Karma, Fate, Destiny and Free Vacations

Please forgive the length of this posting. I had a lot to talk about this time. I was fortunate enough recently to be given a free 3 night stay in the Smokies recently. I have a relative that has a time share at a Wyndham Vacation Resort. She and her husband were not going to be able to go on their reserved time and so she offered it to me. At first, I was going to say no because of the timing and the fact that my man couldn't take off work. But at the last minute I said yes and took my oldest daughter with me. I am so glad that I did.

 
The drive was about four and half hours away, but mostly interstate travel. We left around lunch on Friday and arrived perfectly for check in time. The trip was easy until we came out of Knoxville into Sevierville where traffic was bumper to bumper all the way in. I learned later that there was some kind of cheerleader competition going on that weekend as well as the Christmas parade that night. 

The weather when we arrived was cool but clear. However, that would soon change. When we arrived at the Wyndham, the check in went smoothly and we were greeted by a very nice young man who made sure we got the best accommodations he could secure for us. 

Once we found our condo, we walked into a very nice, impeccably clean 2 bedroom "home" for the weekend. Everything, with the exception of food of course, was already fully stocked. Our view was lovely from our balcony overlooking the complex and the downtown area with mountains in the background. The location was great for some outlet shopping, entertainment and a bevy of eating establishments. That first evening, after unpacking way too many suitcases, we did a little exploring, eating and settling in.

The Tanger Outlet Mall was a stones throw away so on Saturday we went shopping. Included in the outlet were the usual lineups: Banana Republic, Gap, Coach, Polo, Liz, Tommy, rue21, Kors; all the expected ones. Normally, I don't like to shop, but because it was so near to Christmas, I took advantage of the "bargains" to be found. Coach Purse had a line out the door and wrapped around the interior of the store for their huge sale on previous season's styles. Some at 70% savings! So we spent several hours checking out almost every one of the 100 plus stores in that one location. It was fun, but the weather outside was turning colder and wetter. 

In addition to the shopping at the Tanger, we visited some of the other shopping venues there in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and then drove over to Gatlinburg. At the end of the day, we were tired, wet, cold and hungry. It had rained on and off the whole day and snow flurries had begun with the cooler temps. We checked out the local TGI Friday's and had a good warm meal and returned to our condo, arms loaded with packages, to a relaxing whirlpool tub and comfy bed making our plans for the next day while snow flurries continued.

Sunday, we began the day with snow flurries but temps hovering above the freezing point.We did some more shopping in Gatlinburg, ate at the Pancake House and then decided to drive over to Cades Cove. Though it was early afternoon, I knew we would be pushing it to get there and back before dark. I really didn't want to be caught on the mountain road after dark as they are so winding and the weather was iffy. 

For those who aren't familiar with Cades Cove here is the story:

Cades Cove is a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. It offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the park. Large numbers of white-tailed deer are frequently seen, and sightings of black bear, coyote, ground hog, turkey, raccoon, skunk, and other animals are also possible. An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sightsee at a leisurely pace. Allow at least two to four hours to tour Cades Cove, longer if you walk some of the area’s trails. Traffic is heavy during the tourist season in summer and fall and on weekends year-round. While driving the loop road, please be courteous to other visitors and use pullouts when stopping to enjoy the scenery or view wildlife.

The deer here are usually abundant in certain times of the year, but we just wanted to see the valley no matter if we saw any wildlife or not. It was about an hours drive from our condo. The drive over was easy and traffic light. Once we arrived, there were a good number of other people on the driving loop so I didn't feel totally alone in our craziness to come there in rainy/snowy weather in December.

The first thing we encountered was a huge buck "in rut" unrelentingly chasing a doe. We were able to get some great video and pictures. The views were absolutely breathtaking from the very beginning. From the pasture of horses to the very last doe, it was worth every second of the drive there. But truly the icing on the cake was the encounter with the Black Bear near the end of the motor trail. I have seen quite a few over the years, but never one this big! It had to be over 400 pounds. Foraging in the trees just off the main road, we were able to get some very "up close" pictures. It made the whole trip memorable for sure. 

By then, the sun was getting pretty low and I knew we had to scram. So with one last pit stop at the camp ground just outside of the Cove entrance, we started back. I made a last minute decision to go back over the mountain instead of back through Townsend that I would seriously question later. 

