One of the main reasons that I have this blog is so that my friends and family could see what I’ve been up to. So, the things that I’ve been up to… 

• I declared Comparative Literature. I figure I learn best though reading. And I don’t think I’m too bad at it either. This means Spanish Literature though, in which I will struggle.
• I got a slooow start to the summer. The job hunt was balls. Finally I found several volunteer jobs in a Hispanic community and a pretty neat internship with the NELA organization, where I helped high schoolers with their college search. Planning ahead and meeting deadlines. Which is ironical, since I was so bad at planning ahead and metting my own deadlines for college…
• I bonded with the fam fam. Especially my brother. One of the best parts of my summer. Connor, by the way, got himself into a large production play with the Portland Center Stage. It’s called Snow Falling on Cedars. He’s excited, obviously, as he should be.
• I got surgery on my thumb, then had to wear a cast for 6 weeks. Finally, though, I got that betch off yesterday, and my hand looks like a starving zombie child hand. I’ve got it back though. Gonna go try bowling tonight with it. Keyword: Try.
• I got an internship with the Lawyer’s Committee for Better Housing this semester. I’m going to be doing intakes with tenants, get the chance to see eviction court, and get to work independently on some community and legal projects throughout the semester. I’m really excited; there are a few of us working there, the staff seems great, and the work seems very involving. The guy I interviewed with, Paul Beals, went to Tigard High outside of Portland, as well as a monk monastery in LaFayette. So we reminisced about Portland weather and the Trail Blazers (Rip City! i said) and I got the internship right there. Small world.
• I’ve been trying to cook for myself and eat well, and I’ve actually been enjoying it. My dad got me a Better Homes Cookbook as a going away and feeding yourself present, and I’ve been referring to it every day. So far I’ve made Beef Stroganoff, Mushroom Spaghetti, Spicy Thousand Island dressing, Breaded Chicken and many a salad. And a peanut butter and jelly for lunch!

This has also been the summer that I’ve really discovered podcasts. The day that I began downloading tons of podcasts was a great day in the history of Logan. I don’t feel like I’ll ever have to spend money on music or news ever again.

Favorites are:

• This American Life- Always fantastic
• NPR stuff especially for music- All Songs Considered never fails to impress me and to introduce me to good new music, and the NPR Live Concert series is ridiculous. I can’t believe they just give that stuff away.
• Garrison Keillor does a ton of stuff and is so popular that I feel naturally inclined to be jealous of his talent and to rip on him for his success. Truth is that I really do like the things he does. So I’ll settle at being jealous of his talent. Of course, everyone already knows about his “Prairie Home Companion” series as well as his “Writer’s Almanac” series. Which are both excellent.
• The Moth podcasts are “Short stories told in front of a live audience”, and typically last about 10 to 15 minutes. They are always fantastic, never boring, and always leave me feeling more fulfilled about the world we live in, knowing that there are individuals out there that can express themselves like that. Do not pass this one up— if I can make someone reading this blog do one thing, it would be to go and download some stuff from the Moth podcast.
• Finally, Democracy Now everyday on the way to work. Update myself on the world, or at least I try. One of my professors, Salim Murakawi, professes himself to be one of the original founders of Democracy Now. That man has lived a life incredible. I’m going to have to dedicate more time and space to him in the future here.

For now, I’m beat. Sorry if my posts feel infrequent, but as of now they’re still a minor point of stress for me rather than any sort of a diary-esque outlet. I guess it’s cause it doesn’t totally feel natural yet. But  you can be a better public speaker with repetitions, which I keep thinking about as I force myself to sit down and write.

These last couple days I’ve been reading a lot— finished Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home, which was a very wise portrayal of a family, and is good reading for anyone who has ever tried to understand a parent. Worked my way a bit through Faulkner’s Sound and the Fury, but got out of rhythm with his writing and had to put it down for a while.

Now, I’m about 100 pages into Dreams From My Father, by some guy can’t remember him right now. Actually, I know that I’ve resisted Obama’s book intentionally. Call it my disinclination towards talented and popular types. But I just can’t avoid reading Obama’s first book anymore, not at this point. The gravitational towards it is just too much: I’m a Comparative Literature undergrad, doing community organizing in Chicago, not sure what I’m doing or want to do with myself, except that I’m hoping/considering the study of law in my future. I listed all these things packed in one stressed sentence to Miss Dorothy, and she replied by simply recommending Obama’s book. Ok, I’ll give it a shot. And you know what? It’s actually been pretty good so far. I’m sure I’m giving the president some extra credit, partly because he’s the president and partly because his education and career does seem to mimic mine at times. But he knows how to tell a story too.

At this point I’ve just caught myself rambling on. A goal of mine with this blog is to make myself a more concise writer. So, even though I have more to say, I’ll just say it later.