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!

Another Day in DC

Hey kids! Not much to report but I wanted to update b/c I know some of you get on my case if I don't have anything posted for awhile...work has been good...learning new things every single day, and further encouraging a career in law and politics. I really like working for the party side of things...I feel like I have a good understanding of the three main branches of government, so to see how the parties impact things is something different to me.

I think one day while I walk to work I'm going to take pictures of what I see everyday and document the trip. I get to walk past the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and adorable row houses...its great! I really enjoy it...esp. when everyone is hurrying here and there...I have this weird habit now to scrutinize anyone that looks like a congressman or a senator to see if I can recognize them...usually I'm dissappointed, but I like to dream!

Well, this weekend holds a big surprise post...some of you know what I'll be doing...but for those who don't-check on Monday...I am doing one of the coolest things EVER this weekend!!!!

Oh, and feel free to comment whenever...miss you all!

Oh Hillary

Well, besides doing my internship and having a blast traipsing around the city...I also have to take a class...the class I ended up with was "Politics and Communications" and I have to say that its been pretty interesting so far...today was great fun-we had to pretend we were strategists hired by the Clinton campaign to help her pull her up from the sinkhole shes finding herself in...we had some interesting proposals (nothing that could actually work of course), but it was cool to see what we could come up with for her...I've come to realize that unless she wins Texas and Ohio, she doesn't have a prayer...

Some exciting news: so I have been trying to figure out what I want to do this summer as far as jobs/internships go...and I am now officially going to be interning at Congressman Todd Akin's district office this summer! I am so excited...it combines the best of both worlds-politics and St. Louis! I loveeeeee DC, but I decided I needed to come home this summer...so this internship is exactly what I want to do! Now all I need is to find a side job that pays some...so if you know of anything...let me know! Miss you all!

PS watch the debates tomorrow night to see Obama and Hillary fight it out...theres nothing I love more then Democrats duking it out (just kidding...you know I love you all)

Now I'm Cultured

Today was fun...it is still kinda cold here so we thought it would be a good idea to go to the National Gallery for a little bit...we went to the east building where the contemporary art was displayed. Now, I love art, and I love museums...but some of this modern art stuff was a little spacy for me...but it was still cool to see!

PS-I'm off to New York City in a month!!!!!! SO EXCITED-that will be a good blog post for sure!...miss you all