Overheard in Berkeley (in yoga class)

I can see Jon Stewart in the ceiling

- Man to instructor, after which she replied, "everybody's different. "

It ain't over til it's over

"He's done. This thing is over"

I hear people saying that almost every day. People at work, on the street, friends and family alike agree that Obama has pretty much already won and this election has already been decided. Political polls show Obama leading in all the usual left-leaning states, but also in some that usually go red. What do you think at this point? Is it really over?

Palin made an appearance on SNL last night in a last-ditch effort to charm the American people in voting for her and McAngrypants. Unfortunately for them, she was not charming or funny. Lorne Michaels was smart enough not to make her look good so close to election day, but rather let Alec Baldwin rail on her while standing right next to her and then of course had Tina doing the usual bit. Dudes for Sarah might have been happy just to see her on tv, but I'm pretty sure no one else was impressed. The Republicans are getting desperate and this last move couldn't have gone as they had hoped.

Here we are, so close to electing our first African-American president with people turning out in droves to rallies and donating every last extra penny to get him in the White House. Even Colin Powell supports him! What could go wrong? Could anything turn the tides at this point? Voter fraud is what scares me the most, but others are predicting secret racism that seems to show its ugly head once people get in the voting booth. This one doesn't seem as threatening to me, but then again I've really only lived in the most liberal and open of places. Other than that, I just don't know what could happen to reverse the force that has taken the country in favor of Obama.

I guess all we can do is go to calling parties, wear our buttons and well, of course vote on election day. It's not over yet, but god I hope it's ends well.

Has it hit you yet?

If you haven't realized yet that the economy is tanking, you're probably not very smart or in tune with current events. It really is and it's effects have already started permeating everyday life for some people. Our neighborhood in Berkeley, on the edge of Oakland started suffering from more thefts and crime this summer in restaurants and bars along College Avenue, perhaps a symptom of job loss and fear for what lays ahead in the coming months. I had my purse stolen the just a couple of nights ago and the only charge that got through before it was canceled was at a gas station, where of course it's ridiculously expensive to fill up a tank these days. By the way, I think it's pretty much common knowledge that driving is out, so trade in your SUVs and even Priuses people, because bikes are sexy and the bus still isn't, but it's getting there.

Ebay just layed off 10% of its workforce, retailers didn't see the numbers they were hoping for in September and pretty much no one can get credit now. I've heard rumors on the business school front that application rates will be out the roof this year as people turn to education as a way to avoid the hyper-competetitive job market. What rumors are you hearing or has it actually affected you?

On the Streets of Berkeley

Last night B and I went to see Vicky Christina Barcelona in downtown Berkeley. We definitely found it pretty funny and were particularly giggly when we came out. A guy on the street who was asking for money asked us who would win in a fight: God or Chuck Norris, to which I replied, "your mom." He was pretty happy about that response, so later on when we saw him as we were waiting for the bus to go home, we asked him if he wanted any updog. He totally got it. Then he tried to get us to smoke pot with him in his sleeping bag. We got on the bus instead.

We haven't been updating lately, but we've been having a great time, except for last night when a cracked-out looking woman stole my purse in Oakland. But really, other than that we're having fun. Dinner parties and fresh tomatoes and roses from the garden make it oh so sweet to come home after work, or in B's case to have me home after I'm at work.

p.s. The movie was really entertaining and our favorite Woody Allen movie of late.