Fat and Super Tuesday

Fat Tuesday and Super Tuesday collided today in a barrage of beads and political retoric. New Orleans is celebrating the day before Lent with Carnival while most of the rest of the country is going to the polls. 24 States to be exact. Early afternoon CNN is reporting that enthusiastic voters are recording heavy turnout across the country. Of course California is the prize and will be last reporting today. The only issue so far in this primary election is with the State of Arizona that is reporting numerous problems with provisional ballots which may send final conclusion in to a very late night. I will certainly be glued to my media source of CNN droning on in the background of my living room for the latest breaking news.

I went out to vote myself today at about 9:15. Work at OVF was underway with Nik and Zach at the helm. I excused myself to exercise my rights as an American citizen. I walked to the elementary school a few blocks away were I would too, cast my opinion. I was so in the spirit of doing the right thing that I got all "green" about it and left my truck at home. A decision I second guessed when I got to the lake with the wind blowing across it in the 40 degree temperatures making me feel like I was doing hard time. I entered to no lines to stand in, delighted that it was to hot in there. The blue hairs in front of me were arguing with the volunteers that were just trying to follow the rules. They apparently did not have the right credentials and were asked to cast a provisional ballot, to which, they were outraged and trying to justify themselves. There's just no getting away with it at the polls if you don't have all of your "P's and Q's" in order. They left in a huff. My turn. I was similarly interrogated for ID. I whipped out my voter registration card and ID, feeling smug. Well, I too am an apparent bad citizen, even though my ID is up to date. My registration still had my old last name listed and spelled wrong. SIGH. The remedy was to present a bank statement (like I carry one with me on an everyday basis) or my car registration. Again, SIGH. I explained I walked and my car was blocks away. I was coralled over to the provisional officer. At least they had my party affilliate right, so I took my chances and cast my vote. With AZ having the problem with provisional ballots, I guess I am amongst the statistics.

But I had bigger fish to fry. Work concluded a lot earlier than anticipated which left me with a free afternoon that I didn't expect. I moseyed to the corner strip mall to have my tires rotated. I felt pretty proud of myself for taking care of necessary shit. However the guy told me it was a 2 hour wait. SIGH. I made an appointment for 8 AM and wondered over to Staples to buy things I don't need. Next door was Petsmart. I went there to buy PawPaws some cheew-eez to make his day. While I was shopping, I heard a child wailing "I want a Beta". He was making a childish spectacle that I had to witness. I went over to the fish tanks where he was pleading for a blue fish in a little cup. I took up his cause and said to him "I want a Beta too". He looked at me with gratitude and said"right? a blue one". I agreed wholeheartedly as his dad rolled his eyes at me. A kid should have a fish if he wants one. My new friend and I each left there with a blue Beta.

I am pretty proud of my new fish. I got home and spent an hour or more making him a home. I planted him in my bathroom in front of the mirror. He seems happy. I read up on Beta's and their evolution from Japan and their habits. Beta's are like roaches in Japan. They live in the streets in miniscual puddles and are a nusiance. Here, however, they are pets. I've named my new Japanese roach, Nemo. It seems that these fish prefer to live alone and if confronted by another fish, they are aggressive. Last I checked on Nemo he was looking at himself in the mirror thinking he was another fish and "puffing" up in a display of superiority. I have an arrogant and very stupid fish.

SIGH...