i'm somewhat overdue, like the little critter book circa 1993 i have from the P.S. 19 Public Library

so. cleveland. it's really defied all the expectations i had, both positive and negative. admittedly, the campaign is a bit less organized than i thought it would be coming in here. there isn't a real solid top-down management system and a schism between the old school (cleveland mayoral campaign) and new school ('04 bid) exists.

i've detailed the place i live here, it's the first entry.

dennis '08 is disorganized. this is true. what it means though, is there is tremendous opportunity for anyone with initiative. if you want hands on experience managing large projects, then this is the place to be.

i'm definitely missing geneseo right now. not so much the homework and the..... homework. but the people and the community. it generally takes me a while to feel comfortable wherever i am and i still haven't been able to fit in quite how i'd like here in cleveland. don't get me wrong, the other interns are great and i feel pretty comfortable with them, it's just i don't know how much i'm loving the campaign environment. more than the long hours it's the backbiting, rumor mill plague which seems to descend on any large group of people when there's not constant communication.

i also haven't been exercising besides doing push-ups and sit-ups in the morning. that's gotta stop.

i have found fun things to do here, i just don't know if i harbor the love of office politics, moreover the desire to be involved him which really is necessary i think, for a career in this sort of thing. if you think you get anywhere in politics without self-promotion, cozying up to those in charge etc. etc., you're dead wrong.

BUT! i am also enjoying myself. i'm working for issues i believe in, there are people who really care about them here. it's good. it's just different and i'm just a little homesick.