National Christmas Tree Lighting

This year I put my name in the lottery to get tickets for the National Christmas Tree Lighting after my friend Katie went last year. I didn't really know anything about it, but I thought it would be fun to go this year. One of the many, many, many blogs I read out there had info about when the lottery would start and I randomly applied. Many weeks later I get this letter in the mail from the National Park Service. I almost threw it away because I was like what the HELL am I getting from the Park Service?!?! Thankfully I didn't because there were my FOUR tickets!!! Well, we didn't get seated tickets which I would have loved, I did get standing tickets. I had no idea how big this event was until my friend Emily asked about it and if it was a big deal. After googling I found out that they gave out and 14,000 standing tickets!! I knew the President would be there, but I had no idea that bands actually played! You could even watch it online!

This year's line up included:

• television and radio personality Carson Daly (Host)
  
• platinum selling band OneRepublic
  
• country music star Rodney Atkins
  
• six-time Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Marsha Ambrosius
  
• a special appearance by Kermit the Frog, star of The Muppets

The history of the event:

In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge walked from the White House to the Ellipse to light a 48-foot fir tree decorated with 2,500 electric bulbs in red, white and green, as a local choir and a “quartet” from the U.S. Marine Band performed. 89 years later, this American holiday tradition continues to bring citizens together to share in a message of hope and peace.

This first National Christmas Tree led to the tradition we celebrate today and along the way the tree’s location and the lighting ceremony have changed.

From 1924 to 1933 the tree, renamed the National Community Christmas Tree, was located in Sherman Park, which is south of the Main Treasury Building and southeast of the White House grounds. During these years, simple lighting ceremonies and community singing were accompanied by the U.S. Marine Band. The National Park Service’s responsibilities for the park lands and the tree ceremony began in 1933.

From 1934 to 1938 the National Christmas Tree was located in Lafayette Park on the north side of the White House. In 1939 and 1940, the tree was relocated to a spot just south of the center of the Ellipse. Caroling, choirs and military bands continued to characterize the lighting program entertainment. The years 1941 to 1953 found the National Christmas Tree on the South Lawn of the White House. In 1941, on December 24, only weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill led the lighting ceremony and addressed the crowd.

In 1954 the tree moved back to the Ellipse where it has been located ever since. Also in 1954, the tree lighting became known as the Christmas Pageant of Peace, a celebration conceived by the Washington Board of Trade and the Washington Citizen’s Committee. The tree lighting ceremony moved from its traditional Christmas Eve date to earlier in December and was then followed by three weeks of presentations by community organizations and groups on the stage at the Ellipse.

While the location of the tree in President’s Park and its lighting ceremony program have changed and evolved over the years, the purpose remains the same: our local and national communities coming together to celebrate the season and to share the message of peace.

The Obamas' were out as well to flip the switch:

Yay for these girls coming with me!

The crowd is starting to build! The tree is way over there on the left and the stage was in front of us pretty far away :(

Sun is starting to set and the event is beginning!

We were right next to the Washington Monument (which is still closed after the cracks from the earthquake this summer!)

Not Funny Facebook, Not Funny at One Bit

I hate FB sometimes. In case you don't personally know me, that on top is my ex-fiance, that on bottom is my current boyfriend of a year. You think you are so sneaky FB but that was not funny one bit! There should be some sort of function that you can permanently ignore a "Person You May Know" with a choice of an assortment of radio button such as:
-He's a dick and didn't call me back
-He's a manwhore who gave me the clap
-He turned out gay
-He broke my heart
-That cheating liar dumped me, the nerve!
-I wish he would die
-He actually died

Or in my case:
-He is crazy and has some light PTSD from being a sniper and ignores his feelings and you (which is super sad in every way possible)

In closing:

Dear FB, stop trying to get me to be friends with my ex-fiance. Been there, tried that and it didn't work the first, second, or third time!!

Hard Core CVS, Hard Core

I spotted this funny sight at my local CVS on 14th and G near Metro Center. I guess CVS thinks people might steal the $15 dollar Tide. I didn't see those tracker things on anything else in the store. I guess CVS doesn't want the homeless, crazy, or just down right hooligan teenagers (or anyone else who might steal) to have clean clothes or smell nice! Oh DC how you make me chuckle sometimes!

Spotted on the Metro v. 6

Excuse me sir, I see that you are married based on the ring you wear on your left ring finger. I highly doubt your wife let you leave the house looking like that this morning. I know women often wear suits and trainers (sneakers for you non-British speaking folks) but that's because we wear heels and very uncomfortable ones at that. You sir, have no excuse. I imagine they make very comfortable man shoes, I bet there's even arch supports in some of them! Keep looking over your shoulder good man, because the fashion police are coming to get you!

