Election Madness

Since we arrived in the states last October we've been inundated with election coverage with things called 'primaries' and endless personal attacks. It's like an episode of a celebrity gossip show that never shuts up. I've become used to every newspaper and magazine front page either being Obama or McCain. 

What really shocked me aside from the total and utter saturation was how people just walk up to you and ask who you're voting for. I can't order an sandwich without dodging a bullet. I never know what to say, often saying I'm not American is met with a shocked "OMG the aliens, they're all around us" look. If they aren't in a total state of shock about my being white and not american they ask "well what do you think of Obama?" Sometimes sandwiches take a LONG TIME. If we get on the topic of Canadian politics I am often asked how it works in a country with a Queen?

Usually I'm proud to tell people that we don't oggle over our candidates before elections the way they do here and suffer very little of the media hoopla. I describe our little elections as laid back and low budget compared to real TV like Hockey Night in Canada or Corner Gas.

 

A few days ago my CBC dashboard widget flashed a news item of particular interest to me. CANADA CALLS AN ELECTION. The election is October 14th. Of this year. I know, really that seems like it's in a few weeks because it is! I immediately googled Canadian absentee ballots and could find nothing. Ironic. 

It took me ages but I finally found the absentee ballot order form. We printed them out and sent them in and now we wait and hope we get to vote before the election happens. Our deadline is Oct 7th! 

This is me, in a touque not a beanie signing off.