Photo of the flyover from the 150th Birthday Party during the last weekend of session. Taken from our balcony in the office, in the distance is downtown St. Paul.

I'm going to head up North this weekend to a lovely wedding of my friend's sister and my ex-boyfriend. While this may seem a little odd, I got an invitation. My parent's are friends with the bride's parents and so they got an invitation. I'm going to go, where a pretty dress and have fun. Unfortunately, Anthony is in California this weekend and so will be unable to accompany me.

I'm planning to stay a few days and see Angi's new baby, have some fun with Kate C. (who is also getting married this summer) and see my Grandpa Earl. I'm hoping for nice sunny days to lay-out in and have lunches on Tutto Bene's patio with my Mum.


Then, when I get back, Anthony and I are heading down to balmy 90° Nashville to visit his friend, Josiah and his wife, Mel. It just happens to be CMT's Fan Fair while we are there, so there should be lots of interesting happenings around town.


I'm also hoping that, by some fantastic chance, I will run into Anna Maria Horner. Who happens to live in Nashville. Or Nicole & Keith. You know, whichever would be cool.

Sex and the City movie tonight! I'm wearing my silver sparkle and black lace heels in honor of the evening.
Julie @ 6:56 AM Permalink |

"I like my country rockin', how 'bout you?"

The venue was the perfect size for the crowd. We snagged actual seats - stools on a platform in the back that were about 50ft from the stage. The crowd was outstanding as well. They sang every word to all the songs, which seemed to really surprise him.




He did a really long set (which was good, cause we waited a LONG time for him to come on stage) and sang almost every song on his CD and a few new ones too.


Jedd Hughes was a great opener. He's English (surprising?). Just a guy and a guitar. Loved that he did an acoustic cover of Hal Ketchum's Past the Point of Rescue. Also, really like his song "Big Blue Sky". Sadly we couldn't buy his CD because it isn't out, but you can listen to him on his myspace.
Julie @ 1:12 PM Permalink |

The 2008 session is over - woohoo. Time to start using that accrued comp time, get some sun, some beauty rest, start running again and sit next to Anthony. Time to have my life back. And be a real human being again and not a walking government zombie determined to pass a tax bill. It's Monday and I only have to work 6 more hours to get to 40. I seriously can't wait to clean my house and do laundry.
Julie @ 11:20 AM Permalink |

In bed by 2:00 AM.
8:00 AM Committee Hearing on a beautiful Saturday.
Postponed to 10:00 AM (which we were informed of at 8:00 AM).
Postponed to 11:30 AM.
Postponed to 12:30 PM.
The email system is messed up and won't let me send out notices.
Asked to move my car out of my coworker's (who isn't here and told me to park there) spot, so a Senator can park there.
The cafeteria is closed.
There's no money left in the ATM.
The governor is insisting on a crappy tax bill.
And there's a big party going on outside.

Happy 150th Birthday Minnesota
Julie @ 7:52 AM Permalink |

I've only seen Anthony for a few hours on Sunday and one on Friday.
I've only ran two days out of 12.
I'm totally breaking out.
I've eaten more Jimmy Johns than in my whole life prior.
I've made many copies of "runs" and passed out numerous amendments.
I've taken a roll call vote on the fly and didn't mess it up.
I've been at work for 167 hours.

You can pretty much keep up with what's happening at the capitol by checking these blogs hourly: PPress' The Political Animal and MPR's Polinaut. Usually, if they are still here, I'm still here too. But we're doing good things for Minnesota, right?

We keep ourselves going by thinking about that we've earned more than a week's worth of comp time. And starting tomorrow we can't earn comp time, so once we've hit 40 hours, we just stay home for the rest of the week. As long as it's after Monday at midnight.

For a while there was a rumor that I was running for the house 4A seat, because that's what it said in the Bemidji paper. But no, I don't think that's what I should do at this point in my career.

But today is Friday, it's sunny, I have a cute outfit on, I got a latte from Kopplin's and Monday doesn't seem too far away. Everyone needs to pray that they strike a deal, that both houses approve it and that there is NO special session.
Julie @ 6:57 AM Permalink |

Monday, we stayed late at work to wait for the house to pass their version of the tax bill. Around 9:30 PM, we decided to make a pot of coffee - a very strong pot. At about 10:00 PM, they finished. Thus, I was sent home jazzed up on coffee and could not sleep. I decided to make the best of it, so I got up and picked out a blank card, a pretty label from Etsy and some coordinating papers for a Mother's Day card.

Finally, on Thursday, I embroidered the card while I was waiting for conference committee to start. Then, I lined the inside of the lilac card with a navy paper and a white and yellow stripped paper.

I added a little note, addressed, stamped and got it in the mail.

At work today, I got a call from my Mum, saying that she had received my card and that Rep. Moe had dropped off her pink tulips and peonies. Then, we talked about state and local politics. Happy Mother's Day Mom!
Julie @ 8:43 PM Permalink |

"Due to the fluid nature of the legislature, we sit on our asses."

Julie @ 2:13 PM Permalink |

That's what Conference Committee is like. Except, you have to get up and go to work the next morning and do it again.

My life is: Wait for conference committee to start. Wait for conference committee to end. Repeat.

At least this year we have laptops. Hallelujah for laptops.
Julie @ 9:10 AM Permalink |

It was a pretty day, so we took a little trip over to Minnehaha Falls. I had never been and it was fun to walk around in nature. And of course we had to make a stop at DQ before we went home.

And I guess, some of the retaining walls have been flagged as ready to fail. Yikes.
Julie @ 1:55 PM Permalink |

Furlough

I'm back at work today, listening to the house debate their version of the omnibus tax bill. But here are some pictures of the Club 3 Battle of the Bands Finals from Friday. Anthony had been a judge for some of the semi-finals, so we were on the guest list - woot. We love nights out in Mpls for the cost of parking.

We were there to cheer on his former drummer's new band Hyland and our personal favorite Furlough. We braved all the little high school hipsters and enjoyed a great show.

The second half was on Saturday and we didn't go, but apparently, none of our favorites won.


Yea for good hair on a rainy night.


Hyland


Furlough
Julie @ 1:08 PM Permalink |