This Day in History v.25

I can't believe I never thought to blog about this particular topic before. As some of you know, I spent a year working in London while doing a programme called Mountbatten. While this programme has some disadvantages (hello, actually SHARING a bedroom with someone while in your 20s and pretending to give a shit about writing a paper for this program) but there were plenty more advantages like um, hello living in London for a year and working and ALL of the travelling. It didn't matter that we were essentially poor...well, our rent money was taken out of our paychecks before we ever saw it, which left us around 600 pounds a month. Yikes. But you can make do just fine and with all of the low cost airlines and staying in hostels, I've seen some pretty cool places such as Croatia, Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, etc. It might be scary thinking of moving to another country not knowing anyone or really knowing anything about the job you are taking. But you're moving with so many other Americans (literally there was like 100 of us) that you create your own little home away from home.

So what's the deal with the programme? Well, a bit might have changed since I moved in 2007, but I'll try to summarize:

• There are two intakes: March and August (in my opinion August is way better! Bigger class and just is)
• There are two programmes: The Postgraduate Certification (I did this) and the MBA programme. I don't really understand the validity of the MBA programme, but you actually get your MBA but this does require you to spend more time in class and then 4 months after your year in London in Thailand.
• Jobs: There was a large number of us placed in Investment Banks, some in law firms, some in really really small and unique companies, one girl I knew worked in a chocolate company (weird!)
• Job Locations: Most of them were directly in the city, some were in Canary Wharf, and some were really far out (not many)
• Housing: You do share a room (no exceptions), some are 4 person flats (2 rooms) and some are 6 person flats (3 rooms)
• Hosing Locations: From what I know, there are still places in Maida Vale (near Pattington tube station), Islington (near Angel tube station) and I now think they have a place near Canary Wharf after so many of us complained it took over an hour to get to work. You do have an opportunity to move after the first 6 months.
• Pay: You get 615 pounds a month (625 if you are the "house leader"), and depending on where you worked/lived, you might have to fork over the 100 pound metro fee while there are others who could walk to work and pocket that extra poundage.
• Visa: You will have to apply for and pay for a student visa that allows you to work (I think that was around $400 to apply)
• Fees: Its kind of pricey now and I don't remember it being this much of a cost...perhaps we got some of the fees back?
• Course work: For the certificate, we did 2 papers and I think sat through a couple of all day courses throughout the year. I think its probably more now since the fees have increased.
• Requirements: You have to have a college degree and be the areas of 21-28.

Mountbatten also has the opportunity for English/Australian/Indian (I think) students to work in NYC for a year.

Now they actually have a professional website and do college fairs. They did not when I was applying. Let me just tell you about my experience and no wonder why I was so apprehensive about going. I had my interview in NYC, so I did a whirlwind 1 day trip up to NYC. I had some extra Delta miles so I cashed them in. This meant I had to fly from NN to Atlanta to NYC on both the trip up and back. That alone was exhausting...it was also my finals week in grad school. That sucked. Well I flew into NYC with no problem (nowadays I'd have a late flight each time...but that's besides the point) and took a cab into the city and was dropped off at this building across the street from Grand Central. There is construction all over this building and really noisey. I go up in this teeny tiny little elevator that probably could only fit 2 people to get off on a floor with only 2 doors and no window and only a little paper sign for Mountbatten. Cue in the scary movie music and I thought I was going to walk into my death right then and there. Anyways, I walk in and have my interviews. I do remember the director had actually heard of Old Dominion...which I was impressed with. I didn't think many people knew about the school, only people in VA would know of it. Anyways, I had my interview and all went well. I had to dart out of there and back to the airport. I was so naive that when I tried to take a taxi back to the airport, the driver refused to take me. Thankfully a police officer saw the cab do it and flagged down the next one and forced them to take me. I flew back home with no problems to have my exams the next day.

I still had no idea if this was a legit program or not so when I was leaving to go to London I was totally scared I'd get there and realize it was a hoax and they took all my money and now have no where to live. Now that was scary! Thankfully there was a fb group that I joined and eased my fears but still was a bit apprehensive. In my good fortune, Hannah was moving there a week after I got there to go to grad school. Neither of us knew we were both going until we had already agreed to our programs. Having her there totally made my experience that much better! Doing this programme was probably the BEST decision of my life. I gained so much personally and professionally from doing this! I'd recommend it to anyone. If you have any questions about the programme or experience, please shoot me a comment!

Anyways, I've had so many amazing experiences in London, here are the 24 I've written so far. Enjoy!
This Day in History v.1
This Day in History v.2
This Day in History v.3
This Day in History v.4
This Day in History v.5
This Day in History v.6
This Day in History v.7
This Day in History v.8
This Day in History v.9
This Day in History v.10
This Day in History v.11
This Day in History v.12
This Day in History v.13
This Day in History v.14
This Day in History v.15
This Day in History v.16
This Day in History v.17
This Day in History v.18
This Day in History v.19
This Day in History v.20
This Day in History v.21
This Day in History v.22
This Day in History v.23
This Day in History v.24