At The Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court is AMAZING!! We waited in line today for 3 hours to hear oral arguments and it was so awesome! Not to mention they talked about some statute of limitations and I had no clue what was being argued...nonetheless it was soooo awesome! The building is huge and beautiful! The Marshalls were fierce in there too! You couldn't put your head down without them yelling at you...it was strict! We hope to go back for the immigration topic or the abortion topic...maybe we'll understand those.

DC Tip #5: Study the "Bum Culture." Just because they live outside and may smell bad...they are still interesting people! Some try to shake your hand and not let go until you give them money...others appear to be talking into one of those crazy "bluetooth" things, then your realize there is nothing in their ear and they are simply talking to themselves...others are very polite and say hello, but if you don't say hello back then you will catch the wrath of them!!! Each and every bum is unique...get to know the bum who lives near YOU! [All examples used above are based on true events.]

Red Mass

So tomorrow is the first day of the new term of the U.S. Supreme Court...so today St. Matthews Cathedral had its Red Mass. Teresa (one of the interns I work with) and I went and it was awesome! The cathedral was beautiful and the service was amazing too! Oh...so what is Red Mass? It is the mass that honors all people judicial on the Sunday before the first Monday of October. (This is because the first Monday of October is the first day of the new term in the U.S. Supreme Court) Okay...so we got there almost 45 minutes before the service and we still had to stand!! Why you ask...because people such as Chief Justice Roberts and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court were present, many Congressmen and Senators, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other "high profile" people. When we left the Cathedral I felt famous with the mass of media on the street...come to find out they were there for the important people who drove away in the black vehicles with tinted windows...ha!

DC Tip #4: Do grocery shopping in small shifts!! Walking four blocks with heavy grocery bags is not a good idea and the purple fingers that are a result are not the best either! So shop in shifts and stick to light weight food!

Mexico and Wings...

So today we had the opportunity to listen to the Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. He had a lot to say about immigration and our "partnership." It got pretty heated during the Q & A...but it was really cool to listen to someone with power from Mexico talk about the issue. Then later tonight we went out for wings...35cent wings...mmmmm! Another good start to an awesome week in DC.

DC Tip #3: Never leave your chapstick in your pocket when entering the DC Superior Courthouse!! The security guy will not hesitate to check what it is...without asking to grab for it!

My First Campaign

Yeah...so today Eric and I helped with a local campaign. We walked door-to-door campaigning for Michael Steele for the US Senate. But we didn't make it too far because it started raining. So then we went back to headquarters and made calls. I definitely got hung up on or rejected almost every time...but it was still pretty cool meeting the people we were working with. Well another weekend is over and tomorrow's another BIG day. The Ambassador to Mexico is talking to us tomorrow...so that should be pretty cool. Good times!

DC Tip #2: When the lights on the Metro platform start to blink that means the train is arriving...but don't stand on the marble area near the lights (it's right next to the edge) because the train will definitely honk at you...unless you want to scare everyone on that platform...because those horns are crazy LOUD!

A Shift In 7D!

Wow...that's all I have to say! I went on a ride-along the other night and it was intense! As a part of the internship we are encouraged to do a ride-along to see the DC crime first hand...wow! I hung out with Officer Sillah for the second shift and we were pretty busy. The first hour I was in the car we had a transfer of this huge dude (who they put in the back right behind me). We responded to a missing persons report and then a domestic violence call. Oh...and then this dude tried to flee on foot so we sped to the scene (using lights...sirens...and serious speed!). At the begining of the night the officer said to me that it was a quiet night because it was going to be a quiet night, or it was a quiet night because someone was going to get shot. It was funny to laugh at then, but about 9:30pm we got a call over the radio of a kide being shot! It blew my mind! We didn't respond to that call though...and I am glad we didn't. The bottom line is that it was an intense night in the 7th District and I had a blast bustin "bad guys."

DC Tip #1: Don't be an "escalefter!" When using an escalator always stand on the right side and walk on the left...because if you block the left side by not walking you are looked down upon and called an "escalefter."

Three Weeks In DC

Wow! It's been three weeks already and I love the city life and I love my internship! When I walk from my building to the courthouse I can catch a glimpse of the Washington Monument...it is so awesome! I have perfected the use of the Metro. Oh...and I have learned one of the most important things that anyone visiting the DC area needs to know...STAND ON THE RIGHT! When walking on the escalators the best thing to do is just stay to the right because you will either get an angry peron growling behind you or you will get plowed down. I have had some GREAT stories so far...but I have a feeling that the stories will only get better! Stay tuned!