Election Day in DC (while in a Morrissey mood)

(Like I said, I was in a Smiths/Morrissey mood...Ironic, because at his recent concert, he made clear his disdain for Bush...and, considering that Anna is part of this blog (yet again), the irony is sickening...Mozz fans, enjoy my attempt at cleverness....)

I'm writing about this now because it took me a week to quit Reeling Around the Fountain and to stop Oscillating Wildly after W took the election...I was in DC on Nov 1 and 2 for meetings, and stuck around for the election (2 blocks from the White House), since my company threw a big election party at the Willard hotel...and in the paragraphs that follow, I shall recount said feelings on that day...

My absentee ballot was filled out before I left...which was a good thing...I even took pictures of it in case my hardcore "civic duty" friends (Anna, Reshma, Nina, Jason, Ranika, Trey, and Jen) confronted me making sure I voted...I actually kept this picture in my phone for a few days just in case I ran into any of them....(I did)...

Let me first Paint A Vulgar Picture and get it out of the way...Went to work and was going to catch a 7pm flight from O'Hare (Ohm-Hari) airport...last time I flew, American Airlines damaged one of my bags pretty badly...I couldn't leave the bag there at that time, so they said I could bring it back within 30 days...fair enough....

So I'm carrying my laptop bag, my carry-on bag, and an empty rolling suitcase...I go to the baggage claim, and long story short, they said there was no record of my bag being reported damaged...I showed them the bag, showed them my American Airlines Platinum flyer card, showed them the baggage claim tags, etc...I asked for the supervisor, and they said they were busy, but would be here soon...sunufabeyatch...There's A Place In Hell For these kinds of people...

No supervisor for 10 minutes...I Stretch Out And Wait...15...I'm going Nowhere Fast...I tell the woman "I have 45 minutes until my flight, and it's 2 terminals away...!"...she calls again...says there is no answer...30 minutes until my flight...and no one...I write my name and AA Platinum number down for them so when they hear about it from Corporate, they know exactly who the hell I am...If I could, I'd put 'Maria' On The Guillotine...

I run to catch my flight (on United, thank God)...with 3 bags...I get to the United desk, ask them if I can check in an "empty" bag, and they say that it's too late to check a bag in on this flight...I knew they would say that, so I just asked her to throw the damn bag away...what else could I do?...so pissed...get to security, and have to ask people to let me cut in line since my flight is in 10 minutes...thankfully, they do...

I sprint (not run, sprint)...as I get through security, I hear "Final boarding call for flight 1146 to Washington Dulles..."...I made the flight with 6 minutes to spare...in my work clothes, soaking with sweat...Thank God that I have been running and was able to sprint without taking a break...

I sleep on the plane after I put the A/C on full blast to dry my shit off...

Land in Dulles at 9:30pm - and Mohini picks me up from the airport...so good to see her...we grew up together in Kentucky/Indiana...my sister away from my sister, I suppose :)...we head downtown to meet her/my sister and her boyfriend Victor at this lounge in Georgetown called Me and Yeun....very cool...had a few cocktails, then headed back to Mohini's place to crash...

Next day - I go work at Mohini's office...amusingly enough, Mohini, the self-titled "Punjabi Kudi"...started a new job where she manages about 80 IT professionals from India...given her penchant for all things Indian, I laugh at this "perfect" job for her...

Head back to DC that aft...take the Metro to my office downtown on Connecticut and H...I work there until 6, then head to my hotel to catch some election results and get ready for my party and to meet Anna...

Ah yes, Anna...the girl from Ipanema/Sacramento who just moved back to DC...known her for 15 months and never met until I called and invited her to come to the election party I was going to at the Willard hotel...finally meeting...I Knew It Would Happen Someday...just 2 blocks from the White House...I iron my shirt, shave, etc...I look in the mirror - I'm quite the Handsome Devil...;)

I forgot that I had to donate a toy to get in, and stopped by CVS to pick up something...they had nothing...I settled for crayons, markers, and some painting kits...

