My first BLIZZARD

This weekend I survived my fist blizzard in Washington DC! I must say that I got a bit freaked out when people were raiding the grocery stores on Friday like it was Y2K all over again, but I had plenty of soup and cereal for the weekend so I did not participate! LOL We got over 3 feet of snow and it honestly was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen!

Friday, I only had to work until 2 oclock and I got to wear jeans so it was absolutely amazing, and to top it all off I left work in a winter wonderland! I have never seen snow look like it is being BLOWN from the sky, not just falling, but blowing down to cover the ground! A girl who lives on my floor called it the most beautiful "God given blanket" and I couldn't agree more! A group of us were dumb enough to go out in the snow on Friday, but I must say it was the most fun I have had since I have been up here and the group that went out had me laughing all night! Usually I have my best friends to get up and dance like crazy with and I was a little nervous that I wasn't going to find those people here and I might have to contain my dancing skills, but no worries I convinced them to dance with me!!! When we left the bar, the snow had already covered the cars on the streets and it was a full on blizzard! SO MUCH FUN! The next morning (Saturday) I woke up to 3 feet of snow on the ground and it was apparent that we weren't going to be doing anything! So with that being said all 11 of us on our floor sat and watched the entire first season of "Glee", yes even the boys, and I can honestly say I think we are all pretty excited for the new season to start in April! LOL

Later on that night some of us decided it would be a GREAT idea to walk to get a coke at the 7-11 close by! On the way I played in the three feet of snow like a small child but it was AMAZING, and the coke was well worth the frigid walk! Along the way we had numerous snowball fights with each other, all out of love I promise! We then got back and I got the best phone call of my life! My LC (legislative coorespondent) called to tell me that there would be no work on MONDAY!! wooooooo hoooooo who knew that the Government took a snow day?!? I loved having a day off, and it turned out to be a huge blessing because I woke up with a cold from playing in the snow! It was well worth it! Washington DC looks absolutely BEAUTIFUL covered in snow, and there were seriously people skiing on some of the streets! I wish I could have found some skii's because i would have been right there with them! (refer to pictures)

Mom and Dad called me today and decided to beat the weather and head up my way a day early and I was SO EXCITED! I cannnot wait to spend this entire next week with them and then head to New York and see all of that also! I had the best weekend ever! Played in way too much snow, laughed entirely too much, and ate a ton of candy, which equals one heck of a weekend in my book!!

LOVING LIFE, and GOD IS SO GOOD!!

Adios :)

And the INTERN saves the day!

Yesterday made me realize I am definitely on the right track with my major! Let me explain how the most exciting thing happened to me yesterday! So...I was sitting at my desk (if you can call it that) logging some mail on the computer and my Press Secretary Michelle came in and asked me if I would like the accompany the Congressman on to the House floor while he gave his "one minute empowerment speech,"...uhmmmm YESSSSSS!!! I had been talking to Michelle about really being interested in the press side of things on the Hill so she let me be a part of this amazing experience! SOOOO I went to the back office when the Congressman was ready to go to the House floor (thank goodness I decided to wear a suit) and we made our way to the Capitol! I felt so cool because I got to ride on the Member's only elevators and we talked non-stop about anything and everything! We got to the house floor and I followed the Congressman and watched him give his speech from the Gallery, along with many other Congressmen addressing the President's current budget! This is the first time my heart was beating INCREDIBLY fast and I couldn't decide if I was just having an adrenalin rush, or if I was so proud to be working for a Congressman who is so passionate about what he does, or if I had just found my calling. When I mention "if I had just found my calling" I mean, writing speeches, press releases, etc, for the government or any corporation! I can honestly say it was the best 30 minutes of my life and it made me feel really good knowing that I am on the right path with my major. That was by far the highlight of my day! I also found out that when Mom and Dad visit next week, they will be the first people I give a Capitol tour to!! This is very exciting and terrifying at the same time because my dad has been making a list of questions he is wanting to "stump" me on! LOL Ohhh only my dad! I can not wait and I hope it is so much fun, and if all else fails and we get lost I can always ask the super cute security guards for directions! ;)
Today, (2/3/2010), I got to run some really cool errands when the house came in to session at 10am. I got to visit many rooms that people normally don't! I am so glad I am getting more responsibilities in the office, hopefully that means i'm doing a good job! The congressman was very very busy today with meetings and luncheons. I did have to run a very "quick" errand to a place where the congressman was on a conference call and take him his blackberry! This was a definite emergency because a congressman, or staffer on the hill without their blackberry pretty much equals death to them! I got to see a TON of the congressmen and they were all very nice and acted surprised that I spoke to them in a friendly tone! I guess I just can't help that Texas girl coming out in me all the time, I LOVE IT and they seem to appreciate a friendly smile! The day seemed to drag on forever until I got an email from our Legislative Director who gave me my next project! I am SUPER excited about this project. I was asked to write a letter of "appreciation" for the congressmen honoring two outstanding citizens in the District whom he chose. These men are being recognized for their dedication to Black History Month. The congressman will present both of these men with this letter, it will be framed and they will keep it forever, meaning there is TONS of pressure on me but I absolutely CAN NOT wait to get started! I love writing for people who deserve acknowledgement for contributing to something great! I really hope I do a good job!
As for the weather here, well, let's just say I will have plenty of time to write this draft for the Congressman this weekend because DC is expected to get 20 INCHES OF SNOW this weekend!! I am slightly excited because with all of that snow I am going to be able to make one heck of a snowman!!! I don't think this week could go any slower, but I am LOVING what all has been put on my plate! God is so good and I thank him every day for this amazing experience and the great people he has put in my life!
May God Bless each and every one of you! Until next time....Goodnight :)

