I'm going on a cruise!
To the Western Caribbean!
With three of my favorite girls!
Monday, December 12, 2005
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Ready for the end
I can't believe the semester's still not over. I've ceased to care about all things academic. This finals period makes me soooo glad I'm taking a year or two off before graduate school. I need a break badly.
Things have not been exceptionally exciting around here, except that I worked at a Habitat for Humanity house today. I hadn't worked with them in a while, and I always enjoy it, but today was a special treat because the couple getting the house was there to work with us. They just found out the house will be theirs yesterday and they're so excited! It was so great to hear them plan out paint colors and talk about how wonderful it will be to have space for their four children finally. I love being a part of that kind of happiness - the kind that people experience when they begin to understand success is within their grasp.
Finals week is next week and I do love the opportunities it affords me to just hang out in the off-study hours. I also love the cookies that the alumni ladies bake for us in care packages. I do not love Christmas shopping, but it will be a neccessary evil this week.
And, sadly, that's all I've got for you.
Things have not been exceptionally exciting around here, except that I worked at a Habitat for Humanity house today. I hadn't worked with them in a while, and I always enjoy it, but today was a special treat because the couple getting the house was there to work with us. They just found out the house will be theirs yesterday and they're so excited! It was so great to hear them plan out paint colors and talk about how wonderful it will be to have space for their four children finally. I love being a part of that kind of happiness - the kind that people experience when they begin to understand success is within their grasp.
Finals week is next week and I do love the opportunities it affords me to just hang out in the off-study hours. I also love the cookies that the alumni ladies bake for us in care packages. I do not love Christmas shopping, but it will be a neccessary evil this week.
And, sadly, that's all I've got for you.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
So many partners!
You would not believe the night I went salsa dancing this week. Really. Especially if you've ever seen me try to dance.
I went to dance Wednesday night, like I have been for several weeks in a row, with a group of friends (male and female). For the first hour I danced intermittently with the boys we'd come with, but then...I ended up on quite a streak. One boy I didn't know asked me to dance. Then, when I returned to the table after, another was waiting to ask for a dance. And it happened again and again. The group I'd come with thought this process was pretty entertaining, so they kept track of my partners, and *drum roll, please* there were 13! All of these were in a row, and I didn't even get to sit down in between songs. What kind of alternate universe was I in?
Needless to say, I danced my little heart out, and my feet hurt so badly it was hard to walk up the stairs to my room. I think I might be a good salsa dancer now, with all that practice under my belt.
I went to dance Wednesday night, like I have been for several weeks in a row, with a group of friends (male and female). For the first hour I danced intermittently with the boys we'd come with, but then...I ended up on quite a streak. One boy I didn't know asked me to dance. Then, when I returned to the table after, another was waiting to ask for a dance. And it happened again and again. The group I'd come with thought this process was pretty entertaining, so they kept track of my partners, and *drum roll, please* there were 13! All of these were in a row, and I didn't even get to sit down in between songs. What kind of alternate universe was I in?
Needless to say, I danced my little heart out, and my feet hurt so badly it was hard to walk up the stairs to my room. I think I might be a good salsa dancer now, with all that practice under my belt.
Monday, November 14, 2005
A review
First, the latest. This week I saw Tom Brokaw speak at College of the Ozarks. That was incredibly cool for a news nerd like me. He told stories about Walter Cronkite and Ted Koppel, presented awards to POWs, and reminded us of the need for American "diplomatic finesse."
I also successfully orchestrated (with help, of course) a surprise bachelorette kidnapping for the weekend. We took the bride-to-be down to Arkansas for a fun-filled couple of days with the girls. We ambushed her at a gas station, threw all her luggage in our cars, and made her sign a contract agreeing to comply with all of our requests until we returned on Sunday. That was truly beautiful.
Last night I spent some time reflecting on the last year of my life. I find such evaluations pretty helpful because they remind me of how great it is to be alive, and how privileged an existence I have.
In the last year I have:
Been to Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.
Lived in Washington DC and interned at NPR.
Gone whitewater rafting in Pennsylvania.
Spelunked for the first time.
Been vine swinging.
Seen Jim Wallis, Tom Brokaw, the White House Chief of Staff, and various radio personalities speak.
Watched a snowboarding competition.
Attended Notting Hill Carnival.
Seen Phantom of the Opera (and more) on stage in London's West End.
Taken a cruise on the Mediterranean.
Vacationed on Panama City Beach.
Attended a movie screening on the National Mall.
Gone to a sneak preview.
Enjoyed jazz concerts in the Smithsonian sculpture gardens.
Participated in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Learned the following dances (or tried to) - salsa, swing, waltz, foxtrot, rumba, hula, belly, and one that's still unnamed.
Joined a book club with other people who think reading is important and enjoyable.
Had the opportunity to mentor numerous young college girls.
Discovered an interest in the politics of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Learned that plans are only okay if I'm okay with them being rearranged.
And so, so much more. Who knew that college could be so cool? Who knew that someone with as little money as I have could manage all of these things? Perhaps I will give you some insight into all of the lessons I've learned through these experiences someday.
I also successfully orchestrated (with help, of course) a surprise bachelorette kidnapping for the weekend. We took the bride-to-be down to Arkansas for a fun-filled couple of days with the girls. We ambushed her at a gas station, threw all her luggage in our cars, and made her sign a contract agreeing to comply with all of our requests until we returned on Sunday. That was truly beautiful.
Last night I spent some time reflecting on the last year of my life. I find such evaluations pretty helpful because they remind me of how great it is to be alive, and how privileged an existence I have.
In the last year I have:
Been to Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.
Lived in Washington DC and interned at NPR.
Gone whitewater rafting in Pennsylvania.
Spelunked for the first time.
Been vine swinging.
Seen Jim Wallis, Tom Brokaw, the White House Chief of Staff, and various radio personalities speak.
Watched a snowboarding competition.
Attended Notting Hill Carnival.
Seen Phantom of the Opera (and more) on stage in London's West End.
Taken a cruise on the Mediterranean.
Vacationed on Panama City Beach.
Attended a movie screening on the National Mall.
Gone to a sneak preview.
Enjoyed jazz concerts in the Smithsonian sculpture gardens.
Participated in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Learned the following dances (or tried to) - salsa, swing, waltz, foxtrot, rumba, hula, belly, and one that's still unnamed.
Joined a book club with other people who think reading is important and enjoyable.
Had the opportunity to mentor numerous young college girls.
Discovered an interest in the politics of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Learned that plans are only okay if I'm okay with them being rearranged.
