Only Day 4!?!?!?!? It seems we have been here two weeks. Except, of course, for the fact that I still can’t remember anyone’s name!
Today was Spouses' Orientation. The busses took us to the Congressional Spouses’ Club building which was built for them in the early 1900’s as a place to meet. It, like almost all the other buildings I’ve been in, is gorgeous. We had a light breakfast, then several talks, including a list of special dates (First Lady’s Luncheon, White House Easter Egg Roll, Christmas Ball, etc.). Diana Cantor (Eric Cantor’s wife) gave a quick run-down of tours available to visitors, how the congressional offices can help get tickets, and which ones members or their spouses can actually conduct. Caroline Aderholt (my big sister) gave us information and tips on “Successful Staff Relations” including making sure the employee handbook has a dress code (especially for young lady staffers), putting a large picture of you and your family in your congressman’s office, and making sure you are on good terms with your scheduler.
The general gist of many of our meetings is that you have to fight for personal time with your spouse, and that you must control your schedule, or someone else will!
We had a few more talks, then lunch. Observe the beautiful dessert, right before I devoured it! It was filled with orange mousse. The chocolate was soft, not crunchy, and it was one of the best things I’ve ever put into my mouth!!!
During lunch we also heard from Debbie Boehner, wife of soon-to-be speaker of the house John Boehner, and Paul Pelosi, husband of soon-to-be ex-speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi.
I’ve made friends with Tevis Keating, wife of a democrat freshman from Massachusetts. It’s kind of sad, because up until now she has been the only spouse of a democrat here! We are all supposed to have big sisters, but she could never find hers. She sat with me today at lunch because she thought she was the only dem there, but finally, during lunch she noticed a wife who had just come in. Finally, someone came rushing over and said she was her big sister.
After lunch we got another talk about ethics laws, this time more geared to how it affects spouses. Wow, I’m going to have to start thinking about what I can and can’t do.
They gave us a beautiful toile bags stuffed with books and other things. My favorite is a very large Congressional Wives Cookbook!
Tonight was a beautiful reception at the Botanical Gardens. It was decorated for Christmas already. There was a beautiful huge Christmas tree in the main room as you walk in and poinsettias and other decorations throughout. We got a sneak peak of the special exhibit room which had an international flair by depicting famous buildings and places from all over the world made out of natural material situated in fresh cedar. Running throughout were many different model trains including Thomas the Tank Engine and a caterpillar train. They ran on trellises up and around the exhibit. We met Congressman GT Thompson and his wife Penny from Pennsylvania. We always thought that Mo had a fabulous story to tell, being overspent $1.9 million to $160,000 against Parker Griffith and Les Phillip in the primary. This guy, though, beats that handily! When he was elected in 2008 he was outspent $2.9 million to $24,000! He only had to have a plurality, though, so he won with 19%!
Delicious food, wonderful surroundings and interesting company. WOW!
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