Timeless

I have worn a watch for as long as I can remember. Some people are watch-wearers, some aren't, but I definitely have been my whole life. I remember being really little, and having a Minnie Mouse watch then eventually graduating to a jelly-style Swatch watch, then moving on to the leather wrist-band, gold trim style that I've pretty much stuck with for about 15 years. I liked always having a watch on, and I even slept with one on forever cuz with my poor eyesight I liked to be able to check the Indiglo right in front of my face rather than the alarm clock a few feet away that was fuzzy and hard to read.

Well, last week, I took off my watch. I think that I have started to develop carpal tunnel, and my wrist has been hurting off and on the last few months. (What, with my Internet addiction? Shocking!) The watch itself had nothing to do with carpal tunnel, but it still was there on the wrist that was hurting and I thought taking it off might help.

It has now been about 9 days since I took off that little timepiece... and you know what? I don't miss it! For all those years that I was constantly checking the time, it turns out you don't really HAVE to, cuz the day goes by just the same. And it's not like you can't find out what time it is, cuz our society puts clocks everywhere. Just now, sitting here in my "home office" (yes we're still closed), I can see 3 clocks from where I am. There's the computer clock, my cell phone, and the VCR. I always have my cell phone with me and I've found myself becoming one of those people who pulls it out periodically just to check the time. (I used to mock T for doing that, calling him "Mr. Big Shot" as if he was expecting lots of calls, but now I'm doing it myself.)

And the strange thing.... for this week when I'm not wearing a watch, I've actually found myself being earlier for things. I'm not stressing about the time, so I think I'm just naturally moving through the day with more ease. I'm waking up earlier, getting places earlier... what's that about? Funny.

Really, the only downside to not wearing a watch is that I now have this glowing white watch tanline on my left wrist. Since I've had one on for decades, that little strip of skin has absolutely no base color. It did get a little sunburned the other day, so I had a strange pink wrist.

And even though this I-suspect-it's-carpal-tunnel is still bothering me a bit, I'e learned that taking off that darn watch has given me a freedom I didn't even know I was missing. Time is now something to experience, not something to watch just tick by.

I *Heart* Jeremy Piven

Courtesy of Netflix, tonight I just watched the first 4 episodes of Entourage. HBO has done it again! It's a totally fun show. Men, Hollywood, stardom, friendship, sex, snappy conversation, random celebrity cameos from people like Jessica Alba, David Faustino, Jimmy Kimmel, Luke Wilson. What's not to love?

It's been called "the male Sex and the City." Yep, the show does feature four main characters - the pretty boy who gets all the attention, the smart guy who the rely on to figure out everything, the desperate older brother, and the jokester guy who always gets them *this close* to trouble. They're trying to figure out how to navigate living, working, and chasing girls in LA.

Although, I have to say, if Carrie Bradshaw were a guy.... she'd be a lot more interesting and layered than Vincent Chase, the rising star at the center of this group of guys. The show is not-so-loosely based on the life of executive producer Mark Wahlberg, but I have to believe Marky Mark is more together and substantive as a person than Vince. There's not much to him other than a pretty face, fluffy hair, and a big, big head. The 3 friends are much more interesting and entertaining. I guess that's why they call the show Entourage instead of Movie Star. So it's like the opposite of SATC -- the 3 friends are more of the story than Carrie ever let the other girls be.

And what's the one thing Sex and the City never had....? Jeremy Piven. He rocks! He plays the main pretty boy star's agent, and he totally steals any scene that he's in. I've always loved Jeremy Piven, way back to PCU and that "Cupid" show. And this is really a great role for him. It looks like he's having a blast! Whenever he's on the screen, it's pretty clear that in a show about boys he's the real man. :-)

Telecommuting is not for Me

My office was closed again today, and I got word late this afternoon that it's probably going to be at least another week before we're allowed in to the building. Maybe more. Yikes. I have been learning over these 2 days that even though it may sound tempting, telecommuting in practice is much harder than it sounds -- and it most likely is not for me.

I have worked from home on many occasions before, but that's always been my own choice, and it requires planning. You let people know that you'll be out of the office but online, you bring home files, you email drafts or templates to yourself. And, most importantly, even while you work from home everyone else is still at the office and very accessible by phone and email.

None of those things happened this week. I had no idea that we'd be closed off from the building, so I have nothing at home with me. We weren't allowed to go into the office for anything - not even files or rolodex cards. So the only drafts or templates I have are from past projects that I happen to have worked on on my computer, and they're not exactly appropriate. And, the worst part was that for about 24 hours our email server was down. So much of the past 2 days has involved my frantic search for home email addresses or phone numbers, just trying to get in touch with people and communicate anything. And that's just with internal contacts -- for outside people, I've only been able to contact the people who I talk to a lot, so I just happened to have their email addresses memorized. Having our email server down = no address book. Suck!

But, after figuring out people's numbers and email addresses, I was able to work on a lot this afternoon. While the circumstances of this telecommuting experiment are unusual, I found that there are still several things about the very nature of telecommuting that I find annoying:

1. My ear hurts from cell phone calls! The physicality of talking on a cell phone is different than a desk phone. For one, the cell gets ridiculously hot. I finally had to fish out my little ear bud to keep from burning my cheek!

2. You can't reach people as easily as if you're in the building. Sure, you can call and email, but if you get no response you're just stuck waiting. If I were at work, I would walk down the hall and try to find the person, or one of their colleagues who might know the answer. There are a lot more unanswered questions when you're sitting here alone.

3. No conference calls! Today I spent 3 hours on the phone, but many of those calls could have been collapsed all into one if any of us were at an office rather than trying to talk via our home phones. And all of this phone calling doesn't come close to the benefits of talking in person. My colleagues are graciously bowing to my anxiety and have agreed to meet in person tomorrow rather than keep doing this annoying phone tag.

4. My apartment is not very well-equipped. I don't have a working printer or a fax machine. So everything I am able to do is either online, on disk, or -gasp- handwritten on paper with a pen. I have 2 meetings to prep for tomorrow, and my natural instinct is to type up an outline. But since I won't be able to print it out, I have to go for the loose-leaf. I haven't done that for years!

5. I'm so sick of staring at these same 4 walls! For that reason alone, I'm glad that I have 2 meetings tomorrow.

My challenge tomorrow will be being away from my apartment and with no office to go to. How do I get online? I may head to Kinko's... has anyone ever used Kinko's workstations to get online? I better start saving those receipts for business expenses.

I can't wait 'til my office is open again. This forced work-at-home stuff is driving me crazy!

Shiloh vs. Suri: Round 1

Oh, these poor little girls are probably going to require so much therapy. But for now, I admit it made me laugh to see these dueling stories, one after the other, on the IMDB.com news site today. In round 1: the publicity photo battle, Shiloh totally wins!

Jolie & Pitt Baby Shower Photos Stolen
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have had a series of personal photographs stolen, including intimate pictures from a baby shower in Namibia. Lawyers for the couple sent an email to various US media organizations on Sunday night informing them that "a digital memory card containing a number of personal copyright protected photographs" of Brad, Angelina and their children have been stolen and offered for sale. According to website TMZ.com, the photos, taken in Namibia, "include images from a private baby shower." The email was sent by the couple's powerhouse law firm Lavely & Singer and threatens that anyone who publishes the photos "will be liable for substantial compensatory damages, punitive damages, and injunctive relief."


Cruise & Holmes Baby Pictures Fail To Sell
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes refused to sell pictures of their new daughter Suri, after the photos were offered to the media and failed to get a significant price, according to media reports in the US. Photos of other new born celebrity babies, including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's baby Shiloh, Gwen Stefani's baby Kingston and Brooke Shields' baby Grier have all graced the covers of major magazines. According to Fox News correspondent Roger Friedman, a photo shoot of Suri was offered to photo agency WireImage. Photos of Shiloh Jolie-Pitt were reportedly sold to People magazine for $4 million, but pictures of Suri Cruise produced not more than a $3 million bid. At that point the offer for the photos was reportedly rescinded. A magazine expert tells Friedman now that the baby is nearly three months old, her price will only go down, adding, "Shiloh was the whole deal. We won't see a baby like that again for a while."

Spoilers from Book 7!!!!!

J. K. Rowling is talking again - and that means Harry Potter fans like me are on the edge of our seats! So.... two main characters die in the final installment? And she won't commit to saying if Harry lives or dies?!? Oh no, I can't wait! She better finish that book soon!

