My head in the game

This will be the latest in a rather long string of posts that I categorize as “Harry’s Diary.” They are mostly about my day-to-day activities and not related to issues, or any of my on-going projects. I’m sure they drive my PVC nuts. He’s encouraging me to put together a San Francisco style campaign with all the trimmings.

While Duluth is often compared with the City by the Bay our politics is operating with different drivers. The politics are much more local and until recently the Red Plan was a major driver. I’ll live or die by the voters reactions to that plan and since few good stories have come from it recently I’m not likely to suffer. Besides, a search for vindication is a pretty puny reason to run for political office.

My PVC was not here during the Red Plan and this is all new to him. He is making progress calling old allies of mine who opposed the Red Plan or its imposition without a vote. He’s also become aware how much of my potential campaign time ihas been taken up with being a doting grandfather. That will only change with the beginning of the new school year when both boys go back to pre-school/school.

In the meantime I’ve been doing lots of non-political housecleaning. When my son went off to work on his PhD he left a half dozen bins behind in the attic. He gave me permission to go through them and toss anything. Yesterday I started that process but only after giving the whole attic a general going over. It was hot up there and I spent a good four hours sweating away.

Consequently, my head has only been in the political game off and on. I did manage to get together with the Trib’s Editorial Board after missing the previous day’s interview. It was very cordial. I like newspaper people and don’t hold grudges. Besides, as I assured them, I was quite prepared to beat them up again if I felt a drubbing warranted. I said I’d be holding one of their editorials over them for years to come.

They will likely endorse four of the six candidates for the School Board’s at-large primary as four candidates will emerge. Later in the general election the Trib and the voters will whittle the number down to two who will actually be elected. I’d be surprised if I wasn’t endorsed in the primary. That would be a good occasion for a drubbing. Unlike some of the other anti-Red Plan warriors I don’t hiss and snarl at the Editorial Board in person. That alone ought to score me a couple of points. Even so, I don’t think their endorsement will make or break any school board candidate.

I had lunch with my PVC this afternoon. He wants me to let him know when I finally get around to updating my campaign blog. I’m in no hurry. Meanwhile he’s phoning up a storm.

Time to go. I need to organize my daughter’s shed. I’ll put my head in the game later.

Maybe tonight I’ll comment on the new Netflix series we’ve been watching, “Orange is the New Black.” I can’t recommend it but I won’t be missing any of its remaining episodes. That probably cries out for an explanation.

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