Even though I've lived in the Los Angeles area far longer than my collective time in DC, I feel like I know DC much better and even have a tighter network of people that I can just run into on the street here. Just yesterday, I ran into one of my college friends in the dining room of a Congressional Office Building, one of my young democrat friends outside my office building, and a law school friend at the Nationals stadium. 3 different run-ins from 3 different spheres of my life all in one day.
I actually think that the reason why DC feels like a small place is because it is actually small, geographically. The district is only 68 square miles. Also, most people and places that I associate with are contained in the Northwest quadrant, making it even smaller.
Funny how I can move across the country and feel more familiar and have a greater comfort zone than I do in LA. But I'm sure wherever I "settle," I'll gain a sense of direction and run into people I know.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
First Class Baseball'ing
Last night I went to go see a National's game, which was my second time going to RFK stadium in the past month. Although I had fun both times, each game was a dramatically different experience. Whereas last time I sat far up, waited in line forever for the ATM because there was only one machine around, and ate an overpriced hotdog, this time I watched the game in luxury.
Yesterday at Happy Hour, Chandana won tickets to the game and our tickets were in the "Miller Lite Beer Pen." We had been giddy all day and the place definitely lived up to our expectations. The Beer Pen is a private bar and lounge area along the first baseline, with cushy seating and ledges where we could put our food in drink. Inside the lounge, there was an unlimited supply of wings (I was in heaven), hotdogs, peanuts, etc. 
We also got two free beers tickets, which is more than enough for me. I discovered that wings covered in sweet chili sauce + sunset wheat beer = amazing.
After this experience and getting a taste of the good life, I'm not sure how I can go back to sitting in regular seats again. It's like that episode of Seinfeld where Elaine and Jerry are fighting for first class tickets. Jerry says, "See, you don't know what you're missing. I've flown first-class. I can't go back to coach. I can't, I won't."
But alas, law school student budgets don't really allow for such nice things all the time. I'll just have to rely on my roommate to win me more free tickets. I've never followed baseball but going to games are fun. Plus, I'm becoming a Nationals fan-- and I bought a hat to prove it. Partially because I feel bad for a team that's so bad that they have a better record away than at home, but how could I not love a team that has giant mascots of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and TR run around.
Yesterday at Happy Hour, Chandana won tickets to the game and our tickets were in the "Miller Lite Beer Pen." We had been giddy all day and the place definitely lived up to our expectations. The Beer Pen is a private bar and lounge area along the first baseline, with cushy seating and ledges where we could put our food in drink. Inside the lounge, there was an unlimited supply of wings (I was in heaven), hotdogs, peanuts, etc. 
We also got two free beers tickets, which is more than enough for me. I discovered that wings covered in sweet chili sauce + sunset wheat beer = amazing.After this experience and getting a taste of the good life, I'm not sure how I can go back to sitting in regular seats again. It's like that episode of Seinfeld where Elaine and Jerry are fighting for first class tickets. Jerry says, "See, you don't know what you're missing. I've flown first-class. I can't go back to coach. I can't, I won't."
But alas, law school student budgets don't really allow for such nice things all the time. I'll just have to rely on my roommate to win me more free tickets. I've never followed baseball but going to games are fun. Plus, I'm becoming a Nationals fan-- and I bought a hat to prove it. Partially because I feel bad for a team that's so bad that they have a better record away than at home, but how could I not love a team that has giant mascots of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and TR run around.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Leaving Work at Work
-Yesterday I came home, laid out on a lawn chair, read a book for leisure, and took a swim in the pool.
-Today, I sat on a bench in Farragut Square after work, ate trailmix, and listened to a live band while waiting for my roommate. Afterwards, we went to happy hour with bunch of people from school.
-Tomorrow, my roommate and I are going to a Nationals game, because at the aforementioned happy hour, she won a raffle. Best part: Our seats are in the "Miller Lite Beer Pen," which basically equates to free private bar and lounge along the 1st base line.
-Saturday we're going to the National BBQ Battle!
I only brag because I can. The rest of the year I am usually envious of everyone elses' lives.
The best part about summer and working is that at the end of the day, my work stays at work. I have a little stuff to do for my externship class and law review, but it's not like during the school year. No reading and writing from the time I come home until the time I go to bed. I actually have time to do things other than school. To have fun, to go running, to even just sit and relax. It's so liberating.
-Today, I sat on a bench in Farragut Square after work, ate trailmix, and listened to a live band while waiting for my roommate. Afterwards, we went to happy hour with bunch of people from school.
-Tomorrow, my roommate and I are going to a Nationals game, because at the aforementioned happy hour, she won a raffle. Best part: Our seats are in the "Miller Lite Beer Pen," which basically equates to free private bar and lounge along the 1st base line.
-Saturday we're going to the National BBQ Battle!
