I have been very busy trying to do all the things that should be done between now and election day.   I am so greatful for the people who have come forward to help.   Some folks have done such an amazing job; it is sure what keeps me going.   I have not had the chance to get back to updating these Sun blog posts.    Hard to say what is the most effective use of my time at this point.    People who read this can send me a message through my website, ArtsFriends.Org – that way I wil know whether it is effective to take time to make posts here, and folks can learn a little more about me on my website.  Meahwhile, I need to get prepared to knock on some doors of potential voters today.

I just came back from spending 2 hours in my dentist’s chair getting a crown replaced. But you know what, I would rather spend more time with the dentist than make all these campaign fundraising calls. I hate having to ask people for money; but I do it because I know I would make a darn good Delegate and I need to pay for advertising, etc. You can make my day a lot better by going to ArtsFriends.Org and making a donation. Thanks.

It is really a pain having to ask people for money. At the moment I have to pick up the pace of that because the pre-primary reporting period ends on Tuesday the 10th. When the reports are filed (a week later) the “experts” will pour over them looking for who brought in the most money, and try to decide how people are doing based on that. It is certainly not a good benchmark because those who have a lot will probably get more because of a presumption that one with money has a lot of support. It may just be that one person has more wealthy friends than another.

Nonetheless, we need to play by the rules we have. At the moment, I have no idea how I stand relative to they other candidates, and they don’t know where they are relative to me.

I would much rather be out campaigning than asking for money. I know I am not alone in this. Most candidates hate the money thing. In any event, I don’t know whether people actually read these candidate blogs on the Sun or not. Still, I’ll put in a plug here for folks to go to ArtsFriends.Org and donate something. Some people think they can’t afford a big donation, so they give nothing. That is silly. Ten $10 contributions buy just as much as a single $100 contribution; and it means more because it shows a broader support. Well, I hope some folks from here will click on “ArtsFriends.Org”. We are constantly adding to the website too; but it all costs money. (Except for this Sun blog which is free and I am very grateful for that.)

As I said in my Campaign website (ArtsFriends.Org) blog today: “One of the things about being a candidate who remembers when the Beatles were a new group, and when telephones were connected by wires, is that it takes a while to figure out how to do my own ‘blog’ entries.”    Nonetheless I am up and running writing my own blog posts on both the Sun blog and my campaign website blog now.   On my own website I wrote about last night’s Towson Area Citizens on Patrol National Night Out caravan through the Towson area.

I still could not manage to post a video on that blog, but I got a picture up.    I had to do some stuff with Facebook to get the video up.   Then I referenced Facebook from my website blog.   I am sure there are easier ways, but that is the best I could do for now.

There certainly seems to be a lot of pressure to do the ‘new media’ stuff.   It definitely plays a role.   But probably what is really going to win this for me is the other stuff I did today.   A sign wave near Loch Raven and Register starting at 7am, then more work on the campaign in general as well as nailing down details on my first mailer, and then back out to do some more door to door campaigning.     People who do not know politicians don’t realize how much work (& money cost) goes into running for any office.

Well, basically I am tired now.   I wanted to get this blog post up; but now I want to get some sleep so I can be up and at the corner of Old Pimlico and Falls at 7 tomorrow morning to start another day.

     First, I want to thank the Sun for making this opportunity available.   It is a good use of “new media” as a means of informing voters.   

     I note that since this is published in the Sun (albeit on-line) I find that my “reporter” instincts are coming through.     Therefore it is likely that what I write here will be a little bit different from what the other candidates write.   

     I feel some responsibility and desire to provide insights here that I might not necessarily put on my website, etc.     I think of this a little more like a “reporter’s notebook” where I will be able to share a bit more about what it is like to actually be a candidate.   

     I am sure this will make my campaign advisors really nervous.   Nonetheless, it is what feels right.

     I don’t want to make this long and boring, so I will bring this to a conclusion now.   At least I’ll know the process of posting works.