This week everyone at UGA was on Spring Break. We to did get a couple of classes off, but remained hard at work. And spring is still a misnomer, although it is starting to warm up nicely.
As everyone else took their breaks, the tour schedule picked up--I gave a tour each day during the early part of the week. I actually really enjoy these, as it's a chance to make conversation while spouting random knowledge. We also began our NCAA brackets. Mine is pathetic as normal, with my pick to win it all being UNC. We'll see how far that gets me!
On Thursday, I went to dinner at Horace and Dickie's, a fried fish place off of H Street. This small shack was featured on Travel Channel's Man vs. Food, and yes, there's a lot of very good food there, which you can get for very cheap. I certainly recommend a trip there for anyone who likes fried catfish!
Today, I took a trip to the National Zoo and saw lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! The tiger was definitely the best, as we saw it waking up. It then proceeded to play like a house cat with a toy--the toy in this case being an empty keg. Pictures from the zoo should get posted eventually--perhaps when I post the very old ones from Alexandria.
The plan for tomorrow is a trip to Mount Vernon, but considering how fickle our group is, we'll see if that holds up. I hope everyone else continues to have a wonderful end of spring break!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
3 Weeks in One Post
Well, I kind knew this would happen. . . I'd get busy and not post a blog update for 3 weeks or something. And that's exactly what's happened. Anyway, for those of you who really want to talk and find out everything I'm doing, e-mails, and facebook messages get higher priority responses. I'll try to respond to hand-written letters on the same day I receive them.
My parents came to visit on the week of Feb. 21, which was a very welcome occasion. I took them to many of the places I'd already visited, and enjoyed a couple of new places, like Pizzeria Uno inside of Union Station. I also got to check out the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, which for a kid who briefly wanted to be an astronaut is fascinating.
School work took up a great deal of time over the next two weeks with a midterm on the 28th and a paper due on the 7th. Work has been pretty much the same. I've gotten to give some fun tours, and I've stayed busy with the budget debates. I feel like I've become much better informed, as I've been dealing with a great variety of issues from a wide variety of people.
Our program has done a number of really fun things over the past few weeks, including tours of the White House and Pentagon. No pictures will come of these though--photography is prohibited in both of those locations. A wonderful UGA alum also hosted us for lunch at National Geographic, and we got to meet the creator of "crittercam."
I'll have to admit, I haven't done too much more that's incredibly interesting--mainly due to the fact that everyone has become busier with work and classwork. I'll try to do a little bit better keeping everyone informed of what's interesting in DC. Expect either posts to be less frequent, shorter, or both compared to how things started. And again, if you want more detail, feel free to message or write. Hope all of my UGA friends have a great spring break this week!
My parents came to visit on the week of Feb. 21, which was a very welcome occasion. I took them to many of the places I'd already visited, and enjoyed a couple of new places, like Pizzeria Uno inside of Union Station. I also got to check out the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, which for a kid who briefly wanted to be an astronaut is fascinating.
School work took up a great deal of time over the next two weeks with a midterm on the 28th and a paper due on the 7th. Work has been pretty much the same. I've gotten to give some fun tours, and I've stayed busy with the budget debates. I feel like I've become much better informed, as I've been dealing with a great variety of issues from a wide variety of people.
Our program has done a number of really fun things over the past few weeks, including tours of the White House and Pentagon. No pictures will come of these though--photography is prohibited in both of those locations. A wonderful UGA alum also hosted us for lunch at National Geographic, and we got to meet the creator of "crittercam."
I'll have to admit, I haven't done too much more that's incredibly interesting--mainly due to the fact that everyone has become busier with work and classwork. I'll try to do a little bit better keeping everyone informed of what's interesting in DC. Expect either posts to be less frequent, shorter, or both compared to how things started. And again, if you want more detail, feel free to message or write. Hope all of my UGA friends have a great spring break this week!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Presidential Adventures
Happy President's Day weekend to everyone! Here in DC, it's a federal holiday, so no work, but we still have classes. With that said, the extra time off is presenting more opportunities for fun around the city.
Before going any further along that tangent, I must recognize that it's not every day that your boss receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom. So, congrats Congressman Lewis! As many of you have already seen, I've posted pictures with him wearing his medal. There was a very nice reception in his honor that night hosted by the Faith and Politics Institute. I had the opportunity to meet Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer there. We spoke for a minute and he gave me a nice pat on the shoulder before going off to say kind words about his colleague. The food there was also spectacular, I might add. The crab cake sliders were my favorite. There was also a UGA reception on Wednesday, but I found it a little underwhelming, perhaps I was comparing it to the night before!
Friday, we ventured to Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street for dinner. The food is very good (it's been featured on the Travel Channel) and U Street is a very fun place to wander around. It's the jazz center of the city. It's one of those places you just have to go some point in DC.
Saturday, a group of us went to the National Cathedral, which is located about 7 miles from the Capitol. It's the second-largest cathedral in the United States, and has been the home to numerous memorial services and famous sermons over the years. After that, we ate some Lebanese food for lunch. It was good, even though I have no idea what I was actually eating. After that we strolled down Embassy Row and visited the Woodrow Wilson House in DC--the only president to remain in DC after leaving office. I will post those pictures and the ones from Alexandria soon.
And because it was so nice last weekend, I'm going back to Old Town Alexandria with a different group of people today. Happy Sunday!
Before going any further along that tangent, I must recognize that it's not every day that your boss receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom. So, congrats Congressman Lewis! As many of you have already seen, I've posted pictures with him wearing his medal. There was a very nice reception in his honor that night hosted by the Faith and Politics Institute. I had the opportunity to meet Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer there. We spoke for a minute and he gave me a nice pat on the shoulder before going off to say kind words about his colleague. The food there was also spectacular, I might add. The crab cake sliders were my favorite. There was also a UGA reception on Wednesday, but I found it a little underwhelming, perhaps I was comparing it to the night before!
Friday, we ventured to Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street for dinner. The food is very good (it's been featured on the Travel Channel) and U Street is a very fun place to wander around. It's the jazz center of the city. It's one of those places you just have to go some point in DC.
Saturday, a group of us went to the National Cathedral, which is located about 7 miles from the Capitol. It's the second-largest cathedral in the United States, and has been the home to numerous memorial services and famous sermons over the years. After that, we ate some Lebanese food for lunch. It was good, even though I have no idea what I was actually eating. After that we strolled down Embassy Row and visited the Woodrow Wilson House in DC--the only president to remain in DC after leaving office. I will post those pictures and the ones from Alexandria soon.
