We the people, in order to form a more perfect union

I simply cannot believe that I am over half way done being here.  In fact if this were London, I'd be home right now.  The funniest part is by the end of London I was ready to go home, but here I am dreading leaving (maybe it's because of the fate that lies in moving into the 4th floor apartment with no elevator or starting my final year at marquette, but I think it's more than that).  If I had to pick the thing I love most about D.C. I wouldn't be able to do it.  Instead I would stand paralyzed trying to find words, just like I do when asked about what my favorite part of MU is.  How can words ever describe such perfect places?

But I will say that saturday may be one of those reasons I can point to regarding why I loved the district of columbia:

I journeyed to the archives, and patriotically stood in line in the ridiculous heat to behold the documents that founded this nation.  First, we saw the Articles of Confederation (!!!!!!) which have finally been put on display in full.  While they no longer run our country, and basically failed in doing so I think they hold an important part of our past.  We were new and trying to figure out how this type of government would work.  Have you ever created a government?  How about one that has never had any foundation before? To reject the idea of the parliamentary system was pretty darn radical.  Then it was time for the big show, after pausing at the Magna Carta (well not the magna carta , because there are a few legit copies) I again stood in line to behold the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights.  It was crazy to think that a document with less than 5000 words set up the basis for our country.  And the declaration of independence has less that 1500. That would not even meet many word counts I have been required to meet for papers in college.  And yet, true public relations practitioners that our founding fathers were they made it count.  And then secured us some excellent rights through the first ten amendments.  

There is also a very cool exhibit in the archives that shows a lot of different parts of the artifacts of our nation, including pictures of presidents as children (sooo cute).  All in all well worth the line.

After being inspired by the Founding Fathers, my group and I decided to find a place to eat dinner and we stumbled upon this awesome restaurant.  

On Sunday, I went to spring awakening (yes, again) with my roommate sarah.  She loved it, which made me so happy and wanted to dissect the meaning of it with me after the show, making it even better.

Tuesday night I went to Virginia to the Pentagon City mall.  May I just say that if there is in fact a recession you would have never know it by being in there.  Great to be in a state for a little while, and nothing better than 20% of gap on tuesdays.

Work this week has been pretty standard.  Today, was the classic Les Aspin picture of the Capitol Steps with Gwen Moore.  Great woman.  She talked to us about how she grew up at 14 & Highland, and told us about how marquette's EOP program not only made it possible for her to attend college, but also was the first of its kind in the nation.  It does not get any more 'we are marquette' than that.    

Tomorrow my parents come into town!! And it's Harry Potter's birthday AND the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola.  Basically, it's a pretty big day in my life.

When it rains, it pours

Whoever first coined this timeless adage must have lived in Washington, D.C.  For the record, Emily Hunter was not exaggerating when she warned me of the D.C.'s crazy tendency to have torrential downpours one minute, and a blue sky the next.

Where this all started: me, deciding that it was high time i took advantage of shopping in georgetown.  And what better incentive than a thursday afternoon free, and a sale going on at the gap?  Furthermore, I was going through J. Crew withdrawal.  So why not?  Sure I knew it had been raining on the mall all morning, and therefore this could be a bit risky, but what is life without a little risk anyway, right?

So my roommate Sarah and I decide to set out on this adventure after being nourished by Good Stuff Eatery and a classroom discussion on Vietnam.  We take the blue line to Foggy Bottom... everything is going along swimmingly until we get to the escalators leading to the outside.  Behold, the great flood.  One that rivaled the two other largest rains I have ever experienced that were inescapable (the first in grade school at Country Day when I was cheerleading at a football game.  the second on a saturday in april when i kindly volunteered to fill-in for a fellow tour guide, no good deed goes unpunished).  Sarah and I debate the next move... we had come this far.  So close to the georgetown we can taste it.  And let's not forget the $1.25 cost of traveling.  We decide to go on, nothing can stop my love for j.crew (particularly in prep capital of the world).  We determine there is a bus stop just across the street, surely there will be a covered structure.  So we bravely step onto the escalator and prepare to face our fate.  It was basically like riding into a shower.  Instantly we are soaked (did i mention i was wearing a light yellow shirt?).  We forge the river that is 23rd Street.  There was almost a causality, Sarah's flip flop.  It was rescued seconds before being taken with the current into the rain sewer.  Lo and behold, no glass enclosure in sight, so we take refuge under a tree.  Within 30 seconds a bus comes, and thank goodness it was headed to the beloved neighborhood of georgetown.  We hop on, and the bus driver kindly tells us we don't have to pay.  He also informs us we should perhaps cover up because we were soaked to the point that we would win a wet t-shirt contest on spring break. (thats second half were my words, not his by the way).  Also, fyi he was exaggerating, he could see my tank top, nothing more.   

