These are a few of my favorite things...

I've made my semi-annual trek back to La Grande. It was odd, on my way here I was thinking about the (literally) hundred or so times that I've driven that stretch from Ontario to La Grande and how every single time, without fail, one of my favorite things is to check and watch as the clock on my phone switched time zones. It's a little tricky as it never happens in the exact same place, nor does it always happen before or after the sign declaring you've changed time zones. And while I know it's silly, it's something I look forward to every time it happens. There's just something strangely satisfying about seeing your clock add or take away an hour in the blink of an eye. Especially while driving to La Grande, I get this odd satisfaction out of reliving the same hour twice; tonight it was the 10 o'clock hour. I had two 10:30s tonight.

While I don't expect people to understand exactly why I find this so wonderfully fulfilling (I don't quite understand it myself) I'm sure there is someone else out there who can relate to that feeling.

Toodles!

-Jillian

Awesome Moment of the Day, January 31

So, since I can't necessarily talk about my internship, instead I'm going to share something me and my housemates have begun to call the "Favorite Moment of the Day." Essentially, we share our - you guessed it - favorite moments from the day. This isn't like a good news minute where people try and find something that everyone can ooh and awww over; these are stories that highlight how ridiculous our lives are and show that you can have extraordinary moments in an ordinary life.

For instance:

I tend to butt-dial my parents from time to time. It's completely unintentional (hence butt-dial), and now that I'm three hours ahead of time it's a bit of an issue. This morning I accidentally dialed my dad at 7:30am my time, so 4:30am my parents time. I ended up hanging up and figured my dad would shoot me a text or call me when he woke up around 11 or so my time.

I get to work and, as always turn off my phone. We eventually go on a tour around 3 in the afternoon, and as we leave the Staff Assistant, Meghan, makes sure I have my phone as this was the first time Thomas (the other intern) and I had been let out on our own for a tour. I happily turn the volume up on my phone, hoping I get a call from my office as I have a special ringtone (It's Beyonce's "The Star Spangled Banner.")

As we're bringing the former Oregon Legislator and a former Senate staffer through the little House rotunda, we pass the Speaker's office. As Thomas starts in on a story about some Oregon constituents running into the Speaker, my phone starts going off. But it's not my office. Instead, this song echoes through the House rotunda:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M11SvDtPBhA

Yup. It's fine. I'm a actually a 14 year old girl.

It was then that my father decided to call. Luckily I managed to silence it pretty quickly and the entire party chose to ignore what happened. But still, it was a pretty awesome moment.

-Jillian

The City that Runs on Escalators and Coffee...

So far in DC I have:

Been hit in the head with bubble gum

Started a call and response during a parade in the southeast quadrant/ghetto of DC

Fallen down a flight of stairs

Lost my metro card/had my metro card stolen

Wore patriotic beads in a parade

Gotten lost in the Rayburn Building tunnels and, subsequently the Longworth and Cannon tunnels - several times

Cried in the American history museum

Seen a part of the World Trade Centers, part of the Berlin Wall, and the hat Lincoln wore when he was assassinated

Corrected my supervisor on the founding of the United States

Failed at making copies

Sorted through 200 faxes

Visited the Washington and Lincoln monuments

Explored the WWII memorial

Learned the Smithsonian is not, in fact, one museum, but rather several different museums

Visited the White House

Toured the Library of Congress

Tripped several times while walking down the street - on nothing, or sometimes a stray brick.

Worn heels EVERY DAY at work

Eaten at Georgetown Cupcakes; and yes, that is the Georgetown Cupcakes from the TLC show DC Cupcakes

Visited the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia

Had a wonderful dinner where I was able to socialize with my office

And so much more...

Needless to say it's been a very, very busy 9 days, and I am so excited for the next 13 weeks!

I would like to apologize; my ability to blog is limited by the fact I am working with government and even being lectured by governmental figures. We've been given explicit information that we are not to talk or share what we learn or discuss at our jobs or are lectures.

Alright, I've got to get up in 7 hours, so I'm heading to bed. Keep your eyes peeled on Facebook for some more pictures and updates!

Toodles!

-Jillian