I <3 NY

This weekend was a BLAST! Ten out of the twelve girls in the house decided to take a weekend trip up to NYC to see the sights and spend some money. We crammed as much as we could into 3 days, and wound up seeing a lot more than I expected!

Friday we arrived on our bus around 1pm-ish, and checked into our hotel which was this really cool building downtown literally right across the street from Ground Zero. We could see the entire site from our 12th floor room and I have some really interesting pictures. Once we got all settled in, we decided to check out the downtown area and saw Wall St. and the New York Stock Exchange (I got a picture with the bull too)...then we walked down to Battery Park and saw the Statue of Liberty. We ate at this really good local pizza place, and then had to best dessert of the entire trip at Pinkberry, which is a frozen yogurt place that is AMAZING. Then we headed over to Times Square (where we almost were conned into buying tickets for a comedy club despite the fact we already had tickets for another one...it was interesting) and went to a comedy show...needless to say we were exhausted after a long day!!!



Saturday was just as jam packed! We all got up and went to Canal Street where I got some excellent knock-offs (Gucci and Coach...not bad!)...then we split up and the group I was with decided to go see Rockefeller Center and my roommate Sarah and I shopped in the NBC store (where I purchased a lovely Office poster...cant wait to put it up in my room at school!) and then we walked down 5thAvenue and then to Dylan's Candy Bar. Then we met up with the others at FAO Schwarz (which made me miss the one that used to be in the STL) and I went with some of my other roommates to eat at this really cool Irish pub and then went to the top of the Empire State Building (at night I think its the best!)...again, at the end, we were exhausted!



Sunday was awesome too...although I thought I'd be sitting that day out b/c I ended up waking up feeling like the world was spinning...but once I got outside it was so much better. My roommates Chelsey, Grace and I went back to 5th Avenue and popped into some of the stores...then we ended up meeting up with some other girls and ate at Serendipity 3! We thought we wouldn't get in...but we got to eat amazing food and have even more amazing desserts (if you are ever in New York, I highly recommend it!)


We had a GREAT time...I love that city...although I think DC is more like home for me!!!

WE MADE IT!

Okay so mission impossible wasn't so impossible after all! We left our house at 5:15...got to the Supreme Court at 5:25...and found out we were the FIRST ONES THERE! Our group got numbers 1-5 to get into the courtroom...excellent...

The 4 hour freezing wait was totally worth it...we all bundled up in our blanket (some how all 5 of us managed to keep warm under one blanket haha...the gaurds thought we were crazy)...the line got longer and longer as the morning went on. Okay, so I guess I should explain how getting into the Court works. There are two ways to get in to see oral arguments. The first (and legitimatley cooler) way is to be invited by the justices, or be special guests of someone getting sworn into the Supreme Court Bar that day. You get to sit in the cushy seats if that happens.

The public is a different story...you have to wake up early (or not so early, depending on how interesting the case is to general society) and wait outside on the plaza...nothing extremley exciting happens until about 7:30ish when they hand out "the numbers"...it helps the gaurds keep track of how many people in...but "doesnt garuntee a spot"...technically all 75 numbers could get in, or no one could get in depending on how many private guests come...but usually about 50 or 60 people make the cut!

As I said, we were numbers 1-5, so we had a good shot of making it...and did we make it! We had the best seats the public could get...front row (kinda haha) and we could see everything. At 10am on the dot, the justices entered the chambers...it was AMAZING to see these people in person! I mean, you see pictures of them and hear their voices in arguments and such...but to see them and see them grill the lawyers is great...just like the White House, you have so much respect for what goes on there...

The case we saw was Indiana v. Edwards...so fascinating, and pretty easy to understand. It was about a man (Edwards) who was judged to be comptent to stand trial, but was refused the right to represent himself b/c of his various mental illnesses. He was arguing that if he was competent to stand trial, he should be competent to represent himself...so today the lawyers argued various components to this case...what competency means....if it is fair to have two standards, or if there should be just one...what the responsibility of trial judges should be if there people such as Edwards are allowed to represent themselves...what happens if a trial becomes farsical...etc...

It was incredible to hear what the lawyers had to say and the questions that were asked by the justices...I loved it...its definitley up there with my White House journeys and now all I need to do is go see the Capitol and then I have all three branches of government covered!

So yeah, that was my morning...awesome...haha if you want to hear more let me know...I can tell you all about the trial in more detail...trust me! Miss you all!

