This Morning I Voted After Trying To Get Texas To Let An Elderly Lady Vote For Beto

I knew when I exited Texas early in October that if all went as planned I would be back in Texas in time to vote on the last day of Early Voting.

And so I did so today.

This is the last day of Early Voting, isn't it? Or am I erroneous in that assumption?

No line waiting to vote in the Sikes Senter mall in which I do my voting, usually, unless the voting is relocated to some difficult to find location, which has happened twice since I have been voting in Wichita Falls.

There was only one person ahead of me, trying to vote, but the person who determines voting eligibility denied this person a ballot.

This was an elderly lady, looking to be at least 80, maybe in her 90s. She seemed to be firing on all cylinders. She said she had registered to vote online. The voting eligibility person told the elderly lady Texas had no online voter registering option.

I recollect that earlier in this election cycle there was some issue with people thinking they were registering to vote in Texas via an online method which was ruled not valid.

I asked the lady who was blocking the elderly lady from voting if she could vote via a provisional ballot, with her eligibility to vote to be determined later.

I was told there was no such provisional ballot means of voting.

I found this extremely offputting.

After voting I easily caught up with the elderly lady and asked why she was not already registered.

She said she'd move to Texas from Oklahoma five years ago. That she had been registered to vote in Oklahoma, and this was the first Texas election in which she felt compelled to vote.

And that she thought she had successfully registered to vote via an online sign up means.

Like I said, this lady fired on all cylinders, despite nearing being a century old.

I asked if her motivation had something to do with the Texas senate race.

Yes, she said, she wanted to vote for Beto. And that she finds Ted Cruz repulsive, as do most decent humans.

To deny this lady the ability to vote seems so wrong to me. How can the various states be so different regarding being allowed to vote? In Oregon if you are a citizen of the state, are 18 years old, you are mailed a ballot. You have to opt out of receiving a ballot, if you don't want one mailed to you.

To vote in Texas you have to go through a registration rigmarole. Then when you go to vote you have to show ID and your voter registration card. This time the ID was scanned by a new device I had not previously seen.

In Washington I was always mailed a ballot. I could opt to go to a polling place, or mail in my ballot.

In Arizona, my mom, who can not see, was mailed a ballot whilst I was there. I helped mom vote. Kyrsten Sinema for the win! And David Garcia.

It will be a relief to have this election over and done with. The mudslinging ads in Arizona were bizarre. And then the one night in New Mexico seeing New Mexico political ads, same thing. I am assuming since I am currently in a deeply red, backwards part of Texas, not much money is being spent on spewing mudslinging ads on the TV stations which serve this zone.

Though last night I thrice saw an absurdly stupid propaganda ad, aimed at morons, which ended with VOTE REPUBLICAN.

Home From Arizona Before Downpour Return From Dallas

Left Arizona Monday morning, stayed in Alamogordo Monday night, made it to Wichita Falls early Tuesday evening.

The route to Texas from Alamogordo was via Ruidoso.

Ruidoso is a village in the mountains of New Mexico.

I had long heard of Ruidoso, and was sort of assuming it was going to be a mountain ski resort type place, and sort of unique, like Taos. Maybe I missed the main show as I drove through Ruidoso. I saw no chair lifts waiting for snow such as I've seen in other ski zones.

Nonetheless, Ruidoso and the drive over those particular mountains was scenic. The route north via 70 skirted the northwest fringe of Roswell, missing the main town. I had been at Roswell years ago, with my main memory being attacked by ironclad beetles falling from the sky at sunset at a Burger King. Locals had warned of the impending danger, but I ignored the warnings until an ironclad beetle landed on my head. And then my Whopper.

The drive back from Arizona was pretty much drama free, unlike the drive to Arizona, the return saw zero rain.

Unlike today's wet return from DFW.

I have known for a month that the day after I returned from Arizona I would be getting up early to drive to the Dallas/Fort Worth mess. I mean Metroplex. I thought this would be vexing, instead a third day of driving turned out to be a breeze. In more ways than one.

Heading out of DFW an hour after noon, heading northwest towards Wichita Falls, prior to reaching Decatur, what some might characterize as ALL HELL broke loose. The sky suddenly turned dark, like the lights had been turned off. Lightning began flashing, but not in bolts. Thunder boomed.

And then rain. In downpour mode. So much rain that driving slowed to a crawl.

The crawl lasted for about 10 miles. Rain lasted all the way to Wichita Falls, but has now abated, a couple hours after reaching my current location. I am waiting for the flooded landscape to drain enough that I can make it to my vehicle to retrieve that which I left there in my rush to dodge drops and reach shelter.

Tomorrow will be my first 'normal' day in weeks. I'm sort of looking forward to it. I hope sufficient drying occurs that I can go on a bike ride.

