Tagged

I've been packing for what seems like 8 hours or 8 days or something...

...so this seemed the most appropriate last thing to do before I pass out face down on ye olde futon (OR) my Internet service gets shut down at midnight.

The Eight Things Tag

8 TV shows I watch:
1. Medium
2. My Boys
3. The Office
4. Weeds
5. Sunday Night Football
6. Monday Night Football
7. Planet Orange (a.k.a. every Suns game I can catch)
8. Other than that, I'm a Netflix freakazoid

8 things that happened yesterday:
1. Woke up late
2. Got a crown - on my tooth, not my head
3. Saw an accident on every major highway I drove
4. Was a bit sick to my stomach at the thick blanket of yellow smog
5. Drank WAY too much coffee
6. Listened to most of Led Zeppelin's discography
7. Pack some stuff whilst watching a split computer screen of online office hours, which no one shows for, and catching up on SNL election skits/watching the Brian William's interview with Caribou Barbie and McRage
8. Stayed up playing Scrabble on my phone - yes, I AM that much of a nerd

8 Favorite places to eat:
1. Oregano's (Tempe, AZ)
2. The Keg (AZ)
3. Chara's backyard (Chara's backyard in AZ)
4. Brewsters (Sandy Creek, NY)
5. The O (Oakland, PA)
6. Corner Grill (Bowling Green, OH)
7. Alexi's (Portland, OR)
8. that Japanese place Topher and Emily to me to with private rooms and mini portions of everything (Santa Monica, CA)

8 Things I'm looking forward to:
1. Moving in with the boy
2. Planting an herb/cactus/lemon garden
3. the Suns season and the three games we're going to :)
4. Finally launching the friggin website design already
5. Taking some photographs of something...anything
6. T'Giving and X'Mas in the new house
7. the end of this semester's teaching @ ASU
8. Seeing the Buckeyes spank Penn State

8 Things on my wishlist:
1. Having someone else unpack and put away all my crap
2. A king size bed, a super size TV, and a grill with a smoker
3. Clean air, cheap public transportation, good food on every corner...no...wait...that's Portland
4. I am totally going to go with what Jen wrote: A good haircut (the kind that requires me to have no ideas...I just want someone to say "this would look great on you," then to do it, AND have it actually look great)
5. No debt
6. Again, I'll stick with Jen: To learn to sew...and be good at it (stop laughing)
7. At least six months before I see 90 degrees again
8. Having someone else unpack and put away all my crap - that was absolutely worth mentioning again

8 People I will tag:
Anyone who has a few minutes to kill on self-reflection

Oh, that was sooo worth it. You know my passion for listing. And my inescapable procrastination when it comes to bedtime.

Tomorrow, I will wake up, bust my ass, and go to sleep in a different bed, in a different house, in a different part of town, closer to work, closer to my happiness, and closer to feeling like I officially live here in Arizona.

Night night.

Lovely lists

Hello all! Since I've already worked a 12-hour day today, I thought I'd come home and sit in front of my computer for a while. Wait--did that sound sarcastic? Just a bit of tired frustration amidst the horror that is trying to launch a half-baked website at work. In any case, it is SO much easier to deal with stress when you love your job. What a concept. It's been almost 3 months since I last typed to you, so if you're all missing me as much as I'm missing you, I know you'll appreciate the firestorm of lists I will now unveil for your reading pleasure (I know, I know...lists are a cop out, but they're still better than no blog at all!).

Shows/sporting events I've been to this summer:

• Snoop Dogg
• Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
• Diamondbacks v. Cubbies
• Stone Temple Pilots
• Radiohead!!!!!!!!!!
• ASU Sun Devils vs. NAU Lumberjokes...I mean, Lumberjacks
• Steelers vs. Texans home opener :)

And I've got Sigur Ros in a few weeks and then a David Sedaris reading.

