Thursday, January 24, 2013

DC

I have descended from the nation's capital back to Oregon, a provincial hinterland full of rain, and soon, reading for my classes. But what a fabulous week! So sweet to see all our hard work pay off, and watch the Inauguration of the president for whom I worked for 2 incredible months from the lawn of the Capitol. With my friend Sally, and hundreds of thousands of like-minded weirdos (something seriously wrong with us nutcases, willing to wait for hours in the cold to see Beyonce lip-sync...or did she?...). Freaking cold, but fur coats for the win!

On other business, I toured Georgetown and American Universities (to which I have just applied). Nothing'll make you feel old like attending an undergraduate campus tour with high school juniors and seniors. Looking at long lists of seriously inapplicable and irrelevant majors (theater? sociology? music performance?), I just wanted to shake them all and say: "Major in something that'll get you a job!" but who am I to dash dreams? Best moment was in the 10 minute movie at American University. The girl and her friends graduate and get great jobs, at Booz Allen Hamilton, or med school at Johns Hopkins, or one of them even joins the Peace Corps!! Hahaha, guess I'm not all wrong. Now I just have to wait until March to hear about admissions decisions. Good thing I'll be keeping busy at a tax office between now and then! ... I can see myself living in DC, although I felt like a country mouse come to the big city this last week, a know-nothing newb who couldn't recognize Supreme Court Justices on site and didn't think to ask what the chef recommended.

I also attended the Staff Ball and toured the White House (NBD). I've never felt more classy paying way too much for drinks and waiting outside in the cold. I saw Lady Gaga in person and George Sr. in portrait (and Tony Bennett). Overall, the trip was a success!

But now it's back to work and school...April 16th, you can't come soon enough!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

A quick note

Feeling pretty accomplished right now. 3 apps to grad schools and 1 to a fellowship, in. Job, gotten. All in the first month of the year! And I'm going to celebrate with Sally and Barack this weekend/next week. But then the shit hits the fan and gets real. I'll be swamped from then until April 15th. Sorry friends, I won't have much of a life or time or energy to do anything but slink to and from work, study statistics, do yoga, and watch Battleground, my new favorite show (on Hulu). It's like my life on the campaign, except sexier, everyone has entirely too much time to just sit around and be stupid/snarky/beautiful, and sadder (the whole neglected kids and wife at home arc is really bumming me out). Oh, and did I mention that I'm broke? Ah, my 20s...

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Is this real life??

Shit's getting real here people. I'm taking 9 credits at PCC, which I absolutely love. Well, I like my in-person Econ 201 class b/c I love walking around campus feeling like a college student again! I catch myself grinning like an idiot in class all the time. But just missing a bus and waiting 20 minutes for the next one in the cold...hey, at least there are STREET LIGHTS here in Portland! Man, you don't realize how awesome/necessary those are 'til you live 2 years without 'em!

But Stats online is gonna be a bitch.

I also got a full-time job, which starts next week. So after next Tuesday, I will have no life until April 16th (receptionist at a tax office, you see). Which is fine by me, really. I got bills to pay! Money is meant to be spent, and I have been spending it. And on it goes. At least I'll die having lived.

I have not fully transmogrified into my true Portland self. Yet. Quasi-lesbian haircut, check. Public-transporting myself around town, check. Library card, check. Now I just need some hipster glasses and a bike, to find a yoga studio I like and I'll be set.

In the next couple of days apps to grad schools will be 100% submitted. The week after next I'm going to Washington D.C. to attend the inauguration and staff ball, tour the White House and potential grad schools, and best of all, reunite with my girl Sorry Zead!! SOOOOO excited!!! I can't believe it's been a year since I last saw her! Rude. We're gonna make memories that'll last a lifetime! ...not that we didn't in Malawi...

I'm pleased. 2013 seems to be starting out pretty darn well. Let's keep this up.