The University of Virginia and Monticello

In his last days, after serving as Ambassador to France, Delegate and Governor of Virginia, President of the United States, and Secretary of the State, Thomas Jefferson undertook what he saw as his most prized achievement: the founding of an American university: the University of Virginia. Yesterday I ventured there with a new-found friend of mine, and was not disappointed. While the university has grown substantially, it's original layout and architecture designed by Thomas Jefferson himself has remained completely intact.

The University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia (about 2 hours southwest of DC), a quaint little town comparable to Logan in that its entire economy and infrastructure is based on the university. Charlottesville is also the location of the famous Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's estate. This, my friends, is a sight to behold. The grounds are amazing, the home intact, and the garden sprawls over the length of a football field (Grandpa Jack, it's the only garden that compares to yours).

The garden

Walking around at Monticello really gives you that cliche sensation of "walking back into history". Thomas Jefferson was such an interesting character, and was a brilliant mind in any day. He was an avid farmer, architect, and was the first and only president to ever patent an invention - a farming tool. And after all of his life accomplishments, he only wanted to be remembered for 3 things, all of which he had engraved on to his headstone.

Author of the Declaration of Independance,
the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (helped lead to the religious revival spoken of by Joseph Smith),
and the Father of the University of Virginia.

Maverickin' it up with the ol' Maverick

So today I and a few other interns had business at a House of Rep. committee hearing. To get there, we took this cool underground subway system they have designed exclusively for Capitol Hill. All the cool people use it, trust me. Anyway, a train was about to leave, so we all started running to catch it.

Well, in my haste, I became separated from my colleagues, and jumped into the car next to them that was far less crowded (each car can hold about 6 people). The doors of the subway closed behind me just as I dashed into the car and took my place standing next to an old man who was talking to a couple of staffers (don't let the rhetoric fool you. 'Staffer' is just the fancy political word for 'brown-nosing employee').

In an instant, I knew why my car was less crowded than the rest. Senators usually ride alone (or close to it), and the cute old man that I had just stood next to was none other than The Original Maverick: John McCain.

At first I didn't know what to do, and felt very awkward and foolish for invading the senator's privacy. I was put at ease, however, when the gentlemen carried on in their conversation as if I wasn't there.

Pheww!

As the train hummed along to its destination, I stood my ground with a slight grin on my face. You see, I had said some pretty bad things about Mr. Maverick when he had been campaigning for the presidency. Who knows, I may have even threatened the poor old man. In either case, there we were, me and Johnny B. Good.

He was talking to his staffers about Arizona (a good topic for him), and without even thinking about it, I chimed into the conversation.

Me: You know, Senator, I was recently accepted to the University of Arizona's law school (a small lie. I was actually waitlisted at UA and removed my name from consideration before they issued a final decision. That said, I was never rejected from UA, but I really didn't want to explain all that to John so I just lied, okay? Boy, I really hope he doesn't read this blog.)

John McCain: Really? That's fantastic!

(Cue John reaching out his broken right arm in a handshaking gesture.)

(Cue me returning the gesture, locking hands with the man, and smiling politely as our hands moved up and down 2 times.)

John McCain: Arizona is a great state to live in but we've been hit hard and the housing market blah, blah, blah...

The subway soon came to a stop, and my magical Maverick moment came to an end. But just for the record, I still haven't washed my hand.

McCain 2012!!!

My Big Day in D.C.

Why tell a story with words when you can tell it in pictures?

Featured below is a makeshift slideshow of my first day at work on Capitol Hill. Overall, it was a great day and I learned a lot. I talked to a lot of constituents (only 10% of which were mildly insane), learned the ropes of the Senator's office, and worked the mail room like no tomorrow.

Enjoy.


This is a car that my host is letting me borrow. I drive it to the metro station and then commute from there. Not bad, eh??


A shot of the Capitol Building in the morning. Literally a stone's throw from us.

My place of employment.

My stupid excited face as I approach the office.

The man, the myth, the legend.

The Capitol's rotunda.

Original Kennedy family photograph. The office is full of this kind of priceless memorabilia.

My sweet security clearance card. Check me out! I've got a badge!

The white marble, elitist toilet.

On my way home.

It might as well say, "candy store."

Just walking to the metro.

Last stop before home.


I love you all,

Jackson

Uncle Terryisms

I've got a crazy uncle. Not crazy in the way that requires medications or straitjackets, but just crazy in the way he views the world and other people. Don't get me wrong - I love the guy. He's an old cowboy, born and raised in Cache Valley with no intention to leave. He's a chain-smokin' rodeo ropin' champion, and can put "knots on your head faster than you can rub 'em," as he would say.

I just spent the last three days with he and his wife Maxine (who, by the way, is a saint just for putting up with that old son of a gun) on a fishing trip out in the middle-of-nowhere Wyoming. I got there late Monday night, and it only took me about an hour of talking to him before I realized that I needed to jot down some of his memorable quotes, which I now call "Uncle Terryisms". So I did, and I've brought them home for everyone to enjoy.

Now, keep in mind that some walk that fine line of profane and humorous, but you've just got to remember where they're coming from, that ole' dirty bugger.


(Read in a cowboy tone: raspy, drawled, and serious as hell)

1. "Jackson, I can guaran-damn-tee it!"

2. "What the God?!"

3. "Yeah, China's nice, but it's hotter than a $2 pistol over there."

4. "You can pick your nose and you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your relatives."

5. "I don't buy that shit about secondhand smoke."

6. Terry: Richmond is getting too big for me.
Jackson: Really?
Terry: Yeah. It's got a stop light now.

7. "Hallelujah, praise the Lord and pass the chicken!"

8. "That Al Gore's a lyin' sonuvabitch."

This is as close as I could get to him with a camera - seriously.