Count My Vote

Mr. Fairway and I just got back from casting our ballots. While there were no long lines at our polling place, the room was bustling with voters...more than we've ever seen before. The church where we vote actually plays host to 2 separate voting precincts and both sides of the room had polling booths filled with voters with others waiting their turn. We live near a university and the number of young voters was amazing. There were voters who were asked for photo I.D. so we knew they were first-time voters and we were thrilled to see them.

I have to admit that I actually had tears in my eyes when I marked my ballot for my Presidential choice. Those are the same tears I shed when, so many months ago, I watched Barack Obama announce on a very cold wintry day his run for the Presidency. And now I anxiously await the results of today's election. While I am cautiously optimistic, I never take anything for granted and I will be glued to the television tonight awaiting the final outcome. Whatever happens this evening, I am proud to call myself an American on this Election Day.

Election Day Prep

So here it is the Sunday before Election Day and I still haven't gathered up our Election Day gear. Normally Mr. Fairway and I go with just our filled-in sample ballots to the polls but this year, with the expected long lines, I will be packing a backpack filled with "stuff" to help us survive what we anticipate might be a few hours wait.

In our backpack will be the following:

Our completed sample ballots

Water bottles

Energy bars

Reading material

Crossword puzzle books

In addition, we will sling over our shoulders the portable golf chairs we've had in our closet now for a few years.

Mr. Fairway thinks I'm nuts to go to all this preparation, but, having seen on TV news the long lines in states with early voting, I'm not taking any chances. Not even a line around the block will keep us from casting our ballots this Election Day. I'm hoping to help make history on November 4th and nothing will stand in my way.

Is It Over Yet?

Mr. Fairway and I went golfing this morning...anything to escape the political drivel that's been haunting us now for months and months. Enough is enough.

I almost always have a cable TV news station on in the background when I'm working around the house or sitting at my computer...not these days. My political wonkiness has finally reached maximum overload. How many different ways can these supposed political pundits say the same damn things?

And I pity our poor letter carrier. Every day our mail box is filled with political mailers from both major parties. Mr. Fairway refuses to change his party affiliation even though he hasn't voted for a Presidential candidate or most any other candidate for state and local office from his registered party since the late '60's. His rationalization is that, by getting all the flyers from "his" party telling him which candidates and causes to vote for, he can then go out and vote against each and every one of their recommendations . Go figure...

Thank goodness our state is decidedly for Obama which basically negates the need for robocalls from the McCain/Palin forces. In fact, so far we've had very few political phone calls of any kind this election. Of course, the election is still a week away so you just never know who might be at the other end of the phone line when the phone rings from now until next Tuesday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

Sarah...Never Pay Retail

So let me get this straight...the Vice Presidential candidate who likens herself to "Joe Six-Pack" and "just a hockey mom" has had nearly $150,000 spent on a wardrobe for her and her family since the Republican convention. Here is a breakdown of the purchases for Sarah Palin as reported by the New York Times:

• $75,062.63 spent at Neiman Marcus on Sept. 10.
• $41,850.72 to Saks Fifth Avenue in New York on Sept. 10.
• $7,575.02 to Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis on Sept. 10.
• $5,102.71 to Bloomingdale’s in New York on Sept. 10.
• $789.72 to Barney’s New York on Sept. 10.
• $4,396.94 and $512.92 at Macy’s in Minneapolis on Sept. 10.
• $4,537.85 to Macy’s in Minneapolis on Sept. 22.
• $349.50 to Lord & Taylor in New York on Sept. 25.
• $4,902.08 to Atelier New York, a men’s clothing boutique, on Sept. 10.
• $98 to Pacifier, a high-end baby store in Minneapolis, on Sept. 10 and Sept. 25.
• $98.50 to Steinlauf & Stoller, a sewing supply store, in New York on Sept. 25.
• $133 to the Gap in Minneapolis on Sept. 25.

Now maybe it's me but I'm thinking that most women, who live on the "Main Street" that Gov. Palin passionately refers to, do not parade around in such extravagant clothing. And I don't know about you but it's difficult to picture Gov. Palin as "one of us" when not one article of clothing in my closet was purchased at any of the stores mentioned above.

So I'm offering my services as a "Personal Shopper" to Governor Palin. All she needs to do is send me her sizes and I'll be happy to shop for her at the stores here on Main Street. You know the ones...T.J. Maxx, Marshall's, Ross Dress for Less...

Oops, I Meant to Say...

Hubby and his three friends are off this morning to play in a golf tournament benefiting a local children's charity. Their chances of coming home with one of the trophies are nil. The chances of them coming home with one of the many raffle prizes given out at the after-tournament dinner are good. Now, if only Hubby can come home with a prize that we can actually use, that will be a welcomed surprise.

Tonight is the 2nd Presidential debate...a town hall type of set-up. With Hubby still at the tournament for dinner, I'm planning to go out, bring something home to eat and park myself in front of the television to watch the "fun." I have to admit that these "live" events make me nervous. One never knows what mis-spoken gaffe a candidate might make and how it might affect the electorate. And, despite the fact that I have strong feelings about this election's choices, I hate to see anyone make a "slip of the tongue" which is then analyzed to death by the after-debate pundits. As a blathering idiot at times, I know from personal experience that sometimes it's very easy to put one's foot in one's mouth unintentionally.