Well, I can say I felt very close to my fellow Americans today.  Very very close.  Like, I think some of my fellow Americans accidentally got to third base.  I couldn't actually get near enough to see Obama, but I could see the screen and hear, so I guess I'm glad I wasn't too lazy to drag myself out of my apartment and go, even though I walk that ( Read more... )

I'm going to leave in about an hour and see if I can even get down to the mall.  It's only about 2 blocks away technically, but I think with streets that are closed I'll have to go way around.  All morning I've been watching a steady stream of people walking past my apartment.  I'll see if I can get any decent photos.

And....OMG helicopters ( Read more... )

My apartment is 3 blocks from the U.S. Capitol.  I expect the weekend of the inauguration to be a bit crazy.  4-5 million people will be coming to my neighborhood.  Since they've decided to let bars stay open 24 hours that weekend, it's possible 4-5 million drunk people will be coming to my neighborhood.  And, I just came across this article.

Now, ( Read more... )

I'm sure my flist has exploded, I'll try to wade through it tomorrow morning, but for tonight:

( Dear America: I'm proud of us )

I voted today.  Did you?

Even if you don't care about politics, it's the one day that, as an adult, you can wear a sticker all day and feel cool about it.

The poll workers were friendly and cheerful- almost unnaturally so for 8 am- and made me feel smiley.

Starbucks is giving a free coffee to people who vote (class act, Starbucks!)

Voting always ( Read more... )

i.  In my opinion, best thing about Halloween?  The day after when everyone brings their leftover candy into the office.  Free candy!  This is the grown-up's trick-or-treat.

ii. Changed clocks over the week-end, and so now it's completely dark by 5 pm.  I do not approve.

iii. Is the election tomorrow bringing out all the crackpots in Washington DC?  ( Read more... )

The other day, my boss left her cell phone at a meeting at a certain agency of the United States Government.  This morning, I went to retrieve said phone and had to jump through countless hoops to prove that I did, in fact, have authority to take control of the phone.  They made me identify the phone number, and then call the phone from my phone, ( Read more... )

Dear Washington DC,

Is this a joke?  This weather?  Seriously?  It needs to stop.  If I wanted to live in weather like this, I'd have moved to Seattle.  Please do something about it promptly.  Thank you.

**

Dear Drivers in Washington DC,

When it is raining and you drive very fast close to the curb, you spray water on any person who might be standing ( Read more... )

I'm sitting out on my porch here (I use the term loosely- little 3x5 bricked space before you get to the small patch of dirt wishing it were a yard) and watching people go by, and it's just such a nice day....it's one of those days I just love the whole world.

1. Nicest.  Day.  Ever.  Ever.  In the world.

2. Went rowing

3. Ended up not rowing but instead watching races.

4. Saw Ted the Hot Rowing Coach (did not speak to, but saw).

5. Got sunburned, but the kind of light sunburn that doesn't hurt much and will fade to a nice tan.

6. We decided to talk home along the Mall to get the exercise we missed by ( Read more... )