Counting it down. I'm distracting myself. OH YES, I'm distracting myself. You remember that old Ashleigh Brilliant pot-shot postcard with the drawing of the guy on the rack and the slogan "Force yourself to relax"? That's me. I breathe, I yoga, I walk in the woods, I meditate, and in between these forcibly serene episodes, the inside of my brain ping pongs wildly. One week left, Palin, yada yada, undecideds, No on Hate, oh god, it's still too close and what if...  NO! STOP WITH THE INTERNET, LUTZ! Soup! I'll make soup!

It's an interesting time. Teaching five days a week, and going to parties, making new friends, single parenting, going out to dinner, helping Annie with homework, getting some writing done (operative word: "some"), sending more money to Obama, checking fivethirtyeight.com and CNN, and watching all the youtube videos with rabid Palin fans, and sending MORE money and seven more days and... NO STOP! Soup!

Last week I went down to the Alameda County Courthouse and voted -- and it felt good. No, it felt GREAT! The end of the nightmares that something happened to me and I couldn't get to the polls. Would it matter? We're not a swing state, but we DO have evil Prop 8 and Prop 4, and I wanted my vote, I wanted to feel what it felt like to cast that vote proudly and with great hope for Obama-Biden. It felt amazing. (I wanted to do it again!)

And the thrill lasted for about a day. Because I'm worried. The economy is melting down but I still have a job (and lost investments) so frankly? That's not what I'm worried about. I'm worried about the voting machines and missing ballots for the military (polled to be supporting Obama 6-1). I'm worried about the turnout. I'm worried. Counting down the days -- seven days. Seven days.  

Make soup.

Breathe.

~

REFRIGERATOR SOUP

Ingredients vary.  Raid your refrigerator. If you are like me, you get a CSA box every week and rarely cook it all.  In the back of the drawer you'll find veggies you forgot you had, slightly wilted, maybe, but not gone bad. 

Chunk cut onions, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, garlic, green beans, broccoli, mushrooms, red and yellow peppers, bok choy, tomatoes -- plus or minus whatever you have. Cook in a large pot with water, broth if you have it, maybe a little white wine.  You might add barley, or not. You might add a can of tomatoes or a can of beans, or not. COOK until done. If broth isn't flavorful enough, add some miso.  Blend, or not. I like it blended -- it slips down the throat and comforts and calms. Garnish with parsley. 

Then, if you haven't already, GO VOTE.