Confessions of a bad citizen....

I truly had every intention of voting yesterday.

As I made sure youngest daughter was ready for her first real day at the deli at the local IGA supermarket - I thought to myself... must vote today.

As I crept back into bed and had some extra sleep because it is weekend.. I thought to myself - must vote today.

When I got back out of bed to tidy the house for the inspection of our fire alarms by the landlady - I thought to myself - must vote today.

When I went to the butchers; came home and unpacked all the meat for the freezer and returned back out to the supermarket, unpacked that and started the washing - I thought to myself - must vote today.

While my house was full of boys playing on the Xbox and PS2 and I was tripping over them trying to organize the house - I thought to myself - must vote today.

After cooking lunch at the washing up sink I thought to myself - must vote today.

Organizing some pictures I wanted to paint on the windows at work for the children as I waited for the girls to finish work - I thought to myself - must vote today.

Whilst taking Anna on her driving lesson (and enduring a couple of very close calls to parked cars - she has SO got to learn depth and measurement type stuff) and explaining why her theory of putting the blinker on 300 meters before a corner because that way it is only gear change and steering she has to think about is still just not the way to do it.. we actually drove past a couple of polling booths and the one I was going to get her to stop out she seemed a little stressed by the drivers of cars opening their doors as she drove past... and I told her to go straight ahead. Once again the intention was there.

While attending one of those awful buy stuff "parties" (such a terrible use of the word party)and then visiting the art show at the Botanical Gardens (which turned out to not be the one I wanted to see - that one had shut yesterday) I thought to myself - must vote today.

Then buying some seedlings for the garden and discussing silicon for our leaking boat, and coming home and fiddling around with that stuff - I again thought to myself - must vote today.

I started cooking chicken parmigiana and the fresh carrots and beans from our garden for the family - and again I thought - must vote today.

At the dinner table - William's friend Damien was sleeping over and he asked me ... "Who did you vote for?" and I looked at the time....

OH SHIT. I think that is gunna cost us $150.

Joy rang me at 10 pm really excited about the Labor victory. She was so excited and at her local electorate Labor candidates celebration party I decided it wasn't the right time to confess my crime. When she rang I was in the middle of resizing Finding Nemo characters to paint on the wall for the two year olds at work.

Then earlier I checked on some of my favorite blogs and of course every other citizen at least has an opinion.

I am a Labor supporter usually. I wasn't all that fussed with the Labor candidate in our electorate because of my families dealings with his family (ok namely I didn't like his sons visiting my daughters late at night when they were only 13, I find the boys rude and obnoxious and I once attended a job interview at his office and found his attitude egotistical and obnoxious and reminded me why I hate working for lawyers) On the other hand - I should be the LAST person to point the finger at parents for their children's behavior, and I am aware this candidate does do some lovely charity work.(So do I actually - I am the eternal volunteer it is just I really don't seem to have any ambition other than a bigger boat and more holidays)

I still had every intention of voting Labor. And it is the thought that counts. At one stage I agreed to hand out flyer's at the polling booth for an hour too - but I managed to avoid that person ever since and they didn't find me.

Shit. $150. I could of bought lobsters, smoked salmon, oysters, prawns and bubbly and still had change and shared it with MOTH & the kids and even a girlfriend or two and her family..... Shit...

I noticed Scorpy and others had interesting comments both for and against Howard. I always admired his eloquence. I think I am a Labor voter simply because I find it difficult to admit I am probably more a Green's supporter and I come from a working class background and hope that the Labor party will protect me and mine more so than the Liberals. I do understand how horrid it is when you cannot fire someone because of rules and unions etc but I would more sympathize with an individual who lost from the Industrial Relations changes.

Or - I just no longer give a shit about politics. Any system is always going to have flaws. The flaws are more likely to give me a headache than anyone. But - I reckon if I can still float on the water and look at the birds.... if I can still play with the kids and marvel at their intelligence.. if I can still appreciate good food and seek company that will make me feel comfortable.. that will do...