Proud

November 4th was an historic event. This is how I first knew it for myself:

I volunteered as a poll watcher from 6:45 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. I watched voter after voter stand in line, present his/her I.D., accept a ballot and go vote in the booth. It was my role to work with the Election Judges and Chief Election Judge to ensure that every vote counted. And we, together, made the process work.

At one point in the steady but not busy afternoon, a family of four came in to vote. A man and woman, married, and their 4 children ranging in age from a girl of about 5 to the oldest boy of about 13. Two of the children, the youngest, I assumed were biological and the other two the oldest, I assumed, were adopted. They were the first two people of color to go through the line that day and the only ones as the day went on. They looked exactly alike so I also assumed they were brother and sister and had been with this family for a good long time because they were a cohesive unit.

They accompanied their parents to the voting booths "to learn the voting process" as they told us when they went through the line. While they were at the booths, I wondered who counseled whom, as their voices lifted above the room and to our ears: "...no, not that one; he has ugly hair." "Yeah, vote that one, that's who Dad is voting for..." And so on.

But the most touching part came as they exited the building. They trailed out one after another with smiles on their faces and our Dum Dum suckers in their mouths. The last out the door was the oldest adopted boy. He put his arm around his Dad and said, "So, Dad, how do you feel about me running for President someday?" To which is father said, "Yes, You Can." And they laughed as they went out the door.

That feeling never left me for the day and it was confirmed as a common feeling in our country by the many tear-streaked cheeks in the sea of faces in the crowds of support for our new President-Elect.

I slept well last night and didn't even awake to the text message I received at 12:45 a.m.: "We just made history. All of this happened because you gave your time, talent and passion to this campaign. All of this happened because of you. Thanks, Barack."

You're welcome, President. Thank you.

Halloween

Halloween is a Jakes family favorite. Yes, we like it better than Christmas, Easter, even Thanksgiving. So we dress up every year and go out - wherever we can find - to show off our costumes. Last night we dressed as Roxie Hart and Thelonius Knuckles. Check it out:

Couldn't Have Said It Better ...

In the New York Times, in an article about how Obama has inspired millions of black Americans to come out and vote. A quote: “I think it’s a testament to his campaign that he can inspire. At the end of the day, no matter what party you vote for, I think every once in a while there are inspirational moments that call for people to wake up from their deep sleep and become alive and get involved. And I think Barack at the very least is an inspirational figure.”

Well-Oiled Machine

I attended a training for the Legal Voter Protection Team for Obama's campaign last night. For 2 hours, we discussed our legal role in protecting a voter's right to vote and ensuring that every vote counts. Many points throughout the night I thought about how this felt like a Continuing Legal Education seminar rather than a volunteer training to learn my role for volunteering on Election Day/Night. They presented a power point presentation and had people conferenced in on the phone to get the benefit of the training. There were no shortage of questions about how we should handle situations where a voter is being turned away, intimidated, asked to vote a provisional ballot wrongly, or just plain harassed. We learned the rights of the voter so that we can represent them at every turn where something might go wrong. The Voter Protection Team leader and trainer, a lawyer himself, answered competently and thoroughly every question slung at him and never once mentioned a partisan slant to the information. I was fully impressed by the well-oiled machine that is the Obama campaign in Montana.

Even more, I was impressed by the integrity in which the information was presented and portrayed. I had to remind myself at one point that, YES, this IS the Obama campaign. There was no grandstanding about Obama, no bashing McCain, and not even one Palin joke was cracked though she's the most ripe for ridicule in my opinion. They were gracious and helpful and made it VERY CLEAR that our help is totally nonpartisan.

I got a glimpse into the way Obama will run the country and these words come to mind: honesty, integrity, helpful, organized, and competent. If he runs the country half as well as he does his campaign, we will be 10 times where we are now. I have no doubt.

Sleep Deprived?

I haven't slept well in about a week. I have analyzed the patterns in my life hoping to get some clue to why I spend my nights tossing and turning rather than sound asleep like a bear in my den for winter. I can't detect a pattern that makes sense but I considered a few things to figure it out.

First, I thought it was white wine. A couple glasses have kept me from falling asleep readily. But, I haven't drunk enough to keep me up for a WEEK?!?!? And I considered candy. Maybe I was eating candy too late in the evening and it's kept me up. Nope, I cut it out a few nights ago and still no sleep. Then I considered stress: Hubs is in another country, we live on one income, CDoc is living with me, work is Crazy, election coming up ... but none of this is new. Hubs has been gone for 2 months and we've lived on one income for that long now too. CDoc has been living with me for 2 months and it's been quite easy. Work is rarely NOT busy and has bordered on schizophrenic on and off for 10 years; nothing new there... And then there's the election. Could it be that? Obama is doing quite well in the polls (but YOU STILL MUST VOTE FOR IT TO CONTINUE THIS WAY). I worry about the final tally coming out like the one 8 years ago that put us into the dire situation we're facing now. So, while it could be this election, I feel like I'm usually able to handle these situations with little more than tearing off a few fingernails (which are gone, by the way). The patterns aren't adding up.

I've never had sleeping problems before. In fact, I can sleep in the middle of grizzly bear country with merely a sleeping bag and a nylon tent separating us; both of which would be like plastic wrapping on a meat package for a bear. When I awake with a start because I hear noise that could be a bear outside my tent, I tell myself that there's really nothing I can do at this time but ignore it and it'll go away. And I fall back to sleep.

But last night, I was able to sleep through most of the night. And I awoke this morning cozy in my bed with sleep still hanging on me. I didn't want to get up! The only thing I can think of that I did differently last night than any other night: I inadvertently left the heater on for half the night ... (GASP) This is something I have railed on Hubs for doing, claiming that I can't sleep in the hot, dry heated room. Hubs LOVES to be roasting under piles of blankets with cotton mouth and deep crevices in his face from the hot, dry air (I claim it causes wrinkles). And really, I usually can't sleep in that. But last night I awoke at 1 a.m. pissed off at myself for leaving the heater on. So, I stomped downstairs and turned it off and then opened my bedroom window just a wee bit. In seconds, I was back to sleep. Warmth, fresh air. Ahhhhh.

I think there has been a general lack of warmth in our house since Hubs has been gone. And maybe what I need is coziness of temperature if I can't have coziness of affection. Totally lame and I still won't tell Hubs, but it's all I can come up with ...

Whatever it is, I'm doing it again tonight.

YesWeCarve.com

Now this is the spirit of Halloween that I can get behind: Barack O' Lantern. Happy Halloween!

Vote For Change

I had to stomach another debate last night and this one was the worst. I ended up with a hoarse throat, my dogs left the room and wouldn't come back downstairs and CDoc and I could have taken on a whole sports bar during a NASCAR race or Sunday football. I couldn't find enough things to throw at my computer screen (NY Times aired it online) that wouldn't permanently damage the screen so I resorted to slinging eff-bombs. I was spitting mad (literally) and couldn't form words out of rage.

I haven't been this tuned into politics in a very long time and the rage I felt after the debate last night is a good reason why.

I will continue to believe in our American people that eight is enough and we'll vote for Change this time but WOW, don't make me sit through that again.