Not much new going on lately. Apartment search is going nowhere and I'm needed a lot more in Burlington for freedom to marry. Its typical. If anything can be conveniant, it probably won't happen. Dr. Paul picked his closer friend over me. Thats actually not surprising. I'm just sick of the competition. I want someone to say "you're in," without hesitation. Well apparently I'm checking a place out on S. William's St. The dude looking for a roommate is also named Matt. I feel like that happens all to often. Too many people steal my fucking name. Poseurs.
So the band played this past friday with Troy on guitar. He was great. Really precise. I couldn't have asked for more. I couldn't believe we played that tight either. We hardly practice. Now that I think of it, we've all been playing in bands for at least five years or more (Troy more than ten), so its easy to jump in and pick up a simple chord progression and redundant melody (playing fast is fun...I don't care what you elitist metal heads say). The show was cool. Got the new Suburban Showdown 7". They played without their lead guitarist and I was still blown away.
Got really drunk on saturday at my graduation party in the backyard. Yeah, right in front of a few relatives and my sister's boyfriend's parents. Oh well. Thats what you get when your Dad buys two 12 packs of Long Trail and noboedy else is drinking them. I also got some money, but its already gone now. Fossil fuels and hardcore suck you dry.
Speaking of hardcore, I went to 242 main on Sunday and saw a fucking incredible set of bands: Braindead, Unrestrained, Wake Up Call and Ruiner. I went fucking crazy. All really fast and angry hardcore. I couldn't stop running around and jumping on everyone. It was exactly what I needed after that long work week. Ryan, the singer of Unrestrained really through himself into the music. Actually he literally threw himself off the stage a few times and at one point was hanging from the raftors with the mic tied around his neck. Before they played, I saw him wearing a Vermont Freedom To Marry t-shirt. I talked to him and apparently he was at the Warren 4th of July parade last year and apparently he's also the nephew of Andra Kisler, who just put on a house party for house. Vermont seems to get smaller and smaller the more people I meet. The first band at the show, Braindead, was not usually something I would listen to, being that they were so heavy, but they had a lot of atmospherical ambience and landscape like sounds that accompanied their brand of heavy hardcore that I found extremely innovative. Their singer was wicked nice too and he even offered me some vegan chili. I bought their CD instead.
There were so many hot girls at the show. I wish I had the guts to approach any of them and strike up a conversation. Then again, I was sweating like a pig and shouting at the top of my lungs half the time. They may not have appreciated that. But damn, it really got me when one really attractive girl came in when it started to pour like crazy outside. I wish she wasn't so wet and scantly-clad. It makes life difficult.
Wow. Tired. Night.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Cyclical Normalcy
The title says it all. I've entered cyclical normalcy. Repetition and a strive to pay bills. That is what my life is becoming. I shouldn't be that bitter though, because I'm working to achieve a gay marriage bill in Vermont. The only thing is, there are a few logistical things about being an organizer that can be somewhat arduous. Take the hundreds of phone calls and emails I write. Its challenging, but it is affecting REAL people's lives and my efforts could very help the bill be passed in the Vermont congress next year. Well my efforts and the thousands of Vermonters who are ready to tie the knot and achieve equality.
So I still have not gotten a place in Burlington. I've gotten a lead with Dr. Paul, whose place is on the same street that I work on, but he has not called me yet. Then again, he mentioned by the end of the week. I'm in competition with one of his friends who is unsure of his time commitment. That seems to be the way of things. However, my Dad told me about a place on Cliff St. Its a ten minute walk from downtown. That would suffice. There is no deposit or lease. Just move in and pay $400 a month. I sent the residents an email. Hopefully the get back to me. I'll be going back up to the office on thursday and I'd like to check out the place before I leave.
I got really drunk this past friday, when I went downtown with Drop-kick Chris (my only conservative friend) to Saints 'N Sinners. Its been months since I've been there and I really missed the Guinness on tap. Well I had my share of that deathly dark alcoholic stew, I don't remember what many of my conversations with anybody entailed. I do remember this one cute girl who had a wallet made out of duct-tape. I also remember that Chris drank twisted teas all night and how awkward that was. I mean he's the guy who has a banner on his myspace page that says "real men drink stout." Well I'm glad he did actually, because if he drank anything stronger, I would have been stuck downtown walking aimlessly in a drunken haze.
