Travel Blogs

Alas, I am not an award-winning novelist and am thus not qualified to write blogs about my numerous adventures. I am much better at writing short witty comments about my travel as it is happening.  Those comments are enclosed for all to see via my lovely and enchanting tumblr.  Here I can describe my travel in fragments...


Bus from Sacramento to L.A.: Finished a book with excerpts from pilgrimages that people have made
Bus from L.A. to Phoenix: Bus Driver was sassy and didn't allow anyone to talk. She also made us transfer buses at 2am. Due to my short hair, it was easier to stay under wraps.
Bus from Phoenix to El Paso, Texas: Uneventful, I think I listened to music and slept during this portion
Bus from El Paso to Dallas: Well, I woke up at Border Patrol, which means that we spent some time in Mexico.  That was not in my itinerary, however that's okay, I came out alive. No authentic enchiladas for me.
Bus from Dallas to Birmingham: Finished another book about women traveling around the world. Not pansy ones either... like actually going for it.
Then my last bus was canceled and a friend drove the last leg from Montgomery to pick me up. It was only an hour so it wasn't that bad. After three days of being on the bus and experiencing a wide array of sexism and homophobic comments, I was offered a cold pop and a night in some man's house. I declined.

Within the last two days I have been to Martin Luther King Jr's home and the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.

Noteworthy: The Gulf of Mexico was extremely warm. I also used a friend's goggles and saw some large fish.  I knew I felt something by my feet.  The first kind I saw was like a mini-shark ( not trying to catch that -ish) but the second type was a beautiful fish with yellow. I tried to catch that one to show a friend who doesn't know how to swim, I was very unsuccessful.  Apparently, I can't maneuver as fast as a fish in water. Oh well, we had a blast.

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. :)