Places I've been:

• Picacho Peak, Tucson, AZ--Memorial Day weekend camping with Matt, Chara & The Doots
• Strathcona/Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, ON--8 hours of driving for less than one day in Toronto to see Radiohead the day after flying a red-eye flight to begin our 10 day vacation
  
• Keefer Camp, Sandy Pond, NY--for a mini-Keefer reunion/Mark & Ann's 60th birthdays/say goodbye to the camp before we tear it down/hang with Matt's sister/beach
• 34 4th St./Heinz Field--a quick trip home for the Steeler's home opener (took mom)
  
• Little America, Flagstaff, AZ--a weekend with Matt's vacationing parents

Headed to Portland in mid-October for a half-conference/work trip and then Matt joins me for a weekend of fun. Also have Orlando in November for a work conference.


Things I love about Nlets:

• My own parking spot with a placard that says 'Keefer'
• An office with a window that actually looks outside and a piece of glass with my name and position on it (though it's not really etched in, the sticker makes it look fancy enough)
• A full kitchen, a family atmosphere, good people, and no lack of interesting stories at lunch
• Staff meetings, team building events, and lunch with the ladies once a month
• The fact that I'm the only person on my team who lives in Phoenix
• Writing all day every day
• Paying my bills

I'm still adjusting to a HUGE learning curve (the list of acronyms on my wall is 200+ and flaps in the wind when the A/C kicks on), but I wake up in the morning knowing that I go to work every day to do what I want and love and learned in college to do.

Things on my 'To Do' list:

• Photoshop random photos stuck on the camera I've barely used as of late.
• Find a house. Organize bad timing for a move. Pack my crap. Move in with the boy.
  
• Go to San Fran once Brian is settled in. Road trip to San Diego. Pittsburgh/Cleveland visit families and see where we grew up trip. Rocky Point. Polar bear camping in Cottonwood.
• Pay off my debt. Vote for Obama. Get a dog. Save the world.

I know that's a pretty random list--though yinz guys know I only make lists so I can actually do the things on them. In this crazy world of failed investments, bottomed-out markets, and shaky dollars, I still get quite a bit of satisfaction from the simple action of crossing something off a hastily made and quickly forgotten list.

Anything I might be forgetting:

• In case it wasn't clear, yes, we are tearing down the Keefer Camp. My parents and I had a pow-wow with the architect while I was up there for vaca. Building should take all of next summer. Growing trees again should take the rest of my lifetime...
• Mom's doing great, with her hilarious sixth graders and crazy assignments and ever-evolving gossipy school district.
  
• Dad is in his 40th year of business, still sidewalk supervising and B.S.ing his way into the hearts of poeople with downed trees in their yards everywhere. Oh, and check out Cormick McCarthy's novel adapation for film The Road, staring Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron, coming out in November. My dad/Keelen Bros. helped with the special effects for the scene with trees that appear to be blowing up.
• Ain't no fun, if the homies can't have none.

Hope all is well with each and every one of you. Wish I could be more of a blog-o-holic these days. Alas, I am full to the brim with life, love, and laughter. You can always catch my attention with an email; you can be sure to get a text; and, you know you're curious to see if I see have a Monty Python ringback tone.

BIG HUG!

XO

--Chelsea

my state of the union

Hey kids and campers! How are you today?! It's been way too long since I checked in with yinz guys, so I'll try to give you a little taste of everything that's been going down...

I'm heading into my sixth week at Nlets. If you, like me, still have no clear idea what it is my organization exactly does, all I can say is that we're a big message switch. We have our own data models (GJXDM and NIEM); we're a legal monopoly, nonprofit entity, owned and operated by the 50 states and territories. Our other members include a few dozen federal agencies, as well as Interpol, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and a variety of other for-profit businesses like red light companies, LoJack, and automated license plate readers. I went to our week-long Annual Conference in Montgomery, AL. Never been to a conference where I had to work instead of participate. Granted, our partners had vendor hospitality suites each night with beautiful dinner spreads and open bars; I just worked my tushy off. I was the official photographer a.k.a. the girl who was lurking around with a camera every day that people secretly hated. I also had to attend all the meetings and sessions, take notes, interview about 65 of our reps, be friendly, avoid politics, and survive five days of little to no sleep. I did get to meet some incredibly cool people with incredibly cool jobs: Secret Service, most of the DOD, FBI, and police officers from every state. It was overwhelming, to say the least, but educational and a great opportunity to bond with my Nlets family.

