I really need to learn how to measure pasta better. My default now is to measure for two; I tried scaling it back to one portion, but I was hungry. I think that was my problem. The consequence is that I’ll need a nap any minute now.

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Thoughts on the election:

• The result, in my opinion, was about as good an outcome as I could’ve hoped for. I knew the results wouldn’t reflect the extreme results of the polls, but I didn’t expect the Liberals to hold 100+ seats.
• Paul Martin did the right thing, stepping down but staying in the party. He’ll be a better asset to the party that way than as a figurehead.
• I’ve gotten less nervous over the last few days as I’m convinced that the Conservatives won’t be able to do the things that really scare me (e.g., reverse same-sex marriage, get rid of the gun registry, re-open the abortion debate, etc.) because his only political ally — the Bloc — are further to the left than the Liberals. Health care reform is the only thing they might go along on, but that would get every Liberal and NDP back up, and probably enough PC/Bloc that it would be hard to pass. Even if the Bloc whores themselves to Harper to give him what he wants, he’d have to make so many concessions to Quebec that there’d be a political firestorm. At least, this is what I’ve convinced myself of. We’ll see what happens.
• This government lasts 18 months. 24 tops.
• It seems most people have already pencilled in Frank McKenna as the next Liberal leader. Manley’s keeping himself in the public eye, which means he could take another crack at it. Belinda Stronach and Michael Ignatieff are too new to the party, but should be ready next time around.
• I’ve been thinking lately that the reason Chretien held on so long with Martin waiting in the wings, despite pleas to move aside, was that he secretly knew Martin couldn’t hack it. He couldn’t say that aloud, of course, but I think he held on hoping that someone — Manley, Rock, McLellan — would come to the fore and challenge Martin for the leadership. But they didn’t, and Chretien stepped aside, and the Liberals (and the country) were left with Mr. Dithers for two years.

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Season 1 of Veronica Mars is [sniff] all done. Nellie was all but foaming at the mouth yesterday when the final disc arrived.

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Need…caffeine…