More spoilers if you haven't read Book 6 yet...plus my pure speculation on the finale:

I thought Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was the best book of the series so far, after the very first one and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Book 5 was bloated and not as fun and interesting, but Book 6 rocked. I *loved* learning about the history of Voldemort and I thought the last 100 pages or so were the most thrilling and action-packed fiction I've ever read. I shall miss dear Dumbledore, but Rowling left a fascinating set up for the final book. Harry, Ron and Hermione leave Hogwarts to go battle the Ultimate Evil, and we're left still unsure as to whether Snape is good or bad.

But I think he's the most fascinating character of the whole series - and I want to kiss whichever casting agent it was who first called Alan Rickman for the role. There can be no other actor to play such a complex yet ambiguous character. To fit the long-range story arc, though, I have a feeling it will be Snape himself who does not survive. I think there will be some grandiose showdown between the professor and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in which we shall see once and for all Snape's goodness and nobility. I hope.

So who would be the other main character to die? Oh, it can't be one of the main 3 kids, that will just break the hearts of all readers everywhere. So I'm going to guess that it's another beloved character whose death will be very sad, but more pure in its emotion (dare I say the Libby to Snape's Ana Lucia?). I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it will be Hagrid.

Which leaves Harry to survive and.... go on to become an auror like he's always dreamed? I've thought since the beginning that he will end up becoming the school's permanent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but that's just me. And I hope he ends up with Ginny, and Ron and Hermione finally get over themselves and finally see each other. :-)

Oh, we have to wait until July for the movie! And then how long until the final book? Too long!

So what are your predictions, fellow Potter-philes?

A Role Model for Generosity

Much is being made of Warren Buffett's announcement yesterday that he is donating most of his tremendous fortune to charity, and rightly so. Mr. Buffett's generosity, along with that of Bill and Melinda Gates, should be an inspiration to all of us as to how individuals can really make a difference in the world.

Sure, they are the richest individuals on the planet and most of us would never compare ourselves to them - but the fact that these incredibly wealthy people who *could* just sit in a vault and count all their money have instead chosen to devote their fortunes, and in many cases their time and business acumen, to helping others demonstrates to the whole world how altruism really should be a priority. These are smart men who made themselves incredibly rich by being savvy businessmen -- so take from their example that charity, too, is good business.

For years, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Bill Gates Sr. (his father, a co-chair of the Foundation along with Bill and Melinda) have spoken passionately about the need for personal philanthropy, the benefits of a meritocracy over inherited wealth (sorry, Buffett and Gates kids), and the reasons to oppose the conversative push for repealing the estate tax.

The media was pointing to the connection this morning that Gates and Buffett were making their announcements at the New York Public Library, which was a beneficiary of Andrew Carnegie's tremendous wealth in a previous century. It's interesting to consult Mr. Carnegie's thoughts on the matter -- he was a towering figure in Pittsburgh, where I cut my teeth in the fundraising sector, and his philanthropic legacy is felt every single day in the city he loved and across the nation. Selections from his The Gospel of Wealth indicate that the current generation of titans must be learning from his example. Carnegie was opposed to hereditary wealth, opposed to leaving bequests at one's death, in favor of an estate tax, and very much in favor of personal philanthropy as a way to address societal needs resulting from the income gap and, at the same time, justify one's own success:

"...the thoughtful man must shortly say, "I would as soon leave to my son a curse as the almighty dollar," and admit to himself that it is not the welfare of the children, but family pride, which inspires these legacies."

"It is well to remember that it requires the exercise of not less ability than that which acquires it, to use wealth so as to be really beneficial to the community."

"The growing disposition to tax more and more heavily large estates left at death is a cheering indication of the growth of a salutary change in public opinion...Of all forms of taxation this seems the wisest. Men who continue hoarding great sums all their lives, the proper use of which for public ends would work good to the community from which it chiefly came, should be made to feel that the community, in the form of the State, cannot thus be deprived of its proper share. By taxing estates heavily at death the State marks its condemnation of the selfish millionaire's unworthy life."

"There remains, then, only one mode of using great fortunes {devoting them to public good}; but in this we have the true antidote for the temporary unequal distribution of wealth, the reconciliation of the rich and the poor - a reign of harmony, another ideal, differing, indeed, from that of the Communist in requiring only the further evolution of existing conditions, not the total overthrow of our civilization. It is founded upon the present most intense Individualism...Under its sway we shall have an ideal State, in which the surplus wealth of the few will become, in the best sense, the property of the many, because administered for the common good..."

"Poor and restricted are our opportunities in this life, narrow our horizon, our best work most imperfect; but rich men should be thankful for one inestimable boon. They have it in their power during their lives to busy themselves in organizing benefactions from which the masses of their fellows will derive lasting advantage, and thus dignify their own lives."

"This, then, is held to be the duty of the man of wealth: To set an example of modest, unostentatious living, shunning display or extravagance; to provide moderately for the legitimate wants of those dependent upon him; and, after doing so, to consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds, which he is called upon to administer, and strictly bound as a matter of duty to administer in the matter which, in his judgment, is best calculated to produce the most beneficial results for the community..."

And perhaps his most definitive statement:
"The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced."

In a time when we all can see that public funding and government budgets are getting slashed left and right, and the idea of "raising taxes" strikes fear in any politician's heart, our country *must* rely on the generosity of private citizens to support the programs and causes that work for positive change in every sector. Whether someone can donate 10 billion or 10 bucks, every donation counts in the effort to make this a better world in which to live, work, and learn.

What a Mess

It is amazing how much damage rain can cause. This was no hurricane, just several hours of continuous downpours, and our whole region is a mess. DC hasn't been hit as badly as the folks on the Eastern Shore, but just in my experience this morning I learned several valuable lessons to incorporate into my own disaster planning:

Lesson #1: Check local news in the morning.
If I had checked the local news either on tv or by logging on to the Internet, I would have known that my building is CLOSED and would not have gone all the way in to work just to get turned away at the door. CNN is great for big stories, but on days with weather news you really need to check local coverage.

Lesson #2: Have updated numbers in your cell phone.
The idea of a "phone tree" is great but only if you and your staff actually HAVE each other's cell numbers. It took until 10:30 am before we actually all got ahold of each other. First email I'm sending out is to share all our numbers.

Lesson #3: Have a back-up commute plan.
This one didn't really affect me this morning, cuz my bus was running just fine. But I saw hordes of angry, frustrated people who had been trapped in the Metro system delays and cancellations. I heard tell of many people whose usual 45 minute commutes took 2 hours or more, whether by car, train, or bus. And I saw several unfortunate Metro employees, just doing their jobs putting out signs or fences to close off flooded stations, getting screamed at as people were just looking for scapegoats to vent their frustrations to. Huge lines of people were walking around downtown having gotten off at a different station than normal, and wandering around seemingly lost trying to figure out how to get there from here. It's very easy to just learn the Metro based on your favorite stations, but it's a good idea to learn how to walk to your destination from a separate station if need be.

Like I said, my building is closed so I'm home today. The building is majorly flooded and, rather than enjoying the opportunity for a day off, I'm actually very anxious about what kind of damage the water, mud, and gunk will leave behind. I work in one of those big tourist destination spots and it's one of the beautiful, state-of-the-art, expensive public areas that I have worked on raising a lot of money for that has been damaged. I hope, hope, hope, hope, hope that we had some kind of flood insurance.

The weather report says more rain is on the way. Keep your fingers crossed that DC is able to keep up with the pace of all that water.

That's a Whole Lotta Meat on the Street

Yesterday, before this torrential downpour hit, I took in a DC tradition for my third year in a row. Onyah, ReporterBoy and I ventured out in the sticky, overcast heat to Pennsylvania Avenue for the annual BBQ Battle. Ah, the smell of barbecue sauce, smoke, and meat. Definitely another sign of summer!

I sampled several of the tasty offerings..... from Famous Dave's, I had a chopped pork sandwich and cole slaw. The slaw was delicious, but I was disappointed in the sandwich. Onyah and ReporterBoy got sandwiches from a different place that looked much better, with actual pulled pork. Mine was a whole lot of bread, a little bit of meat, and not nearly enough sauce. I should have put more sauce on it, but I was hesitant cuz it's very easy to overdo those little sauce pumps. The first year I went to the Battle, on my very first plate of food I tried to add more sauce, and the pump thingy exploded and I got sauce *all* over myself. I only had to learn that lesson once!

