Is this real life?

...is what I am thinking in my brain every time I walk to and from Union Station to Capitol Hill.

And then when I get to have two little girls today holding each of my hands when we walk through the crowded touristy spots of the Capitol...

...I get to call this work?

Intern-o-Rama.

If you haven't read the awesome shout-out to interns that Deseret News gave us, check this out:

The path to D.C. internships is well traveled for Utah students

It was such a great article! I am really proud to be here on the Hill and I agree--the staff makes it such a great experience to learn everything we possibly can in four months time. However, I wanted to show you my little spin on it, and why internships on the Hill are just as glamourous as you might expect.

The news of the day was not anything about the Ukraine bill, or the Smarter Sentencing Act, or even the Hobby Lobby case that's going to the Supreme Court next week. Nope, it was how to best exterminate a mouse.

I'm very impressed at the man-skills used in this mouse trap making, even the Senator was impressed when he came up here this afternoon! Even with all the hard work, we still haven't captured it, but it managed to take the bait away to it's little hiding place. Ugh. Sarah and I were kneeling on our chairs the whole afternoon. 

I thought you might be interested in how D.C. interns really live...maybe we should put office-supply-mouse-trap-making on our resumes? 

I'm not Elle Woods.

...well, kinda. Except they don't really allow pets on Capitol Hill.

But I'll tell you a little about what I'm doing here in the District. I'm one of the seven interns for Senator Lee who gets to give tours of the Capitol building (starting in the Visitors' Center--I'm right at home), answer phone calls and emails, and basically helping out any part of the staff that needs help. So yes, when you think of a typical intern, that's me. We are definitely the lowest paid people in Washington, but hey, at least it's something! Yesterday we got to go "get lost" in the Capitol so we can start learning our way around. 

It is really fun to be in the middle of everything. I am a huge fan of being in such a big city with so much to do. I love the 45-minute commute to and from work, because that means I get to read the Book of Mormon or New Testament, or whatever I feel like studying that day. My new ward is awesome, I absolutely love my roommates, and life is great. 

I can't wait until payday, however, so I can stop eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. 

Milestones.

I've been working and schooling so much...I haven't even noticed my 5 lb. weight loss the last month. Great, right? I literally have not had any time to eat, but I do find time to go to the gym. So, it balances out. Kinda. Anyway, life has been full of milestones for me and especially my friends. It's great to be in that stage where mission calls are coming, people are getting proposed to, getting grown up jobs...it's really exciting. 


This is the video I made of Reb when she got her mission call. I'm so PROUD. She's going to take The Philippines by the hand and lead them down to spiritual goodness. And she'll sound super legit speaking Tagalog.

Spring Scrimmage. So sad I won't be here to see these boys play in the Fall, but at least I get a little taste! I'm going to miss them!

Longest softball game(s) ever. But it was so fun. I can't believe I'm having this much fun at WORK.

  

So after the double header...we went to the Nnah reception at the Grand America. Cutest reception ever, both of us were practically in tears at how cute it was. A.k.a that's what happens when you get two girls together in their twenties.

Also...this was too funny not to share. And way too true. Ladies and gentleman, this is why I'm a republican.

I get my other two wisdom teeth out tomorrow morning, and have to be on TV on Thursday. Let's just say all I'm praying for is no chipmunk cheeks. Any suggestions? 

Beating Barack & Black Diamonds

Well that was a wonderful weekend. It always surprises me how rejuvenating weekends can be. I take a break from school and (sometimes) work and I get to fill it with whatever I want. On Friday night, Spence and I went to the Mitt Romney fundraiser in Salt Lake City! It was super cool to network with the rich guys of Utah...except when a plastic surgeon gives you his card...that was awkward. It was awesome to see everyone coming together for one cause, and feeling like I was a part of something big...like a Presidential campaign...makes me feel like I'm doing something for our country. Here's the man himself:

Horrible "paparazzi-type photo, but it was the
only one we could get. 

Then onto Saturday...it was skiing day with Jake and Mom! It was a gorgeous day, but there were a million people there. After trying to dodge all the little kids, we finally vetoed every run that any child would go down and found wide open diamonds. Then it got fun.

