Monday, November 03, 2008

Pre-Election Last-Minute Odds and Ends

We had our usual weekly phone call from Agnes's parents in Germany yesterday, and they commented that their TV news is full of coverage of the U.S. elections. I guess it goes to show that the rest of the world is very interested in seeing how we decide to sweep up the last eight years of broken glass.

If you didn't see this past Saturday's "Saturday Night Live" appearance by John McCain, you missed a classic. I didn't see it live, but Googled it on the web yesterday and found it on The Huffington Post. I laughed 'til tears rolled down my cheeks. I think Senator McCain missed his calling. Tina Fey ought to be the one running.

I was disturbed yesterday to find this story on page B-01 of The Washington Post: Parties Assign Lawyers to Watch Polls, Turnout. I've always thought it was bad enough that each time I voted, there were two people - one Republican and one Democrat - sitting behind the election officials at the registration desk and eying me suspiciously before grudgingly checking me off on their copies of the voter registration rolls. Now we have both parties lawyering up not just because they don't trust each other, but they don't trust the American people they want to represent, either. If any of these lawyers are actually being paid rather than doing this pro bono, it'll be worse. Check out Tom Paxton's wonderful song "One Million Lawyers" for a summation of how I feel about the whole thing.

We visited our daughter and son-in-law and The Most Beautiful Grandchild East of the Ohio Line yesterday, and they gave me an early birthday card and gift. I had to share the card with you...

I think I have an image problem...

Agnes and I also did some pre-Christmas-shopping reconnaissance yesterday, looking for ideas for gifts for the grandchildren. All I can say is that we didn't have all this neat stuff when Mike and I were little. My Erector Set had different sizes of rocks and sticks, and Mike's Lincoln Logs were actually split by Lincoln.

Time to get ready to go to work. Today will be a busy day...and tomorrow will be busier yet, since I expect to spend most of it standing in a voting line. But it'll be worth it.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

6 comments:

The Mistress of the Dark said...

Tomorrow that crappy but free wine would be welcome!

Gilahi said...

Funny you should mention the shopping (and even some of the toys of your youth). Don't buy anything until you see my next few posts.

Amanda said...

LOL! Funny card.

I told Aaron that Santa bring pencils and paper to good children. I think I'm going to try my best to keep the gifts really simple for as long as I can.

fiona said...

Is that a "belly ring" I see? Ooops no it's a belt buckle!
Thank you for sharing your card :)
I'm right with you and Mike, learning to ride a Pennyfarthing was hell!

Mike said...

It'd been a long time since anybody mentioned my name and the word little in the same sentence. As they say on PBS after asking for money, thank you.

Melissa B. said...

I voted last week, since I expected to be out of town, so at least I don't have to suffer the slings and arrows of extra lawyering! And I agree with you on McCain...Cindy, too, would make quite a nifty Spokesmodel, too, don't you think?