school # five

I'm back on campus. It feels familiar and comfortable as well as exciting and new. There hasn't been any major changes -- very little new construction. In fact, everything's physically the same. I've changed some, though, and perhaps that accounts for the balance of new and old.

I'm working on lining up the beginning of the semester with the CRs. Things have went pretty well so far -- although i'm hard on myself about presenting the best possible image. Strong, optimistic, reliable, hard-working, etc. Our first major project will be posters depecting 9-11 and the president's strong response. I'm not entirely sure how it will play out, but I remain faithful.

nothing # three

This is my last weekend home. After this there ain't no more. I'm packing up my things and i'm wishing everyone goodbye. This is just another move, something that I've become accustomed to. That's been a major part of my life during the last two years -- Packing up and moving. I moved from Goshen Township to Salem, from Salem up to Kent, from Kent back to Salem, and now I'm moving back to Kent. Quite frankly, i'm tired of it.

My brake line busted today. I'm going to replace both back brake lines. Eww. Moter-speak. I hate working on cars. Luckily Dad is willing and able to help. If it was left entirely up to me, I'd never be able to afford all the repairs on a car. I'd probably be a "walker".

Other than that, coffee with Drew this morning was good. It would be nice to have something to do this evening though. So far this weekend has been a blurry mix of Pretty Girls Make Graves and Bright Eyes.

Hopefully Sarah calls back. I haven't seen her for such a long time. Fireworks in the park was on the menu, but I think the rain canceled it.

..Nevermind about any of that stuff with Sarah. Second girl to let me down today. Damn, is this why I miss home?

work # eight

I'm finished with my internship -- which feels so good to type. It was a harrowing experience at times. In the end, everything worked out alright. I came out with some new friends, and I managed to put a little bit of money away in the bank. I didn't wreck my car (surprisingly) and I think I even won over my bosses before I left. During the last several days there the other intern and myself made out quite a bit (for being at work) which really helped make it go faster.

I've got a lot of contact information from people. I'm going to do my best to follow up with them, although I'm not entirely sure how to do it. When you're working with someone, you have something very blatent in common..when you're not working with them, there's a major gap there. It might be kind of difficult with some of them.

work # seven

The other intern that's left suggested that we should kiss before she left for her other job. We did. It was short and unpassionate and entirely out-of-place, but other than that, it was good.

I've been given the task of nominating my replacement in sort of a convoluted way, which only makes sense because there's a huge lawsuit going on right now. My boss and several judges are being sued for discrimination in hiring.

That's all.

nothing # two

Everything is almost finished. That is, this summer, my internship, hopes of being more than just friends with Lillian, and there's probably several things that are escaping me. I'm glad of these things, even though they're each frustrating in their own way. Moving past them will be for the best in the end, i'm sure of it. Although it might be arrogant (self-righteous?) and maybe a little to presumptious, I think that i've matured a lot this summer. Having to deal with the frustration assocated with work (e.g., the other interns, the bailiffs, and the support staff) I think has at least allowed me to examine certain aspects of myself. Generally though, I can't help but feel i've done more harm then good to my reputation. I didn't always handle every situation in the best possible way.

The most senior judge, however, did shake my hand on Monday and tell me that i've done a great job. Today, one of the jailers told me, "I don't care what the others say about you, I think you're the best intern we've ever had." Despite that being a double-handed compliment, I was still happy to hear it. I already knew who "the others" were, and I guess in a way, why they probably say it. I've made mistakes, I'm been arrogant, annoyed, tired, and on occasion, just ignorant, but that was never really my intention. They've often displayed many of the same traits. I don't feel that either of us really has the high ground, that we both are probably to blame. The important thing is though, my focus is on me, and not on them. I know how I want to act, how I want this experience to turn out. I can't control what they do, think, or say. I can only control my reaction to it, and I plan to do that the best I can with the eight days that are left.