Regardless of who wins, I suggest that the candidates and the American people spend the next week taking a collective nap once the election is (finally) over.

Amidst all the talk of the “24 hour election cycle,” I decided to record what Francisco and I have been up to for the past 24 hours.

6:20 PM Monday night: Headed to dinner in NYC with Tom Gates, editor of MatadorLife. Agreed we will plan either a celebratory after party or a massive group therapy experience after the election.

10:30 PM: Back home in NYC. Watched some PBS while checking messages and ignoring all e-mails related to work. Stopped by local grocery store to buy snacks for the road.

12:30 AM: Start watching Bunuel’s film “The Young One.” Fall asleep.

7:00 AM Tuesday: Wake up.

8:00 AM: With coffee, dog, ID, & husband in hand, head off to vote. No line.

8:30 AM: First tearful moment of day while looking at people working and voting at my polling precinct. I make all my choices and just stare long and hard before pulling the lever.

9:30-11:30 AM: Pack, pretend to do some work editing, do some Twitters, watch number of voters spiraling up on Facebook, eat cream of basil soup, shower, give keys to neighbor so she can feed and walk Penelope tonight. Chat with my boyfriend from kindergarten, who’s now in US Army. “Though you’ll report with liberal slant, I’ll still follow you on NPR tonight,” he said.

12:00 PM: Get e-mail from my mom. She went to polls in South Carolina at 6:45 AM and it took her an hour to vote.

1:30 PM: Pick up NY Times, $10 worth of quarters for tolls, blast through the Lincoln Tunnel, and it’s NJ Turnpike all the way, baby.

2:06 PM: Listening to WNYC. Tearing up (again); have chills (again); read Times & Obama’s description of sea of people at rally in Virginia. Get carsick because I can’t stop reading.

2:15 PM: Lose WNYC signal. All talk radio using words “historic,” “record,” “incredible,” “unbelievable.” Except the one that has Joe the Plumber nattering his way through a commercial. I’d tell you what it was but I had to change the station.

3:34 PM: Stop at rest area in Maryland. 2 double espressos to go. It’s gonna be a long night. Self-imposed talk radio ban has lasted one hour. After hearing MC Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This,” think to self, “Must find NPR now.”

4:14 PM: Realizing how important election coverage is, I make decision to apply for dual degree in Latin American Studies and Journalism. If you’re reading this, you’re the first to know.

4:38 PM: 25 miles from DC. Obama bumper stickers: 6. McCain bumper stickers: 0.

4:54 PM: Drive under overpass for “Good Luck Road.” NPR talks about exit poll info.

5:57 PM: Pull into NPR parking lot in DC. Fire up both laptops. Francisco heads off to MLK Library on G Street to photograph and video before polls close. Have third teary jag of day, as I read my friend Ami’s e-mail. Start blogging like a madwoman.

Photo: Leo Reynolds (Flickr creative commons)