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Artist: U2 | Song: Pride (In The Name Of Love)

I am packed and ready to head into Boston. With a stop for a very large cup of coffee and maybe a gas tank replenishment, I’m set. I feel like this opportunity, this decision to try and work for AI is a good one. I feel like I’m beginning to do things that matter, things that can affect change. Though I am very, very tired from late-night packing and cleaning… I’m ready.

On a funny note, I woke up wanting to listen to U2. Bono’s activism is getting to me telepathically. Ha. I suppose it could be worse?

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Artist: Travis | Song: Flowers In The Window

A photo and a song for today. The photo was taken from my kitchen window a few minutes ago and the song I heard this morning and was reminded of myself in recent days. I feel that my life is working itself out. It’s a slow process that grows frustrating but when I remind myself where I’m heading it’s okay.

But live life now. I keep reminding myself of that too.

The other day, I realized I’m in the love with the world. In love with it’s problems, its miracles, and its ability to change and evolve at the fingertips of our efforts as people.

I’m in Boston with Amnesty International this weekend. Working for change. Fulfillment, finally. Happiness. Movement. Growth.

It’s gorgeous outside and I have to go to work in about an hour, boo hoo, but today isn’t all bad. I woke up fairly early thanks to Sebastian’s boredom, wailing, and walking all over me but I didn’t mind too much. He didn’t let me sleep in too late and being up and about helped me get some stuff done. I wrote a scholarship essay and sent it in. I got my laundry together so I can drop it off and not worry about it for the weekend. I ate a healthy lunch and I sang while I was in the shower. Life is pretty good.

Rewind: The last few weeks have been so intense at school. I’ve been writing paper after paper, taking exams, studying for exams after those have been taken… it’s nuts. The bright side is that the weather has been wonderful so I can sit in the sun in RIC’s quad, studying or talking to a friend on a bench. That is exactly what I have been doing… doesn’t that sound so stereotypically college student-y? B and I are great, more than great… Being in love feels healthy, like a cold glass of water after a long walk on a hot day.

Work is well, it’s what it will forever be but I’m adjusting to a different perspective on how to handle my feelings towards it.

I also had been deliberating applying for a spot as a Barack Obama fellow. I’d be working directly on the campaign and racking up some major community service organization hours. But the stress of school has worn me out and I wanted to spend the summer outside, riding my bike (that I’ll be buying soon), getting back in shape, and enjoying myself.

Present: I was nominated by my West Civ professor to work as a mentor on the Open Books Open Minds program during the fall semester. Everyone involved is required to read the book A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah and I, as a mentor, would be required to hold a book discussion, attend a few meetings, and just be a mentor to first year students.

Fast Forward: I applied for the Obama fellowship. I am seriously considering the Open Books Open Minds mentorship, I’m buying a bike in a couple weeks, and no matter what I do this summer I’m going to keep trying to feel good.

Other than that, I’m just saying what I need to say, doing what I need to do, and letting the rest fall into place.

Feeling a little better than last week, so I can’t (and won’t) complain (much).

Was actually fairly productive this weekend even though some of it was wonderfully lazy. Friday was definitely an off day but the evening brightened up, which set the stage for the rest of the weekend to follow suit. Saturday was my lazy day. B and I didn’t get out of bed/get moving until around four-ish. We picked up my laundry and went grocery shopping, then came home to make dinner. The evening was spent camped out on the couches that were pulled together like the foundation for a makeshift fort. Watched The Air I Breathe and The Number 23. Both movies are great… but neither are heralded so.  I think the problem facing ‘23 was that the film was marketed as a horror movie, when really it was more of a film noir-ish, detective story. The Air I Breathe wasn’t mass-marketed, thought it definitely should have been… if not for the sole reason that it would have been a decent revival of Brendan Fraser’s career. Snicker, go ahead.

Slept in late Sunday, B went home, I took care of some paperwork and the like… For some reason I got into this crazy domestic mood and cooked five separate meals and cleaned my apartment. I now have a clean house and tons of choices for dinner for the week. Yay.

All this is wonderful, however, it doesn’t make me super happy to go into work…

It’s cold and rainy outside, but I’m enjoying the grey light that comes with it. The silence is calming and necessary before another hectic night of endless phone calls, problems, and incompetence.

There are only five weeks left of the semester… then summer vacation. I thought I might get stir-crazy if I didn’t have something to do in the mornings during the break. I can’t afford to take summer courses at the moment so I’ve been looking for other alternatives. I actually ended up requesting more information (and plan to sign up) for Barack Obama’s Fellowship program for the summer. It starts in June, which is still a good chunk of vacation time, and requires about thirty hours a week. I’m not sure what the selection process will be but I hope it works out. I figure it will look good on a resume and/or application for grad school when the time comes.

Anyway, it’s getting late and I need to change for work… but I wanted to let myself (because I’m probably the only fool who reads my writing) know that I’m feeling better-ish. I wanted to write that part down, just in case I got confused.

It happens.