I fell asleep early last night-not sure it is was from exhaustion or sheer depression. As I got to work yesterday morning I looked at my watch and realized that on the opposite side of the planet, people were just starting the climb up the hill here:
Oh, I do miss it so!
Highlight of my day these days-sliding into Bisons for a beer or three after work-a friendly little place to be sure, but not quite the same-after which I ride on home to mind numbing domesticity………………..
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I gave the S.O. her birthday present this week: tickets for a trip to Europe. Munich, Salzburg, Prague and home. If I had thought I could have swung it, she would be getting on a plane going east at the same time I would be getting on plane going West, to SFO, NRT, then Singapore-or Hong Kong-but that’s not quite in the realm of possibility yet. However if things don’t perk up around here, its going to be my birthday present to myself come spring. Till then we go together. All my strong desire to return to Asia aside, I am looking forward to the trip. I’ve never been to Prague and the Christmas markets will be open on the back side of the trip. Should be fun, if not quite the excitement I have been craving.
Seems a bit imprudent to be doing though-buying tickets to Europe. I mean with the world ending if Obama wins the election. And with him being the Antichrist and all. I mean after all, by December he will have recruited the first legions of his jack booted private army, begun laying the groundwork to seize all of my money in my 401K and unleashed plagues and locusts on Wall Street. I should probably be stocking up on firearms and building my barricades for the front yard-instead of hightailing it Europe.
But hey-what the heck? They were on sale. And if the US is going to become socialist like Europe, maybe I ought to get familiar with the territory. At least we will be riding trains that run on time.
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Tuesday will be the first time I have voted in person in over 30 years. I’m really looking forward to it. Shopping Mall does not have early voting, so the polling authorities are advising that upwards of 150,000 people will be voting in this area. It’s Ok, I’ll bring a book. I’m going to cast this ballot even if I have to wait all day to do so. Won’t do any good in the long run though-Alabama is to the far right of Atilla the Hun in Presidential races. Even with a sizable African American population.
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The S.O. and I went to Yard Sales and Garage sales this morning. ( Not my idea, I assure you). One thing the sojourn did prove to me, at least anecdotally , is that there is a direct correlation between the median house price in a neighborhood and the number of McCain / Palin signs in that neighborhood. Once you hit the 175K or higher threshold, the number increases dramatically. If there were any Obama supporters in the high brow neighborhoods-they seem to be smart enough to keep it to themselves. This is Wallace country you know………….
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In the afternoon, we went to the Yuppie shopping mall which has the Yuppie movie theater and watched the movie “W”. I had wanted to see it. While the movie has been panned by the critics for the most part, I thought it was pretty good-so long as you realized up front the movie was not, and was never meant to be, a biography of George W. Bush. Its political allegory, and as a result probably falls flat with most of the movie going public. That requires a bit of exterior knowledge that is probably not there. Josh Brolin turns in a heck of a performance though and I thought the highlighting of the idea that GWB wanted to break out of his father’s shadow interesting. So too was the idea that it was Jeb Bush, not GWB that the elder Bush senior wanted to be President-and that by trashing his presidency with an unpopular and unnecessary war -as well as a dogmatic refusal to heed some common sense-he had ruined Jeb’s chances of ever seeing the White House. That alone makes the movie worth seeing.
I give it a B-. Not one of Stone’s best efforts, but not horrendous either.
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I think Tuesday is going to be a long night, and if McCain wins-which I still think is more than a 40% possibility-I’m going to have to go into hiding. Don’t even think there will be any shred of magnanimity if he wins. The words “There asshole!” will be repeated so many times its not funny.
Plus, we will still have to wake up to her.
I don’t even want to think about. Nor do I want to think about the riots that are sure to break out after the election if Obama does not win.
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And its on that note-that I will go grab one of these:
And close my eyes and imagine one of these:
Ought to be a long couple of days…………..
Due to union-management agreements, us non-unionized white-collar engineer-type folks get Tuesday off. Since the polls open up at 0700, I intend to vote and spend the rest of the day afield looking for pheasants at the business end of my Browning Citori. I figure it will be enjoyable, distracting, and a lot of fun.
I am not so concerned about the outcome at this point. My one and only hope is that it does not drag on into December like in 2000. We need to move on, regardless of who wins. Nearly two years of constant campaigning has left me numb and not caring a whole lot about our politicians. I really don’t think they give a flying fuck about those of us who have to work for a living.
So, Skippy my friend, I will drink one last toast tonight to you and my hope that you find (in your dreams anyway) that which you seek…
As one who often goes against the grain, I am used to having people say “there asshole” and it is fine, so bear up man, and have a Dewar’s (and nothing else) for strength. It may be a long night. I concur with Bulnav, as long as it does not drag into a month long process with the courts deciding the victor, I will be satisfied that the will of the people (regardless of what I think of the outcome) has been satisfied.