Irony. Levity.

After staying up into the wee hours to write a missive about gut feelings when relationships are ending, I was pleased to click on the NY Times this morning and see that columnist Thomas Friedman has written a column using that same, visceral word. His argument is a horse of another color, of course, but does says much about the last 10 days in the election cycle, and gives a good theory for why my man seems to be swimming upstream against a tide of insignificant diversions:

"If you as a politician connect with voters on a gut level, they will follow you anywhere and not fret about the details. If you don’t connect with them on a gut level, you can’t show them enough details. Obama early on, and particularly with young people, connected on a gut level like no other politician since Ronald Reagan.

But in recent weeks, I feel as though he has lost that gut connection....Forget trashing McCain’s ideas. If Obama wants to rally his base, he has to be more passionate about his own ideas. I have long felt that what propelled Obama early was the fact that many Americans understand in their guts that we need a change, but the change we need is to focus on nation-building at home. We’re in decline. We need to get back to work on our country. And that is going to require strong, smart government."

Incidentally, I spent several hours last night at a trendy A-street condo for a call-a-thon with the Southie Volunteers for Obama. There were about 20 of us, all ages, armed with cell phones and lists of other folks in South Boston who might want to be recruited to volunteer. It was good to meet some friendly neighbors, and talk to more on the phone. The group of us made 363 calls to mostly positive response, and persuaded me that I should join them canvassing in Manchester, NH this weekend.

Political affiliations aside, it was a reminder that I should get more involved in my neighborhood, period. New friends are nice. New friends who live down the street are even nicer. New friends who live down the street who agree with your political views, of course, are the best! :-)

(Just wanted to act like a teenager for a couple minutes. Thanks.)

Meanwhile, I promised to not abuse this space with nepotism, but here is the latest on Henry. After all this drivel about love and politics, who doesn't love these baby blues?

(Especially if you're a Democrat....?!)