At first, it was just light flurries-no problem. But as we progressed, it got darker and the snow turned heavier. Visibility got lower and lower until I was just creeping. At first, I had other cars with me but they had wisely turned at the Townsend exit miles back. I had already committed to the mountain route and by time I realized there might be a real problem I was afraid if I didn't keep going forward I would be in even more trouble. Let me just clarify that where I live, just the hint of flurries brings the whole area to a grinding shut down. We don't drive in snow flurries, much less real snow!

So with white knuckles and prickly hairs on the back of my neck I went forward. The only thing that actually brought any sense of hope at that point was that I met two cars coming toward me so I knew that since there wasn't any roads turning off of this road, that the road was still passable ahead. 

The snow was coming down heavy and sticking to the road. My GPS told me I had 5 more miles to go until I reached the main road going into Gatlinburg. I felt that if I could reach that road, I would make it to the welcome center where if the roads were impassable, I would  at least have shelter and help. Those 5 miles were excruciating! I could barely see in front of me. Pull offs were scarce even if I wanted to give up. The turns were hairpin curves with a mountain wall inches away on one side and a mountainous fall on the other; and we were all alone in the snow covered road. 

But forward we went until with about 2 miles left to go to the welcome center, I met a car. It was a Park Ranger! He passed us heading in the opposite direction but immediately turned around in one of the rare pull-offs where another car was stopped. Knowing that in the worse case scenario, at least someone else was out there on that deserted snow covered dark road gave me a sense of relief. I was trying to stay calm though my daughter says that my fear was apparent. Obviously my daughter did not grasp the reality of our situation...

In what seemed like eternity, we finally made it to the welcome center just in time to see the road we just came over closed to traffic... Coming back into town, safe but rattled, where the snow fall was just light, we decided to stop just down the road from our condo to grab a bite to eat and a drink to calm my jangled nerves. 

There was a Texas Roadhouse within walking distance of the condo, so that is where we opted to stop. Sitting in a bar area booth, we chose to just get an appetizer and a glass of wine. The place wasn't crowded but had a fair amount of patrons there.

I had just started sipping my wine, reliving our "harrowing" moments, taking my daughters chiding at my "panicky" moments coming down the mountain, when I noticed the guy in the booth beside us was in trouble. 

The guy was trying to stand and was clutching his throat making gestures. I immediately got up and asked him if he was choking? He nodded an affirmative as he started heading to the floor. I yelled for some help and grabbed him from behind, gave him the Heimlich maneuver 3 times and he hawked up a piece of steak and coughed. About that time the burly bus boy came up and asked if I wanted him to take over and I stepped out of the way just in time for the guy to vomit all over the place. The way I saw it, vomiting was good at that point. At least that meant, he had a clear throat. I went back to my booth and plopped down. The guy sat down, composed himself and apologized to everyone, clearly embarrassed. He motioned a thank you to me and then the paramedics showed up.

My adrenaline was still pumping at full scale. The waitress came over with our food about that time. I informed her that I would be needing another glass of wine as I gulped down my first one. I had to go into the bathroom and splash cold water on my face in order to calm myself. Once I sat back down, the guy motioned another thank you to me. I told him that I was just glad that he was ok and tried to focus on our appetizers.

Meanwhile the paramedics assessed the situation and checked him out. They made him call someone to come and get him and that was that. He finished his meal and left.

Reflecting back, I remembered a couple of things. A lady at the bar had been obviously watching him for a while and may have even saw that he had been choking. She had done nor said anything because before I even sat back down in my booth she was saying "There is something wrong with that guy. I have seen him go out about 10 times tonight since he sat down." 

OoooKaaay...So what did that even mean? Because he left his table several times, possibly even to go out and smoke or whatever, did that mean he needed to be allowed to choke to death? Jeez...! I later asked myself, what if I had been choking and because I had opted to have a glass of wine that night, someone decided I didn't deserve to live..? Frightening thought...

Another thing that I remember is how annoyed the people who worked there appeared to be. Granted I probably was a little sensitive at that point and maybe I didn't have all the information, but it just seemed weird. I realize that they were probably concerned about liability and all but the guy had just almost died. The manager never came over and thanked me for saving his patron. Actually no one did other than the guy who almost choked. 

I have to ask have we as a society become so callous that we will let our fellow man die because of our prejudices and assumptions? Wow!