Work is intense. I'm organizing volunteers for eight 4th of july parade, eight county fairs and the Burlington Pride Parade. Tomorrow will entail hundreds of phone calls and follow-up emails. This friday, however, Weight of the World is playing a benefit show in Charlestown, NH to help raise money to stop the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. Check out www.savedarfur.org and learn about this human rights disaster, because you won't be hearing it on the networks.
Saturday, my parents are supposedly putting on a graduation party for Allyson and I. Apparently nobody is coming. That doesn't surprise me at all. It also doesn't surprise me that all of our family and relatives have made up languid reasons as to why they can't show up. We're the black sheep of our family. I don't know why, other than the fact that we're not overtly religious jesus-freaks and bible thumpers who will vote for McCain because he "seems like a nice man." I should have know, state-sponsored terror and murder is a commonality in the old, but nice man contingent. Silly me.
I'm fucking tired.
So I still have not gotten a place in Burlington. I've gotten a lead with Dr. Paul, whose place is on the same street that I work on, but he has not called me yet. Then again, he mentioned by the end of the week. I'm in competition with one of his friends who is unsure of his time commitment. That seems to be the way of things. However, my Dad told me about a place on Cliff St. Its a ten minute walk from downtown. That would suffice. There is no deposit or lease. Just move in and pay $400 a month. I sent the residents an email. Hopefully the get back to me. I'll be going back up to the office on thursday and I'd like to check out the place before I leave.
I got really drunk this past friday, when I went downtown with Drop-kick Chris (my only conservative friend) to Saints 'N Sinners. Its been months since I've been there and I really missed the Guinness on tap. Well I had my share of that deathly dark alcoholic stew, I don't remember what many of my conversations with anybody entailed. I do remember this one cute girl who had a wallet made out of duct-tape. I also remember that Chris drank twisted teas all night and how awkward that was. I mean he's the guy who has a banner on his myspace page that says "real men drink stout." Well I'm glad he did actually, because if he drank anything stronger, I would have been stuck downtown walking aimlessly in a drunken haze.
Work is intense. I'm organizing volunteers for eight 4th of july parade, eight county fairs and the Burlington Pride Parade. Tomorrow will entail hundreds of phone calls and follow-up emails. This friday, however, Weight of the World is playing a benefit show in Charlestown, NH to help raise money to stop the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. Check out www.savedarfur.org and learn about this human rights disaster, because you won't be hearing it on the networks.
Saturday, my parents are supposedly putting on a graduation party for Allyson and I. Apparently nobody is coming. That doesn't surprise me at all. It also doesn't surprise me that all of our family and relatives have made up languid reasons as to why they can't show up. We're the black sheep of our family. I don't know why, other than the fact that we're not overtly religious jesus-freaks and bible thumpers who will vote for McCain because he "seems like a nice man." I should have know, state-sponsored terror and murder is a commonality in the old, but nice man contingent. Silly me.
I'm fucking tired.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Always Afraid
I just realized I never made a point to talk about the movie Mike and I put together a couple of months ago. I think it came out really good. For those of you who don't get a chance to see it, its based on a hypothetical totalitarian society (actually Rutland, VT). The plot is relatively simple, but with a complex underlying theme of fascist and oppressive social institutions. In the film, two guys in a relationship are subjugated to daily humiliation and threats from authority for being gay. I don't want to give the whole thing away, so if you want a copy I suggest you contact Mike on his blog "flummage," and maybe he'll burn you a copy. If anything, he should put it up on youtube (its barely a half hour).
I would say that Ryan had the most natural acting out of all of us. Even Jess, who had the shortest role did better than me. Theres just something about hearing your voice recorded that makes you cringe (or makes me cringe anyways). At times it actually sounds like I have a lispe, which is fine considering I was playing a gay character, but Ryan is gay in real life and he doesn't have a lispe! Well I guess not all stereotypes are true. I didn't see him flick his wrist once either or decorate his apartment with Christina Aguilera posters or pink drapery. He's the most heterosexual gay dude I've ever met. Haha. Stereotypes can be funny. But they shouldn't be enforced. Oh shit, I'm a hypocrite.