I only brag because I can. The rest of the year I am usually envious of everyone elses' lives.
The best part about summer and working is that at the end of the day, my work stays at work. I have a little stuff to do for my externship class and law review, but it's not like during the school year. No reading and writing from the time I come home until the time I go to bed. I actually have time to do things other than school. To have fun, to go running, to even just sit and relax. It's so liberating.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
A Left Coast Lesson
When people over here find out that I come from a pretty white and conservative city, their surprised first reaction is always, "But you're from California."
Yes, California is the most diverse state in the US with minorities accounting for 57% of the population. And yes, people put us in the blue state category. But you could say that another reason California is "diverse" is because cities and regions within the state are so different from each other.
Just like many other states, we have some places that are more racially mixed and some places that are pretty homogeneous. There are pockets of Asians, Blacks, Latinos, and in the case of Santa Clarita, well the graph from the census data says it all:
To be fair, I know Santa Clarita is very Pleasantville (the movie was filmed there), but I didn't realize that it was that white...nor did I know that the median income that high. And, it's even whiter in San Clemente, where my parents just moved: 88% white.
These certain CA city demographics are only slightly different from where I was born and raised in Shoreview Minnesota: 92% white with an even higher average income than Santa Clarita or San Clemente. Some cities from the coasts aren't that different from parts of "Middle America" after all, eh?
So anyway, as I play California ambassador, answering many people's questions about the Golden State, I have to explain that while California might be the leading melting pot in the US, most parts of the state are not a racial--or political-- reflection of the whole.
(As a side note, the discussion of different regional backgrounds came up in my externship class yesterday, and someone said how amazed they were to see mountains for the first time when they went to CA. That was really strange to me.)
Yes, California is the most diverse state in the US with minorities accounting for 57% of the population. And yes, people put us in the blue state category. But you could say that another reason California is "diverse" is because cities and regions within the state are so different from each other.
Just like many other states, we have some places that are more racially mixed and some places that are pretty homogeneous. There are pockets of Asians, Blacks, Latinos, and in the case of Santa Clarita, well the graph from the census data says it all:
To be fair, I know Santa Clarita is very Pleasantville (the movie was filmed there), but I didn't realize that it was that white...nor did I know that the median income that high. And, it's even whiter in San Clemente, where my parents just moved: 88% white.These certain CA city demographics are only slightly different from where I was born and raised in Shoreview Minnesota: 92% white with an even higher average income than Santa Clarita or San Clemente. Some cities from the coasts aren't that different from parts of "Middle America" after all, eh?
So anyway, as I play California ambassador, answering many people's questions about the Golden State, I have to explain that while California might be the leading melting pot in the US, most parts of the state are not a racial--or political-- reflection of the whole.
(As a side note, the discussion of different regional backgrounds came up in my externship class yesterday, and someone said how amazed they were to see mountains for the first time when they went to CA. That was really strange to me.)
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Life Updates
Update on the anonymous creep: Right after my conversation with the guy pretending to be Alex, I did actually google the screen name. (Faith, you and I are always on the same page). Long story short, I found out that whoever has this screenname instant messaged a girl who goes to Virginia Tech nearly a year ago, also pretending to be her boyfriend. She also told me that another girl contacted her with the same exact story. Now that I know that it wasn't a friend playing a joke on me, I'm going to do a little investigative work on this serial imposter. Yes, I've been watching too much Law & Order but I'll keep everyone posted.
In other news, I'm enjoying my life as a "legal extern" (this is a fancy title that differentiates me from the undergrads and helps reassure myself that even though I don't get paid, I get school credit). What the job lacks in pay, it makes up with events that satisfy my legal nerdiness. The next two weeks are especially busy, here are some things on the docket:
In other news, I'm enjoying my life as a "legal extern" (this is a fancy title that differentiates me from the undergrads and helps reassure myself that even though I don't get paid, I get school credit). What the job lacks in pay, it makes up with events that satisfy my legal nerdiness. The next two weeks are especially busy, here are some things on the docket:
- Today: Got to sit in on a conference call with big firms, nonprofits, and our organization strategizing on what to include in briefts to the Supreme Court regarding the El-Masri extrodinary rendition case.
- Wednesday: Intern lunch with a speaker from the Justice Project, an organization that works on death penalty and wrongful conviction issues.
- Thursday: CATO institute debate on healthcare and sneak peak at parts of Michael Moore's new "documentary."
- Friday: Get to sit in on a meeting with my boss and Congressional staffers on Presidential signing statements.
- Next Tuesday: Congressional hearing on Federal Death Penalty. Then Congressional hearing on restoration on Habeas Corpus.
- Next Wednesday: Intern lunch with the first man to be exonnerated by DNA evidence (I'm sure I'll be writing about this more later).
