the nEw LiFe plan... in letter form...

It has been too long. Just another testament to how horribly notorious I am for keeping in touch! I thought I’d say hello and catch you up…I may have a new few year plan, again! I doubt you are all that surprised, but a I have a feeling you are not going to be incredibly enthused about the idea. In fact, I have putting off writing this email for that reason.

But as you’ve become an influential person in my life, here it goes…please don’t hate meJ I’ve thought a lot about this and am trying to follow what I think will be most beneficial for me in the long run, with a bit of disregard for what ‘society’ would have me do.

I don’t know if you remember, but my plan was to finish up my online Spanish 2020 class by May and then take the last 3000-level Spanish course over the summer and be done with it, get my goddamn bachelors degree out of the way. That’s what we’ve been aiming for all along, right?

Well, I have to admit I am a bit disappointed in myself because I haven’t been on top of my online Spanish course and figured out about 2-3 weeks ago that there is no way that I could get it done in time to enroll in the online summer class. I’ve thought about this a lot and understand why it is so hard to motivate myself to do my Spanish coursework. It comes down to the fact that I despise Spanish courses and loathe the homework when I feel I am not really learning. I want to ACTUALLY learn the goddamn language..(…and I think I’ve finally acknowledged that language learning and acquisition is not a strength of mine, and that frustrates me too.)

So as I see it, I have two goals: 1)to finish my degree, and 2) to learn Spanish. I could jump through the hoops (which I hate to bow to the man) and just finish my degree by taking online classes, and be disappointed in myself because I’m sacrificing the goal of actually learning Spanish to achieve the degree. Am I ok with that? The answer I came to is: NO. I am not. I do not want to let the pressure of “what society thinks I should do” let me pass up doing something that I feel will be fulfilling and help me achieve both of my goals.

And so the scheming began… as it always does once I have an epiphany. Can you guess what it might be? I bet you have a good ideaJ I’ve been talking to Kay Forsyth about options to get 3000-level Spanish credits abroad. I do have an education award coming my way after all. But given that I am shit-ass broke and will not have the money right after this Americorps stint, I’ve identified and applied for several internships with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) that would allow me to work, get good experience, make a bit of money, and buy time until I go abroad either in January or March. Eh? Brilliant? I think so. Achieve both goals, get even more experience (in environmental/ conservation field), AND see another part of the country)

The SCA internships range from 3 to 6 months in duration starting in September, which would influence what study abroad program I’ll do. They include:
- Invasive Species/Restoration Intern at TNC-Albany Pine Bush Commission
- Resource Management Conservation Intern at Naval Support Facility Indian Head
- Restoration and Vegetation Intern at Everglades National Park
- Water Quality Monitor Intern at Cape Cod National Seashore

Eh? Don’t they all look like they’d be REALLY good for me? I think so too. So, what are your thoughts? If you are not going to swear me off, would you be willing to be a reference for my SCA application?

As far as life goes here in Aberdeen, my terribly unorganized boss continues to drive me up the wall, but I feel I am still gaining a lot, learning from the dysfunction and even setting an example of quality work and planning. I just got really good feedback from the college president on this huge project I’ve been leading, doing and Institutional Footprint Project for Grays Harbor College. Yay!
With all the budget cuts, the county contract that pays 57% of my bosses salary got cut, so she is scrambling. But we did end up getting some economic stimulus money to carry out a Summer Watershed Leadership Program with 24 high school kids (Ironically, they will make more money per hour than we do…goddamit!) oh well, life as a ‘volunteer.’ I chose it….

On a more personal note, I’m sad to be leaving my cute little studio apartment, but I’m super-excited to be moving to a little organic homestead farm and living in the ‘love-shack.’ I farm sat out there a few weekends back and LOVE it out there. Its only about 3 miles from where I live now, but nestled away in a charming little agricultural area. There are animals galore, I even got to take care of the day-old baby goat when I farm sat! (even though I thought I was gonna die when I got chased by what I thought was a lethal ram, electrocuted myself several times while frantic jumping of the fence, only to find out it was only the ram with horns that is dangerous!) Then, it is just about time to get the organic garden started. It’s a partial work-trade situation, so I’m saving a good amount of money on rent. It’s a win-win situation. And my foot is doing awesome. I’m a normal person again! WAHOOO!

Even though I may not really want to hear it or agree, I’d like your honest opinion.

Looking forward to your reply.

Emails like these make my blood BOIL!

With any slight amount of forethought, this would not be unreasonable to ask. But compounded by all the other abundant disfuntion and irresponsibility...my blood is boiling upon receipt of this email.

It is absolutely ridiculous. If this type of request was infrequent or I felt time was well managed, I would have not problem at helping out. But, really? "Oh, and i need them in the next 30 minuteS!!!" WOW.

I'm already busy and got shit to do, while you are off on your third vacation of the year so far. Sorry, I'm going to keep on working on the audit...

SHISH!

Direct copy and paste:


Hi Guys,
I need some success stories for:
1) working with hs kids on SCP
2) working with volunteers
3) working with kids in classroom/ activity
4) implementing recycling at area schools
5) any comments and or kudos you guys have received.

Oh, and i need them in the next 30 minuteS!!!

HELP!