And so, so much more. Who knew that college could be so cool? Who knew that someone with as little money as I have could manage all of these things? Perhaps I will give you some insight into all of the lessons I've learned through these experiences someday.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Relief
My experience with the Hurricane Katrina clean up was pretty amazing. I stayed in a tent colony with my work group for a good part of last week in Biloxi, Mississippi. We had special handwashing stations and porta-potties. The showers were along the baseball diamond's third baseline, and there were no roofs. There also weren't mirrors. It's really quite liberating to not see yourself in the mirror for four days; I thought very little about what I must have looked like.
We did what is called "mucking out" houses, meaning that we cleared out everything inside the damaged homes. There was so much mold that the flooring and drywall had to come out of each one, not to mention all of the families' possessions. Some of them truly have nothing left. In the first house we worked in, the gentleman said he'd been through three hurricanes and could barely summon up the will to rebuild. The stories were powerful. So was the drive along the coastline.
It's strange to take photos of the devastation. I felt like a tourist, and I guess I was, to a certain extent. Really, I want to be able to share with others the sites that I was able to take in firsthand.
Major lessons learned? Well, I spent a lot of time thinking about what little "stuff" I actually need in my life, compared to how much I have. I also spent a lot of time thinking about what actually matters to me in the grand scheme of things. Then, I thought about the difference between being person-focused versus task-focused. I suppose I'll never be quite the same.
On a more humorous note, the last night of the trip our group leaders took us out for a surprise steak dinner. Later that night, I went with a couple of friends to talk to the camp security guard, who also turned out to be a limo driver. He let us sit in his limo, then took us on a free ride through the city. Who would have thought that a hurricane relief trip would end with a free steak and limo ride? And who would have thought that my clothes wouldn't even match for my first limo experience?
We did what is called "mucking out" houses, meaning that we cleared out everything inside the damaged homes. There was so much mold that the flooring and drywall had to come out of each one, not to mention all of the families' possessions. Some of them truly have nothing left. In the first house we worked in, the gentleman said he'd been through three hurricanes and could barely summon up the will to rebuild. The stories were powerful. So was the drive along the coastline.
It's strange to take photos of the devastation. I felt like a tourist, and I guess I was, to a certain extent. Really, I want to be able to share with others the sites that I was able to take in firsthand.
Major lessons learned? Well, I spent a lot of time thinking about what little "stuff" I actually need in my life, compared to how much I have. I also spent a lot of time thinking about what actually matters to me in the grand scheme of things. Then, I thought about the difference between being person-focused versus task-focused. I suppose I'll never be quite the same.
On a more humorous note, the last night of the trip our group leaders took us out for a surprise steak dinner. Later that night, I went with a couple of friends to talk to the camp security guard, who also turned out to be a limo driver. He let us sit in his limo, then took us on a free ride through the city. Who would have thought that a hurricane relief trip would end with a free steak and limo ride? And who would have thought that my clothes wouldn't even match for my first limo experience?
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Exciting new developments
I have two exciting things to report.
The first is that tomorrow I'm featured in the Chaplain's Luncheon Series. I'll be debating Jason Swadley concerning how people of faith should respond to the War in Iraq. I'm on the side that says we should not support the war. Want to hear why? FSC 204 on Oct. 12, 12:10pm. Should be interesting...
Second, I'm going to Mississippi next weekend to help with hurricane relief efforts. I'm particularly excited about this. We're staying in a tent colony for an extended weekend (Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun) and will be doing a lot of clean up work. It'll be amazing to see the storm's aftermath and to be able to physically do something to help out.
Oh, and Fall Break's this weekend. Woo Hoo!
The first is that tomorrow I'm featured in the Chaplain's Luncheon Series. I'll be debating Jason Swadley concerning how people of faith should respond to the War in Iraq. I'm on the side that says we should not support the war. Want to hear why? FSC 204 on Oct. 12, 12:10pm. Should be interesting...
Second, I'm going to Mississippi next weekend to help with hurricane relief efforts. I'm particularly excited about this. We're staying in a tent colony for an extended weekend (Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun) and will be doing a lot of clean up work. It'll be amazing to see the storm's aftermath and to be able to physically do something to help out.
Oh, and Fall Break's this weekend. Woo Hoo!
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Midterms and Fall Break
I knew I wouldn't be any good at posting during the school year. Free time is so rare around here, but I've just been gently reminded that people need an update, so here you are.
Last night I went salsa dancing with some friends. We had a GREAT time. A couple of boys even returned for a second dance, which seems like an indication that I wasn't horrible. :) I appear to have developed a kind of dancing theme lately. I'm taking ballroom dancing lessons and am planning to learn the "Thriller" dance next week. How this happened, I do not know. Perhaps I finally realized that something needed to be done about my lack of groove skills.
Tuesday night I volunteered at Convoy of Hope and sorted supplies that will be sent down to Hurricane Katrina victims. This was the first of the activities I'm helping arrange for the campus ministry I belong to. It seems to me that if we're going to talk about helping the poor and unfortunate all the time, as Christians, we have some kind of responsibility to do something pragmatic about it. It was a great time, and I hope to go back often this semester. For those of you who don't know, I'm also hoping to do an internship at Convoy next semester. I would get experience working with an international non-profit's communications and would get to do some Spanish translation. The prospect of all that is very exciting.
And, finally, it's time for midterms! I can't believe it's October already, and sometimes my complicated schedule seems really daunting, but Fall Break is next week! I'm going with some friends down to Arkansas for an all-girls camping trip. I think we're also going to stop by the glass chapel on Highway 7 and go spelunking! Before I headed off to college, I had a list of several goals to accomplish during my four years at Drury. The only remaining unfulfilled goal is to go spelunking. Woo Hoo! (The last one I fulfilled was the DC internship!)
Last night I went salsa dancing with some friends. We had a GREAT time. A couple of boys even returned for a second dance, which seems like an indication that I wasn't horrible. :) I appear to have developed a kind of dancing theme lately. I'm taking ballroom dancing lessons and am planning to learn the "Thriller" dance next week. How this happened, I do not know. Perhaps I finally realized that something needed to be done about my lack of groove skills.
Tuesday night I volunteered at Convoy of Hope and sorted supplies that will be sent down to Hurricane Katrina victims. This was the first of the activities I'm helping arrange for the campus ministry I belong to. It seems to me that if we're going to talk about helping the poor and unfortunate all the time, as Christians, we have some kind of responsibility to do something pragmatic about it. It was a great time, and I hope to go back often this semester. For those of you who don't know, I'm also hoping to do an internship at Convoy next semester. I would get experience working with an international non-profit's communications and would get to do some Spanish translation. The prospect of all that is very exciting.