Anyhoo, I LOVE WHAT I'M DOING--making a very real living as a writer, working at breakneck speed, in a positive, aggressive, rewarding environment. So far, I've written just about one of each type of document that was on my job description: press release, grant report, newsletter and magazine articles, PowerPoint presentations, surveys, web content, and even my own new hire job announcement. I have a dopalicious office, where I can spread out my nerd supplies, listen to some tunes, and actually crank out high quality content. I am light years away from Anthem. And, although it can sometimes be a major pain in my ass, teaching online at ASU is turning out to be a yummy cash cow.

In other news, the Keefer's almost lost their Zen place. A couple of days before storms ravaged the Midwest, a tornado ripped through up-state New York and devasted the town of Sandy Creek. People lost houses, boats, cars, and trailers. There were 125mph winds coming off the shoreline, golf-ball sized hail, and sideways, sleeting rain. Initiall, we thought the cottage was completely destroyed. My dad called me one morning, sobbing hysterically--I'm thinking something awful like my mom is dead--and tells me the camp is gone. Mom and dad headed up the very next day, with a dump truck, dad's best climber, and one other worker. The damage is significant, but not crippling. Homeowner's will cover all of the significant damage, which we will start work on in August after the season is over. What's sad is the number of trees that were leveled in the surrounding area, including the trees on our property. There were two 100ft+ pin oaks that my great-grandparents brought as saplings in a bucket from the house in Pittsburgh where my grandfather grew up. I think that's what upset my dad the most--losing the only visible, living connection to his family. So, in the spirit of Joel F. Keefer, he went to Highland Park in the middle of the night and stole saplings from those very same pin oaks that are still there. He also has a seven-year-old maple he's been growing at the lot. I'm going to fly up to NY when they're ready to plant and we'll start a new generation of vegetation. Matt and I are still going up for vacation...even a tornado wouldn't stop me.

Next weekend is my birthday, and it's the first time in my entire life (other than being in Italy, which is a completely acceptable alternative) that I'm not going to (a) be at the camp for my birthday, (b) be with my family for my birthday, (c) watch my dad's 4th of July fireworks before my birthday. Sort of bummed about that, but there's nothing I can do about it. I've got an incredible week in front of me--and just had an excellent week behind me. Went to see Snoop Dogg--well, he opened for 311, but we left after four songs--on Tuesday. I will die happy. Did some white girl dancing/bouncing/awkwardly swaying. Snoop was like "Who's been listening to Snoop for 5 years?" (some people cheered) "Who's been listening to Snoop for 10 years?" (more people cheered)...then he stopped. No shout out for those of us who have been listening to Snoop a Loop for 15 years. I felt old. Speaking of old, Matt and I are going to see Allison Krauss and Robert Plant on Tuesday. Also, T-Bone Burnett is opening for them. I know it's going to be very bluesy/bluegrassy, but if this is the only chance I'll every have to see a fraction of the spirit of Zeppelin, then I'll deal.

Moving on. I traded in my 4Runner yesterday and bought a 2007 Matrix XR. For a fleeting moment, my hand shook as I signed over the title, and my heart pounded as I gave them my keys, though I know the better gas mileage and the certain sense of renewed civic responsibility from not driving an SUV will soon replace the sadness. It's just hard to say goodbye to the vehicle that took me on a 40-day, 8,000 mile road trip across the country; a 3,000 mile musical journey through Canada; the 2,000 mile trek to move down here; and, countless road trips to Pittsburgh, New York, California, and camping up north. In the end, I'm confident that I'll make some good memories in this car...I do have seven years to pay it off and reestablish Road Warrior status.

Have a few more fun things in the hopper for the next month: a Cubs v. Diamondbacks game, STP, and no doubt a bevy of days by Chara's pool. After vacation in August, it's just a month or so before the worst of the heat starts to recede. And, of course, we have football season to look forward to. I know it's not Tomlin's first year of coaching, but with Big Ben on a fat chunk of a contract, and a pretty successful draft, it truly feels like a new era of the Steeler Nation is about to begin.

