Sisters

I was on the metro tonight headed home after being gone for 12 hours. I was tired, I was carrying heavy bags, and I was hot from the humidity and high temperatures. I hate waiting for the metro sometimes because the drivers get slow and lazy at night when everyone's ready to get where they're going. I heard giggling and started watching two sisters (presumably twins) laughing about friends, adventures, and life. I felt a small sting in my chest because I realized just how much I love my sisters. I don't get that I-need-to-throw-up homesick feeling but sometimes seeing just the right thing makes me miss everything about being home. I know, I know, it's been a WEEK. Don't worry, I'm not crying and I'm not at all ready to come home. But for you moms out there, don't worry -- we still love the smell of your kitchen, the feel of the carpet, and the feel of family.

On to more light-hearted news! I spent the weekend being lazy since I was on my feet for an exhausting week! Great way to spend a 3-day weekend if I do say so myself. But come Memorial Day, it was time I went out and enjoyed the holiday. Back in Oklahoma, my family doesn't really make a big deal of Memorial Day -- no cookouts, no fireworks, no parties. Just relaxing. But I'm in the most patriotic city in the nation so how could I not take advantage of it?? I set my sights on Arlington, with it's reverence and respectful feel. I knew it'd be busy and hot so no surprise there. Besides, you can't really get frustrated with crowds given the nature of this holiday; one that is focused on sacrifice, service, etc. I will say, that I wasn't prepared for the sunburn that I'd acquire after only TWO hours in the direct sun. Why am I a redhead, honestly? We witnessed the changing of the guards, saw the Arlington House (disappointing because of the renovations), the  graves of the Kennedy's, etc.

Definitely a good day, finished off by dinner with an old friend from junior high at Hard Rock and a bus tour of the city with her!

And here's one just for fun:

(:

Adjusting

By Friday it was clear that my alarm isn't going to do the trick anymore. Not only did I turn off my alarm and go back to sleep; I waited till 20 minutes before leavin' time to wake up. Not such a good thing. It's just that by the end of a 9 hour work day, I want to go out and see things! I guess I'll just have to start waiting until the weekend... 

Today I got up around lunchtime and went to lunch with my friend David from Indiana Senator Dan Coat's office. We decided to hit the American History museum and briskly walked through the entire building in 4 HOURS. I was happy to get to see Dorothy's shoes -- although I still think Aubrey's were cuter! I also saw the First Lady's dresses, Julia Childs' kitchen, blah.

We were pretty tired when we left so we grabbed a drink and sat on the National Mall and counted shirtless male runners and tourists (some of them had NO right to be shirtless, just sayin'). The weather was perfect today, which was a nice change from the humid and stifling week we had. We kept wishing we had brought blankets and books to spend the afternoon there.

Since it's Memorial Day weekend, a huge tent and stage has been in the process of going up in front of the Capitol for about a week. They're having a concert that's free to the public, featuring B.B. King, the National Symphony Orchestra, and others. I haven't decided if I'll go or not -- it's only 2 hours or so and the crowds will be crazy. Today there was a huuuuge parade of bikers that came through the city. It took about 15 minutes for the 1,000+ participants to ride through town. You can't tell from the picture but the line seemed endless -- like waiting for the end of a train.

Unfortunately, I left my camera cord at home so I won't be posting any of my cheesy tourist pictures for another month(ish). Try not to be too disappointed. (:

Plans for Memorial Day? I'm thinking about going to Arlington. What better way to honor the fallen?

"We need men who can dream of things that never were."

John F. Kennedy

Hump Day

Wednesday was a good day at the Hill. As I said before, I had my second tour scheduled for today. I wore the red pumps for the occasion and they turned out to be the most brutal of all! My tour group was 10 people from OKC so it was nice to see some people from home. One of them ended up being a friend from junior high named Kasey, which made the experience especially light-hearted. Not only did I remember my route today, I gave a seemingly flawless presentation of my designated speech and the group was complementary of their visit. Not too bad for day 3 in this new world, eh?

I saw three celebrity politicians today. Can you guess who they were?!

1) I was on my way back from an errand when J.M. left Coburn's office. I missed him by 45 seconds:

2) I was in the Senate Chamber watching some Republican budget filibustering and saw Harry Reid a short distance away:

3) AND on my way back to Russell Senate Building, I saw Sen. John Kerry. What a guy! ;)

And for Mrs. Marcia, I finally went to Target on the opposite side of town and bought some black flats. What a difference it will make to this experience! :) I also bought the pillow I've been missing the last three nights of sleep. Imagine the look on my face when I went to the second floor of Target.

6 Blisters and Counting

I'm running out of ways to preserve my poor, poor feet. As you can see, I made a GREAT decision when I bought these fantastically sassy shoes. NO regrets. These shoes are peachy for a three-hour church service, a quick interview, or a business meeting. Under no circumstances will they ever be okay when you have to trudge up countless steps, walk through the tunnels between Senate office buildings, or give tours. I guess I can justify that by saying I look pretty fabulous :)

I gave my first tour today to 14 kiddos from a junior high in Talequah. I think they were more ready for it than I was. I was so cocky as I bragged to myself that I was prepared. I imagine I'm the only tour guide who got lost at the end of the first hallway. You wouldn't believe the maze I have to travel through. But I DID successfully commentate the entire tour. "This tile was a gift from the British after they burned down our city in the War of 1812." "The presidents used to be inaugurated on the east side of the Capitol until Ronald Reagan's inauguration in 1981. He wanted to be facing California when he took his oath." Bet you didn't know that, did you?! Tomorrow will surely be another promising day since I'm giving my second tour! Hopefully I'll be able to point out celebrities again like when I pointed out JOHN MCCAIN today. No big deal. He even waved! 

E pluribus unum!

3 plane flights. 2 metro stops. 1 car ride.

For the first time in my life, I wasn't nervous. You'd think I'd feel completely out of my element since I was surrounded by people I see on the news everyday; but it felt normal when I walked into an office of Oklahomans with that same Southern hospitality. It was a pretty average day: meeting staffers whose names it'll take me the whole trip to sort out, going on a tour that I have to be able to give by myself in about 12 hours, and getting blisters the size of quarters from a pair of heels that I need to wear again tomorrow. Worried? NO. I am loving it so much!

All day long we were anticipating our pretty badges that make us "ofish" (official) as my fellow intern calls it. As is expected, I was all smiles when we finally made it to the ID-making office. (:

It feels so nice to be spending time with such ambitious people! I feel blessed to be from Oklahoma, the land of "beef and Sooners" but, like anyone else, I've been praying for a way to get out of town and see things. I'm scared time's going to fly by before I get a chance to embrace this opportunity so I've been taking deep breaths (literally) so I won't forget the smells or feeling of complete bliss. And who could forget the cheesy touring that I plan to start right away?! First stop: the Smithsonian American History Museum. It's time to revisit Dorothy's slippers now that they actually mean something to me! ;)