America the Beautiful

The last time that I voted, I was unsure of many of the politicians. I did not know who they were, what they stood for, ...their beliefs, etc. This year, as one of the most important elections in America's history, I made sure that if I did not know of the candidate, I would research his or her claims, specifically noting the issues at hand as best I could.

Then, after careful consideration, I decided that I wanted to remember where I voted (in Ireland) and how I voted, adding more importance to my decisions. And so, last Thursday, on a rainy windy day...I headed two miles from Kevin Street (DIT's location) to the American Embassy.

I felt like the guards thought I was a terrorist or some crazy photographer, because I was walking around the building snapping photos. I had to speak through bullet-proof glass in order to enter a tiny building where my camera, telephone (which had to be turned off), and ipod were confiscated. (Otherwise I'd have photos of the embassy without the tacky gate in the front). Upon removing all metal from my body, walking through a metal-detector, given a special necklace that 'must be worn at all times while in the building', and lifting up my pant-legs to check for stowed objects, I was free to enter. I felt, well, pretty important.

...like a good American citizen.

That evening, we had the boys over for dinner. By coincidence, we had talked of making an American meal for them. We had New York/Chicago style pizza (some pizza's came out thicker than others), garlic knots, and M&M cookie bars for dessert.

Thus came an end to an American day....in an Irish sort of way.