The West Wing

The West Wing is such an accurate portrayal of how political discussions occur.  Wit and intellect is required in conversation and written account, however there will always be times when you lack tact.  In those moments, you learn the most how what it is to work with other people in a country with such diverse stakes in resources.

During the past few years, I wanted to steer clear of policy work. The West Wing inspires me. I think I just needed to broaden my scope out of child welfare.  I needed a policy scope that is more comprehensive.

In other news, I will be traveling to Seattle tomorrow to look at apartments. Woohoo. UW mixer.

Bastille Gets Me, Really Gets Me

"Bad Blood"

We were young and drinking in the park
There was nowhere else to go
And you said you always had my back
Oh but how were we to know

That these are the days that bind you together, forever
And these little things define you forever, forever

All this bad blood here, won't you let it dry?
It's been cold for years, won't you let it lie?

If we're only ever looking back
We will drive ourselves insane
As the friendship goes resentment grows
We will walk our different ways

But those are the days that bind us together, forever
And those little things define us forever, forever

All this bad blood here, won't you let it dry?
It's been cold for years, won't you let it lie?

And I don't wanna hear about the bad blood anymore
I don't wanna hear you talk about it anymore
I don't wanna hear about the bad blood anymore
I don't wanna hear you talk about it anymore

All this bad blood here, won't you let it dry?
It's been cold for years, won't you let it lie?

On the road again.

During the next two weeks, I get to:

-Go to Seattle to find housing
-Say Goodbye to everyone in California (which includes some time in Oakland, SF, and perhaps the South Bay)
-Take as many pictures of street art in Sacramento that I can manage

And then:

-take the bus to Montgomery, Alabama for three days
-Fly to D.C. to a conference
-Find a way to NJ for two days
-Fly to New Foundland for a week (this includes some kayaking and whale watching while kayaking)
-Occupy myself in NJ for another week
-Fly back to Cali
-Pack for a day
-Drive to Seattle
-MOVE IN (if I can find suitable roomates)

Being A Support

The three most important people in my life are men.  They gained this position not only based on their impact on my views, but the love that I hold for each of them individually and how they relate to each other.

Each of them was a victim of abuse as a child. I never knew how to actually address the situation with them.  Sometimes, i would listen. During other times, I would push them towards treatment.  Neither was very effective.  Looking back, I felt overwhelmed with how to deal with the deep shame and guilt and how that intersects with modern day masculinity. I failed.

I wish that I had this website then: 1in6.org

A Night, A Night

To my very lucky surprise I had a marvlous night eating seaweed salad and vegetarian sushi followed by a stroll in the Capitol's Rose Garden.

(It's hard to articulate the feelings I have about the Trayvon Martin case.  I think it illuminates why we need to analyze the systematic implementation of racist public policy and how even a jury can be left with their hands tied when confronted with it.  In order to ensure that every person in the U.S. receives their constitutional right to a fair trial, the laws that are being enforced need to be representative and fair for the populace seeking justice.)

This was all after I gave a driving lesson to a youth. Tonight was the first night that we left the parking lot. I now truly understand the fear that parents have when teaching their children how to drive.  Alas, I only had to grab the steering wheel once in order to save us from an accident.  Although, it is notably difficult to keep a monotone instructional voice when inches away from grazing the car to your right.  

But, progress!

And when you doubt yourself, and then everything falls into place.

I can make a little rag-tag family in Seattle. :)

Camping- Mt. Shasta

This week I took a break from techonology and went camping with some friends in Northern California . We went up to Lake Shasta to camp and ventured to Lake Siskiyou to watch the fireworks.

On Friday, we went on an epic hike with a 4 year old and two dogs. Twice, we had to cross the river swimming with all our stuff above our heads.  I have never done this before, so yes, the first crossing was rather comical. Actually, I had to do the first crossing twice because I had to do a test run.  Thank goodness I did because I lost my balance the first time and float into the current a bit.

Picture Time!

 My chosen sister graduates with a degree in Earth Systems!!

 CELEBRATING THE RIGHT FOR MARRIAGE AT THE CALIFORNIA STATE CAPITOL!

PET Names

If you ever find yourself in the verge of dating me, beware. These are the most like nicknames that I will call you. And yes, I researched these carefully.

1. My little cabbage

2. meine süße 

3. babushka

4. jujube

5. Gizmo

6.Puffin

7. Honey Suckle

8. Love Nugget

9. Sugar Puff

10. Pumpkin

11. Casanova 

My Playlist

As I go through my favorite playlist on IndieShuffle, I am realizing that all of the songs are about a slighted lover or a lover departing.

For instance, take the first song by Daughter.

                                                                        "Medicine"

Pick it up, pick it all up.
And start again.
You've got a second chance,
you could go home.
Escape it all.
It's just irrelevant.

It's just medicine.
It's just medicine.

You could still be,
what you want to,
What you said you were,
when I met you.

You've got a warm heart,
you've got a beautiful brain.
But it's disintegrating,
from all the medicine.
from all the medicine.
from all the medicine.
Medicine.

You could still be,
what you want to,
What you said you were,
when you met me.

You could still be,
what you want to.
What you said you were,
when I met you.
when you met me.
when I met you.

Ooooooooo...
Ooooooooo...

Because, that's when I realized they are all, in some way, relevant to you. 

Tactless Twenties

Never in my life did I imagine myself finding more substantial meaning in Blink-182's song "What's My Age Again?" than entertainment... until it happened today.   This isn't to say that I myself feel like the protaganist in the song.  I feel like I am witnessing two very distinct experiences of the mid-twenty something years play out.

 Hometown/High School Friends vs. College Friends

The hometown/ high school friends that I hear from are all getting married and having kids, or working at retail jobs that they despise. All of them like to party hard to put their life struggles on the back burner for a bit.  They are aware that this will be the majority of their life, rebelling a bit, but ultimately okay with this path as long as they can experience youth for a few more years.

My college friends seem to be the exploring type. Traveling, having lots of exploratory relationships, and trying to out-hip  one another.  Their 20's are more self-indulgent and feel filled with a misdirected angst at the world. It's an angst that almost feels hypocritical and is off-putting to me.  Especially because... well, I am just not that hip and recognize that compromise has to be a part of the game of life.

Polarization will get you nowhere in politics and discussions about society. In fact, when you reference obscure philosphy and thoery in mainstream policy recommendations, it seems snobby and aloof. The majority of Americans, and people in general, do not associate with those readings/writings/films and you need to learn how to integrate those thoughts into strategic critiques.

Maybe, I am just in the group of 20 somethings that is just too focused on my career and the expansion of useful knowledge to fit into those very broad and generalized groups.  I don't need the mayhem of drugs and relationship exploring.  I know what the let-downs and scary depths of human interaction can look like.  Bring me whats next please....