I have to give the picketers credit. I thought I was excited to vote, but all weekend and even last night in the miserable, horrible weather there were people out on street corners waving their signs. I couldn’t get a clean shot while stopped at the red light due to the rain and poor lighting, but I’ve got to document the proof that passion will inspire a grown man to stand out in the cold and rain holding something over his head, just like John Cusack in Say Anything.

I used to wonder why people would stand on street corners waving signs, or even put signs on their lawn. How on earth can that influence opinion? I suppose it raises awareness, but what effect does it really have? But I realized, while watching people waving signs for and against Proposition 8 on street corners, that the action serves a very specific purpose: it makes those doing it feel very good about themselves. They’re not actually going to change minds just by standing on corners and waving when people honk. It’s just a way for people to validate their feelings. At least, I hope so. Because if sign-waving is all it takes to influence the undecided, then I’m scared.

This morning, I started my day off right. At 7:00 a.m., I was at my local fire station with my cheat sheet and I.D. in hand, ready to exercise my civic duty. And then, oh yes, then . . . I saw the Firemen walking around in their pajamas and had to bite my tongue to keep myself from asking if they wanted to exercise their civic duty with me. Man, I love voting. I LOVE VOTING!

We’ll see what the day brings . . . updates as they come.

5:30 p.m. Obama has taken Pennsylvania. The presidential election is over. Now it’s a waiting game until the California precincts close . . .

7:55 p.m. Polls in California are closing. No on 8. No on 8. No on 8. No on 8!!!

9:00 p.m. Yeah. We have a new president. Let’s hope he can live up to the hype. He’s the better of the two options and I’m going to remain cautiously optimistic. I’m not encouraged by early returns on 8 but we’ll wait and see.

9:17 p.m. Good speech. Now let’s see if he can get ‘er done.

10:39 p.m. Now that more precincts are reporting, No on 8 is gaining a bit. Please, oh please, let it be enough.

11:15 p.m. Can’t watch any more. Time for bed. If 8 wins, it won’t be by much and it won’t be for long. This election proved that an Italian, a woman, an Eastern European, a Hispanic, a Mormon, and a Catholic could enter the primaries with nothing about ethnicity, religion, or other stupid labels playing a part. It also proved that religious meddling in politics is in its last violent throes, barely clinging to a tiny win, and that when a few more bigots can clear out and make room for the young and the egalitarian, prejudice can finally be swept away.