After a short hiatus, we are back to the blog. Our week in Baltimore was great. We loved spending time with family and I now have a new favorite snowball flavor, Coca-Cola. Think of a Coke Slurpee without the tingling. Very yummy. So while we spent 10 days with Kerri's family before returning to Utah, only 6 was spent in Maryland. The rest of it was spent in Southern Virginia at "The Property". It was a lot of fun. I learned how to crab, ate great Mexican food at El Miguey's, and amazing seafood at Ray's Shanty and saw wild ponies on Asatigue Island, and I stepped into the Atlantic Ocean. I prefer the Pacific.
After an action packed week, it was time to return home. We were blessed. Originally we were flying back on the same flight, but not sitting together. Our seats were also in the rear of the plane which means loud engine noise. When we got the airport we discovered we didn't have to pay the 100 dollars extra for having more than 1 checked bag (which was good since we already had to pay a fee to return home early because of work) and we got to change our seats so that we were sitting next to each other, but it was an exit row, so I had plenty of leg room. We were also lucky because we got some amazing tail wind so that we landed 30 minutes early, and our bags were in the first 10 that emerged from baggage claim. Think that will ever happen again? I don't.
So this week we have been moving into our new apartment. It is really nice. It is so new that it isn't finished yet! Today our final appliance was installed which means that our kitchen is fully functional. Without a truck we haven't been able to move furniture, but we rented a hand truck and have been able to move all heavy boxes, and most everything out of my parents basement. All that is left are random things, and our furniture. We might start sleeping there tomorrow in sleeping bags, and hopefully on Monday night while my family is still sore from a week of water skiing, we can bond by moving stuff. They don't know that is what I am thinking, but the will when they read this.
I am rambling, and the cookies are done so I'm going to go eat some.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
It's over.
Boy did this summer go by fast. I just got home from my last day at work. It was really hard to leave. I made it all the way downstairs to my supervisor's office without sobbing, but once I said goodbye the waterworks began. I was really embarrassed. She told me thanks for being a great intern, and if there is anything she can ever do to help to let her know. I figure if nothing else I have created some really good connections when it comes to jobs.
Today was a lot of fun. After folding and sealing 275 pieces of mail Kerri met me and the other health staff for lunch. At lunch the health staff gave me a parting gift. It is a key chain with the Senate seal on it. We are actually going to use it as a Christmas tree ornament. The Health staff director told me that they all felt like they lucked out with the best intern. So I felt special
After lunch I stopped in to the Library of Congress. Today was the last day that my ID will get me onto the main reading room floor (you know, the one they always show in the movies) It is fantastic. While I was there I looked at the Gutenberg Bible. It was pretty neat.
Then I went back to work, tied up some loose ends and left. Today all the interns got off at noon to go to museums. Of course, with everything going on I didn't leave till almost three. It is sad knowing that my all access pass to the capitol is now void, and that I will no longer see it everyday. I am really pleased with my work. My one regret is that I don't have a bachelor's yet, otherwise I could have applied for a full time regular position.
So allow me to be a bit reflective for a moment while I tell you why I believe internships are so great. I learned a lot about life being an intern. While I am sure my writing skills improved, I learned to always be prepared for any meeting you have, and know what your goal is, otherwise you look a bit like an idiot. I learned that being an L.A is hard work, and I might not want to do it as a career. I learned I really like the idea of being a lobbyist (but to be a good one, experience on the hill is necessary). I learned the importance of teamwork. I learned how to be responsible. I learned how to leave work at work, and to come home and enjoy time with my wife. I learned I love the city, but really need a car to be able to escape it sometimes. I learned how to network. I learned how government really works.
The decision to come to DC this summer was the best decision Kerri and I have made together (besides getting married). We both have made lots of friends, and I wouldn't doubt if we ended up back here for something, someday.
I am going to miss my friends at work, but I am satisfied with the job I did. Hopefully I exceeded their expectations. I'm not sure when we will next blog. We are packing up and moving back to Utah in the next few weeks. We have a pit stop to make in Baltimore first. While we are there I don't know how much we will blog. We'll be spending most of the time with family and might not want to spend a lot of time blogging. After all, we only get to see Kerri's family every 6 months or so.
Today was a lot of fun. After folding and sealing 275 pieces of mail Kerri met me and the other health staff for lunch. At lunch the health staff gave me a parting gift. It is a key chain with the Senate seal on it. We are actually going to use it as a Christmas tree ornament. The Health staff director told me that they all felt like they lucked out with the best intern. So I felt special
After lunch I stopped in to the Library of Congress. Today was the last day that my ID will get me onto the main reading room floor (you know, the one they always show in the movies) It is fantastic. While I was there I looked at the Gutenberg Bible. It was pretty neat.
Then I went back to work, tied up some loose ends and left. Today all the interns got off at noon to go to museums. Of course, with everything going on I didn't leave till almost three. It is sad knowing that my all access pass to the capitol is now void, and that I will no longer see it everyday. I am really pleased with my work. My one regret is that I don't have a bachelor's yet, otherwise I could have applied for a full time regular position.
So allow me to be a bit reflective for a moment while I tell you why I believe internships are so great. I learned a lot about life being an intern. While I am sure my writing skills improved, I learned to always be prepared for any meeting you have, and know what your goal is, otherwise you look a bit like an idiot. I learned that being an L.A is hard work, and I might not want to do it as a career. I learned I really like the idea of being a lobbyist (but to be a good one, experience on the hill is necessary). I learned the importance of teamwork. I learned how to be responsible. I learned how to leave work at work, and to come home and enjoy time with my wife. I learned I love the city, but really need a car to be able to escape it sometimes. I learned how to network. I learned how government really works.
