First Call

Toasted PB&J for breakfast today, and a ride in on the Metro to work this morning.  Most of the day was spent gathering information about campaigns in Ohio, Nevada, and Alabama.  I also made my first call into some campaigns to discuss with them if they would like us to join their team.  I must have picked the wrong campaigns because I was only able to leave some voice mails, but it was a good experience anyways.  The VP of the company gave me two thumbs up when I asked her about working on developing a website for a very special event back in Cambridge (more on that later).  I went to lunch with Katie today at Potbelly's, num num num.  I didn't realize how big of a chain that company was, it is definitely much more than just the State Street location in Madison.  Made it back to the RAF around 6:30, and I have the evening up to my discretion for the first time in several days.  Not sure what I will do with it exactly, but I do know I need a good night's sleep.  I'll check in before the evening is out if anything interesting happens!

Dr. Strangelove

Day two at the office had air conditioning!  I opted to ride the Metro in to work today, and it took about 20 minutes to make it from the RAF to the office.  My time in the office today was centered around gathering contact information for candidates to the House of Representatives.  Katie, a fellow intern, and myself worked through candidates in California and Illinois for the most part today.  Gathering this information is the basic foundation necessary for the growth of the company.  The Vice-President of the company, Savina, has asked me to participate in a campaign and elections event that should be pretty interesting; http://www.cvent.com/events/the-art-of-political-campaigning/event-summary-49c3074cf0404d56b1f6cec239de6c9f.aspx.  I'll be the only intern that goes to the event.  Some co-workers suggested we go to Whole Foods for lunch.  I thought that a strange proposition, but I joined in on the trek.  Not doing that again.  There is a buffet of food that you select from to place into your own bowl, and pay by weight.  This is not economical for me.  I left the office with Katie and Raquel at 6, and we rode the Metro back home.  I had a meeting at 6:30 at the RAF for my Veterans Civic Engagement program, and we had a guest speaker from the Student Veterans of America organization by the name of Matthew Feger.  He talked about his organization, and I am interested in bringing interest about it back to UW-Whitewater after the summer.  The meeting lasted until about 8:30, making my day about 11 and a half hours long.  I wasn't quite ready to call it quits just yet though, because Dr. Strangelove was playing in the outside theater a block from the RAF.  I was joined by Kristin and Pete, and the film started at about 9:00.  I'm back in my room now.  Jon is ironing his shirt, Keenan is on his computer, Pete is lounging in the leather chair, and we are all watching game two of the Heat vs. Celtics series.  Time to watch the last couple of minutes!  Goodnight!!

Day 1 at the Office

I showed up to the internship fifteen minutes early today.  Yes, that's right, Bryce Noble Yates Chinault was actually early.  When the rest of the interns showed up around nine, we started to dive into what we will be doing over the course of our internship.  I think I will be spending a fair amount of my day on the phone regularly, which will be okay because the people I will be talking to will be campaign managers and staff.  I also get the impression that I may be doing some traveling with the company.  It was a bit rough in the office today because the air conditioning wasn't working and it was in the 90's today, but we all made it through the day.  They said that this was the first day they had had that problem, and the timing couldn't have been better with the office more packed than normal.  I introduced myself to the two ladies cleaning the office that were speaking in Spanish as I opted to help them move a couple of items with a little "Me llamo Bryce."  They both smiled in reaction and came over to shake my hand and respond in kind.  That was fun.  I won't be able to disclose all of what I do during the day, because we sign a confidentiality agreement of sorts that doesn't permit us to speak about the campaigns we are working on.  But, I will share what I can, and speak in general terms when I have to.  We had pizza served at lunch today, which made my day!  I also received my Blackberry and laptop that I will have for the duration of my internship, pretty sweet!!  I left the office around 5:40 to make sure I was on time for my class that started at 6:30.  My class is instructed by John Forkenbrock, who currently works for the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS), has taught courses for the Washington Center for several years, and previously instructed other college courses.  We will be dissecting the process of how the federal budget is originated, processed, and completed.  Or, as of late, not completed.  He seems like a very cordial and intelligent individual, and I look forward to learning from him throughout the duration of the course.  There are 11 students enrolled in the class, but only five of us showed up tonight...not sure what that means going forward, but we will definitely have as much engagement with the professor as we want during the course of the semester.  Class ended around 8:40 tonight.  The walk home involved a fair amount of rain, much to my chagrin considering I was transporting my new laptop, but I, and the laptop, made it back safe and sound to the RAF.  My mind is quite fatigued from the day, and I might have to share more details about what all occurred tomorrow.  ¡Buenos noches!

