This last week has been spent in Binghamton, baking and filling out job applications in between Rock Band sessions at Rachel's house. I've finally moved up to *medium* on guitar. Take that, actual musicians!
In the name of the season, I thought I'd tick off a few things that I am thankful for.
1. My friends and family. I love my friends, and my family is the most supportive, silly, wonderful family a person could ask for, and I'm glad once again that I got to spend the holiday with them.
2. DC & the last few months. I've loved living in DC, even at the Nunnery. I've gotten to do a ton of news things, I got to work for several political campaigns (most of which won!), I got to be in Washington on the night it exploded with Obama-flavored joy. I've also found that it's been pretty easy for me to meet new people in DC, and while many of them have been absolutely ridiculous, some of them are wonderful friends that I'm so glad I got the opportunity to meet. I have been unofficially invited to friends' weddings in Sweden and Barbados too, so really moving to DC was well worth it.
3. Upcoming adventures. After Dec 20th, I don't know what I'll be doing, but I'm sure it's going to be interesting. Plus, I still have several friends I want to visit in Wisconsin, Ireland, Sweden, NYC, and, you know, Ithaca.
So, now I'm thinking of Christmas gifts, but I'll be skipping out on Black Friday this year, unless shopping at the Philadelphia airport counts. Happy Holidays everyone - it's officially the Sparkle Season.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Update!
I'd first like to acknowledge that yesterday was my friend Rachel's 22nd birthday, so happy birthday Rachel!
And now the news from Washington. Things are a bit melancholy tonight. My good friend Laura is flying home to Sweden tomorrow, and we don't know when we will see each other again. I'm getting job hunt fatigue from trying to figure out the future (soon to be present...). My friend Juliana is moving next weekend to Virginia which, at least when compared to Sweden, isn't really all that far away.
On a happier note, the Prop 8 & Frienemies protest in DC was awesome. Somewhere between 5,000 and 7,000 people were there with some of the most creative protest signs I've seen. We started out in front of the Capitol Building, where I got an incriminating picture taking. I was climbing up a lamp post to try and spot my friend in the crowd when some freelancer took my picture. I'm sure it's floating out there on the internet with the caption "CRAZY GAY PROTESTERS ATTACK PUBLIC PROPERTY!!"
From the Capitol Building, we hit the Washington Monument and eventually the White House. It felt very surreal, after all the MLK references with Obama, to be protesting (at least for a short period of time) in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I suppose it's fitting. We've made a lot of great strides - particularly this month - but there's still all sorts of injustice. Separate is still not equal.
It was interesting to hear people's reasons for coming to the protest. One man spoke about his friend, who was denied bereavement time to go to his domestic partner's funeral in Florida. His domestic partner was his girlfriend. Obviously laws like Prop 8 and the rest are wrong because of the basic rights they deny to LGBTQ people. But the story is very telling about how when you mess with the laws to hurt one group, you risk hurting everybody.
Pictures to come, because they don't seem to be loading properly.
And now the news from Washington. Things are a bit melancholy tonight. My good friend Laura is flying home to Sweden tomorrow, and we don't know when we will see each other again. I'm getting job hunt fatigue from trying to figure out the future (soon to be present...). My friend Juliana is moving next weekend to Virginia which, at least when compared to Sweden, isn't really all that far away.
On a happier note, the Prop 8 & Frienemies protest in DC was awesome. Somewhere between 5,000 and 7,000 people were there with some of the most creative protest signs I've seen. We started out in front of the Capitol Building, where I got an incriminating picture taking. I was climbing up a lamp post to try and spot my friend in the crowd when some freelancer took my picture. I'm sure it's floating out there on the internet with the caption "CRAZY GAY PROTESTERS ATTACK PUBLIC PROPERTY!!"
From the Capitol Building, we hit the Washington Monument and eventually the White House. It felt very surreal, after all the MLK references with Obama, to be protesting (at least for a short period of time) in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I suppose it's fitting. We've made a lot of great strides - particularly this month - but there's still all sorts of injustice. Separate is still not equal.
It was interesting to hear people's reasons for coming to the protest. One man spoke about his friend, who was denied bereavement time to go to his domestic partner's funeral in Florida. His domestic partner was his girlfriend. Obviously laws like Prop 8 and the rest are wrong because of the basic rights they deny to LGBTQ people. But the story is very telling about how when you mess with the laws to hurt one group, you risk hurting everybody.
Pictures to come, because they don't seem to be loading properly.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Back on the Hunt
Is it that time already?
