Polls Closed: Mixed Election Results

The polls - my polls - closed late last night and the results are mixed.

I visited Matthew's class at Children's Courtyard yesterday because I wanted to see who four year olds - with all of their simplicity and candor - would vote into the office of President of United States of America.  I pulled up a chair in front of the class and started off by enthusiastically asking, "Does anyone know what tomorrow is?"  Eager to please, they shouted back, "Halloween!," "Christmas," "Santa Claus is coming!," "December."

I quickly redirect their enthusiasm by stating, "It's Election Day!"  I brought the book, Duck for President," so I could warm the class up and get them in the mood to vote.  For those of you who haven't had cause to read the book, it's a great little story about a duck who, tired of his lot in life - decides to overthrow his boss, the farmer.  Realizing that running a farm is very hard work, he runs for governor, then President of the United States.  Each time he runs for office, he wins by a small margin and always because a few extra ballots are found in unsuspecting places like the seat of someones pants or the bottom of a plate of pancakes. 

The book was a hit and now the class was ready to vote.  Matthew helped me hand out a ballot and crayon to each child.  The class was instructed to make an "x" in the box next to the picture of man they thought should be elected President of the United States.  I was encouraged to find that almost every four year old knew who the candidates were (though my son continues to refer to Obama as "Rock-o-bama-cain").  Papers folded, they casted their votes by placing them in a box. 

Excited to know who our next president would be, I ran home to tally the votes.  Election results...  5 ballots eliminated due to hanging chads (voted for both candidates), 3 votes for McCain, and the winner of the 2008 elections...  Barack Obama with a grand total of 18 votes.

Then I had another idea.  Baskin Robbins is currently featuring two flavors, in honor of the presidential election.  Republicans boast the flavor, "Straight Talk" - described as caramel ribbon, chocolate pieces, candy red states  & crunchy mixed nuts swirled into white chocolate ice cream.  Democrats on the other hand stake claim to "Swirl of Change," featuring peanut nougat ice cream whirled with chunks of chocolate covered peanut brittle & caramel ribbon.

What would happen if we could settle our differences using ice cream?  That's right.  A nation-wide ice cream taste test.  The winning flavor clinching the office for his candidate.  To me a stroke of genius.  Vote with your taste buds!  No partisanship, no party lines - just good old fashioned, "My flavor is better than your flavor."

Armed with a quart of each flavor and a whole lot of pink taster spoons, I set my voting booth up outside of Starbucks determined to see who the next President of the United States would be - when left up to our taste buds.  In all, three people abstained from voting (a higher percentage than I would have liked).  In the end... the republicans had a decisive victory.  "Straight Talk" earned 31 votes and "Swirl of Change" left the democrats with only 22 votes.

So which is it?  Which is the more reliable when determining our next President of the United States...  Ms. Latrice's class of four year olds or Baskin Robbins featured flavors?  We shall see!

One more thing.  Whether you're feeling disenfranchised after today's election or depressed, like me, that it's all over, tomorrow brings an opportunity for YOU!  Let your voice be heard by participating in Highlowaha's Blog-a-thon.  A quick reminder that the Blog-a-thon is being hosted to raise money for the Helping Hand family we adopted this holiday season.  How can you get in on it?

• Click on Blog-a-thon (top right hand side of my blog) to see all the times still available. 
  
• Pick an open time that works for you.
  
• Show up on Wednesday ready to participate.
• Participants will be involved in a Scary Story Relay.  The story will begin at 10:00 a.m. , by our first Blog-a-thon participant.  Person #2 will add on to that which was written by person #1.  And on it will go until 10:00 p.m.  
  
• Try to find someone to sponsor you at $1.00/minute.  Ideally we will collect $15.00 per participant (but will settle for a nickel a minute if we have to).  Money will be sent to Claudia K. Beeny at 4012 Harvestwood Court, Grapevine, Texas, 76051.
• Still have questions?  Email me at cbeeny@lslog.com

Gotta go hit the voting booth.  Signing off until tomorrow...

P.S.  Don't forget to earn a Election Patch for your Patchwork Denim by sending me proof of your vote, along with the front page of your local newspaper from Wednesday morning (11/5).

Now, go vote.