And because it was so nice last weekend, I'm going back to Old Town Alexandria with a different group of people today. Happy Sunday!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Old Town
This past week of work has been quite busy. After being in the districts last week, the House was back in session, and I was busy again taking phone calls, running around to various offices, and generally trying to be of some miniscule importance. There were lots of meetings the Congressman was in, and he did a couple of interviews as well. For the first time I actually recognized one of the reporters who came into the office: Ms. Emily Heil of Roll Call, who has been an occasional contributor on MSNBC.
In policy circles, Egypt has been the hot topic, and was also the topic of a policy forum in which the WSP students participated. For those who may not know, Hosni Mubarak, an authoritarian ruler but US ally nonetheless, has stepped down from power in the wake of massive protests.
There was a reception on Wednesday night hosted by the Georgia State Society, but I was feeling under the weather, and declined to go, resulting in a relatively quiet week. With little school work to do, the break was much appreciated.
The one fun activity which several of my friends and I did on Saturday was a trip to Old Town Alexandria, VA. The only true analogies I can give are St. Augustine and Savannah's River Street, and I would mostly describe it as a cross between the two--about as large as St. Augustine's historic district, but with an English design more similar to Savannah. I will post a few pictures shortly. We went to a small bakery for lunch, which was quite good, and a good value, and walked along King Street, which is the main thoroughfare. (FYI, it's accessible via the King Street Metro Station located on the Blue and Yellow lines). The street ends near an old torpedo factory, which has been turned into an art center. There are also quite a few restaurants located right along the Potomac. It was a pleasant day trip that I would recommend to others in DC.
In policy circles, Egypt has been the hot topic, and was also the topic of a policy forum in which the WSP students participated. For those who may not know, Hosni Mubarak, an authoritarian ruler but US ally nonetheless, has stepped down from power in the wake of massive protests.
There was a reception on Wednesday night hosted by the Georgia State Society, but I was feeling under the weather, and declined to go, resulting in a relatively quiet week. With little school work to do, the break was much appreciated.
The one fun activity which several of my friends and I did on Saturday was a trip to Old Town Alexandria, VA. The only true analogies I can give are St. Augustine and Savannah's River Street, and I would mostly describe it as a cross between the two--about as large as St. Augustine's historic district, but with an English design more similar to Savannah. I will post a few pictures shortly. We went to a small bakery for lunch, which was quite good, and a good value, and walked along King Street, which is the main thoroughfare. (FYI, it's accessible via the King Street Metro Station located on the Blue and Yellow lines). The street ends near an old torpedo factory, which has been turned into an art center. There are also quite a few restaurants located right along the Potomac. It was a pleasant day trip that I would recommend to others in DC.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Conjunction Junction
Today's fun fact: if you call the Department of Education, the hold music is the soundtrack to Schoolhouse Rock's "Conjunction Junction."
Anyway, I need to explain my week-long hiatus from posting. Part of the reason is a paper that was due tonight. However, the main reason was that my computer broke down during the middle of last week, about the time I would have made the next post. So, I had to spend my time going on adventures to get it fixed. I went to the Apple Store in Georgetown on Thursday and was told that what I thought was a small problem was really the Logics Board (Apple's equivalent of the motherboard). Friday, I went to the only store nearby with the part, and Saturday, I picked it up. They expedited my repair and really saved my paper, which I was afraid I'd have to restart. It's worth noting that by "nearby" I mean Tyson's Corner, VA. It's basically the equivalent of Norcross from Atlanta for my GA readers. Here's a map. I also owe a tremendous amount of thanks to the Metro (or WMATA) their rapid transit system. Walking in Tyson's Corner (an edge city--I recommend the book for more info, I loved it), you feel like you're in suburbia, but I was able to navigate it thanks to the Metro. And upon later exploration, they are actually in the process of running a new rail line right into Tyson's Corner.
The House also goes back into session tomorrow, so more action should be happening. I'm scheduled to go to a briefing and collect representative's signatures for a bill. I fear that I may be coming down with a slight cold, but I'm hoping to stave it off with medicine and vitamins. Hope everyone reading this is doing well, and may you all have a happy Tuesday!
Anyway, I need to explain my week-long hiatus from posting. Part of the reason is a paper that was due tonight. However, the main reason was that my computer broke down during the middle of last week, about the time I would have made the next post. So, I had to spend my time going on adventures to get it fixed. I went to the Apple Store in Georgetown on Thursday and was told that what I thought was a small problem was really the Logics Board (Apple's equivalent of the motherboard). Friday, I went to the only store nearby with the part, and Saturday, I picked it up. They expedited my repair and really saved my paper, which I was afraid I'd have to restart. It's worth noting that by "nearby" I mean Tyson's Corner, VA. It's basically the equivalent of Norcross from Atlanta for my GA readers. Here's a map. I also owe a tremendous amount of thanks to the Metro (or WMATA) their rapid transit system. Walking in Tyson's Corner (an edge city--I recommend the book for more info, I loved it), you feel like you're in suburbia, but I was able to navigate it thanks to the Metro. And upon later exploration, they are actually in the process of running a new rail line right into Tyson's Corner.
The House also goes back into session tomorrow, so more action should be happening. I'm scheduled to go to a briefing and collect representative's signatures for a bill. I fear that I may be coming down with a slight cold, but I'm hoping to stave it off with medicine and vitamins. Hope everyone reading this is doing well, and may you all have a happy Tuesday!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Of Snow Days and Subways
The snowfall did cause a brief delay in Government business on Thursday, but the city seems rather resilient in the face of snow. With that said, the city has had its faults, but managed the snow reasonably well. There is still quite a bit on the ground, and many sidewalks are quite icy still, but with my boots I've been able to maneuver around the city somewhat.
This has also given me the opportunity to ride the Senate Subway instead of walking to work. I prefer the walk, but with icy sidewalks, I've treated myself to the subway, which is kind of cool. Not to mention just the concept of underground tunnels and subways linking office buildings together with the Capitol. It makes you feel important. And it's a lot nicer than venturing out into the cold.
And on the topic of other Subways, that was also my choice for dinner on our night of the snowfall. As I mentioned earlier with the provolone post, different subways have different ingredients. And this one, had spinach! Popeye would be pleased, as was I. There's also nothing like a warm tuna melt on a cold day. It was actually my second one of the week, the first coming from a place called Cosi on last Sunday.
Work has been a little quiet, with the recess beginning, and lasting through next week.
The biggest development from the WSP apartment has been the establishment of a game bank. We're hopeful that we can expand this collection over the years. So far, we've got Apples to Apples and Catch Phrase. Who knows what will be added next?
And so, until next time, Good Night and Good Luck.
