DING! Score One for Ellie!

Bill to Give D.C. Full House Vote Advances

HUGE victory in the House today! As reported today by The Washigton Post, Washington D.C. has won the first round in the fight for full voting rights in Congress! A bill passed 24 to 5 yesterday that would give DC a voice in the House of Representatives. Way to Go Elenore!!! (pictured left just before she got up on the table, spiked the ball and did the 'In Your Face Biotch!!' dance.)

For my foreign friends who are saying "Who the hell cares about this why are we reading this idiotic post?" Here's why:

Residents of DC have been getting the SHAFT by the US for decades. Currently, those that live in DC do not have full citizenship rights. YES you read that correctly. Uncle Sam taxes DC residents a state tax (at 10 friggin percent!) and yet what is the inalienable right of every US citizen is to have a representative voice in Congress is DENIED to those that live in our Nation's capital. I call BULLSHIT on that one.

Many residents took exception to the opposition's tactics for communicating their position by posting a symbol of their feelings at all entry points to the city - photo capture to the right.

Eleanor Holmes Norton (a Delegate to the House, not a full Representative) has fought for this measure like a rabid animal since the beginning of her service. Loosing time and time again as a previously Republican-controlled Congress blocked the bills because everyone knows DC votes Democrat.

In a move to try and prove Dem's are illiterate idiots a rider was attached to the Bill that said although DC would get a vote in the House, they would never get a vote in the Senate. The Dem's responded with the blow "I know you are but what am I?" ZING!

So we shall see what actually comes of this, but for now way to go Ellie! Here's a link to the full article http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/13/AR2007031300760.html?referrer%3Demailarticle&sub=AR

DE-PORTED!!!!

We all knew it had to come crashing down at some point right? The Cindarella story that found me moving to Amsterdam, landing a magazine spread and meeting fabulous friends instantly was just tempting karma to wing a curveball at me right? Well forget curveball, Karma has flung a giant boulder at my head and is now laughing hysterically at me.

It would seem that the ease of my transition was a bit too easy. I was in a meeting in London a few weeks ago, checking my email when I got the following note from the relocation agency: "Miss Milner. We have received a notice about your visa from immigration. You should get a copy at your house as well. We are working on this."

'We are working on this?' uhhhhh that doesn't sound very good. Methinks there's a problem? I then get a voicemail from my boss who was trying hard to remain calm telling me that my work and residence visa had been REJECTED meaning I may have to leave the country. CALL ME!

One very good benefit of being completely snowed under at work feeling like you are barely hanging on juggling 1,000 balls which could all come crashing down at any second is that there's only so much you can stress about before you've just got not more room. I had reached that point so for some reason I didn't seem too bothered by all this. Ok, it could have been that - or it could have been that I was staying in London for the weekend visiting my friend Cat whose boyfriend had just broken up with her and we had a full agenda of fun nights ahead of us. Afterall I figured there wasn't anything I could do about it anyway so why ruin my weekend.

Monday morning rolls around and after being relieved that I didn't get stopped or stripsearched re-entering the Netherlands on Sunday I met with my boss to get a more full description of what the hell is going on. It seems that there was a technical glitch in the payment of my visa application. nice. The result of this lovely fiasco being that the Dutchies have deemed me undesirable to stay in their country so I am booted out! WTFMF!?!?!?
Being the obnoxious American the first thought that came to my mind was...WHAT? I'm American - EVERYONE wants us! Are you kidding me!?!

So I've taken refuge in our London office. I know I know, life could have been A LOT worse. I easily could have been sent to anywhere, but thankfully London was an easy pick. So I am Persona Non Grata...Man Without A Country...A REFUGEE! ok that's a bit dramatic.
Thank god my good friend Cat is here to help me fill my time. Shopping, parties, friends, I could get used to this!

So...if you get a knock at the door from the Dutchies asking how you know me, my personal habits and if I have any terrorist ties please don't mention my penchant for hording the ONLY banned substance in Amsterdam - Sudafed.