Later, Onyah and ReporterBoy got their sandwiches from the North Carolina BBQ place, and I tried the 3-bone rib sampler. Tasty and very, very messy. Thank goodness for moist towelettes. Again, it could've used more sauce, but overall I was pleased with the fall-off-the-bone pork.

Then we were attracted to the SPAM truck and decided - against our better judgment - to sample some grilled spam. It was okay. I said "Huh, tastes like ham. Kinda." Onyah agreed with the "kinda." It wasn't terrible, but I won't be seeking it out anytime soon.

Towards the end of our outing, my pals went for their 2nd helping of meat with a big rib platter with beans and hush puppies (ReporterBoy used his "negotiating skills" to get extra pups). I used the opportunity to go for something cold and fruity...and ordered myself a mango gelati from the Carmen's Italian ice place. Picture a plastic cup, filled 1/3 of the way with soft-serve vanilla custard, then a big layer of mango ice, then a tower of more custard. It was super-delicious, and cold and refreshing. As it started to melt, it took on a mango-creamsicle taste that was awesome. And the little Italian ice guy in the truck was super-hot in his cowboy hat. :-)

I got a coupon for a razor, free samples of dental floss, several free samples of Crystal Light and POM green tea, a sample of pork breakfast sausage, the offer for a new dentist, and a little bit of a sunburn. All told, a great day for BBQ! I'm so glad we didn't wait until today... the meat will be more than a little soggy!

Political Cocktail Chatter

I was at an event last night and had a long, interesting conversation with someone who spent several years (decades?) in the trenches working on Democratic politics. It was a very typical Democrat conversation, where we both expressed outrage at what the world has become under the current Administration but also vented our real frustrations in how the Democrats are responding, and we managed to work in a little head-banging-against-the-wall about our mistakes in the 2004 election. I walked away feeling recharged, and angry, but determinedly still optimistic about the possibilities for the future. He said he does not feel optimistic himself, but he agreed that we *have* to force ourselves to try being positive otherwise we just give up.

In discussing this year's midterms, Older Democrat Guy (ODG, for this post) had some very strong criticisms for the way we're handling things. Especially with this week's Senate debate, in which Democrats divided themselves, it appears that the Party is planning on running this campaign on anti-war sentiment. The polls show that support for this war and this wartime President keep dropping, and more and more people think that going in to Iraq was a mistake. Democrats are speaking out against the war left and right (a few years too late, in my book), and with these dueling Senate proposals (indicative of even larger divisions within the party? Let's hope not.) it looks like they're trying to step over each other in proving who's more anti-war - and yet more pro-troop - than whom. Well, while I'm glad to finally see the opposition party opposing something, I agree with ODG -- an anti-war platform is *not* going to drive voter turnout. Reminding people that they feel disappointed, disillusioned, or disenfranchised doesn't really make people get off the couch or leave work to go vote in a midterm year.

And you know what will drive voter turnout on the conservative side? Have you noticed a few incendiary issues have been put on hold lately, only to be surely revived in the fall session right before the elections? Remember how successful they were drawing conservative voters in droves when they put gay marriage on the state ballots? What might it be this year....? Hmmm.... no action on immigration "reform" yet. And, wow, really? They haven't renewed the Voting Rights Act yet? My God, it's 2006. Can we really be considering that as an issue that needs any debate? Why isn't it just automatic? Ah, language provisions might require us to offer voting access in....God forbid.... Spanish??? Cynicism tells me this is one they're saving for the fall. In discussing this strategy, ODG said something chilling: "Karl Rove is back. And he's working on the midterm strategy."

And as I was saying to ODG, this is where our MORAL OUTRAGE needs to come in to play. It's insulting to our American values system, and to all that we claim to hold dear as what it means to be a nation of the people, for the people, and by the people. I was lucky enough to see Congressman John Lewis speak yesterday, remembering the events that happened 41 years ago on "Bloody Sunday." To hear him speak was truly moving, and to think that the issue of voting rights, and the more general issue of who and how someone "gets to" become American, is still being debated as a political tactic makes my skin crawl.

And this is where ODG said Democrats need to focus their energies -- this midterm election should not be about the war. It should be about what kind of America we all want to live in. Policies do reflect our values, and everything from the tax structure to economic policies favoring corporations over individuals to poverty and welfare policy to civil liberties all combine to create the relationship between the nation and the people who shape and are shaped by it. Conservatives do not hold a monopoly on values -- for Democrats to move forward and stop being just second-ran reactionaries, we have to start putting forth our moral vision and tie it to real strategies for positive change.

In related news, my guy John Edwards seems to be doing just that.*



*That's a subscriber-only column in the NYT. If you want to read it, shoot me an email and I'll share.

Mrs. Robinson C'est Moi

Q: How do you know it's summertime in DC????

A: When you start lusting after all those fresh-faced, idealistic, ambitious little intern boys or girls that seem to be all over public transportation, outdoor eateries, and our local watering holes. Coo-coo-ka-choo!

Until you do the math in your head, and realize that you are now A DECADE older than these young hotties. Aw, snap!

*Note: EJC, I don't know if you read regularly...but if you do, the title of this post is for you! All it makes me think of is Stenny's report on Gustave Flaubert back in Smeltzer's 10th grade English class: "Madame Bovary C'Est Moi!!!" :-)

Netflix Doc Roundup

Since I have completed yet another season of 24, I took the opportunity this weekend to catch up on two new-ish documentaries that I've been waiting to see:

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
This enjoyable little movie is a cross between a nature documentary and a psychological study of an eccentric nature lover. Mark Bittner is a homeless street musician in San Francisco, who has spent the last several years observing, photographing, and caring for a flock of wild parrots who live in the trees of a tony residential neighborhood. Mark calls himself a "bohemian" and people refer to him as a modern-day St. Francis of Assisi. The compassion that he shows for these birds, one of many wild tropical flocks that live in random places in the US, is truly inspiring. We meet several of the birds and watch as they develop mating pairs, raise their young, and try to avoid the predatory hawks that patrol the skies of the Bay Area looking for their next meal. Mark is an oddity, for sure, and as he narrates the story of the parrots we are treated to an intimate view of this man himself, and the challenges that he faces as someone looking for a simple, peaceful life. It is worth watching the movie through to the end for some surprising developments among the parrot flock and some major changes in Mark's own life. I found myself alternating between laughing and welling up with tears over Mark and those beautiful birds.

Word Wars
This is not to be confused with the new-in-theaters doc Word Play, about people obsessed with crossword puzzles. Rather, this is about the national Scrabble tournament and four men who spend more time tossing around those little tiles than I do at work. At the job that pays me. It's like Spellbound, but about adults. So whereas the National Spelling Bee doc offered us heart-warming inspiration with tales of diverse youngsters achieving academic excellence, Word Wars showcases obsession and oddity, as these adult players - mostly male - live slightly outside of the mainstream pursuing glory and cash prizes for playing a board game that rewards obscure knowledge. Chugging Maalox, popping brain-enhancing vitamin supplements, and smoking spliffs, these alphabet warriors are fascinating to watch. I admire their obvious language skills, but I'm also amazed that they somehow are able to make a living chasing their triple-word-score dream.

I really enjoyed both of these and would recommend them highly to anyone looking for an interesting, entertaining way to spend a few hours.

So what about you, loyal readers: Watched any good DVDs lately?

Behold the Mesmerizing Power

I'm totally susceptible to advertising, so it didn't take much of CNN's pimping of tonight's Anderson Cooper interview of Angelina Jolie ("the first since the birth of Shiloh!") to get me to tune in. But just in case anyone hadn't heard about it, they really have been promoting the hell out of this thing. For the last week they've been running promos on tv and online, showing clips and even releasing transcripts. It's part of a 2-hour episode of his AC 360 show, the culmination of their day-long programming commemorating World Refugee Day. So I'm watching it right now.

The eyes. The lips. The leonine mane of hair. The cheekbones. The new maternal glow. The self-deprecating humor and humanity. The truly impassioned talk of humanitarian crises around the world. The commitment to refugee children. I can't look away.

She is the female Bono. In my book, that's high praise.

Random Monday 'Bits

I posted a whole lot over the weekend, and today was really just all about work. So I'm kinda tapped out... but I'll treat you lovely readers to a numbered-list update:

1. Even though they disapprove of my footwear, I appreciate the link to my flip-flop post from the Express blog. If you see me wearing the sparkly straps, just look the other way! :-)

2. Remember my non-invite invite post from a while back? Well, I got confirmation. The guy is just helpful and friendly.... and very happily gay. Phooey! So I am still searching for my fun summertime crush.