Aside from my lackluster acting performance, I think Mike did a great job shooting the whole thing and editing it. It has a real cinema verite feel to it, which is good. Some of the shots are rather continuous with few cuts for several minutes. I always like movies like that. They're more realistic. Although somehow Mike was able to have an aerial shot of Ryan walking downtown, through the vision of a security camera, where his profile was brought up showing his criminal charges. That was wicked cool. I don't remember doing anything like that in videoworkshop. But then again, I wasn't allowed to edit, because I sucked hardcore at it and nobody wanted me to fuck up there project. I also didn't enjoy using Final Cut either. Too tedious and boring. I guess its not for everybody.
There are, however, some rather obvious discontinuity errors. For example, when Ryan and I go back to the apartment after our talk four weeks later after getting out of prison, I suddenly have long hair again and pants. I was thankfully wearing the same Jonee Band shirt. And then later on, when Ryan gets arrested for the final time, you can clearly see snow outside, even though an earlier shot there was none at all and it looked like late spring. Oh well. Its not like we had a budget or schedule that was conveniant. However, Mike spelled my last name wrong in the credits. Its "Kimball," not Kimble. I've also seen people spell it as "kimbell." Oh well. He's forgiven. He's a great kid to work with anyways.
I'm really digging the Shook Ones album I got. Check them out at www.myspace.com/shookones. Also check out Wake Up Call from Maine. Just got their album too. Its only 16 minutes long and has 11 songs. Angry hardcore with big breakdowns. Shook Ones is more melodious and super fast, but the singer sounds a lot like Kid Dynamite.
I would say that Ryan had the most natural acting out of all of us. Even Jess, who had the shortest role did better than me. Theres just something about hearing your voice recorded that makes you cringe (or makes me cringe anyways). At times it actually sounds like I have a lispe, which is fine considering I was playing a gay character, but Ryan is gay in real life and he doesn't have a lispe! Well I guess not all stereotypes are true. I didn't see him flick his wrist once either or decorate his apartment with Christina Aguilera posters or pink drapery. He's the most heterosexual gay dude I've ever met. Haha. Stereotypes can be funny. But they shouldn't be enforced. Oh shit, I'm a hypocrite.
Aside from my lackluster acting performance, I think Mike did a great job shooting the whole thing and editing it. It has a real cinema verite feel to it, which is good. Some of the shots are rather continuous with few cuts for several minutes. I always like movies like that. They're more realistic. Although somehow Mike was able to have an aerial shot of Ryan walking downtown, through the vision of a security camera, where his profile was brought up showing his criminal charges. That was wicked cool. I don't remember doing anything like that in videoworkshop. But then again, I wasn't allowed to edit, because I sucked hardcore at it and nobody wanted me to fuck up there project. I also didn't enjoy using Final Cut either. Too tedious and boring. I guess its not for everybody.
There are, however, some rather obvious discontinuity errors. For example, when Ryan and I go back to the apartment after our talk four weeks later after getting out of prison, I suddenly have long hair again and pants. I was thankfully wearing the same Jonee Band shirt. And then later on, when Ryan gets arrested for the final time, you can clearly see snow outside, even though an earlier shot there was none at all and it looked like late spring. Oh well. Its not like we had a budget or schedule that was conveniant. However, Mike spelled my last name wrong in the credits. Its "Kimball," not Kimble. I've also seen people spell it as "kimbell." Oh well. He's forgiven. He's a great kid to work with anyways.
I'm really digging the Shook Ones album I got. Check them out at www.myspace.com/shookones. Also check out Wake Up Call from Maine. Just got their album too. Its only 16 minutes long and has 11 songs. Angry hardcore with big breakdowns. Shook Ones is more melodious and super fast, but the singer sounds a lot like Kid Dynamite.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
The Day I Entered The World (The Apocalypse Is Coming)
So apparently today is my birthday. Its really fucking hot outside. I guess thats what you get for being born in a summer month. Way to go mom and dad! Couldn't you have a picked a better day! You should have had sex at least a month earlier. So right now I'm chilling in the basement at home, because its really fucking cool down here. I decided to pull out A Wilhelm Scream. I haven't listened to them in a long time. Not probably since Chris Laplante told me to buy their albums a few years ago. Anyway, they fucking rule. I guess I stopped listening to them, because they have amazing "guitarmonies" and dueling axes, which makes me sad, because I can't write that well. Either way, their songs are really fast and the lyrics are poignant. Not to mention, they're from Boston. Its hard not to like a lot of Boston bands. I could probably play bass for them if they knew who I was and gave a fuck.