So, it was a pretty great weekend. I didn't start any of my homework, and we've got a show to produce tomorrow, but it was so worth it to take a break and be with my family. I also love living in Utah. I could have gone down to Moab to hike, seen the historic sights in Salt Lake, or do the best thing we could have done: skiing! I told Jake yesterday that I better marry a snowboarder, because I couldn't handle having a guy who was better than me at skiing. It is very possible, and it would take too much of my ski pride away. I obviously won't take a guy that doesn't even ski OR snowboard. Okay... I'll consider anyone who is willing to at least make an honest effort. And I post way too much about skiing. Oh well.

And now...for the new addition to my blog. My favorite song of the week: Bittersweet--Sara Bareilles

"I call you misplaced, but never a waste of my time. Everybody's gonna make mistakes, but you'll never be one of mine...You loved me fearless, when you needed to. You would not rest until you came through. So God bless, and thank you." 

Bring on True Blue Monday!

Why I'll vote in 2012.

Disclaimer: Some of you will not agree with me, so don't feel like you need to read this and start a huge discussion about who is right, and who is wrong. But here's why I'm voting for Mitt Romney.

I've had the chance a couple of times to meet Governor Romney. Once when he ran in '08, and a couple months ago at a fundraiser in Salt Lake. He treated me like I was more important than he is. The President shouldn't be a dictator, and he knows that and how to be an effective leader, but at the same time act on the "same plane" as everyone else.

I've been able to work on Romney's campaign for a few months now, and my favorite thing about it: I've met so many awesome, driven people.  I love that everyone on the campaign has the same time-line, and we all work together towards one common goal. We're all on the same page, and we share our successes together. (i.e. 13,000 calls on National Call Day from our call center alone!) I also love that everyone on the campaign here on campus has busy lives; we aren't just college kids looking for something to put on our resume. We really care about changing something that will, no doubt, affect us.

Here are just 4 out of many reasons why I'll cast my ballot for Governor Romney:

• If elected, he already knows what he'll do in office. He's got a specific fact sheet of five bills and five executive orders of what he'll do on day one. (Too long to put on here...if you want it I'll send it to you.) So he's not just trying to tell us what we want to hear. He's never changed his mind on what needs done for America.
• He's already got a history of turning struggling organizations around, has done his research, and understands the economy more than any other candidate. 
• He's committed to lower taxes, whatever it takes--including cutting spending from the federal government itself. Why am I in favor of that? It's a free country. Let's do what we want, work as hard as we can to make our own money, and live life peacefully (with much less governmental interaction) with our families that is my classic "American dream." 
• He's not forgetting the military and the victories we've already established in Iraq. How about I just quote in Romney's own words: “President Obama’s astonishing failure to secure an orderly transition in Iraq has unnecessarily put at risk the victories that were won through the blood and sacrifice of thousands of American men and women. The unavoidable question is whether this decision is the result of a naked political calculation or simply sheer ineptitude in negotiations with the Iraqi government. The American people deserve to hear the recommendations that were made by our military commanders in Iraq.”

You guys, our government is shattered. We need someone like Mitt who will stand up and sacrifice for the goal of the majority. This is my first presidential election I get to vote, and I'm so excited to be a part of it. No, I'm not getting paid to write this, and I don't get paid for any of the work on the campaign! It's all volunteer for us--because we all believe America needs to be fixed...asap. Granted, I've still got a lot to learn about politics, but this one is apparent: I'll be raising my kids when Obama's failed policies really come into play, and I'm going to do something about it right now.

A good, sum up quote from our newest team member, Former NH Governor/White House Chief of Staff John H. Sununu:

“I’m supporting Governor Romney because he is a solid conservative who is committed to reducing taxes, cutting spending and preserving America’s military strength. Mitt has served as a governor, had a successful career in the private sector, and acquired the executive experience needed to turn around our economy and fix our broken government,” said Governor Sununu. “He has demonstrated that he is the strongest candidate to take on President Obama in 2012 and restore fiscal sanity to Washington.”

With that being said. I hope you vote in the primary election (if you're Republican) and then please vote in 2012. Watch the debate on November 9th (6 p.m. Mountain Time on CNBC) to decide who you're going to vote for. Do your research, and vote for who you believe in. Just please, vote.