So, it has been a while since I last posted, and I have A LOT to post about and I wish I had started writing earlier because I have some GREAT stories that have piled up throughout this week.
Let's begin.
I started Monday waking up an HOUR LATE but still managed to make it to work on time (it is the little miracles...)But I swear my entire commute and for the majority of the morning I was asleep on my feet.It was out of control...I had a pretty ridiculous time trying to change a drill bit in a makita at work, which actually turned into a sort of embarrassing moment, in short, I tried to put this drill bit in the drill backwards. I KNOW how to change a drill bit out....cakewalk....not this morning in particular.Ugh!So I survived that day, headed home, out for a bike ride per usual. The next evening was so exciting....Tuesday night was Drag Bingo Night at Nellie's Sports Bar. I can not begin to describe the excitement for this event.....I think it is something that everyone should experience at least once in their life because it is THAT fantastic.
My cousin Audrey and I got all decked out,well, she did in fantastic retro-attire...I was exhausted and stuck with jeans and a nice shirt with fancy earrings. Haha. Attempted to hail a cab for nearly an hour!Really?!In DC who gets stuck trying to hail a cab for THAT long?Finally made it down to U St for Drag Bingo...it was PACKED and very hard to get a table...but we weaseled our way in up close to watch the start of this fantastic show....Shaquita-Lee strutting around the bar with her best Tina Turner wig on lip-singing along with it. Watching this fabulous Drag Queen strut around the bar, was sort of like a religious experience.No joke.And so begins the drag bingo hosted by hilarious drag queens, and yes we won prizes and sipped drinks that made us feel fabulous.It was fantastic and yes, I am going next week.I wish I had started going to drag bingo earlier in the summer!!
The next morning I started out at the National Museum of American History to see their shop, meet their shop guys and learn about what they do there. I meet with Peter, the lead guy at the shop, and he gave me a tour of the shop, and a few exhibits too. Peter,was really nice, and has a really neat job. He got to go to JULIA CHILDS HOME IN CAMBRIDGE TO DISASSEMBLE HER KITCHEN WHEN SHE DONATED IT TO THE SMITHSONIAN, AND ALSO REASSEMBLED IT WHEN IT CAME TO THE MUSEUM.HOLY CRAP WHEN HE TOLD ME THIS, I WANTED TO SCREAM, I WAS SO JEALOUS AND EXCITED AND THAT IS WHY I AM IN CAPS LOCK STILL. So, needless to say, I was so stoked about that, he was a great storyteller/tour guide and a good teacher. He gave me a tour of her kitchen, unfortunately not allowed to go inside because he is not the curator and he only goes inside if something needs to be fixed....I really wish I had found some kid to kick the plexi-glass around the kitchen in...so I could be there...dang. Hahaha!
But he explained to me how he used the CNC Router, to make one of the plexi-glass walls in the kitchen that has the outline of all of her kitchen gadgets...pretty cool. I learned that the Ruby Red Slippers are the most asked about thing in the museum and that the reason the shoes sit on a yellow brick road in their case now, was not because of a designer, but because of Don, who works in his shop. I learned a lot about the recent renovation to the museum and his involvement, saw a lot of 'backstage' areas,and learned many 'insider secrets' which I vowed never to speak of...
but not really, I do know a lot of insider secrets though, that I am allowed to share, but would not make any sense unless you were at the museum and I was showing you what I was talking about.
So, who wants to come visit?
Friday, I got to do a behind the scenes tour at the National Zoo, hosted by the Smithsonian Intern program....this was by far, the best intern program I have been to since I started here. We got to meet with the Curator of the Big Cat exhibit named Craig, he was really cool. He took us back to where the LIONS were in their overnight holding areas and we learned about lions, while 3 were standing a FOOT AWAY FROM ME. Oh, there was also a red panda I got to see that close too, he was cute, and old. He reminded me of an old puppy dog.
: D
The lions were amazing, I've never been that close to a wild animal before! Craig, the curator was a very passionate speaker, and you could tell he really loved his job and was very passionate about the creatures he cared for. It was a really cool experience, one that I wish I had my camera for, and not just my camera phone. But lucky for me, my camera was being a jerk again.....dang.