This has also given me the opportunity to ride the Senate Subway instead of walking to work. I prefer the walk, but with icy sidewalks, I've treated myself to the subway, which is kind of cool. Not to mention just the concept of underground tunnels and subways linking office buildings together with the Capitol. It makes you feel important. And it's a lot nicer than venturing out into the cold.
And on the topic of other Subways, that was also my choice for dinner on our night of the snowfall. As I mentioned earlier with the provolone post, different subways have different ingredients. And this one, had spinach! Popeye would be pleased, as was I. There's also nothing like a warm tuna melt on a cold day. It was actually my second one of the week, the first coming from a place called Cosi on last Sunday.
Work has been a little quiet, with the recess beginning, and lasting through next week.
The biggest development from the WSP apartment has been the establishment of a game bank. We're hopeful that we can expand this collection over the years. So far, we've got Apples to Apples and Catch Phrase. Who knows what will be added next?
And so, until next time, Good Night and Good Luck.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
State of the . . . I can't think of anything witty to put here. . .
So, it's been a few days since the last post, and there's not been much to say. We watched the State of the Union address as a hall--with bipartisan seating. Although the House has been in session, there haven't been as many contentious votes as last week, when healthcare repeal was the big issue.
Today was a fun day. I got to give my first tour of the Capitol as a staffer. We've also seen our first major snowfall in Washington since I've been here. The current forecast calls for 4-6 inches of snow tonight, so a fun time should be had by all.
The House is now going into a recess, so things will remain on the relatively slow side. . . unless my roommate decides to keep on throwing snowballs down the hallway. . .
Today was a fun day. I got to give my first tour of the Capitol as a staffer. We've also seen our first major snowfall in Washington since I've been here. The current forecast calls for 4-6 inches of snow tonight, so a fun time should be had by all.
The House is now going into a recess, so things will remain on the relatively slow side. . . unless my roommate decides to keep on throwing snowballs down the hallway. . .
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Eye on DC - Weekend Edition
After promising myself that I was only going to waste money at one place during restaurant week, I decided to go out once more on Friday night, this time to The Monocle. Supposedly this restaurant is the place in DC to see the big name politicos, located right behind the Senate office buildings. Our group was not so lucky, as apparently they all decided to avoid us. My friends who went there for lunch were no so unlucky, sitting right beside the table of Senator John McCain. Anyway, they have some of the best seafood in the nation's capital. I would highly recommend the shellfish bisque. The service was also impeccable. If you ever want to splurge in DC, go to dinner here.
Saturday was quiet, actually a laundry day for me. I did take time in the afternoon for a walk around town. These can be highly enjoyable, provided it's not too cold. Which it was too cold, but I walked rather quickly, covering a little over 2 miles in just half an hour. In case anyone was wonder, average walking speed is about 3 mph according to wikipedia. President Harry Truman, whose biography I finished reading not too long ago, was actually known to walk about two miles a day as a way of clearing his head and focusing on his day's work. No, I don't enjoy walking just to imitate him, but I always do like drawing similarities between myself and successful American politicians.
As I've done each Sunday morning so far, I went to church this morning. I've heard debate as to whether DC is southern or northern. I think each side has its merits, but in terms of religion, the northern side wins. The church I've gone to the past couple of weeks had a mass that was over in 45 minutes. I'll let you southerners ponder that for a minute, as even Catholic masses in the South last at least an hour.
Anyway, I've got a nice paper that I need to start writing, and I'm hoping that by telling everyone that I'll be writing it, I can actually hold myself accountable. House is back in session on Monday, so I'll be busy then, and I'll have a Monday class, so it's probably farewell until Tuesday.
Saturday was quiet, actually a laundry day for me. I did take time in the afternoon for a walk around town. These can be highly enjoyable, provided it's not too cold. Which it was too cold, but I walked rather quickly, covering a little over 2 miles in just half an hour. In case anyone was wonder, average walking speed is about 3 mph according to wikipedia. President Harry Truman, whose biography I finished reading not too long ago, was actually known to walk about two miles a day as a way of clearing his head and focusing on his day's work. No, I don't enjoy walking just to imitate him, but I always do like drawing similarities between myself and successful American politicians.
As I've done each Sunday morning so far, I went to church this morning. I've heard debate as to whether DC is southern or northern. I think each side has its merits, but in terms of religion, the northern side wins. The church I've gone to the past couple of weeks had a mass that was over in 45 minutes. I'll let you southerners ponder that for a minute, as even Catholic masses in the South last at least an hour.
Anyway, I've got a nice paper that I need to start writing, and I'm hoping that by telling everyone that I'll be writing it, I can actually hold myself accountable. House is back in session on Monday, so I'll be busy then, and I'll have a Monday class, so it's probably farewell until Tuesday.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
A BFD
So it's been a little bit longer than normal between posts. Probably because Tuesday was fairly quiet, and Wednesday didn't quite merit its own post. Cue a fantastic Thursday to make this post a mix of several different topics, each one probably meriting more time than I'll allot, but that's mainly because it's a little late, and y'all probably don't want to read the same types of posts over and over again.
The world of Washington has been slightly busier this week, even on a short week. The Democrats are now off to their retreat, so tomorrow the House is out of session, but following the previous week's Republican retreat, everyone got down to work. The main issue was a GOP-led vote to repeal the health reform bill. It did pass, effectively along partisan lines. I'll attach a link if you want to see how each member voted, but there was very little bipartisanship on this bill. It will now head to the Senate, and promptly die at the hands of a Democratic majority, thus preserving the reform bill of the 111th Congress.
Work has settled into a fairly set schedule, and because I really can't discuss the details of my job, I'll be forced to move on to the more social aspects of DC. This week is restaurant week, where some of the nicest places to eat in the city open up their doors to the great unwashed masses for still expensive, but greatly reduced prices. A group of WSP interns went to dinner on Wednesday at Charlie Palmer, a high-class steakhouse with an magnificent view of the Capitol. I would have some grilled scallops that were delicious along with a salad and some carrot cake. For those looking to indulge a little bit, restaurant week is just the thing. There's one each winter and summer.
Today, Thursday, was the 50th Anniversary of JFK's inauguration. There was a ceremony hosted in the Capitol Rotunda which I was able to attend. It truly was the most incredible experience I've had so far. Our seats were about the best possible: fifth row from the front, with my seat being on the center aisle. The program featured musical performances by the Navy band and Army chorus, both of which were incredibly talented. The panel of speakers, which I was seated about 30 feet away from included the Congressman John Lewis, Caroline Kennedy, Senator John Kerry, Former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Speaker of the House John Boehner, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Vice-President of the United States Joe Biden. I'm sure in time, this will become slightly more usual, but right now, to an intern of 2 weeks, it's what the Vice-President might call a "BFD."
