Besides the swarms of people flocking the streets in Aspen today sipping bloody marys with one hand and waving little flags with the other, is the Aspen Institute’s series of events with speakers ranging from Bill Clinton, Colin Powell, Madeline Albright and even The Dalai Lama. One interesting panel discussion two days ago was on the 2008 election strategy of both candidates with Arianna Huffington, David Brooks, Stuart Rothenberg, Jim Wallis, Jonathan Capehart, Amy Goodman, and Jonathan Alter moderating.

Some very interesting things were said of Obama’s bizarre and unfortunate B-line to the Center. After, I spoke to Amy Goodman, and we arranged that I’ll visit the studio in New York when I get back, as she is indeed one of my heroes. I spoke to Arianna Huffington, (Hunter always had a crush on her.) asked me to write for her Huffington post, which of course I am happy to do. So, I’ll give you a link when it’s up. I just sent her my first post 5 minutes ago.

I’m no political master, but I did watch my political master husband at work every day. His definition was “politics is the art of controlling your environment.” So I thought about this with my ever-present notebook in hand as I watched the panel discussion two days ago. One question posed in the panel, and often in my blog emails, is how do you control your environment? Let’s be specific and ask ourselves how Obama is going to control it.

As Hunter always said “WE is the most important word in politics.”

So, my post is about who is the WE in Obama’s environment now? The swing voters or the unlikely voters? The FISA fiasco was a bad as seeing him in that black 10 gallon cowboy hat yesterday -- really gave me the creeps. Why is he doing this? Oh Democrats.

Amy Goodman had to interrupt Jonathan Alter when he said Obama has promised to pull out of Iraq. No. He’s being wishy washy on that already, and now saying he’ll consult the “experts” when he’s in office. Oh Democrats.

Walter Isaacson has created an interesting atmosphere in Aspen over the last few years since he took over the Institute. It balances the scary scene of 200,000 tourists on our streets with nothing on their minds but Gucci and Margaritas. Oh, I’m sorry. That’s not fair. Some have cocaine on their minds too.

Anyway, I’ll be going to see David Schoen talk about polling and the upcoming election at 5pm. Having drinks with my dear friend John Walsh from ESPN, and my hang-gliding buddy, Lisa Verzella after.
So, on the WE note, on her blog, Arrianna did mention to Obama that he should listen to some of his own speeches as inspiration. In one of which he said:

"This campaign can't only be about me. It must be about us - it must be about what we can do together. This campaign must be the occasion, the vehicle, of your hopes, and your dreams. It will take your time, your energy, and your advice - to push us forward when we're doing right, and to let us know when we're not. This campaign has to be about reclaiming the meaning of citizenship, restoring our sense of common purpose, and realizing that few obstacles can withstand the power of millions of voices calling for change.... That's why I'm in this race. Not just to hold an office, but to gather with you to transform a nation."

The question is, who is WE? If that doesn’t get him going, maybe this portion of that ‘ol document that caused all this celebration today, signed 232 years ago might help…

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States,..
…— And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

-- Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
Yes Indeed. WE is the most important word in politics.
Until next time, your friend,
Anita Thompson

Hunter's ex wife is wrong, wrong, wrong, on this. John Nichols from the Nation (who wasn't too lazy to research Hunter's later work) has already said that some of Hunter's most astute political writing is tucked away in his sports writing after 2000. Most of you already know, if you had paid attention, that Hunter wrote more in the last 5 years of his life than he had in the previous 15 combined.

The conflation of my own quotes, exaggeration of my words in these reviews by a hyena/sheep bread of "journalists" is getting boring AND irritating. So, I thought I'd set the record straight before I head out the door to the Aspen Institute.

Some journalists will never accept the fact that Hunter GOT AWAY WITH IT. He wrote what he wanted and when he wanted for his entire career and never sold out an ounce of his soul. He had fun, he moved mountains, and surrounded himself with those that loved him. He was sexy (even for the short time he was in a wheelchair!), smart and productive all the way to the end. Those of you reviewers and "friends", ex girlfriends, and jealous ex editors who can't accept the beauty that was Hunter, it's time you step aside.

Yes. I'll check in later on the brilliance of Amy Goodman, Arianna Huffington, Jerri Merrit, Terry McDonell, Ralph Steadman, Jonathan Alter, Walter Isaacson and others when I get back.

Your friend,
Anita Thompson

I've been consumed with Owl Farm domestic issues, NORML party planning, and getting ready to get back to classes. International law and basic Journalism will be my focus for the summer session.

I'll be at the Convention with Doug Brinkley in August, and putting out a special Woody Creeker to stack on every bar in Denver for that week. Should be fun. I do hope you liked the 5th issue.

NO, I didn't freak out over Hillary's decision-- I wasn't even surprised. NO, I'm not supporting McCain, and I doubt Hunter would support the guy either. Am I supporting Obama now? Yes. Would Hunter support Obama? I'm guessing yes.  Hunter supported Kerry towards the end too.

And yep, I'll be at the NYC screening of "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson." by Alex Gibney. I've given my thoughts on the film already. Very good work on Alex's part to focus on a specific period of Hunter's life and work -- I'm sensitive to biographies of my husband, and this is indeed the best film to see.  Alex doesn't try to sum up Hunter's entire life's work -- just the writing of the 60s and 70s. Well done. 