I suppose that's all for now. It's been nice chatting with you. As always, you're more than welcome to come visit, sleep on my recently paid off pull-out couch, drink some wine, and sweat in places you never knew you had. Much love from Arizona coming your way--I hope all is well wherever you are and whatever you're doing!

XOXO

Chelsea

MY NEW JOB

Well folks, I didn’t think I’d be telling this to you so soon after just starting at ASU this past August but…I GOT A NEW JOB! Don’t get me wrong—I love teaching; however, it simply does not pay the bills. I am almost making less than before I got my MA. Because I teach Business Writing, I’ve always got resume on the brain. So, as my students were working on their job search document project, I was too. I went on to CareerBuilder every day and, even though you really shouldn’t, applied for ANY job that was even slightly relevant to my education and experience. From January to March, it was like I was screaming into my pillow—no one could hear me but me. Then, I got two bites: one from Pearson, an educational media company and one from Nlets, a nonprofit organization (International Justice & Public Safety Network).

Fast forward a bit. To make a long story short, I went through the whole she-bang that is the interview process and Pearson decided to hire internally. BAH! With Nlets, the process was a bit more complicated. First, I had to go through a ½ hour phone interview with an HR firm. Then, I spent another hour on the phone with their program manager. Next, I went for a face-to-face interview, including the program and project managers, as well as the executive director. This was another 1 ½ interview—and I NAILED it. They called me the next day and offered me the job. Finally, I had to fill out a ten-page application and provide copies of my CV, transcripts, driver’s license, SS card, and AZ fingerprint card.

Before I attempt to describe the job, I’ll tell you a bit about the organization (or, you can just skip the next few paragraphs and go to the website: http://www.nlets.org/. Nlets provides two basic capabilities to its users. First, it is an international, computer-based message switching system that links together state, local and federal law enforcement and justice agencies for the purpose of information exchange. Second, it provides information services support for a growing number of justice related applications. To accomplish this, Nlets supports data communications links to state networks using a commercial frame relay service. All agencies within each state are serviced through this state interface. Federal and international systems operate in much the same manner. The primary Nlets operational site is located within the Arizona Department of Public Safety's facility, with a disaster recovery site located with the Idaho State Police for full continuity of operations in less than thirty minutes.

The user population is composed of all of the states/territories, all Federal agencies with a justice component, and selected international agencies, all cooperatively exchanging data. The types of data being exchanged vary from motor vehicle and driver's data, Canadian 'Hot File' records, and INS databases to state criminal history records. Nearly 90 million messages are transacted each month. Nlets is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and is owned and governed by the states. Representatives from each state elect a Board of Directors and Officers annually. They set policies and procedures, define standards, approve members, establish fees, etc. A professional staff is responsible for the day-to-day administration and operations of the system. Membership dues are the primary source of revenue to operate Nlets.

So, what’s the job? Well…I’m not sure how to explain it. The title that was posted on the ad was “Creative Writer / Document Specialist.” I’m like: THAT’S ME! (I think, officially, I am a Document Specialist.) I will begin by taking ownership for the content and upkeep of the website. Additionally, I will build and maintain the Customer Relationship Module (CRM), updating it frequently with accurate and complete information on current members. I will also be involved in all aspects of the corporation’s efforts to publish newspaper and journal articles, document meetings and conferences, create electronic documents (e.g. e-newsletters, e-blasts, etc.), and administer online surveys. I will also document projects and initiatives, create webinars, and support the maintenance of training documentation. Incredibly, the job doesn’t stop there. I will also be writing grants and marketing materials—grant writing, the focus of my graduate students and marketing, something I’ve always wanted to get in to. The easiest way to explain this job is to say what they told me at the interview: The person we hire will define this position.

There are some downsides to this job… It will be an hour commute each way, which will be awesome considering I drive an SUV that only gets 20 miles per gallon, has a 14 gallon tank, and costs about $55 to fill up these days. When my lease is up in October, I will most likely have to decide between moving or buying a new car—or both. I anticipate long hours and a drowning feeling for the first few months. And, there is only one of me—meaning, I am the sole writer in the merely 20-person organization. ACK!

