Elevator Encounter

I'll admit it, I'm a political nerd. Some people get excited when they see celebreties and can't wait to see the next headline in People magazing. For me, its politicians and the daily edition of Roll Call. Despite spending over a month on the hill, I am continually startstruck when I meet a new politician.

This was especially true when I was waiting for the elevator one morning. The doors opened and revealed Senator Amy Klobuchar. I stepped into the elevator, jaw dropped, staring intently but unable to form words. After a brief second, I compsed myself and said good morning. After shaking the Senator's hand and sharing that I'm from Dassel, Minnesota, she responed with "Oh, that's right by the worlds largest ball of twine."

Although I'm impressed with the Senator's kowledge of central Minnesota and the location of my hometown, I am not thirlled to be remembered as the girl who lives by the twine ball. Nevertheless, I was still overjoyed by this enounter and rushed back to my office to share the story with fellow Minnesotans. For future elevator encounters, I hope to overcome my initial starstruck reaction and any mention of the twine ball.

Monuments, Museums, and Memorials Galore!!

Our nation’s capitol is the tourist’s paradise. There is plenty to do and see and some of the biggest attractions are free of cost. Within my first few weeks of being here, I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to visit many of the well known and historical sites in Washington, DC. There are many to see, and if you are willing to take on the heat and humidity to visit some, much can be gained from the visits. From Washington to Jefferson to Lincoln to Roosevelt to Vietnam to Korean War, and Smithsonians – I’ve traversed and soaked in the magnitude and history that each one of these memorials, monuments, and museums has to offer!!
I took a trip to outer space at the planetarium in the Air and Space museum, which I followed with a glimpse into the actual Apollo 11 space capsule as well as John Glenn’s space pod. As I walked at ground level and touched a piece of the moon, hanging above me was Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis and many more historical aviation machines. It was hard to fathom that I was standing beside and beneath such historic artifacts that opened many new doors for our world.
I stood humbled by the thousands of names engraved into the black marble at the Vietnam Memorial. I felt reverence as the words of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address and second inaugural speech towered above me on the walls in his monument. I was speechless as I gazed into the reflecting pool and out onto the Washington monument and U.S. Capitol and recalled the many historical events that took place in exact same spot as I stood.
It truly is a remarkable experience and I’ve only seen a handful of the sites in DC that carrying so much meaning, so I better get a move on and take in more!

The superficial, yet necessary discussion of shoes: women of DC, what are we doing?!!?

I am currently engulfed in an embarrassingly shallow predicament: what shoes to wear. After being here over a week, I have noticed DC’s obnoxious shoe trend. These driven, brilliant people wear either flip-flops or hideous sneakers with their pencil skirts and dress pants while in commute to the office. Upon arriving to the office, there is a shoe switch: many change into high heels, confining their every step (yet making them taller, more powerful and more confident…right?). I am completely dumbfounded by this practice! Why do we buy shoes we can’t walk in (thanks to the abundance of escalators in DC, walking up stairs does not even need to be considered)? Do these constraining shoes truly professionalize us? In truth, I think this whole shoe switching practice is an outrage. It is completely demoralizing to have to change shoes while at work. What is wrong with wearing walk able shoes all the time?

The actual act of switching the shoes is difficult to pinpoint: time and place are everything. I struggled with this a couple times this week. Usually the practice is to change your shoes upon arriving at your office. However on Wednesday, and Thursday, I went directly to committee hearings, not to my office on K Street. On these days, do I make the switch BEFORE or AFTER I get into the congressional buildings? Difficult question, I know. To aleve all of this shoe stress, I offer a simple solution to the thousands of shoe switching professionals in DC: wear walkable, comfortable, and visually appealing shoes throughout the day (while working AND commuting). Good thing DC has a sinful amount of shoes store conveniently scattered all over the area.

First Sunny Day

My fifth day in DC, and I finally saw the sun! Until today, DC has been raining and cool, not exactly how I envisioned my first couple summer days in DC. Within these last couple rainy days however, I have developed a brilliant scheme of meeting people. When it rains in DC, the sidewalks miraculously acquire walking black, canopy style roofs. Instead of dealing with the annoyance of an umbrella, I maneuver between umbrellas along the sidewalk. Not only am I saving five bucks by not buying an umbrella, but my scheme has also gotten me into very interesting conversations; networking at its finest.

After only a couple days in DC, I am starting to look more like a local DC’er, or rather I look like I know where I’m going. I have officially been asked by strangers, on the sidewalk or in the Metro, about directions. THREE TIMES!!! This either signals my friendly air, or my “oh so DC” appearance. Or both!

On this first sunny day, I spent the afternoon playing soccer on the Mall with other 20-something DC’ers. Although the field was muddy and increasingly weed infested, I had pride in knowing that I wasn’t just another tourist trouncing around among monuments. Of course this pride was trampled on when I forgot my soccer cleats. Step, step, ahhh…slip. Lesson learned: muddy field and running shoes don’t mix well. Apart from my ignorance when packing and slightly sun-burnt skin, my DC confidence was mysteriously heightened by my lack of lack of soccer skills.

One thing is stopping me from looking totally DC however: my hair. There are few blondes in DC, I refuse to give up my bright blonde (and admittedly dyed) locks.

