What-If Wednesday

What if I could have any job in the entire world?  What would it be?  For some reason I've been thinking about this a lot lately.  Maybe it's because I'm excited to see what the future holds.  Or maybe I'm just tired of being in school and can't wait to have a job.  Yeah, that's probably it.  So here are my top ten jobs -- in no particular order.

1.  Police Detective.  Seemingly very different from what I actually do, but similar in many ways.  I love mysteries and solving puzzles.  And I watch entirely too many crime shows.
2.  The Woman from the movie National Treasure.  I'm not exactly sure what she did, but it seemed like she had a pretty sweet gig.  I mean, she was the keeper of the Declaration of Independence, after all!
3.  Host of a Travel Show.  Could there be a better job?  I don't think so.  Traveling around on a network's dime?  Spending time in fabulous places?  Sign me up!
4.  Professional Basketball Player  Keep dreaming, Grebner.  This was my dream for the longest time.  Sadly, I stopped growing around age 11.
5.  Chief of Staff for a high profile politician.  I want to be the right-hand woman.  Behind the scenes.  It can't happen without the staff.
6.  High Profile Politician.  Or maybe I could try my hand at running for office.  Maybe someday.  If I get over this whole shyness thing, that is.
7.  Director of the Newly-Created Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Archive.  So this doesn't actually exist, but I'd like to think that the one day the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame will add an official archive/research center. 
8.  The U.S. Senate Historian.  I'm currently looking into internships with the archivist in this office in Washington.
9.  Ambassador to Grenada.  A beautiful country with even more beautiful people.  I wouldn't mind spending most of my time there!
10.  And more realistically, an archivist in a political papers archive.  Maybe a Presidential Library.  Maybe a Congressional archive.  Maybe on a university campus.  Maybe as part of a politician's staff.  Who knows!  But I do know that this is probably what I will end up doing.

So there it is -- my Top 10 jobs.  Notice a trend?  Yeah.  This summer I have come to the realization that I know with 100% certainty that  I want to be connected to politics in some way.  I was told today that I'm going to be lost to that world one day.  And my response was, "I hope so!"  Maybe I'll be a staffer, maybe I'll run for office, or maybe I'll just archive their papers.  But if my Internet search history is any indication -- it's pretty much a mixture of Senate bill numbers, public laws, Congressional Record citations, different executive agencies, and White House documents -- I am most definitely a political animal.

Weekend Update: Happy Birthday America!

The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays.  Probably second only to Thanksgiving.  I was pretty bummed that it happened to fall on a Wednesday in the middle of a long week of summer classes.  But...I am so grateful that I have an incredible group of friends.  We grilled out, laughed, went on an adventure to the Bloomington fireworks, sat in the car in traffic for a really long time, and laughed some more.  Here's some scenes from our 4th!

We picnicked.  And it was H-O-T hot.  But we look pretty happy, don't we?

And we topped off the evening with some post-fireworks Bomb Pops.  That's Bomb Pops -- not Rocket Pops.  We had a Midwest vs. East Coast debate on the proper name for these delicious summer treats.  Feel free to weigh in with your opinion!

I spent a good portion of my day working on homework for my government information class.  Which actually means I spent a good portion of my day taking breaks from my homework for my government information class.  And that's when I stumbled across this gem of a photo of the one and only Birch Bayh.  And added these lyrics from what could possibly be the most annoying song of the summer.  But Birch Bayh can call me anytime!  This might be the nerdiest thing I've ever done, but I couldn't resist.  I'm seriously crushing hard on this guy.  My first octogenarian crush! ;-)

Speaking of politics -- I questioned my friend Rachel's dog, Quincy, on her political affiliations.  Democrat or Republican?  I'm pretty sure I phrased it "Democrat or Republi-can't," but oh well.  So yes, this a photo of me having a serious political conversation with a dog. 

Now I'm home in Illinois, for the weekend.  Eating strawberries and creme for breakfast as I watch Wimbledon tennis matches at 7 am.  Relaxing on a raft in the pool.  Getting dive-bombed by bats.  Working on Spanish translations and government assignments.  Life is good.  I'm not ready to head back to Indiana (and reality)!

First of the Month Favorites

You said it, C.S. Lewis!

My favorite things are constantly changing.  I'm always discovering/on the look out for something new.  So what are my favorite things on 1 July?

1. What is your favorite book?  A Severe Mercy by Sheldon VanAuken.  I doubt that one will ever change. It's beautiful. 
   
2. What is your favorite song?  "The Gardener" by The Tallest Man on Earth -- it's a great song for summer!
   
3. What is your favorite color?  Yellow.  Especially when it's paired with gray and white. 
   
4. What is your favorite destination?  Outside the U.S.?  Grenada, West Indies.  In the U.S?  Washington, DC.  That I really want to go?  Right now I really want to visit the Dalmatian Coast in Croatia. 
   
5. What is your favorite memory?  That's a toughie but it's probably this (A picture's worth a thousand words, right?):  

1. What is your favorite TV show? Castle.  It's literally the only show that I can watch over and over again.  Although The West Wing is my current obsession.  P.S.  Why did the numbers start over with this question?
2. What is your favorite movie?  Another tough one -- probably Woman of the Year.  Classic Katharine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy. 
3. What is your favorite food?  Chips and Salsa is my favorite summer food.  I think I could even eat them for breakfast. 
4. What is your favorite dessert?  Pie.  Peach Pie. 
5. What is your favorite treat? Iced coffee.  I'm currently on my third of the day and I haven't even been up 12 hours. 
6. What is your favorite car?  I'm really digging the Chevy Volt right now. 
7. What is your favorite piece of clothing?  Like in general?  Or that I own?  I love cardigans and/or button up shirts.  I'm also a fan of the sweater vest.  But that I own?  I just bought a pair of lime green shorts that I like a lot. 
8. What is your favorite fashion accessory?  My watch. 
9. What is your favorite perfume?  This is such a lame question.  I don't really have one. 
10. What is your favorite leisure activity?  Leisure activity?  Who wrote this?  I would normally say reading, but graduate school has ruined that leisure activity for me (at least for the time being) so I would probably say running or swimming. 
11. Who is your favorite author?  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
12. Who is your favorite actor/actress?  Katharine Hepburn and Dick Van Dyke.  But present day?  Meryl Streep and Colin Firth. 
13. Who is your favorite singer?  Brandi Carlile. 
14. Who is your role model?  I wouldn't say that I really have a role model anymore -- I'm trying to do my own thing.  I have people that I admire, but that's about it. Growing up I looked up to professional athletes.  I guess you could say that I still look up to them.  Oh, and Amelia Earhart, of course.  How could I forget her?  She was so fierce.  I pretty much admire any powerful and independent woman.  Lately, it's women like Hillary Clinton or Gabby Giffords who get my attention. 
15. Where is your favorite place to be? In Bloomington?  Probably just hanging out where ever my friends are.  Anywhere there isn't traffic or construction this summer.