Friday, January 30, 2009

You can make money at an internship?

We got our first paychecks today.  What a sweet feeling--definitely a nice change from my last internship.  It's also very nice to see more than 20 bucks in my savings account.
Out every night...
Intern bowling night continues to be one of the highlights of the week.  We stayed out to midnight at Lariat Lanes, commandeering our usual spot for several hours.  There was a league tourney still going on, but luckily they kept to their side of the bowling alley.  
Next week we have to bowl on Wednesday instead of Thursday, but we already have a plan B for that night.  Jake, another intern, turns 23 on Thursday, and I turn 22 on Friday, so we're having a birthday party that night.  Should be fun--bowling and birthdays in the same week!
Budget woes
Session is getting very intense.  Not only is bill deadline two days away, but it's crunch time for coming up with a plan to balance the state's budget.  There are a lot of different ideas floating around, but it is truly time to start making decisions.  The governor's "revenue enhancers"--ie, tax and fee increases--keep coming up for action, one by one, and a lot of legislators are having trouble agreeing to them, even though they all know a "no" vote digs them deeper in debt.  A plan of action might help keep their eyes on the prize.
Working hard for the money
My list of duties grew drastically this week.  Now, I'm also in charge of coordinating with the Democrats on press conference times, answering constituent letters, emails, keeping track of the senator's schedule, RSVP-ing to his events, etc.  Either he was testing the waters for the first few days, or he finally got too busy for one person.  Doesn't matter--I'm just glad to be busy all the time.  The only downside--watching all the other interns leave earlier--sometimes hours earlier--than I do.  
Working out
I sort of feel like I'm getting a little slack on the workouts again.  I played intense basketball one night this week, and ran 2 miles/biked 10 the next, but last night I was an absolute bum before bowling night.  Now I'm home for the weekend, where I have no gym membership, and i don't foresee getting to a gym again until Tuesday.  Odds are, I'll probably make myself run outside tomorrow or I'll get out my Pilate's DVD.  At least I hope so--we'll see if I actually have the motivation.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

No Pain, No Gain?

Basketball is a Contact Sport
Cross training is going to kill me!  Tonight, for the first time in approximately six years, I played basketball.  Lots of basketball.  Running up and down the court.  Diving for balls, hitting the ground, and, at one point, getting punched in the face.  It was fun, but my lungs ache, I'm covered in bruises, and my head is throbbing a bit.  I guess that's how you know you did something good.  
Apparently some of the legislators, interns, and other elected officials get together on Tuesdays to play some ball.  This was the first week my roommate and I went, and while I don't know what he's thinking, I would like to play again next week.  I was almost completely useless on the court, especially on offense, but I did have fun.
Why am I here?  
Work is going well, too.  The assistant majority leader has been working with all the Senate Republican interns on setting goals for ourselves, achieving those goals, etc.  He seemed very impressed with the five I set for myself (I'll post them later).  
The "five minute" (five minute meetings are never actually five minute meetings in the legislature) proved to be very reassuring as to why it is I'm here in Pierre.  He's an old newspaper guy, so he understands my perspective, and he's a fantastic photographer, so we spent some extra time looking at everything he's shot since session started. 
Proving Myself 
I'm starting to get more and more responsibility with the majority leader.  Today, he had me start keeping track of his own appointments and dinners and meetings.  I really hope that part goes well;I realize he's a busy man, but there's a reason I didn't include "organized" in my list of attributes. 
Tomorrow I have to write a letter back to a fourth grade girl who is the majority leader in her class's Pony Congress as well as a letter to a constituent.  My writing skills are finally being utilized!  I'm excited now, but as more of those come in, I may not be so excited.  
I believe the majority leader is starting to have a little more faith in me.  He keeps telling lobbyists and other legislators he got so lucky, he got first pick and made an excellent choice, blah blah blah.  But, as great a choice as I apparently was, he has seemed very hesitant to give me any real work.  I do realize today was only the 10th legislative day (out of 40), but I still feel like he had been holding back.  
Now he doesn't really have a choice.  Thursday at noon is the deadline for legislators to drop an unlimited number of bills, and not all of his are finished yet.

