It appears that many voters are confused on the primaries, especially this year in relation to states like Florida and Michigan.

Iowa and New Hampshire have always had their primary elections first for as long as I can remember. So if you lived in those states, you trotted off to the voting booths long before the rest of us.  Why?  I'm not really sure.....it's just the way it's always been.  And by being so......they tend to sway the rest of the country with votes.  And here's a little scenario of the way it always was:

Your candidate is running.....let's just say, Joe Biden.......if you live in a state other than NH or Iowa, if Biden didn't win in those TWO states, you as a voter will not be able to vote for him in YOUR state.  Why?  Because he will have no hope of winning and will have withdrawn. He will not appear on your ballot when the time for YOU to vote arrives.  The reason he will have withdrawn?  His money will have run out because the powers that be will not give him more money to fund his campaign. 

And MOST important......WHO decided that Iowa and NH get to choose OUR candidates for OUR ballot when our primary arrives?  THIS is the problem and THIS is the reason that Florida has pushed ahead our primary date to January 29.  And for doing this......shame on US for speaking up......we are being punished.

The remaining candidates......Obama, Edwards and Hillary......are afraid to cross the good ole boys which dates way back to politics as usual. ........I'm referring to the politics of back room, cigar smoking politicos who like things exactly the way they are.  Never mind, US the people!  Heck no......we're insignificant.  Money talks!

Any of the candidates that's saying, "I'm for change and I'll change Washington" needs to be more intensely researched.  If they're SO much for change.......why are they listening to the powers that be, not coming to Florida to campaign and allowing their names to be removed from the Michigan primary ballot?  I'll let you, the reader and voter, answer that question.

But the last time "I" checked, I'm mighty sick and tired of what I've considered a borderline dictatorship in this country.  And sorry.....but all of this primary crap smells of "dictatorship" in my opinion.  I want democracy.....plain and simple!  So there ya have it, folks........the story of what's going on concerning our primary here in Florida and why I'm mighty angry that both Obama and Hillary are following along like sheep.  As for me, I've had ENOUGH sheep in my government and my country to last a lifetime!

And you may have noticed the new icon on my sidebar in relation to pollsters......I've had it with them as well!  So if you click the icon and you're as disgusted as I am with polls......sign the petition on the Huffington Post.

See you here next time............

Surprised?  You really shouldn't be.  Politicians change their minds at the drop of a hat.  They say this, they do that.  They promise everything......they do nothing.

So yes, folks, as a voter I've had a change of heart.  For the moment anyway unless things change in a major way.  This is my reason why and here's the email I sent off to Obama last evening.......

Dear Senator Obama,
I have been rooting for you long before you even officially announced that you were running.  I had an icon on my blog that said, Run Obama Run.
I have donated to your campaign three times and I have spoken highly of you many times on my blog.  Not to mention all the times I've supported you verbally in public.
But I'm afraid that's all coming to an end.  Why, you ask?
Because I'm a resident of Florida and apparently as a voter in this state I am invisible!  I was shocked and appalled when I learned that you wouldn't be campaigning here for the primary. 
Because Florida had the audacity to push our primary date to Jan. 29, all of us are being punished.  Our votes will be useless since no delegate will be at the convention representing our votes.
I'm extremely disappointed in you.  The once-high-hopes that I had for your win have vanished.  And yes, I'm angry.  Angry that you've allowed the Demo cratic National Committee, namely Howard Dean,to sway you in not appearing here.
Since I'm so invisible as a voter in your campaign, I'm now switching my vote as a write-in for Kucinich.  At least he doesn't so easily cave with the big guys.
Such a shame.  I had such high hopes for you.
Sincerely,
An Invisible Florida Democrat Voter

(My name and address did appear at the top of this email along with my email address and phone number)

Not sure you were aware of this.  That our Democratic vote here in Florida amounts to nothing.  I've known for awhile now, but I kept saying,  "No, this can't happen!" but it looks like it will and Obama is allowing it.  He and Edwards both had their names removed from the Michigan primary ballot.  The sample ballot I got in the mail last week still has his name on it, but who knows what that ballot will actually be on Jan. 29 here in Florida. 

So seems to me he caved to the big guys big time and as I told him, I'm VERY disappointed that the Democratic National Committe is more important to him than US THE PEOPLE.

I've been to Kucinich's website and I have to say.....he sure represent's everything "I" believe in.  Both my son and my grandson have had their faith in him from the beginning.  Well, they can now add Mom and Nana to one of the one's here in Florida doing a write-in and casting her vote for Kucinich.  He sure as hell can't do any worse than what we've had the past 8 years......and who knows, he might even do better than Obama and Hillary combined.

Ah yes, politics.......ain't it great?

See you here next time..........

You might recall I visited a yarn shop last week that I discovered in Gainesville.  The Yarn Works is a knitters paradise.  Yarns of every color and designer.  I met the owner, Barbara and her assistant, Marsha.  Two very talented and friendly women.  I was impressed that every Monday afternoon women gather at the shop to do charity knitting.  The various items are then donated to local groups and others.

The shop also has a knitters guild that meets one Wednesday afternoon a month.  They sit and knit while they socialize and help each other with knitting projects.  I'm planning to return this Wednesday because I need a bit of help with a project I had started.

I browsed around the shop and was captivated by all the different yarns and assessories.  Two or three different rooms hold skeins of rainbow colors in everything from alpaca to cashmere. 

And if you're also a knitter, then you know it's about impossible to leave a yarn shop empty-handed.  And of course, I didn't.  I purchased some needles and a skein of alpaca yarn in beige to make some socks.  This silky ribbon-like yarn below really caught my eye and as you can see, I've already started to make a fashion scarf with it. 

You might remember that funky bobble hat I made for my granddaughter a couple months ago.  Well, I had another skein of yarn to make a second one and have it completed.  The bobbles don't show up quite as well on this darker yarn, but trust me.....they're there and they're not my favorite thing to do.  Glad I learned how to make them, but.......

What has me bewildered is why I didn't pick up knitting needles again until about four years ago.  I let forty years go by without the least desire to touch them.  And now......not a day goes by that I don't knit for at least an hour.  I love the relaxation of it (except maybe when making bobbles) I love the colors of yarn and the feel of it in my hand.  I even resonate with the soft feel of birch needles.  I want to make every pattern I see and just glancing through a knitting magazine makes my hands itch to have the softness of an alpaca wrapped around my fingers.  I guess there's a time for everything and now is my time to enjoy a love for knitting. 

I did go with the docents on Friday for lunch and to tour Haile Homestead but my stamp class got canceled at the Arts Center for yesterday. 

Join me here next time and I'll share with you the Ivy House of Alachua and Haile Homestead along with some photos.