Anyway, here's to a great Friday, and a great weekend.
The world of Washington has been slightly busier this week, even on a short week. The Democrats are now off to their retreat, so tomorrow the House is out of session, but following the previous week's Republican retreat, everyone got down to work. The main issue was a GOP-led vote to repeal the health reform bill. It did pass, effectively along partisan lines. I'll attach a link if you want to see how each member voted, but there was very little bipartisanship on this bill. It will now head to the Senate, and promptly die at the hands of a Democratic majority, thus preserving the reform bill of the 111th Congress.
Work has settled into a fairly set schedule, and because I really can't discuss the details of my job, I'll be forced to move on to the more social aspects of DC. This week is restaurant week, where some of the nicest places to eat in the city open up their doors to the great unwashed masses for still expensive, but greatly reduced prices. A group of WSP interns went to dinner on Wednesday at Charlie Palmer, a high-class steakhouse with an magnificent view of the Capitol. I would have some grilled scallops that were delicious along with a salad and some carrot cake. For those looking to indulge a little bit, restaurant week is just the thing. There's one each winter and summer.
Today, Thursday, was the 50th Anniversary of JFK's inauguration. There was a ceremony hosted in the Capitol Rotunda which I was able to attend. It truly was the most incredible experience I've had so far. Our seats were about the best possible: fifth row from the front, with my seat being on the center aisle. The program featured musical performances by the Navy band and Army chorus, both of which were incredibly talented. The panel of speakers, which I was seated about 30 feet away from included the Congressman John Lewis, Caroline Kennedy, Senator John Kerry, Former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Speaker of the House John Boehner, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Vice-President of the United States Joe Biden. I'm sure in time, this will become slightly more usual, but right now, to an intern of 2 weeks, it's what the Vice-President might call a "BFD."
Anyway, here's to a great Friday, and a great weekend.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Keeping the Dream Alive
Today, we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday, in the nation's capital. Of course, his most famous speech was the "I Have A Dream" speech, delivered in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Today, there is a plaque that marks the location where he stood. We had already paid a visit to that spot about a week ago, but were looking for something interesting to do on our day off. Our journey took us to the final resting spot of the man who told us "the dream shall never die." Of course the subjects of those speeches were quite different, but the sentiment behind them, one of progress in society, and attaining the American Dream was in many ways the same.
To avoid dancing around the subject any longer, we went to Arlington National Cemetery. I do have a few pictures that I'll post later, although I did not take too many, attempting to realize that it was in fact hallowed ground. It truly is a place that you must see to experience. That goes from the sole US Soldier guarding the tomb of the unknowns, to the rows upon rows of headstones, all lined perfectly in formation. Our trip was relatively brief, but did include the tomb, as well as memorials for the Challenger and Columbia astronauts, the Kennedy brothers, and the Arlington House, formerly occupied by Robert E. Lee. Today, was the type of day that served as a solemn reminder that whatever dreams we have, they require a sacrifice, and they require that we never forget how far we've come, but how far we still must go.
To avoid dancing around the subject any longer, we went to Arlington National Cemetery. I do have a few pictures that I'll post later, although I did not take too many, attempting to realize that it was in fact hallowed ground. It truly is a place that you must see to experience. That goes from the sole US Soldier guarding the tomb of the unknowns, to the rows upon rows of headstones, all lined perfectly in formation. Our trip was relatively brief, but did include the tomb, as well as memorials for the Challenger and Columbia astronauts, the Kennedy brothers, and the Arlington House, formerly occupied by Robert E. Lee. Today, was the type of day that served as a solemn reminder that whatever dreams we have, they require a sacrifice, and they require that we never forget how far we've come, but how far we still must go.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Finishing Week 1
The last two days of my internship this week were substantially faster paced than the first three days. In fact, I was pretty much working the whole time I was in the office. This was made possible by my training in the technology that catalogues constituent mail. Yes, we have a lot of mail, and if you provide a return address, we will write back to you. I've also been able to start working on a project to get books donated to needy schools in the 5th District.
Thursday, the WSP interns paid a visit to the law firm of McKenna, Long, and Aldridge. We were able to meet with Mr. Randy Nuckolls, a lawyer who also serves as UGA's chief lobbyist in the nation's capital. He spoke briefly about the origins of lobbying, and the opportunities that await us in Washington, DC. After that, we went to dinner at Elephant and Castle, a pub right down the road. For those who were legal, the drink selection was good, or so I was told. And I can speak from firsthand experience that the food was good as well. It was about an average price for a DC meal, which means expensive, but well worth it.
Friday, there were no special events going on, so it was a night in for me. The night started with a party in the hallway, and others ventured into the city later that night. The penthouse party on the 6th floor was briefly interrupted by the apartment's Aussies. Many of them are friendly people, but they also seem to think that because they have Australian accents they are God's gift to the world. . . or at least every female from the University of Georgia. Now don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not implying that I would taking their places if they weren't around, and perhaps it just means that I'm insecure. . . in fact it probably does mean that. . . but their presence at our social gatherings does grow a bit old. I was not at all disappointed last night when they decided our party was to lame for their liking.
Today, not much is on the agenda. I've been attempting to catch up with sleep and reading while fighting off a minor cold. Tonight, we are all headed out on the town, to see our Atlanta Falcons (hopefully) defeat the Green Bay Packers. That's all my news for the time being. I will leave you all with one simple question:
What Do Falcons Do???
(Answer Here)
Thursday, the WSP interns paid a visit to the law firm of McKenna, Long, and Aldridge. We were able to meet with Mr. Randy Nuckolls, a lawyer who also serves as UGA's chief lobbyist in the nation's capital. He spoke briefly about the origins of lobbying, and the opportunities that await us in Washington, DC. After that, we went to dinner at Elephant and Castle, a pub right down the road. For those who were legal, the drink selection was good, or so I was told. And I can speak from firsthand experience that the food was good as well. It was about an average price for a DC meal, which means expensive, but well worth it.
Friday, there were no special events going on, so it was a night in for me. The night started with a party in the hallway, and others ventured into the city later that night. The penthouse party on the 6th floor was briefly interrupted by the apartment's Aussies. Many of them are friendly people, but they also seem to think that because they have Australian accents they are God's gift to the world. . . or at least every female from the University of Georgia. Now don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not implying that I would taking their places if they weren't around, and perhaps it just means that I'm insecure. . . in fact it probably does mean that. . . but their presence at our social gatherings does grow a bit old. I was not at all disappointed last night when they decided our party was to lame for their liking.
