Capitol Hill

NOTE:
This blog was first written on Thursday July 10 th after the events occurred. Unfortunately, the computer hookup at the hotel failed and the material that I thought was saved was not. Oh, technology!

This morning we were up with the chickens since we would be boarding our bus to the Capitol at 7. We were there with time to spare as were the rest of our friends. This is an opportunity for us to go mad with teal clothing and so some did.
We were a collective fashion statement as some us wore t-shirts printed with teal ovarian slogans / admonitions, there were hats loaded with awareness pins and one hat covered with crochetted teal flowers. There was also a teal straw western hat, in our midst. Yee-Haw!

Rina and I were conservatively teal in comparison.

The ride was uneventful and we stared at the monumental sights as we were driven to the Rayburn House Office Building for breakfast with Representative Rosa DeLaro, CT, an Ovarian Cancer survivor of 22 years. After our bus was inspected by bomb sniffing dogs, we were cleared to pass and proceed to the entrance.

During breakfast Rep. DeLaro joined us and gave a rousing speech. She was intense and inspirational, so we felt even more informed and inspired to tackle the offices we would visit.

Capitol Hill is always a challenge and this year was no exception. Our appointment with Senator Nelson’s legislative aide was scheduled for 11, and then we were scheduled at Senator Martinez’s office for an 11:30 appointment. Their offices are in Hart Senate Office Building and Russell Senate Office Building respectively. You see the problem. Our breakfast ended at 9 am so we had plenty of time to formulate a new plan.

We decided to visit Rep. Weldon’s office even though the appointment schedulers had not secured us an appointment. Rep. Weldon’s office is conveintly located in the Rayburn House Building where we already were.

We quickly found his office, signed his visitor’s book and went in. There was one young women sitting in the reception area who greeted us. The office was appeared to be very quiet, no behind the scenes hustle bustle, no C-Span on TV. We asked to speak to the Legislative Health Aide and were told that she wasn’t in. She said that Rep. Weldon, “is retiring”, so there’s not much going on.

I don’t know what that was supposed to tell us, but we wondered if she was implying that he was at home practicing (for his retirement) and everyone else was out looking for a job. ? We left our information, took a photo outside the office and left.

We were on our rounds with Carol Dierkson, Communications Manager in the OCAF office, so our FL Senators are of common interest. We made a group decision to throw the clock away and proceeded to our appointments early. We know that it is highly unlikely that we would see a Senator in person, so what the heck, we’ll take a chance.

We hiked over to the Hart Senate Building and found Senator Nelson’s new office. Last year it was still under construction. The center of the building is occupied by 6 or 7 story tall Alexander Calder, steel sculpture; an abstract representation of mountains. It’s so big you wonder if the building had to be constructed around it. This giant sculptor sits center stage and the steel, glass and grey granite, compose the office space which circles around this center.

As we get off the elevator we notice Senator Nelson crossing the hall and going into his secret senator door. We decide not to chase after him and entered conventionally.

The health aide is happy to see us and does not mind that we are an hour or so early. We enjoy presenting our case to him and ask if Sen. Might join us for a photo. The aide checks and we are told he is busy talking with the mayor of Jacksonville. The aide suggests that next year we call them ahead of time for a face-to-face opportunity with the Senator. We will.

It’s getting hotter now outside, so we are glad that we can use the underground passage to walk to the Russell Senate Office Building for our appointment with Senator Martinez.

This building is old school. There are high imposing doors and very high ceilings, wide staircases (pre elevator) marble and granite hallways and each office still has its own large marble fire place. (Pre central heat) It must have been cozy waiting there for one’s Senator on a cold winter morning long ago.

Our actual appointment is uneventful, yada- yada. We know the bills are going nowhere right now, but we show our faces and make sure we remind them that we are also representing lots of people who are very interested in Ovarian Cancer issues.

Carol must see her Representative, so we cross the hill one last time and go the Cannon House Office Bldg., to see Ric (no k) Keller. His health aid is a charming young woman who appears genially interested in knowing more about OC. We have a friendly talk; Carol promises to send her more information regarding symptoms, facts, etc.

She thanks us for arriving early since they are having a very busy day, and in response to our request for a good place to have lunch she suggests, “Bullfeathers”, a favorite watering hole serving the Members of the House

It’s noon a good time to walk the short distance to Bullfeathers for lunch.

During lunch we discuss what we might do for a few hours, since we do not have to be back to the hotel until 4:30. The metro station is up the street so we have access to the entire District. We decide (in the comfort of chairs and coolness of AC) to embark upon a sightseeing walk-about in Georgetown.

We were totally out of our minds as we laughed in the face of the hot burning sun san, deluded ourselves into imagining that the hot hard pavement was as soft as fluffy marshmallows. We embarked upon the most amazing circular, meandering, (haven’t we been here before??) investigative exploration, of a small but mighty section of Georgetown.

We were in the midst of the Georgetown University Campus and looked (longingly) into the windows of the medical center. We admired a street of charming old row-houses (at least twice) and saw - even studied their front yard plantings.

After a long hot hour or so, we felt like we really lived there…but hey? Who was hiding our house?

We decided that we had seen enough, studied the same streets as many times as necessary and the thought of a shower and a cool dark room was making us giddy - or was it the sun?

Back to the Hotel and a rest before we had present our results to the Capitol Hill Shout Back!

The shout back was interesting as many folks shared their wonderful experiences. Some actually saw their Rep or Senator and their shared information will be useful for us as we are determined to plan better next year.

Tonight we will attend a Partner Member function at 7:30.

What a day! What a conference!

Connie, the Blogger, Rina the Navigator and Carol , Ouch! My feet hurt!