I was going to say "I love democracy!" but then both of the candidates that I really care about ended up in run-offs. So there are five more weeks of hard work and tension to go.
I got up early yesterday to be a poll worker. Yes, one of those perky people handing out cards that you try to avoid eye contact with and slip by on your way into the voting place.
By now, you probably know that I hate talking to strangers, and I also have a very difficult time waking up in the morning. So it was a little surprising that I enjoyed myself, talking to the precinct election judge and the other corner-standers, including one of my candidate's opponents, and seeing everyone coming in. Later, I spent several hours at the election day bake sale at our kids' school, chatting with the people who live nearby about the school and the elections. Last night, I stayed late at the returns-watching party for my friend, where we all learned once again that when voter turn out is less than 20%, a couple hundred votes makes a huge difference, even in a very big city.
One side benefit to my minor political activity in these local races is that the kids are both very interested in elections, politics, and candidates. I like that they are seeing people they know run for office and being involved in campaigns. On the other hand, explaining How the World Works to innocent children is not easy. I do miss my high school civics teacher, jaded and burnt-out as the poor guy was.
Halloween was good, from what I can now recall, four days later. Ruby made a fab Statue of Liberty. Carl was Skippy Jon Jones at his school's storybook dress up day parade, and then a bat on Halloween proper. Rod was Dracula in white tie, and I was me...too tired to get a costume together. We went to the school fall carnival on Saturday afternoon, and to a friend's party Saturday night. Sunday involved another (very loud, says Rod, who sacrificed himself and went) birthday party, and ended with Horrible Tired Crabby Kids Falling Apart Night. Nights like that, I wonder if Carl will make it to adulthood alive and unincarcerated. But he was all better the next day; yay! for sleep.
I keep waiting for a break in the busy, but it's not happening. This week's special events: Ruby is taking a sewing class, Carl has a birthday party to attend, and I have meetings every night. This weekend, there's a statewide Montessori conference at school that I need to help with, it's the 22nd anniversary of When Rod Met Andrea, I need to do some election campaigning, there's another birthday party, and a friend's art event I promised to drag my kids to.
Also, it's my last weekend to eat in my usual fashion ever. On Monday, I start a horrid-sounding regimen of protein drinks and nothing else for two weeks. After that, comes the much-anticipated, carefully considered, and long-prepared for gastric bypass surgery, and food will never be quite the same. Yes, I am rather freaked out about the whole thing, and I don't really want to discuss it all here. But I do need to think hard about what to have for dinner Sunday night...suggestions?
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