Perhaps, the thing that I took away from all of this was that had it not been for the generosity of my relative, I would not have been in Sevierville, TN at all. If not for my decision to go over the mountain instead of the easier path back to town, I would not have been delayed. If not for our choice to pick Texas Roadhouse over another restaurant, I would not have been there at all. If not for the choice of the booth instead of a table, I would not have seen the guy in the first place... so karma and destiny all played a role. So truly it was my relative that should be credited for saving a mans life. I was just a vessel...

Maybe sometime in the future, maybe if I am very lucky, hopefully someone will pay it forward...and maybe-just maybe- I will get another much needed vacation...


   

DNA Testing for Dogs

     A few weeks ago, I discovered that there are tests that can detect doggie DNA for determining types of mixed breeds. After doing some research into the different companies out there I made a decision on one to test with. My research included talking with a vet, Professors of Animal Sciences at Auburn University and their Veterinarian School, as well as people who have actually tried the DNA testing for their own animals. One person actually knew the exact makeup of their dog but wanted to test the accuracy for future testings. The recommendation from these sources was that the testing at worst was about 75% accurate to near 100% accurate at best. So that seemed good enough for me. Being increasingly curious about Harley’s genetic makeup, I opted with a company that had a good reputation and fit the bill for what I desired: affordability, accuracy, communication, accessibility and results in a timely manner.

     The test cost me about $70 and was purchased at a local PetSmart store. They had several types of tests to choose from with varying prices. The test included 2 Q-tip type swabs, 2 tube containers to place the swabs in after collecting the sample, a prepaid postage envelope for returning the samples, and complete step by step instruction page. The test itself was very simple. I just took one of the swabs and rolled it around Harley’s cheek for  about 15 seconds to collect DNA. Then I repeated it with the other swab. It didn’t hurt Harley and he didn’t mind at all. I placed the swabs in the container tubes after they had air dried, placed the tubes in the envelope, sealed it up and mailed it. Quick and painless…Except for the anxious waiting for the results.

     The company I chose was a company called Wisdom Panel Insights using Mars Veterinary’s proprietary breed detection algorithm methods. Their box stated it would take 2-3 weeks for results and their website said the same. It took 3 weeks to the day. Their customer service was very fast to respond to my anxious inquires and their website has a page that you can follow the progress on. Very cool.

     So on the 3 week anniversary my report was generated showing me what my Harley was. Not the Saint Bernard that I had thought but….a Great Pyrenees that I had begun to suspect…. with a very minor to possible none Collie breed thrown in. I had begun to see all the signs of the Pyrenees lately and am so glad to have it confirmed for sure.

      I would recommend this testing if you are like me and want to know what your mixed breed dog is. I can now have a better understanding of why Harley does what he does and can employ better training techniques geared to his breed specific thinking process. What is really interesting is that the professor at Auburn said he thought this is what Harley was even as a young pup. Very smart guy… that may be why he is a professor of Animal Science at Auburn University.

Dog Treat Recipe

Found this cool recipe for dog treats that I thought I would share.

Peanut Butter Treat

2 cups of rice flour

1 cup smooth peanut butter

1 large egg, slightly beaten

1/4 cup canola cooking oil

3/4 cup of warm water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Once it becomes stiff, start kneading until smooth, adding up to a tablespoon of water if needed. Roll out into about 1/4 thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Do not over cook. Cool and treat your dog.

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Another recipe to try:

2 cups of rye flour

1/2 cup rice flour

1/4 cup cornmeal

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup of water

Blend the flours and cornmeal together. Whisk the oil and water together. Slowly add to flour mix to the water and oil mix-forming a stiff dough. Add more water if needed to make the dough workable. Place the dough on a floured surface and roll out to about 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutter. Place on non-greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for about 35 minutes or until treats are crisp. Cool and treat dog.

Callie's New Beginning

     Callie is a female white Labrador Retriever. I say white because she is more white than yellow. She came to us by the usual route. She was a rescue dog.

     Her beginnings were sad. She was a young pup being raised in a questionable environment. She was left out in the elements without proper attention or care. She was run over by a car. The owners were going to shoot her instead of taking her to the vet to tend to her injuries. A neighbor stepped in and told them she would take the pup. She brought her in to the Veterinarian where one of my daughters works. The neighbor promised to pay all costs for the pup. The pup had several breaks in both legs and a broken jaw and some internal issues. But they were fixable with time and lots of care.
     
Well after about 2 weeks, the neighbor stopped checking on the pup, moved and left no forwarding address. Callie had to have her legs splinted and her other wounds tended to. Bruised and underweight, she was abandoned. Normally this would necessitate a call to the pound for pick up. Given her circumstances that would mean being put down for sure.
   
