Annapolis

The field trip to Annapolis was a blast. I had a great time bonding with the other Eagleton Fellows. Besides learning about the budget, I got to talk to the Executive Director of the State of Maryland's Office of Legislative Services. He oversaw the study the state conducted on their electronic voting machines to determine how secure they were. They hired a team of hackers to break into the systems to they could better protect them.

Thurs. night, we all went to dinner and then went out drinking the Annapolis. Sarah K, Sarah S, William, Shannon, Kristin, Margaret (Governor's Executive Fellow), and I hit McGarvey's Saloon & Oyster Bar. Sarah K walks into the bar and immediately gets handed a glass of wine by some gentlemen sittingi at the bar. She has this amazing "free drink" sense. It was a great and interesting time at the bar. Sarah S, the one receiving a PhD in Food Science, educated us on how raw oysters are just about the dirtiest thing you can eat. We also planned the ESC (Eagleton Social Club) events for the rest of the year. Our next event is social hour on St. Patrick's Day in Princeton. I think I want to take the group to the D-Bar.

Rich's cousin Michael goes to St. John's College in Annapolis, so I told him I'd give him a call Thurs. night. So, I did and him and his posse (dressed casually in polo shirts and sweaters) meet up with us at McGarvey's and took some of us to a bonfire/kegger on campus. It was interesting hanging out with him and his friends and just being in that Great Books atmosphere.

Friday morning, we met with some other legislators and delegates and ended our formal trip to the Annapolis State House. For lunch we headed to Buddy's to get some steamed Maryland crabs. I had the crabcakes. Not as good as the ones (best ever) that Brian introduced me too, but they were filling.

I got back into Princeton Fri. night in plenty of time to attend the D-Bar's 80's party. I don't really have an 80's outfit, but wore an old ringer shirt with the Sigma Alpha Iota logo mimic-ing that of Oscar Mayer. Scott should've dressed up as Alex Winter from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. He grew up with people asking him "Hey, did you know you look a lot like the excellent Bill S. Preston?" Alex Winter apparently has his blog here.

Saturday night, the Jersey Sprawl had a rehearsal to prepare for our gig on Tues. at the PACM Conference. I learned a new Irish tune there too.