And the well is certainly not dry. Bill McKeen's new book arrived on my doorstep a few days ago. It's interesting to see a reputable editor/writer write a biography from interviews. Indeed Ralph Steadman's book is the best, (although it's not really a biogaphy, but a memoir) but in general, McKeen makes a really nice effort to be scholarly, despite the limited recources. It has far fewer innacuracies than some of the other awful biographies out there. The strangest thing is that such a well-respected publisher, Norton, has published this book about Hunter, mostly relying on info from the same wrinkled old drug dealer whom Hunter banned from Owl Farm years ago, along with interviews from several bitter exes. Hunter's five year victorious campaign to free Lisl Auman is given ONE sentence in the entire book. Bizzare. But Bravo to Bill for finally finishing a good book anyway, particularly with so few recources and while dealing with his own serious health problems during the writing of the book. Congrats to him.

What else? hmm. The weather is beautiful, the skies are blue and the peacocks are having fun in the sun. Life is good. All is well. well well...

Will check in later.

Your friend, going out to water the lawn,

Anita Thompson

P.S. My own Gonzo Way, which is the 7 lessons I learned from Hunter, is a slim book that I'm so glad is out there, particularly for the young readers who are confused by Hunter's actions. So, I was surprised and honored to read his son's (Juan) homage: a recent account of his own 7 lessons learned from Hunter posted here, especially the part about learning what to do after having seriously broken the law. Very interesting. Also, very cute of him to point out that Hunter was a romantic person. It is true that Hunter broke many hearts, but it is also true that there is one woman still in love with his spirit, at her keyboard, looking out the window at the water flowing on the Owl Farm lawn. Thanks Juan.

"It's time for the Democratic Party to go the way of the Whigs"

-- Hunter S. Thompson, in the kitchen in 2000, 2001, 2004.

I was never totally sure what Hunter meant by this. Often when he said it, I'd just shrug my shoulders, or other times I'd pretend to understand.  What I learned later, and especially today, is that as usual... Hunter was right.

During the Jacksonian democracy, which operated from around the 1830s to late 1850s the Whigs formed their party in opposition to president Andrew Jackson (well, at least his policies). 

The Whigs really loved the idea of Congress having more power than the President. They remembered, or at least read the history books about how awful things could get when a jackass took the throne. So, they didn't like the idea of a king-like executive branch -- today, the Democratic party, as you know, complains about the president or a powerful corporatation having the powers of a monarch.

They also promoted the idea of a sound economy and wisely financed government (the last Clinton left a massive SURPLUS in the treasury which, as you know, was looted by 2002.)  Their name, "Whig,"was an homage to the American Whigs of 1776, who fought for independence and freedom -- the kind of thing we preach to the rest of the world.

The Whig Party counted among its members such national political luminaries as Daniel Webster, William Henry Harrison, and their preeminent Kentucky born Henry Clay. The Whig Party also had a few war heroes in its ranks (even higher than Kerry, McGovern, and Wesley Clark) such as Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott. Even Abraham Lincoln was a Whig leader at one point!

The Whig Party managed to get two of its candidates in the president's office (Harrison and Taylor) in those two decades.  In our last three decades, we've been able to elect Carter and Clinton.

But, the party self imploded over the question of freedom and slavery. Instead of allowing freedom for all (in our case, 158 years later, to let all the votes count), they fought and fought among themselves to the point that they managed to nominate a really cool guy named Winfield Scott to run in the national election, even though there was a much more experienced Whig already in office (President Fillmore). But Winfield was popular within the ranks of the hip Whig crowd, but Whigs will be Whigs, and they let the less experienced Winfield take the spot anyway (yes, just like the rules committee did today) and thus, the Whig party was defeated in the national election. REALLY DUMB.

 And as any self-imploding, media-driven organizations will tend to do, within a few years, POOF. The Whigs were gone.  

Thus, after today's death by committee, I now understand what my husband meant. The Beginning of the end for the Whigs was the Compromise of 1850. Today will be remembered (I bet) as the Compromise of 2008.

Until next time, your friend going the Way of the Whigs,

Anita Thompson

P.S. Sunday morning update: Lord. Sad, but not suprising news from CNN: One of my (former) heroes, Donna Brazil, just admitted that she helped make the fateful decision with the Rules Committee on 3 hours of sleep. 

 I was fortunate enough to go the the fabulous Mountain Film Fest in Telluride last weekend to do a Q & A after Gonzo, and do a book signing (next to Samantha Power), along with watching the panel discussions on torture and human rights.  Documentary Taxi to the Dark Side deals with the issue of torture and many experts discuss the results of torture. One of which is sleep deprevation. Scientists know that sleep deprivation is the main factor in turning humans into "babbling idiots" as one of the guards noted. So sad.

-- famous line often quoted by Hunter S. Thompson...

Ah -- home sweet home. I've managed to pack in about 4 months of activity into the last 4 weeks. My niece and nephew came to tour parts of Europe with me the last portion of my stay. We started in London, then went through France, Switzerland, Italy, then finished in Poland. We saw my father and family in Krakow, with the last stop being our massive family apple orchards outside of Warsaw. 

