Texas Early Voting Stats

This photo was taken by Glennaa 

He early voted a few days ago at the same spot I did.

He also took a photo of the line inside.

This is exactly what my line looked like. Only mine was 3X as long.

I just got back from voting. I didn't end up having enough time on Wednesday to fight the lines, so I hit it first thing this morning. So did a whole heck of a lot of other people.  Have I mentioned the line yet? I'm not sure I can convey to you how many people who live near me decided to vote this morning in wind-around Six Flags queues of many. Thankfully, it all moved really fast.  

Hints: I definitely should have brought a book for the liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine, or a camera, or a friend, or a snack, or some Mad Libs.  I had none of these things. I also couldn't get Twitter to work while I was in the liiiiiiiiine, so instead I kept it cool old school and im-ed with Jen Lemen. Because we're nerdtastic. (Thanks for making the line more fun JL.)

Here's what it looked like in numbers:

Number of people in parking lot with signs: 57

Number of inflatable animals in parking lot with signs: 2

Number of news crews trying to interview the people with signs and inflatable animals: 2

Number of Obama supporters in parking lot: 0

Number of Hillary supporters in parking lot: 5

Number of people who offered me a Hillary sticker in parking lot: 7

Number of Twitter friends I saw leaving as I was walking in: 2 

Number of people in line outside of the building: 37

Number of people in line inside the building: A billion, give or take

Number of people typing in line: 94 (I counted)

Number of copies of Eat, Pray, Love spotted in line: 11

Number of copies of Eat, Pray, Love that I coveted in line: 11

Number of elected officials named in plaques on the walls by the line: 23

Number of elected officials named in plaques on the walls by the line who are currently in jail: 2

Number of times I thought about cupcakes while standing in the line: 128

Total time spent standing in line: 42 minutes 

Time spent checking in: 1 minute

Time spent voting: 2 minutes 

Time spent talking to the nice volunteers afterwards about the caucus next Tuesday: 18 minutes

So that's it. I voted. I'll be causing too next Tuesday evening.

And I'll be Twittering that.

So help me Twitter.

I'm hoping they'll have cupcakes. 

And then I'll shut up.

I'm going to go to a lunch today with a certain daughter of a certain President. Me and lots of others, mind you. And there will be a lot going on, and a lot of really fantastic kids being helped, so I won't be asking her about her upcoming wedding or her fave Chuy's marg flavor. At least, I probably won't.

Then, after that, I'm going to vote. Because in Texas we can vote early this week, and I'm already hearing that the lines for early voting are super long, so I can't even imagine what it's going to be like next Tuesday.

Because a lot of people are paying attention this time. We've seen all 20 debates. And read all the issues. And taken the quiz on our perfect match. Of course we all have.

And I thought I knew my choice.

But then I saw this site and the video it features.



And I love it. Because it's so how it is.

Really, this is how we really roll down here. Walk down any street. Odds are you'll be greeted by any number of matching-outfit mariachi bands singing about whatever is on their minds. Our city streets are basically mariachi operas. Really. Sometimes we even ride our horses and shoot our guns in the air. Like we just don't care. All the while keeping perfect time on our guitars and maintaining perfectly styled necktie bows.


So, not totally because of this kooky ad. But kinda. And also for about 105 other reasons, in this time and in this election, I'm saying Viva Obama con Queso! Si se puede!

Happy Birthday Oscars Flag Day con Queso to Me

So I'm back. After much unusual, essentially crappy activity last week, everyone's better, well, rested and not whining all day long, more like the normal 60%. It's awesome.

Plus, today we're celebrating because I'm 107. I know you're surprised to hear it. Many have told me I don't look a day over 92. I cling to that good news and am eternally grateful for those generous words.

(Can you tell I've been watching a real whole lot of The Tudors lately? And therefore my good friends, this is why I will be using verbiage like cling, papal, bosom, besotted, excommunicate and ye verily.)

Plus according to my lovely little mac widget entitled "Today's Reason to Drink":

It's February 24, 2008:

Wave your shot of tequila in the air, because it's Flag Day in Mexico!

Looks like tequila's in order. So exactly as we did last year, we'll be spending the Oscars sipping a little something we call Beergaritas. And again, as we did last year, we'll spread the yeeehaw love with official Texas con Queso Ya'll Stolen from Jenny Beergarita Recipe.

