21 Days and a wake up!

I'll have to make this a short one since I have some voters to annoy! In the interest of time I'll bullet point it!

• Yesterday the Governor was in Council Bluffs for an event. It went well, the crowd size was a bit more than what I expected and the Gov was on fire!
• I am so homesick it's ridiculous. I miss la familia, amigos, y amigas!
• I have 17 bottles of liquor in my possession at various stages of consumption. And it's the good shit too. Life is too short to drink shitty booze. I will need help post E-Day finishing them.
  
• Fast food is gross and I will never consume it again. I think I will throw up if I see another Taco Bell, BK, or Micky D's.
  
• Happy Birthday Ashley. I miss you! I feel like a horrible person for not being there. Have fun without me!
• I'm looking forward to waking up refreshed instead of exhausted. I used to be a morning person...not so much anymore.
  
• Before the move to the Bluffs, I was planning on training for a marathon. Winter seems like a perfect time to pick up where I left off. Hell if I can succeed in this campaign I can do anything.
  
• The day I'm back in town I am planning on parking myself down at a stool in Sakura and ordering $50 worth of sushi. Yeah you read it right $50! That's how I "roll" (haha roll, because sushi is rolled...get it? Well fuck you I thought that was funny)
• I hate to play favorites with my volunteers but the one I will miss the most is a woman named Linda Nelson. She's the former President of the ISEA and she's my rock. She's just a cool old lady who gets shit done. We need more of those in this world.

That's all for now. Miss you all much!

Until next time, all the best,
Lucas

Quitters Suck

34 Days


On Show Choir

So it's a mere 34 Days until E Day. Activity in the office is picking up, my volunteers feel fired up, and I'm hopeful we can pull this thing off. All day long I'm trapped in my office I jokingly refer to as my over sized jail cell. However yesterday at the end of a long day I got a chance to do something actually fun. A volunteer of mine is a perennial show choir mom. We bonded instantly over our love of progressive politics and jazz hands. Her kids are in college now but she is still really active with Omaha ATSC (Amazing Technicolor Show Choir). Their opening performance was yesterday at the Fall Choir Concert and the Show Choir was last to perform, which coincided with the end of my workday. ATSC's director is a UNI alum, knows my former Show Choir Director, and actually has family in Hudson...small goddamn world. For the opening performance, it was really solid. A few tweaks here and there are needed but it's going to be a great show. A few of my favorite pieces are in their set including King of the World by Jason Robert Brown and Moondance by Michael Buble!

On Quitters

Yesterday a good friend of mine quit the campaign. He was relatively new to politics and I think he needed an extra cycle or two under his belt before he jumped into this position but nonetheless he took the job. If there is one thing I can't fucking stand it's quitters. I have no problem with failure I have no problem with mistakes. I do have a problem with people who don't have the fucking balls to finish what they start. We are 34 days away from the end of this election cycle and quitting now is tantamount to having sex without getting off, as crass as that analogy may be. Every single one of my colleagues and bosses all feel the same stress and pressure to perform to the best of our abilities, especially when the repercussions of our actions will be felt for years and decades to come. A close friend and confidant of mine who now is leading our charge here in Iowa once said to me on a car ride, "honey in any situation you are in, you either rise to the occasion or you don't". Those word have been my mantra throughout this campaign and they will follow me until the day I die. In life and in politics take no bullshit, take no prisoners, and if you're going down make sure you're swinging until you hit the floor.

On Y'all

Jackie - Quit freaking out about not finding a "real" job. We're in the greatest economic recession since the great depression. You are talented, quick on your feet, and a go getter. A quality job will come your way but in the mean time you're in your early 20's so enjoy it while you can. Travel as much as possible (can someone say Eastern Asia?), fuck your brains out, and drink like a fish. Things will fall into place.

Ash - Don't freak out about recent events. Don't over analyze every situation, conversation, text, phone call, or facebook message. You are truly one of the most kind hearted people I have ever met. I admire and respect that more than you can ever know. But DO NOT be afraid to be more assertive. Act like you're wearing a strap on when someone has done you wrong and let the world know you are not meant to be fucked with. We'll work on that together when I'm back!!! And keep smiling, that 1000 watt smile could light up Chicago, I miss it a lot.

