So I arrived at the town's only polling place at 7:05 a.m., and there were long, long lines at each of the precinct tables. When I received my ballot, I was the 26th Republican just at the East Glenrock table.

Saw lots of people who work in Casper -- some of whom I didn't even realize vote in Converse County.

When my ballot went into the machine, it was the 43rd into that machine -- each precinct has its own machine.

Converse County voters are voting to increase the sales tax to pay for two projects -- a new detention center and a new animal shelter.

There's something sort of weird about watching two hours of SNL Presidential Bash just before sleeping and voting for the real deal just after waking.

The election season has ended -- the next phase of American democracy is just about to begin.

And yes, I'm proudly wearing my "I Voted," sticker, along with my two flag pins on my shirt. The other buttons are safe at home, reminders of a fall not soon forgotten -- for a variety of reasons.

So at coffee in Laramie on Wednesday morning, I found out that Dick Cheney was coming to town on Saturday.

By Thursday morning, the friend had received permission to leave work early on Saturday morning.

And so the alarm rang at 4:30 a.m., and my eyes were scratchy.

I showered and was not finished dressing when the friend, who by now had been awake for 28 hours, arrived 10 minutes before 5.

We drove in the dark, two pioneering souls in our early and late 50's, to experience something we never had before -- a political rally with the vice president of the United States in the high school I graduated from.

There was an annoying hiccup outside, but after that, it was an incredible 2-1/2 hours.

Official numbers put the crowd at 300 -- I would have thought it was smaller than that.

It was a Pi Phi reunion, with Bobbi Barrasso, Cynthia Lummis, Barb Dilts and I.

So then it was Vice President Cheney's turn, and it was obvious that it meant a lot to him to be there -- in Laramie, where he and Lynne first lived as newlyweds in married student housing.

He said in his three decades in public service, "I was proud to be recognized as the 'gentleman from Wyoming.'"

Afterward, much of the crowd in front of us began filing out. We were still chatting with assorted friends, and then I realized the television spotlight was on, in the front row.

No, the vice president hadn't ducked behind the blue curtain. Instead, he was signing autographs for anyone who was smart enough to walk to the front instead of to the exit.

I had nothing for him to sign -- no bumper stickers, no huge placards, nothing.

So after a derailment to hug the Albany County Sheriff, who also is a Laramie High Class of '74 graduate, I was right there.

The vice president was chatting with a woman and I didn't want to interrupt, so I stuck out my hand and said, "Thank you for your service."

And he shook my hand.

Was it worth waking at 4:30 a.m.? Absolutely.

And then the Pokes won.

It was an awesome day.

So the new nest is aglow in fall favorites. There are pumpkin pie-scented candles everywhere there is a surface and extras waiting to be called for duty on closet shelves.

The three pumpkins lining the driveway have been joined by six copper solar lights, which I found in a Sunday ad, found at the big store, put together and installed all by myself.

The ginormous bags of candy are stashed away, although the friend has found the Snickers and Reese's peanut butter cups.

Everything is in readiness for Halloween with the hope that plenty of trick or treaters will ring the bell.

The other night, we enjoyed unfiltered cider, which tastes way better than sweet, processed sugary stuff but still doesn't taste like the cider I remember from Michigan.

We're hoping to get to an Oktoberfest-themed party at church on Sunday and the snazzed-up sauerkraut will be ready in case we are able to go.

Fall is a blessed time. It seems as though everything and everyone -- from the trucks with their new tires and windshield wipers to the sunlight with its still powerful 9-1/2 hours or so -- is preparing for the big change.

A friend from Minnesota misses the red leaves that mean fall back there. To us, fall means gold. It's all relative.

And we're happy to be a part of it.

So the second Monday Mouse lunch tour resulted in the second new restaurant tried by Mouse and me in as many weeks.

A couple of weeks ago, she chose Dsasumo and guided me through the mostly sushi menu, including eel as an appetizer.

It was delicious and pricey for two (appetizer equaled a third meal) and worth every penny as we caught up for the first time in awhile.

Yesterday, we added the friend to our group and chose Lime Leaf Asian Bistro, which is brand-new and very cool. The interior is gorgeous and the service was impeccable.

The portions for lunch were ginormous and the bill for three (with one adult beverage for the friend) was less than the bill for two at Dsasumo.

It's open at 11 a.m., daily for lunch and open until 9 p.m., except Friday and Saturday, when it closes at 9:30 p.m.

Casper is now home to three new Asian restaurants in a year -- House of Sushi and Dsasumo in the downtown district and Lime Leaf just east of downtown on E. 2nd St.

We are growing up -- and it's pretty cool.

I have never watched an episode of "Survivor," or "Nanny," or MOST other reality shows.

Alone with the dog, I'd watch the Bachelor or the Bachelorette but never liked their choices and couldn't stand the drama ... but I was careful to not admit to any sane person that I watched it.

So when I was homeless and a house guest for nearly two weeks, I happened upon "America's Got Talent." Except for Jerry Springer's annoying shouting and judge Piers Morgan's annoying criticism of nearly everyone, I got hooked right away.

And the friend with whom I was staying got hooked as well -- and then blamed me.

And the reason we were hooked immediately is 32-year-old Neal E. Boyd of Sikeston, Mo., who is now headed for Las Vegas to headline a show one night only at the MGM Grand on Friday, Oct. 17.

His voice is incredible. He has made opera more popular than the junk on the radio. And he will do amazing things.

The reality of this show is that it was a gift to those of us who watched.

Here's some info on the Las Vegas show:

Tickets priced at $99.50, $57.50, $49.50 and $39.50, not including applicable service charges, are now on sale at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office and at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, and Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

So the very worst part of Saturday was not what happened on Jonah Field.

The very worst part of Saturday was finding out a minute before kickoff that Larry Birleffi had died.

He was 90, but not to me. I'll always remember him from that night in November 1967 (Nov. 18, I had to look it up) when Peggy Jane the Mom and the three of us were huddled around the radio in our living room on Curtis Street in Laramie.

Of all of his 37 years of broadcasting football and basketball, that was the single night I'll remember the most.

Wyoming beat UTEP in El Paso, 21-19, and a Sugar Bowl berth was secured.

Can you imagine? Wyoming in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year's Day.

The Biffer was as big a part of Wyoming sports lore as any one achievement or any one person -- he truly was one of a kind.

And even though he held a journalism degree, his passion and loyalty for Wyoming sports was never questioned.

And the world is a much sadder, more cynical place without him.

Spent a delightful time this morning at the Central Wyoming Counseling Center, where staff competed in the Chili Royale chili cook-off.

Ten bubbling, aromatic pots of chili were judged on appearance, flavor, texture and heat index.

It's my second time judging the event -- last year it was on a Friday during Lent so I declined.

The esteemed panel of judges, excluding me, was Paul Fritzler of the Dept. of Family Services, Bill Sexton, CEO of Wyoming Behavioral Institute; Brian Christensen from the DA's office and Bob Price.

Our oufits this year included green shiny dealer vests, visors, gigantic playing card nametags and garters.

Top three winners again received recycled trophies.

First place was Therapeutic Family Care case managers for their Jackpot Chili, a red that was really good.

Second place was Kelly Shipley for her Risky Business, a red that judges said "looks like chili should look!"

And third place went to Pat Lichliter, for her Hit Me, a red that included chunks of potatoes.

My personal favorite was a green chile that had a huge proportion of shredded pork. In fact, it was like really juicy shredded pork -- just delicious.

Staff at the CWCC gets altogether at least quarterly for a variety of different lunch events.

They've found, as have many other groups, that co-workers who eat together and get to know each other make a more effective team.

Great fun!