An Uncharacteristically Early Start

Today, I start work right around the time I typically get home from work. I usually have Tuesdays off, but my workplace is a polling site and we are hosting primary elections today. The poll workers are scheduled to arrive at 5:30AM, and the polls open at 6. We usually have the same crew, a nice bunch of people which includes one of my part-time co-workers. When they arrive, I will help them find the proper wall outlets for the optical scanning voting machines (I do miss the old mechanical ones, to be honest). It's a 12-hour day for me, but it's pretty cushy... after the initial 'roadie' work, I pretty much hang around and answer questions as needed, or just shoot the breeze with people. In actuality, though, it'll be a good day to catch up on expense reports and to work on the schedule for October, our busiest month- there's always something to do.

I prepared for the day by succumbing to trendiness and cold brewing a quart of concentrated coffee. Still, tonight at bar trivia, I think I'll be nodding into my beer.

UPDATE: The poll workers are a mixed bag- about half is the old crew, the remaining half is split between workers at other poll sites and brand-new poll workers. As a representative of the hosts, I have a good sense of 'institutional memory'- I know where the outlets are, I know the 100' 'no electioneering' limit (though I always ask them to verify, as a CYA measure).

As I unlocked the back doors of the building, mainly to prevent anyone from getting locked out, I noticed that there were some cleaning supplies right outside, then I remembered that we had a cleaning crew come yesterday to pressure wash the outside of the greenhouse that our food concession uses as a cafe. They didn't quite finish the job, so I have been informed, and need to return today. Something tells me that it's going to be an interesting day. Our gift shop management did something smart, though- they will be open for most of the day, so people can spend some money after casting their vote.

SECOND UPDATE: In a move which surprised nobody, She Who Must Not Be Ignored, the divalicious Ginger, made an appearance at the polls:

Of course, one of the poll workers is allergic, so I had to entice Ginger out of the building with some kibble.