Election today.
Since I didn't register myself in time, I can't talk about voting, but I can talk about what politics is like here.
Firstly, people are more open about it. In Britain most people seem to keep their votes close to their chest, like a dirty secret, and not talk about it. Here it's very clear which side of the line people stand on. And there's no Liberal Democrats for a 3rd option. You're either Pepsi or Coke. The party colours are even the same as Pepsi and Coke. People were debating the election in the supermarket with total strangers. Such a different atmosphere.
Secondly, it's all that's on TV. Yesterday's ads were 99% vote related - party ads and proposition ads (in california propositions are voted on. This year proposition 8 is about having gay couples in 'civil union' rather than marriage because marriage is heterosexual. Proposition 7 [I think] is on renewable energy. Proposition 5 is on providing healthcare to the underprivileged.). Debates, news, papers - you can't avoid it. There's not nearly as much money or coverage in Britain, a good thing I think.
Finally, I believe there is more passion in it. People demonstrate on the roadsides (mostly on prop. 8 - lots of people want yes. I find that very saddening), attend huge rallies, wear tee shirts, have bumper stickers on the car and signs on the lawn. You feel enthused. In Britain it all seems so drab. Life like the weather, eh? I just wish that more people in America voted with an open mind. Texans being born republican, people voting the same party regardless. Only two parties. I admire the passion, but wish it were tempered by a bit of thought and consideration.
As for my election day, it's not a happy one. I'm happy but today has been wearing. A huge-ass truck with a huge-ass trailer nearly crushed my poor car through no fault to me. I was just driving along, as I always do on my way to work. At Trabuco the truck does a right-on-red to join me. Just us on a three lane road, me in the left lane, him in the right. Empty middle. We're going the same speed - slightly under the limit on the road (50mph). He moves over a lane. Fine. As I'm observing this (and thinking about what a monstrous vehicle it is right next to me) I notice that he hasn't stopped in the middle lane. He has continued to drift. Now, it is possible that he didn't see me when he was in the middle lane (might've been in the blind spot - something like must have a mighty blind spot), but he should've taken note of me before he decided to drift lazily across the lanes and expecting for everyone else to shift. Well. I quickly noticed that I was soon to be crushed into the middlebit (that's right folks, I've squeezed a Mikism into the blog). Think Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade boat scene. Very scary. I did what I had to, slammed on the anchors (thankfully the lane was clear behind me, as was the rest of the road actually), and swore at the driver of the truck/trailer combo. He was turning left at the junction before mine. Thankfully I noticed his drifting before it was too late, that's all I'll say.
I then got a rude call (I hate answering the phone. Most of the time it's nothing hard, but sometimes people have odd requests) and had my little toe crushed by a display cabinet stacked high with bottled water. It's either bruised or broken, doesn't make a huge difference. It's swollen and hurts. And had me limping for the last hour and a half of my shift. During which I had to clean the men's toilets 'cause some complete so-and-sos had laid waste to it. Seriously, why bother? It's a supermarket toilet! Anyway...
The rest of my day has been R & R, keeping off my feet. Bloggin' for y'all, planning the rest of my time here, and enjoying the wondrously entertaining Mr. Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog which I purchased on iTunes yesterday, along with it's soundtrack. I encourage you all to check it out. A supervillain musical by Joss Whedon and co.? Magic.
Fingers crossed for the result of today...
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