I voted today.

I'm not sure... I seem to remember voting absentee at least once before, but I can't remember when or why. This time, I'll be up looking at the flight appendages of dead birds, coming home after the polls have closed.

Don't know if I'll make it to the stone circle or not.

But I doubt it.

Voting at home was a pain. I am probably more informed on the candidates and issues this year than in most other elections, yet when you have time to ponder and question, it gets harder. Standing there in a booth and whipping out decisions in minutes flat is easier.

A few decisions were simple. Like for Sheriff, where no one has bothered to run against the incumbent. He's doing everything right, so what would be the point? Actually saw one of his badge-shaped campainging signs up in town.

Only one.

And no, we didn't put ours up.

Voting absentee is also strange because there are no immediate results. No exit polls to watch on TV. No excitement. You just exercise your privilege and responsibility, and then wait.

And wait.

When I mentioned we would be out of town for election day, one warden pointed out that our votes really wouldn't count this year. Since losing candidates will have conceded and the victors declared victorious long before our ballots are even opened, all our votes will do is make subtle changes in the final tallies.

He suggested we both simply not vote, since our political views are diametrically opposed and we're just going to cancel each other out anyway.

But no, we actually agree on a few local candidates, so we're both going through the academic exercise.

The rest of you, however, may actually make a difference, so go out and vote.

And get it right this time, okay?