Today, not much is on the agenda. I've been attempting to catch up with sleep and reading while fighting off a minor cold. Tonight, we are all headed out on the town, to see our Atlanta Falcons (hopefully) defeat the Green Bay Packers. That's all my news for the time being. I will leave you all with one simple question:
What Do Falcons Do???
(Answer Here)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Badges? We Don't Need No Stinking Badges!
It was a funny line from a Mel Brooks movie, yes. However, in the world of Washington, DC, that statement is far from true. Which brings me to the topic of my ID badge that I received today. I briefly had a flashback to the GHP name tags, and the "bend and swipe" before learning that a) I didn't have to wear it around my neck, and b) I only needed to put it on when going through security. The power of the badge is tremendous though. . . or so it seems. Well, not really, but it is kinda awesome being able to simply blow past signs that say "Authorized Personnel Only Beyond This Point."
My big adventure of the day was a delivery to the House Democratic Cloakroom. No, I was not privileged enough to enter the room, or even see inside, but I did get to go there, which was somewhat cool for a day 3 intern. I did a wonderful job getting lost along the way, but I now will know exactly what to do in the future. There was some action in the House today, but still fairly slow. I'm getting some more training tomorrow, and that should start to keep me busier.
Not much more news. I tried a place called "We The Pizza" for dinner, near the corner of Pennsylvania and 3rd Street SE. If you're ever looking for good pizza, that's not too expensive (by DC standards) I recommend it. Good luck to those digging out of snow in Georgia. We received about an inch of snow, which was enough to make the sidewalks icy (if people didn't follow the directions to ice them), but the ones around the Capitol were clear. For those starting back to classes tomorrow: enjoy your week, which will be shorter than this weekend.
My big adventure of the day was a delivery to the House Democratic Cloakroom. No, I was not privileged enough to enter the room, or even see inside, but I did get to go there, which was somewhat cool for a day 3 intern. I did a wonderful job getting lost along the way, but I now will know exactly what to do in the future. There was some action in the House today, but still fairly slow. I'm getting some more training tomorrow, and that should start to keep me busier.
Not much more news. I tried a place called "We The Pizza" for dinner, near the corner of Pennsylvania and 3rd Street SE. If you're ever looking for good pizza, that's not too expensive (by DC standards) I recommend it. Good luck to those digging out of snow in Georgia. We received about an inch of snow, which was enough to make the sidewalks icy (if people didn't follow the directions to ice them), but the ones around the Capitol were clear. For those starting back to classes tomorrow: enjoy your week, which will be shorter than this weekend.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Getting Down to Business
First, I must share the extremely important news that it is now snowing in DC. Forecasts are predicting about an inch of snow, which will be enough to give the city a nice coating, but from what I've heard is unlikely to shut down the government tomorrow.
Onto the main news, the internship started yesterday. I would have done a blog post last night, but between class and the national championship game, I was busy. The job is going well so far. Obviously, I am not free to discuss the actual activity from the office, but I have been doing well. The House has not been in session yet this week due to the shootings in Arizona, so things have been rather quiet. I've also been told that being in the minority party is inherently more quiet than being in the majority. This is due to the fact that if there's a bill going through Congress that people don't like, they'll only make angry phone calls to the ones pushing the bill through. Also, minority input is not nearly as great in the writing of legislation, meaning less activity in that sense as well. I am one of two interns in the office, and we have a total of 10 full-time employees plus the Congressman. I will recount an embarrassing story of talking with who I thought was a constituent on the phone, only to then have the Congressman identify himself. He was very friendly in that conversation, however, as are all of my coworkers. In that sense, I could not have asked for a better place to work.
As I briefly mentioned earlier, we have one class in DC, which we take in our apartment building with a UGA professor. This semester the class covers american foreign policy and the professor is Dr. Wiarda. I am thinking that I will enjoy this class, as the professor managed to "roast" me within the first few minutes of class starting (although let the record show that I did provide a self-deprecating assist).
For social activities, some of the other UGA interns have convinced me to join a skeeball league that competes on Sunday nights. We'll see how well I do at that. Hopefully, I won't cost UGA a skeeball championship. Also, I went to my first reception tonight. It was hosted by WISH, an organization which provides housing for DC Interns. The dinner was decent, but it was the desserts that were exquisite! Too many more receptions like that one, and I'll need to do a little extra exercise around Washington.
Anyway, that's about all my news from inside the Beltway. I feel this is an appropriate time to say that although I'm having a wonderful time in Washington, I really do miss my family and friends back in Georgia. You never quite realize how special certain people are until you're whisked away from them. So, in a word, thanks for simply being the wonderful people you are, because you really don't know how much that matters!
Onto the main news, the internship started yesterday. I would have done a blog post last night, but between class and the national championship game, I was busy. The job is going well so far. Obviously, I am not free to discuss the actual activity from the office, but I have been doing well. The House has not been in session yet this week due to the shootings in Arizona, so things have been rather quiet. I've also been told that being in the minority party is inherently more quiet than being in the majority. This is due to the fact that if there's a bill going through Congress that people don't like, they'll only make angry phone calls to the ones pushing the bill through. Also, minority input is not nearly as great in the writing of legislation, meaning less activity in that sense as well. I am one of two interns in the office, and we have a total of 10 full-time employees plus the Congressman. I will recount an embarrassing story of talking with who I thought was a constituent on the phone, only to then have the Congressman identify himself. He was very friendly in that conversation, however, as are all of my coworkers. In that sense, I could not have asked for a better place to work.
As I briefly mentioned earlier, we have one class in DC, which we take in our apartment building with a UGA professor. This semester the class covers american foreign policy and the professor is Dr. Wiarda. I am thinking that I will enjoy this class, as the professor managed to "roast" me within the first few minutes of class starting (although let the record show that I did provide a self-deprecating assist).
For social activities, some of the other UGA interns have convinced me to join a skeeball league that competes on Sunday nights. We'll see how well I do at that. Hopefully, I won't cost UGA a skeeball championship. Also, I went to my first reception tonight. It was hosted by WISH, an organization which provides housing for DC Interns. The dinner was decent, but it was the desserts that were exquisite! Too many more receptions like that one, and I'll need to do a little extra exercise around Washington.
Anyway, that's about all my news from inside the Beltway. I feel this is an appropriate time to say that although I'm having a wonderful time in Washington, I really do miss my family and friends back in Georgia. You never quite realize how special certain people are until you're whisked away from them. So, in a word, thanks for simply being the wonderful people you are, because you really don't know how much that matters!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
A Historical Day
January 9, 2011: A day that will live in . . . no special place. . . actually. . . just an average day, on which I made my first visit to the National Museum of American History. Our group only managed to get through about 1/6 of the museum in our hour and a half there, so we will definitely make a return there. We mainly just got through the war exhibit. It was a sobering reminder of how far our country has come, but also the price at which our progress has come. At the same time, we learn that we must question our past actions as well as our actions which are making history today. I'll post facebook pictures for this visit soon, and being the phenomenal nerd that I am, I can guarantee that many more pictures from that museum will be to come.
