Well I dragged my "sore" butt out of bed by 7 and readied for my day on "The Hill". Well, I have to be honest here, I was on the Metro (subway) and as I so confidently got off the Orange line, transferred off onto the Red line, I realized I was on the right train in the wrong direction !! I didnt dare tell my husband, because he has been so worrried about me anyway. But I was able to figure it out and got off on the next stop and got myself in the right direction again. Thats onething about traveling here. I am a person that travels by "markers" not so much by street signs. And have been discombobulated a number of times while trying to get my bearings. It is very different here. I look around on the Metro and think - the people rush to and fro and look like ants in a colony to me. Its a fast pace for this country girl...but I also need to say. that they are also. some of the most helpful people I have encountered in a long time too. It is a maze in DC and most people come here from somewhere else and I think they help others. as others have helped them - ITS COOL.
Well I was late, but I traveled back to the visitor center where we met in a meeting room . Here we had members of Congress, and staff from key Congressional committees speak and answer questions on Foster and Adoption issues. Teens "aging out", long drawn-out adoption proceses, International adoptions and Opening adoption records were just a few of the topics touched on. We then broke up into smaller groups and were lead by Jason Matthews (director of Congressional and Public Affairs Division.) His record in DC is extensive, but include his work with Senator Mary Landrieu, a chanpion for Foster and Adoption, work with CCAI (Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute) and work with ASF (Adoption and Safe Families Act) of 1997. He first took us to lunch were we chatted about who nominated us and what we were nominated for. We had a nice time talking with other Angels and seeing what issues they face in their home states. My group consisted of families repressented from NJ, IL, NE, FL, CA, PA, WV and of course little ole me "Miss CT', as my new friends from NE called me !! We went to the Cannon Building, where we first met with NJ Rep staffers to say hello, introduce ourselves and relate on a personal level our concerns. I related to this and other Reps that I would like to see Adoptions be made easier and faster to give permancy to the children here in the US - It is sad that a big reason why most people adopt outside of the US, is because the 'process" is too long and the chance of losing the child due to lengthy process is too great. I also stated that we need to strengthen our efforts to help the teens that are aging out of the system with no prospects. I was amazed at the similiarities of our states plights and at sometimes I saw that CT really was better then some. My friends in NE, Kim and Joe, work with teen boys (over 300) and work within a system that is very broken, and they continue the good fight. Their fight and others, were so sad to hear. I think I am glad I work/live in CT. We ain't perfect, but we are trying. And so the battle goes on....
Our next stop was to Daniel Lipinski IL rep staffer where we were welcomed and again we voiced our concerned. The next hour we met with Adrian Smith NE rep and spoke again and allowed Kim and Joe to
really get to speak to broken state of NE and the need to audit what is going on there. By this time it is now
3:30 and we have walked about 5 miles. My feet and legs are continplating a mutiny.... We walk to catch a bus that takes us to the White House Reception at the Eisenhower Executive Building. (attached to the actual White House). Well we show our photo ID and have ourselves metal detected for the 5th time that day. I have to say the building was so architectually appealing to me. I love some of that old craftsmenship. We were all led to a room where Melody Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy council and Tina Tchen, director of White House of Public Engagement and Joshua Dubois Director of White House office of Faith based and Neighborhood partnership, talked to us and answered maybe 5 questions. I have to be honest here. This was not at all what I thought it would be... I thought we would have had more of an oppurtunity he hear what they do. And get some ideas to bring back. For all the time and energy it took to get us in a room to sit on a floor and just hear that we do a great job and keep it up... it was a little bit of a let down to me. But I may have read more into this event then I should have.
Well it was now almost 6 PM and I need to get back to my hotel and get dinner. I had found an interesting place called the "Melting Pot" and decided I wanted to check it out. My friends of the previous day, ZIna, Robin and Debra had thought they might want to go, but were too tired to make the trip out to where I was staying. Another couple from NE, Leigh and Patrick, caught a cab with me back, we weren't gonna walk another step. We had a good laugh in the cab... Poor Leigh gets car sick and was mentioning how the Metro (Subway) made here very sick the night before, what was funny was, as we were talking the cab driver was rolling down his window.. And Leigh confronts him and asks if he opened it because of her...He sheepishly says yes... and who could blame him..self preservtion - hahaha. On our way to hotel we bumped into Kim and Joe and all agreed to go out together to eat just a couple of blocks away. We had fun with Fondue...It was a different, yet fun experience - none of us had every done this and thnk God the waiter was so patient with us. We talked, laughed and enjoyed a "grown ups" night out. I am so glad they let tag along with them at times, or followed me on one of my excursions. I take back with me their plights in my heart and also take their ideas. They are both deserving wonderful couples that I will not soon forget. It is late and I don' t need to get up in the morning, but was too tire to type all that I have, after that long day. But if you got tired reading it...imagine how tired I was doig it HAHAHA - thanks for following my blog.
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