And below is video I YouTubed, whilst I was in the midst of that aforementioned traffic slowing downpour...

Mexico City With David, Theo & Ruby With Big Ed In Alamogordo New Mexico

What are looking at here are my absolutely favorite niece, Ruby, and her brothers, my absolutely favorite nephews David and Theo.

In Mexico City.

Last night, as in Sunday night, David, Theo and Ruby's aunt Jackie and uncle Jack returned to Chandler from two weeks of cruising to Mexico and Disneyland, along with some other destinations.

David, Theo, Ruby, and their parental units met up with aunt Jackie and uncle Jack for three days of exhaustion in Disneyland.

Sunday the trio's parental units flew with them to Mexico City where David became dizzy at baggage claim and then fainted. With a fall opening up a gash on this chin requiring a rush to an Mexico City ER where David got stitched up.

And now, early evening in Alamogordo, at my current motel location, the wi-fi has brought me multiple photos from Mexico City, including the one you see above. If you look close you can see the bandage on David's chin.

Part of the text message accompanying the photos...

We visited the canals at Xochimilco this morning and stopped by the National University. We rode on a boat and had lunch, got serenaded by mariachi bands and bought things we didn’t need. It was a blast. Theo is climbing on giant letters in front of the central library which is covered in amazing tile murals. Did Jackie tell you that David passed out in baggage claim yesterday and fell face first? His chin is glued. Super scary but all seems well now. 

I must go find the photo of Theo doing giant letter climbing...

Driving Miss Daisy With Phoenix Area Self Driving Waymo

I do not remember if it was way back on my June and August of 2017 visits to the Phoenix area that I started seeing Waymo self driving cars being tested.

What I do know is during this current visit I have been seeing way more Waymos than previously seen on previous visits.

This last Sunday of the 2018 version of October, which is also the day before heading east towards Texas, I lost count of the number of Waymo encounters.

The Waymo you see in the photo documentation pulled up next to us whilst I was heading north on Arizona Avenue Or was it Alma School Road? With the Waymo pulling in to the left turn lane to turn onto Chandler Boulevard. Or was it Pecos?

Last night, after dark, we were heading south on Dobson when we were stopped by a red light at the intersection with Ocotillo, when a Waymo showed up making a turn from Ocotillo on to Dobson.

During the day it is not easy to see inside the Waymo. At night one could easily see the monitoring "driver" driving with his hands off the wheel as Waymo did the driving.

The driver being driven hands free of the wheel looks sort of weird. Miss Daisy does not approve of the concept of self driving cars. I would think she would embrace the idea.

I know today's episode of driving Miss Daisy had me wishing self driving cars were currently the norm. Just stick Miss Daisy in the car and tell it to take her on a drive. A long long drive.

Desert Breeze Driving Miss Daisy Railroad To Chandler Vintage Chevys

Miss Daisy is not slowing up on her daily directions to drive Miss Daisy to yet one more new location.

The Miss Daisy energy level today was a bit surprising, what with staying up way past midnight waiting for game three of the World Series to come to an end with a win by the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Boston Red Sox

So today, on this final Saturday of the 2018 version of October, and the last Saturday of this current visit to Arizona, Miss Daisy put on the possibility agenda either going to the Downtown Chandler Vintage Chevy event to look at some old Chevrolets.

Or to another of the Chandler city parks, this time the Desert Breeze Railroad Park.

Riding the Chandler railroad won out as today's first destination. Above you are seeing Big Ed rolling Miss Daisy on one of the paved trails which trail all over this park, and around the Desert Breeze Park lake. In the location of the above photo the train tracks are between the photographer, me, and the train tracks.

Above the photographer, me, is on a grassy knoll, looking down on those aforementioned railroad tracks running along beside the rolling Miss Daisy.

There were a lot of people in the Desert Breeze Park today. Several large pavilions were full of people. From various locations barbecue perfumed the air.

Above Big Ed has left Miss Daisy beside the railroad tracks whilst he skittered off to do something else. The train's driver was hollering "all aboard" which had Miss Daisy thinking she was in danger. I assured Miss Daisy that I would have her out of the way of the approaching train before it arrived at her location.

Upon leaving the Desert Breeze Park Miss Daisy informed the driver she would now like a McDonald's ice cream cone. I said unless there was some objection I would go to the McDonald's on Arizona Avenue, across from Food City.

This met with Miss Daisy's approval.

After the acquisition of the ice cream cones Miss Daisy instructed the driver to drive south on Arizona through Historic Downtown Chandler. Upon reaching that destination it was quickly realized we were at the location of that aforementioned Vintage Chevy event. Traffic was heavy, movement was slow, and so we got a look at the old Chevys from the comfort of the Miss Daisy chariot.

