Gosh, what a difference a year makes.  We were getting ready to elect a new president last time I was here. 

This year's Fiesta was notable in a couple of ways: 

     1.   Horses caused injury or were injured in the parade;

     2.   For the first time in 80+ years, the parade began with a fly-over.


As far as I know, no horribly critical injuries were sustained by riders, watchers, or horses.  But I'm not exactly "in the loop".   One lady rider was bucked off her horse, and the horse fell on her.  That can result in a horribly painful permanent injury or death.  I believe the rider was able to get up and either walk or ride the horse to the end of the parade. 

A horse was spooked by something (a snapping leather strap?) and caused the wagon it was pulling with another horse to briefly run wild, causing a crowd to flee in fright.  There were some injuries to parade watchers from a trampling by people, but the horse was brought under control by the wagon driver. 

The Navy League made it possible for a fly-over to begin the Fiesta Parade. 

I noticed that no fly-over by a jet took place prior to the July 4th parade in Santa Barbara.  I wonder if this was in answer to that absence?  When I first heard about this, I was wondering if this would be the best thing for a parade with so many horses, who get spooked by some noises, banners waving in arenas, and other distractions.  The plane turned out to be a transport plane, so there was no extremely loud noise. 

I still see the confetti in our driveway, from the confetti eggs bought and broken on people's heads (or whatever) during Fiesta.  I wonder why the parents or children who are responsible didn't clean it up?  I still wonder why a parade that celebrates "Old Spanish Days" in Santa Barbara needs a military plane to fly overhead to begin the parade.  Our Solstice Parade has been ushered in by a group in blue clothing carrying a banner about Jesus Chris - to warn the crowd of the pagan festivities to follow.  True, there has been conflict historically regarding who has the rights to the land in California.  The Spanish, Mexican, American immigrants, and the mountain men have squabbled throughout history to steal the land from the Chumash, here for the 10,000 years prior to the arrival of the others.  We have conflict today regarding the illegal aliens crossing the border between the US and Mexico.  We have many Americans frothing at the mouth at the idea of illegal aliens receiving any health care from the American government.  So, maybe, the military addition to the Old Spanish Days Fiesta is not all that unusual.  I just hope it is not a sign of things to come. 
 

This year's Fiesta went on with no problems.  It was a good one. 

Now, in this campaign season, I see hundreds of Obama-Biden yard signs and bumper stickers all around Santa Barbara and Goleta.  You might see an occasional Gramps McSame(asBush)-Palin sign.  Very few. 

I do hate the campaign.  And as I heard this morning, most Americans memories last about 3-1/2 years.  Each campaign is said to be the 'worst ever'.  I like to search for the truth in these things.  McCain is just spreading smears on Obama, and trying to rig the election by disenfranchising voters, legally or otherwise. 

I only heard Obama discussing the actual issues.  In the terrible state the economy is in, McCain doesn't want to associate (or mention) Bush and how closely he supported Bush's policies.  95% of the time.  McCain admitted he didn't know much about the economy earlier in the campaign season.  He doesn't have to worry about finances much, he married a lady worth 100 million, they own about a dozen homes, and a bunch of cars. 

McCain said we might be in Iraq for "a hundred years".  How in the world does he expect to pay for it?  We don't have the money. 

Also, in a speech he called us all prisoners.  I think he meant to say "the agenda I set for fellow Americans" or something, but it came out as the agenda I set for fellow prisoners.  ??!!??  He is making many slips like that.  But many of them reveal quite a bit.  We are prisoners of conservative policies that have shown they do not work.  Since Reagan began introducing de-regulation (no more rules!) in the savings and loan and banking industries, McCain has been a steady supporter of de-reg.  He calls Reagan his 'hero'.  Those earning more than a couple hundred thousand dollars per year might consider these people their heroes, but I don't and I doubt the people who have lost their homes, filed bankruptcies due to catastrophic medical bills, and lost their pension and retirement funds (check into the Keating 5 Scandal) consider these guys heroes.

Upon returning to school, we've learned that one of our 3rd grade students received honored recognition from La Presidenta!

The boy created a display (picture/scupture - I didn't see it) of a giraffe eating from the top of a palm tree to enter in the Zoo's Fiesta celebration. La Presidenta purchased the art, along with 2 others, to display in her office for $100.

The good news continues all year long!

As I reminisce about parties of the past, something ugly lurks in my kitchen. I will have to wrestle with it tomorrow. I'm letting it get good and dry before I poison it. It's mildew in my cupboard from something gooey.

The Slime

The first time I saw my dad dressed in his Fiestero clothes, I thought he looked like he was going trick or treating! He worked at a bank so he had to begin to love the custom really quick.

At the marketplace, things were looking up - I got some castanets and a delicate little blown glass pony.

As I got older, it was even more fun to go downtown with my friends to "check out the boys ...er, the parade, mom. I said the parade!!!"

At 22, I'd seen what was going to happen and when so my ol' man an' me (my significant other) grabbed a jug of Sangria, and parked down by the parade starting point. We listened to the new FM album rock station give their crazy version of the event! I guess from their viewpoint 8 floors up they just saw a lot of cleavage and horse poo since that was what they talked about for about 2 hours!

Now, I just remember what fun I had back then. It isn't as much fun these days because it's too crowded. But the history of Santa Barbara is well-served by the yearly Fiesta.

I posted a brief note and some music for tonight, Saturday.  Enjoy!!