Racine Is For Lovers

In the few short days I have left before I officially begin my Chicago adventure I've had a lot of time on my hands. So much,  that aside from waking up, eating, and working out my days are completely free.

As a reader you might be thinking "Your life must be soo hard, Princess.  Call me when you have a couple screaming kids and you wanna take a nap.

Yes I know this is the most privileged whine moment ever, yet it makes me long for what I can only say was the most hectic and lovely past summer of my life as an Obama campaign organizing fellow.  Essentially from May 21st to August 17 I worked in Racine, Wisconsin helping out with the recall election and building support for the President during the summer months.  

      So basically you got coffee and door knocked for a few months... sounds like "big fun." Tell me another joke.

While getting coffee and doing other office drudge work is what I expected to do for the campaign, in reality they wanted me to be a\ functioning member of the team. This meant I was expected to do the same work as the paid staff and work the same hours; however, that was mostly because my boss and I carpooled to work. Can you say 80 hour weeks, because before this summer I thought they were a myth. I was so wrong. They're real, People!

 Because I came about two weeks before the Wisconsin recall election, the office had so much organizing to do and so many more people to reach out to. So instead of the usual trainings and slowly working yourself into office culture, I was immediately thrown into making calls, learning how to set up events, cutting turf (this was my favorite), what makes great volunteers want to come back, and much much more. Though I was a little scared at first, with some quick googling and elbow grease I was able to get most tasks done competently without any major melt downs.  I was even a little proud of myself for not goofing up too much. 

Much to my surprise, I was able to be a part of organizing a rally with former President Clinton. He wrote me a thank you note for helping out and let me have a picture with him, even though I did accidentally  call him 'Bill'. *Insert audible gasp of horror here* The former President didn't make a big deal out of it though. He was warm and kind to this oblivious intern. 

He's a really wonderful person.

 

This whole trial by fire culminated in me getting the responsibility  of organizing all of the walk and cal packets for our pre-election Get Out The Vote (GOTV) event for the entire region. So this wasn't just a few packets for Racine, but it was also packets for Kenosha, Burlington, Walworth, Mount Pleasant, and Strutevant.  Did I mention that every packet had 3 copies, and all the copies had to be put into different boxes in a special order. This is what campaign workers lovingly refer to as Packet Land, where nothing seems to add up and the fetal position is the only thing that will comfort you. Did this hot mess make me wanna quit? Yes, but I didn't. I got angry and then I ( along with the help of my lovely office mates) Got the job in a just a few hours; sometimes it can take days.  It was a pretty great moment for everyone.  

So even though there were many long days and trying times, I miss campaign work. I miss all the people in Racine even more. Everyone there welcomed me with open arms and really taught me what it means to love what you do. Even though it seems silly, I really enjoyed knowing that what I did all summer was give my time to a cause I care deeply about.  Racine stole my heart this summer and haven't given it back yet.  I miss you guys. Keep up the great work.

They call me Ms. Packman

Funfact: I could and probably should be a professional moving packer

Like every other college or boarding school student, I move all of my most important earthly belongings (gosh, I feel uber materialistic saying that because surely there are many things more important to me) twice a year: to and from school. However what makes me professional quality is that I not only do this but I also moved in and out of my aunt and uncle's house, which they graciously let me stay in this summer while I did a fellowship, and I spend my weekends doing little mini moves to and from Boyfriend's place. Plus I helped Boyfriend move into a new apartment too.

I know you many be thinking "Really? Packing for a sleep over at Boyfriend's place does not count as a 'mini move.' I bet she doesn't even have a boyfriend"

But to this I say it totally counts, and I know some ladies and gentlemen will back me up on this. Here are some reasons why.

1. Packing for any type of weather can be stressful. Plus I run cold, so trying not to pack all my sweaters can be a really hard thing to do. After all who doesn't want to be toasty warm when it's already 90 degrees outside?....Oh I guess I'm alone on that one.
2. Boyfriend likes to golf and have me golf with him, so not only do I have to plan for cute outfits for causal wearing but also golf outfits too.
3. As a woman of color who rocks natural curls, let me just say that hair product packing can be a rough thing. Do I take only the bare minimum and risk a bad hair day, or do I take everything and feel bad for only using 2 products.  Don't even get me started on the 3 ounce bottle rules in the airport. *insert first shaking at TSA* (Just kidding TSA gods! Please don't smite me with awkward pat downs) .
4. This is Boyfriend. He's not always so serious. Just reference my profile picture. See, totally real

So as you can see I know a thing or two about packing up my stuff and getting it somewhere else. So with just a little time left until my move into Chicago I must start packing again.  And you know what that means...

SPACE BAGS!

I know it seem silly to get so exited about industrial plastic bags, but they make packing go so much easier. Also, for me the symbolize going to either school or just a new place. Luckily, this time they mean both. Plus I really like to watch them shrink. It's better than magic, or as Boyfriend would say " It's SCIENCE!"

Now back to making lists of what to pack and what to buy. 

Cheers!

Who is this moppet and why is she so wily?

So here are the most basic need to know things about me at this point.  As a Junior in college I'm a proud native of the Chicago suburbs who's getting her big break to live in the big city (of Chicago) and study the metropolis around me.

              But wait..... what makes any of that wily? That just sounds like a small town girl going to the big city. Hasn't that movie been made already, like 34 times?

Okay some of that is true. I am a girl from a town smaller than Chicago AND I am indeed moving to the big city, but there's more to it. Let's back track a tick, flesh all this out, and really get the story all nailed down so it doesn't sound like such a bad movie pitch.

I am not just some small town girl. In fact, I am a type A over achiever, big dreamer, first born, multi-racial, foodie, and dog lover from a small town in Illinois. Don't get it twisted! Sure, that's a lot of adjectives; and no, I don't think that covers even half who I am, but that's where this story starts. 

            But how does one little lady find herself in the big city anyway?  

Well, after  two grand years at The College of Wooster, I decided it was time to put all my fancy training as a History major to good use and go do some academic research at the Newberry Library with the Associated Colleges of the Midwest.  

Now that everyone's caught up on the basic outline of the story, here's the nitty gritty:

• I have about a week left with my family and I'm going to make the most of it.
• I gotta figure out how to be better at posting things and get this blog thing looking less wonky.

Lastly,  I realize I didn't explain the wily part here, and that's okay, because that will come soon enough.