Fridayyyy

I like Fridays. There's always some sort of clusterfuck when every is trying to figure out their plans for the night. For a while, everything is up in the air. And then things calm down and come together.

I will say one thing: I'm looking forward to going back to 4 (or less!) day weeks in college. It is SO nice to have very little to do on Fridays. I spent my Fridays this fall working, but it was still a break from class, a break from thinking.

Ironically, I had a very intellectual conversation at lunch about climate change. Some people have the coolest, craziest career paths. Like this guy--a former Math professor working in envrionmental policy sector. This guy changed jobs a decent amount, and it just seemed like he had a very rich career. Who doesn't want that?

It made me realize that I can do a lot of different things. I can change my mind. I can fast track to one thing, but that doesn't mean I work in something completely different 30 years down the line. For someone who likes a decent amount of uncertainty and tends to dislike committment, that's really refreshing.

So I'm zen: tonight will be good. My career, whatever the heck it is, will be awesome.

Best Wednesday Ever

Eve Ensler's name will forever be tied to the word "vagina," and rightly so. But hearing her talk and speak at Busboys & Poets tonight, she was so much more than that. Awe-inspiring. This is a woman who started a revolution; a revolution to love your body, not hate it. Radical, isn't it.

More than that, this is a woman who carries through. She has raised over $70 million dollars to fight violence towards women and girls. Let me say that again, just so you get it: she has raised $70 million dollars. Not for a politician, not for a political cause. To fight against violence towards women and girls.

Eve read a couple of passages from her new book I am an Emotional Creature. I got chills up and down my spine, not just because she's fabulous, but because what she wrote, is so much of what seems wrong with the world but no one talks about it. No one cares, no one wants to bring it up, because it isn't glamorous.

So here's a thank you Eve. Thanks for making it okay to say the word "vagina." Thanks for bringing attention to girls as emotional creatures. Thanks for raising money. Thanks for being inspiring. Thanks for being strong. Thanks.

Thing One and Thing Two

Yearning for a 24 hour coffee shop...

AHHH I have literally been writing all night!

Today, I decided to be serious about life and get some school work done. School? College? What's that you call it? OH SHIT that's right I haven't graduated and am supposed to be doing some coursework. Never one to study well at home I decided to bribe myself with an adventure to a new place....

...so I went to Busboys and Poets! This place was fantastic! I happened over to the 5th and K location, which honestly I loved. It seemed to be an up-and-coming area...or a falling one. Either, a little seedy, a little shady, my favorite kinds of places. Not because I'm a drug dealer, but because I like to feel like I'm living on the edge (just run with it. I'm from the suburbs and hated it there).

ANYWAY I plopped the good ol' laptop down, ordered some fair trade coffee (told you I was white) and started writing. AND I LOVED IT. I was totally groovin--wrote a couple of essays. If you couldn't tell, my writing style is pretty informal. But why should fake my tone for a scholarship board? I'm kind of to the point where I want to say this is me, this is my writing style. If you don't like, it, then I don't want your money.

Okay, maybe not quite to that point; but almost. I would have kept working but I wanted to make it home at a decent hour. I had to use the ever-reliable metro, and we all know what that can be like...Anyway--try this place out! The service rocked, I got a great sandwich, and I was in a great atmosphere.

Also--awesome feminist author/activist/great human being Eve Ensler is doing a book signing at the 14th and V location on Wednesday night! Thing One and I are really going to try and make it up there. We'll keep you posted.

DC is like Crack

[Author's note: I have never done crack, so I don't know if this is an accurate comparison. However, it sounds right, so I'm gonna run with it.]

DC is awesome. It's fun, it's crazy. There's always something to do or see, from exploring new neighborhoods to the multitude of national museums. The energy is absolutely addicting. There's no way not to look out from a high spot and not feel a rush.

But this place is also surreal. Things that matter in DC, don't matter anywhere else, and things that would matter other places don't matter in DC. It feeds the addiction, living in this bubble. The economy is fine here, but people are still trying to fix it for everyone else. It's almost not real.

I guess the only thing left to decide if DC is as debilitating as crack.

Thing Two

It's Monday...

The worst part of being here is not being able to be around the people you love and care about, especially in their time of need. I'm the kind of person that doesn't always know the right thing to say, but when a friend is in need, my first reaction is to want to provide any support necessary, even if its just my presence.

So the lesson of the day is kind of an obvious one, but here it is: living hundreds of miles from your family and friends means you can't be there for them when they're hurting. And ya know what, I gotta be honest-- that one kind of sucks.

Thing Two

What's your flavor? Part II

I love good inspiration, and I'm a sucker for good quotes. But I also really appreciate bitter and sarcastic humor, and so this site is fantastic for a laugh. While I wouldn't call it overly clever, the humor is definitely outright, its still pretty funny.

