I've never been so good at shaking hands...

Julian Casablancas 11th Dimension.  Listen to it.  He's awesome.

In the camp of the Enemy! Wow...look at my wrinkly forehead...sad...

Okay so, there is only one reason why I would not be able to update my blog.  C'mon be creative and take a wild guess...! And that guess will be correct, but before I explain how it happened, I want to share how the anti-Glenn Beck/Sarah Palin rally went.  We left at 9:30 and the metro was PACKED. As in there were police making sure we were following orders.  We get off, and Amalee, Liliana, Maria and I are separated from the main group. But Maria is holding a sign that says: Long Live MLK Jr.  and we hold it proudly while others just look at us with their hating eyes.  There are so many people around us that I feel unsafe!

There are buttons people are selling that say "I'd rather be waterboarding"  Okay, well that's great, except its NOT ALLOWED! And its torture...hmm read the Constitution.... and Obama banned it January 2009. Anyway, there was a huge crowd of people and we wove our way around the various Tea Party Activists to hear what was being said.  One person was handing out flyers and said "Help protect your students against Liberals and Communists at schools!" and I replied "No thanks, I'm one of those Liberals, sorry!" And walked away laughing... hahaha. That was quite nice.  At one point, I carried the sign above my head and someone took a picture of me...haha, he was incredulous that I would dare be there.  At one point we stopped by a jumbo tron and then I hear a sound grate upon my ears so much so that i think they are bleeding: Sarah Palin.  I was breathing the same air as that... person and I witnessed first hand how people were clapping for what she was saying, even if it didn't make sense. And frankly, the whole rally didn't make sense.  I don't know what was being restored...? Except intolerance?

Palin...making a mockery of the political system,
and here I thought this was a non-political rally....

Anyway, we detangle ourselves from those who supported the rally and try to cool down before deciding to leave.

I am so sweaty! 

We start walking back towards the metro and we see a guy with a camera and another guy holding a mic, so we tell Maria to lift the sign and they stop!!! I was chosen to talk, and so with a quavering voice I say why we are there and I comment on how there are so many people wearing shirts with the constitution on them and I say that I doubt that they have ever read it, and how they (tea party peeps) can hold a rally for "restoring honor" but that I dont think we ever lost anything that needed restoring and that they shouldve chosen a different day. And then Lily comments on how its just scary to be apart of the crowd, especially with those who actually listen to Palin...go Lily! But sadly, we didnt make the cut because Reason TV was looking for the reason people went, and we answered their questions too rationally.  But PLEASE check out this video.  The guy who asked us questions went around asking others about why they were there, and it can get pretty hilarious: http://reason.tv/

We also passed a group that were also opposing the rally, and we cheered for them and took pictures of them and they were told by the police that they should probably leave the main crowd: 

I'm sad there were not more of them!

Then we visited the Holocaust Museum and that is always an eye opening experience.  I still cant believe that even after the genocide of WWII, the Rwanda genocide was not stopped sooner. And well, it just does not make sense that there is not a stronger United Nations to protect against this type of human suffering. I'm going to do my best to help the world.

So that was that, then we ate and I fell asleep for a while before going out with Lily and Lauren.

...

.... I was like a madwoman bent on my own destruction. It's like one of those experiences that you wish you could turn back the clock and just erase. ahhhh.....oh well.

Today, I finally turned down one internship, said yes to the League and now have to bring myself to say no to Internship A.  My internship begins tomorrow, kinda, its an orientation.

Well, now you are fully updated, and though I didn't muse so much as just make a brain deposit in cyberspace, I hope you won't judge me too badly.

Peace.

A Day of Snatching

Be still my heart. For oh so many reasons.

First off. Today, I called Internship A and left a message because at that time I hadn't made up my mind about whether or not to receive League of Women Voters Internship. I then reconsidered and accepted League, called and left a message.  Then I missed a call. Called back. Basically said, YES I ACCEPT. then realized it was Internship A and not the League. OH MY. I didn't know how to get out of it.  But I was diplomatic and Internship A was really nice and it gives me something to think about.

You can barely see me...sad. But here we are! 

Then a class, then an Iftar even with a Turkish organization to break the fast of Ramadan.  It was a class event and I'm so glad Amalee went because it was just so much more fun!

