Below are the 7 most recent journal entries recorded in garibaldi2258's LiveJournal:

Thursday, August 16th, 2007
1:03 am	Now broadcasting from California... As a rule, I don't write in my live journal, because I assumed I will carelessly write something that would haunt me in professional career or my personal life. (It is so much easily just to read up on all your lives...) However, now that I have moved out to Berkeley, California to get my masters in public policy, got my internet turned on, unpacked and requested a new LJ password because I couldn't remember mine for the 10,000th time, I thought I would write something.   The Trip to CA: I actually drove out to California with my father. He struggled with drugs and alcohol for many years and consequently wasn't around much during my middle and high schools years.  However, he has been sober many years now, so I am trying to build a more positive relationship. At least, that what I told my therapist.... This is the second road trip we have taken in the year (the first was an east coast trip after the election), which has lead me to an inescapable conclusion. Despite my best efforts, my mannerisms are sooo much like my father's. In fact, I think I am slowly turning into him, through I definitely have moments where I clearly channeling my mother.   I’ve decided that I don’t really mind turning into my parents, but it surprises me how deeply certain mannerism and behaviors must be coded at the genetic level. I mean, my dad wasn’t around for many years in my life, but I can’t help biting my lip or clearing my throat they way he does. Worst of all, I hate it when he does these cutesy voices when he is trying to make nice, but I realized I do exactly the same thing. Craziness.   On a more practical note, once you get past super boring Iowa and Nebraska, the drive west is very pretty. I also got to listen to lots of episodes of “This American Life” and read the last Harry Potter book, both of which made me happy.  We also stayed one night in Reno, which was cool (I’ve been to Vegas many times, but never Reno). I also managed to end the night down only $5 at the black jack table, which isn’t back for an evening of gambling.   My quick comment on Reno is that it is clearly just little Vegas. Its cool, but I would only go there if I was on my way somewhere else. Why fly or drive to little Vegas, when you and fly or drive to real Vegas, right?   Okay…. That’s enough for tonight. Perhaps I will continue my ex post facto account of my journey in another riveting installment tomorrow. Or, maybe I will revert to my old ways and won’t post again for almost two years. You never know. Current Mood: thoughtful (Comment on this)
Wednesday, May 17th, 2006
9:08 am	I should update LJ as things actually happen in my life.... I understand that the whole point of the LJ is to frequently write down thoughts and feelings, but I always seem to think the post will be better "tomorrow" or "when I finally figure it all out." So, to commemorate my total failure to post anything recently, we shall recap the radical changes in my life. 1. I applied to graduate school and got in lots of places (and rejected for a few 'you suck' schools). In the end, I decided to pursue a Masters in Public Policy at UC-Berkeley ( a top 5 public policy school!!!). I love California and the school's emphasis on social justice, education, and LGBT civil rights. Basically, it is going to rock out. 2. But wait! After accepting at Berkeley, I was offered an amazing  job managing Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin's re-election campaign. Holy Shit! Tammy is a totally awesome advocate on health care and civil rights (actually, she is also a leader on agriculture and veterans issues). Tammy was also the first openly lesbian candidate elected to Congress EVER. Basically, she is the bomb, and I immediately took the job, deferring grad school for one year. On the campaign, I will also get to fight the proposed constitutional amendment banning marriage and civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. It's the civil rights issue of our time, and I am tired of conceding common sense and values to the radical fringe right. 3. Lastly, though, in times of goodness there is often struggle. While I was planning on moving to Berkeley, Bethany (my girlfriend on 2.5 years) was probably going to move back to Missouri. We love each other very much, but are struggle to make major career and relationship compromises work. Interestingly, before I took the Tammy job, she decided to stay in Madison (a city she isn't particularly happy in....) because of some good job opportunities. Then I decided to stay in Madison to work for Tammy and that brought everything full circle. Initially, we were just going to sign another lease together, but I backed out at the last minute. I am still crazy in love with her and we have a great life together (and two gorgeous kitties...). However,  there just a few key things about how we support the others needs, career, and happiness that we need to work out. I couldn't commit to moving our relationship forward and didn't want to give up, but I cannot have it both ways. In the end, we split up. For the record, I neither like this decision, nor am I happy about it. But I do think it is necessary, at least for now. I do not know what the future holds and Bethany may very well be my soul mate. Right now I am just taking it one day at a time. Current Mood: confused (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, April 23rd, 2006
