Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Bienvenida a Miami!


So my parents decided to surprise me with a trip this weekend. They were very sneaky about it, not telling me where I was going, just that I needed to take Thursday and Friday off work and something would be happening. Ha I screamed right out loud when they finally told me what was going down… I was flying to Miami on Thursday night to meet up with my parents and my sister!

Needless to say, the week went kind of slow after I found out. Thursday finally came and I was on my way! I felt all grown up and urban on my way… took the Metro to the airport, found my plane, had a layover in Atlanta, and finally made it to Miami. I did a little dance when my parents pulled up in the white Dodge Charger at the airport!

Friday we woke up and went down to the beach. We were staying in Key Largo on a yacht club, so there were huge boats everywhere. I was very cautious about the sunscreen, since Brooklyn had fried herself lobster red the day before. She wrapped herself in a towel and didn’t let the sun touch any part of her haha.
After Brooklyn and I got bored of sitting in the sun, and our fair skin just couldn’t handle anymore, we got ready and drove down to Key West. It is such an interesting place, and has a crazy night life. The cruise ships drop off all their drunk people who then wander the streets. We ate at Hard Rock CafĂ©, as per tradition, and then wandered around for a while. 

Family!! 
Me and my lobster sissy :)


Saturday we woke up early and made the 5 hour drive to Orlando. Why did we do this?? THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER!!! Yes, I have been to Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, Zonko’s Joke Shop, Honeydukes, ridden a broomstick with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, had my own mug of Butterbeer, seen Olivander choose someone a wand, and ridden the dragons in the Tri Wizard Tournament. I was just like a little kid, running here and there with my mouth open. The castle is AWESOME and as you wait in line you walk through the dungeons, the Herbology greenhouse, Dumbledore’s office, and the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom… so EPIC! I felt like I had traveled to London and waited for Harry to pop out everywhere I turned. I geeked out the entire time!!

Entering Hogsmeade!

Hogwarts!!

We were so excited!!!

 After our time in Harry Potter land, we hit up the rest of Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. The Incredible Hulk was the sweetest roller coaster any of us had ever been on… it shoots you out the top and you’re immediately turning upside down… loved it! We were lucky enough to be there during the Mardis Gras celebration. There was a parade where we caught beads and saw people on stilts, and afterwards there was a free Kelly Clarkson concert in the streets of Universal Studios. Ha lucky me! I’ve always liked her, and we ended up with a pretty sweet spot to watch from.

Sunday we woke up and went back to Harry Potter land and caught everything we hadn’t the day before. Brooklyn found a wand for herself and I got a chocolate frog. I haven’t opened it yet, but I’m excited to see whose trading card I got!!

After we finished in Harry Potterland it was about time to go. We rode a few more rides in Universal Studios (return of the mummy is awesome!) and then it was time to go. Saddest time of my life, saying goodbye to the magical place, but never fear I will be back!!

Key West

Love mom and dad

Hard Rock!

Hard Rock!



We drove back to Miami and caught our flights out the next morning. I got home around 12:30 and fully planned on taking a nap since I’d woken up at 4 to catch my flight. Ha the joke was on me… my roommate Kelli had planned on going to the Library of Congress and so I went with her. It is a beautiful building! We were allowed to take pictures in the reading room, which only happens twice a year. It was awesome, well worth going. We then made our way down to the mall, to thank Mr. Washington and Mr. Lincoln for the day off. The Lincoln Memorial was beautiful and people had sent flowers to decorate the bottom. It’s one of my favorites, such an awe inspiring building. 

Love the Capitol!

Inside the Library of Congress

The Reading Room!

Me and Kelli on the steps of the Supreme Court

Beautiful Day

 That sums up my favorite weekend since I’ve been here… got to see most of my family, Harry Potter Land, and some sights in DC. I am exhausted, but it was totally worth it!!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Elevators are awkward!


