I'm in Philadelphia and can see the stage for the last Harris Walz rally from my office on the 20th floor. I'm hoping that Kamala and Tim and Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin will gently carry us over the finish line.
Did my first phone bank thing Friday. It helps, people! Vote cure banking for PA and Georgia today and tomorrow. Much easier for introverts like me — you’re calling people who are glad you called. God — or whatever one believes in — help us all.
I’ve had a stomach ache all weekend and with the time change I’m tired and foggy. Tomorrow I’ll be doing my volunteer shift at a horse stable for people with disabilities. It’s a few hours of being away from this mess and focusing on others.
If anyone wants a bit of optimism I urge you to watch this interview with Ann Selzer about the outlier poll out of Iowa that dropped over the weekend. She tends to get these numbers that go against the grain but the last time she was wrong was 2004. One big takeaway is that the polls are missing the Dobbs effect particularly on women voters over 60.
I have purchased the ingredients for Dark And Stormy cocktails should things go south and a split of Veuve Clicquot if things go as they should. It may be March before I'm able to indulge in either since I sincerely doubt the election will be decided anytime soon. And I have saved up all of the new season of Great British Bake Off plus the new season of Slow Horses. And I have recorded Buffy The Vampire Slayer (I've never seen it) so I think I'm good in terms of keeping myself from news from about 6 a.m. tomorrow morning until 9 p.m. tomorrow night when I'll take something to help me sleep. Oy and Egad.
I live in a swing state and I am going to canvass the fuck out of the next 24 hours. My strategy is if the orange menace does get in office, I know I did everything in my power to help Kamala.
And I keep saying to my kids that MLK quote (and I’m probably bastardizing it) “the arc of history bends toward justice.” I do believe that even if we are about to endure a very dark time, especially for the most vulnerable among us.
I voted early by mail and am staying positive. I like to think about the millions that are collectively putting this vibe out there in the universe: we’re not going back. We’re going forward with power. Also, I’m going to Paris today.
My husband and I had our second shingles shot on Friday and essentially spent the weekend in a fog watching easy movies and ordering ramen and ice cream (Paddington 2, Tootsie and On Golden Pond, for example). Now it’s Monday and I’m so freaked out at the prospect of the orange menace getting reelected that I’m numb. I’ve been reading Earth To Moon and smothering my dog, wishing in some ways that I was as oblivious as he is.
I started my morning by making a list of things I will need for tomorrow, trying to calm myself with familiar comforts. Will soon be off to pick up needed baking supplies and candles and a fluffy novel to keep my mind from spiraling. My kids will be home from school tomorrow so I want to maintain as much of a semblance of calm as possible. Really hoping one of my teens does not pick tomorrow for his hardcore punk band’s practice in our basement.
May we all get through this with as much ease as possible. Holding onto hope!
Thanks so much for your wise and furious words about the election on today's podcast, Jenn. Like Kim, I have nothing to add. Meanwhile, although dissociative drinking certainly appeals, I am trying to find some beauty around me. There's a beautiful crescent moon in the LA sky, and Venus is super-bright next to it. Like you, I was lucky enough to get last-minute tickets to see Joni Mitchell at the Bowl, and I'm still happy every time I think of it, even two weeks later (everyone, including Joni, seemed so delighted to be there! Plus bonus Annie Lennox!). I have been sending letters and postcards to voters and urging my students to vote. I got my dinosaur of a boomer dad (a former Reagan/Nixon/Bush I Republican) to vote for Kamala. And when/if all else fails, there is rosé and compartmentalizing.
I had a period of about 36-48 hours of mild optimism following the news about the Iowa poll and obsessive reading of Twitter, where I saw pollsters in Kansas and Michigan conceding they may have under-weighted women and Black voters in their tallies. (Meaning, numbers for Harris are better than they have been claiming.) That glimmer of optimism evaporated this morning, unfortunately for my well-being. But, I do think it's going to go the right way. Ugggggh WHY IS THIS OUR REALITY?!?
Also, I hope I don’t have to ever go back to Scottsdale. Plenty of nice people, but also some real grim ones. Like the lady with two small dogs named Princess Diana and President Trump. She told Leslie, Did you hear the news today? It turns out that Tim Walz is a BOT!
I'm in Philadelphia and can see the stage for the last Harris Walz rally from my office on the 20th floor. I'm hoping that Kamala and Tim and Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin will gently carry us over the finish line.