3. Since I was forgetful and didn't notice that Match.com had automatically renewed my 3-month membership (dang! I wanted to stop before that $50.97 charge!), I have decided to go back to that (dry) well for more self-flagellation. I am currently writing with 2 guys. Nothing came of the last go-round, but we'll see what happens now that it's summer and I'm bored and restless. But the computer police at work have wised up and now Match.com and all other dating sites get the evil firewall of death screen, so I'll have to do it all on my own time.

4. Did you know there is a BoSox player named "Coco Crisp" ???? It's a nickname, thank goodness, but still quite odd to hear coming out of a sports announcer's mouth!

5. Blogroll news: Check out Miss Sharkie's new and improved site and Winesmith, a new blog devoted to one of my very favorite things. Would you believe I had a crazy dream last night that involved a bunch of my old high school friends and a crazy druniken wine tasting? It turned out to be a bad dream, cuz I was drinking pink wine..... ;-)

6. My hair has gotten ridiculously long, and I haven't had it cut since mid-February. I find this appalling, and it's getting the really annoying, caught-in-everything stage, yet I still haven't found time to make an appointment. But, strangely enough, in the last week *several* people have come up and asked "did you get a haircut? it looks really great!" Huh. What's that about? Maybe I need to keep going long for a while? Apathy and inconvenience seem to dictate so for at least another few weeks....

7. I *love* those new Macs vs. PCs commercials featuring Justin Long and that guy from The Daily Show. They crack me up every time. Who's with me???

8. As many of us have speculated, there's still a lot of anti-Hillary sentiment out there. I think she's a forceful, intelligent, accomplished woman... but I do *not* want her to be the Democratic candidate in 2008. John Kerry better listen up, too. It's time for some fresh meat.

A Neighborhood Afternoon

Today, Onyah and I decided to spend a leisurely afternoon together and get a late lunch. She lives just a few streets over, so we met up with very little plan other than just to find something good to eat. We started strolling around Adams Morgan, catching up on various social and work stories, checking out menus and restaurant options as we walked. After just a few minutes of narrowing down the possibilities, we landed on something that we both agreed on very quickly: Meze.

Meze is a small Turkish restaurant on 18th St NW that features mezzes as well as a weekend brunch until 4 pm on both Saturdays and Sundays. Since the brunch specials featured a nice little cocktail menu, I went for a tasty little peach bellini. The reason I wanted to go in after scanning their menu was the tomato and mozzarella salad, cuz it just sounded so light and fresh. So I ordered that, as well as the mucver, zucchini pancakes with yogurt and tomato sauces. The salad was delicious: just the right portion size, with big, hearty slices of tomatoes and cheese and a great green vinaigrette dressing, all over a bed of fresh basil leaves. And the mucver was good, too. It included two large pancakes and both sauces were tasty. They also served us a basket of little nut muffins that were light and made for a great end to the meal.

Onyah *ordered* the Athena sandwich, which is hummus and roasted red peppers and other veggies. It comes with a side of fries and the menu said you could substitute a salad. Onyah asked if she could substitute fresh fruit, instead. When the plate came out, it looked very pretty and was covered with fresh fruit, but.... they had actually given her the Apollo sandwich. Still hummus and peppers and veggies, but with a big chicken breast as well. Onyah was feeling pretty easy-going and ate it anyway, and she said it was tasty but messy.

The ambience of the place was perfect for a Sunday afternoon. We sat inside, which seemed to have AC on as well as ceiling fans creating a breeze. I loved the pressed tin ceilings and, since I sat on the banquette side, I thought the seating was comfy. It's a typical AM place with a very small seating area, so you end up being RIGHT NEXT TO the other diners. But it wasn't too crowded, so I was comfortable. I imagine it gets pretty packed at night, though, so I think I'll stick to leisurely weekend afternoons.

The only drawback was that we seemed to have a very absentminded server. It took 3 times of asking her and then finally asking another server to get glasses of water, and she didn't really know the answer to any of the questions we had on the menu. And she wrote our order down on her hand....?

All in all, we had a great casual lunch. And since we were still chatting and it was hot once we got back outside, we decided to mosey up the street and treat ourselves to strawberry smoothies from Tryst. Frothy and delicious! :-)

This was a good reminder to me that I should do this more often.... there are so many great places to try right here in my own neighborhood, just a few steps away from my apartment. Why go anywhere else!?!?

Best. Game. Ever.

I just watched the Washington Nationals beat the New York Yankees. Yep, you read that right. Our Nats beat the Yanks today! It's a strange feeling being outnumbered as a fan in your own stadium, hearing the majority of the crowd rooting for the visitors and wearing that other team's gear. But it's an AMAZING feeling walking out of that long, hard-fought game when your team has won. :-)

As the game was just beginning and our group of 4 (2 Nats fans, 2 Yankees fans) started talking, I said "I know we're going to lose this, but I'd rather not see a trouncing. I hope it's at least a close game so we can feel good about it."

After the 4th inning, it was tied up at 2 and I was feeling really happy about that, so I decided to take a bathroom and hot dog break. While waiting in line, I heard a whole lot of cheering and I knew something was going down, something bad for the Nationals. I came back in to see the score was now 5-2, and the Yankees had scored back-to-back home runs. As I settled back in my seat, I watched Johnny Damon hit a grand slam to take it to 9-2. Jeter, Giambi, A-Rod, Posada, Damon, the titans were out in full force. At just the top of the 5th inning, this was not looking good.

But I tried to keep my own spirits up, to be there as moral support for the team. I was a little annoyed when the Yankees decided to start testing out rookie pitchers on us... kinda like at recess, when the girl gets up in kickball and all boys in the outfield move in. Ultimately, I think this is what ended up turning the tide.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Nats rallied and scored 4 runs. Then they scored two more in the 7th. For a while there, there was this great pattern of having a runner on third and then a base hit that would drive that runner home, several times, and Daryle Ward - put in the game midway through for Nick Johnson who hurt his back - hit himself a home run. It was fun to watch, and we Nats fans were excited to see that our boys weren't giving up in the face of the Bronx Bombers. We actually were just one run down!

At this point, I leaned over to Mr. L, my fellow Nats fan, and said "You know, I certainly don't want to jinx it, but I do think it would be pretty damn cool to see the Nats actually BEAT the Yankees." He kinda laughed and said "Shhhhh!!!!"

When the Yankees got up at the top of the 8th, my Yankee fan friend pointed over to far left field and said "Well, your Nats better watch out, cuz they're warming up Mariano Rivera. He's the best closer in baseball." It took me a second to get up to speed to the lingo, but I watched as Rivera took the mound and the Yankees fans in the stands went wild with a standing ovation. My Yankee friend said "Game over."

Rivera walked Alfonso Soriano, who's probably our best hitter. And then Alfonso, my new hero, stole second! And then he stole third! And with a bad throw by the Yankees, he made it home! TIE GAME! And I was on my feet, giggling with glee!

I turned back to my Yankee friend and he said "Game's not over yet." And I said, "I know, even though you just said it was! How funny!"

Still in the bottom of the eighth, Daryle Ward was walked, and then Jose Guillen hit a triple and Ward rounded the bases home! WE'RE IN THE LEAD! I practically jumped out of my seat to stand and cheer! And then Ryan Zimmerman hit a single, and Jose comes home! WE'RE UP BY TWO!!!!! At this point, my voice is straining from screaming and my hands are red from clapping and I've got a huge grin on my face!

The inning ends, top of the ninth, and the tension is high. We get two fairly easy outs, and then Johnny Damon's back at the plate. Everyone is standing and screaming, trying to see just what the current Mr. Baseball is going to do. After 3 balls, 2 strikes, and 2 outs........suddenly, the game was over.

THE NATIONALS WIN! I am giggling with glee!!!!

Yes, victory was made sweeter by the fact that today's game set a new Nationals record for attendance - 45,085 - and had a major television broadcast. I can't wait to see the highlights on tv tonight! I hope that at least some of those thousands of Yankee fans who came out to root on their team will consider supporting our Nats, cuz they worked really hard for this win.

I don't think anyone expected it in Mudville this day, but I think I actually experienced sports fan joy for the very first time watching this game. I want to thank the gods of baseball, and the Washington Nationals, for giving me such a great day at the ballpark.

What is the Plural of Gladiola?

