Lessons from a Southerner in D.C.

D.C. is a much different place from Lawrenceville. There are a number of things I've learned while being here...I've compiled a list.

1. Not all secret service men wear black suits...some are dark blue, others pinstriped and I have witnessed one wearing olive green.
2. While being able to speedwalk is not a prerequisite, you better learn fast. Many government employees could challenge Oprah in a foot race.
3. When you get a call in Halethorpe/Arbutus you will have a disgruntled conversation that will last a total of 20 minutes in 1.5 minute intervals.
4. When you want to call a friend back on the train one of three things will happen:
a. The only car with seating available will be the quite car. While on this car you will also receive three other calls, inevitably from people you haven't talked with in months.
b. You will be forced to stand due to your one minute before departure arrival. The place you stand will be near a woman with bronchitis, you will begin to envy and think ungodly thoughts about the woman wearing a face mask. , or
c. You will sit by a someone who unfortunately does not have laryngitis.
5. The escalator has similar rules as the expressway. Two lanes and filled with strangers, some of which have questionable hygiene, the left is the passing lane. The more you ride, the angrier you become with people who don't know these rules, and the more you want to post a sign that says "Slower Traffic Keep Right".
6. No matter what position you hold at the Department of Commerce, when there's an announcement about a going away party with free food, you will still feel compelled to go and bring your friends whether you know the person leaving or not.
7. Every Wednesday is apparently "Free Cuba Day" because that's what the picketers chant outside the Department of Commerce. I've learned the U.S. is not only enforcing a blockade on Cuba but it's also withholding computers. "What do we want?...Free the computers...What also do we want?...End the blockade," is chanted every Wednesday while someone walks around beating on a drum. (It is becoming increasingly difficult for me to walk by without laughing out loud.)
8. To see a woman carrying a Louis Vuitton purse on the Metro is not uncommon, but it's still strange when it's accessorizing their McDonald's uniform.

There are more lessons to be learned, I'll keep you informed.

In Brief

Alright, it's finally here, a new post. I'm kind of sorry that I have not done a better job of posting on here, but what can I say? Things are busy. The past few weeks have been just as amazing as my first days here in D.C. I still have a hard time believing I'm here. Jodie is now here as well. We've found a super fly apartment (I know I'm so ghetto). It's great and so far removed from life in the South. My commute no longer involves fighting Atlanta traffic in an attempt to make the 12 mile 45 minute trip to and from work. Every morning I get into a vehicle with strangers (hundreds of them) and let someone I've never seen drive me to work. It goes against everything your taught as a child. It's a good but different life. For any of you subscribing to the idea that there's no life after college (Union, in my case)...you are being deceived. In the words of my new (well, recently reunited) roommate, "God did not create us for just one place in life." There is life after college, and praise Him for that!

Wedding News, What?

Congratulations to Heather and Paul! I've never been more excited that God brought two people together more than I am for the two of you. You are both amazing people! I pray God continues to bless both of you as you continue to bless the lives of those around you! I love you guys!

A Thought From Louie

"We come from the womb equipped for connectivity with God, prewired to praise...Stamped in God's image, we know that there's something we attach to, something we fit with, someone we belong to, somewhere called home."

Fair and Balanced

Most of you already know this but I wanted to post an update anyway. Jodie (my roommate from college, O-Town Girl, the tall one with the hair of "that tall girl with the hair and the short one that walks with her", the same girl from a town of about 45 people and has aspirations of one day playing Rizzo...yeah that girl) well she just got a job with the Fox station here in D.C. So, she's moving here next week and we are going to be living together once again!!!! Score! I mean this is crazy! We look forward to your visits and hope that you don't mind sleeping around all the workout equiptment at the YMCA, or sharing a cot with Earl at the homeless shelter given that's probably where we'll be living.

Just Another Day

So, I've had a lot of first days. At least 16 first days of school, innumerable first days of work at T&L, one first day driving (probably not the best of the firsts), but none can compare to my first day at the Department of Commerce. Below, a brief (well, kind of) summary of the days events.

Upon arrival I was escorted to the Office of Advancement (my new work-for-free home) by the White House liaison (Annie, we've met her before in a previous post). From there I was briefed on what the office does. After being in the office only an hour and one half the Deputy Director of Advancement, Tom, asked if I wanted to go to an event the Secretary was having...I said no and just sat around in the office until they told me I could go home...kidding, I mean are you cruisazy?

