Springtime Love in DC

It's been a while since I last posted but I've been pretty busy... Jake recovered enough to fly out last Wednesday, so we had a few nice days together before he flew home yesterday morning. Our modified visit was nice, but its always hard to say good-bye. And yes, I know it's not good-bye, it's see you soon, but still, I am one emotional girl.

Let's see... so Jake got in at about 4:30pm EDT on Wednesday. We took the Metro back to my apartment and had a small birthday party for him that night. Chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream complete with trick candles. I even decorated my apartment with balloons and crepe paper. We walked around my neighborhood a bit as well. He was still pretty tired from being sick, so we made it an early night.

Basically, our goal the entire weekend was to keep him healthy so we took things pretty slowly. Thursday, we went to the Newseum (the journalism museum) and the National Archives. I think the Newseum was the highlight of his trip. It amazes me how much he has picked up from doing the Weekly... he was constantly telling me fun facts about how spot color works and the evolution of journalism. If you are ever in Washington looking for something fun to do, I think the Newseum is well worth it. A little expensive, but you could easily spend a day there. After that, we headed over to the National Archives to check out the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence. They are still there. Thursday night, Jake made me spaghetti and his meat sauce. I definitely miss his cooking, but thankfully, my fridge is stocked with leftovers!!!

On Friday, we went to the White House and walked along the National Mall. The security was pretty tight at the White House and we couldn't get very close to the front of it. Turns out Marine One (the President's helicopter) was flying in. For Jake's birthday, I bought him tickets to Capitol Steps, the musical comedy show about current politics that I saw back in January. I think he really enjoyed it. Both of us were laughing the entire time. They were actually recording that performance for NPR, but you can check them out on YouTube as well. I even bought my birthday boy a drink during intermission.... so old. Afterwards, Jake took me out to Chilis because I have been craving buffalo wings for the longest time. They don't have any Buffalo Wild Wings out here which makes me sad....

Saturday, we met up with Kelly and Kyle and went to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. We took pictures with tons of famous people including Barack Obama. Some great pictures of us in the Oval Office.... maybe someday?!?! After that, we went out to the Hard Rock Cafe for late lunch/early dinner. Then we took the Metro back to my apartment and worked on getting him packed up and ready to go the next morning. We watched Jeff Dunham and called it an early night so we could be up for the airport by 5am on Sunday.

Goodbye was hard for me. Not nearly as bad as when I left but there definitely were a few tears. All in all, it was a great visit. I miss him already but I'm looking forward to seeing my parents in two weeks, and then coming home two weeks after that!!! Can you believe my semester is already winding down?

Oh and for those of you with Facebook, there are many more pictures there!

Over and out!

Get your flu shot

Nothing ever goes like you expect. This morning I woke up to a nice text message from Jake. "Call me when you wake up." Uh oh. You know something is wrong when you get a text message at 6:35am (which would be 5:35am Minnesota time). Jake ended up in the Emergency Room last night. He woke up and was running a fever, so he thought he should probably go get it dealt with before he got on a plane. Well, at the hospital, he tested positive for influenza. The doctor said that he is contagious and cannot fly on Friday. And no, he did not get his flu shot.

He is pretty bummed that he won't be coming out on Friday. He is a tough kid, but he was pretty upset when we talked this morning. While it is sad that I won't see him on Friday, I am really just more concerned that he is so sick.

He isn't throwing up, just running a pretty high fever. The doctor told him that it is a respiratory flu, so he has an inhaler that is supposed to shorten the length.

Best case scenario, he will be coming out sometime early next week. His mom is helping him reschedule his flight, so hopefully it will be Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. We talked about it and our main goal is to get him better. Being that I am immune deficient, he really can't come out here feeling half-way better. I got my flu shot, but you never know.

I talked to him again tonight. He is still running a fever and his muscles are really sore. Jake's dad drove down to pick him up today, so he is home.

I put together a nice care package for him and sent if off this morning. Hopefully it will get there soon and make him feel a little bit better.

And guess who will be coming with me to get a flu shot next year?

Friday the 13th....

Yesterday was certainly an interesting day. Highs, lows and everything in between. I'm not usually superstitious, but I think yesterday made me reconsider that.

My day started off swell. Before I even left for work, I had already spilled a little toothpaste on my shirt and lost a contact trying to put it in. Way to go, Amy.