The days of the week are starting to blur together. Wake up at 7, out the door by 8, walk into work at 9, stay until 6, get home at 7… repeat repeat repeat. I have a hard time remembering what day it is… unless it’s Friday. On Fridays I remember all day what day of the week it is.

Emily and I were discussing how awkward elevators are when we got out of one in the Senate building. Tons of people who have no connection with each other shoved into a small box that is moving between floors. Everyone faces a different direction and no one talks to each other. No elevator flirting here!

On Tuesday, my boss Hayden asked me to a meeting and a hearing for her. It was really cool… a day in the life of someone who really works in my office. There were doughnuts at the meeting and there was a full lunch provided at the hearing. Hayden must have liked my notes, because she asked me to go to another hearing for her on Wednesday morning. The hearings are usually lobbyists or special interest groups that are asking our bosses to support their cause. The most interesting thing I’ve learned is how the government really works behind the scenes. 

Sweet Pegasus on the side of the Rayburn House Building

Utah State holds a weekly seminar that we have to go to. Attendance is required if you are a student or if you live in Utah State’s housing. That means all of my roommates but 1 have to come (E is an exception, we don’t know why she doesn’t have to come?) Needless to say, I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of staying after listening to someone after a 9 hour work day. However, it turned out really cool. This Wednesday’s seminar was hosted by Rob Bishop, the congressional representative from Northern Utah. There are about 15 of us in the group, and we all sat down in Mr. Bishop’s personal office. He had a nice chat with us about upcoming legislation he is pushing and we were able to ask questions. It was cool to sit in a room and just chat with my representative.

Yesterday Emily and I woke up early and went to the Eastern Market for breakfast. It was delicious! There is a breakfast bar inside the small building that is famous around the hill. I had a plate of French Toast and Emily had blueberry pancakes (mine was better J). $6 for the most filling breakfast I have ever had, plus it was delicious. We wandered around the Eastern Market in the cold for as long as we could stand it. We got fresh apples from an apple stand and tried smoked salmon from Baltimore. When it was too cold to stand anymore, we headed for the Pentagon City Mall. 4 stories high stacked with everyone’s favorite shops. I was lucky and found a steal of a deal at Hollister, and spent the last of my Christmas money on a cardigan.

Em's blueberry pancakes and my french toast... AMAZING!

Other than that, it’s been a fairly quiet week. I need to get back out there and see the sights on the weekends and stop being so lazy all the time!! I am excited for the next weekend, make sure you check the blog for my next adventure!

Sunday, February 5, 2012

1 month down… 2 ½ to go!


This week was full of firsts… I got to watch the Senate argue in person from the gallery, I spotted tons of famous Senators, I found my way through the Senate buildings to all of the Republican offices, and I hung out with a new group of friends!
View from inside the Visitors Center (underground)
 The Boss was supposed to deliver a speech on the floor around 5 on Thursday. My fellow interns and I headed over to the Capitol and up into the staffer gallery. Although we didn’t get to see the boss give his speech, we did get to see all of the Senators there for a roll call vote. It was super interesting… all of these people are the decision makers in our country. They were all a lot older than I assumed they would be, but they hold the power!! It was fun for us to pick out the famous people that we knew… John McCain, John Kerry, Rand Paul… Famous people all around us!

View from the Capitol at night

 On Friday I had to deliver letters to all the Republican Senators offices in the Russell Building, the oldest Senate building. It is a beautiful building, marble floors and pillars, and fancy elevators with chandeliers. It’s much fancier than the other Senate buildings, and I geeked out imagining who had walked in the same halls.
Friday night I met up with girls from work and we went out to dinner at the Shake Shack. Man, the one positive thing I can say about Washington D.C. is they sure know how to make a hamburger! The entire meal was delicious…the cheese fries and the Washington MonuMint Shake… and the burger… I could gain a million pounds out here, the food is delicious! 
 

Today my roomies and I are just taking it easy, we’re going to watch the Superbowl downstairs with the other people that live in our building. It should be interesting… 

My honorary roommate Trevor... he's always entertaining us with something.