From a field to a park

What a day. Started the morning at the dry bed of the Cosumnes River with bees, tics, and mosquitoes, and ended the day in a mobile home park in West Sacramento. This is going to be quite an interesting summer.

The fieldwork this morning wasn't that bad. It only took a couple of hours to collect the soil samples and data. The bugs were atrocious, and since Rich (the grad student I work for) couldn't remember the code for the gate to get to the river, we had to hike in with all our equipment. I think the hike was a little over a mile. It was really fun in the morning with all of our equipment, and even more fun in the afternoon with all the soil samples we had collected.

Luckily, I got home about 2ish and had time to relax and eat before going to my second job at 4:30. Tonight we canvassed in West Sac. We were all a little skeptical of the place at first, but it turned out to be super successful. In total, we qualified 20 people to receive evaporative coolers, and we didn't even finish canvassing the park. Tonight, I really felt like we helped people. And talking with these people, who are extremely low income, really puts a perspective on life. It definitely makes me appreciate what I have. I have lots of stories about all the interesting people we encounter, but for some reason it doesn't feel right to talk about it on the internet. Although the stories are super funny, I don't want to come across like I am making fun of them. That would be wrong, or at least wrong in most cases. Some people do deserve it. So, if you want to here stories... you'll have to ask. By the end of the summer, I should have a nice collection of crazy people tales to share with the masses.

Start of the Summer

I finally did it. I registered for a painting class with the Craft Center today. I am always looking for ways to keep my hands occupied, and I'm glad that I will finally be able to get out some of my artistic side and learn some new painting skills. I wish I had more time to take more of these types of classes. It would be great to learn how to do real things, like sew or knit or make furniture or something. I feel like at school I learn a lot, but I don't actually know how to do anything. I need to learn more real skills, like how to grow food and make things. It is so sad that in an advanced society, most people can't make or create things on their own.

Today was also my first day working both jobs this summer. Boy am I in for a real treat. I think I might be working a little more than I had planned on this summer, but considering I'm making $10/hour at both jobs, I don't really have much room to complain. And practically anything is better than essays and exams.

This afternoon I showed up to my first job at 1:00, and of course, Rich was late. I worked there until like 3:30, took a quick trip home and ran over to the YEEP office. We canvassed tonight at a mobile home park in Woodland. I was a little nervous about the evening, it is weird to do the door to door thing, but we signed up 9 people for free evaporative coolers, which is definitely a big success. At least I'm getting behind a cause I really believe in. It is cool to see all the people excited about getting these coolers that will save them money and keep them cooler. And of course, saving energy and the environment! :) But the best part of the night was definitely hanging out with my coworkers. We managed to do a lot of joking around it made the job a lot more entertaining. YEEP YEEP!

Politics as usual

I've decided that this summer I need to get my thoughts straight. This whole year I have been bombarded with opinions from the media, movies, books, and people on all the events happening around the world. There has been war and terrorism and we are nearing election time so it is time I figure things out. Of course, this is nearly impossible considering that none of us actually know what is going on, or know the real truth behind it all. But I suppose I can make a meager attempt to find out what I can so that I can at least stand up for myself in political debates.

This year has been a crazy one for me. I have traveled to Israel and to England and Ireland as part of my attempt to understand people and understand the issues we face. I even tried running for office myself, an attempt to represent myself and others in the political arena. Or at least..whatever political arena the ASUCDers try to make for themselves. But, I still have no idea what is going on. And I can't exactly base my beliefs off of my emotions and intuitions. That stuff doesn't seem to cut it in our current system. For example, Michael Moore's works are criticized heavily because he bases his arguments off of testimonials and interviews, not off of hard evidence. Or at least, people interpret his arguments as not adequately backed.

This weekend has been very Michael Moore filled. Last night I saw Fahrenheit 9/11 for the first time, and tonight I watched Bowling for Columbine with some friends. Afterwords we discussed the film and recognized its strengths and its shortcomings. As someone who pretty much agrees with Michael Moore, I can understand why people do not take him so seriously. He does not create his films for the hostile audience. That is, he doesn't create an aura of objectivity (if that even exists) and shove a bunch of facts and data at the audience. Instead he creates his own picture and lets the audience decide whether they agree or disagree. I sometimes wish he made his films for the hostile audience. Then it would be more successful in gathering broad support. But I guess that isn't his goal, and at least he is looking at the big picture making the connections that people are normally afraid to make.

To be continued...

Another Mystery

I could cut you off with a shoulder of stone
Smoke all night and leave the party alone
Screw myself with an inscrutable pout
But I just want you to come figure me out

I don't want to be another mystery, oh no
I don't want to see who's looking at me, oh no
I want to be the one to feel the sun, oh, oh
So if you want to see the world with me, let's go

-Dar Williams