I've found that the worst pitfalls come when you take yourself too seriously. There's just no need for it, and everyone else around probably thinks you're a stuck-up idiot. Which, to be honest, you probably are. I've heard sarcasm called the "tool of the weak," but I'd like to make a case for it, and instead call it the tool of the non-serious potentially intelligent being. If you're being sarcastic you're poking fun at a situation and thus are most definitely not being serious. Since you've taken the time to come up with a sarcastic comment, one that not everyone will necessarily pick up on, you've put some thought into the situation and can therefore be classified as potentially intelligent. Ergo, I would like to designate myself as a "non-serious potentially intelligent" being.

Sarcasm shouldn't be written off. You can get away with making fun of things that other people might not pick up on, I recently finished reading the classic novel "Catch-22" which highlights the craziness of the world through the frame of World War II, a pretty important event that I think most people would probably call fairly serious. But I would opine that the point Heller is making is that you can't take anything too seriously, every event, not matter how large or how small, is at least somewhat ludicrous.

Catch-22 is awesome because it teaches without being preachy. It's clever humor-my favorite type. You have to both pay attention and understand that you have no idea what's going on in order to fully appreciate the book. I read it right before snowmaggedon hit the DC area, and it kind of fit with the situation. People who took life and their jobs so seriously weren't able to work for a week. They were forced to do all sorts of terrible things like embrace week-day bar specials not because work had got them down, but because they had nothing better to do. A city usually engulfed in go-go-goers was suddenly filled with people starting huge snowball fights and sledding in the streets. Of course, I'm sure there were those dedicated workers being productive, but sometimes, you just have to embrace chaos.

So the wisdom I will impart upon you this Valentine's Day-another crazy holiday-keep your head in the game, but in reality, you've only got so much control. And when all else fails, make fun of yourself. The smart people will get it.

Holla,
Thing Two

Bonding with your Boss: Part I

One of coolest things you can hear your boss say, first thing in the morning, is "I'm so glad you're here!" That and "I have a project for you" definitely top my list. Like most people, I want my presence to be appreciated, even if my main job is to provide moral support. Unlike most people, I actually like being busy, and I work best when I have a long to-do list.

I find that my best boss-bonding time comes later on in the afternoon. We've had the entire day to either get stuff done or get ready to go home, and the office atmosphere feels more relaxed. I'm usually an overly eager beaver in the mornings, chomping at the bit to do some important errand like sort the mail or deliver a transcript. That's if I've had my coffee; if not, well, then, I'm nodding off over the NYTimes and not making any conversation. Good bonding also comes when no one else is around and we can make jokes. However, I still long for the Happy Hour invite (even if I would turn it down). Eventually...maybe...hopefully? Haha, I'll keep you updated.

Peace out,
Thing Two

Snowverkill

We’re from the north, and we appreciate seasons. A little snow here and there can be nice, even in warmer climes. But for the record, this DC snow is getting ridiculous. I mean, 55 inches this season? That’s as tall as a small child. Or Snookie from Jersey Shore. And after today’s blizzard, I would assume the majority of it has come in the past week.

In an attempt to be positive, here’s a list of good things and lessons that have happened because of Snowmaggedon:

• Time off work means more clean work clothes!
• Hanging out with friends in and watching sporting events with them is as fun as back at school, and especially is a treat on a typical work night.
• We’ve been able to explore parts of the city within walking distance that had previously been ignored.
• Guy friends are good for a lot of things, but they are especially good at making pancakes. We’ve been treated twice this snowmaggedon!
• Wellies/hiking boots are essential for the slushy sidewalks.
• Getting stranded in Metro Center is scary, but surviving it is worth the story.
• Everyone likes working so much more than they let on.
• Snow days are the perfect chance to go to Georgetown Cupcake early enough to get the free cupcake of the day, and a half dozen more to share with one's roommates.
• LSAT prep is a productive way to spend a snow day. Shopping works too though.

So, even when you’re stuck at home on a 4, 5 or even 6 day vacation, you can still learn thing or two J.

Much love,

Thing 1 and Thing 2

I dedicate this post to judging myself.

I tend think of myself as a pretty smart person. Generally, I'm not an idiot, and I try and not engage in idiotic actions. Crazy, maybe. Slightly reckless, sometimes. Idiotic? I truly hate that feeling and because I utterly loathe feeling incapable, I tend to be pretty quick on the uptake.

Enter Sunday afternoon. The sun is shining, the birds are tweeting...and there's a healthy 2.5-3 feet of snow on the ground in the DC area. In an effort to stay in shape, I've hyped up the runs lately. The past two were done inside on a treadmill, which I typically dislike, so today I had the *bright* idea to run outside. Why not, right? Right????

In case you've been living under a rock, this is what DC looked like Saturday afternoon:

Yes, folks, that's right. I decided to run outside. For your enjoyment, I will now document my attempted 5 miles of idiocy.

Mile 1, Arlington: Some of the sidewalks were shoveled, some were snowy. The sun was shining, I was feeling good. I slipped and fell on some snow-covered steps, but I enjoyed myself. It really wasn't so cold out, and I was jammin' to my tunes. I was feeling pretty hardcore, there were people sledding out and I was running.