Hot Dogs & Mac and Cheese

Pete, Christen, and I made hot dogs and macaroni & cheese for dinner tonight.  We then went into an interesting coversation about food in general.  Christen's family would eat a rotation of meals every couple of weeks.  Like every other Monday was chicken, Tuesdays were for another specific food, or if they went to McDonald's they would order the same thing every time.  Needless to say, she was terribly perplexed when I put some of my mac & cheese in the hot dog bun, and when I cut up one of the hot dogs to put in my mac & cheese.  Maybe that's just a Wisconsin thing...then again, maybe I am a little weird.  Pete then pointed out that he loves to eat peanut butter and fluff on a toasted piece of bread.  Keenan had no idea what fluff meant, so Pete brought it out to show him.  With all of us coming from different states and different backgrounds there are all kinds of little phrases, actions, or habits that are deemed entirely normal by one individual, and seemingly as foreign as imaginable to the other.  I have ironed my clothes for tomorrow, and have my bag packed ready to go for the morning.  Time to watch the end of game 1 between the Heat & Celtics and call it a night.  Alarm goes off at 7:00 a.m.  Goodnight!

Memorial Day

The Memorial Day Parade was very nice.  I went with my roommate Pete and our friend Kristin.  We made it to Constitution Ave. two hours before the parade was set to start, and camped out in a prime location to see the parade under a great shade tree.  What we hadn't expected was for dozens of people to decide it was okay to stand half way in the road just to our right where the parade was coming from.  Really?  It was the only area that people where standing so close, and they were repeatedly asked to move back.  I felt bad for several individuals that were camped out next to us that were in wheelchairs, and had been there for nearly as long as we were, and may have been Veterans themselves.  We were told everyone was to be moved back when the parade began, but our nearest officer didn't seem to mind.  The parade itself was great though, with Veterans present from multiple wars, bands from across the country, Gary Sinise, Buzz Aldrin, some American Idol contestant, and Miss America all occupying floats honoring our troops.  I may not have enough time to really take in the Arlington National Cemetery today, so I think I will save that for next weekend when it likely will not be as heavily trafficked, and I can spend at least a couple of hours in the area.  Tomorrow I will be starting my internship at 9:00 in the morning, and I will also be attending my first class, The Federal Budget, from 6:30-9:30 in the evening.  Tomorrow equals a twelve and a half hour day for me, and I am looking forward to it!!

From Wisconsin

I had another very fun night with some recently made friends, and some brand new ones from last night.  I introduced myself to a woman named Erin who asked what I was doing out in D.C.  I explained my internship program to her, and stated that I am from Wisconsin.  Turns out she is too!  So I ended up meeting two of her friends (one was named Katie) from Wisconsin too, and enjoyed some time talking about the home state.  I also met a Nicole, and spent the evening with some previously made friends that are part of TWC.  There is going to be a parade up on Constitution Avenue here shortly, and I will be in attendance.  I also plan on heading over to Arlington National Cemetery to view the Changing of the Guard this afternoon.  I have been packing a lot in to my first few days here, and I have loved every minute of it.

A Blue Jay

I was able to be within a few feet of a Blue Jay the other day, and I forgot to mention it.  Made me think of home.  :-)

National Zoo & Memorial Concert

All of the roommates and myself went to the National Zoo today, along with Maegan, Jaronda, Kristy, Joanna, Katie, and another lady friend.  I was a little under impressed with the zoo if I may be so bold as to say.  It turns out that I really love animals, but I don't really enjoy zoos in general, and this one in particular.  My legs traveled quite the distance again today, and the cloudless 86 degree day made my body work a little extra today too.  After getting back to the RAF around 6:30, we all relaxed for about 45 minutes before we hiked it over to the Capital to watch an outside concert on the National Mall.  It turns out that they don't let you carry beer in, my Wisconsin roots were on full display for that episode.  So Keenan, Jaronda, and myself elected to sit along the pool on the backside of the concert.  This proved to be an excellent decision because the concert was evacuated shortly thereafter because of incoming inclement weather.  Daughtry and Trace Adkins were the only performers that were able to perform before it was cancelled.  This was the itinerary of the event; http://www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert/concert/.

Good Morning

This morning has been relatively slow and laid back.  The roommates are planning on heading out shortly though to go to the National Zoo.  Pete says it is free to go to, and the Metro will take us right to it so it sounds like a great idea to me.  I am in need of getting my hands on a camera between now and then...