So I went up to Burlington on thursday and got to work out of the office of Vermont Freedom To Marry. Apparently I'm getting my own desk, computer and company cell phone. So far the work seems a bit intimidating. My first task is to get VT Freedom To Marry into ever major 4th of July Parade/Festival statewide and to get volunteers interested in being there. I have to use Microsoft excel to organize all the major events. I also have to get on the phone with chambers of commerce, fill out parade applications and find out about parade routes, meeting times, etc. Its a little bit daunting and a little nerve-racking, but I have to put this into perspective: I'm not working for corporate America and I'm fighting for civil rights. I guess I couldn't ask for more. Even the pay is pretty decent, minus the fact that they can't provide me with health care coverage.
The only thing that sucked about thursday, was that I left the flash drive with my assignments for friday in the RU12 building where the office is. Fortunately enough, Robyn (the field director) was at a nearby bar and was able to give me the key to get in. I also had to enter a security code, so I wouldn't trip the security alarm. I'm pretty sure I entered the code right, but when I opened the door, I hear this annoying buzzing sound. Well anyways, I just grabbed the flash drive and got the fuck out of there. Later on, when I was leaving the parking deck, I noticed on the ticket screen that it said "burglary in Ctr. Burlington." I guess thats for police cars to see. I really fucking hope that wasn't me. What a great ending to an otherwise good day.
I also had a chance to check out the apartment on elmwood avenue, which is the same street as the office. The lady who was moving out was there, but the other roomies weren't there, which was a bummer. She gave me the number for this guy named Paul who also lives there. Apparently he's a doctor. It doesn't seem like the kind of place a doctor would live, but maybe he's young and starting out. Well I called and left a message, but he hasn't called back. That seems to be commonplace so far.
Well fuck it, I don't feel like writing anymore. Oh but, therebuttal.com did eventually post my last article and they'll be publishing another one I just finished last night. Check it.
So I went up to Burlington on thursday and got to work out of the office of Vermont Freedom To Marry. Apparently I'm getting my own desk, computer and company cell phone. So far the work seems a bit intimidating. My first task is to get VT Freedom To Marry into ever major 4th of July Parade/Festival statewide and to get volunteers interested in being there. I have to use Microsoft excel to organize all the major events. I also have to get on the phone with chambers of commerce, fill out parade applications and find out about parade routes, meeting times, etc. Its a little bit daunting and a little nerve-racking, but I have to put this into perspective: I'm not working for corporate America and I'm fighting for civil rights. I guess I couldn't ask for more. Even the pay is pretty decent, minus the fact that they can't provide me with health care coverage.
The only thing that sucked about thursday, was that I left the flash drive with my assignments for friday in the RU12 building where the office is. Fortunately enough, Robyn (the field director) was at a nearby bar and was able to give me the key to get in. I also had to enter a security code, so I wouldn't trip the security alarm. I'm pretty sure I entered the code right, but when I opened the door, I hear this annoying buzzing sound. Well anyways, I just grabbed the flash drive and got the fuck out of there. Later on, when I was leaving the parking deck, I noticed on the ticket screen that it said "burglary in Ctr. Burlington." I guess thats for police cars to see. I really fucking hope that wasn't me. What a great ending to an otherwise good day.
I also had a chance to check out the apartment on elmwood avenue, which is the same street as the office. The lady who was moving out was there, but the other roomies weren't there, which was a bummer. She gave me the number for this guy named Paul who also lives there. Apparently he's a doctor. It doesn't seem like the kind of place a doctor would live, but maybe he's young and starting out. Well I called and left a message, but he hasn't called back. That seems to be commonplace so far.
Well fuck it, I don't feel like writing anymore. Oh but, therebuttal.com did eventually post my last article and they'll be publishing another one I just finished last night. Check it.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Faux Meat
Well its 10:14 PM and I'm eating a chic-pea burger. Not sure how I feel about it. Kind of dense. Not a lot of juice to it, but nothing compares to real cow flesh does it? Bruce and KT came over today (Bruce and I had band practice) and we made polenta. Its kind of like masa harina, but more like corn gritz to the average person. Anyway, its not quite as healthy as it sounds. He just had to buy whole milk to keep it all together, mixed with some butter and a dash of onions. It was quite tasty, but I think my heart is screaming. Oh well. Life is short, go fuck yourself.
