As a writer, I spend a lot of time sharpening my pencil and rearranging my desk. I stare at the blinking cursor and think how it resembles that damn metronome that used to tic to madness in my piano lessons until I played a piece properly. But, since last Tuesday’s elections, I have felt an itching urge to write. I have never been more interested in American politics as I am now. And I’m glued to the daily headlines to see where things stand. This election has made me thirsty for action and reflection — and has also inspired me to put pencil to paper. Or, more accurately, to make the blinking cursor sprint.

I recently read that the motto in the hallways of Obama’s campaign team was “No Drama with Obama.” As much as I would like to believe that the motto will continue to ring true, I know that’s not realistic thinking. How long will his honeymoon last? He is moving swiftly but steadily, as he seemed to in his campaign, in his first few appointments to date. It’s lonely at the top, though, and I’m sure the fangs of the media are revving up to bite at his first slip. But I am eager to maintain an audacity of hope.

Managing a toddler and an expanding tummy, I struggle with trying to find time to read up on current events. But I’m not really interested in reading a newspaper or a magazine for the news. More and more, I find that editorials, op-eds, personal essays and think pieces are those that interest me most. I open the IHT every morning and go straight to the opinion pages to see what other people are thinking so that I can work on formulating some opinions of my own.

Here are some of the recent pieces that got me thinking or made me laugh. Last Friday, Garrison Keillor wrote a charming piece, which reads almost like one of his college graduation speeches, about Obama:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/11/06/opinion/edkeillor.php

On a completely different note, Karl Rove wrote an interesting assessment in the WSJ about how Obama ran his campaign with flawless flair:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122600790263006303.html

Nicolas Kristof, in this weekend’s NYT, wrote, whether you like it or not, the man America just elected as the 44th president is an intellectual:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/opinion/09kristof.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

And, finally, on a very different note, an interesting profile on one of The New Yorker’s most famous “think-piece” writers, Malcolm Gladwell, is in this week’s New York magazine:

http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/52014/

I also try to keep my brain working — and straying from thinking about diaper rashes and Keigel exercises — by doing the daily crossword. I’m not great at it and aspire to get better. I feel really stupid by the time Wednesday rolls around. But I like to think it keeps my mind active.

A Belgian friend, whom I saw for the first time today since the elections, congratulated me. I’m five months pregnant (and showing) but I knew her comments weren’t directed to my waistline. She erupted in enthusiasm for what the election of Obama meant not only for America but also for the rest of the world. I was beaming. She sent me an email after our encounter today saying she couldn’t tell if my radiance came from my pregnancy or my Obamaism. Either way, I’m still reeling with excitement about the soon-to-be change of leadership back home.

An Italian friend sent me a text message with the suggestion that we call our little girl “Baracka.” I think “Obamina” has a better sound to it. Don’t worry, Mum, if you’re reading this: I promise we have a few other contenders.