But being the kindhearted people they are at the Animal Hospital, they just couldn't bring themselves to making that call. Something about Miss Callie tugged on their heartstrings. So, for the next 3 months while she recuperated, Callie would end up being a guest at the Animal Hospital. The girls would take turns sometimes bringing her home with them for the weekends just to give her a chance to be in a normal environment.
   
Callie was growing so fast that she soon outgrew even their largest kennel area and more permanent arrangements had to be made. So I reluctantly agreed to let her come and stay at our home with the condition that another home must be found for her ASAP!
   
Almost 4 years later, she is still here...And Lordy it has been a ride with her. She adapted well into our home with the other dogs and a cat at first, but one day something set her off and she turned on her housemate Chrash; a black and tan mix. They tore into each other so viciously that stitches were necessary for both of them. From that day we have been unsuccessful in integrating these two into a peaceful coexistence. They will try and kill each other at every opportunity. They have successfully crossed paths on at least 3 other occasions that resulted in horrifying attacks on each other. We literally could not pull them apart without using our entire bodies and strength.
    
The hatred they have for each other is limited to each other for the most part. Callie shows none of that same aggression with any of the 3 other dogs, though I am very alert to any signs that she is becoming agitated. Chrash is completely fine with the other dogs and never shows any aggression to them.

   
We have asked ourselves could this be a result of not being socialized properly as a puppy? Or is this some form of plain old female aggression at its worst?

Callie & Chrash in better times

      Today, we must play musical dogs every time one has to go out. They must be kept separated to avoid another fight. That means constantly monitoring the situation without any room for error. I can't afford any more trips to have one of them be sewn up. I wonder what Caesar would have to say about that?
     
Callie has suffered many health issues over the years. The latest being an allergy issue so bad that most of her hair fell out. Thankfully that has been resolved now after spending over $600 at a dermatologist for dogs that included pathologist and blood work. She is a true and loyal textbook Lab to a fault. She requires thyroid and allergy meds twice a day every day. But aside from the issues of hating her house mate and her health problems, she is probably the most consistently well mannered dog we have. Go figure...

Those best laid plans will screw with you every time...

       Sometimes even the most resolved intentions, with the map plotted to perfection will go astray. In my last posting I wrote of my training for the half marathon next month in Las Vegas. But expectations were running high then and reality gave me a sharp smack to bring me back down to earth.

       No worries though. I have not given up on the dream of running that half marathon; I have just adjusted the sails a bit on the when I am going to do it. So now I am shooting for the Oak Barrel Run in Lynchburg, TN as my inaugural half in April. That gives me ample time to get ready and if the Gods are smiling upon me, actually run a decent time. 

      Watching the ING New York marathon this weekend inspired me all over again. I felt the exhilaration and excitement of the crowds even though I was almost a thousand miles away. I jokingly told my daughter that I actually could follow what the announcers were saying as they spoke their coded language of running. 


       I look forward to the return to training. I miss it like on old friend. The hot humid weather of the summer proved to be more than I could handle while working toward that 13.1 mile goal. But now that Fall has arrived, my intent is to embrace the cooler temps and plod away. I am making plans with great anticipation of my breaking in my new pair of Brooks Adrenaline's, If I find those not to my liking, then its back to the Nike Structure Zoom's. 


      Either way, I plan to enjoy the ride, because lately I have been thinking a lot about what tomorrow might bring. That uncertainty is bringing about a sense of urgency to create the memories now! Live each day as if it might be the last so to speak. Wish me luck and perseverance... I will keep you posted..

Day One Training for Half Marathon

     Today began my first day of earnest training for the half marathon coming up in a couple of months. It is my plan to run in the Las Vegas Rock and Roll Series Marathon and Half Marathon. On the first day of my training program I was to run a easy 30 minutes. No problem-right? I have already participated in some 5Ks and a 10K. So naturally a half was the next logical step. Granted it has been 3 months to the day since I laced up my running shoes, but it should still be easy right? BULL!

     For this "easy" run I decided I would have my man drop me off about 3 miles from our farm and while he tended to the critters, I would just jog on there. No problem. Nice winding rurally road. Little traffic with a little bit of scenery along the way. Ideal plan. Ha Ha Ha.

