Goodbye love, goodbye

I sit here, a million memories swarming through my mind. Two packed bags and a fridge still waiting to be cleaned out. This summer has been an experience to say the least. To say the most, which is absolutely what it deserves, is to say it changed my life. If every second changes us, and every new experience changes us even more so, than I have a ton of accumulated moments of life changing moments. In a way it does not even seem possible that I am separated from my last final paper of junior year by 3 months time. On the other hand, it seems like a million years ago that I had anything that was a relatively normal day-to-day schedule of a college student.

To take London out of this equation would be unfair, but since this is my last night in Washington, D.C. a city that stole my heart like no where has ever done before (HIGH praise from me, just look at my twitter bio) it seems only fitting that it gets the majority of the play time here.

I have amassed a list of true life moments that have occurred over the last 3 months. Here is my view of the world, take it for what it is from a person who puts emphasis on some really crazy things in life.

I have discovered 2 Cents worth (if you're sick of textsfromlastnight.com give it a whirl). They're priceless.

I have a knack for living out of suitcases, in fact part of me feels like it should go on my resume.

I've written approximately 427 more cover letters.

I know a bottle of shampoo lasts exactly 7 weeks.

I officially must accept that "What are your plans after gradaution?" is a totally legitimate question.

A $20 straightener will start smoking after 3 years of service. It may actually know that you're looking into getting a new one and decide it will leave you before you leave it.

Knowledge that 1 is not a prime number, and that i have friends dorky enough to debate the primeness of 1 as well as a mother willing to google it.

I have somewhat rotten luck with public metro transportation, making me feel very lucky I am from detroit.

I know a lot about foreign policy and internation pr now... i am sensing a trend.

I apperantly "sound old"

I have an excellent relationship with Alex Perts.

I have no tan of which to speak.

Oliver Wood and Oliver North are NOT the same person.

I know a lot about agriculture issues, my personal favorite is the Conservation Stewardship Program.

9-6 work days are a lot longer than 9-5 work days.

I've experienced recess over the age of 12.

Lots and lots of new friends :)

I saw 10 musicals in 3 months.

A Marquette Twitter Triva Tuesday Victory.

No fear of living in a building with no elevator, bring it health and wellness!

103 days closer to being 21. (In fact it is exactly 2 months away!!)

I have several more gray hairs.

I am in love with Obama's Speechwriter, Jon Favreau.

A much clearer direction for my life, despite the 328 new ideas i got from dr. frietag in london i think i have finally found my number 1 dream, in only took 2 majors and roughly 18 years.

Interning in d.c. has been one of the best things i have ever done. I was so nervous going in for one reason: I had been dreaming about this since freshman year and therefore my expectations were very high. Not only were my expectations met, they were surpassed.

This has been a phenomenal summer, a good last regular school's-out-for-summer summer. And now loyal followers, the time has come to say goodbye. I hope you have enjoyed my blog as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Good Night, and Good Luck.

"I really hope I don't meet Michelle Obama today, my outfit is not up to her standards"

My final weekend in this fabulous city has come to a close. Naturally, instead of studying I have decided to write a blog post.

This week at work was peaceful in comparison to the past weeks of being in-session. My downtime has been filled with the hunt for an internship- I have another interview so fingers crossed people! I also now have an immense knowledge of the iowa state fair if anyone is interested.

On thursday Sarah and I ventured to the holocaust museum. Of course it was a moving experience but I was not as impressed as I thought I would be by the exhibit.

Then we took a true pilgrimage to the Thomas Jefferson memorial.


I am a pretty big fan of TJ

Friday night, Sarah, Katy and I went to The Time Traveller's Wife (we've been waiting for this since the beginning of july, so it was a pretty big deal). A very touching movie over all I would say, lived up to us watching the trailer approxiately 734 times amongst the three of us.

Then on Saturday, Katy and I ventured to Arlington. The cost of freedom has never been so evident to me. Seeing JFK's burial site was incredibly moving. I could not stop thinking about how much I know he loves this view.

Today, at mass the priest told us about how he knew Eunice Kennedy (gotta love east coast connections) and how he went to her funeral. He shared with us advice she had told him many times as whe was growing up: "Don't worry about who you're seated next to at a dinner party, every person has an interesting story to tell, it's your job to find it out." One more reason to love the Kennedys.

This afternoon I ventured around Eastern market one last time. And then I went to the white house with Sarah. We've made a deal we will give one another positions in our administrations.


My future house^ :)

and this is the lasting image of america i will have:
insane mob of people taking pix of the white house. God bless America.

Then, Sarah and I feeling particularly patriotic decided that we should, in honor of our president, go to Five Guys. I had already done some preparation by looking up the one closest to the white house. But alas, it was closed after 5... apperantly I'm back in milwaukee already. Instead, all in the pursuit of a burger we ended up at Fudruckers. A good second choice, and per usual for the two of us a crazy adventure.

