well, mr. arnett, what exactly did you expect for a reaction? this is precisely why you show objectivity as a journalist and you do not put yourself into a story that you are covering. the very essence of journalism is reporting what you see, what you hear, but not what you think. that's what the editorial page is for. obviously journalists have opinions, but you share those with family and friends, not the whole world - and certainly not with the press of the nation your nation is fighting against.
that said, this provides yet another unique dynamic to the war coverage we have seen from the press. i will mull over this as i make my way to work this morning and comment more during the workday ... as well as a general recap of what proved to be a ... very full weekend, for lack of a better word. fun is certainly an appropriate word as well, but it doesn't do the experience justice. hopefully i'll make sense later on.
3.31.2003
3.29.2003
another thing to file under either "completely random" or "hilarious fodder for the great american novel":
early this evening, i am going to an audition. for what, you ask?
two television pilots and a feature film. apparently the guy who cast "that 70s show" is holding a casting call today in the area and, since i heard about it on the radio and thought it would be hilarious for a vickie to go through this experience, called when i returned from happy hour last night (a factor that i'm sure contributed to my lack of nervousness about making said phone call) and got all of the information for it. so now, before i attend "ladies night" at blythe's and, possibly, the spring fever party at patrick's, i am auditioning. i think it's going to be hysterical -- i've always said i wanted to try something like this and there's no pressure on me whatsoever (sure i have self-confidence, but come on. vickie gracing either the big or small screen? we all know there's no way in hell!), so i can sit back, observe what the experience is like, who is there and what the feelings associated with the process are, go through the audition and then laugh tonight about what i have done.
how fun is this???
early this evening, i am going to an audition. for what, you ask?
two television pilots and a feature film. apparently the guy who cast "that 70s show" is holding a casting call today in the area and, since i heard about it on the radio and thought it would be hilarious for a vickie to go through this experience, called when i returned from happy hour last night (a factor that i'm sure contributed to my lack of nervousness about making said phone call) and got all of the information for it. so now, before i attend "ladies night" at blythe's and, possibly, the spring fever party at patrick's, i am auditioning. i think it's going to be hysterical -- i've always said i wanted to try something like this and there's no pressure on me whatsoever (sure i have self-confidence, but come on. vickie gracing either the big or small screen? we all know there's no way in hell!), so i can sit back, observe what the experience is like, who is there and what the feelings associated with the process are, go through the audition and then laugh tonight about what i have done.
how fun is this???
3.28.2003
it's official.
lock your doors.
keep your children off the streets.
cower in the corner of your room.
because, come april 11, it's gametime. revelry time. debauchery time.
yes, ladies and gentlemen ...
it's gonna get ugly. it's gonna get caaaaaarrrrrazy.
it's going to be fantastic. :)
becca's coming to visit!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lock your doors.
keep your children off the streets.
cower in the corner of your room.
because, come april 11, it's gametime. revelry time. debauchery time.
yes, ladies and gentlemen ...
it's gonna get ugly. it's gonna get caaaaaarrrrrazy.
it's going to be fantastic. :)
becca's coming to visit!!!!!!!!!!!!!
perhaps inspired by the fact that i've begun reading "the hours":
she wondered at the remarkable specificity of one person's life, one of millions of individual lives in the world as she sat on the metro and watched just some of those lives pour in and out of the subway car. how could it be that no one else in the world was experiencing just what she was feeling, thinking at that very moment? how could it be that no one but her would ever see that moment of time from her specific point of view? to think that no one would be sitting at that seat, holding that purple and gold umbrella in her left hand, clutching a shoulder strap in her right, filled her with a sense of wonder and bittersweetness - for she realized no one would experience that sense of wonder she was feeling at that very moment.
the thought remained at the front of her mind as she walked off the train and up the three stairs leading into union station, where she smiled in appreciation at the attractive young man up ahead who looked back at her with a smile as he waited to hold the door open for her. she bought her pack of gum and strode to the escalators leading out of the station, heading towards her office building with, for the first time this week, a sense of purpose and eager vitality, looking at the familiar surroundings with newer, fresher eyes, realizing that it was a good start to the day and that, regardless of what else happened on this particular friday, it was a good day because of those precious moments of happiness about the sensation, the very essence, of life.
she wondered at the remarkable specificity of one person's life, one of millions of individual lives in the world as she sat on the metro and watched just some of those lives pour in and out of the subway car. how could it be that no one else in the world was experiencing just what she was feeling, thinking at that very moment? how could it be that no one but her would ever see that moment of time from her specific point of view? to think that no one would be sitting at that seat, holding that purple and gold umbrella in her left hand, clutching a shoulder strap in her right, filled her with a sense of wonder and bittersweetness - for she realized no one would experience that sense of wonder she was feeling at that very moment.
the thought remained at the front of her mind as she walked off the train and up the three stairs leading into union station, where she smiled in appreciation at the attractive young man up ahead who looked back at her with a smile as he waited to hold the door open for her. she bought her pack of gum and strode to the escalators leading out of the station, heading towards her office building with, for the first time this week, a sense of purpose and eager vitality, looking at the familiar surroundings with newer, fresher eyes, realizing that it was a good start to the day and that, regardless of what else happened on this particular friday, it was a good day because of those precious moments of happiness about the sensation, the very essence, of life.
3.25.2003
awwww ...
the senator called a few minutes ago and was asking me about how the calls were going and whatnot, then he asked how i was doing and all and thanked me for being there, saying "well, i'm glad you're here." how sweet! an aw shucks kind of comment that helps on a day that started far too early and is dragging at the moment ...
but the sun is shining and it is supposed to be a gorgeous day, so i am incredibly excited about getting outside during lunch, curling up on the baking-in-the-sun granite by the fountain with my lunch and book, letting the sun work its relaxing magic ... yesterday, robyn and i were worshipping the sun god during lunch and had a great time - and now today is supposed to be even nicer. hurrah!
the senator called a few minutes ago and was asking me about how the calls were going and whatnot, then he asked how i was doing and all and thanked me for being there, saying "well, i'm glad you're here." how sweet! an aw shucks kind of comment that helps on a day that started far too early and is dragging at the moment ...
but the sun is shining and it is supposed to be a gorgeous day, so i am incredibly excited about getting outside during lunch, curling up on the baking-in-the-sun granite by the fountain with my lunch and book, letting the sun work its relaxing magic ... yesterday, robyn and i were worshipping the sun god during lunch and had a great time - and now today is supposed to be even nicer. hurrah!
3.24.2003
Something Suspicious Is In the Air
By Courtland Milloy
Monday, March 24, 2003; Page B01
The sign above the highway leading into the nation's capital advised motorists to "Report Suspicious Activity" and gave an 800 number for the Office of Homeland Security. As a reporter, I figured this was right up my alley and set out yesterday to report on things that struck me as suspicious.
For instance, near the Jefferson Memorial, I saw a five-foot-tall metal box that was hooked up to an electrical outlet and equipped with a high-tech antenna and chrome-dome receptor. What was it?
I asked a couple of National Park Service workers and some Cherry Blossom Festival organizers whose tent was set up next to the thing if they knew. Little did I know that my inquiry would become a suspicious activity in itself.
"We hear you've been asking curious questions," U.S. Park Police officer Michael Ramirez said as he and fellow officer Karl Spilde approached me from behind a blossomless cherry tree. "Why are you doing that?"
Both officers carried 9mm semiautomatic pistols, Mace and batons. Perhaps because I had just left the Jefferson Memorial, where I'd read a few lines about "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and "all men are created equal," I felt bold enough to pose a question of my own: "Why are you asking me that?"
What I really wanted to know was why my questions about the box had made me suspect. Or was it that an African American -- whom someone may have mistaken for a Middle Easterner -- was asking them?
The only way to get to the bottom of this, I thought, was to ask more questions.
"Let me see your ID," Spilde said.
"Why?" I asked.
Wrong response.
"Call for backup," Spilde eventually told Ramirez as he seized my notebook and pen and began to search me. Was I being arrested, I asked before turning over my driver's license.
Eight officers responded to the call for backup. One told me that, legally, I was not being arrested, just subject to "investigative detention."
Said Sgt. R.J. Steinheimer, "There have been reports of suspicious activity regarding you."
"By whom?" I asked.
"Can't tell you that," he replied.
"What kind of suspicious activity?" I asked.
"Apparently you have been showing interest in equipment on the grounds, making notes, that sort of thing," he said. "Are you interested in talking to us about what you're doing?"
I could have told him right then that I was a journalist. But I figured that any citizen should be able to ask a couple of questions without being detained as a suspicious person. I told him that I simply wanted to know what kind of machine it was.
"Are you aware of the current threat level?" Officer J. Keyser asked.
I told him I was. The United States had, after all, just launched an attack on Iraq knowing that it would increase the chances of terrorist attacks at home. But that didn't explain why I was being associated with Code Orange.
Officer E. Sinkeldam asked if I'd seen the ABC-TV piece on "20/20" about how "al Qaeda operatives had posed as tourists and had used their video cameras for surveillance before 9/11. In this heightened state of alert," he explained, "if anyone shows a particular interest in something, we get suspicious."
I pointed out that people all around us were using video cameras and cameras of all kinds to photograph who knows what. Even knowing I'd never get a straight answer, I pointedly asked whether I had been detained because I was African American or whether I looked Middle Eastern. The officers just smiled wryly. A Park Police detective would later say that "a tourist" had reported me to police. As soon as I heard that, I knew which one it was. I recalled that as I began photographing the metal box, a woman pulled out her cell phone and began keeping a not-so-discreet eye on me.
After an hour and a half, when word finally got around that I was a writer for The Washington Post, the atmosphere lightened up considerably. The officers even answered my question about that contraption: It was simply an air quality testing device.
And as if to let me know that we were all on the same side now, Officer Keyser asked, "Have you noticed any suspicious activity in the area?"
from the washinginton post
By Courtland Milloy
Monday, March 24, 2003; Page B01
The sign above the highway leading into the nation's capital advised motorists to "Report Suspicious Activity" and gave an 800 number for the Office of Homeland Security. As a reporter, I figured this was right up my alley and set out yesterday to report on things that struck me as suspicious.
For instance, near the Jefferson Memorial, I saw a five-foot-tall metal box that was hooked up to an electrical outlet and equipped with a high-tech antenna and chrome-dome receptor. What was it?
I asked a couple of National Park Service workers and some Cherry Blossom Festival organizers whose tent was set up next to the thing if they knew. Little did I know that my inquiry would become a suspicious activity in itself.
"We hear you've been asking curious questions," U.S. Park Police officer Michael Ramirez said as he and fellow officer Karl Spilde approached me from behind a blossomless cherry tree. "Why are you doing that?"
Both officers carried 9mm semiautomatic pistols, Mace and batons. Perhaps because I had just left the Jefferson Memorial, where I'd read a few lines about "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and "all men are created equal," I felt bold enough to pose a question of my own: "Why are you asking me that?"
What I really wanted to know was why my questions about the box had made me suspect. Or was it that an African American -- whom someone may have mistaken for a Middle Easterner -- was asking them?
The only way to get to the bottom of this, I thought, was to ask more questions.
"Let me see your ID," Spilde said.
"Why?" I asked.
Wrong response.
"Call for backup," Spilde eventually told Ramirez as he seized my notebook and pen and began to search me. Was I being arrested, I asked before turning over my driver's license.
Eight officers responded to the call for backup. One told me that, legally, I was not being arrested, just subject to "investigative detention."