     The first omen that things might not be so smooth was when he decided to drop me off in the local funeral home parking lot. Mind you funeral homes don't spook me in the least, but today the vultures were circling as he drove off. Literally. Big ugly turkey vultures with their big ugly wrinkly naked necks landed near me as I started down the back road. It was as if they sensed a meal in the making.

     As I jogged along at a brisker than normal pace (maybe just to get away from the spooky carnivores), I was soon leaving them behind. About half a mile in is where I started smelling the stench of death. Surely it wasn't me already. Nope-just a dead possum whom had the misfortune of meeting the front bumper of a local citizen. Lordy did it stink.

     As I plodded along, my lungs screamed for air, my pace slowed and I soon started questioning my sanity. But still I continued, stopping ever so often to catch my breath. As I was half way through my "run" I reached an open stretch and kicked it up a notch. I heard the "vehicle" if you want to call it that, before I saw it. As it came around one of the 4 very sharp turns in the road, the yahoo driving it saw me and gunned the engine. I looked around in time to see him accelerating to what seemed like a 100 miles an hour in that short stretch headed straight for me in the opposite lane. I started looking for a spot to jump out of the way, but would have to jump into a drainage ditch to avoid him. Just as I was about to take the dive as he closed in, he veered off-chortling at my panic. He flew on down the road, around the curve and out of sight. Red-Neck Idiot!!

     I composed myself, I continued on, a bit shaken, but determined to get this over with. I was over half way to the farm, about to run out of steam with a pounding headache, and a stitch in my side.

     As I jogged past the country cemetery, I felt a shiver creep up my back even though the temp outside was almost 80. I could have been in one of these if that idiot hadn't  veered off in time. IDIOT!

     Just as I was approaching the final stretch to the farm, my other "worst" fear came dashing out of one the yards. A large mixed breed dog zeroed in on me, nose low to the ground and accelerating towards me. Dang! Just my luck. Armed with only a water bottle. I stopped and demanded that he STOP! Didn't work. Hmmm. It always worked for Caesar when he did it on TV. What the Heck! Well, I knew not to run. I stood my ground and waited. Thankfully all he seemed to want to do is sniff my feet. However, he was getting pushier and I needed to get on. Trying not to let him sense my discomfort, I moved forward, commanding him to go home. Then when I was just about to get a little more panicky at his insistence, I looked up in time to see my man coming to my rescue on his white horse, er.. I mean white truck. He pulled up and I jumped in. "I thought this one might give you some trouble", he said. Ahhh, my prince.....

     So with my head pounding, red faced and slightly nauseated, I had completed my first training run in my quest to run that cursed half marathon. All I can say is they had better have some really awesome goody bags and a super neat t-shirt for this.... 

Time to Get Committed

“There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results…” 

      After a long summer filled with remodeling projects, my running has been put on hold since the end of May. I have missed the discomfort of sore muscles and aching feet. I have not missed the ever creeping expansion of my waist band from my lack of sustained exercise. So with the advent of cooler temps outdoors, I have decided that it is time to regain my sense of accomplishment and just do it-again…
      Commitment has always been a problem for me. Maybe it stems from some mental defect I have, but to commit means to obligate myself; my commitments mean to complete in its entirety. Therefore, I pick and choose my commitments cautiously. I will not commit to just any old thing, person or event just for the sake of saying yes.
       So with that said, I have decided that I am going to train for a half marathon. 13.1 miles of running! I know that in the times to come I am going to question that commitment, but I made it- so now I am going to have to see it thru. The good times, the bad times and all that comes in between. I will get psyched for it- I will create my happy place- I will succeed...
      My end goal is to prepare for this in time to run in the Las Vegas Rock and Roll Series by December 5th. The time limits are that the half marathon must be completed within 4 hours. This averages an 18.32 minute mile pace. Hopefully I can do this (or better) if I train hard between now and then. Even though I feel that I will be starting over again from scratch- I will tie on my running shoes, pull up my compression socks, slip on my running shorts and shirt and hit the pavement; Running the path of self discovery and success.
      Stay tuned for my journey notes, they should prove to me quite interesting...

"Losers visualize the penalties of failure. 

Winners visualize the rewards of success"...

Trying to Overcome Prejudices

Recently my oldest daughter decided that she wanted a tattoo. My initial reaction was not what she had hoped for. My thoughts on tattoos were not positive. The people that I knew personally that had “defaced” their bodies were few. I just knew I didn’t like tattoos, especially in light of the white hot spotlight on that nasty tattooed stripper home wrecker that Jesse James had been caught with recently. Her parents must be sooo proud….But I digress….