Katie - Quit hanging out with Hudson people. There is a reason I spend as much time outside of Hudson as possible. You're way too cool for those losers. As per my advice to Jackie, you are in your early 20's drinking is okay, just not with Hudson people. There will be a fishbowl extravaganza when I'm back! And although you feel like you're in a standstill right now things will heat up soon! We'll make plans when I'm back.

Bre - Keep plugging away at making our Earth a little greener. Add a little administrative experience to your resume and when I elect some bozo to office in the future, I'll put your resume for a DNR/EPA/Other environmentally inclined government job at the top of the heap. Also call me more, I miss thee.

Final Note: Tickets for Harry Potter 7 Part 1 are not on sale online yet. I'm going to grab tickets for all of us when they do go on sale. Also Jackie one of my volunteers Boyd and his wife Kate would like to join us for Les Mis in Omaha when we go in the spring. Miss you all peace!

Until next time. All the best,

Lucas

48 Days

On Home

It's a mere 48 days until the midterm elections. Which means it's only 47 days until I am running on 3 hours of sleep, strung out on coffee, redbull, and cigarettes hoping beyond hope that all of the time energy and emotional stress I have been through over the past 4 months has paid off. Yesterday I had a really bad case of homesickness. Ash wrote on Jackie's facebook wall that they should have more C o J dates. I miss me some Cup. Council Bluffs is a fantastic area with a lot to offer the state of Iowa but it's no Cedar Valley. I get ticked when people back home say how boring Waterloo and Cedar Falls are. There are diverse restaurants, (Sakura, Tony's, MAID RITE, Boardwalk Deli, Steamboat) a great night life, (Jameson's, The Library, Sharky's, The Catacombs, Stuffed Olive) an appreciation for theater and culture, (Waterloo CfA, BHCP, UNI Museum). The Cedar Valley is no New York, Chicago, or even Iowa City to be certain, but it is an area on the up and up. It's not a place where grizzled old porch sitters gather on the hot summer days and scream into the winds of history yearning for days gone past. It's an area where growth is occuring, community pride is developing, and the tangible forces of development are at work. I'm proud to say I'm from the Cedar Valley, and so should you.

On the IPad

So my new obsession is my brand new IPad. I've been toying with the idea of purchasing one and I pulled the trigger last week. I can't put it down. When I'm back in town it goes without saying that yes you can play with it Jackie. I'm still messing around with it, however I've already watched two movies on it, cleaned out my old/useless emails, downloaded a sample of the book, "The Promise" by Jonathan Alter, and checked the weather for the 10 day forecast. I love this thing.

On my Return

The 2010 campaign ends on Nov 2nd. I wish I could be back on Wed the 3rd but that just isn't possible. My awesome boss (and defacto adopted older brother/mentor) Aaron and I will be spending the 3rd and possibly the 4th cleaning up and tearing down the office. The day we are done with that we have to drop off all of our technology to the Des Moines HQ. All of my counterparts accross the state are as stressed as me so we all are planning a little post election drinking night. So the appoximate estimation of my arrival date in Waterloo will be Nov 5th or 6th. Here's the thing though, sed boss Aaron is getting married the December but is having his bachelor party in Cedar Rapids on the 6th of November so it's possible I might be out of commission until the 7th. Let it be known I do not expect a welcome back party (your time and energy can be put to much more productive uses). I just want a chill night with the people I care about sitting down in some lounge. I'm thinking The Catacombs or Roux Orleans...something along those lines.

