Every little bit

I have a large Obama campaign button on my jacket, and once in a while it starts conversations. Friendly ones: semi-random strangers who are waiting for a bus or selling me a half gallon of milk saying "Obama" in a supportive tone, say, or someone wondering if it will make a difference (I told her I hope so). Half an hour ago, the person who reacted to it said, after a bit of chat, "Wednesday, right?" So I explained that no, he has to go vote tomorrow, not Wednesday. Then he asked when we'd have the results, and I told him tomorrow night if it's a big win, maybe very late if we have to wait for the West Coast (yes, California, Oregon, and Washington are sure things, but officially the polls there don't close until fairly late NY time).

It's possible, from the way he was asking, that he hasn't been here long enough to be a citizen and voting, but he might be registered but not normally pay attention. I may have gotten one more Obama voter to the polls, or maybe he'll remind someone he knows to vote tomorrow.

Every little bit

I have a large Obama campaign button on my jacket, and once in a while it starts conversations. Friendly ones: semi-random strangers who are waiting for a bus or selling me a half gallon of milk saying "Obama" in a supportive tone, say, or someone wondering if it will make a difference (I told her I hope so). Half an hour ago, the person who reacted to it said, after a bit of chat, "Wednesday, right?" So I explained that no, he has to go vote tomorrow, not Wednesday. Then he asked when we'd have the results, and I told him tomorrow night if it's a big win, maybe very late if we have to wait for the West Coast (yes, California, Oregon, and Washington are sure things, but officially the polls there don't close until fairly late NY time).

It's possible, from the way he was asking, that he hasn't been here long enough to be a citizen and voting, but he might be registered but not normally pay attention. I may have gotten one more Obama voter to the polls, or maybe he'll remind someone he knows to vote tomorrow.

(no subject)

Please, tell me some good things about Alabama. The state board of
education is driving me to distraction, and leaving me worried about the
students who are stuck with this curriculum, whoever wrote it, and
whoever selected them.

(no subject)

Please, tell me some good things about Alabama. The state board of
education is driving me to distraction, and leaving me worried about the
students who are stuck with this curriculum, whoever wrote it, and
whoever selected them.

Obama '08!

Tomorrow is election day.

If you're a US citizen and haven't already voted, please go out tomorrow and vote for Barack Obama. It matters.

If you are a California resident, you probably don't need me to remind you to vote NO on propositions 4 and 8. My Florida friends, please vote no on 2. miwasatoshi has reminded me of the equally nasty (and, in this case, redundant because they'd already pushed one such through) prop. 102 in Arizona. Also, the Connecticut "constitutional convention" question is an attempt to slip in an anti-same-sex marriage rule, by changing that state's constitution now that the state supreme court has recognized that it protects the right to marriage regardless of gender.

If you're in New York, and have a contested state senate seat, please vote for the Democrat: a couple more seats in the state senate might get us same-sex marriage here by legislation. It passed the state assembly this past year, and the governor has promised to sign the bill, but the Republican leadership in the state senate wouldn't let it come up for a vote. I'm voting for our one state ballot proposal, but I don't feel strongly about it: it clarifies language in the civil service rules about giving a preference to disabled veterans, so that it applies to all disabled veterans, not only those who are collecting government disability payments.

Obama '08!

Tomorrow is election day.

If you're a US citizen and haven't already voted, please go out tomorrow and vote for Barack Obama. It matters.

If you are a California resident, you probably don't need me to remind you to vote NO on propositions 4 and 8. My Florida friends, please vote no on 2. miwasatoshi has reminded me of the equally nasty (and, in this case, redundant because they'd already pushed one such through) prop. 102 in Arizona. Also, the Connecticut "constitutional convention" question is an attempt to slip in an anti-same-sex marriage rule, by changing that state's constitution now that the state supreme court has recognized that it protects the right to marriage regardless of gender.

If you're in New York, and have a contested state senate seat, please vote for the Democrat: a couple more seats in the state senate might get us same-sex marriage here by legislation. It passed the state assembly this past year, and the governor has promised to sign the bill, but the Republican leadership in the state senate wouldn't let it come up for a vote. I'm voting for our one state ballot proposal, but I don't feel strongly about it: it clarifies language in the civil service rules about giving a preference to disabled veterans, so that it applies to all disabled veterans, not only those who are collecting government disability payments.

Five months, or maybe six

It's been six months since I had my gall bladder out, and just over five since my first serious post-surgery workout. This evening, I went to the gym, and did a bunch of stuff, and it feels like I'm back to pre-surgery levels (in terms of the number of different exercises, amount of weight, and number of reps). There were times in there when I thought I might never get all the way back, but I persevered, because the goal is strength and flexibility, not arbitrary numbers.

It hasn't been a straight-line process, and next week I may be thinking "you aren't all the way back yet," but this episode and progress seemed worth noting.

( However, here are your arbitrary numbers. )

Five months, or maybe six

It's been six months since I had my gall bladder out, and just over five since my first serious post-surgery workout. This evening, I went to the gym, and did a bunch of stuff, and it feels like I'm back to pre-surgery levels (in terms of the number of different exercises, amount of weight, and number of reps). There were times in there when I thought I might never get all the way back, but I persevered, because the goal is strength and flexibility, not arbitrary numbers.

It hasn't been a straight-line process, and next week I may be thinking "you aren't all the way back yet," but this episode and progress seemed worth noting.

( However, here are your arbitrary numbers. )