Life update!

Hello all :)
SO...I have about decided I am not so great at this whole blogging thing, and my grandmother brought this to my attention this weekend! I am going to try and do a better job with keeping up with things, but for now please forgive me!
I have been getting to do some pretty cool things at work and I am getting to where I enjoy it more every day. I got the opportunity to work the Texas State society reception with a few of the other interns and it was a really neat experience getting to be in the same room with all of the men/women that represent the Texas Delegation. There was also tons of food so it was a free dinner night in my world which is ALWAYS a plus! Speaking of free dinners, the Vice President of Research for Texas Tech was in town and he took us to dinner at a spanish tapas restaurant called Jaleo, and it was amazing! The food was very different, and authentic, but over all it was a great experience in a really cool part of town!
I got the best surprise of all this past week! It was a flight back to Lubbock and Hale Center! Mom and Dad were able to fly me home (thanks to southwest air miles) and I was able to see my pledges get initiated into Chi Omega, AND I got to see my entire family! I was very sad to leave, but I get to see my mom and Dad in a week and I CANNOT wait! We have a fun trip planned to go to New York and see the production "Mamma Mia" on Broadway! I am SOOO EXCITED!!
Tonight (2/1/2010) Madelon and I decided we needed to do a little after work retail therapy and headed to the mall at Pentagon City! This mall is 4 stories high which amounts to a heaven in DC! I love this mall and we had a blast! We also decided this is where victorias secret must take all their pictures for magazines because it was HUGE and had everything! We will definitely be going back this weekend!! After the mall we decided we wanted to treat ourselves to a fun dinner. SO we hopped on the Metro and made our stop at China Town where we ate at a gourmet pizza place called Matchbox and it was beyond amazing! We at a cream of crab soup that made me never want to stop eating!! I will figure out this recipe and bring it back to Texas with me because it was aboslutely amazing! Then we had a pizza and had PLENTY left over for both of our lunches tomorrow! It was such a great evening and we got to see a lot of different sights in DC because we walked a lot! I am stuffed and laying in bed right now, I will write again soon! Until then, adios!!

My week!