Off our eight hour flight from Europe to Philadelphia, our first step on to US soil meant me being detained by US Customs for the 3 family apples I apparently still had in my bag. They wouldn't even let me take one last bite. Three Federal Customs officers seized them all(I guess one agent for each apple). My niece and nephew waited patiently outside. It was pretty scary, coming home to that kind of scene. As Hunter always said, it DOES matter who is running your government.

But I did make it back to Owl Farm without an apple lawyer, and Woody Creek is peaceful and beautiful, even after a record snowfall year. Writers/caretakers Andrew and Jonathan aged considerably after each consecutive snowfall which damaged the roof, porch, flower beds and almost everything else. But all is well and sunshiny now that it is Spring. The peacocks are in full character, along with the daffodils, tulips and Jasmin.  I spent half the day yesterday planting pansies, which were already taller this morning.

But yes, so much seems to have changed while I was gone. The first thing I saw on American CNN was a shot of Obama mentioning how he had been campaigning in all fifty seven (57) states. Wow, I thought. Things have changed. Even my mom immediately mentioned (with a wink) that Bill Clinton had switched his support to Obama too.

Which leads me to what I've been meaning to write to you for some time now.  I have been totally wrong about Barack Obama. I underestimated him completely.  To say he was too inexperienced, young, naive and hip to run for president was unobservant and stupid of me.   Anyone who has the balls to stab his mentor in the back, with the whole nation watching, must be ready for Presidential politics. Jeramiah Wright had been one of Obama's mentors for over two decades -- including his controvercial, bitter sermons. Obama called him "uncle," but, Jeramiah wasn't needed anymore.... Obama now has Oprah, the Kennedys, and even Melissa Etheridge! Not to mention his arugala eating, latte sipping support base who not only found this betrayal normal, they actually applauded him for it.  Bizarre.

So anyway, I was wrong. Although I find that behavior despicable, anyone who can do that to friend or mentor, and still cast his colagate smile, must certainly be ready for the White House, right?

In the beginning, as in a couple years ago, I wasn't really a fan of Hillary either. But, watching how  unfairly the majority of talking head pundits treated her, and learned that they have been for the last 35 years, I gained more and more respect for her as the months passed by.  She is tougher than I imagined. That she ran a flawed campaign can't be denied. That she has served this country from behind the scenes and front-n-center for the last 35 years also can't be denied. Please do keep in mind that she was outspent 4-1 in those states that she won (and most that she lost). That is pretty victorious in my opinion. That she would have been the best candidate? Only time will tell, if more testosterone enters the white house.

One thing Hillary has done is that she has created a powerful grassroots network of political camps all over the country. If Hillary really is out of this presidential race, there are going to be empowered groups of women all over the country that will need to get into local politics or SOMETHING to avoid deadly estrogen buildup. They saw her strength and class, and were not entertained by it, they were actually awakened by it. Perhaps Hillary, after taking a rest, will make a tour around the country to help organize women into local politics. That would be beautiful, and truly revolutionary. But she shouldn't wait too long, as Sojourner Truth warned us in 1867...

I am for keeping the thing going while things are stirring; because if we wait till it is still, it will take a great while to get it going again. -Sojourner Truth, Equal Rights Convention, New York.

All politics is local anyway, right? Plus, with all the abuse Hillary has taken just for running against a young, hip, slick politician, it becomes martyrdom after a while. Perhpas it IS time to lovingly detach.

I'm no political expert, so maybe I'm overthinking. But what HAPPENED to this primary, I wondered last night as I gulped the last of my tea.  Could it be the simple fact that Obama was smart enough to listen to his wife while Hillary was dumb enough to listen to her husband? Nah. SURELY, it's more complex than that.

Anyway, I'm going back to the garden.

Until next time, your friend in Woody Creek,

Anita Thompson 

p.s. My sincere condolences to the Kennedy family for the tough road ahead. But the Senator is a strong man, and I wish them all the best of luck.

Il y a des années, ils disaient que j'étais un prophète.
Je leur répondais"Non, je ne suis pas un prophète."
Ils me disaient "Si, tu l'es!"
Maintenant, je vais vers eux et je leur dis" c'est Jésus, la solution."
Et là, ils disent"Bob dylan, ce n'est PAS un prophète"

-- Bob Dylan, 1980, quoted from a book, "Bob Dylan" by Silvain Vanot, that I bought on a Paris street for my dear friend Shelby.

When I arrived in France, not having spoken french in about 15 years (only taken it in school while living in Switzerland), my fench was about  the level of a 5/6 year-old. So, now, after a couple months here in Europe, traveling around and taking some French classes, I can proudly say that I can at least speak with the confidence of an teenager. Thus, I can't tell exactly what Bob is saying in the above quote, but it might have something to do with not being able to prophesize that Hillary would happily win Pennsylvania in April 2008, Jesus is great, and one day, 28 years later, he would be wishing Hunter and Anita a Happy Wedding Anniversary.

I'm wrapping up my Europe trip. Besides brushing up on my french before going home to Owl Farm, and then to summer classes in NYC, it really has been good for me to expatriate for a couple months, I realized -- and good to be away from my Hunter world, which started exactly 10 years ago, when I was 25 years old.

