16 Notes for 16 Days (and a few more than 16 photos) - Part I

This month has been one of the busiest I've ever experienced, with exception going to the second semester of my senior year. At least then I was a college student who could sleep in when absolutely necessary. Many of you have asked, "What happened to the blog," "Did you give up on it," "Did you decide you'd been in the city too long to still be writing about your experiences?" No, friends, I've just been SWAMPED. However, it's been a fun ride, for the most part. I'll start where I left you last...

1. Lucy and I had a fantastic weekend together. It was as if we'd never left each other. We visited her friends who said, "We don't walk one street over to the McD's for safety reasons," but then laughed at us when we called a cab to leave their house late at night and go ten blocks. We also had some of the most delicious food ever! Belga Cafe on 8th Street... I highly recommend it. Well worth every penny of the $75 tab for the two of us at brunch. Please let it be known you can eat for much cheaper... we just decided to go all out with entrees, dessert, coffee, drinks... the works.

2. We were delighted to have Christina join us out with Lucy's friends for an entertaining evening with cool people. One of Lucy's friend's friends struck me as the perfect fit for a job I know of, and I'm thrilled that he'll be interviewing this Wednesday. We need another southerner at the NRA, even if it is a few floors down.

3. I also learned that the Capitol is most glorious in the late evening when no tourists are around and the stark white dome shines brightly in the sky. However, Capitol cops are a little intense, so avoid going with crazy, loud boys.

4. After Lulu left town, I packed my bags for a work trip which was only 35 miles from my house that lasted 6 full 24 hour days (well pretty much) with 45 Juniors and Seniors in high schools across the nation. Talk about an interesting week. Remember this post? The Youth Education Summit is run by one of my colleagues, and it's a highly selective scholarship program involving a week of speech, debate, touring DC, and learning about the NRA's programs.

5. I have to say... I got to enjoy some touristy things I'd been wanting to do for a while, but felt I was no longer touristy enough to experience them. :) Like seeing a piece of the Berlin Wall and the World Trade Center at the Newseum. Although the kids didn't really remember life before 9/11, it was a little too powerful of an exhibit for Amber and I, so we left the area before the tears started pouring in front of the kids, hence, no pics. We headed up to the rooftop for a gorgeous view of the Hill.

6. The kids were treated to a mock Friends of NRA event hosted by my friend and PA Field Rep, Kory Enck. They had real tickets, real prizes (including a $200 pair of binos), and fake moolah. They had a blast! My game got sold out, which I say has something to do with my bright smile and big green eyes. ;)

7. We got to tour the Pentagon (awesome) at a speed of light tour behind an army guy dressed in formal uniform walking backwards without looking back once. I had to seize a camera from a student and delete the video he took after the navy lady behind me quickly informed us photos of the Pentagon were strictly forbidden.

8. Ok, so, newsflash that is finally no longer confidential: Friends of NRA has a new TV show coming out on the Outdoor Channel, and my department has been tasked with the marketing, development, and just about everything to do with the show, including creating the new logo. We've got two incredible hosts and they get to drive around in this awesome truck courtesy of the Friends of NRA Event Services team. :) We saw the truck for the first time at laser tag, where my team won once and I killed Jeremy a billion times

8. We had a special treat for the kids on "Life as a Marine" day at Quantico, when Sgt. Wesley Plummer joined us for MRE dinners at the Iwo Jima memorial and for the 8th and I parade on the Marine barracks grounds around the corner from my house. Sgt. Plummer is one of the few remaining men alive that saw the first and second flags raised on Iwo Jima. He was an amazing man, and I loved his wife. We flew them both up from Texas specifically to be with the kids as a special guest.

9. There were lots of other things we did with the kids, but I'm getting exhausted just thinking about it. Let's cap it off with me telling you about the way it ended... We let the kids stay up til 2:00 signing these portrait frames, taking photos, and just having some free time hanging out. Then, I got tasked with taking the first departing girl to the airport in the city for her 6:45 flight, which meant we had to leave the hotel at 3:50... making my wake-up call 3:15. UHHHHH.... NOT happy camper here. But, it did mean I got to go right home after. So I got home at 5am, put clean sheets on my bed, crawled in it, put on my eye covers (courtesy of Sarah or Danielle), and slept til Tina woke me up at 1pm asking when we were going to lunch/dinner.

10. And I do mean lunch/dinner... We sat at Lauriol Plaza for 2+hours slowly picking at our giant salads and catching up on the week's events. It's been so great having her here! We might be making Sunday dinner a staple, whether it's lunch or dinner. At least until family dinners at the Converse Alumni House of DC start back up.

At this point of the post I will pause to allow you guys a break from my life to get back to yours. I'll post the rest tomorrow. xo