Mike came by the Coop yesterday to give me a copy of "Always Afraid," the movie I star in. I havn't had time to watch it yet, but it must be amazing, considering my sexy body is gracing the screen. I helped Mike write the screenplay and we shot it a couple of months ago with a kid named Ryan, who was my fictitous gay partner. I guess Mike just finished editing it. I wanted to call it "Prison Society," but I guess that name wasn't hollywood enough for him. Haha. Well I hope he shows its at Castleton State College in the upcoming semester. That way I will be engrained in their minds forever!
The apartment search is just as slow as the job search was. I'm pretty sure, Robyn McGuire, the field director for Vermont Freedom To Marry is returning to work tomorrow and I'm probably going to be hearing some details from her. I'm not sure what they have in store for me, but its pretty clear that I don't have a concrete place to stay yet. I'm thinking of checking in with that Marla girl. She was wicked cool, the apartment had great proximity to downtown Burlington and it was the cheapest of them all. My mom and I went to check out a ranch house near highe ground that had a cheap room for rent. It was a quiet residential area and the gy Greg who is living there seemed wicked chill. I guess thats an option. I found a couple more peeps to email today. One place on Pine street. Still within walking distance to downtown. Thats basically what I'm looking for.
My dad is so fucking crazy. I think he has a lot of insecurities, because he obcesses over keeping things clean and orderly. If I misplace one fucking spoon, I swear the mood of this house goes down tenfold. I guess thats a clear indication thats it time to move out. But he seems to have become more crotchedy over the years. I don't know what it is, but nothing is good enough for him and he rarely admits to his own mistakes. Its too bad, because not everybody does things his way. Its called cooperation. I guess he's given up on that. It just sucks, because he works all day and then comes home and goes off on somebody for leaving a fucking soda can open somehwere. I mean come on, we're not fucking slobs (well my sister is....well her room is).
I don't have much else to say. Although these phone calls are a bit tiresome for work. There are times I feel like a telemarketer, but at least I'm not actually selling anything. Its for equal rights and I think people need to be bothered when it comes to that.
Oh yeah, while Troy, Bruce and I were practicing today, somebody sent in a noise complaint and sent a fucking pig over to the place. I guess we'll try practicing in the basement next time. But seriously, we've played in there so many times before and this hasn't happened before. Fuck people. I guess there is a Rutland City ordinance that says there can't be any loud noise ever...all day. Fuck this place. That gives me an even better excuse to move to Burlington. Every ounce of creativity and expression is suppressed here. A couple of years ago I put a bunch of flyers up and I got a call from the police saying I had to take them down or pay a $900 fine. Thats such an eroneous number. They must have had to balance the budget or something. Well anyways, if you go to Burlington the culture is vibrant and full of energy. There is always stuff happening and there is ALWAYS people everywhere. Not to mention and abundance of flyers about anything and everything you ever needed to know about. FUCK RUTLAND, VT. DO NOT MOVE HERE. YOU WILL BE SORRY.
Mike came by the Coop yesterday to give me a copy of "Always Afraid," the movie I star in. I havn't had time to watch it yet, but it must be amazing, considering my sexy body is gracing the screen. I helped Mike write the screenplay and we shot it a couple of months ago with a kid named Ryan, who was my fictitous gay partner. I guess Mike just finished editing it. I wanted to call it "Prison Society," but I guess that name wasn't hollywood enough for him. Haha. Well I hope he shows its at Castleton State College in the upcoming semester. That way I will be engrained in their minds forever!
The apartment search is just as slow as the job search was. I'm pretty sure, Robyn McGuire, the field director for Vermont Freedom To Marry is returning to work tomorrow and I'm probably going to be hearing some details from her. I'm not sure what they have in store for me, but its pretty clear that I don't have a concrete place to stay yet. I'm thinking of checking in with that Marla girl. She was wicked cool, the apartment had great proximity to downtown Burlington and it was the cheapest of them all. My mom and I went to check out a ranch house near highe ground that had a cheap room for rent. It was a quiet residential area and the gy Greg who is living there seemed wicked chill. I guess thats an option. I found a couple more peeps to email today. One place on Pine street. Still within walking distance to downtown. Thats basically what I'm looking for.
