My internship in D.C. has quickly come to an end. When I first arrived, I couldn't wait to leave. And now that they're kicking me out, I kinda don't want to leave. *shrug* (Yes, I'll be the first to admit that I tend to be a walking oxymoron at times.)

D.C. has been fun, lots of chasing after big name politicians. On today's list was Senator John Edwards and Reverend Al Sharpton. I didn't really understand why the Congresswoman supported Sharpton at first. He's basically like a shot in the dark. However, in hearing him speak today, I think I'm starting to understand. So what if he's not the favored Democratic presidential candidate? It's about getting the ideas and values represented, and for that, I respect Sharpton. Edwards was great, too. I'm torn between my choices now. The North Carolina accent really did it for me. Hahah.

A NATIONAL PASTTIME

Ahh... the joys of playing baseball in pouring rain for 2 hours! I was soaked from head to toe, starving, and cold. It's definitely not a good combo. And usually this makes for a very grumpy Jamie. (Just ask Gabbo, she knows all too well.) Yet, for some reason, I couldn't find any reason to complain about the whole experience. Despite being on a Congressional softball team ranked 151st (out of 151 teams, I think), this Far Left Fielder found some sort of tranquility to the whole experience. There's something very patriotic about being able to play baseball between two of the most revered monuments (Washington and Lincoln) and right next to the Reflecting Pool. So what if I got rained on... it's just water.

CHILLIN' WITH THE PRESIDENT

Nobody will ever believe me... but Gabbo, Arezo and I watched a baseball game with the one and only G Dub this afternoon. Apparently the President hosts 4 tee-ball games a year out on the South lawn of the White House for disabled children. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time and managed to get us in for some up close and personal attention with the President. We literally sat less than 10 feet away from him the entire time and even got to shake his hand and get his autograph. *shrug* We all felt a tad traitorous to our political views, but then again, how often do you get to watch a baseball game with the President??? If there's one thing I learned today, being within the gates of the White House is a marvelous place to be. I'll be back... I know it... this time, on my own accord...

YELLOW FEVER, ANYONE?

Leave it to me to get hit on by every badge-flashing colored folk in this small district... and they get older and older by the day.

I just HAD to steal this off Elaine's blog. It's too funny...

:: Monday, July 21, 2003 ::
what is the common factor...?

abercrombie model + ucla pre-med student + up and coming entertainer/artist + cal swimmer/olympic hopeful + secret service agent..?

*smug smile* yeah, we're bad... we know it. =)

:: lainey 11:58 PM ::

"The Postman Always Rings Twice"... what a strange movie. I can't even begin to describe it, it was just weird. All in all, my night ended on a high note.

Despite what Caleb says, I am LOVING this picture.

As told to me by a wise friend to pass along to all the other smart and independent ladies out there:

"Why bring sand to the beach?"

It's worth thinking about...

And the work starts again... I'm feeling nervous and queasy. Somebody please give me the strength to get through this upcoming year alive. I'm too young to get wrinkles and gray hair.

Happy birthday to the Congresswoman. Price Club in DC is so cool. They have models of the Capitol made out of Belgian chocolate!!!! Getting sick off of vanilla cheesecake and brownies while at work is great.

The Girls of 708



(from left to right: Gabbo, Natalia, me and Adrian)

"Money and all that stuff doesn't equal a ring, because you'll always be in the books as winning a championship and being on one of the best teams ever to play the game," Payton said. "And I've been in the league 13 years. I've already gotten the big paychecks. I'll be fine."

For some reason, Payton's comment made me feel all warm and tingly inside. What a concept: less money for a championship? The Dynamic Duo is slowly evolving into the Fantastic Four. I can hardly contain myself... the Lakers are gonna DOMINATE! It hardly seems fair anymore... we've got such a staked team. Oh well, the guilty feeling has passed. GO LAKERS!

After months of going without any steak, I finally got my fair share of it tonight. The Cheesecake Factory had excellent food as always, though the service sucked. Caleb's refills kept changing, but he finally got his Diet Coke in the end.