Friday, January 23, 2009

A Step in the Right Direction...

Life in Week 2 is getting somewhat easier.  All the interns seem to have gotten the same mental memo telling us we need to actually do stuff together, so we've started trying.  Tuesday we took some baby steps and Jordan and I met up with two friends from SDSU working on the media side of things for a drink or two.  Wednesday we hit up lobbyist social functions--first, Brookings night, and then, the South Dakota Beer Wholesalers.  The evening ended at the Ramkota, where the hotel bar hosts karaoke every Wednesday.  That was a fun evening, and really, it was one of the first gathering that included interns from both the House and the Senate.  
Bowled Over By Fun
Last night almost all of us went bowling (it was either that or a movie or a bar).  I thought it sounded fun from the beginning, but the whole thing blew my expectations out of the water.  The atmosphere was so relaxed, so natural you'd think we'd been working together for weeks, not days.  I had truly anticipated more awkwardness.  Turns out I'm not the only one who enjoyed myself because there's serious talk of making bowling a weekly event.  
The legislators seem to enjoy their time in Pierre as well.  I ran in to several that I know at both Brookings night and the Beer Wholesalers, and they seemed to enjoy the feast of alcohol laid out before us--J. Lohr wine and 70 different varieties of beer, respectively.  Even at karaoke we saw several familiar faces.
Sacrifices for Society?
Needless to say, social interaction is apparently what I've been missing.  Now I have the itch and I'm afraid I'll fall off the exercise wagon.  Up until this point, I've done well.  At least three days a week are spent at the YMCA or it's equivalent outside of Pierre.  I've been biking for at least 8 miles and running for at least 1, improving my time and heart rate with each attempt.  I'm still not sure if I'll ever be able to run that 5K I've been talking about--that involves using the track or ground, not an elliptical--but I do know I feel better about my own appearance.  When I look in the mirror, I see a better body; whether that's all in my head or not, I'm not sure.  I just know I really, really, really want to make this a habit.  I'm sore all the time, but it's so much better than feeling fat and lethargic.  
I best be heading to bed now--my own bed in my own home :).  Good night!  

Monday, January 19, 2009

One Week Down

I survived my first week in Pierre!  Today is the last day of a long weekend--MLK Day--and I'm a little sad.  I got to spend the past few days in Brookings, and I'm really going to miss my girls.  I will not, however, miss the lack of sleep I had back east.  Far too many nights out and way too few hours not in my bed.  
The first few days at the legislature went well.  The mood is pretty sober up there; everyone seems to understand the state has no money this year, and everyone's energy is being put towards finding a budget solution.  
I work for the Republican state senators, and I am definitely outnumbered.  Of all the interns in this part of the universe, I'm the only girl.  Of all the Republican senators in the chamber, there's only one woman.  I'm sure you can understand caucus is pretty much the boys' club.  For the most part, I'm okay with disproportionate numbers, but Friday I wanted to punch another intern in the jaw.  I had been handing out copies to all the senators in the room, and when I got to him, he said "Thanks, Sweetheart."  
Oh, how condescending men can be.  The worst part is, he probably has no idea how much that one little nickname bothered me.  It would've been one thing if we were hanging out OFF of capitol grounds--he is very cute--but we were at work, in the heat of things.  I didn't say anything this time (anyone can slip up once in a while), but if it happens again any time soon, I'll probably have to have a little chit chat with him.  
As we speak, I'm packing my stuff up.  Actually, I'm in a state of packing-limbo because I'm waiting for a load of laundry to dry.  I'm supposed to go eat some lunch at my sister's apartment, but I haven't gotten the call yet.  I love that she decided to finish college here and that I've gotten to spend the past three years with her.  Most days I try not to think about the fact that in a matter of months, I'm moving, and right now, I have no idea where my next chapter will be.  I don't know how far I'll be from my family, how often I'll be able to visit, and if I'll even be able to afford those trips home.  It's such a scary thing, the unknown ... so, for now, I'm going to continue to not think about it.  