Wish me luck as I continue on my journey of DC’ifying myself.

Washington Insider?

I've been living in DC for three weeks now. I know my way around, get annoyed with tourists, and consider an 80 degree day to be a little on the cold side. I feel like a Washington insider, but somehow, things continue to take me by surprise.

Like today, I was cleaning up the hearing room after the committee mark-up. After five hours in mark-up, the members had created quite a mess of newpapers, coffee cups, notes and the occasional game of tic-tac-toe or hangman. Yes thats right, the respected and honorable elected officials do not spend all day working hard to serve their constituents, they play tic-tac-toe with the guy next to them. And I thought I was the only one that was bored.... next time I'll know who to sit by for entertainment.

After I finished cleaning the hearing room, I was sent to deliver a document to the Democratic cloak room by the House floor. In the brief moment that I was inside the cloak room, I noticed a member of Congress fast asleep on one of the couches, getting in a quick nap between votes.

I'm not suggesting that members don't work, in fact I've witnessed them working hard more often than not. These stories are more of an example of how this city is unpredictable. The second I think I have it figured out, it throws something new at me.

Now, sitting in my office, enjoying the first slow afternoon I've had since my internship began, I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a true Washington insider or if I'm in a city so diverse and fast-paced that I will never be able to figure it out? I guess I'll have to wait and see...

District of Casey

I'm pretty much a DC regular by now. 

I ride the trains, take the monuments for granted and get annoyed when people stand on the left side of the escalator.

Tourists.

But one thing I won't lose is the sense of awe of everything around me. As much as this Johnny may try to fit in with the political center of America, I don't think I'll lose the gravity of my situation. I'm living in DC during a period of reconstruction. Everyone knows where they don't want our country to go, but very few have an actual path to follow. There's a light at the end of the tunnel, but at the moment: we're kind of stuck.

Meanwhile, I'm working at the Center for International Environmental Law, where we, like the vast majority of the world, are more than a little worried about the self-destructive nature our global village seems to adhere to. The situation is moving beyond urgent, and the longer that we're stuck, the farther that light seems away.

But here in DC, the sense of urgency is just a fact of life. People are so preoccupied, they don't even seem to notice the climate. It's hot, and it's humid. I'm not so accustomed yet, but I'm a former lifeguard. I'll deal.

I spent my first week here indoors, getting my intern on and learning how to cook. So far, I've mastered spaghetti, cereal, tuna and the stapler. I'm pretty good at this independent stuff. Food's easy with the Harris Teeter Very Important Customer card--I saved $20 my first trip the grocery store. Harris, I expect a check in the mail for another $20 for that plug. Thanks.

When not struggling in the kitchen or working hard at my internship, I've been doing the museum thing. I've been with some Bennies to Mount Vernon (G-Wash's crib), the Botanical Garden (try the Cypress tree. It's delicious), the Capitol, and the Natural Science Smithsonian. 

My favorite part of the NS museum was the ant exhibit. Crazy little amazing things. I also encountered a museum-goer less in awe than myself. I was moving backwards in time, from the emergence of our furry ancestors to the last of the Mohicosaurs. It was there that I encountered said homo sapien, we'll call him Rex, who muttered something like "I ain't diggin this museum. I ain't diggin it one bit." Being surrounded by fossils, my first assumption was "Wow! A real archaeologist!" But there was something in his saunter towards the hot dog stand that told me different. Thus, no pun is intended.

And we'll leave it at Rex for tonight. More news from Washington to come.

Romney Blasts Obama's 'Apology' Tour

Posted: Monday, June 01, 2009 4:01 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Abby Livingston, Katelin Schartz, and Mark Murray
At a speech today in DC sponsored by the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, Mitt Romney called for increased defense spending, and also again criticized President Obama for going on a "tour of apology" while traveling abroad.

"It’s not because America hasn’t made mistakes -- we have -- but because America’s mistakes are overwhelmed by what America has meant to the hopes and aspirations of people throughout the world," he said, adding: "Britain’s Guardian newspaper noted that Mr. Obama has been more critical of his own country, while on foreign soil, than any other president in American history. That would be a most unfortunate distinction at any time."

Seeking to bolster his national security credentials, especially if he makes another White House bid, the one-term Massachusetts devoted much of his speech to calling for more defense spending. "We cannot allow the economic crisis to conceal the very real threats to our nation’s security," Romney said. "We cannot ignore the intentions of competitors who would replace America’s leadership with their own, and set back the cause of freedom."

In fact, Romney was fiercely critical of Obama's "domestic" spending at the expense of funding for national defense. "I fear ... that he will look to the military budget to find the biggest cuts and finance his domestic priorities.”

The potential 2012 presidential candidate detailed a litany of other criticisms of the Obama administration -- including its handling of North Korea. “Arrogant, delusional tyrants can not be stopped by earnest words and furrowed brows. Action, strong bold action coming from a position of strength and determination, is the only effective deterrent.”

After the speech, Romney spoke to reporters about GM filing for bankruptcy. He cited a November op-ed he penned advocating for bankruptcy and showed frustration that the action has taken so long and that the federal government has been a party to that delay. When asked if either the Bush or Obama administration were to blame for the drawn out bankruptcy, he expressed a hesitancy to "point fingers" but ultimately said, "Both."