im sorry it took so long to post about this but i am unfortunately pretty busy since ive been back. The trip was really nice, 5 days with Petie so that would be a treat in any condition, but it was also fun to meet his family and see Canada. It was pretty cold at sometimes but i didnt always need a coat. we went to the zoo. it was a nice zoo. the coolest part is the beautiful scenery around the city. christmas trees and mountains. they filmed brokeback mountain there so that sorta shows ya how pretty it is. petes family is all really nice and welcoming... his dad kept jokin with us and pickin on me asking me where my ring was and when our wedding was going to be. we just rolled our eyes at him. petes mom kept making him apologize to me for bothering me, but it was all really funny. all his brothers were really nice and all helpful and funny too. and his sister went with us to the zoo so that was a lot of fun... she is a lot of fun and wants to come vsit us in SC soon...... the only bad thing was that the night before our flight home (at 6 am) we tried to leave the wedding early to get some sleep before waking up at 3am..... but we lost our room key so after hours of waiting for the rest of the family to get to the condo building (to use one of their cell phones) and then discovering the manager of the building was out of town and then hunting down a lock smith (who barely spoke english... he was chinese??? i know it was odd) and then explaining to him over and over the situation... we finally got about an hour of sleep. Another funny story .... at the reception pete and i were talking about the tossing bouquet thing and garter thing and he said you better hope i get the garter if you get the bouqet b/c then it would be me who had to put it back on you and i said oooh i would rather you catch the garter and just leave me out of it......so...... HE caught the garter! and had to put it on the maid of honor, this was very funny especially cuz he seemed very uncomfortable and did it soooo fast that its amazing i even got a picture of it..... so then her really strange controlling jealous boyfriend grabs his coat and storms out of the room yelling about how it was the worst blankedy blank tradition hes ever seen. so that was pretty funny too..... interesting moment. hmm thats about all i can remember for now..... i hope to talk to you all soon

Hey Ladies!

I cannot believe that my internship here in D.C. is almost over. During the weekday I have to get up around 5:30-6am to get ready for work and arrive by 8:30 when the Senate is in session. This past week we were allowed to come in at 9am because the Senate had the week off. I have not been able to go site seeing too much, but I did breeze through the Air and Space Museum which was really neat. I am hoping to go back there.

While at work, one of my duties is to give Capitol tours to South Carolina constituents. The tour is really cool because I get to show them the first Supreme Court room that was used between 1810-1860. The famous cases such as Marbury v. Madison, McCullough v. Maryland, Gibbon v. Ogden, and the Dred Scott case were all held in this very room! I believe that all of the original furniture is in the room as well. They keep the room lit the same way it used to be back then to show you that it was not very light in there.

Other parts of my tour include the famous chandelier that contains 14,500 crystals and it takes over 2 weeks to clean. I also take people to what is known as Statuary Hall and it includes statues of Robert E. Lee, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, Robert Fulton (he invented the steam engine), Zebulon Baird Vance of North Carolina. The Capitol features 2 statues from every state. South Carolina chose John Calhoun and Wade Hampton. In the Capitol Crypt, it was intended for George Washington to be buried in the center of the room, but he was adamant that he and his wife Martha be buried at Mt. Vernon.

I also take people to the room that used for the House of Representatives. In fact, the Capitol once housed the Senate, House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress! When the Senate is in session, I take the people up to the Senate Gallery where they can actually watch the Senators debate on the floor. I would try and get pictures of that, but they do not allow them on that part of the tour.

Also, if you have been paying attention to the news, there was a bill on the floor about immigration. Senator Graham was one of the major supporters behind the bill and people can name call all they want to, but I can assure you that he does not want to just "grant" amenesty

wow sounds like a great vacation Kim... Im glad you had a good time!!

