Andy Griffith

Guilty confessions:

Apt 930 is addicted to the Andy Griffith show. It is true. We enjoy the antics of Barney and the comments from Gomer, and the sweetness of Opie.
There is even an appeal of the slow peaceful life of Mayberry. After going to my boss' district this past week, one of the guys from our Leg staff said he forgot that people lived such different lives. In D.C. it is easy to get caught up in the sexy world of politics and power and it sometimes takes a jolt of reality in the world of, "normal middle class America" to remind us of real life. Life is starkly different outside of D.C. Even the simple detail of clothing choice; we stopped at one locality and a woman looked at the gentleman she was with and commented that, "they must be from D.C." He inquired as to why she would presume this, and she informed him that just as we were, everyone in D.C. wears black.

Time and time again, I have found Andy to be so wise, and his profound comments and solutions always strike a chord with the true values that I align with. Each episode, he takes problems and solves them with real world, common sense solutions. Maybe he should be president!
I would be quite satisfied if God gave me an Andy Griffith to marry and an Opie for a son.

Travels

Whew. I just got home from a tour of my boss' district. It was exhausting! Very very beneficial and eye opening, but socially draining. I really enjoy just listening to the rest of our staff and soaking up their exorbitant amounts of knowledge. There is much more to the legislative process than most people understand.

I feel like I'm constantly traveling these days, and my pocket book is proof as I buy plane tickets home to Alabama once a month if not more. When at home recently, I went out to meet up with a friend one night and realized that I felt SO out of place. Auburn seemed so foreign, it was like a dream in which I was searching to find a glimpse of normality and it was no where to be found. The faces were different, the buildings new, I kept trying to get comfortable, but I even found myself socially awkward. When my friend told people where I lived, they then asked what school I graduated from...doesn't take long to be forgotten. And as soon as I started talking about my job they glazed over, and I lost their attention almost instantly. I have forgotten how to small talk with anyone outside of D.C.!

However the trip was wonderful and it was great to see the family. My brothers are precious and growing by the day. And I was SO SO excited that Landrum chose to be a diamond sister with me in ADPI. I am very excited about all the experiences she is about to embark on. I will have to admit, that as beautiful as the country roads were in our district, and as refreshing as my trip home might have been, I realized each time I left, I was yearning for D.C. I look forward to the place where I fit in and live a comfortable life and also to come back to my roommate and my cosy grown-up apartment with the luxuries of a big city.
So tonight, for now, I'm back in what is my sweet home D.C.

Bodega

Reported by some friends in Auburn:

Robert Gibbs, the current White House Press Secretary, who seems to get more flustered than any secretary I can recall ever seeing or hearing about, was in Auburn a few weeks ago for his high school reunion.
Reliable sources have informed me that Mr. Gibbs was seen being thrown out of Bodega, a common late night watering hole after making a scene.
The bouncers were shutting down the bar when Mr. Gibbs who thought it was a little too early for this, insisted on getting in their face and asking repeatedly, "DO you know who I am???"
The bouncer then took the beer from his hand and chunked it in the trash saying," I don't care who the **** you are, GET OUT."

Washington has a habit of blowing up people's ego...but I'm justing being trying to be understanding. :)

War Damn.

Successfully Lost

I just had one of the toughest workouts. Kickboxing at Gold's Gym on Capitol Hill with Jen. She sounds nice, the experience sounds normal, but I am in PAIN! She kicked my butt. After our initial meeting I came to the conclusion that this Jen is NOT nice...or maybe she's simply sharing a tough love, because I will feel better about my caloric intake while I limp to work tomorrow. After an an hour and a half of hell, I ran home, and decided to head up to the roof for an evening swim. It was so relaxing to be back in the water, especially on a warm summer night with the glow of the Nationals stadium to my left and the Capitol and Washington Monument to my right. I then made a much needed call to a best friend in Auburn. What a blessing to have such good "bosom friends" as Anne of Green Gables referred to them. I don't know what I would do without the consistency of a wonderful roommate, an incredible family, and circle of friends and mentors who truly care for me.

These past two months have been a balance between managing a new work life and finding new friends. It's actually not been that difficult, God has laid everything in my lap. I have no complaints, it's just an odd reality that my friends and family in Auburn or elsewhere in the world have no idea about my life here. It's completely different and separate from the last 21 years of my life. The majority of my friends are new, a new church, new scenery, new apartment, a new world. No one back home can relate to the experiences I'm having. And yet in a way I feel like they should because they know me.

There are endless interesting things to do and people to meet in DC. I feel as though my weekly activities are constantly changing and I'm collecting new emails from acquaintances all the time. (We don't really do facebook, or cell phone numbers, correspondance is all through email. This is the downside of everyone having a Blackberry.) One weekend I spontaneously went to New York City to the US Open with a friend from Auburn who was interning in NYC. So a few hours after deciding to go I got on a bus and made a friend at 8 am on the way there, and another at 3 am on the way back. Both women were incredibly accomplished and so interesting! I had a truly eye opening week with the wide variety of people that I encountered. I now keep in touch with both women and have been touched by their different experiences. After living in Auburn, Alabama for 17 years of my life I have broken out of my sheltered bubble. Even with the multiple trips and conferences I went to, I did not have the depth of relationships with people who were really much different than me.

Then the realization hit me, there are a lot of generally confused people who are hungry for answers. They are unsure of what is going to happen in a sinking economy and a world filled with war, depression, hate, and hopeless discontentment and greed. DC is a prime location for hurting people. The "successful" ones just know how to cover it up. I want to make a difference on this planet in the short life I'm given. And even if it pulls me away from my family and friends, I want to be in the place where I can be best used by God. I want to serve as an open sounding board for anyone who needs a friend; to be able to implement the many ideals and values imprinted on me throughout my life. So here I am. A displaced southerner who seeks fulfillment in the daily joys of life with a passion to make even the smallest difference in the world around me. Why do I consistently chose to be silent and ignore opportunities when I have been blessed with the answers? As Christians WE have been given the answers!!!! Speak up and act out, for our reward is not on earth, but in heaven and we do not answer to men, but to the Creator of the universe.

14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear[a]; do not be frightened."[b] 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.1 Peter 3:14-16