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July 28, 2005
Lappy 4026GZ
My new lappy: a Gateway 4026GZ. LCD screen, wireless card, Celeron 1.3 GHz processor, 256MB RAM and 1295 MHz of something else. I don't really know what all of that means, but I do know that it is light as a feather. I love it! I'm never going to want to give it back!
Today made up for yesterday. Once I got my laptop, I also got all of the scheduling work that has piled up in the past couple of months. I have a stack of scheduling request forms to enter into Word Documents, a stack to give to the Political Director for approval (and then remind him to give back to me), and a stack to give the Director of Operations for approval (and remind to give back). Then I have to send letters confirming or regretting for the Congressman, add the confirmed events to his Outlook calendar, and write driving directions for his upcoming travels. My head is still spinning.
I'm really looking forward to the weekend... which is scary since this will only be a three day week for me!
Posted by Megan at 09:33 PM | Comments (3)
July 27, 2005
New Chapter
I am orientated. Oriented?
I think it should be "orient," but it read "orientate" on the schedule my supervisor gave me for my first day on the job. So one of my colleagues "orientated" me with the rest of the staff, the geography of the office, and the printer, copy and fax machines.
The schedule allowed for 1 hour and 45 minutes for me to read the employee handbook. I read it about three times and only took up about 15 minutes. I stared off into the vastness of my cubicle walls for the rest of the time.
I was then told that I would need a laptop in order to proceed with my job. I was told to take an early lunch. I did so, but when I returned I still did not have a computer. A few minutes later, my supervisor left for Best Buy to purchase me one. In the meantime, the girl who has been doing the Congressman's campaign schedule while they went through the hiring process showed me what she has already set up.
When my supervisor arrived, she informed me that my computer would not be ready until tomorrow morning. I was left with a Des Moines area phone book and a map of Iowa to entertain me. I looked up fast food joints in Urbandale and planned alternate routes for my commute. I then stared into space for another couple of hours until 5:00 rolled around.
"I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything I dreamed it could be." Actually, it wasn't as enjoyable as I had anticipated. Quite a contrast between college life and the working world. In college I busted my butt but set my own hours. Now I am doing nothing, but have to spend 8 hours doing it.
My supervisor reassured me that it won't always be like this. Campaign work has its lulls and its rushes. I will always be expected to stay until the work is done. Sometimes this will be 5 PM; others it will be 10 PM. Finalizing the Congressman's schedule for the next day can't wait until 8 AM the next morning. It has to be done before then.
I should have a better feel for things after tomorrow. Hopefully I won't forget everything I learned today.
...oh yeah... At one point during the afternoon, my supervisor called me into her office.
"I don't know how to transfer calls with these new phones, but the Congressman is on the line and would like to say 'hi.'"
So I got an official welcome from the man himself. The man who will be the next governor of Iowa :)
Posted by Megan at 09:08 PM | Comments (6)
July 25, 2005
And Here's Another Thing:
Why does God give us things just to take them away again?
Why does he create animals and people just to grow old and die?
Job lost everything and was still faithful to God. I lost my dog and can't take it.
Posted by Megan at 10:07 PM | Comments (3)
Time for Moving On...
...but I sure feel like holding onto the past.
I moved to Ames today. I'm staying with Jamie, Naomi, Tiffany, and soon Heather until I find a place to live. To be completely honest, I feel displaced right now. My roomates are doing a wonderful job of making me feel welcome and at home, and I am beginning to feel that way... a little... but it's just going to take some getting used to.
I was so excited to come to Ames until just a few days ago. We took our dog to the vet on Friday and found out that he had tumors. A 17-year-old dog with arthritis, cataracts, and not much hearing is not in much shape to undergo surgery, so the vet's recommendation was to put him to sleep.
I am going to sound like a rediculous freak if not a complete baby, but this is a completely honest entry. I had 24 hours left with my puppy, my baby, my most loving and loyal friend. I couldn't hold him without crying, but I held him anyway. I'm sure he knew that something was very wrong, but he just let me hold him.
The vet came to our house on Saturday afternoon. I was sitting in the chair in front of the TV. Darth had climbed into his big pillow, which sat in front of the chair. I dangled my arm down to pet him. I ran my fingers up and down his fur and watched his eyelids become heavy. They were almost shut when the vet arived.
My job was to hold his head while the vet injected him in the hind leg. He kept finding away to excape my hands in order to see what the vet was doing. But all too soon, his head relaxed onto the pillow.
Every room in the house is filled with memories of Darth. I was constantly reminded of how much I miss him. All I wanted to do was have him back so I could babysit him all day. I would play with him inside on the big rug in the living room. I would take him into the back yard and follow him as he explored the scents in the grass. But mostly, I would kiss his fluffy ears and giggle as his warm, pink tounge licked my nose.
The world just doesn't seem whole without him.
Posted by Megan at 08:43 PM | Comments (1)
July 23, 2005
Stop All the Clocks
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.
He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.
The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
-W.H. Auden
Posted by Megan at 09:06 PM | Comments (1)
July 19, 2005
Luther Says
I was raised in the Lutheran church. In general, I agree with the majority of basic Lutheran doctrine. Luther's writing has always fascinated and humbled me. He was obviously a faithful man, enough so to demand reform in the Catholic Church, the only Christian church during his time.
I realize that the various protestant denominations differ between each other and within themselves on various theological details, so I am curious to hear anyone and everyone's opinion on what I see as a significant but contentious piece of Lutheran doctrine -- Luther's explanation of the thrid article of the Apostle's Creed. The third article states, "I believe in the Holy Ghost; one holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting."
