so says the clock on my computer and i’m wide awake, more or less. it’s been quite some time since i’ve had trouble sleeping, so much so that i can’t really remember the last time i had any trouble. i could blame it on the half-cup of coffee i had this afternoon, but i caffeine usually doesn’t have this kind of effect on me, certainly not a half-cup. i’m not sure what it is. i’m not really troubled, though i’ve got some “stuff” coming up in the next couple of months that i’m not particularly looking forward to. on the other hand, there is some good stuff and given some of the responses to my last post, i’m going to choose to focus on those good things here, rather than dwell on those that are more troubling.

for starters, it seems my extended streak of unemployment might very shortly be coming to an end. i’ve gotten word from a friend with whom i’ve been working (volunteering) that i’m on the verge of getting hired. the details, such as salary and start date, are still pending but approximate dates have been thrown out, something that hasn’t happened in the five months since she first mentioned the possibility of a job to me. i’ve been doing some work helping her and it sounds like “the boss” has been at least somewhat impressed with our collective work product.

while it’s taken longer than maybe i would have liked, ultimately, my hard work, perseverance, and insistance of not settling for something less than what i want might actually have finally paid off. it’s a huge load off and, maybe more importantly, i feel like it’s a huge victory, a boost to my self-confidence and self-esteem: when so many people i know, friends and family, suggested over and over that i should just go find “any old job,” i resisted. i’ve been working for nearly six years, moving ever higher on hawaii’s political ladder and while i’m still relatively pretty far down, this job is still yet another step higher and a sign that i’m continuing to move, against all odds, in the right direction.

i know this is all pretty vague, but until it’s official, i don’t want say to much. the organization is pretty private and until it’s a done deal, i don’t want to take any chances at upsetting anyone. i promise as soon as i know, i’ll share it. of that you can be sure.

it’s been over a year since i last had a job. for a while, it was a really nice situation to be in. i’ve been collecting a check and doing exactly what i want to. i was able to work, essentially, full-time on the civil union bill that passed early this year. i’ve been able to work, in a matter of speaking, as a political operative, learning and networking all the while. i still have a lot of learning and networking to do, but some people have definitely taken notice of me and i’ve managed to build some relationships with people i wouldn’t have otherwise been able to under difference circumstances. all in all it’s been a productive year and i’m finally ready to get back to work. with any luck i’ll be able to once again spend time at the capitol and get paid for it!

in other news, i’ve picked up some new music recently that i’m really digging. shortly after i returned from my two weeks in st. paul, i picked up bon iver, album of the same name, that is just fantastic. it’s a beautiful, poppy, and folksy album that i listened to over and over for nearly a month. my favorite song on the album by far, is Wash., of which i just can’t get enough and, according to my itunes, i’ve listened to 151 times since purchasing the album. i’d definitely recommend it and you can read the review track by track here.

more recently, just in the last few days, i’ve purchased two new additional albums. one, sigh no more by mumford & sons, which is also really good, but a little harder to describe. itunes categorizes them as “rock,” but that just doesn’t seem right. they’re definitely more folky and have what i can only describe as a sort of british-bluegrassy sound. when i listen to them, i have images of the rolling hills of wales. i’m still getting to know this album, so it is, as of yet, difficult to pick a favorite song. i do have a few i really like: timshel, the cave, and white blank page. i’d definitely pick this one up if you don’t already have it.

the other is circuital, by my morning jacket. i haven’t really sat and listened to this one yet, though i’ve gone through the whole album a few times already. i like the whole thing, but can really only pick out one that i really like, wonderful (the way i feel), which i believe is their first single from this album. i do really like the name of the band, i have to say…. if i think about it, i’ll try to come back and write another post about this album… we’ll have to see.

alright. it’s now a quarter to 2am and i’ve got to be up in about five hours. maybe if i lay down and close my eyes….