I couldn’t find the good news thread so I will post here:
S lives in London. He was planning to come home before Thanksgiving and be home for about 6 weeks. Now they are shutting down. Today he got the go ahead from his company HR that he can leave tomorrow and just WFH the next 2 weeks ( he would have to WFH anyway, so I’m not sure why they had to approve). He will be arrivig tomorrow night! We haven’t seen him since last Christmas!
So I also hope this is a sign of more good news to come.
No lines at the polling place at our local high school, even though the number of polling places have been reduced. (I liked it when we voted in our neighbor’s garage.)
Rodeo Drive and other shopping places have boarded up preparing for looters. Sigh.
Came to the office and going to walk at the boardwalk along the ocean with a friend after work. I am not sure I will be able to watch the news after I get home. Also will be with my son who has been having significant anxiety issues over the election.
On the way home from an appt, drove by the polling place and no lines. This pocket of town is so liberal, I guess everyone took care of things earlier.
@Creekland Some of my friends in PA are also making a point of voting in person. As long as we vote, I’m cool with whatever. But as one put it, she wants to make sure others see the effort.
H and I voted early. Today our house is torn apart and full of packers and movers, as we prepare to move on Thursday for H’s new job. A distraction from the election but still lots of stress and anxiety.
@FallGirl i am so excited for you!!
@WayOutWestMom, so excited for the birth of your grandchild. My daughter was born on election night, I watched the returns while I was in labor. In 2016 the election was in her birthday, it was memorable to say the least. What an event to say was the day of your birth! As an aside, I woke up the next day after her birth and the Berlin Wall came down, it was something you will never forget.
I’m like @OhiBro and @abasket and will eagerly watch the returns. Yesterday I was watching The View and Nate Silver was on, my husband asked if he was a comedian! Seriously! What do you mean, you don’t know what 538 is? ?
My D lives in Pittsburgh on the north shore, not too far from the sports stadiums. She and all her friends were voting in person today because they wanted to make sure their vote couldn’t be challenged. She just texted that she just voted and there was hardly anyone there and it took no time at all. She was expecting long lines. Maybe most people there voted early?
I would expect that in many places the lines would be much shorter because so many people voted earlier. But from reports of long lines in certain polling places, that does not seem to be universal.
Also would make sense that early lines were long with many people voting before work. And with some uncertainty as to process, some people who ordinarily vote after work decided to vote before work today. Have talked with a couple people who said there were long lines this morning (longer than normal) but by the time they voted, the line was shorter or when they drove by an hour or two later, the line was much shorter/non-existent.
Going about my business just like any other day, with COVID precautions.
Had my annual gyn exam this morning. Then dropped off copies of my son’s wrist xrays at our local/preferred orthopedic surgeon practice for a second opinion (he will get treated by this doctor when he gets home from college in a couple of weeks).
Then picking my youngest up from hybrid school shortly and taking her to her first tennis match of the shortened season. We found out last night that the schools changed their previous “no spectator” rule so now rather than sitting in the car for two hours, we will get to see her play.
We will get take out on the way home, then watch some of the live election coverage with our two high schoolers. They have been very interested, which has led to some cool dinner conversations. And unlike 2016, my older two college kids are able to vote this time around, so this election has had a lot more meaning, as a family, than last time. If not for this being an important civics lesson for my high schoolers, I’m not sure I would watch tonight.
The news said there are approx 9 million registered voters in PA and 2+ million are recorded as already having sent in ballots putting us much lower (percentage-wise) than other battleground states. People they are interviewing also add to the “want to be sure my vote counts” mantra for today. They are showing places with long lines and places without many - walk in type.
The state is varied. H is out picking up our take out Chinese. He just called and asked if I want him to swing by the polling place to see how it is now. Sure! I’ll report in relatively soon (not sure if it will be after eating or before). I’m ok if we stood in line needlessly. I’m not available to go out now and even on the news at places with no lines they said they expected more people after work finishes. With schools and many factories around here, that’s often 3pm.
Polling place at our local township hall has been very busy. I’ve been by 3 times, it’s just down the road from me. Rural northern Michigan
I don’t think people who wait in lines to vote today (or did so in early voting) did so needlessly. No matter how the race turns out in your state. Exercising the most important right we have.
I voted via mail for the first time ever. Have always voted in person on election day. Was not worried about Covid really. Just uncertainty of how things would be a month or so ago when I requested mail in ballot. Would there be long lines? Would there be disruptions? Figured it was a good one to mail in.
On the flip side, I have friends who have voted via mail for decades. This time they voted in person because they had concerns about the mail. Everyone does what they find works best for them. In the end, as long as it gets there and is counted, it shouldn’t matter.
Update for everyone kind of enough to comment.
The twins were born late very last night. (Around 11pm PST)
Two girls. Blue eyes, dark hair. Everyone is doing OK.
Much longer line now. H said he met #100 while getting take out. He waited in line for 2 hours. 50/hour seems to be the rate they have there.
By needlessly I only meant if there had been no need to wait in line later. That doesn’t appear to have been an option in our precinct.
Awww…twin girls! Congrats to all @WayOutWestMom .
Took a work break to walk and check out the nearest voting location (we voted early). This was around lunch time but it didn’t look really busy.Lots of early voting here. Someone in the know reported 67% of people have already voted so far and 85% total turnout is expected in our area!
Turning off all personal devices in a couple of hours, leaving them in the charger box in a closet, and spending the rest of the evening and night alone in our casita. Will watch a movie or two, drink some wine, and then bed. I do not have the stomach for this (did the same for the debates). DH is going over to a friend’s to watch the results, most likely with our (political junkie) son on loudspeaker. Everyone knows to leave me alone, and I will be electronically unavailable.
Sitting by the fire, eating pop corn with the family. About 10 PM we’ll likely have a family zoom call.
Was up at 5:30 this morning to get to polls by 6:30. I was first in town to vote. (high risk so wanted to get in early). Makes for a long day/night. I did take a nap this morning (which I never do).
Wowee!!
Many congratulations and good wishes. They were born on a historic day.
That’s so interesting! Could it be because there are less polling places in your area? I know in our area, there are less polling places than for most other elections because the early and mail-in voting were supposed to eliminate some of the need for polling places today, not to mention budget constraints.
I already voted, but have an unusually busy day. I took my car in for routine maintenance, picked up my grocery order curbside, called 40 people to remind them to vote and gave them their polling location/hours, and played 9 holes of golf. Now I have another 60 people to call before dinner. I will probably watch some news later tonight, but will need to escape with HGTV or similar for a few hours. Golf is already on the agenda for tomorrow and Thursday. We are lucky to get a warm streak in the weather.
My son called me to say he voted. Even though he voted for the other candidate, I congratulated him for voting.