Later that day I went back to American History to meet with Lighting Designer Leo Karr.He was also very informative and lighting for the museum world is SO MUCH MORE EXTENSIVE THAN THEATRE. It was a little mind-blowing actually. The amount, the programs, the fact that most of the time you are lighting delicate objects that are much older, but at the same time, light labels so that the public can read information on the object....Seriously, it was nuts!!
This morning, I volunteered at the Columbia Heights Farmers Market, even though I said I would be interested in volunteering my first weekend here in DC, because I had a desire to MEET PEOPLE,MAKE FRIENDS,AND NOT SPEND MY SATURDAYS BLOGGING ABOUT MY LIFE!
Anyways,they finally got around to being like 'Oh hey email blast we need volunteers'
I got free peaches, a tshirt, and met a guy who works at the National Gallery, which is not quite a Smithsonian affiliate, but he offered to get me in touch with their shop guys so I can learn a thing or two about the behind the scenes life at NGA. Not a bad day if I do say so myself.
Only a few more weeks left, and in all reality, I think my time here has been much better than I have said in the past.....It really has been great to be in a new place, learn new things and have all of these experiences that will eventually make me stronger, smarter, wiser and hopefully a better person. I've missed the crap out of Ypsi and all of my friends and I cant wait to get back, and enjoy pizza, beer and shenanigans together.
18 days until Nate comes to visit, and we embark on a 2 week do-whatever-the-heck-we-want-vacation.
See ya'll later.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
metro.
So, I got a moment to check out the fabrication unit at Natural History,needless to say,that was really interesting.One of the things that I was really curious about is the fact that they build things for exhibits like fossils,etc....how does a carpenter build around something that is millions and millions of years old?
Well it is a lot of working together with other people, within the museum there are different departments such as paleontology, mineral sciences etc, they all have to work together to get the museum exhibits together.It was a pretty cool thing to learn.
After Natural History,I headed back to OEC.Worked the rest of the day,then headed home...got bombarded by emails from work the next day about our Open House that is coming up on the 29th, it is going to be a simple tour etc etc,but our intern 'wrangler' likes to do this thing when the interns are in our productions meetings, where he will but in, negate what we just talked about, repeat EXACTLY what we just talked about,then say,then say, that is what he wants.
It drives me nuts.
Moving on, I spent all day Thursday and Friday working at my part time nanny gig,which was my last week because of summer camps starting : (
Dang,there goes my steady income.I spent the better part of each day,scouring lists,trying to get hired elsewhere.Ugh,I just need to be making money, I have bills and crap to pay when I get back to Michigan.
Today I spent some girl time with my cousin Audrey,where she treated me to a pedicure.Then I hopped on the metro and headed over to Columbia Heights to pick up a few things and run errands.I had a moment on the metro where I realized that I really do not like it here.This city swells to nearly 3 million people during the day,filled with tourists,politicians,families.Every day I ride public transportation and everyone seems so sad,or if I bike, I spend the better part of my bike ride avoiding death.I've found it very hard to get into any sort of community around here.I've thrown myself at places to volunteer,mostly because I want to help,and I'd like to get to know people,it hasn't worked out too much.I feel like in past situations where I was in a new place,new people, I just threw myself into situations,volunteered,and let my curiosity guide me and suddenly I had a community, and a family.
Here that has not happened at all.I guess I am going to take that as a sign,this is where I am not supposed to be in life.Granted, I am very, VERY lucky to be living with my cousin and her family, and had I lived on my own here, I think I would have given up a LONG time ago. Especially after my first week of fiascoes in this city. So, here is my epiphany I suppose; I do not belong here. Washington DC is just not for me, I still think the Smithsonian is the coolest thing since sliced bread, and maybe working for them one day will be amazing, but for now, there are other things on my mind.
I am a firm believer in that 'Everything happens for a reason' and my questions as to why I am here have not all been answered yet, and I know that I was not sent here with the soul purpose of being made fairly miserable in a big city all summer, missing friends in Michigan terribly, leaving my boyfriend in Michigan high and dry (sorry, thank you for being supportive!)
