So Let Me Tell You About My Day
Written by Mockarena // March 8, 2011 // The Makeover And/Or Miscellaneous // 11 Comments
Daisy held down the COTR fort all by herself yesterday, because I was off playing in our nation’s capital. I’m here in DC for work, but took the day off yesterday to visit with some friends and see some more sights. I love this city. I love it despite its insanity. If you haven’t visited DC, put it on your bucket list.
I started the day by visiting the Longworth building, which is one of 3 buildings that the House of Representative members and their staff occupy. Our buddy Trevor works there now, and he showed me his new office digs. He also showed me where Nancy Pelosi’s new office is, which is riiiight across the hall from Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN), a freshman rep. That totally gave me the giggles, even though I know she doesn’t actually SIT in there since she still has “minority leader” room at the main Capitol building. But still – remember last year when she sat here?
Yeah. That’s Boehner’s now. Take that, McBotox.
So anyway, I got the glees over that.
Oh! You know how on Fox News you’ll often see congresspeople being interviewed on a really pretty balcony with huge columns? Trevor showed me where that is – it’s in the Cannon building. Don’t I totally look like I should be interviewing someone?
After visiting there, I headed over to see the Newseum, which is the coolest museum EVER about the history of journalism. I originally had thought about seeing the Holocaust museum, and had decided against it thinking it’d be too depressing. But the Newseum had an amazing Berlin Wall exhibit, and and a gut-wrenching 9/11 display and film, so I ended up bawling my eyes out anyway. There were 5 giant sections of the Actual Berlin Wall there:
They’re enormous, so that’s just a shot of part of 3 of them. This was the side, obviously, which faced West Berlin. East Berliners would’ve pretty much been shot if they’d tried to deface their side. There was an incredible display of photos of people who tried to escape East Berlin, including this one which just SLAYED me:
This was the level of desperation of East Berliners living under communist rule, you guys. And yet, we’ve got AMERICAN CITIZENS insisting that communism is awesome. GAWD.
Here’s a photo of one of the checkpoint towers, from which people trying to escape would be shot dead:
Yeah. Communism is awesome, all right.
There was a fantastic display of Pulitzer prize-winning photos from the past several decades, many of which also gave me the weeps. I really wasn’t prepared for all the crying I was going to do at Newseum, but still, it was a great way to spend the afternoon. I can’t recommend it enough.
After Newseum, I headed back to the Capitol building to see my buddy G who I met last year, and who was responsible for giving me the double super secret tour of the building after hours. He took me to the Actual House Floor, which seemed way smaller in person than it does in real life. I guess the camera does actually add 10 square feet. <– (See what I did there?) He explained where everyone sits, where the little voting boxes are, and even showed me how under each seat, there’s an emergency gas mask. Next, G took me to the Library of Congress, which is just SPECTACULAR. Here’s the ceiling and part of the second floor (taken from the first floor) in the main foyer:
They don’t make buildings like they used to, you guys.
I also got a picture of the inside of the main library from an upper balcony, which I totally wasn’t supposed to do but did anyway:
Isn’t it beautiful?
After that, my buddy took me to the Senate floor balcony, to watch the Senate Actually Working. They were voting on a couple of judge appointees, and it was super cool to watch the process in person. 89 of the senators were there, so I got to see a bunch of the ones I mock all the time here, and also several that I Actually Like. When we first arrived, Barbara Boxer was wailing about something, but happily it didn’t last long. Again, G explained the voting process to me and answered all my questions while they were taking roll. For a political geek like I am, it was totally fascinating. And also depressing, because we live in a world that allows Al Franken to be a senator. UGH.
Anyway, my point is that I love DC, and you guys should visit.
11 Comments on "So Let Me Tell You About My Day"
Thanks for the inside scoop! Glad you’re having a good time.
You should not be there without me. It’s almost criminal. Just sayin.
Be sure and make time for the Spy Museum!!!!
It really is criminal, Daisy. It would have been SO MUCH MORE FUN if you’d have been here!!! We would probably have been thrown off of the senate floor for being obnoxious, but it would have been TOTALLY WORTH IT.
I will be there in April, but back to back meetings with Congressmen are not my idea of fun.
Hey Mock, if you see Senator Issackson tell him Peggy said, the Advocacy Day for Seniors in Atlanta went well. I missed him at church… thanks
Are the Cherry Trees close to blooming? When does that happen?
In a related note, if (I) one were to visit the senate, can you make cat-calls like you can at a baseball game? You know, at Harry Reid?
Or in the House, claiming Nancy Pelosi is a witch and my cohorts immediately chime in “Burn Her!!”
Laurel – depends on the Congressmen!
Peggy – I’m not going back to the statehouse otherwise I TOTALLY WOULD!
Tim – not yet – the blooms happen in a few weeks I’m told. And no – no catcalls allowed – but believe me, there were many many many tempting moments.
Hey Mock,
I should tell you and Daisy next time you are in DC, e-mail me. I have some minor connections (a few years ago, different story) that can help get you around. Since I live here, I can certainly help get you around.
Cherry trees bloom most likely early to mid-April. If March is too warm, they bloom early April.
Let me know. I e-mailed before (the Politico Story on Queen Nancy), so you know where to get me.
Tom
Thanks Tom!!
Regarding the awesomnicity oc communism: when my fellow Canuckleheads return from Cuba and
say how great it is, I rely “Yeah, that’s why all the people are driving 1952 Chevy pick-ups from Key
West across the ocean to get there, eh?”