My dad is so fucking crazy. I think he has a lot of insecurities, because he obcesses over keeping things clean and orderly. If I misplace one fucking spoon, I swear the mood of this house goes down tenfold. I guess thats a clear indication thats it time to move out. But he seems to have become more crotchedy over the years. I don't know what it is, but nothing is good enough for him and he rarely admits to his own mistakes. Its too bad, because not everybody does things his way. Its called cooperation. I guess he's given up on that. It just sucks, because he works all day and then comes home and goes off on somebody for leaving a fucking soda can open somehwere. I mean come on, we're not fucking slobs (well my sister is....well her room is).
I don't have much else to say. Although these phone calls are a bit tiresome for work. There are times I feel like a telemarketer, but at least I'm not actually selling anything. Its for equal rights and I think people need to be bothered when it comes to that.
Oh yeah, while Troy, Bruce and I were practicing today, somebody sent in a noise complaint and sent a fucking pig over to the place. I guess we'll try practicing in the basement next time. But seriously, we've played in there so many times before and this hasn't happened before. Fuck people. I guess there is a Rutland City ordinance that says there can't be any loud noise ever...all day. Fuck this place. That gives me an even better excuse to move to Burlington. Every ounce of creativity and expression is suppressed here. A couple of years ago I put a bunch of flyers up and I got a call from the police saying I had to take them down or pay a $900 fine. Thats such an eroneous number. They must have had to balance the budget or something. Well anyways, if you go to Burlington the culture is vibrant and full of energy. There is always stuff happening and there is ALWAYS people everywhere. Not to mention and abundance of flyers about anything and everything you ever needed to know about. FUCK RUTLAND, VT. DO NOT MOVE HERE. YOU WILL BE SORRY.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Escalators Are Not Temporarily Out Of Service, But Temporarily Staircases
Its overwhelmingly apparent to me that I will not be able to update my blog daily, as I had previously interjected. My life is in a seemingly assiduous array of constant activity. For the past two days, I've been struggling with finishing my short-lived career at the Rutland Natural Foods Market, beginning my work for the Vermont Freedom To Marry Task Force and somehow finishing last-minute events with the Student Peace Alliance of Rutland County. I'm starting to see why adult life isn't as ostentatious as it appears in the movies.
On a lighter note, I hiked up to the Deer Leap outlook last saturday before my life got so hectic suddenly. It was beautiful and surreal. Its so refreshing to be in a place where the destructive elements of human "civilization" have not yet taken over. It was great to look up to the sky and see only trees and wildlife; not buildings and noise. The smell of pine was particularily "arousing" as we reached the top of the outlook. I did however manage to keep my clothes on. I do have to say, however, that I am quite out of shape. It has been a few years since I've attempted to scale that rock, as evident in inconspicuous breathing pattern (i.e. I could barely breath).
So Vermont Freedom To Marry seems like it will be an intense job. Or maybe it just seems intense at the moment, because I'm in this crossroad where I'm trying to juggle the imminent move to burlington, with a few commitments here in Rutland, my financial situation, my license needs renewing, sizzle is still fat, etc. I'm just stressed at the moment in trying to make this transition smoothly. Sheryl Rapee-Adams, who will be colleague in this job, brought me down to a volunteers dinner in Bennington last night and I have to say I was blown away by the cohesiveness of their movement down there. So much energy and so much hope. It was inspiring.
Sheryl is a quirky but cool lady. She loves cats and is a massage therapist. She's also one of the first relatively privileged white women that I've ever met that can admit she has a prejudice and bias because of her class position. That was really cool to know, because a lot of people who advocates for certain areas of social justice tend to be a littel full of themselves and are usually living a cushy life-style as it is. However, alot of these people are the only ones who can make the difference, because they have the time and money to do it. So its definitely a double-edged sword.
I went up to Burlington on tuesday with my sister intending to search for cheap-ass apartments and I was marginally successful. I spent the bulk of my time, however, rustling through Pure Pop Records and Downtown Discs, looking for cool "slabs-o-wax," but surprisingly fell short. I settled with a soy-latte at starbucks and a collection of essays by Howard Zinn, called "A Power Governments Cannot Suppress." Just as Allyson (my sister) and I hopped into the car to go back to Rutland, that girl Marla called and said I could come over and check out the apartment. Luckily it was only a block away on Pearl St.
