Ba-Rackin the Vote -- California Style

San Francisco is a abuzz on election day. For some reason, the city allows voting not only at schools, City Hall, etc. but also in people's garages. There are at least two garage polling stations set up within a five-minute walk of our house. Dawn strolled down to one on her way to work (I voted absentee in New York a couple of weeks ago...). She waited 45-minutes this morning; goodness knows what it will be like for people who vote this afternoon.

Dawn spent part of the evening deciding how she would vote on California's and San Francisco's many propositions. Some are serious, such as the ones to make gay marriage illegal or require parental notification for a teenager to get an abortion. Others are comical, like the proposal to name the city's sewage treatment plant after George W. Bush.

I'm writing this in a cafe, which is busier than usual because of the election (a garage polling station is half-a-block away). The baristas are excited about Obama ("My man, Obama," one keeps telling customers.) A few minutes ago, a lesbian couple walked by hand-in-hand outside on their way to the polls.

One things for sure: If Obama wins, there will be dancing in the streets tonight.