So when my daughter announced that she was getting one, I tried to discourage her any way that I could. I did not prevail. So I decided that (after a lot of convincing) if she was determined to do this act, then I needed to be sure that the place she went to was the “right” place. Not dirty and disease infested. I am a mother-what can I say?

After doing some online research of places in the area, she had it narrowed down to a couple of places. Off we went to check it out and talk with the people there. Let me say right off I was not really impressed with the outside of the first establishment at first glimpse. It was in an area that the offices were being completely renovated and they had a mess everywhere. The shop that we went into was upstairs in a row of offices. Most of the surrounding offices were out of business. I was a little skeptical and apprehensive about this place.

However, once we were inside the girls there were super. It was a clean place and they had all their proper paperwork. They took a great amount of time patiently answering our questions and allaying our fears. After giving it some thought and discussion, it was decided this was the place that would give the tattoo.

We looked through the portfolios’ that were out showcasing the work and style each artist performed and made a choice based on what we liked. Leah was the girl we chose. It turned out to be a good decision. My daughter told her what she wanted and gave her a sample sketch she had drawn of the design. Leah gave some suggestions on how to improve it and promised to work on it before she returned. We made the appointment for the next weekend and then we left.

 On the day of the appointment, my daughter was anxious and nervous. I was resigned and a little sad. But I wanted to be supportive of her since she was old enough to make this decision on her own and had made up her mind to do it with or without me.

Once we arrived, Leah was ready for us and was meticulous about her tools and supplies and the cleanliness of her working environment. I was relieved by this. She provided an area that was screened from others as my daughter had chosen her upper thigh as her tattoo placement.

Leah worked diligently for about an hour or so until she had it perfected and I must admit the finished product was impressive. I was pleased with her level of artistic expertise and her friendliness.

All in all the experience was not what I expected and was pleasantly surprised that my prejudices’ were shattered after going through this with my daughter.  Again I had to be shown that I need to be a little more open minded about things.

As that old saying goes-the older I get the more I realize how much I don’t really know… Granted my daughter has assured me that this is the only one she plans to get and I am happy to hear that. I must admit though that some evil part of me took a little pleasure in knowing that it hurt a little bit in hopes that it would discourage her from getting anymore. As open minded as I am trying to become- I still believe that I brought her body into this world “unspoiled” by ink and  dyes and would like it to remain that way as much as possible….

                                

I am a Dreamer

I can literally sit for hours wasting time day dreaming. I can dream about “if” I only had a studio space I could create great works of art-even though I have yet to complete anything worth writing home about.

I dream about “if” I had enough space I could have a fabulous farm complete with horses, cows, chickens, goats and anything else I could think of-though I have 14 acres of un-bush-hogged field and a chicken pen that is in dire need of cleaning out; horses that need riding and tack that needs repairing.

I dream of the exotic plants that I would grow “if” I had a greenhouse-though I find it difficult to remember to water my two tomato vines 10 steps out my back door.

I dream of redoing and updating my old house but I can’t find the time to paint a single room.

I dream of losing weight and running marathons-yet I have all but abandoned any running when the temperatures rose.

I dream of winning the big lottery-yet all my tickets have expired.

So you see I am a dreamer who never follows through. Oh how I dream about when I am no longer a dreamer-but have become a doer…..

Voting In Primary Election

           A couple of weeks ago, I had the task of working at one of the election polls in our most recent primaries.  I would like to share a few impressions and observations about this day with my readers.

            In our particular polling precinct we have almost 3,000 registered voters. We use 2 voting machines. In the course of this particular day we used 10 workers. Assignments ranged from the clerk taking ID’s and verifying the names on the registered voters list to the clerk asking which party the voter chose to vote in-to ballot clerks issuing ballots to the clerk giving out “I Voted” stickers and directing to the exit. Then there is the Precinct Inspector overseeing it all.

The single act that caused the most agitation to the voter, by far was the issue of declaring which primary they chose to vote in. Their reactions ranged from blank stares to outright rage. Which brings me to the topic of today’s blog:

Primary Election Voter Education….

            I have worked the polls for at least ten years now and I can NOT for the life of me understand how some people’s minds work. When a voter comes in to vote, one would assume that if they made the effort to come to the polls to vote they would at the very least have some idea about what and who they are voting for. But unfortunately the fact is that a good 70% (or more in some situations) seemed to be ignorant to most of the issues associated with primaries. So in the interest of educating and keeping it simple, I will try to demystify the process.