Yummmmmmm

We all gathered and ate and it was really fun. Then we ate cotton candy! That was goooood. Jess and I wanted balloon swords so that we could fight each other (I said they were lightsabers) but the guy had to start his show.  So no lightsabers (dangitt!) and we ate cotton candy instead. Then we were waiting around to be driven to the metro, and Amalee said she loved kids and because there were so many of them and they were all so cuddly and cute she was determined to talk to one. She did, and I snapped a pic, but then the mother came rushing after her child, much like a mother hen to her small army of chicklets (isn't that a gum?).

We are all quite the goofy bunch! 

Amalee being a creeper. But in a cute way.

Then we rode to the metro and that was an entertaining ride in which we were discussing the merits of tomorrow's fine speakers...and by fine speakers I am talking about the Glennbeck/Palin speech at the national mall tomorrow and by fine I mean not fine at all. Then we rode the metro, the women left the men and we all went to get drinks! I had two margaritas so I am currently not in the best shape, but to be honest, they were not that strong! I promise.  Then  a guy came up to Amalee and was 45 years old and asked for her number, and here I thought he was the manager and we were gonna be in huge trouble because Lauren wasnt 21 and I let her sip my margaritas. But no, he wanted Amalee's number.  Needless to say we were giggly on the way to the metro.  Jess and I are hopeless romantics and like Harry Potter.  Its gonna be a good four months, I can already tell. And it was absolutely perfect with no men, so as Barbra Streisand sang "Don't Rain on My Parade". Yeah! Don't tell me I need a man, because really, i have 11 more years of school. Women's equality day! If a man can marry when he's older and, then, HECK so can I! AFTER my career, thank you. (Watch, I am going to fall in love and be married by next year.) 

Anyway, the night still young (kinda, in california time- my sister and bros are watching school of rock, and I am thoroughly jealous. so if its 11 california time, the night is indeed young. ) after giggly drinks and metro ride, i went to CVS, almost had a heart attack cuz I needed to pee so badly but fixed that before anything disastrous could happen. So, now, here I am writing outside of Congressional Hall, and its actually nice out here. there is a stranger sitting next to me, so that's quite unnerving, but I am sure the next four months with yield the appropriate answers to whether or not he really is an elephant supporter. 

I havent read as much as I wanted to, but I relearned how motion sickness affects me, when I tried to read on my nook on the metro, and I felt like throwing up  for two hours. Anyway, I hear the porcelain god calling me, waiting to relieve my bladder. I just saw a campus safety officer pass by on his bike thing. I want to ride it.   Peace.  Love. Women's Rights. 

Aight. Adios. 

Every Morning

So, I'm hungry.




Nothing new there, but you don't know what I am hungry for.  I am hungry for food. But I am also hungry to feed my soul with a nourishing and meaningful internship.  And I think she is too. 

Internships! Feminism!

So, unless they gave the position away, which will be really sad, I left a message confirming my internship with the League of Women Voters.  I like it above all else. And I got a free shirt. But really, I am happy with their mission, what they stand for, and I think Cosmically, it is significant that I said yes to them on the day that 90 years ago, women won the right to vote! (Read blurb on the right) I mean they are a non-partisan political organization, and women's suffrage was right up their alley since they were founded in 1920. Oh, I might cry. 

I will enjoy this internship, even if I do grunt work.  And thats an inquisitive look, kinda like my modern one: 

It's iPhoto and I know the title is mirrored. Lay off. 

Anywho, that's me today and I am happy.  Remember to think of what it meant for this country to wait from 1787 to 1920 to let women have the right to vote.  Today reminds me of Iron Jawed Angels.  Y'all should watch it, its with Hillary Swank. 

I'm learning Arabic! Thanks to patient Amalee.  We also now have a fridge in our closet. Exciting no? Yes!

Okay, well answer my poll of the day: 
What should I do this weekend?
A. Rally Against Glenbeck
B. Go to Sixflags? 


Let me know. Or log on to answer the poll.

check. http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/03/13/more-good-feminist-or-feminist-infuriating-reads/

Peace.


Quote of the day so far: "I have gray hairs!" -Amalee
"No you don't." -Me
"I do and I don't have a job. Or a man. But at least with this hairspray I have volume!!" -Amalee

Feminism: The Ability to Smile Amidst Adversity
and Have Great Hair. 

Wonald Weagan and Peanut Wutter Cups

It's not what you think. Read on.

Hallo.  That's how you say Hi in German. I think.  Marc, where are you?! Bonjour. Hola. Whatup. 


So, today has been a day of revelations.  


The first is that my supposed dream internship is not actually a dream.  I do not want to be working for free at a place where...well never mind, but I don't do extremely detailed. That's just annoying. If you know me at all, I am a free spirit. Unless theres a deadline, then get away from me, my spirit will eat you.