I got to know family better, I get to hang out with my cousin and her great family, I have gotten to see my aunt and uncle, I got to finally meet my nephews, see my brother in law and sister for the first time in 3 years. Those, are all really great things.
My time here is not yet over, I less than a month left at my internship.Things are going to be great,and I will go out with a bang.
Well it is a lot of working together with other people, within the museum there are different departments such as paleontology, mineral sciences etc, they all have to work together to get the museum exhibits together.It was a pretty cool thing to learn.
After Natural History,I headed back to OEC.Worked the rest of the day,then headed home...got bombarded by emails from work the next day about our Open House that is coming up on the 29th, it is going to be a simple tour etc etc,but our intern 'wrangler' likes to do this thing when the interns are in our productions meetings, where he will but in, negate what we just talked about, repeat EXACTLY what we just talked about,then say,then say, that is what he wants.
It drives me nuts.
Moving on, I spent all day Thursday and Friday working at my part time nanny gig,which was my last week because of summer camps starting : (
Dang,there goes my steady income.I spent the better part of each day,scouring lists,trying to get hired elsewhere.Ugh,I just need to be making money, I have bills and crap to pay when I get back to Michigan.
Today I spent some girl time with my cousin Audrey,where she treated me to a pedicure.Then I hopped on the metro and headed over to Columbia Heights to pick up a few things and run errands.I had a moment on the metro where I realized that I really do not like it here.This city swells to nearly 3 million people during the day,filled with tourists,politicians,families.Every day I ride public transportation and everyone seems so sad,or if I bike, I spend the better part of my bike ride avoiding death.I've found it very hard to get into any sort of community around here.I've thrown myself at places to volunteer,mostly because I want to help,and I'd like to get to know people,it hasn't worked out too much.I feel like in past situations where I was in a new place,new people, I just threw myself into situations,volunteered,and let my curiosity guide me and suddenly I had a community, and a family.
Here that has not happened at all.I guess I am going to take that as a sign,this is where I am not supposed to be in life.Granted, I am very, VERY lucky to be living with my cousin and her family, and had I lived on my own here, I think I would have given up a LONG time ago. Especially after my first week of fiascoes in this city. So, here is my epiphany I suppose; I do not belong here. Washington DC is just not for me, I still think the Smithsonian is the coolest thing since sliced bread, and maybe working for them one day will be amazing, but for now, there are other things on my mind.
I am a firm believer in that 'Everything happens for a reason' and my questions as to why I am here have not all been answered yet, and I know that I was not sent here with the soul purpose of being made fairly miserable in a big city all summer, missing friends in Michigan terribly, leaving my boyfriend in Michigan high and dry (sorry, thank you for being supportive!)
I got to know family better, I get to hang out with my cousin and her great family, I have gotten to see my aunt and uncle, I got to finally meet my nephews, see my brother in law and sister for the first time in 3 years. Those, are all really great things.
My time here is not yet over, I less than a month left at my internship.Things are going to be great,and I will go out with a bang.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
CORRECTION, That is the CAPITOL BUILDING.
This is the title of my new favorite game, I invented it.I came up with this game after I moved here because I spend a lot of time on the National Mall.Which is not to be mistaken with a shopping center.Every time I over hear a tourist look at the United States Capitol Building and exclaim
'LOOK THE WHITE HOUSE!'
I swoop in to correct them,in hopes to educate them,and make them feel slightly like a moron.
The making them feel like a moron part is my favorite part.
For those of you that dont know this is the CAPITOL BUILDING:
THIS is the WHITE HOUSE:
The more you know.
'LOOK THE WHITE HOUSE!'
I swoop in to correct them,in hopes to educate them,and make them feel slightly like a moron.
The making them feel like a moron part is my favorite part.
For those of you that dont know this is the CAPITOL BUILDING:
THIS is the WHITE HOUSE:
The more you know.
Monday, July 12, 2010
busy,busy,busy.
I've been staying pretty busy lately.But don't ever say to me
"Wow,You're busy"
Or any statement that remotely resembles the above.