Things are going great here in DC, mostly because the city is fabulous and I've met a few good people. Unfortunately, my internship (you know, the part-time-non-espionage-related job) finishes at the end of December, and with Christmas creeping around the corner, it may be time to consider my up & coming future. You know, beyond working at Russell's.
Have resume, will travel.
So expect some updates on that, as well as write-ups on the DC Prop H8 Protest and pictures from the campaign trail.
I originally intended to fill out some job applications tonight, but working 8:45 - 6 coupled with Tuesday's root canal has made me into a semi-lifeless blob, good only for sleeping and watching House reruns.
Speaking of grumpy old men, if anyone's looking to watch something either awful or hilarious, O'Reilly's going to be on the Daily Show tonight.
Things are going great here in DC, mostly because the city is fabulous and I've met a few good people. Unfortunately, my internship (you know, the part-time-non-espionage-related job) finishes at the end of December, and with Christmas creeping around the corner, it may be time to consider my up & coming future. You know, beyond working at Russell's.
Have resume, will travel.
So expect some updates on that, as well as write-ups on the DC Prop H8 Protest and pictures from the campaign trail.
I originally intended to fill out some job applications tonight, but working 8:45 - 6 coupled with Tuesday's root canal has made me into a semi-lifeless blob, good only for sleeping and watching House reruns.
Speaking of grumpy old men, if anyone's looking to watch something either awful or hilarious, O'Reilly's going to be on the Daily Show tonight.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Fired Up & Ready to Go
No rest for the weary.
If you are a human who believes in the basic rights of other humans, and you are currently in the United States, you should join the impact. You can even join it on facebook.
There is going to be a nationwide protest of Prop 8 and related amendments on Saturday, November 15th. There is literally at least one protest in every state plus DC. Most states have multiple cities participating - I'm proud to say Upstate NY will be there in style.
The way I see it, we just went through a very dramatic election that showcased the power of a lot of people who get organized and get their voice heard. So now that we know we can do it, let's keep doing it.
If you are a human who believes in the basic rights of other humans, and you are currently in the United States, you should join the impact. You can even join it on facebook.
There is going to be a nationwide protest of Prop 8 and related amendments on Saturday, November 15th. There is literally at least one protest in every state plus DC. Most states have multiple cities participating - I'm proud to say Upstate NY will be there in style.
The way I see it, we just went through a very dramatic election that showcased the power of a lot of people who get organized and get their voice heard. So now that we know we can do it, let's keep doing it.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Remember, Remember the 4th of November
My generation woke up different today.
I've always been proud of where I come from - as long as we're talking about New York. If you were an Austrian or a Brazilian or a Swede, I'd tell you I come from New York. New York is a place people are proud to be from and a place that the international community respects, unlike the US as a whole. If I ever plainly said that I was an American, it was with an apologetic shrug and a promise that No, I didn't vote for Bush.
I think a lot of people have felt that way for a long time. The difference is that while older generations had some sense of what they had lost, we didn't. We came to political consciousness in the age of George Bush and fear politics; in the time of Katrina, global warming and radical conservatism; of Guantanamo Bay and two seemingly endless wars. In the grand scheme of history, these are all very recent events. To my generation, however, they are the only thing we have ever really known. We don't remember trusting our government. We don't remember not fearing our leaders. We don't remember when we could say we were Americans without a sense of shame because for most of us, that time never existed.
I don't mean we haven't been proud at some points. We are the post-9/11 generation, afterall. In the wake of a Tuesday in September, we watched rescue workers scoured the rubble and save people day after day. We watched strangers take in strangers in the wake of tragedy. We tried to contemplate, without reference, how everything was changing.
I was 15 at the time.
I felt a sense of pride in my country then. I think a lot of young people did. Watching national neighbors band together in the face of adversity was heartening and most definately something to be proud of. But it was a pride grown from despair, piled on top of emptiness, hurt and above all, fear. We were proud of "our fellow Americans", but that pride and unity toppled like a deck of cards under the weight of fear and anger.
Until November 4th, 2008.
At 11 o'clock last night, I felt something different. I felt excitement as I jumped on the furniture in Capitol Brewery. I felt joy as we celebrated in the streets. I felt love as 93% of DC went out of their way to express gratitude and relief. I felt pride.
