vote
Voted! I recommend it as an experience. It's very satisfying to click those levers into place and hear the mechanic CLANK of your vote registering, and know that when you look at the final tally (whenever the final tally is done), you will be able to think, "Well, if not for me, it would have been XX,XXX,XX7 for my guy instead of XX,XXX,XX8! Go me!"
Provided, of course, that the machine doesn't get pushed into the Hudson (as one of them did in my little home city in the 1930s, which led to an era of chaos and fun in which there were two people claiming to be the righteous head of the City Council. Upstate New York: Old School Election Fraud, Shameless and Stylish).
I actually got up early to vote, which is a big deal.
Other events I have happily gotten up early for:
-Christmas,
-NSYNC tickets, and
-I'm blanking on a third.
That is how dedicated I am to Kerry! I got up early! Maybe they could use that as a last-minute campaign slogan, or headline for tomorrow's local newspaper should there not be a clear winner. "KERRY GETS JESS UP EARLY! See A3 for details."
My polling place was pretty quiet and I didn't have a line at all when I went in at 7:45 or so. I love the little old ladies manning the tables on election day. I want to be one of them someday.
One more election note: Last night I was driving home and thought to myself, "You know, self, what's important is that we keep discourse civil. Don't try to browbeat people into thinking the way you would want them to think. What's important is that there's an open, respectful discourse, and that we respect other people's rights to make their own choices, even if they are different from our own. Perhaps especially if they are different from our own."
Cut to: Two hours later, my mom on the phone with my aunt Maureen, a very sensible, smart, non-Republican who is, nonetheless --
Mom: -- voting for Bush.
Self: WHAT?!
Mom: (to me) She is! (into the phone) Maureen! I just don't understand!
Self: GIVE ME THE PHONE!
I got a hold of myself after a minute or two, and didn't yell at my aunt at all, really. But I couldn't help a couple of, "But. But. I just don't UNDERSTAND" comments getting through.
In non-election news: Tonight I have my second tutoring session with R. for Literacy Volunteers. I meant to type up a post about my first session, but last week was too busy. I went all nerdy last night, drawing up a detailed lesson plan and cards and handouts and stuff that I'm sure I'll finish using in the first twelve minutes of the session (as happened last week). I was lucky that R. really liked one of the exercises I'd done and we were able to work on that for the rest of the lesson.
He's a nice guy, early fifties, worked his whole life, clearly smart. And he's a complete non-reader. I'd seen his testing and after I'd talked to him for a few minutes, I thought for sure there'd been a mistake. But there hadn't been. I'm kind of nervous because even though I've done the requisite training, part of me is all adljag!! and afraid I won't be able to help him the way he needs to be helped. Especially considering the fact that his job is on the line.
But no pressure or anything! Geez Louise.
Anyway. I have to go do some work. In closing: Go vote! It does a civic spirit good.
Provided, of course, that the machine doesn't get pushed into the Hudson (as one of them did in my little home city in the 1930s, which led to an era of chaos and fun in which there were two people claiming to be the righteous head of the City Council. Upstate New York: Old School Election Fraud, Shameless and Stylish).
I actually got up early to vote, which is a big deal.
Other events I have happily gotten up early for:
-Christmas,
-NSYNC tickets, and
-I'm blanking on a third.
That is how dedicated I am to Kerry! I got up early! Maybe they could use that as a last-minute campaign slogan, or headline for tomorrow's local newspaper should there not be a clear winner. "KERRY GETS JESS UP EARLY! See A3 for details."
My polling place was pretty quiet and I didn't have a line at all when I went in at 7:45 or so. I love the little old ladies manning the tables on election day. I want to be one of them someday.
One more election note: Last night I was driving home and thought to myself, "You know, self, what's important is that we keep discourse civil. Don't try to browbeat people into thinking the way you would want them to think. What's important is that there's an open, respectful discourse, and that we respect other people's rights to make their own choices, even if they are different from our own. Perhaps especially if they are different from our own."
Cut to: Two hours later, my mom on the phone with my aunt Maureen, a very sensible, smart, non-Republican who is, nonetheless --
Mom: -- voting for Bush.
Self: WHAT?!
Mom: (to me) She is! (into the phone) Maureen! I just don't understand!
Self: GIVE ME THE PHONE!
I got a hold of myself after a minute or two, and didn't yell at my aunt at all, really. But I couldn't help a couple of, "But. But. I just don't UNDERSTAND" comments getting through.
In non-election news: Tonight I have my second tutoring session with R. for Literacy Volunteers. I meant to type up a post about my first session, but last week was too busy. I went all nerdy last night, drawing up a detailed lesson plan and cards and handouts and stuff that I'm sure I'll finish using in the first twelve minutes of the session (as happened last week). I was lucky that R. really liked one of the exercises I'd done and we were able to work on that for the rest of the lesson.
He's a nice guy, early fifties, worked his whole life, clearly smart. And he's a complete non-reader. I'd seen his testing and after I'd talked to him for a few minutes, I thought for sure there'd been a mistake. But there hadn't been. I'm kind of nervous because even though I've done the requisite training, part of me is all adljag!! and afraid I won't be able to help him the way he needs to be helped. Especially considering the fact that his job is on the line.
But no pressure or anything! Geez Louise.
Anyway. I have to go do some work. In closing: Go vote! It does a civic spirit good.