Yesterday:
Now, I’m just an observer.
The hype, the sensationalism, etc no longer have meaning for me.
Ie, the external factors no longer stress me.
I learned a couple decades ago, that if I voted as soon as the “early voting period” opened, then the stressful “news” frenzy of the last couple weeks of campaigning, had no affect on me.
I’ve successfully completed my part. Now it’s up to others.
Life is good.
ralph
I have heard that the campaigns can find out which people have voted, and they use that info to focus their mailing, phone calls, and door knocking on those who haven’t voted. I don’t know if that is true in all states or not. If it is true, it is a good reason to vote as early as possible.
Can’t be too focused because I’m getting crap (texts, mail, etc) from all sides and from states that I have zero connection to. I must fit some profile of someone with more money then sense to blow on politics.
I vote at the last minute. I like the attention. 
Makes me feel important.
I prefer to vote early. I started doing that years ago, when I often worked at the polls. How early depends on whether there any questions on the ballot I need to find out more about, and whether I have questions about some of the local races.
Then I can avoid some of the frantic get-out-the-vote business. And if we have cold rain on Election Day, I don’t need to be out in it as much.
I am going to vote an hour from now.
“Can’t be too focused because I’m getting crap (texts, mail, etc) from all sides and from states that I have zero connection to”
Same here. I am so sick of this, can’t wait till it’s over. Sure hope that it ends when the voting and counting end, can’t stand the thought of a replay of 2020.
Ohh there is going to be a replay. Just listen to the rhetoric.
I am currently in Spain, and voted absentee before I left Mexico. I have also worked as a polling worker and have great respect for the thousands of people across the USA who quietly diligently do this crucial work.
Get your voting done, and get it done early if you can.
d fb
Most of the events I enjoy are outdoors, in warm weather. So, I make an event out of voting, as there is little else to celebrate in the winter. Mosey over to the high school. Mark up the ballot. Stick the “I voted” sticker on my coat,. Then head out for lunch.
Steve
I loved giving the just voted folks their sticker and watching the emotions on their face as they stuck it on. Mostly is was the face of ownership.
d fb
Same here.
And some putzes put me on an anti union list for mailings against “forced union participation”. That makes me sick. People need unions. Employers sending out messages against unions is not transparent to many workers. Oddly enough I am not in a position to become a unionized worker. I am in between management and not actually a lower level worker. The company I work with will see a union push at some point. It plants a seed of distrust. I can not go to my immediate boss I have no evidence the company started this.
It is possible one of the parties is sending this out to shake some votes.
I do not remember if I mentioned this. Election night we have a Whatsapp channel from Cambridge MA to CT to the Caribbean. My family and their friends have cast 6 votes by mail in NC. They are dual citizens Irish and American on vacation from Ireland sailing. My youngest cousins in Ireland are also going to stay up all night into the morning with us.
The suburbs around Philly will decide this thing.
BTW the worst of this is endless calls from machines that say nothing and then hang up.
Those aren’t machines Leap, I have you on the Right wingers calling list. They aren’t able to expound on their ideas but dang can they dial a number.
I hang out in a Greek diner most nights of the week. The owners are friends. The son in law runs the night shift. He is 63 years old. He entertains friends, drinks and gives me a free coffee or a buck or two off here and there.
He is on the opposite side. We are friends regardless. Including after the next two items.
He told me his taxes were going to go up. He said his financial advisor told him. He does not make 400k. I told him he needs a new more honest professional financial person. He blew me off. It is his problem if he sleeps with dogs.
He said something a month ago that we all know. We are both immigrants. He is Greek and I am first year born here of Irish parents. His staff is Latino. He sees them as using the system, 5 kids, handouts etc. Something he did not do.
I did not suggest he pay them properly. I let it go.
That is our entire society. Some of us are honest. Some of us partake in bigotries instead.
I’m sick as a dog right now, went to Meijer to pick up some covid test kits. Had mask in pocket as I walked to entrance. Lady coming out of the store, bedecked in the red hat and red shirt with the acronym. She was smiling at me and walking toward me like she wanted to say a few words, till she saw me don my mask, lol. I think that was a sure sign that we had different views, lol. I did wave to her, but she kept on walking. Fine by me, feel like I got run over by a truck, don’t want to chat.
Covid test is negative, so this is a bugger of a flu. At least it’s
a wet, overcast day, hate being laid up when it’s blue sky and sunshine.
There are also some extremely nasty colds running around.
I also keep a mask handy for when social space gets tight in poorly ventilated areas.
d fb
I’m not in a swing state, so I can’t imagine that constant bombardment of political ads, fundraising, and general grassrootery.
I’ll fill out my ballot in the next couple of days, but don’t anticipate this doing anything to lower my stress. There are too many shenanigans keeping me up at night.
Chatted for a moment with the door minder at Meijer the other day. He got way too close to me, and a wall prevented my backing up. Hope he’s healthy. Had a sub at Subway the other day. They use red onions, not the yellows that seem to be causing the problem.
I’m vaxed for flu and covid, a month ago, so everything should be fizzed up to full strength by now.
Steve
When is peak fizz and how long does the peak last, i.e., is this premature fizz?
DB2
The medical term “fizz” is defined as 10-14 days after vaccination. The fizz generally last for 6-12 months (or until another, stronger variant appears).
Pete