Said Sgt. R.J. Steinheimer, "There have been reports of suspicious activity regarding you."
"By whom?" I asked.
"Can't tell you that," he replied.
"What kind of suspicious activity?" I asked.
"Apparently you have been showing interest in equipment on the grounds, making notes, that sort of thing," he said. "Are you interested in talking to us about what you're doing?"
I could have told him right then that I was a journalist. But I figured that any citizen should be able to ask a couple of questions without being detained as a suspicious person. I told him that I simply wanted to know what kind of machine it was.
"Are you aware of the current threat level?" Officer J. Keyser asked.
I told him I was. The United States had, after all, just launched an attack on Iraq knowing that it would increase the chances of terrorist attacks at home. But that didn't explain why I was being associated with Code Orange.
Officer E. Sinkeldam asked if I'd seen the ABC-TV piece on "20/20" about how "al Qaeda operatives had posed as tourists and had used their video cameras for surveillance before 9/11. In this heightened state of alert," he explained, "if anyone shows a particular interest in something, we get suspicious."
I pointed out that people all around us were using video cameras and cameras of all kinds to photograph who knows what. Even knowing I'd never get a straight answer, I pointedly asked whether I had been detained because I was African American or whether I looked Middle Eastern. The officers just smiled wryly. A Park Police detective would later say that "a tourist" had reported me to police. As soon as I heard that, I knew which one it was. I recalled that as I began photographing the metal box, a woman pulled out her cell phone and began keeping a not-so-discreet eye on me.
After an hour and a half, when word finally got around that I was a writer for The Washington Post, the atmosphere lightened up considerably. The officers even answered my question about that contraption: It was simply an air quality testing device.
And as if to let me know that we were all on the same side now, Officer Keyser asked, "Have you noticed any suspicious activity in the area?"
from the washinginton post
3.23.2003
after returning from grocery shopping/enjoying outdoors, i am taking a quick break before returning to enjoying outdoors. i'm not doing anything today besides relaxing and enjoying myself, dammit. :) :) :) :) :)
[eight songs that get stuck in your head frequently]
1. the random justin timberlake song i can never remember the name of but i love
2. lately, bombs over baghdad
3. mraz - the remedy
4. mraz - you & i both
5. howie - brace yourself
6. coldplay - clocks
7. nelly - hot in herre
8. tori - wednesday
[four beverages you drink frequently]
1. water
2. tea
3. vodka cran
4. midori sour
[five tv shows you liked when you were a little kid]
1. mr. rogers' neighborhood
2. gem
3. fraggle rock
4. you can't do that on television
5. mr. wizard
[four places to go in your area]
1. museums
2. adams morgan
3. chipotle
4. i'm in dc. take your pick.
[four things to do when you're bored]
1. read
2. talk on the phone
3. play guitar
4. listen to music and sing along
[four things that never fail to cheer you up]
1. mraz
2. my friends
3. chipotle
4. writing
[four things you can't live without]
1. journal
2. music
3. friends
4. chipotle ;)
[about ten years ago *list three things*]
1. i was preparing to graduate from elementary school
2. i wore leggings and oversized sweaters
3. the top of the log cabin was the cool place to chill during recess
[about two years ago *list three things*]
1. i was uber sports editor girl
2. mark pater in a towel sighting
3. i was preparing for my first trip to dc for actf
[about one year ago *list three things*]
1. graduation was looming
2. i was scared to death of graduation - we coped. we drank a lot and took photos. :)
3. i was preparing for my second trip to dc for actf
[today...]
1. is a glorious day in the greater dc metropolitan area
2. is oscar sunday
3. is howie sunday
[seven things you love]
1. music
2. theater
3. friends
4. family
5. writing
6. warmth
7. hugs
[seven things you dislike]
1. being cold
2. war
3. mondays
4. lack of time
5. struggling
6. drama
7. seafood
[seven things on your desk]
1. frame with four photos in it
2. books
3. printer
4. candles
5. cds
6. contact lenses
7. photo box
[seven facts about you]
1. i'm working on the great american novel
2. i have a 19-year-old big little brother who is a kickass punk
3. my dream job right now is theater critic for the washington post
4. i have been living in the washington area for over half a year now
5. i love going to concerts
6. i have never been able to tolerate the taste of beer
7. i have an extensive list of future husbands, which makes it clear that i will give liz taylor a run for her money in the whole number of marriages game.
[7 artists/bands/people should give a listen to]
1. jason mraz
2. howie day
3. rufus wainwright
4. bleu
5. jeff buckley
6. averi
7. main street east
among the tons of others ... this is just a random collection of suggestions. not indicative of any particular preferences or anything.
[four things you would eat on the last day of your life]
1. a huge mexican meal - with daquaris
2. lemon sherbert from richardson's (middleton, mass.)
3. chocolate covered expresso beans
4. peanut butter cups
[four records from your collection that you will never get tired of]
1. any of the live mraz i have (thanks paul!)
2. averi - direction of motion
3. jeff buckley - grace
4. tori - scarlet's walk
[six music celebrities you would have sex with]
1. mraz
2. howie
3. bono
4. mayer
5. lead singer of eve 6
6. justin timberlake
[four vacations you have taken]
1. the "vickie in vegas" tour (utah and vegas)
2. florida
3. boston area
4. o'neill (although it's certainly not a VACATION, it was as amazing an experience as vacations tend to be) - connecticut
[four things you'd like to learn]
1. my guitar. finally.
2. how/when/where all of shakespeare's works were written.
3. how to write dialogue
4. EVERYthing (hehehehe) about orlando bloom. ;-)
[eight songs that get stuck in your head frequently]
1. the random justin timberlake song i can never remember the name of but i love
2. lately, bombs over baghdad
3. mraz - the remedy
4. mraz - you & i both
5. howie - brace yourself
6. coldplay - clocks
7. nelly - hot in herre
8. tori - wednesday
[four beverages you drink frequently]
1. water
2. tea
3. vodka cran
4. midori sour
[five tv shows you liked when you were a little kid]
1. mr. rogers' neighborhood
2. gem
3. fraggle rock
4. you can't do that on television
5. mr. wizard
[four places to go in your area]
1. museums
2. adams morgan
3. chipotle
4. i'm in dc. take your pick.
[four things to do when you're bored]
1. read
2. talk on the phone
3. play guitar
4. listen to music and sing along
[four things that never fail to cheer you up]
1. mraz
2. my friends
3. chipotle
4. writing
[four things you can't live without]
1. journal
2. music
3. friends
4. chipotle ;)
[about ten years ago *list three things*]
1. i was preparing to graduate from elementary school
2. i wore leggings and oversized sweaters
3. the top of the log cabin was the cool place to chill during recess
[about two years ago *list three things*]
1. i was uber sports editor girl
2. mark pater in a towel sighting
3. i was preparing for my first trip to dc for actf
[about one year ago *list three things*]
1. graduation was looming
2. i was scared to death of graduation - we coped. we drank a lot and took photos. :)
3. i was preparing for my second trip to dc for actf
[today...]
1. is a glorious day in the greater dc metropolitan area
2. is oscar sunday
3. is howie sunday
[seven things you love]
1. music
2. theater
3. friends
4. family
5. writing
6. warmth
7. hugs
[seven things you dislike]
1. being cold
2. war
3. mondays
4. lack of time
5. struggling
6. drama
7. seafood
[seven things on your desk]
1. frame with four photos in it
2. books
3. printer
4. candles
5. cds
6. contact lenses
7. photo box
[seven facts about you]
1. i'm working on the great american novel
2. i have a 19-year-old big little brother who is a kickass punk
3. my dream job right now is theater critic for the washington post
4. i have been living in the washington area for over half a year now
5. i love going to concerts
6. i have never been able to tolerate the taste of beer
7. i have an extensive list of future husbands, which makes it clear that i will give liz taylor a run for her money in the whole number of marriages game.
[7 artists/bands/people should give a listen to]
1. jason mraz
2. howie day
3. rufus wainwright
4. bleu
5. jeff buckley
6. averi
7. main street east
among the tons of others ... this is just a random collection of suggestions. not indicative of any particular preferences or anything.
[four things you would eat on the last day of your life]
1. a huge mexican meal - with daquaris
2. lemon sherbert from richardson's (middleton, mass.)
3. chocolate covered expresso beans
4. peanut butter cups
[four records from your collection that you will never get tired of]
1. any of the live mraz i have (thanks paul!)
2. averi - direction of motion
3. jeff buckley - grace
4. tori - scarlet's walk
[six music celebrities you would have sex with]
1. mraz
2. howie
3. bono
4. mayer
5. lead singer of eve 6
6. justin timberlake
[four vacations you have taken]
1. the "vickie in vegas" tour (utah and vegas)
2. florida
3. boston area
4. o'neill (although it's certainly not a VACATION, it was as amazing an experience as vacations tend to be) - connecticut
[four things you'd like to learn]
1. my guitar. finally.
2. how/when/where all of shakespeare's works were written.
3. how to write dialogue
4. EVERYthing (hehehehe) about orlando bloom. ;-)
i'm sure that i'll wind up napping at some point today (or at least i'll entertain the notion of it, anyway), but i woke up at 8:30 and could not fall asleep again. aurgh! figuring that this is the one day that i COULD sleep in and i'm wide awake, you know that all this work week, i'll be wishing and hoping that i could sleep in ... always works out that way.
so i'm sitting here watching the war coverage (as i always have been lately) and realize that once again, i forgot to do the friday five on friday ... and since i'm working to make sure this is a weekly feature for me (and i really don't understand why i'm so hellbent on this, but you know, whatever), here is my friday five on sunday (which i'm sure is more likely to become a weekly feature than the friday five on friday -- heehee):
1. if you had the chance to meet someone you've never met, from the past or present, who would it be?
i always hate the various forms this type of question take, because trying to limit it to one person is so frustrating ... looking at the overall world perspective, part of me would lead towards shakespeare, so i could finally sit there and answer the question of "did he really write all of the work attributed to him?" and because i find the work he did in his lifetime to be absolutely amazing. not to mention how much that work has come to influence my life and all ... but on a personal level, i think i would go with either my grandfather (on my mother's side, who died of a heart attack when my mother was four years old) or my grandmother (on my father's side, who died of a heart attack when my father was seventeen). but, since i'm demanding, i'd add the condition that when i met whichever grandparent, my parents and brother were with me. that way whichever parent who was the child of that grandparent could meet him/her again as an adult and fill the grandparent in on his/her life, the other parent could meet the grandparent, and my brother could at least meet him/her.
2. if you had to live in a different century, past or future, which would it be?
ah, that one's easy. past. elizabethan times. preferably elizabethan england.
3. if you had to move anywhere else on earth, where would it be?
england. london, to be precise.
4. if you had to be a fictional character, who would it be?
ooooh, this is a good question! that opens up so many possibilities ... i think, without thinking about it too much, i'm going to go with marianne from "sense & sensibility" -- to live in those times and whatnot as well as have such a romantic and passionate outlook on life would make for a pretty happy me.