We decide to get off when we see that beautiful navy blue square with white letters, and make our way across the street and into the sanctuary of the gap. In the meantime, of course the heavens open and the sun comes out.  Not a single cloud in sight.  Some BR, Zara (!!) and J.Crew (complete with a sighting of a real life wedding dress!!!) rounded out the experience. 

Never, ever question my dedication to shopping. period. 

One would think nothing more could go wrong after the adventure of getting to mecca, wrong.  Just as we arrive at the bus stop to take us back to a metro stop I slip and fall (mcts bus style).  

Tonight we are going to the Lewises (they own the wonderful real estate at 4 4th St.) for dinner! I am pumped.

like sarah's camera battery i'm exhausted

Monday, I went to work and of course worked on news clips all morning long to collect friday/saturday/sunday/monday morning news. It was also the first day of the Sotomayor confirmation hearings so the nation's capitol was bustling (particularly in the cafeteria during my lunch break). That afternoon I got a call for an interview at Zeppos & Associates PR agency in Milwaukee for the fall, so fingers crossed for my phone interview tomorrow. That night I went to class, learned lots. the usual.

Tuesday was again business like usual except that MarquetteU twitter trvia spiced it up a bit. WOHOO AMERICAN LEAGUE!

Wednesday was constituent breakfast. I met the most delightful family. The father was a speaker about servant leadership so we talked a ton. And the little boy who was going into 8th grade decided he was for obama before even his parents. The story was precious.

That night I went to Harry Potter. I very much enjoyed it. I don't think I can give a full evaluation yet but I will say this: I thought it was interesting the two elements they focused on: their insane hormones and how young that made them seem and then the intensity of what they're about to face in the next two movies as the war looms. The juxtaposition really did depict effectively, in my opinion, how young Harry was to be faced with what he is and the battle between good and evil.

Today I went to class. And as I sat there questioned not being a poli sci major, but it is too late to switch, so onward I shall carry. Here is a very very basic version of what we talked about today in class: Then I went to the shakespeare museum (largest collection in the world) and then the fabulous library of congress. I bought a First Ladies coloring book at the gift shop. Possibly the best $4 I've ever spent. What better preparation for press secretary of the first lady is there really? And for dinner I went to 5 guys, I am so patriotic.

and now by popular demand, some pictures:

here is an original copy of Common Sense! Some old school propoganda. I do love Thomas Paine, though now that Sarah Palin is quoting him I am starting to rethink my obsession.

some fabulous branding at the LOC regarding some phrases we treasure as a nation.

this is the world war II memorial that I saw last week, it's my fave so i thought I'd include it.

It has been a busy and wonderful week.

life lesson: a vase of water with huge sunflowers in it is most likely top heavy and when you knock it over once and it makes you late, don't be so sure you won't knock it over again before you leave.

NYC... it's no MKE.

Friday night Marcie got here and after work (where I was sent to a real live grown up meeting to take notes for the rest of the press office!!) we went to see Spring Awakening. The cast was not quite as good as London, but seeing it again made me love it all the more. Beautiful show.  

Saturday morning, very very very very early, we left for the big apple. After getting dropped off we headed over to Central Park. (I kinda felt like Amanda in Paris because i kept thinking of the moment in gossip girl this past season where nate and blair get back together) Anyway, I witnessed through the 789 gathering what youtube/twitter/skpe have done to our society, twas an experience.  