The rest of my first Sunday in Washington was quite pleasant. I've been watching football and doing some pleasure reading over the past couple of days. For those who are interested, my pleasure reading book is still David McCullough's Truman. It has been a fascinating read thus far, providing insight into a man who is one of America's most underrated presidents. Scholars have recently begun to give him more credit, and I consider Harry Truman one of the politicians I would most like to model myself after if ever fortunate enough to serve in public office. The book was a gift from my grandma for Christmas, and I starting reading it on my bowl trip to Memphis. And that's all that I'll mention about that game. . . Insofar as the football is concerned, I'm hoping we can get a viewing party together for the Falcons game next Saturday at 8:00.
Also of note today was my first time . . . eating Thai food, that is. A group of us went to a place called Thai Roma on the corner of Pennsylvania and 3rd. I tried a white fish fillet with a sweet and sour sauce and was quite impressed. Thai food generally has a reputation for being spicy, and the restaurant clearly notated the amount of spice per dish, so that mild tastes such as mine could be satisfied. I look forward to returning there at some point, as it was also cheap and had fast service.
Other than this, I had a quiet weekend. Except for the Australian interns a few floors below us. They like throwing parties. And something tells me I'm going to be a little tired of them by the end of the semester. Hopefully, they'll settle down a bit. Work starts tomorrow, so I may try to go to sleep a little early tonight. We'll see how that goes.
I'll close tonight with some thoughts on Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the tragedy in Tucson, Arizona. If you haven't heard the story, here's a link. The task of serving one's country is a great one. . . one that involves sacrifice, and that should never be entered into lightly. We all know this to be true of those serving in the Armed Forces, and indeed we pray daily for their safe and speedy return from the battlefield. The same is true of those who serve their country through government. For so many of these great individuals, the private sector would provide a more routine life, more suitable to family time, better paying, less stressful, with more job security, and with less public scrutiny. Yet the men and women of the 112th Congress, and all those in government, at all levels, decided for various reasons that the call to serve their county could not be ignored. This call to serve is infinitely safer than service in the military, but in the mind of each person, is the fear that the next hand you shake might be the one that kills you. If you doubt this assertion, then ask yourself why the Secret Service is in existence. It is an uncomfortable fact that many unstable people exist in our society, and surely we cannot blame any one person for the actions of one madman. But at the same time, we must realize that the words we use have consequences. We can, in the firestorm that is politics, increase the heat of political discourse to the point that it ceases to remain civil. And it is in these moments that we can unnecessarily provoke those who have been simply waiting for the right moment. It is our moral responsibility to ensure that we respect our fellow men and women, and that we recognize that even though we may have disagreements, those disagreements are part of what it means to be an American. Our differences do not make us any less devoted to the country which we all profess to love. This tragedy serves as a harsh reminder that rhetoric is a powerful tool of the already powerful. Violent rhetoric begets political violence, which in turn begets terrorism. I do not intend to reach a premature verdict on the reasons behind this violence, merely to help teach an important lesson, which we were bound to confront sooner or later.
Tonight, I pray that we may never see such acts of violence again in our lifetimes. I pray for the souls of those who were assassinated, and I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured, including the distinguished congresswoman from Arizona.
Good Night.
The rest of my first Sunday in Washington was quite pleasant. I've been watching football and doing some pleasure reading over the past couple of days. For those who are interested, my pleasure reading book is still David McCullough's Truman. It has been a fascinating read thus far, providing insight into a man who is one of America's most underrated presidents. Scholars have recently begun to give him more credit, and I consider Harry Truman one of the politicians I would most like to model myself after if ever fortunate enough to serve in public office. The book was a gift from my grandma for Christmas, and I starting reading it on my bowl trip to Memphis. And that's all that I'll mention about that game. . . Insofar as the football is concerned, I'm hoping we can get a viewing party together for the Falcons game next Saturday at 8:00.
Also of note today was my first time . . . eating Thai food, that is. A group of us went to a place called Thai Roma on the corner of Pennsylvania and 3rd. I tried a white fish fillet with a sweet and sour sauce and was quite impressed. Thai food generally has a reputation for being spicy, and the restaurant clearly notated the amount of spice per dish, so that mild tastes such as mine could be satisfied. I look forward to returning there at some point, as it was also cheap and had fast service.
Other than this, I had a quiet weekend. Except for the Australian interns a few floors below us. They like throwing parties. And something tells me I'm going to be a little tired of them by the end of the semester. Hopefully, they'll settle down a bit. Work starts tomorrow, so I may try to go to sleep a little early tonight. We'll see how that goes.
*****
I'll close tonight with some thoughts on Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the tragedy in Tucson, Arizona. If you haven't heard the story, here's a link. The task of serving one's country is a great one. . . one that involves sacrifice, and that should never be entered into lightly. We all know this to be true of those serving in the Armed Forces, and indeed we pray daily for their safe and speedy return from the battlefield. The same is true of those who serve their country through government. For so many of these great individuals, the private sector would provide a more routine life, more suitable to family time, better paying, less stressful, with more job security, and with less public scrutiny. Yet the men and women of the 112th Congress, and all those in government, at all levels, decided for various reasons that the call to serve their county could not be ignored. This call to serve is infinitely safer than service in the military, but in the mind of each person, is the fear that the next hand you shake might be the one that kills you. If you doubt this assertion, then ask yourself why the Secret Service is in existence. It is an uncomfortable fact that many unstable people exist in our society, and surely we cannot blame any one person for the actions of one madman. But at the same time, we must realize that the words we use have consequences. We can, in the firestorm that is politics, increase the heat of political discourse to the point that it ceases to remain civil. And it is in these moments that we can unnecessarily provoke those who have been simply waiting for the right moment. It is our moral responsibility to ensure that we respect our fellow men and women, and that we recognize that even though we may have disagreements, those disagreements are part of what it means to be an American. Our differences do not make us any less devoted to the country which we all profess to love. This tragedy serves as a harsh reminder that rhetoric is a powerful tool of the already powerful. Violent rhetoric begets political violence, which in turn begets terrorism. I do not intend to reach a premature verdict on the reasons behind this violence, merely to help teach an important lesson, which we were bound to confront sooner or later.
