June 2003 - Male Madness
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27 June 2003
- Today was the most incredibly busy day ever. We're in recess all next week, so there was madd work to be done. We had a massive intern grunt-labor session in the last hour of the day where we compiled 90 multi-chapter guides for the District Staff advising conference we're having after the break. Craziness. Also the press office seemed to forget that I was not the only intern in there, and gave me about 3 things to work on, while all the time I was getting calls from upstairs - Cortney needs you, Catlin needs you, Deborah has a question. But it was still cool. Despite the stress, and not getting to eat lunch till 2, it was cool to be needed. And Diane was there the whole time beckoning her "Rockstar" as she's taken to constantly calling me. Still riding the wave, kids. Be happy for me - I'm finally happy for me.
29 June 2003
- Rachel comes down to visit today. Hoping we're going to get some quality sister sister time. It'll at the very least be nice to be visited. This is going to be a great week - its so nice that I have it off. Rachel here for 3 days, then home for 5 days. Good stuff. 28 June 2003
- Wow. Was not expecting that would ever happen. Now to decide. 26 June 2003
- Today was the most amazing day ever. The coolest day that I have had yet here, and I'm sure the coolest I will have. I'm sure I explained this awhile ago here, but the way I got my foot in the door for this internship was because my dad's friend gave my resume to Congressman Miller, who gave it to Pelosi. And I think I said this also, but through my dad's friend, Miller said to drop him a line when I got down here and we might have lunch or something. So a few weeks ago I dropped a note at his office, saying thanks again, and to drop me a line if he wanted to get together. And then I forgot about it. Well, today his scheduler called the office, asked for me, and wanted to know if "I thought I could slip away from my work at 11:30 to have coffee with him." Gee, I think I might be able to manage that. AHHHHH!! So I flipped out for the next hour or so, regained composure, and went to meet him at the congressional members-only dining room. As it turns out, Congressman Miller is the coolest, most approachable guy. We talked for over a half an hour!! He asked me all about my internship, school, and other stuff. I asked him about how he got into congress, what he did before then, and some other stuff. And after all that, we got into the random topics. I told him about this Latin American politics class I'm taking in the fall, that I'm excited about cause I know nothing. He said he had a good book he would send me about Argentina (one of the focal countries in the class.) THIS IS CRAZY, I kept thinking. Shortly after that, Congressman Bob Matsui, Chairman of the DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) walked by, and Miller introduced me to him. The whole 35 minutes was just like this dream world. But we got along fabulously. He said when he had gotten my resume he had been impressed, but still worried that I might be getting in over my head, having never had any political internship before. But now he says he feels confident I'm doing just fine. I just feel like this can't be real - this whole thing - is this really my life? Pretty cool. So hard for the day to get better after that, but it did. Justin, Brookes, and I had a nice dinner at Smith courtesy of my Dad's company. Love that place. I literally felt nearly ill after the meal I was so stuffed (and pleasantly buzzed.) :) So it's been quite the wonderful day. Life is looking pretty stellar right now. 25 June 2003
- Highlights of today in a nutshell: Bill Gates in our office, and private tour of Supreme Court for Pelosi interns. Goooood stuff. 24 June 2003
- So in the last 20 minutes of today, shit got awesome. I was stuck in press all day doing bios, (which is not so bad, cause I get to take breaks to check email, do the crossword puzzle, etc.) but it gets a little monotonous. So at 5:45, Deborah upstairs in the leaders office calls down for me to come up and help her with something on the computer (as I had previously.) So I went up and it turns out that Nancy wants to try out 5 by 8 notecards for her speeches, instead of her usual flip through binder thing. And no one left there is under 40, and comfortable enough with MSWord to figure it out. And the speech notes are for tomorrow morning at 8AM. So they get me to format and copy it all in. So when I was done, her main speechwriter, and one of the office higher-ups, goes to check it, to make sure I haven't made breaks along the notecards in the middle of thoughts or topics. Well when she gets to the armed services section, she notices (as I did while typing it up) that it seemed a little hastily written and disorganized. But at this point shes so exhausted/exasperated she just puts her head down on the desk and goes, "I can't deal right now. I just can't." Then she sighs and peers out of the corner of one eye at me, and says, "You. You look at it and tell me what you think." So I do. And then she tells me to change 2 or 3 things to how I suggested they be refrased. So basically, I just got to edit Nancy Pelosi's speech. Even if it was only a little piece, it was a piece! That was so cool for me. Probably the coolest thing I've done since I've been here. So then when its all done and printed onto the notecards (another thing the technophobes couldn't handle) it was like 6:30 and Diane goes, "You are a rockstar. What is your name, cause I am going to have to remember it." So I tell her as my brain is going, "Yes! Her top speechwriter likes you and wants to remember your name!" So it just topped off a great day. And now I am going to go meet Justin and Toby and hopefully Brookes for half price burgers. Score! Good day at work, and cheap food! Doesn't get much better when you're a poor, unrespected intern!! :) 23 June 2003