Mission Impossible: Oral Arguments

Fact: It is 5am in DC
Fact: I am awake
Why? becuase my roommates and I are attempting to go hear an oral argument at the Supreme Court today...People start lining up at 5am or so, so we figured we'd join them...if we don't make the cut, we'll be in the 3 minute line

Fact: We don't want to be in the 3 minute line...so lets hope we make it!

I will update you all on the status of our mission after its completion. Thank you.

Happy Easter: The family comes to visit!

This weekend was great! Not only was it Easter (which I love), but my family came to visit me too! None of them but my dad have ever been to DC (and he hasn't been for quite some time) so I was able to take them around and show them all the fun sites. We accomplished quite a bit in their short time here...a lot of walking of course, which the bros weren't too fond of, but it was good exercise and we saw a lot!

Friday was their first full day here and of course we had to go do the important things in DC. We went to the Supreme Court and heard the lecture there about the main chamber...it was really interesting (again haha) and I think the boys liked it too! Then we walked to all the monuments-even TJeff and FDR-and my family had their first metro experience...I think they are still confused by it! It does take awhile getting used to though, so I will give them that. We had a pretty nice day to do all that walking...just a bit windy...but we all ended up getting sunburned, go figure.

Saturday was a new adventure for me too...we thought it was going to rain, but it ended up just being a little bit cloudy and cold, so we decided to venture to Arlington National Cemetery. It was really really interesting and exciting to see...it really put things into perspective too...and the history there is amazing! We took a tour mobile-bus thing around and heard all of the different stories and information about the different monuments and grave sites...it was very cool. One of my favorite parts was going to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown. The first time we saw it we were pretty far away, but my dad had us stay and we saw it up close the second time...very neat! After the tour, we walked a bit to see the Iwo Jima memorial-which was fascinating to see-and it was HUGE...I didn't realize the statue was that big.

After our trip there we went to Georgetown and walked around the campus...we picked up a few things at the book store too! (sadly, however, the Hoyas lost the next day to Davidson...sad) We went to dinner at a restaurant called 5-Guys, which has some amazing burgers and fries (recommend it to anyone going to DC)

Sunday was EASTER! We got up early and went to mass because later that day we were going to THE WEST WING! Yes, I know! I've officially been to the White House THREE times...and I can't believe how lucky I've been to have all of these opportunities. It was a gorgeous day...I think the nicest one (well, Monday was nice too I suppose)...flowers were blooming in the Rose Garden and we even caught a glimpse of the president's dogs! My entire family had a great time there...they were all very intrigued by everything...I think my mom and dad were the most amazed by it...my mom wants to come back and see the other side of the White House...so next time they visit (which they claim will be when I have a "paying job") we'll have to go.

We had a great Easter-very unique I would say...and we got our Christmas card picture taken care of early this year! Monday I took the day off work to hang out with the fam some more! We decided again that it was supposed to rain so we would go to the museums...it ended up not raining, but we went anyway. We walked to the Museum of Natural History first...the dinosaurs were awesome, but my absolute favorite part was the jewel collection they have there. I aspire to own half of that collection one day (a girl can dream, right?)...the favorite thing I saw there was a crown from Napoleon that he had given to his wife...amazing (I think my favorite word in this blog is amazing...so I apologize for its frequent use!)

Today I had work, so my family investigated DC on their own...we met for dinner at Tortilla Coast (right by the RNC actually!) and had a great dinner...it was such a fun weekend and a great Easter...it made me realize how glad I am to be going home for the summer...I love DC and I would love to come back someday and work, but I am definitely excited to be spending a few months in the STL! Miss you all-remember...write me!

Happy St. Patty's and Gun Ban Day!

Yesterday was St. Patricks Day...I know I'm a day late...sorry...I'll write in green to honor my heritage...(let me just say that being 20 years old on this day does not make for much celebration in Washington DC)...I did wear green though...

Anyway...today was pretty crazy around where I work...the Supreme Court was hearing oral arguments for the DC gun ban case...big deal (obviously...since it involves DC)...usually the lines to get into hear arguments are pretty moderate...but today was out of control! I managed to snap a few photos of the line on my way to work...

What else has been going on...hmm...not a whole lot I suppose...this weekend (other than Friday) was pretty chill...I think I'm gearing up for this upcoming weekend when my family is in town...we'll be doing a lot of sightseeing then...then the weekend after that is NEW YORK! I am SO excited...that'll be an exciting blog post (count on it)

Miss you all!