Until next time. All the best,
Lucas

I'm Getting Gross

My job isn't just my job. It's my mission in life. So sometimes I get wrapped up in the craziness of work and forget to take care of myself. Yesterday that all caught up with me. We had a heat advisory in the area. It was 94 degrees with a heat index of 107. Our Des Moines headquarters told us not to send the canvassers out so I didn't (my boss took the day off so I was in charge). However stupid Luke wanted to get his numbers up so he went out for an hour in the blistering heat to knock doors. I knocked about 25 doors before I was exhausted, dripping with sweat I trudged the 8 blocks back to my car for the ride back to the office. I hadn't eaten food at that point so I decided to do the really smart thing and have McDonalds for lunch. I got back to the office and started making political calls when I started feeling not so great. The boys left about an hour after I got back and not 15 minutes after they left I booted. Fail. I'm operating on 5-6 hours of sleep. Eating horrible food non stop. Stressing out more than I ever have. Going from a freezing office to the blistering outdoors many times a day. Smoking a pack of ciggs a day. And missing my friends and family back home. I don't know how much I weight I've gained but I took a look in a full length mirror this morning and it shows that I've been treating my body like crap. Yesterday's boot was a combination of all these factors and probably a few more.

Well I've always been one to through a fantastic pity party but not today. Today I regain control of my health. I'm going to begin with a one week cleanse. Only fruits and veggies, whole grains, no meats, minimal booze, and no soda. I'm also going to get more sleep, I normally go back to my supporter's house after work and watch t.v. for a few hours or so. Not anymore, when I get home my head is going to hit that damn pillow. Next I'm going to join a gym. There is an Anytime fitness about 4 block from my house so I'll join it, and when I move back to the 'Loo I'm going to have no excuse to work out with you Jackie. Hell Yeah! I'm also going to try and cut back on the smokes. I was doing great before I came here, Ashley you really did help me get down to about a pack every 3 days but now that's out the window. I'm going to cut down to a pack every other day god help me.

I've never been one to ask for a ton of help but I need your's now ladies. Call me when you can, text me, just keep in touch. I miss you all. Ash I'm so stoked for your visit, and JHo you should stop by too. Katie is coming at the end of Aug and McConnell might come too. Just sayin.

Until next time. All the best,
Lucas

Building Momentum

Hi All,
It been a busy week in la vida de Luke. Things in Council Bluffs are going well, I'm hitting my stride and beginning to hit my goals for my job. Today I'm stoked because my friend Sue Dvorsky is stopping by the office. She's the new chair of the Iowa Democratic Party and is basically like a campaign mom to me.
So I was canvassing the other day and I had another deer encounter. I saw a total of 5 deer in various neighborhoods and 1 of them tried to throw down with me. Thank god I was close to my car. Bambi may seem cute on the movie but when you're in the field and standing 20 feet away from a pissed of deer you get scared shitless.
Ebay is my new obsession. A few days ago I bought the 1985 film Clue based on the board game. I love it, it's hysterical. I watched it with my host here in CB and we couldn't stop cracking up! I'm buying Serial Mom next. It's a John Water's film with Kathleen Turner, Sam Waterston (from Law and Order) and a teenage Ricki Lake. Kathleen plays a typical suburban housewife who happens to be a serial killer. It's sooooo funny.
That's all I got for now but I'll keep you updated if anything crazy happens in the next couple of days.

Until next time. All the best,
Lucas

Yes We Can!

Hey Ash, Jackie, and all other randoms who come across this blog.

So I got back Monday from my trip to Colorado. We got into town around 6am Saturday morning, slept for an hour and started getting ready for the memorial service which started at 10:30. The service was Catholic and it's been awhile since my last Catholic service, so I forgot how much exercise my quads were going to get with all the standing, sitting, and kneeling. After the service we went to Kathy's mom's place where everyone started to get drunk and eat homemade Mexican food. After eating real Latin food I don't know if I can go back to Carlos O'Kelly's and not bitch slap you all (I think I had like 3 plates of food). After we left Gloria's (Kathy's Mom) we went back to my Grandparents place for a power nap before we drove 2 block's away to visit our good friend Luke Burger...great name right! We got to Luke's and chilled for a bit, his brother just got a 73 inch HD TV and the Rocky's game was on so I was basically in hog heaven. This is where the story gets interesting.