5. if you had to live with having someone else's face as your own for the rest of your life, whose would it be?
now, this raises a few very important questions/considerations. is it just the person's face, or can it be the person's head or entire body? because even the head thing is critical -- think about it -- just as a random example (not someone i'd want to share faces with or anything), norah jones. if i had her face and still my hair, that would look weird. know what i mean? if it was entire body, the whole damn package, i'd go with nicole kidman or kate winslet (from about the time of "sense & sensibility -- i think she looked gorgeous in that film). for just the head, i'd go with kate hudson (although don't get me wrong, i would be a very happy girl to wake up one morning and just look like kate hudson from head to toe -- things would be very good in vickie land).
last night provided fine quality times. our group trapsed into adams morgan, made our presence known at roxanne's (where i'd never been before -- how glorious it was to be able to sip drinks on a second-floor patio area and enjoy the relative warmth! hurrah!) and millie & al's, where were were able to swoop in on a perfect location/perfect size booth and meet up with the double trouble of erica and keri. how lovely to be laughing and hanging out with friends and then hear, "vickie! VICKIE!!!" and look up to see more friends -- and how out of the ordinary!
pizza mart can be consumed favorably, i rediscovered -- just blot the slice, avoid most of the cheese (which cuts down on the size of the slice like you would not believe!) and sprinkle on the crushed red pepper flecky stuff. mmmmm ...
ok, if i'm awake, i might as well start the day -- HAPPY OSCAR SUNDAY!!!!!!!! not to mention happy howie sunday!!!!!!!!! but before i go, here are my picks for the big categories tonight (i haven't been doing too well with the award show picks as of late, yet i'm hoping i bounce back with tonight's festivities -- we'll see!). keep in mind that these aren't necessarily who i think should win, but who i think will:
best picture: chicago
best actor: daniel day-lewis
best actress: renee zellweger
best supporting actor: john c. reilly
best supporting actress: catherine zeta-jones
best director: stephen daldry
animated feature: ice age
art direction: lord of the rings: the two towers
cinematography: chicago
costume design: chicago
documentary feature: bowling for columbine
documentary short: twin towers
film editing: lord of the rings: the two towers
best foreign language film: the crime of father amaro
makeup: frida
adapted screenplay: the hours
original screenplay: my big fat greek wedding
original score: far from heaven
original song: the hands that build america by u2
short - animated: mike's new car
short - live action: i'll wait for the next one...
sound: chicago
sound editing: lord of the rings: the two towers
visual effects: lord of the rings: the two towers
so i'm sitting here watching the war coverage (as i always have been lately) and realize that once again, i forgot to do the friday five on friday ... and since i'm working to make sure this is a weekly feature for me (and i really don't understand why i'm so hellbent on this, but you know, whatever), here is my friday five on sunday (which i'm sure is more likely to become a weekly feature than the friday five on friday -- heehee):
1. if you had the chance to meet someone you've never met, from the past or present, who would it be?
i always hate the various forms this type of question take, because trying to limit it to one person is so frustrating ... looking at the overall world perspective, part of me would lead towards shakespeare, so i could finally sit there and answer the question of "did he really write all of the work attributed to him?" and because i find the work he did in his lifetime to be absolutely amazing. not to mention how much that work has come to influence my life and all ... but on a personal level, i think i would go with either my grandfather (on my mother's side, who died of a heart attack when my mother was four years old) or my grandmother (on my father's side, who died of a heart attack when my father was seventeen). but, since i'm demanding, i'd add the condition that when i met whichever grandparent, my parents and brother were with me. that way whichever parent who was the child of that grandparent could meet him/her again as an adult and fill the grandparent in on his/her life, the other parent could meet the grandparent, and my brother could at least meet him/her.
2. if you had to live in a different century, past or future, which would it be?
ah, that one's easy. past. elizabethan times. preferably elizabethan england.
3. if you had to move anywhere else on earth, where would it be?
england. london, to be precise.
4. if you had to be a fictional character, who would it be?
ooooh, this is a good question! that opens up so many possibilities ... i think, without thinking about it too much, i'm going to go with marianne from "sense & sensibility" -- to live in those times and whatnot as well as have such a romantic and passionate outlook on life would make for a pretty happy me.
5. if you had to live with having someone else's face as your own for the rest of your life, whose would it be?
now, this raises a few very important questions/considerations. is it just the person's face, or can it be the person's head or entire body? because even the head thing is critical -- think about it -- just as a random example (not someone i'd want to share faces with or anything), norah jones. if i had her face and still my hair, that would look weird. know what i mean? if it was entire body, the whole damn package, i'd go with nicole kidman or kate winslet (from about the time of "sense & sensibility -- i think she looked gorgeous in that film). for just the head, i'd go with kate hudson (although don't get me wrong, i would be a very happy girl to wake up one morning and just look like kate hudson from head to toe -- things would be very good in vickie land).
last night provided fine quality times. our group trapsed into adams morgan, made our presence known at roxanne's (where i'd never been before -- how glorious it was to be able to sip drinks on a second-floor patio area and enjoy the relative warmth! hurrah!) and millie & al's, where were were able to swoop in on a perfect location/perfect size booth and meet up with the double trouble of erica and keri. how lovely to be laughing and hanging out with friends and then hear, "vickie! VICKIE!!!" and look up to see more friends -- and how out of the ordinary!
pizza mart can be consumed favorably, i rediscovered -- just blot the slice, avoid most of the cheese (which cuts down on the size of the slice like you would not believe!) and sprinkle on the crushed red pepper flecky stuff. mmmmm ...
ok, if i'm awake, i might as well start the day -- HAPPY OSCAR SUNDAY!!!!!!!! not to mention happy howie sunday!!!!!!!!! but before i go, here are my picks for the big categories tonight (i haven't been doing too well with the award show picks as of late, yet i'm hoping i bounce back with tonight's festivities -- we'll see!). keep in mind that these aren't necessarily who i think should win, but who i think will:
best picture: chicago
best actor: daniel day-lewis
best actress: renee zellweger
best supporting actor: john c. reilly
best supporting actress: catherine zeta-jones
best director: stephen daldry
animated feature: ice age
art direction: lord of the rings: the two towers
cinematography: chicago
costume design: chicago
documentary feature: bowling for columbine
documentary short: twin towers
film editing: lord of the rings: the two towers
best foreign language film: the crime of father amaro
makeup: frida
adapted screenplay: the hours
original screenplay: my big fat greek wedding
original score: far from heaven
original song: the hands that build america by u2
short - animated: mike's new car
short - live action: i'll wait for the next one...
sound: chicago
sound editing: lord of the rings: the two towers
visual effects: lord of the rings: the two towers
3.22.2003
another gloriously gorgeous saturday in the greater washington area ... it's been so nice one could almost feel guilty for enjoying the sunshine and warmth, knowing what is going on in the rest of the world ... note i say almost. because, dammit, it's not my fault people are stuck in this situation and it's not my fault things are, in many respects, going to hell in a handcart. i've spent all week dealing with the fact that things are horrific in the middle east, i'm not letting it bring me down!
shopping was successful, although it's much later in the day than it seems. i arrived back in my neighborhood around 4:30 and realized how late it was as i tried to decide on what i wanted for lunch ... whoops. so i figured i'd enjoy a light lunch then and have a late dinner so i'm not all sorts of empty-stomached tonight for adams morgan debauchery with paul, some of his friends and chloe ... hehehe, to be figuring out when i should eat so i'm not all sorts of messed up after a couple of drinks. i love it.
it always amazes me, how quickly the weekend flies by. saturday is always my big relaxation day, as i don't have the upcoming monday looming over me, which is always the case on sunday and there's still the possibility of saturday night fun and stress-free antics. but it goes by so fast! i figured i'd spend a few hours out and about in wheaton before heading back here and excercising before wandering around the neighborhood a bit in the warm weather and then preparing for the night out ... but next thing i know, it's 5 and i'm just getting back and, while i have a fun night out approaching, it feels like i just woke up this morning! and it's not even as if i slept in or anything -- i was awake and ready to start the day at 9:30 this morning (i know, i was just as shocked as you must be as you read this)!
but whatever -- this is just more blathering on my part. all in all, it's just happiness pertaining to a good weekend. tomorrow will be enjoyable, as the weather is supposed to be gorgeous again and i'll be able to wander if i'd like or just enjoy my typical process of shopping for the upcoming week and all and then it's oscar night and howie taping -- life is good when one can enjoy the oscars (although i am pissed that there's this whole "we need to be subdued" theme going on -- people need to be entertained more than ever before and hollywood prides itself on its ability to entertain -- do you honestly think people are going to try to bomb the red carpet? you're not at risk, my dear actors and actresses. so wear your pretty dresses, ride in the limos and do your damn job.) while knowing that i have howie goodness taping in my room.
i'm watching msnbc as i type this, watching coverage of a huge protest in nyc, and i'm surprised by the lack of protesting i'm encountering around me. granted, i don't know what's going on right now on the mall or anything and there very well could be a huge protest there that i'm just not aware of, but i figured i would have much more protest-like behavior immediately around me, as i live in d.c. and all. i expected more in my daily walk to and from work, i expected more occuring at the capitol, etc. hmm ...
ok, i am full of nothing but randomness today, so i think i will spare you all of my random incoherencies.
but before i go, i should say that i am finally reading "memoirs of a geisha" (have been for four or five days now) and it's fascinating. i recommend it.
ok, now i go away.
shopping was successful, although it's much later in the day than it seems. i arrived back in my neighborhood around 4:30 and realized how late it was as i tried to decide on what i wanted for lunch ... whoops. so i figured i'd enjoy a light lunch then and have a late dinner so i'm not all sorts of empty-stomached tonight for adams morgan debauchery with paul, some of his friends and chloe ... hehehe, to be figuring out when i should eat so i'm not all sorts of messed up after a couple of drinks. i love it.
it always amazes me, how quickly the weekend flies by. saturday is always my big relaxation day, as i don't have the upcoming monday looming over me, which is always the case on sunday and there's still the possibility of saturday night fun and stress-free antics. but it goes by so fast! i figured i'd spend a few hours out and about in wheaton before heading back here and excercising before wandering around the neighborhood a bit in the warm weather and then preparing for the night out ... but next thing i know, it's 5 and i'm just getting back and, while i have a fun night out approaching, it feels like i just woke up this morning! and it's not even as if i slept in or anything -- i was awake and ready to start the day at 9:30 this morning (i know, i was just as shocked as you must be as you read this)!
but whatever -- this is just more blathering on my part. all in all, it's just happiness pertaining to a good weekend. tomorrow will be enjoyable, as the weather is supposed to be gorgeous again and i'll be able to wander if i'd like or just enjoy my typical process of shopping for the upcoming week and all and then it's oscar night and howie taping -- life is good when one can enjoy the oscars (although i am pissed that there's this whole "we need to be subdued" theme going on -- people need to be entertained more than ever before and hollywood prides itself on its ability to entertain -- do you honestly think people are going to try to bomb the red carpet? you're not at risk, my dear actors and actresses. so wear your pretty dresses, ride in the limos and do your damn job.) while knowing that i have howie goodness taping in my room.
i'm watching msnbc as i type this, watching coverage of a huge protest in nyc, and i'm surprised by the lack of protesting i'm encountering around me. granted, i don't know what's going on right now on the mall or anything and there very well could be a huge protest there that i'm just not aware of, but i figured i would have much more protest-like behavior immediately around me, as i live in d.c. and all. i expected more in my daily walk to and from work, i expected more occuring at the capitol, etc. hmm ...
ok, i am full of nothing but randomness today, so i think i will spare you all of my random incoherencies.
but before i go, i should say that i am finally reading "memoirs of a geisha" (have been for four or five days now) and it's fascinating. i recommend it.
ok, now i go away.
ok, quiz time before i trapse off to wheaton to go shopping and enjoy the sunshine.
