Some Fun Photos

The Holidays

The Holidays have treated me well this year. Not too many reasons for complaint. I have become accustomed to sleeping well into the day, I managed my way up to the mountain once, and I have been fortunate to see many good friends and family over the course of my break.

Though there has been the traditional rush of purchasing gifts, wrapping them in wasteful paper and bundling up to face the cold some things have managed to go against tradition and normalcy this winter 2006. My dad was diagnosed with lymphoma for the second time in 30 years. All this after a slow and miserable 4 months of illness and many Doctor's confusion. "He is fine!" "We just aren't sure." "We think we've got it!" A missed sign of cancer back in September and a new cane bought in December. Needless to say this merry season has been altered slightly.

Many of you may know that McLain Christmas merriment is often noted by excessive family get-togethers and tired complaints from yours truly about these never ending events. This year, though, I rather missed them. Funny how such exasperating customs can become missed so rapidly and make you a traditionalist when they end.

So the Holiday was recognized on the 25th and no more. The morning was difficult. It found my dad with a fever and severe fatigue. We opened presents and tried to make it nice and calm. We then opted out of our yearly venture to the city of Tigard where we share in a ritual egg concoction brunch with my Dad's side of the family. Dad was too sick and tired. Melissa and I didn't want to go by ourselves.

Everything turned normal for most of the day once my mom started getting stressed and frustrated at us though. We cleaned and cooked and arranged presents under the tree in preparation for my nieces and nephews on their way to entertain us. Dad slept for most of the morning and woke up feeling much better and able to handle a day of holiday stress. I even made the stuffing and helped in the kitchen this year.

The whole family passed most of the time watching the kids run around with toys and the occassional shuffle or misunderstanding that arises at the ages of 2-7. Aubrey was an adorable princess while Ryan and Jackson made friends with a lifesize batman from Melissa and I. At one point while they were running around in the other room we heard adorable Aubry break down into a fit of tears. She ran into the living room, with her crown and pink boa waving behind her. She waved her wand crying that she couldn't be a princess anymore. Apparently Jackson had said something to this effect. Jackson cleared things up when he explained that he had only meant to ask WHY she would WANT to be a princess while he apoligized to Aubrey.

Kelly brought the poker chips and some of us took part in this new tradition of $5 dollar buy ins and competitive play. The money went home to Derek's house...again, while I managed to be chastised for my play by my 15 year old niece. Derek put her in her place when he exclaimed "What? You get some chips in front of you and all of a sudden you are giving advice to the whole table?" Not that this indictment stopped Derek and Kelly from their shit talking about my play. Anyway, I enjoyed some of it and approve of the tradition.

This merriment ended late and left me with a full stomach ready for a nap.

As I write this my Dad and Mom have just left for Dad's second round of radiation. I hope it kills that cancer dead. Things are different. Being home is usually marked by long conversations, laughs and trips with my dad. This year hasn't been that way. There will be a spark of a conversation while we watch the news, but when I turn back to say something he has fallen asleep, or a new fever has consumed him. He is in prison, chained to his chair and locked inside this illness. I hate it. But he has beat it once and he will beat it again. This is just quite new and different for me.

Like I said when this started, this break really has treated me well. I am thankful for my good friends from the Grove, and the wonderful times we have shared this winter while I look forward to even more to come.

This life is a challenge, but damn wonderful at the same time.

First of a couple needed updates...

Fall Statistics

>4,809 UO students registered to vote
>6,596 UO students registered since the primaries
>1 time I told the Emerald Board of Editors off for trying to compare us to 2004 numbers (which we nearly beat anyway,) and telling the public we weren't educating students. Idiots.
>22,000 students registered to vote statewide
>2.5 straight months of work and minimal sleep
>2 is the number of friends who have confirmed their votes not being counted. Ps they filled their ballots out with me!!!
>15 very early morning class raps
>5 actually good class raps that resulted in the large lecture hall applauding. That was cool.
>1 time I was asked when I was running for President by a Journalism Professor after I spoke to his class.
>17,000 Oregon Student Association voter guides distributed statewide.
>4,000 of those handed out at U of O
>5,000 Get out the Vote phone calls made at the U of O
>43% is the increase we saw in youth voter turn out in West University precinct 1313 as compared to 2002
>18 full voter education presentations on all the confusing ballot initiatives at U of O
>2, THE 2 candidates in Eugene the Bus Project supported won. "You are welcome Senator Walker and Representative elect Edwards. Love the Student Vote Coalition."
>1 meeting with the Governor's Advisor on Education
>11.2% increase for Education in the Governor's budget.
>8 billion to Education
>120 million to the Oregon University System
>188 million = what we asked for. Eh what are you going to do?


Statistics I'd rather not know

# of times I was asked "are you the vote girl?"
# of hours of sleep from September to November 7.
# of students I personally registered to vote
# of class presentations ("raps") I gave in 3 weeks
# of times I made an ass of myself to the media
# of uninformed, grammatically incorrect, unfair Emerald articles I laughed at
# of drinks I consumed on the registration deadline and election night. Thank you, though, to all who contributed.
# of times I pulled a suitcase all across campus rushing from home to the ASUO office to the Debate office.
# of times I manipulated/encouraged/persuaded individuals to volunteer for me.

Needless to say it has been a long fall and I am thankful for the winter.

Apartment and too many other things...