Work was fine, nothing too exciting. I have been working my booty off this week on a PowerPoint presentation for my boss for next week. It's on SCHIP and the Stimulus package, mostly how the legislation affects children. Problem being, neither my boss or I know our audience really well, so I'm not really sure how it will go. Parts of it are super analytical and other parts are pretty simple. Hopefully it will work out.

I left work early for a meeting with Representative Connolly from Virginia. I got to have a one-on-one meeting with him. Last semester, I took a class on campaigns and elections, and I was assigned to his race for our big project. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

So leaving work, I go to McPherson Square station to get on the blue line train (subway) to go back to my apartment, to take my roommate's car for my meeting. I get to the station just as they are roping everything off with crime scene tape. The Metro workers said that the station was closed and to go to Farragut West, one station further down to get on the train. I get there, and they are telling people that it is also closed. We are instructed to go to Foggy Bottom and catch a train there. When I got there, they are lining people up to get on shuttle buses that are supposedly coming. Station number three is closed and I have now walked a over a mile in three-inch heels. Wondering when and if the shuttles really are coming, and not wanting to be late for my meeting, I grab a cab. Rumors had already started on the streets that someone was hit by a train. In the cab, I text Jake who looks it up online. Someone was hit by the train, not sure how or why. News reports say that a man was fatally killed when he "intentionally placed" himself on the tracks. Did not die immediately; rescue crews tried to get to him to save him for a while. That guy did not have a good Friday the 13th. Sad story.

So I get to my meeting with plenty of time to spare. Representative Connolly is a very interesting guy and I really enjoyed my meeting with him. His office is very excited for St. Patrick's Day. He his hosting a big party for his constituents and the kid sitting at the front desk told me that Rep. Connolly is unofficially lobbying for St. Patrick's Day to become a national holiday. I overheard him joking with his staff that he might have dual citizenship in Ireland. His grandparents were born in Ireland which might mean that he has dual citizenship. He is trying to work it out because he shouldn't have dual citizenship if he is a congressman.

I asked him a lot of questions and he had some great answers. Even answers that I didn't see coming. I asked him which high school or college course had the greatest impact on his life. He said his American History class when he was a senior in high school. It was taught by a priest who eventually married Rep. Connolly and his wife Cathy. Their marriage was this priest's (Joe's) last act in the priesthood. Following their marriage, Joe left the priesthood, got married and Rep. Connolly recently attended the wedding of Joe's kid. Also, this class involved Rep. Connolly's first trip to Washington DC.

I asked about why he chose to go into public service. I did not know this, but he was originally studying for the priesthood but chose to go a different direction. He called it "an extension of his calling." He also quoted Ella Grasso and said "Bloom where you are planted." She was the first woman elected governor in the United States.

I asked what his daughter, Caitlin Rose thought of his job and politics. She is a senior in high school this year. Overall, he said that it provides her with many opportunities. She was able to sit with him on the floor of the House for Barack's first "State of the Union" address. Sometimes he goes days without seeing her, because he works such long hours and she is in bed before he gets home. But he makes a point not to miss school plays, recitals, and other big events.

It was really a great meeting and I learned a lot. He took copies of both of my papers and wrote down my phone number so he could call me with any questions. Great guy.

I had dinner with Kelly and Kelly's mom, Lisa last night. I was great to get to talk to them and laugh and stuff. Lisa isn't a typical mom... she knows a lot and you can talk to her like a friend. Lots of fun.

So that was my Friday the 13th. Jake will be here next Friday!!!!!! I am really excited!

Today, I think I am going to meet Kelly and Lisa and do some sight-seeing. I'm not sure what we are going to do, I left it up to them and I'll just go along for the ride. Right now, I'm just waiting on laundry. I am out of clean underwear and socks.

Over and out!

Girls are crazy!

My baby sister is going to PROM!!!! Crazy, huh? I know I sound like I'm fifty saying this but, I still think of her as a four year old... a four year old who always got me into trouble! Delaney got asked to prom this weekend. She says he is a nice boy so that's good. I like him already because he is the one who made her call me right after he asked her. I will be home from DC by then (its on May 9th) so I will get to see my baby sis walk through grand march, all grown up......

This weekend was great for everyone. I had the best weekend so far out here. Kelly, one of my best friends from high school (actually we met in 8th grade) is going to school out here this semester, so I met up with her, her boyfriend Kyle (also studying out here for the semester) and his friend Nolan who is here for spring break. We had so much fun....

