Everlane sweater – Yohji Yamamoto skirt – Frye Carly Chukkas
This is the outfit I wore when I voted. I know, I’m a week late to the party on this. I have my photos staggered over a week in advance, which helps me keep posts each day. I take a weeks’ worth of photos and then set up my next round of posts. It’s the only way I’d keep up with this blog right now. I know I don’t write much on my posts these days and that’s because sometimes I look at these photos and think: wait, what was I doing then… Most days really are nothing much to mention.
However, voting day was something different. I decided to vote before work, so I went out in the rain and drove to the nearby high school, which is my designated place. There were guys standing outside handing out flyers promoting a total fucking asshole whose signs I’ve seen all over my neighborhood. Even in my half asleep state I heard said asshole’s name and walked past the flyer people, saying “no thanks.” I don’t need another piece of paper – another piece of trash – another fucking promotional item for a piece of shit I can’t stand.
After voting I saw the same woman sitting at a table that I saw during district elections. She volunteers each time. I think she’s been in cancer remission and each time she’s there she has an enormous dog with her. I walked over to say hello and once again she complimented my haircut. She has short hair as well and this time I gave her the name of the salon I go to. I think last time I spoke to her the salonist I had at the time left her work and I stopped going there. I was happy to give her a name and a place this time. Anyway, the woman insisted I take a sticker, which I normally don’t. I know many are all about showing off that they voted because it is important and while I definitely believe it is important I’ve never been one to draw attention to myself in that way so usually I declined the stickers. However, by the end of our conversation I ended up taking a sticker.
When I got to work I had my jacket on and then sat at my desk for a while so most people didn’t notice my sticker until later and then asked me, surprised “when did you vote?” Some people even smiled and were glad to see I voted and said they were going right after work.
Z works with political canvasing groups all the time at his job. It is his job. It’s their entire platform. They work with non-profits, charities, political canvasing groups, etc…. Unlike most, instead of using paper, the company he works for allows clients to lease tablets and phones and they lease out the software as well so the clients get results instantly. Z had been working nonstop for nearly two weeks just before elections. I noticed he was coming home later than usual and as soon as he got home, he’d immediately go upstairs, get on his computer and keep working. He’d have his phone next to him at all times and even have to stop during dinner to help a client with something or another. ALL the campaigns were going on at the same time and his clients were begging him for devices to send out for canvasing. They were wiped out completely and spent 5 hours on a Sunday solely fixing broken tablets to get anything and everything they could out to the clients. One client asked the day before elections for anything and Z said nope. He almost sent him a photo of the completely empty shelves in their storage room where all the devices are usually stored.
And now, even though elections are over, he’s still coming home late because all the campaigns for the nation-wide homeless count are starting up. Last year they only had a few locations. This year they are getting 10-15. “Sales people need to chill!” Z lamented one night during dinner because he was tired after having late afternoon calls with west coast clients.
It’ll be nice when this year is over. All the crazy campaigning will be done with, my mom’s sentencing will decide our next steps, and hopefully we can get a break from everything soon.