Last night, a group of 4 of us (3 female, 1 male) had a debate about romance. As you might imagine, we reached an impasse along the gender line... but I'm hoping that we've coined a new phrase for our social/dating lexicon.

The conversation began when the name of another guy we know came up, and I said something like "Oh, remember when I had a crush on him? That's long over now." (*Note for the readers who pay attention, this previous crush actually was straight. And not European! It does happen!)

The guy friend said "That crush may be over, but you're not over him." And I said "What? Yes I am. What's the difference?"

His reply, slightly paraphrased..."You may think the crush is over, but if this guy were to come running at you IN A FIELD OF GLADIOLAS you would take him."

We three girls laughed, but then said that of course we would. The image of a man running to you in love through a field of flowers, it's totally Hollywood, but we all said it would probably work.

Guy friend didn't like this, arguing that we women have unrealistic expectations in relationships. But then we kindly reminded him that *he* was the one that brought up the whole field of gladiolas in the first place! We also debated on whether gladiola was the right flower for this image, or if daisies or daffodils would be more appropriate. Which led to a consideration of Ewan McGregor in Big Fish and a whole other conversation about Welsh and Scottish names that are all vowel....But Guy Friend stuck to his gladiola guns.


But back to those "unrealistic" expectations... the debate continued, and I pointed out that the reason we girls would accept a guy running through the field of flowers is because it represents the grand romantic gesture. It doesn't have to be literal! But it's true, a guy surprising you with something romantic - a weekend getaway, a special night out doing something you love, a gift when it's not your birthday or Christmas - when done at the right time and place, these gestures can really melt a girl's heart and go a long way to keeping a relationship going. And yes, of course, it works both ways!

Guy Friend, though, said he can never pick the right time or place so he's just given up on the fields of gladiola altogether. To which his girlfriend said, "I know." Burn!

We never did return to the idea of whether a crush can truly be over. But I am willing to acknowledge Guy Friend's point and say that an interest in someone, whether a crush or an actual relationship, can certainly end and you can certainly be over someone. However, this state of "being over someone" can be affected by the little-known (until now) gladiola contingency, which states that in the case of an unexpected grand romantic gesture, a girl can't be held responsible because those feelings may just come right back to life. Dare I say, the feelings could *bloom* again?

* The plural of gladiola is actually gladioli. We couldn't figure it out in our wine/margarita haze, but we knew gladiolas sounded wrong. But that's what we started with, so that's what we kept saying all night.

Which Threshold Exactly?

I have crossed a threshold. I'm not sure exactly which one... something along the lines of "it's summer in DC" or "I may be a professional woman but I'd rather be comfy than fashionable" or "it's just too damn hot and I don't have time to do laundry." Whatever it was, I definitely crossed a line today....

It started Thursday night. As I was walking home from the Metro, I was thinking about everything I had to do the next day. Two donor tours at work, plus an event at an organization where I volunteer. I wanted to wear something cute, but I haven't done laundry in a month of Sundays so I was racking my brain for a possible outfit that could come out of the items I have that are still clean.

I mentally envisioned an outfit that could work. Black gaucho pants, a green tank top, and a white/green/turquoise white shirt over it. Trust me, the outfit was cute. But then I had to think about what shoes I should wear with it. And here's where the line was crossed.

I actually found myself thinking this: "I'll wear my DRESSIER TARGET FLIP-FLOPS." ?????

See, I was already wearing my more *casual* Target pink flip-flops as I was going through this mental exercise. But I decided, in the emerging heat of summer which has an inverse relationship to the amount of which I EVEN CARE what I'm wearing, so long as it's comfy, that my DRESSIER TARGET FLIP-FLOPS were perfectly acceptable for a professional look.

What makes them dressy? The sparkly straps, of course. Yeah, whatever that threshold is, it's been crossed. And you know what, I looked cute. And my feet were damn comfortable.

Let's Talk Midterms: The Keystone Race

Way back in 2004, I was pretty darn active in the Presidential campaign. I was the leader of a Meetup group, I knocked on doors, I phone-banked, I hosted fundraisers, I posted my sign, I happy-houred, and eventually.... well, I cried. But I met a lot of great people during that time and learned a lot about the reality of grassroots activism and campaigning.

I keep wanting to get involved this year but haven't really found a way to become personally active. Recently, I hung out with one of those Kerry Meetup friends and he totally busted on me for not campaigning this year, saying he was shocked that I wasn't doing anything cuz I was so involved last time around. It bothered me a bit, but then I pointed out that he's not doing anything, either. *Ahem* Life happens, you know? I got a promotion, I joined a Board, I blog... I don't have as much time as I did then to really throw myself into the action. But I still have opinions!!!!

So, I'm going to start talking about the midterms here on this blog. Watch for occasional posts about the races that I'm watching, the ones that I think are the most important both strategically and symbolically for the Democrats to win. Up first? I present to you.... the race for the Senate in Pennsylvania.

The candidates:

Senator Rick Santorum, R - He's the incumbent. Among other things. (Thank you, Dan Savage!) He has conservative social views - "pro-family" - and has been an outspoken supporter of legislation against reproductive rights, gay marriage and sexual privacy and the teaching of evolution in schools. He is in a powerful leadership position, as Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. Santorum is a native of Butler County in Western PA (think Pittsburgh), an alum of Penn State, Pitt, and Dickinson, and he was first elected to Congress in 1990. He was elected to this Senate seat in 1994.

State Treasurer Bob Casey, Jr., D - Mr. Casey is the son of the beloved former Governor of the Keystone State. He has been State Treasurer since January 2005, following 2 terms as the State Auditor General and an unsuccessful bid for the PA Governorship in 2002, a race that was won by Philly-based Democrat Ed Rendell. Mr. Casey comes from Eastern Pennsylvania, as a Scranton native. He is an alum of Holy Cross and Catholic U, and he spent time working in the community through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. He is pro-life and often anti-gun control. He opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Both in the polls and in my general sense from when I lived in PA, Casey seems to have a lot of support - some sentimental based on his father - and it was evidenced by his 2004 race for State Treasurer, in which he won more votes than any other candidate for a statewide office in Pennsylvania history.


The current polls:

• Today's Philadelphia Inquirer cited a Today's Strategic Vision poll that puts Casey in the lead, 49 - 40%.
• The May 12, 2006 Quinnipiac poll found that 47% of people who say they would vote for Casey are using it as a vote against Santorum.

What's at stake?

Santorum is the 3rd most powerful Republican leader in the Senate. He is very proactive about promoting his conservative views and is seen as being close to the Bush administration. Some reports are pointing to his low poll numbers as being a negative reflection on the President.

This race, more so than most, is being fought on a national stage. Democrats are eyeing this in particular as a way to score both an electoral and a symbolic defeat over far-right conservativism.

Casey is a pretty moderate Democrat, and I don't like the fact that he's anti-choice. But like many others, I believe this is a do-or-die race, so I'm willing to support a more centrist candidate than I'd usually like just to unseat Santorum.
I'm far from being the only one who thinks Santorum needs to get the boot. This happened to pass through my inbox today... check it out, playing the game gives a strange visceral satisfaction.

Want to get involved?

(You know me... I'm only pitching one side here!)
Bob Casey for US Senate

Casey for Senate 2006 Yahoo Group

Philadelphians Against Santorum (PA PAC for Progress)

Dump Santorum

That's What I Call A Heckuva Job

• A bottle of champagne at Hooters in San Antonio: $200
• A stash of "Girls Gone Wild" on video: $300
• "Adult erotica products": $400*
• A night out in a strip club: $600
• Paying your divorce lawyer in Houston: $1,000
• Damages received for a fraudulent claim on personal property, which turned out to be a cemetery: $2,360
• Damages paid to a GAO informant who submitted a false claim on a vacant lot, which inspectors could not even find: $6,000
• Damages received by a prisoner who claimed property damage on a post office box: $20,000
• Losing track of 750 FEMA-issued debit cards: $1.5 million
• Soaking the Federal Government - and American taxpayers - with $1 billion in fraudulent claims: PRICELESS

*I love the GAO audit's comment on these expenditures: "which auditors concluded were "not necessary to satisfy legitimate disaster needs."

I've got no problem with assistance for real damages, and for helping people who are REALLY in need. Heck, I'm all in favor of it! And I know bad apples in any group will always try to beat the system and cheat others by taking advantage for themselves. But clearly, these are all examples of a poorly-run system with insufficient checks and balances - or even the ability to follow some of its own policies with due diligence - to make sure that aid was being distributed properly. Sure, you can argue that FEMA and its contractors weren't prepared for an emergency of this scope. But should that be an excuse? Or just an explanation?