- Relatively uneventful day at the press office. They've got me back to writing Bios, and someone else is with Catlin. :( At least I got back the picture I took with Pelosi today. That was nice. I'm really beginning to enjoy hanging out with the Scotts at work. (There's two of them - the intern ones. Not the evil staff one who yelled at me for whistling.) They are just good characters. Worth keeping in touch with after the internship, which I can't say for most people I work with. And I'm also developing a certain fondness for that one particular celeb look-alike I see daily... Bryant on the other hand (the guy I went clubbing with) is really starting to drive me mad. One of the things (apparently) that pushes my buttons is when people get big heads. He's just been parading around the office lately like a little self-important prick know-it-all, and its making me really angry. He also seems to have this obsession with seeming slick and hip at all times, and thats really what gets me. When he walks in and says "Hey folks," in this patronizing, don't-you-want-to-be-me way. Or when every joke I make he turns around and tries to put against me, and be cool, but just ends up failing miserably. It's so aggravating. Plus the whole fact that he like IDOLizes Scott, and calls him "the man" and stuff, is just more than I can handle. Ugh. 22 June 2003
- The fire alarm went off today in my building. Right as I was in the middle of watching "The Laramie Project." I was really disappointed, it seemed to be a great movie slash documentary. I'm definitely going to have to rent it now. 21 June 2003
- Thursday and Friday were relatively uneventful so I will not bore you with the details. I would, however, like to jump in with my opinion on the thinking v. doing blogs. As an example of a probably 10%/90% split of thinking/doing, its clear I like doing blogs. I agree with most of the reasons put forth - Phil's desire for a record, Storey's desire for the study of interpersonal connex (I often find myself in that same situation, of reading random peoples journals I've never met,) and Amy's reasons as well. But theres another part too it. A lot of times I feel like people who have thinking blogs, definitely seem like they are trying to have thinking blogs. And somehow, that takes some of the fun out of it for me. I think the best kind of pondering and realization comes when you're talking about something you were doing and how it led you to think X, and now here's a long discussion/rant/stream of consciousness/whatever, about that thought that just came up. That's how I like to think of my journal. A mix of what I do and what I think, but always natural. Whatever happens to be on my mind goes on the page - whether its the cool museum I saw, or the realization I had about drugs, or abortion, or politics, or any of those issues that seem to pop up so frequently on thinking blogs. Now don't get me wrong, sometimes thinking blogs can be really good; just in this little 6 degrees o seperation circle, there are quite a few interesting ones. But I feel like a lot of the time they get too bogged down in their own intellectualism, and talk a lot with out saying much. So those are my thoughts. Hope all ya'll who are in on this debate are doing well. Maybe I'll see some of you in a warm locale in a few weeks... 18 June 2003
- Back at work. Rather uneventful day except for one cool thing. You know how I've been talking lots about working for Catlin. Well, I knew that her last name was O'Neill, but never thought anything of it until today, someone just happened to mention to me that she's Tip O'Neill's daughter. I thought that was pretty cool. Anyhoooo, I'm probably boring you, so I'll sod off for now... 17 June 2003
- Its been great to just hang around with Mike and glor. Its good to see friends, and its done a lot to pump me up for living with the group next year. I really believe its going to be so good for me. I'll be able to concentrate on my work, while still having lots of good kosher (excuse the quasi-pun) fun. We went to U of D today and just walked around. Hes got a cute little town and whatnot. Though it has led me to the conclusion that there really is no place quite like Jersey, at least not that I've yet seen. 16 June 2003
- Hey. In Delaware visiting Mike and Glor. Have been fun times all around. Yesterday we went out to dinner then hung around catching up. Today we spent the day in Philly doing the historic bit. Its fun; I haven't done it since I was little. It reminded me though, how I'd really like to go and see all my Mom's old houses. Over the years I've seen plenty of Scranton, where my dad grew up, but I don't think I've ever seen any of the many houses in Philly in which my mom has lived. So I'd like to do that. Anyhoo, when we got home we made dinner, and we're about to watch 1776, cause I've never seen it and it will be a nice end to our "patriotic" day. :-) 15 June 2003
