On camping and kittens

Last weekend I wanted to sleep outside with my friends. In tents, you guys!

So I brought my boyfriend to Juniper Springs in Marion County, which is not far from Salt Springs and Ocala, and several friends from St. Petersburg joined later.

Photo by me from a lovely hike (but still second-best to banana boats).

The campground is located in the Ocala National Forest, apparently home to lots of bears. We did not see any bears because we followed strict bear-avoidance protocol by diligently storing trash in our vehicles and cleaning up wasted food. I did, however, see mysterious tracks below our picnic table the morning after our first night. Perhaps a tiny bearcoon helped herself to some mini marshmallows that fell from our banana boats. Perhaps.

Wait, do you know the glory of a banana boat? HOMG. It is the tastiest, warmest thing I have eaten this year. Friends Jim and Steph are the masterminds behind this delicacy. Now I’m going to steal all of their glory.

First you give the banana an incision down the slope of its peel. Right down the middle, OK? Then you stuff it with semi-sweet chocolate and peanut butter morsels  — you know, those mini Hershey’s Kisses things — and mini marshmallows. Next you cover the banana (in its peel, duh) with aluminum foil and gingerly place it near the open flame of your campfire. You must have a campfire. You leave it there for, say, 10 minutes and then you eat it up with a spoon. It’s all blended, melty and, um, healthful, right?

That was my favorite camping memory, campfire songs aside. Also, I only wrote this because I wanted to see kitty pictures every 100 words.

Do I want to go down this road?

I think I want to blog again. I think it might be here.

Yeah? Yeah.

For the first time in my life, I’m re-reading things I wrote years ago and not wanting to up and abandon the craft out of self-loathing. My entries chronicling DC life are actually pretty damn interesting and well-written. I wish I kept it up. It probably made me a better writer.

Regret aside, here I am, mulling a comeback. You with me?

I’ve kinda moved.

Maybe I’ve let you down.

Sorry.

Would it cheer you up if I told you I’m keeping up a new blog for my multimedia class here?

I’ll be back later, I promise.

In the meantime, keep tabs on me over there.

A visit home, filled with pure gold.

This is a historic post.

Why?

Because you’re about to be introduced to the world’s most adorable living animal.

Meet the new Sanders family dog — Sampson!

Friends to herbs, bugs and natural enemies (see kitty nuzzling above), golden retriever Sampson entered our home about a week ago, thanks to my little brother David and our cousins who own his mother, Tally.

I traveled to Madison from St. Augustine just for the night to meet the new puppy. Sam was worth the two-hour drive, without question.

We played before church, ran around the backyard, made new animal friends, paddled around the pool, napped on the kitchen floor together, and took pictures on Photobooth.

Combined with my pictures on Facebook, my doggy-documenting might seem a wee obsessive. But I can’t help being jazzed about having a new animal back home. We lost two longtime family dogs this spring within a month of each other: Lovey, my special black and white mutt, at 15; and Noel, the family’s beloved boxer, almost 10. I was in DC for both, and my heart was sad.

Sure, we still have ancient kitty Starquest around. She’s the former stray who has outlived all of our dogs, including Colonel (Sanders), a golden retriever –and my first pet– who died about ten years ago at a ripe old age that I don’t remember.

But at the end of the day, I’m not  risking pictures with Starquest on my expensive new laptop.

Snakes, hogs and British fashionistas

The summer, it’s almost over.

Compared to the 16-week duration of my stay at CongressDaily, this internship has passed like an ocean breeze (oooh, cheesy beach metaphor!). That being said, I’ve enjoyed myself and improved my storytelling abilities.

I’ve got four weeks left at The St. Augustine Record. I’ll save my profound analysis for the final days.

For now, here’s a smattering of local stories for you to peruse.

Fighting foreclosure — and winning (June 20)

Wild hogs tearing up northwest neighborhood (June 27)

City salutes July 4 (July 5)

Police: Man robbed after accident (July 8 )

Garden shop reopens after rattler bites shopper (July 16) + Bizarre Florida debut!

