Democracy at its finest

I love this photo from the official White House Flickr photostream:

Blackberrys, cell phones and communications devices are tagged with post-its during a briefing on Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Cabinet Room 3/26/09. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza.

Commenters below the photo point out two things:

1. As high tech as the devices are, they still resort to post-its notes to identify them.
2. How amazingly fun it would be to mix-up the post-its and therefore the phones?

Seriously, I amuse myself entirely too much envisioning what would happen if they were switched. What if Schumer had got Specter's right before he switched parties and saw that he had an "I Love Nancy Pelosi" background and had just purchased the book Why Daddy is a Democrat? (Although now I realize the post-it I thought said Specter actually says Cantor. Damn. I would be the person to get fired from the White House for mixing up the post-its not even intentionally.)

And it looks like the fourth or fifth one down from the top is a digital camera. Someone has clearly been watching some ANTM and wants some fierce photos in the cabinet room. (It goes without saying that I'd have the same intentions. After the business was done, of course. No disrespect.)

I'm kind of obsessed with this photostream now. I really think that no matter your political beliefs, the pictures posted are interesting and offer a glimpse into West Wing dealings that we don't often get.

Missing in Action

The past few weeks have been physically, mentally, and creatively draining. Work has been nuts so my brain is like a limp, wet pile of spaghetti by the time I get home. And in the midst of all that has been graduations, fun stuff in D.C., and a trip HOME.

A not so brief recap...

Embassy open houses in D.C.

I went to just two this year: Ethiopia and Bangladesh. But at the Bangladeshi I had the fun of getting henna, which I've wanted for years. It finally faded toward the end of last week, which means I will no longer get to tell people that no, I didn't tattoo, draw on, or burn my hand.

Plant Sale at National Cathedral

My first visit to the National Cathedral was positively lovely. For pictures, go to my Flickr. I loved all the green grass and the carnival atmosphere of the mart. It was full of booths, games, and food. Oh, the food. But I'd like to go back on a regular day and actually go in the building next time.

Cinco de Mayo

The roommate and I hit up our local Mexican restaurant for some good old American celebrating of a pseudo-Mexican holiday. And though we completely resented the fact that we had to wait more than an hour, it was worth the free tequila shots and the I-swear-they-weren't-this-strong-last-time margaritas.

(This is a rather disturbing painting of a cock fight hanging beside our table. Insert any number of juvenile jokes that may or not have been made as the margarita pitcher got closer to empty.)

HOME

The next day I left for HOME. This was my first trip back since Christmas, which is the longest I've ever been away. (Obviously one of the dumbest, completely unintentional, things I've ever done.) I choose to live away from home, and I don't regret it. But I never realize just how much I miss it until I go back. And I've found myself missing it more than I usually do once I leave. But it's how I'm able to do the things I do -- always knowing I have somewhere to get back to.

And why did I go home? For this:

The little brother is a college graduate. He's pretty much the greatest and I know he's going to do great things in his life.

Ragtime

A few days after I got back I went to my first play in ages, Ragtime at the Kennedy Center. I took a class my freshman year based around the book where we read it and various other texts about the historical figures in the book. I got great seats thanks to the KC's program for those 25 and below, and it was really good. The set was beautiful and so was the acting and singing.

This past weekend - Trekkies, Rahm, and Mimosas

After a rough week at work and before a weekend of more work, I treated myself to a movie - Star Trek. I remember watching parts of the original, Next Generation and even Deep Space Nine with my Daddy, so I wasn't going in completely blind. On a whole I enjoyed it. Though I do think J.J. Abrams recycles too many plot devices from his past work. And also should chill out in the white light cinematography department or whatever kept flashing across the screen and blinding me. But I'd see a sequel. Even if the men continue to wear skinny jeans.

And then Sunday was one more graduation, GW's, on the National Mall. This is the first time I've ever attended a ceremony without knowing anyone actually graduating.

And why were the roommate and I up at the ungodly hour on a rainy, cold day? Because we have become intrigued by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Partly because of the crazy stories about him, partly because it makes us think fondly of The West Wing. And probably partly because we've been in D.C. just a tad too long.

It's no UNC, but we did get free ponchos, a nice view of the Capitol, and George Washington himself was there with his lovely wife Martha. I swear I couldn't make it up if I tried.

We capped off our Sunday [morning] with mimosas, leading me to decide that Sundays, or any day really, should start with mimosas.

And that's the past month. If you made it this far, I'll give you a cupcake. Or not.

Oink oink

Edited: It turns out that while the infected person works in D.C., he/she lives in Maryland, therefore it doesn't count as an official case in D.C. Whatever, influenza obviously doesn't respect state or national boundaries, so it at least semi counts.