- Clubbing was fun till I got sick and had to take a cab home by myself at 3 in the morning, and today I don't feel quite myself, but I'm leaving for Delaware anyway in a couple of hours. 14 June 2003
- Ahh, Saturday. Day of rest. Slept till 12, since I was out and about a fair bit last night. Went to dinner with Toby, Brookes, and Justin at a cute little Mexian place in Dupont Circle. Then Brookes and Justin came over and we hung out in my appartment. Some kids Justin knows came over too, but I kicked them all out eventually cause I was feeling tired, and cause my roommate, Steph, had come home and wanted to go to bed. As it turns out, she's really cool, and we get along fine, and I'm really glad she's here. So anyhoo, I'm on my way to the mall to get something to wear tonight. I'm going to club glow w/ this guy Bryant from work to see Armin VanBuren. Fun times. And its only 15 bucks. I'm way pumped. All for now, kids~ 13 June 2003
- So all this week I've been working for Nancy's personal assistant, Catlin. And she is the most awesome woman, I really dig working for/talking to/hanging around her. And she generally gives me interesting stuff to do, which is good. I've been writing personal correspondence mostly, which I enjoy. Jehuda is still the highlight, though others have been close. For example, right now, I should be working on a thank you to the speaker of the South Korean General Assembly, but instead I decided to write down an entry. Silly me, must get back to work. 12 June 2003
- Two exceptionally cool things happened today. The first, Bob Dole said good morning to me, twice. Not that I like Bob Dole, but I don't particularly dislike him either. He just seems like a particularly useless but nice old man. And he said good morning to me. Twice. Secondly - the president of Uganda (about 20 minutes ago) walked by my desk. So close that I could have touched him, were it not for the 4 refridgerator sized bodyguards surrounding him. But you get the idea. Working in Nancy's office sometimes is just "Whoa." 11 June 2003
- Work. Lots of work. 10 June 2003
- So I'm serious. I really have had my fill of males for the moment. They all drive me nuts! Today I wore this shirt that was like quasi-low-cut, but when I looked in the mirror this morning looked fine. Well it turns out, its one of those ones that starts out looking fine, but its turns out you have to pull up 500 times a day or you flash the world your cleavage. So all fucking day today, I couldn't go anywhere without feeling as though (and in most cases, knowing) that guys were staring at my chest. Everyone from security guards, to guys on the metro, to fucking old men congressmen. LIKE, COME ON! They're just breasts! All females have them! Start treating me like an intern and not a piece of meat thats nice to look at. I SWEAR TO G-D, IT MAKES ME SO ANGRY. It's shit like this that burns the femenist genes in me. If your fly is open do I try to stare at your dick?? NO, I DON'T. I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT. SO STOP VIOLATING ME WITH YOUR EYES, AND JUST LOOK UP! IT'S NOT THAT HARD. To boot, and this makes it even worse, I had planned to go to the Victorias Secret Semi-Annual sale after work today. Which I did. But I didn't even enjoy myself. Normally its fun to buy a cute bra or pair of underwear every once in awhile. But today all I could think about as I stared in the mirror was, "These things are way more of a pain in the ass then they are nice to have." And that just blew. Arg... Sorry, just had to rant a bit. 9 June 2003
- The Devils won the Stanley Cup. Good for them. And I would like to state for the record, Alisson Marie, that SCOTT GOMEZ IS NOT HOT. hehehe. Miss you all in Parsnips. My roomie still hadn't come home by like 8, so when that guy Seth from my hall invited me to come watch the devils, I gladly accepted. Met his other roommate, Dan. Pretty cute. But recall, I'm swearing off men for awhile. Hahahahaha. 8 June 2003
- I got a roommate today! I'm not quite sure how I feel about that. I'm mad at GW, because they said they would tell me if they were going to assign me one, and they didn't. She and her mom showed up Sunday afternoon. I didn't get up till 1, and when they got here at 3 I was still in PJs with shit all over my appartment. So I'm not sure she believed me when I made claims of anal-compulsive organizational habits. In any case, she seems nice. She's a year younger, just finished her first year at Columbia, and her name is Steph. I didn't get to even spend much time with her though, because they left soon after unpacking, and went out to explore our neighborhood. So I'll have more on that as days progress. 7 June 2003
- Rain, rain, go away. Come again no other day. Todays a nasty day, so I seek inside entertainment. Justin and I are going to go see "The Italian Job" in Georgetown. 6 June 2003 - Whatever
- So I was in a really silly pop mood when I came up for the theme of this month. I'm starting to get annoyed with it. I don't remember enough silly boy band songs, and I keep having to look them up on the internet, which totally defeats the purpose, which is me putting down songs I like. So keep checking out and I'll pick another theme soon. 5 June 2003 - fOr ThE gIrL wHo HaS eVeRyThInG
