Shoulder to Shoulder into the Fray.

by Alexa on November 4, 2008

8:57 p.m.: I KNOW. I KNOW. It is NaBloPoMo, so I am contractually required to post, but my GOD, people, I can concentrate on nothing but CNN, so a half-hearted live-blog is all you’ll get. Also, it turns out that the only alcohol I had in the house was about two ounces of goddamn brandy. This is not sufficient, let me tell you. I’m off to recheck the cabinets, but I’ll be back.

9:03 p.m.: Found a tiiiiny bit of tequila. And ice cream.

9:10 p.m.: Carville’s voice is bizarrely soothing.

9:19 p.m.: I am flipping between channels like a crazy person. Contrast between Grant Park and McCain rally is much like that between Blake Lively and myself.

9:46 p.m.: I was unable to do a stitch of work today. While I was on bedrest, the primaries were in full swing, and we watched CNN for hours a day. The night my water broke in the hospital, I left CNN on all night while I tried to sleep—I needed something to concentrate on besides how terrified I was. The hospital had only a few channels, and I watched primary coverage every morning while the nurses tried to keep Simone on the monitors. Now, here we are. It feels like the culmination of something.

9:50 p.m.: Anderson Cooper looks just like one of my cats. Hand to god.

9:54 p.m.: Polls about to close in the West. My heart is rattling around madly.

10:00 p.m.: WHEEEEE!!!!!

10:02 p.m.: We have a new president, and I could just kiss you all.

10:31 p.m.: I have been trying to wrap this up in some way, but words fail. I like voting as much as the next girl, but this is the first election that has ever made me cry, and now I am soggy, intermittently weeping, and proud, so proud. The whole world seems new. I would be waving a little flag, if I had one.

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{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }

qwanty November 4, 2008 at 10:22 pm

I know. I KNOW! This is so exciting.

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Juli November 4, 2008 at 10:26 pm

I am going to have a heart attack. Therefore, the contents of my liquor cabinet will be up for grabs. Help yourself.

OMG!!

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payal November 4, 2008 at 10:33 pm

I know! We actually switched to watching Colbert & Stewart (Live!) to help calm the nerves.

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Ariel November 4, 2008 at 10:45 pm

Ya, Me too. And curiously enough am also out of alcohol. Could be a conspiracy…

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michelle November 4, 2008 at 10:55 pm

Gaaaahhh!
I need me some tequila and ice cream.

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michelle November 4, 2008 at 10:58 pm

…I keep going to the CNN.com Electoral map calculator and playing out best and worst case scenarios…for god’s sake, somebody call this thing and stop my insanity!

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michelle November 4, 2008 at 11:07 pm

Eeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!! (Thank you CNN for your prompt response!)

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AM November 4, 2008 at 11:34 pm

I hear you on the soggy weeping thing.
Called husband at work and even he admitted to getting chills.

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Jillian November 4, 2008 at 11:36 pm

De-lurking to say I am with you, sister! What a thrill.

Also, am now weirdly conflicted about my crush on your cat.

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Be Like the Squirrel, Girl November 4, 2008 at 11:40 pm

Hooray! I’m so happy.

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Erin November 4, 2008 at 11:43 pm

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

I’ve never had an election make me cry before, but damned if I’m not leaking happy tears.

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Lori November 4, 2008 at 11:55 pm

I am weeping and waving my invisible flag right along with you. Did not realize I had been so depressed for daaaaaaaaaaaays because I live in a red state (blech) and was just sure we were all going down in flames. NOW I CAN BREATHE AGAIN. You know, after I quell the ecstatic sobbing.

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Slim November 4, 2008 at 11:56 pm

Now must add to the list of things I’m gratedul for: other weepily ecstatic women on the Internet.

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Emily November 5, 2008 at 12:12 am

I have to agree–this is one of the only elections that has made me cry.. However, I’m crying for the opposite reason you are…

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qwanty November 5, 2008 at 12:28 am

Ecstatic and weepy in AZ. Yay!

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ET November 5, 2008 at 12:42 am

It’s Irma, isn’t it?

Baci, carissima. Che bello!

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Becky November 5, 2008 at 12:43 am

Yay! We got teary over here too. And alcohol was involved. I am attempting NaBloPoMo too–good luck!

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Kate November 5, 2008 at 12:51 am

I hear ya. I totally consider myself a non-political person, but I’m moved by this day’s events. And his speech? Holy cow.

Yes we can.

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Jayne Niehaus November 5, 2008 at 1:59 am

To post and above comments, may I respectfully add: fuckin’ A!!

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Ericka November 5, 2008 at 2:19 am

Hells yeah! It feels awesome to be alive when history is made!! :)

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Mijke November 5, 2008 at 3:55 am

We were watching live in the Netherlands too… The first night in months that I actually enjoyed night-feedings!