We (well, mainly Tom) hailed a cab and made our way to the Omni Hotel where the secretary was scheduled to meet with some students who were being honored and give a speech. Basically, the highlights are that I met the secretary, joked with his bodyguard (who's from Stone Mtn...yeah laser show!!!) and met the chief of staff. Oh, but there was definitely no way we could return in a cab...that would be ridiculous, I mean there were two suburbans parked out back that just needed passengers...I mean they already had drivers...so we hitched a ride back to the commerce building in the secretary's motorcade.

While the ride in the motorcade was indeed one of the scariest rides of my life...imagine riding in something where it's the driver's job to tailgate the car in front of him...I'd like to nominate a couple of my readers (assuming there are a couple of you still out there) to this position. There was some confusion on first entering the vehicle because apparently the secretary wanted to drive through Starbucks, but he changed his mind and we returned, went in through the gate and back to the office.

Upon arrival to the office I received a new email address for the Department of Commerce, an office (yes an actual office, I'm not pretending this time), voicemail and tomorrow I will receive a Blackberry and security passes. All I have to say is, "Crazy!" Honestly, it was as if every moment was another miracle occurring...now, I'm pretty sure last week I was watching old Full House re-runs.

Now, I don't want to fool you, today was not without its mishaps. I did get lost in the building for a while after getting lunch in the cafeteria (yeah, goodbye to Aramark...Union and the State Department are missing out BIG). I had to call Annie so she could tell me where to go. But, all is well and the best part is they've invited me back for tomorrow!

Ms. Johnson Goes to Washington

Let it be known that I commuted on my own (well, while in the company of hundreds/thousands of strangers and with the help of a couple of attendants) from the Halethorpe station to Union Station to Metro Center and then my stop Federal Triangle where I walked one and one half blocks to the Department of Commerce. I really start tomorrow, today was simply a trial run. Although, upon reaching my destination I did see the Secretary get out of his car and walk in (basically I was standing on the sidewalk, saw a bunch of men in black suits with their finger in their ear and about four black cars pulled up...I did what any other person would do, I waited given I didn't believe the security was there for me). When I came up the escalator it was as if I'd seen a vision from the Lord, one that looked like the Reagan Building. I knew at that moment I'd arrived at my destination and not in some far off suburb. Upon this realization I wanted to begin running around, jumping up and down while laughing and screaming with excitement, but I refrained and opted to simply call my dad and tell him the good news. I trust both of you will stay tuned as I attempt to log onto my bootleg internet connection tomorrow night and bring you an update on day one!

Away with the Cardboard Box

The search is over (at least for now). After searching through countless apartment ads, turning down the fully furnished $550/month studio complete with a 40 year old man in search of a roommate, Union (dearest Union) has once again come through. I have a place to live!!!

I will be living with my friend's grandmother in Baltimore. (If you wish to know her [grandmother's or friend's] name, you can call me.) This really couldn't have worked out any better which is a testament to nothing less than the grace and faithfulness of God.

In other news, I spoke with the White House Liaison's Office (yeah that's totally fun to say) yesterday and I will start on Tuesday. I will definitely keep both of you still reading this blog updated on the first day events.

Run in and Right Out

Today I departed on what seemed to be an uneventful journey. Yes, a journey to the grocery store. Kroger became my Mecca after I realized swiss cheese was a much needed ingredient in the roll-ups I was making. So, I threw on some flip-flops and off I went (yes still in the blue sweats I slept in...for those of you passing judgment, you've been out of college too long). There was the fleeting thought of "What if I see someone I know?" but it was quickly dismissed as I entered the store.

After getting my groceries, (mainly just swiss cheese) I was drawn to it...the crane machine in the Kroger lobby, any of you who visited the dorm would know that this is not an abnormal occurrence, you saw the shelf-o-crane machine toys. So, I eyed my target (the stuffed Kaiser race car), inserted my quarters and grabbed it...yes I actually grabbed the car, along with some other strange looking stuffed animal-girl thing. The car dropped and did what only true crane machine fans can really understand...the car blocked the hole. So, I proceeded to insert two more quarters in the machine in an effort to knock both the car and the new toy down. Well, it didn't work.

At this point I proceeded to do what any good, upstanding, intelligent individual would do....yes ladies and gentlemen (all three of you still reading), I began beating on the machine. This was never a good idea....every year eight people die in vending machine accidents...AND, as I'm beating I look to the left to see a familiar face....a man my family used to go to church with is passing by and I'm thinking well maybe he won't recognize me. Of course he recognizes me, I look just like I did in kindergarten (just a few inches taller). We had a lovely chat and I left as quickly as possible. I think it's important to remember, you never know who's watching.