Did my first phone bank thing Friday. It helps, people! Vote cure banking for PA and Georgia today and tomorrow. Much easier for introverts like me — you’re calling people who are glad you called. God — or whatever one believes in — help us all.
I am loving vote curing!
I’ve had a stomach ache all weekend and with the time change I’m tired and foggy. Tomorrow I’ll be doing my volunteer shift at a horse stable for people with disabilities. It’s a few hours of being away from this mess and focusing on others.
If anyone wants a bit of optimism I urge you to watch this interview with Ann Selzer about the outlier poll out of Iowa that dropped over the weekend. She tends to get these numbers that go against the grain but the last time she was wrong was 2004. One big takeaway is that the polls are missing the Dobbs effect particularly on women voters over 60.
https://youtu.be/qdgIP6IjHdk?si=i8pxGutCw-evJb8s
She was on Rachel Maddow last night and spoke so intelligently and factually that she did make me feel a bit better.
I have purchased the ingredients for Dark And Stormy cocktails should things go south and a split of Veuve Clicquot if things go as they should. It may be March before I'm able to indulge in either since I sincerely doubt the election will be decided anytime soon. And I have saved up all of the new season of Great British Bake Off plus the new season of Slow Horses. And I have recorded Buffy The Vampire Slayer (I've never seen it) so I think I'm good in terms of keeping myself from news from about 6 a.m. tomorrow morning until 9 p.m. tomorrow night when I'll take something to help me sleep. Oy and Egad.
I live in a swing state and I am going to canvass the fuck out of the next 24 hours. My strategy is if the orange menace does get in office, I know I did everything in my power to help Kamala.
And I keep saying to my kids that MLK quote (and I’m probably bastardizing it) “the arc of history bends toward justice.” I do believe that even if we are about to endure a very dark time, especially for the most vulnerable among us.
I voted early by mail and am staying positive. I like to think about the millions that are collectively putting this vibe out there in the universe: we’re not going back. We’re going forward with power. Also, I’m going to Paris today.
YESSS, a perfect plan. x
My husband and I had our second shingles shot on Friday and essentially spent the weekend in a fog watching easy movies and ordering ramen and ice cream (Paddington 2, Tootsie and On Golden Pond, for example). Now it’s Monday and I’m so freaked out at the prospect of the orange menace getting reelected that I’m numb. I’ve been reading Earth To Moon and smothering my dog, wishing in some ways that I was as oblivious as he is.
I started my morning by making a list of things I will need for tomorrow, trying to calm myself with familiar comforts. Will soon be off to pick up needed baking supplies and candles and a fluffy novel to keep my mind from spiraling. My kids will be home from school tomorrow so I want to maintain as much of a semblance of calm as possible. Really hoping one of my teens does not pick tomorrow for his hardcore punk band’s practice in our basement.
May we all get through this with as much ease as possible. Holding onto hope!
Thanks so much for your wise and furious words about the election on today's podcast, Jenn. Like Kim, I have nothing to add. Meanwhile, although dissociative drinking certainly appeals, I am trying to find some beauty around me. There's a beautiful crescent moon in the LA sky, and Venus is super-bright next to it. Like you, I was lucky enough to get last-minute tickets to see Joni Mitchell at the Bowl, and I'm still happy every time I think of it, even two weeks later (everyone, including Joni, seemed so delighted to be there! Plus bonus Annie Lennox!). I have been sending letters and postcards to voters and urging my students to vote. I got my dinosaur of a boomer dad (a former Reagan/Nixon/Bush I Republican) to vote for Kamala. And when/if all else fails, there is rosé and compartmentalizing.
I had a period of about 36-48 hours of mild optimism following the news about the Iowa poll and obsessive reading of Twitter, where I saw pollsters in Kansas and Michigan conceding they may have under-weighted women and Black voters in their tallies. (Meaning, numbers for Harris are better than they have been claiming.) That glimmer of optimism evaporated this morning, unfortunately for my well-being. But, I do think it's going to go the right way. Ugggggh WHY IS THIS OUR REALITY?!?
BLARGH.
but you’ve been out fighting the good fight!
I really fucking hope she wins.
Also, I hope I don’t have to ever go back to Scottsdale. Plenty of nice people, but also some real grim ones. Like the lady with two small dogs named Princess Diana and President Trump. She told Leslie, Did you hear the news today? It turns out that Tim Walz is a BOT!
lolll of all of them Tim Walz? amazing
Yep. Tim Walz. I never saw it coming either.