I skipped the debate to have dinner with Liese!!! First time meeting face to face. I love traveling buffistae! Such nummy food. Will have to try the yak next time I go to that restaurant.

Gertrude Marshall, 104, bank analyst [link]

Mrs. Marshall was a pacifist and felt a strong attraction to the beliefs and activities of the Society of Friends. She joined the Quakers, and from 1952 until 1993, served in many leadership roles, including clerk of Haverford Monthly Meeting, clerk of Medford Monthly Meeting, clerk of Representative Meeting, and clerk of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.

She also served on the boards of the American Friends Service Committee and the National Council of Churches. Much of her outreach work reflected her opposition to the Vietnam War, and her support of racial and gender equality.

Mrs. Marshall was concerned that she would not live to cast her vote in this fall's presidential election.

"She was 8 years old in 1920, and remembered the passage of the 19th Amendment that gave American women the right to vote for the first time," her son said.

Racing against the press of declining health, Mrs. Marshall completed an absentee ballot on Tuesday, the day before she died.

"She cast her vote and signed her name as her final act of a long life of service to others," her son said.

Timelies all!

I have a dentist appointment at 9:45 for the temporary crown that fell out, and a follow-up visit to an orthopedist at 1. I'm not going to work today, obviously.

"She cast her vote and signed her name as her final act of a long life of service to others," her son said.

Love that.

My commute was a cluster this morning, but I was actually already running late, at least for me, so at least that was covered up? Not that anyone cares when I get here!

How is the foot, Sheryl?

Gud, I went through this with my sons. #2 has heard all his life from friends, teachers, and family how brilliant his brother is. It is very stressful. It is a much different dynamic now that they are in their 20s. #2 totally has his act together with employment, school, and relationships. #1 is pretty much dysfunctional. So the whole 'your brother is a genius' thing doesn't sting as much.

But it was very hard when they were kids. #1 was leading reading circle and doing multiplication in kindergarten while #2 had to be held back a year. While as adults we could see that #2 was so much more accomplished at all things a person needs to be a successful in a practical sense.

Kids have a lot of stress and the stress of being smarter than everyone you know including your teachers is just as frustrating as being the kid brother of that brainiac. Also, parenting is ridiculously stressful!!

Sue, does Marshalls ballot count? I mean I don't know the rules on that.

"She cast her vote and signed her name as her final act of a long life of service to others," her son said.

That's wonderful. Made me tear up a little.

It's state-by-state, Kat. So in some places yes, in some places no.

Sue, does Marshalls ballot count? I mean I don't know the rules on that.

I'm not sure how the election officials can monitor that. I'm sure there's lots circumstances where a person fills in an absentee ballot because they are too ill to go to the polls and then pass beforehand. But there are probably lots who are still alive come election day. ETA: I know almost nothing about US voting laws, so I have no idea what's allowed.

Laura,

The foot's feeling a lot better. Whether that's due to the splint or the super-strength ibuprofen,I don't know, but it doesn't hurt much at all.