Rocket & Clyde's

After a long day, roughly six miles of walking yesterday, my roommate Keenan and I went out on the town with some new friends.  We were joined by Amy, Anna, David, Dianna, Hunter, Lindsey, and one other guy.  I found out about Rocket Bar that had a bunch of pool tables, dart boards, shuffle boards, and three bars inside.  We hopped on the Metro and managed to find it after I asked a young lady for specific directions.  They were selling $3 PBR's, which was as good as it was going to get on a Saturday night.  I met a Maggie that was celebrating her birthday with her friends, and a guy that pronounced his name like the word code.  I also introduced myself to a Chris from Germany.  Some members of our party wished to move on so we went on to further our adventure.  Stopped at a club called Cuba, but they wouldn't let us in based on a dress code.  Flip-flops don't work here?  After walking around for awhile, conversing with some local law enforcement (in a good way), and losing half of our party, Keenan, Amy, Anna, and myself went to Clyde's Bar & Grille to close out the night.  I had a blast meeting new people, and engaging in all sorts of conversation throughout the night.

A Monumental Tour

I left the RAF at 9:30 this morning to head to the Smithsonian, and wherever else my legs where about to carry me.  I was accompanied by Robyn, whom I met yesterday during our orientation.  The first stop after getting off of the Metro was the National Museum of American History.  It was very interesting, and the highlight had to be viewing the American flag that was the impetus behind the writing of Francis Scott Key's 'Star Spangled Banner.'  We passed through the National Sculpture Gardens, and the National Gallery of Art was the next building we entered.  With the recommendation of Kathy, a lady that informed us about our surroundings once we exited the Metro, we used our noses to guide our way through the winding halls to the cafe inside.  $21 for a buffet that doesn't even have steak on it?  Sorry Kathy, no thanks.  We promptly exited the premises, and ventured over to a restaurant called Capital Grille.  I found the steak I was looking for but it was $34, and I'm guessing the portion wasn't going to be to my liking.  I let the waiter know that we suddenly had an engagement to attend, and we exited with haste once more.  A fully-loaded hot dog and gatorade for $5 from a stand outside did just fine for lunch.  The Washington Monument was next on the list, or, as a bad joke I once heard suggests, is that building dedicated to Bill Clinton?  Then there was the World War II Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.  All of which are fantastic venues.  Next was perhaps my favorite memorial, that of Thomas Jefferson.  The statue inside is most impressive, and the breeze that passes through the openings on all sides makes it incredibly comfortable to stop and view the engraved quotes and impressive architecture.  We then doubled back around the Tidal Basin which, based upon its name, it would make sense as to why water was covering certain areas of the surrounding sidewalk.  This route was taken so that we could view the Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam War Memorial.  The Lincoln Memorial is terribly impressive, and silence falls upon all that pass the Vietnam War Memorial as if everyone is silently thanking every name that is engraved on its humbling walls.  We continued on to walk along the White House property, where Obama had left in a motorcade to head to Chicago only hours earlier (as my roommate Pete informed me afterwards).  After a pit stop to collect ourselves next to the General William Tecumseh Sherman Memorial, we walked to the nearest Metro station and headed home to the RAF.  The National Mall area is swarmed with people this Memorial Day Weekend.  There are tons of school groups wandering about, and an omnipresence of motorcyclists that all seem to be veterans of one war or another.  There are thousands of people coming into the city to remember those that have fallen, share the memories of lost friends and family, and to celebrate this moment of existence.  It is an honor to be able to spend this weekend in the nation's capital.

Smithsonian

Last night turned into just a relaxing evening at the RAF with my roommates.  I am about to leave to go see the Smithsonian for the first time, can't wait!!

Grocery Shopping

I went to the Harris Teeter grocery store that is about five blocks away for the first time today.  Keenan and Pete joined me in the endeavor, and we all agree that the prices are high here, which was to be expected.  Somebody else's food ended up in one of our bags, because the clerk had not given it to him because he didn't have his money with him, apparently, and another lady stepped in to bag our groceries.  So we thought we had scored some free grub, but it turns out he had eaten out of it beforehand, and we decided to toss the remnants.  Had a meeting about the Veterans Civic Engagement project I'll be working on in the upcoming weeks.  We will be attending a wheelchair basketball tournament in Richmond, VA at the end of June, along with a couple of other events that a handful of us will be volunteering at.  I thought I was going to be attending a small jazz festival on the National Mall this evening, but my roommates and I seemed to have conflicting reports on when/where and we managed to miss it.  Something tells me there is plenty else to do on a beautiful Friday night in D.C.  Time to go figure out what exactly that may be!

Press Conference

I forgot to mention yesterday that when I was walking by the Capital there was a press conference of sorts happening over gay marriage.  Here is a synopsis from MSNBC; http://nbcpolitics.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/25/11878818-as-conservatives-rally-on-marriage-issue-fate-rests-with-high-court?lite

It seemed like I could have just walked up and asked a question myself had I wanted to, I elected to not test the theory.  It may have had something to do with the police officer armed with a fully automatic assault rifle standing across the walkway.  I did stop to listen for a little while before I moved along, and it was interesting to think that this is what people across the country will be reading or watching about and it was taking place right in front of me.  I am going to enjoy this city.