And, finally, it's time for midterms! I can't believe it's October already, and sometimes my complicated schedule seems really daunting, but Fall Break is next week! I'm going with some friends down to Arkansas for an all-girls camping trip. I think we're also going to stop by the glass chapel on Highway 7 and go spelunking! Before I headed off to college, I had a list of several goals to accomplish during my four years at Drury. The only remaining unfulfilled goal is to go spelunking. Woo Hoo! (The last one I fulfilled was the DC internship!)
Monday, September 12, 2005
Not so good at canoeing
Yesterday I went on my second float trip since I've been back in Missouri. I went with a group of Drury folk from the Foyer, and we had a GREAT time. I did, however, learn that I'm not very good with a canoe - much better with a raft.
I started out in a canoe with this guy Mat, who I hadn't talked to in a long while. We had a great time together, and did more laughing than I think any of the other canoes, but we were pretty incompatible in a boat. In the first hour, we capsized 4 or 5 times (and it was only intentional once). The first time around I was viciously attacked by another guy and jumped out of the canoe to retaliate, dumping Mat out... oops! Then he decided I should pay for it, and we both fell in again. After that we couldn't manage any kind of system for steering and we flew out for a lack of balance, not for any huge rapids. Eventually we decided we might make more progress if we switched canoeing buddies.
At one point we passed a guy who was seriously trying to pick me up on the river. With a mouthful of chewing tobacco and three children in his canoe. Umm...
And when I complimented a drunken fraternity boy on his enormous sunglasses, he rose up out of the water to show me his "euro-shorts." Think slighty longer than a speedo, slightly shorter than "daisy dukes."
I really love rivers, I have decided. I really love water of any sort. It's such a treat for me, having grown up in dry and desolate Kansas.
I started out in a canoe with this guy Mat, who I hadn't talked to in a long while. We had a great time together, and did more laughing than I think any of the other canoes, but we were pretty incompatible in a boat. In the first hour, we capsized 4 or 5 times (and it was only intentional once). The first time around I was viciously attacked by another guy and jumped out of the canoe to retaliate, dumping Mat out... oops! Then he decided I should pay for it, and we both fell in again. After that we couldn't manage any kind of system for steering and we flew out for a lack of balance, not for any huge rapids. Eventually we decided we might make more progress if we switched canoeing buddies.
At one point we passed a guy who was seriously trying to pick me up on the river. With a mouthful of chewing tobacco and three children in his canoe. Umm...
And when I complimented a drunken fraternity boy on his enormous sunglasses, he rose up out of the water to show me his "euro-shorts." Think slighty longer than a speedo, slightly shorter than "daisy dukes."
I really love rivers, I have decided. I really love water of any sort. It's such a treat for me, having grown up in dry and desolate Kansas.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Gettin' in the swing
Hello, all my faithful readers!!!
I thought I should grace you with my cyber presence after a long absence. :) I am now getting into the swing of college life again. I have only three real classes this semester, two of which will be a real challenge. Spanish lit is already kicking my butt. I seem to be able to understand the lectures well, but the reading is sometimes beyond me. I also think my U.S. foreign policy class will be pretty tough, but I'm loving it. Well, I am loving it except for the girl that called me a rich, white, western male that shops at Abercrombie and buys sweatshop clothing. Um...clearly, she does not know me. I didn't much appreciate her verbal assault.
My honors project is beginning now too. I've watched two Schwarzenegger movies already - Twins and True Lies - and I plan to at least see Terminator and Conan before the movie marathon portion of my research is over. For those who don't know, I'm going to analyze Arnold's campaign speeches for some kind of rhetorical clues as to why he was elected into the governor's slot.
And I'm doing the RA thing. My girls and I have been hanging out, chatting, painting flowerpots, and sharing ice cream sandwiches. So far, so good.
This Labor Day weekend, my brother moved to town, and I'm excited to have him here. I also participated in a photo shoot and made a wedding cake (well, really an un-wedding cake). It was so nice to just be able to hang out freely with friends.
I hope all is well with you, my readers.
I thought I should grace you with my cyber presence after a long absence. :) I am now getting into the swing of college life again. I have only three real classes this semester, two of which will be a real challenge. Spanish lit is already kicking my butt. I seem to be able to understand the lectures well, but the reading is sometimes beyond me. I also think my U.S. foreign policy class will be pretty tough, but I'm loving it. Well, I am loving it except for the girl that called me a rich, white, western male that shops at Abercrombie and buys sweatshop clothing. Um...clearly, she does not know me. I didn't much appreciate her verbal assault.
My honors project is beginning now too. I've watched two Schwarzenegger movies already - Twins and True Lies - and I plan to at least see Terminator and Conan before the movie marathon portion of my research is over. For those who don't know, I'm going to analyze Arnold's campaign speeches for some kind of rhetorical clues as to why he was elected into the governor's slot.
And I'm doing the RA thing. My girls and I have been hanging out, chatting, painting flowerpots, and sharing ice cream sandwiches. So far, so good.
This Labor Day weekend, my brother moved to town, and I'm excited to have him here. I also participated in a photo shoot and made a wedding cake (well, really an un-wedding cake). It was so nice to just be able to hang out freely with friends.
I hope all is well with you, my readers.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Some summer photos for your enjoyment
Hey! Here are a few pics to show you who I hung out with this summer. I tried to load some of my whitewater rafting experience, but I kept getting an error message. Sorry! Maybe Kristi will sometime get around to emailing me pictures from Baltimore, and I'll be able to post those for your viewing pleasure, too. (Hint, hint).
I have endured a week of RA training so far, and I'm getting excited about a new year. I can't believe there's just one left. College went by so quickly!
Just as a warning, I don't tend to keep the blog going throughout my non-traveling times. However, if I find a ton of comments that request otherwise, I could probably be convinced to post more regularly.
Finally, I'd just like to say thanks to Sarah and David for a great last night in DC. I hope it was a fun adventure for them, as well. :)
I have endured a week of RA training so far, and I'm getting excited about a new year. I can't believe there's just one left. College went by so quickly!
Just as a warning, I don't tend to keep the blog going throughout my non-traveling times. However, if I find a ton of comments that request otherwise, I could probably be convinced to post more regularly.
Finally, I'd just like to say thanks to Sarah and David for a great last night in DC. I hope it was a fun adventure for them, as well. :)
Monday, August 01, 2005
So sore, so tired, so fun
Yesterday I went whitewater rafting in Pennsylvania. It was so great! I do find myself exhausted now, though, and since I flew out of the raft and smacked into several rocks, I am incredibly sore. It was a wonderful way to spend my last weekend here.
