101st!

This is my one hundred and first post. We win!

The pics will share what I have been up to...
Posted are two pics from Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's estate. Jefferson designed the University of Virginia campus, also pictured. Lining the main quad where students play frisbee and hang out on the lawn are single bedroom dorms. These dorms go to the student leaders by application. The rooms have no heat, explaining the wood outside the doors. Also, the bathroom is down the quad, so students walk around outside in their bathrobes on the way to the shower. Fascinating ideas.










Lastly, I share more pics of DC in spring bloom. What better way to share this with my neighborhood than the attend a birthday party for Shakespeare at the Shakespeare (Folger) Library?

Swedish Fish!

This is something to see.

I always wanted a horse.

Some day I will own a horse. Thus far in my years, I have received bails of hay, 200 pounds of horse feed, horse toys that walk on their own, horse calendars, horse stuffed animals, Swedish horses (plus Swedish horse signs) and a horse bridle, but never have I received a bronze horse. Some day I will own a horse.

Winter Weather One Week Ago - Kodak Moments

Lincoln Mania

All the rage is about Lincoln this year (and a little about Darwin), the 200th anniversary of his birth. I've hopped on that bandwagon.



Last week I saw a play called "The Heavens are Hung in Black" at Ford's theater, where Lincoln was assassinated. The play covered five months of Lincoln's life, from the death of Lincoln’s son Willie to the Emancipation Proclamation. Over the next week additional Lincoln adventures really solidified what I learned in the play. Lincoln's humor, love for his children, the relationship with his wife, how he avoided the Marshal's personal security, how he placed papers in his hat, and on and on.





The weekend after seeing the play, I visited Lincoln's cottage. The webpage describes the cottage as a place "Designated a National Monument by President Clinton in 2000, President Lincoln’s Cottage served as Lincoln’s family residence for a quarter of his presidency and is the most significant historic site directly associated with Lincoln’s presidency aside from the White House. President Lincoln’s Cottage is located on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in northwest Washington, D.C." The grounds also hold the nation's first national cemetary, home to over 5,000 Civil War Union soldiers' final resting place. Today, this acreage is in Petworth, a developing neighborhood. The location is still beautiful, overlooking the city and allowing for cool breezes in the summer.


Today this Lincoln article discussed a photo that may be the last known Lincoln photo before his assassination.

Tonight I saw The Watchmen. It's altogether unrelated to Lincoln. But it is the greatest graphic novel of all time. I recommend the book over the graphic movie. First, thought you may want to know my reading selection has branched out. Second, a woman sitting a few rows in front of me brought her own spray butter and sprayed what seemed like the whole bottle on her tub-o-popcorn. That's a new experience. Lastly, the movie referenced Eleanor Clift, who strangely enought moderated the women in politics panel I attended last week. Small world.


My reading selection has also incorporated the Lincoln obsession. Along with most of America, I'm reading Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. So far, so good.

Finally, I celebrate Lincoln in my home. On my bedroom wall I have a Lincoln framed picture with a Lincoln quote: "I trust that as He shall further open the way, I will be ready to walk therein, relying on His help and trusting in His goodness and wisdom."

Happy International Women's Day (Friday)

Tonight I attended a Women in Politics panel at the National Archives.



Eleanor Clift moderated the panel, comprised of:


* Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Congresswoman from Tennessee;
* Mazie Hirono, U.S. Congresswoman from Hawaii;
* Grace Napolitano, U.S. Congresswoman from California;
* Madeleine Kunin, former Governor of Vermont and former Ambassador to Switzerland; and
* Jennette Bradley, former Lieutenant Governor of Ohio.



I also saw an old friend who is visiting DC for a few days and volunteering in the 100 days campaign,

Today my friend prayed and demonstrated at the White House. He wasn't one of the people dressed in orange suits, but he was with them. The 100 Days Campaign aims to end US torture of detainees, in Gitmo and where the US holds detainees in other countries. Making no particular comment about my persuasions on the issue, I support that my friend's conviction and perseverance. Fascinating is the fact that he stood outside praying and demonstrating while I researched at my desktop. What a different day we led.

In general, the two politically minded experiences in one night reminded me of how much I enjoy advocacy activities. Time to get back into volunteer mode.

O Canada

Last weekend while shopping I told the clerk that "I don't need a bag." With the use of the words "don't" and "bag" in one sentence, I drove her to ask if I was from Canada.

I laughed really really hard.

Then I said nooooooooooooo in a Wisconsin accent :)

The Business of Layers

Tonight I attended a Kalb Report event - a George Washington Forum on journalism. The topic was "The Business of Business Reporting." Alexis Glick of Fox Business Network, Diana Henriques of The New York Times, Steve Pearlstein of the Washington Post, and Ali Velshi of CNN joined Marvin Kalb to talk about the role journalists in shaping how the American public thinks about business and the economy, particularly at this time. One of thoughts I most enjoyed was shared by Steve Pearlstein who writes for the Washington Post and said that Americans have been spending 6% over our means... meaning we spend $1.06 for every $1.00 we earn. He said we need to spend $0.96 for every dollar we earn... a downsize of our personal economies. An interesting way to think about it.

One of the presenters was Alexis Glick from Fox News. I identified with her as a young professional though she has attained a bit more thus far by way of becoming famous and outspoken. Look at this lady with a husband and three children. I'm placing myself on the Alexis Glick ten year plan for happiness and success.

Then after the intense session on a gloomy economy, a woman approached my friend and I. Perhaps she wanted to ask about my career as an attorney, I thought. Maybe we would engage in conversation about our alma maters, ran through my head. But what she asked perplexed me more than the event. She asked, Where did you two get your hair cut? The layering is fantastic. Unbelievable commentary.

