High of 97

Music: State Lines by Matt Hires <download here by right clicking and save as>
Mood: Sweaty

WOW! It's been a while since I last updated this blog, and I cannot believe the summer is coming to an end. This is the 4th to last week of my internship and it's flown by so quickly. This has been a summer of introspection.

It started off after I watched the Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, where the two characters realize there's so much in life they want to do before they die. While I haven't exactly created my own bucket list, I do have goals that I would like to accomplish before I pass. Watching that movie left me reflecting on what my legacy would be after I die. Many of y'all know I am passionate about helping others and that I really admire the work the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been doing to promote early education and to prevent deaths from preventable diseases.

In addition to watching that movie, I've also read two very inspiring books about people who have dropped the typical trajectory of life and dedicated their lives towards helping others. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Morteson, founder of the Central Asia Institute, and Leaving Microsoft to Change the World by John Wood, founder of Room to Read, were two books by men who gave up a normal, upper-middle class lifestyle to help promote literacy in Asia by building schools and promoting literacy. Reading those books has inspired me to dream big and encouraged me to follow my passion to help others. For me, the issue will be taking that leap faith and taking the nontraditional path. That's something I'm going to have to face this coming school year.

On a lighter note, I absolutely love Seattle, although it's extremely hot now. We have a high of 97 tomorrow, and while being from Texas, that doesn't seem hot, it is when you don't have AC in the apartment. The past few days, I've woken up sticky and uncomfortable, with a thin layer of sweat coating my skin. It's pretty disgusting. I'm ready for cooler weather, though I know my return to Austin will be marked by even hotter weather than this.

Also, let me recommend an upcoming artist, Matt Hires, who is currently touring with Paolo Nutini. I first heard of him because he's going to the Mountain Music Festival on Aug 15 with a few other good acoustical singers. I listened to him on myspace. You can DL his album on iTunes but his actual album isn't in stores until late August. I have a friend who works at Amazon to took me to the left over bins where Amazon ditches books and music after reviewing them and I was able to get his CD. Let me say, he's AMAZING!

I ought to get to bed soon, but in keeping up with the theme of the previous post.

Things Done:

• Chris Daughtry "concert"
• Death Cab for Cutie Concert with Ra Ra Riot and the New Pornographers
• Chicago Mortar Board Conference (this past wkend)
• Vancouver and Whistler (about 3 wkends ago)
• Saw Bruno (was funny, but vulgar)

Read:

• Freakonomics by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt
• Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
• Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
• Sula by Toni Morrison
• Dreams From My Father, by Barack Obama
• Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
• Next by Michael Crichton
  
• Leaving Microsoft to Change the World by John Wood
• reading, The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett

Doing:

• Taking Learn to Row classes, 3x a week-- this past Monday was my first time on the water. I want to take some time to journal some thoughts later on. There's so much teamwork involved that it really teaches an individual like me patience and to not blame others when it seem so easy to
• Watching Arrested Development (Thanks for mailing to me Rachel! I can't wait to start watching when I get the DVDs in the mail)!
• Being a local-- I've been asked for directions 5 times since I've been here.. I swear, the tourists truly thing I blend in!
• Training for the Austin Distance Challenge

Plan on Doing:

• Camping
• Hiking
• Vancouver one more time
• Seeing Harry Potter in IMAX
• Seeing 500 Days of Summer
• Try Ethiopian Food, among other foods still on my list
• Order at Starbucks without feeling intimidated
• Maybe go to the Fray concert (Aug 6)
• Mountain Music Festival (Aug 15, with David Gray, Ingrid Michaelson, Howie Day, Serena Ryder, Barcelona and Matt Hires)
• Explore Bainbridge Island
• Go to another Mariners game using the bank's tickets

I've got less than 4 wks left to do all this, plus I need to order my books online as well as figure out what furniture I'm getting for my room.. YIKES!