this is your reminder (not that you needed one).

arise, all ye people, and go ye out and vote;

and may the voting be swift and fair and unimpeded, as would well befit the hands of justice;

and may the margins of victory be decisive, so that whosoever is defeated, his adherents may accept this with grace if not with gladness.

in the name of the founders, and of the citizens, and of the country's honor,

amen.

of course i didn't think people were kidding.

i am so many miles beyond excited that everyone is reporting long lines at their polling places. i heard from my parents as well -- got there at 7:15 eastern and waited for an hour (the beginning of which was outside in the rain) to sign in and vote.

it's already dark outside here, and has been for close to half an hour. which, in my head, adds up thusways: dark = evening; election day + evening = returns. i'm going bananas with waiting, here. we're going to put the TV on at 11pm, which will still be only 6pm eastern, when the analysis begins. have been on the hunt for drinking games (more involved than "drink heavily the more states go red/blue") to make all this bearable or even entertaining.

here is a picture i snagged from washingtonpost.com. people cast votes at long branch public library in silver spring, MD. anyone else as confident as i am that the woman on the left is wearing a black hoodie?

GIP

i have been carrying this in my wallet since september 30. was saying to cmshaw how i wished i could icon it -- and then i remembered i have a digital camera. who needs a scanner?