Voted

So I'm tired because I stayed up a little bit past my bedtime watching the election coverage.  Once I saw Ohio and Pennsylvania go to Obama I knew the election was decided and hit the bed.  Of course at 5am this morning, I slept instead of swam.  Maybe it's too easy to take Rich's advice from Endurance Nation and skip a few swim workouts.  Hey, I've been battling a cold since I got back from Europe so...there's another excuse.  I am planning to run today for the first time in 10 days as I hope my calf is recovered.

I stood in line to vote which was weird since it was just after 10am.  I was in line for just about 30 minutes.  Wild stuff...but it looks like the popular vote went to Obama as well.  In some of the battleground states, it's looking like every vote matters as there is only about 20,000 votes separating Obama and McCain after over 2 million were cast.  Amazing...

Since I'm in DC, I might go watch the inauguration.  It's a historic event with the first African-American being sworn into office.  Maybe if you're white, it's not that big of a deal but as a minority with my daughter being a minority it is a big deal.  It's like all of sudden, "Whitey likes us!".

Lots of good emotions on that but I immediately start worry as I'm sure lots of people are worrying about the A-word.  I mean it's not like you won't see Obama not walk down a line of folks and shake hands anymore.  Sure probably not as elaborate as a 2hr In Line of Fire Eastwood movie, but more like the Reagan one.  There was already two knuckleheads who were arresting for planning an attempt.  Definitely scary stuff and worrisome.

Back to the lighter side of things, Elena's 7th birthday is coming up in less than a week.  I'm planning on hitting up Target to get her gifts this weekend.  I really don't have any idea what I'll come out of there with but at least as I mentioned before she gave me some ideas.  As always, I'm torn from spoiling her to making her understand that she can't have everything and will need to work for things.

On another Elena front, she'll be 7.  It's time to start thinking about developing her into a world class distance runner.  Okay maybe I'm dreaming but this would be the time to start something like that.  She did run a 7:30 mile as a 5 year old after training for a couple of months.  She might have something there.  There could be something else as well.  I guess she likes messing around on the piano at a friends house so maybe she's pianist.  Although you don't get a scholarship for playing piano to most schools but there are lots of cross country and track programs. ;)  The problem around here is the lack of kid races.  Everything just a 5k and 3.1 miles is a little long for a 7 year old.  Hell back in my day high school girls weren't even competing at the 5k distance in cross country.

On a social note, they re-opened the theater across the street from condo.  It's now a beer and movie place I guess with 6 screens.  They even run first run movies and have happy hour $3 movies at 6pm.  Not bad...if I could get any forward motion on actually going over there to see a movie.  Sure Saw V is tempting me but...I could just wait til DVD as it's not like I know anyone going to spoil the movie for me.  For $3 though it might be easy to catch a so-so movie without much worry like Quantum of Solace...nah that movie looks like its going to ROCK!  It requires a full blown sound system which I don't think this theater has.  Of course if I find out that this theater has Black Butte Porter,

I'll be there at least twice a week.