oh, what a day

So today was -- as we have heard so often -- a watershed day.  I began it at 5:20 am, woken up by Josh, who shouted something about my civic duty.  After a shower and throwing on clothes that look relatively nice, we headed out the door, as polls here in Virginia open at 6am.  

6:05 am we walked up to our polling place, and there was already a parking lot full of cars, and a line out the door.  Yikes!

You may notice that, from this view, you can see the lines of alphabetical nature that we are standing in the A-G line.  You may also notice that my name begins with an H.   Josh noticed from the beginning, and only told me 10 minutes later.  Fortunately, there was no one really in line, so I was able to switch without much incident.

Inside were more lines:

But that's ok!  It's democracy in action!  Also, we only waited in line for an hour.   Here is my view looking back into the gym, waiting for Josh:

All around a success!  After work & class, we headed out to watch the returns.

It was fantastic.   There was so much energy with everyone so excited, and it was great to go somewhere where everyone was all together, this community of believers, if you will, all joined in rapture, watching the screens.   Perhaps especially meaningful because this is the first campaign I feel that I have been invested in from the primaries on.  

I know that that is what you're supposed to do, but I was a bit lukewarm in 00 and [Just kidding, I turned 18 in 2001! -Ed.] 04 and waited until the end to really make a decision, while this election I followed it pretty darn closely from early on.  I had a vested interest, and it was -- although exhausting -- incredibly satisfying.   I feel that I did my civic duty, and stood up and showed that people do care.  Young people care.  They vote!  I voted!

I'm just so very pleased.  I loved Obama's speech (and McCain's as well, actually) and I love that the main idea is action and change.   Not to mention hope.  I hope people still cling to these issues tomorrow, and know that they can be involved and change things.  

I have hope.

fascinating thoughts

Fascinating piece from an article I'm reading for class:

"This engendering of reading constructed a female reader (of novels in particular) lost in the realm of imagination.  Instead of subjecting her reading to reason and virtue, she was thought to enjoy dangerous illusions through identification with the fictional world."

-Stephan K. Schindler

in The Critic as Pornographer: Male Fantasies of Female Reading in Eighteenth-Century Germany (no, really!)

In other news, lovely Hannah was in town for the weekend, which meant lots of attempts at getting work done, but more happy time with friends.  Also, we barbequed today, as it was nice enough (60s) to cook outside, though not nice enough to eat outside.  

This week brings busy times, including an Election Night Slumber Party, which I'm sure will result in good times by all, but of course, all I can think of is the Election Night in Mad Men, so I will sit, sad that I not dressed nearly as well as Joan, nor being asked to dance by Paul Kinsey. (See here) Regardless!  I'm excited.