When the Congress is away…

With Congress in recess until after the election, one must ask what goes on in Capitol Hill? Since we are inquiring into the daily activities of the legislative branch, what goes on in Capitol Hill when Congress is in session? I don’t think I can provide any valuable insight into the second question, as I have been in the city less then a month. The first however, may be more surprising than you might think.

A good friend of mine that lives on Capitol Hill (and who happens to be Laura Ingraham’s intern) extended an invitation to me for a Congressional Hall Party. It took place on a Thursday night. That being my day off for the week, I happily agreed. I saw this small get together as a great opportunity to get to know some people. With my ridiculous work schedule and preoccupation with setting up my house, I have had virtually no opportunities to meet people up until this point. I calculate that at any given moment, I know a grand total of 4 people in the DC metro area. Not counting coworkers of course. As someone who has never had trouble making new friends, those statistics are quite embarrassing.

Lindsay and I agreed to meet at the Capitol South Metro Stop at 5:00PM. We went and grabbed a quick bite to eat, then were off to the Rayburn Building. One of the Congressional Office buildings, the Rayburn is on the South side (or Congressional side) of Capitol Hill. We quickly got through security with a minor delay, (my boots managed to set off the metal detectors) and took the elevator up.

A Congressional Hall Party is exactly what it sounds like. All the congressional staffers, aides and interns set up tables in the hallway connecting the offices. The were about a dozen twenty-something of Capitol Hill’s finest milling from office to office, drinking beer and eating common party fare. Everyone stayed in the middle of the hall, milling between two to three open offices. We put our bags down in Lindsay's old office, belonging to a republican Congressman from Texas. I was surprised the find that the Congressman's office was open. Lindsay told me I was allowed to go in, even though no one was there and technically, she is no longer employed by him. The office was large, with matching blue leather couches lining one wall and a large executive desk towards the back of the room. Behind the desk was a window that had, I'm sure, the most amazing view of the Capitol. The walls were lined with photos of the Congressman with other leaders and Presidents as well as those of his children and grandchildren.

Resisting the urge to snoop, I quickly left the office to rejoin Lindsay and the other staffers. I met a lot of different people and from what she told me before the party, all the staffers hung out without regard to political identification. Their bosses should learn a thing or too from the hired help. We followed a group into a Kentucky Congressman's office, thinking that there was more food or something that would attract the small crowd. What I found was quite astonishing.

Feeling like I had somehow entered a parrallel universe, I walked into the office of the Congressman to find three staffers gathered around a plasma screen TV playing Wii. Yes, the video game system. Specifically they were playing Mario Kart. On Capitol Hill. In a Congressman's personal office. Words cannot quite describe how surreal it felt to witness this. So instead of observing, we all jumped it. How often can you say that you played Wii in a Congressman's office on Capitol Hill?

In case you ever find yourself wondering, "How does my Congressman spend his/her time in Washington" just picture three Capitol Hill staffers lounging on leather couches with Wii controllers in their hands.

NAVY DAY!

Saturday, October 11th was Navy Day in the District. I had a few hours in the morning so I hopped on the red line to the Archives/Navy Memorial exit. This was the first time I had used this stop and I was surprised to see that the escaltor puts you at the foot of the Navy Memorial. There was a young uniformed officer standing at the top of the escalator, handing out pamphlets for the event. The Navy Memorial is round and set up like a stage. around the farthest circle is a fountain. The next is a mural cut into the stone wall depicting the naval adventures of our men dating back to before the Revolution.

Around the memorial they had set up humvees and other naval vehicles. Inside were tables with activities for kids. There were also booths set up by the navy with different kinds of equipment on display. There was a booth set up by the Seals with assorted weapons. I stopped by the diving table and spoke to a couple naval officers about what it takes to be a navy diver and the types of training they endure. After listening to Marcus Litrell's Lone Survior on the way to DC, I developed an interest in the Navy and the missions they endure.

This was officially my first event in the District and I can't to see what is to come!

Tips for Road Trips

I can honestly say that this trip was the best thing I have ever done. Not only did I have the opportunity to spend a top of quality time with my dad, I discovered the beauty of my country. It gave me a new perspective of places I never would have dreamed of visiting and ignited a desire to see the states we could not fit in this trip. I have compiled a list of things to consider when planning a road trip to help encourage others to do the uncommon.

1. Be your own Travel Agent: Pick a route and invest in some maps or a good computer program that will help you plan out and execute a successful trip. Visit the tourism sites of the areas you will be visiting to get ideas.
2. Know that you are going to miss some things: Some people don't like planning road trips and I know I am a bit of an "over-planner". But if you decide to do some research and figure out what site you want to see, recognize that that day when you hit two time zones you might have to skip a few things.
3. Invest in a good GPS: My one caveat to this is that you will always know where you are, you just won't know how you got there. That being said, it really saved us in Tennessee and Virginia where the roads can be terribly confusing and aren't always labeled.
4. Be a penny pincher: Ship around for good hotel rates and research what restaurants are going to be nearby your route/hotel. Knowing these things ahead of time can help you save your money and your waist. A road trip is not about spending money, its about exploring. A lot of the best things we saw on our trip were free or very cheap.
5. Leave your prejudices at home: Or at least try to. Yes Texas and Arkansas and Oklahoma evoke all sorts of "exciting" images, but try to have an open mind. I was constantly surprised. Some of the most beautiful parts of our country is designated as "flyover".
6. Go with someone you know you aren't going to fight with: I know this can be difficult to plan ahead, but I knew from the moment this idea came to me that I could do this with no one but my dad. He and I are alike enough that we share the same interests and easy going enough that neither of us stressed out a moment of the trip. Even though I had done a lot of the planning, when we had to cut things out I was okay just going with it and he was okay letting me be the travel guide. It would not have been the same if I went with anyone else.
7. Have fun! Sees the most obvious, but just remember to focus on why you are on this trip. Whether it is exploration, reconnecting with a loved one or learning about something new, don't forget why you are there!

Road Trip Days 5 & 6

As we come to then end of this adventure, I feel like I can finally come to terms with this major change in my life. Dad and I crossed through Tennessee and into Virginia on Day 5, then finished our trek on Day 6 from Lynchberg to Washington DC.

It is amazing how beautiful Tennessee is. I visited here once when I was about 5 for a wedding and only remember a trampoline and fireflies. Coincidentally, the couple whose wedding I attended (and was the flower girl) back then is the same couple we will be staying with in Lynchberg VA. While on the road to Thompson Station, TN we took a wrong turn off the exit following the one we missed and ended up on some amazing back road with beautiful forests and large houses. By the time the GPS finally got us to our friend's house, we had no idea how we had navigated the curvy roads. All we knew was that Tennessee was, by far, the most beautiful state we had seen thus far.

After a great night reuniting with our friends in Thompson Station, we left on what we anticipated to be the longest day of the trip. In reality, the GPS took us on a route that bypassed both Carolinas and took us straight through Tennessee and into Virginia. We managed to get to Lynchberg at a reasonable hour and spent another night reminiscing with friends and enjoying a home cooked meal.

The next morning our hosts took us to the Lynchberg Cemetery. As weird as it sounds, this was one of the coolest stops we made during the whole trip. The cemetery dates back to the Pre-Civil War era and was the final resting place for many Confederate soldiers who died from small pox during the war. The cemetery built a road through it, shaped like a "U", that visitors drive through. There are various places that you can stop and park your vehicle to explore. These include "The Pest House", the chapel, and the train station. Definitely worth checking out if you find yourself in Lynchberg.

Next: Home