Election Day Stall, 2014

Expensive campaigns. Countless mailers ranging from 8x10 to 11x14 sized flyers. Phone calls in the middle of dinner from random creepy voices. Two of whom included former Los Angels Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and R&B artist John Legend, asking to support their choice of candidates. Almost as crazy as a Presidential Election year, yesterday November 4 was the mid-term election day in the United States. Many states held elections for Congressional leaders, and we all had our own state and local measures to decide on. I found the measures equally important to be sure I went out and cast my vote, or at the very least turn in an absentee ballot. But because of my procrastinating flaw, I failed to get the absentee ballot in the mail on time and decided I should go down to my local polling precinct to get the votes in.

My ballot directed me to the usual neighborhood polling location at Seacoast Grace Christian Church. It's just a couple of blocks away and a short drive on the way home from Austin's school. So my mom and I decided to stop by after picking him up at 1 p.m. and beat the after work crowd later on. We pulled in and could not find any signs up directing to the poll location, so I figured we should drive over to the Auditorium which was near the main church entrance and offices. We saw a few doors open in the buildings, but still no poll directional signs. The church is not situated like most churches in where you can see the entire campus from the street with a parking lot usually right in front. This driveway we were on had one way in and one way out, which eventually led us to the rear of the campus that housed the Children and Youth Ministry buildings. There was some parking back there, but the entire place was empty. Except for a few people going in and out of the Children's building who appeared to be working, so we stopped a young man as he noticed us driving aimlessly near the building. I asked if he knew where the voting location was on the grounds, and he was unaware that a polling location was even set up there at the church. Nonetheless, he politely excused himself to ask someone in the main office. He returned to tell us that he was told that although Seacoast regularly hosted a polling location there, they were not doing so this time around. Very strange, we all thought. Our sample ballots said to go here. Vote411.org confirmed this address as our polling precinct. Yet somehow Seacoast was suddenly not doing it, without notice or any forwarding information.

As my mom had to get back to work, I decided to call the toll-free help number I found on Vote411.org. They too again confirmed that I was at the correct location but became very concerned as to why we were turned away without any further help or explanation. The representative took my name and phone number and promised to have someone return a call to me for an update. "The last thing we would want is for you to be discouraged to not go out and vote, so we will do everything we can to help you and also make sure that no one else is getting incorrectly turned away." I gave him all the details of where we looked, how the church campus is situated and confirmed that we did not see any directional signs whatsoever.

Within the next hour, I received a phone call from someone at the Registrar's Office in Los Angeles. She confirmed that the polling location was indeed at the church and located inside a building called the Ranch House. I noted that I did see the Ranch House, however did not see any signs or flags posted. We also did not notice many cars near that building as well. And again, the few cars that we did see we assumed must have been people there conducting church business because of the lack of voting signs. So I had to reiterate all the information I gave to the Vote411 representative to her, and I could sense the frustration and disappointment in her response to me. Again, she apologized for the inconvenience to me and encouraged me to go back out there and make sure that I vote. She was very helpful and sympathetic of course. Just very concerned about who told that worker to tell us that they're not having the polling there, and of course why they would say that. She assured me that she would be putting in a call to the church and the precinct inside the Ranch House building to report this situation.

I went back later around 4:30 p.m. and suddenly saw those white lawn signs posted along the sidewalk, and a few slightly larger signs that directed you to the Ranch House for the polling place. I went in without a hassle, except for a very small wait of having to sign a couple of forms to confirm that I needed a provisional ballot since I had already requested an absentee ballot. No biggie. But as I went to sign for the provisional ballot, I felt a sense of annoyance from the older white man who was assisting me. I could see out of the corner of my eye that he was looking me up and down once I told him my last name. I'm totally not lying and know I was not paranoid because my dad noticed this man seemed a bit peeved at the sight of some people who were approaching the table to sign in or get provisional ballots like I was having to do. And yes, a good handful of people who came up behind me had accents when they spoke. Later as we left, my dad pointed out that he noticed a man sitting in the waiting area near where he sat to wait for me. The man had a badge and what appeared to be a two-way radio, and he was watching the poll workers at the table very closely. He also talked in to the radio quietly a few times while we were there. My dad said, "You know what? I have a feeling that the Registrar sent someone down here once you reported what happened to you earlier." Quite possible. Very interesting.

