Before I left the suburban streets of North Brunswick to embark upon a low-paid, but LOVELY internship and live on my own in DC, my mother left me with the following words. "Before you're reduced to begging, call me." I suppose it was those words that brought this once-heated race for free food to a quiet standstill.

Here's the gist of it: I had planned to sneak into the very same lunch frequented by Ashley (and the two previous winners) at the National Press Club. Alas, my rather lenghty breakfast(s) and desire to be a good intern/actually get some work done today resulted in my missing out on the sitting down part...of a sit-down lunch.

After walking directly into the Josef Ackermann luncheon (they really need to up the security around there), I came across the event already taking place...and my competition schmoozing over what I had intended to be MY free plates. (True to its tradition of pretention, the meal featured multiple courses).

What to do? What to feel? OUTRAGE...sort of.

I focused on where to go.

As I walked out of the building and back into my own, I began to feel the pangs of hunger. A defeatist attitude enveloped me, so I decided to quit.

Saxon The Saxon (as he's affectionately known to only his closest of friends) offered to help me go hotel-hopping and see if we might stumble across any events. No such luck. And despite the inspiration provided by his company, I gave up.

I was hungry and hot and tired...and my mother's words echoed in my head. I stopped into McDonald's for a cheap lunch. In retrospect, I could have gone healthier...and cheaper, but the game was over.

I didn't take it as a loss, but a personal victory. I had reaffirmed the lesson that "Mama knows best."

After the final retreat to the office, Laura let me know there was free food in the kitchen...

Later that evening, I went to the aforementioned CAP BBQ and did in fact eat free food. I canceled my glorious plans to crash a gala for dinner, unpacked my bag full of outfit changes (business, cocktail, and casual attire), and took a shower. It was all over.  

Am I ashamed about my moment of weakness? Not so much. My loss really just ensures the finals will be quite interesting. We'll find out what happens when three outreach/conference-oriented interns are picked to stop being polite and start getting...free food?

Stay tuned.