I'm a voter, he's a voter, wouldn't ya like to be a voter too

So I was pretty excited to go vote this year.
I tried to go early in the day before people got off work so I wouldn't have to wait in line.
Well, if you know me, you know that I was there at 5:15...standing in line.
As I stood there in the line watching people vote, I couldn't help but get a smidge emotional.
I know, that's silly.
But I just couldn't help it.
It all started with the little old man leaning on his cane while he voted. His hands were so shaky that he may have inadvertantly voted for the other guy. But he was there...voting.
I got looking around at the people that had taken the time to come and let their voice be heard.
If I were brave (which I am not)
I would have taken out my camera and snapped a shot (which I didn't).
But if I had, it would have looked something like this.
The skinny kid with big glasses who I'm sure was casting his first vote ever stood behind a guy in a suit and really expensive shoes.
Another guy with skin like leather walked past on his way to leave. With every step he took, a small billow of dust or concrete mix or something puffed out of his work boots.
A young mother rummaged through her purse looking for something to shush her bored toddler.
A not so young mother right behind her freely dispensed with unsolicited advice.
A woman in fancy clothes stood next to a lady in sweats as they picked the candidates they thought would do the best job...I wondered if they were the same candidates?
And finally, the man standing in front of me wore a work shirt with his name on it.
He smelled like motor oil.
The woman behind me wore a lovely sweater vest and smelled like butterscotch cookies.
Such different people all doing the same thing.
Different incomes, different jobs, different houses, different beliefs.
But there we were. Standing in line.
How lucky are we to pick our leaders?
Sure, they may not be perfect and sometimes they're just downright stupid...but we get to pick em'.
No socialist dictator or ruling monarchy chooses. We do. It's downright cool actually.
I hear people whine all the time about the state of things and then find out they didn't vote.
Whatever. I mean, come on! A lot of people fought and died so we could.
I was just really proud of my little group of fellow voters. Especially the guy I saw walk in with a cast on his leg.
Anyhoo, I'm glad I got to vote. Thanks mom for making me a sentimental, patriotic sap.
God Bless America. Stars and Stripes forever and Don't Tread on Me. For the People and all those other ones.

p.s. Who was the guy that thought up the donkey and the elephant? It couldn't have been something a little cooler? A Jaguar and a Lion or... something?

oh, and p.s.s. Lady behind me that smelled like butterscotch, if you're blogging about standing in line behind me, will you please say that I smelled like Tahitian coconuts? Thank you.

Look who's the cool girl now!!

Dear Fall,

Way to get in there and throw your weight around.

I have thoroughly enjoyed your extended visit this year.

I still have flowers like this blooming in my front yard.

Kudos to you for making your presence known.

We all like you....a lot.

Love,

Mindy

Don't Kill the Messenger!!

Okay, so we all know how I feel about Fall. I wrote about it here.

Poor Fall. It's the season that I hate to love.

Fall is absolutely lovely. It is such a beautiful season and has so much to offer.

The need for a jacket in the morning, only to ditch it on the walk home from school.

That crunch as you walk over those fallen leaves. I love pumpkins and Hot Cider and those stinking candy corns. (I may or may not eat full bags in one sitting...stop judging).

I remember so well planning for weeks what I would be for Halloween.

Fall is lovely. Really it is. It's what comes after Fall that disheartens me.

I know, I know....it's not Fall's fault. It's just doing it's job.

Fall is like the cop who knocks on your door at 2a.m. when your teenager is after curfew. You go to the door...you can see the lights flashing in your driveway. You see your teen standing beside the officer. This could be the most handsome, kind officer you've ever met

but you know what's coming. And you know it's not good.

Fall is that 'you've been served' guy. He looks all nice and friendly and then

Bam!! You've been served. (Just so you know, Heidi Klum is serious about those restraining order threats.)

Fall is that cute waiter at a new restaraunt you've been wanting to try.

He's all charming and flirty (even though you are fully aware that you are old and that he just wants a good tip)

and then he tells you they don't serve Dr. Pepper.

It's the super nice nurse with great hair at your OB/GYN office. She's all smiles until she hands you that...that paper napkin of cover up. (and why are those exam rooms so blasted cold?)

They are all the bearers of bad news.

Fall is a bad news bearer.

It's not Fall's fault.

It's just an unfortunate set of circumstances that she is wedged inbetween the most glorious season and the most grotesque season.

Maybe there should be a post fall/pre winter season.

We could call it "Oh Crap! Here it comes!' I think Hallmark would make a fortune.

The seasons are just a John Hughes 80's movie really.
Spring is shiny and new and makes people feel good. Spring is the peppy cheerleader of the seasons. Everyone likes Spring.
Summer is the Homecoming Queen. She's glitzy and gets a lot of attention. All the other seasons secretly want to be her. Everyone likes her because she's pretty.
Fall is that quiet art girl with the natural beauty. She is a very deep thinker and is very witty but she doesn't say much so she gets looked over most of the time. (this part could also be played by John Cusak)
Winter is that jerky football player who's so obsessed with himself that he teases Fall and causes her to retreat back to her art studio to be alone with her thoughts.
Come on Fall!! Be tougher. Don't let Winter bully you from the main hall. You deserve to eat lunch with the cool kids too. Hang out for a while. Show him that you've got something to say.
You could rock a tiara or a pom pom. And I bet you'd get the coolest song on the soundtrack too.
Okay, I'm done ranting about my hate of all things cold and wintry and the lovely season that precedes all cold and wintry things.
That is all.

The simple things

There's nothing like a good bowl of ice cream.

This one would eat ice cream every day if I let him.

Wouldn't that be just lovely?