I found it surprisingly clean for the three female inhabitants and found Marla modest and wholesome. She was really laid-back and kind of had a hippy zeal going on for her. I couldn't tell if she was one of those poser hippies or not, but at this point its not important considering the low-cost of rent. She said there was only one other perosn she was considering and they were a "maybe" anyways. I hope Marla picks me, because 1) she's young 2) the apartment is in a great location and 3) they get some free utilities and its right above a pizza place and laundramat. It doesn't get much better. However, she says the move-in date would be July 1st, meaning I would need to find some temporary housing for my job, because I'm not driving back and forth between Rutland and Burlington, considering the cost of dead dinosaurs (well thats part of what fuel is, but I think it sounds funny to say that).
There a quite a few complexities with the VFTM job and that is mainly the fact that they use excel for the timesheets and reimbursement sheets, which puts me in a pickle because the lates version of Microsoft office for MAC is 2004 and I've already had trouble trying to open files from Sheryl, who has the 2007 version. Beth Robinson (the chair person of VFTM) said that there is a computer and phone that I can use in the Burlington office when I get all situated. Not to mention the phone issue. Part of my job requires that I call an extensive amount of volunteers (sometimes 300), when there is a house party coming up or some other event that they may be interested in. VFTM will pay for the extra minutes I use for the job, but at the moment I'm really out of the loop about my cell plan, because my parents have been paying for it for the past two years and I'm on their family plan. Sounds like I need to get my own plan.
I just need to get through all the bullshit and get settled in somewhere in Burlington!
On a lighter note, I hiked up to the Deer Leap outlook last saturday before my life got so hectic suddenly. It was beautiful and surreal. Its so refreshing to be in a place where the destructive elements of human "civilization" have not yet taken over. It was great to look up to the sky and see only trees and wildlife; not buildings and noise. The smell of pine was particularily "arousing" as we reached the top of the outlook. I did however manage to keep my clothes on. I do have to say, however, that I am quite out of shape. It has been a few years since I've attempted to scale that rock, as evident in inconspicuous breathing pattern (i.e. I could barely breath).
So Vermont Freedom To Marry seems like it will be an intense job. Or maybe it just seems intense at the moment, because I'm in this crossroad where I'm trying to juggle the imminent move to burlington, with a few commitments here in Rutland, my financial situation, my license needs renewing, sizzle is still fat, etc. I'm just stressed at the moment in trying to make this transition smoothly. Sheryl Rapee-Adams, who will be colleague in this job, brought me down to a volunteers dinner in Bennington last night and I have to say I was blown away by the cohesiveness of their movement down there. So much energy and so much hope. It was inspiring.
Sheryl is a quirky but cool lady. She loves cats and is a massage therapist. She's also one of the first relatively privileged white women that I've ever met that can admit she has a prejudice and bias because of her class position. That was really cool to know, because a lot of people who advocates for certain areas of social justice tend to be a littel full of themselves and are usually living a cushy life-style as it is. However, alot of these people are the only ones who can make the difference, because they have the time and money to do it. So its definitely a double-edged sword.
I went up to Burlington on tuesday with my sister intending to search for cheap-ass apartments and I was marginally successful. I spent the bulk of my time, however, rustling through Pure Pop Records and Downtown Discs, looking for cool "slabs-o-wax," but surprisingly fell short. I settled with a soy-latte at starbucks and a collection of essays by Howard Zinn, called "A Power Governments Cannot Suppress." Just as Allyson (my sister) and I hopped into the car to go back to Rutland, that girl Marla called and said I could come over and check out the apartment. Luckily it was only a block away on Pearl St.
I found it surprisingly clean for the three female inhabitants and found Marla modest and wholesome. She was really laid-back and kind of had a hippy zeal going on for her. I couldn't tell if she was one of those poser hippies or not, but at this point its not important considering the low-cost of rent. She said there was only one other perosn she was considering and they were a "maybe" anyways. I hope Marla picks me, because 1) she's young 2) the apartment is in a great location and 3) they get some free utilities and its right above a pizza place and laundramat. It doesn't get much better. However, she says the move-in date would be July 1st, meaning I would need to find some temporary housing for my job, because I'm not driving back and forth between Rutland and Burlington, considering the cost of dead dinosaurs (well thats part of what fuel is, but I think it sounds funny to say that).
