Last day of work

Last day of work! I worked on my book review all day, mostly. Carol and I had lunch and I just ordered my last book for her to have sent to a reviewer.

It's a good day. I'm doing a lot of clean up. I just realized I should save the files I have on this computer somewhere. Had a few funny moments with the peanut gallery and one of the editorial writers said I should definitely send my op-ed in.

Feeling bittersweet. Having dinner with Hillsdalians tonight but kind of feeling overwhelmed and not in the mood. I want to but I'm feeling eh. I just can't believe it's over.

It's been such a great internship. Carol said I can be a freelancer too, so that's really great. I'm excited about that.

It's been a great summer.

Things I'm Going to Miss about The Washington Times

Tomorrow is my last day. I thought it better to write this out today:

10. My Times e-mail. It's so great and it's really helpful since I have to contact so many publicists. Besides, work e-mail is just so chic and I love seeing the paper's name behind mine.

9. Hanging out at Aaron's desk in the newsroom before leaving the office to say "hi" and IHOPing

8. David coming up from the newsroom to sit on the couch in my "temporary office" (that I've had all summer) to talk politics and ideas and exchanging stories

7. Getting coffee with Krudy in the TWT cafeteria and walking past him on my way to the mail room

6. Saying good morning to the editorial writers; hearing Brett say "Good morning sunshine!"; having them tease and talk to me; helping me with pieces; doing research; hearing they forget that I'm a girl so they "sailor talk."

5. Getting a book in the office after I had contacted the publicist; likewise, developing familiarity with certain publicists and publishing houses.

4. Being part of the peanut gallery, i.e. kibitzing with the managing editor and the letters editor from our respective offices

3. Eating lunch in my office, just listening to the office around me

2. Opening up bags of packages filled with books! It's like Christmas or my birthday. Not that I even want to keep most of the books (yes, a few), I just love opening them.

1. My editor, Carol. She's the best. She's also like my mom and I'm going to miss talking to her.

Things I'm NOT going to miss (this list had to be here too): that annoying security guard I feel has a vendetta against me, riding the shuttle, my cold office, the printer that decides when it wants to work, annoying publishers, transferring calls, telling people that someone no longer works here, bad coffee and the-interns-who-shall-not-be-named.

Life is like an ad for the Spy Museum...

Today is National Cowboy Day (I found that out when I was visiting the Shells in AZ and we went to Sedona two years ago) and my “little” (but taller) brother Mikey's 17th birthday. I talked to Mom on the phone this morning. So far, he has gotten a green shirt that says "Irish" and a cap that says "Guinness"-- not a surprise, considering my family.

I finished my book; I'll be starting my book review today. I'm currently working on my op-ed. I feel torn, because I do not even think anything will come of my changes, but it's still a good piece, so we'll see.

I had my last lunch with my first TWT friend Aaron. It was good and nostalgic. We went to IHOP, per usual. Still uber-sketchy. I did not plan on it, but I put aside my peanut butter and jelly and apple as it’ll most likely be the last time I see him this summer. He’ll be at CPAC though, so we’ll be able to meet up then. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that (thanks to technology), it’s never really good-bye-- more of a ‘see you’—especially if they’re a true friend. If they’re an acquaintance, they’ll pop up sporadically and if they’re a not-too-nice person, they’ll pop up at a most inopportune moment.

Krudy had this last day on Friday and now MY last day is coming up…ahh!! Can’t/ don’t want to believe it. I miss him. He was my closest friend and fellow Hillsdalian at the Times (and a good friend in general but fine! go join the Marines! I see how it is. The "real world" beckons).

I’m certainly having a day. Special shout-out to Matt Stone, who always makes me think about good things (like whole pitchers of beer haha) when I’m having a bad one :) Another one to Krudy for not trying to reason with me when it came to hating on publishers.

In terms of the title-- Matt and I were discussing how fast summer has gone and if anyone reading this is in DC, I know you've seen the Spy Museum ads around. One of them is a silhouette of a shoe and below it reads "tick. tick. boom." (Matt: there should be a (weee) as the subtitle to that add) and that's how this summer feels to us. It's been going and going and now it's the endgame: the light at the end of the tunnel is approaching and soon we'll be rushed back to Hillsdale and the great unknown.