Anna says she'll meet me there, so I continue to walk there..the White House is surrounded by a fence spanning about 4 blocks...I go in and wait for her phone call...(she called and said she'd be 45 minutes late...)...I'm not worried about it...I'm at the Willard with a Gin in my hand...besides, she had to get ready, and Those Things Take Time...

She shows up - and This Charming Man finds it very easy/natural to say hi and meet her...strange...is that a good or bad thing?...she looks great, and we head to the party/bar....she asks for Johnny Walker and coke...I deliver...she downs it in under 10 seconds...she says she's nervous...Girl Afraid?  Well, I Wonder why?...She says that meeting me after 15 months, along with the election results starting to come in is making her Panic...

We get another few drinks...make the rounds of the tables full of food...trying to find something that Anna can eat (to her, Meat Is Murder)...the place is packed, lots of TV screens, lots of drink/food...I introduce her to Certain People I Know...damn good party...

Election votes roll in...Bush has won the redneck states, while Kerry wins in the metro areas...Anna has another drink...she then tells me she didn't eat all day...I'm no doctor, but that can't be good...

Midnight, and Anna tells me she has to go home...I Ask her to stay...she tells me that I Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby (*not really, but that line made me laugh)... I Ask if she is all right, and she says she needs to go Back To The Old House and be Asleep - too many drinks and not enough food...She asks me how can I not see that she's had enough...apparently, Yes I Am Blind; and apparently, at least for the evening, The Queen Is Dead...

She says she has a friend coming to pick her up, gets a phone call and bolts like cinderella...I'm semi-shocked, because I thought her to be the Girl Least Likely To...uh, bolt... but apparently if she didn't leave soon, I'd have to start introducing her as my Girlfriend In A Coma...

I call her Tomorrow, she says she is Still Ill with election results and Johnny Walker's revenge...she thinks it sucks that Kerry Lost, and that she's Seasick, Yet Still Docked...

I sleep and wake up - I Know It's Over...Bush wins by a mere few votes in a swing state...Such A Little Thing Made SUCH a Big Difference...I'm not a die-hard Kerry fan, but I can't stand that Bush is president..so, Little Man, What Now?...draft? national debt? more idiotic statements?

I go to work, meet with my friend Jay - a Sweet and Tender Hooligan (;)) -for lunch near both our offices, and plan on heading back on a 5pm flight...I was able to change it from Dulles to National, thank goodness...a $50 cab ride turned into a $2 metro...

What rekindled passion I had for civic duty pretty much transformed back into apathy...I mean, at least for the next 4 years, What Difference Does it Make, now that George Bush still in power...even Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now...even with a record turnout...we weren't able to Unite and Take over...amazing...I suppose in many ways, with the House, Senate and Oval Office all going to the Republicans...November definitely Did Spawn a Monster...

Only in America can the #1 issue for voters be "Moral Issues", yet we elect a person who has been a proven liar...in the words of Yaakov Smirnov...."Vat a country!"...Panic In the Streets of DC, no doubt...

Nevertheless, There Is A Light that never goes out...and that light is called 2008...

(PS...just wait until I'm in a Psychadelic Furs mood..;)

Comments

[ann]

great story. i swear. i swear ten times.

[FLOTUS]

nothing's changed,
i still love you,
oh, i still love you...

i'm sorry i was more of a mess than you're used to, myyyyyy love...

[Ank G]

Mad points for quoting "Stop Me If You Think That You've Heard This One Before"...I wasn't able to work that one in when I was writing...but it's my second favorite video by Morrissey after "Tomorrow"...Did I tell you I'm an honorary member of the Salford Lad's Club? ;)

[Ank G]

Also...I had to add...

oh, so i drank one
or was it four?
and when i fell on the floor...
...i drank more
stop me, stop me
stop me if you think that you've
heard this one before

couldn't resist.....;)