Happy Birthday To Me! An Introduction

I wrote this on Monday, July 23rd. Much has happened since then, 

but I've been to busy/distracted to write about it.

 I'll be better about that. Really.

I'm sitting in my hotel room in Boise, Idaho, listening to the soundtrack to How To Train Your Dragon. This is interesting, because I know it so well that I can't concentrate on what I'm writing, because I'm imagining the scenes from the movie in my head. I've started this post over a few times now.

This morning I was in Auburn, WA. I was trying to get my stuff to fit in my bags, download new indexing batches, help/stay out of the way, and keep myself from freaking out.

I waved at everything when we left. Goodbye house. Goodbye random cat. Street, Jackie's house, old college, entrance to a friend's street. Then we got on the highway, drove for a little while, realized we forgot something, and went back home. Kind of awesome, like when you say goodbye to a friend in a hallway and end up walking in the same direction, so you say goodbye again, but this time it's different, because you already got the closure that from saying farewells.

But...it was different. It was my home, but not my house. It was my parent's house.

This is a picture of Max sleeping. I decided to share it with you for two reasons:
1) It makes me happy.
2) Blogs without pictures are dull.

Any way.

This is my introduction.

Several people have asked me to keep in touch, let them know what I'm doing. A few of them have asked for a blog specifically. Of course, knowing this is attention and an opportunity to practice writing, I was happy to oblige. Maybe the true impetus to this blog is that I really am excited about my life and want to share the details with the people I can't call and talk to forever. I'll keep this blog until my bursting social schedule is too straining. This is mostly a joke, seeing as how many friends I have in Sacramento. Umm, so far, I know the names of 3 people. That must count for something.

I'll try to write about the things people actually care about, like what City Year is, why I'm doing it, and how it's going, as well as other random things I want to share with the world, which can include anything from how I spend my day to cool things about Sacramento, and even a description of my religious views! Ok, warning, religion is my life. So you'll probably/definitely see a lot of that. If you are an avid Mormon hater, tough luck.

Ok, this really is my introduction.

My name is Amy Barton. I am 17 years old (while writing this. I'm fairly certain I'm going to start my weekly blog posts on the Sunday after I move in, which, coincidentally, is my 18^th birthday. This is relevant.)

I am a full-time volunteer for City Year. My program starts on August 8^th, so I'm exploring Sac City until then.

This is the City Year Logo. It is highly symbolic.
 You can learn about it here.
 Also,  learn about City Year by reading my page about it.

I love everything. Well, most things. I hate oysters and poverty and slugs.

I thought I'd let you know, I'm now listening to Symphonic Pink Floyd because the soundtrack was too distracting.

Why I'm here: I want to add my voice to the raging cacophony of the interwebs. I want my friends and family to know what's going on with my life. I want to uplift and inspire to action the people who don't know that they can do something great with their life right out of high school! I want an obligation to write in a journal like format at least once a week (because my avid readers, all three of them, will hunt me down whilst foaming at the mouth wanting more, more, MORE vicarious living through the exploits of a semi mature, fully awkward, very committed justoutofhighschool bright eyed girl who just wants to make a difference in a positive manner to someone, somewhere.

And guess what? I am going to make a difference. This is going to be hard work. But I am excited. And I have a support system. And I have my faith.

Not why I'm here: to attract thousands of readers and pay my college tuition (preferably Scotland) by use of advertisements. The worst thing that could happen to this blog would be to go viral. I'm not interested in that.

Word of day: Impetus

Music: Symphonic Pink Floyd. I haven't ever actually listened to real Pink Floyd Stuff, but this is good writing music.

Book: One Man's Bible, by Gao Xingjian. Kind of an autobiography, except different. But I'm only 3 pages into it, because I got carsick. Hopefully I'll remember to edit that out later.

Service: Indexing (almost done with personal progress)

Worry: Tires deflating in the car because it is so weighed down with my junk ( I mean highly valuable and relevant objects in my possession). Also that it wouldn't all fit, but it did, because Dad is master puzzle sir likeaboss. Car tires haven't gone flat.

Mender Tercies: I found a good deal on a mouse and laptop case. Also, I was able to see two of my favorite people this morning. I haven't gotten carsick. We got a room upgrade at the hotel, so Max doesn't have to sleep on the floor, and I can have the room as cold as I want. Excuse me when I go lower the thermometer a few more degrees.