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)

To follow along:

1. Hit your fresh button a lot.

2. Stay awake! We’ll be blogging until the election is called and possibly beyond. NPR staff will let us stay here until 4 AM.

3. Call us! You can call 917-536-3753 (Julie), 646-708-1472 (Francisco) or catch us on Skype (novoarte AND fcollazo8.5). We want to know what you’re doing– are you partying? Warding off nausea? Reflecting on your day? Share your experiences with us–either by phone or in writing (e-mail: writingjulie@gmail.com).

Peace,
Francisco & Julie

We live in Queens, the most ethnically and culturally diverse county in the United States.

And nowhere is that diversity more clear–or more moving–than at my polling place on election day.

Under yellowed portaits of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington nailed on the wall of a school gymnasium, Pakistani and Bangladeshi poll workers check voter registration cards while a Puerto Rican poll worker indicates the line where I should sign the voting register. People waiting to vote are speaking 10 different languages–I counted.

After pulling the red lever, I come back out into the sun and meet Francisco on the sidewalk, where he is talking with Jose and Estel, a couple from Cuba. Jose and Estel are in their 80s, have been married 53 years, and have lived in the US since the 1970s. They both walk–slowly–with canes. “Could I ask who you voted for?” Francisco asks.

“OBAMA!” Estel said, without hesitation.

“He has good policies. He’s a good speaker. We have to stop looking at the world as black or white. It’s time to realize that we’re one race: the human race. I told all my friends to get out and vote for him,” she added.

If an elderly couple with two canes and two voting cards can get up in the morning, get dressed, and walk–however slowly–to the polling place because they believe democracy is that important, you can too.

NOTE: We’ll be live blogging all day (and all night!) from NPR’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. If you have a story you’d like to share, please e-mail us at writingjulie@gmail.com.

Photo: Joe Crimmings Photography (Flickr creative commons)

*
Con 2 Bastones & 2 Cartas de Votantes, Si Que Podemos

Nosotros vivimos en Queens, el condado mas diverso etnica y culturalmente en los Estados Unidos.
En ninguna otra parte esta diversidad es mas clara-o mas notable- que aqui en mi sitio de votar en el dia de eleciones.

Bajos los retratos amarillentos de Abraham Lincoln y George Washington que cuelgan en las paredes del gimnasio, Pakistanis y Bengalies trabajan fuerte revisando las tarjetas de votantes mientras su colega Puertorriqueno se encarga de organizar la linea de votantes e indicar en que seccion se deben registrar. Las personas que esperan para votar conversan en mas de 10 lenguas y dialectos diferentes-contar las lenguas y observar mis alrededores fue mi pasatiempo favorito mientras esperaba para votar.

Despues de empujar la palanca de mi maquina de votar, salgo afuera donde Francisco me espera hablando con Jose y Ester, una pareja de Cuba. Jose y Ester estan en los 80, ambos estan casado por 53 anos-nos dice Ester- y ambos han vivido en los Estads Unidos desde los ’70. Ambos nacidos en la Habana. Con sus pasos lentos y con la ayuda de baston han viajado desde su casa que esta a 4 calles para dar sus votos y hacer la diferencia-nos dicen- “Me podria decir por quien votaron?”- le pregunto.

“OBAMA!” Ester me dice sin vacilar un segundo, como si mi pregunta estubiera fuera de lugar.

“El tiene una buena politica. Es un buen orador. Tenemos que parar esa costumbre de mirar el mundo en blanco y negro. Es tiempo ya de saber que somos una sola raza: la raza humana. Yo les dije a todos mis amigos que que salieran y votaran,” agrega.

Si una pareja de ancianos con dos bastones y dos tarjetas de votantes se levantaron esta manana, se aroparon, caminaron-no importa que fuera ese paso despacio-hasta su centro para votar porque creyeron que la democracia es importante, yo creo que tu tambien puedes.

NOTE: Nosotros estaremos conectado al blog de la red todo el dia (y toda la noche) desde el edificio central de la radio publica nacional (NPR) en Washington, D.C. Si usted tiene una historia que le gustaria compartir, por favor envie a: writingjulie@gmail.com.