I'm a year older tomorrow, at 6-something AM (can't remember and mom is probably either in bed or on her way to work) so in honor, I thought I would post my reflections on my 23rd year of life. As I officially enter my mid 20's, I find it difficult to not be hyper-critical of what I have (or have not) accomplished personally or professionally in the past year.
1. I had a fabulous birthday weekend, complete with a cake from the UCSA board, a pin the tail on the donkey game, dinner and ice cream on the beach with Deanna, Natalie, Rita and Jasmine and an extra day in the OC with my best friend. Topped off by Zocalo with Fernando, Francis and Diana.
2. In March I recovered from my 1st UCSA student lobby conference as a staff member, attended USSA Leg Con, and coordinated student testimony at the most important higher education budget hearing of the year.
3. April brought two dozen students to Sacramento for "elite" lobby day, followed by a bad bout of homesickness.
4. May- At the UCSA board meeting at UCSB, I rolled down the hill behind the UCEN and got hives. Go figure.
5.June- So many of my best friends from college were class of 07, and I was fortunate enough to seem them graduate, despite running a high fever all weekend. Lance came to town, and it was the best reunion we could have asked for, complete with a bottle of Andre champagne.
6. July brought Jasmine's wedding and my first time as a bridesmaid. I am so happy that my dear friend found great love, and I know it will be a long time before I get married.
7. UCSA Congress was hosted at UCSB, prompting me to have an extended visit there. I had far too much responsibility, but it went off well, and we had a great banquet in Storke Plaza, a smooth-ish plenary and a groundbreaking action with AFSCME 3299.
8. On the same trip, I trekked to Chumash Casino for the first time ever, won $308 from Hill's love of seals and sent a dear friend off to DC for good.
9. In August, we started attempting to pass the DREAM Act.
10. In September, I got to do campus visits to work with lobby corps, proving that legislative politics is sexy and not without its own share of organizing needs.
11. In October, we had an awesome DREAM action on the North Steps, followed by the Governor vetoing the bill. One of the worst days of my young political life, for certain.
12. I got to spend my mom's birthday with her.
13. In November, I fell in love with Santa Barbara politics all over again. After too much wine, lots of tears, and a long drive alone back to Sac, I think it ended OK.
14. I visited my lifelong best friend's 6th grade classroom over Thanksgiving, and developed a renewed and higher level of respect for teachers.
15. In December I moved alone (sort of) or the first time, and into a single apartment after my college friend and roommate headed back to LA. Living alone hasn't been all it's cracked up to be, but I'm managing. I also spent 2 amazing weeks with my family and friends in the Inland Empire.
16. January seems a blur...but I know that I got the stomach flu before heading to UC Riverside for the voter registration deadline, and still made it to campus.
17. My vote almost mattered in the Monster Tuesday California Presidential Primary (I voted for John Edwards absentee and early, but I don't regret it.)
18. I spent too much on Wicked tickets at Pantages. Neil and I searched hopelessly for a place to eat dinner, and settled on a NY style pizzeria. Awkward to say the least.
19. I was fortunate to spend 3 nights with my old, brilliant friend Rita in a UCLA dorm while doing GOTV on campus. Reconnecting with longtime friends is priceless.
20. I realized that for all the difficulties of my job, the Southwest flights throughout California are priceless.
21. I failed to find an author for a bill UCSA considered sponsoring this year. Also one of the worst low points of the professional year. Tough to lobby for an issue that's not super sexy.
22. February brought a random wave of responsibility, and I opened a Roth IRA. I'm a Democrat, but I do wonder about the security of social security.
23. I, and UCSA made it through the largest Student Lobby Conference ever. It was great. Completely great. We had 350 students attend, Secretary Bowen speak and the speaker come down from his balcony for our press conference. I couldn't have asked for more.
The year had its ups and downs, and as you can see I'm in a very loving, committed relationship with my job. As in 2006, major changes will be in store for me in 2008, and year 24. I'm crossing my fingers to make the right decisions, be surrounded by my amazing friends and family, see a Democratic president elected and to make more lasting memories.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
15 minutes
My legs were in the Sac Bee on Saturday. You can check them out here.