I'm sitting on my bed in Ryan and Aletta's apartment, well my apartment too. I like it. I don't have much stuff filling the big space but that is ok. I love the wood floors and big windows. The big window in the living room frames the enormous green leafed tree right outside. Its like having a gorgeous painting I didn't even have to buy. I have a house decorating magazine sitting next to me and I am overwhelmed by the possibilities. I want to paint and decorate and make this place my favorite place to be. I think it will happen. I'm really excited to live by my self. I'm also really excited to have good friends come over and enjoy the space too.

I don't know if I'll have much time to do all of that though. I have a lot to do in the next couple weeks. I have planning for a voter registration drive. A voter registration where I might mention the U of O, or just little ol' me has committed to registering 5,000 people. 5,000 people! I have a lot of work to do. We also have an ASUO (associated students of the u of o) retreat from the 13-15 at the beach. I will get some go work done there hopefully. Then I get back and the debate retreat starts on the 16th and goes through the 20th. First two days here in Eugene then the 18-20th at my family's beach cabin in Cannon Beach. Oh I also happen to have an OSA Board meeting in Corvallis at 5pm on the 19th, I wonder how that will work.

Needless to say I am the same old Emily. Too much to do and not enough time. Screw that though, I just made some phone calls and contacts, which is good work. I have a bowl of blueberries and raspberries in the fridge that are calling me. Then I am drawn away from the apartment for shopping. I am so excited to hang things on the walls and get my couch and TV here. Then it will feel like home. Off to get coffee, make a list of things I need, then a list of things I want, then into the world of shopping and a few meetings.

Home

I happened onto Moses' most recent song right after I got back from an afternoon in the Heathen Canyon.

I've been feeling anxious, restless, and stressed lately and I don't know why. I've been explaining to people that its because I'm in limbo. For lots of reasons right now I'm in absolute limbo. Things don't always feel right and I'm not always content. I haven't been able to relax. Oh but for the Canyon. I was so relaxed, content, and happy playing a leisurely round of golf, and then made Amy sit hungry as I relaxed and sat to wait and watch for the big group of golfers we had played past earlier. I sat content in a lawn chair, chatting and petting the dogs. The lifestyle, good people (and their philosophy as Moses puts it) are just right for me, I just can't do it permanently yet.

I refuse to be a crazy work-a-holic when I grow up, but for right now it might be a good thing. There are so many things to learn and get better at right NOW. I also party and have fun as hard at I work so I think at least that is balanced right now. This fall I am running the voter registration drive at school, lobbying for four really important high education issues in the capital, and debating and speaking all over the place. All three of these things align perfectly with any future endeavors I might pursue.

I am not sure what I want to do, or what I will end up doing when I grow up. But I am sure, that in whatever capacity, I want a significant portion of my life to be committed to public service.

I have been working at 100 mph all summer. Sometimes it leaves me tired. Sometimes it makes me restless when I get a chance to relax, but that goes away in the Canyon ( : I feel so good and productive after all of that hard work. I know people all over the state, and I am going to know even more by the end of this school year. These people are doing wonderful things for Oregonians. They are making meaningful impacts and combating people who have only their individual interests in mind. These people are acquaintances and friends. These people will help find me jobs. Ha. Don't you love politics?

Seriously I like what I've chosen to do. Protecting the community treasure and convincing people that democracy requires a social society and participation sounds like a challenge I'm up for.

I want to do this. I want to work in DC on the hill. I want to run a campaign in Oregon, win, and be rewarded with a job as a legislative aid. I want a law degree. I want a clerkship in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. I want to work for all of these things, step back and see where the world takes me.

Then I want to help carry a keg of a good IPA, pour myself a beer, and plop down on a chair to think while I wait for my friends to get back to dinner and the campfire.

I had a great summer at the Bus Project

Watch out Eugene.

Summer Stats

After 10 weeks of the PolitiCorps Fellowship this is what I have to show...

Personal Stats
510 hours worked and logged
6 Bus Trip canvasses planned
500 phone calls to volunteers
400 doors knocked for candidates
100+ times I said "My name is Emily, I will be a senior at the University of Oregon."
900+ times I said "Hi my name is Emily I'm a volunteer from the Oregon Bus Project/ or fill in Candidate's name.
4 nicknames- Mclain (obvious and most used) >Milly (mainly used by Hoj) >Muscles (used often and has spread to people I don't know) >Waffles (completely arbitrary and used every once in awhile because they think it sounds like muscles- I think they were quite drunk when this came about.)
6 average hours of sleep per night... All summer
2 visits to overtly gay clubs in Portland
2 awesome dance parties with Cesar as overtly gay clubs in Portland

Group Stats
5,000+ hours worked and logged
5000 phone calls to volunteers
3000+ doors knocked for candidates
3000+ voters registered
20+ soccer/hacky circles in the middle of the office
8+ times us fellows were misperceived as attacking an instructor
3 times fellows actually attacked an instructor

Stats I prefer not to know
>Number of Pabsts consumed
>Number of Jack and Cokes consumed
>Number of times I bought a bad meal from the one store by the office
>Total amount of money spent on gas
>Total number of hours spent driving
>Times I manipulated people into doing things they didn't want to do
>Amount of wine consumed
>Schmoozing events attended
>Number of times the Governor or Congressman Blumenauer didn't answer our questions
>Number of times Jefferson said "Just one more thing..." or "Last thing and then I'll shut up"

Look another blog

Just because I wanted to comment on Thomas' blog I have some how managed to stumble my computer illiterate ass into, yet another, blog of my own. "Does it ever end?!" She shouted to the empty house, beforing taking a swig of her orange juice. No, it doesn't.