The second is that its fun to meet new people.  I met a group of guys at Iftar today and they were a riot.  One of them reaffirmed the fact that Rap is not the only music to oppress and objectify women.  Check this out. Its disturbing. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3dHxAYYXhc  
Its country singer Trace Atkins singing Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.  Lyrics include: 


Band shuts down at two
But we're hangin' out till three
We hate to see her go
But love to watch her leave
With that honky tonk badonkadonk
Keepin' perfect rhythm
Make ya wanna swing along
Got it goin' on
Like Donkey Kong
And ooo-wee
Shut my mouth, slap your grandma


Right? That's what I thought, watch the video. Makes me wanna not have ears.


Third, that as Amy Winehouse sang: Love is a Losing Game!  I found out today that a young man who I was interested in last quarter was actually texting other girls while he was with me. And that while he ignored me before the end of the year for a while, he was chillin with his ex. Awesome. That makes me feel really groovy. Young men can be fickle.  Also, cute boy from yesterday didn't even recognize me today as I walked by him. Eh. I'm over it.  I too can be fickle, that is one emotion men must share custody.


Fourth, chatting with the roomies is uber fun! (ahhhhH! She Will be Loved by Maroon 5 just popped up in iTunes, sad!)  So today, I went to my interview, but got off on the wrong metro stop and killed my feet walking the 8 blocks it took (i shoulda taken that as a sign that it wasnt worth it) after I left unhappy I get back to school, change and realize I've got two HUGE blisters, one on each pinky toe. nasty, liquid filled ones that were super fun to touch in class while I was bored.  Anyway, shovel food in because I'm in a hurry to get to class, get tired in class, loudly oppose those who do not believe the mosque near ground zero is right, and give my valid two-cents. Then I relax (destroy my blisters), go to Iftar, and then go to CVS.At CVS, Amalee and I buy chips some bubbly apple cider, and cheez-its. Then we play Shakira, pop the bottle, do a toast and stuff our faces as we share our love life stories. 

I'm having a bit o' trouble

A toast to our greatness!

It was really fun.  Except for some aforementioned enlightenments, which I was interested to find out about, but I made it fun, perhaps one day I will write down we mischievous young ladies did.  


I am reading an ebook I got for free from B&N.com and am reading on the nook and its really nifty! I also do not feel like brushing my teeth cuz I am really tired. But i feel like I have to, lichen is growin on them.  Plus I have an incredibly early day tomorrow...oops.  Tomorrow I also start work, so thats gonna be fun.  Aight, thats all for now. 

This is why I need to work out. 

Okay so after eating that, I ate a reeses peanut butter cup....ahem... kay byeeee! (ahhh ehatch, where you be? I miss the way you say byee! Hope D-land is fun!)

All Natural with Pure Greatness

Yo. Hello. Today has been an interesting day.  I woke up and got ready for class and my interview; went to class, and then ate, listened to a researcher spew statistics at me and fell asleep because I was bored and suffering from food coma. Then I made sure I was ready and went to my interview. I must say I looked pretty sharp! Feet were killing me, but beauty is pain.

WALLPAPER in DC!!

Anyway, interview went okay, I do not think I want it, and I walked out relieved that I was done with it.  As I waited to call the elevator, this cute guy asked me how my day was and because I hesitated to respond, he said "that bad eh?" to which I responded "er...kinda, no, not really, I just need to decompose for a bit." then the elevator opened and I practically died of embarrassment in there. Decompose? De-compose?! Who says that??! I need to decompose. He didnt even know what I was talking about, I meant to say de-compress! Ugh. I walked out of the elevator talking to myself about what I should have said. I was berating myself but forgot about it.  I took the metro to a Borders and kicked back for almost two and a half hours. I bought a blank journal and I want to fill it with mementos from DC including brochures!  Then I picked up McDonalds (regular prices thank the Big Man Upstairs) and ate after changing.  


Then I joined Amalee to break the fast, and LO! After 45 minutes of chatting around the table and trying to not wring the neck of one of the conversation hoggers, it turned out that the cute guy that I had seen after my interview was there for an interview too! He's in the Washington Semester.  Small, small world.  He thought I worked there, and I thought he worked there! I stared at him practically the whole time cuz I thought he was cute, but it was an anthropological research study on the mechanics of human interactions and I was studying him and the hog he seemed to listen to most closely.  Ugh.  They ditched us after that. But its okay, we had the California Brigade.