I don't know why,but it drives me fucking bonkers.
I know how to manage my time,trust me on this.
Moving on.OEC has been buzzing lately and I love it.My first day back from Folklife I actually wandered into the Graphics Unit to help Theresa with an exhibit from S.I.T.E.S,which stands for Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit Services.It is a program that takes exhibits to small towns.I was unloading an exhibit that just came back from somewhere in Georgia.It was called 'Key Ingredients' and was about the history of food in America.I had to un-pack everything from their crates,clean,mend etc.It was neat because it reminded me of prop-work.In the crates the exhibits all had spots,dedicated to specific items.It was a nifty little exhibit and really very fun.
The next day I went back into the paint shop to help Walter.It was great, I was prepping some panels for paint (say that 5 times fast) and then being awesome,I knocked one over,and onto the nearby slop sink,which subsequently put a GIANT FREAKING HOLE IN IT.
Needless to say, I was pretty embarrassed.But,nothing a little wood putty cant fix.
I worked all weekend long as a nanny for different families.It is good money, and keeps me busy (there is that damn word again) hopefully I can make enough money to start paying back loans.Wahoo!
Today,I was back in the paint shop with Walter,painting frames for an upcoming exhibit at the National Postal Museum called 'Collecting History',I got a real hands on experience with a REAAAALLLLLYYY nice Kremel Paint Gun,and primed all the frames,and will put the finish coat on tomorrow.Wednesday, I will be visiting the small fabrication unit inside of Natural History.I am so excited about this,I could pee my pants.No really.Natural History is my favorite of all the museums!Hopefully I will be checking out a few other fab units at the other museums before I leave.
Also today,began the frantic planning of an OEC Open House.We,the interns,will give tours,and 10 minute run-downs of what it is like to be an intern at OEC to fellow interns,friends,family,and other SI Staff on July 29th.
Holy Cow!
Halfway there!
"Wow,You're busy"
Or any statement that remotely resembles the above.
I don't know why,but it drives me fucking bonkers.
I know how to manage my time,trust me on this.
Moving on.OEC has been buzzing lately and I love it.My first day back from Folklife I actually wandered into the Graphics Unit to help Theresa with an exhibit from S.I.T.E.S,which stands for Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit Services.It is a program that takes exhibits to small towns.I was unloading an exhibit that just came back from somewhere in Georgia.It was called 'Key Ingredients' and was about the history of food in America.I had to un-pack everything from their crates,clean,mend etc.It was neat because it reminded me of prop-work.In the crates the exhibits all had spots,dedicated to specific items.It was a nifty little exhibit and really very fun.
The next day I went back into the paint shop to help Walter.It was great, I was prepping some panels for paint (say that 5 times fast) and then being awesome,I knocked one over,and onto the nearby slop sink,which subsequently put a GIANT FREAKING HOLE IN IT.
Needless to say, I was pretty embarrassed.But,nothing a little wood putty cant fix.
I worked all weekend long as a nanny for different families.It is good money, and keeps me busy (there is that damn word again) hopefully I can make enough money to start paying back loans.Wahoo!
Today,I was back in the paint shop with Walter,painting frames for an upcoming exhibit at the National Postal Museum called 'Collecting History',I got a real hands on experience with a REAAAALLLLLYYY nice Kremel Paint Gun,and primed all the frames,and will put the finish coat on tomorrow.Wednesday, I will be visiting the small fabrication unit inside of Natural History.I am so excited about this,I could pee my pants.No really.Natural History is my favorite of all the museums!Hopefully I will be checking out a few other fab units at the other museums before I leave.
Also today,began the frantic planning of an OEC Open House.We,the interns,will give tours,and 10 minute run-downs of what it is like to be an intern at OEC to fellow interns,friends,family,and other SI Staff on July 29th.
Holy Cow!
Halfway there!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Is it really a tale of woe?
