Electing the next leader of the free world.

I never feel good about going to these big elections. I believe that every vote counts, so out of duty, I read about all the candidates and issues, and try to vote my conscience's choices.

Still, I can't get over a general feeling of wariness about the whole thing. I leave the voting booth feeling like I've just 'been had'; as though I had just bought a car, and will drive it home to find out it's a lemon.

I've no faith in the political system, ever since elected officials stopped being real people and started being parts of an election machine. They will say anything you want them to say, as long as you cast your vote in their favor. They campaign nonstop, even while they're in office. They don't set foot in a grocery store for 20 years. They have no idea what the people of the US want from them.

Nor do they care. It seems to me that they are only using the public as a stepping stone to elevate themselves into a climate of power. By casting my vote, I only give the next world dictator authority to squash third world countries, and impose his religious and political ideas on people around the world. Eeek.

Anyhow, aside from that, this has been an eventful day. I made my first presentation to our Board of Directors today, and it went really well. All I basically did was provide information I thought they would already have had; but that's okay, I guess.

Tonight is taekwondo, and I have to admit that I'm tired, my knee is sore, and I don't particularly feel like working out right now. Still, I know that I'll pick up some energy as soon as I get there, and will be happy to hear Master Kim picking on me about my tournament performance. I'm glad I entertain him.

I basically picked out our wedding cake today. I'm waiting on Forest to choose flavors, since he's the confectionaire of the family. If you want to see what the cake looks like in the wrong color with the wrong trim, you can see it on our wedding page. I'm not terribly excited about spending that much money on a bit of junk food, but at the same time, I want to have cake for our guests, and if I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it right.

The cake baker lady has informed me that it would be best to plan on keeping the cake indoors, though, since the weather in June is so unpredictable. She informs me that she's seen the icing slide off a cake before; and also has seen flies crawling all over one. She recommended that if I wanted to keep the cake outdoors that late in June I should stack Rice Krispie Treats in an interesting pattern.

I laughed. She's right, though. I think I'm going to put the cake in my mom's bay window. People can Oooohhh and aaaahhhh over it from out on the porch, and then we will bring it out on trays. The only other option is an air-conditioned, screened-in tent, which just doesn't sound like an option at all.

I didn't want to insult the cake baker lady, but my basic opinion on all of this is: 'I just don't care'. I want a cake. Simply decorated, simply stacked, that will feed the (*gulp*) nearly 200 people who will be attending our wedding. That's it. I don't particularly care if it has fountains and stairways and pillars. I don't need Precious Moments figurines on top. I also don't care whether I cut it with a fancy knife or a rubber spatula. Why does any of that matter, anyway? It's just dessert, for crying out loud.