The morning after.

The morning after.

It took me about 40 some minutes to figure out that M's school has a 1 hour delay, and my work has a 2 hour delay!  We rarely get a delay or closed, it's usually the equivalent of "if you need to take time off, you're allowed to use your vacation or sick time or take off without pay if you don't have vacation or sick time." Today, there's enough ice and freezing rain and "wintery mix," that it's warranted. Worse last night, however. Solid ice in my neighborhood, where it's half melted now. Every blade of grass, every pine needle, is coated individually in ice, some now dripping.

We enjoyed a show by Trinity Irish Dance Company in Gettysburg. Frankly, I enjoyed the music almost more -- live musicians, the song Lark in the Morning (I could HEAR that lark, a beautiful and rousing reel), and a song near the end, Extraordinary. The singer had written it for a good friend also departing Ireland, who ended up happy in Australia. I thought of Dougie for that one.  (Musicians Christopher Layer, Brendan O'Shea, and Barret Harvey).

There had been more snow in Pennsylvania, and I'd never seen "the square." It's really a roundabout / traffic circle with little shops about. Beautiful, really, in the snow.  Traveling to my mom's town, who then drove us on to Gettysburg, SO many accidents south of us, many major roads closed. This morning, I hear route 15 near Thurmont is closed due to a traffic trailer overturning. We drove along there last night in the freezing rain, seemed okay enough with few on the highway, except my mother's wiper blade was getting coated in ice
ice itself and so not working as effeciently as it should.
It was beautiful, and, as the musicians stated, quaint. My mother commented a few times how she'd like to return and spend some time in that restaurant (caleld The Pub but really a restaurant). The whole place seemed stepping back in time a mite there in the snow, too. The Majestic Theatre a renovated historical building.

The dancers werefantastic, all obviously the top of the top, Open Champions sure, but better somehow.Ah, yes, many world qualifiers, one won nationals at least once, their piece, The Dawn won the gold medal at Worlds, etc. I like the overall show of M's ID schools better, to be honest, but this was quite enjoyable.  (M's ID school's various performing troupes have dances that are more likely to tell a story, especially in their "Big Show" that's coming up, and have varying costumes and visual art.)  A Trinity piece with East Indian music (called Goddess), and a piece with drums, (called Black Rose), were both really great.  Some of the others pieces showed traditional steps in their choreography -- done exceptionally well, mind.  The sole male dancer did fantastic hardshoe, as did some of the females, those Treble Jig(s) were fantastic, albeit his was highlighted more and WOW WOW WOW.  We met up with "the other M" and her mom, too.  We're all glad we went.  Waiting to get into my mom's vehicle, M was shivering a bit, said, "I want to DANCE!"  FYI -- Trinity Irish Dance Company are performing at the Weinberg Center in Frederick, Maryland, tonight (http://www.weinbergcenter.org).

During intermission, I called a girlfriend for primary election results.  I voted during lunchtime combined w/ my quick posting, and at first the registrat couldn't pull up my particulars.  He typed in my name 2-3 times.  He was able to find me via my street address, and said I was the third person who this had occurred with.  He did report the problem to the election judge.  I was still wearing my "I voted" sticker Maryland polling locations hand out, when my girlfriend called me back later.  She left a message as the second half of the show was on, so scrambled, it sounded as if she said Huckabee had won Virginia.  Pennsylvania didn't vote yesterday so I wasn't going tobe able to find out THERE, with no media going on. I found out later, the huge amount of weather and traffic difficulties had the Maryland Election Judge declare that polls would remain open until 9:30 p.m., instead of 8:00 p.m. This makes sense, no matter whom someone was attempting to vote for. Too many were delayed getting home, to families, pets, and their own voting location.  Italked w/ my friend again on the drive home -- better results at that point but still not 100% in. It was sounding good.

This a.m.? The front page of The Washington Post shows Barack Obama smiling, holding a box of Duncan Donuts, standing near D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, and a young girl, from a campaign stop he'd made in D.C. yesterday morning. In LARGE font: "Obama, McCain Sweep Primaries."

M tried to watch results last night on television, but even though she'd slept to and from the show, I had her get tobed. She'll be happy -- from the paper: The District: Obama 75%, Clinton 24%,; Maryland: Obama 62%, Clnton 35%. Virginia, Clinton 64%, Clinton 35%.  NOTE:  These were tentative resultsbased upon poll results received by the time the newspaper had to go to press.  While the overall results of who won remain the same, the exact percentages, and not sure but perhaps even the exact number of delegates assigned, are likely not to turn out exactly as listed here.  It is reported everyplace I've seen that Senator Barack Obama is now ahead in number of delegates, and THAT is exciting, too :)

I was a mite amused to hear reports that the demographics didn't stick to the supposed mold.  Ahh, gee, so us Democrats who are older than 30/35/40, white, and make under whatever amounts were said, actually can vote NOT for Hillary Clinton?  At the Barack Obama rally on Monday, a diverse group of people, of a wide age range, were not only there but supporting him or on the fence.  If someone wants to vote for Hillary Clinton -- great -- let him or her; a Presidential election should not be based upon gender or ethnic background, but on him or herself, and his or her policies.  I'm happy the demographers have figured out that many of us have already figured this out:)

Senator John McCain won between 50 and 67% of votes. The 50% was in Virginia, where they have open elections -- the rumour? is that many Republicans were thinking of voting for Hillary Clinton as they figure she's more likely to lose, is easier to be beaten
in the National Election. * (Update:  my understanding is that how Virginia holds openprimaries is that a registered voter of any party, Democratic, Republican, or Independent, can vote for either parties ballot on that date -- perhaps I'm incorrect and only Independents can chose.  I agree with "ravenjuiced" that no self- respecting person would vote in a game-playing manner, but I've heard of this potential for years, and don't put it past some (of any political party.  I don't know if this occurred in this particular primary or not -- just that some talked about it as if it was occurring this way -- and hence my use of the word rumour).

Many Independents in Maryland wanted to be able to vote, but they would have had to sign up in November to switch parties. There is talk of trying to change that, allow the switch much closer to the primary instead. That I could support.  I'm leery of allowing ANY registered voter to vote in ANY parties primary, because of the chance to game play negatively. 

The next bit headlinedown says "Freezing Rain Shuts Many Highways." Yep. More later today, too, yet it should get a fair bit warmer, too. It never got out of the 20F's yesterday, and today may hit 40 (oh, hearing maybe 50F now! still with chance of snow after 11:00 p.m. / midnight).

Just a side note: Those extended hours voting in Maryland had ballots that won't be counted fully for potentialy a week, which could make a difference in some of the more local races (but not really for Senators Obama or McCain). Virginia did NOT extend its hours. Perhaps only northern Virginia had difficulty? Not sure.

I suppose I should arouse sleeping Cinderella......  (I think it's a breakfast in bed under warm blankets, after I show her the front page! type of morning.)

Stay warm, safe, and dry, all. Even if it's really not bad walking the dog in this coldcold rain, comparatively. Last night it was an ice skatingh rink outside. And, yes, I'm THRILLED with the Obama-momentum! :) Yes we can. And, are.

(Another note -- several who put up Obama signs in my county, said they'd been stolen -- I don't know if other signs for other candidates had been stolen or not.)

 

Tags: Barack Obama, Potomac Primary, Chesapeake Primary, Trinity Irish Dance Company