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
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
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
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
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