Well,before I get into the Smithsonian Folklife Festival,let's talk about how awesome the 4th of July was here.I went downtown with my cousin and her family for the festivities,our first stop was the the American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery where we saw the private Norman Rockwell collection of George Lucas and Stephen Speilberg,that was pretty cool.After that we walked down towards the mall to scope out a spot for the fireworks.We found a pretty good spot in front of the Lincoln Memorial and waited for the show to start.The fireworks were pretty freaking spectacular.Then,we walked to Dupont Circle to avoid the mass crowds to hop on the metro to go home.Finally made it home by midnight,showered and crawled into bed.
It was a very good 4th of July....and I am not so sure I would ever want to be in Downtown DC again on the 4th for as long as I live.Hahaha.
Now on to Folklife.....
So, I was supposed to be working on the National Mall today at Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2010.
Let me do a quick re-cap of this festival for you all,get some of you caught up.
In the weeks leading up to Folklife I was asked if I wanted to be involved,I said yes out of curiosity and because I enjoy helping people,and my internship is actually pretty cool.So I filled out the appropriate paperwork for Folklife and faxed it off to the Folklife people.
Signed,sealed,delivered.
Or so I thought.
I offer to help set up our tent on the National Mall the Wednesday before the Festival starts,I was pretty excited to do so because I like being outside,and working outside.I get there,unload a bunch of things from the truck,help set up.I am then asked to fill out the SAME paperwork by the woman in charge and I personally handed it to the woman in charge.
I use that term 'in charge' loosely.
So for the first day I worked Folklife I went down to the Mall and attempted to check-in,they do not have a badge for me-and I managed to get meal tickets because the guy from the Fab unit did not show up that day.I mentioned that I filled out paperwork twice,and that I would be working Folklife again on July 5th,and what can I do to make sure that this does not happen on the 5th.Of course I do not get much response and spend the rest of that day in the humidity...ugh.
So today is July 5th,everyone else has the day off except me.I go down to the mall,attempt to check in today,and AGAIN...they have nothing for me.No name badge,no meal tickets.
Seriously,again?I say to them I filled out YOUR paperwork TWICE,I am not sure where YOU MESSED UP.
I waited around the Design and Display tent for Harry to show up and I explained to him my situation,how ticked off I was,and if he didnt need me for the day,could I just leave?
He said yes and I was sooooo stoked.Harry is a pretty cool guy,he comes off sort of crotchety but that is part of his charm,hahaha.He agreed with me that he would be pretty ticked off too,so he just let me go.I was pretty happy,so now I am at home,in the wonderful air conditioning,enjoying some quiet and hopefully going to see One Man Lord Of The Rings at Woolly Mammoth Theatre tonight.
Believe me, I shed no tears over the Festival coordinators lack of being able to do anything right,it is 95+ outside today,do I really want to be on the National Mall?
Heck no!
It was a very good 4th of July....and I am not so sure I would ever want to be in Downtown DC again on the 4th for as long as I live.Hahaha.
Now on to Folklife.....
So, I was supposed to be working on the National Mall today at Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2010.
Let me do a quick re-cap of this festival for you all,get some of you caught up.
In the weeks leading up to Folklife I was asked if I wanted to be involved,I said yes out of curiosity and because I enjoy helping people,and my internship is actually pretty cool.So I filled out the appropriate paperwork for Folklife and faxed it off to the Folklife people.
Signed,sealed,delivered.
Or so I thought.
I offer to help set up our tent on the National Mall the Wednesday before the Festival starts,I was pretty excited to do so because I like being outside,and working outside.I get there,unload a bunch of things from the truck,help set up.I am then asked to fill out the SAME paperwork by the woman in charge and I personally handed it to the woman in charge.
I use that term 'in charge' loosely.
So for the first day I worked Folklife I went down to the Mall and attempted to check-in,they do not have a badge for me-and I managed to get meal tickets because the guy from the Fab unit did not show up that day.I mentioned that I filled out paperwork twice,and that I would be working Folklife again on July 5th,and what can I do to make sure that this does not happen on the 5th.Of course I do not get much response and spend the rest of that day in the humidity...ugh.
So today is July 5th,everyone else has the day off except me.I go down to the mall,attempt to check in today,and AGAIN...they have nothing for me.No name badge,no meal tickets.
