Scattered and Shaky

Clover using a coloring book given by an elderly relative.

This is going to be a long day. I feel like a kid trying to fall asleep on Christmas Eve. I am too full of nerves to relax while I tell myself that this will all be over (hopefully!) in a few more (long, horribly, torturously long) hours.

I've tried to pull myself away from the computer, but I'm having a hard time. After the 2000 election, I'm not overly confident this will be over tonight. I hope it is a decisive victory, but it is hard to feel optimistic. I cried when I read a story about how other countries are closely following this race and how much they want Obama and an end to U.S. arrogance. I heard a woman in Pennsylvania talk on NPR this morning about how much she dislikes John McCain, but she is voting for him based on one issue, an issue I don't think is likely to change based on whether Obama or McCain become president. I wish we could keep religion out of our politics the way most other countries do.

The party we are attending tonight is a potluck, which always presents some problems for me. I never know what to bring and I usually end up volunteering for a labor-heavy main dish in an effort to be helpful. I'm trying to stop that this year and sign up for side dishes or things that are a little easier. I don't mind bringing two easy to make things over one time consuming dish. With that in mind, I jumped on the potluck and tried to think of two easy dishes I could give an election related name in an effort to distract people from the reality that my dishes were simple ones.

We're bringing elite arugula and lipstick on a prosciutto salad and a tostada dip that is kind of a white trash appetizer, almost like a five layer dip that is mixed up. We had the dip at a birthday party in September and it was incredibly good, even if the main ingredient is refried beans. Feeling a little ashamed, I brought it to an event at the hippie school where it was surprisingly popular. People asked me to teach them how to make it, which is when I had to acknowledge how incredibly easy it was to make. Not the kind of thing one wants to tell the people who spent over an hour on their dishes. And it is especially embarrassing when it is more popular than the more complex dishes.

I was going to call the dip White Trash Wasilla Bean Dip, but some people are offended by the term white trash, so I called it the Rootin', Tootin' Moose Shootin' (from a helicopter) Bean Dip. It is basically this recipe, except I heat the beans and onions, then add the cheese to melt it.

On that note, cheers! I know that no matter what happens, I will be crying into my wine glass.

Comments

[Jennette]

The Christmas Morning analogy resonates with me. I've been feeling this way for a few days, so I'll join you in those tears tonight! ;)