So much has happened since I last wrote on here, so this is going to be a quick overview with tons of pictures. This seems to be a common theme. A little over two weeks ago, we were going to hear one of our class briefings at AIPAC, a Pro-Israel lobbyist group. This was a briefing was particularly looking forward to hearing. Usually the speakers come to the Barlow Center, but this time we had to go to their building. We had a rough morning getting there. We were running late and I got caught in the Metro door, which was not to the amusement of all the people rushing to work. To them I was just a slowdown in their early commute. When we got off the metro we thought we only had 3 blocks to the building and would have plenty of time. However, the metro was running slower than normal and it was 5 blocks away. Needless to say we ended up running 3 of them in our heels. Always an adventure. By the time we got to the AIPAC building we were hot and sweaty. Basically disgusting. We had to get into an elevator to get up to the meeting room, so about 14 of us got into an elevator that would supposedly hold 21 people. False. Once we are all in there nice and tight, the elevator completely shuts down. Of course. So we are on the elevator for about an hour. At one point the firefighters were going to pull us up through the roof and into the elevator shaft to get out. However, they were unable to open the top. Instead, we were stuck in the hot steamy elevator for an extra fifteen minutes while they wedge the door open. As one of my friends so eloquently said, "We were stuck in there with people I would rather shoot myself in the leg than be stuck with." Personally, I would have to second that. If I can post one of the videos I think you can guess who I wanted to kill. Had it been Lord of the Flies he would have been the first one to go...
Last Tuesday at work, we got an email from the Chief of Staff telling us about an emergency meeting that was mandatory for all staff members in 5 minutes. She said to drop everything and run. At first I didn't think I was going to be able to attend because my supervisor told me to man all the phones and tell anyone who called they were at a meeting. I was kinda ticked off about this because I saw all the other interns from my floor heading down to the meeting room. I figured it was going to be some speech to rally the troops for the final week of the campaign and I wanted to be there. My supervisor was waiting to make sure everyone had evacuated our floor, which I found odd. Then turned to me and was like ok, go now! In shock I started booking it down the hall. On our way to the room he told me the First Lady was there, which obviously made me even more excited. I got into the room where about 200 other employees were all waiting to see what was going to happen. No one had any idea what was going on. I started talking to one of my friends and told her what I had heard. We figured they were getting us all out of the building to have it swept and make sure everything was safe. We didn't even think we were going to see anything exciting. After about 30 minutes of waiting the Chief of Staff and the Chairman walk in. The Chief of Staff thanked everyone for all the hard work they have done and gave the speech to rally the troops, as expected. It was really inspiring and unifying to be a part of something so big. It really made me realize how lucky I am to have witnessed so much these past few months. Then she started making comments about stalling and waiting for someone to walk in the door. I thought I was really cool, because I knew the secret about who was coming, but was I ever wrong. Suddenly cheers erupted from the front of the room. I was about halfway back, and because I am so vertically challenged, I couldn't really see much. If I maneuvered myself just right I could see a little bit between peoples heads. All the sudden I saw the grey hair and knew then and there that it was George. The freaking President of the United States was about 25 feet away from me! He started talking about how amazing the Chairman is and the RNC as a whole. He thanked us for all the hard work we do to help put Republican leaders in office throughout the country. He seemed very relaxed and was actually very funny. Overall, everything just made me realize that he is so real. I felt very empathetic towards him and everything he experienced in his presidency. Here is a link to an article featured in the Wahsington Post the following day... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/28/AR2008102801737.html
That night we went to Dupont Circle, which I have also heard referenced as the Fruit Loop. I'll let you figure that one out. Every Tuesday before Halloween there is the High Heel race, which is drag queens racing down the street. Obviously we couldn't pass up this opportunity. It was by far one of the most entertaining things I've seen here. The streets were packed. I missed most of the race, mostly because I couldn't see. Once again I have my height to thank. But we were able to mingle with the drag queens afterwards. At one point the crowd was so tight that I literally felt like my lungs were going to collapse. There was not one part of your body that wasn't pressed up against another person. Basically a very bonding experience for everyone in attendance. Everyone was completely wasted and supplied endless amounts of entertainment.
Yesterday was the perfect fall day. It was about 70 degrees and we knew we had to take advantage of this beautiful weather. This week had been pretty freezing so we wanted to get outdoors and do something fun. We ended up renting bikes for super cheap and riding along the Potomic and across into Virginia. There were tons of people out on the path running and biking. Dad, you would have been in love with this trail. All along the path is a canopy of trees that are bright yellow and bright red all along the edge of the river. We rode down to the Jefferson memorial and looped back to the National Mall where the rest of the monuments were. About every five minutes I would freak out and have to tell everyone how much I loved my life. It was truly the perfect day. So relaxed and enjoyable. I am in love with autumn. I can't even describe how beautiful everything was. Afterwards we rented kayaks for an hour and paddled around the Potomic, which was also incredible. It was about 4 o'clock so the lighting was perfect, the sun was starting to get lower and was golden and beautiful. It reflected off the water perfectly. We went up the river to the upper part of Georgetown. It is basically a hill that Georgetown University is on top of. So, there was a sea of colored trees with amazing old, Harry Potter looking buildings on top of the Hill. It almost felt like it could have been colonial times or something. It was seriously one of those moments where you try to remember as much as possible to relive on your bad days. I was in heaven. We wrapped up our perfect day with a perfect night. We went to see the band, Bishop Allen, play at Black Cat. It was an awesome show and they did amazing.
Because our matching outfits, you can't tell whose body is who in some pictures. Take the one below for instance. I had the forsight of wearing a headband to tell us apart in all the madness.
Outside the Kennedy Center after work, the Potomic is behind us.
