Dispatches from the East

Well, I made it a week in DC without getting stabbed (yesterday I walked by a guy with a large fillet knife literally tucked up his sleeve, but WendyB pointed out that he was "probably a chef just out for some air...WITH HIS KNIFE"), love my internship, and found a coffee shop with Wi-Fi, so now I'm even more excited about the next two and a half months. Other bits of news, random observations, and notes (sorry, no pictures yet) from my first week:

• My brother Tona's (not his real name but the only thing I've called him since he was, like, five) lease ended a couple weeks before my departure date, so he decided to come to DC with me and see what happened. Now he's interning for the Obama campaign in Virginia and volunteering for a place that counsels conscientious objectors. Holla! Also, splitting rent and food costs+sibling bonding time=AWESOME.
  
• I forgot to bring a coat, umbrella, or close toed shoes. Then there was a hurricane. Oops.
• I looooove the history and architecture here. I love that when my friends call I can say, "I'm just taking a stroll past the Lincoln Memorial, no biggie." Even when I'm sitting on the couch reading Us Weekly.
  
• We live right across the street from the US Marine Barracks, and therefore have highly trained armed guards stationed a few feet from our door, 24 hours a day, not to mention hundreds more highly trained soldiers sleeping across the street. Too cool.
  
• I saw a red carpet being rolled out just so the commandant could walk into his house; I am determined to be the next commandant.
• Coming from Oregon, it's been hard to adjust to not having at least three coffee shops on every block. We'll be walking around, say, "Let's grab some iced coffee," look around and then, suddenly, shockingly, realize that there are no coffee shops in sight. Must figure out how to live like this.
• In my humble opinion, Zara kicks H&M's ass.
• It was really upsetting to find out that Filene's basement actually has a first and second floor.
  
• After deciding that John Adams don't get no love, we tried to have a John Adams themed day yesterday, but abandoned the idea after reading that JA loved corn (we didn't feel like corn).
• Whenever I see a slightly overweight balding white guy in a suit, I point and screech, "Senator!"
  
• There are a lot of slightly overweight balding white guys in suits here.
• Should probably stop doing this.

Posts should be more regular this week! Stay tuned! And thanks for all the fabulous comments lately--I've had a chance to read and love them, but I'll get to replying to them soon!