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Day Two

This is definitely something I've gotten myself into...Sen. Knudson kept me very busy again, and I must say, I appreciate that; few things annoy me more than being bored at work.  No sickness today, although my poor roommate was still sick and couldn't go in to work today.  Thank goodness that wasn't me!  
Tonight Sen. Knudson invited me to a dinner with a couple lobbyists and another legislator.  I must say, even though I was so nervous about it this afternoon, I had a lot of fun.  We ended up staying a couple hours after the meal was finished chatting and telling stories. 
The more time I spend with Sen. Knudson, the more I realize I have a lot to learn about the man. Sometimes it can seem a little condescending when he talks to me or gives me instructions for a task, but I have to keep in mind that this man in light years ahead of me.  It really isn't often that I have the opportunity to work with and learn from someone so much smarter than me, so I really think these next two months are really going to be incredibly beneficial and humbling.  
I must cut tonight's entry short--Education committee meets bright and early tomorrow, at 7:45!  

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Day One

Yesterday afternoon the Republican leadership gave me my assignment, and I believe they did a very good job of putting me with someone who will use all of my abilities.  For the next two months, I'm the state senate majority leader's intern, as well as part time photographer for the assistant majority leader.  
Already today I was running around trying to fulfill both jobs as well attempting to get sworn in, make my computer and email work (the latter is still on my to do list), and figure out where Sen. Knudson needs me and when.  
Of course, in typical Jenna fashion, I spent today trying not to be sick.  It must be a first-day thing for me since it happened my first day at KDLT as well.  I took an excessive amount of Extra Strength Tylenol during Gov. Rounds' State of the State address this afternoon, and even one hour and seven minutes later, when the speech was finished, I wasn't feeling any better.  In the middle of filing Sen. Knudson's mail I had to run myself over to the third floor ladies room and see breakfast in rewind (I hadn't have time to add lunch to the mix).
About 45 minutes later, we closed up the office and I called my roommate to come get me (he was done hours earlier), but the poor guy was sick too.  We both went straight to bed when we got back and have been ghosting around the house for the past two hours, just hoping to feel better and keep supper down.  
Hopefully tomorrow goes well; healthy or not, I have a feeling I'll be putting in a long day.  

Sunday, January 11, 2009

New Chapter: Pierre

This afternoon I arrived in beautiful Pierre, S.D.--day one of my two months here.  The weather is much nicer than in my third home--Brookings, where KELO predicts a 100% chance of snow tonight.  But, I'm not sure if this is a place I'll grow to love as much as I do Brookings.  Tomorrow is Intern Orientation at the capitol; I'll feel much better after that is over.  I'll know what exactly my job is, I'll meet people I'm working with, and I will know what my schedule looks like.  The house I'm living in is nice, and the people who are letting me live in their basement are even nicer.  But, since it's Pierre, I know there won't be much to do when I'm not working or sleeping.  I long ago decided I'd join the Y and get my butt in shape, but I've decided to take that goal a step further.  I'm going to train for a 5K!  I make no promises about that actually happening, but at least it'll be something to work on :).  It's getting a little late, and I have SUCH a headache--time for a shower, then a movie, and then bed.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Not Good With Clothes

Today I woke up with every intention of getting all my professional dress clothes pressed/steamed and ready for the real world (since that starts on Monday).  Steaming, it turns out, is no easy task.  After 40 minutes or so of trying to figure out how the steamer works, I achieved a small level of success when I finished one shirt--an hour and fifteen minutes after I set out on this task.  Long (very long) afternoon short, I finished six shirts two and a half hours later.  Needless to say, I have plenty of work left to do on the rest of the shirts as well as the pants, skirts, and blazers.  I don't think I'll attempt to use the "Steam Buddy" again; good old fashioned ironing is going to have to do the trick until I'm no longer laundry deficient :).

Monday, January 5, 2009

Back West

It's my last Monday in Winner ... for a long time.  I made a quick trip to the Brookings/Sioux Falls area, which really gave me the itch to get going.  Pierre isn't exactly the "city" I'm used to spending time in, but it'll do.  Two months isn't that much time, and I'll be back in my wonderful bed in my cozy apartment for a lot of three day weekends during those months.  Hopefully I'll have more to write about soon.  For now, I see lots and lots of packing in my future!