All around the world, leaders and civilians alike are lauding the election, proclaiming a new day for absolutely everyone. We chose a leader based for once not on fear, but on hope. My generation ran to the polls after years of being told we didn't care. My country chose a leader who is intelligent and well-spoken, considerate and ready to lead not just to a select group of U.S. citizens, but the world. I really believe that. I think a lot of us do.
On November 5th the older generations of America woke up with a sense that things were finally getting back on track, that we could be proud again.
Most of my generation, however, awoke for the first time with a sense of national pride based not on what was done to us, but on what we did. For the first time, ever, I and others like me were truly proud to be a part of the United States of America.
And that itself is change indeed.
I've always been proud of where I come from - as long as we're talking about New York. If you were an Austrian or a Brazilian or a Swede, I'd tell you I come from New York. New York is a place people are proud to be from and a place that the international community respects, unlike the US as a whole. If I ever plainly said that I was an American, it was with an apologetic shrug and a promise that No, I didn't vote for Bush.
I think a lot of people have felt that way for a long time. The difference is that while older generations had some sense of what they had lost, we didn't. We came to political consciousness in the age of George Bush and fear politics; in the time of Katrina, global warming and radical conservatism; of Guantanamo Bay and two seemingly endless wars. In the grand scheme of history, these are all very recent events. To my generation, however, they are the only thing we have ever really known. We don't remember trusting our government. We don't remember not fearing our leaders. We don't remember when we could say we were Americans without a sense of shame because for most of us, that time never existed.
I don't mean we haven't been proud at some points. We are the post-9/11 generation, afterall. In the wake of a Tuesday in September, we watched rescue workers scoured the rubble and save people day after day. We watched strangers take in strangers in the wake of tragedy. We tried to contemplate, without reference, how everything was changing.
I was 15 at the time.
I felt a sense of pride in my country then. I think a lot of young people did. Watching national neighbors band together in the face of adversity was heartening and most definately something to be proud of. But it was a pride grown from despair, piled on top of emptiness, hurt and above all, fear. We were proud of "our fellow Americans", but that pride and unity toppled like a deck of cards under the weight of fear and anger.
Until November 4th, 2008.
At 11 o'clock last night, I felt something different. I felt excitement as I jumped on the furniture in Capitol Brewery. I felt joy as we celebrated in the streets. I felt love as 93% of DC went out of their way to express gratitude and relief. I felt pride.
All around the world, leaders and civilians alike are lauding the election, proclaiming a new day for absolutely everyone. We chose a leader based for once not on fear, but on hope. My generation ran to the polls after years of being told we didn't care. My country chose a leader who is intelligent and well-spoken, considerate and ready to lead not just to a select group of U.S. citizens, but the world. I really believe that. I think a lot of us do.
On November 5th the older generations of America woke up with a sense that things were finally getting back on track, that we could be proud again.
Most of my generation, however, awoke for the first time with a sense of national pride based not on what was done to us, but on what we did. For the first time, ever, I and others like me were truly proud to be a part of the United States of America.
And that itself is change indeed.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
It's time to vote.
Go vote.
I saw Obama speak at his last campaign event in Manassas, VA tonight with 80,000 of my closest friends. I was at the rally for 6 and 1/2 hours, total, after canvassing since 9am.
Obama spoke for 45 minutes.
It was worth it to be able to say, in the very near future, that I saw the last 2008 campaign speech of the President of the United States.
If you haven't already done so: go vote today, people. Stand in line if you have to. If someone tries to turn you away from the polls for whatever reason, call a local campaign office, the board of elections, your lawyer, or any number of volunteers (legal and non) that will be working from when the first polls open in Maine until the last polls close in Hawaii and Alaska.
Find your polling place at www.voteforchange.com
We write history today. No more, no less.
I saw Obama speak at his last campaign event in Manassas, VA tonight with 80,000 of my closest friends. I was at the rally for 6 and 1/2 hours, total, after canvassing since 9am.
Obama spoke for 45 minutes.
It was worth it to be able to say, in the very near future, that I saw the last 2008 campaign speech of the President of the United States.
If you haven't already done so: go vote today, people. Stand in line if you have to. If someone tries to turn you away from the polls for whatever reason, call a local campaign office, the board of elections, your lawyer, or any number of volunteers (legal and non) that will be working from when the first polls open in Maine until the last polls close in Hawaii and Alaska.
Find your polling place at www.voteforchange.com
We write history today. No more, no less.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Happy (post-) Halloween!
I wandered around half the city tonight with a limp and an orange prescription bottle full of tic tacs. Happy Halloween! I was House. :)
What'd you do?
What'd you do?
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