Ballot Decisions? It’s going to be a long, long
weekend because I just know you’re going to spend it at the kitchen
table going over your sample ballot, right? Right?

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Tuesday, of course is Election Day, when many
true Americans grit their teeth, puzzle over choices, and head to
the polls. They like the feeling of voting the old fashioned way,
in person, getting the ballot from folks at the polling place, then
filling it out. Others, like Sue and me, have already sent in our
absentee ballots from the comfort of our home amid edgy discomfort
about whether we’ve done the right thing.

Still others apparently won’t or can’t cast a ballot on grounds
that they have better things to do, forgot there was an election,
the baby was sick, or they felt that voting just encourages
politicians.

I have never missed voting, even when I was in the Army. And if
I can stand it you can too.

Meanwhile, here are some ideas of what else to do this weekend,
after you’ve used a hatpin to pick candidates and yes or no on the
issues.

Out With Nature: The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge is a
lovely place for nature walks and visits to the new Dunes
Center.

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Info at www.dunescenter.org or call 343-2455. From Santa Maria,
take Main Street west. The center is a 1910 Craftsman building in
the heart of Guadalupe.

Empty Bowls: The 9th annual Empty Bowls
Lunch
fundraiser for the FoodBank of Santa Barbara takes place
this Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Rockwood Women’s Club on Mission
Canyon Road. A $25 donation will get you the choice from hundreds
of handmade bowls donated by S.B. potters, which will be filled
with soup from 24 top restaurants. For reservations, call 967-5741
ext. 104. Check first, because it sells sell out every
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Full Bowls: Looking for lunch? Ever think of
eating Chinese? Sue and I joined friends at the China Pavilion,
1070 Coast Village Rd., and found the choices inexpensive and
delicious. Call 565-9380 for reservations.

How about Chinese for dinner? One of my favorites is Madam Lu, on Upper
State. And my favorite dish there is sweet walnut shrimp. It’s at
3524 State Street. Call 898-9289.

Come on CAMA: Joshua Bell will bring his 1713 Stradivarius to
the Arlington Saturday night at 8 p.m. when he plays Brahms violin
concerto. He and the L.A. Philharmonic are being presented by
Community Arts Music Association.

Go for Baroque: Musica Antiqua Koln, a Grammy-nominated Baroque
chamber group, will perform Sunday at 2 and 5 p.m. at St. Anthony’s
Seminary. It’s another UCSB Arts & Lectures presentation, so
call 893-3535.

Play Time: The comedy The Foreigner,
in its final weekend, is staged by Santa Barbara City College
Theatre Group through Saturday. Info at 965-5935.

Gay Movie Time: The 15th OUTrageous! Santa
Barbara Gay and Lesbian Film Festival takes over the Fiesta Five
theaters Friday through Sunday. Info at www.outrageousfilmfestival.org.

A Bright Woman: Stretching the weekend a bit,
we have former Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright
talking at the Arlington on Monday at 8 p.m.
about her life and times in Washington and around the world. She
was the first woman secretary of state and U.S. ambassador to the
UN. She’ll also be signing her book, The Mighty and the
Almighty: Reflections on America, God and World Affairs
.
General public $40, UCSB students $20. There’ll be a private dinner
and reception. Call 893-3449.

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