March. And now for a taste of things to come. I see John Kerry speak in Orlando on March 3. Out of about 2000 people standing in line, only about 150 get in. I was about the 5th to last person to get in. I see him speak a week later in Ybor with Emily (who is really sick). I get to shake his hand. I also meet Allan Oliver in March, and so begins my LCV odyssey. I basically stop worrying about school work and start spending a lot of time volunteering for LCV.
April. April started off with National I'm Embarrassed by my President Day. I put a brown ribbon on the antenna of my car; somebody pulls off my antenna and pours soda or beer all over my car. I also actually meet John Kerry on April 20th at a small rally by Tampa Bay. Helped plan Earth Day at Rollins. Gave a mini-speech at the kickoff of the LCV Environmental Victory Project and then went to a big protest in DC with Emily and Margeaux. Skipped work at the Cheesecake Factory for the march...never went back. Allan offers me a job with LCV. I accept.
May. Graduation! China! EVP!
June. I meet John Kerry again on June 1. Steve takes over Red Team. He does a kick ass job; he turns into the cool team leader.
July. Emily and I go watch the July 4th fireworks in Sarasota. I sell a bunch of t-shirts at a theater showing Fahrenheit 9/11. I worked at MGM Studios during most of the month of July. I spend the rest of my time with LCV. Emily is in Sarasota all summer going to summer school.
August. The start of the never ending hurricane season. Charlie postpones the start of school for Emily. The campaign gets sidelined. I go full time at LCV as a team leader. I accept, get the keys to a van, and move into LCV housing.
September. More hurricanes. The campaign stalls. I hardly see Emily. I'm working 100 hour weeks. I don't have time to sleep, shower, or do laundry.
October. RED SOX BEAT THE YANKEES IN 7 GAMES. RED SOX WIN THE WORLD SERIES. I AM NOW A WORLD CHAMPION AND ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS CANNOT TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME! Nothing else matters....but....the campaign is kicking into high gear. People from all over the country pour in. I turn 26. My team keeps getting bigger. I get assigned 42 precincts to organize for the weekend before Election Day. We also have to deal with over 40 out of state volunteers staying in Kissimmee.
November. On Election Day my team canvassed 144 canvassing shifts. We still lose. I go to Emily's hours after the polls close and fall asleep. The next day I went back to office and cried. Like a baby. All morning. I spent 8 more days in LCV housing. I got an apartment with Crissie. Thanksgiving at Emily's.
December. More work at the restaurant I pick up every shift that I can. The week before Christmas I worked 8 shifts (out of a possible 11). I spend Christmas with Emily's family because my family is in Costa Rica. Emily goes to India. I spend New Year's Eve with Steve eating pizza and watching South Park in my apartment.
April. April started off with National I'm Embarrassed by my President Day. I put a brown ribbon on the antenna of my car; somebody pulls off my antenna and pours soda or beer all over my car. I also actually meet John Kerry on April 20th at a small rally by Tampa Bay. Helped plan Earth Day at Rollins. Gave a mini-speech at the kickoff of the LCV Environmental Victory Project and then went to a big protest in DC with Emily and Margeaux. Skipped work at the Cheesecake Factory for the march...never went back. Allan offers me a job with LCV. I accept.
May. Graduation! China! EVP!
June. I meet John Kerry again on June 1. Steve takes over Red Team. He does a kick ass job; he turns into the cool team leader.
July. Emily and I go watch the July 4th fireworks in Sarasota. I sell a bunch of t-shirts at a theater showing Fahrenheit 9/11. I worked at MGM Studios during most of the month of July. I spend the rest of my time with LCV. Emily is in Sarasota all summer going to summer school.
August. The start of the never ending hurricane season. Charlie postpones the start of school for Emily. The campaign gets sidelined. I go full time at LCV as a team leader. I accept, get the keys to a van, and move into LCV housing.
September. More hurricanes. The campaign stalls. I hardly see Emily. I'm working 100 hour weeks. I don't have time to sleep, shower, or do laundry.
October. RED SOX BEAT THE YANKEES IN 7 GAMES. RED SOX WIN THE WORLD SERIES. I AM NOW A WORLD CHAMPION AND ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS CANNOT TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME! Nothing else matters....but....the campaign is kicking into high gear. People from all over the country pour in. I turn 26. My team keeps getting bigger. I get assigned 42 precincts to organize for the weekend before Election Day. We also have to deal with over 40 out of state volunteers staying in Kissimmee.
November. On Election Day my team canvassed 144 canvassing shifts. We still lose. I go to Emily's hours after the polls close and fall asleep. The next day I went back to office and cried. Like a baby. All morning. I spent 8 more days in LCV housing. I got an apartment with Crissie. Thanksgiving at Emily's.
December. More work at the restaurant I pick up every shift that I can. The week before Christmas I worked 8 shifts (out of a possible 11). I spend Christmas with Emily's family because my family is in Costa Rica. Emily goes to India. I spend New Year's Eve with Steve eating pizza and watching South Park in my apartment.