Windchill

Last night ML and I went for a crosscountry ski with a couple of friends. A calm night, a brilliant moon - quite a beautiful hour, even though I'd had a little too much rum and wine to experience it with the clarity I would have liked.

Today, I was sober, and the sun was bright, but the temperature was colder than last night, and the wind was howling. As a sailor, I'm supposed to like wind (thus the title of these musings). But there are winds, and there are winds. Today's wind was bitter and nasty enough to make anyone want to stay home by the fire and do the Times crossword.

Instead, ML and I trekked out to the Democratic caucus. Our little town sends five delegates to the state convention. Kerry won three; Edwards and Kucinich, one apiece. After the first ballot, it was Kerry 3, Edwards 1, and Dean 1, but those who were supporting candidates without enough support to garner a delegate got to change their vote. Some uncommitteds went to Kucinich, and, when it looked like the Dean supporters were going to lose their delegate, they were persuaded to drop Dean and join Edwards with the hope of depriving Kerry of one of his delegates. It didn't work out, but, once again, showed Dean's support to be pretty shallow.

It was interesting to see how the locals lined up and to hear the arguements made for each candidate. There was perfect unity on one issue: beat Bush. Just the mention of our President seems to chill people like today's wind.