Woman gets TV makeover (July 17)

I interviewed Susannah Constantine, co-host of an upcoming TLC makeover show and British fashion guru, inside Rochelle's Clothing while she and her partner gave a St. Augustine woman a new look. Photo by Peter Willott, of The Record.

Entertaining Record stories

Most of the work accumulated in the first week and a half of my internship has been, aside from cops, quirky local news.

No, they probably aren’t going to earn me a Pulitzer. But these kind of stories build trust with new colleagues and the community, as well as challenging  me to develop my writing style and experiment.

One wasn’t so light-hearted.

Aside from that one, here’s a sampling of the amusing local stories I’ve completed, encompassing topics such as weather, a senior citizen and cops — a quality recipe for intern adjustment week.

If you want seconds, go to the Web site and click on the handy button by my byline that says “more by this reporter.”

Mosquito Boom to dry up

Happy Birthday, Mr. Mayor

Report: Police officer’s bicycle destroyed with car

Here’s to upcoming, and more in-depth, work.

All these things that I’ve done

Somewhere between my side-arm hug with Katie Couric and hiking the ancient city of Petra, I realized I haven’t been very attentive to this blog. It’s upsetting that it happened, really.

This post serves to tell you that (aged news?)catch-up information is on the way.

The title of this post reminds me of the Washington Center for Politics & Journalism, which sponsored my political journalism internship in D.C. Our closing dinner was filled with Mexican food, music, toasts and my favorite portion, group togetherness — most notably felt during the playing of a Killers song of the same title as this post.

I finished my CongressDaily internship a week later, May 22. Tons of professional experience was gained, much of which I have chronicled in previous writings.

From there, I spent four days in New York City with dear friends. It was my first time in the city, and it did not disappoint.

Then I flew 12 hours to Jordan. Oh, Jordan. More later. And soon.

Flash forward two weeks and you’ll find me where I am now — writing from my new room in St. Augustine, Fla., where I’m interning for the local daily newspaper.

The work has been busy, but the off-duty hours are nice.

It is a beach town, after all.

The oldest one.

The Stretch

I just overheard my boss giving familiar first-day instructions to a new summer intern.

“Make the circle around the House and Senate office buildings, and explore the Capitol a little bit,” he explained.

Wasn’t it just yesterday I wrote a blog post about my own experiences upon checking in for duty and running around to get my press credentials?

No, it wasn’t. Turns out, that adventure and chance run-in with Tom Daschle was three months ago.

With just three weeks left in my internship at CongressDaily, I’ve given a lot of thought to how far I’ve come since I began and also to where I’m going. (I’ve also thought a lot about potential blog posts, yet a certain influx of visitors are, thankfully, keeping me away from the computer.)

Before this spring, I never thought political journalism was right for me.

But now — Voila! — it’s a possibility.

I’m still taking on new projects and thirsting for lots of assignments, but the end of my awesome semester in D.C. is  suddenly so near. The induction of a new intern reminds me of my numbered days.

Here’s to making them count.

So where are they now?

Since the day I stepped into the Watergate office of CongressDaily back in early February, I’ve been steadily chipping away at a monster of a project: “Life After Congress: The Members’ View.”

Or at least that’s what the top dogs decided to call the story yesterday, when it was finally published.

The project, required of each intern starting work during a new session, required me to locate every member of Congress who did not return for the 111th session, obtain their contact info and answer the (basic) question at hand: What in the world are you doing now?

Luckily, I did not have to search for each of the 70 or so members who retired, lost election/reelection bids or fled for the Obama administration by myself — I split the duties with my colleague Jeannette, as you will see.

The project, though sometimes tedious and ever-looming, taught me how to be a relentless investigator. No, I wasn’t exactly breaking a Watergate scandal, but tracking down 35 or so former members of Congress — most of whom take a turn for the elusive once they head back to their homeland — isn’t a simple task (though sometimes an alarmed call from a source’s friend who wasn’t expecting to be tracked down  did make me feel all Woodward-like).