This week was very interesting and busy at work. I got to do a lot of different activities with different members of our staff and another Congressman’s office. I am getting the hang of things around the office, and the hill. The voting process that the congressmen/women participate in is still very confusing but I am determined to figure it out!
My favorite part of my job has become the constituent phone calls that we receive and getting to talk to all the different people from around the district. I had a man call me this week who was a farmer in Big Spring, and he was calling regarding crop insurance subsidies. I love when farmers call because I can always strike up a friendly conversation because I mention that my dad is a farmer and then we get in to where I’m from and everything that goes with it. My favorite part of this conversation was when I told the man that I was from a small town around Lubbock and he asked as if I was a “Red Raider”, so I responded with “Yes sir I am” and I have never encountered a more ecstatic alumni; we went on to talk about Texas Tech and how much it has changed since he had been there, and he closed out the conversation with a quote that I will remember forever, he said; “Now Angie, thank you for your time and you keep that University in tip top shape, and remember, everyone loves those Red Raider girls!” This made my day and made me so proud to be a Red Raider all over again! The crop insurance issue has been huge in our office and I have logged many calls from constituents that are genuinely concerned about the future of agriculture in our area.
Also, Congressman Neugebauer hosts a dinner every month after the first round of votes at 6:30pm and I was asked to help with this. I got to spend some time with our Legislative Director out and about in DC one afternoon getting food and groceries for the event. After riding the metro underground all the time and not getting to see things you pass as you ride, it was nice to be in a car and have someone explain what everything was. She was very nice, and it was a great day to get out of the office and get to be a part of that event. Yesterday (Thursday Jan. 21) I was asked my Congressman Mike Connoway’s office to help with the Texas delegation lunch. I quickly accepted and assisted his Scheduler in getting the food from a local restaurant “Tortilla Coast,” and deliver it to a meeting room in the Capitol. I got to meet many of the Congressmen that represent Texas, along with Senator John Cornyn, needless to say I was very excited and I really enjoyed getting to meet all of them. The remainder of the day I logged constituent mail in to our IQ computer system so our new Legislative Correspondent could write letters regarding their concerns. Again, it is so interesting to read and hear what people in our district are concerned about.
The Tech house has been good this week, although I did make things quite interesting Wednesday night. I fell asleep around 10pm eastern time because I was completely exhausted. I received a phone call around 11:30pm eastern time from a friend in Lubbock (because they still don’t understand we are an hour ahead) and I woke up thinking that I was late for work. I sprung out of bed so fast and was freaking out on the phone with my friend and at the time I didn’t realize how confused she was. So, as I was getting out of bed I noticed neither of my roommates was in their bed so I thought that they didn’t wake me up in time for work, at this point I am in complete panic mode! As I was running towards the shower I heard one of my roommates ask me if I was ok, so I stopped and asked what time it was and she informed me that I had only been asleep for an hour and it was still night time! I could NOT believe that this happened so I called my friend back and I think she thought I had completely lost my mind, and we laughed for about 30 minutes! I think I must have been extremely tired, and needless to say it took me a little while to fall back asleep and I double checked my phone when my alarm went off at 7am!
Yesterday, I found out that my parents are making their first visit to DC February 11 and I absolutely can not wait to see them! We are planning on staying in DC for a few nights and then taking a train to New York City and watching a Broadway play and sight seeing for a few days before I have to return to work! They are going to love it here, and I can not wait to see a Broadway production again! This weekend my goal is to take a day trip out to Mt. Vernon and experience all that I can of that, and catch up on some much needed sleep!
Everything is still wonderful, and I am growing fonder of the city every day!

Just a day on the Hill

Today was a fun day...busy...but fun! I am really getting the hang of how things run in the office now and it's really cool to see how the Congressman that Represents the best district (in my mind) makes things work!
Today I recognized a clock in our office that kept buzzing and lighting up all of the time so of course I asked what it was for! A lady in my office informed me that it buzzed in correspondence to the bell system that is located in the house. This system lets all the congressmen know that it is time to congregate on the floor and voting is about to begin! This blew my mind that on top of everything else that these men/women do, they have time to recognize a bell system and make their way to the floor!
One of my tasks today was to find the "Flag Office" in the Capitol (which has more tunnels than millions of buildings combined) and get a certificate for a flag that was flown over the Capitol in honor of a person from the 19th District! After finding out that you could do this I have a few plans of my own to get done regarding this before I leave Washington DC! The certificates are really cool and it is definitely something that people will remember for the rest of their lives! This was tons of walking so I was SO glad that I was wearing flats! OHHHH and when I was making my way through the tunnels I saw all the Congressmen coming off of the floor and they were definitely on a mission that I was not a part of, but I still felt really important with my BRIGHT RED INTERN BADGE...that's right...I have a badge! haha
I had a very good day and I am really excited about the long weekend we have coming up! It will be fun to get out and see more of this amazing city!
Still missing you all! :)

First days of work!