On Saturday, we started out going to Ford's Theater, where President Lincoln was assassinated. But, it was closed for a Saturday matinee, so we didn't actually get to go in. Kelly has been waiting to see this one since we got here in January, so she wasn't too happy about that. Instead, we walked down to the National Archives, and saw the original copies of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and Magna Carta. It's amazing considering they weren't taken good care of for the longest time. For quite a while they were all in boxes with other old papers. People just didn't consider the actual documents that great or interesting.

After that, we took the Metro (subway) down to the National Mall. From there we walked around the Tidal Basin, saw the Jefferson Memorial, and walked down by the Lincoln Memorial, over to the World War II Memorial and past the Washington Monument.

By this point, everyone was really hungry, especially Kyle. We decided on the treating ourselves to the Cheesecake Factory up by where Kelly and Kyle go to school. Kelly and I split the most delicious Orange Chicken and rice I have ever had, and I had some amazing chocolate cake for dessert (I'm not a big fan of cheesecake). Definitely good.

Since we didn't get to see Ford's Theater on Saturday, we went back today (Sunday). It was pretty cool seeing where Lincoln was shot, where he died (the Peterson House across the street) and the events of that night. They had the overcoat he was wearing on display - it's pretty ripped up. Interesting to hear how John Wilkes Booth plotted, killed the president, and almost got away.

On Sundays, less is open around the city. We decided to go to the Pentagon City Mall and walk around for a while. Being poor college students, this can be a risky move. However, I made it out only spending five bucks on lunch. Kelly and I went off and had an incredible amount of fun doing all sorts of free stuff at the mall. We sat in the massage chairs for about half an hour, did make-up at Sephora, and browsed the jewelry stores looking at rings. While Kelly is a fairly cheap date, we discovered I have more expensive taste. When I tried on the ring I liked, we discovered a $6300 price tag. Good lord. Kelly fell in love with a beautiful ring for $399.

Really, we had a ton of fun! Both of us got a chance to talk and see some of the city. Next weekend, Kelly's mom is coming. Hopefully we will all do something fun together while she is here! Then my boy comes to see me!!!!!! I cannot wait!!!!!!!

Over and out!

Snow, Work, and Procrastination....

So its been a while since I last posted... Sorry! I guess I haven't had anything really interesting to blog about so I've put it off in hopes of finding something good.

Headaches are gone and all is well. YEA!

Next week, I have an interview with Representative Gerry Connolly from Virginia. I wrote a couple analysis papers on his campaign last semester, so it will be great to sit down and talk with him for fifteen minutes!

Last week, my class met with Grover Norquist, a hard core Republican against any increase in taxes. He has been on Fox News and stuff like that. He called me a communist but it was interesting (not me personally, Democrats in general). Very persuasive... by the end I was agreeing with some of what he was saying.

Monday was a snow day! Yes, it snowed a grand total of 4 inches and basically everything shut down. They really don't know what to do when it snows. The plows started going when there was only a quarter of an inch. Yes, they tried to plow a quarter inch of snow. Watching people from my window was interesting - snow equals umbrella weather. I just don't get it. Its supposed to be 70 degrees again on Saturday.

Work has been good, slow, but good. I've mostly been working on research and writing summaries of things like the SCHIP bill, a conference review, policy issues, etc. I gave my office a PowerPoint tutorial today.

Good news! I have not lost my ability to procrastinate! (Seriously I'm pretty good) My seven page paper that was due on Wednesday got started at 7pm on Tuesday night. I had a good reason for procrastinating! The Bachelor finale was on and the guy is a total jerk. Jason proposed to Melissa and dumped Molly, then three months later, dumped Melissa on national TV and immediately asked Molly back. Ridiculous. Melissa is better off without him.

Jake will be here in15 days! I am rather excited... Since you all have asked, he is good, working hard at school, working on the paper. We talk everyday at least on the phone, or we Skype with our webcams. I will have the whole week off when he is here (my boss and the other girl, Jennie will be on spring break with their families so Anne is closing the office). It will be fun to do some sight-seeing with him!

Coming up in homework assignments, I have to write an editorial for my midterm. I think I am going to write about the "War on Cancer" declared by President Nixon and the Iraq War. While I do not support the Iraq War, I think its ridiculous how we make such a big deal about the Iraq War, the people who have died, and the billions we are spending, but then we have been at "war" against cancer for thirty-some years. We lose 500,000 people to cancer every year! And we spend a ridiculous amount of money on cancer research, yet the war is still not won.

Yeah, so that's been my exciting life. Rep. Connolly, Grover Norquist, snow, work, procrastination, Jake, and homework..... Over and out!