Among many other things, one thing I've learned is that I suck at dating. I didn't have any idea how to do it when I met Hunter at 25, and am even worse now. I don't want to turn into cat lady, but I might just prefer my own company. And maybe others also prefer that I keep to myself. Yikes. 

In Paris, I went out all the time with a fun group of friends, but here in Geneva, I like to be with myself and only myself. Read, jog, email, eat, sleep, yoga, read, jog, email, eat sleep etc.... Right now, as I look at my wedding ring, which I put back on today, Feist is playing on my iPod, and I'm content. My feelings for Hunter have not changed a bit since he died, and I have accepted that I will miss him forever. But I have an open heart, so the reason I'm not good at dating has nothing to do with him. It's something else, but I just don't know what.

The final mystery is oneself... who can calculate the mystery of one's own soul? -- Oscar Wilde

Although I haven't had tons, I've been so lucky with the love affairs I have had in my lifetime -- don't regret a single one. But, ugh, dating is something that should be illegal. It's just awful. Anyway, on my wedding anniversay this year, I'm not at Owl Farm (which is very secure, after that quack incident); I'm here in Geneva, planning the last few weeks to take my niece and nephew to see a bit of Europe.

We're starting in London after the Elle Magazine interview, then Paris, then Switzerland... depends on weather, but certainly to Lugano to show Brittany my high school, and see if I can get her to enroll. Doubtful, but I'll try... Then... overnight train to Krakow for 3 days to see the Old City, Wieliczka Salt Mine, and, I'm going to take them to see Auschwitz, as some of our family members were in camps like this. Very awful, but important, I think, for them to see the good the bad, and yes, the ugly. Then we will go to Warsaw to see family for a 3 days, then back home --about 2 weeks. I'm very happy to spend the time with them here.

So all is well in my heart today, not just because of Hillary's victory in Pennsylvania and it being the SOCCER MOMS UNITE vote. My trip was good, Da Capo is working on the galley of the book of Hunter's Interviews which I edited this winter, and I think you will love. we should have gallies by this summer.  I'm honored that Christopher Hitchens is writing the Forward.  My family members are on their way, and well, not having a car (my little $600 Ford finally died before I left for Europe), I don't personally have to worry that a barrell of oil costs $115.  At least not today.

I'm going to leave you with some of Hunter's words about our little wedding. If you are planning a wedding, I highly recommend doing it this way: It's the Gonzo Way:

It was done with fine style and secrecy in order to avoid the looting and drunken violence that local lawmen feared would inevitably have followed the ceremony.

I know nothing about planning even the simplest wedding, nothing at all, and neither does sweet Anita, who is now my Wife... So we did it the Buddhist way. We drove straight to the County Courthouse on a stormy Thursday morning and were happily married by noon.  Sheriff bob performed the ceremony, his wife [Louisa] took pictures, and a black priest from Sicily handled the video camera. It was fun.

Our honeymoon was even simpler. We drank heavily for a few hours with Chris Goldstein and accepted gifts from strangers, then we drove erratically back out to the Owl Farm and prepared for our own, very private celebration by building a huge fire, icing down a magnum of Cristal Champagne, and turning on the Lakers-Timberwolves game until we passed out and crawled to the bedroom.  Omnia Vincit Amor.

-- Hunter S. Thompson, Hey Rube, 2003

Until next time, your friend, 

Anita Thompson

Johnny Depp called me from France last night and asked what I knew about Osama bin Laden.

"Nothing," I said. "Nothing at all. He is a ghost, for all I know. Why do you ask?"

"Because I am terrified of him," he said. "All of France is terrified.  I was in the American Embassy today when they caught some terrorists trying to blow it up.  I freaked out and rushed to the airport, but when I got there my flight was cancelled.  All flights to the U.S. were canceled. People went crazy with fear."

"Join the club," I told him. "Almost everybody went crazy over here."

"Never mind that," he said. "Who won the Jets-Colts game?"

"There was no game," I said. "All sport was canceled in this country -- even Monday Night Football."

"No!" he said. "That's impossible! I've never known a Monday night without a game on TV. What's the stock market doing?" 

"Nothing yet," I said. "It's been closed for six days."

"Ye gods," he muttered.  "No stock market, no football -- this is Serious."

Just then I heard the lock on my gas tank rattling, so I rushed outside with the shotgun and fired both barrels into the darkness. Poachers! I thought.  Blow their heads off! This is War! I fired another blast in the general direction of the gas pump, then went inside to reload.

"Why are you shooting?" Anita screamed at me. "What are you shooting at?"

"The enemy," I said gruffly....

...Indeed. but the New York Stock Exchange opens in thirteen minutes, so I have to get a grip on somthing solid. The Other Shoe is about to drop, and it may be extremely heavy. The time has come to be strong. The fat is in the fire. Who knows what will happen now?

Not me, buster. That's why I live out here in the mountains with a flag on my porch and loud Wagner music blaring out of my speakers. I feel lucky and have plenty of ammunition. That is God's will, they say, and that is also why I shoot into the darkness at anything that moves."