The decision to come to DC this summer was the best decision Kerri and I have made together (besides getting married). We both have made lots of friends, and I wouldn't doubt if we ended up back here for something, someday.
I am going to miss my friends at work, but I am satisfied with the job I did. Hopefully I exceeded their expectations. I'm not sure when we will next blog. We are packing up and moving back to Utah in the next few weeks. We have a pit stop to make in Baltimore first. While we are there I don't know how much we will blog. We'll be spending most of the time with family and might not want to spend a lot of time blogging. After all, we only get to see Kerri's family every 6 months or so.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Where our bums have been
Well, we are rapidly wrapping up our time here in DC and I have to tell you about what we did on Monday. My parents drove down from Baltimore to spend the day. We met up with the senior missionary couple that I've grown close to and the five of us set off for Chase's office to get a tour of the Capital. It was so much fun. We rode the subway from the Senate buildings over to the Capital which is always fun to me for some reason. It's like you're important and you have some place to be.
Anyway, we started off in the Burmidi hallway which is this richly colored hallway with paintings all over the ceiling and the walls. Chase was totally in tour guide mode and we loved every minute of it. I know that I may be biased because I am his wife, but he does give the most interesting and fun tours. He adds in all these little facts as well as rumors like how in one painting the rotunda, it looks like one man is stepping on another's toe.
As some of you may know, Congress is in recess right now which means that we got to do two things. First of all, we got to see the Old Senate Chamber which is only open to public when the Senate is in recess for one week or more. The vice president's desk is original and it's a beautiful room. Plus it has that really famous painting of George Washington looking off to the side. Actually, it's one of four famous paintings of Washington looking off to the side since the artist did four slightly different portraits of him. So that was really cool to see.
The next thing we got to do happened while we were in Statuary Hall. Statuary Hall houses statues of people from all over the United States. Each state gets to be represented by two statues of people from their state and most of the states are in this half-moon room. Statuary Hall used to be where the House of Representatives met. In fact, there are brass squares on the floor that tell you the approximate location of former President's desk. The acoustics in this hall are not very good and it just so happens that if you stand by the brass square for John Adams, you can actually hear the people talking on the other side of the room. So the five of us crowded around this square while Chase went to the other side of the room and said something. We could actually hear him! Sometimes it's hard to get it to work with so many people.
Now here is the history making part. This guy came over and asked Chase if he wanted to take his group to sit on the House floor. Apparently, a group of Republican representatives stayed behind to protest the fact that Congress recessed without ever voting on a solution to the energy crisis. So we got escorted to the House side and it wasn't to the gallery. They escorted us through the Speaker's Lobby (where the Speaker of House goes and the public is never allowed) and straight onto the floor. We sat in the chairs that the Representatives sat in. It was so cool and we actually saw history in the making because no kind of the protest has ever happened before. That right there made our tour doubly exciting. So our bums sat where Congress' bums sit.
After the tour, we went out for lunch and then parted ways. My parents and I went to the Botanical Gardens which were so pretty. It's really a nice place to go. In terms of other cool things we did this week, last night we went up the Washington Monument after sunset. It was gorgeous from up there. We could see the lights of the whole city below us and it just seemed like a perfect ending for our summer.
Anyway, we started off in the Burmidi hallway which is this richly colored hallway with paintings all over the ceiling and the walls. Chase was totally in tour guide mode and we loved every minute of it. I know that I may be biased because I am his wife, but he does give the most interesting and fun tours. He adds in all these little facts as well as rumors like how in one painting the rotunda, it looks like one man is stepping on another's toe.
As some of you may know, Congress is in recess right now which means that we got to do two things. First of all, we got to see the Old Senate Chamber which is only open to public when the Senate is in recess for one week or more. The vice president's desk is original and it's a beautiful room. Plus it has that really famous painting of George Washington looking off to the side. Actually, it's one of four famous paintings of Washington looking off to the side since the artist did four slightly different portraits of him. So that was really cool to see.
The next thing we got to do happened while we were in Statuary Hall. Statuary Hall houses statues of people from all over the United States. Each state gets to be represented by two statues of people from their state and most of the states are in this half-moon room. Statuary Hall used to be where the House of Representatives met. In fact, there are brass squares on the floor that tell you the approximate location of former President's desk. The acoustics in this hall are not very good and it just so happens that if you stand by the brass square for John Adams, you can actually hear the people talking on the other side of the room. So the five of us crowded around this square while Chase went to the other side of the room and said something. We could actually hear him! Sometimes it's hard to get it to work with so many people.
Now here is the history making part. This guy came over and asked Chase if he wanted to take his group to sit on the House floor. Apparently, a group of Republican representatives stayed behind to protest the fact that Congress recessed without ever voting on a solution to the energy crisis. So we got escorted to the House side and it wasn't to the gallery. They escorted us through the Speaker's Lobby (where the Speaker of House goes and the public is never allowed) and straight onto the floor. We sat in the chairs that the Representatives sat in. It was so cool and we actually saw history in the making because no kind of the protest has ever happened before. That right there made our tour doubly exciting. So our bums sat where Congress' bums sit.
After the tour, we went out for lunch and then parted ways. My parents and I went to the Botanical Gardens which were so pretty. It's really a nice place to go. In terms of other cool things we did this week, last night we went up the Washington Monument after sunset. It was gorgeous from up there. We could see the lights of the whole city below us and it just seemed like a perfect ending for our summer.
Friday, August 1, 2008
You'll never guess what I saw in the bathroom
When blogging about our fun night at the movies last week, I forgot to tell you what they had in the bathroom. As you may be aware, at some service stations in the mens bathroom they have condom dispensers. Well while I was washing my hands at the movie theater I looked to my left, and I didn't see a condom dispenser. I saw a breath mint dispenser! No joke, you had your choice of 4 breath mints for $1 each. I thought it was funny.
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