But, the advantages of the job far outweigh the downsides. For the first time in my life, I will be making big girl money and receiving extremely decent benefits, including 11 paid holidays and a 15% incentive bonus. Also, I will be continuing to teach one online section per session at ASU. This means that I could potentially be debt-free…seriously, down to ZERO…by this time next year. As if it couldn’t get better, I will be traveling essentially everywhere my superiors go. In fact, I’m off to Montgomery, Alabama shortly after I begin work. Plus, they’re going to load me up with a laptop, Crackberry, digital camera, and all the office supplies I could ever dream of.

Most importantly, I get to do what I’ve always wanted: find a way to use my writing to make a tangible difference in the world. In this world of illogical gas prices, unwarranted wars, an apathetic media, and a president we didn’t elect, I can think of no better cause than justice. On a personal level, it’s been a very long time since I felt challenged at a job. Nlets is going to run me ragged but in a way where I can develop skills as a writer, businesswoman, marketer, web designer, and IT nerd. Is this what they mean by writing your own ticket? I’m here to tell you that unicorns DO exist—in the form of jobs you thought you’d never find (and Portishead on stage at Coachella). What a long, strange trip it’s been…

A Path with Heart

I was recently reminded of the time I spent meditating before my twenty-first birthday. I went on a retreat in the middle-of-nowhere Massachusetts. I participated in sitting and walking meditation sessions, giving my mind and body time to reflect upon my life up until that point.

There are two important things for us all to realize: (1) There are few people in this world who are ever able to truly understand what they want in life; and (2) Those of us who, if slowly and painfully, do happen to grasp hold of our lives, often times only have the chance to learn what we don't want in life…

"There are many powerful people who are not enlightened at all—
the most unhappy people in our society are the people who are
not dead and not alive, just numb, a zombie."

I've learned some hard lessons on the disillusionment of lost love, the difficulties of higher education, the awkwardness of making my own life separate from my friends and family, the dead-end nature of unabashed recreational drug use, and the serious nature of personal debt. Instead of shutting down and backing away from life, I hold these lessons close to my heart. As a result of a tumultuous time as a teenager, a frenzied era as a college student, and, now, an unsure but wonderful existence as a young adult, I know that learning what I don't want has beautifully illuminated what I do want and should value in my life…

"It is in discovering a wise and compassionate relationship
to all things that we find a capacity to honor them all."

Every once in a while, I get into these dark moods—"Will I ever be loved?" "What was the point of going to college?" "Where is my 'home'?" "How do I keep balance in my life?" "Do I have enough money to pay my bills this month?" I convince myself that I am wasting my life and that I have no clue how to live it properly. Then, I remember that these questions are ALWAYS more important than the answers. Like I said, there are some people who will go through life never questioning their existence, working jobs that they hate, living with a family who doesn't make them happy, and avoiding that precious and vital moment of self-awareness that I think I may now be approaching…

"Even the most exalted states and the most exceptional spiritual accomplishments
are unimportant if we cannot be happy in the most basic and ordinary ways."

I'm sure we are all sometimes hesitant and terrified of making concrete decisions. Regardless of whatever direction we choose, know that we always have friends and family to support us and memories of and experiences from the past to guide us. It's wonderful to get advice from people. It's easy to do a little research before you start a new path. But instinct is your most valuable key to success. Do what feels right…

"When we come into the present, we begin to feel the life around us again,
but we also encounter whatever we have been avoiding.
We must have the courage to face whatever is present,
our pain, our desires, our grief, our loss, our secret hopes our love:
everything that moves us most deeply."

I'm not saying that you should do what feels easy—that you should turn away from difficult situations or challenging times. I'm not saying that any one thing is going to unlock the mystery of your future. You're just going to have to put one foot in front of the other and see what happens. If I was given the opportunity to relive my life, I would choose to actively participate in every single success and failure because, if I didn't, I wouldn't be who I am today. And I love who I am. I do not view my mistakes as mistakes, but as opportunities to learn. The bottom line here is that even making a "bad" decision is infinitely more enlightening than making no decision at all. We should never feel bad or emotionally punish ourselves for being brave enough to take a stand…

"If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete."

