Don't mess up...

When I was told at work to type up some graphics for a program airing later, I didn't think much of it. When I found out it was for President Obama's Unofficial State of the Union (first meeting of the Joint Session of Congress), I got worried. I mean, I don't know how many people actually watch the channel that I work for, but, I would think it is a fair number. I was instructed to, "NOT MESS UP!" No pressure, right? I kind of felt like I was having the training wheels taken off. Sure, people had to check my work at some point, but the fact is, I made it happen! I watched 44s address and smiled everytime I saw some of my work. Sure, it might appear to be a little bit dorky, but oh well! Don't judge!

This is my first post since Sunday, and really, I wasn't even going to post tonight, but, I figured a 3 day layoff was enough, you all probably miss me, right? Anyways, nothing really has happened, just work and class. I have a mid-term paper due next Friday, and will probably try to knock it out this weekend if I can.

I need to be honest right now. Things are becoming a lot like they were in Rome for me. Not in the sense that I was poor, and couldn't afford it, well, actually that is true here too, but I will explain what I mean. I am at that point, or have been for some time, where I am not a tourist anymore. There is still literally TONS of things I haven't done, haven't seen, and still need to, but I am fully invested here now. I live here, I work here, and I fail and succeed here.

On weekends, I would just as soon go for a nice run through the city, as opposed to going to another museum. Although, I will continue to go to the museums because a majority of them are free, and I am impoverished (I live in a one bedroom apartment with 3 other guys, it's bad). I have become a part of this place, for better or worse, and I don't feel the urgency to spend every waking hour with the tourists! I probably should though, I am only here for a few more months, then it's back to Michigan. Back to Farmington Hills. Back to reality. Even though I am working and living and studying here (kind of studying), I am not really part of 'life' yet. I don't have bills (or at least bills I pay), I don't get paid for work, and I don't have to support anyone. If I have learned nothing else in my time in Europe, and now in DC, it's that I really have had a great college experience. It has been a VERY unique 4 years. I almost transferred (twice), I rowed crew (don't miss 4 am practices), I switched majors (19342 times), I lived in Italy and travelled the world, I met my inner jew in Israel, and now I am in the nation's capital. In between all of that, I made some good decisions, some bad ones, and some that are still in limbo. What now?

This saturday I am headed out to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. I am visiting the Midshippman, the tall tree, the man, Mr. Jameeeeeeeeeeeezay Schrock. I am pretty excited to head out there and spend some time outside the beltway for a change of pace. I am definately going to have to buy some Navy gear!

That's all I have for now people.

My apologies.

Andy