Hi everyone!
My first few days were interesting to say the least! The first day was definitely NOT what I expected, but then again I did set the bar pretty high! I watched a few TV shows lol and sorted a lot of mail and then stared at a computer for the remainder of the day...not a very plush first day! I had a rough night and really wasn't sure what it was exactly that I was doing here, but then I remembered that God placed me in this position for a reason and I need to have faith that everything will get better and I have a purpose in my office. So, I went to work with a better attitude today and had a GREAT day! I also emailed the staffers in the back to offer my assistance for whatever they need so now I have PLENTY to do!
I love everyone in my office! My staff assistant (who trains me) just graduated from Texas Tech University in December and is really close to my age! We are the only two Texans in our office minus the Congressman and his wife so we catch a lot of slack! The Congressman recently went on an African Safari and shot a water buffalo and had it delivered to be mounted on his wall in his office! Needless to say this caused TONS of attention and we are the talk of the Longworth building and people stop by all day to see the "head"! HAHA
It is still REALLY cold here and I am now getting the hang of "city life" and have about convinced myself that a country girl from Hale Center Texas can do just about anything if I just set out and go do it! I love where I am right now and I am very excited for what this semester has in store for me! If this much has happened and it's only the second day who knows what all could happen!
After work we all met up for Happy Hour and .75 cent Tacos at a place called Tortilla Coast and for .75 cents the tacos weren't too bad! LOL I definitely think I could make a killing here opening up a REAL "Tex Mex" restaurant because these people have NO idea what good mexican food is! Also this week is "Washington Restaurant Week" and it is where DC's top restaurants have half price dinner and lunch for a week! We are definitely going to hit some of these spots because any other time none of us could afford it!
All in All life is good for me in DC! I miss my family and friends so much, but I know I will be home before I know it! Oh and it was pretty nice getting to tell my friends to have a good first day back at school knowing that I would not be in attendance!
Love you all and may you have a VERY blessed week!

Here Lately

Sorry I haven't updated in a few days! We have been really busy trying to get settled in and getting used to the city! I am finally getting the hang of city life and the way things work around here! We are definitely not in Texas anymore, but I still have fallen in LOVE with Washington DC!

Yesterday, we went to Target and it was absolutely unreal! It was a two story building and it had it's own escalator for your SHOPPING CART!!! Technology is unreal and I think people thought we were idiots taking pictures of our shopping cart going up the escalator!! LOL After our trip to target we went out to a local bar called bullfeathers! It was so much fun and all the people loved/made fun of our accents!

Today we had a mandatory meeting with our "house mom" to get the basic rules and regulations down for our stay in DC! She is so nice and takes really good care of us! Afterwards we went to a grocery store called "Harris Teeter" and it reminded me a lot of Market Street and it was insanely crowded! I asked a person at the checkout counter if it was normal for this many people to be at the store and he said it was because it was the weekend and everyone finally has time to make the trip to the store! The way of living is so much different here and it's been really interesting to see how so many people get around such a huge city. I bought ingredients for spaghetti tonight to feed everyone on my floor "Momma Sims' Spaghetti" and it was a hit! Everyone loved it and we were all really excited that we got to eat for under $11.00. We are now all in the living area watching the Cowboys game, we all get a long so well and have so much fun together!

Before dinner a few of us went sight seeing and saw the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the reflection pool (which Madelon and I stood on because it was frozen), thank goodness no security guards were on duty! We walked A LOT and it was absolutely freezing, but so worth every minute of it! We also are getting used to the Metro system which is such an easy way of travel around the city and it is really cheap! I have learned to keep my purse in front of me because people will pick your pockets faster than you can blink! Crazy DC people!

One of my favorite parts of West Texas is the amazing sunsets that are a nightly occurance, but tonight getting to watch the sun set over the washington monument was definitely something I will never forget, it was honestly breathtaking!

I start work on Monday and I can not wait to get started in the office! I went by the Longworth building (where my office is located) and met everyone in my office already and they are all so sweet and I really think I will enjoy getting to work with them! I am the only intern in the office, so I am going to have a lot to do, but that is ok because the more I do the more I will learn! Above all else, I get a really cool badge that marks me as an intern! LOL OHHHH and I got my business cards today and it made me feel really important! haha

I miss everyone a lot but I know that this experience will be one I will keep with me forever!