Tonight, I pray that we may never see such acts of violence again in our lifetimes. I pray for the souls of those who were assassinated, and I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured, including the distinguished congresswoman from Arizona.
Good Night.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Operation Dupont
Today was the last day of orientation activities before our internships begin. Today we divided into four groups and undertook a photo scavenger hunt throughout DC. Each group member had to locate their own office building before meeting in a particular Washington neighborhood. We were assigned the Dupont Circle area. My trip consisted of leaving the Cannon House Office Building, where I will be working, and riding the Metro to the Dupont Circle Station.
There were plenty of interesting sites not far from Dupont Circle. One was the Phillips Collection, which is the oldest museum of modern art in America. The headquarters of National Geographic can also be found nearby, along with many restaurants and shops. Also near Dupont is Embassy Row. These are some of the largest and nicest buildings in the District of Columbia.
What was also quite interesting was my first ride on the Metro. The trains are quite fast and come at very frequent intervals. It is most certainly the most efficient way to get around DC. However, the fares can be somewhat expensive, especially if riding a long distance during peak hours. A few tips for riding the DC Metro, which (for the most part) I was told instead of learning from experience:
1) There are 5 lines: Red, Blue, Orange, Yellow, and Green. Some of these lines will double each other, but they all break away at some point. Make sure you know the right route because no station has every line running through it.
2) Union Station, on the Red Line, is practically a mall within a train station. You can also transfer to Amtrak there. There is a reasonable selection of shops and a full food court.
3) If you get a single-day pass, be careful. The card is flimsy and easily demagnetized.
4) When riding an escalator to the station, stay to the right if you're just standing. Someone in a hurry will always be walking up the left side.
5) Subways can be very disorienting. Especially if you are popped out in a circle, where it's hard to get your bearings. Ask for directions or find a street in the Letter/Number grid.
There were plenty of interesting sites not far from Dupont Circle. One was the Phillips Collection, which is the oldest museum of modern art in America. The headquarters of National Geographic can also be found nearby, along with many restaurants and shops. Also near Dupont is Embassy Row. These are some of the largest and nicest buildings in the District of Columbia.
What was also quite interesting was my first ride on the Metro. The trains are quite fast and come at very frequent intervals. It is most certainly the most efficient way to get around DC. However, the fares can be somewhat expensive, especially if riding a long distance during peak hours. A few tips for riding the DC Metro, which (for the most part) I was told instead of learning from experience:
1) There are 5 lines: Red, Blue, Orange, Yellow, and Green. Some of these lines will double each other, but they all break away at some point. Make sure you know the right route because no station has every line running through it.
2) Union Station, on the Red Line, is practically a mall within a train station. You can also transfer to Amtrak there. There is a reasonable selection of shops and a full food court.
3) If you get a single-day pass, be careful. The card is flimsy and easily demagnetized.
4) When riding an escalator to the station, stay to the right if you're just standing. Someone in a hurry will always be walking up the left side.
5) Subways can be very disorienting. Especially if you are popped out in a circle, where it's hard to get your bearings. Ask for directions or find a street in the Letter/Number grid.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Excitement With A Capitol E
Leading off today with some recognition for my boss. Bi-partisan respect is perhaps the most meaningful kind on Capitol Hill, and Representative John Lewis clearly commands that type of respect.
More along the trivial lines, the pictures I promised yesterday have been uploaded. Basically, the Internet is so slow that the only good time to upload the pictures is when I sleep, so most will probably be posted around 7:00 in the morning.
Anyway, today was our tour of the US Capitol. I have a few more pictures, but photography is prohibited in the House and Senate Chambers. Our tour came courtesy of a staffer and Washington Semester Program (henceforth called WSP) alum in the Office of Congressman John Barrow. His district briefly included the University of Georgia, before running from Savannah to Augusta as it does today. This allowed our group the treat of sitting in the House Gallery for a brief period of time. We witnessed the voting on H.R. 22, which was a procedural motion that passed by a wide majority.
Our tour also consisted of viewing the old Senate and House Chambers as well as the old Supreme Court. I do have some pictures of these that I'll post tonight. Our lunch was at the House Cafeteria, which had good food at relatively low prices. The selection was also fantastic, right up with what one might find at Snelling.
I would highly recommend taking a tour of the Capitol if you're ever in DC. The building itself sponsors tours, and many offices seem willing to give tours to constituents. If you decide to take me up on this recommendation, I would also recommend keeping metallic objects to a minimum on that day. I believe we went through three different metal detectors on our way to the House Gallery. The one good piece of news, is that by then end of the semester, I will be proficient at taking my belt off to get through those machines.
More along the trivial lines, the pictures I promised yesterday have been uploaded. Basically, the Internet is so slow that the only good time to upload the pictures is when I sleep, so most will probably be posted around 7:00 in the morning.
Anyway, today was our tour of the US Capitol. I have a few more pictures, but photography is prohibited in the House and Senate Chambers. Our tour came courtesy of a staffer and Washington Semester Program (henceforth called WSP) alum in the Office of Congressman John Barrow. His district briefly included the University of Georgia, before running from Savannah to Augusta as it does today. This allowed our group the treat of sitting in the House Gallery for a brief period of time. We witnessed the voting on H.R. 22, which was a procedural motion that passed by a wide majority.
Our tour also consisted of viewing the old Senate and House Chambers as well as the old Supreme Court. I do have some pictures of these that I'll post tonight. Our lunch was at the House Cafeteria, which had good food at relatively low prices. The selection was also fantastic, right up with what one might find at Snelling.
I would highly recommend taking a tour of the Capitol if you're ever in DC. The building itself sponsors tours, and many offices seem willing to give tours to constituents. If you decide to take me up on this recommendation, I would also recommend keeping metallic objects to a minimum on that day. I believe we went through three different metal detectors on our way to the House Gallery. The one good piece of news, is that by then end of the semester, I will be proficient at taking my belt off to get through those machines.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Arrival In Our Nation's Capital
I drove up to Washington, DC on January 3/4. Our eventual arrival was about 3 am. Not that anyone really cares but, the Subway just off of I-85 in Concord, NC is one of the nicest I've ever been in. They have swiss and provolone cheeses, and here I thought pepper jack was the craziest one could get. Also, if you're ever driving from Georgia to Washington, make sure you stop for gas in Durham, NC. Because between there and Petersburg, VA makes I-16 through south Georgia look like a metropolis. Lastly, make sure you switch to inside air when driving south of Richmond, VA because the pollution is so thick, you'll choke on the air. The drive took about 11 hours total, and I was extremely grateful to see the Washington Monument towering in front of me as I drove through the last miles of Virginia.