Then Bobak, Amalee and I went for frozen yogurt, and the kind we got was California Tart and it just so happened that Katy Perry's California Gurls was on at the same time. So good day for Californians.  Except we found out we were dropped in out group of friends for two other young ladies. Sad. Very sad. Even our international friend couldn't talk to us for long. But all is well. Gossiping about the day and events and people in it, helps decompose the day. 

Californians

Peace. I'm tired and need to rest for the interview tomorrow! Wish me luck! More energetic blog on the morrow.

Oops, I did it again...I ate chocolate cake

Dancing in the Moonlight- You should check the song out, it always reminds me of A Walk to Remember and I love that movie.  Ahhh, makes me want to fall in love... 

Can anybody find me somebody to love? (thank you Queen)

I digress. HELLLLLLOOOOOOOO!!! GREETINGS FROM DC a.k.a. Distressed Civilians Inc.! Hahahaha I just made that up! As Amalee can attest (my roommie) I am very funny today.  My capacity to be funny is like a disease, or rather the flu; it comes and goes. Haha, Ehatch, remember dancing to Waka Waka...!? I'm listening to it now. And since I am doing confessions, I will confess that I was trying to find the link to watch the latest episode of Keeping Up with Obnoxiously Rich and Plastically Enhanced faKes. I refuse to spell it out.  But the good man upstairs said that I should be focusing and instead I procrastinated and chatted with Amalee. Funny ish people, you should hang out with us. Especially if you are German (ahem) or French. But really all are welcome.

Aight, down to whats really up. I will go into an interview tomorrow! YAY! For a business organization that works internationally (woooot!) and then I have one on thursday for a women's foreign policy group (triple wooooot!).  And unlike the people I happen to know, I have yet to make any contact with a person whose political affiliation is an elephant for an internship (you two know who you are) and for that, I say double wooot! I'm wearing all grey tomorrow and I happily found out that the skirt I bought from H&M actually matches the grey jacket I had purchased two weeks before the skirt, and that just makes me happy (so just swallow those snarky comments youre dying to make). As my sisters will have noticed from yesterdays pic, I did not wear the cute shoes from Target for the bazaar, but I will tomorrow! Yee! 

I did laundry today. Yes Dolorian, I know how to do laundry.  I was waiting outside the laundry room just reading because I was able to concentrate there, and I happen to glance at my toe and I decided to be a child and inspect it.  *WARNING, DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE QUEASY OR BORED EASILY* As many of my family members know, a few weeks ago, I played a rather intense game of soccer and I realized a few things: 1) That, even after a decade (HOLY COW THAT'S LONG!) of not playing, Lupe still has it and loves to play and is still semi-okay at her favorite sport.  2) That she is too competitive and that running in her particular shoes was not the best course of action that day because 3) She messed up the big toe on her left foot.  It turned all white a few weeks ago, then I smashed it again (at Church of all places) and then it turned all purple, and sadly, it's not even attached anymore.  So, I was looking at my toe as I was sitting down today and dang, theres definitely a space between my toe and my broken/dead nail, and its comin off one day soon.  I even saw the space under the hole that my  doctor drilled unto my nail. Fun. Anyway, I was looking at it, and then a guy opened the door, and I looked up abruptly and guiltily from the reverence of my toe. I made a goofy smile and was completely embarrassed at being caught in the act. I thought I was alone. Oh well, he and the friend that joined him later had a conversation in a different language. How do you say "Eww, she was inspecting her toe with the same exact intensity that a gorilla inspects another gorilla for termites." in German, or French, or Swedish? *CONTINUE TO READ IF YOU REFUSED TO ENTERTAIN YOURSELF WITH THE LAST SECTION*  

GGReyes

Aight, so the other thing I want to say is that I got bitten three more times. Today. ON THE FREAKIN FACE! IS THAT EVEN ALLOWED? AREN'T MOSQUITOES GENETICALLY PROGRAMMED TO SUCK BLOOD NECK DOWN?oh my gosh I was so irritated. (hahahahaha I am so punny) Only because I read outside after my incredibly delightful hour and a half dinner (and in case you care, I ate salad, pasta, veggie egg roll, rice, fries and dried apricots and yes, another slice of chocolate cake. I finished it this time around. I am getting better at it. My pants are getting tighter, but you can't win them all) anyway, i decided to leave because it was getting too loud to read and I am anti-social at times (yes, mother, it is possible) and then I went outside ( I was wearing my Giants sweatshirt FYI) and read a bit more before being forcibly removed by chatty Frenchies and then I went to sit on a bench, still outside and still near Frenchies, except this group was smokin. Down wind thank goodness.  Then I scratch my face. Read, then scratch my face a bit more. Then scratch my face in a wider circumference. Then I scratch my ear. Then I stop mid scratch and realize something. I WAS BITTEN ON THE FACE. WTFlip right? Freakin mini winged Edward Cullens attacked my face. Really mini disgusting Edwards, the arm (three times), the leg (three times), the knee and heck the side of my ankle is FINE, but not the FACE. I stroked my face, then went upstairs, half smiled/grimaced at one of the guys who lives on my floor, opened my door and looked in the mirror....and I was horrified. There was a hugely disgusting inflamed spot on my cheek near my jaw line, and it was RED. and very visible. I was so embarrassed.  So, I decided I hate DC's main inhabitants: mosquitoes. Lupe- 0 Mosquitoes- 10. I need to buy OFF!