I don't believe in God with a capital "G"; I believe in fate. I believe we are all born with certain strengths and weaknesses, abilities and disabilities, and gifts we are responsible for using. For me, I was born a writer. I believe that writing is my path, but that I control the speed I take, the turns I make, and the pit-stops I need along that path. There are still many, many things in my life that are completely unknown to me; however, I gather daily faith and comfort from knowing that simply living my life with passion, spontaneity, and focus, I will be as happy as I can possibly be. I stopped the war in myself through an uncompromising courage to be present.

Spend your life writing things down or taking photos or painting pictures or making movies or music—or simply BE in the moment—as long as you are LIVING…

"To live fully is to let go and die with each passing moment,
and to be reborn in each new one."

With that, I digress and I'll leave you with one more quote…

"We must make sure that our path is connected with our heart.'"

—CHELSEA

P.S. The quoted material I included is some of my most favorite quotes from the great "American Buddha," Jack Kornfield.

The "I’m wasting my life" rant

Toward the end of my second year of grad school, I knew I had to chose a focused field before I started sending out my CV. For me, I have two main "causes" in my life: the arts and education. I did my research and compiled a list of all potential (and currently hiring) non-profits in Arizona. I focused on museums and theaters, as well as public and private, primary and secondary educational institutions.

I sent out my CV and custom cover letters for three months before I graduated (early spring 2006) and for three months after I graduated. I got a few early bites in the process--phone interviews, requests for work samples, etc. I even got through to three final interviews. In the end, I found that I am over-educated and under-experienced. I am educationally qualified for every non-profit job I've applied for; however, these organizations were looking for two-five years experience. I found that most of them were also looking for specialized knowledge in industry-specific software, databases, etc.

So, after relocating to Arizona in August of 2006 and, shortly after, hearing three, successive "no"s from my interviews and watching my debt spiral out of control, I simply had to stop looking for my ideal job and instead find gainful employment. Now, I am almost one year out of school, out of practice, and completely exasperated. I feel like my search for a position in the non-profit world is as frustrating as finding my first job when I was fourteen... "Do you have experience as a waitress?" "Well, no." How am I supposed to get experience if no one will hire me?

Quite frankly, after six years of higher education and more than a handful of jobs and internships, I KNOW I am capable of learning any skill required of me at a non-profit. I know that, given the opportunity, I could convince someone to give me a chance. But, if I can't get my foot in the door--if I never find myself sitting in front of the person in charge--what else can I do? I had previously considered freelance work, though with four sections of class totaling 80 students, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to responsibly and professionally established myself as an available writer who can produce quality work under a deadline.

Now, I'm just stuck. When I finished my BFA in Creative Writing, I decided that writing poems would never get me anywhere, but that the skill of writing itself was something I could use to change the world. I asked myself: How can I be creative and technical, AND make a living? Studying non-profit documentation in grad school made so much sense. A year later, I simply cannot get rid of this nagging feeling of regret--that I wasted my time in grad school; that I could be doing great things for the arts and education; that I'm wasting my skills as a writer...

Tasty Words about Tunes

In honor of the fact that it is now less that 80 days until Coachella, I thought I'd post a little prose ditty I found in a forgotten journal of mine. I suppose I wrote it in the brief minutes between arriving home from Coachella last year, and crashing face-first into my bed for nearly 10 hours. Cheers!


Wake up at 6:30 in the morning to drive 240 miles in only 3 ½ hours to see 12 carefully chosen bands over 12 endless hours to drive home same time same miles. Driving and talking and smoking, eyes stuck to the window, I touch the ticket in my pocket 5,000 times. Dirty lovely people frying in California's desert sun, trash picking for plastic bottles to recycle (sometime in the '90s, I never thought I'd ever find the concept of "free" water to drink). Wilted vegan lettuce wraps, cheese fries for miles, huge beers that must be emptied quickly. Burnt, bleary-eyed—buzzing with the same energy that makes my feet sore from walking and my heart full from singing. And then I have to drive away, through the sand, away from the palms, back to a city where rush hour horns and a never-ending debate on illegal immigrants is the only music I hear.