Orientation & Ben's Chili Bowl

Busy, busy day.  Woke up at 7 this morning, and was rewarded with hot water in the shower!  Dressed up in my grey suit and teal? colored shirt and tie that Karissa picked out for me, and it received many compliments throughout the day.  We had our orientation today that started at 9:00 at a very nice reception hall about five stops on the Metro away from my residence.  The highlight of the day thus far was a stop at Ben's Chili Bowl for lunch.  Then President-Elect Obama dined there, and it is full of images of the owner with figures like a young Denzel Washington, Tavis Smiley, and a painting with Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and other historical figures in the African-American community.  I ordered Bill Cosby's favorite, and it actually is his favorite, The Original Chili Half-Smoke.  I also attended a meeting about 'Power Greetings' where we went over the proper ways to introduce yourself professionally, and I signed up to be a part of the Veterans portion of our Civic Engagement part of my responsibilities to TWC (more on that later).

Lasagna

As I am certain that Tyler Luther is wondering, I indulged in some lasagna at Zuppa Fresca across the street from my residence for dinner this evening.  I dined alone which caused the plateful of food in front of me to vanish rather quickly, and I think it was noticed by my waitress and the nearby patrons.  We had an ice cream social at the RAF tonight, and I have been watching/talking basketball with my roommates as the Heat clinched their series against the Pacers.  We have a full schedule tomorrow, starting with a ride on the Metro to a convention about what to expect through the duration of the internship, and what will be expected of us from our course work.  I have my suit hanging up in the closet, with my shirt freshly ironed and ready to roll.  Washington isn't going to know what hit it when I step outside tomorrow!  Goodnight!!

An Early Visit

I decided to take a walk to where my internship is located, with a detour up to the National Mall to see all the buildings up there again.  Managed to find the office, and spent a half an hour or so getting to know some of my soon to be co-workers.  The people in the office all seem to be very friendly, and I think it will be a real pleasure to work there.  The CEO of the company has photos of him standing with politicians as ideologically diverse as George W. Bush and Al Franken on a wall in the office, which should make this experience all the more rewarding.  If you want to check out the company's website, you can find it here; http://www.electionmall.com/.  The walk took me 35 minutes to complete, so I think I will be travelling to and from work on foot regularly.

Day 2

I had toast with pb&j and a bowl of Raisin Bran cereal for breakfast.  We had a meeting at the RAF at 10 this morning.  Lunch was provided at noon.  Afterwards, some guest speakers that previously attended The Washington Center (TWC) told us about their experiences, how to help make our experiences great, and what they are doing now.  They shared some very nice insights.  The rest of the day is for my discretion, time to go conquer this city!

Here We Go!

My internship program at The Washington Center in D.C. has commenced.  I flew out of Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport at 8:12 a.m. yesterday, May 23rd, 2012.  Landed in Washington at the Reagan National Airport at 11:56 a.m.  Met a Randy from Hastings, MN on the flight who was coming into town for a convention, and recommended that I check out the Memorial Day Parade this weekend.  My luggage wasn't lost in transportation, and I hopped on the Super Shuttle for $15 to get to the Residential and Academic Facility (RAF), that I will be staying at until August 4th, around noon.  Two of the other passengers were on their way to the RAF as well, their names have eluded my memory, but I have seen them around the building several times since then.  I am staying in the same room as John from Massachusetts, and we have two other suite-mates, Keenan from Alabama and Pete from Connecticut.  They all seem to be pretty cool guys, and I look forward to spending time with them over the next 10 weeks.  After I settled in to the room I decided to go for a walk around the area, a handful of blocks in every direction.  It's definitely different here than it is at UW-Whitewater, let alone my hometown of Cambridge, WI.  I am just a few blocks from the Metro station that can get you close to anywhere in D.C. as I understand it, there is a bus stop right outside of our building, and a free shuttle that caters to Washington Center interns for a few select stops around the area.  We had a meeting in the evening with some local law enforcement officers, a community outreach leader (we are in a community referred to as NOMA, which is short for North of Massachusetts -> the street), and our in-house Washington Center representatives.  There was a Rock, Paper, Scissors contest toward the end of the meeting and I just missed out on being in the finals!  To close out the evening, my roommate Keenan and a fellow resident, Emma, walked around the area some more and enjoyed a couple of beverages at some local establishments.  They do have good beers here, phew, but the prices aren't quite like Wisconsin which will be limiting my already limited time to enjoy them.  We made our way back to the RAF after enjoying the outside seating, and I slept comfortably on my twin-sized bed and my brand new Badger blanket made by my wonderful sister, Karissa, with assistance from our friend Jodie.  An incredibly successful first day, and I can't wait for the rest of this experience to unfold.

p.s. I'll try to keep the rest of my posts short and concise.