In the Midnight Hour

Where I am, it isn't the midnight hour anymore, but back home it is. Yes, I still call Alabama "home". I'm in my apartment, but I don't call it home. Anyway, that's not important. I can't sleep so I thought I'd blog. Why? WHY NOT!!!

Anyway, it was fun keeping up with the Alabama elections online. It has felt odd since I stopped being involved in election coverage. Actually, my first real election experience was back in 1994 when Gerald Allen first ran for State Representative. I actually got to help on the campaign. I even held a sign one day. I remember it vividly. I was at the intersection of University Blvd, 15th St, and Hwy 216 in Cottondale, next to Meaney's. It was raining, but I had a poncho. I was dedicated. I held that sign and waved at the people going by. If I remember correctly, Gerald's brother in law, Robert Shirley was out there for some of it (and now that I think of it, Mr. Shirley and my current pastor look a lot alike, COOL!!). Then, I saw a man run a red light (slowly, odd in Tuscaloosa) and have a wreck. It looked like he had a heart attack. Many gathered, including me, to make sure he was ok. I think he ended up being fine. Oh, then, on election night, I don't know how except maybe my handwriting and math skills put me ahead, but I got to write the vote totals by county as they came in on the big white marker board at the post-election party. Yeah, I was inner circle that night and proud of it!

Then, several years later, I got to see elections from the newsroom side of things. I was the one typing the numbers up so they could go out over the air. I got to see people run around like chickens with their heads cut off. I got to see live election coverage from behind the scenes. That was amazing. Sure, we weren't the biggest station around, but we worked hard to get the results, and we were 100% local by golly! I was there during the 2000 Presidential Election. Boy wasn't that exciting. haha. I wouldn't trade those moments for anything. Even though I was production, and not news, I learned a lot about the news business there on Jug Factory Road. Plus I'm still friends with folks from there and I've been gone 8 years! 8 years gone, can you believe it?

Now, I keep up with the election from my computer. I see Artur Davis, who did a very solid job in Congress try to run for Governor without playing the political game with his votes & actions. He lost, BIG! Politics is a tough game. The race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination is VERY close. Good to see Dr. Robert Bentley, a well respected Tuscaloosa doctor and just well respected as a person too, in the hunt. Congrats to him. I hope he makes it to the runoff. Not a Tim James fan. Like father like son, I say. Alabama doesn't need to be Fobbed again. Plus, that commercial would make Bama a laughingstock. I'm just glad Roy Moore didn't make it. I have no use for him. He reminds me too much of the Pharisees in the Bible (and they're not fair you see. C'mon, you knew you were singing it). Troy King seems to have lost because he didn't back Riley's Raids. I see that in my home gerrymandered district (come on, it goes from west Jefferson county down through the black belt and into Montgomery and is shaped like the letter C, It's GERRYMANDERED!), our old rep's son couldn't make it through. Good, I'd be afraid he was like his Dad. Hey Earl, how is Quaddafi these days? But you still have Sheila Smoot there. Anyone who was in Bham/JEFFCO politics, you should vote against them on principle. Ah, Alabama politics.

At least it beats Baltimore politics. I'm sick of hearing on NPR about the $121 million budget deficit the city is facing. It's the radio version of "a select coalition of all-white fraternities and sororities designed to influence campus politics." Turn it into a drinking game if you so desire.

What else is up? Glee was on tonight. It was, um, odd. OK, that ending funk song had me alternately, laughing at them, laughing with them, loving it, hating it, embarrassed for them, etc. It looked like what Soul Train would have been if produced by the ACLU.

I'm jealous of my friend Brandon. He got to go home for a few days PLUS he lives in Atlanta, home of the FIRST PLACE BRAVES!! I work in Baltimore, home of the embarrassment known as the Orioles. It just isn't fair. haha

Finally, I watched Chopped on Food Network tonight. For those unfamiliar, up & coming chefs, usually pretentious, are given a basket of ingredients and must make a meal out of it. All are given the same ingredients and one person is eliminated or "chopped" (aha clever!) each round. The ingredients are usually odd, ones they wouldn't normally use, or use together, and ALL the ingredients must be used. I leave you with this. In the dessert round, hot dogs was one of their ingredients. I think I threw up in my mouth a little and probably shed a tear. So wrong.

Well, I may attempt sleep. Who knows.