That is all. No pics of exciting places because I didnt really do anything unless I start taking pics of myself on the phone with the people who I want to intern for. I woke up late, went to CVS, had a blast because I didn't use real money.  Went to Payless and bought two pairs of work out shoes because I chose a really cheap pair (cheaper than target gasp!) and it was buy one get one half off, and so the second pair was 7 bucks. But I had to pay real money for that so...that was sad. 

Old pic, but I have to break up the monotony of my words
with something! So in this case, my face.

And that was my day.  Like I said a few days ago, it can get really exciting! Oh, I bought a lanyard yesterday, and that was cool.  I feel so cool carrying it around.  Oh. here is something I am thinking about right now and I will let you think about it too. 

In regards to America's creation of foreign policy and in light of issues that have arisen in the last decade and how we shape our foreign policy:

"One searches in vain for any critique on the problems of domestic wealth, domestic consumption, domestic corporate greed, domestic homelessness, and domestic racism - all issues that drive foreign policy consideration."Farid Esack (pg 91)

I think the voters have so much power in deciding how to pressure their representatives one way or another in regards to foreign policy, and if we were a bit more educated and able to keep a cool head instead of rushing into things, this country would be a legitimate super power. But I know I am idealistic. and there is so much more to say about this, but I should sleep.  

I ate that two days ago, think it looks groovy.

that's all for now. paz. 

I love my baby...mac

So, four computers were stolen today.  Three from the same room and one from our floor. Scary ish people! So that's why I love my baby. Like a real baby, I will take care of it and make sure it is protected from all evil. And I wouldn't mind having y'all sending some good mojojitos my way. Yeah. that's a new word coined by GGReyes. Me. haha, maybe cuz I just brushed my teeth and feel like I've been sipping some minty mojitos ("I wake up in the morning feeling like Cesar Chavez...brush my teeth with a couple mojitos"...thank you dollar sign bleach blonde ugly artist for your inspiration to my song. I hope you all know the song I am parody-ing because I refuse to put her name in my blog.) MOVING ON!

Where's Lupe? Haha, we look so professional!

Today was internship day! Woke up really early and got ready, and daaayuuuummm I felt...hot after I stepped out side. Hot as in I reapplied my deodorant after taking the bus and walking around looking like a lost freshman. Not good that I was sweating. But such is the real world, people's make up does NOT actually always stay perfectly reapplied, hair does NOT always curl just so and look just perfect, and no sadly, we do NOT always smell good when we are walking and nervous and in a suit. 


I was given a free Democratic party book. and a pen. YESSS!

Not everyone was as happy bout my book as I was.

Anyway, meetings went well and it was fun, I learned that I am versatile in work experience, which I didn't think I was, but hey, its college, we learn new things every day huh?  And I re-learned (is there a word for that?) that I talk a lot, but thats not always an absolutely horrible thing.  Anyway. After that, my roommate and I went freshman bashing and then to the bookstore where I made an astounding discovery: If I choose to not use my eaglebucks (kinda like flex for all you SCUans and kinda like fake/real money on my card that I can only use on campus for all my family) for food purchases, I can buy things at the bookstore.  But I think I can use my eaglebucks at the McDonald's so its kinda like: books or a big mac....ooooh tough choice. 

ahhhh, my mouth is watering...

I mean look at that. Its marvelous. And the last time I had one was in New York and it seems to me that it was too small, or else I was too hungry right before the Staten Island ferry. ahhhh....speaking of bad food choices. So, my food plan is rather limiting, in my humble and correct opinion.  So, every time I eat, since its buffet style and I have a limited number of swipes, I eat. A LOT. As in I feel like a hobbit and go in for a second...and third dinner. Today was no different, and I had two plates of pasta with meatballs and a rice thingy i thought was good, a huge salad, fries, and a slice of pizza.  You know how people stop in their tracks when they see a beautiful person, and just kinda stare? Kinda like this?

