It's been way too long since my last blog, but between a bunch of homework, work being a little stressful, and a cold-I don't want to write a long blog. I figured a few pictures with captions could suffice.

Danielle, Sarah and I (all interns) went out to sushi last week after the Secretary Gates Q&A. After sushi we wandered over to the capital to sit and talk.

This squirrel was stealing candy bar wrappers out of the trash. I almost lost my backpack in the water when I went to take a picture, but Danielle saved it!

This beautiful Castle looking building is actually a Catholic Church, and the office of Catholic Charities- the organization I'll be interning with in AZ in the Fall and Spring

In Downtown D.C. I ran into a baby possum-go figure

Everyone thought it was a big rat at first

Me being a nerd in Madame Tussaud's wax museum

...still at the wax museum...

(sadly not real)

Amy and I went to a Cubs vs Nationals game. Ben didn't like my cubs shirt

Amy bought the cubs shirts-I was forced to be a cubs fan

Apparently there are a lot of cubs fans in D.C. The game had over 36,000 people in attendance!!! The metro was a mess

We had awesome seats behind home plate. Look at the un-zoomed view

Last Sunday I went to see King Lear. This is outside the Shakespeare Theater in Chinatown

Saturday, the 25th, Amy and I went to Atlantic City. When we got there, it was super foggy

As the afternoon wore on, the sun came out. We only had about 5 hours in Atlantic City, so I didn't want to get too sandy, but I couldn't resist getting knee-high into the water

Amy and I with our ankles in the water. The ocean looked beautiful

On the boardwalk, a guy was riding his BMX in a metal sphere

Thanks for reading!

Loving Work

I'm sorry I haven't kept in very good contact with people as individuals; life is crazy busy in a good way.

Work is pretty much amazing. Even when my tasks are complicated or a little frustrating, I am learning so much. I have plenty of work, and at the end of the day I feel like I've accomplished something good. I wish I could say more, but I'd have to run it by my supervisor :0)

Yesterday, I got to go to a Q&A with Secretary Robert Gates-THE Secretary of Defense. I sat about 12 feet from him, and was one of like 11 people who got to ask him a question. Here is what I asked:

"Previously, you spoke about trying to have more assets available for injured troops in Afghanistan after visiting with several Wounded Warriors. You spoke of the addition of more helicopters for medical evacuation with the goal of trying to help injured soldiers receive care as close to the golden hour as possible. Has the amount of time soldiers are waiting for treatment continued to decrease? Would you say we are making positive strides towards helping the wounded soldiers?"

Secretary Gates Q&A Session for DoD Interns--Can you find me in the picture?

I was honored to be able to attend the Q&A, let alone get to ask a question. Secretary Gates was very passionate about getting troops in Afghanistan the same standard of care as the troops in Iraq.

Tuesday in class I had a debate--the surprise stress for the night was when my debate partner didn't show! It was me on the more difficult pro side against two other very passionate students, eek. Oh well, at least its over, and I think my professor cut me some slack since my partner was a no show.

Besides that, life is pretty good. I got a sinus infection over the weekend, but I've been taking antibiotics and feel almost entirely better. The weather today was pretty hot, but besides today it's been staying in the low 80s and not too humid. I still can't get enough rain, wind, or green grass.

I also caught my first lightening bugs. I washed my old peanut butter jar and caught three of them in about two minutes!

People on the Metro were laughing at me and my lightening bugs, but in a good way

Part of me really wishes I could stay in D.C. for several more months...or more... but I am definitely looking forward to being back in my nice clean apartment with a bed that I fit in.

Thanks for reading

(p.s. If you couldn't find me in the picture, I'm three rows back, on the end, on the left side)

Three Day Weekends ROCK

This last week at MC&FP has been good--I love it when I get to draft important work :0)

A couple times I felt a little ill this last week, but I kept drinking lots of water, took extra vitamins, and was able to stay on my feet!

Thursday, I got off work early (since Friday was a Federal Holiday, we only had to work 28.8 hours) and went down to the National Mall. They're currently having this huge festival out on the lawn, so I went down to walk around. I even bought some of the over-priced "folk" food--never again.

Festival on the National Mall Lawn

Friday morning I slept in until 8:30 then made homemade corned beef hash and canned cinnamon rolls. Yum! It was so nice to have a slow morning with a good breakfast. Then I headed down towards Chinatown, where my first stop was the American Art Museum/Portrait Gallery

The American Art Museum/Portrait Gallery

The floor had all sorts of folk art

The Portrait Gallery had a lot of cool pictures of Lincoln-this was my favorite

I fell in love with all of the marble statues. They look like they were made out of butter instead of stone. The pure white marble even had bits of sparkle to it

I loved all of the marble statues and busts, but her hair was amazing

This painting was huge (around 12 feet wide) and gorgeous...this picture doesn't give the painting justice

A mini statue of liberty leading into a hall full of American Art

The museum's building was even a work of art. The higher

up in the building you got, the more amazing it looked

Contemporary art was one of my favorite sections

Idaho had potatoes on every one of its screens (I cracked up)

I don't know what it was supposed to be, but it was cool

This had so much detail and was over 20 feet wide

The top floor had their restoration area with glass walls

Bob Hope made out of wood

I was shocked when I came across this area-rows and rows of art in storage, but housed so that you could still see it

Computers allowed guests to look up works of art and then find the correct row

After the American Art Museum/Portrait Gallery, I walked toward Chinatown and ate some yummy Kung Pao Chicken. Then I went over to the Spy Museum, where I went on the cheesy but fun interactive spy adventure. While I was at the Spy Museum, a friend invited me to a Nationals Game.

We were in the nose-bleeds, but had a great view of the whole field

Chris and I at the game drinking strawberry daiquiris--Chris is lives in Alexandria and is interning at the White House

At the end of the 4th inning, the Nationals game has the

presidents race--it was hilarious, and everyone was cheering

After the games on Friday nights, they have fireworks. We had the perfect view

The 4th of July:

Saturday Morning I went and got my hair cut. My hair had been too long and annoying me and the cut was long past due, but I really like the way it came out.

For fireworks I decided to brave the crowds and head down to the National Mall. After changing my mind multiple times about where to go, I took a blanket, some water, a book and a subway sandwich toward the Lincoln Memorial. Chris came with me, and I even ran into Amy (my roommate).

I got down to the Lincoln Memorial around 6 and found the perfect spot right next to the reflecting pool. Half of the reflecting pool was blocked off, because they shoot the fireworks right there next to the Washington Monument.

Amy and I with my amazing view of the Washington Monument

Chris and I with the view in the opposite direction of the Lincoln Memorial

I couldn't resist showing off my amazing patriotic outfit

Fireworks weren't until 9:10, but I had fun sitting out on the lawn. It was about 75 degrees and overcast with a slight breeze-perfect weather. As it got darker, the monuments lit up beautifully

Lincoln's glowing

Right on time, the fireworks started.

The fireworks on the National Mall were THE BIGGEST fireworks I'd ever seen. They were huge, loud, bright and amazing

It was definately the best fireworks show I'd ever seen and well worth the crowds and wait

All the smoke from the fireworks looked cool around the Washington Monument

The fireworks were so bright and the finale was almost scary it was so bright and loud. I've never seen anything like it before

Thanks for reading; I hope everyone else had a great 4th as well