Everything is starting to fade and I suppose these will, too, but right now, they’re as vibrant as ever.
We have so many leaves to rake. It’s daunting. Don make take a stab at some of them later today. I may or may not join him, depending on how I feel.
I find I can’t think of much else but the election right now. I do make myself read my novel, but too often I’m checking the news when I should be escaping. Both Don and I have accepted the fact that for the next however-many days, our focus will be on the news and, of course, doing our volunteer work for the campaign. Don is making lots of calls (he’s very good at that) and I am texting. Every once in a while I encounter a rude MAGA via texting and that person behaves in just the way you’d imagine. But most of the time, it’s positive and rewarding. Texting doesn’t officially start until 4 pm and I keep monitoring replies up until 9 pm. By the way, I’m not texting on my phone, I’m using a program that is on my computer so it’s much easier than it sounds. I don’t know about you, but texting on my phone is always frustrating. I hit the wrong letter or symbol, auto-correct takes over, and it takes me three times as long as it would if I was typing an email. This texting is nothing like that.
Don just got back from the grocery store and I’m about to make our second cup of coffee.
I don’t think I’ll watch the debate tonight, simply because I can’t abide one second of that man. Don probably will because he can distance himself from the whole thing better than I can. If only we had a mute button for OM all day, every day. Better yet, prison.
And prison for Rudy Giuliani, as well.
New York starts early voting on Saturday. We will probably go on Monday, to avoid the weekend voters. We can’t wait to finally cast our ballots.
Thanks so much for all your comments yesterday. Sharing together is powerful.
Stay safe.
Happy Thursday.
I voted yesterday and it felt great to have it done! I voted for Biden and sure hope he wins in a landslide. My son and I had to wait about 1 and a half hours to vote but it was sure worth it. Everyone was quietly in line with their masks on… it was great to see so many people ready to vote.
Thanks for your texting and Don’s phoning! Can’t wait until after the election!
Hurrah! You voted!
Stay safe, Ellen!
Carry doing your excellent work with Don, Claudia. According to the BBC a few days ago it’s older white women voters who are wavering this time. More of them voted for OM rather Hillary Clinton at the last election but are now unsure. Let’s hope they do the decent thing.
If it’s any consolation he’s regarded with absolute derision by everyone I know over here. No one thinks he is mentally stable. I remember 4 years ago having a conversation with a friend about the ridiculous idea that someone who was a reality tv personality should even be in the running for President. I naively said “How did he become such a successful business owner?” To which my friend “He isn’t at all!!!”
We were stunned that he actually became President.
Stay safe
So were we. It was as if our country had gone insane. And it has.
Thanks, Dee Dee.
Stay safe!
I voted on October 13. The first day of early voting in Texas. So now I don’t listen to news outlets. I’ve done what I can do so now I wait. Down ballot candidates are important too. I hope we flip the Senate.
We need to be in control of the House, the Senate and the Oval Office, Cindy.
Stay safe!
Are you still reading Troubled Blood? I know you started it before I did, but I’m loving it! Being in that world is so much better than my world right now. I’m glad it’s long—don’t want it to end! I also loved the series shown a few years ago on Showtime, called C.B. Strike. Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger were just perfect, I thought, in their roles. Wish they’d make more. They’ll forever be Robin and Strike for me. Trying not to feel too guilty about losing myself in fiction right now.
Yes. I love it. It’s so readable and I’m enjoying taking my time. I’m on page 661 and I don’t want it to end.
(You know I never watch the adaptations of favorite book series! I have my own pictures of the characters and don’t want them messed with!)
But yes, hurrah, for a great book, well written and completely engaging!
Stay safe, Shanna.
I voted by mail a couple of weeks ago and it was accepted – such a relief. I used to believe that voting was enough, but this year? Panic took over and I realized that I had to do more. I found an org that sends letters to registered Dems who haven’t voted in the past couple of elections urging them to vote, so I’ve done that. I’ve given money to several senate campaigns in red and swing states. A flipped senate can hopefully mitigate the worst of what that lunatic will do with an unthinkable second term. And if Biden wins, all the better! Thanks to you and Don for all your hard work.
Thanks for all the work you’re doing, Di.
Stay safe!
