November 2, 2004
11/02/2004 02:26 p.m.
*Highly editorial content*

And this my friends is the day on which many of us can exercise the greatest privelege (now a right) that has been granted to us by our constitution... the right to vote... to have our voice heard.

I took the opportunity to vote early; with everything that has happened over the past month I didn't want to end up in the hospital and not be able to vote. Even voting early I had to stand in line for an hour! Having worked past elections, including a couple of presidential years, I'm excited to see so many people voting!

No, the candidates I want in office might not win, but with record turnouts expected (I wonder how many of the deceased registered voters will be casting ballots today?), at least people are taking an interest in their government and their country and aren't being complacent and apathetic. Complacency is a disease that maims, destroys and kills.

So today I will drive by the polling, smile when I see the lines, and thank God I'm not standing in those lines. Tonight I will watch the news as the polls close,and the lines gradually dwindle, and before I go to bed, I will pray, and thank God for the blessing of being born in a time and in a country where I have the freedom to vote...

and then.... I'll wait, as all of the accusations about falsified voters registrations, and voting machine malfunctions arise... as I'm sure they will.
My state and Florida both use the "new" E-slate system... no paper back-up, what genius devised this system? Really, is this better than counting Chads?

Maybe by the end of the month we'll know who the President will be? This could make or break some Thanksgiving gatherings. If it comes closer to Christmas, some may lose all of the merry spirit. What kind of New Year's Resolutions will we hear about this year. Will Hollywood has beens once again threaten to leave the country? Or will it be Joe Citizen who declares enough already? I've overheard several conversations of people who are considering life on the other side of the US border (North or South) depending on the outcome. A bit extreme in my opinion, but if they actually follow through... you have to admire them for the strength of their convictions.

November 2, 2004... Election Day... Be safe in your journeys, sound in your decisions, firm in your convictions... and may God bless you on your path.
I am currently Thoughtfull