Dearest Breezy and Gabel met in DC and got married a few weeks back. They are pretty, they are in love, ya ya ya. But we all know the reason of the wedding was really to have a Barlow reunion.
and reunite we did.
There's a lot of love in my heart for these people, and I loved all the laughter and memories we shared.
I was hit with a flood of nostalgia.
Judge Griffiths
The chicken incident
Barlow Court
boys matching 101
dance parties
midnight trips to Kramers
feeding the birds in Alexandria
dinner group
Dr. G.
it was like nothing in the past 7 months had changed.
even though we are all over the place and getting ready for bigger things.
this will always be the BC/DC family.
and I love that.
Congrats Breezy and Gabel. Thanks for letting us rearrange the furniture at your reception so we could all sit together and for letting us do the Hoedown Throwdown as the other guests stared.
It's just what we do, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I'll admit I was a little apprehensive to go back to DC,
because I didn't want my memories to be different from how things really are.
But it was so great to be back in my favorite city.
It really felt like I was coming home.
And fall on the east coast is just about the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
I was the group's tour guide, so I spent the first few days mothering everyone around DC, worrying the whole time I was going to lose someone
(there was an unfortunate incident of my boss getting stuck in the metro doors his first time, but other than that we were drama-free)
I loved visiting some of my favorite places, like the Lincoln Memorial at night, white house protesters) and some new places too (How had I never been to the 9-11 memorial at the Pentagon?)
And I missed the BCDC family so much...especially when we stopped by the Barlow and went to good stuff and when we talked about how "anything is possible"
highlights:
Let's be honest--the first place we went (literally right after we checked into the hotel) was Good Stuff. I was worried I had talked it up and people wouldn't like it, but then I remembered how amazing good stuff is. and how life-changing those toasted marshmallow shakes are.
just a little BYU PRSSA pride before the opening social.
Arlington. always one of my favorite places and so beautiful in the fall
what up barack!
oh, you want some media placements about our award? ok
to wonderful springtime,I mingled with some big-whigs,but really just loved living with some of the best people ever. love DC love the Barlow
It was in DC that I learned how to think, how to question and how to know what I believe. It was in DC that I learned about politics, culture and people. I grew and learned so much about myself. I thrived on city life. I figured out with certainty what I want to do with my life. I learned how to be productive, but still enjoy life. Diligent, but adventurous. I strengthened my relationship with my Savior. I learned to be professional. I lived with 40 stranger who quickly became some of my favorite people in the world. I laughed, danced and sang my way through city streets and the Metro. I loved my life.
What a blessing it was to spend the best semester ever in Washington, DC. I got a little teary-eyed as I flew out yesterday and reminisced because I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
Today was the last day of my internship. It still hasn't hit me, but as I walked home from Dupont today for the last time, I thought about everything I experienced and learned from my internship.
I know what I want to do with my life, and have a pretty good idea how to get there. I found a love for political communications and a quest for accuracy and truth.
goodbye running to catch the metro goodbye lunchtime walks around the streets of van ness. goodbye aim.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
I have a new found love:
roller derby.
A group of us braved SE DC on Saturday for the DC Roller Girls league championship bout.
I was excited, but found roller derby isn't quite what I imagined. Yes, some of the girls are quite large. Their outfits are weird. They have crazy names (Condeleeza Slice? Lois Slain?) They push each other. But I didn't realize how much strategy is in the game. After the exhibition game was the championship: Scare Force One (motto: why we gotta be so awesome alla time?) vs DC DemonCats. By the end, we had the strategy down and were getting so into the game. and sitting in the "suicide seats" on the edge of the track and having some players slide into us was quite exciting too.Salt Lake has a roller derby league. You better believe we'll be going to check it out.
To the man in the red Volvo, You probably didn't think anyone could hear you blasting "Hey Soul Sister" as you drove through you quiet Van Ness neighborhood, but I could. From over a block away. But I loved it, so thanks.
Dear Nuclear Safety Summit, Thank you for causing so many motorcades. I saw 3 on my walk to Dupont this morning, 2 this evening, and heard a bunch more. I would probably hate you if I drove, but you're just making this metro-rider's last DC week very exciting. And I've never seen so many police in one city.
Dear time, I would really appreciate it if you just stopped moving for a while. I would be happy to stay here forever, or at least for long than just 5 days.
Hey Robert Downey Jr, I never thought you were attractive. Then I watched Sherlock Holmes. What happened to you?
Dear Sammamish, I'm excited to spend a few months with you this summer. We'll have a grand time
Journal, We seriously need to catch up. But for now, this blog might have to suffice. Sorry.
Dear Georgetown waterfront, I don't think there's much better than an early morning run along your shores as the crew team rows past, hobos wake from their benches and "Here comes the sun" plays through the headphones.
Potbellys, I love you so much, I'm considering starting a franchise so I can have a "skinny wreck on wheat bread with everything but hot peppers" whenever I want. I'll miss you, but we'll always have lunch breaks on the UDC benches.
Packing, I barely started, and I'm already so over you. Somethings gotta give.
