Election Day has finally arrived! I received this text from the SF Department of Elections at around 3:30am Dublin time:
This is a message from San Francisco Department of Elections. Your ballot for the 2020 General Election was received and will be counted. Thank you for voting!
It’s been a low-energy day. The election is preoccupying my mind, like it is most everyone else’s in the world. I think about getting out for a walk but don’t quite overcome the inertia. My weekly 1-on-1 video therapy session later in the afternoon bookends the day, leaving me to fill in the time between now and then with random activities. There’s my usual morning routine of breakfast, reading news websites, watching newly posted videos to my YouTube channel subscriptions, etc. Another reliable go-to activity, shopping — I find some blackout curtains on Amazon.co.uk that I think will work in the bedroom window with a spring-loaded shower rod without any hardware required. I start a new SuperValu grocery order for my usual Friday 10:30-12:30 delivery slot. For lunch, I throw some frozen spicy chicken strips in the air fryer to add to a bagged caesar salad kit, which makes for a semi-healthy meal.
Election Day inspires me finally to email one of the Irish cousins down in Cork to say hello and let them know I have relocated to Dublin. She’s the same generation as my dad, and my grandfather and her father were first cousins, so I think that makes us second cousins? We’ve only met face-to-face once back in 2007 during the big family trip to Ireland. My Aunt Pat had kept in touch with her over the years, and she along with another Irish cousin joined the virtual memorial for AP we had back in May, so I’m sure she will remember me. I haven’t visited the southern part of the island, and once it’s possible to travel and socialise again, I’d love to do a road trip to see more of the country and stop in to say hello.
It’s still hours to go before the election coverage starts in earnest. I’m planning on staying up for awhile, but maybe the better idea would be to get some sleep early then wake up early tomorrow morning. I also want to prep the slow-cooker chilli tonight so I can set that to cook tomorrow during the day.
STEP 1 — Brown the ground (“minced”) beef, then add pressed garlic, serrano pepper:
STEP 2 — Add chopped onion and spices (chili power, cumin, allspice, crushed peppers, salt and black pepper):
STEP 3 — Rinse 2 cans red kidney beans and 1 can black beans:
STEP 4 — Combine meat mixture and beans:
STEP 5 — Add tomato soup and mix (SuperValu had some with “a touch of chili” for extra spice):
It’s all ready to go tomorrow morning… I’m going to try out my mini-oven’s slow cooker setting for 8-10 hours. I think it might turn out a little spicier than usual, we shall see.
Until next time….
