Nick of Time, Again and Again

Nick of Time, Again and Again

It is an important thing to know about a person. It is a different way of rolling. With some, this IT is an art and I stand in awe of them. Not so, me.

That said, whatever IT is, is an important thing to know about a person. If it happens again and again, IT'S WHAT THEY DO.

Elections in the United States of America...from filing for candidacy, through financing of campaign showmanship, right on to that gap-read-that-engraved-invitation-to-hanky-panky between when we declare our new leader and when that new leader can actually do anything but posture and preen. As s/he will been doing for at least two years, by then. Why bother going back to Congress at all, they've already missed so much time? Oh, that's right...excellent salary, healthcare, pension and travel plans. Must be why they keep those Congressional posts while they run for president.

Think back. Remember how, with your annual physical or other doctor appointment, your semi-annual dental check-up/teeth cleaning...braces, speech therapy, counseling, whatever else you needed that might fall during school hours...your Mom tried to schedule it early in the morning or late in the afternoon, so you could still get in a half-day at school? Or, if the family was going on a little holiday, you might leave Friday midday or even...oh joy...miss Friday altogether?

What's that you say? The majority of American children have no idea what I'm talking about? I'm sorry.

The government is not sorry. The government does not give a shit. It couldn't be more clear. Government's MVP is Government.

Voting, that's where I was. FUCK. They're onto the Pimping Chelsea Predicament, and I'm still mulling over our strangely archaic yet state-of-the-art voting procedures/apparatus are an embarrassment. I'm thinking it was the 2004 election and not the 2000 election but, for sure, it was one of them. It was a story about Florida but I must surely have read it in L.A. International inspectors, of the sort that we insist should attend sketchy elections in other countries, WERE REFUSED ACCESS TO POLLING PLACES IN AMERICA. Notably, Florida.

After the first lady had carefully crossed out my name with a red pan and the aforementioned big ruler, I was directed to another volunteer. Who was sitting next-practically-shoulder-to-shoulder with her. Another big ledger, big ruler and red pen...the hunt for and lining out of my address. I can only guess that this is a national security measure...make sure no one pulls the old switcheroo.

Next volunteer in line = Ballot Issuer.

Lemme put it this way. I have mentioned elsewhere that my election to remain registered as a Republican...as I have been these many years...was not without thought. The neighborhood in which I live...near the Farmer's Market from which Bill Maher has conducted some excellent interviews...seems to me to be unmistakably and rather strongly Democratic.

Republican? It didn't quite have an exclamation point, more of an 'are you serious?' to it. And IT was kinda loud. The Pan Pacific community center isn't a place a person would feel intimidated...but I could sure see how it could be VERY intimidating.

And the Rubber Maid bin into which my ballot slides to safety? Stop, you're killin' me.






I've made it as far as Prescott, Arizona. Which means that technically, I'm a few minutes late...according to the clock tower in the town square, of "Back to the Future" renown.