Work was surprisingly great today. Since I was the only intern around for most of the day, I had a lot of work, which kept me really busy the whole day. They also made me collect quite a few signatures from Cannon. After the story that Gabbo told me the other day, walking up one flight of stairs was enough to send chills up my spine. Apparently a man fell and died on the stairs of Cannon two weeks ago. Granted, Cannon is a pretty big building with several staircases. I had no idea which staircase the man tripped and fell on, but man, I was scared. Gabbo told me that you can still see the blood stains on the staircase. I only walked up from the basement to the 1st floor, but the whole time, I was trying not to look down for fear of seeing blood stains. Yet, wearing heels, you kinda gotta look down to keep from tripping. I certainly didn't want to be the 2nd victim on those stairs. *shudders* Next week will be good though. I'm scheduled to tag along with the Congresswoman's Press Secretary and go to several press conferences. Plus, on Monday, I'll be sitting at the front desk all day, greeting all the smiling faces that walk into the office.

Mark the date: July 9th, the day I realized that the White House and I are one. My Congressional Intern White House tour lasted 3 hours!!! (For the average intern, the tour ranges anywhere from 10 minutes to half an hour.) I swear they must have had tracking devices on Natalia and me. "They're in the Red Room.... now they're on the move... going into the Blue Room. Copy? Over." All I know is that if I ever wanted a private tour of the White House, there are several Secret Service Agents that I could hit up.

Very random... so I was walking back to the office after a wonderful lunch when I happened to run into Congressman Mike Honda. I politely said, "Good afternoon, Congressman." I think he was shocked that I recognized him and so he proceeded to ask me what school I went to and where I worked. Stupid me, I always act like the biggest spaz when I meet politicians I really admire. I rambled on and on about how I knew Patrick... without ever giving my name. Hmm, sounds oddly like my encounter with Governor Gray Davis. Regardless, Congressman Honda was such a sweet man. I wanted to say, "Hey, I know EVERYTHING about you. I read Patrick's paper." Thank goodness I didn't. I think he would've called security on me. My conversation with Congressman Honda was longer than all my combined conversations with Barbara Lee. Tomorrow, the interns and I have a photo shoot with her and then we're supposed to do tea. Funny how I don't hear about these things 'til the very last minute...

I've lost my friend... I'm a really bad person.

... and life makes sense again...

Can things be great and not so great at the same time? Maybe I'm greedy, but life has been leaving me wanting more as of late. Wanting what, I'm not so sure. Perhaps eating 1.5 meals each day could be the reason... I'm still trying to decide if coming to DC this summer was the best move for me. Kristopher seems to think I've matured much more within the short 4 weeks that I've been here than the 2 years that he's known me. What does that mean? Mature in a good way? I'm definitely not the same Jamie that people remember from high school. For once, my weekends aren't packed with tournaments, conventions, projects, or meetings... which leaves me with a lot of options on how to fill my free time. I've never spent the 4th of July waking up to champagne. I've never had to sneak in vodka anywhere. I've never gone dancing more than 3 times a year. Now I go dancing 3 times a week! Huh... which brings me back to this whole idea of growing up and "maturing." Maybe this IS what college students do and I'm just finally figuring it out. I'm having fun, BELIEVE ME, it's been a blast. Yet, part of me thinks that maybe I should've stayed home this summer. Jerry's finally going into high school and Terri's going to be a Senior. That's important stuff to me. Maybe I feel guilty for having so much fun. I usually have fun working. Right now, I hate work... I have fun NOT working. I am in dire need of some Amy Grant advice...

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

What better place to celebrate the birth of our nation than at the Capitol? Hmm... it sounds great, but for some reason, I'm still longing to be in Mammoth with Kris. Last year was such a blast... fishing, swimming, tanning, eating (a lot!!!!), hot-tubbing, and even a really crappy laser show. Plus, I just miss Kris... I think we've spent the 4th of July together every year since high school. *sigh* Just commiserated with a drunken Ted about how the West Coast is still nicer than the East. But drunken Ted also insulted my Gray and is a staunch Arnold Schwarzenegger supporter. *yech*

Marry me, Gray. I'm better than the one you've got.

Guess what I learned to do...

I feel drunk, but I know I'm not...

Tonight, I played, and got played...

I have stalkers and they steal my friends...

THE END.