and soon to be nephew-in-law, Tim and his crew.  Wedding in the afternoon (after a shower!).  Hang time with the Baldridge/Brown crew.

Sunday:  Sleep in a bit (again) and then off to San Diego for a lunch date with Mom #1.  Home to Laguna Niguel.  Watch Obama's acceptance speech.

It is fairly doubtful that I will blog during the festivities.  So check back with me Sunday, okay?

I am so excited about the wedding, the celebration, the golf and the time with friends and family.  Should be a most excellent weekend, indeed!

I shot an amazing 42 on the front nine of Aliso Viejo Country Club this morning.  That's just seven over par.  After I added up the score, I had a little talk with myself.  It went something like this:

Laura 1:  "That was so cool!  A 42!!  Maybe I should turn pro?"
Laura 2:  "It was cool.  A 42!  Let's not get ahead of ourself."
Laura 1:  (Contemplating scenes of glory and all the new, cool clothes that a pro needs to wear)  "Huh?"
Laura 2:  "What happened last time you did really well on the front nine?"
Laura 1:  "Umm...I crashed and burned and Moira showed up."
Laura 2:  "Yes...and we don't want Moira to show up, do we?"
Laura 1:  "Nope.  There's a reason she's the evil twin."
Laura 2:  "So how about we set some reasonable expectations for the back nine.  You're likely to shoot at least one or maybe two nines on the harder holes.  You're likely to be a bit frustrated when that happens.  What's our mantra going to be if the worst happens?"
Laura 1:  "I shot a 42 on the front nine.  Woohoo!"
Laura 2:  "You've come far, grasshopper."

Turns out, my lowered expectations were right on the money and I shot a 57 on the back nine for a 99...still broke 100! 

And did I mention I shot a 42 on the front nine?  <smile>

Speaking of the back nine...

Read the excellent article in the LA Times today about a 58-year-old woman embarking on a new adventure (after a lifetime of hard work and hard knocks).  I am so impressed by Karen McCarthy's drive, by her unwillingness to give in to circumstance, by her carpe diem attitude.

There's a woman who's going to have an excellent back nine...even if she has a few bad holes now and again.

Okay, so I'm writing this on Tuesday night.  But it's the only thing I could come up with regarding Tuesdays without going to the internet.  So there you have it...my starting point for the blog.  Tuesday morning.

I woke up early, but not nearly as early as our friend (and houseguest) Erik Kieser.  Erik hung out with me last night as Dan was schmoozing with potential business associates.  He got here around 3:30 p.m. and we talked for five hours nonstop.  Wooeee!

It was a great visit--we remembered old Pepperdine days, the start of Five O'Clock Prayer, how we met (over green-blooded vulcan references and a couple of shared classes).  We spoke of work, of life, of growth.  We broke bread.  Very, very nice to have a friendship that spans nearly 30 years.

Then this morning, soon after Erik shuffled off to Las Vegas, I headed over for Women's Club tee time at Aliso Viejo Country Club.  There were four of us this morning and I quite enjoyed the round.  We had at least two holes free both in front of us and behind us.  Two of the foursome peeled off at the turn.  Then Tina and I burned up the back nine--chatting, encouraging each other, learning about each other's lives.

The rest of the day involved finally getting all of the photos edited from Mom's and my Baltic cruise.  Nice memories there and more than a few good shots, if I do say so...

We're just back from dinner and ready to relax.  I may check out the convention and see what's shaking in Denver.  Or I may start season one of "Heroes." 

See how flexible I am (Cindy and Erik)?

Phew!  I'm hot and tired, coming in after a five hour round of golf with the Aliso Viejo Women's Club.  Our team came in second (I contributed on a few holes).  Considering that all I wanted to do was participate and have a good time, the $20 gift certificate each member of our team won is gravy.

Yesterday was a bit closer.  It was a One Man Scramble format, which translated means the following:

1.  Everyone got two mulligans on each hole.

2.  No one could take worse than a bogey.

3.  Winter rules applied, so you could lift, clean and replace your ball.

4.  You could also play the ball within a club length of where it lay, as long as you didn't improve the lie or move it closer to the hole.

I shot a gross 82 for a net 60 and was 1 stroke away from playing in the next level of contribution.  Talk about overperforming one's goals.  My goals for the day were to finish the 18 holes and to have 3 or 4 good shots.

None of which has anything to do with today's "Sunday Question."  I was asked this yesterday though and thought it was a great (and revealing) question:

What is your favorite quote, saying, or truism?

We had a great yesterday, lunched with a long-time friend, went to the mall so I could be presentable for my niece's wedding next week, then home for a relaxed dinner.  It was a nice change of pace.

And then today, I awoke to the news that Obama's Vice Presidential pick is Joe Biden!  I'm sure all the pundits will be jumping on the story in tomorrow's political shows...but for today I just want to bask in the glow.

I've always been impressed with Biden's intellect.  His policy proposals when he ran for the Democratic nomination were tops in my book.  My only qualm about him...the reason I didn't support him for the nomination...is that he was not capable of winning the election because he's too detail oriented in his responses for the average American.

So now, we get the benefit of his experience, wisdom and intellect on the ticket and he's not responsible for carrying the campaign ball.  Best of both worlds, imho.