Some of these members were easy to look up and knock out, having taken traditional routes of business consulting and lobbyist-training. Some resisted interviews until the last possible day, testing my patience and harvesting editor concern. Others were incredibly sketched out that I was able to find them by talking to former aides and local political parties.

Regardless of the members’ reactions, I feel proud of this story, the result of two months of hard (investigative) work by me and Jeannette.

On to the next one! (but before that, here’s an excerpt)

Although a batch of lawmakers who left Capitol Hill at the end of the 110th Congress landed positions at lobbying and consulting firms, one former member got a “promotion” most can only dream of.

“I left Congress after 16 years so I could be president for one week,” joked former Rep. Terry Everett, R-Ala., who played POTUS during the Schriever Space War Games at Nellis Air Force Base last month. Everett is a senior adviser to the National Reconnaissance Office and the Air Force Space Command.

As for the real commander-in-chief, President Obama in November became the first sitting senator since President John F. Kennedy to be elected to the highest office in the land. Since then, he has been joined by several former members to serve in his Cabinet, including former Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., as Transportation secretary.

Of the 65 other lawmakers who departed Congress at the end of the 110th Congress, most took traditional exits. Twenty-nine opted to retire, while 27 lost re-election bids. Eight more left to seek other offices and one, former Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., left to become Obama’s chief of staff.

As you complete must-sees, don’t forget must-eats

Having lived in D.C. for almost three months, I’m ready to make some pronouncements about important matters.

First of all, I am certainly not a three-days-and-outta-here visitor; therefore, I feel qualified to create this list of don’t-miss eateries for your upcoming visit to D.C.

Now these restaurants didn’t just sauté their way onto this list (don’t question my verbs). They went through a rigorous selection process (much like my current internship and scholarship applications) and were judged on atmosphere, taste, value and overall life experience generated. They are not in order. Please note: I don’t claim to be the guru of DC eats, for I’ve only been here about 75 days and don’t have the cash to try every restaurant I want. But this is an excellent start for any District noob.

1. The Monocle

My friends and I wanted to eat here pretty early on in the semester because we heard it was a reliable venue for seeing congresswomen and men in a more, erhm, relaxed state (plus, all of our guidebooks agreed it was a must-visit). Reliable was right. Even though our mealtime was 9 p.m. on a Thursday, there were a few chatty tables of senators, representatives, staff members and spouses among us. The host was, to say the least, enchanting, and he told us once they left that the crowd mostly consisted of Republican members griping about the stimulus bill. Obviously, the tables didn’t know three young journalists desperate to make names for themselves with a big scoop were lurking in their territory; luckily for them, we didn’t realize their presence either.

Back to food: My friend Hailey and I ordered the 8 oz. flatiron steak with caramelized peppers and onions (ask for mushrooms instead and you just might get them). The meat was amazing, but the fried shoestring potatoes stole the meal. That’s it, this blog post can wait. I need those potatoes.

$$ — Employ a bare minimum collegiate style of ordering (water and no extras) and you can escape The Monocle without paying an arm and a leg. My ticket was about $20. I deem this visit necessary (but don’t bother going during recess).

On Capitol Hill, Senate side, 107 D St. NE, Washington, DC 20002

2. Busboys & Poets

Boasting three groovy locations in D.C. and Alexandria, B&P offers an enriching cultural experience that will have you caring about social justice — not to mention your abated hunger. I have yet to visit the Alexandria location, but the 14th&V Street and K Street locations were excellent for spending a low-key Saturday night in the city.

There’s lots of striking abstract art and an inspiring collection of for-sale books to peruse while you wait for a table. I’m 3-for-3 as far as great waitresses and waiters go.

$ — For those who love wine (made with ethereal ingredients such as “earth and smoke”), coffee, hummus, pizza and other goodies, give this place a try. Also, choose the tiny apple pie for a dessert big enough to be shared, if you must.

My favorite location: 2021 14th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009

3. The Diner

If you like The Diner, you are most likely a fan of neighboring “yuppie” coffeehouse Tryst and Open City Grille in Woodley Park. And that’s OK — they are owned by the same folk.

