Tonight Sparky and I will be having dinner with the boys. Son #2 is cooking (a rare event). It will be a welcome diversion as they don't get any TV stations. Their big TV is hooked up to the computer and shows only Netflix or streaming music/music videos. They are spared all the political ads. I can't wait for the insanity to stop. I'm sick to death of the mudslinging and name calling at every level - from school boards to the presidential candidates. Tomorrow I will cast my vote. In fact this might be the moment when we break all previous voter turnout records. I hope the precinct where I vote is prepared. They ran out of ballots in some places last time...

On the subject of insanity, work is getting crazier by the hour. I've waded through 8 days of emails that will beg to be addressed first thing when I arrive at work today. It almost doesn't make it worthwhile to leave for more than a day. To ease the chaos of a Monday morning, I'm arriving bearing gifts. I'm toting in doughnuts including the kind with sprinkles on top. I hate sprinkles on anything but my coworkers seem to adore them...

Sparky's parents left for Arizona on Friday just as I was returning from North Carolina. With them gone the Sunday night ice cream get together is no more. It makes it harder to keep up with the lives of all of Sparky's siblings. I kind of miss it. At least I was able to send their Christmas gifts with them this time instead of leaving them on the kitchen table until they returned in April. I'm hoping their trip is uneventful but the crazy drivers worry me. They aren't young anymore and Sparky's dad doesn't see well at night. Couple that with drivers that take too many chances...

Anyway there are too many folks anticipating the complete break down of civilization in the US based on the outcome of the election. Some people are convinced that the stock market will crash plunging us into financial ruin. Others insist we are on the brink of WWIII. I've heard dire predictions of mass terrorist attacks, assassination plots, and anarchy. There was even a Facebook post predicting outbreaks of deadly disease and the end of the world. One of a friend's friend was certain we would face a zombie apocalypse. I mean - Really?? People need to get a grip. I'm hoping that by Tuesday evening a winner will be declared and everyone will find the sanity they all have seemingly misplaced.

This is my last day in Charlotte. It has been educational and interesting. I have the following observations on this city:
1. There are lots of homeless people here. I can imagine it has something to do with the weather. Here it is the first week of November and it was 85 degrees today.
2. There is a tension in the air. On our second night there was a "Black Lives Matter" demonstration that seemed to turn violent. The police were in force and the protesters scattered. Three of us were walking back to the hotel and were yelled at and called some vulgar names - just because we were Caucasian.
3. This city is all about food. I have never seen a downtown with as many and varied restaurants. Then again I haven't been to New York City.
4. The conference had more security than even the Anaheim meeting where there were animal rights protesters. Granted they were very discreet. I must have counted 8 in the main hall and one at every door. The bathroom attendants were in twos - one of which was armed. Yeah. If you didn't look closely you wouldn't notice.
5. Not surprisingly I didn't see much of the people from work. I was basically on my own every day. I'm good with that.

The hotel bed was comfortable and the pillows were delicious (I didn't eat one). Even so I will be very happy to be home.

The last firing of the ceramics session yielded a couple more pieces. First is this lovely Umbellosphaera tenuis type I. It is from the Red Sea and is quite delicate looking. My version of the real thing is a little less fragile in appearance. I had tried to make the bells of the "flowers" thinner but the weight of the orb made then crack and break off before I could get it fired. This one is has Shaner's Clear glaze over Royal Blue glaze. I wanted the details to show up and thankfully they did!

Above is the micrograph of the real deal.

Here is my version. I am pleased with the colors and very happy it came out intact!