I'd say it will be the highlight of my week, but I enjoyed having rare company in Sacramento this weekend, and am looking forward to a few happy hours, a red eye flight and reconnecting with old friends in the next few days.
I know I haven't posted lame stories about my job, political musings or much else lately, but I will resume soon-ish.
I'd say it will be the highlight of my week, but I enjoyed having rare company in Sacramento this weekend, and am looking forward to a few happy hours, a red eye flight and reconnecting with old friends in the next few days.
I know I haven't posted lame stories about my job, political musings or much else lately, but I will resume soon-ish.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Illini, Iowa and Indecision.
I'm home in Sacramento now, after a 7 hour drive up the 5 that I could damn near do with my eyes closed by now. After moving just a few weeks ago then taking off for the holidays, I'm surrounded by boxes, don't have cable, and can't seem to find my blender (which might be my prizes possession) so I'm writing.
I watched the Rose Bowl yesterday, and cheered for the beleaguered Illini all the way. I don't care the lease bit about Illinois or football for that matter, but I'm a public school snob. It's not an oxymoron, I promise. New Years Day is meant for doing nothing, and it was amazing. Nothing=football+onion dip.
Tomorrow, voters in Iowa caucus for the 2008 presidential primary. I've never been to Iowa (other than driving through, it's true what they say about the corn), but I'm pretty sure the arcane caucus system has got to be a sight to see. I like all the Democratic candidates better this year than I liked any of them in 2004, which is why it's been so hard for me to commit to a candidate. I'm 90% in the Edwards camp for now, but that's all I'll say.
On another note, one of the rockstar-awesome students I work with posted a link today on Facebook, instructing everyone to share it with their liberal friends. It's a good read, I'll save the analysis for later (it could be awhile.) Back to searching through boxes.
I watched the Rose Bowl yesterday, and cheered for the beleaguered Illini all the way. I don't care the lease bit about Illinois or football for that matter, but I'm a public school snob. It's not an oxymoron, I promise. New Years Day is meant for doing nothing, and it was amazing. Nothing=football+onion dip.
Tomorrow, voters in Iowa caucus for the 2008 presidential primary. I've never been to Iowa (other than driving through, it's true what they say about the corn), but I'm pretty sure the arcane caucus system has got to be a sight to see. I like all the Democratic candidates better this year than I liked any of them in 2004, which is why it's been so hard for me to commit to a candidate. I'm 90% in the Edwards camp for now, but that's all I'll say.
On another note, one of the rockstar-awesome students I work with posted a link today on Facebook, instructing everyone to share it with their liberal friends. It's a good read, I'll save the analysis for later (it could be awhile.) Back to searching through boxes.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Procrastination at its' finest
I'm moving, which means I'm packing, which really means I'm checking my email every 3 minutes, reading my friends blogs, downloading music of itunes and basically finding every way possible to not do what I need to be doing.
Since so many of my friends have done this thing over the past months, I decided I would do it too.
I'm pretty sure that I look nothing like any of these people. Whatever. Back to boxing up books.
Since so many of my friends have done this thing over the past months, I decided I would do it too.
I'm pretty sure that I look nothing like any of these people. Whatever. Back to boxing up books.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Because It's Been Awhile...
So I'm going to work on blogging more often. It's kind of like going to the gym, taking my lunch to work, and getting out holiday cards BEFORE New Years. It's a growth process, and I'm working on it. This will be a life update, consider yourself warned.
Things that have happened in my life in the past few weeks:
1. Election Day in Santa Barbara
2. Student of Color Conference
3. Regents Meeting at UCLA
4. Me Realizing I don't ever want to be a teacher.
1. I took vacation days to head down to the place I still feel is home to help my former boss & friends get reelected to the city council. This was the most fun thing I'd done in several weeks, and basically solidified that I want to move back when my pseudo-contract ends in July-August-ish. It also solidified that I pretty much like campaigns more than anything else about the political process, which might make me a hack, but I'm ok with that. This decision was made after several glasses of wine out of a styrofoam cup, but it seems to feel right whenever I think about it now, so I'm going with it.
