Thursday, June 19, 2008

Ben Franklin was Wrong


So, tonight, i got home from work and went running. It was about 9:00 by the time i made it out the door, so i headed for the potomac river.

It was incredible. There were a few boats out, the sun had just sunk down below the horizon, it was in the upper 70s. I ran along the path that curves into Georgetown on K Street, and as I approaced this small section of wooded area, I saw it:

a firefly. i thought i imagined it. and then i saw another. and then another. you get the idea. basically, its true. there are fireflies in our nations capitol. right there, not 100 feet from watergate hotel, is the sunset. and the francis scott key bridge. and the potomac river. and teddy roosevelt island. (keyword: huge tall green trees.)

basically, athiests and whoever would think those fireflies were just a coincidence. but i say, fireflies are from God. What kind of person believes that there is no higher power that created those bugs that light up? God made those bugs that light up. And he thinks we're cooler than those bugs.

Basically, old ben franklin was wrong. (not about much though.)

when he said, beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy, he should have said:

"Fireflies are proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

sam was the greatest dog i've ever come across. i know there are far more tragic things in life than a blessed person losing a much-loved pet, but sambo, you will be missed.


"Ever since the dawn of time... when a few wild dogs took it upon themselves to watch over man, to bark when he's in danger, to run and play with him when he's happy, to nuzzle him when he's lonely. That's why they call us man's best friend." -homeward bound

Monday, June 9, 2008

Secret Service Encounter before 7 a.m.

You know you're living in the district when you talk to an armed secret service agent before 7 a.m. I went running before work for the first time since I started work, and it was very enjoyable. Minus the whole being out of shape thing. Seeing the capitol with the sunrising behind it, not hearing a horn honk every two seconds as I ran down the mostly deserted streets.

My route took me past the front of the CasaBlanca, down Pennslyvania. Then i turned down 15th street (downhill thank goodness i was starting to really sweat) past the treasury department and I was going to go on the ellipse on the back side of the White House. (My favorite side, with the Truman Balcony.) But a Secret Service dude stepped in front of the sidewalk and just shook his head. I had on headphones so I said, can I get out (of the Ellipse) if I go that way, pointing behind me. And he not so friendlyly said "You can do whatever you want as long as you turn around."

I know we have to protect the President, but sheesh.

Since I was, back in the day, an intern for the POTUS, I figured either Marine One was coming in for an arrival or departure. Normal citizens figure this out because the block the road and have a firetruck and crash team present, in case of an unforeseen crash or whatever. I never saw Marine One, but when I got to work I found out that the President had left for Europe with Secretary Condi at 7 a.m. I had missed them by about 20 minutes! I guess they figured I didn't want to join them, because they didn't ask. Oh well.

Nothing like having your running/walking route extended because of a Presidential excursion to Europe. I love this city!!

And I had a wonderful weekend, avoiding altercations with secret service and enjoying pancakes on BOTH Saturday and Sunday for brunch with friends. So you see the need for running on Monday.

From a hymn at church on Sunday - The piano player at church is incredible.

"For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Allelu.

O may Thy Soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor's crown of gold,
Alleluia, Allelu."

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Chesapeake Bay (a bay bay)

This past weekend my mom and i relaxed in Maryland. Driving over the Bay Bridge was an experience! whew. we made it before it fell in though.

The sailboats were incredible. The food was good. The conversation was great. Being with my mom -doing anything, from dancing to talking to driving to fabric shopping to going to the movies- is one of my very favorite things in the world. She's so funny, rarely cares what others think of her (ie dancing with a hilarious band in Maryland) and always takes the time to care about others.

She called me at work on Friday while she was out and about in DC to tell me a homeless woman was hugging and kissing her because she'd stopped to give her money. Now, most people in DC never give money to the homeless. Largely because there are countless shelters willing to help them and you can donate there. But, not my mom.

We looked at boats, we people watched, we read books/magazines, we went for walks. We talked about my dad and made fun of him quite frequently. We talked about the time we went sailed in Florida on my dad's dad's boat.

Watching it rain on the bay was awesome. First, you could smell the rain coming in. Then, you could hear and see it. Then, the water was still as the rain let up and the lightning rolled in.

I think, if some guy under the age of 40, were to ring my doorbell (I don't technically have one but that's beside the point) and ask me to marry him and sail around the world on his boat with him, I'd say, how long to I have to pack? I hope he looks like Kevin Costner in "Message in a Bottle." I hope the boat is long and has huge white sails and is covered in wood. I hope the seas are never rough, that we never drown (or run aground) and that it only rains and lightnings when we're anchored in port.

Oh, and I hope that he likes girls with crazy hair. Because that's one thing my mom and I quickly remembered about ourselves- our hair goes more than a little crazy in 100% humidity.

*currently i cannot upload photos but when i can i will. to whoever reads this: go find another blog. there's plenty out there better than mine. try "stuff white people like." it'll be a book in july.

i'm happy for barack obama

its true, i'm pretty conservative. except for environmental policy and a handful of other issues, i side with the right. i stand up and fight for the right. but today, i am happy for barack obama.

it gives me goosebumps to hear people on the news talk about how they would never ever thought they would see the day that a black man would have a 50/50 chance to be our nation's highest leader. i think that's AWESOME. yay for america.

but i do not agree with barack obama on any issue. i don't agree with him on healthcare, the war, foreign or domestic policy. i don't agree with him that he is the answer to the change america needs. i do not agree with the way he has used faith to win votes - and then pretended he didn't use it when that came back to bite him.

i do not agree with osama- oops i mean obama- on much. but his wife is beautiful, so maybe if i ever get to meet him we can talk about that.

i'm a huge george w. bush supporter. for too many reasons to list here. he's made bad decisions, he's had horrible press coverage, he has grammar problems. but just because our president is not perfect (and WHO is, i ask you) does not mean we should switch parties or just not vote in this election.

john mccain. two words people. look at his stance on issues. look at his heart. look at his leadership record. he's ready for 4 years to take America to the next election. Maybe, by then, Obama won't be as raging liberal or as inexperienced. Maybe, in 2012, Barack won't be screaming "change" with no idea of how to accomplish that. Maybe, in 2012, Barack will have more than 2 years experience as a senator.

And maybe Romney/Rice will be ready for office. who knows?

For now I leave you with this: Hats off to Barack Obama. Now get out there & vote McCain.