I will be headed out to Wichita on Thursday, Aug. 4. Then, on Sunday the 7th, I'm moving back to Springfield. See you then!
I will be headed out to Wichita on Thursday, Aug. 4. Then, on Sunday the 7th, I'm moving back to Springfield. See you then!
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Finally!
This weekend has been filled with a lot of "finallys!" I finally got around to seeing some of the sites I should have seen weeks ago.
Friday night I went to the National Cathedral with a couple of my co-workers. I was very impressed by the stained glass, but the architecture itself was not all that amazing. I suppose I was spoiled by all of the centuries-old cathedrals in Europe. We went to hear a couple of people from work do the spoken word performance accompanying a J.S. Bach concert. This turned out to be a bit of a letdown. Boring! The organ was not nearly loud enough, and the performance was the world's longest Power Point show and the recounting of Nobel Prize Winner Albert Schweitzer's life, minus the stories telling us why people loved him so much. The show had great potential, it just was not as well-executed as it could have been. Still, it was neat to finally see the Cathedral.
Last night, after only about an hour and a half's drive, I finally went to Baltimore. We had some unfortunate miscommunication that split our group up, but John, Kristi, and I made the best of it by riding around in a dragon shaped paddle boat in the inner harbor at sunset. It was beautiful! I do have some pictures of that experience, and I am now more convinced than ever that I need to live somewhere near the coast. DC would even be suitable, since it's such a short drive to the water. After the dragon, we met up with the others and sat outdoors on the water for a seafood dinner. I had some tasty mahi mahi and watched as the boats floated by under the stars.
Before we went home, we walked around to explore the fancy club area of town. It was unbelievable! I have never seen so many hummers in such a small space, outside a dealership. There were at least 5 hummer limos, 3 or 4 regular hummers, and a handful of classic stretch limos, all for the clubs. We couldn't have gone in had we wanted to; there was a strict dress code to enter the strip. Who knew Baltimore was such a happenin' place?!
We considered driving on to NYC for the night, but wimped out. Instead we sang along to the radio, ate McFlurrys and told fun stories.
This morning we all opted to sleep in and John and Kristi took me out to Old Town Alexandria, finally. I had not managed, in nearly two months of living in Alexandria, to make it down there, and now I know that truly is a shame. It is so quaint, and the banks of the Potomac offer a really great view. The whole area feels very historic. We even went to an old World War II torpedo factory that has been converted into art galleries. Before wandering around, though, we stopped off for brunch. I tried eggs benedict for the first time and discovered I love them!
We also drove by T.C. Williams High School, of Remember the Titans fame. It was very cool to see the football field and "remember." How great would it be to go to one of their games?
I only have a week and a half left in DC, and I hope that I will see many more exciting sites before I depart. Something tells me that it would take much more time than I have to see it all.
Friday night I went to the National Cathedral with a couple of my co-workers. I was very impressed by the stained glass, but the architecture itself was not all that amazing. I suppose I was spoiled by all of the centuries-old cathedrals in Europe. We went to hear a couple of people from work do the spoken word performance accompanying a J.S. Bach concert. This turned out to be a bit of a letdown. Boring! The organ was not nearly loud enough, and the performance was the world's longest Power Point show and the recounting of Nobel Prize Winner Albert Schweitzer's life, minus the stories telling us why people loved him so much. The show had great potential, it just was not as well-executed as it could have been. Still, it was neat to finally see the Cathedral.
Last night, after only about an hour and a half's drive, I finally went to Baltimore. We had some unfortunate miscommunication that split our group up, but John, Kristi, and I made the best of it by riding around in a dragon shaped paddle boat in the inner harbor at sunset. It was beautiful! I do have some pictures of that experience, and I am now more convinced than ever that I need to live somewhere near the coast. DC would even be suitable, since it's such a short drive to the water. After the dragon, we met up with the others and sat outdoors on the water for a seafood dinner. I had some tasty mahi mahi and watched as the boats floated by under the stars.
Before we went home, we walked around to explore the fancy club area of town. It was unbelievable! I have never seen so many hummers in such a small space, outside a dealership. There were at least 5 hummer limos, 3 or 4 regular hummers, and a handful of classic stretch limos, all for the clubs. We couldn't have gone in had we wanted to; there was a strict dress code to enter the strip. Who knew Baltimore was such a happenin' place?!
We considered driving on to NYC for the night, but wimped out. Instead we sang along to the radio, ate McFlurrys and told fun stories.
This morning we all opted to sleep in and John and Kristi took me out to Old Town Alexandria, finally. I had not managed, in nearly two months of living in Alexandria, to make it down there, and now I know that truly is a shame. It is so quaint, and the banks of the Potomac offer a really great view. The whole area feels very historic. We even went to an old World War II torpedo factory that has been converted into art galleries. Before wandering around, though, we stopped off for brunch. I tried eggs benedict for the first time and discovered I love them!
We also drove by T.C. Williams High School, of Remember the Titans fame. It was very cool to see the football field and "remember." How great would it be to go to one of their games?
I only have a week and a half left in DC, and I hope that I will see many more exciting sites before I depart. Something tells me that it would take much more time than I have to see it all.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Party on, dude
This week I've gone to event after event. It's been wonderful. A good number of those events have been for work, and I still have another tomorrow. I'm also working to plan several - a happy hour, a cappuccino celebration, and an ice cream social.
I've managed to do a lot of interesting things after work, too. Monday night I went to "Screen on the Green," a free outdoor movie on a giant screen on the National Mall. The screen was right in front of the capitol, which sort of dwarfed it, but it was especially interesting because the movie involved some political protests. I'd look back and forth at the capitol and the screen, thinking about the significance of this city. I actually have some digital pictures of this experience, but don't have the software to upload them. Still, I'll forward them on if you request them. I really ought to get on the ball and take some photos of my own. Otherwise you'll never have images to accompany my stories.
Tuesday night I went to a lecture on Seeing God in the Movies. It was not at all what I had expected. The woman made Titanic spiritual. I'm not sure about that... Still, it was a different kind of experience.
And today I took a cab in DC. That was bizarre. I had to give the cabbie a map. Aren't they supposed to know their way around, or have GPS, or something? And man, expensive. $14 for 15 blocks. That would fill my entire gas tank!
Next Monday I am going to a meeting with the White House Chief of Staff. He's giving interns a talk about what opportunities are available in federal government employment, and how to get those jobs. I'm very excited. I could work for the government...especially if they'll let me write their speeches.
