Unfortunately, humidity isn't like snow. No snow days, no humidity days -- work awaits! This morning I took a RAF shuttle to Union Station and went on autopilot. I looked up from my book when light broke through the windows and I realized that I had inadvertently taken the train to the station closest to my summer home -- not the train to work!
Oops.
Since it was July 3rd, the office closed at 1PM. This was nice in some ways, and made even nicer by lunch plans with the other interns. We walked to the north-west side of Dupont Circle (I think?) to a place called ShopHouse, which is like an Asian-inspired version of Chipotle. The newest intern and I paired up and talked along the way, because it wasn't feasible or polite for so many people to walk in a glob and take up the entire sidewalk, and it was interesting to learn about him. He goes to Law school in Ireland, and he's from Russia, which makes for a neat accent. Although Russia and Ukraine are very, very different, his Slavic accent made me miss Ukraine.
After lunch my officemates and I decided to go to the botanical gardens after changing out of work clothes, but by the time I was on the return metro trip with Roommate #2 to go meet them we got an emergency alert text (you can sign up for those here!) that said a severe thunderstorm alert was in progress and to seek shelter. My Miami girl didn't think it was a big deal ("Another Tuesday afternoon..."), and neither did I, so we went ahead and began walking towards the gardens... bad idea. We turned around a couple of blocks later because we were being assaulted with Lubbock-style winds, and the sky didn't look particularly cute and cuddly. We looked at each other and decided that perhaps in DC, "severe" means precisely what it sounds like. Halfway back to the metro it began to rain, but we made it without drowning.
Oops.
Since it was July 3rd, the office closed at 1PM. This was nice in some ways, and made even nicer by lunch plans with the other interns. We walked to the north-west side of Dupont Circle (I think?) to a place called ShopHouse, which is like an Asian-inspired version of Chipotle. The newest intern and I paired up and talked along the way, because it wasn't feasible or polite for so many people to walk in a glob and take up the entire sidewalk, and it was interesting to learn about him. He goes to Law school in Ireland, and he's from Russia, which makes for a neat accent. Although Russia and Ukraine are very, very different, his Slavic accent made me miss Ukraine.
After lunch my officemates and I decided to go to the botanical gardens after changing out of work clothes, but by the time I was on the return metro trip with Roommate #2 to go meet them we got an emergency alert text (you can sign up for those here!) that said a severe thunderstorm alert was in progress and to seek shelter. My Miami girl didn't think it was a big deal ("Another Tuesday afternoon..."), and neither did I, so we went ahead and began walking towards the gardens... bad idea. We turned around a couple of blocks later because we were being assaulted with Lubbock-style winds, and the sky didn't look particularly cute and cuddly. We looked at each other and decided that perhaps in DC, "severe" means precisely what it sounds like. Halfway back to the metro it began to rain, but we made it without drowning.
We beat the rain back to NoMa-- just barely. Umbrellas in hand, we began to trek home when the heavens really let loose, and so we power-walked home through a torrential downpour. The icy-cold rain felt so delightful against my skin, and you could feel the temperature dropping, but drowned-rat isn't a style that I love wearing.
The end is in sight!
Once back at the apartment with a weather forecast that said it would be a better idea to stay inside than go out, I changed into dry clothes and checked my email. I found out that the request I had sent for the LCU students to tour the White House had been denied, the Supreme Court was booked solid, and we have a tour scheduled for the Capitol building next weekend. One out of three isn't bad! If I had thought of doing this all when we first started, perhaps we could have had time to appeal the White House tour.... Definitely something to think about next time. Friends that work for congressmen have told me that you have to submit your requests at least a month in advance.
With our plans canceled for the day due to the inclement weather that is traveling ahead of Hurricane Arthur, we've settled into our respective corners of the living room to munch on the cookies that were intended for the consumption at the pre-4th-of-July concert this evening. Looks like that's off, too.
With our plans canceled for the day due to the inclement weather that is traveling ahead of Hurricane Arthur, we've settled into our respective corners of the living room to munch on the cookies that were intended for the consumption at the pre-4th-of-July concert this evening. Looks like that's off, too.
Blessings,
Clarice
Clarice
