Abstaining: How to Just Say "NO"

All is quiet on Election Day. Its just a local election year, which means you can get into the polls and out in no time at all because many people don't vote locals.

If there is nothing big at stake, many people don't bother voting. This year, even less was at stake locally. I for one usually look forward to Election Day, but this year I had that "What's the use?" feeling many get when they are ready to give up on things getting better.

A few years back, we pinned the hopes of our city's future on a young mayor, who is very popular and well known. Meriden was on an upswing, people were actually moving here. I personally was excited, but not long after, my excitement died as things began to change for the worse in my mind.

However because of his popularity with minority voters of which there are more of than white voters in Meriden, he runs uncontested this year as the Republicans didn't even bother to put up a candidate.

There was also the same set of tired assed names that adorn the ballot each time for city council, one more good for nothing than the other.

My taxes have gone up, my benefits have gone down, the police have harassed my family to no end and I can't even get my street plowed when it snows.

I talked to a neighbor the other day who had similar complaints. We both were going to apply for a program that the city helped you with a loan to do some renovations to your home. The loan becomes due only if you sell your house.

We called the city and found out that the first thing they do when you apply is send the building inspector over your house to write you up for a bunch of code violations.

Then they review your application and if you make too much money, or if you are not a minority, then you don't qualify for the loan. The problem comes in that now you are on the hook for a bunch of code violations that need to be fixed within a certain amount of time and no one is going to help you pay for them.

So you become forced to sell your house at a reduced rate, because its not up to code. A real estate agent then told me the city then seeks minority home buyers, helps fix the property up and bring it up to code and chases your ass out of town!

In other words, if you think you might not qualify, don't apply because you stand to lose your home.

Today I wasn't going to vote, it just didn't seem worth it. You just can't change anything with a vote and how can you fight an uncontested mayor?

I was passing my polling spot and got to feeling sad. I always cherished my right to vote and have never missed one since I became 18. It came to my head that this was the 25th time I am eligible to vote and I've given up on the process.

I remembered what my father once told me. You are not under any obligation to choose someone, you just have an obligation to show up.

I pulled in and said to myself, "I'm gonna do it."

I went inside and gave my ID to the lady who checked me off as voting. I went into the voting booth, pulled the lever to close the curtain and immediately re-opened it walking away.

No other voters were there and everyone on the voting staff was looking at me funny. I stopped, looked at them all and said, "That's my vote...for no one!"

One woman said to me with a smile, "That's your right."

I am counted as if I voted, yet I voted for nobody. As sad as it was, it felt damn good. It wasn't going to change anything, but it made me feel in control of a situation I have no control over...even for a minute.

I Voted Today....

My New Hobby

Doodle and I have begun a journey...

It has reached that exciting period of our married life that our children aren't around us that much and we need to find one of those middle of the week things for us to do together to well...give us something to do..

Many couples play cards with other people, but we aren't inot cards. A few couples join bowling leagues, but that would just land Doodle in the Emergency room more often.

We thought about taking a class together, but then I'd wind up doing the work for both of us, possibly landing me in the Emergency room.

I wanted to get her out walking with me, but I can't stop for her to have a cigarette every few minutes.

So we thought we could use a new kind of hobby. One we could both enjoy, both do the work and have no one generally getting hurt.

We use a lot of candles here, so we took up the hobby of candle making, figuring if we made more of them, we'd buy less of them. No one taught us or anything, we just are kind of winging it and it seems to work out.

We spend the week collecting jars and containers, then one night we make a few candles. Its actually a relatively inexpensive hobby and will save us money in the end.

Better yet, for quick gift ideas, what could be better? There is a lot of experimenting we can do with them, combining scents and colors and what not.

So far our first few have come out pretty good and its quite therapeutic. There is no bickering in candlemaking, because when its all said and done, we all get what we want out of it.

The more we experiment with it and have a few semi disasters, we'll learn more about it I'm sure.

It beats canasta night...

General Vacation Day Paranoia

Its a self imposed 3 day weekend!

I think we all like to believe the world can't get along without us. Then again, it pisses us off when the world can't get along without us.

I'm sitting home watching "ER" re-runs feeling guilty. The world is getting along on its own and I am getting paid for it. Do you wonder if they're talking about you...are they pissed off?

Are my bosses mad that I am off today? Are THEY leading the brigade of conversation about you?

Doodle is coming home and we are disappearing for a couple of days. I am going to eat junk food instead of all that healthy crap I've been eating for months and lost 25 lbs on. I'm already feeling guilty about that, not to mention I won't be going on my 3 mile nightly walk for the next two days. Doodle has already ordered me that I am to consume a Reuben sandwich and some fries in the next 48 hours.

I'm always worried I'll spent more money than I should when I go away. Then again, I deserve to spent a little money...

I hate all these dilemma...but I love vacation days...I just don't do them too well.