Life after the election

The election experience weighed heavy on my mind...there was so much to know, so many variations on "the perfect/less than perfect" voter. But we had a very good team and we made it through the day. The election clerks were prepared and competent and worked effectively all day. We got there before 6:00 AM and had everything ready to turn in around 8:30 PM. But the number of ballots used matched the number of voters (616), and it just doesn't get any better than that! I drove it over to the drop off center and was home shortly after 9 PM. Actually there were a few events that made it a unique day, but some stuff you'd best not blog about, I'm thinking. And for all the concern and thought I had put into that day, it went very well, maybe in spite of me, but still...

And the result of the actual elections was a real surprise to me. I had not even looked at the results print out at our precinct! I was too busy trying to get the right stuff into one of four particular envelopes! I really did not expect so many incumbents to be replaced. The radio guys I listen to had me convinced that, yeah, maybe some national races were close, but the "good guys" would pull it out. My heart goes out to the judges who were swept out of office, probably not voted against so much as being not on the side of the most straight ticket voters.

So now I am a mall manager for the Salvation Army Angel tree at Valley View Mall. Training was Wednesday, walk through was Thursday, and Friday was my first full day. It started very well, with my big show biz break! Channel 5 came out to get the SA Major introducing the first day to adopt the angels, and in the background was a dignified matronly lady artfully putting the angel tags on the tree. I had no speaking role, but it only takes one producer with a discerning eye to notice and catapult me to greatness, right?

After the major left, the channel 5 cameraman said, "That was a live feed. Let's get some video now to use on the 5, 6, and 10 news." Well of course I was at work during the 5 and 6 PM broadcasts, so I don't know what the world saw, but James and I watched the 10 o'clock news, and sure enough at about 10:29:30, there was 5 seconds of me talking to a couple of shoppers about the tree! At least, my lips moved...you could only hear the news person say, "...and today is the first day to adopt an angel from the Salvation Army tree," or some such as that.

I am still waiting for some of my people to say they saw me on tv. No calls yet...

Tonight we are going to the Celebrate Metrocrest event that the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce hosts each year. Addison restaurants are well represented and offer samples of their tastiest dishes so there is plenty of good food to eat. In addition, many items have been donated and are auctioned off, so if one is so inclined, and is the top bidder, they can get lots of shopping done in a night. I always have enjoyed the silent auction part, but now that we are on this austerity kick, brought on by real life, it may be a long night!

Valerie was home for a night (Thursday) and it was good to spend the evening with her. Just a few short days and little Catherine will be in town for Rachel Nelson's wedding! Can't wait to see her. This job thing is kind of inconvenient for airport pick ups, visiting with out of town guests and so on, but we tread on, knowing good things are ahead...