BASE

Tonight I saw six short films at the Banff Mountain Film Festival about extreme mountain sports. The most tempting to me, even topping extreme mountain hiking/skiing, and extreme mountain climbing, was BASE jumping. To be a BASE jumper, apparently you need to jump from each of the four:

* Building
* Antenna
* Span
* Earth


These jumps have led to many fatalities due to the jumpers proximity to their object and numerous other reasons. Also common are arrests and convictions because often the object being jumped from is not an approved one.

Due to the high risk involved in BASE jumping, I am going to opt for jumping up and clicking my heels together but not actually jumping off anything. Baby steps. I cannot even imagine jumping from the Eiffel Tower.

True Confessions

1. I ran Saturday morning in 25 degree weather that clearly erased my ability to function. I fell down. Just fell. Right there near my friend's apartment. I fell. There was no ice. There were no jagged brick sidewalks. I just flew onto my hands and sprawled on the sidewalk with my headphones laying about. True confessions.

2. I postponed buying a cool Lykke Li ticket (Swedish indie rocker) because fees ran the price up to be about $7 more. I let the cheap skate side of my brain get the best of me and the tickets sold out. As a result I didn't get to eat a hamburger for dinner before the concert. I have been hungry for a hamburger since giving blood several weeks ago when the nurse told me to eat more hamburgers. That Lykke concert was clutch because I ate a hamburger before I saw her last fall. But no. I was too cheap to purchase a ticket ahead of time. True confessions.

3. I bought a multitude of John Vanderslice tickets 2 minutes after they went on sale Friday. He sings a song with my name in the title. I bought more tickets than I have friends. True Confessions.

Youth Inaugural Ball

 

Obama on the Jumbo-Tron

Inauguration Day!

Pre-Inauguration Pictures

On the chilly Wednesday evening before Inauguration, I circled in front of the Capitol and around on Third Street to capture the city's preparations. The roads were repaved down Independence Avenue with beautiful red brick painted at the cross walks. Brown chairs littered the Capitol lawn. The Capitol boasted a facelift - the newly built platform where the swearing in would take place - made of wood but acting like white marble. Fences and more fences told of the swarms to come. Restaurants like Chef Spike's Good Stuff Eatery displayed signs with Obama themed foods. And most eye-catching were the hundreds of port-au-potties that lined the mall like a fence. These would later be popular seats for Inauguration revelers. But for now it all stood cold and empty.

What Shape is This?

Transitions for Change!

Washington D.C. is under construction for the Inauguration. Today the practice occurred. Streets closed and military bands marched. I will take some pictures of the staging area pre-crowds so you can experience the transition, too.

Universe Speaks

Do you ever feel like the universe is driving your life trajectory and you're just along for the ride? I encourage the universe with what I think I want but somehow it brings me to a place I didn't know I wanted but do. Well, I'm not sure where the universe is going to bring me in 2009 but I sure am excited to find out.

Happy to be alive

I barely escaped being eaten by this beast last weekend. He apparently snacks on holiday shoppers at the National Harbor.

Growing Stuff

Seems I'm growing quite a few things these days...
There are the plants in my mini-arboretum near my bedroom windowsill. Then there is the yogurt I'm growing in my kitchen tonight thanks to the gift exchange at work today. Yes, I'm growing clean air and bacteria. I'm also growing tired. Good night!

Julmust

Preparing for Christmas has given me new purpose in life.

The first sign of Christmas was when I saw IKEA's holiday coca-cola (Julmust). Jag tycker om Julmust!! (I like Julmust, in Swedish). This holiday beverage tastes a bit of coca-cola and evergreen. At first it confuses the taste buds but a few sips later you won't believe you've ever lived without it. And now, you can go to your local IKEA to purchase some for yourself. No need for a ticket to Sweden. It's easy!





The second sign of Christmas was when I smelled the Christmas trees when walking by my neighborhood hardware store. This year my roommate and I decided to buy a real Christmas tree. While a brilliant idea, and my first time to experience a real tree, I opted against the purchase today. First, trees are expensive. Second, I own no accessories for the tree. There is the stand, lights, the star, ornaments... and where does one stop? As I may or may not be in my house next year at Christmas, the thought of moving a Tupperware full of holiday goodies turned my energies to other crafty tree ideas. I landed upon making a wreath of coat hangers (thank you dry cleaners!) and pine cones from the sidewalk outside my house. Total cost = $0. Now THAT'S the holiday spirit! (Hey, we're in a repression people. Follow my lead and we'll make it.) After finishing the wreath I put together a few other decorative items with oranges and pine cones. Our house smells great.







The third sign of Christmas was the explosion of fantastic events. (1) My roommate and I took a candlelight tour of Mt. Vernon (George Washington's home, for those who need a brush up on East Coast history). You'll see a pic here of the CAMEL that was on the grounds. That is because George Washington DID have a camel during Christmas at least one time. We sat around a fire sipping cider with men dressed in colonial period clothing. Not a bad look. (2) The Swedish embassy held a holiday festival with food and crafts, music and a St. Lucia day train. It just so happened I had already baked pepparkakor and saffron buns. I'm a die-hard Swedish Christmas lover. It's true. (3) I watched the Capitol Christmas tree lit last Tuesday and attended the (free) reception with delicious food from Montana. (4) Next weekend I will run the Jingle Bell All the Way 10K that benefits my friend's school.


The fourth sign of Christmas was my over zealous commitment to crafting. I am not at liberty to disclose the items crafted until after Christmas. However, I can tell you I spend a babysitting check at a craft store. That made me a little too happy. Hopefully you will see at least a Christmas card come your way.

Lastly, I AM listening to Christmas music (I want a hippopotamus for Christmas...) I AM drinking eggnog. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! I love how it brings a sense of happiness and hope.