A Disturbance in the Force, I Sense

While most things in my life seem to be going along normally, I can't help but feeling there are some things off-kilter.  I've put my finger on some of them

• Surprise, surprise, Discovery's launch scheduled for this month has been pushed back until November 1st.  There's no telling when Endeavour launches afterward, ending the shuttle program.
• Lots of surprises in Frederick County's Republican primaries.  Pending the counting of absentee ballots, a long-time delegate may have lost the primary.  He is still close enough that the absentee ballots could make a difference.  The Frederick County GOP also decided that Mr. Black Book, Blaine Young, is its favorite choice for county commissioner.  Maybe I don't miss Frederick County as much as I thought.  Also, the Board of Education race is a disaster.  
• On the note of the primaries in Maryland, the voter turnout was atrocious.  When I went to vote, the only people there were the election judges.  Overall turnout was reported to be under 25% of registered voters.  Well, at least I was in, out, and back home in less that 20 minutes.
• Andrew Duck and Roscoe Bartlett meet in a rematch for the Maryland Congressional District 6 election, and we have a rerun of the O'Malley/Ehrlich campaign for governor.  Is it 2006 again?  Because if it is, there are some things I want do-overs on.
• My prospectus has been approved, which means I should be officially a doctoral candidate by the new year, pending that preliminary exam I have to give.  That also means I won't be taking classes for credit after this semester.  Wait, what?
• My sleep schedule has yet to recover from the late return from the visit to Baltimore to see Jess and Oscar Friday night.  Who told the Baltimore cops it was a good idea to close I-83 on a Friday night?
• Nothing says I'm getting older like the appointment I have on Friday with the insurance agent to discuss options for the life insurance policy my parents got for me when I was a kid (which is now mine).
• The Maryland football team is 2-0.
• The Redskins beat the Cowboys.
• The Orioles have been doing quite well since hiring their new manager.

Other than that, I'm settling into my routine for the semester, gradually getting work done, holding steady in my romantic life (insert joke here), and pushing forward in life.  Hopefully, the rest of you are having some good times as well.