-Amy

Hey Peeps! I am alive! The sharks did not eat me up. My trip to LA started with me going to Hollywood area, Rodeo Drive (which was so boring), Santa Monica Pier, and Venice Beach. During the middle of the day my dad surprised us with a tour from Santa Monica Pier area over to Venice Beach on Segways. I had never ridden one nor had Erin before and it was a lot of fun. We had a tour guide and where with another family. Right at the end of the Segway trip there was a collision infront of us where a person was not paying attention and walked right in front of a person riding a bike on the bike path. Well then we all had to slam on our brakes (which is just leaning backwards to stop), while going 12 mph. I missed my sister by like an inch of hitting her and then my brother hit me and fell and hit his head. He was ok though and my mom hit him and her leg is all black and blue. The next 3 days we went to Disneyland and California Adventure. It was a lot of fun...we rode Space Mountain I believe like 7 times. The ppl at Disneyland are a lot ruder that ppl at Disney World. People cut lines and the characters dont have cast members to help keep kids in line. I saw one kid about 9 years old rip off Brer Foxes tail and was laughing about it and so was his dad while a cast member gave him a lecture. I also saw a few mothers shove little kids out of the way so that their kid could go meet the character. On Wednesday I learned how to surf. Or at least attempted to. We surfed 2 hrs had lunch and then surfed another 2 hours. During the 1st two hours I got up and rode a really long wave in and was so happy and when I was done I was like yes dad got pictures of me. Well to find out he was no where to be seen...so no pictures for the good ride in. Though after lunch I caught a few waves. That night I saw Surf's Up...very cute movie about a penguin surfing.

On Sunday I went to a Braves game with Jeremy, his dad, and his bro. The game was fun but we didnt get back till 3 this morning and I had to wake up at 6:20... :( so that was not fun. Do you have a roomate Mal? and how are you liking the dorm life again? Oh and Linds or Mal do you happen to know if I left my extra set of keyes up at the apartment, bc I can't find them? Hope everyone is having a fun summer. Tomorrow I get to go get my dress altered...woohoo!

Hey Girls!

I just wanted to let you know that I am alive and just wanted to touch base with you real quick. I promise that I will have a real in depth update about the first week soon.

I kid you not, I probably walk like 4 miles everyday in the hot heat. I think Columbia has met its match. I have blisters all over my feet, which isn't fun, but I am dealing.

I have my official photo with the Senator on the 27th.

Congrats on your job Amy. I know you are excited. Just make sure that you go visit your mom every now and then and of course go to Sunday lunch at Grammy's.

Some of Kim's pictures from California are hilarious by the way.

Talk to you all soon. I am meeting my cousin and his girlfriend for a scavenger hunt tomorrow on Capitol Hill. Kim, I need you with me so that we could win :).

Mal

Very cool you guys. It seems like everyone is having a very exciting and productive summer. Lindsey, all that nursing stuff soounds awesome and that sounds like a great way to get in the door... and KIm and Mal I am so excited about your upcoming trips/internships.... I cant wait to hear about it all. well all is good here. I have been working parttime for my mom and I just started my first mural so Im very excited to finally have that underway. I am doing the one at the church...Noahs Ark.... the one at the hotel still hasnt come through yet so maybe I will do that later. So I have GREAT news! I have been doing an unpaid internship at the Myrtle Beach Art Museum and its been really fun. and today the Director asked if I would be interested in a paid posotion! So i would be working more than 2 days a week and also get paid. Im sooo excited. This could be really good for starting a career in the museum field (in case I end up not going into Art Conservation). The only bad thing is that i wont be able to work for my mom as much or at all maybe. Its not that I like working there but I feel bad leaving her in pickle. But she said it was fine so hopefully it is okay. and also it takes soooo long to drive all the way down to the campground. especially on the way home with all the traffic. It take like an hour with the traffic so i wont miss that at all! well thats all thats going on here. Petes doing good, he is working all the time and going to school when ever he is not working but i do get to see him periodiccally hehehe... I miss you all so much and I am glad you are all doing so well and enjoying the summer! TTYL

Hey Peeps! So I just heard yesterday in an email that I got into USC! Not sure if I will go there but leaning towards it. I am excited bc on Friday I leave...but of course we gotta get up really early since the flight leaves Charlotte at like 930 :( . So Linds have you started your job now? And Mal what is the hotel for that you were looking at prices of? Well not too much going on with me other than I went shopping and bought 2 bathing suits and some dresses.

