A working girl becomes a capitalist

Did you know this is my 336th blog post? That's pretty intense. Thanks for sticking with me! I hope these posts are worth your read.

It is extremely hot here, probably like the majority of the country. I about melted on the pavement going on the long journey by bus, metro, and foot into D.C. today. At least I looked cute while I melted!

For lunch I sat on a shaded bench in Lafayette Park nestled in between the White House and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. I had a great view of the White House, people playing chess, police riding their bikes, and about half a dozen groups of different kinds of protesters. It was mostly fascinating to watch the protesters who all had various causes such as opposition to nuclear weapons and advocates of lifting the embargo on Cuba. Oh, America, you are so free! There aren't many places like this in the world where you have such amazing free speech rights.

In the afternoon I attended a big summit at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. I got to run a gauntlet of protesters in the front of the building protesting the speakers at the event. The primary theme of the meeting was improving the free market, while telling Washington to get out of the way. The back of the room was filled with media, and I met lots of interesting people. Another intern I met was working in government relations this summer at American Express. She is a student at a different university in Indiana and is also a native Kansan! It was like we were long lost friends...

And then this past weekend I tried to stay active. I went on an 18 mile bike ride with Jim and Marion and about half of the northern Virginia population on the W&OD trail. I also reunited with my IU friend, Jess, who is leaving for Indonesia on a Fulbright scholarship. We ate ribs at her aunt and uncle's house. They are all extremely athletic and adventuresome people. Her aunt, for example, once biked across America and lived in Switzerland, where she taught at an international school. One of her students was Elizabeth Taylor's daughter, who didn't have anywhere to be with at Christmas, so Jess's aunt spent the holiday with her at Elizabeth Taylor's empty Swiss chalet. What stories!

I also went to church yesterday like usual. It's a fairly large church, and it just struck me how strange it is that the police will help direct traffic going in and out of the church. In many countries the police will help arrest believers.

So all in all I've just been considering our blessings here in America. We have so much to be thankful for, yet many Americans are still angry, depressed, and discontent (and sometimes that includes me!)

With Jess, my favorite tall friend.

Jess and I walked all the way to Vienna in the dark!