10 Bands You've Seen Live
in no particular order and mentioning or failing to mention bands at whim, for no particular reason
1.. new kids on the block
2.. aerosmith
3.. dave matthews band
4.. tori amos
5.. cherry poppin' daddies
6.. reel big fish
7.. green day
8.. korn
9.. ani difranco
10.. howie day
09 Things You're Looking Forward To
1.. a becca visit
2.. short-sleeved weather
3.. royal shakespeare theater company production
4.. softball and other outdoors enjoyment
5.. family visiting in april
6.. baseball games at camden yards
7.. amusement park trips
8.. volunteering at the shakespeare free for all
9.. concerts at the 9:30 club
08 Things You Wear Daily
1.. beaded hemp necklace made for me by christine
2.. silver comedy/tragedy mask ring
3.. a watch
4.. underwear
5.. socks, generally
6.. either glasses or sunglasses
7.. a shirt is helpful
8.. lip gloss of some form (whether lip smacker or not)
07 Things That Annoy You
1.. having to think about peak or non-peak minutes
2.. searching for my keys to get into my building
3.. people who call the office and think they're witty, when they're really just being immature
4.. rent
5.. our commander in chief
6.. being overly babied
7.. cabdrivers attempting to outwit inhebriated passengers
06 Things You Touch Every Day
1.. whatever book i am reading
2.. my necklace
3.. my ring
4.. my cell phone
5.. food
6.. a mug of nice hot tea
05 People You'd Want to Spend More Time or Hang out With
in no particular order, so don't get snooty! ;-)
1.. my good college friends
2.. my brother
3.. pual
4.. junior staffers in the office
5.. orlando bloom ;-)
04 Things You Do Every Day
1.. wake up
2.. eat
3.. drink (tea, water, etc., you wankers -- i'm not that bad!)
4.. listen to music and sing along
03 Movies You Could Watch Over and Over
1.. almost famous
2.. high fidelity
3.. shakespeare in love
02 Of Your Favorite Songs At This Moment
1.. any jason mraz song
2.. coldplay - clocks
01 Person You Could Spend the Rest of Your Life With
1.. orlando bloom, obviously ;-)
now you should comment with your responses. it'll be interactive! it'll be fun! get to know people! haha!
ok, sunshine, shopping. love the day.
10 Bands You've Seen Live
in no particular order and mentioning or failing to mention bands at whim, for no particular reason
1.. new kids on the block
2.. aerosmith
3.. dave matthews band
4.. tori amos
5.. cherry poppin' daddies
6.. reel big fish
7.. green day
8.. korn
9.. ani difranco
10.. howie day
09 Things You're Looking Forward To
1.. a becca visit
2.. short-sleeved weather
3.. royal shakespeare theater company production
4.. softball and other outdoors enjoyment
5.. family visiting in april
6.. baseball games at camden yards
7.. amusement park trips
8.. volunteering at the shakespeare free for all
9.. concerts at the 9:30 club
08 Things You Wear Daily
1.. beaded hemp necklace made for me by christine
2.. silver comedy/tragedy mask ring
3.. a watch
4.. underwear
5.. socks, generally
6.. either glasses or sunglasses
7.. a shirt is helpful
8.. lip gloss of some form (whether lip smacker or not)
07 Things That Annoy You
1.. having to think about peak or non-peak minutes
2.. searching for my keys to get into my building
3.. people who call the office and think they're witty, when they're really just being immature
4.. rent
5.. our commander in chief
6.. being overly babied
7.. cabdrivers attempting to outwit inhebriated passengers
06 Things You Touch Every Day
1.. whatever book i am reading
2.. my necklace
3.. my ring
4.. my cell phone
5.. food
6.. a mug of nice hot tea
05 People You'd Want to Spend More Time or Hang out With
in no particular order, so don't get snooty! ;-)
1.. my good college friends
2.. my brother
3.. pual
4.. junior staffers in the office
5.. orlando bloom ;-)
04 Things You Do Every Day
1.. wake up
2.. eat
3.. drink (tea, water, etc., you wankers -- i'm not that bad!)
4.. listen to music and sing along
03 Movies You Could Watch Over and Over
1.. almost famous
2.. high fidelity
3.. shakespeare in love
02 Of Your Favorite Songs At This Moment
1.. any jason mraz song
2.. coldplay - clocks
01 Person You Could Spend the Rest of Your Life With
1.. orlando bloom, obviously ;-)
now you should comment with your responses. it'll be interactive! it'll be fun! get to know people! haha!
ok, sunshine, shopping. love the day.
3.21.2003
aurgh. so my dear mraz is going to be playing hob cambridge -- the day after i return to dc from easter revelry in new england -- close call, but there's no feasible way i can go. and he's playing in norfolk, va on the 29th, but i don't think there's any feasible way i can get to that show. so the obvious question remains -- when will darling jason get back where i can see him at a time i can see him? i know it's soon, soon! :)
3.20.2003
this is so very true.
what a bizarre day. well, a bizarre day in a series of bizarre days. all yesterday, i felt the countdown weighing down on me, and i rushed through most of my afternoon and evening activities anticipating something, but i wasn't sure of precisely what. and then things settled down in my head a bit and i relaxed -- chatted on the phone, started to enjoy "the bachelor: where are they now?" special and whatnot, laughing with beth about how much i love bob from "the bachelorette" and all before ari fleischer hurried into the white house press room and announced that war had begun and that the president would address the nation at 10:15.
and then it really hit me that all of this was happening. and things got weird. sitting here in my bedroom, preparing for sleep but knowing that i wouldn't go to sleep right away, wondering what bush would say while knowing what he would say at the same time, watching the news coverage and returning to the process of looking for night-scope flashes of light on the baghdad skyline, just as i did twelve years ago as i sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the television at my parents' house. feeling as if things were significantly changing and they wouldn't, in many respects, be able to go back to how they were even just minutes before, yet at the same time feeling as if things were too far away to really be affecting me. i fell asleep to the sound of tom brokaw's news coverage and woke at 2:30 a.m. to find the television still on, so i turned it off, rolled back over and fell asleep until the alarm went off three hours later.
the sky opened up as i prepared for work, so by the time i made my daily commute, the gray skies and steady shower seemed to add to the sense of forboding i felt. i didn't know how things were going to be when i got to work, how i was going to feel, what i was going to be doing, what official responses there would be, etc. walking out of union station, there was a noticeable increase in police officers and other security types while commuters seemed to be in even more of a hurry to get to their destinations than normal. since i was opening up the office, the building was relatively quiet at the early hour, so i just settled in for another typical day of work.
but it felt off. arranging tours, coordinating flags -- it all seemed pretty insignificant, in the grand scheme of things. i found myself focusing more on the news coverage than anything else. i don't think anyone had their televisions set to the senate floor like they normally do, front office included. it was all cnn or msnbc coverage. why focus on the floor? they weren't discussing it, at least not really. and it seemed as if no one within the office really wanted to discuss it either. it was present -- hell, it was right in front of us on the tv screen -- but what do you really do? you don't want to focus on it or anything because you don't know what to say. it's war -- and while many within the office were in the office last time we had war, i don't think it's anything you ever get used to. it's not as if you can sit there and say, "aw yeah, same old same old."
besides, it was a random day anyway. uvm was playing arizona in the ncaa tournament, so everyone was following that and participating in their various pools (so far, i believe i'm 4-for-4, i haven't checked in a little bit, though) and hoping the cats put up a good showing (while secretly banking on arizona, as many have them going to the final four, if not winning the tourney outright, as i do). and there was a coffee hour in the conference room with everyone's favorite former governor-turned-presidential-candidate and a bunch of senators, so we were all bustling around trying to take care of that. but the whole time, the war thing was hanging over everything. when was the second wave going to hit? what truth was there to the rumors that the capitol would be shut down to tours? what were callers saying about the war? why weren't more calling?
the day went by ridiculously quickly and i bundled up before heading back out into the drizzle and muck on my way home, feeling all sorts of discombobulated. not only with the things that relate directly to the rest of my week (for example, i'm supposed to be giving two tours of the capitol tomorrow, but now think they won't happen because of the possibility of the capitol being shut down to the tours and all), but also with thoughts about what could be coming up in the uncertain future. what type of retaliation are we going to face? how long will it last and how bloody will it be? since the president has already bucked convention and is surprising everyone, can we predict what he'll do in the future of this war? is hussein alive or dead -- and was that a body double or not reading the speech? could it be that i might really have to evacuate the building sometime soon or make use of the safety hoods? how will this affect the tours i've been working on for forever and a day?
a whirlwind of thoughts of varying levels of seriousness twisting and snapping through my mind ...
what a bizarre day. well, a bizarre day in a series of bizarre days. all yesterday, i felt the countdown weighing down on me, and i rushed through most of my afternoon and evening activities anticipating something, but i wasn't sure of precisely what. and then things settled down in my head a bit and i relaxed -- chatted on the phone, started to enjoy "the bachelor: where are they now?" special and whatnot, laughing with beth about how much i love bob from "the bachelorette" and all before ari fleischer hurried into the white house press room and announced that war had begun and that the president would address the nation at 10:15.
and then it really hit me that all of this was happening. and things got weird. sitting here in my bedroom, preparing for sleep but knowing that i wouldn't go to sleep right away, wondering what bush would say while knowing what he would say at the same time, watching the news coverage and returning to the process of looking for night-scope flashes of light on the baghdad skyline, just as i did twelve years ago as i sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the television at my parents' house. feeling as if things were significantly changing and they wouldn't, in many respects, be able to go back to how they were even just minutes before, yet at the same time feeling as if things were too far away to really be affecting me. i fell asleep to the sound of tom brokaw's news coverage and woke at 2:30 a.m. to find the television still on, so i turned it off, rolled back over and fell asleep until the alarm went off three hours later.
the sky opened up as i prepared for work, so by the time i made my daily commute, the gray skies and steady shower seemed to add to the sense of forboding i felt. i didn't know how things were going to be when i got to work, how i was going to feel, what i was going to be doing, what official responses there would be, etc. walking out of union station, there was a noticeable increase in police officers and other security types while commuters seemed to be in even more of a hurry to get to their destinations than normal. since i was opening up the office, the building was relatively quiet at the early hour, so i just settled in for another typical day of work.
but it felt off. arranging tours, coordinating flags -- it all seemed pretty insignificant, in the grand scheme of things. i found myself focusing more on the news coverage than anything else. i don't think anyone had their televisions set to the senate floor like they normally do, front office included. it was all cnn or msnbc coverage. why focus on the floor? they weren't discussing it, at least not really. and it seemed as if no one within the office really wanted to discuss it either. it was present -- hell, it was right in front of us on the tv screen -- but what do you really do? you don't want to focus on it or anything because you don't know what to say. it's war -- and while many within the office were in the office last time we had war, i don't think it's anything you ever get used to. it's not as if you can sit there and say, "aw yeah, same old same old."
besides, it was a random day anyway. uvm was playing arizona in the ncaa tournament, so everyone was following that and participating in their various pools (so far, i believe i'm 4-for-4, i haven't checked in a little bit, though) and hoping the cats put up a good showing (while secretly banking on arizona, as many have them going to the final four, if not winning the tourney outright, as i do). and there was a coffee hour in the conference room with everyone's favorite former governor-turned-presidential-candidate and a bunch of senators, so we were all bustling around trying to take care of that. but the whole time, the war thing was hanging over everything. when was the second wave going to hit? what truth was there to the rumors that the capitol would be shut down to tours? what were callers saying about the war? why weren't more calling?
the day went by ridiculously quickly and i bundled up before heading back out into the drizzle and muck on my way home, feeling all sorts of discombobulated. not only with the things that relate directly to the rest of my week (for example, i'm supposed to be giving two tours of the capitol tomorrow, but now think they won't happen because of the possibility of the capitol being shut down to the tours and all), but also with thoughts about what could be coming up in the uncertain future. what type of retaliation are we going to face? how long will it last and how bloody will it be? since the president has already bucked convention and is surprising everyone, can we predict what he'll do in the future of this war? is hussein alive or dead -- and was that a body double or not reading the speech? could it be that i might really have to evacuate the building sometime soon or make use of the safety hoods? how will this affect the tours i've been working on for forever and a day?
a whirlwind of thoughts of varying levels of seriousness twisting and snapping through my mind ...