On a completely different note, I have a gross image to share. Only click on this link if you're convinced you have a strong stomach. This picture appeared in the Metro Express newspaper this week, and my roommate Claire saved it so that she could continually put it in front of my face. Eeeeeeeew.
I've managed to do a lot of interesting things after work, too. Monday night I went to "Screen on the Green," a free outdoor movie on a giant screen on the National Mall. The screen was right in front of the capitol, which sort of dwarfed it, but it was especially interesting because the movie involved some political protests. I'd look back and forth at the capitol and the screen, thinking about the significance of this city. I actually have some digital pictures of this experience, but don't have the software to upload them. Still, I'll forward them on if you request them. I really ought to get on the ball and take some photos of my own. Otherwise you'll never have images to accompany my stories.
Tuesday night I went to a lecture on Seeing God in the Movies. It was not at all what I had expected. The woman made Titanic spiritual. I'm not sure about that... Still, it was a different kind of experience.
And today I took a cab in DC. That was bizarre. I had to give the cabbie a map. Aren't they supposed to know their way around, or have GPS, or something? And man, expensive. $14 for 15 blocks. That would fill my entire gas tank!
Next Monday I am going to a meeting with the White House Chief of Staff. He's giving interns a talk about what opportunities are available in federal government employment, and how to get those jobs. I'm very excited. I could work for the government...especially if they'll let me write their speeches.
On a completely different note, I have a gross image to share. Only click on this link if you're convinced you have a strong stomach. This picture appeared in the Metro Express newspaper this week, and my roommate Claire saved it so that she could continually put it in front of my face. Eeeeeeeew.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
IKEA!
This afternoon I went to IKEA for the first time. I am in love. It is so cool and so huge! I now understand all the talk is not hype. Now I must reconcile myself with the horrible truth that there are no IKEAs near my normal home locations (if that can really be defined anymore). I bought three very cool things and spent only $8. Seriously, sweet.
I have some very exciting plans coming up in the future and have been making much better use of my time in the evenings, so I don't feel I'm at home all the time. I saw Batman Begins this week - finally. I also went out to dinner at Tivoli, a very nice Italian restaraunt in Arlington. The entree there was like nothing I had ever tasted before, and since there was a vegetarian option, one would assume the rest of us were eating a meaty dish, but no one could figure out what exactly the dish was...
I'm hoping that sometime in the next two weeks I'll make it in to Old Town Alexandria. It seems a shame that I have lived in Alexandria for nearly two months and haven't made it there yet. If I ever manage to move back to the DC area, I will most certainly be bringing a vehicle along. Geez.
Next weekend I'm going to Baltimore ( I think). This will be the first time I've managed to get up to Maryland, and I'm very excited about it. I hear that the Inner Harbor is magnificent.
The following weekend I'm going to Pennsylvania for a bit of whitewater rafting!!! I haven't done that since middle school and am looking forward to hanging out with the crowd Claire has assembled.
Those of you who are careful readers may have noticed that I've done some significant editing to previous posts. So sorry. Ask me later.
And thanks for checkin' in on me. :)
I have some very exciting plans coming up in the future and have been making much better use of my time in the evenings, so I don't feel I'm at home all the time. I saw Batman Begins this week - finally. I also went out to dinner at Tivoli, a very nice Italian restaraunt in Arlington. The entree there was like nothing I had ever tasted before, and since there was a vegetarian option, one would assume the rest of us were eating a meaty dish, but no one could figure out what exactly the dish was...
I'm hoping that sometime in the next two weeks I'll make it in to Old Town Alexandria. It seems a shame that I have lived in Alexandria for nearly two months and haven't made it there yet. If I ever manage to move back to the DC area, I will most certainly be bringing a vehicle along. Geez.
Next weekend I'm going to Baltimore ( I think). This will be the first time I've managed to get up to Maryland, and I'm very excited about it. I hear that the Inner Harbor is magnificent.
The following weekend I'm going to Pennsylvania for a bit of whitewater rafting!!! I haven't done that since middle school and am looking forward to hanging out with the crowd Claire has assembled.
Those of you who are careful readers may have noticed that I've done some significant editing to previous posts. So sorry. Ask me later.
And thanks for checkin' in on me. :)
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Wow, London.
Yesterday I rejoiced with the Londoners upon the announcement they'd won the 2012 Olympic bid. All of the bus and underground ads, billboards, and television commercials had managed to win the city enough public support, and I was proud. It mattered more to me that London got the bid than that New York didn't.
Today I was so saddened to hear of the pain of a city that was my home away from home. The stations affected by the bombings were sometimes places I frequented. The press conference of emergency workers and government officials featured familiar names, processes, and people. And I knew how hard it was going to be for everyone to get home tonight because I've done it again and again. I know what it means for the Circle and Central Lines to be down. I know what it must be like for the cell phone networks to have been down. Yet, the experience is not mine. I can empathize, but I cannot truly feel what the people of London must be feeling today.
Today I was so saddened to hear of the pain of a city that was my home away from home. The stations affected by the bombings were sometimes places I frequented. The press conference of emergency workers and government officials featured familiar names, processes, and people. And I knew how hard it was going to be for everyone to get home tonight because I've done it again and again. I know what it means for the Circle and Central Lines to be down. I know what it must be like for the cell phone networks to have been down. Yet, the experience is not mine. I can empathize, but I cannot truly feel what the people of London must be feeling today.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Independence Day in DC
I'm not particularly patriotic. I disagree with a lot of what the current administration is up to. But I have to say that being here on the 4th of July is really just about enough to inspire the stars and stripes out of anyone. I nearly cried during the dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence, and it was A-mazing to see all of the people lined up in the National Mall singing the national anthem.
The evening's concert was a very strange collection of previously cool performers like The Beach Boys and Gloria Estefan. The best part of the concert was the 1812 Overture with cannons.
Watching fireworks burst around the Washington Monument was truly a memorable experience, as well. They were enormous and cutting edge. There were types of explosions I had never seen before.
The rest of the weekend was great, and almost entirely because my friends Beth and Jill were in town. We had such a great time just talking and hanging out, I felt like we hadn't done anything - until someone asked us to recount our weekend. I was finally a tourist with them, and I saw several things I had never before. The International Spy Museum is soooo cool. I wonder, do they sell episodes of "Get Smart" on DVD?
