Post-Shutdown, Post-Season: The Ties that Bind

My two worlds have finally collided. And by two worlds I mean my two collegiate worlds, Boston and Washington D.C. Now please enlighten me and follow along with my story of this crossover.
Last week the federal government ended its 16-day shutdown by passing a bill that raised the debt ceiling and continued to find the government. Last weekend, just three days after the government reopened the Red Sox won the ALCS advancing them to the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. You may be asking yourself, now where is this "collision" she's taking about? Well, let me explain...
During the shutdown, furloughed workers were stuck at home resulting in many of the furloughed male employees to grow beards. Also during the shutdown journalists on the Hill began growing beards. (Yes, #ShutdownBeard was trending on Twitter at one point).

One of my favorite #ShutdownBeard tweets

Then finally, comes the Red Sox, and yes of course, the whole team is growing beards in the post-season. You following? The collision comes with the obscene amount of fascial hair I've been seeing lately. From journalists to ballplayers they all are sporting unshaven looks, some more dashing than others I must say. Yet the simplest thing, a beard, has brought more people together in the past few weeks than it probably ever will. At an otherwise polarizing time in politics- Democrats vs. Republicans and sports- Sox vs. Cardinals, the beard bonds.

While our furloughed friends and Capitol journalists have taken to the razor and shaven their beards, the Sox still remain hairy as they head into Game 2 of the World Series tonight, but come next week, the ballplayers' beards too will most likely be shaven.
But don't fret, if you had any thought of missing the familiarness of a bearded face, now is the time for me to remind you November is eight days away. #NoShaveNovember

So there you have it. The collision of my two collegiate worlds. There is just something about the camaraderie of sports that I love and I think I'm starting to get that feel among the reporters on the Hill. When you go through the same highs and lows week in and week out you bond. Whether its bonding over a facial hair or not we all love the feeling. So here's to the 2013 World Series!!! Go Sox!!!

Captain Phillips: A Must See

Just last week I saw the movie Captain Phillips and have been thinking about it every day since. In short, this was probably one of the best decisions we made all weekend and this movie is a must see! I guarantee you will not be disappointed. It was thrilling and exciting and emotional and I think I might just have to see it again. In the time leading up to seeing Captain Phillips I saw a few interviews on TV and read a few reviews online and was just amazed with the acting from the actors that played the characters of the Somali pirates. This is certainly a film to see and one to watch out for come award season. Tom Hanks was just fantastic in his role and many of the supporting roles are certainly deserving of award recognition as well. Anyways, I just felt the need to tell you all how much I loved Captain Phillips and how much I think everyone needs to see this movie!

History in the Making

Just days after my last post here on the blog came the beginning of the federal government shutdown. Simply put, I've been busy lately. As you may be able to assume the past three weeks have been some of the most exciting I have ever experienced, especially as a first time Washington D.C. reporter.

Bearing in mind that it has been 17 years since the last shutdown, which spanned from Dec. 16 1995 to Jan. 5 1996, I consider what I've seen over the last three weeks to be a bit of history. From Sen. Ted Cruz's 21-hour speech on the Senate floor, to the government shutdown, to following Senators reactions to Tea Party tactics, I've certainly seen a lot.

After finding myself in the middle of the latest happenings in Congress and spending the day reporting at the Capitol, I sit here now as the Senate has passed a bill to continue to fund the government and raise the debt limit, avoiding default. As I type this I am also tuned into CSPAN as we await the House vote on the bill to finalize deal before it can be signed by the President.

While this shutdown and hot potato between the House of Representatives and the Senate has been quite thrilling (and educating) as a reporter, I am looking forward to seeing what the next discussions will be in Congress. Stay tuned for more out of Washington D.C. and I'll be posting the links to my stories under 'My Work' tab, so check back and take read when you can.