I still have a few pots of flowers on my porch too, but next week we’re dipping down in the 20’s at night (waah!) so this Saturday when Brian’s off work, we’ll be working hard outside, dumping the plants, washing the plant pots, covering the patio furniture and raking leaves. It will only be high of 46 degrees but it is the only sunny day we’ll have, so we have to take advantage of it. Otherwise, it’s been damp, rainy, and dreary here every single day now.
Thanks for explaining about the texting. I just assumed it was from your phone. I’m always hitting the wrong buttons on my phone, too.
I will not be watching the debates tonight either. Can’t stomach it.
Early voting has started here in Illinois but there’s still a bit more research I need to do on some candidates (heaven knows not the Presidential candidates…is there even a question in that realm?!) before I go vote. And this will be my first time voting in a Presidential election, so I’m quite excited!
xoxo
I wonder if those temps will reach here? I know it will be bearable through next week, but I’m not sure about after that. We haven’t even raked our leaves yet!
Yay, you! So happy you’re voting in this election! Give yourself a huge pat on the back.
Stay safe, Melanie.
Prayers
11 days until…
As I tell my five grands aged 5 1/2 to 21—-all quite political even youngest- we will get up the next day and move on. In the meantime we vote and hope and pray for a miracle. Thinking of you today as I work with grands on FaceTime…prayers COVID ends and we can see each other in person. After watching the funeral of a loved one online, whew… I don’t even want a funeral but some do…heart breaking times we live in… thank you sweet Claudia for your thoughts.
Heartbreaking, for sure, Brenda.
Hang in there, my friend.
Stay safe.
Hi Claudia,
I live in Canada and we are in the midst of a provincial election at the moment. I know that our electoral process is very different from yours in the US but I thought I would share my experience with voting. I live in a small town (about 70,000 people). We have 6 polling stations in our area and we have 9 days when we can vote in advance before election day this Saturday. We receive voter ID cards in the mail that have bar codes which are scanned when we receive our ballots at the voting booth. My husband and I voted on the first day of the advance polls. It normally takes us about 15 minutes to vote but due to Covid protocols it took about 30 minutes total. Only a certain number of people are allowed in the polling station at one time so we lined up outside. As people voted and exited out another door we were directed inside. We were required to socially distance, wear masks and use hand sanitizer which was provided. We were directed to the polling booth where they scanned our cards and gave us a ballot. It was all so easy. We also have a process to vote by mail which many people are doing this year due to the pandemic. This means that we will probably not know the results of the election until a few days later but that doesn’t seem like too big a price to pay for a strong democracy.
I know that we have a much smaller population than the US but it is still very hard for me to understand why it seems to be so much more difficult to vote in the US than here.
I wish you all the luck in the world with your election.
Sharon
Thanks, Sharon. It’s more difficult to vote here because of the attempts at voter suppression by the GOP; gerrymandering, putting up false ballot boxes for absentee ballots, falsely claiming voter fraud. Believe me, it is rampant down here. That’s what makes it difficult to vote, especially for those of color, those who live in poverty, and now, those who are trying to vote safely during a pandemic. Look up the most recent efforts – not allowing drive-by voting, removing boxes in which to submit ballots so that anyone without transportation can’t drop off a ballot, reversing decisions to allow felons who have paid their fines to vote.
It’s not the actual process of voting once you get to the polling station. It’s about all the attempts to stop voters from ever getting there.
You’re lucky. Apparently that isn’t a problem in Canada, but is sure is here. Republicans know they can’t win without cheating. So they cheat.
xo
My husband made the achingly-hard (final) decision today NOT to work the polls.
This has been a subject going on with us for such a long time. He thought he was, some weeks ago, out of the running; just wasn’t hearing anything nor could he get hold of anybody at the County/Elections offices; the whole process of being chosen to be a poll worker was much more extensive for this election (he had multiple interviews and what seemed to be quite-extensive background checking) and I think what put Elections somewhat behind on things was having to make sure about a whole lot of stuff including virus safety for poll workers as well as voters, such that we only found out yesterday in Orientation for poll workers just exactly when my husband would be serving and where/doing what.
