A phone update

Hey it's another phone update. The last (and first) time I did this I was at the Vegas airport on my way to Seattle.

I have started my new job, and although it is temporary, it is not half bad. I go into health clinics and talk with folks about the proposed $1 billion cut to health care.

Here is some basic information on what is happening here in the state of Washington. Washington, just like most states in the Union, has a huge budget deficit. What the Governor has proposed to do is cut 42% of the Health Care budget. This would be detrimental to Basic Health, one of a few affordable health insurance plans, and the health clinics funded by it. These clinics are the only options for tens of thousands.

Because this is a budget issue, it is not anything we can vote on, but that doesn't mean there is nothing we can do. What I do is have patients, providers and staff call targeted legislators in their district to urge them not to cut Basic Health. It is the same type of grassroots action work I have been doing save the 100 hour work weeks and shoestring budget.

The first draft of the budget comes out towards the end of March. This will let me know if what I am doing is working, or if I need to work harder. (It will also tell me if I still have a job. If they really scale back the cut then I am no longer needed).

Programs like Basic Health are needed now more than ever. What with thousands losing jobs and benefits weekly. I know, for example, that the State spends more than $2 million a year on bottled water for State related functions when Washington has perfectly fine tap water. Now this is obviously not enough to save $1 billion, but I am sure there are many other examples of unnecessary spending. It is all about priorities. And it's not like this cut wotld solve anything, it just shifts the cost of burden to the insured, employers and communities, and eventually to the state as a whole.

Anyone watch the Oscars last night? The most memorable Oscars that I can remember. Not that I even get into the Academy Awards, but I just thought it was a great production. I especially liked the former award winners saying something about each nominee. That was a great touch.

And how about Sean Penn? Just a class guy and he gave an acceptance speech that will be remembered as long as the Awards are around. By the way, does anyone else see the resemblance between him and my friend/old roommate Dennis? Same smile, same eyes. I will post a pic when I get on my computer again.
The weeks are flying with this new job and it won't be long until my brothers and cousins come visit.

Job Ho!

After weeks of navigating Craig's List, revamping resumes & cover letters and interviews, I finally have a new job. I was all set to throw in the towel and just accept the job at American Eagle. In fact, I was supposed to start today. I was really hoping I did not have to consign myself to retail. First of all, $8.55 an hour will not pay the bills. Second, it was meaningless work. In the end, there just was not much in it for me other than a 40% discount.

But, nonetheless, as of Monday, I was starting to accept the fact that American Eagle indeed would have to do as temporary respite on my journey to find, at the very least, a decent job. Then I received a call from Community Health Network of Washington regarding a resume I had submitted at the beginning of January. They filled that position, but she really wanted me to come in to interview for a different position. I interviewed on Tuesday and got official word yesterday.

So about the job...Officially I am the Clinic Advocacy Field Organizer. It is my job to put grassroots pressure on legislators to not cut funding for these clinics. These clinics are funded by the state and serve people who cannot afford health care or whose doctors do not accept medicade/care. So these clinics are really the only options for these people. If the funding is cut, many of the clinics will be closed making it extremely tough for these people to be treated.

Why cut the funding? Well Washington, just as most other states, are in a huge deficit, so many programs will see huge budget cuts. But why healthcare? I am sure there are many other areas that are not nearly as important as health.

Unfortunately it is only temporary. Once the final budget comes out towards the end of April there is nothing we can really do. Either we win or we lose. Regardless, I am excited to be doing good work again. I am relieved to have a well paying job. Glad that monkey is off my back.

From the Journal: Jan. 20, 2009

Apt. #101, Seattle, WA

Today is a day that will forever be etched in the books of history; the first African-American was sworn-in as President of the United States of America. Of course, Barack Obama never made it about color, but you have to be ignorant to deny what this means, not only for Black people, but for all people of color, all people in the minority, all of the down-trodden. To think we have gone from Rosa Parks, a hero for refusing to sit in the back of the bus, to Barack Obama - the President of the United States - is nothing short of amazing. I mean African-Americans were not even allowed to sit in the front of the bus 40-odd years ago. How ridiculous is that?

I will always remember the small, yet important, part I played. But I was not alone, and this is what was so special about this election: the grassroots action taken by thousands who wanted to fight against the status-quo; who believed in the power of community, organizing, and individual action; and who believed in hope. May Barack Obama never forget how he got here, and, more importantly, may he continue to call for grassroots action. And may we respond, either for him or against him or his work.

May I never forget the day Barack Obama became President - the leader to anyone and everyone who wishes to follow. May I never underestimate what he has overcome. And may I never be content socially or politically simply because a person of color is President. And may I never forget the power of one.

----------------------------------

So a few things about the previous entry. One, obviously from the use of "may" I was influenced or mimicking his speeches from the time. Also, from the use of the comma I was also influenced by James Baldwin's No Name in the Streets - a book I was reading at the time.

In short retrospect, I really hope that I never devalue what this election really meant. We have come a long way as a nation, and no matter who you voted for, you can't deny the historical significance of this election. That being said, we have a long ways to go in regards to race as it relates to our society, politics, and our culture. I hope this is a catalyst for more progression rather than a reason for contentment.