I realize this is kind of a lame post, despite the fact that I have a lot of cool things I could tell you about. The truth of the matter is that I'm tired. I haven't slept a ton, and we've been really active. I wouldn't be surprised if I'm in bed by 9:00 tonight. Alas, do not lose heart. I shall return soon with even more commentary on my life. (And David, I haven't forgotten about you. My brain is just too tired tonight.)
The evening's concert was a very strange collection of previously cool performers like The Beach Boys and Gloria Estefan. The best part of the concert was the 1812 Overture with cannons.
Watching fireworks burst around the Washington Monument was truly a memorable experience, as well. They were enormous and cutting edge. There were types of explosions I had never seen before.
The rest of the weekend was great, and almost entirely because my friends Beth and Jill were in town. We had such a great time just talking and hanging out, I felt like we hadn't done anything - until someone asked us to recount our weekend. I was finally a tourist with them, and I saw several things I had never before. The International Spy Museum is soooo cool. I wonder, do they sell episodes of "Get Smart" on DVD?
I realize this is kind of a lame post, despite the fact that I have a lot of cool things I could tell you about. The truth of the matter is that I'm tired. I haven't slept a ton, and we've been really active. I wouldn't be surprised if I'm in bed by 9:00 tonight. Alas, do not lose heart. I shall return soon with even more commentary on my life. (And David, I haven't forgotten about you. My brain is just too tired tonight.)
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Alright, alright, alright
I know. It's been too long since I've posted. Again. Sorry! It's really not for a lack of interesting things to say...
I have continued to increase the amount of socializing around here, and that's been pretty great. Friday night I had such a fabulous time. I saw a movie at the Argentinian Embassy, had dinner with a friend, then spent most of the evening at a coffeehouse/bar/lounge in the Adams Morgan area of DC. There are quite a few interns in my building, but we're so spread out that we rarely interact except in meetings. The best part about Friday night was the chance to just get to know one another.
I've also made friends at the church I'm going to. There was a great picnic after the service on Sunday, and again, it was an opportunity to just sit around and talk. I'm pretty sure I've discovered that's my favorite thing to do - sit around and talk. :)
It should be exciting to be here on the 4th of July. A couple of my friends, Beth and Jill, are flying in on Thursday to spend the holiday with me, and I'm looking forward to that more than I could tell you. We're going to the parade and fireworks, and probably to some of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival events.
Feel free to comment on the BTK confession. I heard the chilling piece on the radio, and it actually did make me shudder. I know people who have come into contact with this man. Geez!
I have continued to increase the amount of socializing around here, and that's been pretty great. Friday night I had such a fabulous time. I saw a movie at the Argentinian Embassy, had dinner with a friend, then spent most of the evening at a coffeehouse/bar/lounge in the Adams Morgan area of DC. There are quite a few interns in my building, but we're so spread out that we rarely interact except in meetings. The best part about Friday night was the chance to just get to know one another.
I've also made friends at the church I'm going to. There was a great picnic after the service on Sunday, and again, it was an opportunity to just sit around and talk. I'm pretty sure I've discovered that's my favorite thing to do - sit around and talk. :)
It should be exciting to be here on the 4th of July. A couple of my friends, Beth and Jill, are flying in on Thursday to spend the holiday with me, and I'm looking forward to that more than I could tell you. We're going to the parade and fireworks, and probably to some of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival events.
Feel free to comment on the BTK confession. I heard the chilling piece on the radio, and it actually did make me shudder. I know people who have come into contact with this man. Geez!
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Things I love to do
Today I got off a half hour early for the weekend! Oh, and did I mention that it was pay day? Fabulous.
I took the two other communications interns with me to a free jazz concert in the Smithsonian Sculpture Gardens. This, too, was great. We met up with my roommate Claire and several of her friends, had a picnic, listened to the music, played cards, and chatted the evening away. It was so relaxing and so very fun.
Today I spent the bulk of my day at Eastern Market, which reminded me very much of some of the outdoor markets in London. There were items like jewelry, purses, antiques, and handicrafts up for sale, but there was also fresh produce, meat, and cheese. I find there aren't many places like this around the States. Or, at least, there aren't enough. I didn't buy much for myself, just a book in a neat little used book store, and a few fresh peaches. Still, it was very fun to wander the streets and view the goods.
After shopping, my companions went home and I met a guy from work for smoothies. I talked to him on the way to the Metro one night, and found him to be a good conversationalist, so we'd been trying to get together for awhile. It was very interesting talk, as I had expected, and I again found myself in the midst of a learning experience. This guy is an audio engineering intern, so he had a lot to say about capturing sound. It was great to listen to him because I could tell he'd thought a lot about sound, why it's important to him, and what he wants to do about that. Conversations like this always serve to expand my technical vocabulary, as well. I hope he becomes a friend of mine.
I plan to spend this evening mostly in seclusion. I am coming down with a somewhat significant cough and cold and hope to keep myself from having to miss work. I love going everyday. Maybe I'll be able to finish Slaughterhouse Five...
Am I keeping you all updated well enough? Fell free to ask me questions in the comment sections. I'll respond.
I took the two other communications interns with me to a free jazz concert in the Smithsonian Sculpture Gardens. This, too, was great. We met up with my roommate Claire and several of her friends, had a picnic, listened to the music, played cards, and chatted the evening away. It was so relaxing and so very fun.
Today I spent the bulk of my day at Eastern Market, which reminded me very much of some of the outdoor markets in London. There were items like jewelry, purses, antiques, and handicrafts up for sale, but there was also fresh produce, meat, and cheese. I find there aren't many places like this around the States. Or, at least, there aren't enough. I didn't buy much for myself, just a book in a neat little used book store, and a few fresh peaches. Still, it was very fun to wander the streets and view the goods.
After shopping, my companions went home and I met a guy from work for smoothies. I talked to him on the way to the Metro one night, and found him to be a good conversationalist, so we'd been trying to get together for awhile. It was very interesting talk, as I had expected, and I again found myself in the midst of a learning experience. This guy is an audio engineering intern, so he had a lot to say about capturing sound. It was great to listen to him because I could tell he'd thought a lot about sound, why it's important to him, and what he wants to do about that. Conversations like this always serve to expand my technical vocabulary, as well. I hope he becomes a friend of mine.
I plan to spend this evening mostly in seclusion. I am coming down with a somewhat significant cough and cold and hope to keep myself from having to miss work. I love going everyday. Maybe I'll be able to finish Slaughterhouse Five...