Then it was time for Mary Poppins. Which overall I am sorry to say was a disappointment. They changed the plot and were relying completely on special effects to make it a good show. The effects and set were stellar but if you don't have a plot to bring you in I would say that means nothing. Gotta hand it to disney for being able to build an entire inside of a house on stage and still have other legit sets in several other scenes too though. Bottom line: they took out my favorite scene from the movie where they laugh so hard they end up floating so they had a lot to prove back to me and they did not accomplish it.  

Then we ate at this night club style McDonald's and then it was time to head home (btw i am not good at hailing a cab, which will now be put into consideration in regards to where i live after graduation). It was good to visit new york, but i would say it is not my favorite place to visit.  

Today we blew in a fuse in our apartment. Now this happens to me all the time so it should be no big deal however old house=old fuse system. Remember in 6th grade science when you learned about circuts and they briefly mention 'oh you might not have a fuse box so you have to replace the fuse itself.' I am a pro at living without power and since we still have running water I take it as a victory. I also may be cursed in regards to the whole power losing issue.  

Then I dropped Marcie off at the bus (I felt like a mother sending her child off to school). And now here I am watching 'The Fog of War' for class (I feel like I'm in AP gov again) and updating my blog.  

Back to work tomorrow. Week 2 and I think I can actually put on shoes again without wanting to yelp in pain so it's a big day for me.  

I promise that I will soon add pictures to the blog to make this more exciting for all involved.  

Finally in other news: I am now into double digits in the countdown to my 21st birthday... this was 7,565 days in the making so it's a big deal i'd say.  

Happy all-star break!

My First few days on the hill

Monday I started my internship and it has been great so far.  On the first day I took a tour of the office and some of the capitol and then got my all important 'red badge of courage' (for some great stories about others who wear this badge with (maybe a little, or a lot, too much) pride visit this hysterical blog. Any past d.c. interns will find it delightful.  Or really anyone who has to deal with an awful intern (mom, you may love your interns after this).  My daily duties include things like writing and proofing press releases, compiling news clips, and posting things to the website.  I got to eat lunch with the senator the other day, which was especially great because he's a wonderful storyteller.  I also have phenomenal company in the press office with some really cool, and obviously very intelligent, PR people who really know their stuff.  I already feel like I have learned so much.

Today I had class in the morning and then went to visit the WWII memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and Washington Monument.  I also saw my future home, the white house, off in the distance.  I then went with my roommate Sarah to the Kennedy Center to get tickets for Spring Awakening(!!!) (which I will be seeing twice... tomorrow with Marcie and in a couple weeks with Sarah (for $25).  Fun fact it is also located conveniently near Watergate and the Saudi Arabian embassy.  

Hurray for Inge! Detroit, I am so proud of what our voting accomplished.

My first hours in Washington D.C.

Yesterday I moved into my penthouse at E. Capitol and 4th St.  Penthouse=one bedroom apartment shared with three other roommates on the third floor of the building, but I'll take it! It's a great location and a cute apartment.  

When I arrived I was quickly reminded of arriving in london, aka massive strugs with luggage.  This time unfortunately there was no man who put my bag on top of his head and carried it up for me, so instead it was me dragging my two bags up the stairs, but i did it!  

I took a nap and watched some gilmore girls (gotta make myself feel at home, and who knows the next time i will get to watch it 11/10c and 5/4c) and took a little walk around, saw my new office, and where 'A Capitol 4th' will be tonight.  Then we had orientation (which was not as great as the london orientation of flying on the eye, but it did include free pizza and colorful commentary by Fr. O'Brien). 

Today I taught some other people in the program how to take the metro (scary that i am teaching anyone anything, i know) and we went to the grocery store.  Shout out to Andrew Kaczmarek to tell me to bring re-usable bags, they were a lifesaver.  

Tonight I will be seeing fellow Detroiter Aretha Franklin and the cast of  Jersey Boys perform in celebration of  our declaring independence 233 years ago.  Here's to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Happy 4th! Check out google, it's cute today!