So my old boss and good friend from the Biden Campaign Holly Savage lives in Denver and I gave her a heads up I'd be out there. She comes and picks me up from my Grandparents' place at around 7pm and we go straight to her and her boyfriends' favorite neighborhood bar. It's a total dive bar that would make the Library feel classy but that's my scene and I loved it. We did shots galore, watched some fireworks on the roof of the adjacent parking garage, went to the park next door and drank in front of the Denver Police, went back to the bar (check out my facebook pirate photo), drove to a house party (I think this might have been where I drunk dialed Menke), and took a cab back to Holly's Boyfriends place where we crashed at like 5pm for a few hours of sleep. It was a crazy night!

The next morning we woke up figured out the car situation and Holly and I went out for Breakfast Burritos at the most amazing hole in the wall Mexican Restaurant I've ever been to. You know it's great when you can't understand the waitress even though you know broken Spanish! She dropped me off at my Grandparents where my entire extended family was getting together (talk about a walk of shame). I had no time to nap too because after my family left, my sisters wanted to go to the mall and I sure as hell wasn't going to be stuck talking to my Grandparents (god love them) for 4 hours. The mall was cool, it's called Flat Irons and it's part indoor and part out door. I got some gifts for my volunteers and boss and then went to go grab my mom and get the hell out of there. She was shopping at Cold Water Creek and apparently went outside for a second to make a call, when she put down her bag down and went back in to buy a sweatshirt. By the time she remembered the bag it had been stolen. Her, I, and the bitchy sales lady from CWC looked up and down the store for 30 minutes trying to find it but finally Mom gave up and I bought her a pair of earrings because I felt bad. We went back to my Grandparents saw some more friends, crashed and got up at 6pm for the drive home which was uneventful yet tense because we were all sleep deprived and bitchy.

I got back to work Monday and have had a great 2 days of campaigning. My intern is great and I'm getting more volunteers everyday. Wish you both were here and can't wait until you guys can come out to visit! I'll fill you more tomorrow! Love you both.

Until next time. All the best.

Lucas

Tough Times

Yesterday was a tough day. Campaign staffers are give nightly and weekly goals we try to achieve. And yesterday I was sucking it up. I'm resigned to the fact that like in life I'm going to have some good days and some not so good days but that doesn't diminish the blow. I aim to win, not just to perform mediocre or at par, but to blow the competition out of the water. Never the less I picked myself up and got ready for another day. Pissed at myself as I was yesterday I've been feeling a little down this whole week. I found out two days ago a close family friend passed away. Her name was Kathy Cravens. She passed away from ALS commonly known as Lou Gherigs Disease. She lived for almost 5 years with a debilitating condition that attacked her body and speech yet left her mind intact. We knew this day would come but It doesn't soften the loss. If I wasn't an atheist I would certainly think that Kathy was an angel on Earth because I have yet to meet someone so fun, loving, funny, and caring as she was.

As I was going to sleep last night I couldn't help but think about how my profession bleeds into my personal life. I'm a Liberal Democrat. Letting science exist and evolve unscrutinized is a fundamental cause I champion. Especially at a time when some members of Congress believe the Earth is 6000 years old, and Evolution is a trick sent here by Satan to confuse the innocent. President Obama lifted the ban on the use of stem cells in scientific research and I am so thankful he did. I just wish it was done many years ago, maybe then I wouldn't be writing of the loss of a dear friend and an extraordinary human being. Rest Peacefully Kathy. If anyone deserves it you do.

On a slightly less Debbie Downer note. I had a few interesting encounters over the past two days.

1. While gassing up yesterday afternoon, I saw a woman digging through the cigarette butt disposal to try and find a smoke. Let me state for the record I'm a smoker but if I ever reach that point please feel free to put me out of my misery.
2. Council Bluffs is home to Iowa's School for the Deaf and has a large deaf community. Today while in the office a deaf man came in. He could read my lips but I can't sign and he was very difficult to understand. I could decipher the following though, he is an avid star watcher, he likes to grow heirloom tomatoes, he can't stand Chuck Grassley, and he draws a hell of a unicorn. He made me smile during a tough time and I am grateful to him for that.

Until next time. All the best.

Lucas