03/19/2008 -- DC Trip (Part 2)

Awake. Get ready for the day. Double-check addresses and travel times. Read Drudge and my RSS feeds. Off we go!

If you want the picture version...watch below:


Drove to the Vienna Metro Station, found a place to park (finally) and hopped the Orange Line to Farragut West. Wandered on up to Rhode Island Ave -- had to make my way around streets blocked by protesters. Found a little place to eat breakfast, across from St. Matthew's Cathedral. Was ready for my appointment, but he had to reschedule.

Worked my way back to the Metro and rode it to Union Station. Walked down the road towards the Capitol and enjoyed the morning, looking out over the reflecting pool, sitting on a park bench. Had a phone call with Gretchen M. and discussed some places to look and her take on the "Hill scene." Brainstormed some other people in town to contact. Unfortunately, had their names in a spreadsheet on my laptop and not in my contacts... but looked them up when I got back to "base" and emailed them.

Decided I should find out where my next appointment was, so did a lap of the Senate Office Buildings. I was a little early, so I ran around the corner to stand on the steps of the Supreme Court. There were a bunch of people lined up, trying to get a spot in the general seating area to catch some of the hearings that were going on today. [[If my Google Reader serves me right, the Court is ruling on a "race case" and an, essentially, first hearing on the meaning of the 2nd Amendment, addressing the all-out DC gun ban.]] Definitely an historic year for the United States, what with the gun control case (very little precedence on what this part of the Bill of Rights means. Not sure if this counts as "first impression," maybe my law school-going buddies can lend a comment...), and the possibilities presented with this year's Presidential election.

Met up with Lance W. and grabbed lunch at a little place around the corner. Ran into a recently retired Hill staffer on our way there. She had some funny stuff to share about Cuba, and I'll leave it at that. Talked about various things over lunch, and how he got involved. Turns out his Deacon's quorum advisor won a seat in Congress and was looking for people for his DC office. After spending 4 years on the business world, LW thought he'd make the switch, and has been at it for over 5 years. Got some of "the scoop" about how things work on the House and Senate staff side of things. Government/bureaucracy is a very interesting beast. Unfortunately, none of my quorum advisors have been elected to Congress (that I know of--anyone?), and I don't have other forms of direct connections (that I've found yet), so getting a "foot in" is a little more difficult than I thought. Apparently, my experience isn't all that unique amidst the hundreds of job seekers who flood the streets of the District... And I thought I was "legendary for [my] capacity to add value..." I guess I need to work on getting some more experience and my name out more.

Spoke some more back at LW's office. Got a brief tour of a Hill office, and left feeling enlightened about some things, and thinking about other things. Snagged a few pics from my Hart Senate Office Building visit. (This is the sculpture that's in one of them.)

Took the Metro back up to to Rhode Island Ave NW and walked through the protesters again, and the rain, to meet with Bart M. Had a great visit with him, despite the fact that I probably looked a mess, dripping with rain, despite my umbrella's coverage. I'm very interested in this PAC thing he's thinking about doing. He made some very flattering phone calls on my behalf to some friends of his; hopefully they'll go somewhere. I hope that one day I can be in a position to help and advise as he did today.

[[I digress momentarily. I've had some great help and mentors along the way. From Charles Y. in my high school days, to Murray H. and Clark G. in college, and current contacts, I've been blessed to have association with great people. I hope I can "pay it forward" somehow.]]

After this visit, I left a message with a new contact, then boarded the Metro for the ride back to Vienna Station. I picked up the car and commuted back to "base." Grabbed a bite to eat on the way back.

Ate. Sent out a few more email solicitations; scheduled 3 phone calls (one firm, 2 tentative) and a lunch. Hoping to get in touch with some more people, and, although my schedule is fairly "open" right now for the rest of the week, I feel productive.

Chatted with Jill, got ready for bed, and called it a night.
To be continued...