Last week I attended a conference on the Hill all about the ins and outs of Congress. It was super interesting and I loved it! I had some great ideas of things to mention on here, but now it's been a week and I can't remember them....some highlights:- I went to a Senate hearing and saw John Kerry in the flesh!
- I went to watch the Senate floor and to go watch you have to go through security a couple times and they asked if I had any extra shoes in my bag (I did) and I had to turn them in. I wonder if this was a policy pre-Bush's near shoe encounter (he had amazing reflexes).
- My dear friend Andrea works for Senator Bennett, so I got to see her at work!
- We got to ride these "subways" in the tunnels between the Senate Building/Capitol/House Building. While in the tunnels, I saw Andrea sprinting to the capitol--life on the Hill is crazy! Also happy to say now I've now been in those tunnels AND the ones in SLC between the Conference Center/Temple. Now if I can only fulfill my goal of getting in those Provo tunnels. Russell thought I was making it up, but when he was in the MTC the elevator went to the basement and he saw I was speaking the truth.
- The speakers were great, and I realized that politics is their religion.
- I also realized politics is the religion of most of the other attendees. Everyone there was doing the fellowship I'm doing, and they were INTENSE.
- We got an unofficial tour of the Capitol by our program director, and in it we ended up in this broom closet that got us into this weird stairwell that somehow led us to the Rayburn building? Not sure what was going on, but I loved it.
- Orrin Hatch's name was mentioned a LOT. Far more than Harry Reid's or Mitt Romney's or anyone else I could think of. Who knew he was so famous? It reminded me of the second time I heard him speak and he said "What would Orrin Hatch do?" So funny!
That's all I've got...for now.
I like the tunnels, too. I haven't been in any of the Utah ones.
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe John Kerry runs around naked at the Capitol. I tell you, Democrats are ruining this country.
The broom closet to the Rayburn Building sounds like something out of Hogwarts. I expected your fellowship to include more of this type of group training.
ReplyDeleteDid you ever get your shoes back?
Yes--I got my shoes back as soon as I left. They also kept my umbrella, cell phone, etc.
ReplyDeleteOr how about the phrase, "So I'm just standing there, holding Orrin Hatch's tank top . . . " (Sarah, circa 2004)
ReplyDeleteSounds aweseome, I'd love to do all that. BTW, if you want to see the BYU tunnels, you have to know someone who is library police. My friend married one and he took her down there. Against the rules but so romantic.
Loved having you on the Hill... even for just a few days! Can't wait until you work closer!!!!
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