2. SOCC was amazing, and so were the 700+ students that attended it. Aside from some crazy Santa Cruz tree-sitter white people protesting the LRDP (which plans to build 5 new residential colleges on the SC campus in the next several years, crazy) everything went pretty smoothly. If I ever see a case of Costco water again in my life, I will scream. Same goes for a chocolate muffin. The rest of the UCSA staff sympathizes, I'm sure.
3. UCLA is my 2nd favorite campus in the UC system (architecturally and geographically speaking.) My favorite campuses in terms of students, however, are kept private. I will admit that UCSB wins my heart in both catergories, as it should. Anyways, to get to the point, I had never been to a Regents meeting at UCLA before and thoroughly enjoyed it. They postponed raising fees until the January meeting, putting the ball safely in the Governor's court and making it my responsibility, which I'm ok with. The entire experience would have been more pleasant if a) the Regents would run on schedule and b) I wouldn't have been deathly sick. See above two segments for descriptions of my previous weekends and why I was susceptible to my boss' cold.
4. Today, I woke up at 5:30 am to head back to middle school with my lifelong friend Neil, who is a first year teacher at El Sereno Middle School in Los Angeles. Talking to energetic 11 year olds about the state budget process and what it means to be a lobbyist was fun, but I certainly couldn't get through the day, everyday, in the company of only sixth graders. Bravo to teachers, all of them should get paid more.
I'm about to sit in LA traffic for 2.5 hours to go approximately 67 miles. Yet, when I say I can't wait to move back to Southern California, I couldn't be more serious.
Things that have happened in my life in the past few weeks:
1. Election Day in Santa Barbara
2. Student of Color Conference
3. Regents Meeting at UCLA
4. Me Realizing I don't ever want to be a teacher.
1. I took vacation days to head down to the place I still feel is home to help my former boss & friends get reelected to the city council. This was the most fun thing I'd done in several weeks, and basically solidified that I want to move back when my pseudo-contract ends in July-August-ish. It also solidified that I pretty much like campaigns more than anything else about the political process, which might make me a hack, but I'm ok with that. This decision was made after several glasses of wine out of a styrofoam cup, but it seems to feel right whenever I think about it now, so I'm going with it.
2. SOCC was amazing, and so were the 700+ students that attended it. Aside from some crazy Santa Cruz tree-sitter white people protesting the LRDP (which plans to build 5 new residential colleges on the SC campus in the next several years, crazy) everything went pretty smoothly. If I ever see a case of Costco water again in my life, I will scream. Same goes for a chocolate muffin. The rest of the UCSA staff sympathizes, I'm sure.
3. UCLA is my 2nd favorite campus in the UC system (architecturally and geographically speaking.) My favorite campuses in terms of students, however, are kept private. I will admit that UCSB wins my heart in both catergories, as it should. Anyways, to get to the point, I had never been to a Regents meeting at UCLA before and thoroughly enjoyed it. They postponed raising fees until the January meeting, putting the ball safely in the Governor's court and making it my responsibility, which I'm ok with. The entire experience would have been more pleasant if a) the Regents would run on schedule and b) I wouldn't have been deathly sick. See above two segments for descriptions of my previous weekends and why I was susceptible to my boss' cold.
4. Today, I woke up at 5:30 am to head back to middle school with my lifelong friend Neil, who is a first year teacher at El Sereno Middle School in Los Angeles. Talking to energetic 11 year olds about the state budget process and what it means to be a lobbyist was fun, but I certainly couldn't get through the day, everyday, in the company of only sixth graders. Bravo to teachers, all of them should get paid more.