One thing that I was trying to get at was this idea of being proactive. Obama got in office in large part to thousands of people being proactive whether it was citizens knocking on doors or contributing, his campaign showed the power citizens have in our democracy. I just hope it doesn't stop there. Whether you support or oppose him or his decisions, if you don't like something then do something about it. Don't just whine or complain. You don't like his policy on abortion? Well instead of bitching about it, do something about it. Its truly the only way to change it. I'm sick of America's armchair citizens.

Justin's Pacific Blog Update

I just updated my Pacific Blog for the first time in ages. Check it out!

www.justinspacificblog.blogspot.com

From the Journal: Jan. 1, 2009

Preface: For Christmas I received a nice journal. For the most part, this blog has been my journal, but I haven't had much time to update it. It has been much easier to write in this new journal and I have been able to write things in there that I probably can't, or at least shouldn't, here. Periodically I will share an entry and then maybe reflect or update a bit. Enjoy.

Jan. 1, 2009

I've decide to quit my job at the Fund. I'm depressed and I think my job is the center of this. I work so many hours that I can't enjoy these new places I live. I make so little money that I am constantly worried about how to pay my bills. I'm not able to save anything for my travel ambitions. I'm just miserable. So it is time to move on to something new.

New Years was nothing special. I didn't have a good time. I didn't have a bad time. 2008 was an awesome year overall. I mean I helped to get a black man elected president. I hope 10 or 20 years from now I will be able to understand and appreciate what that means. I coached, I taught, and I worked.

2009 is going to be a year for me. I'm going to do the things I want to do. I'm not going to have a New Years Resolution. I think it may be more of a new life resolution.. I hate the way that sounds, but it is the only way I can put it to words. What do I want to accomplish in 2009?

• Travel Abroad



• Go to Hawai'i



• Go to a soccer game



• Pay off my debt by June 1



• Run a 15k with Josh

I know I need to get a new job. This needs to happen soon. I want to be a better, healthier person overall. This means less drinking. More reading. More writing. More time in nature. I think quitting this job is a step towards all of this.

Update: My last day at the Fund was last Friday. I'll miss the people I work with, but they will understand. As far as a new job goes, I applied for a position with the City of Seattle as the Recreation Leader. I will be responsible for planning, preparing, and implementing recreational activities for at-risk youth and disabled adults. This is right up my alley and I have passed the first round of examinations. I should know more by the end of the week.

Ashley has also moved out which has been a lot of fun. It is good to have family and company.

Flirting with the Devil

I just smoked a cigarette. I know, I know: yuck. But it was just sitting there, lonely -- left behind by its owner -- staring at me. This was the first cigarette I have smoked since I tried to impress a girl my freshman year of college, and the second since I admitted to smoking one in the woods when I was in 5th grade. But this time there was no curiousity involved; no machismo. I just smoked it because it needed to be smoked. Because it was the only thing to do. It was taunting me. I don't know why I smoked it. I just did.

Maybe the real reason is because I'm a bit stressed. This move to Seattle was much tougher than I had thought. There I said it. I didn't want to admit it; I like to think I'm a transient dude. I relish in the thought of moving to a strange place and thriving. But I am poor. I'm overdrawn. Rent is steep. I didn't have proper time to recover from the craziness what was election work.

Seattle is great though. Its a good mix of big city and nature - there are two sets of mountain ranges to the east and west. The people are cool --open minded. I just gotta get on my feet. I just fear that this is going to slow me down on my travel ambitions. I'll find a way.

Straw Hats

This is the most "live" a post has been. I'm updating straight from my cell phone in the Las Vegas Airport.

Without knowing it I have become an activist. I have always envisioned activists as radical-at least more radical than me. No doubt there are plenty who will think I am radical. I am lobbying for Gay rights; one of those extremely polarizing issues. I imagines that there isn't much gray area - you are either for them or against them. The extent to which this is true I will discover in the coming days and weeks.

I had a discussion with my mom yesterday. She wants to know my life plans...so do I, but I'm in no rush to figure it out at this moment in time. I've only got one life and I don't want to plan one path and tread down it, eyes at my feet. I would rather have a machete and make my path as I go. Sure sooner or later ill cross and already trampled path, but I want to head for the brush, the thick shit. The stuff I can't see over or through, but I know it will lead to somewhere wonderful if I keep chopping. I'm all about the adventure.

Two years after graduating and am I where I thought I'd be? No. I thought I would be in one of two places: 1)a foreign country, or 2)in the sports business. But here I am, having done a bit of both, on my way to Seattle to work for Gay rights. And although I'm not where I thought I would be, I'm completely content.

A professor of mine challenged us to take off our "straw hats" - to not just analyze as intellectuals, but to be proactive. Well here I am. My straw hat at home, I'm putting action to passion. Some may not be able to understand it (and some do): why I work too many hours for too little money. It's simple: I'm not going to sit around and hope things will change. I'm not going to analyze from afar. I will roll up my sleeves and change what needs to be changed. Passion without action is nothing but a bunch of words.