Sunday drive deluge

I rented a car today to drive up to Lancaster to visit Lisa and her family (which was lovely and I will try to write more about that later) and got to drive through some really "fun" rainstorms. It was raining pretty hard this morning, but the traffic was light and it was daylight so it didn't really hold me up. But, tonight, it was crazy. It was dark, traffic was heavier and the it was raining cats, dogs, ostriches, small horses...really crazy stuff. Anyways, so it took me almost 4 hours to get in the vicinity of National Airport where I had rented the car. Then, once I got near, I couldn't even return the car because the GW Parkway was closed due to flooding. Fortunately, the rental company (Thank you, Budget!) gave me an extra day to return the car...so once I paddled through the puddles and lakes of VA and DC, I didn't even have to walk home. And, really, that's very nice. I would have been so incredibly wet that it really wouldn't have been even mildly amusing.
For the record, driving in a torrential downpour for 4 hours is really stressful. But, now I am home...with less stress and drier than originally anticipated. And, I even found a good parking space. God is good.

New Professionalism and Old Friends

I ended up attending a board meeting for our organization tonight and also ended up presenting what amounted to a marketing report. I, typically, come off sounding a little flighty and appearing that way because I make wild hand gestures and use speech fillers such as "like" too much. But, I held my composure. I kept my hands under the table, spoke in a lower tone of voice and used only complete sentences. I know that seems elementary, but for me, that was a big breakthrough. I truly felt that I held my own around that table of very successful people.
Then, tonight, after a lovely dinner with a friend that I don't see nearly often enough, I got a phone call from someone I haven't talked to in over six years. I went to high school with her and so I called her parents last weekend in an attempt to get her contact information for our ten-year reunion. So, she called me up tonight. We ended up talking for an hour and a half. Our lives are pretty much polar opposites of each other, but we still had a blast chatting. She is one of those super-cool people that always dared to do life her way and I am so thrilled to be reconnected with her. If only she lived closer!! I am having so much fun finding long lost high school people. I can only hope the reunion is half this fun!

nothing

I've got nothing. How is it possible that I haven't blogged since Wednesday and I've got nothing to say? Let's see... what have I done since Wed? I got a new phone. Today was father's day. I met three new people. I went to Target (that was exciting). I went to Eastern Market and was heckled for wearing my Steelers shirt. That's about it. It was a good low-key weekend. I haven't left the hill since Friday night.
Now, if that isn't a blog about nothing, I don't know what is!!

My losing streak

I have a secret. I'm bad luck. Every time I go to a professional sporting event, the team I root for loses. Whether or not I'm an invested fan, they still go down. I do my part. I cheer and yell and dance and wave things and yet, they lose. Tonight, it's the Nationals to whom I owe an apology. I tried. I stayed to the very last out when the stands were nearly empty...to no avail. So, I'm sorry. Best of luck tomorrow. Don't worry. I'll stay home.

HP sucks

I bought an HP camera in December. After several months of thinking I was just a really bad photographer, I realized that my camera is defective. I called HP tonight and they basically said, "That's too bad. There's nothing we can do." That's not a satisfactory answer for me. I spent money on their product. Their product does not work. Now I have neither my money nor a working camera. I am not happy at all. I will not be buying another HP camera. And, I will think hard before buying anything at all from HP. Their customer service is sub-par in my opinion. So, there it is. My little not-so-public, public opinion of HP products.

Today's musical experience

Tonight I heard Mahler's 8th Symphony (Symphony of a Thousand) featuring five local choruses and the NSO at the Kennedy Center. It was, well, Mahler... loud. The performance wasn't bad. The orchestra sounded better than I've heard them sound on some other things, though still not fabulous. The sheer number of performing forces and the power of sound required to perform the thing is so unusual that it impresses merely by being performed. Right, wrong or otherwise, that's just the way it is. So, I'll leave it at that. I've heard it live. I suppose I can check it off my list. But, there was a children's choir. And, a pretty good one at that. There is something so touching about seeing the product of an in-depth arts learning experience for children that just gets me at my very core.
Now, as usual, a few non-musical observations:
- Condi was there, back in the president's box. Poor woman. The girl just wanted to hear Mahler 8 for heaven's sake and she had to take 38 of her "best friends" with her. There were about 15 secret service officers waiting outside the president's box for her afterward. I hope she was able to forget about all of those guys and enjoy the concert. What a life. But, props to her...she keeps coming out to concerts and hearing what it is that she loves. That's more than admirable.
- I was seated in the box closest to the stage, which means I had a good view of the musicians' facial expressions. That's always interesting to watch...to see how the oboist and flutist will lean and breathe together or whatnot. However, the moment of the night was when something (I have no idea what) made a cellist crack up laughing. He was laughing so hard his cello was shaking. It was absolutely hysterical! I could see him repeatedly try to regain his composure, but it took him a good 30 seconds to recover. Priceless!