3.19.2003
there has been some major work done on the mhz website, as far as their mhz persents section, anyway, including some delightful stuff from the howie show beth and i attended ... i was delighted to see some photos from the taping, such as this, this, this (my personal favorite) and this. i'm looking forward to finally being able to see the show on sunday night (yes, i'll be taping it while i enjoy the oscars) ... whoo hoo!
so, naturally, as we have less than eight hours until the war clock reaches zero, my thoughts on the war with iraq and, in particular, being in washington as we prepare for the war with iraq.
it's surreal, really -- i look out my office window as i type this and can see the washington monument in the distance and know that across the street stands the united states capitol building. i know that my boss works for the united states senate and that i am a federal employee in the very government that is preparing its military for an attack on sadaam hussein. it's difficult, because i personally do not feel that war is necessary at this moment in time and do not approve of it -- yet as the countdown approaches zero, i want to support the men and women who are actually over there at this moment in time, preparing to risk their lives -- while not necessarily agreeing with the rationale of the man who has put them in that predicament.
washington is in an odd sort of hush, i suppose you could say. it's a clash of emotions and thoughts that we have here -- in some respects, people have been so excited about the notion of spring and getting outdoors and whatnot that there is an incredible rush of energy as people walk about in lightweight sweaters or jackets with smiles on their faces. yet the second the spring starts to hit, there is also the increase of security and precautions as this war looms. the white house has blocked off pedestrian access all around it, as well as cancelling any tours it normally offers, capitol security has increased, small piles of the black duffel bags (containing safety hoods) catch one's eye in the senate restaurant more than the red linen napkins and flowers on the tables do. each of us within the office are making sure to keep our IDs on us at all times in case we have to evacuate the building. as of tomorrow, i will be carrying my camera with me at all times with the hopes of capturing some of the images i've seen during my day-to-day travels and plan on jotting more phrases and random observations in my trusty notebook.
as i left work yesterday afternoon and began walking to union station, i could hear voices shouting and the mechanical din or a bullhorn coming from ahead of me. as i approached, i saw bodies perched upon the christopher columbus fountain, arms frozen in the air, sheets spraypainted with protest slogans lofted into the air. "no to war with iraq." "peace is the way." a twenty-something girl shouted into the bullhorn about how we needed to join together and show the president that he was not leading america into war because the american people have no desire to go into that war. the president is dragging the people into battle.
people stood around the fountain, squinting in the glare of the late afternoon sunshine as they looked up at her -- other protest-types with the stereotypical long hair and sandals, businessmen and -women obviously on their way home like i was who had stopped along the way -- some to listen, some to call people on their cells. a small number of people showed their silent support by holding their right hand in the peace sign.
this is part of what will become daily life here now ... and one must wonder if the man in the pond is going to become a fixture as well! you would not believe how much this guy is messing with the city ... it's so ridiculous and adds to the circus-like dynamic of the place. oh, nevermind -- turns out he surrendered!
i'm personally not at all worried about my safety or anything like that -- i know some people have asked about whether i'm scared to be in dc or how i'm handling it and whatnot. the same as anything else -- waking up, going to work, working, then going home or whatever for the night. again, as was the case during sniper season, i'm not going to let things change my experience -- although i admit i'm watching msnbc a bit more now so i can keep updated and all. yeah, dc can be seen as a "target" for attack, but it's also one of the safest places to be, all things considered. especially working where i do in the city! they're not going to let anything happen to us, let me tell you.
i guess the biggest thing is that it makes me realize how important my friends and family are to me. so, as things prepare to get all sorts of shaken up in this crazy world (i know, i sound like i walked off the set of "casablanca" with that one), know that i'm thinking of you fondly and hope you are feeling as safe and secure as possible in your various locations. whether i talk to you all the time or on rare occasion (or you're a reader i just don't know about that i might not have even met, in which case, well, hi!), know that i send you love and keep you in my heart.
so, naturally, as we have less than eight hours until the war clock reaches zero, my thoughts on the war with iraq and, in particular, being in washington as we prepare for the war with iraq.
it's surreal, really -- i look out my office window as i type this and can see the washington monument in the distance and know that across the street stands the united states capitol building. i know that my boss works for the united states senate and that i am a federal employee in the very government that is preparing its military for an attack on sadaam hussein. it's difficult, because i personally do not feel that war is necessary at this moment in time and do not approve of it -- yet as the countdown approaches zero, i want to support the men and women who are actually over there at this moment in time, preparing to risk their lives -- while not necessarily agreeing with the rationale of the man who has put them in that predicament.
washington is in an odd sort of hush, i suppose you could say. it's a clash of emotions and thoughts that we have here -- in some respects, people have been so excited about the notion of spring and getting outdoors and whatnot that there is an incredible rush of energy as people walk about in lightweight sweaters or jackets with smiles on their faces. yet the second the spring starts to hit, there is also the increase of security and precautions as this war looms. the white house has blocked off pedestrian access all around it, as well as cancelling any tours it normally offers, capitol security has increased, small piles of the black duffel bags (containing safety hoods) catch one's eye in the senate restaurant more than the red linen napkins and flowers on the tables do. each of us within the office are making sure to keep our IDs on us at all times in case we have to evacuate the building. as of tomorrow, i will be carrying my camera with me at all times with the hopes of capturing some of the images i've seen during my day-to-day travels and plan on jotting more phrases and random observations in my trusty notebook.
as i left work yesterday afternoon and began walking to union station, i could hear voices shouting and the mechanical din or a bullhorn coming from ahead of me. as i approached, i saw bodies perched upon the christopher columbus fountain, arms frozen in the air, sheets spraypainted with protest slogans lofted into the air. "no to war with iraq." "peace is the way." a twenty-something girl shouted into the bullhorn about how we needed to join together and show the president that he was not leading america into war because the american people have no desire to go into that war. the president is dragging the people into battle.
people stood around the fountain, squinting in the glare of the late afternoon sunshine as they looked up at her -- other protest-types with the stereotypical long hair and sandals, businessmen and -women obviously on their way home like i was who had stopped along the way -- some to listen, some to call people on their cells. a small number of people showed their silent support by holding their right hand in the peace sign.
this is part of what will become daily life here now ... and one must wonder if the man in the pond is going to become a fixture as well! you would not believe how much this guy is messing with the city ... it's so ridiculous and adds to the circus-like dynamic of the place. oh, nevermind -- turns out he surrendered!
i'm personally not at all worried about my safety or anything like that -- i know some people have asked about whether i'm scared to be in dc or how i'm handling it and whatnot. the same as anything else -- waking up, going to work, working, then going home or whatever for the night. again, as was the case during sniper season, i'm not going to let things change my experience -- although i admit i'm watching msnbc a bit more now so i can keep updated and all. yeah, dc can be seen as a "target" for attack, but it's also one of the safest places to be, all things considered. especially working where i do in the city! they're not going to let anything happen to us, let me tell you.
i guess the biggest thing is that it makes me realize how important my friends and family are to me. so, as things prepare to get all sorts of shaken up in this crazy world (i know, i sound like i walked off the set of "casablanca" with that one), know that i'm thinking of you fondly and hope you are feeling as safe and secure as possible in your various locations. whether i talk to you all the time or on rare occasion (or you're a reader i just don't know about that i might not have even met, in which case, well, hi!), know that i send you love and keep you in my heart.
3.18.2003
n.c. truck driver continues standoff on mall
it's true -- this guy is royally messing up things for everyone hoping to travel around that area. and, while we now understand the whole possibility of explosives thing and whatnot, everyone was wondering what the hell the deal was with the tractor still being in the pond this morning. talk about randomness ...
washington is interesting in prewar times. i think i'll try blogging this evening about it a bit -- no time at work today.
it's true -- this guy is royally messing up things for everyone hoping to travel around that area. and, while we now understand the whole possibility of explosives thing and whatnot, everyone was wondering what the hell the deal was with the tractor still being in the pond this morning. talk about randomness ...
washington is interesting in prewar times. i think i'll try blogging this evening about it a bit -- no time at work today.
IMing at work while i have a major case of itching-to-get-outdoors-spring-fever:
v: i've decided that congress should move outdoors today and know how we can figure out the estrada mess. big game of red rover -- dems on one side, republicans on the other. nice and easy -- plus fits with the estrada "hi i'm on a milk carton" theme of the entire nomination process.
e: well there's an idea
v: this is what spring fever does to me :-)
e: i've decided that congress should move to Baghdad...but I like your idea better.
v: i've decided that congress should move outdoors today and know how we can figure out the estrada mess. big game of red rover -- dems on one side, republicans on the other. nice and easy -- plus fits with the estrada "hi i'm on a milk carton" theme of the entire nomination process.
e: well there's an idea
v: this is what spring fever does to me :-)
e: i've decided that congress should move to Baghdad...but I like your idea better.