The result was that he withdrew because he felt as a worker with continuous exposure to too many people, that the Elections ‘team’ couldn’t insure enough safety for him as a worker. He decided to create the job opening for someone else further down on the list (i.e., for [1] who needs this paying job more than he does, when they’re very likely out of work [they had, apparently, MANY applications for poll workers which initially wasn’t anticipated; too many people have lost their ‘regular’ paying jobs and could use the poll-worker/temporary job which is now a whole ‘nuther thing with a per-hour wage]; and [2] for those who perhaps may have less vulnerability to the virus than we do, both husband and myself. [Although everyone is vulnerable, maybe at least a younger person who has no underlying health issues.]). And we hope and pray that every voter and every poll worker can stay safe in this very-critical election.
He’d really wanted to do his part and I know he’s frustrated and disappointed. His heart and soul were in the right place. But we have to be practical. My husband has a new and worrying condition which in a test last week revealed he is not breathing at capacity, but we both didn’t need a medical test to tell us that, because this has been going on for awhile and it’s scary and also uncomfortable. We don’t have any kind of real diagnosis on it yet, so we have to be wise. He’s also in the vulnerable age range for the virus and has some other chronic disease. Then, there’s me, and I have ‘way too many health issues. We live in a small house together and there’s no way to quarantine from each other even if we had a hint of possible virus exposure. (I know two people who tried to do that in a BIG house, a 3-story house; he got it, then she got Covid from him. And they tried really, really hard to separate in the house and be careful.)
Anyway, this has been hanging over our heads for a long time and, frankly, I think he’s as relieved to have made the decision as I am for him finally deciding. There will be other elections; other times when he can safely be a poll worker again.
We’d made so many plans. We’ve talked to every possible friend and acquaintance about a motorhome/trailer rental he could park on our driveway to self-quarantine from me. You simply cannot find them, and the rental agencies have been booked-solid for months because of course this type of travel, by self-contained motorhome/trailer is h.o.t. as a way to get out of the house and be safe. I think deep-down we knew, because we don’t live far from the ocean beach, and the motorhomes and trailers are there 24/7 now, at every available/rentable parking spot, even off-season. So many people off work, off school; have motorhome, will travel. We even probed neighbors who have motorhomes in their driveways, but to no avail. I considered moving out to go live with a friend for a month, even though I get nervous about the people she brings into her home like housecleaners, but then there’s no one back at the potentially-‘contaminated’/quarantine house to let the elderly, weak-kidneys dog out (when my husband would be working 9-to-13-hr days at the polling place or County offices). We tried to get an affordable airbnb which we knew of ; we looked at motel rooms you’d rent weekly. We just couldn’t work anything out and it wasn’t worth going into a hole with the budget either.
It seems these days that if anybody has a back house or guest house or even a second/vacay home, they’re reserving it for extended family, not renting to possibly-germy strangers. People seem to have really closed off, closed in, but that’s only because the ‘news’ tells us everyday that the virus is surging and it’s more dangerous than ever, so be very-very careful.
The bottom line is that my husband-as-poll-worker would be behind plexiglass for the four straight days of in-person voting (the starting part of his commitment), but the amount of aerosols in one closed-in building with that many thousands of people in a continuous period were, we felt, just too risky, at least for us. If you’re a voter, you’re in and out, one and done; as a worker, he’s not. He’s not moving, he’s not going in and out, he’s there for hours and hours, and he’s shut up in a place with all those people for days on end. Maybe it’s fine for someone else but, in the end, we didn’t feel it was safe for us. They’ve still got nine days to replace him before in-person voting. It won’t be a problem for them.
So, now we re-group. I’d done quite a lot of planning on how I’d live for a month without him. Now, onto yet-again another plan.
To other topics: I’m with you, Claudia. It’s too much of a nail-biter NOT to watch the news from now to Nov 3. I’d be more stressed if I didn’t feel like I knew what was going on. I will watch the debate tonight. I have to see it through for myself.
I know that was a hard decision but I suspect it’s the best thing for both of you. Now you can let it go and move forward.
Stay safe, Vicki.
I hope you’re getting better from your allergies-sinus-cold symptoms. I know it’s getting colder where you’re located in NY. We’ve had a gloriously-cooler few days in SoCalif and it makes such a difference. I walked all around my house outside yesterday in the sunshine and for once it wasn’t so hot that I couldn’t; picked a time when the neighbors were all still at work to where I felt I could be out there without a mask; cut some roses for a vase (gorgeous yellow roses; how I love roses!), drank in everything with the breeze and the birds and the sound of the leaves in the trees. We’ve been fogged in most nights and mornings; it must be a similar effect to snow in how it gets everything so quiet. “Cloaked in a blanket of fog” is an apt way to put it; I love fog. Just weird that way! Give me the foggy beach and I’m fine.