I know a lot of Hillary supporters were holding out hope.  I'm hoping they understand just how big of a liability Bubba had become and come together in support of Obama/Biden.  Certainly they've got to understand that a McCain/Romney ticket...McCain/Anybody ticket...will put human rights (womens rights and gay rights) back about 20 years.

There I go...punditing.  No more. 

I'm off to bask (and play in a golf tournament).

Phew, what a day!  I got up at 6:00 a.m. for a session with my personal trainer followed by 30 minutes of cardio.  My legs are still sore, but I pressed 180 lbs with my legs (and no lower back pain...that came later...with the bicycle crunches).  Back home to fix breakfast.  Then off to the dentist (or really the dental hygenist who suggested that I might want to floss a bit more frequently).  Back home to fix lunch.

In between lunch and a business meeting, I spent time exchanging emails (that made me feel like I'd already blogged about 3 days worth) with a libertarian friend of mine. 

Which leads me to today's fill in the blank question.  A special prize to whomever comes up with the best answer (according to my arbitrary selection) posted on this website to the following:

The only thing more verbose than an exchange between a writer and a lawyer is...

Three hours later (only a slight exaggeration), I had a golf lesson (it's all so easy when the pro is there) and then met Dan for dinner.

Oh...and in between all of that, I found myself whistling a new tune, set a few words of poetry (using the term very loosely) to it, then transcribed the snippet into musical notation using several websites.  It's a duet and I've got the two opening phrases for man and woman to sing.  (It could also work with same-sex couples.)  Amazing how useful the internet can be to someone who took two years of piano, two of clarinet and two of guitar in writing music.

Again...using the term very loosely.

Now...I know this day sounds pretty idyllic.  And I'm not complaining (except for maybe the time spent educating the libertarian).  But it was busy for a semi-retired ex-banker.

And busy felt pretty damn good.

(Oh...and laundry...did I mention the laundry?)

One of the things John McCain has been mocking Barack Obama for is his statement several weeks back that one of the things "we" can all do to reduce oil consumption is keep our tires properly inflated.  He's had great fun at Obama's expense, even going so far as to hand out tire gauges to his press corp emblazoned with the words, Obama's Energy Plan.

There are two problems with McCain's actions.

First off, we really would save a LOT of oil if each of us kept our tires inflated appropriately.  How much?  A billion gallons of fuel each year according to the General Accounting Office.

Second, Obama's energy plan is bold, comprehensive, focused on the future of our energy production (rather than on milking every last dollar out of fossil fuels).  Take a look for yourself.

But even Obama's plan is conservative compared to the bold proposal made recently by former Vice President Al Gore.  (Click here to hear it.)  Gore observes that "we're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet"--in other words our economic, national security, fuel cost and environmental issues are inextricably intertwined.  Then Gore puts out the challenge of making America's electricity 100% from clean and renewable energy sources in 10 years.

I think Gore's right in his analysis of the problem.  I like the bold challenge because it calls on Americans to be entrepreneurial in their approach and because it makes clear that policies dependent on "more of the same" are not sufficient.

The truth is, we need both.  Stretch goals that produce innovation and paradigm shift.  And small, personal actions in the interim to reduce consumption and carbon emissions.   

I spent entirely too much time on YouTube and comment sections of the LA Times today.  The level of discourse was beginning to convince me that the Great Experiment that is America is doomed by "them" and "us" divisions.

And then I remembered the interviews this past weekend of two men, John McCain and Barack Obama, whom I believe to be sincere in their desire to lead America to a better future. 

I was also heartened by Pastor Rick Warren, currently being vilified by all sorts of frings folks right and left, and his encouragement to those of us in the middle--to listen, to agree, to disagree--with respect.  Without name calling.  With a common love for this country and hope for its future.

In that spirit, I offer my analysis of the forum and the differences between John McCain and Barack Obama as illustrated by their responses to similar (but very different) questions.  (Rick did his best, but he did not offer identical questions.)

Due to the format, to the questions Warren asked, this analysis is more about each man's approach to the presidency than it is about policy.  (Again, if you haven't seen the program, it's a worthy investment of time given all the challenges currently facing the U.S.)

First off, I believe both men came across (and indeed are) sincere.  Let's throw out the nonsense about the cone of silence, the latter day prattle about various moral failings.  Both men admitted they were human.  Both appear by the record to have personal integrity.  Each believes he and his party have the better approach to solving our problems.

Given that both Obama and McCain seem to me to be sincere, I did note the following differences in these candidates based on their answers to Warren's questions.

Obama is thoughtful, analytical and comes at problems from a broad (occasionally global) perspective.

McCain is personable, convinced and comes at issues from a narrow (often anecdotal) perspective.

I could quote at great length here, but I think I'll spare you.  Even those who are intent on trashing Obama say that he came off as "intellectual".  And those who view McCain as the antichrist say he was "folksy."

Instead, I offer this.  Underpinning the policies each of these men propose, there is a person who will be making critical decisions in a time where the following issues loom large:

--Shifting the engines of our energy requirements

--Redeeming the barely quantifiable hole we've dug for ourselves

--Challenging the intellect and spirit of the next generation (and this one) to a spirit of sacrifice, long-term good, and increasing globalization

Given the qualities each man brings to the table and the problems at hand--I prefer a high-level thinker with analytical skills to the (to some) more personable man who is rooted in his own past, in the narrowest definitions of what's "good" for our nation, and who does it all with a twinkle and a glib response.