            First of all, a primary is an election that decides which person will be in the General Election in November of an election cycle. That simply means that all the weeks prior to an election, when the politicians are rallying and knocking on your door-promising to do a better job, etc. -it is just so they can be nominated as your district-city-county-state or national representative in the primary election in June. That means that there may be as little as 2 or as much as 6 or more candidates running for one spot in the Republican or Democratic or Independent or Libertarian slot. Most of the time there will be a Republican and a Democrat. In Alabama when you come to the polls to vote in a June Primary-you must declare your Party in order to get either a Blue Republican ballot with all the Republican candidates on it or a White Democratic ballot with just Democrat candidates on it. You can ONLY get ONE ballot- either or- you CAN NOT cross party lines in a Primary Election. You may cross party lines in the General Election in November.

            Why this is so upsetting to voters is beyond me. One thing voters need to know is that we polling officials DO NOT care how you vote. Nor do we remember how you vote. It doesn’t matter to us. We are impartial (theoretically and legally) to your voting decision. Voters need to understand the process. Voters must select, or narrow the field if you will, so that there is only one nominee for each party in the November General Election. Republicans versus Democrats (or Independents and Libertarians as the situation dictates). But a Primary is for narrowing the field down to just one candidate per party.

            With that said, as often the case, there is a July run-off election held when the votes are close and a decision hasn’t been made as to who is the most popular choice. After 6 weeks from the Primary election, a run-off vote will make that determination if it is not yet clear.

The actual process goes like this: You-the voter come into the polling precinct with your ID ready to be shown. Usually you wait in line until the next clerk is available. While waiting you will notice all the posted signs giving you every possible direction from which ID’s are acceptable to what your rights as a voter are, to step by step instructions on how to vote. READ the signs… You will also see do’s and don’ts such as no cell phones in the polling area, no campaigning within 30 feet of the entrance; you must enter one way and exit another, etc. These are state, county or city mandated rules. NOT the poll workers rules.

The poll workers are simply your neighbors volunteering their time, effort and patience for a very nominal fee. They must attend election school the week before to cover the rules and guidelines. The inspectors must attend 2 schools, and be responsible for all things that occur on election day and up to the point of surrendering the ballots and documents at the end of the election night. The workers must be at the polling place the day before to set up and then be at the polling place by 6AM the morning of and then are there until at least 8 PM or later. Some precincts are unheated and/ or not air-conditioned. They will receive dozens of complaints ranging from the before mentioned primary choice to having to walk too far to “I didn’t bring ID” to “I don’t want to write my name” to “I don’t like how the ballot is designed”. Some will be so irate that they actually hurl insults and profanities to actual objects at the workers. Come on people! We are your neighbors just trying to help out. If you are that displeased with the process, then why not get involved and try to change it in a fashion that is more helpful than hurtful. Honestly, the whole reason that I even agreed to get involved all those years ago was because every time I came to vote, I was taken aback by how rude the poll workers seemed to be. It was intimidating and off putting. I was determined that kill them with kindness would be my motto. As of today, I can honestly say that every single one of the workers at my polling precinct (with the exception of one) will greet you with a smile and a wholehearted attempt to help you in the voting process. Ahh- but I digress.

After you have shown your ID and been verified and declared your party choice in the primary election, you will sign the appropriate book while the clerk writes your name in the corresponding book on the corresponding line that will be turned in to the board of registrars at the end of the day. This will notify them that you have voted and prevent you from being placed on the inactive list after not voting in 4 election cycles. Once you are put on the inactive list, you will be allowed to vote only after you have completed an update form made available to you on Election Day. However, if you have failed to complete an update form after so long you are purged from the list and will have to re-register in order to vote. YOU CAN NOT REGISTER at the voting precinct on Election Day. You must go to your board of Registrars to do this in advance.

Sometimes in the process of signing voters in there are human errors that must be corrected and this means that you may have to wait until they have been taken care of. It happens. No one is perfect. The mistakes must be corrected before moving on to avoid bigger mistakes later. It is a process. Please be patient.

After being signed in at the Primary Election, you are issued a slip that is either blue or white indicating which ballot you will receive. The type of ballot is determined by your primary choice and by where you live in the district that you are voting in. District lines are drawn up in advance and can be confusing to voters. You may be voting in a different district than even your neighbors across the street. Again, the poll workers have no influence in this and you should address any issues you have with this with your elected officials AFTER the election.

