I’ve made no bones about my support for Barack Obama. On the eve of his inauguration I am thrilled that he’s the person to lead the United States out of the garbage created by the previous administration.

Every incoming administration faces this to a certain degree. This time, the country is facing wars, economic distress and a hunger for intellectual decision making. The country is facing the severe impacts of cronyism, a lax regulatory environment and a bureaucracy hell bent on given the president more power. Hundreds of signing statements and executive orders that need to be overturned and repudiated. A bunch of broken departments across the government spectra (Justice, Health and Human Services ["morality" medicine anyone?] that need some ass kicking. This is going to be hard work.

Despite the sad state of things, I have hope that decisions will be made over the next few months that will make life better. Maybe not immediately, but in a few years, I believe that we’ll be happier, healthier and on the way to living more responsibly. I don’t think the Obama years will be marked by miracles, but I hope that they will be marked by competent decisions and brilliant people bonding together to realize at least a smidge of the human potential.

Idealist? Me? Yep. At least for a year.

This inauguration is a huge step for the U.S.; we are moving forward, proving, in no small measure, that we can do great things. We have elected a person of color to be president. I figured I’d be a grandparent before this happened. I figured wrong and gladly so. We did it. We made this happen. What else can we do?

I’m interested in your thoughts about this historic day, even if you didn’t vote for Obama or don’t live in the U.S. Please share below, if you feel like it. o

These look important, especially against the snow in the late afternoon. I’m wondering if I can come back in spring and pan for precious metals. Once the dog urine around the stakes dries up. o

I’m very excited!

Logistically, this means bathroom sharing issues will be more about time management than gym socks and too much alone time in there during the teen years. We hope.

The Mrs. shares the news:
This kid better get used to hand-me-downs | dooce®

Seriously. Very thrilled. o

Yep. Went for the pun. o

I hope he gets the help he needs:

Apple CEO Jobs to take leave of absence for health issues – Jan. 14, 2009

I don’t think this means Apple is “over” or that great products aren’t on the horizon.

I might be in denial.

UPDATE: Gruber links to this NYTimes story. I’ll repeat the most important paragraph:

“Two people who are familiar with Mr. Jobs’s current medical treatment said he was not suffering from a recurrence of cancer, but a condition that was preventing his body from absorbing food. Doctors have also advised him to cut down on stress, which may be making the problem worse, these people said.”

Don’t freak. o

I wasn’t going to post this until Heather was looking over my shoulder last week and was all, “Dude, the cloud by the mountain! You got it!”

So if you don’t like this one, blame Heather. o

The dog will sit like this for hours. Definitely Basenji.

Best part of that Wikipedia entry:

“In behavior and temperament they have some traits in common with cats.”

I don’t think Chuck is entirely Basenji. He sheds. He was well socialized and wants to say hello to everybody.

Chuck is a registered Democrat. o

I love that this hints of focus, but there isn’t a pixel that is in focus in this frame.

While this winter hasn’t been nearly as long or tedious or horrible as last year, it’s still winter. At least Coco is sleeping through the night and I get a few more months to enjoy night sleep. o

Our little Coco gleefully showing her love of snow.

This is what my face looks like (in human form) when snowboarding on a powder day, even though riding in powder is extremely exhausting.

I want to get some video this year, but I haven’t been able to get the dogs in full nature mode or in the right light. I want to get slow motion playing and that’s going to be a challenge, given that the novelty of Coco has worn off for Chuck. He still messes with her and is faster in the long sprints, but she’s faster out of the gate.

So far, this January isn’t as brutally cold, snowy or miserable as last year. And I’m not even counting the awesome snow thrower in the mix when I say that. o