--- Hunter S. Thompson, Hey Rube (2001)

So, here I am, on my way home soon, and realized I need to address one specific blog reader today. The loads of anti-Hillary emails are fine. I can't possibly reply to them all, but I do try to read all that come in. But Mr. Violent, you know who you are, should know that threats and photos of your guns and ammunition do not intimidate me one bit. These macho, idiotic, and may I add, ILLEGAL threats to me have been sent to the proper authorities and security has been beefed up.  Reminder to any other kooks out there that Owl Farm is still fortified, and Hunter taught me to use more than just the microwave. 

There are many right-wing, macho, non-"vegetarian" blogs out there. I suggest you read those instead. I will continue to write in my own personal voice. So kindly, Back Off. 

Sincerely,

Anita Thompson

P.S. as for rest of the emails, yes I do plan to support Hillary from Owl Farm specifically, IF IF IF she wins the nomination. But yes, it's an uphill battle and yes, I forgot to mention Pennsylvania. For those of you who want to make phone calls for her in the next 24 hours, you can sign up here.

New York Times  reported it this way:

David Saunders, a Democratic strategist and rural advocate, advised John Edwards’s presidential campaign but is now neutral. He said he believed that Mr. Obama’s comments would offend rural voters.

“It could mean he’s rendered himself unelectable,” Mr. Saunders said. “This is a perfect example of why Democrats lose elections.”

 But, nobody can put it better than Hunter, specifically what he wrote in Hey Rube, about Gore not understanding the Republican machine, specifically in Florida:

Ho ho ho. Whre the fuck did he think he think he was - in some friendly Civics class? Hell no, he was in Florida, arguably the most vicious and corrupt state in the Union...

... The whole Presidential election, in fact, was rigged and fixed from the start.  It was a gigantic Media Event, scripted & staged for TV.  It happens every four years, at an every-increasing cost, & 90 percent of the money always goes for TV commercials. Of course, nobody would give a damn, except politics is beginning to smell like professional football, Dank & Nasty. And that's a problem that could haunt America a lot longer than four years folks.

-- Hunter S. Thompson, Hey Rube

You know I've said, ad nauseam, how nice it would be to have a democrate, Hillary, who actually has the wisdom and experience to beat the republicans at their own game. But, we shall see, right? My friend Curtis made me laugh once when he said "No, I don't belong to any organized political party, I'm a Democrat..." yep. 

A thoughtful blog reader emailed me the other day. Obama has given so many people "hope" with his gorgeous speeches, good looks, vitality and charm. He seems so great. And he is... but there is another side to Obama that is starting to show.  Brian, from Pennsylvania, was saddened by Obama's attitude:

Well, I’ve been reading the parts of your blog about your support of Hillary through an "Obama filter" up till now. I mean, Obama seemed like a pretty solid lock to me. Good ideas on his website. Maybe they are.

Barack has some great ideas, I think. And he expresses them well. For example, his recent comment touching on the flap over his former pastor’s fulminations about race cut close, in a general way, to the truth:

"If White America were music, it’d be a John Philip Sousa march.  If Black America were music, it’d be a jazz orchestra, with blue notes." But, with his "bitter" comments about Pennsylvanians "clinging to God and guns," I’ve had to rethink.

My people on my father’s side are Scotch-Irish going back to Appalachia during and before the Revolutionary War. Nobody out of all that side of the family tree ever "clung" to anything. They stood up for what they believed in. For Obama to so characterize such folk nowadays seems out of touch. With what else human might he be out of touch?

Your friend, Brian

Well put, Brian. As you know, in my humble opinion, Hillary is the best candiate ... Ta da... Enough for now. I've gotta run.

Though I MUST tell you about my last day in Paris. I skipped yoga and ditched French class early to spend a few hours in the Babylon exhibition at the Louvre. If you get the chance, I highly recommend this exhibition of aritifacts and explanations of the missing Babylon that has captured the imagination and even became one of the seven wonders of the world despite the fact that we have no actual architecture of the city to examine! It has been criticized as an evil city but also described as one of the holiest and most advanced places on earth. I could have spent the whole day, but only had an afternoon. Well worth it.

Of course, I had to say goodbye, once again, to our beloved Mona Lisa. Choosing to skip everything else in the museum that day, I did do an American-style power walk up to le deuxieme etage, 7th gallery to bid adieu to her beauty. It was a treat indeed.

Having a few hours before my evening train depature, it was necessary for me to at least walk to L'Hotel (Des Beaux Arts), Oscar Wilde's last home. It was just going to be a place for me to have tea and say hello to Mr. Wildes' spirit. But, the most incredible thing happened. It is as if nothing has changed since Nov 30th, 1900 (except the wallpaper is rather nice).

After my tea, two sweet hotel managers, wearing dark purple velvet blazers, green ties and bright smiles, showed me around.

But the most incredible journey was on my own... down to the wine cellar, where Wilde himself would make his selections. As I winded down stone stairwarys deep under the Paris ground, I started to sink into a serious time warp, like going down to a sunless sea. I studied the stone walls, the bottles, the ground, the musty air down there. It was, well, as if I had dropped a hit of acid... The sense of timelessness, Hunter, Wilde, Absinthe, and all of underground Paris history filled me to the brim. 