Jenny's (Yeeeeehaw Ya'll) Beergarita

1 can Lime juice frozen concentrate (Limeade)
1 of the above can's full of Tequila
1⁄2 (more or less) of the Lime juice can of Triple Sec
1 of the lime juice can's of 7-Up
1 bottle of Corona

Mix above all together, serve over ice and get lit.

(If Hillary would just stop yelling about direct mail pieces (yawn), and get down here and start making these bad boys for a variety of people, I'm telling you, she'd be doing much better in the Texas polls. Hear that Hillary's people? Call me for more tips on winning Texans' hearts. Or on getting lit. You're gonna need to be doing one or the other.)

And only a few more hours until the Oscars, when I predict all the winners and take everyone's money. It's just sad. We'll chat more on that on Monday. But until then, I won't tell you how I'll be voting. I'll just say no matter what you'll be drinking, I drink your milkshake. I drink it up.

Mmmm. Cake, beergaritas and milkshakes. Yum.

We're so going to be sick again this week.

What a difference a few hours makes.

It's all fun and games...

Until the puking starts.

And continues.

Until 4 a.m.

More tomorrow. We're still recovering.

Happy Valentines Day!

Photo by chop-stix on Deviant Art

It's not only Valentines Day, it's Love Thursday.

Love is all around.

And here is my gift...

A Be My Valentine playlist.

Some are classics. Some are cool. Some are cheesy.

All are great.

26 lovely songs.

From me to you.

Happy Valentines!

It's True

Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
Sk*rt Rocks the Casbah
All because of You

So Sk*rt and Shutterfly are teaming up to give away some lovely valentiney stuff.

We hope your week is filled with love, flowers and chocolate. At least chocolate. (Seriously, go buy yourself some.) Because we think you're completely swell. And we totally heart you.

Be our Valentine!

Kisses,

The Sk*rt Chicks

Addiction.

If you haven't seen me, if I haven't been answering your emails, if you think I may have fallen off the planet, no worries. I'm still on Earth. I'm just engrossed in this strange version of Earth also known as Gossip Girl, this year's version of 90210 meets the OC meets Laguna Beach meets Sex and the City. It's so many bad things rolled up into one that it's no wonder I love it so.

What makes it worse is that most people who would watch this sort of thing started watching it when it came on. And they watch it every week. Oh but not me. That would be too sane. Instead, I ignored it all fall and then watched every episode on iTunes in one weekend. This last weekend. And I would have watched all 13 episodes back to back too if it weren't for those pesky boys I happen to live with.

Because I'm addicted.

It's bad. It's wrong. I'm ashamed. And I literally can't wait until the next episode to find out how Blair gets her revenge on Chuck, Jenny, Nate, all of them! Anyone have any bootlegged copies from the future lying around.

Thank God for my one distraction.

Parent Bloggers asked me to review The Sky Isn't Visible from Here ... a true-life Brooklyn tale and a much-needed break from the Upper East Side. The book is incredible. Heartbreaking. Powerful. And motivating. Plus the title is brilliant. You should seriously check it out.

It's on Cool Stuff today. And you can win it by leaving a comment. Good luck. You know you want it.

XOXO,
GcQ

Happy Super Fat Tuesday!

Hope you're voting if you can. I'm really looking forward to doing so a month from now. In the meantime, we're watching the returns and celebrating Fat Tuesday with red beans and rice and some Hurricane Punch, of course. Here's a great recipe from Southern Living that I found on sk*rt.

Hurricane Punch

Ingredients:
1/2 (64-ounce) bottle red fruit punch
1/2 (12-ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
1 (6-ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 2/3 cups light rum
1 2/3 cups dark rum

Preparation

Stir together all ingredients. Serve over ice.

Yield 8 1/4 cups

Kathy Bowes, Metairie, Louisiana , Southern Living, MARCH 2000

Happy Super Fat Tuesday!

(And if you're jonesing to vote like I am, check out sk*rt's Super Fat Tuesday contest. I super fat wish I could win the Brennan's cookbook!)

Happy Monday!

How about a little Happy Mondays to start off the week?

Happy Monday!

(And get ready for Super Fat Tuesday!)

It's National Wear Red Day!

My paternal grandmother Ruby died from heart disease right after I was born, and partially because I never got to know her, I'm wearing red for her today. Because the red dress is the symbol for women and heart disease awareness, and today's the day to pull out your favorite little cardinal number. Besides the wearing of all the red, there are a lot healthy cardiovascular goings on, and my dear friend Gabby has a great list lined up on Design Mom. So celebrate!