Let Obama Light Up

It's a well known fact that our president-elect, Barack Obama smokes. But give him credit for working on kicking the habit, after all, smoking's not good for you. And as I can tell you firsthand, it's addictive (for me, it's been a 30-year addiction).

So, if Obama is tempted to light up while dealing with some international crisis, one hopes that he doesn't reach for the Marlboro Reds. But I'll forgive him if I see one lit. You know how hard it is to quit? Very hard! And I'm sure that he'll light up a few more times before he finally quits for good.

We, the American people, can give him all the encouragement he can use. But in the meantime, let him smoke. If that what it takes to calm him down, then so be it.

Okay...next item.

Brrr, Baby. It's Gonna Be a Cold One!: An Arctic blast is barreling down toward the Pacific Northwest, and is expected to bring snow to the Seattle/Tacoma and Portland/Vancouver/Salem metro areas this weekend. It's raining now in Portland, but come Sunday, snow could reach the Willamette Valley floor. Temperatures will dip down to the lower to mid 20s by Sunday night, and further into the teens Monday night (yes, Seattle, we'll be much colder than you. Break out the swimsuits, and swim in the Puget Sound).

Up in the Mount Hood area- just east of Portland- there are already reports of blizzard conditions (click here for the report from KGW-TV/DT: http://www.kgw.com/video/index.html?nvid=312816&shu=1 ).

So I'll be well bundled up this weekend, and much of next week. Stay warm. And if our president-elect needs a smoke, don't hesitiate to float him one.

(C) 2008, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.