Super Tuesday; Super Morning

Bill and I agreed:  there's definitely a strong feeling of spring in the air this morning.

"As soon as I stepped out the door . . . ," Bill said, in response to my observation after doing the morning chores.

Tis the sounds of geese, crows and song birds, the feel of a slight morning breeze and blue skies complemented with billowy clouds. 

An overnight rain added a sense of freshness to the landscape.  

Not that we need any more water to add to the mud right right now, but this was brand new water.

Looking like a gorgeous March day ahead. 

And, this is Super Tuesday!

We don't vote in our Presidential primary until next Tuesday or later this week (for me with my anticipated absentee ballot). 

I do have an observation on this morning when voters in 14 states go to the polls. 

Essentially, the choice has come down to FOUR OLD WHITE GUYS and two women who haven't done so well in the earlier primaries.  

My thoughts:  millions and millions of dollars and air time spent on debates, townhalls, candidates stumping through the states, and we're down to FOUR OLD WHITE GUYS, every one of them older than this OLD school marm.  

For all the effort that has gone on to bring significant change in America, it seems like not much changes. 

Just sayin'. 

I'm almost positive that after today when my absentee ballot comes in the mail, I'll be choosing between ?????? OLD WHITE GUYS.

Betcha can't guess which WHITE GUY I'LL CHOOSE AND WHICH ONE I DEFINITELY WON'T. 

I'm figuring the "not" is probably a lot easier for readers to guess than for whom Marianne WILL vote. 

In other news, the other day when I went to town to take pictures of old stuff/icons in Sandpoint, I experienced a lifetime first. 

Never in 72-plus years had I walked more than five feet into the alley between the businesses on First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

So, I did. And, it was fun AND colorful. 

The alley had always been one of those "spook" zones in my mind, just like the "packing plant" on North Division, which my friend Glenn brought up in a Facebook comment yesterday. 

Yeah, that packing plant spooked me out as a child while riding a horse behind my mother who was riding her horse with a bag strapped over the saddle horn to hold frozen meat she'd pick up at Jack's Lockers. 

The packing plant (which is long gone) was a big white building that sat next to the pole yard.  

When you're 5 years old and someone tells you what goes on inside that building, it makes you want to cringe and could even lead to bad dreams.  

The few times Mr. Best came over to butcher some critter on our farm, I ran for the bed and stayed under the covers until he was long gone. 

Never quite escaped the impact of what had happened, though, cuz upon finally getting the nerve to go outside, I'd almost stumble over a big pile of bubbly guts just around the woodshed.  

For me, the alley downtown gave me the same beejeebers as the packing plant.  I was sure that nothing good went on in the dark, creepy place, so I just stayed out of it---for a lifetime. 

These days, a lot goes on in the alley, and it's not all creepy:  art, especially and endless photo shoots.  It would be interesting to see how many senior portraits have been taken in that alley. 

The other day a mom and her daughter entered while I was taking photos.  I saw a camera coming out of a bag and later learned that the daughter was turning into a teenager the next day. 

Mom wanted to take photos. 

Anyway, I still haven't made it from one end of the alley to the other, but that will come----within the next 72 years, I hope. 

Of course, while walking through and admiring the artwork, one thought comes to mind:  when does this artwork happen?  

Sorta like railroad cars and concrete structures---I think it would be fun in my lifetime to catch someone in the act and maybe even take a photo or two. 

One thing I know for sure: there's a lot of talent brightening up that once spooky place.  

I'm thinking the alley these days must be one of Sandpoint's "turist treasures." 

Enjoy the photos.  Enjoy the day and watch the FOUR OLD WHITE GUYS continue on with the American political tradition. 

Happy Tuesday.