So I went to my uncle's wedding in a town called Commerce, GA and let me tell you it was the epitome of being in BFE. They had outlet stores, but no movie theater. When Mom, Aunt Sarah, and I finally got time to go shopping, the stores were still closed because of GA's blue laws requiring that stores open at 12:30pm on Sundays. How Walmart can get away with it is beyond me. I also experienced a new type of heat that was worse than when I was taking summer school classes that summer all by myself.

Today marks one week till I start my internship in D.C. Cheryl and I found a hotel room that is 1/2 mile from my dorm room for $129 a night when the website said $169. A price like that is unreal in D.C. so I'm super happy about that. I am so nervous about next week that I do not know what I am going to do. It just seems like yesterday when I got the call. I also can't believe that I am moving back into a dorm, which I swore I would never do again. There better not be any black flies or mold. That's all I am going to say about that one.

Well, I'll write more later because I spent over 6 hours in the car today coming back from the wedding.

Miss all of you very much :(

Mal

Hey! So nothing much has been going on here really...just been working a lot and I think I will put in like 50 hours this week working. So of course that is making me really tired. Today I am getting together with Laura the other bridesmaid and we are sending out invitations for our shower, which is themed "Around the Clock". Haven't planned really what we are doing at the shower yet, but we don't need to know that just this second. Well I gotta go back to working...but in a week I will be on a plane to California :)!!!!

Hey girls! I can't belive its June already!!! I am going to be 22 soon...OHH MY, hahahaha! Let's see, as of right now I am working and my summer class (ornithology...the study of birds, lol) is finally OVER!!! HOnestly that class was not that bad, just got a bit redundent. Everyday, I kid you not, we started the day outside looking at birds from like 8-12. If we went on trip it was literally the the whole day watching birds. I loved the people in my class, they made the whole class worthwile, we laughed all the time. Funny thing...everywhere I go now, I notice birds. Seriously, I see them flying in the way distance and am now more aware of their existance. I even find myself trying to name and and identify them from their calls, lol.
What else...ohh yeah...work! Let's see. I am oficially working downtown at USC College of Nursing. Basically I am an administrative assistant to the faculity and staff. I type, run errands and help with research (since alot of them are going after grants and whatnot). I am not making great money but I look at it as a wonderful experience to get my foot in the door with them. I mean I literally get to meet and socialize with all the nursing staff. I am debating on whether or not I will do fulltime or not. WHen I found out about the job, it was only a part time postion but after my interview, they mentioned to me that they wanted me full time! I also interviewed with Doctor's Care (the place I worked at over Christmas Break). I put in an application with them a while ago and didnt think anything of it since I hadn't heard back from them, but as luck would have it, the exact day I heard back and set up in interview with USC, they called me for an interview. I am supposed to hear back from them by Monday. Idealy, I would like to work for both of them, as both are great learning oppertunities and great ways to get to people.
Kitty is doing great. She looks the same and is getting quite good at climbing the trees and going after the squirels. My mom said she almost had one the other day. She lover her pillow AMy! When I brought it home, I swear she smiled. She sniffed it for the longest time and then curled up in it.
Thats about it for now. What about everybody else! MISS ALL YA!!!! FOR REAL!!! I really do. Hope to hear from all 3 of you!!! Love ya!!!!