2:05 pm	Its all about priorities - PS2 for $129 According to a CNN Money.com article, "NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) – As it prepares the coming out party for the PlayStation 3, Sony has taken steps to keep PlayStation 2 in the spotlight. And on Thursday, the company dropped the price of the video game machine from $149 to $129.... That creates two possible scenarios: Microsoft could undercut Sony, dropping Xbox to $99, in an effort to clean out inventory and create more retail shelf space for the Xbox 360 – or it could ignore Sony's discount and wait for the system to sell out on its own." Hmmm...may be time to pick up a PS2. Hell, if they drop the Xbox to $99, I might have to replace my quirky Xbox. Current Mood: excited (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, April 10th, 2006
8:07 pm	Bethany and I spent the weekend in Chicago. I was attending a national school boards convention (I lobby for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards). Former Sec. of State Gen. Colin Powell gave a great speech about the globalization of education and international politics. Powell is on the short list of Republics I respect (there are a few, but they are an endangered species). He obviously is supportive of the president, but he was also surprisingly critical. It was really refreshing. Later, I went to a luncheon with U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL). He talked about the need to amend the U.S. Constitution to include a right to a high quality, equal education. It was a really passionate, interesting speech. He talked about how before the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, civil rights and slavery were state issues. Only the federal constitution can create an inter- and intra- state right to an education. I have never thought about that before. Saturday night we went out to dinner and to bars in Boys Town with a bunch a friend of my dad's. It was basically the two of use and three middle aged gay guys talking politics and dancing. It was pretty funny and a really good time. Sunday, I took Graupner's advice and headed over to the Museum of Science and Industry with Bethany to check out the history of video games exhibit. It was super cool. Great history (very similar to what I read in SmartBomb), and you get to play TONS of video games. I highly recommend it. Lastly, today Bethany and I marched in Madison's pro-immigration march. (CNN Story) It was super cool. 15,000 people waving American and Mexican flags demonstrating why America is important to them. It really struck me how easy it is take all that we have for granted. It was a great experience, I highly recommend it. I guess I should actually write in this thing more often, eh? (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, April 6th, 2006
2:14 pm	Sitting at home.... I am skipping out of work today. I had very minor surgery on my toe this morning, and while the Doc said I could go back to work... who wants to do that? (Especially since I was in a stupid legislative hearing until 8:30pm last night...) Tuesday was a good day. After work, Bethany (girlfriend) and I volunteered on Election Day for a woman running for Dane County Board. She is a really amazing woman and now is the fist black woman to represent her mostly black neighborhood (very cool). I've organized and done political work in all kinds of neighborhoods, but working with folks of color in their neighborhoods always changes my perspective on faith. Now, I grew up Catholic (currently in remission) and even went to Catholic school. Some how, though, church always felt sterile and distant to me. Not really the ideas, but sense of hypocrisy and lack of community. But if you have ever spent time living or working in black or latino communities, you know faith is very important and powerful in those communities. Folks just love God and one another. It's a celebration of faith and community--not the guilt ridden, John Kerry Catholicism I grew up with. I'm not converting or anything, but it does seem to crystallize the relationship between faith and struggle. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Saturday, April 1st, 2006
10:00 am	Smart Bomb - Have your read about video games today? So I just finished reading "Smartbomb : The Quest for Art, Entertainment, and Big Bucks in the Videogame Revolution" and it totally ROCKED! It is basically a history of the video game revolution. It starts with the origin of video games in military funded research labs on university campuses and follows the rise of arcade machines, atari, nintendo, role playing games, first person shooters, simulations, playstation, xbox, on-line games, and the military/commercial adaptations of video games simulation software. The book also talked alot about the transformation of video games into a truly interactive entertainment art form. And more importantly, while our parents are mystified by video games, they are ubiquitous in our culture. It was super fun, easy to read, and quite informative. Oddly enough, I first heard about the book when I read an excerpt in Game Informer magazine. How NERD is that? But at the same time I couldn't help but think...Mom, video games made me read. (For the record, my mom actually thinks playing strategy and role playing games made me smarter. She still thinks they're weird.) (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, March 29th, 2006
12:12 am	Failed to come up with something clever You know what is really pathetic? Sitting in your bed and trying to come up with a clever first post when I should be sleeping. Well, it not like it is out of character for me to de disappointing the first time. (You though I didn't notice.) You might say I am a learn as you go kind of guy :) Now that the requisite self-depreciation is over, I'm going to bed. I have to kick some legislative ass tomorrow, and if I am overtired I might tell them what I really think (which would be bad). Side note: Thanks to Mr. Bannen for initiating me. Current Mood: sleepy (4 Comments |Comment on this)