The Mental Challenge of Acceptance

I have been lucky in my life that I have not experienced death close-up very often. The people I've known who have died were acquaintances, or peers, or distant/estranged family members, and while I have always been saddened by these tragedies I have also felt fairly removed from them, emotionally if not geographically. So the very concept of death is still strange and somewhat new to me.

Last week, I met someone for the first time. It was someone who I had been hearing about for years, and when we finally met it was in the context of starting a long working relationship. This meeting was supposed to be the first of many. But, by the weekend, this person was suddenly gone, having passed away in very unusual and remarkably tragic circumstances.

My heart goes out to the family and friends, of course, who could not possibly have seen this coming. And I am saddened, but mostly shocked. My mind is having a really hard time grasping this situation.... as I just saw this person a mere 4 days before.

I claim no right to sympathy, so please direct those thoughts toward the family. I am just still trying to wrap my head around this, and the very concept of death. How can that be? How can someone who you just met suddenly be no more?

My Latest Guilty Pleasure

I have a confession to make. I'm not someone who really follows contemporary music, and for the last several years I've been fairly unaffected by trends on pop radio. I think the last time I listened to radio regularly was when I lived in Pittsburgh, back in the height of Britney, Christina, and Ricky's domination of the airwaves. I've missed most of the hot new things, and I don't even watch American Idol. So, in a nutshell, it's rare for me to even HEAR a poppy hit song these days, let alone fall in love with one.

But, I admit it, I have. I can't explain it.... but I LOVE the sappy, confessional, self-flagellating hit "What's Left of Me" by none other than Nick Lachey. Yep, the less famous Newlywed.

I downloaded it as a curiosity just a few weeks ago, cuz I'd heard that it was so personally revealing. I was a fan of Newlyweds back in the day, and I always thought Nick was an incredibly patient guy for putting up with Jessica in all of her idiotic and diva moments. Sure, he's no saint, cuz it doesn't take much to be patient for a hot, rich, blonde, famous wife. But if I had to take sides in the split, I'd be on Nick's. Luckily they haven't called me recently to hear my take on their divorce.... ;-) But I've always liked Nick, who just seems to be a kinda goofy mimbo. He loves his Cincy teams, he cheered on his brother's dancing movies, he sodded a whole yard, he battled bees, he did a cheesy stint as Phoebe's love interest on Charmed, what's not to like?

But really, this is just a darn good pop song! He's got a much better voice than I ever expected, and it strikes all the right power chords. And the lyrics are emotional and revealing...

Running from myself until / You gave me a reason for standing still

Take what's left of this man / Make me whole, once again

I'm half the man I thought I would be / But you can have / What's left of me

That's pure bubblegum gold, people!

... sure, there are a lot of cliches here, but that's what a pop ballad should be. And that's why it's currently my #3 most played song on the iPod. LOVE IT.

A Tasty Neighborhood Temptation

There's a new dangerous, but delicious, establishment in the Penn Quarter neighborhood where I work. I have just recently been introduced to Gifford's Ice Cream & Candy Company, when they opened a new location on E Street NW between 10th and 11th. Situated just steps away from the E Street Cinema, Ford's Theatre, the big downtown Barnes & Noble, and *my office*, it's in a perfect spot to offer both tourists and locals a tasty summer treat as the weather starts heating up.

Gifford's has been serving ice cream in the DC area for nearly 70 years, and over the years its treats have been favorites of President Eisenhower, Jackie Kennedy and local sweetheart Goldie Hawn. I bet you'd never see those 3 names mentioned in the same sentence.... see how ice cream brings people together? :-)

So far, I have sampled two of their flavors in milkshake form. I thought the Dulce de Leche milkshake was pure nirvana... until I tried the Cinammon shake and was astounded to find it was even better!!! I also tried a taste of my friend's Pear Cinnamon sorbet, and it was the lightest, most refreshing thing I've sampled in ages.

While my newfound love of Gifford's doesn't help at all with the effort described in my other blog, I am glad to have a local ice cream shop - that takes debit cards! - so close by when I really need a summertime treat.

Not Again

Note to self: NEVER EVER EVER let the Allegra run out. Yes, I once again was careless with the refills, and so how did I spend the whole weekend? In bed with a sinus infection. This is twice this spring already. So 2006 is going to be remembered my year of the sinus infection. Lovely. And painful. Must. Refill. Drugs. On. Monday. Well, at least it's a comfy brand new bed.

Listen to the Former Future President

I saw Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth yesterday. This is something everyone should see.

Vice President Gore - or, as he jokingly referred to himself, "the man who used to be the Next President of the United States" - offers a clear, understandable, personal, relatable lesson on all of the history, science, and predictions of global warming. Much of the movie shows Gore's power-point lecture where he explains what global warming is, what the symptoms are, what "canaries in the coal mine" are giving us hints of worse damage to come, and what the possibilities for the future are if we continue to damage the environment at the current rate. Let it be said... if we had all seen this Al Gore in 2000, the funny, personable, passionate, inspiring man rather than the focus-grouped, pollster-ed Gore-Bot, he *would* be our President.

I won't even attempt to explain the science of it here, just go see the movie. There are fascinating and astounding statistics about how our civilization - the golabal civilization - both abuses and depends on the Earth. Did you know that 40% of the world's population gets its drinking water from runoff from Himalayan glaciers? And that these glaciers are receding at an alarming rate? Did you know that the melting of the ice caps and/or Greenland - which is already happening now - could change the ocean currents and have a dramatic effect on all of the world's climate? Did you know that the higher intensity storms and the migration of such formerly tropical diseases as West Nile Virus are related to the warming of the Earth? Did you know that a major ice shelf in Antarctica has started to melt and break apart? Did you know that 2005 was the warmest year on record, ever?

Suffice it to say the possible scenarios for the next 50 years are not something we want to happen. They're not something we should let happen.

The movie and its companion site provides a number of recommendations for what people can do to help turn the tide.

• To start out with, check to see if your city is one of the 243 that has signed the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. The US as a nation may be refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, but the state of California and many major and mid-sized cities and towns across the country have pledged themselves to reduce emissions and work for a greener future. Washington, DC has signed the Agreement.
• Calculate your own carbon footprint. Mine is 10,500 pounds/year, less than the American average of 15,000 pounds/year, but that's mainly because I don't own a car. Learn what you can do personally to increase your energy efficiency and reduce your own carbon pollution.
• Walk. Take Metro. Carpool. Buy a hybrid car, or encourage others to.

Mr. Gore is going to be speaking at noon at Olsson's Penn Quarter on Wednesday. I'm going to try my darnedest to be there and get a little inspiration in person.

The Streak Ends!

The losing streak, that is. Thursday night, I scored a pair of free tix for really great seats at the Nats game. This is now my 7th game at RFK stadium, and after the first victory I've seen the Nats lose 5 times in a row. Sometimes badly. Like getting killed by Roger Clemens' Astros last summer, or those ELEVEN innings with the Pirates earlier this year. I was beginning to think it was me... But Thursday night they beat those Phillies! Hooray!

I'm so glad. At least now I can say it's not me making them lose whenever I go to the game. There were two things about this time that matched my first winning game -- I got free tickets from the same contact, and I went with the same guy both times. So if they lose the next time I go (which is likely, cuz I'm going to the Yankees game next week), I'll blame it on the fact that I bought the tickets and came with other friends. It pays to be a little superstitious in baseball!

It was a good game. We had to leave at the top of the 8th, but I got to see Alfonso Soriano hit his 23rd home run for the year, which made this his 11th straight series with a HR. There were several good plays, and overall the Nats looked pretty good out there. They beat the Phillies again last night (wow am I glad I wasn't there for a game that started late and then went 12 innings!) so let's hope they take this series. They're on a pretty decent streak. According to WTOP, since May 18 they have won 8 of 9 games and are now "major-league best" at 16-6. You go, boys!

The seats were great, as I said, and this was the clearest perspective I've ever had on home plate. Our seats were right in the front, literally just steps away from the entrance to RFK, which made it so easy to get in and out. While I enjoyed such a great view of the field, I didn't like the fact that our view was obstructed by the upper deck. I like being able to look up into the sky and watch the fly balls. So while I truly enjoyed these free tix, I am looking forward to our usual 5th tier seats next week.

