Voting With A Toddler! And Velveeta!!

I know, I know--the clown painting! Tomorrow for sure!

I went to vote today with Pickle--what a nightmare!!

Before I went to the polling place, I went for a walk with my friend so we could go to Starbucks and get our free coffee! Apparently, since Pickle experienced a new freedom on Halloween walking instead of stroller-riding--she's thinks she's "too cool" for the stroller and was not a happy camper on our walk.

Once we got to Starbucks, though, she was on Cloud Nine--dancing and prancing around and drinking her organic milk box. By the way--there are a couple of great new items on the Starbucks menu--one is a spinach/mushroom/feta cheese pastry thing (it has a fancy name I can't remember) and the other is a tortilla wrap with spinach, egg and sun-fried tomato. Both are delicious and make great breakfasts--just so you know!

So after my free coffee and spinach pastry, I headed over to vote with a most uncooperative Pickle.

She hated the voting room. HATED it. The second we walked in, she said "No like it!" and started crying. Meanwhile, I was juggling my wallet, her blanket (I didn't want to leave it in the stroller--because if it gets lost she'll never sleep again!) and assorted voting paraphernalia that had been thrust upon me.

Even though there was only one person in line ahead of me--the line was at a stand still. It was like people were moving in slow motion! I tried to ply Pickle with a complimentary Munchkin and an empty coffee cup--but she was having none of that!

Finally I made it through the check-in process--one of the ladies had gone off to the corner to talk to her mechanic (she went into explicit detail--she was getting her oil changed since she was going to be at the polling place all day). Great, lady! I'm glad to know that--now can I please vote!?

I opted for the touch screen because I thought it would be easier to do and keep my eye on Pickle. I was instructed to insert the card and not to remove it until the screen said "Thank you--remove your card."

So I was voting away--and Pickle REMOVED THE CARD!! The screen went haywire and said ERROR and instructed me to consult a polling official. Confusion ensued.

The "official" finally determined that I needed to redo my ballot in written form. I was so rattled--I'm not even sure who I voted for! Pickle tried to draw on my ballot and she spilled my wallet full of change. I got through it as fast as I could and, of course, there was another mix-up at the machine you feed the forms into.

Those people were SO happy to see me go!

You're welcome, Barack!!

Edited to add--Oops! I forgot to mention Candid Carrie's Amazing Velveeta recipe and giveaway!! I want to win!!! And I want to eat that dip...and so does Pickle!!