An Aspiring Native, Day 6

There is a man who sits on the end of the first bench in the Anacostia metro station nearly every morning.  I’ve started calling him Chapstick Man, because he has a large suitcase nearly spilling over with chapstick, and he has two shotgun shell belts slung across each shoulder, classic Rambo-style, filled with “rounds” of chapstick.  He’s a regular there at the station, and people frequently buy from him.

It has rained every day in the morning that I’ve gone to my internship but one or two, prompting me to buy a new umbrella – the pocket-edition just doesn’t cut it, and I end up wearing a darker shade of grey by the time I arrive at the Capitol South stop.  I’ve figured out exactly which metro-car I need to get on to be closest to the escalator at each stop, and I’m getting to where I don’t need to pay attention to where I’m walking on my morning commute.  The routine in that is nice.

Now, a week or two after I wrote those first two paragraphs, Virginia has a job at the Family Research Council.  It hasn’t rained a day on us since she’s gotten a job, making the morning commute that much nicer.  We usually part ways at L’Enfant Plaza, and yesterday, I saw a man get tazed as he tried to graffiti a metro car.  Never a dull moment here in DC.

Today, I literally ran into Marco Rubio and John McCain.  There are “superstars” like them all over the buildings I work in, and I am continually star-struck, regardless of my political affiliation.  The job search is still going for me, but I’ve met tons of interesting people – most of them Chiefs of Staff.  Virginia kids with me all the time that she lounges around look at Facebook on the weekends, while I’m emailing some of the most powerful people in the nation.  But she’s currently the one bringing home the bacon, so I consider this to be a moot point.

During my time here, I have resolved even further that – once I “make it” – I am going to do everything I can to help aspiring “little people.”  Both the people who have been extremely helpful to me and the people who haven’t have shown me the importance of investing in the “up-and-coming.”  And I can’t wait until I’m up high enough on the pecking order to do that.  I’ll start as soon as I can.

Things I’ve been thinking about recently:

1)      I’d love to go to a Nats/DC United game.

2)      Wanna shut down Congress? Start an Interns Union and go on strike. #freelabor

3)      I need to play my trumpet more.

4)      I want to work Senate side.

I’ll write again soon.

J

An Aspiring Native, Day 5

At our new church, Virginia and I have starting noticing that several celebrities, or their stunt-doubles, regularly attend.  So far we have found the following: Benedict Cumberbatch, Jeremy Renner (scary how exactly he matches), Christopher Hemsworth, Aaron Eckhart, and Rowan Atkinson.  We've only really met one of these people (he confirmed he wasn't actually Hemsworth), so we may or may not be attending church with famous people.  Ya never know.

To date, the strangest question I've been asked in an interview is "how do you deal with dogs?"  I was taken aback, stumbled over my words for a few seconds, and finally responded, "Uh, fine I guess?"  Turns out, the Congressman likes to keep two large dogs in his office.

Despite my fumblings, I ended up getting an internship with Rep. Vicky Hartzler of Missouri (NOT MissouRUH, although this probably estranges me from the constituency).  I've been working nonstop (and for no pay) writing letters to Missourians, doing research on advocacy groups for "The Boss," answering phones, etc.  To my great shock one day, I answered the phone, and I heard on the other line a gentleman say, "Yes, this is General Thomas Stafford."  Again, I was taken aback, and stumbled over my words.  I transferred him to the proper line, and sat back astounded at what just happened.

Oh, and this is where I work.

Since pictures are worth a thousands words, I'm just gonna put a few right here to sum up the past few weeks, and add a few interesting facts for your enjoyment.

Being Congressional staff means one of the best views of the city from a private balcony in the Capitol.

We went to an event after work and got to see the legendary Budweiser Clydesdales!  Hundreds of people showed up and filled the whole block.

The city is redoing all the sidewalks in our area with brick instead of concrete.  This is the area just in front of our gate.  Looks pretty great!

Virginia and I have been asked several times recently what our hobbies are outside of work.  Ashamedly, we haven't been able to come up with much interesting, so we tried our hand at miniature gardening!  Cheaper than dinner and a movie, and WAY more cathartic.  So we have one hobby now.  ;)  We also took up teacup herb gardening too.  Oh, and we started a hanging garden in our room.  So...I guess you could say our new hobby is unique-gardening.

Oh, and Virginia is insane crazy about Cocoa Pebbles.  Like, addiction level.  I have deduced this because she says it isn't her favorite cereal, taking Honey Nut Cheerios as her favorite (ew), and yet she talked about having Cocoa pebbles for breakfast constantly...even the night before.

So...there ya go.  Update from the Creasys in DC.  We're doing great, and we're loving our life.  I'm sure Virginia will be wanting to write to you soon.  :D

-J