Having been to each restaurant, I can say that either eatery could have claimed a spot on this countdown of cuisine, for each has a distinct feel but the same perfect flair for American classics. I chose The Diner because my tastebuds still prefer a good forkful of macaroni and cheese to most anything else, and these guys make the best I’ve ever had. It’s a creamy gruyere+cheddar+parmesan explosion on a fork, in your mouth. And it’s amazing.

The Diner is open 24/7 in Adams Morgan — a great area for late-night shenanigans — and also offers delicious breakfast, sandwiches, burgers, salads, chicken concoctions and desserts (a table of four split the Big Bad Butterscotch Brownie and left very pleased).

Tryst, open until 2 a.m. most nights, is certainly where you want to go if you’re interested in a different night out: live painting demonstrations; subsequent public auction of those paintings; loud, invasive, yet pleasant background music (vs. a soothing Ingrid Michaelson-like vibe at Starbucks); and a delicious menu of drinks and food.

Head to Open City for brunch, though it is open late and has nightly entertainment too. If the weather is nice, sit outside on a weekend morning, order an omelet, drink your pulpy orange juice and salute what is sure to be a marvelous day ahead.

$ — pretty affordable stuff here.

The Diner: 2453 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; (202) 232-8800

4. ThaiTanic

If you know me, you know I love a good ol’ play on words. You should also know that I love a good slab of Thai cuisine. Put ‘em together and what do you have?

ThaiTanic: A magical, colorful, tasty restaurant that you could almost miss if your eyes weren’t peeled.

Yes, the plain exterior beckoning you in neon lights to experience “Adventures in Thai Cuisine” is not to be taken seriously — but the food is. I took my friend Ashley with me for my first time here, and I’m determined to go back. She ordered the pad thai — a classic, though it was quite delicious — and I ordered panang — chicken simmered in a curried peanut sauce with rice.

We were impressed not so much with the service but with the food, psychedelic tabletops, diversity of the crowd and a really cool bar setup that illuminates bottles by changing colors.

$$ — each meal was about $10, coming out to about $15-20 with tip and drinks.

ThaiTanic: 1326 14 Street NW. Washington DC 20005

5. Ben’s Chili Bowl

Originally, I was going to toss Ben’s into the honorable mention category for a few reasons: The food is not terribly gourmet; the lines can twist and turn until people are standing outside of the restaurant; and it seems like this is everyone’s go-to restaurant when coming to DC in hopes of not seeming muy touristo/a.

But then, I thought to myself, how do I justify my demand that every guest visiting me must go to Ben’s at some point? How do I overlook the fact that the likes of President Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bill Cosby and so on aren’t shy about their love for a good half-smoke, basket of chili cheese fries or pina colada milkshake?

There are plenty of reasons why people love Ben’s:

• It’s a cultural D.C. landmark, boasting its black-ownership since 1958.
• You can’t beat the location. Get off the green/yellow Metro line at the U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial stop, walk across the street, and you’re there.
• It usually closes around 4 a.m. and wakes with the sun. It’s also located in a fun area for nightlife.
• The prices are fair, inexpensive and worth every penny.
• Who doesn’t love the occasional chili cheese fries+milkshake combo?

$ — Cliche as it may be, you can’t miss a night or morning at Ben’s during your stay. If not for the food, go for the life experience. And to take a picture with that awesome bear statue in front of the restaurant.

Ben’s Chili Bowl: 1213 U Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Runners up: The Melting Pot (while completely delicious and a willing participant in cheap Restaurant Week, it is not unique to D.C.; therefore, it did not qualify, $$$); Zola (swank dining beside the Spy Museum, $$$); Old Ebbitt Grille (yummy oyster bar, also good for crab cakes, canneloni, Blondie sundae, $$$); and Kramerbooks & Afterwords (delicious ravioli, $$).

Go get ‘em, tiny chefs and diners like. Bring back your suggestions!