There a quite a few complexities with the VFTM job and that is mainly the fact that they use excel for the timesheets and reimbursement sheets, which puts me in a pickle because the lates version of Microsoft office for MAC is 2004 and I've already had trouble trying to open files from Sheryl, who has the 2007 version. Beth Robinson (the chair person of VFTM) said that there is a computer and phone that I can use in the Burlington office when I get all situated. Not to mention the phone issue. Part of my job requires that I call an extensive amount of volunteers (sometimes 300), when there is a house party coming up or some other event that they may be interested in. VFTM will pay for the extra minutes I use for the job, but at the moment I'm really out of the loop about my cell plan, because my parents have been paying for it for the past two years and I'm on their family plan. Sounds like I need to get my own plan.
I just need to get through all the bullshit and get settled in somewhere in Burlington!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
How Can I Not?
It seems as though I'm leaning towards the direction of taking this job with the Vermont Freedom To Marry Task Force. This really gives me an impetus to leave this shithole known as Rutvegas and really get a chance to meet different people and fight for real genuine change (sorry, but chanting "unity" at a punk rock show does little but develope cammraderie within your cohort).
No benefits does suck, but it has become apparent that this is very common for young people. If you're out of college, and trying to gain an entry-level job, the chance of decent benefits seems slim. I've looked into the Green Mountain Care program in Vermont and this seems like an option worth pursuing. Basically, this is affordable healthcare for any individual who previously lost coverage, i.e. college grads and people who got laid off from their job. I should look into it. Then again, Canada isn't too far away...
I definitely wouldn't be living alone, unless it was one room for rent, which is something I've also considered. But I think 13.50 an hour with a few roommates in a decent apartment might work out. But in all honesty, I'm low maintenence. I don't own many things at all (besides a few hundred CDs and records and clothes). I've become a minimilist over the years and realized its much more comfortable to live with less clutter and innate objects I don't need. Unlike a lot of people my age, you can actually see the floor I live on.
So I just called this girl named Marla in Burlington. She is looking to fill a three bedroom apartment above the radio deli and leonardo's pizza (great places!). Its $325/month with a possibility of only $70 additionally in utilities. They do however get free interent and cable and theres a laundramat right across the street. This would be a great gig! She seems rather cool for the few minutes I talked to her. On the classified ad on craigslist.com, it says that she likes to drink and party and is wicked laid-back. Sounds like a sweet deal. I think I'll try and head up to Burlington on tuesday to check the place out.
Either way, a job as field organizer for VT Freedom To Marry would be excellent experience and would look good in the future on my resume. I think I'm gonna have to take this job....but I havn't made my final decision yet.
By the way, I can't stop listening to Kid Dynamite. Thank you Dr. Yemen!
No benefits does suck, but it has become apparent that this is very common for young people. If you're out of college, and trying to gain an entry-level job, the chance of decent benefits seems slim. I've looked into the Green Mountain Care program in Vermont and this seems like an option worth pursuing. Basically, this is affordable healthcare for any individual who previously lost coverage, i.e. college grads and people who got laid off from their job. I should look into it. Then again, Canada isn't too far away...
I definitely wouldn't be living alone, unless it was one room for rent, which is something I've also considered. But I think 13.50 an hour with a few roommates in a decent apartment might work out. But in all honesty, I'm low maintenence. I don't own many things at all (besides a few hundred CDs and records and clothes). I've become a minimilist over the years and realized its much more comfortable to live with less clutter and innate objects I don't need. Unlike a lot of people my age, you can actually see the floor I live on.
So I just called this girl named Marla in Burlington. She is looking to fill a three bedroom apartment above the radio deli and leonardo's pizza (great places!). Its $325/month with a possibility of only $70 additionally in utilities. They do however get free interent and cable and theres a laundramat right across the street. This would be a great gig! She seems rather cool for the few minutes I talked to her. On the classified ad on craigslist.com, it says that she likes to drink and party and is wicked laid-back. Sounds like a sweet deal. I think I'll try and head up to Burlington on tuesday to check the place out.
Either way, a job as field organizer for VT Freedom To Marry would be excellent experience and would look good in the future on my resume. I think I'm gonna have to take this job....but I havn't made my final decision yet.
By the way, I can't stop listening to Kid Dynamite. Thank you Dr. Yemen!
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