I did use the game as the opportunity to break out the Nats hat that MH got me for my birthday. She knew from my constant ranting about it :-) that I really wanted a hat, but that I refuse to wear anything on my body with a big W on it until 2009 at the very earliest. Last year, I kept trying to find one of the DC hats at the stadium but I never was able to get one. So she got me a great navy DC cap as a surprise gift, and I enjoyed sporting it for the evening. I'm not a normal cap-wearer, and it was funny getting used to how it changes your peripheral vision. I admit, wearing it on a night when I was hanging out with a guy who's a foot taller than me wasn't the best idea. I kept having to crane my neck up to look at him under the bill of the hat! But.... that cap must be good for something, cuz I actually got carded for my beer! Hooray!

And the best part of the evening.... when in the bathroom, I happened to find 6 bucks! There was no one around who could've dropped it, so no one for me to return it to, so it's like RFK paid me back for my beer! :-)

To Sleep, Perchance....

I just got a new bed! Hooray!

Partly inspired by Kathryn's recent post on her sleep nirvana, and the fact that I've been having backaches of increasing frequency lately, and the fact that my 8-year-old mattress started squeaking quite annoyingly about 6 months ago with every move I made...... I went out with Mr. and Mrs. L on Memorial Day and shelled out 750 bucks for a new mattress and box spring set. And they came today!

Check it out in all its tall, firm, squishy-looking glory! I can't wait to sleep on it!

Heck, since I took the whole day off for this delivery, and they ended up coming to deliver it at 9:05 and were gone by 9:15, maybe I'll just dedicate this afternoon to a long nap.

Just for fun, here's a pic of Cleo "helping" with the laundry on top of the old bed a few weeks ago.

The Non-Invite Invite

My definition of the non-invite invite is that it's a strange phenomenon that seems to occur between people who may or may not have an interest in each other, and may or may not want to learn more about each other, possibly by spending some time together, but not ever in any formal way, thus not ever constituting such a radical and definitive step as a "DATE" but rather just seeming to be a very timid, tiny little "toe in the water" step as a way to very slowly, cautiously, move a potential interest forward. By its definitive lack of definitiveness, the non-invite invite can often be mistaken for interest when none is there, or can be overlooked as a potential sign of interest if the non-invite invitee is unaware of such interest. In most cases, while offered in good faith, the non-invite invite is annoying.

Phew! By that definition, you should be able to tell that I think the non-invite invite is exasperating!

Ponder this scenario:
There is a guy I could potentially have a crush on. Yes, I know it says something about me that I haven't even decided yet if I want to commit to having a crush on him. But whatevs, it's summer, it's fun to have crushes. *I am not going to identify this guy on here in any way, shape or form, cuz some of my loyal readers actually know him! Haha!*

A few months back, before I'd even thought about the possibility of having a crush, he and I were engaged in some "we just met but are trying to find something to talk about" small talk. And he said something to the effect of (identifying characteristics removed) "hey, I know this great lunch place near my office. You really should come over sometime." But there was no "with me" at the end of the sentence. Hmmm. So, was that an invitation? Or just some useful information he was handing out to a fellow city-dweller? Probably the latter, but I'm a girl, so I look for hidden meaning.

Fast forward to today. He and I have been having separate emails about something we're both involved in, but I included somewhat of a personal note (cuz, like I said, there's the possibility of a crush here) to see if he would respond with something more personal rather than task-related. He did. He said something like "Oh, there's this really cool THING at PLACE on DATE and TIME. You really should go, it will be a lot of fun." Again, no "with me." But it was so specific! Is he just a helpful font of information? Or am I stuck in the non-invite invite zone???

Friends have told me to grow a pair (ahem) and reply back with something more assertive, asking if he will be there and if we should meet up, etc. More clearly defining the parameters of this event, you know. But I think I will instead reply by saying it sounds cool, and I may try to rally some friends and check it out. Casual, non-committal, and not potentially embarrassing if it turns out he's just trying to be a friendly guy rather than trying to awkwardly ask me to hang out.

Knowing my track record, I am trying my best not to overinterpret here. But that darn non-invite invite is so frustrating!

Ah well, he's cute, smart, ambitious, creative, and well-dressed. Chances are he's probably gay. ;-)

A Way to Help Save Someone's Life

We bloggers write about all kinds of topics, and I know this blog in particular jumps from one random item to another. Every once in a while, an opportunity comes along where we can use our reach as blog writers and blog readers to easily help someone who is in need. I'm offering one of these opportunities up to my readers, and I hope you don't mind taking a second to read this. This is real - it's not some email hoax or spam I'm posting on the blog.

I work with a woman who has Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic and fatal disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. Over the last six months, her health has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. She'll soon be listed for a bilateral lung transplant -- one that she needs to receive within the next six months so she can live.

There is a fundraising effort happening now to cover this woman's exorbitant medical expenses not covered by insurance -- approximately $200,000 in transplant-related expenses including the anti-rejection medications required to get the surgery.

The woman's friends and family are working with a group called COTA (The Children's Organ Transplant Association), a national non-profit organization founded to help children and adults needing transplants, to enable people to make tax-deductible donations via the Web. Also with COTA, 100% of funds raised go directly to the transplant-related expenses.

I have given what I can, and I'm hoping that another way I can help is by getting the word out to other people. This is a way that you and others could really help a young, smart, sassy, independent, ambitious woman turn her life around and start the road to recovery. If you have $5, or $10, or $20 to spare, I hope you will please consider making a donation.

Tax-deductible donations can be made:
Online: by clicking here.
In person: at any Wachovia Bank branch location. See this site for details on how.
Via check or money order: made in honor of and payable to “COTA for Pam M.” and mailed to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, 2501 COTA Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403.

Thank you!!!!

I Wish I'd Taken A Picture

I saw the best sign in Bloomington last week. This was on the marquee/road sign of a kind of shabby-looking local motel, in those plastic letters that you have to put up by hand:

IN WAR THERE ARE NO UNWOUNDED SOLDIERS

Good, huh?

A Little Birdie Told Me

I got my first "insider" tidbit on the 2008 election tonight. I know a guy who's a very wealthy, very well-connected, very active Democrat. He was one of Kerry's top fundraisers here in DC. He was on the Kerry bandwagon long before the primaries.... and how did he land on Kerry as his choice? He and his wife had all of the frontrunners over to their house one at a time, with their wives, for a series of dinner parties, to get to know them, be wooed, and make their choice on who they would support. Yeah, he travels in those circles.

He has made his pick for the Democratic candidate, which is a decision that actually means something. Who's his pick?

Mark Warner. Former Governor of VA and self-made telecom millionaire. For my book, he's now the one to watch.

I don't know enough about him. It's time to start my research. Thoughts from all my VA readers???

Back from Bloomington!

It was a short vacay, and now I'm back home on 16th Street. How was my trip? Well, I'll steal a page from The Barmaid to give you the highlights and lowlights:

HL: Vacation, all I ever wanted!
LL: Having a total damper put on the whole thing by having a key staff member - and one of my favorite coworkers - blindside me with her resignation the morning before I left. Thus 3 days of phone calls and emails while on vacay. I was so glad when 5 pm Friday came!

HL: The wait in line to check in at the Indy airport - 5 minutes - was longer than the one to check in at National - no waiting!
LL: The 80 - 90 minute drive from Indy to the parents' homestead. Each way.

HL: Seeing Mom and Dad happy in their new house, which they like so much more than the old place with its homeowner's association from hell.
LL: Noticing that they are already getting negative and gossipy about their neighbors in the new development - which never happened when we lived out in the country and there was no one around.

HL: Seeing 2 big summer blockbusters, The Break-Up and X-Men: The Last Stand, at Midwestern matinee prices -- and I didn't have to pay for either!
LL: Unnecessary complications when Little Bro misjudged the running time of the movie and Mom had to come get me at his apartment so he wouldn't be late for work!

HL: Getting a fantastic massage from mom's therapist, also named Tammy, who did such a great job that my shoulders were still sore the next day.
LL: Sleeping on the very uncomfortable guest bed that makes my back snap, crackle and pop.

HL: Dad made great steaks and shrimp kabobs on the grill, plus salt potatoes - an Upstate NY favorite.
LL: I have to step on the scale tomorrow. Maybe.

HL: Meeting my Little Bro's best friend / former roomie after hearing about him for 8 years, and finding out he's totally cute.
LL: Finding myself physically incapable of staying up past 11, thus unable to go hang out with Little Bro and his friends after he got out of his night job. Big Sis turns into a pumpkin, so that meant no fun with Midwestern twenty-something guys. :-(

HL: A relaxing, escapist few days spent far away from my usual trials and tribulations.
LL: The sadness of always having to say goodbye to my family for months at a time.

