Today is the two year and one month journalversary of Seafoam! I totally meant to write a two year anniversary entry, actually, but it just didn't happen. What can I say? I am Slacker, hear me snore!

Anyway. Happy Birthday, Seafoam! You're now old enough to speak in full sentences and bite other journals that steal your toys. Hee.

I can't believe I've been writing online for that long. Sometimes I wonder what I'm doing with this site, why I keep it. But other times, I just really love it, and I don't need to know the whys of it all. So, for now, I'll just tally up the score: Two Years - still fun. Okay, I'm sticking with it, then!

* * *

I am a little disappointed that we didn't get our midterm grades today. I was really hoping to know how I did! Prof said it might take a few more days. Of course, I checked online again tonight, anyway. And will compulsively continue to do so until I finally see my grade!

I noticed something interesting today. This will come as a surprise to no one, but I'll tell you anyway... There is a large group of people in my class who complain about the professor. They can't seem to stop bitching about him and how confusing he is. And, well, it dawned on me today that NONE of the members of the Whine Club were at office hours or the review session. None of them ever ask him questions after class, either. They bug the shit out of me, because it's like, hello? -- The professor is totally accessible, incredibly nice, and will help you with anything you have trouble with. He's a cool guy. So, shut your hole, whiners! I guess it's just annoying to hear a bunch of negativity spewing around, especially when it's totally unwarranted.

* * *

Guess what I did last night? I VOTED! Woohoo!

This is going to make me sound like an idiot, but I didn't even know a person could vote early. When Joe told me about it, I got all excited (I mean, who wants to face the hoards of people on Tuesday?). He left work a bit early last night and I called a cab to meet him at the library. I was so nervous about getting there too late, or making Joe wait forever for me. But as usual, it all worked out just fine and all my worry was for naught.

There were more people there than I thought there'd be! We all signed our cards from our sample ballots and turned them in in exchange for a numbered card. As I waited to turn in my signed card, a huge argument broke out in front of me. A woman said she wanted to drop off an envelope packet from her husband. The man behind the table said it wasn't allowed. Then the other two poll volunteers disagreed, yelling at the guy, saying she could in fact leave the envelope with them.

"NO, she has to MAIL IT!" the man said. "We can't take it."

"Yes, WE CAN!" woman pollworker said.

"I'll just mail it, it's okay," the lady said.

"No. You're leaving that here with us!"

"NO SHE IS NOT!" the man said.

"No really, I'll just mail it. Nevermind!"

I tried not to laugh, I really did. But I couldn't help it. Luckily, the arguers were so engrossed with their debate, they didn't even notice my giggling.

I waited, got my I.D. checked, then waited some more. I saw a few police officers with their dogs walk by, and that is always exciting to me. One had a German Shepherd, and another had a black Lab, who was holding a yellow newspaper squeaky toy in its mouth. So cute!

Eventually, my number was called and they handed me a card and told me to go right in. I went over to an available computer and began my touchscreen voting process! I must confess, I am completely fascinated by all things touchscreen. I loved seeing the red Xes appear under the pressure of my fingertip. (What can I say, I'm easily amused.) The first one was the most important:

President - John Kerry X

As I moved on, making selections on the various propositions, judges, etc, I couldn't help smiling and feeling oddly patriotic. I honestly did take a moment to think of how lucky I am to have the right as a citizen and as a woman to vote. I also thought of all the other people who were voting or who will vote through next Tuesday, and felt a sense of connectedness and purpose with all those people. Millions and millions of people, all heading out for the same goal, to cast their vote because it matters to them. I like thinking that this country matters to people, and I hope our votes do lead to improvements in the government, statewide and nationally.

* * *

After I got my "I Voted Touchscreen!" sticker, I headed downstairs to meet Joe in the library. I'd never been in that particular one before, and it had been a long time since I'd visited any library. I didn't particularly like the one I lived near in the Bay Area. It just didn't have a nice feeling to it.

Last night's library was great, though. It was very large and reminded me a lot of the San Antonio Public Library that I used to visit all the time as a kid. It was fun looking book titles up on the computer, checking to see if they were there, looking at all the numbers on the book bindings, seeing all the volumes of books that had been handled over and over by interested readers over the years. I looked at the teen book section and picked up a novel. The premise sounded interesting, but the first page was too intolerable to continue reading. It was about these teens in the future who visited the moon from time to time. "That's so null," one of the characters said. Then the other characters used null as a slang word and by the fourth "null," I just couldn't take it anymore!

Joe and I continued to browse and he asked if I remembered the card catalog system, which I totally do. We had that in my elementary school, and I remember being taught how to find the right card in the little drawers. It's so cool that I learned to love libraries and books at such a young age. Because of that, being in the library brought back lots of fond memories of walking around and around the shelves, looking for the perfect books to check out and take home and completely absorb until I had to bring them back and start the selection process all over again.

Like I said, being there last night was great. The best part, of course, was leaving with a stack of books and not having to pay anything for them. It felt criminal! I guess it really has been a long time!

* * *

After all that, Joe and I went to EB and got a new game for our new teeny tiny PS2. It's a drumming game called Taiko Drum Master. Oh my god, it is SO FUN! There's nothing like beating a drum to your heart's content with such hits as "Hungarian Dance" or Brittney Spears's "Toxic." I love this game.

* * *

All in all, last night was lots of fun, and things are going smooth as smoothies over here. I look forward to more drumming, more reading, hearing what the election results are, and hearing my midterm grade! All coming soon (to a theater near you!)!