Goodbye McCracker, Goodbye Barracud-ass

The day before. It feels like getting ready for a Bar Mitzvah. Or Thanksgiving dinner for the entire family. Or a big time Holiday party. It is full of anticipation, agonizing over what to wear, and the details of it all are making most of us a little bit on edge. Shall I serve the cranberries with orange zest or ginger? Cheese and crackers or Martha Stewart? Do I bring a wrap to the Synagogue in case it is cold, or should I just wear a sweater? How many shoes do I own that I can actually stand in for 3o minutes? None? Ohoh. How come the turkey smells funny? And who forgot to buy the butter? And why are all my stockings torn? And who was supposed to fill the car with gas? And why is gas still $4.50 a gallon?

See what I mean? Did you brain break reading all of that? Welcome to the anticipation. Lulu and Phoebe are sleeping it off again. I certainly wish they would tell me their secret for dropping into slumber at the drop of a paw. Of course, they are nervous and barking at a the crinkle of a chocolate bar opening, even after the 6th one (oops, did I say that aloud?).

In our heart of hearts this is what we know. President-Elect Obama will win by a landslide. Some of the returns will make our hearts flutter in anticipation, but in the end, he will win by a landslide. Some of the pundits will make our brains explode with their doom and gloom delivery, but Obama will still win by a landslide. And the almost autistic like repetition of the numbers over and over will make us all get migraines, but he will still win by a landslide.

In California, Prop 8 will be defeated, but it will be close. Too close for comfort. Too close to think that it will go quietly into the night. And disturbingly close for us to not look at some of our neighbors suspiciously. Yes, you Los Altos. What's up with those Yes on 8 lawn signs?!

And sadly, Sarah Palin will go home to Alaska not knowing that she is not as well liked there anymore. She will be oblivious and will still wage her national fear-mongering religious battle to an audience of no one. But also sadly, she will think many someones are listening.

McCain has no worries. He can retire now to one or more of his 35 homes and use one or more of his 43 automobiles and spend quality time with his friends. He is washed up in the Senate having pissed off more than a few of his brethren. And Lieberman will hopefully be new ranking member of the Joint Committee on Printing in the Senate, when the leadership finishes with him.

And perhaps the banks that are hoarding the lending dollars will begin to "redistribute the wealth" once they understand that President-Elect Obama will not reward them for their part in the meltdown. And perhaps lots of us will appreciate the homecoming of our troops and look forward to a holiday season filled with some hope and promise.

A forward looking pre congratulations to President-Elect Obama.

And Lulu and Phoebe would very much appreciate an invitation to the inauguration. They promise to wear their best couture.