To the Reflecting Pool grass, Remember when you were covered in snow? Well, I'm glad I can see you now, and I'm so glad we had those few hours of picnicking and cloud watching yesterday. It was lovely.
theme: O Canada dress code: super fly location: Barlow, obvs. In the same room we have class, institute, and important meetings. But we transformed it from the Great Room to the Great Disco Hall.
We had:
A prom queen--Jen the Canadian, who never had a prom. hence the themeawkward stair pictureschaparones...our professor and his wife stopped by his office and we surprised to find how we spend our Friday nights at the BC/DCslow dances to the classic prom songsand an all-around rockin time!
I think its pretty safe to say this is the first time the Barlow Center has hosted a prom, but it was definitely the best party this place has ever seen.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
10 days. 10 days, people. That's all the time I have left in this wonderful city. I went on a walk today behind my office building and had the most wonderful time looking at the houses. I found a forest park trail to run on, and it hit me. I've done all the touristy things, but now I just want to live here. There are so many things left to see and do, things that aren't in tourist books, things I want to experience.
I think I'll spend as much time as I can in the next 10 days drinking in the culture, the experiences and the joys of city life.
(picture=some of my favorite houses on Capitol Hill. I miss you already, lovely row houses)
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Happy spring weekend! first, Easter eve aka best Priesthood season girls night ever. Fireworks over the cherry blossoms and the tidal basin. Fabulous. (Jen took these pictures. She's ridiculously talented)
I enjoyed the best Easter morning walk to read my scriptures under a willow tree on the banks of the Potomac. It was perfect, until I sat on an ant hill and had to move to the next tree over.
We cooked between and after Conference sessions to create the best Easter dinner the Barlow has ever seen. We even found silver platters and candleabras to use. The food and company were quite wonderful. Happy Easter!
Also, please observe the final standings in the Barlow Center bracket challenge. That's right, winner winner. My bracket was based on uniforms. luckily Duke has really good uniforms.
No class Friday meant a trip to Mt. Vernon, George Washington's estate. Yes, it's touristy, but it was the perfect spring day and so worth the crowds. But the place is big enough it didn't even feel crowded. Thanks George for a great house. I came away with a greater appreciation for my state's namesake. We waited forever to go inside the mansion (no cameras allowed). The front is behind us, so just imagine. Inside were the rooms GW was when he found out he was going to be prez and where he died. so cool.Mansion from the back, which has the most beautiful view overlooking the Potomac.George and Martha's tombs. tons of security here, but awesome.
today was overcast and breezy. My head has felt like it was going to explode for the last 2 days, so I came home and slept after work. It felt great.
I was writing a letter on the metro coming home from work today and left my umbrella when I switched trains in my stuppored state. my poor umbrella is on the red line somewhere between Shady Grove and Glenmont. goodbye dear umbrella, you served me well.
The homeless man on the corner by the Foggy Bottom metro didn't have his usual wall clock on the ground today, but rather a large, fake decorative tree. It prompted a lot of questions, but now I know what to do with all those tacky home decor pieces I don't know what to do with.
I register for classes tonight. Turns out midnight in Utah isn't 10pm here like I thought, but rather 2am. oh boy.
I can't stop listening to a capella music. Especially the Ben Folds acapella album. What is wrong with me?
I love cherry blossoms. I'm not so much a fan of the tourists that come with them, but I should have some compassion because I once was them.
Mt. Vernon this weekend. so excited.
General Conference this weekend. Even more excited.
I like phone calls with sisters.
I would like an internship for this summer, please. That's all I've ever wanted.
Happy Tuesday.
(picture doesn't match post, but whatevs. taken at the White House en route to last week's protests. No sign of the first family, but extra snipers on the roof)
1. congregate in Barlow lobby at 6:40am for bagels. 2. board bus. Professor immediately puts in dvd of "Gettysburg". 3. try to sleep. 4. groggily wake up from half sleep with Stonewall Jackson fighting a battle re-enactment way to loud on the tv right above your head 5. get to Gettysburg.6. go through museum, movie and cyclorama. (tidbit--cycloramas are cool, but not as cool as the name implies. nothing cycled, except us.) 7. get on bus with Jeff the tour guide, learn everything about Gettysburg while traveling around the field. 8. get off bus. sit on cannon. take picture.9. Climb tallest look-out on battlefield (not authentic). All 121 steps, but it felt much taller. Soak in great view.9. go to General Pickett's Buffet, a total tourist trap for student groups. my thoughts...Pickett's Charge was a huge military failure, why would the buffet be any different? 10. Repeat steps 2-4 en route to Harper's Ferry 11. Wander Harper's Ferry, feel jipped lots of things are closed or lame. Walk across the train bridge for a fabulous view of the rivers. Skip a rock in the river and feel wonderful. 12. participate in/view Barlow American Gladiators/Curb Chicken tournament while waiting for the bus. Realize how awful your balance is.13. Get back on bus and marvel at the West Virginia/Maryland/DC countryside on the way back.
All in all, good day. I learned a lot, had lots of fun, and loved the chance to get out of the city and into nature.(this is looking at the site of Pickett's Charge. Can you imagine 13,000 people marching at you in a line 1 mile long? crazy. I still can't wrap my head around that style of battle.) And the whole day, I was totally quoting this scene in my head...love it.