The 4th was a day of sightseeing with my parents, who sacrificed their time to drive me up there/do sightseeing themselves. I actually got to ride to the top of the Washington Monument. Pictures will be posted to my Facebook a little later. I also got to briefly visit the Museum of Natural History. And by a brief visit, I mean about 3 hours. I feel like I saw nothing compared to the vastness of the entire museum. Our last stop of the evening was the WWII memorial, which was particularly significant, because yesterday would have been my Grandfather's birthday. He served in the Navy, stationed in the Marshall Islands during the war, although he passed away while I was still very young.
Dinner was at an Italian restaurant named Bertucci's, located a block north of George Washington University. For casual, good food, the area around GW is my recommendation. If you're downtown, Pennsylvania Avenue just east of Capitol Hill has an incredible variety of restaurants. From diners to Mexican, Chinese, delis, and coffeeshops. The rest of my night is going to be an opening dinner with the other program participants and taking care of the last details of settling into my room. I'm becoming far too efficient at moving in and out of places!
Again, pics will come soon, but the wifi is only so fast when all 19 interns are using it at once.
The 4th was a day of sightseeing with my parents, who sacrificed their time to drive me up there/do sightseeing themselves. I actually got to ride to the top of the Washington Monument. Pictures will be posted to my Facebook a little later. I also got to briefly visit the Museum of Natural History. And by a brief visit, I mean about 3 hours. I feel like I saw nothing compared to the vastness of the entire museum. Our last stop of the evening was the WWII memorial, which was particularly significant, because yesterday would have been my Grandfather's birthday. He served in the Navy, stationed in the Marshall Islands during the war, although he passed away while I was still very young.
Dinner was at an Italian restaurant named Bertucci's, located a block north of George Washington University. For casual, good food, the area around GW is my recommendation. If you're downtown, Pennsylvania Avenue just east of Capitol Hill has an incredible variety of restaurants. From diners to Mexican, Chinese, delis, and coffeeshops. The rest of my night is going to be an opening dinner with the other program participants and taking care of the last details of settling into my room. I'm becoming far too efficient at moving in and out of places!
Again, pics will come soon, but the wifi is only so fast when all 19 interns are using it at once.
Monday, January 3, 2011
The 2-0-2
When it comes to phone numbers, the contacts list in my cell phone is my best friend. In fact, I can probably count the number of numbers that I've memorized on one hand. And despite being a geography major, my knowledge of phone number area codes is also limited. I know of 404, 770, and 678, all around the Atlanta area. I know of 706 in Athens, Augusta, Columbus and northern Georgia. (And of course 706-542 for UGA). 478 can be found in central Georgia and 229 around Valdosta. There's also 912 along the Georgia coast, or as I've heard some locals call it, THE 9-1-2. If it's a number I don't know, especially if it's not one of these area codes, I may or may not pick up the phone.
Anyway, on the first day of December, I was driving down the Atlanta Highway singing along with the B-52s hit Love Shack. (Alright, it was actually the Stone Mountain Freeway by that point, but that's not what's in the song, now is it?) At this point, my cell phone starts ringing. I'm not one to get a lot of phone calls either, so in my surprise, I glanced down at the phone--a number I didn't recognize. As I was driving in traffic, I planned on ignoring it, figuring it was a wrong number, or even worse, a telemarketer. It was at that point, I somehow recognized the number. 202. . . 202. . . I thought. That's Washington, DC! As quickly as I could, I fumbled with my phone, which was charging, pulled off the road, and answered.
So in the parking lot of an NTB on Highway 78, I had my first conversation with the Office of Congressman Lewis. I interviewed over the phone on that Friday. I would also be interviewed by the Office of Congressman John Barrow, and both would offer me jobs on the same day: Monday, December 13. Indeed, if Barrow's office had called me, instead of e-mailing, I would have said yes then and there--not wanting to risk being without any internship. But they decided to e-mail instead. And in the time between them sending the e-mail and my response, I had already gotten a call from my contact in the Lewis office. And that was all it took. So the moral of today's story, is to never underestimate the power of the old-fashioned telephone. . .
and to know your area codes.
Anyway, on the first day of December, I was driving down the Atlanta Highway singing along with the B-52s hit Love Shack. (Alright, it was actually the Stone Mountain Freeway by that point, but that's not what's in the song, now is it?) At this point, my cell phone starts ringing. I'm not one to get a lot of phone calls either, so in my surprise, I glanced down at the phone--a number I didn't recognize. As I was driving in traffic, I planned on ignoring it, figuring it was a wrong number, or even worse, a telemarketer. It was at that point, I somehow recognized the number. 202. . . 202. . . I thought. That's Washington, DC! As quickly as I could, I fumbled with my phone, which was charging, pulled off the road, and answered.
So in the parking lot of an NTB on Highway 78, I had my first conversation with the Office of Congressman Lewis. I interviewed over the phone on that Friday. I would also be interviewed by the Office of Congressman John Barrow, and both would offer me jobs on the same day: Monday, December 13. Indeed, if Barrow's office had called me, instead of e-mailing, I would have said yes then and there--not wanting to risk being without any internship. But they decided to e-mail instead. And in the time between them sending the e-mail and my response, I had already gotten a call from my contact in the Lewis office. And that was all it took. So the moral of today's story, is to never underestimate the power of the old-fashioned telephone. . .
and to know your area codes.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
In Which I Become a Hip and Happening Dude
Alright, that's probably a slight exaggeration. Anyway, I now have a Skype account so that I can video chat with my good friends while I'm away in Washington. My user name is ghboike, the same as my e-mail address, so if any of you out there have a Skype account, please add me to your contact list. I can't promise that I will be proficient at this newfangled technology, but I'll at least try. It seems as if all I now lack is a twitter account. And rest assured, it will be a long time before I start to tweet.
If any of you wish to contact me via more traditional methods, I will accept smoke signals, letters sent by the Pony Express, and the United States Postal Service. If you want to know, my address will be 215 Constitution Ave NE, Apt. 605, Washington, DC 20002. For the geography nerds among us, here's a google maps link.
As the departure countdown of days goes from days to hours, I wish you all a happy new year! May the next few months be happy for all of you as I look forward to my return to the great state of Georgia.
If any of you wish to contact me via more traditional methods, I will accept smoke signals, letters sent by the Pony Express, and the United States Postal Service. If you want to know, my address will be 215 Constitution Ave NE, Apt. 605, Washington, DC 20002. For the geography nerds among us, here's a google maps link.
As the departure countdown of days goes from days to hours, I wish you all a happy new year! May the next few months be happy for all of you as I look forward to my return to the great state of Georgia.
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