First:  I’m home before 11:00 PM.  This is fantastic.  Need…rest…desperately…

Second: I really, really, really wish I could post about my job.  All I can say is that it has been awesome and very rewarding already.  I’ve talked with a few of my fellow Pepperdine folks out here, and I think we all have brought up how we’re actually using things we’ve learned from our classes.  All those Rockband all-nighters countless hours of studying and the mountain of crippling debt are actually paying off.  That is a gratifying feeling, let me tell you.

I’ve actually been using the memo template from Dr. Shires’ class to write memos at work, I’ve used what I learned in Dr. Hawken’s research methods class to do research, and somehow I managed to stumble through an economic discussion in Foreign Affairs…and yes, Dr. Blanco, I actually understood some of it (read: I recognized the words current account deficit and capital markets, and I’m pretty sure they were mentioned at some point in macro…other than that, the article might as well have been written in cuneiform…)

Before we get started – wow, it’s been an exhausting week, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Forgive the dearth of updates, it was a battle getting settled this week.  Again, I’m not at liberty to talk about my job (too many valuable secrets….?), so general DC intern talk it is.

A few observations to sum up this week:

• Wow, I am old.  The other interns on the Hill look like they’re 19 (they are).
• They are also very noisy on the Metro.
• Blazers, khakis, and red ties are almost a uniform for Hill interns.  (Note to reader: I wear slacks) (Note to self: limit use of blazer)
• The Hill is a very, VERY small place.  It is ridiculous how many people I’ve run into randomly.  I’ve had lunch with Heather this week (doesn’t really count since she just works right downstairs), I saw Adria from our program today at a lecture given by Rep. Tom McClintock – who just happens to be my friend/roommate/mortal enemy Mike Belina’s old boss.  Said hi to him for his wayward former employee.  I’ve had more random encounters, but that’s enough for now.

Now for the “important” stuff.

After a few days of hanging out in the District and doing all sorts of fun things, I’m ready to start work.  Well, as ready as I’m ever going to be.

To tell the truth, it’s going to be nice to get back to the grind.  Hanging out is fun, but it’s also nice to have some direction in your life.

Tonight, I’ll be hanging out and getting my things ready for the week.  Ah…back to ironing dress shirts and wearing the corporate noose.  I’ve worn a suit in 110 degree weather before, but I haven’t worn one in 110% humidity, however.  This week should be interesting.

I couldn’t be happier – joined a rock climbing gym last week up in Rockville, MD, landed an amazing pad for the summer, went for a run, visited Camden Yards with my buddy, got a sweet haircut, and now I get to watch the Dodgers and Cubs wrap up their series tonight.  Hard to beat that.  Oh yeah, I start a sweeeeet new job tomorrow, too.

Things are going to be interesting here this summer, particularly with the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court.  Barring any major controversy, she’ll likely get through without much of a fight.  I am just glad to know that she is more capable of making an intelligent decision than I am.  I kid, I kid – I am sure she would rephrase those comments…right, Mr. President?

Well, more on that later.  I’d rather enjoy my night than get worked up right now.  I’ll have plenty of time to rant away.

I’m finally in DC, and good grief is it humid.  I am not used to this.

I have an amazing place to stay (thanks Trevor), had a great dinner with my old boss last night, former Congressman Jon Porter, saw friends from Pepperdine and I’ve gone to visit my new office.  I cannot believe how well things are coming together.  From Vegas, to Malibu, to Vegas, to DC…I live a rough life.

Just for the record, the Honorable Jon Porter is one of the greatest, most down-to-earth people I have ever met, and I had the good fortune and honor to work for him for a few years.    (No, I’m not just trying to butter him up for a job after I graduate in April…but I mean, if he wants to give me a job, I won’t complain).  He brought a rare humility that I don’t think you see enough in elected officials these days.  I can’t say enough good things about the guy.

Anyhow, I went down to the Capitol today to say hi to Senator Ensign’s office and had lunch with Heather and some of the other interns from the good Senator’s office.  I’ve got a few days before I start so I am just hanging out and getting used to the place again.

It’s actually a pretty nice day out here, see:

The United States Capitol

Oh, and then there’s this place.  Should be pretty exciting in the next couple of weeks, that’s for sure…

The Supreme Court

Man, I love it here.

In the spirit of Memorial Day, I would like to take a moment to recognize the men and women of the United States of America that truly gave all while fighting to defend the freedom of not just our country, but liberty throughout the world.

