OMG: It's Election Day and I have so not done my homework!

And, I can't even find my voter guide.

It's in a pile somewhere of mail I was supposed to go through, I don't know weeks ago. Maybe it's sitting there with my unopened health insurance cards.

Am I a bit scattered? Does my stupid pretty cat me-ow desperately when she wants to be let outside?

The Walnut Creek Patch job has been keeping me extremely busy. As you can tell, I have not been able to do my Crazy in Suburbia blogs as much as I would like. :(

I don't see my husband and son as I often as I should either. My son gave me a talking to last night.

And, now we have election day, and I realize that I'm not measuring up in that arena either. I am not the engaged, informed member of our democratic system that I like to be.

OK, here's the extend of my ignorance: Those state propositions: who, what where, and why 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Actually some pro-Proposition 14 guys tried to hit me up with some literature at the farmers market Sunday. Yeah, I think was proposition 14. It could have been Proposition 15 they were touting. I honestly don't know. Well, I guess both propositions have something to do with reforming the elections process--maybe to keep idiots like me out of the voting booth.

Oh, but that wouldn't be very democratic, would it? Even idiots like me should have the right to vote. We do, I believe, with some frequency. :)

OK, I have some familiarity with some races, including local ones: the District Attorney's and Sheriff's races, the county Assessor battle. Too bad I can't vote on the Mount Diablo Unified School District's Measure C bond measure. I probably know more about that race than any other because I've been editing and writing and reading stories about it. Unfortunately, I don't live in that district, so I won't have a say.

Then we have, of course, the gubernatorial primary. That's the biggie. Oh, then there is the U.S Senate GOP primary, and the 10th congressional district race. Wait! Didn't I just vote in that? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Back in 2009 or something: the special election to replace former U.S. Rep Ellen Tauscher.

Well, thanks for letting me write this. I think I am slowly becoming more knowledgeable about some things I should be knowledgeable about. I'll probably do what I typically do when there are races I must vote in, and of which I'm totally ignorant. I peruse endorsements in major local and state newspapers. Hey, mainstream media is good for something, right?

Meanwhile, if any of you have any useful advice and tips, send them this way.

Anyone know a guy from Walnut Creek named Maurice Moyal? He was in jail, he's dead, and I'm interested

Maurice Moyal was a 44-year-old Walnut Creek man, in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility since May 2008 on a robbery charge, according to a report today in the Contra Costa Times.

He suffered some kind of seizure back on Wednesday night. He was transported to the county's Regional Medical Center in Martinez, and was pronounced dead on Saturday morning.

Robbery defendant. Jail inmate. Who cares?

For some reason, I do.

Of course, I'm twisted in that way.

I'm interested in finding out who he was and how he ended up in our county jail on a robbery charge. The Contra Costa Sheriff's Department is said to be investigating the circumstances of his death, as is the District Attorney's Office.

I don't know if he's a long-time resident of our community. I suspect he is. Also, I'm curious that he's a 40something-year-old in custody on a robbery charge. Those kinds of crimes are typical of men 20 years younger. Isn't that correct, students of sociology and criminal justice?

I guess I'm thinking he doesn't fit a stereotype--of a guy in his 40s and from pleasant suburban Walnut Creek. And I'm feeling that there is something about his life--and death--that might speak of a kind of desperation and sadness.

Sorry, but this kind of story interests me. Therefore, I'm interested in why he's in jail on a robbery charge, how he ended up suffering a seizure in his jail cell, and then dead at the age of 44.