On The Road Again

I've been racking up the miles lately, travelling across the state of Wisconsin on various outings to help campaign for democratic candidates. Friday, I was an hour south of Madison in Whitewater. Saturday saw me and a fellow intern travelling on the Badger Bus for two hours to Milwaukee, followed by a two hour drive north to a little town south of Greenbay.

A quick break at home Saturday night/Sunday, and I am back on the road this evening, Sunday night, heading back up towards Fond Du Lac and Greenbay.

It's a busy life, but a very interesting one. It's also one of uncertainty, as plans change at the last minute, depending on where our help is most needed. On that note, I am unsure as to when my next post will be, and I apologise for the lack of posts the last couple of days. I may try and squeeze a post out before I leave tonight, but I might not get the chance.

After a day campaigning tomorrow, I'll be back in Madison to see the President of the US, Mr. Barack Obama hold a rally outside the University. I'll be blogging about my and the US voters' opinions of Obama, and then of course my experiences of his speech.

In the meantime, feel free to browse the sight again. I would love to read comments from people (it's easy to do, just click the "comment" button, at the top of each blog post. You can also "like" comments, if you find them interesting or funny or just plain stupid. Don't forget too, you can subscribe to my blog, my scrolling down to the bottom of the page and signing up with your email address. It's all confidential and secure, don't worry.

Thanks for your continuing support, and I hope you are all enjoying my blog.

August Playlist

One of the simple joys in my life is making playlists. I really enjoy scouring my iTunes searching for songs to link together. It helps me listen to songs I forgot I even had!

Every other month I make a playlist of new songs I've been listening to, or just imported into my iTunes, so that I can keep a record of the times via the music I've been listening to. It also helps me consolidate all the new music I have.

So to August 2010. A little late sure, but it's finally all organised.  And my oh my is it an eclectic mix. New songs from Arcade Fire, Mystery Jets, Biffy Clyro, We Are Scientists, and the Gaslight Anthem. Also worth listening to, Mercury Prize Winners the XX, nominees I Am Kloot, and other gems such as Cherry Ghost, David Ford, and Magic Numbers. New from Owl City singer- Sky Sailing, very mellow listening. If you haven't heard of these bands or singers, check them out, you might be surprised. Courtesy of Nicole's old cd collection, I also have songs in this playlist from Flogging Molly, great folksy punk Irish jig music, Secondhand Serenade, N*Sync, Goo Goo Dolls, Latin dance artists Fey, and Finch. Plus many more.

If you want more details just ask. If you're interested, maybe I could make you a slimmed down version, to get with the times and expand your musical listening tastes. Both Nicole and I love making playlists, and we have a great knack for themes. Perhaps we could do it professionally and make some money.. who knows. That is of course, if Nicole ever drags herself away from True Blood!

The Graduate

"Do you have student ID?" Well erm... Actually I still do have my Madison student ID card, which doesn't expire until 2013, so I can still get away with student discounts. But I didn't have that card on me this summer, when I asked for student rate at the cinema in Manchester. I pulled out my Warwick card... only to find it was out of date. Finished. Expired.

I am officially no longer a student, but instead, a graduate of the University of Warwick. And I find that a little sad. At first, it was great to have graduated. No more exam pressure, no more work. Freedom! Who cares about the £20,000 student loan debts, I have a degree. The relief at having made it to a first class, the subsequent fun over the summer; even walking the stage in my gown to collect my degree, I didn't take the time to think that I was no longer a student. It just feels so natural to be a student.

I never thought I'd miss it, but living here in Madison, a university city (the campus is practically half of downtown), I've been having lots of nostalgic feelings. I missed getting ready for the new term/semester to begin. I missed making sure I had all my stationary organised, bag, paper, pens etc. I went with Nicole to the university bookstore to collect some of her textbooks, and I felt a pang of regret that I too wasn't collecting lots of books, spending a fortune, and taking them to begin preparing for classes. Of course, I am glad I didn't have to shell out hundreds of dollars on course materials, but I still looked at the piles of books on offer with a certain amount of longing. I even wandered down the history aisle, to see which courses were on offer, and if any of the classes looked interesting, based on the assigned reading.

