Ides of November (not quite I know)

I survived the weekend in Mayo. I actually really wasn't that worried about it, I just pretended I was because I can sometimes be a bit dramatic. It was lovely and I always find the landscapes of the West to be beautiful.  Of course some cute kids running around always makes things more fun.

My Halloween was quite uneventful. This is truly a sign that I am getting old. I didn't even wear a costume. Granted, as an actor I have the opportunity to wear costumes on many other occasions so it really isn't the end of the world. Also, I think that I simply don't really like Halloween. I don't horror very well. Ever since I was four and had a traumatic experience in a haunted house I don't really like it. I did, however, experience my first-what are called "lock ins" in which one gets locked in a pub. Sounds pretty good, right? A traditional lock in is usually when a pub wants to continue serving after hours so they lock the doors to make it look like it's closed and tell everyone to keep it down and they can stay. This lock in was to keep drunk, rowdy Halloween people out, which was great for me and my newly realized awareness that I don't like Halloween. Or at least the scary part of Halloween. I do like pumpkins and pumpkin pie and apple cider-all the wonderful foods and smells that I associate with autumn.

I also saw the film Ides of March, which only made me more anxious about the 2012 presidential election. Ireland just held their presidential election, and although their president is a different position politically, their election process was much calmer and the campaigns only lasted a few months at the most. In Ireland you have three votes, your first choice candidate, second choice, and third choice. I imagine this is a nightmare when it come to counting the ballots-Ireland still has yet to update to electronic voting systems-but it certainly is very democratic.  I think the American campaigning process is cut-throat (to say the least) and depends heavily upon marketing, propaganda and capitalism. It seems we have lost the point of what an election  and what democracy is. And stepping off my soap box now.

As of Sunday I will have been in Ireland one whole year. It went by too fast! I think I will wait and dedicate a completely new post to reflecting on my year in Ireland once it has officially been a year. Gotta keep you guys reading.  Tomorrow I am off to Lanzarote for some sunshine before the winter comes. Don't be too jealous, I had to struggle through a chilly, rainy summer. And we did just have some serious flooding.

Back soon!