Tuesday November 27

Five of us early in the hour, then at 5:30 a few more came until there were nine at 6:00PM. We celebrated the holiday train shows, at Citizens Bank every day and at Adair Village this weekend. And near the end, someone wondered, is nonviolence really the best way forward? I hope that it is at least better than war.

Monday November 26

Five people at 5:00PM, people gradually arrived until we had nine-ish at the end of the hour. Cold weather led to a discussion of warm winter clothing.We had tasty chocolate chip cookies, but some folks arrived after the cookies had left. :(

Sunday November 25

Nine of us for much of the hour. Near the end of the hour a group of college-age young folks passed. One petted the dog, one said, "Seriously, you guys haven't got anything better to do?", and one said thanks and flashed a peace sign.

Saturday November 24

Five of us for the half-hour I was there. A rainy day, we commiserated about working outdoors in the rain.

Friday November 23

Seven of us for most of the hour. Fourth Street was being set up for the Corvallis day-after-Thanksgiving Christmas parade. There was light rain early in the hour, which turned steady and hard as six o'clock came. A wet night for a parade. :(

Thursday November 22

Thanksgiving Day. One person arrived at 5:02, then two more came in the next ten minutes, and we ended the hour with three. More discussion of the protest at Fort Benning in Georgia.

Wednesday November 21

Two at 5:00PM, then one by one regulars trickled in until there were five of us at 6:00PM. It was cold! but not freezing and not raining :) . We talked about the previous weekend's School of the Americas protest at Fort Benning in Georgia.

Monday November 19

Four to start the hour, then five when the clock struck six. Steady rain at the beginning, but the rain tapered off toward the end. We talked about jumping in puddles and getting splashed by passing cars -- winter in Corvallis. :)

Sunday November 18

Five people for the hour. We had signs saying NO WAR ANYWHERE, PEACE NOW, HOW MANY DEATHS?, WASTING AWAY RESPECT. From a passing car someone extended a middle finger -- which slogan did they object to?

Saturday November 17

People came and went, so a varying six vigil-ers for most of the hour. We have a new sign decrying the Israeli attacks on Gaza.

Friday November 16

Our numbers varied from two to four. Twice during the hour a group of pedestrians passed and offered spoken "beeps" of support. Thanks.

Thursday November 15

Two of us to start the hour, four at the end. One person talked about seeing a coyote kill a deer in the dunes at the Oregon coast. The dance of life has beauty and terror.

Wednesday November 14

Four, five, six people at one time or another during the hour. One person, baking a potato in a microwave oven, had had the potato catch on fire -- fortunately, with no damage except to the microwave. Keeping abreast of (old) technology is a frequent topic. :)

Tuesday November 13

Three at the start of the hour, then seven or eight at the end. We shared some readings -- Nancy Mairs is a recommended author, and Sparrow has an off-beat piece about the presidential election in the current issue of The Sun magazine.

Monday November 12

I was at the vigil for only 15 minutes. The half a dozen others had enjoyed cookies with ginger and chocolate -- how could they not taste good? :)

Sunday November 11

Veterans Day. Four people at the beginning of the vigil, then one by one folks trickled in until there were eight at the end. It was cold and rainy, but luckily the rain was not heavy. We talked about Saturday concerts and about propagating fuchsias.

Saturday November 10

Four people to start the hour, nine when the courthouse clock showed 6:00. A dry but cold hour. We talked a little about outreach to high school students.

Friday November 9

Four of us at the beginning, about eight at the end. A six-year-old who joins us once a week brought a new sign "PEACE FOR CHILDREN", lettered more strikingly than plain printed text. There were several younger folks, a very welcome change from the older people who predominate many afternoons. :)

Thursday November 8

Two people to start the hour, seven of us at 6:00PM. It was cold but luckily dry. A young woman from Oregon State University joined us for a while, to talk about the afternoon presentation by Olga Reyes, a woman from Ciudad Juarez who has lost several relatives and friends to the violence of the war on drugs. The young woman remarked that many of her friends do not understand how United States policies affect other countries.

Wednesday November 7

Three people at the start of the hour, people trickled in until there were eight at the end. We talked about the election. One person "reported" that there had been a recount in the presidential election and that Mitt Romney had won. No one laughed.

Monday November 5

Four of us at the beginning of the hour, seven or eight at the end. The Monday cookies were "hamantaschen", a filled cookie associated with the Jewish holiday of Purim. Purim 2012 was in March and Purim 2013 will be in February -- we had an early observance? :)

Sunday November 4

On the first day of standard time, the second half-hour of the vigil was suddenly dark, but the weather was dry and mild. We count our blessings. Five of us at 5:00PM (the courthouse clock struck six times) and still five at the end of the hour. We stood in two groups to isolate my barking dog. :(

Saturday November 3

Five of us came to the start the hour, seven by the end. This was the last day of Daylight Savings Time and the last vigil with a full hour of daylight until spring 2013. There was a lot of traffic for a football game, and we saw quizzical expressions. A little before 6:00PM two bicyclists encouraged with with cries of "Power to the people". :)

Thursday November 1

Four at yesterday's vigil (Halloween!), then four to start today and six or seven at the end. Today our friend from Tucson stopped to say goodbye before his return to Tucson on Friday. We have appreciated his presence and his companionship. And a man who is moving from Corvallis to Boise came by to thank us and to take a couple of photographs to take with him. We appreciate his support.