I have no idea how long I was down there, but it must have been quite a while, becuase when I came back up, and out the hotel front door, the sky was still blue, as before, but during my time underground, a heavy storm had passed over and drenched the streets with rain.

Still filled with my own private thoughts, I started to feel the ever present melancholy as I walked toward the train station, head down, looking at the wet cobblestone street. What did I see when I turned the corner and looked up? A HUGE BRIGHT RAINBOW ARCHING OVER NOTRE DAME!  It was like a scripted film. If only I were Oscar Wilde or Hunter, I would have the words to express to you what that moment was like.  

 That last day, filled with ancient Babylonian history, tea time at Des Beaux Arts, a wink to the Mona Lisa, journey under the earth to visit Mr. Wilde with Hunter in my heart, ended in Extreme Beauty.  If you havn't already, I wish the same experience, in this liftetime, to you one day! All I can say is... Wow.

So now, I'm back in Geneva, finishing my classes here, and going back home to Owl Farm in a few weeks. Elle Magazine is flying me back in 10 days for an interview re: the release of the Gonzo Way in the UK, which should be fun. But it's time to go home. I'm ready.

Okay. Take care. Your friend on her way home,

Anita Thompson

- line from the movie Moulin Rouge (2001)

One night after watching that movie, I grabbed one of my old oil canvases from my oil painting days and painted (not even with paint, but with gesso) those words on the canvas. As cheesy as it might sound, it was fun, so Hunter and I hung it on the wall. I still have it. Those words splashed on a not-so-great mountain landscape in a huge gold frame. 

Anyway, I just bring this up because when I arrived in Paris last sunday, I gave the taxi driver my hotel address and as we drove up to my hotel (which I had no idea where it was) was in the Moulin Rouge district. Very easy to spot with the red windmill and the streets and streets of sex theatres. I also found out very quickly, that this area, also known as Montemarte area (because of Montemarte!) is one of the greatest sweetest areas of Paris. When I used to come in my earlier years with my family to visit Paris, we didn't come to the bohemian hubs.

A few nights later, I moved a little closer to my school in the center of Paris. The room is as small as a closet, but it has a huge window that overlooks central Paris, and the whole Montemartre area and the top of Sacre-Coeur. C'est beautiful!

I've met some great people from both my french language school and yoga studio. This weekend I spent some time with two lovely artists Shelly De Vito (who instructed one of my yoga classes) and her husband, graphic and architectual artist (& chess champion) James. We had a nice dinner in Montemartre, talked about Shelly's work in the theatre and  La Spirale d'Or which is a group of artists that work together internationally. It's wonderful energy in this city. Their dear friend, author of The Lord of The Barnyard,  Tristan Egolf, who passed away in 2005, was deeply inspired by Hunter. It was good to talk about loved ones on the other side.

The school work, walking around Paris and the interview ms are some of the reasons I've been out of pocket. But I'm headed back to Geneva soon, then after a week or so with my niece and nephew, will fly back home to Owl Farm. The Woody Creeker should be in the mail now. The home crew had some problems getting it out the door. But they should be sent out by now. If not, I'll fly home sooner. 

We'll also catch up on the Hillary/Obama issues. The news coverage here in Europe is much different than it is in the States. I have no idea what is going on with Britnie Spears, but BBC keeps me up to the minute news on the Zimbabwe elections, Tibetan protests, Bush/Putin AND Sarkozy/Brown Brotherhoods and the weather all over the world. I haven't heard a word about Hillary, Obama, McCain until I log on and check my NYTimes, Post, etc....

Will check in soon. I'm tired tonight, and now a little depressed. It rained all day. I went to Hotel De Ville on Ralph's advice to see a photo exhibit a day early  to attend a rally that organizers staged to try to push the French governement to force the release or at least medical aid of Ingrid Betancourt. What that woman has gone through all these years, I can only imagine.

Otherwise, Paris is fantastic. I only wish... well anyway...

Until next time, your friend,

Anita Thompson

p.s. My wonderful brother Peter, after correcting many typos in the blog last night, emailed this to me this morning:  

The Moulin Rouge quote, just like all the other songs in the film, is not original.  It's a Nat King Cole song (originally written by Eden Ahbez in 1948) called Nature Boy:

NATURE BOY
Written by Eden Ahbez

There was a boy
A very strange enchanted boy
They say he wandered very far, very far
Over land and sea
A little shy and sad of eye
But very wise was he

And then one day
A magic day he passed my way
And while we spoke of many things
Fools and kings
This he said to me
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return"

-Pete

P.P.S. For those of you who have noticed I tend to have typos in my blogs; my disclaimer is that I have been diagnosed with Irlene syndrome, (severe light sensitivity). So, words on a page blur and move around unless I'm wearing my dark filtering glasses, which only help, but doesn't solve the problem. It's often misdiagnosed as dyslexia, but in my case, and the case of an estimated 2 million Americans is photophobia. That's another reason nobody ever asks me to proofread their writing. It's not that I don't care, I simply don't SEE letters/words correctly. Sorry!!! 