Also, if you're interested (especially Hillsdale readers): check out Hillsdale's Princeton Review rankings on the HF blog! Pretty awesome.

So, in the infamous words of The Dude, "Hey, careful man, there's a beverage here." Yeah man.

The beginning of the end

First off, my sister Muffy always has (in my opinion) some of the funniest FaceBook statuses. Here is hers today:
Marianne Robison wants to know something. If you ignore someone's friend request, does a thing pop up in their notifications that says: "Oh snap, you just got rejected!"?

Today is the first day of my last week at work. I simply cannot believe how quickly it has gone by. I of course began it completely behind schedule (as if I'm actually on one, it's usually me deluding myself into thinking I have order in the morning); I took a shower and got dressed, forcing myself to eat part of a banana because I think I should eat something but then forgot to pack a lunch (I'm just not hungry today; or at least, I wasn't for the first half). I make it to the metro fine. I'm carry a semi-empty book bag (vs. my purse or messenger bag) with me now because I'll be lugging books home with me now. Heavy books for my family and friends, but a number for myself as well.

I love books. I remember coming to DC in high school and Mom surreptitiously bought Dad and I matching shirts from the Library of Congress with a Thomas Jefferson quote ("I cannot live without book," which is from a letter he wrote to Adams). I have no clue where it is now, which means Mikey probably has it (along with my Notre Dame lacrosse shirt which is one of my favorites and I will be reclaiming it at home), but I always love seeing Dad wear it around the house.

Today I am finishing the book I am reading "You or Someone Like You" by Chandler Burr. I have been taking lots of notes, so I'd like to get started on it. May finish my op-ed if I have time (dubious). I'm also contacting this one publisher who is annoyingly difficult to get a hold of and we really do need this book in the office ASAP. (Oh! Just got an e-mail. So gratifying.) Also, copy editing, always a favorite pastime.

Last night, my friend Will's family invited a few of Will's friends (myself included) out to dinner. They've been visiting DC the past few days from Texas. I all ready knew Will's sister, but it was great to meet the rest of the family as well (mostly--I think he has an older brother who was not present). We went to Fish Market in Old Town (one of the first convienient things I've done all summer!) and it was delicious. Afterwards we all got ice cream and walked down by the water and talked until the Claytons called it a-night. Then the boys and I went to Murphy's, which was bad beer (Matt agrees; the Guinness was off) and good conversation. Those are four of my favorite Hillsdalians and I am glad I got to share a nice evening with them.

Rach went home this weekend, so I am excited for her to be back. We'll be having Kappa roomie bonding on Thursday with Katie, so I am terribly excited for that. Tonight I was invited to poker by the J-Babe; Hunter and I will get a quality dinner of half-priced pizza and $5 beer beforehand, which will be lots of fun. This week in general will be enjoyable as well, even if it is my last week at work. (next week: research for senior thesis!)

Matt and I always joke about how we go through withdrawal from each other when we haven't seen each other in one or two days, but I think there is certainly something to be said from a notable absence of a good friend. People around the office keep making jokes about how they'll miss me/ they won't miss me. It'll be sad to go, but I have a feeling I'll be seeing them in the future--or at least stay in touch.

Home will be good. I've been thinking a lot about it lately. Not because I want to go home, but rather what waits for me there. I got to talk to Bromley on Sunday, which was so wonderful. She's going home next week, but is not heading back to South Carolina till Tuesday, thank goodness. I'm heading back on the first Friday, because I have my cousin Abby's baby shower (Dad's side) and a wedding of Hillsdale friends (Marybeth and Joe) in Columbus on Saturday. My mom's whole side will be going up to our cousins' lake house, which we do every year and I will be bummed to miss, but it happens. I've all ready made other commitments. I'm excited to meet my new cousin Maggie; she'll still be less than 2 months.

In other news, I work in an ice box.

BOOKS: 'What's Next: Dispatches on the Future of Science' - Washington Times

"Bada Bing, Bada Big Bang" --my book review! (This is for you, Stacy.)

BOOKS: 'What's Next: Dispatches on the Future of Science' - Washington Times

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