I spent four weeks last July learning how to go door-to-door, appealing to latent activists, and asking for their monetary support. I was given 5 hours in which to knock on as many doors as possible, and hopefully connect with about 40 people. Of those 40 people, 5-8 of them should, statistically, have given me money. My job was to make sure those givers gave me total, over the course of the night, at least $110. This was a job that took tremendous communication skills, the ability to think on your feet, and, surprisingly, is much more in your control than you would otherwise guess. So, in essence, the world to a canvasser is divided into givers and non-givers. But it put me in an interesting position to observe how people present themselves to strangers, which also said a lot about them. How they said "No" to me was particularly revealing.

It's canvassing season -- canvassers across the country are going door-to-door to talk to you about their pet issue. Here are some things to think about, if someone knocks on your door:

( 1. Political Agency )

I didn't unpack this fully. But I found the notes I made last August and wanted to write what I remembered -- because it's important for women who are faced with these decisions (either at their door or on the street) to understand that there is more going on than someone asking you for money for their pet political cause.

This is from a pamphlet that I got over a year ago at the St. Johns Student Parish here in EL. It has been in the back of my mind ever since -- I type it up now so that I can recycle the pamphlet and stop worrying about losing it. What follows is something I still meditate on, and, yes, pray about.

From "Renewing the Earth"
A Statement by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops

"At its core, the environmental crisis is a moral challenge. It calls us to examine how we use and share the goods of the earth, what we pass on to future generations, and how we live in harmony with God's creation. The environmental crisis of our day constitutes an exceptional call to conversion. AS individuals, as institutions, as a people, we need a change of heart to save the plant for our children and generations yet unborn. The human family is charged with preserving the beauty, diversity, and integrity of nature, as well as with fostering its productivity. Yet, God alone is sovereign over the whole earth. For believers, our faith is tested by our concern and care for creation."

"Song of the Sun"
Praise be my Lord God
with all creatures; and especially
our brother the sun, which brings
us the day, and the light;
fair is he, and shining with a
very great splendor:
O Lord, he signifies You to us!
-Saint Francis( Read more... )

( What I am going to plant )

Crossposted at apartmentgarden

For every girl who is tired of acting weak when she is strong, there is a boy tired of appearing strong when he feels vulnerable.

For every boy who is burdened with the constant expectation of knowing everything, there is a girl tired of people not trusting her intelligence.

For every girl who is tired of being called over-sensitive, there is a boy who fears to be gentle, to weep.

For every boy for whom competition is the only way to prove his masculinity, there is a girl who is called unfeminine when she competes.

For every girl who throws out her E-Z-Bake oven, there is a boy who wishes to find one.

For every boy struggling not to let advertising dictate his desires, there is a girl facing the ad industry's attacks on her self esteem.

For every girl who takes a step towards her liberation, there is a boy who finds the way to freedom a little easier.

Last weekend, Tim and I did our registry. It wasn't the first try; it's probably more like the third. The first time was painful, because I was having a hard time articulating my vision for our lives. The last time I just gave in -- I don't like this form of gift giving, but people are going to give us gifts anyway, we might as well give them some guidance as to our tastes and preferences. Tim was amazingly supportive, reminding me of what I wanted in terms of materials (i.e. minimum of plastic and other disposable materials), and we made awesome teamwork that day.

( Twenty-Five Year Goals Based on Values )

So, Tim and I finalized the readings this morning for our wedding ceremony. If you're interested, read below. Otherwise? SPOILER ALERT.

( I SAID SPOILER ALERT. SPOILER ALERT. )

The only part we really had trouble with was the nuptual blessing. Two of the three prayers only asked God to bless me, marrying this man. The other blessed us both, and asked us both to be faithful, but gave me all the housework. If we can make that one slightly more equitable, we'll be going with that one. Otherwise? We'll probably still go with that one.

I recently discovered that I am spending double of what I am bringing in with my living stipend from AmeriCorps. I think I may want to adjust my W2 forms, because the taxes seem to be unbarably high, especially considering that the stipend is barely minimum wage in the first place. Maybe I'll go into depth on this again soon. Maybe I'll blog about working the election too. I have so many swirling interests right now, it's hard to keep them straight.

Right now I'm writing because my check, to be deposited thursday, is five dollars more than it was last month. Federal taxes withheld? Zero.

Did the Making Work Pay tax credit already reach me? And how sad is it that I'm so excited by five dollars?

Things that stress me out: 
1. Finding housing in Lansing
2. The cost of housing in Lansing
3. My stipend not necessarily covering all of my expenses.

I quit my job today. Rather than feeling better, more free, less worried... I  feel a sense of loss.

I have enough money to pay bills, keep my car, etc. I am looking forward to having work hours that correspond more closely to the 9-5 spectrum. Looking forward to eating dinner with my family, and not having to worry about making wedding plans only on weekends, and being sure I can attend all the precana classes.

I still wish I could have kept my job, though. I liked my job.

Dear Internet:

I am alive. I am sleep deprived and poor and eating a lot of shit food, but having an amazing time. I facilitated the registration of over 3000 people in Flint in the past week. I am learning to hire and promote and fire people, and becoming a good manager.

However, you may not see me again until November 5th.

Love,

Kate

PS -- I constantly have odd moments where I look at myself and find that I am totally not where I expected to be in my life, but I find it pretty amazing.

