Primary Day, June 26, 2012

Cast your ballot

in private.

                                                                                                   
While waiting for voters to arrive, election inspectors pass the time doing some unusual and not so unusual things.  Working at a site where 6 districts set-up means 24 inspectors are busy chatting, reading, playing games on their iPads, etc.  Add to that the echo of a marble floor, open to a second story with iron rails on the same marble steps.....well, I think you get the idea.  It's LOUD.
The most commonly spoken words were, "What did you say?"

AT 4:30 PM - Only 6 votes had been cast.

With the polls open for 9 hours and only 11 voters showing up in our district, we really had to find something to do. 

Can't bring the day's newspapers....might have some candidate information that would sway a voter.  Really?  Yes, one of the many rules from the Board of Elections.  No rule about older editions, though.  That meant one inspector could bring a stack (yes, a stack!) of newspapers that she hadn't had a chance to read over the last few weeks or months.  One by one, she peruses the pages, cuts out articles, highlights others.  By the end of the day the stack was whittled down to little pile of things to bring home and the remainder gets recycled.

At another district, 2 of the inspectors played a word game on their iPhones or iPad or some other device.  Back and forth the words were played while a 3rd person chatted non-stop.  Not sure how they concentrated!

And so it went.  But the thing that kept us the most occupied during those hours was eating!!  Yes, lots of food provided by everyone.  Aside from what each person brings for their own enjoyment, there are a lot of goodies passed around. The one thing not shared was the sushi that a friend brought in for one of the wordsmiths. Don't really blame her! We have doughnuts, peanuts, candy....not much with nutritional value!  But it is enjoyed by all.  Someone even came in with a box of coffee in the afternoon.  Thought that it would be a good thing to get me through the rest of the evening.  Maybe it wasn't such a good idea and that's why I've been awake since 4 AM????

You get the picture.  It's a day to ensure that our citizens are able to exercise their civic duty, to enjoy the company of others and, of course, eat!!

Beginnings and Endings

Okay, here I am again.  Worked at school today and it will probably be the last day until the new school year.  So nice when the employee chooses the sub instead of the school's sub service! Although, in fairness, that person (sub service person) has been very good to me and has called me quite regularly.  I thought I was fooling her some mornings when she called at 6:30 AM but she knew when she was waking me!  Getting the early morning call is one of the downsides of being a sub.  The 'upsides' are that you have a chance to work or you can turn it down.  If you have your day already planned or don't like the position being offered, you have that option.  I tried to say 'yes' as much as my schedule allowed and the sub service person that called me the most is one of the nicest people around.

So, another ending!  Looking forward to another beginning.......Saratoga RaceCourse and opening day!

The Team Meets Before the Meet

Our NYRA Hospitality Team is a hard-working, fun-loving group of folks.  Started by Joe Dalton, then president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, we are ambassadors for our lovely city as well as our RaceCourse.   We are employees and work the full 6 weeks of the meet. Since our first gathering 6 years ago, we have enjoyed each other's company on and off the racetrack. During the year we meet for lunch or dinner, organized by Ruth S., one of the original team members.  Going into our 7th year, there are 6 of the original group still loving what we do every summer.

This past Saturday morning, some of the team met at the Oklahoma Training track.  Early on this beautiful late Spring morning we had a personal tour of the barns and was educated by 2 of the group---Bobby G. and Bill C.  Thank you to these knowledgeable men.


We learned how the trainers set up their barns and one of my favorites was Nick Zito's.  Loved the blue buckets all lined up and ready for the grooms.

Some of these beautiful animals are 'breezed', which is racing around the track simulating an actual race.  Some are exercised and some are 'schooled' to get into the starting gate. 

There is so much going on and so much to learn.  Hope to learn more as we approach our 7th year at the track.  

Belmont Stakes, June 9, 2012

Here they are...some of the world's best athletes.  Pictured are the jockeys of the 2012 Belmont Stakes.  Jockey John Velazquez, seated third from the right, brought Union Rags across the finish line in a photo finish.  So exciting.

Happy to be there and look forward to July 20, 2012 for Opening Day at Saratoga.  God willing, I will be there and hopefully fill you on each day's happenings and my observations.

Hope you will continue to check in!