JOE VOTES

Lever, flag, lever

I did it.

I woke up at 4:52, fell back asleep until 6, lay there until i heard Jenn get up, got up at 6:40, was home by 7:30.

While waiting in line, one of the poll workers came over and was talking to the lady in charge of the voting machine in my line, and asked her to help check people in. He said "This line is up the wazoo!" So everyone, get ready for wazoo lines.

I walked into my booth and promptly started tearing up. As I flagged "Barack Obama Joe Biden" I had a moment. Before I pulled the lever back, I kissed my hand, then kissed his name.

Now, we wait.

EVERYONE GO OUT AND VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ps as we were leaving, we passed this girl in a john mccain shirt (which you are not allowed to wear when you are voting) and she was pulling a suitcase, marching along the goddamn sidewalk like she owned it. I said to Jenn "THAT is exactly how I picture a McCain supporter"

my shirt for the day:

This is it..

So here I am, just about to fall asleep, or I should say, TRY to fall asleep the night before the election. Dixville Notch is 45 minutes away for casting the first ballots of the day. They think for the first time in years, a Decmocrat may be chosen there.
The campaigns are coming to an end, with each candidate having one last hurrah in battleground states. "Undecided" voters are frantically researching online to find out which candidate they are going to vote for. Riiiiiight.

This afternoon I called several voters in Florida and Wisconsin to remind them to vote, ask who they are voting for, and if they needed a reminder of where their polling location was. Some people didn't want to talk to me, others were excited, most I just left cheerful messages for. THe energy in the room was staggering. All of us hopeful for tomorrow. All of us fighting for the same cause, trying to do our bit. I made fast friends with everyone at my table, Most were over the age of 50, women who have volunteered for months. One woman had been volunteering for 2 years. All for Barack. When we parted ways before she went down to her train, she held my hand and squeezed it and said "let's hope."

I am hoping. I am hoping for the future of this country. For the country to regain it's esteem with other countries. For foreigners not to look at us and think "how stupid" but rather "good, they got it right." I am hoping for my niece and nephews, that they can say they kind of remember the first black president getting elected, they remember their auntie meg and nan were crazy passionate about it. I am hoping that anyone who is "undecided" werent swayed by Palin and McCain showing up on SNL tonight. I am hoping that Barack Obama's grandmother is up in heaven looking down on us, knowing that in 24 hours, her grandson will be the president elect. I am hoping that someone will actually kiss me when they see my "kiss me i am voting obama biden" shirt. I am hoping that people wait as long as it takes in line to get their vote counted. I hope that everyone's votes WILL count, that there is no fraud. That the electronic machines work. I am hoping that for the first time since I have been able to vote, my candidate wins. THat my faith in America is restored. That this country isnt basing their votes on religious beliefs and fear, but on the need for change and knowing what and who is right.

Tomorrow is the day.

I dont' know when we will know the results.

I don't know what those results will be.

I can only wait.

And Hope.

Yes we can.

i cant handle it.

if i cant handle it today, what the HELL am I going to be like TOMORROW!?

Good God.

i stare at the polls. I stare at the map. I read the articles.

And I still don't know what is going to happen.

I said to a friend yesterday: "I'm not nervous, but I'm not confident. I'm just waiting."

My boss emailed all of us and said that voting is more important than airfares, so take our time waiting to vote.

I will post a photo of my t-shirt for tomorrow tonight.

Oh my God. One more sleep.

I am at work and I just cannot concentrate.

Not.
At.
All.
I feel like i need a stiff drink in my hand from now until 11pm tomorrow.

one day.

This is when we, in NYC will find out the results of each state, as long as it isn't too close to call...

absolutely amazing

THIS WEEK.

Oh my God.

Two days.

I vowed to write every day the week before the election, but yesterday the lovely Jess was in town, and I did not have a chance to blog. The weekend of course, was filled with election talk. Yesterday, we went to the Museum of the City of New York, where there was a special presidential campaign exhibition. It was fascinating, from a display of hundreds of pins, to lincoln lanterns, to a washington flag, a Bobby Kennedy dress.. and the final spot of the exhibition - cardboard cutouts of Obama, McCain and Hillary. So we took photos - which, as soon as I get them (they are on Jess' camera) i will post.

Let's just say that when we were taking the McCain ones, a lady said "ohhh.. that's not nice..."

The polls are still changing. for good, i think. but who KNOWS.

McCain was on SNL last night. we watched him, it was fine. nothing spectacular, nothing awful. I dont think that it will give him anymore votes. Tomorrow night is the SNL election special - I am hoping for a cameo by Obama, and maybe by Al Franken! THAT would be awesome! But I am sure both of them are pretty busy-- hopefully not too busy to do a satellite cameo!

The anxiety dreams keep coming - I can only imagine what my nights sleep will be like tomorrow night.

We are winding down.