I signed up for NaBloPoMo. My blogging has been lacking lately, averaging one post for every 7-10 days, so I think this is just the thing to kick-start me into blogging more regularly. Going through my reader this morning, I see that a lot of people have signed up for it, so reading everyone else’s daily posts should help to keep me motivated.
In other news, I went and voted yesterday. One of the early voting sites is the mall. The number of cars in the parking lot told me it would be crowded, but I wasn’t expecting what I saw inside. The line was long, but one of the volunteers told me it was only a 20 minute wait. Considering how long the line was, it moved very quickly. I was able to cast my vote and hightail it out of there.
The part I wasn’t expecting was the people who weren’t there to vote. Things one tends not to pay attention to when one does not have or intend to have children. The rest of the mall was completely mobbed with children in costumes and their parents. Yup, it was trick or treating time at the mall. It did occur to me that, especially in a town like Vegas, the mall would be a much safer place to bring the kids. Personally, I’m not a fan of handing out candy on Halloween. First of all, it’s a hypocritical holiday. All year long kids are taught to not take candy from strangers. Then on one night a year, we dress them up and tell them to knock on as many doors as possible to get candy. I grew up in a place where we knew most of our neighbors, so there weren’t many strangers where we went begging for candy. Second, I don’t like seeing infants dressed up (well, actually I do – they’re adorable!) and giving candy to their parents, who will eat it because the child is not yet on solid food. On the other end of the age spectrum, I also don’t like giving candy to teenagers who don’t even bother to put on a costume. So at the mall were all the kids that I don’t mind giving candy to – the 3-13 year old age group that enjoy the holiday for all the fun it can produce for them. The ones that enjoy putting thought into their costume and are so excited that they want to wear it every day. It was fun watching them go by, and nice knowing that they weren’t going to get any poisoned candy or razorblades in apples from any of the stores at the mall.
I’ve finally been reading all the Harry Potter books. I didn’t at first because I thought they were more for children (since they are sold in the children’s section at the bookstore), then as they gained popularity I didn’t because I didn’t want to wait in line for hours for the latest release. I didn’t even watch the movies until I met Mister. With him, I’ve watched all 5 movies, and he encouraged me to read the books, which I have to admit are great. I’ve just started book 6, which is the first book I’ve read before seeing the movie. I will admit that I cheated and read the plot summaries, but it doesn’t take anything away from me because I know that there’s so much more to that in the books. Last night we stayed in and watched Order of the Phoenix since I just finished that book, and saw how much of the book that wasn’t in the movie, and how much the movie oversimplified for the sake of time. Despite that, I’m looking forward to the rest of the movies.
So there you have it – my first of 30 daily posts (perhaps more). If any of my readers are participating, let me know so I can follow your progress as well!
I don’t like Halloween much either, but I guess it’s just not in my culture. Not sure I would like my (future) kids to go door to door… begging for candies.
Maybe I’m too uptight.
I do give candies for Halloween though.
If I were to have children, I wouldn’t want them going door to door, especially in this town. I’d be more likely to support community-driven celebrations, such as the trick or treating at the mall or neighborhood sponsored gatherings. Kids have fun, stay safe, and neighbors can get together. Vegas is too transient for that sort of thing though.