Well, thats what I did today, when as I was getting seconds, and saw a messier glorious this:

Saliva is dribbling on my chin right about now...

I saw it and the seconds I was choosing from were lost.  There was a huge chocolate cake and a few slices were missing and I just couldnt...handle it. I went back to my seat and lost my desire to finish my pizza and pasta.  But I did anyway. Then I got up, picked a slice, got a cup of deliciously cold skim milk because I have a guilty conscious, and cleaned my fork.  I do not think I could have savored that cake more.  It was incredible. Not better than yours ma, but it was good.  And I was eating it so slowly. And the milk would be cold and perfect for washing down chocolate. Sooo good. I actually couldn't finish it, which is rare. I was by myself and that was perfect because I read (though sadly I was getting nauseous) while I ate, and was able to enjoy the succulent cake.  I don't care if cake can't be succulent, but if you think its different, then you can go make your own succulent blog where you can write your own succulent entries and succulently leave me a lone to write my own succulent thoughts in cyberspace. Anyway, I took two pieces of fruit to balance what I ate, but I didnt touch the apple till 7.  I walked around the Tenley Campus, I will have you know and stop judging me.

Anyway, then after that, I was trying to be good and printed my hw and thats as far as I got with that, and then two internships called and one emailed me back! Soo, groooooovy day! 

Then I went to the mall and ventured into Virginia with Marc, Elinor and Becca and we hung around the bookstore. I couldn't help myself.  I only eat one meal a day these days and it had been a while before then, so I took this picture of myself. 

So elegant lookin.

 Then went to watch SALT. That was fun and intense.  And Marc's first American movie at a theatre! Then we went back to Au, and now you know the rest of the story (thanks Paul Harvey!) I am tired and want to become a cool super agent who can kick butt. I'll settle with being awesome. 

Me and one roomie :)

Peace.

And They're Off!

Bonjour Mes Amies! Mi familia, te mando besos! 

Everyone, please send me your good mojo tomorrow morning!! Tomorrow is the internship bazaar and all of us slackers at the Washington Semester Program are going to battle it out for internships! (And I am prepared to fight you too Marc* (guess which one)!) However, despite my intense nervousness, 

                             i will succeed!

How I will feel in the Morning!

I will be wearing clothing, but I will have the same expression as Calvin in the morning! I have sent out a few offers, but DEAR LORD PLEASE LET ME GET ONE TOMORROW! I don't wan't to worry about it. Plus, I got these really cute shoes from Target with Rosita last week, and I want to wear them. 

They were clearance too!

Anyway, I watched Eat, Pray, Love today and that was nice.  I need to examine my life.  But like one critic says, the movie is about one rich woman and her luxury problems. Really, how many of us can AFFORD to go to Italy, India and Indonesia in pursuit of her balance? How many, especially in this economy? The rest of the world is still expensive, and if there is one thing I have learned in the two weeks I have been away from home is that FOOD COSTS A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY! doing things costs money and boy, when it runs out, its out. so how much, Pray Tell, did all of Julia Robert's pizza, spaghetti, gelato and housing costs? A lot. Anyway, in a much poorer way I will examine my life. Haha, I have $3 dollars to my name. 

Okay, well I should shower, I smell. And I should do my homework.  Shout out to Marc for actually doing his homework.  I should prolly make a bigger effort to get to my goals.  As the crazy texan said in the movie, you gotta swim across the moat to get to the castle. And well, I have to do my work to get to be president right? Yes. So homework, then beauty sleep (perhaps some reading...?) and then I will get gorgeous for demain.  I'm listening to Wallpaper, I Go Big On the Weekends! 

This is how I'm dancing...

peace y'all!

*German Marc

   

By My Troth...!

Greetings one and all! Yesterday was as full as Friday was lackluster after parting from an hour and a half conversation with new friends from SCU.  I watched the ABC Family movie Revenge of the Bridesmaids and P!NK videos until I was tired.  My life, I grant you, is so exciting at times!

The next day, yesterday, woke up at 9:30 waited in line for the shower (ugh....community bathrooms....) got ready and met my friend Elinor.  She is leaving for Nepal for a few months and since she lives near DC we decided to hang out here, and I really wanted to see the sites that the locals know.  Soon, I will go native! haha. we went to the zoo! it was free and it was HUGE and it was HOT. The weather dampened the entire experience because I was uncomfortable, and sweating and felt as disgusting as the animals smelled.  However, the air conditioned parts were well worth the heat.

