One Busy Crazy Month in Michigan!

Wow! Since my last posting I went from a leisurely summer of reading, grilling and sailing to the intensity of a major congressional campaign working with some of the greatest political minds in the country. A horrific man made oil disaster that threatened Lake Michigan added to the intrigue.

Since starting my sabbatical, I have managed to plow through about 50 books in a short period. I was really getting into it. A cool drink, Quincy enjoying the lush green lawn and me in the Adirondack chair with a book. Quite a life. In between the sailing, dinner parties and gardening, Quincy was really enjoying his summer surroundings.

Then the call. One I used to enjoy receiving. But not now. I'm diggin' my summer in Northern Michigan. "Peter? It's Field. Can you manage my campaign?"

An old politico of mine needed help. He was running for Congress against six right wing conservatives in a Republican Primary. Field and I are of the old Milliken/Rockefeller/Ford moderate wing of the GOP which is a dying breed. Fiscally responsible and progressive on social issues like privacy and the environment. And, gay.

My answer was immediate. "Hell, yes, I will!" My passion for politics is innate. As much as I want to put it behind me, it is a struggle. A moderate in need is a friend indeed!

Twenty to thirty years ago, campaigns were nuts and bolts. Volunteers, typewriters, and lots of paper. That was what I was used to. Now they have computers, cell phones, the Internet and so much other new social medias.

I was a twit before Twitter!

I had five incredibly fast weeks to help my friend. The congressional district spans from Frankfort to Saugatuck. We worked like dogs. Field campaigned tirelessly. I was in the war room from 7am-midnight. Campaigns are grueling and you never know the outcome. All campaigns are the same but different. The late Lee Atwater said they are like trying to push jello up a hill and it keeps running over the sides. That is what I kept doing. I was managing a team of young people on their first campaign... a completely different generation with ideas about work and play that are vastly different from mine and the candidate.

But I was also working with some of the greatest political minds in the country and one exceptional communications specialist. Each day seemed like a week at the end of the day, just so much work that had to be done and was.

We had major momentum going into the last week before the primary. Then, the scare. A major oil line that few knew about ruptured and had leaked nearly 1,000,000 gallons of crude oil into the Kalamazoo River that could flow into Lake Michigan and destroy life as we know it in the Midwest. Fortunately, it was contained after five gut wrenching days.

Election day came and we lost. Not even close for us. Close between the far right candidates.
The causes Field championed and campaigned for are simple. Privacy rights, fiscal responsibility, care for the environment and let individuals live their lives are all basic fundamental values. Gay or straight no one can in good faith disagree.

The campaign did not go the way I wanted. Us old moderate Republicans may be out numbered now and we may still lose elections while fighting like hell, but there is hope, there really is. I'm still standing.

My name is Peter and I approve this message!

Dispatch! Lake Michigan!

Since the last posting lots of things have happened. On top of massive book reading and grillin' and chillin'!

I have posted pictures from last Thursday's sail that included a Blue Angels practice before the Fourth of July holiday and National Cherry Festival Opening Day.

When I found out back in April that my old political friend was running for Congress, I offered to do a house party back home in San Francisco. But with the change of events and my decision for a short term sabbatical, I found myself in Michigan. What started as fundraising quickly became a pivotal role, So that is what I am doing for the next month at least. I will be traveling through all the counties and getting things organized. With all the hard work of the volunteers and the candidate, we have a great shot at winning and historical, too.

My reading and sailing will be put on hold for the month and my postings will be from the campaign trail.

Union Pier! After Storm! Major Damage!

Saturday morning I rode with relatives to Union Pier, in southern Michigan and an hour from Chicago. I was having a quick overnight visit with my gal pal, Nance K. We started the table way back when the Ferry Building reopened in San Francisco.

About an about into the drive Nance had just arrived to her cottage and she called to say that the major storm that struck Chicago Friday night hit Union Pier. Power was out and trees down. She had loaded up on ice and that was a very smart thing to do.

When we entered the resort community there we huge trees down and many of them had crashed into homes. Nance was lucky. The three cottages around hers all had trees crash into them. I have posted pictures.

It was 85 degrees and muggy after the storm so we made a bee line to the beach which is private and only for the association and their guests. The mosquito's were vicious as we walked to the beach. The beach was spectacular and the sand was a creamy white and Lake Michigan was so blue and the temperature of the water was SO swimmable! Unbelievable so early in the summer. I had not been in the Lake in 13 years and it felt great. I looked just like the sea lions back home in San Francisco!

Nance and I swam and sunned for a couple hours. We could see the John Hancock Building and the Sears Tower in Chicago from the beach. We headed back to the cottage so Nance could get in a nap and I could take Quincy and Nance's Elsie for a good dog walk.

With the power being out until Tuesday, it was a good thing I had brought nibblers that I made earlier in the week. We nibbled on my homemade tapenade and a Greek roasted red pepper feta spread. Nance always has the best wines!