Today brings reports of DC’s first case of swine flu. I guess the man I saw yesterday coming off the metro wearing a surgical mask knew something the rest of us didn’t. Or he’s taking this more seriously than I am. I’m just not completely convinced it’s any more serious than the avian flu hysteria from a few years ago. I’m still steering clear of coughing people on the Metro, and washing my hands like crazy, but you won’t see me in a mask anytime soon. Except, perhaps, if I could get my hands on one of these designer ones:

I personally think one with a pig snout would be hilarious. I’d buy one of those just for fun.

There are also sad reports of a backlash against pigs. The Time article says Egypt has ordered the slaughter of more than 300,000. I feel bad for them. It’s not like the birds, who are pure evil and who I absolutely believe are plotting to take out humanity, these are just little piggies! I mean, does this look like it could ever cause you harm?
(If you haven’t read this article from Britain about the little pig who is scared of mud, you must. I actually had the picture as my desktop background for awhile last year. If it doesn’t make your heart melt, you aren’t human, sorry.)

I am, however, very interested to see them discover exactly how it started. I took an environmental ethics class my senior year - which has come closer to making me a vegetarian than anything else - and we talked a lot about animal conditions, including the Smithfield company, which was cited in one article as a possible source.

In the meantime, I will continue to remind the people who cower around me as I sneeze and cough, that it's allergies, and not the flu. I hope.

Picture Dump: Hirshhorn

A few weeks ago I took my first trip to the Hirshhorn with my best friend from high school and one of her friends. My friend was an art major in college and a talented artist, and I loved going with her because she knew a lot about different sculptures and artists. I also liked going with her because we can still be silly and make each other laugh. And she has the same confusion as I do about a lot of modern "art" pieces, and all three of us tended to dislike/mock/ponder the same ones.

Stamp carousel. I worked at a library in college and we had a smaller carousel with stamps for the books. Yeah, I'm weird, this sculpture made me dorkily happy.

Weebles wobble but they don't fall down:

I thought it looked like a Dalek. Genie decided it was a "penguin of death." Read the explanation on the plaque, turns out it was modeled on a penguin. That's why she was the art major.

The main reason we went was to see the Louise Bourgeois exhibit. She had some interesting stuff, some crazy, and a lot of big metal spiders in cages. (But the guards caught me before I could take any pictures of those.)

Silver surfboard type things surrounded by chairs, intended for people to sit and ponder their reflections, except you weren't actually allowed to sit and ponder.

My favorite, though I can't remember the name. But it had to with how people used to classify women as "hysterical" when they were just having typical human emotions or reactions. Feminist statement, hell yes.

And that's all. I do occasionally get some culture.

Picture Dump: Demetri Martin

Ok, not using the Flickr for everything. Few pics from Demetri Martin at the Warner Theatre from a few weeks ago. Had never been inside this one and was surprised at how pretty it was. Hope to be back at the end of May to see Rent.

Stage:
Trying to get a picture of the chandeliers:
Woodworking and other details:
Man of the hour:
The majority of his material was new, but he also took suggestions from the audience and did a lot of jokes from his Comedy Central special and his cd, both of which I own. The special is where I first heard of him. The only other real comedy show I've been to was Lewis Black, twice in college, and they are quite different in their delivery and style, but both still very good. Love smart comedy, love love it.

By the age of 25...

"By the age of 25 she had survived the Nazis, almost starved to death, kissed Gregory Peck, met Givenchy, been scared as hell, won an Oscar, won a Tony, been engaged, been alone, grown up without her father, been discovered by William Wyler, charmed Colette, posed for a soap ad in London, and been on the cover of Time magazine. In short: she was not like us."
-Pamela Keogh re: Audrey Hepburn in What Would Audrey Do?

In short: I have a lot to do before I turn 26. (Minus the whole Nazis, starvation, absentee father stuff. No one wants that.)

Visit to the big house

On Sunday I got up at the should-be-illegal time of 7 a.m.* in order to stand in line at the White House for a ticket to their bi-annual grounds tour. I had never heard of this before, but after reading about it on the DCist, knew I must see what it was all about. So to the other end of Pennsylvania I went, yet again. Twenty-five minutes after entering the line, I had my ticket, a grumbling stomach, droopy eyes, and three hours to kill. Ugh.

After a trip to Starbucks and a nap in front of the Washington Monument, where a security guard woke me to make sure I wasn't dead, finally, I was off to the president's humble abode with free reign to...stick to the path, stay off the grass, and try not to draw the attention of the many, many Secret Service agents standing grimly about. (Even though there was a really cute one I wouldn't have minded attracting the attention of, but I'm thinking that only would have happened if a felony was involved. And I'm just not that desperate for a date. Yet.)

