Saturday was probably the last fine day for the foreseeable future. Certainly it’s the last time the weather service has had cause to use their sun graphics in the longterm forecasts. So we are settling in for the long grim winter. I guess we’ll be happier about it in mid-April.
I mean, we’ll be pleased with the change to better weather in mid-April, but you, of course, know I’ll look for new and inventive ways to say the same tired things about this gray place, and why it takes that long to burn off the winter here.
Anyway, we enjoyed the sunshine, and the chilly temperatures, that Saturday offered with a nice little bike ride. Here’s some video from the later parts of it:
The sun was nice, and will be missed.
Today we stood under the gray sky and performed our patriotic duty to vote, or as the kids these days are saying, “We did a democracy.” I’ll be working next Tuesday, and we are afforded some time off for the process, but if you can avoid the lines in a fashion that is presumptively more convenient, you avoid the lines in a fashion that is presumptively more convenient.
It started out under a very attractive maple tree:
And it wound up at a door like this:
Along the way some other things happened:
On the voting line.
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
There's a young man in front of me and an older gentleman behind me.
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
The younger guy is just looking down at his phone. Wearing a mask. Trying to give a little distance.
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
The younger guy is just looking down at his phone. Wearing a mask. Trying to give a little distance.
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
The older gentleman had to go back to his truck. As he told someone on the phone just now, "six or eight months into this, I still forget my mask."
He's forgetting about the nose part, too.
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
And the distancing.
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
Some people have joined the line behind us.
One woman says "What's this line for?"
One of her friends says "To vote."
"Oh! I should definitely vote."
I'm hoping they were doing a bit.
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
A guy comes out of one of those old-homes-converted-to-office space that we're all standing in front of. Says this is the right time to be here. Says it's usually way around there.
The line is already a block long and around the corner. #Democracy! But moving. Also, #democracy!
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
Pro move by the older gentleman: Clears throat, coughs, two hands to lower his mask to put some spit on the ground.
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
Forgets to re-cover his nose.
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
Sorta terrified of growing old and losing the sensation in my nose.
That's the only explanation I can think of for older folks and this otherwise complete misunderstanding of the respiratory system.
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
We've rounded the corner.
(This is a standing in line tweet, not a #Covid19 tweet.)
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
There's a nice new SUV parked by the line and it's covered in signage for a judicial position on the ballot. (It's within state laws regarding electioneering and distance from the polling place.)
The candidate lists his quals. The last bullet is "Covid-19 survivor."
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
A guy walks back from the other direction, "It feels good to finally vote."
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
People seem to be coming out this door, rubbing their hands, pleased with the process. pic.twitter.com/Sj5SZ9BMGQ
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
I'm going in.
Let's do this, America! pic.twitter.com/L6w4kDMJfg
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
And done. Fifty-nine minutes. Filling in some bubbles. A bunch of hand sanitizer. America.
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
Aside …
In all of my voting since the year blah blah blah, in many districts in several states, you never see a more pleasant bunch of people than the ones working at a polling place.
They're how you know we're going to be alright.
— Kenny Smith (@kennysmith) October 26, 2020
They meant more than the guy who would randomly go “Whoooo! WHO IS READY TO VOTE?!” It’s not a pep rally, friend. But thanks, I guess. Anyway, it took just about an hour. It was easy and inside the office space was a bit perfunctory, practiced, like the last night of a haunted house’s performance, but without the scary part. Aside from a few Boomers, who need to up their mask games, it was well ordered and stress-free.
Early voting in Indiana runs through Nov. 2nd. You can find out the rules for where you are at this link. Then, go educate yourself on the issues — up and down the ballot! — that matter to you, put on a mask and go pull the lever, punch the chad, fill in the bubble or whatever system your local government uses. You, too, can do a democracy!