GO CAPS!

Well the weekend has arrived...and I think for the most part its going to be pretty chill. Today for class we went to the Holocaust Museum and walked around the permanent exhibit. I had been there before, but this time I got to take my time and soak everything in...its overwhelming at times, but its really fascinating and sad to see it all. It was nice to step outside in the spring weather to help snap back into reality. (oh ps, I got to wear shorts today-highlight)

This evening a group of us decided to buy student tickets to go see the DC Capitals play the Atlanta Thrashers (its hockey, ps)...it was SO fun...the Capitals won 4-1...it made me miss St. Louis and all the sports we have there...the Verizon Center was SO cool...we sat in the last row and it was a long way down, but we had a great view of everything. It was some of my housemates' first hockey game, so it was fun to introduce them to the sport...and we had a little photo shoot of our own in between the periods.

Tomorrow is going to be a homework day I think...I have my midterm due on Thursday and I really just want to get it done...I'm also having groceries delivered tomorrow too...woo hoo...since there are no big (or cheap) grocery stores around our house, we get everything delivered to us. Its kind of nice actually...they should start something like that in Omaha!

Why hello Mr. President!

OH MY GOODNESS...so okay, remember a few blog posts ago how I discussed my adventures in the West Wing and thought that might be one of the coolest things I've done ever in my life?! Well, this might have topped it...



So last week, I received an email informing me that I would be going with the other RNC interns to see the president either arrive or depart from the White House. One of my bosses, Lauren, who got to go see a departure when she was an intern at the RNC, said it was so cool and that arrivals are pretty amazing to see. When I found out I was in the arrival group of interns, I was pumped! I was even told that when Bush isn't in a hurry, he'll stop and shake hands with people too. So I was ready to go and take tons of pictures!



We arrived at the White House around 3pm, and had to go through what I now know as the "typical security check" since now I'm a seasoned White House visitor. Once our escort arrived, I had no idea how we'd get through to the front. We ended up going PAST where our tour stopped and walked right up to the residence. We went through one of the foyers there and landed in the rose garden. We could see the the Oval Office really well, and we were right up next to the residence...amazing! We then walked around to the front lawn and had an excellent view of the Washington Monument and the fountain that sits in front of the White House. Then I decided to turn around and there it was...the house...just right there...wow

So we waited for a bit just taking pictures (which can be viewed throughout this blog)...and eavesdropped on one of the White House employees explaining to her guests how an arrival worked. There are three helicopters, one is actually the president and two are decoys just in case something goes wrong. They always have a fire truck and ambulance waiting, again, just in case something happens. The press is usually always invited to come and did they come...there weren't too many people like us there, but a ton of media showed up to get a good shot...

All of a sudden, we hear the sounds of choppers in the distance....and there they were! All three, just like the lady said. The one carrying the president split from the rest and landed right in front of us on the lawn...I had never been close to any helicopter, so just the wind alone amazed me! Then not longer than two minutes after it landed and the blades were turned off did the marine escort pop out of the door...walk around to open the other door...and out came the president!!!! He walked out and waved to us...but once he got half way to the door he picked up the pace and scooted into the White House, so he didn't stop to shake hands (we figured he was probably busy and had things to do...haha)

I still can't believe I got to see him so close! I know there are many people who dislike him, but even if it was a president I didn't like, still seeing that person up close and knowing that he (or potentially she) is one, if not the, most powerful person in the world is pretty exciting! I almost passed out.... (that was for you Jack and Bridget)...anyway...I miss you all and I hope you enjoyed this story...it has a bigger impact when I tell it face-to-face...so I'll have to have a recount when I get home!!!! Enjoy the pictures too!

Adventures in the rain...

So this weekend my friend from Creighton, Elizabeth, came to visit! It was so great to see someone from 'home' and hang out around DC...although the weather was less than pleasant. Unfortunatley, it poured the entire day on Friday...but that didn't stop us! We went on a tour of the Supreme Court (which was AMAZING)...the courtroom was gorgeous and Chelsey (my roommate who gives tours and the Supreme Court) took us back to some of the conference rooms to see those too.

After the Supreme Court we made the hike to the Washington Monument in the downpour (Elizabeth had never been to DC before so I was thinking up there we could see everything)...we went to the top to attempt to get some good views...but since it was raining so hard, we really couldn't see much. We deicded to go back home and hang out until the event for the evening was figured out. We ended up going to this place called Hawk 'n Dove, which is a local bar/restuarant that is very popular with interns in DC. We hung out and danced until 2 in the morning...it was great!

