VVS 2012

Soooo vvs is officially over. Like usual, it went by insanely fast.

Highlights included:

-jumping in the pool with our normal clothes on.
-comparing Norwegian and American politics in the hot tub.
-getting asked out (that included going swimming, but this time without my clothes on...) by a slightly drunk but mostly hungover guy.
-meeting Rand Paul and having a mind blank moment that resulted in no pic or autograph with him.
-running into Sam Roher and finally getting a picture with him.
-skipping the gala to pack up and move the conference out, have a pallet fall off as it was going on the truck, running up and down stairs and service elevators, riding metro, getting shown what happened at the FRC shooting, and going to BGR: the burger joint.
-A bajillion inside jokes about spoons and a failed attempt at a practical joke that involved spoons and got hotel security called on us.
-a bajillion inside jokes about everything.
-claiming our own student staff room to play cards and laugh.
-making friends with the security guards.
-having several people misunderstand me saying "Belgian Malanios" (the secret service/police k-9s)
as "Belgian melon" and having quite a lot of confusion.
-"seet down deeners" and super fancy "just cookies."
-laughter, laughter and more laughter.
-metro surfing and new awesome friends.
-skinny jeans and stories that involve them.


Yeah. So my feedback may not be why everyone wants. I was honored to be student staff and had a blast.

I also walked out of Paul Ryan's speech because I'm sick of the bs that he and Romney keep spreading. The "heckler" that yelled "corporations are not people" during his speech was right on. But I digress.

This, however, made me the most mad. Other than being told that I must remove the Ron Paul pin from my backpack. Watch the two videos.

http://holybulliesandheadlessmonsters.blogspot.com/2012/09/getequal-protests-values-voters-summit.html?m=1

Basically, some lgbt people showed up and protested. Okay. Cool. They also were causing a scene and ruckus so got escorted out. Okay. Cool.


Uhm. But wait. Did you notice the attendees? How rude and disrespectful they were? Lgbt people are humans too. They're people too. I saw this happen and I just watched. I felt no need to counter-protest or push anyone around. However, I must say that the actual escortation (new word, k? k.) wasn't nearly as violent as it looks in any videos online that I can find.

anyhow. VVS was amazing and I can't wait for next year. I haven't laughed that much in such a long time and it was good. I felt like I fit in really well and was accepted. It was cool.

Values Voter Summit 2011

so.
VVS 2011 is over.
let's just say it was EPIC awesomeness.

day 1, i start student staffing and all of a sudden, there's Michele Bachmann.so automatically, we get out the phones and get pics.

day 2, Rick Santorum walks into the lobby.

day 3, i got to meet Ron Paul. that was randomly cool, because an Italian guy stopped me in the lobby and asked me what was going on. he wanted a "Obama's Last Day 1/20/13" bumper sticker, so i got him one and we stood in line together for like 90 min, discussing american & italian politics.

lessons learned:
1. if you have to fall flat on your face at the gala in front of the media, at least make sure you know one or two of them...
2. drinking lots of water is good.
3. taking cameras is a good idea.
4. good shoes are such a blessing.
5. bandaid's blister bandaids are some of the best inventions ever.
6. water is good.
7. always smile.
8. if the person looks like a creepy stalker, they very well might be one..........


{i totally wrote this out and managed to forget to publish it. can someone say "epic fail"!?}

Values Voter Summit

okay.

i’m excited.

like, really really excited. like uber excited. in 3 weeks, is the Family Research Council’s Values Voter Summit. and I get to go student staff for the second year.

basically, my job is to stand near the entrance of the hotel (inside) and direct the 1500-2000 lost people towards the right direction, then attempt to explain to them how to get to the right place they’re looking for. it sounds boring, but it’s so epically amazing. last year, i got into a pretty intense debate with some SCOTUS  lawyers {Supreme Court} about the Parental Rights Amendment and morals that all started with the silly bands i was wearing. a lady went out and bought me a banana because she was worried about my potassium level.  i helpessly watched the FRC duck fall down the stairs (he was ok). oh yes. i made friends with the Duggar’s bodyguard. like, the Duggars from “19 Kids & Counting.” yup. that was cool. i helped Mike Huckabee get unlost from the labyrinth also known as the Omni Shoreham of DC.

VVS 2010 student staff team--Esther, Noelle, Timothy, Elizabeth, Felix, Nicole & Kristi

and i learned that if you hear someone yell “MEDIA!!!!!” that means to move out of the main path, stat, otherwise reporters bearing cameras will throw you into the nearest wall. yeah. then there's the gala...which is interesting. somehow, standing for 12-15 hrs a day straight adds to the amazingness of it all--which i have yet to figure out how that works. maybe it's the adrenaline that kicks in to keep you running.

anyhow. this year, Ron Paul’s going to be there. i'm kind of excited because 2012 will be my first election to vote in and he's looking like the best choice so far. (that's for another post, probably after VVS.) Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Lila Rose, John Boehner, Ken Cuccinelli, Mitt Romney and a bunch of other big name people will be there too. it should prove to be interesting...

all that to say—VVS may not sound like it’s all that great. but I’m insanely excited for it. it's amazing and it starts in 20 days. yeeeah buddy!! some of last year's team is coming back, and we're welcoming some new members this year. so yeah! DC, prepare for more rockstar awesomeness.

{yes, this is all kind of random. meet noelle young. especially when she's tired..}