Greetings from the Berkeley CA "Beach Impeach!"

This is the exclamation point. Most of us in the dot were vets of previous Beach dots. (I was holding down the left corner by the gold tarp.)



It was a picture-perfect day in the SF Bay area!

Thank You!!

:)

Isn't it nice to have people come together in such a way? This is my 3rd Beach Impeach and a more mellow, yet impassioned, group you won't find. I especially like the way participants feel free to bring their dogs. They just add so much to the fellowship.:hi:

I LOVE you all!

:hug:

and there were tons of rubber neckers out.

Apparently Brad, the (tireless) event organizer was having some delays in getting a permit for the copters because of possible conflict with the Angels, but they were no where near each other. We didn't hear a thing from them - though some Berkeleyites said the Angels have flown over the area before.

sfexpat200 is Brad's media coordinator, and I think she posted about the BAs being so loud in SF last week she had to send her staff home.

:hi:

I wish I could've gone.

But I had no idea how to get there.

Haven't been across the Bay in three years. But I look at SF from every window in my house.

but it was impossible from where I live in the East Bay. Sunday morning transit is virtually nonexistent.

There're no public parking lots at the park where this was held, as far as I could see. I got there 3 hours early and parked along the road - but I wonder if others had difficulty getting there.

Nonetheless, it was a beautiful, fun, peaceful experience.

:hi:

My Gulfstream was in for service, and it was hard to get those overhead shots!

Didn't we look mahvelous? Were you there, and if so, where?:hi:

I nearly moved when they told me I'd have to morph but managed it!

:woohoo:

One of the advantages of being in the "!" is that we can just sit there while you guys run around reforming!:rofl:

lol

I wanted to go shout out for DUers at each letter but decided it would be embarrassing if no one answered.

:hi:

I love Beach Impeach. It hits all the right keys.

day in New York, too, but it wasn't by the Bay in San Francisco and we weren't busy being Impeachment Activists!

for the liberal Northeast. back atcha!

You have so friggin' much community I can't stand it!

I'm all alone here in Red State Hell
afraid to show my politics in public

I hitch-Hiked into town there in '76
Me and my little puppy dog
Couldn't find a job and a place to live
even back then

But I did manage to read my poetry after Gil Scott Heron
on open mike night at the Salamandra in Berkeley

At least I took away that

to the recruiting office. We were chanting and it seemed like every other car honked for us or waved or something. That was cool.

I need the exercise!:hi::popcorn:

(edit for spelling. blame the chardonnay)

:silly:

And, :toast:

(Maybe not at the same time!)

after. There's a bunch of DUers and other related reprobates at BI. :)

I'm a DUer and a reprobate. You're on.:toast:

Hey, wanna see what it's like on my side of the Bay?

I hope this works. I have no idea how to post a picture of my house or of my view(s).

If you were looking thru the lens, you could zoom directly in on my house. We are right over the point of Belvedere (the peninsula sticking out into the Bay.

This is a view from Sausalito. SF is over your right shoulder and the 'Gate is over your left.

It was heaven. I always used to say that I'd love to live there, but I'd have to be a Republican to afford to.

We were at 100 Shoreline, just across the Richardson Bridge from Buckeye House.

Are you one of the Code Pinks in the photo?

Come on out, I will buy the wine.

And you don't have be Republican (obviously) to live here. This is a very liberal community.

Come on over.

Tom

(Not in my own pic, of course :crazy:)

But I saw lots of cameras pointed at my chunky little self, so maybe I'll show up somewhere (other than a wanted poster).

Did you say wine???

You're on!!!

We know you're out there, and how frustrating it is to suppress your true convictions because you're pretty sure there's somebody who'll beat you down.

Best thing I ever did, moving to California. And I'm from Ohio!!!:hi:

Wonderful!!

:hi: :hug: :loveya: :pals:

Sorry about the Phillies...:-(

Mr. catnapper didn't have a vested interest in that competition. I told him SCE was from the PHL area and planned our dinners every weeknight, so we'd better root for the Phils.

Well, there's always next year!:hug:

Ah well, another season done, but the best one in a long time :D

Time for some 'ockey eh

:hug: :pals: see you tomorrow night :hi:

Every time I see stuff like this, I feel 'homesick' for my beloved Bay Area. It didn't take me the whole 15 years I lived there to think of it as home ... but I'll never stop thinking of it that way. Of all the places I've lived in my life, I've never lived anywhere that felt more like home ... and it always will. Believe me ... people who live there are blessed. There wasn't a single day - not one - that I didn't thank the Universe for that day living there. Even when the earth wiggled.

:)

I'd previously lived in politically conservative, geographically uninteresting areas. When I came here I felt like Dorothy in Oz. Without the witches and flying monkeys!

I finally felt like I fit in and could get ahead with my life.

:hi:

I still, sometimes, cannot believe that I am fortunate enough to live here.

View of Old Town from Sausalito..

I am directly over the tip of the Belvedere peninsula.
The Golden Gate is over your left shoulder, SF to your right.

When I was in Viet Nam, after Tet(69), I was sent on TDY to do classified work (that couldn't be done in-country) on the computers at Fort Shafter (aka Scofield Barracks). (It was the new Strength Accountability System I was writing/implementing - the master system of every individual, their MOS, rank, health, duty status, and in-country location in USARV. The kind of information opposing forces would kill anyone for.)

We were put up at the Reef Towers on Waikiki - because there wasn't an 'available' billet at Fort Shafter. I remember arriving at the hotel and walking into the room I was sharing with two other guys. It was on the 11th floor, as I recall. It looked out over Waikiki Beach at Diamondhead from the east facing windows and toward Pali Lookout on the north-facing windows.