Lupe and a Tucan...so cool...

Elephants. I was so happy!

And so, despite the heat I had fun.  Then we went to Elinor's house, decided that we were hungry and went to eat a spanish restaurant.  Let me just say that it. was. amazing. I was very hesitant to like the food, but once I tried the date stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon, I was sold.  the eggplants were delicious, the empanadas were good (shout out to Tia Concha's empanadas, yours were so much better!), the paella was scrumptious, the fried chicken round things were mouthwatering, and the patatas bravas were good. oh my gosh. i was sold. im really hungry right now... but here look.  it was at a place called La Tasca.

Elinor and the eggplant

uhmmmm.... so great.

Oh my... I want some more.  Seriously, maybe I was just really hungry, but it was fabulous.  It sounds like I'm actually liking Spain... uh oh. Not good. 

Anyway, went to Barnes and Noble afterwards and Elinor and I relished in our nerdyness. We ate some white chocolate raspberry cheesecake: 

And then because we both like fantasy and sci fi, stayed in the section for nearly two hours.  We were talking about how often we have to shield or justify what we like to read and were glad we didn't have to with one another. That was cool, because the amount of utter crapola I receive for reading fantasy novels is ridiculous. I like this genre. Back off. Near the end of out time at BN, this couple on a date entered my periphery.  The guy said he liked sci-fi and pointed out books he had read and the blondie he was with just laughed, as if the idea of reading the genre was so preposterous she hoped he was joking.  the ugly wench.  and then some flirting and flitting through a book Elinor actually had with her in the stack of books to buy, said "I only like to read fact based fiction" double ugly wench. and she still hung on the arm of the guy. triple ugly disgusting wench. Uhm hello, Im right here, READING ELANTRIS. A FANTASY NOVEL. believe it or not you stupid **&^%#@#$%^&* i can hear you.  Elinor said if she had heard her say that stuff she would have spoken up.  Instead, I just pitied the girl, and pointedly got up and put the book I had been reading on the shelf and left. 

How I felt after eating...

Anyway, after that, Elinor's parents invited us to the Shakespeare Theatre Company's production to Twelfth Night. After reading so much about shakespeare in classes and my playwriting class, and after trying my own hand at writing plays, I caught myself getting chocked up in the beginning about the experience.  It was absolutely SO AMAZING!  I loved it! ahhhhhhh! It was so funny and inappropriate and romantic. and it was free for everyone.

At the patron's lounge. I look puffy-eyed...how sad.

After that, we went to Kramersbook and Afterwords Cafe where we looked at books and had Red Velvet Cake. Mom, yours is so much better.  And we walked around people bashing and made notes on our ideal men.  The guys here are all the same sadly: jeans, tucked in white button down shirts, and popped collars.  They are every where, swarming DC. I like California for oh so many more reasons.  Then I was dropped off and i was yawning my way to bed, at 1:30. Such a nice packed day!

I woke up this morning at 12:15...9:15 for all you californians. and looked up some internship stuff, read and wrote this.  I am really hungry! I have a bag of lays that I can eat, but know I shouldn't! Sigh...must go venture out by myself. I don't like doing that. 

Or maybe just eat the chips. And then I wonder why I am gaining weight. Which is true and Im not very happy about that.  But I am being charged 65 bucks here for gym usage and by golly, once I get my shoes, i am GOING. Indulge yourself:

If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.
That strain again! it had a dying fall:
O, it came o’er my ear like the sweet sound 1
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odour!
Quote Act i. Scene 1. 

La Nueva Casa de Lupe

Greetings everyone from the World's most intelligently diverse place in the world!  (Take that however you will...)  I am listening to the Postal Service "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight, and it is rather fitting because, Hey! I am in DC! Already said that though yes?

You can't tell but that the White House. I'm in DC!

