Since baseball season is over, I decided to take down my Cardinals theme and go for something more autumn-ish. The new pic is a Remedios Varo painting called "Woman Leaving the Psychoanalyst." (More on Varo's paintings here.) I have not ever been in therapy but I sort of feel like I could be, after the past week. Suffice to say, it's been very gloom and doom around here -- even the guys at the pizza place were worrying about the meaning of this election. I'm trying to do my best to cheer everyone up by reminding them I've spent my entire life (since I didn't move up here until after Bush was elected the first time) under a Republican government and even in Oklahoma it wasn't as bad as everyone around here is fearing. And in Oklahoma, Republicans are 2/3 of the voting public, not just over a half as they were in this election. But I do feel glad I'm here in a blue state, where certain laws will remain in place statewide even if the national versions are struck down. OK, no more election stuff. It's over (mercifully, at least there was no repeat of 2000) and the majority has spoken. I will continue to mourn in peace and keep one eye on Washington.

I went exploring today. I've been trying to get to the library for two months now, but because I have to go on Saturdays (they close at 6 weekdays and aren't open at all on Sundays) with one thing and another I just haven't managed to get there. But I went out determined today and finally found it. The branch I was at was very small (one room not even as big as the library in my 7th and 8th grade school) and hopping with kids of all ages and their parents. They seemed to have more reference books and children's books than anything else (given the clientele that was probably smart) but there was a good shelf of mysteries and I was really only looking for something for fun, so I got a few things.

Once I finally got my card and got checked out, it was such a nice fall day that I decided to wander around a little bit. I went south because I've never gone that direction in my wanderings, and I knew there was a bunch of stuff at 86th street (the library was on 68th) so I headed that way. (This is not as far as it sounds; the "Streets" in Brooklyn are very short blocks, it's the "Avenues" that are far apart.) I found a movie theater and some interesting looking bakeries and restaurants (it's an old Italian neighborhood with a more recent Chinese influence) and a really pretty little park with good benches to sit on and read (I didn't; the wind was a bit chilly if you stopped moving.) At 86th street, I found Dyker Beach Park, which had a large enclosed dog park (lots of very pretty dogs running around), a public golf course, and a nice playground, and some nice shops a little farther on that I didn't investigate to thoroughly because by then I was getting tired, and I still had to walk all the way back up. But it was fun. The weather is supposed to be even nicer tomorrow and then get cold, so perhaps I will go out and do more exploring. If I was really motivated I'd get up and go watch the marathon go by but they go through Brooklyn at about 9:30 and I'm not sure I'm that motivated. (Be sure to take the "Interactive Course Tour" if you follow the link, it's pretty cool.)

Guess I'll head to bed. Enjoy the last half of your weekend!