Book em, Dano

Finally heard back from my contact at the Smithsonian and got some more information about my upcoming short stay and the potential summer gig. I'm not sure if I mentioned it here, but shortly after getting the news about the offered internship, I realized that I would need to be done by August 6th because I am leaving the country with Dan's family for a trip. Needless to say, I can't really be mad because the potential conflict is something that I want to do.

So Smithsonian guy told me that normally they want their summer interns to be able to work 10 weeks, but that they could make exceptions, and that he advised I get there for my one week to see how I like it before I commit to anything. At this point I'm thinking 'what on God's green earth could possibly happen there in one week that could change a life-long dream of mine?' I think maybe he also wants to see if he thinks I would work out for a summer as well, which seems more reasonable.

The most amusing part of the communication I received today was a semi-casual mention that in order to get clearance to work at the Smithsonian as an official intern, I would need to undergo an FBI background check and get fingerprinted. This wasn't a terrible shock to me, as I'd be employed by the government, but it still kind of made me laugh (and nervous). I've been a bit rowdy in my life, but nothing of major note. I find it kind of funny that I made it to this age without ever having my fingerprints taken (or even being in a cop car). Being a prankster in high school never got me anywhere, but I can't help but wonder how deep the FBI go. Will the local cops talk about the time my friend and I got a warning for starting a mini-bonfire in a local park by some train tracks? Will some teacher from High School dish about how he always thought I was up to no good? Will some embarrassing raver pictures surface of me amidst rumors of rampant drug usage? Surely she must have been high to dress like that!

I know that nothing will come of it, but it's kind of funny to imagine the world of the FBI man sent to look into a recent library science graduate seeking an archives internship; far from the cloak-and-dagger world he imagined he was getting into when he first attempted to get into the Bureau.

The people have spoken

I was salty that the people at U.S. Cellular Field took down their congratulatory banner for President Obama before I had the chance to snap a photo of it (though really happy that they had put one up in the first place!). Well, I have a hunch that other people were just as salty because the banner has reappeared on the eastern corner of the stadium where it sat for most of January. In a random stroke of luck I happened to have my camera with me, so I made Audrey stop the car and throw on the hazards so I could get a couple pics. I need to go back during the say sometime so the picture of him on the banner can be seen better, but here it is in most of its glory:



So very awesome to have a Sox fan in the oval office!

Random thought of the day - opposable toes/dexterous feet

I wish I could grip things with my feet like other primates. If this were possible I would finally have a way of warming my preternaturally-icey feet to the point where Dan dosen't scream in terror like a small girl when I happen to brush his bare leg with one in bed.

Damn

Yet another friend got laid off - I wish this many of my friends were simply getting laid at this point in time...

Another interesting day - in FFWD

Spoke with Smithsonian contact over the phone and was told of two opportunities: one which I will be taking advantage of over spring break, and the other which I will hopefully be taking advantage of over the course of 10 weeks this summer.

If all goes well I will be working an internship at the Smithsonian after graduation, which basically means that I will be well down the road to dying happy - as it was high on the list of that really long 'to do before I die' list.

Just to give you an idea of how much of a kid in the candy shop I'll be - here is a taste from the collection site that I can't seem to get out of my head:

"All told, the archives' holdings include nearly 635,000 ethnological and archaeological photographs (including some of the earliest images of indigenous people worldwide); 20,000 works of native art (mainly North American, Asian, and Oceanic); 11,400 sound recordings; and more than 8 million feet of original film and video materials. The Smithsonian's broad collection policy and support of anthropological research for over 150 years have made the NAA and HSFA unparalleled resources for scholars interested in the cultures of North America, Latin America, Oceania, Africa, Asia and Europe."

I can't even begin to explain how awesome that would be to me if this all winds up working out. I've wanted to be there, working there, since I first set foot in it as a little kid. I'm pretty certain I could never relocate to DC permanently because I love my city so much, but I really want to get a taste of what it must be like to work somewhere that incredible.

Abbreviated posting

Declared intent to graduate in May

Former prof. talking to colleague at the Smithsonian to get me in there for an internship (only a week-long, but it sounds like he would have agreed to anything).

Lost 11 lbs since start of diet challenge earlier in Jan

Applied for a position at the Chicago History Museum

My +/- is good right now!