3.17.2003
in fine tradition ...
top o' the mornin to ya! sure and begorrah it warms the cockles of me heart to hope that you and yours have a fabulous day o' the irish!
ah ... st. patrick's day. one of my favorite holidays -- not just because of the typical copious alcohol consumption, thank you! i'm over half irish, so i enjoy the opportunity to celebrate an irish holiday -- despite the fact that it's been almost entirely changed into just an excuse to be drunk at all hours of the day. but even that's fun -- it's so bizarre to be sober and kicking off a full workday, considering that the past three or four years, i've been waking up, heading somewhere to drink and then either floating through the day in an intoxicated state or finding my classes all the more interesting because of my inhebriated state ... damn you, responsibility!
st. patty's was one of my favorite days last year (one of my favorites in a year of favorites ... ah, nostalgia). waking up early in the morning to try to grab a spot in line at what ales you, only to realize we were too late in getting there, so stopping at dunkies for drinks to warm us up and hopping into line to get into riras when it opened up at 9 ... drinking at the bars all morning (guinness for those who can drink beer, long island iced teas for myself and becca), then going back to campus and frolicking, whether it be in the 300s or back at the 2s. just being silly and having fun, enjoying the feeling of being twenty-one years old, in college and free to do whatever i wanted ...
and now, a year later. twenty-two years old, out of college and on my own, granted stuck in an office all day, but still happy and able to do whatever i want, in many respects. it's just crazy to think that a whole year has gone by ...
but nevertheless. i'm wearing my green, i have my hair in little pigtails of sort, i have a green carnation beside me (kevin rocks). and it's warmer outside (with the drizzly air, it's almost muggy -- how wonderful is it to be able to notice humidity? I LOVE HEAT!!!!!!!!) and things are good. hurrah!
so happy st. patty's! enjoy yourself!
top o' the mornin to ya! sure and begorrah it warms the cockles of me heart to hope that you and yours have a fabulous day o' the irish!
ah ... st. patrick's day. one of my favorite holidays -- not just because of the typical copious alcohol consumption, thank you! i'm over half irish, so i enjoy the opportunity to celebrate an irish holiday -- despite the fact that it's been almost entirely changed into just an excuse to be drunk at all hours of the day. but even that's fun -- it's so bizarre to be sober and kicking off a full workday, considering that the past three or four years, i've been waking up, heading somewhere to drink and then either floating through the day in an intoxicated state or finding my classes all the more interesting because of my inhebriated state ... damn you, responsibility!
st. patty's was one of my favorite days last year (one of my favorites in a year of favorites ... ah, nostalgia). waking up early in the morning to try to grab a spot in line at what ales you, only to realize we were too late in getting there, so stopping at dunkies for drinks to warm us up and hopping into line to get into riras when it opened up at 9 ... drinking at the bars all morning (guinness for those who can drink beer, long island iced teas for myself and becca), then going back to campus and frolicking, whether it be in the 300s or back at the 2s. just being silly and having fun, enjoying the feeling of being twenty-one years old, in college and free to do whatever i wanted ...
and now, a year later. twenty-two years old, out of college and on my own, granted stuck in an office all day, but still happy and able to do whatever i want, in many respects. it's just crazy to think that a whole year has gone by ...
but nevertheless. i'm wearing my green, i have my hair in little pigtails of sort, i have a green carnation beside me (kevin rocks). and it's warmer outside (with the drizzly air, it's almost muggy -- how wonderful is it to be able to notice humidity? I LOVE HEAT!!!!!!!!) and things are good. hurrah!
so happy st. patty's! enjoy yourself!
3.16.2003
i just submitted my first freelance review.
hopefully i'll get at least some form of a response. all i want out of this one is a "hey, keep on submitting." that would lift me above and beyond happiness.
fingers crossed ...
oh yeah, i finally found a radio station i can get from my apartment that plays vickie-like music (well, relatively speaking). !!! 104.1. any others i should know about?
ok, after the excitement of a delightful weekend and the huge weight lifted off my shoulders by submitting my review, i'm exhausted. time to get everything set for work tomorrow and then collapse into bed. sleep by 10:30? ooh, that would be nice.
beth -- i'll call tomorrow night!
hopefully i'll get at least some form of a response. all i want out of this one is a "hey, keep on submitting." that would lift me above and beyond happiness.
fingers crossed ...
oh yeah, i finally found a radio station i can get from my apartment that plays vickie-like music (well, relatively speaking). !!! 104.1. any others i should know about?
ok, after the excitement of a delightful weekend and the huge weight lifted off my shoulders by submitting my review, i'm exhausted. time to get everything set for work tomorrow and then collapse into bed. sleep by 10:30? ooh, that would be nice.
beth -- i'll call tomorrow night!
3.15.2003
my review is finished -- for the most part. i wrote all i intended to write today and plan on polishing and creating more of a coherent lead and final graf tomorrow after i have some time to be away from the beast. yay! beth, expect a phone call from the metro in a lil bit!
i don't know why, but around 7ish, i felt this huge rush of energy and a need to get everything done NOW so i could be on time to get to this show. i don't know what the deal was -- but this huge anticipation was luring me. it's not like it's a big deal or anything -- i'm just going to a concert like i've done a million times in the past. it's not as if i'm likely to even see anyone i know at the venue -- so why was i all rushed and flustered (but in a good way)? i suppose i'll just chalk it up to it being a spring-like saturday evening, having a ticket waiting for me at will call and a singer/songwriter scheduled to entertain me in a couple of hours, as well as the possibilities a night out possesses -- who knows who i will meet, what i will see, yadda yadda? and, in some respects, the added thought of going to the show on my own -- yes, there's the possibility that colin might wind up there to check out mason, but it seems doubtful -- fills me with anticipation. the mraz thing kind of blew up in my face last time (but certainly worked out well for me in all in all -- hi paul!), but that was also a weeknight, where i was so busy getting out of work and getting to the venue that i didn't have time to think about it. going to a show on my own is kind of neat, in its own sort of way. i mean, granted, it's always better to know that there will be someone familiar there to talk to and whatnot, but i'm rather proud of myself, in my own dorky way. i'm being proactive, dammit! assertive and strong ... yeah, i know. cue destiny child's "independent women" and all that. but i think it's something a lot of people wouldn't do on their own because of that fear of standing around without someone to talk to. and here i am, fully aware of that possibility, but looking forward to the alternative.
that's it -- a goal for the night. i'm going to find a way to talk to someone i haven't met yet. it's going to happen. revel...revelrevel.
ok, time to tame the beast that is my hair and catch the metro. here goes ...
i don't know why, but around 7ish, i felt this huge rush of energy and a need to get everything done NOW so i could be on time to get to this show. i don't know what the deal was -- but this huge anticipation was luring me. it's not like it's a big deal or anything -- i'm just going to a concert like i've done a million times in the past. it's not as if i'm likely to even see anyone i know at the venue -- so why was i all rushed and flustered (but in a good way)? i suppose i'll just chalk it up to it being a spring-like saturday evening, having a ticket waiting for me at will call and a singer/songwriter scheduled to entertain me in a couple of hours, as well as the possibilities a night out possesses -- who knows who i will meet, what i will see, yadda yadda? and, in some respects, the added thought of going to the show on my own -- yes, there's the possibility that colin might wind up there to check out mason, but it seems doubtful -- fills me with anticipation. the mraz thing kind of blew up in my face last time (but certainly worked out well for me in all in all -- hi paul!), but that was also a weeknight, where i was so busy getting out of work and getting to the venue that i didn't have time to think about it. going to a show on my own is kind of neat, in its own sort of way. i mean, granted, it's always better to know that there will be someone familiar there to talk to and whatnot, but i'm rather proud of myself, in my own dorky way. i'm being proactive, dammit! assertive and strong ... yeah, i know. cue destiny child's "independent women" and all that. but i think it's something a lot of people wouldn't do on their own because of that fear of standing around without someone to talk to. and here i am, fully aware of that possibility, but looking forward to the alternative.
that's it -- a goal for the night. i'm going to find a way to talk to someone i haven't met yet. it's going to happen. revel...revelrevel.
ok, time to tame the beast that is my hair and catch the metro. here goes ...
writing the review update 2
my search for lunch was very successful -- subway treated me well. mmm ...
one of my favorite howie day songs lately has been "brace yourself" -- i found a mp3 of him performing the song live with a "band" -- talk about an amazing version -- i'm in love with this song. i'm very happy that he's going to be recording his new album, because i think it's going to be amazing. i'm very pleased with how he's developing as a musician -- unlike certain other singer/songwriters who shall remain nameless ... *cough* taco stand *cough* ...
ok, so i'm settling back in to do some of this here writing. i've procrastinated enough -- chatted on the phone, gotten lunch, etc. i'm going to write this review (at least write something for it so i can polish it and submit it tomorrow), i am going to go work out a bit, then i am going to take a walk, make dinner and prepare for the mason jennings show tonight ...
ok, here comes my dopey girlie section of the post -- my hair. do i want to grow it out again or keep it short? i'm contemplating either being just growing it for awhile or trying something new ... thoughts? leave commenting love, yo ...
my search for lunch was very successful -- subway treated me well. mmm ...
one of my favorite howie day songs lately has been "brace yourself" -- i found a mp3 of him performing the song live with a "band" -- talk about an amazing version -- i'm in love with this song. i'm very happy that he's going to be recording his new album, because i think it's going to be amazing. i'm very pleased with how he's developing as a musician -- unlike certain other singer/songwriters who shall remain nameless ... *cough* taco stand *cough* ...
ok, so i'm settling back in to do some of this here writing. i've procrastinated enough -- chatted on the phone, gotten lunch, etc. i'm going to write this review (at least write something for it so i can polish it and submit it tomorrow), i am going to go work out a bit, then i am going to take a walk, make dinner and prepare for the mason jennings show tonight ...
ok, here comes my dopey girlie section of the post -- my hair. do i want to grow it out again or keep it short? i'm contemplating either being just growing it for awhile or trying something new ... thoughts? leave commenting love, yo ...
writing the review update 1
aurgh! i've lost the ability to write criticism! why did this have to be the show i return to writing for? it was great -- but so hard to write about! this sucks!
ok, admittedly, i struggle like this all the time when i try writing reviews. but it's still hard -- and it's so nice outside and i'm tempted to go outside and find something to do ... i always try to find ways to procrastinate when i write reviews. it's a way of torturing myself, i suppose ... postponing the inevitable writing that comes to me at random points. it's waiting for the points to arrive that sucks. but, nonetheless, it always comes ... this makes me remember the writing process in the past -- lounging in spencer's room at actf, drinking my screwdriver and laughing as alex freaked over his writer's block -- me asking the room how to spell "durge" and asking if a funeral durge was an adequate way of describing the music at romeo and juliet. sitting in my dorm room at conn college, staring at the blank computer screen (blank because every time i'd start to write something, i'd get pissed off and erase it, freaking out that i would never finish the review or, worse, i'd finish it and oversleep the next morning and not be able to hand it in in time, thus ruining my chances of impressing linda winer. choosing instead to sit on my bed, listen to some dave while i munch on my box of frosted shredded wheat ... hearing the knock on my door at 1 a.m. while trying to write an actf review as jenny slept (because whenever i was back in my hotel room, jenny was asleep, so i would sit in the uncomfortable wooden chair at the kitchen table) and jumping for the opportunity to order late night chinese with rhiannon, who figured she wouldn't make any headway with her review until at least 2:30 or 3 anyway, so why not do so with a content and full stomach? then, later, sitting outside the hotel with rhiannon, wearing our pajamas as we lounged on the warm concrete walkway, chowing on lo mein and cursing daniel, who had already written most of his review and had decided to check out the bar scene a bit as a way of rewarding himself, fully aware of the brilliant wit he had dashed off in his latest piece, baiting us with the fact that he had made a twinkies analogy that made complete sense.
aurgh. it's a process, it always is a process, and it's one of those processes where you have to focus and think and throw things out and beat yourself up in order to squeeze out the proper words and descriptions. writing criticism is the one form of writing where i agree with a literary quotation i read somewhere -- it's something like "writing is easy -- you just stare at the blank paper until you sweat blood onto the page. and that blood is your writing." granted, i'm paraphrasing, but that's the basic idea. and that's how it is. which very well could be why i enjoy it so much -- it's not easy, and you never know if what you're putting out there is brilliant or utterly wretched. you'll never really know, no matter who you have to discuss it with -- a small group of fellow college critics, established critics (for instance, my o'neill experiences with linda, dan and the michael's -- phillips and feinstein) or a friend you beg to read your work. it's so subjective there's no way of knowing if what you're writing is any "good." which is frustrating and great at the same time.
ok, enough blathering. i'm going to continue my typical writing process by thinking, pondering and, while i do so, finding myself some lunch. oy vay.
aurgh! i've lost the ability to write criticism! why did this have to be the show i return to writing for? it was great -- but so hard to write about! this sucks!