This is when I’m lucky in SoCalif that I actually CAN be outdoors for many months of the year, in most part (it’s my personal choice to stay indoors when it’s so hot outside; other people love the heat of course), whereas I can see from other readers here and elsewhere THE DREAD of being closed up from the cold as winter descends in other parts of the U.S. I don’t know ‘snow’ and I think it’s so pretty to look at, but I realize of course that it’s problematic to actually live in, even with daily chores, the usual errands, etc. But, oh, to have four defined seasons; to experience just one time what it means to have snow for Christmas; it’s nothing I’ve ever known. Only what I see in photos, illustrations; in movies.
Anyway, you and Don continue to stay safe, too. Get well soonest. Feel better. And thanks again for all you’re doing (it’s a lot; a lot of your hours!) to help Joe Biden win. He’s a good man. Did you see the ending segment on Brian Williams’ MSNBC show last night, when they showed a clip of Biden from a couple of years ago, hugging a young boy who’d lost his father in a shooting? It wasn’t a just-for-the-cameras thing; he was genuine in the moment. I watched it three times. And each time I cried because it was such a much-needed demonstration of empathy. Joe Biden will give us not just direction and excellent, experienced leadership. He will give the U.S. much-needed empathy. There is no part of our society who doesn’t need it. You can read all the descriptions and synonyms for empathy; here’s something I picked off the web: ‘The term “empathy” is used to describe a wide range of experiences. Emotion researchers generally define empathy as the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling.’ Trump is incapable of empathy, so it’s just another level of how he can’t serve the American people. He doesn’t have the ability to relate to us. He only relates to himself. He lacks normal, human emotion. It determines his decision-making, which only benefits him, not us. We as a people and as a nation do not benefit from how he governs. We are left behind.
Frankly, I’m still feeling crappy. This thing is hanging on and I’m tired of it. Today, I’m laying low.
Stay safe.
hej, claudia. :)
i hope you and don continue to feel better, did some leaf-raking if you wanted and have had a good day.
thanks to you both for taking lots of time to continue putting your words into civic action. hope it helps alleviate some of the stress. sorry you’ve both had to deal with some rude replies in the process.
i turned in absentee ballots yesterday after work for some family members and myself. they’ve been officially
accepted and that feels good. day one of a two-day conference is done; it went well and i managed the “zoom” and “whova” tech stuff alright. heat’s been turned on here at home, we got some rain last night and more is expected tonight. talked with members of my family and that makes me happy. and tomorrow is friday and i have next week off work. :)
oh! it just started to rain … i can hear it hitting the windows! :)
don’t think i will spoil my good list and feeling by watching the debate.
hope you all have a good night and stay safe!
kathy in iowa
ps: i love the contrast between the soft pink flowers and that vintage planter. and glad there are still some blooms for you on october 22!
You and your family have voted. Bravo!
We’ll vote in person within the next few days, Kathy.
Stay safe!
Hi Claudia,
I was sorting through my Blog Lists blog today, clearing out dead links, closed blogs, etc., and I came across your blog. So happy to see you are still blogging as a lot of bloggers from years ago moved onto Facebook or Instagram and some even closed their blogs. I’m hoping to reconnect with the bloggers I used to visit regularly.
RE. the US election – I think I speak for many Aussies when I say that Trump needs to go. I was in shock that he ever got voted in to begin with. I find it hard to believe that he has so many followers who hang on his every lie like it’s gospel truth. Scary stuff!
Enjoy your upcoming weekend. :)
It’s frightening that so many people support him, Serena. Truly shocking.
Thanks so much for stopping by and stay safe!
Good morning Claudia and Don. You may have said, but I don’t know what kind of flowers those lovely ones are. Delicate! I know you both are steadfastly continuing the work for change, and very grateful to you both. I thought of you the other day when I looked out my upstairs window at a still-green backdrop for a single branch of flaming red/orange leaves. Oh, if I could have captured it in a photo. It’s in my mind, tho, very dramatic and a scene must for me (and the cats). Take care!
They are Calibrachoa, Nora. Hardy little flowers that come in lots of colors.
Thanks so much.
Stay safe.