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Sharon November 5, 2008 at 4:02 am

Way to go America!!! Huge sighs of relief being breathed all over the world ;-)

Good luck with the ENT appointment.

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Lizelle November 5, 2008 at 5:07 am

Yes indeed – way to go America!!!!

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ann November 5, 2008 at 7:09 am

Is that blog title a reference to Mary Poppins? Just last night we were talking about the need for more dancing penguin waiters bearing drinks on tiny silver trays. Small world.

I mean, we mentioned it anyway, in between our ecstatic tears and shouts of joy. It’s an exciting time to be alive, for sure.

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tash November 5, 2008 at 7:56 am

Woot!

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Kath November 5, 2008 at 8:45 am

Ditto, ditto, ditto!

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babelbabe November 5, 2008 at 9:31 am

I don’t think I have ever been so proud to be an American.

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tree town gal November 5, 2008 at 9:34 am

me too… me too… very proud to tell my daughter this morning. very proud to shake the hand of our crossing guard on the way to school. it’s a good good day.

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Sprite's Keeper November 5, 2008 at 9:48 am

Feeling great this morning after almost no sleep last night!

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Cara November 5, 2008 at 10:13 am

I’m Canadian and I was crying happily too!

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beyond November 5, 2008 at 11:10 am

i cried too. and i’m not american. yes we can!

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Robin November 5, 2008 at 11:44 am

All I can do is make random yelping syllables of excitement:

Waaaaa! Heeeee! Ayyaaaaaa!

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Jennifer November 5, 2008 at 11:53 am

You know, I cried too. I live here in Minnestota (out in the North metro sticks) and everything I read is that McCain held Anoka County … but not our house. Or my parents house. My 3 1/2 year old son was excited this morning that Barak won. I do not know where the tears came from – I consider myself pretty liberal and open etc, but not an activist in any way. But I was just crying at about 10:15. so happy.

Now if we could have just defeated that Bachmann woman I would have been TRULY happy.

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Laura November 5, 2008 at 12:11 pm

And does that cat stay in your closet a lot? (I’m sorry. That was wrong. Wrong wrong wrong.)

I showed the baby television for the first time last night – he was fascinated by Diane Sawyer; does this mean he’ll have a thing for elegantly aging blondes? – and alarmed him with intermittent shrieks of joy. Rainbows and puppies and unicorns; we’ve woken up in Care Bear Land, and I love it.

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cindy w November 5, 2008 at 1:15 pm

I cried too. And lost the ability to say anything even remotely eloquent about how great I think this is.

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Marcie November 5, 2008 at 3:41 pm

I have to say, I LOVE Simone’s T-shirt, “I Love My Gay Uncle.” Awesome. Totally awesome. What’s even more awesome is that she’s got a gay uncle. I have a TON of gay friends and adore each and every one of them, nobody straight can be as much fun! LOL Aside from that, I grew up immersed in the homosexual community as the best friends of my parents were gay, AND I had a gay babysitter growing up. It’s just awesome, I wish the whole world were gay or at least most of my workplace. It would sure be a lot more fun!! Kiss her gay uncle for me!!!

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elana November 5, 2008 at 5:09 pm

woohoo!

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zarqa November 5, 2008 at 5:20 pm

My 16 month old daughter broke out in spontaneous applause as I watched the video of Pres.Obama voting. The tears started then. And the weeping continued and will most likely resurface the next time he speaks.
It’s a brand new day!

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Nicole November 5, 2008 at 5:30 pm

Last night I laughed, I cried, I drank wine… And I found myself truly proud to be an American for the first time… well, ever! Today however, I am not so proud of my state… To overwhelmingly elect Obama AND vote to approve Prop 8??? Shame on you California! Hypocrisy is not at all becoming! And are we so blind and misinformed as to allow the religious right to talk us into taking away our Constitutional rights???? I need more wine to dull the pain and drown my disappointment and disenchantment and all the other words that start with “dis!” Is 2:30 too early to start drinking? Maybe I should wait until I get off of work…

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Mauigirl52 November 5, 2008 at 5:33 pm

This is such a momentous occasion! I felt as if it is a brand new world when I got up this morning, as if a dark cloud had lifted. I’ve never seen such excitement about an election result in my lifetime.

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Amy November 5, 2008 at 5:50 pm

We Baracked the Vote, Baby!!!!!!!!! I’m full of cheese. All these McCainiacs around me can kiss my ass.

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Kerri Anne November 5, 2008 at 6:37 pm

Every time I read about it, hear about it, talk about it or think about it, Obama winning! I start to cry. So over the moon right now.

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Bittermama November 5, 2008 at 7:07 pm

Exicted about last night too, but wanted to post to say I was thinking about you and Simone’s appointment today and hoping that it went well!

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Brenna November 6, 2008 at 3:29 pm

I need to see a picture of the Anderson Cooper cat. STAT.

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