The Invoices Are In My Head

As an undergraduate, Political Science was not my major like it is today; it was my minor. My major was actually journalism. Armed with a commitment to justice and a healthy respect for both the first amendment and the truth, I wanted to take down corruption in the establishment. When I got to my junior year, I was severely disillusioned with my major. I didn't really agree with most of the journalists and journalism majors I had met at that point. The idea of covering “school bake sales” took its toll on me. As quick as I could, I shifted my focus from journalism to Political Science, and found happiness again.

Last week was the Taste of Palestine on Thursday and the Business Expo on Friday. I also published my first two videos last week, which you can see on Palestine's snazzy YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/CityOfPalestineTX

The city's camera is a professional, shoulder-carry camera that shoots video in a higher definition than real life. And people absolutely love it. A few people have asked if I was with the Herald or with a TV newscast. The professional camera seems to put people at ease. It gives me legitimacy so that, when they see a guy walking around filming them while they eat or filming their kids while they play at the park, they're less inclined to have me arrested. Most importantly, people love to talk to the camera. Taste of Palestine was just such an example. Half a dozen people stopped me just to talk. Rafael of the Texas Vineyard and Smokehaus gave me an advertiser's dream line, about getting to Palestine “as quick as [he] could.” My video is actually marred by my own voice through the camcorder's microphone because when I was trying to get closeups of the food, people would greet me.

Rafael of Texas Vineyard and Smokehaus

Then it dawned on me that I was covering the same kind of topics that had driven me out of pursuing journalism. This time was different though, because I felt like there was a purpose behind it. I'm embarrassed to admit, but I realized that the stupid minor details that I sought to avoid are a part of a greater whole. Also, I was getting fed. That probably had something to do with it too.

The next day I had the Business expo. For as small a city as Palestine is, I was surprised by how much of a turn out there was at both of these events. There was close to sixty each day and many people attending on the consumer side both days. I even saw a few familiar faces. Friday I was dressed in my 'American Victorian' wear: a cravat, my derby and a waistcoat. I had to shoot some video at the Texas State Railroad, by coincidence. I managed to get a very good shot of the train whistle blowing. As I stood beside the tracks though, I noticed that not only were people waving at me but a few were taking pictures. I guess I was in costume by accident.

I learned how to do some of the maintenance paperwork around the office this week. Invoices and credit card statements really aren't that difficult, but they are fairly tedious. Even the satisfaction of hitting something with a big stamp did not quell my mood. Still, looking at the paper clipped stack of completed paperwork gave me a perverse sense of pride and accomplishment.

The rest of the EDC crew went to the expo after I got back. I held the fort by myself until around 3 or 4. Wendy, Laura and Breezy had found out about my birthday by reading this lackluster piece of yellow journalism. I was given a late birthday card, some balloons and a delicious piece of pie from the Oxbow. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the pie crust was the best I've ever had. We went to Denby's, where I finally met Wendy's husband. I've officially met everyone's spouses. After a nice dinner and an unexpected birthday gift, I went home and got a cramp in my leg.

These were happier when I got them.

Saturday was the Negro Historical Preservation Society's annual Juneteenth celebration. Juneteenth refers to when slavery was brought to a definitive end in the United States. In 1868, Texas was forced to draft a new state constitution, and allow the newly free men to vote on it. The Freedman's March ensued, where the new freedmen marched to courthouses all across Texas, guarded by Union troops, to vote for the first time. The celebration on Saturday started with a speech and re-enactment at the courthouse. I was not aware that the courthouse was half a mile away, and dressed in layers like I usually do. I walked off the pain in my leg about halfway there and arrived just in time to catch the re-enactment. It was quite an experience. My heart goes out to the guys who had to wear the Union soldier uniforms.

Once the parade was under way, I returned to my car and met up with the group again at Calhoun Park. They were already in the middle of a speaker, so I quietly found a place near the back to shoot. I was mistaken for the Herald Press again. I explained my mission,sat through the awards ceremony and left for the day.

Sunday was father's day and it was an unexpectedly hard one.

Monday was spent finishing up on paperwork from last week and helping Wendy prepare for her presentation on Tuesday. I'm all right with how the work came out and I think I was a help. I got nothing I intended to do done though. I also finished up the receipts and credit card statements to go out that afternoon.

Tuesday was probably the busiest its ever been for me. Wendy was appointed as interim city manager (Congratulations!). We had to be at the office by 7 to help set up for the Leadership Palestine event. I helped arrange the desks and chairs, as well as set out cutlery, plates and napkins. The entire affair was expected to last from eight to one. That is five hours. Just how much work and time goes into a presentation is unbelievable to me. I can safely laugh at my classmates who struggle to get five minutes of content out of their fifty power point slides when I return to school in the fall. We had two different caterings (one for breakfast, one for lunch) and a ton of left overs. I officially annexed the office next to the front foyer where I was originally set up. I spent some of the day recording voice with the door closed.

I skipped most of the meeting stuff to play catch up with my agenda. I did get two videos up and out. I get the feeling that being at least slightly behind schedule is par for the course. When I originally planned out my schedule, I was worried it was too light and that I would have too much free time. I won't say it's too much yet, but I will say I’m pleased that I didn't overestimate my capabilities.

Today was much more lax compared to yesterday. It's still busy, but it feels like there's not specifically a deadline today. I sat in on a meeting today to discuss Sanderson Farms some. We had to sprint back after that so that Wendy could meet with the mayor. There was a rotary meeting afterward, too. The outgoing president gave a long and winding speech that was interspersed with jokes. I drove back from that just in time to catch Breezy leaving for a meeting. I also had to do invoices, but I'm getting to be an ace at those. I even find it pretty fun to do, somehow. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful.

I've downloaded some documents onto my tablet to read this evening while I cut my teeth on bourbon (Philip Marlowe's drink of choice, which oddly, I've never had).

Speaking of hardboiled detective novels, this weekend I plan to use the gift certificate to the local bookstore that I was given. The rest of my week looks like a blur. Next week, however, I plan to go to the balloon base, which will require me to call ahead and verify on Monday. The fact such a mundane step has me giddy speaks volumes. Volumes of what, I don't know.

I will say that having an actual paper agenda to stick to helps me immensely by giving me a sense of control over everything that's going on. It may be an illusion of control, but is is a fine deception.