- Next Thursday: American Constitution Society review on all the Supreme Court cases that came out this term, Thurgood Marshall Journalism award, and UN Award Reception for Alfred Mora- a former Navy lawyer who has spoken out against Guantanamo.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Summer in the City
How do you cure a Monday? A day 95 degrees and extremely humid. A day when your commute home is twice as long because three metro cars that stop in the station are so packed, you have to wait until the fourth one to get on. Oh, did I mention that the Metro station's air conditioning broke? Or that when I finally got onto the metro, it stalled in the tunnel for 5 minutes?
Listen to U2 and Red Hot Chili Peppers on the Metro to pass the time.
Make a bbq chicken salad with the fresh produce you bought over the weekend.
And most importantly, go swimming in your apartment pool that is finally open!
Listen to U2 and Red Hot Chili Peppers on the Metro to pass the time.Make a bbq chicken salad with the fresh produce you bought over the weekend.
And most importantly, go swimming in your apartment pool that is finally open!
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Anonymously Annoying
This morning I woke up, had a nice walk on my way to Mass, bought a bunch of fresh fruit at Whole Foods...pretty much minding my own business on a lovely Sunday morning. Then I get an IM from a person pretending to be Alex.
After that "xtremlyaddictlng" immediately signs off or blocks me. I call Alex and actually wake him up, he has no idea who IM'ed me. If this was a friend playing a joke, well it was still a little weird...but I guess you fooled me for a minute or two. You can come forward and take credit.
However, if this is some random person pretending to be my boyfriend for whatever reason, all I can say is that you're a creep. And this once again leads me to ask the question: Do I have a sign on my forehead that says "weird crazy people, come harass me"?
xtremlyaddictlng: hey
Me: hi, who is this?
xtremlyaddictlng: hey its alex
xtremlyaddictlng: is this im coming in right
xtremlyaddictlng: I got the mac laptop
Me: alex k___?
Me: yeah, it's coming in fine
xtremlyaddictlng: oh
xtremlyaddictlng: no your alex dummy
xtremlyaddictlng: [alex's last name removed]
Me: why are you on a mac?
Me: or have this screen name?
xtremlyaddictlng: I bought the white macbook
xtremlyaddictlng: I had t make a screneame up for the program on it calledichat
xtremlyaddictlng: it lets you im aim people toot hough
Me: you bought a macbook?!
xtremlyaddictlng: yeh
xtremlyaddictlng: its nice
Me: when?
xtremlyaddictlng: its a lot faster than a pc
xtremlyaddictlng: yesterday
xtremlyaddictlng: at the actual apple store
Me: you didn't tell me that
xtremlyaddictlng: hence..i'm telling you now :-)
xtremlyaddictlng: i wanted to go online on it before i told you
xtremlyaddictlng: cause I didnt think i'd like it and return it
Me: why'd you buy a new computer?
xtremlyaddictlng: cause I can sell mine for a good amount
xtremlyaddictlng: so I can make that up on the macbook
xtremlyaddictlng: it was 749
xtremlyaddictlng: my computer sells for over 600
xtremlyaddictlng: can you teleport here
Me: are you going to get a new screen name?
xtremlyaddictlng: i want to sort of have a cuddle session haha
xtremlyaddictlng: yeh unless I can keep this one
xtremlyaddictlng: do you approve?
Me: i don't get it
xtremlyaddictlng: ?
Me: what's it supposed to mean?
xtremlyaddictlng: I want to cuddle with you
xtremlyaddictlng: oh
xtremlyaddictlng: extremly addicting
xtremlyaddictlng: like very addictive
Me: why is it an l?
Me: addictling?
xtremlyaddictlng: just for kicks
Me: hmm, i dont' know
xtremlyaddictlng: ?
Me: i kind of got used to your old one
xtremlyaddictlng: oh
xtremlyaddictlng: yeh i emailed them to ask how to use the old one
Me: maybe i just don't like the "x" and the weird spelling
xtremlyaddictlng: it doesnt let you sign on with those
xtremlyaddictlng: yeh
xtremlyaddictlng: I'm sort of craving you
xtremlyaddictlng: riht now lol
xtremlyaddictlng: :-(
Me: this doesn't sound like alex
xtremlyaddictlng: its me
xtremlyaddictlng: i was just thinking about stuff all night
xtremlyaddictlng: so im ina diff mood
Me: Ok, I know this isn't Alex
After that "xtremlyaddictlng" immediately signs off or blocks me. I call Alex and actually wake him up, he has no idea who IM'ed me. If this was a friend playing a joke, well it was still a little weird...but I guess you fooled me for a minute or two. You can come forward and take credit.
However, if this is some random person pretending to be my boyfriend for whatever reason, all I can say is that you're a creep. And this once again leads me to ask the question: Do I have a sign on my forehead that says "weird crazy people, come harass me"?
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