Some Down Home 20Love

Hello all! 

  Let me start by saying how glad I am that y’all are all doing this and that I am fortunate enough to be a part of it. I’m so happy y’all have taken such an interest to keeping up with everyone through this incredibly accessible medium. Y’all are truly wonderful people whom I hope to never forget or be out of contact with.

  I loved seeing all of you in Chicago! As for me, 20love has been my year! Being 24 in 20love is rockin’ me out! I have absolutely decided that I am applying for the Public Allies program in Chicago; which means that I will move from Dallas when Corn and I’s lease is up at the end of July. And that makes me so incredibly excited that I don’t have words to express it! This apprenticeship is exactly what I need to be doing with my life at this point -- I feel that from the bottom of my soul! J.D. has graciously said that he would do whatever he could to put the odds in my favor regarding the application process. I have been working on the application since about a week after we got back and it’s going great. It’s really made me think about exactly what avenue of social justice policy I want to take in my life. I’ve done a lot with gender and women’s issues and I was iffy on whether to stick to that pattern or to branch off into something that I’m also interested in, such as LGBT issues. But I think that I’ve decided to stick with women’s issues because I’ve become increasingly more interested in economic development and micro-finance issues lately – and they have a direct tie to women’s issues considering most of the world’s poor are women and children.

  On the job front, I went to the swinger’s club that one of my friend’s said she could get me a job at, and it didn’t go as planned. I thought that I could handle the atmosphere, but in the end it was a little to underground for me. Plus the owner had the air of a man who has beaten on some women – maybe I’m being judgey but I’d rather be safe than sorry. So the game plan now is to continue temping and most likely apply to the steak houses around our apartment for some cash in the meantime. (I’m only thinking positively about the Public Allies program – so, I will get in!)

  In other news, I’m trying to hook up with some Dallas organizations called Dress for Success and Dallas Women’s Foundation to do some volunteer work while I’m still here. Wish me luck! DWF is being persnickety about getting back to me. Bitch, I’m trying to work for you for free – hit me up!

  J.D., I agree with Meridith. You HAVE to find a way to tape your show. I’m so excited to learn from you!! I got your voice message the other day as Corn and I were coming out of this club in Dallas called Beamer’s; it’s a black club in a huge ass building off 35. I was drunk as a skunk and didn’t even mean to be!! When you come home you’ll have to check it out. Thursday and Friday Happy Hour they have a soul food buffet and $2 wells (poured stiffly). Seriously legit. Also, you and Ryan’s dance was amazing. I’m so happy it was caught on video (thank you Meridith). Whenever I'm down in the dumps I can just click the link and be cheered up instantly!!  

  Meridith, I hope you have only amazing experiences with couchsurfing.org. That sounds awesome!

  Rachel, I hope you have an amazing semester trudging around the wetlands, as you do!! Ditto on the push to post your brother’s music; I’ve never heard any of it, I don’t think.

  I am going to make a concerted effort to post of this blog regularly. If I do not, I give each and every one of you permission to hound me until I do. =)

    Lots of down home love,

   

        Lawless