Today's D-Kos tracking poll has Obama at 51 and McCain at 42. (Cool!) Right now is the time of year (er, well, every four years, anyway) when I find myself living and breathing this kind of stuff almost 24/7. Sorry. I can't seem to help myself. I will probably leave the house today wearing my "Yes We Can" t-shirt.

As usual during the election-season, I have dropped off the edge of the internet world so I can spend more time watching MSNBC, reading Daily Kos, and listening to my favorite wacky liberal talk-show hosts. (Mike Malloy's MST3K-style "commentary" on Bush's speech of last week was just priceless, had me helplessly snickering up my sleeve; and Stephanie Miller has had lots of good mockery on McCain lately.)

I watched maybe 40 percent of the first presidential debate. I intended to watch it all, but once I was satisfied that Obama was holding his own, I found that McCain grated on me even more than I expected. (Sheesh, Grampy -- drop the patronizing stuff already. And I'd lose the scowl too if I were you. Trust me, it doesn't help.) I taped a bunch of the after-commentary. As usual, Rachel Maddow was the best and most insightful. Calling this woman a pundit would be an insult. She's a feakin' genius.

Ross has settled into his school routine very nicely, and seems delighted to take the bus in the mornings. I'm still pushing through the re-write of my novel, while consuming various Regency and other period romance-novels like so much candy. My current favorite authors: Mary Jo Putney, Elizabeth Hoyt, and Amanda Quick. I hope to have more to say about their work in a future post.

Oh, and I've recently adopted the sweetest Severus Snape doll. You can take a peek at him right here (click on the doll's photo to see a larger image):

http://www.twodaydreamers.com/professorsnape.html

I have to say, though, that the promotional photo simply doesn't do justice to the gorgeousness of this doll. I'll try to post some pictures of my own Severus doll later on that really show him off to advantage. Coolest part of taking him out of the box: getting to play with Sev's collar and tie. Sigh. I've always longed to do that.