Mile 2, Memorial Bridge: This is basically where the run went to shit. I grabbed my run of this site that has a ton of runs. I was running on a 12-inch wide snow tread with at least a foot high on either side of me. At one point, I decided to make a break for the road: I plunged into snow that was higher than me knee. Yeah, you heard me right. Six steps of this and I had to stop and scrape snow out of my shoe tops. Then I started running on the bridge, which was akin to running on a beach, not the part packed down by water either.

<- An illustration of my annoyance.

Halfway over the bridge, I knew my run was being cut short. I just wasn't going the entire way. While it was still sunny, the whole situation was starting to become ridiculous. One thing was for sure: I was NOT turning back and running over the damn bridge again. I decided to run over the Highway 50 bridge near the Kennedy Center, I would be able to keep going at a more manageable distance and hopefully get home much sooner that if I had continued all the way to Georgetown and over the Key Bridge.

This idea soon turned to be so terrible that the following events can only be countered as utterly ridiculous:

1. Running near the Kennedy Center is a maze of roads, and I have yet to correctly locate the (plowed) sidewalk entrance to the Route 50 bridge. This proved to be problematic. I ran down highway entrances three separate times and eventually scaled a 4 foot wall (with the help of the snow and my ninja-like skills) in order to land on the sidewalk.
2. The streets of DC may be passable (in some places), but the sidewalks are not. After scaling said wall Bond-style, I landed on three feet of snow. Luckily, most of it was packed down, so I picked my way through icy piles of snow to...
3. Three feet of snow covering most of the bridge. I tried to run for a bit, really I did. I had mostly given up after Memorial Bridge. It was at this point where I started thinking, Is this seriously happening? and I want to be home so bad, basically on repeat.
4. I started running on top of the guardrail. This elicited 3 dump truck and at least 4 car honks. Whatev peeps, there was no snow on top of the guardrail and a four feet buffer zone between the real bridge edge and the road. I was freezing, it was windy, and my nose was drippy but this was also by far the best idea I had all run (or should I say walk at this point) until...
5. The guard rail became covered with snow and I was forced back onto the side walk. Official "eff" moment of the run.

The remaining distance was pretty much pure misery. As you may have noticed, I've stopped counting miles because I stopped caring and, mostly, running. I was cold, I was wet, I wanted to be at home. I vowed not to run again outside until I knew of a clear path and would have sworn off running for a week (at least a couple of days) if not for my pure stupidity.

I'm sure I'll be back out there tomorrow, seeing as the Federal Government and most of the city (except for bars and restaurants) is still closed. So when you see a runner out scaling walls, jumping through snow banks and looking throughly miserable yep, that's probably me.

Peace out cub scouts,

The brilliant Thing Two

Whats Your Flavor?

The best tip I think I ever got was to have an issue. Have one thing that you can know, you can talk about, that can be yours. It took me six months to figure out what mine was, it sort of came to me. I've always gotten revved up about it, but one day I realized that I really wanted to work to change the status quo in it. Today I was fortunate to meet an expert in my issue, and it was...inspiring (corny, I know).

And let me tell you, it was like a drink of cold water. I've felt bogged down in some of the mundane intern tasks I've had to do, but hearing this person talk about the path they've taken renewed my love of my issue and my reasons for being here. I'm not doing the most glamorous job, but I'm here to have access to the people who do. I'm here to get a foot in the door and be introduced to the circles where I eventually hope to run.

I'm a passionate person, and I've had a chance to actually work with my issue in my college back home and I loved it. It was frustrating and addicting, and I didn't want to stop. While I don't always consider myself a competitive person, my issue is a challenge because it's not necessarily the most popular.

But I can do it, I can make it. All I have to do is want it bad enough; because if I want it bad enough, I'll make it happen.

Suit up.

Things I've learned over the past week:

1. Getting legit work to do isn't an impossibility. They hired us for a reason, now go after it. Even if what you're initially given is simple, or mindless, ask questions. Through those questions you can lead them toward work you might be more interested in.
2. Dress for the job you want. Yeah, I stole that from Capitol Hill Style's Guide to Intern Style. But, it's so true. Nothing screams "mindless intern, ignore her!" more than a t shirt. Or worse, a skirt that belongs at the bar, not in the office. Worst. Plus, I feel like I'm on par with Barney Stinson when I wear my freaking adorable cropped blazer to work, which makes me feel more confident, which means that people are more confident in me.
3. DC is apparently the most attractive state, and Arlington is the second best city to find a wealthy significant other. Get it girrrl!
4. Lesson 4 is redacted because my alcohol overconsumption is already obvious enough on our twitter, it doesn't need to be mentioned on the blog.
5. I have mad hyperlink skills.

This was mostly a blog post directing readers to other blogs, but.. at least Thing 2 won't yell at me anymore.

xoxo,

Thing 1