a brief blogging hiatus

Please excuse the brief pause in blogging this week. It is a crazy, crazy week for work and life. I will most likely return to my normal posting patterns next week. Have a fabulous rest of the week everyone. And, for everyone living in DC, isn't this weather amazing??

an open letter

Dear God,
Why did you make fireflies? Do they serve a purpose? Or, is their purpose solely to amuse us homosapiens? (I know, can you believe someone was pompous enough to call your people-creations something so fancy?) Are they to entertain small children and give them an opportunity to learn the ill effects of trapping an organism in something that is not its natural habitat? And, why their butts? Why not their wings? Light-up butts are funny. Thank you for not giving me a light-up butt. And, is it voluntary or involuntary? Can they decide when and how frequently to light up their little behinds? It doesn't seem that they have control over the length of the illumination, though. So, why not? If it's involuntary, it seems a little cruel. It's hard to sneak around, in stealth bug mode when your ass keeps lighting up. But, maybe it's for their own safety. Your prompt reply is appreciated,
Hyla

Stop the presses!

The Pittsburgh Pirates have won their last four games in a row! Watch out! We're makin' a comeback. St. Louis, watch your back.

(I had to get that in there... God only knows it might be the only time this season I get to say that)

personal detox

I feel in deep need of personal detox. I've recently felt like I was keeping my head just barely above water and then suddenly, tonight, I felt like I was pushed under. If it was just one area of my life, it would be ok, but it's practically every area of my life. And, it all comes down to one thing. I feel inadequate in pretty much every facet of my being right now. I know that I've just been too busy, too stressed, too sick... whatever... and I just need a day or so to decompress. But, I'm afraid it runs deeper than that so I'm going to try to take a week to insulate myself a bit and get myself centered a little better. I'm not sure exactly what that's going to look like, but it will probably involve very little socializing and a lot of me-time and God-time. Here's the sad part... I can't do it until at least the week after next. Oh, stupid schedules.

Hopefully, that remedies the issue.

Shakespeare in the park

I went and took in some Shakespeare in the Park yesterday. How fun is that? It was worth the bus ride up there. They performed Pericles, which is an interesting piece. It pretty much breaks down like this:
3 shipwrecks + 2 false deaths + pirates + brothel = something that actually works

Gotta love Shakespeare. I love it especially because he has no qualms about saying "Hold on. I'm almost done. I promise. It's almost over." love it.

It's playing through June 5 at Carter Barren up in NW. Check it out if you can!

My first true Memorial Day celebration

As noted in an earlier post, my mom is in town this weekend. She is a veteran DC visitor so we try to mix in a new adventure with her favorites when she comes. So, today we were walking from the Smithsonian metro stop down to the Tidal Basin to go paddleboating (very fun, by the way--thanks to Lisa for the idea) when thousands of motorcycles were making their way down Independence Avenue. I had heard about this annual tradition of veterans on motorcycles converging on DC (I think they may actually end up at the Pentagon?? Can anyone correct me on that?), but I'm usually pretty numb to veterans things as I tend to stuff all of that down and not think about the unpleasantness that is war. But, as we were minding our business, walking down Independence Ave., with hundreds of flag-clad motorcycles roaring by, I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I tried my hardest to choke back this involuntary swell of emotion, but it kept resurfacing so eventually I just stopped our conversation until I was sure I wasn't going to "lose it". I felt the sort of confusion I most readily associate with adolescence... that I know I'm feeling this emotion and it is physically expressing itself, but I have no idea why. As we turned the corner down 15th street, I realized that I knew full well why tears were brimming. Right before my eyes were hundreds of real-life veterans, men and women who experienced the sights, sounds and atrocities that I usually replace with faceless uniforms in order to feel a little better about those very things. But, as I walked down 15th street, I knew that it was personal. Each person on a bike today had a personal story to tell and as an American citizen, I automatically have a personal link to those faces. Once the lump in my throat subsided, I turned to my mother and said, "That was oddly moving." Yes, oddly moving indeed. Or, perhaps, not odd. Just unexpected.

