A Story of Humanity & Compassion Despite Political Differences

After I voted I walked out to the street to find my mother's friends surrounding our new friend Mike - they were laughing and having a great time. I joined them and soon learned that Mike had changed his mind in the polling booth and ended up voting for Obama. When I asked him why he changed his mind at the last minute, he explained that while he was waiting for his jacket he got into a conversation with one of the ladies who had explained how the Jewish community, and she, had worked side by side with the black community during the civil rights movements of the 60's, and that this vote was the culmination of those personal and community efforts so many years ago. That this election for her was more than just a vote...but a chance at history.

Read the whole story here at Running a Hospital.

Dream Job?

Gonna sell my house and cross the border
'Cause somebody told me dreams live in Mexico
Gonna sell my house I got to lose ten pounds
And cross the border
And make sweet love upon the white sandy shore.
[Sarah Bareilles]

I'm applying for jobs. Well, actually I'm freaking out that I'm actually applying for REAL jobs and not coops, which basically means printing job postings then staring at them. I did manage to update my resume though.

The question right now is do I want to find a job as a writer - because I'm good at it, because it was my major, because it could leader to creative director positions (and $$). Or, do I want a job working for an organization I truly love (despite its flaws), even if it means doing some stuff that drives me nuts?

Okay, I'm forcing myself to go write my cover letters now. Big deep breath. Maybe I'm crazy, but I think I want the Girl Scout job more than anything else I've found. Plus, I know I would kick ass at it. Does that mean I wasted my time/$ at Northeastern?!

"Reality Check" - Elections '08

If the Red Sox can teach us anything, it's that it ain't over til it's really over.

A letter from my friend Jason that I felt was a good reminder about the political-media beast calling the shots before anyone has slipped one ballot into the box.

To Everyone,

I know that you all are probably OD-ing on election stuff, but I wanted to send this out just in case any of you were thinking about donating to the election or getting involved but haven't yet. I just donated to the campaign eventhough I felt that I couldn't really afford to. But, what I realized was that my not being able to "afford" was a relative term. I have an apartment in Brookline, I can pay for groceries, I'm wearing good cloths and I have a decent job, (I'm not exactly bathing in money but I'm not exactly scraping by either). And, considering what is at stake, and how close this election still is, in the end I felt like I couldn't afford not to. Because we can't afford another 8 years of... haha just kidding.

But seriously, I urge you to get involved in this election is some way, even if it's just buying a pin, or giving a few dollars or thanking a canvasser on the street - telling them that they are doing a good job, a hard job. This campaign isn't just about Obama, or some bad Republicans, it's about what we're all willing to do as individuals to take responsibility for our communities and this country. It's great to be in support of Obama and it's great to talk about change, but actions speak louder than words.

Get involved:
* Generation Progress - We are an organization of young professionals committed to electing Democrats to Congress. We're confident that Senator Obama can win the White House in November, but we know that he'll need a friendly Congress to help him achieve his goals. We're working to make sure that happens.
* Barack Obama campaign site

Halloween: Now It's Serious

I managed to find the PERFECT dress yesterday for my Rita Hayworth outfit at Filene's Basement. I've had such amazing luck there for cheap dresses, especially costumes. Let's just say it's been the bright spot in the last few days. Anywho, here's what the outfit looks like so far:


I might change the shoes. And clearly the hair & make-up are lacking.

Tonight I'm trying the big foam rollers as a test run for the hair-do.


For a look at the inspiration outfit & attitude, check out the Put the Blame on Mame clip of Rita from the movie Gilda.

The morning after: [PICTURE COMING SOON!]

Update: 3pm - Curls are starting to fall (damn long, thick hair - haha). So I think next time, I'm going to try mousse with leave in before I roll. I also wanted to post a link to The Fedora Lounge and give a shout out to the ladies their for their insight and inspiration. This is definitely a look I will be doing more often - costume or not!

One hour, five minutes, fifty-three seconds

Best phone call in a long, long time. Real, deep life conversations with someone. A few glasses of red wine, cold toes next to the fire, a big sweatshirt. Stars in the sky and a cool breeze across the tilled corn field. (See the Happy List for more.)

I'm a country girl at heart. I've lived in the city for a solid four years now and sometimes the thing I miss most is dirt. Being barefoot in the summer. The smell of fields and fallen leaves in the fall. The pristine snow in the winter. The mud between your toes in the spring. That's the best way I can sum up why I miss being home so much.

I love Boston, I love my life there, but as much as it's my home base, especially right now, it will never be my home.

Update: It feels like 2 am. It's really not even 11pm yet. I don't know if it's the fact that I worked an overnight at Banana last night or if it's being in NH, where the pace of life is completely different, that is causing the sensation.

I feel completely content right now. My mind is quiet (mostly). My body is relaxed. I don't feel any time pressure. I don't feel any anxiety about what's happening or what could happen or what will need to happen tomorrow. Just watching the Sox game, folding my little brother's laundry while the embers die out in the fire.

Disappointment

The only feeling more upsetting, more uncomfortable to experience that deep personal disappointment is witnessing it happen to someone close to you. For example, today was the culmination of one of my fellow CGSer's summer-long planning. She created an elaborate Investiture Ceremony that explained and welcomed each of our girls into the troop in a really special and touching way. There was also a snack made from the different "parts" of a troop. All in all, it was ridiculously cute. It took a lot of work, money, time, planning, care, and special touches. Out of our ten girls who practiced at the meeting (seven of which specifically told me they were coming) only two showed up. TWO. The elaborate ceremony, the special decorations, the individualized parts for each girl would all be for only two girls, two moms, and one grandfather.

We made the best of it, of course, as Girl Scouts often do. We took the girls on a tour of the "hugest building" they had ever seen (our four-story student center), while their moms filled out essential paperwork. The girls had a great time assembling the symbolic bouquet based on the Girl Scout Law. And what Girl Scout event is complete without the gorp (trail mix)? But you could see the overwhelming, though somewhat anticipated, disappointment on the face of the CGSer who had planned the event. It was supposed to be a big welcome party! A way to meet our girls' families, for them to meet us. A chance to show them what Girl Scouts really is, beyond something fun their daughters do during their afterschool program. In that capacity it failed. So while the excitement on the face of the two girls who did attend made it great, there was still that slight emptiness.

Watch someone else who is truly disappointed. There are no words to make it better. There is no antedote.