Another Page in History Anonymous

It's 4:55 on a Thursday morning when you hear a shrill ring pulse through the room. You rub your eyes groggily, praying that the noise will go away soon, when a dim light blinks on. Roommate #1 climbs out of her bed and finally, blessedly, turns the alarm off. At 5:10, a similar, albeit slightly more lyrical, noise rocks the room as Roommate #2 crawls out of her bunk and Roommate #3 turns on the glaring overhead lights. You slowly slump out of your beloved covers, rubbing your eyes and brushing your teeth to the tune of Roommates #4 and #5 arguing over whose turn it is to shower first. Are you at summer camp? You're going home in a few days, right? Nah. You've been through this routine every day for three months, and you can look forward to repeating it for another two. And if you're anything like me, you're absolutely thrilled about it.

On my first day working in the Senate, I was more than a little bit awestruck, and perhaps I was lost in a politically-charged daydream when a cloakroom staff member explained exactly how exhausting this job would be. Sure, we can work up to sixty hours a week, but look, Senator Byrd's old desk is only a few feet away! The rostrum looked exactly as it did in the movie Lincoln, despite the fact...