Babe, aka The Slugger

Remember my story of Babe, the mini Schnauzer? My parents started telling people that he was named after George Herman Ruth, Jr. I said they should just nickname him The Slugger.

Look at this guy! How cute is he?!?




Babe's mother comes back tomorrow. My guess is that Mom and Dad are going to have a more painful separation than they think.

Book Talk

I just finished reading Jon Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith. This bestseller from a few years back tells the story of the gruesome murder of a woman and her young daughter killed by her brothers-in-law who claimed they were on a mission from God. Krakauer sets the story of this murder and its subsequent trials and appeals against the backdrop of a history of the brothers' religion. They were fundamentalist Mormons, extremists who belonged to one of the many splinter groups that have broken off of the mainline Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Krakauer details the creation and evolution (haha) of the Mormon Church from its beginnings with Joseph Smith on a hillside in Palmyra, New York through the present day, as the mainline LDS Church has become one of the most prominent and fastest-growing religions in America. He also explores the development of radical fundamentalist groups that have broken off from the main church, mostly in response to its shift towards more mainstream social practices and adaptation to the larger US culture. These splinter groups mostly want to return to the direct teachings of Smith and Brigham Young, characterized largely in this book as being driven by adherence to the founders' revelatory directives on polygamy, xenophobia (a nicer way to say institutionalized racism), "blood atonement," and a notion of being outside the laws of the US Government. Krakauer provides countless, disturbing examples of these social and cultural views in modern Fundamentalist LDS sects, and it is one of these groups that nurtured the two brothers who committed the heinous crimes that form the framework of the book.

I'm not going to comment on the theology of the LDS Church, as I don't want my views to be misconstrued as religious intolerance. I do think the Mormon Church suffers in comparison to other world religions just by its sheer newness. Any pointed criticism of the LDS beliefs or the lives and actions of its founders really seems unfair, when similar criticisms could be directed at any of the major world religions, but they all benefit from being thousands of years old (with much more significantly edited records) and hugely influential in our historical and cultural worldview. While I think many people have taken this book to be a huge attack on the overall faith, I don't think it is. At least, I didn't read it that way.

But what Under the Banner of Heaven really raises is another view of how dangerous modern extreme fundamentalism can be. We have all spent the last few years being bombarded with images and propaganda about "radical Islamic fundamentalists" and all of the evil things they reportedly want to do. This book gives striking examples - not just in the murder case, but in many individual stories of fundamentalist Mormons' oppression of women through polygamy, rape, incest and pedophilia - of how any zealous belief (religious or otherwise) combined with, let's just say, a few unstable individuals can really lead to horrible acts. In an age when we all witnessed Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping to become a zealot's brainwashed "plural wife" and when the FBI is chasing down fundamentalist leader Warren Jeffs, it's good for all of us to be reminded that radical, violent extremists don't just exist "over there." These things are happening in our very own country.

A Decent Friday Afternoon Escape

After having lunch at a golf course restaurant with my Mom and 9 of her Ladies Lunch Club friends (where I was the youngest, and my Mom was the second youngest BY FAR), we made our way back into town for a Friday afternoon movie. At my suggestion, we caught a showing of the much-anticipated Vince and Jen show, The Break-Up. Us and about half of the members of Tri-Delt from IU. So many blondes in sweatshirts!

I liked it. It's different than I expected, but I still liked it. Don't go in expecting Wedding Crashers 2, as this is definitely more of a chick flick, relationship-y movie. Which is surprising considering Vince himself produced it and had a whole lot of input into the story. It's much more mature and grounded than his usual crazy comedy. Maybe our little baby's all grown up?

The main story of the movie is what you expect from the trailers - Vince's Gary and Jen's Brooke have been dating and live together, but then decide to break up and have to figure out what to do about the condo they both love and don't want to leave. But it's not any Money Pit-style physical farce. You see, the condo is a METAPHOR for the RELATIONSHIP they're not ready to give up on yet. It's as if they are both saying to the condo: "I don't know how to quit you!" The comedy - and yes, there are some great laughs - is mixed in with drama, and even some tears. I won't spoil the ending.... but I was satisfied with it, and I think the stars do have great chemistry together. Jen is best, I think, when she plays a character with a more serious side rather than her early fluffier comedies. They're both so damn likable you just want to root for them.

This is very much Vince's show. It's great to see the Frat Pack still intact - Jon Favreau is good as the best friend, and the last scene they have together is hilarious. Jason Bateman makes a small appearance, looking as goofy as he ever does in these comedies (although I hope he does a movie soon where he looks as good as Michael Bluth). And Justin Long - aka Warren Cheswick from "Ed" - is hilarious and almost unrecognizable as Jen's coworker. Vince even cast some of his family members in it -- his father plays Jen's dad in the movie, and there are a few other Vaughns listed in the credits who appear in crowd scenes. Ann Margret plays Jen's mom, and apparently Vince said his father was thrilled to be playing her hubby. He called it "his early Father's Day present."

While this is not going to go down as one of Vince's must-own laugh a minute classics, and doesn't feature as much Vince Vaughnese as usual, The Break-Up was a fun, enjoyable way to spend an afternoon with Mom.

Some People Should Not Have Dogs

I come from a dog family. Both my parents grew up with dogs, and in my time we have had 6 Scotties - Patty, Bonnie, Mickey, Maggie, Rory and Abigail - who were all very valuable, very loved, and still very canine members of the family. We love dogs for being dogs.

So it was no big deal when my Mom told me a while ago that while I was visiting (I'm in Indiana now) they would be dog-sitting for a neighbor. I thought it would be fun to hang out with a dog and give us all a little entertainment.

Well, now that I'm here and have learned the whole story, I'm appalled yet again at the way some people treat their pets, and clearly just use them to fill some void of affection they have in their own lives. Aaaargh!

My parents' neighbor is approximately 60 years old and has very low mobility, including challenges with her hearing and her sight. She has had a schnauzer for years, named Starbucks, who my parents got to know when they moved in at Christmas. About 2 months ago, before my parents left on their own long trip, neighbor lady asked if they could watch Starbucks while she goes away for 2 weeks in late May/early June. Mom and Dad said yes, even though they didn't know this lady well, cuz it was a nice dog and they understand wanting to make sure a pet is well taken care of.

When they got back from their trip, just last week, they learned that poor Starbucks had passed away of old age. BUT.... the lady went ahead and got a new puppy! Right before she was about to go on a trip for 2 weeks! How can you do that to a puppy? How can you ask that of your neighbors?

This puppy is 9 months old and he was bred to be a Schnauzer show dog, but the poor guy has an undescended testicle (wouldn't you want that written on a blog?) and can't compete. But up until this point he has only lived in a kennel and been trained rigorously for show. So that means he is not a very doggy dog - he doesn't really know how to run, jump, play, bark, or even pick and be held like most normal dogs do. He seems to have no sense of his own body, and he clearly doesn't know who he is or where he lives yet. His brand new mother got him and just left him in a brand new house, stuck in a crate all day all by himself.

And, the indignity.... this well-bred animal who shows signs of being a good, frolicking boy dog, is named.... Babe. Why? Because all the woman wants to do is cuddle with him like a baby. Seriously, she wraps him in a blanket and cuddles with him in a rocking chair every night. When she's home, that is.

Even stranger.... the instructions she left for my parents all about his feeding, walking, etc. included the note that she always makes her dog pray before he eats. So my parents are supposed to set his food out, but then hold him down with a hand on his head, say grace and then say "Amen." The "Amen" is supposed to signal to him that it's time to eat. Rather than the FULL BOWL OF FOOD in front of him.

This poor puppy. (I'll post a picture of him when I'm back.) I was playing with him yesterday and he seems very eager but just doesn't know how to respond. You know, this big braided knot I'm waving in front of you? You're supposed to grab it and tug! Good boy! Or.... not.

It's very clear that in the last week when my parents have been feeding, walking, and playing with him, little Babe has become very attached to them. This imprinting is going to be very hard when his mother comes home. At this point, my parents have spent more time and attention on him than she has. I hope the little guy doesn't become even more confused. My mom is going away again next week so it'll be a clean break. But I know he will try to get to my parents through the yard, while he's fenced in next door. Oh, poor puppy. Bad neighbor lady!