toss turn toss turn

I'm finding it hard to sleep for nervousness about the election. Which is ridiculous. It was apparent in July that Obama had a lead significant enough that early in the game to all but guarantee victory, and that was before all this economy nonsense. Despite what the talking heads on the tv tell us, there is no realistic scenario for a McCain win. But Americans love nothing better than our scare tactics, and the Democrats are using them well in the final days of the race... if they didn't make a strong case to the public that the race was still tight, it would be harder to convince constituents to come out to the polls. So on a tactical level I appreciate what Axelrod and co. are doing, and am equal parts glad and terrified that the media are playing along... although I guess it's in everyone's best interest to play up the drama of the race. Everyone except, you know, those of us who experience debilitating anxiety that defies the rational mind. It will be fine. I just hope the culture of fear stops at the election, even if that fear is a unifier right now. It's no way to live.

This weekend was full of intellectual treasures. Yesterday we saw Anne Carson give a reading (?) at the Harold Washington Library. It was, needless to say, incredible. Classy broad. And it was oddly nice to look around and see the vast majority of Northwestern's creative writing community had all showed up. I can't think of a theater event that's ever had that sort of turnout. Today we saw Mark Doty and Achy Obejas, also through the Humanities Festival. It was smaller and queer-er, but still poignant and full of charm. Feeding the brain, feeding the brain. Hopefully this will help me write poems soon. Yes.

I also saw W. finally, with Chris. It wasn't bad as far as movies go... well plotted, high stakes, complex family relationships. As a matter of history though, I refuse to believe that the fate of the world came down to a guy trying to prove himself to be better than his dad. It just has to be more complicated than that, and the movie didn't cop to it. Also, I did not know that Cats is the president's favorite play. I'd have thought a republican would like something with a little more plot, frankly.