A Word A Day Keeps the Dr. Away: internship

6/17/10

intern

intern: practicum worker, volunteer, apprentice, free labor, mentee, protege, trainee...whatever you call me i'm getting buckets of invaluable experience (not to mention a gold star for my Grad school application); possibly one of the most infamous interns would be Monica Lewinsky (ironically an alumnus of my college, but no worries I will not be following in her footsteps, no sir)

yesterday I started my internship at the Idaho State Historical Society's Research Library and Archives. So far, I'm awestruck with the whole experience. I get to wear white gloves like Mickey Mouse, process old legislative bills, humidify things using an ultra "high-tech" trashcan and distilled water, eat chocolate covered raisins, move boxes around (and damn you think you've seen a lot of boxes before? think again my friend, think again, I'm talking a vast sea of boxes you could swim in for decades), categorize materials, then categorize more materials, break paper weights filled with shot, and maybe eventually get a name badge! So in a nutshell, I love it!!! (and yes that deserves three exclamation marks).

Eat My Words

I was once prescribed to keep a journal. I was told, write anything down- mundane occurrences, incoherent thoughts, complete nonsense- ramble on and on if I must. I did such and quickly found "what a power there is in words; later for those who hear them, but first for the one who finds them; a healing power, a solution, like the breaking of a barrier" [ayn rand]. I learned that "it helps to write it down even if you then cross it out" [nada surf]. I mean, think about it...most great authors wrote from a place of pain, their words laden with suffering, but through this inked art form I would like to think that a shred of health and sanity was salvaged just by sharing their words. and to that I dedicate this blog.