My words won’t do any of it justice, so I’ll keep it short.  From the bottom of my heart, I thank all of the men and women who gave their lives so that we could live ours.  Your sacrifices were not in vain.

Thank you.

So I finally nailed down my start date. Like many a politician on the west coast, I’ll be taking the red-eye to DCA. The red-eye really isn’t a bad way to fly if you have to be somewhere – it’s pretty easy to sleep on the flight.

Anyhow, I officially start on June 1st. Just in time to get back to wearing suits in sweltering hot weather. In many respects, the DC summers are worse than Vegas summers because of the 110% humidity. Sometimes it’s just easier to swim to work in DC.

I’m excited to get down to business. It was certainly refreshing to have some downtime, but I get a bit restless without some sort of direction.

I have my free time pretty much sorted out – seeing old coworkers and friends, heading to one of the nicest rock climbing gyms in the country, and going to see some Nationals games – who knows, they might even win one. That would certainly be something to see. Unfortunately, I think I’m leaving my bike here but that remains to be seen.

However, there probably won’t be a whole ton of free time – work should be fairly taxing, in a good way. I definitely got used to working some long hours back when I was working for Congressman Jon Porter. However, we do get the 4th of July recess as well as the August recess, so it shouldn’t be too overwhelming. The Hill is a pretty fast-paced, high-stress environment and you need all the downtime you can get. As I’ve mentioned before, I can’t share any details about my everyday work due to privacy concerns, but if I can clear anything through our communications director you’ll see it here first.

Well, for now, I need to get back to packing. Heading back to California this weekend for my brother’s graduation from the University of Redlands (congrats bro), and then I’m taking the quiet red-eye out to the Nation’s Capital. I can’t wait.

Is it just me, or does it seem as though the lasting obsession that has taken hold of the Republican party – the unsuccessful quest to find the “New Reagan” – may be leading us down the wrong path?

Now, now, my fellow Reaganites, cease your wailing and gnashing of teeth. I’m not saying Reagan wasn’t great (because he totally was) – I mean, just look:

He loved the USA more than you ever will. Guys with that many US flags don't mess around.

You might be wondering, ” How is Manny Ramirez’s 50-game suspension relevant to this blog?”  Good question.  Next question.

Well, you persistent interrogator, here’s why:

1. Considering Congress has taken upon itself the task of investigating the use of performance enhancing drugs (PED’s) in Major League Baseball, it’s sort relevant to my internship experience in DC.  (It’s a stretch, I know.)  I’m sure Manny is on their short-list of potential congressional hearing participants.  Once a potential Hall of Fame inductee, now a potential congressional indictee (I thought it was clever).  I’ve seen Manny play in LA, now I can see him testify in DC.  When life gives you lemons…

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, has introduced a bill that attempts to address the physician shortages throughout the United States.  Nevada has been one of the states particularly affected by these shortages, and it’s not just physicians we’re lacking, but in fact all medical professionals (nurses, therapists, etc).  Many states in the Southwestern/Western U.S. have faced these issues as their populations have rapidly expanded – Nevada, California, Arizona, Texas, to name just a few – but the problem is widespread throughout the country.

Senator Reid’s proposal seeks to provide relief via Medicare for the costs of medical school and training of physicians.  Personally, I think this issue needs some attention stat, but I’m not sure that using the already weak Medicare system to deliver the change will be effective.  It seems to be of the school of though of “do something instead of nothing”, even if that something is ultimately inneffective.  Medicare on the whole is already stretched impossibly thin – reimbursements are woefully inadequate to cover the costs of medical procedures, and the program is struggling to stay upright as the baby-boomer generation ages and enters the system.  Conservative estimates have the program becoming insolvent by 2020, possibly even be sooner.

Last semester Jeff Clayton and I became members of the Pepperdine Student Health Advisory Board (SHAB) as graduate members.  Normally the board consists of undergraduate students who help promote the Student Health Center, organizing events like Wellness Week and promoting healthy living on campus.  My future goal is to become involved in the field of health care policy and management, so combining my SPP experience and being a part of SHAB fit together quite nicely, I think.

Don’t let the small size of the Student Health Center fool you – they have a very capable staff and they can do just about anything you might need (major surgery might necessitate a trip to LA, but if you take better care of yourself, you probably wouldn’t need that surgery, now would you?).  They’re all quite friendly, and it’s pretty nice to have their services at hand – just a quick trip down the hill for graduate students.

One of the main reasons I’m involved with SHAB though,