I am sure many of you are watching the news so you know what kind of rollercoaster this weekend was. UGH. I will focus on the good parts of my weekend.
Facial Friday: Some of my roomies, Kelsey, and I went out to Clarendon square in Arlington, VA to get some free stuff at Origins skincare. They had an event for free facials, massages, make up and some samples of their product. It felt sooo good, and was a great way to relax after a long day.
I was happy like this kitty!!
Saturday was a little lame since I had to go into work. We were in session all weekend, but Kels and I shared halfdays so it was a little better. I got to watch some Tea Party protesters from the Capitol steps too.
And here is Congressman Johnson with a Tea Party flag!
That Day I met Rep. Phil Gingery and I saw Rep. Allyson Shwartz, Rep. Barney Frank, Rep and Rep. Steney Hoyer.
Sunday was just as crazy obviously. I got up early to walk around the Capitol. I was sad to think that I will never again be able to see the Capitol so quiet and beautiful. We were able to roam the hallways alone and sat in the deserted Rotunda. Its so much different without masses of people and echoing voices, it has a completely new effect in silence.
When the gallery opened, we went straight for some seats! It was full of interns. I met a couple people and I really enjoyed being there for a full day. If you look at the picture of the House Floor, I was sitting in the top left corner. I couldnt see the Speaker very well, but thats okay. I could see the debates easily, and that was the most important thing. On both sides of the gallery there are also screens to show votes. They look basically like scoreboards. It was a tense moment when they decided to finally call for a vote.
I watched all the Congressmen and women fight it out the whole night from my perch in the gallery. I even saw Rep. Neugebauer shout. Later, when I was watching the news, I realized that you cant tell how loud the gallery gets. When a representative is speaking, the microphone only picks up their voice, but there were many times when both sides would yell, boo, hiss or insult each other and none of those comments were noticed by the media. If a Representative went over their time and ignored the Speakers time limit, the opposite party would start to yell to drown them out. I felt like I was at a high school football game. One team won, one team lost, there were sore losers and obnoxious winners who openly gloated, made faces and taunted others. The gallery was a very wide eye opening of what the House is really like. Even if I am saddened by the passage of the bill, I am still really happy to have sat there and watched everything happen. It was history, and I got to see it in real time, happening just below my seat- there was no spin or commentary. I think I will just watch Cspan from now on, forget the news channels!
Well, it's obviously not over yet. Sadly I am still getting calls asking the Congressman to vote yes or vote no. I don't even waste my time explaining that the bill has already passed. I don't really listen when people call him Senator Johnson either. It's very sad how uneducated Americans can be!! In school we have a US history class, which shows how the United States was formed and some important people; a government class focused on the Supreme Court cases; in elementary school we focus on Presidents. I don't think there is enough emphasis on Congress: how a bill is passed, how the two are similar and how they are different, their term lengths. I was ignorant of many aspects, but I am lucky to get the chance to learn now. I promise that I am soaking it up!
Sorry family but I am having a great time. I think I'll stay here, thanks! ;)
Even if I don't come back here, living in this city has definitely made me want to see other cities. I feel like I have not experienced enough yet to head back to Dallas! I love Texas, it is so different and it's home. However, there is a lot I want to see and lots of places to live.
Some choices so far: (in no particular order )
San Francisco was fun
Raleigh would be something new, but still southern.
Austin is close to home
St. Louis has lots to offer
Seattle was beautiful
I don't want to be done with school yet, but I am thinking about future plans. I have been inspired to take some risks and be my own person. I feel much older than 19. D.C. is turning me into a grown up! Oh NO!!!
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