Now I'm not gonna whine and say this whole city of Cypress is full of racist, right-wing conservatives. I'd say it's a good mix of blue and red. But for the most part, Orange County is heavily Republican. I am a Democrat and not afraid to live here and have my voice heard and vote counted when I have that right. I am not saying that I was directly and blatantly discriminated against when I went to my polling place. Everyone except that old man was very polite and professional. What bothered me was whoever sat in that church office and told that worker that they weren't having the election poll there this year. And why weren't any voting signs clearly posted when we got there earlier at 1:30 p.m., six and a half hours after polling locations opened? Mid-term elections tend to produce very low turn-outs. But this time around, there were many activists and citizens from every range of every spectrum encouraging their fellow Americans to participate in this election, no matter how meager they felt the issues may have been. It should be a habit for every election if you're going to do your part and have your voice heard. Yet when things like this happen where a polling location such as this one is suddenly quiet and seemingly discouraging voters to come on in, it's hard not to wonder why. What if someone else encountered the same situation that I did and got discouraged enough to just go home and say, "Screw it!"? What if someone else chose not to do some emergency research and seek out help? Aside from those who are accustomed to voting at this location regularly, what about those coming to the church for the first time like I did? I've only been living here for nearly two years, but I sent in an absentee ballot in the last special election my city held last June. Bottom line, there should have been signs, clear as day, just like the Registrar representative told me.

It's definitely questionable what happened yesterday. And I think I'm going to just show up to the polling place in person to vote in the next election, no matter what. Whether I'm still here in Cypress or anywhere else by then, I'll be walking right up and getting my sticker. Oh, which by the way, that old man didn't even bother to wish me a good night, thank me, or even offer me an "I Voted" sticker once I was done and handed him my ballot. Just saying.

New Leaf

With the Fall comes new leaves, the chance to turn them over. Yes, yes, sounds very common. But there's really no other way to describe what's going on in life right now. Not just for me, but for my little family.

Austin started Kindergarten in a breeze. He was well prepared and immediately took to his new environment by making new friends and enjoying his teacher. We even signed him up for Fall Ball with the Cypress Youth Baseball league, and it turned out that many of his classmates are either on his team or in the division with him. He even found one of his old buddies from Valley Christian playing in the division as well. Everything has turned out great for him and he's adjusting quite well. There was really no worry that he'd be fine once school started up again. He loves being in school and playing sports. We're all so grateful and happy to see him like this, especially being an only child.

Louis and I finally spoke to him about what's really going on, gently of course. There was no need to explain in full detail why, who, what and where. But he understands that even though Mommy and Daddy will no longer be married, we'll still be a family and will always be here for him. He didn't ask too many questions as to whether or not someone made the other one mad, or if it was his fault. I think because he's just still so young to even comprehend what true love and a marriage is supposed to be about. He just sees Mommy and Daddy and knows that he still needs us. Even if we have to live apart, we'll still be a family.

Without getting too much into detail for personal reasons, at this time anyway, I've had some time to think about things and what's next. Louis also did his own soul-searching and continues to work on his own issues as well. It's what's best for him, and even though we're going through the technicality of legal status, we're still on good terms. He has his moments, but he's learned ways to work through them. He needs this time alone, and he's fine with that. Just like I am. Sometimes things like this happen to make someone realize what they really want out of life, or what they need. We just happened to get married at a time which we thought was okay. And then a kid came along. Hey, it doesn't have to be all bad. It doesn't have to make one feel like a failure. As long as you can own up to what's happened, accept the responsibilities at hand and move on, everything will be just fine. It really doesn't have to be the end of the world.

I've kept my mind on so many other things that have both crudely and positively distracted me. Again, something I'm willing to learn and move on from. I've spoken at length to those very close to me about what's occurred, and they have greatly helped me feel better about the future. I've made a couple of wonderful new friends who I'm excited to start spending some time with. Never expected to be joining another social network, but Tumblr has become a fun new habit for me. I'm mainly using it as a platform for my creative side, so poetry is the highlight of that profile. The holidays are coming, I'm picking up more hours at Ulta, Austin will be six (!) years old in three weeks, and the weather is finally starting to cool down! Well, with the exception of today, yesterday, and tomorrow bringing high 80s temps, but it's Southern California, what are you gonna do?  This new leaf is looking mighty fine and I'm positive it will continue to bring better times for all of us ahead.