Once you have your slip indicating your ballot style you will give it to the ballot clerks who will in turn issue you the proper ballot. Some voting precincts do not use pens and use levers instead. In Alabama, we are pretty universal and use the marking ballots. You will be given a marking pen and a privacy folder and then be directed to go into the voting area to mark your ballot. The voting “booths” are set up with dividers for your privacy.

When marking your ballot, you should be careful to only mark on the ballot where indicating your candidate or issue choice. Any stray marks or changing after marking will kick out (reject) your ballot as unreadable or overvoted. Don’t panic-it happens. Don’t be embarrassed or upset. You aren’t the first voter to have this happen to and you certainly will not be the last. Poll workers are equipped to handle it. If this happens, you will be asked to fold your ballot in half in order to ensure your voting privacy and the top corner will be torn off so that it cannot be fed into the voting machine. The “spoiled” ballot will be placed into an envelope designated as Spoiled Ballots at the ballot clerk table and a new ballot will be issued to you. At the end of the day the spoiled ballots will be turned back in along with all the other documents, unused ballots and voted ballots. While the votes on the spoiled ballots will not be counted, the number of spoiled ballots will be. ALL ballots must be accounted for at the end of the day and reconciled to the number of ballots originally received at that precinct.

Once you have completed your choices on your ballot while sitting in the privacy booths, you will then take you ballot to the voting machine. The machine will take your ballot in a designated slot with arrows. You can place your ballot in upside down, upright, or backwards and the machine will read it. It should read it anyway but sideways. The machine will make a beep and your vote will be counted. The machine will display a number but not how you voted at that time. You will then proceed to the exit where you will drop off your marking pen and privacy folder and receive an “I Voted” sticker. This sticker is given to you to designate you as a voter and to remind others to vote when they see it on you. Wear it with pride. Remember that you have just had the honor of doing something that not everyone can do.

You will exit and hopefully your experience has been a good one. At the end of the day the poll workers will make a reconciliation of all ballots with the number of voters. Tapes will be printed in that process that must be sent to various places and put in different envelopes. A printout of the results will go to the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, Independent, Libertarian, etc. A results printout will be posted on the precinct window for anyone to view. A printout will go to the news media, the Probate Judge and Sheriff and/or other designated officials. The results printout will have a tally of all the votes. Not who voted but just the results.

All the results will be taken to the proper authorities at the end of the Election Day once balanced and reconciled. Then all the machines are zeroed out, and supplies packed up to be returned to the proper places. The voting area cleaned up and put back in order. The Election Day in the history books and put to bed; ready for the next run-off or General Election.

In the General Election, the voters will be able to vote on their candidate or issue of choice without declaring parties.

Beth Chapman - Alabama Secretary of State says:

Crossover voting occurs when a voter who participated in one political party's primary election votes in the primary run-off election for an opposing political party. Alabama election law authorizes each political party to establish rules governing its primary elections (§17-16-14, Code of Alabama, 1975, as amended), including the establishment of rules as to who may vote in its runoff election

The Democratic Party has adopted a crossover voting rule that prohibits a voter from participating in its primary runoff election if the voter participated in another political party's primary election. For example, a voter who participated in the Republican Party primary may not vote in the Democratic Party's primary runoff.

The Republican Party has not adopted a crossover rule. Thus, voters who participate in either the Republican Party's or Democratic Party's primary election may legally vote in the Republican Party's primary runoff election.

 Alabama Republican Party Chair Mike Hubbard says:

Right now, Alabama Republicans allow what’s called “crossover voting,” meaning anyone can vote in their runoff elections, even if they voted in the Democratic primary on June 1st. Democrats put a rule in place several years ago that prohibits that, and Republican party chair Mike Hubbard today said he thinks the Republicans should do the same before the July 13th runoff.
“I think that’s something we ought to consider,” Hubbard said Wednesday. “And I think it makes sense, I don’t know anybody who would have a problem with that. It just stands to reason if you voted in Democrat primary, then you shouldn’t be able to come over and have an influence in who the Republican nominee is.”

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          However, as of June 11^th, nothing has changed and crossover voting still occurs. But more importantly, voters should take the time to investigate the issues and the candidates. Check out the voting records, the ideas, the supporters making the contributions. One vote can make the difference.

Check out some of these web sites to become informed:

http://www.lwval.org/ef/

http://www.politics1.com/al.htm

http://www.uselections.com/al/al.htm

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/

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