As I prepare my bags for a trip to Paris tomorrow for business and a little study, I did a quick log on to see what they've been saying about Hunter's good friend Jame's Carville after he compared Benedict Richardson Arnold to Judas. They've been bashing Hillary since day one, but wondered what was up with James after a day of it. Nice post James! The following is one of the many reasons Hunter admired his buddy James: 

Fully aware of this supercharged environment in which the slightest slight is elevated to the most egregious insult, I waded in -- okay, dove in -- by demonstrating what constitutes a real insult.

I believe that loyalty is a cardinal virtue. Nowhere in the world is loyalty so little revered and tittle-tattle so greatly venerated as in Washington. I was a little-known political consultant until Bill Clinton made me. When he came upon hard times, I felt it my duty -- whatever my personal misgivings -- to stick by him. At the very least, I would have stayed silent. And maybe that's my problem with what Bill Richardson did. Silence on his part would have spoken loudly enough.

Most of the stuff I've ever said is pretty insignificant and by in large has been said off the cuff and without much thought to the potential consequences. That was not the case in this instance. Bill Richardson's response was that the Clinton people felt they were entitled to the presidency. In my mind, that is a debatable hypothesis. But, even more than that, I know that a former president of the United States who appointed someone to two Senate-confirmed positions is entitled to have his phone calls returned.

If Richardson was going to turn on the Clintons the way he did, I see no problem in saying what I said. Because if loyalty is one virtue, another is straight talk. And if Democrats can't handle that, they're going to have a hard time handling a Republican nominee who is seeking the presidency with that as his slogan.

--James Carville, Hunter's good friend in the Washington Post today

Remember, one of the lessons Hunter taught us is that  We Is The Most Important Word In Politics.

Until next time, your friend in Geneva,

Anita Thompson

It is very important to learn, early in life, that you can beat City Hall and that You can change the System.  You might be beaten and gassed by Police a few times before you succeed -- but that stuff goes with the territory.  And you will be proud of it later, just as you will make many smart friends who will stand with you for the rest of your life.

-- Hunter S. Thompson, Hey Rube. May 14, 2001 

 Where is Michael Moore when we need him? His beloved Canada has just baned the press and all other observers from whitnessing the annual Seal hunt. We know why China bans the press (unless they're accompanied by a censorhip officer), we know why Zimbawe's dictator bans the press from seeing what he has done to his people but, if Canada's seal-pelt hunt is "humane," why the secrecy? 

Canada claims that the hunt is now humane, because the new rules require that the hunters slit the arteries of the baby seals after crushing their skulls, so they are not skinned alive anymore. There is evidence that often the babies were stunned, but not dead, as they were skinned, every year, for the last 400 years. So, no more skinning alive, according to Canadian authorities. Good. But, why keep the reporters and observers out?  Oh Canada.

We know why European and American observers have been barred by Zimbabwe's dictator Mugabe, and many foreign media, including The Times, denied accreditation. Mugabe has presided over the total economic collapse and destruction of his people. The unemployment is 80%, education and health systems are almost non-existant, and life expectancy for women is 34 years and for men, 37, according to the World Health Organization.

We also know why China accompanies and severly limits the press access in Lhasa. Yes, this is old news.

But why is Canada suddenly a censorhip country?  I received some thougthful emails from readers who said that this seal slaughter (killing  not for the meat, but for the fur to rich women in countries like Russia) has been going on for 400 years, and is the income of hunters (actually about 5% of their income), so I should be more considerate of their trade. Okay.

That, however, is the beauty of living in a free country like Canada. If one is born into an evil business such as murdering for vanity, that person can learn another trade -- like tourism, for example.   But a baby seal doesn't have that option to choose another role in life. 

 If the Canadian hunters are too dumb to learn another trade, maybe the generous Canadian government can help them. I'm all for tradition. But I'm also hip on human evolution. Why not?

Your friend,

Anita Thompson

p.s. Evolution? It appears that we have been slowly evolving as a species. A human jawbone has just been found in Spain. "it looks superficially similar to jawbones of H. erectus found at Dmanisi in Georgia, which date to about 1.7 million years ago, according to the study published in the journal Nature. "I think this part of human history is poorly known in Europe. We have very few fossils and artefacts. But this jawbone is the oldest human fossil we have from western Europe," said Dr de Castro, of Spain's National Centre for the Study of Human Evolution.

275,000 will be clubbed to death this season. The hunters said the photos of cute baby white seals are "misleading," because the new regulations require that they can't bludgeon seals that are younger than two weeks old. OH. I see.

Most of the EU has banned the imports of seal fur, and the British politicians are under pressure now. It's interesting that even the welfare of animals depends on politics in the end. And of course, we know politics depends on money.

Which is nothing new in the Political business. Even George Washington needed cash in the final hours; there is always something,from feeding the horses to keeping the phones from being cut off. It used to be cash in brown bags, tight greasy little bundles of 10s and 20s, but now it comes by computer, with no fingerprints. It comes in vast amounts and it comes constantly...

We are not talking about the petty cash drawer. The fast money now is what gets people elected.  It is the stuff that can make a 5 percent difference in the polls in the week before Election Day - far more than any great speech or high truth or great issue.  These things are all extras, compared with the cadidate's access to money.