Seriously,again?I say to them I filled out YOUR paperwork TWICE,I am not sure where YOU MESSED UP.
I waited around the Design and Display tent for Harry to show up and I explained to him my situation,how ticked off I was,and if he didnt need me for the day,could I just leave?
He said yes and I was sooooo stoked.Harry is a pretty cool guy,he comes off sort of crotchety but that is part of his charm,hahaha.He agreed with me that he would be pretty ticked off too,so he just let me go.I was pretty happy,so now I am at home,in the wonderful air conditioning,enjoying some quiet and hopefully going to see One Man Lord Of The Rings at Woolly Mammoth Theatre tonight.
Believe me, I shed no tears over the Festival coordinators lack of being able to do anything right,it is 95+ outside today,do I really want to be on the National Mall?
Heck no!
Friday, July 2, 2010
It's July?!Say whaaaa?!
Holy Crap it is July!!Finally, I never thought June would end....the last few days in June seemed to CRAWL,not to mention I was totally bumming during that period of time too.I was feelin' really homesick, I missed my friends,I missed my boyfriend,I missed Ypsi.In that time I just wanted to be home,gettin' into shenanigans, drinkin' a beer at the corner brewery with all my friends and just lovin' my life in Ypsi.Then suddenly I realized I had no reason to be THAT depressed.I am living a pretty care-free life right now.I have little to no responsibility to speak of,and I am in a city that NEEDS to be explored,so I had a change of mind,and a change of heart.I realized that I can go and do what I please,when I please.I do not have to cater to anyone else but me.I can stop when I want,I can go where I want,and if I don't want to do something, I don't have to.It made things much better.Granted it is always nice to explore with a friend,but when I do find myself exploring something by myself....I just embrace that alone time,I can be as selfish as I want, and who gets that chance very often anyways?
Needless to say, that change of mind helped turn my week around for a very GREAT week.
I started off Monday in the dumps,I volunteered to work at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival that day,and someone told me to be there at 8AM,which is hysterical because the festival doesn't start until 11AM,and check-in for staff doesn't start until 10AM.I was pretty cranky that morning,it ended up being a mostly ok day despite the heat,and obnoxious tourists I had to fight with on the metro on my way home.The next day in the office I worked a lot on building panels for an upcoming exhibit called 'Cypress' (As in the country) that will open this September at Natural History.I am excited to work on this mostly because I will be here for it to be nearly complete.It will be nice to see my work come full circle.There are a lot of random things that the office has been working on that are long term projects,and that is mostly what happens around OEC.Wednesday I got my very own OEC t-shirt but was totally exhausted for some strange reason,bought some coffee from the nicest woman in the world,Wanda, who works in the cafeteria at OEC.Coffee,staff t-shirt,shoot I am just another regular OEC employee or something.Hahaa.I also spent Wednesday doing what one might call 'grunt work' or 'bitch work' but no matter,if you get assigned to do such work,do it right,make it awesome,and do it with a smile.I had to clean up the paint spray booths.Take out all the filters,remove the paper from the floor,but new filters in,and new paper down.Although I suppose it is fitting that I do this, considering Walter let me have at it with a paint gun....and I nearly painted his entire shop,but that is besides the point.Hahaha.
: D
There is something so strange about this city,it runs on clockwork.I swear on it.Everyday during my daily commute I see the same people,doing the same thing.Whether I bike or take the bus into work.The same people at the same bus stops,the same cyclists,and joggers outside of Natural History.The same guy on the fold-up bike in his suit probably going to work.The same group of bike cops,I wonder if they notice me,sitting there, watching them,I know it sounds creepy but I just notice these things,these people....its strange how precise they are.But I suppose being in the nations capitol it is appropriate.Wait, I take that back,clockwork,precision this country does not run like that...
The weekend is hardly over and so far it has been fun.I biked all around the city with my cousin Audrey yesterday.We started the day in Brightwood,where we live,biked to Tenley Town,the biked to Eastern Market and ate lunch at The Good Stuff, which is Chef Spike of Top Chef's restaurant.It was so delicious,I mean 'holy crap this is awesome delicious', I highly recommend it.Then later that night I went to the bar with my friend Emily last night for drinks,and then we explored the Capitol Hill and Eastern Market area.
