I'm whacked out today - don't know why but I am.

Busy yesterday - yoga, Pattersons to work on grant with Mark (and, of course, to see Baby Claire - who is just a complete hoot!), dinner with my hubby and an old friend from Alabama. I didn't drink last night, at all.

Got home from dinner and on going through the mail found Andy's midterm grades - 4 A's and 3 C's...Tim flipped out, got on the phone and had a very serious discussion with Andy. Andy said the comp teacher had made a mistake that was now corrected, that his computer class was really hard and that he had no idea what was going on in his freshman seminar or his oral communications class. Tim made him promise to talk with his teachers and call him today - Andy did, he talked with his freshman seminar and oral comm teacher - Andy reported to Tim that his teacher said she really liked to hammer the kids first half of the semester so that they understood they were in college (?) and that she had no doubts he would do great in her class! Weird attitude and thing to say - in a way I agree but in a way I don't.

I'm worried about Joe - no word from him today on the status of the issues with his fraternity brothers having their house broken into and getting beaten up (along with their girlfriends). Joe is stressed out - he's pretty sensitive and, of course, if Joe's stressed so am I.

I'm so anxious and worried, did I mention that I was anxious and worried! I didn't sleep Sunday night, I didn't sleep last night - tossing and turning - first one way, then the next. Sleeping on my back, then my right side, then my left back and forth all night...I wanted to take a nap this afternoon so bad but I decided against it. Figuring since I was tired that if I didn't sleep this afternoon, and since I don't have anything going on tonight I can relax...I'm hoping for sleep and hoping that Joe is okay, hoping that Andy does well in school...all things I cannot control. If I don't sleep tonight I need to try something different - more exercise maybe...unbelieavable.

I voted today and was absolutely giddy about it. I remember the 1972 elections - I missed the election by about 20 days. It was Nixon and McGovern. Our society was in turmoil and civil unrest was the norm for the day, every day. Riots, student protests...I have lived through tumultuous times! I've voted in every presidential election since 1976. But, as Tim and I stood in line this morning (we only had to wait about 20 minutes) I was absolutely excited about the possibility of getting to vote. Tim thought I was absolutely goofy - I left the house at about 7:30 to go check the lines. Then I stopped to get biscuits. Came home, ate and finally drove Tim crazy enough so that he agreed we could go vote at about 8:30! It was so fun! I voted, Tim voted and then we went to Starbucks for a free coffee. I tried to talk Tim into going to Krispy Kreme for free donuts but he wouldn't go! Oh well! I didn't need the caffeine or the sugar.

I was particularly moved by this election process. It was exciting, it was contentious, young people have become motivated and have become engaged in the election. It is time for change - what's that line from an old song - "revolution in the air." I read as much as I could, listened to as many thoughts and theories as I could. But, for me, in my newly found BA of International Affairs I thought about people who don't have the right to vote, who may never know what it is like to live in a society where this process occurs, where a smooth transition of power occurs with regularity. Our system is flawed in so many ways, however, our democratic process is still effective. So many people are voting this time for the very first time - adults - who have never felt their voice would be heard, even if they voted. We the people of the United States believe that we can make a difference in our political system and we are using our vote to do it. I'm not naive, just optimistic.

Then I came home and crashed. I had allowed myself the entire day to vote - worried that the lines would be ridiculously long... and when we were done so quickly, I just hit the wall! Weird!

I putzed around the house, messed with things here and there but had no focus and no desire to do anything worthwhile. I worked on the computer, sent some emails.

The days are so short now - it's dark by 6! I hate it. Means I have more hours to try and fill with things. I guess tonight I will watch the election results, maybe some reruns...and hope, cross my fingers, for sleep.