An Uncomfortable Situation

Two posts from me in one day, isn't the blogging world lucky. I forgot to write about a very awkward situation that happened to me at work last week. News spread fast about my decision to quit. Most people asked why I was going. So I have told everyone that I am leaving because I am going to school full-time. That is my official answer for why I am leaving. Usually the follow-up question after I tell them I am going to school is "what are you going into." I say Political Science, they ask if I am going to run for Governor, I say no, we laugh, the end.

So last week I had to go talk to someone about a project I wanted to get done and they happened to be in the CEO's office. The CEO asked me why I was leaving. I gave the answer I had been telling everyone, I am going to school full-time I can finish faster, etc. He asked what I was studying and I said Political Science and then he asked what political party I belonged to. I was not expecting that. I try to not talk politics at work, it leads to fights. In fact at work a couple of months ago there was a heated discussion about health care that I was fortunate to miss. I did not know what to say. Finally I said I was a Democrat. He then asked me why I was a Democrat. I was so uncomfortable. I usually don't have to justify my political leanings at work and especially not to the CEO of the credit union. I was able to sputter out an answer with a lot of uh and ums, but I did it. It was not an eloquent answer, but I was not expecting to have a political discussion with the CEO.

I guess I will have to get used to it. I am going into Political Science and I will have to defend what my positions are. So here is the short answer in case anyone cares. I am a Democrat because I believe that government helps protect people from greedy individuals and corporations what will take advantage of workers and consumers if given the chance. Government sets rules, regulations, and ideally enforcement of rules which protect people. I think that Republican ideals tend to protect businesses instead of people. Most conservative talk radio hosts make me want to throw my radio out the window when I hear them, and I do believe that George W Bush was a horrible President to put it mildly. Also I am not a Communist or a Socialist, I just don't think that big business should rule my life.

I am not going into Political Science to run for office. I have no interest in being in a campaign and having all the dirt about me come to light. Now there is not a lot of dirt, but they can make anything sound bad. I like the study of politic and I am am really interested in international studies right now. I have no idea what I want to be. Right now I am thinking that after my Bachelors I might look into getting my Masters. But right now I am going to focus on just my Bachelors.

The weather finally cooperated!

This year I have had bad luck planning activities. My friends at work planned an outing to Thanksgiving point for over a month for the Tulip Festival and it rained and was cold. So we did not go. The next week Jason and I had to cancel our outing to the Tulip Festival again because of rain. This week we had planned on going to the Living Traditions Festival with some friends. The weather looked like it was not going to cooperate again. Last night it was pouring and I thought great another outing ruined by rain. But amazingly enough the weather was great, we were able to go, and it was super fun. We ate tons of good food from tons of booths. The oddest thing that I ate was Papaya salad. It was spicy and sour. The chicken kabobs that we had from the Pakastani and Thai booths were fantastic. Oh and the vegetable mo mos from the Tibetian booth were fantastic. But there was more then just food, they also had crafts from other cultures. The weaving was amazing. I can't imagine being that patient to be able to do it. They also had a display of Turkish crocheting which was one of my favorite. They had crocheted the edges of towels, bedding, and hankerchiefs. It was so pretty and I know how hard it is is to do that delicate of work so I could really appreciate it. We also saw a demonstration on how to make lemongrass beef, which hopefully Andy will make sometime. Hint Hint. So we are totally going back next year. I have more food to try and I would like to see more of the performances. I am just sad that I forgot my camera and could not take pictures.

So in other news I have 10 weeks left at work. I am getting pretty excited. One because it means that I am starting a new chapter in my life. I have my classes picked out. I had been fip flopping on a couple of different classes and I finally decided. I am taking Constitutional Law, Politics of China, Politics of Mexico, Intro to Enviromental Policy, and Political Anyalsis. I am pretty excited about most of my class and apprehensive. I know it will be good and if I continue to apply myself that it will be fine.

Also we are going on vacation shortly after I get done with work. I am so excited, we are going to the west coast. We are treating the trip like a second honeymoon. We have a romantic hotel room reserved. And I get to see my grandma, we are staying in the town that she lives in. I am looking forward to fresh seafood and salty sea air.

School's Out!

My second semester of school is done. I was so glad. I was not terribly interested in my classes, Music and Theater. I know a lot of people love them, I am just not talented in that way. I am content to just listen to a piece of music and think boy that was pretty. I don't need to know what the form is. But now I get a break for three months to catch up on projects that I have been putting off because I was studying.

So there are some changes happening in our household over the next couple of months. The biggest one is that I am quiting my job and going to school full time. I have been thinking about it for awhile. If I go to school full time I can get done with school in 3 semesters. If I work it will take me a lot longer. Finally after waffling back and forth I made my decision. I would take a leap of faith and go to school full time. It is official as of Friday I told my boss that I am quiting July 30th. I know a lot of notice, but I thought they would like to know to find someone to replace me. I was going to wait until the end of the month but I could not wait so I just told her. So I am really nervous to quit my job and just have Jason's income. But I know it will work out. I have decided to take five classes. One is Constitutional Law and I am terrified of that class.

Another change has nothing to do with school, but I am pretty excited about it. I watched the movie Food Inc, which is really good, and realized that I am very ignorant about where my food comes from and how it is processed. So I am making an effort to eat more organic and local. One it is better for me and better for the enviroment. So one of my plans is to can this year. I am hoping that I get enough tomatoes to make tomato juice, tomato sauce, and stewed tomatoes. And I want to try and can peaches, pears, and jam. Today I took my first step. I was visiting my grandma and she gave me all of her empty jars. Next I need to buy a canner. I have never canned before so I am nervous. I have read stories of people's pressure canners exploding and I am afraid of messing up and having exploded tomatoes all over my kitchen. But I will have my dad help me and he is good at that stuff.