Dear World:

Watch out, I'm going to get out the progressive vote in Flint, Michigan!

Love,

Kate

What am I thinking?

I was just getting comfortable in Ann Arbor. I was just getting good at canvassing. I had another week before I went to Boston with my coworkers for our training, and we'd come back and officially be the assistant directors in the office.

And then I get a call from my regional director: my boss' boss.

She offers me the chance to be trained by one of our partner organizations to do a get out the vote effort for the next three months. It was moving faster than the Fund had expected, and that I would be taking a leave of absence to work on the campaign. Training would be on Wednesday in Boston. I accepted on the spot, forgetting to ask about how I'd be paid, who I'd be working working with, or how to take care of housing. The RD told me that she thought that this was a wonderful opportunity that would make me a better canvass director in the end.

They want me to be able to go to Boston, be trained, and immediately turn around to go to another city to start an office and start the get out the vote campaign. I am terrified. I'm working on a packing list that includes things that I'll be needing for the next three months.

I can't back down, I can't change my mind, they've bought me a plane ticket and I'm out of here.
Tim says that there's very few ways that I would not be okay in the end. I will be okay. Things are falling into place -- my parents support me (my father, the republican, even got out my suitcases and vacuumed them out for me without my mother asking her: I count that as silent support even if he rolled his eyes when he heard), my roommate/landlord is totally okay with me jetting for three months, and even okay with me not paying her rent for that time, I just have to tell my boss tomorrow (and I hope that the RD already told her, I hope I hope).

Why did I so willingly jump out of the comfort zone I had just created? Why?

Perhaps this is where I need to be. I have no way of knowing yet.

This ring is on my finger. Twinkle, twinkle little star.

Hey There,

Did you hear what Senator McCain said about the Fair Pay Act--a bill that would have helped make sure women receive equal pay for equal work? After it was defeated in the Senate, he said that the solution to employment discrimination was for women to get more "education and training."

This is outrageous! McCain is hugely misinformed: Study after study shows that women are paid less than men for the same work even though they have the same education and training. And his statement also sends a really offensive message that the pay gap is OK.

I just signed on to this public statement calling out McCain and urging him to support efforts to help guarantee women equal pay for equal work--can you join me? You can also submit your resume, which MoveOn will deliver right to McCain to prove to him that women have the right qualifications--what women need is equal pay.

http://pol.moveon.org/fairpay/?r_by=-9263049-QDqzVq&rc=paste

This is a very photo-heavy post. You have been warned. ( A photo essay about graduation. )
Photos by Tim. Words by Kate.

For Getting Done with Undergrad:

General
Pick up HC Stole
File forwarding address at Post Office
Fill out and turn in Security deposit and evalution form
Call Consumer's Energy to disconnect electric
Send Mom list of furniture to pack and what needs to be cleaned in the apartment

MC 441
Catch up on class reading
Exam 5/2 at 10 am

Magazine
Finish Edits
Conversation
Extra Class Saturday 4/26 at 3

History
Final Paper

Senior Seminar in Social Relations
Draft Paper
Edit Paper
Turn in Paper by 5/1 at 8pm
Read Sexual Ecology

Work
Friday 4/25 from 10a-3p, including stray duckling
Friday 4/25 supervisor meeting @ 3:15
Monday 4/28 @ 7 am Open Banks
Monday 4/28 from 7-Noon
Tuesday 4/29 from 10a-3p
Thursday 5/1 from 8a-Noon

Sometimes, I wonder if I've missed my calling. I am a writer, and a story teller. But somehow I'm also an activist.

callmecaito gave me a new spin: Maybe your calling is to have adventures so you can tell stories about them later.

I am so thankful to everyone right now.

To Alex, who doesn't read this anymore, but listens patiently to me talk through my religious issues and offers me all manner of sources.

To Bridget, who'll read this in the morning, for broadening my perspective on religion and sex with her Religion Class' readings on utopian communities.

To Tim, who always challenges me with this stupid important Protestant ideas. I love you. We'll find an equilibrium some day.

To Matt, who pointed out that someone would notice if I plagarized the bible.

To Jeff, who is letting me borrow his books. (I promise to return them)

To Lisamarie, who honestly answered my email questions, who advocates the Theology of the Body, who has a faith I aspire to.

To Mandy, who can spout of dark age women's history at the mere mention of sex and Catholicism.

I'm really glad that I seem to find someone at every turn who supports me, offers me information, and generally listens as I try to reaffirm my faith.

Thank you.

First, a meme: Everyone has things they blog about. Everyone has things they don't blog about. Challenge me out of my comfort zone by telling me something I don't blog about, but you'd like to hear about, and I'll write a post about it. Ask for anything: latest movie watched, last book read, political leanings, thoughts on yaoi, favorite type of underwear, graphic techniques, etc. Repost in your own journal so that we can all learn more about each other.

*runs off to annotate*

I perfer tea. Generally, I boil water in the kettle that Alicia so lovingly procured for our apartment, and place a black tea bag into my mug. Usually I put two packets of splenda in to the mug while the water boils. I pour the boiling water over the splenda and tea bag, and let is seap for a couple of minutes -- but not too long or it gets bitter. I usually add some milk to cool down the tea, but sometimes we're out of milk.

Just trying to write something here for once.