I'm about to sit in LA traffic for 2.5 hours to go approximately 67 miles. Yet, when I say I can't wait to move back to Southern California, I couldn't be more serious.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
In the words of President Bush "It's hard work."
I promised Hillary a blog weeks ago, so here it is.
This might be a bit effed up, considering that President Bush was referencing the Iraq war, and I'm referring to getting the CA Legislature to spend money on decidedly unsexy higher education, but my job is hard. I've just returned from 8 days "in the field," (I'm not a field organizer, mind you.) and my brain is completely fried, so that's why the previous was a run-on sentence. Watch for more.
Anyways, I've long contemplated writing about work. I'd include code names for the students I work with and mix up the campuses so it's less obvious. I'm no con-woman, however, and this type of ploy has backfired on too many before me. In the past 8 days I've been at San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Berkeley. I love my job in Sacramento, but it doesn't allow me to be on campus much, so I was grateful for the opportunity to get out of the office. Santa Barbara is my favorite campus, if only because I went there, was involved in the community and most importantly still feel like its home. The rest are equal in my eyes, sort of like how mothers feel must about their children. I spent the past week doing the best I could to help prepare the amazing students I work with for a long and arduous fight for the budget and the California Dream Act ahead, and I'm not sure if it will change the outcome of this year's legislative cycle. I knew how hard it was to accomplish anything before I got to Sacramento, but I wasn't prepared for how hard. Nowhere near prepared. When I took this job, I called a friend who responded "It's going to be harder than you think." I said "thanks, asshole." Now I know he was at least sorta right.
Today I was asked by a colleague if I blogged, and I said "sort of." I worked with her on the CA Dream Act, SB 1, and she was starting a post about it. I can't post about the bill, because I'm still mad as hell about the veto. I take my work seriously and attribute a lot of losses to personal failure, so I'm sad. That bill is so insanely important, and I feel is more deeply each time I hear the story of another undocumented student who has to work harder than most people can understand to pay for school a quarter at a time. It's ridiculous that financial aid access wasn't included in AB 540 to begin with, but that's another issue.
I'm tired, and not sure if any of this made any sense. Off to watch Grey's Anatomy-don't judge me.
This might be a bit effed up, considering that President Bush was referencing the Iraq war, and I'm referring to getting the CA Legislature to spend money on decidedly unsexy higher education, but my job is hard. I've just returned from 8 days "in the field," (I'm not a field organizer, mind you.) and my brain is completely fried, so that's why the previous was a run-on sentence. Watch for more.
Anyways, I've long contemplated writing about work. I'd include code names for the students I work with and mix up the campuses so it's less obvious. I'm no con-woman, however, and this type of ploy has backfired on too many before me. In the past 8 days I've been at San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Berkeley. I love my job in Sacramento, but it doesn't allow me to be on campus much, so I was grateful for the opportunity to get out of the office. Santa Barbara is my favorite campus, if only because I went there, was involved in the community and most importantly still feel like its home. The rest are equal in my eyes, sort of like how mothers feel must about their children. I spent the past week doing the best I could to help prepare the amazing students I work with for a long and arduous fight for the budget and the California Dream Act ahead, and I'm not sure if it will change the outcome of this year's legislative cycle. I knew how hard it was to accomplish anything before I got to Sacramento, but I wasn't prepared for how hard. Nowhere near prepared. When I took this job, I called a friend who responded "It's going to be harder than you think." I said "thanks, asshole." Now I know he was at least sorta right.
Today I was asked by a colleague if I blogged, and I said "sort of." I worked with her on the CA Dream Act, SB 1, and she was starting a post about it. I can't post about the bill, because I'm still mad as hell about the veto. I take my work seriously and attribute a lot of losses to personal failure, so I'm sad. That bill is so insanely important, and I feel is more deeply each time I hear the story of another undocumented student who has to work harder than most people can understand to pay for school a quarter at a time. It's ridiculous that financial aid access wasn't included in AB 540 to begin with, but that's another issue.
