Sucking Machines

Why do vending machines suck? After a decade, we got new machines in the shop (I miss the “Hot Foods!” machine). Excited, I convince myself to try them out. First item I try is labeled $0.70. Other items agree with this pricing scheme. Error; machine says this item should be $0.85. Nothing is $0.85! Frustrated, since I only have $0.80, I pick something else. Success! This one is programmed correctly. It starts to vend and gets snagged. Really? This still happens?

The machines are in the shop. Complete with a walk and safety glasses. I go back to search for money. (I don’t understand why people abandon their stuck items. I always find a way to buy it; I hate feeling like the machine has won. Even if it means two trips for an item I didn’t want.)

Third try was successful. I got both my items. It feels a bit like a failure, worse than the wheel of death (those sandwiches tempt fate). The true winner here is my SO. He got the spoils of my “war”. He didn’t even know he wanted Peanut M&Ms.

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Why Fake It?

Election day! I never knew there were so many wonderful things to vote on. Today there's voting for a superintendent, clerk, trustee, and Supreme Court justice (not counting unchallenged positions). I’m dragging the SO to the voting poll after work. (Ironically it’s my sister’s church. Apparently separation of church/state was lost on somebody.)

My brother commented about how new citizens seem to appreciate voting. I worked hard for this. Of all the rights granted to me through naturalization, voting was the most significant. I also have the right to carry a U.S. passport, work in a federal capacity, serve on a jury, or petition for family members.

Voting has always been something I wanted to do. For years, my citizenship was the obstacle. After I was sworn in, it was easy to register. Unlike age or residency, they didn’t require proof. After all the hoops, money, and forms I had to fill out, I half expected something.

I guess the proof is that I was never charged with voting fraud.

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