-Linds./ Special Bob

Good job Mal! you posted! and i sorta forgot about this thing actually, facebook is also very good for keeping up to date but i like this cuz its our (the 4 of us) secret little thing.... yay.... so my summer is going pretty good. May was insane, which i knew it would be with graduation, moving, the wedding, Paris, and camping. Im glad that month is over...hehe. Paris was really awesome, and I will eventually put some pictures on facebook. I saw the Mona Lisa, that was pretty cool, and lots of other reeeeally great and famous art... I felt like i was seeing everything i was learning about for four years. it was neato. And my mom is really goofy so we had a lot of fun. Yes, Mal especially once you go to DC you will have to write a lot. We want to hear all about it so dont forget to keep us posted... oh i saw your mom in walmart. How's little Kitty doing? HEEy i got three goldfish today!!! they are pretty. I put them in a vase that I got for graduation (it has the school and graduation announcement stuff engraved on it) so I had to name the fish after Winthrop stuff. So the largest one is called Big Stuff and the other one is Kate (after Kate Wofford) and the last one is DD (after little D'Andre Adams... I just didnt think D'Andre was a good fish name so I sorta shortened it). I start my murals next week i think... i hope, Im ready to work. hmm thats about all i have to say for now. Ill talk to you later!!1

Hello Girls:

I bet all of you are shocked that I am the first to be writing on this thing so early.

It's almost time for the D.C. internship. I can't believe it. All of you will be shocked but I am going to go picture crazy this time. I'll make sure to say hello to Abraham Lincoln for you.

Well, its a bit late and I'm tired. Plus I have to go back to the beach tomorrow. No LSAT class this weekend. Woo hoo!

Talk to all of you soon!

Love, Mal

Hey guys !

I wanted to let you know that I am moving in on saturday. When I talked to you (Lindsey) I was guna come on Sunday but i changed my mind cuz firstly youll be there so I could come and keep you company, also the UP office is only open on Sunday and I need to get my key, thirdly id like to settle in before sunday cuz I might need to do stuff. One thing we might need to do is get ready for convocation cuz its monday and isnt that when the tables are set up and people promote clubs. We havent met during the summer for circleK but I guess we have a table for that right?? we should at least make a poster or something and maybe give away some candy or cookies??? anyways so Im guna be there satuday sometime to move in aaaaaalll my crap . yuck i doont like moiving in. When are you other guys moving in? any ideas. HEY! where's mal , MAL! MAL! Where are Yoooou!! Can you hear me! You havent posted lately. Well I geuss I will see you guys in about a week.

thanks kimmy, I will.

Guess what I might have a job for next semester, at brattonsville YAY and paid too. double yay.

cant wait to see you guys

hey hows the kitten lindsey? i wana see it sometime at least in pictures


bye
amy

Congrats Amy!!! You will have to bring a magazine up to school so we can see it.

Guess what guys! Im published!! Some illustrations I did were published in a real estate magezine !coooool it looks cool. AAAnd they were on TV. A commercial for the real estate company and they showed both of the watercolors.

TTYL-AMY

Hey guys, thanks for the notes. yes the guy who crashed into the house will most likely have to pay for all of it. Hopefully his insurance will cover it , if not then we will get it from him someother way. still no estimates of the damage. my grammy might come stay with us for a few days cuz they have to lift the house up in order to place it back on the foundation properly. Yep, almost time to come back. Im starting to feel ready to come back. Ive been working on this big mural and im getting exhausted from it so I think thats mainly why im ready hehehe. Kim Im so glad to hear you read the HP books, arent they wonderful yay now I have someone else to talk about them with. Are you guys dying in this heat. its unreal! Well talk to you soon and see you soon too. well in a couple weeks

bye guys love you all bunches
stay cool

Hello roomates. So I have some very sad news...school starts in less than a month :(. Right now I am at work and actually have some time where I am not doing anything. These past two weeks I have been working all the time. Tomorrow I leave for a Braves games and then Sunday I think I am going to the water park in Six Flags...it should be fun. Oh I have now read all 6 of the Harry Potter books that are out and all I will say is WOW to what happens in the sixth book. I am guessing Amy knows but I wont say anything else since I know Linds and Mal you dont read those. Nothing else too exciting is going on right now. Talk to yall later.

I'm glad your Granny is doing well. What happened to the driver? And they have to fix your granny's house right...like fixing the foundation stuff and all? I hope you are doing well.

Amy,

Please let me know if there is anything I can do. I'm glad to hear your Grammy is okay :) Please do not hesitate to call if you need me!