I'm tired, and not sure if any of this made any sense. Off to watch Grey's Anatomy-don't judge me.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Stop Hating on SENATOR CLINTON...NOW.
I am sick of hearing people trash talk SENATOR Hillary Clinton. And by people, I mean Democrats. The numerous slurs that Republicans, conservatives, chauvinists, sexists and others obviously afraid of her are to be expected.
As an (almost) immediate disclaimer, I'm not a supporter of SENATOR Clinton's. Aside from a $10 donation I made a few weeks ago, prompted only by Senator Barack Obama pissing me off, I'm not committed to her campaign in any way. I've been a staunch supporter of Governor Bill Richardson from day one. Knowing the Governor Richardson has a snowball's chance in hell of winning the nomination at this point (though he is by far the most qualified and experienced) I've always known I'd have to pick another candidate eventually- and am almost ready to order a John Edwards bumper sticker. I'll keep holding out that my favorite Southwestern Governor will be a leader on the Veep shortlist- whoever wins the nomination.
Also, to be fair, I don't have any major problems with Barack Obama. I watched his DNC speech in '04, right alongside every other Democrat in America. "We play little league in the blue states and we've got some gay friends in the red states," may have even been one of my facebook quotes for awhile. I was inspired, I was pumped, I was excited. The party lost, Obama won and apparently became the de facto progressive leader of the the United States????
Whoa.
I'm not sure when, I'm not sure how, but I am sure he hasn't been in the Senate long enough to be the leader on much of anything. The man voted for the bankruptcy bill! And if I hear that he was opposed to the Iraq war from the beginning one more time I might just scream. YOU WEREN'T IN CONGRESS!!! You don't get to set yourself apart from the others in the field when you didn't face the same circumstances.
Senator Clinton impresses me. I know that my most liberal friends reading this blog (oh wait, no one reads my blog.) will be calling me a sellout and a mod before I can "John Edwards for President," but she does.
Now, I'm sure people are commenting on the "I'm Your Girl!" statement, and have a wide variety of opinions. I, for one, think she's fucking fierce, and is clearly sick of every other candidate in the field talking about her, in part because they don't have enough substantive policy to talk about for themselves. Senator Edwards excluded, of course.
As an (almost) immediate disclaimer, I'm not a supporter of SENATOR Clinton's. Aside from a $10 donation I made a few weeks ago, prompted only by Senator Barack Obama pissing me off, I'm not committed to her campaign in any way. I've been a staunch supporter of Governor Bill Richardson from day one. Knowing the Governor Richardson has a snowball's chance in hell of winning the nomination at this point (though he is by far the most qualified and experienced) I've always known I'd have to pick another candidate eventually- and am almost ready to order a John Edwards bumper sticker. I'll keep holding out that my favorite Southwestern Governor will be a leader on the Veep shortlist- whoever wins the nomination.
Also, to be fair, I don't have any major problems with Barack Obama. I watched his DNC speech in '04, right alongside every other Democrat in America. "We play little league in the blue states and we've got some gay friends in the red states," may have even been one of my facebook quotes for awhile. I was inspired, I was pumped, I was excited. The party lost, Obama won and apparently became the de facto progressive leader of the the United States????
Whoa.
I'm not sure when, I'm not sure how, but I am sure he hasn't been in the Senate long enough to be the leader on much of anything. The man voted for the bankruptcy bill! And if I hear that he was opposed to the Iraq war from the beginning one more time I might just scream. YOU WEREN'T IN CONGRESS!!! You don't get to set yourself apart from the others in the field when you didn't face the same circumstances.
Senator Clinton impresses me. I know that my most liberal friends reading this blog (oh wait, no one reads my blog.) will be calling me a sellout and a mod before I can "John Edwards for President," but she does.
Now, I'm sure people are commenting on the "I'm Your Girl!" statement, and have a wide variety of opinions. I, for one, think she's fucking fierce, and is clearly sick of every other candidate in the field talking about her, in part because they don't have enough substantive policy to talk about for themselves. Senator Edwards excluded, of course.
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