Whose health care plan?

So I mentioned in an earlier post that I'm volunteering with the Deeds for Governor campaign. As a reminder, Creigh (pronounced Cree') Deeds is Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial candidate.

On Thursdays I go to the district office about six miles from the house and make calls to voters to remind them about the election and get a feel for whether Creigh Deeds can count on their vote in November. When I make the calls I have a loose script that I follow saying who I am and why I'm calling.

Yesterday was my second day volunteering. I made 99 calls. Making these calls is quite an education --primarily in what people will say when they can't see you.

So I called this woman and a man picked up the phone. I said I was looking for the woman of the household and that I had her name on a list of voters. The man said, "I'm a voter, too."

"I see, Sir," I said, "but I don't see your name on our list." To which he replied, "Oh, I'm a conservative voter." Whatever works for him. I'm not going to pass judgment.

Then, not that it was germane to anything, he offered the following comment, "I have to tell you. I think my wife is starting to regret having voted for Obama last year."

I believe I said something to the effect of "Sir, I'm not sure exactly how that relates to the information I'm seeking."

Unbeknownst to me that was an invitation for him to share his thoughts on the health care debate, the conclusion of which was, "...and we don't want any of that African health care."

I have to say I was reminded by this man's comment of an incident that took place years ago when I was dating which, today, always makes me laugh.

I was using a dating service that sent letters with information about prospective matches. I was matched with a guy who, I found out later, had quite the wry sense of humor. We were on the phone chatting and I asked him what the service had told him about me. He said they had told him that I was this, that and the other thing and that I was black.

I was very surprised that the dating service would have made such a major error and I wondered how and where they had gotten that information.

The joke was on me though as my prospective date fessed up that he was just kidding around with me. Boy did I feel the fool and have a good laugh when I heard that.

When this guy yesterday made his comment, I considered telling him that this "sista" was wondering whose health care plan he had been reviewing. I'm sure I'll laugh about this one day too.

Score: Domestic Divahood, 8; Unfulfilled on the job, 0

Electioneering for good ol' what's-his-name

I've just picked Gary up from the Metro and I'm cooking dinner and the phone rings. Naturally. It's that magical hour when everyone who has nothing useful to tell you decides to invade your privacy. Gary gets the phone and I see him nodding his head and then he says something to the effect of "Well, my wife might be interested. Let me put her on..." What the h-e-double hockey sticks am I about to get into?

So I take the phone and a young lady introduces herself and says she is the field office supervisor, or some other such exalted position, in a new campaign office that just opened about about eight miles from the house and they are looking for volunteers to help get out the vote for Creigh Deeds. For those who don't know, Creigh Deeds is a state senator from Bath County (home of the great unwashed?), VA and he is the Democratic candidate for governor. The thing is, I have no earthly idea how to pronounce the guy's name. Is it Cray? Cree? Crayg? Houston, we've got a problem.


I'm going to call some Virginia voter and say "Hey there. My name is Daphne and I'm calling you today to talk to you about good ol' "what's-his-name" and why you should vote for him for Governor this November. Yeah, that's going to make a great impression.


The irony is that I got very fired up during the presidential campaign season last year and I want to do this so I've agreed to volunteer to help "Get out the Vote." I start Thursday. Let's hope I know good ol' "what's-his-name's" name by then...

Score: Domestic Divahood, 6; Unfulfilled on the job, 0