working stiff

It’s the second week of my internship at the magazine. It has been more than i could have hoped for so far. There are so many nice people at work and I have been working hard already so I have a good time. I eat lunch with a group of younger girls every day – you can sit on the roof of my building and the Kiplinger cafeteria makes a tasty grilled cheese. And I have a cubicle! It’s something I have not ever wanted, but it seems fun for now. This week is ‘close week’ which, among other things, means everyone is a little on edge. Today I had my first intern-panic moment (aside from the time that I couldn’t find the bathroom on my first day). When I brought a copy of a story to the executive editor, and she looked it – for about 2 seconds – and said:

This is 8 lines too long.

I said, yes it needs cut.

She said 8 lines is way too much.

Then she slid it back and said “tighten that up, I don’t have time for this.”

Picture me running down the stairs – in heels – trying to catch the writer that I knew would go to lunch any minute. Missing her, I ran back up the stairs – in heels – and started looking at the story. Showed the changes to the editor, victory! It felt good. Glad to know I played my part in showing readers how to set up their own personal finances!

And I am getting more used to city life(sirens, horns, lackofgrass). Hanging out with my roommates and other magazine interns, reading a lot. Some DC highlights: the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden (Picasso, Man Ray, fountain, not a lot of tourists, good for reading), FDR memorial (very cool, very smart), Hall of Mammals (Museum of Natural History), hot dogs (I love street vendors), lots of walking (despite busy business types stampeding around).
I miss home and homepeople, sometimes unbearably. Anyways, I’m alive.