ok, admittedly, i struggle like this all the time when i try writing reviews. but it's still hard -- and it's so nice outside and i'm tempted to go outside and find something to do ... i always try to find ways to procrastinate when i write reviews. it's a way of torturing myself, i suppose ... postponing the inevitable writing that comes to me at random points. it's waiting for the points to arrive that sucks. but, nonetheless, it always comes ... this makes me remember the writing process in the past -- lounging in spencer's room at actf, drinking my screwdriver and laughing as alex freaked over his writer's block -- me asking the room how to spell "durge" and asking if a funeral durge was an adequate way of describing the music at romeo and juliet. sitting in my dorm room at conn college, staring at the blank computer screen (blank because every time i'd start to write something, i'd get pissed off and erase it, freaking out that i would never finish the review or, worse, i'd finish it and oversleep the next morning and not be able to hand it in in time, thus ruining my chances of impressing linda winer. choosing instead to sit on my bed, listen to some dave while i munch on my box of frosted shredded wheat ... hearing the knock on my door at 1 a.m. while trying to write an actf review as jenny slept (because whenever i was back in my hotel room, jenny was asleep, so i would sit in the uncomfortable wooden chair at the kitchen table) and jumping for the opportunity to order late night chinese with rhiannon, who figured she wouldn't make any headway with her review until at least 2:30 or 3 anyway, so why not do so with a content and full stomach? then, later, sitting outside the hotel with rhiannon, wearing our pajamas as we lounged on the warm concrete walkway, chowing on lo mein and cursing daniel, who had already written most of his review and had decided to check out the bar scene a bit as a way of rewarding himself, fully aware of the brilliant wit he had dashed off in his latest piece, baiting us with the fact that he had made a twinkies analogy that made complete sense.
aurgh. it's a process, it always is a process, and it's one of those processes where you have to focus and think and throw things out and beat yourself up in order to squeeze out the proper words and descriptions. writing criticism is the one form of writing where i agree with a literary quotation i read somewhere -- it's something like "writing is easy -- you just stare at the blank paper until you sweat blood onto the page. and that blood is your writing." granted, i'm paraphrasing, but that's the basic idea. and that's how it is. which very well could be why i enjoy it so much -- it's not easy, and you never know if what you're putting out there is brilliant or utterly wretched. you'll never really know, no matter who you have to discuss it with -- a small group of fellow college critics, established critics (for instance, my o'neill experiences with linda, dan and the michael's -- phillips and feinstein) or a friend you beg to read your work. it's so subjective there's no way of knowing if what you're writing is any "good." which is frustrating and great at the same time.
ok, enough blathering. i'm going to continue my typical writing process by thinking, pondering and, while i do so, finding myself some lunch. oy vay.
3.14.2003
could it be? am i doing the friday five -- on friday? yes i am...
1. do you like talking on the phone? why or why not?
well, while i would certainly prefer speaking to someone in person, i don't mind the phone at all -- keeps me in touch with everyone from back home, which is obviously very important to me. but it's difficult at times to talk on the phone because the person you're talking with seems so close, in many respects, yet the reality is that they're often very far away. which can be sad. but hey, the phone is better than nothing!
2. who is the last person you talked to on the phone?
technically, the person who just left a message for kevin. but for MY phone calls, my parentals, before i crashed into the land of slumber at an ungodly early hour last night.
3. how many telephones do you have at home?
me personally? two -- my regular, land phone and my cell. but in the apartment when we have three tenants and we all have cells? that would make six (three land, three cells) plus the kitchen phone, so seven. good lord.
4. have you encountered anyone who has really bad phone manners? what happened?
hahahaha -- do you KNOW what i do for a job? of course -- and all i can say is that expletives were frequent and a question about job requirements for working in my office was asked of me, which i refused to answer.
5. would you rather pick up the phone and call someone or write them an e-mail or a letter? why or why not?
it's a double-edged sword. at times, i just want to hear the person's voice, so give me phone any day. but there are other times when i make more sense through my writing, so email or a letter is better for me. gives me a chance to ramble and sort through some of my thoughts and make more sense. there are pros and cons to each.
1. do you like talking on the phone? why or why not?
well, while i would certainly prefer speaking to someone in person, i don't mind the phone at all -- keeps me in touch with everyone from back home, which is obviously very important to me. but it's difficult at times to talk on the phone because the person you're talking with seems so close, in many respects, yet the reality is that they're often very far away. which can be sad. but hey, the phone is better than nothing!
2. who is the last person you talked to on the phone?
technically, the person who just left a message for kevin. but for MY phone calls, my parentals, before i crashed into the land of slumber at an ungodly early hour last night.
3. how many telephones do you have at home?
me personally? two -- my regular, land phone and my cell. but in the apartment when we have three tenants and we all have cells? that would make six (three land, three cells) plus the kitchen phone, so seven. good lord.
4. have you encountered anyone who has really bad phone manners? what happened?
hahahaha -- do you KNOW what i do for a job? of course -- and all i can say is that expletives were frequent and a question about job requirements for working in my office was asked of me, which i refused to answer.
5. would you rather pick up the phone and call someone or write them an e-mail or a letter? why or why not?
it's a double-edged sword. at times, i just want to hear the person's voice, so give me phone any day. but there are other times when i make more sense through my writing, so email or a letter is better for me. gives me a chance to ramble and sort through some of my thoughts and make more sense. there are pros and cons to each.
excitement! friday! weekend!
i was exhausted last night, so literally was doing my before-sleep reading last night at 10, probably well on my way to dreamland by 10:30. the early to bed, later to rise (as today was a 9 a.m. day) method worked fabulously, as i was ready and raring to go upon waking up this morning (well, relatively speaking, as i'm neither ready nor raring to go in the early a.m. hours). the combination of a number of factors -- it being a friday, having a good amount of work that i planned on accomplishing in the office today, the coming spring (despite it being chillier than anticipated today), having what i regarded as a particularly snazzy ensemble to wear to work (including my swinger shoes, which always put me in a good mood), the possibility to attending a play this evening and fun plans for the rest of the weekend -- gave me a pulse of energy that has been lacking this week, as i've been attempting to balance a seesawing pattern of feeling very hyper, then exhausted for the past few days (more on that shortly).
and, upon arriving at work, things only improved. it's finally nice and warm in the office (actually, i should say it is more like a sauna in here -- i commented to corey that we should start providing visitors with leis as they walk through the day and should put a pig on a spit for the luau we must be preparing for -- but i certainly prefer it to be a little too warm than too cold -- i have more energy this way) and, sorting through the piles of tour requests i'm trying to organize and arrange, it dawned on me that april really is right around the corner, and i have tons to do between now and then. i need to hook all these constituents up with tours now, take care of the flag info, as well as figure out what i personally want to do between now and then. for instance, shows i want to attend, concerts i'd like to be present for -- there are more things to do now or, perhaps, i'm more inclined to partake in these events. and, when april arrives, i have a large number of things planned. my family is visiting the first weekend in april, during which we will be attending the orioles/red sox game at camden yards and enjoying the cherry blossom season. i have a becca visit to look forward to shortly thereafter, followed by a trip to vermont for easter weekend and there are a plethora of intriguing concerts and events to anticipate. as well as the fact that it'll finally be warm enough to resume wandering and exploring the city -- the possibilities of walking around adams morgan without a jacket, taking my time and observing everyone in their (and, probably, my) slightly intoxicated frame of mind ... ahhhh, i cannot wait. and it's just about here!
yeah, so my body has been carrying on a debate this week, it feels. my doctor told me that i should cut back on the exercise, so i've been trying to adhere to that, but it's a battle of will between mind and body. the times i feel as if i really need to work out, i get down to the gym and keep thinking to myself, "i'm not supposed to be doing this ..." which naturally makes the time drag and wears me out, so i don't do as much as i typically do. but if i decide i'm not going to exercise, i'm sitting there feeling as if i should -- after all, i don't want to just lounge around and do nothing. so then i feel guilty and head down to the gym, but the same mindgame ensues. so, this week, i've worked out at least a little each day, but i haven't done nearly as much as i normally do (it's usually 20-30 minutes on the crosstrainer followed by a lightninig-quick run through the weight machines -- this week it's been probably 15 minutes of some form of cardio - including the stationary bike, which always annoys me because it doesn't do much for the body and is dull if i'm not riding a bike outdoors - and light weight training), and my body has been tired (primarily because i haven't given it a day off, but also because it's not being used as much as it's used to). so tonight, i'm being good and not working out, hoping that i feel more jazzed and energized tomorrow and/or sunday. i think it'll do me good.
and i don't have to worry about feeling as if i should be exercising tonight, as i have my ticket waiting for me at the arena stage for "book of days"!!! i'm incredibly excited about going to a dc theatre event, not to mention excited about the prospect of writing my review of the play after returning home tonight. i'm determined to adhere to the review-writing process i instilled in myself at actf and the o'neill -- go home, think about it, and just write until i'm done, polish, hand/send it in. i'm also thinking about reviewing the mason jennings concert tomorrow night and doing the same thing -- i've never written an actual concert review, which could be interesting -- but i think that depends a great deal on who is at the show and how much attention i truly spend to what's going on (and how many drinks i have while i'm there, i'll honestly admit). but to be determined to write again -- in the criticism sense of the word, not just the rambling i tend to do here -- fills me with the rush of anticipation that i've missed lately! two of my favorite things -- journalistic writing and theatre! hurrah!
so, needless to say, i'm psyched. the weekend looks promising, with the play tonight, tentative plans to join co-workers at one of their houses late tomorrow morning to cheer on uvm as they take on bc on espn, the concert tomorrow night, then normal sunday relaxation/preparation-for-the-coming-week chores, with our new roommate, anita, moving in later on in the day. chloe's going to be in nyc for the weekend (lucky gal! not to mention smart -- we agreed that we should take a weekend this summer and go to nyc to see "long day's journey into night" on broadway -- we should meet up with alison!), so it'll be a busy weekend, but i'll also have relaxation if i want it -- or i can dance around and blare some music or practice my guitar or whatever i want!
yes, i am in a good mood. :-) leave some lovin!
i was exhausted last night, so literally was doing my before-sleep reading last night at 10, probably well on my way to dreamland by 10:30. the early to bed, later to rise (as today was a 9 a.m. day) method worked fabulously, as i was ready and raring to go upon waking up this morning (well, relatively speaking, as i'm neither ready nor raring to go in the early a.m. hours). the combination of a number of factors -- it being a friday, having a good amount of work that i planned on accomplishing in the office today, the coming spring (despite it being chillier than anticipated today), having what i regarded as a particularly snazzy ensemble to wear to work (including my swinger shoes, which always put me in a good mood), the possibility to attending a play this evening and fun plans for the rest of the weekend -- gave me a pulse of energy that has been lacking this week, as i've been attempting to balance a seesawing pattern of feeling very hyper, then exhausted for the past few days (more on that shortly).
and, upon arriving at work, things only improved. it's finally nice and warm in the office (actually, i should say it is more like a sauna in here -- i commented to corey that we should start providing visitors with leis as they walk through the day and should put a pig on a spit for the luau we must be preparing for -- but i certainly prefer it to be a little too warm than too cold -- i have more energy this way) and, sorting through the piles of tour requests i'm trying to organize and arrange, it dawned on me that april really is right around the corner, and i have tons to do between now and then. i need to hook all these constituents up with tours now, take care of the flag info, as well as figure out what i personally want to do between now and then. for instance, shows i want to attend, concerts i'd like to be present for -- there are more things to do now or, perhaps, i'm more inclined to partake in these events. and, when april arrives, i have a large number of things planned. my family is visiting the first weekend in april, during which we will be attending the orioles/red sox game at camden yards and enjoying the cherry blossom season. i have a becca visit to look forward to shortly thereafter, followed by a trip to vermont for easter weekend and there are a plethora of intriguing concerts and events to anticipate. as well as the fact that it'll finally be warm enough to resume wandering and exploring the city -- the possibilities of walking around adams morgan without a jacket, taking my time and observing everyone in their (and, probably, my) slightly intoxicated frame of mind ... ahhhh, i cannot wait. and it's just about here!
