We went to bed at about 1.00 am, when it looked like a sure thing for Bush. For the next 35 minutes, I lay there in the dark, listening to the steam in the pipes and trying hard not to breathe. At some point, a burst of firecrackers went off somewhere outside. Then, a bit later, a car drove by honking its horn repeatedly.

“Are you awake?” I asked Andy. “What?” he said groggily. I turned on the TV long enough to hear Tom Brokaw say, “For the first time since 1954, we will have Republicans in control of both Congress and the White House.” Andy groaned. I groaned. Then I turned off the TV and tried to sleep again.

I didn’t sleep well. Got up at 7 for work. Went into work. Found out that Bush wasn’t president yet. Developed sinus pressure & headache; I still can’t really hear out of my right ear. I NEVER get sinus headaches.

This whole deal is still pretty incredible! What a test of patience to our short-attention-span nation that it could be days or even weeks before we know! What was it like 100 years ago? We’re all going to remember this. And maybe we’re all going to take voting a little more seriously from now on. And take a pause before we drink our orange juice in the morning.