It was absolutely wonderful, in a subdued, lazy Sunday, surrounded by trees and flowers sort of way. But it's exactly this type of thing that is why I live in a city in the first place. I will definitely be back.

I have finally decided to use a Flickr account and hope to slowly move the approximate 10 other online albums I have to here. I have so many pictures I never share because it takes so long to upload them here, so hopefully this will help me be less lazy. So go here to see some from Sunday's tour. Titles on all, captions on most. The first few might be kind of boring, but they get better, I think.


*I don't get up until at least 8 a.m. for work. In the words of my roomie: "You get up insanely late for a working person." Yes, I do, just another reason why I love my job. (I might have already posted that quote on here but it makes me laugh.)

All I Want In Life

I really would like to find an allergy medicine that doesn't knock me out or make me feel like a balloon. AKA high, I guess. I've never done drugs but thanks to allergy meds I don't need to. I don't know if it's the Claritin or the Zicam or the combination. Or the fact that I haven't been to bed before 1:30ish this whole week. I really hope it's just months of insomnia combining with the meds. I like to breathe and not want to claw my eyes out, but I also like to not feel floaty and weird.

I also like to not regret leaving North Carolina, but since these allergies didn't start until I moved up here, I have no choice but to add it to the list of why home can (not always) be so much better than here.

Speaking of which, I am very close to killing someone for a good biscuit.

Beautiful Day

It's hard enough just to be happy! At my happiest, it only takes about four minutes and then I have to take a nap! (Lewis Black)

So true, Lewis. I don't consider myself a Debbie Downer, but I'm not exactly Mary Sunshine either. Happiness doesn't always come easy, and truth be told it can be exhausting. But since I am in a good mood and have been since yesterday, I feel I need to capture this moment while it lasts, which by my estimate, is only for another 3.2 hours.

1. First, did I mention that a week ago my beloved alma mater reigned supreme over college basketball in a game and moment that will lead me to spontaneously smile and hold my head high for the next year, if not longer? Ok, good, I did. (I also should mention that I am in love with the DTH's headline for the day after: "LEGACY FULFILLED." Except, if I were allowed to write it, despite what I was taught in my newspaper editing course at the previously mentioned beloved alma mater, my headline would have been "LEGACY FULFILLED, BITCH." With a subhead of "And by bitch, I mean Dick Vitale. And Coach K. And the heinous 2005 nat'l champ SI article." It's long but it really captures my point.)

2. Thanks to the beauty of presale, I just secured two lower-level side-of-stage seats at the U2 concert in Raleigh in October. Sing it with me now, "it's a beautiful day/don't let it get away/it's a beautiful day-ay-ay-ay."

3. Demetri Martin on Saturday night at Warner Theatre was wonderful. I laughed so hard my face got tingly and my abs hurt. I made the mistake of listening to his CD at work yesterday and kept having to cover my mouth to stifle the laughs. Whatever, totally awesome and worth it.

4. I successfully gave up pizza for Lent! And naturally, to make up for the lack of cheesy pepperoni goodness in my life for the past 40 days, I've been unnaturally gorging on it. Oops.

5. I finally had the money refunded from a cashier's check that was lost in the mail! Thanks to my bank, for while they are still woefully inadequate compared to the customer service in NC, I'll stick with them for a bit longer.

6. I've been on a project at work since the day I started, last February. I worked on other things too, but have been solely on the project since September. But yesterday, I finally started on a new one, with subject matter I am really, really interested in, and a chance for more writing and creativity than the parameters of the previous project allowed. Hooray! (And yes, I've already had one minor freak out at my desk, but only one for me this early is good.)

That's it for now. I'll be sure to update later when the mood is gone, presumably after I run into a pole, mess something up, or get uncomfortably hit on on the metro. (And I just realized that my excessively long run-on sentences and liberal use of commas here are probably why I've been getting so many style QC comments back on my work work, damn.)

Blossompalooza!

All of the basketball excitement made me forget to post about the cherry blossom "excitement" of last week. (Sorry, the two just don't compare.) Last year I went at the end of the blooming period on a gray day. This year I went on the second day of the blooming period on a gray day. Pretty much the same. (Except this year I wasn't lazy and walked to see my man TJ, and around further up to FDR's park.)

Sadly, no sign of the CNN cam so my plot to propose to an anchor will have to wait until another day.

This would be so much better with a Carolina blue sky:Crossing bridge to get to TJ:

Love the shape of the branches. Would be better without the concrete barrier:Pagoda:

Attempting a self-portrait with blossoms in the background. Nine attempts later...

Some megatron pre-historic type bird creature thing showed up, meaning it was time for me to leave.