November 24, 2012

My Small Business Saturday Shopping

I spent $32 on Black Friday, mostly on groceries.

Today I spent more than $600.

I needed a new dryer and had planned to buy it from a Big Box company, but decided if I believed in shopping local, I had to shop local. So today, I went to a local appliance store. I bought my dryer, they will deliver it and haul away two appliances for me. Although the dryer was a little more expensive, I came pretty to close to breaking even because of the difference in charges for the installation/appliance removal. But the best part, was when the saleswoman said, "If you have any problem, you call us. Don't call the number in the manual or the number on the box. You call us, we will make it right!" That's when I knew why shopping local isn't just about the business, it's about the service. It is good for the business and the community, but is good for me too.

Then I went to a local jewelry/gift store. I was able to use my AmEX card which has a small business promotion, so got $25 off. I got the earrings I was looking for, but then I tried on these amazing, recycled wool, made in Minnesota mittens. And let me tell you, that Minnesota knows mittens. I spent a little more at the store, ($43 after discount) than I had planned.

Then to round it out, I bought 6 pounds of coffee from Muggsey's Beans. A local business that does most of its business on-line. http://www.muggsysbeans.com/ It feels a little weird to buy on-line from a store that I could drive to, but this is truly a small business, so its either on-line or at one of the coffee shops or churches that stock these beans. I've been buying beans from Muggsey, ever since he was one of the first non-Minneapolis/St. Paul, businesses to come out forcefully for same-sex marriage. He posted it on his website, and on his facebook page. And when someone said it would cost him business, he said some things were more important. It ended up boosting his sales a bit, as word of what he did spread. http://www.muggsysbeans.com/

It was a good day! Now I have to clean the house so I can let the delivery people in on Wednesday Or maybe I'll just have a beverage.

November 7, 2012

We need a constitutional amendment

That allows a governor to veto a ballot amendment, and would then require that legislators ha e enough votes to override a veto, if they want to get something on the ballot without the governors approval,

Or, just require a 2/3 vote of legislature to put anything on the ballot. Governing by amendment is decisive and inefficient.

November 7, 2012

AP is reporting Marriage Amendment in Minnesota FAILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, no link but reported on NBC local channel. Oh MY! I am crying. Minnesota Voter ID also loses!!!!

November 7, 2012

Minnesota Marriage Amendment....I still have hope!!! 86% reporting

Banning Gay Marriage Amendment (We want "no" to win.)

ONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1 RECOGNITION OF MARRIAGE SOLELY BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN
Yes 1211375
No 1314595
Estimated Blanks 33596
Estimated Total Number of Voters 2559566
Estimated Percent of YES* 47.33%

November 7, 2012

Jim Graves just pulled ahead of Bachmann with 75.36 of votes in

Republican MICHELE BACHMANN 124470 49.62%
Democratic-Farmer-Labor JIM GRAVES 125627 50.09%
Write-In WRITE-IN** 725 0.29%

November 7, 2012

Just got back from Graves Headquarters

People are staying strong. This is an amazing result. With 73 % of the vote in.

Republican MICHELE BACHMANN 120691 49.97%
Democratic-Farmer-Labor JIM GRAVES 120118 49.74%
Write-In WRITE-IN** 702 0.29%

November 6, 2012

Lines are long at SCSU

http://instagram.com/p/RspudIg9pz/

and at St. Cloud Library

http://instagram.com/p/RsixMWA9kG/

November 4, 2012

In line to see Bill Clinton. Doors open in 5.5 hours

20 people so far

Rally to elect Obama and Jim Graves.

November 3, 2012

Listening to a group of new voters talk about the Presidential election in a different language

Our community has a number of new Americans who have now been here long enough to get Citizenship. Many are voting for the first time. Their community organized a forum for new voters today, and invited many candidates to talk. I was there to look up voting places for people who needed that information (not many did. They were pumped to vote.)

The most interesting presentation was listening to one woman speak. Although most of the people at the forum spoke English, sometimes they used their native language because it was easier and faster for them. Sometimes there was an English translation, sometimes not. This time there was no English translation. The following are the words I understood:

"Mitt Romney" "Obama" "1 %" "99 %" "47%"


These new voters may be "English as a Second Language" speakers, but they are clearly high information voters.


That was it. Some of the above were said several times.

There were more than 250 people in that room. They were there for 2 and one-half hours listening to presentations and asking questions. It was amazing.

November 3, 2012

Bill Clinton coming to campaign against Bachmann and for Jim Graves!!!!!

http://www.mnprogressiveproject.com/diary/12519/bill-clinton-coming-this-sunday-to-help-jim-graves-defeat-michele-bachmann

This is my town!!!!!

I'm doorknocking tomorrow, and going to help at a GOTV rally tomorrow, so can't wait to hear more!!!!

Donate!!!!

http://jimgraves.com/donate