All I could even think to do is take off my shoes and socks and curl my toes in the carpet - staring out at the vista - with tears in my eyes. I swore a solemn oath to myself to never - ever - fail to look around me, each and every day in the future, and be grateful for the blessings of the world I faced. Gratitude.

It was EASY to keep my oath in the Bay Area. But no matter what, I will honor that oath until the day I die. No matter what.



FWIW ... the best I can recall, the folks I knew (Judi's family) lived on Beach Road on the tip of the Belvedere Peninsula, out past where Bella Vista Avenue comes in. I visited them at home only once ... it was a pretty terrific evening and wonderful location.

Leaving the Bad Place and landing at Reef Towers.

Now there's some fucking transition for you.


Every Day, Buddy, each and every Day.

First of all, I'm married to a Viet Nam vet.

Second, we were married on the Big Island by a kahu.

Third, we visit Oahu at least once a year and visit friends with homes on the North Shore. We stay in Waikiki and drive right past the Scofield Barracks.

Well, our friends are native Hawaiians and kindly adopted us into their "ohana". So today I was wearing my flame red "Justice for Hawaiians" shirt while waving at the helicopters.

Have you heard about "Defend Oahu"? Turtle Bay plans to add over 3000 units to their resort complex, and the locals are upset beyond belief. It will destroy the ecosystem and the quiet, traditional way of life on that part of the island.

So far, it looks like big money is winning out.

(Sigh...)

When we had the time during our 4 weeks on TDY, we went over the hill to the Air Force (?) base on the North shore and used their vacant beaches. It was awesome ... it seemed like miles of unspoiled narrow beach there with palm trees leaning over toward the water. Quite an undertow, too.

The whole reason I love Tahiti (the island of Moorea) is because they're keeping it as undeveloped as possible, with a minimum of concrete. Absolutely all telco and power lines are buried. No poles. All beaches are public. It's the way Hawaii should be, imho.

http://www.defendoahucoalition.org/background.php

I'm just so sad to think that a place that's granted us so much serenity is endangered.

Whenever we'd ask our friends what we could bring to the house, they'd say "Stop in Haleiwa and support the local economy."

We'd go a a chicken barbecue in a parking lot and pick up some birds for dinner.

We'd go to a surf shop and buy hats every time from and elderly man. We liked honu (turtles), so he'd always tease us about it.

We'd stop for shave ice.

This stuff breaks my heart. I'm glad I'm old.

We called it our honeymoon. :silly:

To gratitude. :toast:

thank you for sharing, wish I was there with you all

:hi: :hug:

Still the best, kindest, funniest thread on DU!:grouphug:

Way to go.

:applause:

Amazing. Brad has great karma. :shrug:

All under a blue sky. :)

:hi:

It was 20 degrees the days before and after the march. It was 60 on that beautiful Saturday.

lol

And they don't cling to your cargo pants.

Link to his webpage again: http://www.beachimpeach.org/

and pitched in to reimburse him.

That's commitment!

...my favorite Berkeley park, the view of the City and the Golden Gate from there are awesome!

Were there any kites flying today?

Anyway, thanks for posting, wish I could have been there.

It was so gorgeous.

And the usual collection of colorful locals to keep us chuckling.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/07/BAP9SLTRT.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

Interview clips from Brad, Cindy and the guy who brought the huge flag.
Lots of crowd shots and some aerial shots.
Totally cool day. Bigger turnout than at Crissey Field.
We honked at you Code Pinkers on our way back from Top Dog!

and thanks KTVU (we'll ignore the Fox affiliation - we know you can't help it!)

I don't think any other local news outlet was there.

http://www.ktvu.com/video/14288856/index.html

It's after the piece on the peace run.

He said he couldn't believe no one else was covering this. I tried to point out all the differnt groups that were represented as well as just people who thought this was an important thing to do.

He did a great job!

after they passed on BI3. Maybe he wanted to make sure he never had to go through that again.

lol

I listen to it because it is one of the few stations (worth listening to) we can get here in scenic Lake Co.

Congrats!

I had on KGO and Brian Copeland was interviewing (gag me!!) Ann Coulter!:puke: Brian said there was quite a controversy about scheduling the interview (Bernie Ward, on immediately before, was very unhappy), and the callers I heard afterward agreed.

After 20 minutes of that mad cackling demon (Coulter, not Copeland) I needed a nice day with progressive peacemakers to cleanse my palate.

(BTW, I would have taken public transportation, but there weren't none from my area on a Sunday morning. One of the shortfalls of our otherwise fabulous Bay Area.):shrug;

When Brian Copeland said he was going to interview the Ann person, I yelled nasty things at the radio and turned it off. Gardening is much healthier than listening to a fascist shill.

:bounce:

My husband and I were at the top right corner of the first E. I was wearing hot pink but all I see of myself if a dark blob! It was a fun day. We mostly sat and talked to the guy next to us. It was something I would do again. I have to admit I am beat though. We went to S.F. yesterday to meet up with friends from out of town. Between that and today, I am tired out!

I'm beat, too!

Blobs for Impeachment Unite!

I'm usually a hang around the house kind of girl, so this was a big weekend for me. I even had to take a nap a little while ago lol!

:)

If you look at the pic on the indy link of the couple in orange t-shirts and khaki hats you can see me right in between their heads in the pink with sunglasses on.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/10/07/18452709.php

That's what makes the event so good...you sit out on a blanket in the sun (so far!) and actually talk to people.

I was beat too. That fresh salt air will do it to you every time.

:hi:

It's funny I was commenting to my husband that it was nice to actually speak to people in person for a change. I hope I can make the next one!

:hi:

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/10/07/18452738.php

There's even a pic of me and my better half.

198 Methods of Non-Violent Action from the Albert Einstein Institution.

See number 12.

I was with you in spirit though!

Good Job!!!!!

Beautiful sight...

:bounce: