“Are these for me?”
Here you go folks; the first time ever that I’ve completed a sock in one day. I cast on for the second sock of the pair at 6 am yesterday while I was serving as an election judge for our municipal offices and school board. I reached the top about mid-afternoon in between voters. (I completed the first sock last week except for kitchenering the toe and knitting a row or two at the top.) Ignore the fact that I haven’t cast off either sock; I’m debating making them longer.
I also read most of a book, A Dram of Poison by Charlotte Armstrong, another on the list of 100 Favorite Mysteries of the 20th Century. As I suspected, I’ve read this before and remember it only because of one particular scene. Otherwise I have no memory of the book at all. I’d still recommend it if you like mysteries with humor and good dialogue.
Yeah, so we weren’t very busy during yesterday’s election. There were 10 judges to handle less than 200 voters in the two precincts at our polling place. I do believe the county over prepared for this one. Ten judges, 185 voters, 14 hours. You do the math. Other precincts were busier but even the mayor’s race only drew 3500 votes citywide. (Three out of four of “my” candidates won their races.)
The day went off with only one voter not being on the rolls when she should have been, but even that excitement didn’t happen until almost 6 pm so it was pretty much a matter of keeping yourself occupied all day.
I found it remarkable that none of the other judges came prepared to spend the day without going nuts — despite all having done this before. I was the only one who had never worked an election. Almost no one brought reading material or food, nothing to help pass the time.
By 10:30 the local newspaper had been read front to back, back to front by everyone, the cross word puzzle was a community effort and People magazine and the two catalogs someone brought had been passed around and thoroughly discussed.
I was never so grateful for knowing how to knit.
And food. In 15 hours I normally eat 3 meals. So I stopped at McDonald’s on the way for breakfast. I brought snacks, a sandwich and soda. Most of the others took lunch breaks but were still starving, mostly out of boredom, by 3 pm.
In the end my most significant contribution was that I didn’t commit homicide after spending the day sitting next to someone who just did not have a “mute” button. Please know I did not harm one hair on this lovely person’s head even though I fantasized about many, many ways of making her just….stop…..talking.
Particularly when she said she just didn’t have the patience to learn to knit.
Oh and the socks are toe-up, generic 4 by 2 rib and the yarn is some Opal I had in my stash. If you need the color I can look it up. I do a provisional cast on for the toe and then go back and kitchener it because I struggle with most toe cast ons and kitchener is easy for me. And yes, they are really that pink. I like powerful pinks.
I love the socks! And the modeling assistant is nice, too.
That no others brought a book or a project is just amazing me. I bet they don’t have emergency supplies stashed somewhere either or a $20 hidden in their wallet for just in case.
Terrific job for 6 am in the morning and a non-stop talker at your side! This is the ONE time when being hard of hearing is helpful
I know those people who brought nothing to do … they show up 30 minutes before school gets out and sit in their car waiting for their kids and do nothing while they’re waiting. I come 5-10 minutes after the bell, wait about five minutes in line (reading a magazine article) and then we’re on our way home. I will never understand these people! I can’t find enough time in the day for all my tasks and hobbies.
Not killing someone is a great accomplishment. I’m proud of you!
Lovely socks and a very pretty kitty.
I bet those people were expecting a turnout like the one in November. Silly people. I am very impressed and proud of you for not killing that talky soul.
Wow. And you had needles in your hands… at least you can tune out the talking somewhat when you’ve got something else to focus on.
What did those other judges think they were going to do with their time, for heaven’s sake? Duh. I am proud of your restraint while holding tiny needle-sharp dpns. If it were me, you might have seen my photo on the 10 pm news.
“Local Election Judge Attacked by Crazed Knitter: ‘I couldn’t help myself,’ says suspect. ‘She just wouldn’t shut up. And the other judges applauded when I surgically removed her tongue with my #1 dpns.’ “