Paper under the ink.

It's taken a while to get down on the gettin' down of writing, though here it is once more! I feel as though I am mismanaging my time of freedom (i.e. time not spent behind a counter scalding myself and any Fenno-Ugric peoples near me), though maybe I'm just settling in with having a constant lack of boredom. Actually, can't really see that being a problem anytime before I'm 92 and four months old, and that would only result from me having given up on trying to understand those dang kids and their new, year 2074 model implant Wii rock electro music guitar pool tables. Although life should also be somewhat posh for the elderly at that time. I'm thinking Werther's implants.

Between blogging, language absorption (Russian through the tele and books, eesti keel though just about everything and usually involving free beer, and now the basics of Danish), a cut-back scattering of US television, BBC, Vesti, Postimees, The Economist, Naomi Wolf, Facebook, the election, sending out CV's for a Minneapolis job, contemplating grad school, sketching for a possible architecture master's portfolio, lounge music, and whatever random shit comes about (lately, finding random pictures of bears in ridiculous fashion), my adult form of progressive ADD is somewhat satisfied. Oh, I also make dinner and sleep from time to time.

Not meant to be a complaint, in any sense. I realize that I'm absolutely comfortable with it, and yearn for more time to spend on each and every one of those things. Must be a part of maturity.. insatiably dredging up all of these random things to fill your time. Enjoyably tiring. I'm somewhat apprehensive for what'll come about once I move back to Minneapolis; getting around to spend some long-needed time with a staggeringly wide range of friends will be taking priority. Second-up will probably be bashing back into Russian, as I'm hoping to land a position downtown using that skill.

It's a facet of life that took a long time and many approaches to getting used to.. that of having to downgrade the amount of time I dedicated to friends, long time and emerging, on a daily basis. Now that I have readjusted to the limited contact and being slightly outside the 'circle' (being back in the States for a month was brilliant, I have to add, and the reconnection to a highly active society, while awkward for the first few days, was reaffirmed as a central part of me), it's going to be strange once more to fully implement a refreshed structure and system around myself.

Finding someone here to settle into that a bit more with, while it could be incredibly tough and aggravating that it would only start in close proximity for the next few months, is a definite interest of mine. I've had so many false-starts in the time I've been here (girls tend to always be unavailable and static in those positions), so it's somewhat tiring and bit of a challenge. Let's just say though, that.. barring any fucking sünnipäevad (birthdays).. neljapäev (Thursday) could be a very, very great day and I'll have much more to elaborate on in the safari for a significant other. Haha.. Now just for a pith helmet and slapping myself into a somewhat presentable appearance for these so-called date anomalies..

Onto something just as engrossing.. I officially sent in my absentee ballot a few days back! Whoo, active participation in a political system! It's also exciting being from a state where my vote is much needed. Somewhat unsettling and scary, though exciting. I've also been revving myself up as of late with Naomi Wolf's new book, Give Me Liberty. Enjoyable to read something that I have shifting and conflicting feelings toward. An important aspect of it I believe is that even though I'm not in agreement with everything written, it is meant to provoke an active debate in itself and to bring these issues to light. People are much more prone to lock themselves into one camp or another without taking in alternate views if they aren't exposed to them. That's a great part about America is that (in theory) we have the ability to do this, and from that we come up with a mutually beneficial common ground through peaceful means. It's very true that especially in the last decade, this practice has become somewhat discouraged and even forcefully downplayed. Something will reach a breaking point though, and the ability to use and actively exercise our right to freedom of speech will come back around with even greater meaning.

I've been thinking lately and writing a touch about how the Obama campaign has at least set up the beginnings of this refreshment of rights. This election is one of the most important in US history, and (though the word has been draped overenthusiastically upon almost everything in the last few months) a single change may give the possibility for a multitude of others. A constitutional element of our political system is this ability to change and transform how we engage ourselves and the world while holding onto our fundamental principles. It feels as though of late people are afraid to exercise these rights, even by merely holding an opinion. Part of it is an encouraged (socially and educationally) apathy, part of it is a willingness to let a host of laws and institution take it away from us. It is, however, rightfully ours by the Constitution and our option to peacefully regain. The nature of Obama's campaign strongly called upon a local presence and grassroot structures. I think that, given the fresh take on such processes separate from association with the crazies (usually promoting health care for ticks and a national housepet committee), the ripples will carry on in different forms and for different reasons. Could be a step towards a multi-party system, or more chances for direct democracy and bringing and interest of what goes on in goverment to the people affected who it is meant to serve.

Didn't mean for this to turn into a winding political rant, though that's the air of late. My sleep is still a bit thrown off from getting up for the debates (nothing like 4 am mental challenges!).

Expect more of the same in the next month. Expect literal interpretations of my hapless and awkward attempts at romantic contact with the opposite sex. Expect more bears (we both become slightly more ridiculous right before winter hibernation).

Edasi, вперёд..