It's like a countdown

I wonder if it's because there are a lot of seniors, and it's the end of the Spring semester? I've seen people counting down the days till it's over, happy and excited, yet sort of freaked out that they're going to walk out of here, ready to tackle life.

By my count, there are something like a couple of weeks left. It's kinda nuts, because the weather changed, the cherry blossoms came out, and then the crazy election season is all that people are talking about. I noticed the difference between living in Washington, and NOT living in Washington, when I left a few days ago to hang out in Philadelphia.

They were talking about poodle salons, and stuff like that. I noticed how strange it was, immediately. I'm so used to being able to walk down the street and talk to any one about policy, or stuff going on in Congress, or what's up with the nominations- but not there. Most people outside of DC seem to not be as tuned to politics as I am!

Yesterday it was pouring rain, so it was kinda crazy. The weather makes no sense sometimes. You can be in DC and it'll be freezing, wind blowing around, and dark. And then you can get on the metro, go a few stops, and pop out into the sunshine (or vice versa). Someone told me it's from the altitude. At first I thought they said "attitude" which made me laugh. Ah, yes- attitude- we got it :)

Candidates, anyone?

I have now seen two of the three major candidates for the Presidency. I went to a speech at the Communication's Workers of America conference, and both Senators Clinton and Obama were there. Clinton is pretty darn petite!! I'm really tall myself, so, she seemed even shorter :) Obama seemed very tall and really slender. They both sort of swooped in and then scampered out after the speeches. It was SO cool. I'm still waiting for my chance to see Senator McCain.

While I wait for that, I'll just get to see everyone else, lol. It's really bizarre that I'll be walking down the hallway of one of the office buildings around here, and a very well known Congressperson will wander by. I mean, yeah, they work here, but it's still sort of weird when Senator John Kerry or Senator Kennedy just randomly passes you by. Someone was excitedly telling me that they were eating a burrito at the taco place on Pennsylvania Avenue, and Supreme Court Justice Alito came in. My question? What did he order, burrito, taco, or plate? Unfortunately, they didn't know :(

Right now Capitol Hill is totally hopping. There is a debate between the Dems on Wednesday, and that's all people are talking about, other than the Pope. Yup, the POPE is here too. Wow, crazy! The greatest part in all that, is the part where I'm standing in the middle of it!!

It's a little amazing to me that there are only four weeks left. One of my roommates was baking cupcakes today, so it's smelling all cake-like in here. My fourth roomie is bouncing off the walls, because she got a job in Fairfax (Virginia). I've been hearing stuff like that all over the place.

Craig was just over here, stuffing in one of the cupcakes, and telling us how he got accepted into grad school back in Ohio. It's really sad that in a few weeks, we'll be leaving each other, but at the same time, it's really good how well everyone made out. I'd say that I'm just happy for all the friends I made while I was staying here.

April already?

It's amazing that the semester has flown by so fast. These last few days, my roommates and I realized that we will only be together for a few more weeks and that's really sad!! So we're running around enjoying ourselves as much as possible.

I finally got a bike but it keeps raining :( There are bike trails all over Washington D.C. and the surrounding areas, and there is even a website just for bicyclists to join up on and get maps. I think it is very wierd to bring my bike into the elevator and then roll it into my enclosed patio, but that's because everywhere I ever lived before, I had some sort of outside to play in. The apartments building I live in is a high-rise, and I'm just not really used to that.

Since it's been winter and the weather has been refusing to really act like spring much, it was always sort of cloudy until a few days ago. That's when Cassie and I realized that not only was our bedroom facing D.C., but that from our window vantage point, we could see both the Capitol building, AND the Washington Monument. Right out of our window!! Of course, I'm thinking Vicki finds the view to the right to be more interesting. We can see the McDonalds, LOL. We walk there quite often and get french fries and she gets nuggets. Cassie, Vicki, and Craig are apparently addicted to McNuggets. I don't eat them, myself.

I was walking down the street yesterday and found it really weird that just your normal average person standing on the corner would be talking about policy. Strange. I've never been in a place where you could be just anywhere, and people would be talking about Congress or laws or whatever it was that was in the news for today. The area around here is so in tune with what is happening on the Hill that it's just part of a regular conversation. We live and breathe politics around here I guess. Of course, I guess it also depends on what you do.

Craig works in the Library of Congress. I personally am quite happy I have a "researchers card" and can go on it and look at books. I've only been in there twice so far (no time!) but I like that I can go in and actually get to read things. The regular tourists don't get to do that. But ha! I live here.