Am I keeping you all updated well enough? Fell free to ask me questions in the comment sections. I'll respond.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Lincoln Memorial Steps
Today I went to an outdoor church service on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in support of creating change in the Darfur region of Sudan. There is tremendous genocide going on there right now, and while the U.S. government is beginning to turn some attention to the problem, not enough is being done. I was inspired by the speakers and by the story of a Sudanese woman who spoke. I was also touched by the prayer we prayed together:
Holy and loving God, we confess our indifference to the suffering of our neighbors around the world, and especially in Darfur, Sudan. We live in comfort and security; they live in constant danger. We live in affluence; they live in desperate need. We live in freedom and under the protection of law; they live in displacement and vulnerability to those who hate them. For our indifference, we seek your mercy.
O God to whom nothing is impossible, we confess our lack of faith. Too often we assume that injustice is more powerful than faith, that evil is more powerful than hope, that hatred is more powerful than lover. But your gospel teaches that with you, all things are possible. Your resurrection demonstrates that your good will triumph over evil. For our lack of faith we seek your mercy.
And God, we confess the inexcusable paralysis and dividedness of our churches, and of our nation. We let ourselves be divided by secondary matters, while others die because we are not unified on their behalf. We squabble and quarrel about polarizing matters, paralyzing ourselves by argument when we should be united in compassion. Too often we care more about the triumph of our parties and positions than we care about the protection and survival of the poor, the weak, and the oppressed. For our dividedness and misguided priorities, we seek your mercy.
Something to think about.
Holy and loving God, we confess our indifference to the suffering of our neighbors around the world, and especially in Darfur, Sudan. We live in comfort and security; they live in constant danger. We live in affluence; they live in desperate need. We live in freedom and under the protection of law; they live in displacement and vulnerability to those who hate them. For our indifference, we seek your mercy.
O God to whom nothing is impossible, we confess our lack of faith. Too often we assume that injustice is more powerful than faith, that evil is more powerful than hope, that hatred is more powerful than lover. But your gospel teaches that with you, all things are possible. Your resurrection demonstrates that your good will triumph over evil. For our lack of faith we seek your mercy.
And God, we confess the inexcusable paralysis and dividedness of our churches, and of our nation. We let ourselves be divided by secondary matters, while others die because we are not unified on their behalf. We squabble and quarrel about polarizing matters, paralyzing ourselves by argument when we should be united in compassion. Too often we care more about the triumph of our parties and positions than we care about the protection and survival of the poor, the weak, and the oppressed. For our dividedness and misguided priorities, we seek your mercy.
Something to think about.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
My first weekend
I found quite a lot to do this weekend and met a number of very interesting people that will shortly become my friends, I'm sure. It has been a nice break from very long days, as well. (I work 9-6, which means I have to get up at 7:30 and don't get home until 7).
Saturday I met one of the other interns, Yolanda, and walked around downtown with her. I saw several memorials I had not visited on Tuesday and had a great time talking. Even those I'd already been to were better when I had someone along. Yolanda goes to MU and is a journalism major. She is quite jovial and I look forward to working with her.
Today I went to church with a friend of a friend. He came and picked me up and introduced me to all his friends. After service, they invited me along for dim sum. I hadn't ever had dim sum before, and I can't say I was impressed. It might take a lot to get me to do it again. Nonetheless, it was very nice to be invited along. The people I ate with were all very pleasant, and it was a very diverse group. There were 14 of us and only 4 of us were white! What a spectacular change from Springfield, MO.
Tomorrow there are a lot of intern orientation activities and I look forward to meeting all the others.
Saturday I met one of the other interns, Yolanda, and walked around downtown with her. I saw several memorials I had not visited on Tuesday and had a great time talking. Even those I'd already been to were better when I had someone along. Yolanda goes to MU and is a journalism major. She is quite jovial and I look forward to working with her.
Today I went to church with a friend of a friend. He came and picked me up and introduced me to all his friends. After service, they invited me along for dim sum. I hadn't ever had dim sum before, and I can't say I was impressed. It might take a lot to get me to do it again. Nonetheless, it was very nice to be invited along. The people I ate with were all very pleasant, and it was a very diverse group. There were 14 of us and only 4 of us were white! What a spectacular change from Springfield, MO.
Tomorrow there are a lot of intern orientation activities and I look forward to meeting all the others.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
So much to say
Several people have brought to my attention that I have thus far not written anything about Ireland. That is not because it wasn't amazing, but simply because as soon as I had computer access, I was in DC. How am I supposed to write about the past when I have so many new things to talk about?!! In brief, Ireland was very green, and I'm glad we got to see more of the country than Dublin. The mountains, the sheep, the lush greenery, and the coast were by far the best parts of Ireland. And get this: our bus driver's name was actually Paddy. Unbelievable. It was nice to be back in Europe because so many of the foods were so familiar. By that, I mean the junk food and such that they sold in convenience stores was familiar. Irish food itself is really not that great. We stayed in 4 star hotels in various little towns, and while the journey was short, we had a spectacular time.
Now for the internship. Today was my second day. I would have given you an update sooner, but I finally have stuff to do. I met some of our upstairs neighbors last night and they're a lot of fun. One of them even ended up on the shuttle home with me tonight. Someone called my name from behind when I was on the street and I thought, "No way. I don't know anyone here!" What luck.
Yesterday was a very limited intro to my job, and I mostly ended up filing and doing data entry. Yuck. However, I did get to meet my new coworkers and even had lunch paid for by the company. I work right by Chinatown and we went as a communications staff to an Indian restaraunt. This, to me, does not seem to fit in Chinatown, but it did taste good and gave me a nice chance to get to know people better.
Today was MUCH better. I learned all about the history of the organization, got to see a show being recorded, and heard all kinds of interesting commentary on past controversies. Eventually I get to give the tours myself.
I found out today that I'll get to assist with and host companywide events, write for the intranet, write press releases, and help edit and reformat some company documents.
Finally, the apartment building I live in is CRAZY. It's very much like a hotel. There's a convenience store, a place for alterations, a dry cleaners, a salon, a billiards room, a swimming pool, a fitness center, and a computer lab.
Please keep the comments comin'. It tells me someone's reading. :)
Now for the internship. Today was my second day. I would have given you an update sooner, but I finally have stuff to do. I met some of our upstairs neighbors last night and they're a lot of fun. One of them even ended up on the shuttle home with me tonight. Someone called my name from behind when I was on the street and I thought, "No way. I don't know anyone here!" What luck.
Yesterday was a very limited intro to my job, and I mostly ended up filing and doing data entry. Yuck. However, I did get to meet my new coworkers and even had lunch paid for by the company. I work right by Chinatown and we went as a communications staff to an Indian restaraunt. This, to me, does not seem to fit in Chinatown, but it did taste good and gave me a nice chance to get to know people better.
