Voting Day

This is the big day we've been waiting for! We'll be staying up late tonight to hear the final results, with our fingers crossed. ABC has terrific election coverage, and great commentary, with Charlie Gibson, Diane Sawyer, and George Stephanopolous.

My polling station is at nearby All Soul's Church. My daughter and I will be heading over there as soon as she gets home from school today. We usually go later, after I get home from work in the evening, but I'm home today so we can go while it's still light out!

My daughter has been going to vote with me ever since she was born. She's been following this election very closely, and even did some campaign work this last weekend! (What a great kid.)

After voting, we're doing a little Retail Therapy, since it will be several hours before election results are final. She's going to the Semi (semi-formal dance) next week and we still need shoes. She has a gorgeous black dress with a white bodice covered with spangles. We wanted some type of cover-up, and last night we found a sweater that ties with a bow in front, which she can wear over the dress to keep warm until she gets to the dance. So, now we just need shoes and jewelry (although if she needs to, she can wear the jewelry she wore to the prom in June; her prom sandals are gorgeous and the right color, but a bit too strappy for November). We've already been to TJ Maxx and Walmart. Tonight we'll try Marshalls - they have a great new shoe department.

Then, it's home to watch the voting results come in! She can work on homework while we await the big news! I hope there is great rejoicing in our home this evening!
.

Spring Ahead - Fall Back

Yahoo - an extra hour of sleep last night. That sure felt great.

Next, of course, comes the Updating of the Clocks ritual. Which brings me to an intersting topic - Radio Controlled Clocks.

When we redid our kitchen, we needed a clock that was about 12" in diameter, and that would go with the oak and white decor. I did an extensive internet search and finally found one by LaCrosse Technologies - right size, right color, right price.

I placed the order and when it arrived, I read the directions. I had somehow purchased what was called a Radio Controlled Clock! I'd never heard of such a thing and didn't know anything about it.

According to the instructions, I was to insert batteries, choose my time zone, and point the clock toward Colorado! True. Well, I was a bit hesitant (sounded like a lot of hocus pocus), but I did what it said. To my amazement, after a minute or so, the hands of the clock just started going around and around and stopped on the correct time. I'm not kidding.

So, this morning when I got up and did a quick survey of clocks that needed changing, I noticed that the kitchen clock is already all set. Not only does it reset itself twice per year, but it maintains the correct time throughout the year.

I also bought a Spacemaker clock/CD player that mounts under the kitchen cabinet (got to be able to play Edith Piaf or the Buena Vista Social Club while I'm cooking!), which has a nice feature - when we switch to or from Daylight Savings Time, I just press a little button on the side and it resets the clock to the correct time. So, overall, my clock-changing ritual isn't really so bad.

.

Ayup - Maine Road Trip

Today was a perfect day to see the coast of Maine before the really cold weather sets in...

From our house, it's about 3 hours across Massachusetts, up across the edge of New Hampshire, and into Maine. (You know you're a New Englander when you measure distance in hours!) Scenic Highway 1 wends its way all along Maine's craggy coastline.

If you go on your own road trip to Maine, here is my advice:

• Find out ahead of time how to get to any beaches you're interested in exploring; Highway 1 does go along the coast, but you'll have better luck if you have specific directions to a specific beach. A detailed map of the area would work better than a generic Atlas. And, in some instances, the smaller roads get you a bit closer to the water than Route 1. (Does anyone know where all of those gorgeous ROCKY beaches are - maybe up near Mount Desert Island???)


• Plan on lots of driving along quiet highways; very picturesque, but it does take some time to get to where you're going, especially if there is no passing!


• Give yourself a couple of days to explore so you have a chance to find all those scenic spots. Maine is HUGE (at least compared to Massachusetts!) and because the highway winds back and forth so much, it takes extra time to travel.
• You'll be without cell phone service for much of the time, but Maine's very nice Visitor Centers offer public phones.

Now, the question is, where to go next...