- All she really wants is a day off, and today she has one! 75 and sunny, baby! Off I go to do stuff! Be back later, I'm sure... 4 June 2003 - jUsT gOt PaId
- Okay. If yesterday sort of made not getting paid worth it, then today I recieved a damn salary of sorts. Today I did the most interesting thing since I got here. I went to a senate & house joint briefing on discrimination post-September 11th. Now, ordinarily, that title would be one I'd roll my eyes at. And don't misunderstand me - not because I don't care, or because I don't believe, but rather, because my instant reaction is to say, "Yes thats nice, but open your eyes! There has always been horrific discrimination in this country!" But as it turns out, September 11th had very little to do with this briefing. It was hosted (primarily) by a group called "Hate Free Zone." There were around 200 people there I'd say, and lots of press. They had a panel of 10 people of different ethnic minorities, who all had stories to share of the various ways in which they had been discriminated against. And then they had a panel of 4 congressman and 1 senator. (Ted Kennedy, Mike Honda, Jay Inslee, Jim McDermott, and someone else who I forget already.) So the regular panelists spoke. And the reason that this had very little to do with 9/11 is because the way in which they told these stories, many of them made it seem as though these were things that could have happened to them at ANY time, but that were just intesified and made more frequent in the face of the fear that followed 9/11. They were all quite good. And the role that the congressmen and senator played in the briefing was also good. In effect, they were there to answer to the allegations made by the panel. That they belonged to a government who's "racial prejudice, war hysteria, and failure of political leadership" had led to the serious downfall of others. And answer they did. And apologize. And make plans for how to correct the situation. And swear promises they would do these things. Now you may think me politically nieve, if I believe these things will actually come to pass. But I think on this particular issue they just may. Why? Because the internal department of the Department of Justice just released a 128 page, very unfriendly report, detailing the actions of the DOJ after 9/11. And its bad. And people are beginning to take notice. So all I can do is hope and wait. In any case, this many hour briefing was really excellent, and it excites me that things like this are happening. Oh, and I was on TV for about 2 seconds. Or at least, my ass was, as I ducked behind Ted Kennedy to get on the elevator (while he was being interviewed.) :-) Hehe. Alright, long day, Bethie tired. Lata gatas... 3 June 2003 - ShInInG sTaR
- I got to do a lot of cool stuff today at the Outreach office. The republicans have recently introduced a bill trying to move the program called "Head Start" to a block grant state controlled funding organization under the DOE. This is bad. Today Nancy decided she wanted to go all out full-throttle against this issue. GOOD. So in the outreach office they were busy as heck getting in touch with all the related contacts and getting ready to call a meeting in order to discuss opposition strategy. I got to call a few people, attend an "Education & the Workforce Committee" hearing on Head Start & the bill, and then attend our office's planning session. It was so amazing, just to see how that can happen. Nancy says go and all of a sudden theres a whirlwind of action and we're all getting together to do something. What a great experience. Also - I almost forgot - we finally got our pictures taken with her, and got to meet her. She gave us the "capitol hill 30 seconds" each, but at least she knows our names now...sort of. Anyways, in general, its days like today that make me so glad to be working here. It makes being a little tiny bit lonely and much more tired than one should be in summer TOTALLY worth it. I didn't get home till 7 today, but who cares! Now its late tho, and I'm going to head to bed. Nite kids. 2 June 2003 - AnYwHeRe FoR yOu
- Even the outreach office, despite what I've heard of it. That's where I was working today. Nancy Pelosi's outreach office in the capitol. The people there seem pretty cool. And I like what they do. They're in charge of keeping in touch with groups. Just as the LAs are in charge of researching policy on various issues, the advisors in the outreach office keep in touch with the lobbying, governmental, and third party groups that pertain to various issues. They didn't really have me doing anything all that exciting, but I hope if I just hang back and prove productive for awhile they'll let me do good stuff. Anyhow, I'm itching to get back to "The Goblet of Fire." I know I told myself I wouldn't start it yet, but I couldn't help it 2 days ago, and now I'm 50 pages from the end. Its so good! 1 June 2003 - GeT aNoThEr BoYfRiEnD
- Not on the agenda anytime soon, thanks. Haha, no, j/k. I just thought I'd give you all a nice easy clue for this month. Though its not as simple as it seems. A multitude of playas may present themselves if you note the male replaces the boy. So there you go. Riddle away, kids.