-- Hunter S. Thompson, Generation on Swine

Yep, it hasn't changed, has it. Especially in places like Chicago where the concept of "bundling" was perfected. The Clinton campaign is trailing so far behind the money game, it's grim. I even contributed to her campaign from my microscopic savings account just to make some effort to compete with all the cash flowing in to Obama. He is totally rolling in dough, and I doubt it's coming from his grandma in Kenya. 

It is no secret that politicians on both sides are on the take. It's just a bummer that the "Change" and  "Hope" guy is the biggest Taker.  Apparently not just from corporations like Exelon, but even from the Chicago mega-slum lord during their "praying" sessions at the Louis Faraquan church. Yes, he is a politician, by design, so he ain't clean, but I doubt he is a true racist.  My mom's good friend, (a non-white American woman) after graduating from Yale,  found herself at Harvard Grad school with Barack Obama. She didn't call him a racist by any means, she just says he was a "pompous ass." 

But hell, being a Pompous Ass is not so bad. I know lots of them.  It will only make it harder for his ego when McCain wins.  At least Barack doesn't wear baby seal fur coats. Does he?

Anyway, it's already 11 am here. I gotta run.

Until next time, your friend in Geneva,

Anita Thompson

P.S. I have a special announcement to make: We wish, my nephew,  Zack Ross, of Fort Collins, Colorado a very happy birthday today.   He is the author and publisher of a snowboarding-style pamphlet (50 cents each) titled: "How To Be A Champion."  Happy Birthday sweetie. 10 is a biggie! I love you.

Goodmorning Hunter. He has risen

Hunter: He has risen indeed!

Huner loved to tell me this story, and chuckle every time. His grandmother was a strong, beautiful woman who had a sense of humor, along with a strong will. So, Happy Easter!

Anyway, I just returned from England, where they sent me to do an exclusive Interview with the Sunday Times about the Gonzo Way. Of course, hours-long interviews often end up focusing on the negative, but I can't blame the journalist for wondering about those unanswered questions that have been lingering since those photos were sent to me of the scene of Hunter's death. She focused a lot on the 6th lesson of the Gonzo Way. She was a very nice journalist, and we had a good long talk in an old school private club in London... over tea. But sometimes editors exagerate and add things interviewees didn't say.  It's called "thug journalism"

Unfortunately, we didn't talk about Ralph's Plague And the Moonflower...

Anyway, the best part of the trip was that I was able to meet up with Ralph and Anna for Anna's sweet 16 birthday. She looks beautiful as ever, living in one of the most colorful and comfortable castles I've ever seen.  We spent the evening eating a lovely stew, salad with Champaign and many bottles of wine. Anna played the piano and Ralph, laughing, told me the story of when Hunter first visted in the early 80s before the house was renovated. Hunter spent a lot of time at the local pub. The friendly bartender, Marvin, gave Hunter a shot of whiskey, and Hunter, after asking if that was a sample, went on a long excersize showing Marvin how to make a proper drink, full of ice and filled to the top. 

I wish Hunter could see Old Loose Court today. I slept like a baby, while the white-peddled flower tree, and daffodils and landscape handled the dramatic storm that hit about 4am. It rattled the original glass windows, that have seen generations and generations of storms! Today, it is rich with colour, textures and Ralphs sketches, ink, and oil paintings all over; gorgeous carpets, along with fire in the fireplace, with life and history in every room. Is this where Ralph's magic happens?

Maybe, the studio is right out back, where I was first greeted with a rush of creative energy, along with a ink sketch of Hunter on a back table. I didn't know this, but Ralph's mentor is Pablo Picasso, who also worked every day...

 This is also the place where Ralph worked on Plague and The Moonflower. Have you heard of it? I had only heard about it in parts from Ralph. But I read the story on the plane ride back. Read it, listen, and hopefully see it performed in New York soon. Every reading gives you another take on it, but the essence is human nature, and its place in a the world at the brink of the Millenium:

...The sea has mountains of its own

And caresses them with rythms of eternity

Thundering horns of white

With Brazen thrusts

Hurl insults at teh cliffs

Clawing back the past

Losing its grip

Before another jealous onslaught

A universe of moving parts

Heave mortality

Around a global cast

The sea abides, nurturing life

Allowing death to those whose time is come.

NARRATOR:

The frail dependence of its charges

Live in liquid optimism

They gather for compulsive celebration

Making mothers and faterhs of them all

Declaring space for all.....

---Ralph Steadman, Plague and The Moonflower

And on it goes.  It's fantastic!

Geneva is quiet for Easter. I decided to skip church today. Anyway, sorry I've been out of pocket, as I get used to my life here in Switzerland, and the few days in England. Cheers, your friend, back from Kent,

Anita Thompson

Anita would like to talk with you about Wilde and  she is in Geneva absorbing knowledge and wisdom.  I have a hunch that they are two separate things.

The Faustian question is- which would you give your soul for?  Knowing everything or being wise?  You are not allowed to have both.......this is not a moral question, but it
may be a paradox.......isn't that a truth seen around a corner?? I better stop. I am
beginning to talk funny.....

-- Ralph Steadman in Kent, awaiting the arival of his second grandson!!