I do not know what Miss Daisy has in mind for tomorrow. But later today my instructions are to return to Casa Daisy to make chicken noodle soup and other stuff for tonight's World Series game.

Have I mentioned I am tired? And that I am looking forward to being back in Texas. Words I never ever thought there would be circumstances arise where I would make such an utterance...

Driving Miss Daisy Around Chandler Veterans Oasis With Snakes

On this last Friday of October, also the last Friday of the current visit to Arizona, Miss Daisy directed her driver to drive her to Chandler's Veterans Oasis Park so as to explore, via paved trail, Chandler's most scenic oasis.

I have seen Veterans memorials in a town or two, but none as well executed as Chandler's. Chandler's is well designed, well executed and, unlike other such things I have seen in some other towns, not a mish mash of bad ideas borne of a committee decision which probably should have just been left on the drawing board with no money wasted.

The Chandler Veterans Oasis is stocked with a variety of fish, such as rainbow trout and channel catfish, and others I do not remember.

During Miss Daisy's drive around the Oasis we came upon many people with poles in the water. Such as the group you see above. None whom we queried were able to tell us of any fish catching luck.

The water in the Oasis is reclaimed for irrigation type use, and thus not suited for drinking. Or swimming, though no NO SWIMMING signs were seen. The water in the Oasis is clear, allowing fish to be seen swimming in search of a hook.

The area you see above is at the west end of the Oasis, with the trail leading to a large building housing the Veterans Oasis Park Environmental Education Center. In that building we saw a couple large live snakes and a live tarantula, along with multiple deceased, stuffed critters, such as a mountain lion, a bobcat and a desert fox.

Before today's trip to the Chandler Oasis Spencer Jack and Henry's grandpa Jake came to Sun Lakes for an early swim with his favorite brother. And then it was on to Miss Daisy where we made breakfast, whilst Jake pruned the orange tree.

After the Oasis visit Miss Daisy directed the driving to take us to the Arizona Avenue version of Costco for Costco free sample lunch, then to WinCo, then back home, where we left Miss Daisy rocking in her favorite chair. We will be returning in a couple hours for Miss Daisy's World Series Pizza and Chicken Party.

Anyone who actually knows me knows how excited I am to be attending this. I'm told the game can last three hours. Or longer. I shall bring diversions.

And below is a video I YouTubed of Miss Daisy's drive around the Chandler Oasis....

Dreamy Draw Hiking Miss Daisy In & Out Up Piestewa Peak

Today, on this final Thursday of this visit to Arizona, Miss Daisy wanted to do some mountain hiking in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, specifically at the Dreamy Draw section of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, located on the north side of Piestewa Peak, which was our mountain hiking destination.

The paved trail leading from the parking lot was just a little steep. I was a slightly concerned about the going back downhill part of this hike.

But, Miss Daisy's new wheels have sturdy handbrakes which made for a safe descent.

For the most part.

Sand on the cement made for some slipping issues, both in uphill and downhill mode, but nothing too tragic.

I think Miss Daisy enjoyed her mountain outing a lot. Even more than the Walmart racing we did yesterday.

After hiking Miss Daisy directed the driver to continue on the 51 freeway, eventually exiting at Shea Boulevard, to Scottsdale Boulevard, and eventually Loop 202, where Miss Daisy directed the driver to go west on 202, but the driver rebelled and went east on 202, to 101, telling Miss Daisy he misunderstood her directions, that and the 101 is a straight shot south to Chandler Boulevard and the In & Out burger joint Miss Daisy wanted to go to.

When In & Out opened in Fort Worth I went with Big Ed to its West Seventh Street location for a Double Double Combo. I had been saying since 2004 that In & Out makes the best burger ever, having had two in Tempe in February of that year.

So, we had the Fort Worth In & Out Double Double, with fries. And it was not good. Not good at all. I did not concede to Big Ed that I also thought the Fort Worth version was bad, told him he had poorly developed tastebuds.

And now today Big Ed finally had an Arizona In & Out Double Double. And it was as bad as the Fort Worth experience. Super messy, and the fries seemed of the frozen sort we had had in Fort Worth. Barely edible, and so we ate few. And poor ol' Miss Daisy. She gave up trying to consume her Double Double in the conventional way and instead opted to deconstruct it for piece by piece consumption.

Last February Miss Daisy and I Double Doubled and Fried at this same In & Out and it was good, real good. So, I am thinking there is something wrong with Big Ed which causes problems with In & Out when he is in those burger's vicinity.

We are taking Miss Daisy swimming this afternoon. She has already been asking what we get to do tomorrow. I'm exhausted. Am looking forward to being back in Texas where I can relax.

