The Furious Spinner

The east wind is shaking the house and rattling the windows. Makes me want to stay inside where it's nice and warm.

I'm researching Martha Washington. Did you know the first capital of the U.S. was in New York, then in Philadelphia, then in D.C.? Did you know two of Washington's slaves escaped when the family was living in Philadelphia. Oney Judge and Hercules. Mrs. Washington was not a happy camper and apparently wanted her husband to do whatever he could to get Oney back. Washington was reluctant because he didn't want a fuss—didn't want to draw attention to the fact that he owned slaves. Everyone knew it, of course, but he didn't want it spotlighted, if you know what I mean.

I'm writing about Martha Washington. At first, I didn't think I could do it. How can I write about a woman who owned slaves? I didn't want to avoid the subject, but I didn't know how on Earth I could make people care about someone who owned slaves! Because I didn't know how I could care about her. Slavery is a terrible part of this country's history. I think we ignore that fact at our peril. Sometimes I'm not sure we can ever get it right—given the horror of our beginnings. This country was built on the backs of slaves. I think I've come up with a plot which will deal with slavery as part of Martha Washington's life; in fact, it will be the core of the story.

I've researching all the first ladies for a project I'm doing. Someone said, "You should just write about the interesting first ladies." So far I haven't found a single one who is uninteresting. But then, it's difficult to imagine any life as uninteresting.

Speaking of uninteresting, I'm afraid I don't have much news in the news department. I've been busy writing. I did watch the news briefing on Tuesday when the White House released Bush's payroll sheets from when he was in the National Guard. I usually don't get much comfort from watching others in discomfort, but I admit that I giggled gleefully during the whole of that briefing. Scott McClellan was like a deer in headlights. He kept holding up the papers and saying, "The president served. This proves it. It's a shame people keep bringing this issue up." And FINALLY the press wasn't taking it. They went after him. When they replayed it on C-Span I watched it again. I needed the laugh. Here's Michael Moore's take on it.

Arianna Huffington has a nice piece on Alternet.org admonishing the Kerry campaign to "Avoid the Call of the Mild." I'm with her on this. The Democrats have to keep hold of those millions who got excited about Dean. Don't move to the center, Kerry. You'll lose us if you do.

John Ashcroft has got to be stopped. If nothing else, we've got to get Bush out of office so that Ashcroft will be gone. He is now trying to get patient records of women who have had abortions. This Attorney General is determined to take away women's reproductive rights.

OK. I've got to go eat before I lose my appetite.

May you all Walk in Beauty!

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All photographs and written material copyright © 2003-2008 by Kim Antieau unless otherwise indicated. May not be used without permission.