West of Whimsy

Caucus. . .

This last Saturday, Washington State held their Democratic caucuses.  Caucus is such a weird word, isn't it?  (I think that article even says that in the first paragraph . . . so funny!) 

I'm originally from Oregon where they don't have caucuses, and somehow I've managed to not attend one since I've lived here in Washington for the last 15 years.  But since this year promises to hold some change for our country, I decided to go and make my vote count.

It was CRAZY!  There apparently were record turnout's across the state.  This is what the line looked like at the school where ours was held:

There were a couple of turns in the line, so it's kind of hard to tell exactly what was going on there - but believe me when I say it was LONG.  Luckily we were at the head of the line, and it moved pretty quickly.

I went with my younger son who asked me more than once, "But why to you have to vote?"  And each time I had to explain to him that there are lots of places in the world where you don't get to pick who runs your country - but because we can, it's important to exercise that right!  He's only six, so I'm not sure if he really got that concept or not . . . but hey - at least I'm setting a good example.  Yay for Democracy!

You've Got (Someone Else's) Mail!

Yesterday I found a FedEx box on my doorstep.  I love getting packages (especially surprises!) - so I opened it right away.

This is what was inside: 

Needless to say, I was a little bit freaked out that someone had sent me a very expensive switchblade!  Really - this thing is a weapon, and it's a miracle I didn't lose a finger when I pressed the little button (see right there in the middle?) and that blade came flying out.  Wow.

As it turns out it was sent to me in error - and is already on it's way back to the weird internet store it came from.  A place that calls this "cutlery".  Right - and I'm Bear Grylls.