All in a day's commute

As I was walking to the metro this morning, a bug flew into my eye. How do they do that? Is it an incredible lack of navigation skill or extreme precision that allows them to propel themselves into my eye? I don’t know, but regardless, I had to stop and deal with the inconvenience. I tried to make sure my watery eye was clear of all bug matter, but it didn’t seem to be working so I started on my way again, still fidgeting with my eye. At the corner, I caught up to a guy that passed me when I had stopped to deal with the bug. He looked at me and said, “Are you okay?” I laughed and said, “Yeah, I’m fine. I think a bug flew into my eye.” He stopped me and picked the bug off the corner of my eye with his fingers. A sweet and appreciated gesture, but borderline personal for a complete stranger. Turns out it was his first day in DC so I showed him the way to the Metro in exchange for his bug-picking services. Strange.

a long weekend with Mama

Mom's coming in for the weekend. Don't get me wrong -- I love my mom. We are great friends. We are better friends when she isn't living in the same 350 sq. feet that I am, though. So, we need lots of activities. We will be painting my kitchen back to white (so sad, I know!) and packing up my books, but that will only take so long. I think we will go to Eastern Market for a while on Sunday followed by brunch, but again, that only takes so much time. What else shall we do? Suggestions, anyone?

allergies: old-school style

I think today was the worst allergy day I've had since high school. It was basically an all-day allergy attack. How lovely. Stupid pollens.

On a completely different note, two zipcars just moved in behind my building! yippee!

Update: I think there was a cold tag-teaming with my allergies. That would explain it.

City of Brotherly Love

Well, on a less messed up note, I am heading to Philly for the better part of the weekend. Yay! I miss it so! And, I miss my mini-church friends, and, of course, my dear friend Kristin. Don't get me wrong...I love my life in DC, but I'm looking forward to a weekend in a city I love. Three cheers for tall buildings!!

boys, boys, boys

If what I really want is a serious relationship with someone geographically close to me that loves Jesus, does that mean that I should turn away anything that doesn't fit that description? Am I preventing myself from being at the right place at the right time if I don't "hold out" for what I want in the end? My gut instinct is yes, but damn it, I'm lonely. And, I like the dating scene... as cruel to my heart as it is, I still like the companionship by dating-default. I do want the long-term relationship, but if short-term adoration/relationship is what is attainable right now, then maybe that's okay, too. I don't know. I think I'm messed up in the head.

U-Haul-free

It's official. At some point in June, I will be moving into a new apartment. I will no longer be living alone and instead will be sharing a much roomier, two-bedroom place with a friend from church. I'll actually end up spending less on rent and will have space to entertain more, which I am REALLY looking forward to...dinner parties and martinis for everyone! But, the location is the best part -- the other end of the hall! Yes, it's in my current building and is even on the same floor! Yippee! So, basically, this means I will be making 100 trips back and forth to transfer kitchen stuff. Just let me know if you want to be part of the box chain or want to help me move my mattress 300 feet. This is going to be awesome! I'm so excited.
Oh, yeah, I need to paint my oh-so-bright walls back to white and khaki. sad.

a bad ode to poetry night

went to a poetry reading tonight
my first one, i think
it was open mic
the mic may have been a little too open
some were ok
most were angry
I'm not so good with anger
some were naughty
I'm better with naughty
It should probably be the other way around
but it was fun
I'll go back
yeah for busboys and poets

Let them dance!

Recently, I've had the opportunity to observe several exceptionally adorable black children sponatneously dancing. This is not organized dance class. This is a child hearing music and physicalizing it, externalizing it, if you will. Why don't I see as many white kids sponaneously dancing? I'm not sure entirely, but this is what I think - it's this simple - the black kids are encouraged to dance. When they dance, their parents don't say (in that kind of scary, baby voice), "Are you being silly?" or "You're a silly goose!" Their parents actually join in! Now, I don't think that the parents that associate kids' dances with being a silly goose intend to discourage dancing. I just think that they aren't comfortable dancing themselves so rather than join in, they make a socially-acceptable comment. However, I'm wondering if this isn't a sad social norm. At a certain age, a child starts to think that maybe being a "silly goose" isn't the best thing in the world and that in order to "grow up," they must stop dancing. But, in the African-American community, it's different. It is good, natural, encouraged and they most likely learn by imitation (although I think there is a great deal of innate rhythm born into all children). I am going to do my very best never to call a child a "silly goose" ever again.
Dance on!!