On my Veteran’s Day commute into Springfield, Massachusetts to start another work day in my cubicle, this story caught my attention on NPR.

It features a woman named Taryn Davis, who her lost her husband, a soldier. She was 21 at the time. Feeling alone and frustrated, she set out to find other women in similar situations. She connected with other widows, and a documentary video entitled The American Widow Project was born. She hopes to include in the binder of information that the military provides to widows.

Today is election day. Kristen and I voted early, stopping at our polling place in Holyoke on Appleton St. We did not get the ‘I voted!’ stickers however, but at least this time I went in the correct door… For the primary election way back when, I entered the building through the incorrect door. The grumpy old man behind the desk didn’t let me forget it!

I can’t get over how inconsistent the voting process is across the country, and I’ve been intrigued by all the little facts and figures that are all over the news today about the history of voting. I learned from a co-worker in Oregon today that Oregon residents vote by mail. There is no polling place! I also learned that Minnesota residents can register the same day as they cast their ballot. Besides that, I realize several states have changed their voting rules and regulations since the last major election. All of this makes me wonder what’s to come.

The way I voted today was with a little black marker on a piece of cardstock that I fed into a machine afterwards.

The Butcher, originally uploaded by sighclub.

Happy Halloween, kids.