Today was MUCH better. I learned all about the history of the organization, got to see a show being recorded, and heard all kinds of interesting commentary on past controversies. Eventually I get to give the tours myself.
I found out today that I'll get to assist with and host companywide events, write for the intranet, write press releases, and help edit and reformat some company documents.
Finally, the apartment building I live in is CRAZY. It's very much like a hotel. There's a convenience store, a place for alterations, a dry cleaners, a salon, a billiards room, a swimming pool, a fitness center, and a computer lab.
Please keep the comments comin'. It tells me someone's reading. :)
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
A Capitol Day
Today my goal was to get lost, then find myself again. I had to learn my way around the city, and my Dad has always said the best way to learn a city is to get lost.
The first thing I did was go to NPR so I'd know how to find it in the morning. Today my journey took something like 50 minutes, but that included a lot of confusion with the farecard machine and some difficulty orienting myself once I emerged from underground. Oh boy, did I need a map!
When I found the enormous, intimidating building, I walked onward through Chinatown, which is very nearby. I bet I have lunch there pretty often. Then I bought a Diet Coke and sat down in the U.S. Navy Memorial. A group of naval officers walked by in their dress uniforms at one point - you would have loved it, Maike. While I was sitting there, I somehow managed to be helpful to some Indian tourists, even without a map.
Next I stumbled upon the National Gallery's Sculpture Garden. My favorite piece was a giant metal reproduction of a typewriter eraser. Even more amazing, though, was the bird I heard while observing one of the pieces. I swear, really, it sounded like a car alarm. Unbelievable. I guess it's lived in the city a little too long...
I then walked along the national mall and saw some of the major monuments - the new WWII Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, the Capitol Building.
Around 1:00 I got hungry, but the only food to be found was at the expensive touristy kiosks. I bought the cheapest thing there, the hot dog, and a bottle of water, and it cost me $5.60. No kidding. DC's not going to be cheap.
I ate the hotdog on a bench in front of the reflecting pool and did some reflecting of my own. It really does amaze me to see all of the power and wealth of the city juxtaposed with so very much poverty. There is a LOT of begging and bench sleeping all around.
On my way back to find a grocery store and make my way home, I ran into a rather interesting building. On the glass door, in little green and gold letters, it said "Independent Order of Odd Fellows Temple." Hmmm....
I found a grocery store in Pentagon City and waited the half hour for the shuttle. Now as I type this, I am watching the evening news, contemplating dinner, and trying to decide which novel I should dive into tonight.
It really has been a Capitol Day!
The first thing I did was go to NPR so I'd know how to find it in the morning. Today my journey took something like 50 minutes, but that included a lot of confusion with the farecard machine and some difficulty orienting myself once I emerged from underground. Oh boy, did I need a map!
When I found the enormous, intimidating building, I walked onward through Chinatown, which is very nearby. I bet I have lunch there pretty often. Then I bought a Diet Coke and sat down in the U.S. Navy Memorial. A group of naval officers walked by in their dress uniforms at one point - you would have loved it, Maike. While I was sitting there, I somehow managed to be helpful to some Indian tourists, even without a map.
Next I stumbled upon the National Gallery's Sculpture Garden. My favorite piece was a giant metal reproduction of a typewriter eraser. Even more amazing, though, was the bird I heard while observing one of the pieces. I swear, really, it sounded like a car alarm. Unbelievable. I guess it's lived in the city a little too long...
I then walked along the national mall and saw some of the major monuments - the new WWII Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, the Capitol Building.
Around 1:00 I got hungry, but the only food to be found was at the expensive touristy kiosks. I bought the cheapest thing there, the hot dog, and a bottle of water, and it cost me $5.60. No kidding. DC's not going to be cheap.
I ate the hotdog on a bench in front of the reflecting pool and did some reflecting of my own. It really does amaze me to see all of the power and wealth of the city juxtaposed with so very much poverty. There is a LOT of begging and bench sleeping all around.
On my way back to find a grocery store and make my way home, I ran into a rather interesting building. On the glass door, in little green and gold letters, it said "Independent Order of Odd Fellows Temple." Hmmm....
I found a grocery store in Pentagon City and waited the half hour for the shuttle. Now as I type this, I am watching the evening news, contemplating dinner, and trying to decide which novel I should dive into tonight.
It really has been a Capitol Day!
Monday, May 30, 2005
I'm here
Yeah! I have finally arrived in DC and seriously, I NEVER want to see another airplane again. It's not that I've had bad flights, really. It's more that I've seen too many in the last year. Ugh. But it's over, and I'm here, and I'm happy for the most part.
The people I'm living with seem very cool so far. They're easy to talk to, very helpful, and intelligent. And Drew's a KU fan. It doesn't get much better than that!
I have very little to say thus far, except that I think I'm coming down with some sort of illness, and it's very bad timing. I don't want to start work with a cough and sniffles!
Expect some pretty regular posts initially. I'm sure I'll be bored for the first few nights. Feel free to call, too.
The people I'm living with seem very cool so far. They're easy to talk to, very helpful, and intelligent. And Drew's a KU fan. It doesn't get much better than that!
I have very little to say thus far, except that I think I'm coming down with some sort of illness, and it's very bad timing. I don't want to start work with a cough and sniffles!
Expect some pretty regular posts initially. I'm sure I'll be bored for the first few nights. Feel free to call, too.
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Summer Begins
Tonight is my last night in the Jefferson Park apartment that has served me so well this semester. Living with Maike (and having a living room and kitchen) has been such a fantastic experience. She has set an extremely high standard for all roommates to come.
I will not have internet access for a couple of weeks, mainly because I'll be in Ireland for awhile, but I still welcome correspondence of any kind. I will be checking my Drury email account (wgent@drury.edu) again starting in June, and I sure would appreciate the occasional snail mail. Email me if you need the address.
Thanks for checkin' up on me. I'll do what I can to make this summer in DC an exciting read for you and an exciting experience for me.
I will not have internet access for a couple of weeks, mainly because I'll be in Ireland for awhile, but I still welcome correspondence of any kind. I will be checking my Drury email account (wgent@drury.edu) again starting in June, and I sure would appreciate the occasional snail mail. Email me if you need the address.
Thanks for checkin' up on me. I'll do what I can to make this summer in DC an exciting read for you and an exciting experience for me.
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Some photos for you
I finally figured out how to add photos to this blog. I'm sorry it took so long. This would have been helpful during my semester abroad, I know. Still, better late than never. Here are a few images to show you what I've been up to this semester.
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