And below is a short video I YouTubed of today's hike with Miss Daisy. In the video I can not remember the Dreamy Draw name of the location...

Papa Joey Sending Grandma A Hello From Henry

Last night I texted proud papa, my favorite nephew Joey, telling him I was once again at his grandma's and that grandma was wondering if Henry is talking yet.

Grandma did not really wonder such, I sort of made that up.

Soon thereafter Joey texted back with an audio message and text saying "Here is Henry saying hello to grandma".

I then played that audio for grandma, who then listened to it multiple times, smiling whilst doing the listening.

Tonight I was back at Miss Daisy's for pizza and baseball.

At some point in the third inning Joey texted along the line of I finally have something in common with grandma.

I asked Miss Daisy if she knew what she had in common with Joey.

Miss Daisy went blank. I then told her that both she and Joey have sons born on the same day.

Who? asked Miss Daisy.

Jake, said I.

Oh. Said Miss Daisy. When was Jake born, his mother asked.

September 26.

Oh, said Miss Daisy.

Anyway, I was able to turn Henry saying hello to grandma into a YouTube video...

Incoming Disneyland Location Verification With Henry's First Words

I lost track of the number of times Miss Daisy has asked me if I have heard again from Sister Jackie or Sister Michele since they have been in the Disneyland zone.

I had multiple times informed Miss Daisy that I had heard from Sister Jackie when the cruise ship docked in Mazatlan. I recollect reading that message to Miss Daisy a couple times.

And then last night, after I left Miss Daisy's abode to return to my current home location my phone delivered the photo you see here.

The text with the photo did not say where exactly this photo was taken, but we can assume they are in or near Disneyland or Disney California.

Sister Jackie did say in the text with the photo that, "One day into Disneyland and I'm totally exhausted! Hope you are holding up!"

The original concept of this current trip to Arizona had me also going to Disneyland. But that plan changed in the year since it was first planned. I have no clue how me going to Disneyland would have been facilitated what with the Driving Miss Daisy part of this current trip to Arizona.

For those who do not know who you are looking at in the above photo. That would be my favorite brother-in-law, Jack on the far left, with his head on the shoulder of his first wife, Sister Jackie. Directly above Sister Jackie is Sister-in-law Kristen, then niece Ruby, Sister Michele, nephew David with nephew Theo on the far right.

Last night we also heard from Spencer Jack's uncle, my favorite Joey nephew, aka FNJ2. I had texted Joey telling him his grandma was asking if one month old Henry was talking yet. Joey then sent back some cute photos and audio of Henry "talking".  I will see if I can turn that audio into a format that I can put on this blog. But that must wait til later...

Driving Miss Daisy To Basha Gallery Before High Speed Walmart Chase

Today Miss Daisy directed her driver to drive north on Alma School Road so as to make our way to Basha Road where Miss Daisy wanted to show Big Ed the Zelma Basha Salmeri Gallery of Western American and American Indian Art.

You are possibly thinking looking at the photo documentation that Big Ed and I left Miss Daisy in front of that painting after telling her it was a TV, but not to try and change the channel.

Well, you would be wrong thinking such a thing. Miss Daisy directed us on the entire tour.

The Basha Gallery is an elaborate maze of rooms and halls displaying an astonishing amount of Western and American Indian Art.

Paintings, sculptures, baskets, jewelry, and more.

Anyone visiting the Phoenix zone, who has an affection for this type thing, would have themselves a mighty fine time at this Chandler location.

The gallery is in a building which is part of a Bashas' warehouse area. I probably should mention Bashas' is a HUGE Arizona grocery store chain, started by a Lebanese immigrant named Najeeb Basha.

America used to kindly welcome immigrants from the Middle East.

Maybe I am just assuming such. Najeeb Basha may have made his way to Arizona before the territory became one of the United States.

Just a second I will go look.

Najeeb arrived in America in 1886, years before the territory became an American state. Najeeb Basha and his wife arrived in Arizona in 1910, two years before Arizona became a state. I am unable to determine what sort of reception Najeeb Basha and his wife received in America before they made their way to Arizona.

Anyway, the Basha Museum visit was fun. Then it was north on Arizona Avenue to Costco to stock up on heavy water so Sister Jackie does not have to hurt her back carrying it. And then it was back south on Arizona to Walmart where Miss Daisy instructed me to see if we could lose Big Ed who was pushing a grocery cart. I had not heard Miss Daisy laugh so much in a long time. And she seemed to have no concern that we were speeding at high speed in Walmart.

Tomorrow we are going mountain climbing to the summit of Piestewa Peak. Miss Daisy is coming along for the ride, but will offer no directional advice, seeing as how Miss Daisy says she has never been to Piestewa Peak. We shall see in the morning if Miss Daisy sticks to offering no directional advice....