Election afternoon

This is very odd, having my first election in a country with multiple time zones; over there they're declaring results already, while over here people are still voting. I seem to have accidentally tuned in the BBC coverage (which is odder yet, of course, timewise) and opened the first beer of the night afternoon. Oops.

I don't think there's going to be too much work done in this house today. Fortunately it's yoga night, which means I get to cook for hungry yogi this evening; which in turn means we have a sort of automatic election party. Except I worry that wonder if it's all going to be fairly clear-cut and decided by then already. Which would be no fun at all something of a disappointment, however much I'd like to see a landslide. Late-night results parties are an inherent part of an election, for me.

8.00pm, and no: I am not liveblogging the election

Me, I'm cooking. With gas.

The apple-and-pear galette is slowly collapsing in the bottom of the oven, and I don't care; the chicken has just gone in overhead. I have abandoned all thoughts of collard greens, and we are settling for a mushroom/fennel risotto and seared asparagus on the side. I don't have to do anything much about either of those for the next half-hour, while m'wife and our guests are out getting bendy. So I am going to open the wine, and begin to drink it. In front of the TV, because I am addicted to political bean-counting. I have the BBC in the study here, and CNN in the living-room...

[EtA: oops! The collapsing galette spilled all its juices: and as I'd slid it onto a flat baking sheet rather than a tray with a lip, the juices spilled onto the floor of the oven, which is kind of where the flames are. I don't think anything's been extinguished, but the house smells kinda caramelised...]

Not liveblogging, redux

The networks are calling it for Obama. Any bets about lawyers lining up...?

[redux ad absurdam]

...and yes, this does feel completely weird: the tension's over, the election's decided (for tonight, yes yes, until the legal challenges begin) - and it's only 8.30, and I'm alone, and how are we going to stay up half the night now? Where's the party? It's not about celebration, it's about suspense and excitement and results trickling in until two or three in the morning... [Dear America, I hate to tell you this, but you're doing your politics wrong. Again.]

One final thought before bed

I guess I did technically know this before, but it blazes suddenly with the light of a thousand suns: y'know what? If we get our act together, the next time the US votes for a president? I should have a vote...