Luther's interpretation of this article is as follows: "I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true."
In sum, my question is this: do we choose to believe?
Posted by Megan at 08:54 PM | Comments (3)
July 15, 2005
Finally, It's Final
I was supposed to accept or reject my job offer this past Thursday, but my Dad encouraged me to ask for more money. I guess that's the way things work in the business world, to which I have been heretofore oblivious.
It took all my guts to do so, but I did it. I asked for a salary that matched the offer I had recieved from Minnesota. It still would not have all of the benefits of a government job, but I would live with that. She said she would get back to me.
A couple of hours later, my phone rang. The call was from the 515 area code, so I assumed it was the Nussle campaign with an answer. Instead, it was the Republican Party of Iowa, wanting to schedule an interview. I almost told him that he was a little too late, but I set one up for Monday figuring I could cancel it later if necessary. "They probably give their staff solid benefits," I mused.
28 hours later, the Nussle campaign told me that they would match my offer. No more negotiating -- they were prepared to give me everything I had asked for! I replied with a "you bet," which elicited laughter, but I could tell that she was happy that I had accepted. That makes two of us!
I start the 27th. I'm psyched.
Posted by Megan at 04:15 PM | Comments (5)
July 12, 2005
Drum Roll, Please
It's a darn good thing I sucked it up and went back to Urbandale on Friday.
I got a call today at about 3:00 in the afternoon. It was a job offer! From Nussle's campaign!
I haven't accepted yet, but I promised them an answer by Thursday. The salary is significantly less than what I was offered for the job in MN, but I think it's going to win out anyway.
I had kind of made a deal with God that he would make the job decision for me. I told him that I would really like the one in Urbandale, so if I had an offer, I would take it. But if I didn't get that offer and I did get an offer in MN, I would go there.
It certainly appears that everyone who told me that it was God's will for me to live in Ames was right! I can't wait to call it home!
Posted by Megan at 04:37 PM | Comments (6)
July 08, 2005
What If
I tuned into the Christian music station for part of my drive to Des Moines today and heard a song with some pretty moving lyrics. The song is called What If by Jason Lavik.
What if I climbed that mountain? What if I swam to that shore?
What if every battle was victorious? Then would You love me more?
Would You love me more?
What if I were everyone’s first choice? What if I went farther than before?
What if I stood high above the rest? Then would You love me more?
Would You love me more?
You say I belong to You, apart from the things I do
You say I belong to You, I’m in awe of why You do
Why You do, why You do, I’m in awe of You, ooh
What if I ignored the hand that fed me? What if I forgot to confess?
What if I stumbled down that mountain? Then would You love me less?
Lord, would You love me less?
What if I were everyone's last choice? What if I mixed in with the rest?
What if I failed what I passed before? Then would You love me less?
Lord, would You, would You love me less, oh no, oh no, oh no
You say I belong to You, apart from the things I do
You say I belong to You, I’m in awe of why You do
You do, You do, You do
What have I done to deserve your Son sent to die for me?
What can I give? I want to live, give me eyes to see
In a world that keeps changin’ there’s one thing that I know is true
Your love is stayin’, there’s nothing else I’ll hold onto
You say I belong to You, apart from the things I do
You say I belong to You, I’m in awe of why You do
Why You do
You say I belong to You, apart from the things I do
You say I belong to You, I’m in awe of why You do
I’m in awe of You, I’m in awe of You
The way You love me, the way You do
The way You do , the way You love me, You love me, You love me
The way You do, the way You do, the way You love me,
the way You love, You love, You love
Posted by Megan at 09:30 PM | Comments (0)
July 07, 2005
Interviews, Round 3
Hopefully there will not be many more rounds.
I got a call last week from Senator Coleman's Financial Director. The office is going through some changes, and hiring has been put on hold.
I returned to the Nussle campaign office in Des Moines on Tuesday for an interview. I had assumed it was a follow-up for the field staff position, but half way through I was told that they need a scheduler. The responsibilities of this position would basically be to respond to requests for the Congressman to speak at events. I would arrange for him to attend the ones he could and line up someone else from his campaign staff to attend the others in his place. I would work from the campaign office in Urbandale. She promised to contact me again within a week.
I then headed up to visit Laura in MN. I met her new dog, Toby, who is one of the most friendly beasts I have ever seen. Very slobbery, but even more adorable. I got to see her cocker spaniel, Maggie, again as well. I am convinced that the phrase "puppy dog eyes" was coined after someone met Maggie.
Laura and I spontaneously decided to go canoeing on the lake across the street from her house. This was quite the treat for a city girl.
I headed up to St. Paul on Wednesday and met with the state Senator who had contacted me looking for a legislative assistant. He strongly hinted that he would be calling me this weekend with the formal job offer.
On my drive home this afternoon I was almost across the Iowa border and into Nebraska when my cell rang. It was Nussle's office, wanting me to come in again tomorrow (Friday) at 2:00 for another interview with the political director. I was so sick of driving that I almost screamed "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOHOHOHOHO WAY!!!" into the phone, but I refrained and instead uttered "Sure!" between clenched teeth.
So, back up to Iowa tomorrow for me. I considered going to Ames again, but given my level of exhaustion, I plan to simply drive to Urbandale, interview, and head back to Omaha, hopefully with a job offer for the position that I really want. In which case I soon will be spending much more time in Ames anyway.
Posted by Megan at 09:17 PM | Comments (2)