"I [left] on a jet plane...

...[and I] know when I'll be back again."

So, I successfully made it to the Nation's capitol. In the past few days, I have already had quite a bit of fun, but am utterly exhausted. Darn time change.

I flew out of Sioux Falls at 7 on Sunday morning, which meant I left the farm at 5:45am. Ugh. After a short stint in Cincinati, I made it to Dulles, found my luggage, managed to book a Super Shuttle, and got to Georgetown University, where I am staying this summer. However, I didn't get dropped at Kennedy Hall, instead I got left at the Main Gate. After informing the driver that this was indeed Georgetown (which he kept assuring me it was) and that this was not where I had asked to be dropped off, I hitched up my 3 suitcases and computer bag and ventured across campus to find Kennedy. Luckily I found it without much trouble and promptly checked in, called Nick as he is in DC as well, and took a nap. Nick and I went out yesterday afternoon for coffee, sat around on campus and then decided to go to Chinatown to see "Ocean's 13." As he wanted me to become more familiar with the area, we crossed the bridge into Rosslyn and walked to the Metro. The movie was good and even better because Nick bought my ticket in exchange for me buying pop and popcorn. We then trekked back to GU (Nick walked me back even though it meant that he was going considerably out of his way) and I hit the hay.

Today was filled with a ton of training in professional dress in the not-even-as-hot-as-it-will-get-in-DC-heat. Ugh. At least my blazer covered up all the sweat. We decided to treat ourselves to a "night out" and hit up Chipotle, the riverfront, and a bar. However, I am so dehydrated (read: I haven't peed ALL DAY), that my one beer got me pretty buzzed. I was also able to educate the rest of my staff about the beauty that is a red beer with olives. Only one had ever heard of putting tomato juice in her beer and no one had ever heard of olives--not even the bartender. It is a severely midwestern thing, and since I am the only person from the midwest (in fact, there is 1 girl from Seattle and we are the furthest west; our next competition is a girl from Ohio) I was the only one to know of this little secret. I feel I did the world a huge service today. I am getting used to being the novelty as I came from a small town without a mall or stoplight and just got a national chain restaurant 2 years ago, and grew up 20 minutes from town and lived on a gravel road. They can't fathom this and it entertains me.

But sleep also entertains me. And despite the fact that is is not even 10pm at home, I am heading to bed because I am worn out. I'll keep posting to update my progress as I am here. Hope all is well for you!

"Take a look, it's in a book...

...Reading Rainbow."

I'm a nerd.

Yup, I will admit it. I have assumed it for awhile, but I just realized it now as I was doing something I didn't even think was that abnormal...making me a nerd.

I am reading a book. That, in and of itself, is not odd. I enjoy reading--English majors read. It is the way of the world. However, English majors do something else at times that the rest of the world does not take part in. We take notes on what we read. Generally, this is done so that when we are tested over a piece of literature or have to write a paper about it, we can refer to our notes and in-text underlines to know what to quote and utilize. Seems logical, right?

No. I am reading a book I borrowed from Nick called "The Devil in the White City." It is a nonfiction novel (yeah, a nonfiction novel--a genre I have never experienced) with tons of characters, events, facts, and figures. I found myself getting confused and refering to things I had already read in order to read this book, so I began taking notes. I am now on my 3rd piece of paper (small paper, but still...) with descriptions of characters, their relations to one another, events and places. I hold the book in my left hand and keep the pen in my right. I had to refrain from underlining seemingly important passages as this is not my book and Nick would probably get angry if I marred the pages of his tome.

But seriously! Who does that? Why can't I read for pleasure?

"Going to the place where love and feeling good don't ever cost a thing...

...and the pain you feel's a different kind of pain."

Okay, so I'm not 'going' home...I am 'coming from' home. But I like the song, so that is what I am going with.

I spent a few (about 4) days on the farm to be there before leaving for DC. I chased cattle, helped run corrals, crossed the creek 4 times (not as fun as it sounds), got a huge scrape on my elbow from falling off the corral after a cow hit me, and got a huge bruise when a different cow reared up and almost killed me. I also baked, gardened, hung out with Mom and Dad, gave the little brother a hair cut, and was basically productive without doing a whole heck of a lot.

Yesterday I "worked" at Mad Jacks with Suzy and got a scone and a free Turtle Mocha that I made myself. I guess coffee skills transfer to different coffee places; now, if I ever need a new job I think I can handle Mad Jacks. Nicole and I grilled and went rummaging--lots of people in this town obviously had kids within the past couple years because all the sales had was baby stuff. Ah, well.

And now I am here. At my apartment. Looking at 3 open suitcases that all have some of my possessions in them. I am trying to figure out the best way in which to divide everything so that I don't have to spend a fortune UPSing myself a package to DC ($90 for my stuff is just too much!) I have a typed, 4-page packing list that I am diligently crossing things off of, but I don't know if it will all work out. Luckily, I have a few days in which to get loose ends like this tied up.

However, until Nicole calls I have nothing else to do this evening so I am going to keep reading the novel I borrowed. Gee, with this packed schedule I am lucky I can fit everything in! Blech.