All Alone in the Big City...and it Rocks!

So I went out for the first time alone today and it was absolutely amazing. I don't have my camera just yet, so I just took a short little walking tour. I saw a few things...like the freaking Supreme Court! Heck yes! And the Library of Congress and the Capitol Building!!! It is amazing here. I will live here someday. In one of those cute little townhouses in the Historic District on the Hill or out by Georgetown.
Afterwards, I took in Richard's computer to get it looked at. I was pretty scared, but it turned out that all those tears and stress was unnecessary. They cleaned it out and it worked just fine. Way to freak out Erika. That's just great. But things are looking up now! I've been trying to hijack internet into my apartment for the last few hours without any success, so I think I'll just have to pay. I think they're trying to starve us. Between the metro fares, outrageous cost of food, and having to pay for every service imaginable, it's a miracle kids here don't go into debt. I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel and I'm at the highest paying internship here!!!
More to come. I'm sure I'll have another adventure tomorrow!

The District of Columbia

So my first day in DC is just a huge blur. I arrived at my apartments at around 2 in the morning. After our flight was delayed due to technical difficulties, a medical emergency, and the metro was under construction. Yeah. I didn't want to wake any of my roommates, so I crashed on the couch. I still woke up early enough to talk to Richard though. Afterward, what did I do? Be responsible and go grocery shopping and clean the kitchen my roommates destroyed? No. I went sightseeing. We walked all around the Mall, went to the National Botanical Gardens, made new friends, and found out where I will be spending most of my time (Senate Dirksen Building Room 436.) It was pretty awesome. After that I did what every normal girl would do in this situation. Shop! And let me tell you, the shopping on the east coast is phenomenal! But I exercised self control and only bought two things from H&M. Yay Erika!
We went home after that and I was just pooped. Out. But, alas, something else had to come up. The internet card in Richard's computer wasn't working, so I opened it up and re-inserted it (just like the guy at Best Buy did before!) and I go back to turn it on...and nothing happens. I panicked. I tried again, opened it again, nothing. I hyperventilate and start crying. Then I call my Dad. No help. Then I remember, oh yeah, Richard's brother does computers!!! So after a wild goose chase (using the ultimate stalking tool Facebook, I found Tyler's number, who I texted to get Lindsey's number, who called me and gave me Danielle's number so I could talk to Tommy.) Tommy and Danielle assured me that I couldn't have ruined it, and to take it in to the Apple Store. So I am heading over there first thing in the morning. If I can get up that early. But I will because this is Richard's computer and if it's ruined he will kill me. I have faith and trust Tommy though, I'm sure it's fine.

What a day, huh! I'm tired, I'm dirty, I'm stressed, and I'm mising Richard. It's been SO long but I have to wait up for at least an hour more before I can go to bed...Richard might get online.

I'll keep you posted on my adventures in the big city!

-Erika

Hong Kong and a Headache!!!

:)Hello from China!! I'm in Hong Kong right now and will be here for the next two days. Then we hop on a train for some 30 hours to get to Guilin! 30 hours!!?? That is what the head teacher tells me but that seem a little ridiculous! Of course, I'm in China!, what do I expect :) Well, I miss Erika like Tyler misses food (he's fat) but I'm sure it will get easier. It's mostly due to the fact that the internet isn't consistent here in Hong Kong. We are staying in a YMCA hotel and I have to pay for the internet. So, we have time constraints that normally wouldn't be there. Oh! Let me speak from personal experience, an 8 typhoon is nothing to worry about :) That is apparently what is going on outside RIGHT NOW! But, it looks like a weak rainstorm in Vegas to me :)

The converter I bought doesn't work with my computer!? Everything else works fine with it but I just can't get power through it to my computer! So, I'm using my roommates right now, I'll buy one that fits my computer tomorrow. Then I won't feel bad about using his to charge my computer when he needs it to charge his too. Well, that is it for now! I'll let you know how the train ride went when I get to Guilin...although I don't expect to be suprised, I rarely am :) YOurS TruLey, R. Vronick

I Feel Violated

My personal blogging space has been hijacked! You know, just when you think you can trust someone...

So, I'm supposed to be packing again, but I'm really tired and this is the last time in a while I get to talk to Richard on the phone, so I'm putting that on hold. I can't believe he is leaving today! He is literally going to exactly the other side of the world (exactly 12 hours away!) What are the odds? I'm kinda nervous because I don't know what's going to happen, but he assures me that everything will be fine.