I don't know if this is true of most people, but I genuinely enjoyed all of my classes during my three years as a university student. I still have most of the books I bought, because I found them interesting to read just on their own. Though it seems almost sacrilege to admit it, I miss the learning. At times I find myself wanting to walk right on State Street, instead of left, and head on over to a lecture in Humanities, or walk on up Bascom to a class on top of the hill. I miss listening to a passionate professor talk about a period in American history of great upheaval, or debating in class with a fellow student about the merits of a course of action some policy maker took.

But then I stop and think. I think about how I can come home from work, and just relax, and do whatever I feel like. I don't have to worry about reading x number of articles, or ensuring I have read up to page such and such in this book. I don't have to be researching for a paper all the time. I have time to sit and just read the newspaper, to watch films and shows, to listen to music, to write this blog. I don't have to do anything if I don't want to.

And though I am no longer learning in a classroom,  I am learning every day as an intern, lots of really interesting stuff too. And, it's things which are going to be important in any job. I had my doubts about how well a degree in  History and Politics would prepare me for life as a graduate, but I have been using a lot of the skills I learned, and even putting to use some of the knowledge I've successfully garnered over my academic life.

What scares me post about being a graduate is these two words: What Next. I am out in the real world now. I don't have the luxury of just being a student, taking each day as it comes. I have to plan out a career now, a path to walk as I grow up. I am sure things are going to change along the way, but I need to at least start heading in the right direction. What do I want to do then? Well I still don't know. There are lots of jobs which appeal to me, but I am at a loss as to which to try first, how to get there, where to begin: A political career- great; Work for an NGO- amazing, A job in the UN- incredible; A professional actor- perfect.

So where do I go? Well a masters degree is a likely next step for me, unless of course I get offered a fantastic job somewhere, or strike lucky with an audition. But I still face three daunting questions in my pursuit of a masters. Where, What, Cost? So many different universities to chose from, though at least I know I would really like to do it in the US. So many different programs, even within one subject, and I don't even know if I want to do performing arts, history, politics, international relations, journalism, or law. Maybe even business. That's unlikely though, even if it would be a handy qualification to have. My decision is probably ultimately going to rest with whichever school offers me scholarships, or an affordable programme.

Looks like I've got some serious life planning to do. Life: here I come.

The Crème de la Crème

I'd forgotten how good The Simpsons is. I always used to watch as a kid, and I thought that maybe I just had fond childhood memories of it, and that it just would not be as good anymore. But it's timeless. Indeed, I find myself laughing out loud just as much now, as I did when I was 12 years old. It's one smart cartoon, and I really love all the political, and pop culture comments. Certainly, it's overlooked by adults. Half the jokes must go right over kids heads. In many cases, its pure family viewing.

What makes it even better, is that I can watch it free, thanks to Hulu. Video on Demand has taken off everywhere, and its such a great way to wallow away those hours before bed, for cheap students like myself who don't have TVs.

The night was perfected, with one of the best treats known to mankind. A Cadbury's Cream Egg. Absolute bliss. Nobody does chocolate like the British at Cadbury. (Let's hope Kraft don't ruin it). I smuggled these eggs across the Atlantic with me, having hoarded them since they stopped being sold after Easter. The limited supply makes them taste even more delicious. Granted, they may be out of date now, but that doesn't make them any less scumptious. If you have never tried one, get one. You'll have to wait until next Easter though. They sell them at Walgreens here in America, but they just don't have that same British taste, most likely because they are manufactured by Hershey's here. If I have tempted you, I may allow any American in the vicinity who wants to try one to purchase one off me. Out of date or not, I am sure they could fetch a high price!

If You Were To Vote...

Election season is well and truly here.... The polls are rolling in thick and fast. Whether you think they are actually useful or not, they do make for interesting reads. And they sure are a kick up the backside for some candidates, who realise they aren't exactly doing how they think they should be doing. Right now, the candidates have a fair amount of time to get their acts together and make some changes. A month down the line, and those polls start becoming more realistic, and less likely to change. Unless of course there is some major scandal, leak, or general screw up. Those make life more entertaining.

I wanted to share this CNN poll with you, just to show you some evidence of how things are going. It has Wisconsin on it, with the Democratic Senator, and Dem candidate for Governor trailing. They didn't have primaries though, so they should pick up votes this next month. It also has Delaware, which compares the numbers of the Tea Party candidate, and the defeated Republican candidate, showing how Democrats got lucky, and will now hopefully take the state.

Elsewhere, the Dems are behind. Lets hope this helps get things into shape.

Let me know what you think, and whether you find it interesting.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/09/22/topstate3.pdf