Dinner was made by candlelight! I had clipped fresh herbs from my garden in the morning so I made a tomato salad with kalamatas and a chiffonade of basil and oregano drizzled with olive oil and Nigel's dried lemon sea salt. I grilled a whole chicken "beer can" style. In the can I put garlic, lemon juice, wine, etc. and put the chicken over the can. This makes the best chicken ever! I grilled a bunch of asparagus and tossed it with some of the nasturtium butter I made for Nance. We had a Sebastiani Zinfandel and that made dinner just perfect.

As we we cleaning up, a light came on by the grille. I yelled to Nance in the kitchen that the power was on. She turned on a light and it worked for a second. Then we hear these explosions and cracking and the sky is lit up like there was fireworks. Transformers were popping along the road. Nance called 911 and they came within 2 minutes. Apparently, a huge tree limb that did not fall during the storm fell out of a tree and hit multiple transformers and started an electrical fire. I took a few pictures of the damage.

We both took off early Sunday morning, me to northern Michigan and Nance back to Chicago. All and all it was a fun trip.

FYI: I took a picture of myself on the beach. In that position you can really see the damaged collarbone!

Finally, the First Sail of the Season!

Yesterday the weather was just perfect for a few hours on the Lake. David and I took the raft out to the mooring and boarded Phaedra. She still remembered me. We caught a great wind and off we were, slicing right through West Bay. The views were amazing.

Grillin' & Chillin' in Hot, Hot , Hot Weather!

The past week, Northern Michigan was hit with record-breaking heat and humidity. San Francisco weather is perfect for me- 65 degrees most of the time. We had upper 90's and sticky, even at night.

While doing my day job as usual, I still find time to weed the garden, water the lawns and other chores. Evenings I can be found on the grand front porch reading with a vodka tonic before grilling dinner. Quincy enjoys the cool grass and every night he is rolling on his back in the lush lawn.

I enjoy the low profile since I have not been back here in 12 years. The area is so different from how I remember it. It still has that resort town feeling while remaining the small municipality it really is. It is a funny feeling that 20 years ago I was elected to the City Council and Mayor here. I went on a bike ride along the water the other day. On a bridge was my name along with some other elected officials. Not many people get their name on a bridge. But when I thought about it, it reminds me of a tombstone. My name carved into concrete. Humbling.

But I must say this break is agreeable. Never thought I'd say that. It damn near killed me packing up San Francisco and putting it all in storage there and then leave for my sabbatical. I'm cooking everyday, reading more books in the last three weeks than I did in the past 5 years. I'm even doing dishes since Mums has no dishwasher.

Sailing starts tomorrow if the weather clears. I'll be postings "Saturday Sailing" photo's for my Wine Bar pals back home in San Francisco.

OH! Mum's and I went to a shop yesterday and got these hip new sweatshirts that say, "LAKE MICHIGAN UNSALTED!"

More Pictures....

The Sabbatical Begins

It is hard to believe that three weeks ago today I made the decision that I needed a sabbatical from San Francisco, the city I love so dearly. But the time had come for a much needed break from the many personal pressures and my extremely unhealthy living environment brought on by a major mice infestation in my beautiful flat that I created. Even after two City Rodent Inspections, I could not get help to get rid of the problem. They literally got in my bed, damaged furniture, and were everywhere in the house. Droppings and messes daily. It became unbearable and I became physically sick. It was time for a break. My home was no longer mine.

I arranged for movers to pack up my things and put it all in storage until I return to my beloved San Francisco. My Mum's flew in and we drove across the country in a mini van with Quincy, since I could never take him on a plane. What a drive! Other than earthquakes, tornadoes or hurricane, we encountered every kind of weather all along I-80 to Michigan. It just kept following us. Snow, flurries, 30 degree weather, sleet, hail, rain, dangerous thick fog, lightning, thunder and more. Mum's even met a Jehovah's Witness that tried to convert her at a rest stop in a snow storm in Wyoming! We left on Sunday (Mother's Day) and arrived at Mum's house on Thursday at 5pm, just in time for happy hour!

Friday morning I had to find the only Bank of America ATM in this town and we could not find it! Once I called they said it was in the food court of the local mall....and it only allows withdrawals-no deposits. So, I have to bank by mail while here.

I quickly settled into doing the things I enjoy doing but didn't get to do much in San Francisco. I mowed the lawn. I stained the great porch. I cleaned the outdoor furniture. I rota tilled my old garden. Shopped for herbs, flowers, vegetables, mulch, organics. Quincy loves the new lawn and spacious property. Everyday he frolics in the back, laying on his back and scooting back and forth.

I have taken some pictures for your viewing pleasure of the garden so far, porch, flowers and tomatoes and of course, Quincy. So far I have planted new: dill, parsley, spearmint, pineapple sage, thyme, rosemary, nasturtiums and I have had for years chives, mint and Greek oregano growing like nuts every year. I have tons of arugula, tomatoes, eggplants, red peppers, yellow peppers, broccoli, cucumbers and watermelon, so far.