Doing my civic doody

There are always too many Democratic congressmen, too many Republican congressmen, and never enough U.S. congressmen.
~Author Unknown

Yup - I voted. Who did I vote for? For that answer, please refer to my other web site, noneofyourdamnbusiness.com. ;-)

Unlike Nancy Dancehall's election day blues, my voting experience was mostly uneventful....mostly. The one thing I always have trouble with is the first part when they look up my name in the great big book of voters.

What's in a name?
When Hubby and I were married, my whimsical/independent nature decided to keep my maiden name and do the hyphenated last name thing, JONES-SMITH. My last name is actually hyphenated without the hyphen (JONES SMITH), which really blows people's minds but I'll save that for another post.

My reasons for doing so were part personal and part professional. I had several years of work experience/writing under my maiden name and I didn't want to disconnect myself from that body of work. It's usually not a big deal but occasionally it causes some vexation such as on election day.

I walked up to the table and gave the poll worker my last name. Names have been changed to protect the guilty:

DMG: (cheerfully) My last name is JONES SMITH. It's a hyphenated name.

PW#1: (cheerfully) Oh! Then you are probably listed under "S" for Smith.

DMG: (cheerfully) Actually, I'm guessing you'll probably have me listed under "J."

PW#1: (cheerfully to PW#2) Would you look this woman up under "S" for me?

PW #2: (cheerfully) Certainly!

DMG: (still cheerful) I really think I'll be listed under "J". My full name is DMG JONES SMITH. The last name is JONES SMITH. I have trouble with this every year.

PW#2: (cheerfully but confused) Huh, I'm not finding her!

PW#1: (confused but still cheerful) Really? Let me see.

Both PWs now have their noses in the wrong book.

DMG: (cheerful but faking it) I bet if you look in the "Js" I'll be right there. See, they always list me under "J" because the last name JONES SMITH begins with a "J."

SIDE NOTE: This election day moment was brought to you by the letters S and T and U and P and I and D!

PW#2: (still irritatingly cheerful) She's not in the "S" book!

PW#1: (surprised and irritatingly cheerful) Really? Okay - I guess I'll try my book.

DMG: (wishing I had a cyanide capsule in my purse but maintaining fake smile) I'm positive I'm in the "Js." This happens all the time.

PW#1: (with cheerful surprise) Well, here you are right here! How about that!

DMG: (fake cheerfulness and sincere relief) Great! Thanks!

The poll workers were long on nice but short on listening comprehension. Did they not hear me? Or did they just not want to pay attention to what I had to say? They didn't seem like the poll-worker-on-a-power-trip type. Is a hyphenated name that difficult of a concept to grasp?