One of the millions of disenfranchised voters:

Over the years, I've noticed that if I vote early in the morning, there's coffee and donuts. So I wake up 45 minutes early, arrive at my polling place circa 7:00 AM, ready to do my civic duty...right behind the other 200 people with the same idea.

Excerpts of cell phone conversation after waiting in line for 45 minutes:

Me: Time off to vote?
Boss: What do you mean?
Me: I've been in line for 45 minutes, I'm almost inside.
Boss: I usually vote after work. Next election, if you want to vote before work, you should request a shift change.

Right-o. I'll write that down...request different shift in 4 years. Who the hell keeps the same job for 4 years? Was I being unreasonable? I think not: http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/tovbackeng.pdf

So I get to vote after work today. I really don't even want to vote, but it gives me something to complain about for the next 4 years. Anyway, let's say there were 500 people waiting to vote when I left at 7:45 AM (when most people are at work or asleep). Anybody have a guess on how long this line will be at 5:30 PM?

But none of it really matters, because the world will soon be coming to an end...Tricia's friends have started buying me dinner. Thanks again Alex and Deanne. Come back anytime!