Here are a few observations:

1. It is really hot here and I do not like it one bit. Seriously, ACs are heaven sent inventions. I would get right back on a plane if suddenly all the power cut out.  The only time stewing in heat is acceptable is if A)Natural Disaster ---- and even then if the government doesn't do anything then...well let's just say that I have used my imagination to picture people suffering after Hurricane Katrina and there is an added layer of "reasons Lupe is pissed off at the government"  that there was not a faster response.  I can also imagine high execs in their air conditioned offices taking their sweet time saying "alright now what can we do about this? What is the plan?" I'm just happy that I plan to be the one in charge one day (remember Gonzalez for President 2028). B) I was suddenly transported to the early 1800's and I got to see some founders and their political progeny.
2. There are already some people who are annoying me {like one blonde who volunteered this morning for a "cross cultural training session" activity and A) like to hear her own voice too much B) commandeered the entire situation  C) said she "felt powerful" commanding her section of people.  The upside of this ridiculous display of uppityness was that the our Cross Cultural Professor said that her behavior was the result of reinforced ideals of colonialism and compared her to a white officer he had worked with in DC who was oppressing minorities.} And many people smoke here.  Second-hand smoke is not a pleasant...but Toto, I have a feeling we aren't in California anymore!
3. However, to offset number 2, I have made friends! I knew some people doing the Washington Semester program but not very well, and now we are hanging out, hooray!  Plus this group of 550 students is the most diverse group of students globally in the 63 years of the program! So I am bound to meet more international students.  

Alright so enough of that.  I left New York via Megabus on Wednesday at 6:50 am, which meant I got up at 4:30, was on the bus and subway from 5:30-6:10 and then said a watery goodbye to my sister.  I fell asleep a bit on the freezing bus (I wore my SF Giants sweater though, Heeeeyyy!) and we stopped in Baltimore (I was singing to myself "good morning Baltimore..." from Hairspray) and then finally after 4.5 hours on a bus, got to DC.  I walked to the metro (subway) and the escalator was broken. Did I mention it was raining?  So I was about to start walking down broken escalator when a nice man helped me with my small luggage.  Then I got on the metro, and when I got to Tenleytown-AU stop, the only escalator people use to go up AND down, was broken too. I feel so welcome DC, thanks.  Then I attempted to wait for people to stop using the escalator, but when I finally did start going up (I only brought one big luggage case thingy, and a smaller carry-on sized one) my smaller bag fell and people were starting to walk down, and there was no way i was NOT going to take over the entire escalator in my attempt to carry them up, and a nice young man helped me.  Thank you, whoever you were.  And if you are anything like my cynical parental-unit-who-shall-not-be-named, I would like to reaffirm my status as a Feminist.  I could've carried the luggage all by myself, it wasn't a matter of my inability to handle the weight.  

Anyway, I get off the subway, try to use my iPhone to tell me where the Tenley campus is, because it is theoretically two blocks away, and I went the wrong way. Thrice.  My hands were losing their ability to grip the handle by the time I looked up and saw that I had passed the big sign on the well manicured lawn of AU that said "Tenley Campus". Gee I feel awesome! Then I sat down next to a nice campus safety guy named Dan and then I got my keys and went to my room.  Then found a friend (Chris) and went to target where I proceeded to buy a pillow, sheets, a blanket, and some sandals for the shower.  Then I ate at the Tenley Cafe ----which is catered by Bon Appetit (how odd I can't ever really escape Santa Clara)----with German Marc who lives with Chris (Chris also lives with French Marc), and met Devin who also wants to be a public official.  So, cool guys.  Then went to bed after greeting my roomies and fixing my resume and cover letter.  

Woke up for Orientation, and then had a 3.5 hour meeting with my class and professor, and had a splitting headache from not eating all day, but the BBQ wasnt till 5 so I had to wait to eat! Hungry Lupe is not pleasant. But I ate and then got attacked by mosquitos.  I watched in fascination as one sucked my blood and looked very much like the Tiger Mosquito that I had read about at the Natural History Museum that is not native to the U.S. and carries diseases.... so three bites later I decided to leave, but the group wanted to visit the National Mall at night and I begrudgingly acquiesced to leaving because I was tired and wanted to elongate my nap, but it ended up being really fun.   However, it was so hot I regretted wearing jeans almost instantly, and was basically "bathing in my sweat" as Marc put it.

I like me some bronze soldier.

The Californian's from the group at the WW II Memorial

This block says District of Columbia; Look at all us interns! We are gonna take over DC.

We left at 8:15ish and didnt return to campus til 12.  We met some drunk freshmen, and I am positively elated that I am not a freshman, for all that I feel like one on this campus.  By golly, I am a senior! Nothing particularly exciting or exotic has been consumed, except for some Rocky Road Ice Cream, so sorry Max, no really cool cuisine pics.

I walk about with a cloud of darkness about me.
Actually, the reflection pool, the Washington monument
and the Capital Building are behind me.

Alright, so now that I am settled in, I hope to not take quite so long to post! :) Peace and love from DC.