Saturday was nicer thankfully...after much deliberation we decided to go visit the White House (this time, we were on the outside looking in) and then go to Georgetown to do some shopping. The White House will never get old to me I'm pretty sure...this might sound strange, but I can't get over how small it seems...when we toured the West Wing it was itty bitty compared to what I thought it would be! But it is still such an amazing place. I want to live there some day :)

Georgetown was fun too...we all were pretty tired though so we didn't stay for very long. Stopped into H&M...no luck haha but that also meant no money was spent either, so I guess I benefitted in the end. We ended up having a pretty chill evening-a lot of the house had to get up super early so we ended up just hanging out.

Today Elizabeth had to go back :( sad...she left really early in the morning to catch her flight. A few of my roommates and I decided to go check out the new Target in Columbia Heights...it was CRAZY...its the first Target to open in DC boundaries that is metro accessible so it was swamped. I got some new shorts and some groceries so it was successful! Tomorrow is back to work...but Tuesday I get to go to the White House (again!) and see the president...so look for a new post then!!!!

Just call me CJ Craig...

Today was THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE! One of the CHIP alumni works for the Office of Management and Budget so he offered a group of us a tour of the WEST WING! It was AMAZING...I basically cried the entire tour...but anyway, I'll start at the beginning b/c this definitely deserves a long post (pictures included...it was a good time!)

So we arrived for our 5pm tour and had to go through our 1st security checkpoint. We were concerned b/c my housemate Chelsey's name wasn't going through, but we ended up finding out that her name was put in backwards...it was kinda funny. We then had to go through a metal detector and got some sweet badges to wear too! Oh PS-we couldn't take any pictures inside (except when we went to the press room) so everything is outside...

the staff entrance into the west wing
We went through the staff entrance to get inside the West Wing, and was instantly bombarded by pictures of the President and First Lady...some of them were new pictures from their trip to Africa-very cool. We then went to see the hallway to the VP's office, which was covered in pictures of the VP (and his dog, oddly enough)...we then went and saw the White House Mess Hall (gorgeous)...and okay, as I was peering into said mess hall, my friend tapped me on the shoulder and told me to turn around...I did, and saw the door to the Situation Room...I almost passed out (I didn't) but I was in shock...we couldn't go into the Situation Room, but to see the door was enough!

Okay the next part requires pictures...we got to go outside to the Rose Garden and see the Oval Office from the outside and capture every view we could of the rest of the White House...it was so cool!

So those pictures were of my housemates and I in the Rose Garden, the Oval Office from the outside, one of the views of the rest of the White House, and the view of the Washington Monument from the garden...it was sweeeeet (and I have like, 290324083249 more pictures too)

The next part was my favorite, and perhaps the most memorable of my life-we got to see the Oval Office!!!! We stood in the doorway and got to see the whole thing...its actually a lot smaller than one would think...but amazing nonetheless...the desk was so cool, and the way G.W. decorated it was very stylish...we also got to see the Roosevelt room (also amazing), the cabinet meeting room and about 100 Norman Rockwell paintings/drawings (again, so cool)...on our way out to the press room we got to see the painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware"...had a similar reaction to the one when I saw the Situation Room...basically passed out...

The press room was very neat-we got to take pictures there too so here goes...it was a lot smaller than I thought (I think that was the theme for the day...the West Wing itself was very small, with very low ceilings and narrow hallways)

It was fun...the first picture is the official "front" of the West Wing where they receive diplomats, famous people and such...the rest are of the press room, which I'm sure you all recognize from the frequent C-SPAN watching you all do (ha just kidding)

We then walked around to the front lawn and took some more pictures (seen below) then we decided to stop in to the Eisenhower Executive Office building to see what it looked like...it was so pretty...very old and a lot of gorgeous architecture!

So the next few pictures are of the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Building...

and one last picture, taken by my housemates, that I figure about 99% of you would appreciate...maybe a future career as press secretary?? I don't know, you tell me

Haha so as you can see, this day was amazing...I hope this memory lasts with me forever and that the next time I come visit, I can stay awhile (as in 4 years)...I miss you all and wish that you could be here to experience this with me!

PS-It was my dad's 50th birthday today...HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!