TGIF? I'm not sure



Well, it's my second Friday here, and I've survived another week. I started my internship on Tuesday, and so far so good. I exceeded my boss' expectations Thursday with my first writing assignment, which was awesome to hear. The other interns are friendly and outgoing, and I'm hoping to make friends with some of them soon.



It's the loneliness that's getting me most...I've never talked so much on the phone in my life. I've come to realize I'm a strange, odd person, and it takes a long time for me to get close to someone. And I was a lot closer to a lot more someones than I thought I was in Atlanta. And talking on the phone is so not the same. And though I've been surrounding myself with people as much as possible, there is no lonelier a feeling than feeling lonely in a crowd.



And I'm totally not into this cold weather at all.



I'm also tired of being on my best behavior. I've been nothing but nice and friendly and agreeable for 12 days now, and the facade is wearing thin. I desperately want to be bitchy and judgmental with someone who won't think me a bitch for being bitchy and judgmental. (No smart ass comments, please, I'm pouring my lonely little emotional heart out here and I can't take it right now.) I talked with CV on the phone tonight for the better part of an hour, and it helped somewhat, but it also made me miss her a lot. I can tell her just about anything and she'll find it just as funny as I do. We like to laugh at life.



But! Aside from the loneliness, DC is pretty awesome. I've figured out the Metro and am learning the lay of the land bit by bit by bit. I'm also planning a weekend getaway to see MC in New York for an as-yet-to-be-determined weekend in February. And various other folks are planning to come up here in the next few months to see me. So that all makes me happy.

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Three day weekend recap



I shouldn't have worried about the three day weekend. I ended up with more than enough fun on my hands. Friday night I partied with a gaggle of kids from the program I'm in, many of them underage, and I'd forgotten how adorably tarded drunk underage kids can be. Saturday during the day I went shopping with the roommate, and then that evening I partied with a more age-appropriate crew. A fantastic time was had by all, I think. I certainly enjoyed myself. Sunday was spent more sedately, and Monday afternoon I did some volunteer neighborhood clean-up work. I watched the Democrats' debate, and about a half hour later I got a text that said, "Fresh baked cookies and Daily Show?" Of course I couldn't say no to that. As I walked out my door and rounded the corner to where EM & LG live (the girls who had sent the text) , I looked up at the blinking top of the Washington Monument and took in a deep breathe, impressed with the simple joy of that moment.

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Still happy to be here



I'm still feeling very happy to be here, and I know it's the right thing to do and that Tuesday, when I start my internship, life will be back to its usual hum of constant busyness and excitement, but right now I've got a tad bit too much time on my hands, and the three day weekend looms ahead, with nothing planned yet and me worrying that I'll be sitting around staring at the walls. This would not frighten me so much if the walls I had to stare at were in a proper apartment somewhere, but unfortunately the walls are in a dorm room, and there is nothing more depressing than sitting around a dorm room with nothing to do. But hey, I got invited to a frat party Saturday night (you think I'm kidding? I am so not kidding...) so there's always that option.



When I think back to where I was just a month ago, it boggles the mind. So much has happened in just a month. The fabulous going away party, moving out of my Decatur apartment (it was so tiny but I loved it a lot and I was there for 12 months, which is something of an apartment record for me), the trip to the Everglades, the week of just hanging around Atlanta without much of anything to do, the leaving Atlanta a day later than planned, the arriving in DC, the snow today...I've been busier than I think.



I've had lots of quality alone time, but I'm beginning to get a little sick of myself. I hope I make lots of friends soon.

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So much has been happening, I don't even know where to begin



So here's the ultra short version: I arrived in DC Sunday morning, my roommate is very sweet and cool, the dorm room has bunk beds, but at least now I'm on the bottom bunk, I start my internship Tuesday, walking around the city is great but cold, it snowed yesterday and is supposed to snow again tomorrow, I found the Trader Joe's, I found delicious coffee, I don't miss Atlanta but I miss my friends and family, today is the first day I've let myself just lay around and be lazy, I still haven't bought books or visited the library (what do you think I am, a college student??), the New York Times and Washington Post are delivered free to the lobby of my building every day, and being surrounded by 20-year-olds reminds me why I'm so glad I'm not that age any longer.



I'm so happy to be here. I'm so happy to be here. I'm so happy to be here.

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Please don't call me "Gen Y"



I don't write for weeks and what do I do - I start with an eye-rolling, scowling directive. Well, what else do you people expect from me? I mean, really.



I'm typing what may very well be my last post from ATL for a while, since tomorrow is the big M-Day (that would be 'M' for 'moving'). I'm doing it up early 20th century style and taking the train. Cheaper than flying, plus it feels more like a proper journey. I board a train, I roll north through progressively less Southern countryside all night long, I arrive at Union Station. I couldn't think of a better way to travel if I tried.



The trip to the Everglades was an adventure, and there are photos, which may or may not end up posted at some point.



The past few weeks have passed in a rapid blur, what with going out of town, the completely unexpected male entanglement that shall not be discussed further, and trying to get everything in order. Trying to fit the future four months into three suitcases is a rather daunting task, and I can't say I've completely succeeded, but I hear they have stores in DC, so I can always start fresh. I'm nervous and excited and in a constant state of shivering slightly in anxious anticipation of the destiny I've been planning to meet for the better part of two years. "Mr. Destiny, I presume?..." I'll let you know how the first meeting goes.

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