Thursday, July 29, 2010

DC Rain

I'm from Utah.  We are lucky if we get one or two grand summer storms.  When it rains, it comes down lazily and rarely POURS. 

Not in DC.  

At least once a week, sometimes two or three times a week, it comes down like there's no tomorrow.  Step outside for 30 seconds and you are soaked to the bone.  I absolutely love this.  Every time it rains, my fellow BCers run down the stairs, stand on the porch, marvel at the rain, and even sometimes dance and sing in it.  It is marvelous.

Today, I'm at work, and it's raining.  Luckily today I get to sit by a window and enjoy it :)  

 

Monday, July 26, 2010

A day in the life...

I did it. I finally broke down and started a blog.  Who knows if it was the boredom, the need to say something, or the need to keep all of you (I currently have 2 followers....) caught up on everything m.a.n.d.y.

I guess I'll start with today. 

I'm at work. Well, if you can call it work.  Because usually people get paid for work.  I'm at my internshipAt the Woodrow Wilson Center in DC.  Don't get me wrong.  I love the Center.  I have learned so much here.  But, only seven days left.  I am so excited to get back to ol' Utah and see all my dear friends and family.  You know who you are (at least hopefully my two followers do). 

Anyways,  here is what I'm thinking about today:  My final paper for my internship.  I have to write about how I'm going to change the world. But honestly, what I'm going to write about is changing one little boy's world that I love.  He is my nephew - Erik.  In 2005, Gov. Jon Hunstman signed a bill into law called the Carson Smith Scholarship fund - it is for young students with special needs.  This law has made a wonderful difference to a lot of kids and families - the satisfaction rate is 100%!  Unfortunately, funding ran out, and this year only about 60% of qualified kids got the scholarship.  I think this needs to CHANGE.  Every single child who needs this scholarship should receive it.  Research shows that the success of autistic children later in life is directly related to their learning experiences is early life. My paper's due on Friday.  I have a lot of work to do!
This is Erik on his 5th birthday, about one year ago.  Utah and its citizens should make it possible for him to go to the school he needs.  If we don't invest in our children, does anything else really matter?