I'm really not quite sure what to do with myself. I have a LOT to do, but that can wait until Richard is gone. It's hard to concentrate on things that have to be done when you're on the phone every waking minute (even sometimes when I'm falling asleep!)

Richard thinks that my computer runs too slow, so he's sending me his old one to take with me to DC. Only one problem, it's a Mac. He insists that they are better, but I am reluctant to let go of my beloved PC.

Okay, so to add fuel to fire my cell phone broke today. My little sister (she's like 1 1/2 feet tall) dropped it at a funny angle and cracked the screen. It's supposedly under "warranty" still, but this falls under the "insurance" part of the plan. Lame. Like I don't have enough stress, right? It's okay. I have a tendency to make mountains out of mole hills.

Enough rambling! I'll be sure to write again when there's something worth writing about!

- Erika

Subtle Takeover...

Well I don't know if you saw this coming, but this is going to be my blog too!! Why create another one when I can simply take this one over with sweet ninja skills and subterfuge? I know what your saying, "Why would you want to takeover your girlfriends blog?" Well that is simple! I want to take over the world and I have to start somewhere!! So, I'm off to China later today, 8:10pm Vegas time to be exact. Crazy! I have a 4 hour layover in Los Angeles, which isn't cool, but what can I do? Nothing, until I rule the air! I fly from there to Taipei and from Taipei to Hong Kong! I land in Hong Kong at 9:10am local time...on the 22nd!! That seems like a lot of air time but it won't actually be that bad.

So, some time has passed and now I'm getting nervous... I have traveled enough to now that once I get going the jitters will pass. But, just the prospect of leaving Erika and traveling to a place that is as far away from D.C. as you can get before you start coming back is a little daunting. I know that everything is going to be fine... but you know how it is! :) CHINA!! It's going to be quite the experience. For the entire time that I have been planning to go I have though that 4 months will be a long time; but who am I kidding? I was on a mission for 2 years!! That is 24 months! I realized this because I was packing and trying to slim down to just one checked bag (I did it!), and I was like, "Wait a second! Four months!!? That is nothing! That is less than half the time I spent in L'viv! I could live out of one backpack in that time, easy!" So, I took out a couple more articles of clothing. I'm still pretty close to the weight limit and if they say I'm over I'll just lose a couple more things! No big deal :)

Anyways... I'm all done now, so I'm just sitting and thinking...and that is never a good thing for me if you are aware of how my brain works :) That is about it for me. Expect more random mutinous efforts from yours truly, R. Vronick.

The first day of my blog life.

Okay. I thought my life was falling apart, but I'm good. I mean, I cried so hard I made my nose bleed, but you know, fully recovered. :) So...after convincing by both Lindsey and Danielle, I finally gave in. I created a blog and I'm officially a cyberspace internet junkie. I think it's a good move up in the world for me, this way I don't have to write a thousand e-mails updating everyone and I can release some of the emotional build-up that is increasing as of late.
My life: Richard is leaving for China Wednesday. That's really all that's on my mind. I don't think it's really sunk in yet, but he's in Las Vegas right now, so baby steps. Definitely good for me. I am leaving for Washington D.C. on Sunday. I haven't even packed yet. My bedroom is a disaster. I think that "tropical storm Fay" struck. In my bedroom. I didn't really realize how bad it was until Richard went in there and was stuck. Literally. There was no room to walk around! Not to mention many "girl items" strewn willy-nilly around the place. It's okay, Richard doesn't pick up on those things. But I am making progress! I moved my large suitcase (I can fit inside it) and have started packing while watching Juno. Well, I'm writing this so I'm not making much progress now.
This morning I woke up to a call from Richard (that's the best way to start your day, not breakfast.) After we were done talking, I rushed to work to make sure I wasn't scheduled. I wasn't thank goodness. I was going to call in and tell them I threw up last night anyways, which wouldn't be a total lie. I felt sick at least! But I have to go in tonight. I came home and Emmie was like, "Richard?" I told her he was gone. I don't think she understood. She still carries around a picture of them all over the house! It always finds itself back above her changing table though.
So my pants are too long. My parents dropped $400 dollars at Anne Taylor buying pant-suits for me when I start my internship and surprise, surprise! the pants were too long. I'm getting them tailored tomorrow. Okay, Emmie is throwing everything out of my suitcase. I need to intervene.