- Some boredom relief for you, courtesy of Gloria.
Which Spike are you?
Well, you're pretty, that's for sure. You have rabid fangirls all over the world, despite the fact that you only got 15 lines in FotR. Ah well, there're still two more movies, right? In any case, you've got your good looks and sense of style, even if you are blonde and have your fair share of redundant lines. You're also Aragorn's manwhore annoyingly agreeable, doing all that's told of you without question. ("Sit down, Legolas," "Get them up Legolas," "Shoot it Legolas," "Speak Legolas," "Roll over Legolas," "Do the Macarena Legolas," etc)
Advice: Try to be a little more manly. Follow Aragorn's example. Don't wash your hair for a few days. You'll smell like a human but maybe they'll stop accusing you of being gay... Which Horribly Mocked Fellowship Character Are You?
This quiz made by Kourin
CYCLOPS!!
Which X-Men Character Are You??
brought to you by Quizilla
- Rach and I went out to dinner and then just came back to my appartment and chilled and caught up. We had so much to talk about! Conversations between the two of us always start somewhere and end up somewhere 5 million miles away because everything we say reminds us of something else we want to talk about. I love that. Anyways, day of tourist-y-ness approaching, so I'm off to sleep.
- Current Music: Bob Dylan
- Got some motivation to work on a new mix. Its gonna be killer.
- Plus, helen rosner is back, and she is entertaining/thought provoking as before. Also, her xanga led me to tardblog. There's not much I can say about it but Go There.
- Steph and I made dinner tonight; it was so cute. I'm really glad to have her around, and glad that we're getting along. Sometimes its so nice to know you are cooking for someone other than yourself. Make it much less lonely and pointless.
- I couldn't stop thinking about you tonight. You kept me awake when all I wanted was the peaceful tranquility of sleep.
- You liked that bit o brit, didn't you??
- In other news, I'm a complete shithead because I forgot to send my dad a card for Father's Day. At least I can call. But I still feel shitty.
- Delaware updates soon to come...
- Its been a long feeling week. I suppose its because I haven't taken any days off, in anticipation of taking two off next week. Originally that was supposed to be so Ali, Nikki, and Ro could come visit. And I was really excited they were coming, but now they're not, since apparently none of them can drive to DC. But its okay, cause instead I'm going to go up to Delaware to visit Gloria, Mike, and whoever else of the lydians shows up. Should be fun, and then only a three day work week afterwards. Woohoo. Just hope nothing too significant happens while I'm not around.
- Oh and I spilled spaghetti sauce on the edge of my keyboard today. Way to go me.
- By the way, still feelin that new Showtime series, "Out of Order." Check it out. Eric Stoltz is great.
- Justin really is a good guy. Sometimes I don't give him enough credit. I can't believe that last year we used to fight so badly. Like screaming yelling fights, just over silly shit like politics. I guess I have done some maturing in the past year. In any case, we had a really nice time today. Went to the movies, walked around down by the river, and through Georgetown a bit. Its just really nice to have a friend down here, and one that I feel comfortable with. Just so long as he refrains from sexual innuendos, that is...
- Random day at work. In the morning I helped Catlin, Ms. Pelosi's personal assistant. She is so awesome. She had me writing letters, personal thank you notes from Pelosi. It was fun. Not extrordinarily taxing or challenging, but fun to pretend I'm a congresswoman for a few hours. The best part was when I got to write a thank you to Jehuda Reinharz for the honorary degree. Lol. Anyways, after that, around 2, the entire staff left the office to go to a retreat. So Nicole (the only other intern there today) and I were given a crash course on answering phones in the leaders office. And then everyone left, and left us to handle the office. It was cool until the congresswoman's husband called, and I couldn't figure out how to conference his call with Courtney's cell phone. But whatever, I don't feel too bad about it, considering it was just the two of us, and it was our first time. It was cool to just be in the office all by ourselves. I kept going into Pelosi's office to steal hershey kisses and pistachios. Anyhow, I'm gonna cook up some dinner and watch showtime...later gaters...
- Its been a great day off. Went to the Smithsonian Gardens, and then the Hirschorn Museum & Sculpture Garden. Also visited the aquarium, and walked around the Mall. It was a lot of fun, and I finished a whole role of film. I think I am starting to get the hang of shutter speed. Good stuff.
- Hey, what do we think? Is this readable enough, or should I seek another color? Tell me.
- Yeah, everyone lies sometimes. Showtime has a good new series. Its called "Out of Order." If you have showtime, give it a try. Eric Stolz is quite good.