I should I suppose explain my post title before I bid you adue. I was wearing a cute dress today, but not an Obama-j.crew worthy dress, and I was worried I would not accurately represent myself to Mrs. Obama. Fortuantely (or perhaps unfortuantely) I did not meet her sitting on the lawn.

Also, (in my opion at least) beautiful op-ed regarding health insureance reform by Barack Obama.

Here's to pearls, lumen gentium, branding, and recess (confessions of a major dork)

I am rapidly approaching the end of my time here. This experience has been incredible, there's a lot to be said for walking past the Supreme Court on the way to work every day. But a retrospective will be coming in a week or so, but right now let me catch up on what I have been doing since my last post.

Last week the race to the finish line for the senate. If you haven't heard (which I sincerely hope you have) on Thursday night they confirmed Sotomayor as a supreme court justice in a bipartisan vote and she was sworn in (right down the street from me) on Saturday. The senate also gave more money to CARS aka Cash for Clunkers. In addition to witnessing these events and the insanity that is preparing to go back home and talk about health care I also got to sit on the senate floor for awhile and watch the magic and witnessed 'press time' which is when a member of congress does a call or two with reporters from home and they get to ask questions to use in stories, and get sound clips for radio. As a total PR nerd I loved it.

Kathy also came to visit this weekend. We went to the American History Smithsonian. I fulfilled my life long dream to see JACQUELINE KENNEDY'S PEARLS!!!!! And also in the exhibit I learned what my future roles as First Lady will be: campaigner, hostess, public advocate, and public face. Basically all of my favorite things.

There was also a wall dedicated to how a First Lady donating a dress to the collection became a staged media event to promote the First Lady and the Smithsonian (combining all things that I love).

I also saw Julia Child's kitchen and Dorothy's ruby slippers and a few Stratvarius violins.

Fun fact: Polo Ralph Lauren sponsors the showcase of the Star-Spangled Banner... can you say perfect name placement for a company that brands itself as the definition of American style!

I also ventured to eastern market, another thing I will really miss about this city.

On Sunday, several other people and I went to Catholic University of America for mass at the Basillica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. I had been there before, but it is always a great time. After mass we went on a tour. My favorite facts: 1. The back wall of the church has artwork inspired by Lumen Gentium, my fave VII document 2.The Society of Jesus donated the portion of the church where the Joyful mysteries of the Rosary are depicted (my fave order and my fave mysteries!!)

This week is my last full week here. In fact at this time next week I will probably be packing and crying. Recess is now in full swing. Basically that means we can wear jeans (it's seriously like having a free dress day at a catholic school) and get out at 5 so I can watch gilmore girls (hey, it's the simple things in life!).

I'll try to add some photos later... currently the internet is a little too weak to do so.

Also *WITH AN OPEN MIND* take a look at the new website the White House has put together to help Americans understand Health Care reform. Despite popular belief we are NOT going to a socialized single-payer plan like Canada. And these changes will help everyone, but if you like your health care you're not going to have switch providers. http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/ And obama did a great job at his town hall describing health care reform today, so if you missed it be sure to find some clips online.

20% of Americans can name all 5 members of The Simpsons Family, only 3% can name the 5 rights promised to us in the First Amendment

Can you name all 5?  

This weekend my parents came to visit and a major part of their visit was spent at the Newseum.  Now, I have seen a lot of museums in my life, in fact possibly over a dozen just in the past two months and this by far has surpassed every other.  Sure I loved seeing the Mona Lisa and the Rosetta Stone but nothing means more to me than the news.  As a PR major, I am told repeatedly that if I want to succeed I have to be obsessive about the news.  As a college student, it's not easy to do.  Even harder, unlike other subjects, it required continuous diligence, not just 16 weeks of study.  What I love most about the news, is just like the weather it is something everyone has in common. 

We started the day (well after being nourished by Corner Bakery :)) by watching an orientation video on the Newseum.  It framed the whole experience fantastically by classifying what we find to be news.  

We then witnessed part of the berlin wall, an INCREDIBLE sight.  It was amazing to see because I know so many people never thought it would come down in their lifetimes, and it did.  I think in some ways it is proof that anything is possible.

Then we took the world's largest hydraulic elevators up to the 6th floor.  There we saw pictures from Fotobama (thank goodness he won... fotmccain just isn't very clever).  They had amateur and professional winners. personal favorite, with michelle and her j.crew gloves:

There is also an astonishing view of the Capitol building (NOT the white house, stupid dc interns)

I also saw THE watergate door

AND THE 'FLORIDA! FLORIDA! FLORIDA!' whiteboard of the late, great Tim Russert

They also had one of my favorite newspaper headlines of all time on display... this is great because the paper was wrong (the original Bush being called by one news source and Gore being called by another).

Oh, and if you haven't recalled all five yet and still haven't googled it: press, speech, religion, petition and assembly.