Phew

I breathed a much-needed sigh of relief tonight.

Thanks to the grown ups who voted for my man.

Last Friday Night

I turned sixteen last Saturday. It was hands-down the best weekend of my life. And interestingly enough, I'd expected it to be the loneliest three days I would ever experience.

My dear best friend, Miss Tickled Pink, had told me a month before that she would be taking on a college visit in Chicago over my birthday weekend. I was a bit bummed, but not too badly. She was to leave Friday night, so when school got out I hugged her goodbye and prepared to spend the weekend alone. Later that evening, though, she kidnapped me for a pre-birthday dinner before she left. It was a lovely birthday surprise.

Except that wasn't the only surprise.

Tickled Pink threw me a legitimate surprise party, complete with the month-long pretense of a trip to Chicago. She worked with The Management and filled the house with my favorite people, and good lord it was perfect. I couldn't believe it. I still can't.

My best friend is the best best friend.

I Love Him

I'm a little late to the game in terms of blogging about the Democratic National Convention, but oh well.

I just finished watching my President commit to this country for four more years. I am so proud of that man. He is my President.

I am the daughter of two teachers, the oldest of five children. My President and his administration made it possible to bring three of my siblings home to America after Haiti's devastating 2010 earthquake.

In two years I will be going to college. And I know I am extremely blessed to be able to state that as a fact. There are people in this country who have had to sacrifice their education to make ends meet. I am not going to be one of them. But all the same, paying for my college education scares me. With tuition student loan rates at their highest levels ever, I am at risk of graduating college in 2018 buried in a mountain of debt. My President has promised to ensure that this does not happen, that everyone is able to afford an education. This means so much to me.

As I was watching his speech (and crying, might I add) I noticed his wedding ring. Its presence shocked me; normally you don't think of the President wearing a wedding band, even if he is married. But that gold circle around his finger made me remember- my President, our President, is still just a man. His name is Barack Obama. He is a husband to a smart, strong, fiercely loyal woman and a father to two wonderful girls. He eats. He reads books and plays basketball and sometimes he even sleeps. He is only a man.

But Barack Obama is a man whom I trust. I applaud the work he's done so far. I believe in his vision for America.

Our country must keep moving forward. This man is the one who will lead us there.

Oops: a Summer in Review

As you've noticed, I took a- ahem- brief hiatus from the blogosphere after my post about poetry camp. This was due to the fact that I am a lazypants and, despite spending obscene amounts of time on the Internet, didn't ever click the New Post button. I'm sorry, I really am. But anyway, here's a list of things that happened.

• French exchange! I hosted my French teacher's niece for two weeks. She's so lovely. It was a great experience, and I hope she'll come back soon.
• Pink hair, don't care: I dyed my hair pink. And then purple. And then (due to a silly school rule that requires me to have a normal-colored head) back to blonde. Currently I look like a Marilyn Monroe wannabe. But I like it, I think.
• Work: Yesterday was my last day of work. I spent nearly all of my summer doing maintenance-type stuff for Hogwarts. It was dusty. Glitter Unicorn and I actually spent all of my last day assembling new tables and chairs for the cafeteria. Seven hours of drilling drove us both a little stir crazy. If anybody complains about those tables, I'll probably cut them 

School starts tomorrow. I am less than thrilled. No part of me is ready. It'll be great to see my classmates, but I'm so worried about this year. It has to be better than last year. I need it to be.

Wish me luck.

And That's That Piece: my Week at Slam Camp

I've returned from what was possibly the best week of my life so far. I spent seven days at Gustavus Adolphus College's slam poetry camp, courtesy of the Fairy Godmother Council. It was brilliant.

This was the very first year of camp, and there were only seven campers total with the addition of four of the best poets and educators in the country. We bonded the very first evening and henceforth became known as the Slamily.

A typical day consisted of three gigantic meals, fourteen hours of poetry-related activities, writing time, and the occasional few minutes of sleep. By the third day of camp everyone was positively delirious. My caffeine intake increased significantly.

I feel that because of this camp I've grown leaps and bounds in my ability as a poet. I know now that it is perfectly okay to struggle with writing a poem because frustration means you care. This is something that I'll remember often, because I normally always have trouble when I sit down to write.

I met the most wonderful, talented, and kind people. Look out, world- I have no doubt you'll be hearing great things from them in the very near future. We are the Fourth Wave of slam- you'd best be ready for us.

My parting gift- five pieces of advice for the young poet from Adam "Henzbo" Henze.
1. It doesn't get better. You get better.
2. You can always pick up your pen again.
3. Your greatest legacy is your friends.
4. You are someone's favorite poet.
5. You don't owe anyone. You owe everyone.

Pockets of Pride

So I'm on the nineteenth floor of a fancy hotel in Minneapolis.

I spent this afternoon with Fairy Godmother and Big Funny Kid at my very first Pride festival.

Oh, and also Kait Rokowski and her friends. Yeah. Remember, my favorite slam poet and lady I the history of ever? Yeah. She showed me all around the giant rainbow love-fest that is Minneapolis Pride. It was wonderful.

I am proud. Proud of this wonderful, supportive city. Proud to know such genuinely lovely people. Proud of Pride.

Happy Pride, everybody. Share the love.

Woo! Pictures!

I've been back for a few days now, and I'm about to leave again. But that's a different post.

The beach was lovely! I had a very relaxing time, although I was definitely ready to come back to Homaha by the end of the week.

So anyway, here's what I wore!