Today I went down to the National Museum of the American Indian,walked in through the staff entrance,flashed my badge and bypassed lines,and security.Needless to say,that was awesome,and made me feel like I was a total baller....hahaha.I saw an amazing exhibit by Brian Jungen, it was so beautiful and moving.I also spent about an hour and half in their resource library reading.The librarian there brought me the LARGEST stack of books about the Cherokee tribe,their library has an amazing view of the CAPITOL BUILDING which is often mistaken by tourists for being THE WHITE HOUSE which I find to be disturbing that these people do not know the difference.
Anyways,it is about to be the Fourth of July in our Nation's Capitol and I get to be here to experience all that madness, I am sure it will be amazing and I will never want to do experience that madness on the National Mall ever.again.
I am excited either way though.
:D
Needless to say, that change of mind helped turn my week around for a very GREAT week.
I started off Monday in the dumps,I volunteered to work at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival that day,and someone told me to be there at 8AM,which is hysterical because the festival doesn't start until 11AM,and check-in for staff doesn't start until 10AM.I was pretty cranky that morning,it ended up being a mostly ok day despite the heat,and obnoxious tourists I had to fight with on the metro on my way home.The next day in the office I worked a lot on building panels for an upcoming exhibit called 'Cypress' (As in the country) that will open this September at Natural History.I am excited to work on this mostly because I will be here for it to be nearly complete.It will be nice to see my work come full circle.There are a lot of random things that the office has been working on that are long term projects,and that is mostly what happens around OEC.Wednesday I got my very own OEC t-shirt but was totally exhausted for some strange reason,bought some coffee from the nicest woman in the world,Wanda, who works in the cafeteria at OEC.Coffee,staff t-shirt,shoot I am just another regular OEC employee or something.Hahaa.I also spent Wednesday doing what one might call 'grunt work' or 'bitch work' but no matter,if you get assigned to do such work,do it right,make it awesome,and do it with a smile.I had to clean up the paint spray booths.Take out all the filters,remove the paper from the floor,but new filters in,and new paper down.Although I suppose it is fitting that I do this, considering Walter let me have at it with a paint gun....and I nearly painted his entire shop,but that is besides the point.Hahaha.
: D
There is something so strange about this city,it runs on clockwork.I swear on it.Everyday during my daily commute I see the same people,doing the same thing.Whether I bike or take the bus into work.The same people at the same bus stops,the same cyclists,and joggers outside of Natural History.The same guy on the fold-up bike in his suit probably going to work.The same group of bike cops,I wonder if they notice me,sitting there, watching them,I know it sounds creepy but I just notice these things,these people....its strange how precise they are.But I suppose being in the nations capitol it is appropriate.Wait, I take that back,clockwork,precision this country does not run like that...
The weekend is hardly over and so far it has been fun.I biked all around the city with my cousin Audrey yesterday.We started the day in Brightwood,where we live,biked to Tenley Town,the biked to Eastern Market and ate lunch at The Good Stuff, which is Chef Spike of Top Chef's restaurant.It was so delicious,I mean 'holy crap this is awesome delicious', I highly recommend it.Then later that night I went to the bar with my friend Emily last night for drinks,and then we explored the Capitol Hill and Eastern Market area.
Today I went down to the National Museum of the American Indian,walked in through the staff entrance,flashed my badge and bypassed lines,and security.Needless to say,that was awesome,and made me feel like I was a total baller....hahaha.I saw an amazing exhibit by Brian Jungen, it was so beautiful and moving.I also spent about an hour and half in their resource library reading.The librarian there brought me the LARGEST stack of books about the Cherokee tribe,their library has an amazing view of the CAPITOL BUILDING which is often mistaken by tourists for being THE WHITE HOUSE which I find to be disturbing that these people do not know the difference.
Anyways,it is about to be the Fourth of July in our Nation's Capitol and I get to be here to experience all that madness, I am sure it will be amazing and I will never want to do experience that madness on the National Mall ever.again.
I am excited either way though.
:D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)