yeah, so my body has been carrying on a debate this week, it feels. my doctor told me that i should cut back on the exercise, so i've been trying to adhere to that, but it's a battle of will between mind and body. the times i feel as if i really need to work out, i get down to the gym and keep thinking to myself, "i'm not supposed to be doing this ..." which naturally makes the time drag and wears me out, so i don't do as much as i typically do. but if i decide i'm not going to exercise, i'm sitting there feeling as if i should -- after all, i don't want to just lounge around and do nothing. so then i feel guilty and head down to the gym, but the same mindgame ensues. so, this week, i've worked out at least a little each day, but i haven't done nearly as much as i normally do (it's usually 20-30 minutes on the crosstrainer followed by a lightninig-quick run through the weight machines -- this week it's been probably 15 minutes of some form of cardio - including the stationary bike, which always annoys me because it doesn't do much for the body and is dull if i'm not riding a bike outdoors - and light weight training), and my body has been tired (primarily because i haven't given it a day off, but also because it's not being used as much as it's used to). so tonight, i'm being good and not working out, hoping that i feel more jazzed and energized tomorrow and/or sunday. i think it'll do me good.
and i don't have to worry about feeling as if i should be exercising tonight, as i have my ticket waiting for me at the arena stage for "book of days"!!! i'm incredibly excited about going to a dc theatre event, not to mention excited about the prospect of writing my review of the play after returning home tonight. i'm determined to adhere to the review-writing process i instilled in myself at actf and the o'neill -- go home, think about it, and just write until i'm done, polish, hand/send it in. i'm also thinking about reviewing the mason jennings concert tomorrow night and doing the same thing -- i've never written an actual concert review, which could be interesting -- but i think that depends a great deal on who is at the show and how much attention i truly spend to what's going on (and how many drinks i have while i'm there, i'll honestly admit). but to be determined to write again -- in the criticism sense of the word, not just the rambling i tend to do here -- fills me with the rush of anticipation that i've missed lately! two of my favorite things -- journalistic writing and theatre! hurrah!
so, needless to say, i'm psyched. the weekend looks promising, with the play tonight, tentative plans to join co-workers at one of their houses late tomorrow morning to cheer on uvm as they take on bc on espn, the concert tomorrow night, then normal sunday relaxation/preparation-for-the-coming-week chores, with our new roommate, anita, moving in later on in the day. chloe's going to be in nyc for the weekend (lucky gal! not to mention smart -- we agreed that we should take a weekend this summer and go to nyc to see "long day's journey into night" on broadway -- we should meet up with alison!), so it'll be a busy weekend, but i'll also have relaxation if i want it -- or i can dance around and blare some music or practice my guitar or whatever i want!
yes, i am in a good mood. :-) leave some lovin!
3.13.2003
so there's this contest at mlb.com where you write a short little ditty with the best excuses to miss work and attend opening day at various ballparks. so, naturally, i entered. i thought i'd post my entry, as i found it amusing. keep in mind, i'm going for the orioles opening day game and wrote that i'm a federal employee on the hill:
I've got a Presidential Order to attend the Orioles game on the 31st. It was really crazy, the way it happened -- I'm minding my business, sitting at my desk, when there's this rush into my office -- a flurry of dark suits, walkie talkies and other Secret Service-type of action. And suddenly, there he is, standing in front of me -- our Commander in Chief. So naturally I stand and pay him the proper respect, but he's got more pressing things on his mind than courtesy. "Vickie," he says in his accent, "you know we're in Code Orange now for National Security?"
"Yes, Mr. President," I reply politely.
"Well, I need you to show that things in Code Orange time are still safe for Americans. That the people of this country can still exist normally. I need you to help me. I need YOU to attend the Orioles Opening Day game. I need YOU in Orioles Orange during this Code Orange time."
"Yes, Mr. President," I said with courage. "That's a sacrifice I will make for my country. So be it."
I've got a Presidential Order to attend the Orioles game on the 31st. It was really crazy, the way it happened -- I'm minding my business, sitting at my desk, when there's this rush into my office -- a flurry of dark suits, walkie talkies and other Secret Service-type of action. And suddenly, there he is, standing in front of me -- our Commander in Chief. So naturally I stand and pay him the proper respect, but he's got more pressing things on his mind than courtesy. "Vickie," he says in his accent, "you know we're in Code Orange now for National Security?"
"Yes, Mr. President," I reply politely.
"Well, I need you to show that things in Code Orange time are still safe for Americans. That the people of this country can still exist normally. I need you to help me. I need YOU to attend the Orioles Opening Day game. I need YOU in Orioles Orange during this Code Orange time."
"Yes, Mr. President," I said with courage. "That's a sacrifice I will make for my country. So be it."
ok, reading the echo today, i read the story about the greensleeves employees and, frankly, i am now craving a chopped chicken sandwich like you would not believe. next time i'm home and it's not, well, easter weekend when no one's on campus, it's settled -- trip up to burlington should include a stop at smc so i can indulge.
but, then again, there's so much to indulge in up there, now that i think about it. should it be greensleeves? hop sing? muddy's? good lord, fair burlington, you tempt me far too much sometimes. ;)
but, then again, there's so much to indulge in up there, now that i think about it. should it be greensleeves? hop sing? muddy's? good lord, fair burlington, you tempt me far too much sometimes. ;)
it's looking to be another lovely day in dc-town ... something to boost my energy as i rub the sleep out of my eyes this morning. the whole 5:30 wakeup time on tuesdays and thursdays is always ... taxing, to say the least.
but the coming warm weather lifts my spirits and gives me reason other than work to lure me out of my bed and apartment ... this week has been yet another example of how time seems to drag in some respects while racing by in others. it certainly feels as if i've been working a lot, as yesterday afternoon, i was convinced it was later in the week than it actually was and i felt as if i was permanently glued to my desk. but walking towards union station from work last night, i could not believe it was truly wednesday (*cue tori's song of that title*), as it felt like it had just been the weekend. not to mention that the day yesterday was gorgeous. running some errands in dirksen during my lunch break, i walked outside for a few and could not get over the hustle and bustle of constitution ave. -- suited individuals running in and out of the building, taxis pushing through the traffic, casual passersby lounging around in visors and light sweatshirts, chatting on cell phones and looking at maps. all the while, the capitol building seen in the near distance to my right -- it's amazing how i take for granted where i live and work, only to be jerked back to the reality of it all at random points of time. while i've relaxed and settled in, it's still difficult to believe most of the time that i'm actually based in washington, d.c. ... how on earth did i get here? and how is it that after joking about it and saying, "hey, wouldn't it be great if ..." here i am, actually doing it.
the elizabeth smart recovery just blows my mind. i was in utah during the initial search process last summer and it was an incredible, shocking experience. i know coverage was everywhere in the country, but in the salt lake city area, it was, understandably, insane. the day we went to salt lake city, i wound up having a conversation with a stranger about how horrible the situation was after i'd stopped to buy a newspaper. the concern and love for this girl was so apparent -- but after the two weeks i was out west, i was convinced elizabeth had been killed. to imagine that she's alive and might not have been sexually abused just amazes me. not to mention i feel a double connection to her -- having been out there while the search process was at its height and the fact that we share the same birthdate -- i'm thrilled that she's back safe and sound.
ok, so i can officially congratulate paul now on becoming an uncle! yayayayayay -- i was giddy last night when i received the news!
this weekend is shaping up beautifully -- i'm officially making my smaller venue concert debut at the mason jennings show at black cat saturday night and cannot WAIT -- i was all sorts of excited after purchasing my ticket yesterday afternoon. the music scene here is looking very good indeed -- i learned that matt nathanson will be in vienna at jammin java in april and intend to catch that show, as well as the others i have mentioned previously. ani difranco will be at the wolf trap (or whatever it's called), so there is the possibility of attending that show, as well as dar williams at the 9:30 club within the next month or month and a half. i will have to make up for "lost" time, eh? then there's the fact that i need to fly home a couple of times before mid-may so we can get my free ticket to vegas through southwest -- i believe i'm flying home easter weekend, but that leaves a random weekend that i'll have to return for -- i need to check out higher ground's listings and shows in boston to see if there's a show i'd particularly like to catch -- or i'd love to come home and take a day trip up to burlington for some muddy's/waterfront action, now that it's nice and warm and i've had some time away from the burlington area and can appreciate it more!
ah ... spring. how i've missed it!
but the coming warm weather lifts my spirits and gives me reason other than work to lure me out of my bed and apartment ... this week has been yet another example of how time seems to drag in some respects while racing by in others. it certainly feels as if i've been working a lot, as yesterday afternoon, i was convinced it was later in the week than it actually was and i felt as if i was permanently glued to my desk. but walking towards union station from work last night, i could not believe it was truly wednesday (*cue tori's song of that title*), as it felt like it had just been the weekend. not to mention that the day yesterday was gorgeous. running some errands in dirksen during my lunch break, i walked outside for a few and could not get over the hustle and bustle of constitution ave. -- suited individuals running in and out of the building, taxis pushing through the traffic, casual passersby lounging around in visors and light sweatshirts, chatting on cell phones and looking at maps. all the while, the capitol building seen in the near distance to my right -- it's amazing how i take for granted where i live and work, only to be jerked back to the reality of it all at random points of time. while i've relaxed and settled in, it's still difficult to believe most of the time that i'm actually based in washington, d.c. ... how on earth did i get here? and how is it that after joking about it and saying, "hey, wouldn't it be great if ..." here i am, actually doing it.
the elizabeth smart recovery just blows my mind. i was in utah during the initial search process last summer and it was an incredible, shocking experience. i know coverage was everywhere in the country, but in the salt lake city area, it was, understandably, insane. the day we went to salt lake city, i wound up having a conversation with a stranger about how horrible the situation was after i'd stopped to buy a newspaper. the concern and love for this girl was so apparent -- but after the two weeks i was out west, i was convinced elizabeth had been killed. to imagine that she's alive and might not have been sexually abused just amazes me. not to mention i feel a double connection to her -- having been out there while the search process was at its height and the fact that we share the same birthdate -- i'm thrilled that she's back safe and sound.
ok, so i can officially congratulate paul now on becoming an uncle! yayayayayay -- i was giddy last night when i received the news!
this weekend is shaping up beautifully -- i'm officially making my smaller venue concert debut at the mason jennings show at black cat saturday night and cannot WAIT -- i was all sorts of excited after purchasing my ticket yesterday afternoon. the music scene here is looking very good indeed -- i learned that matt nathanson will be in vienna at jammin java in april and intend to catch that show, as well as the others i have mentioned previously. ani difranco will be at the wolf trap (or whatever it's called), so there is the possibility of attending that show, as well as dar williams at the 9:30 club within the next month or month and a half. i will have to make up for "lost" time, eh? then there's the fact that i need to fly home a couple of times before mid-may so we can get my free ticket to vegas through southwest -- i believe i'm flying home easter weekend, but that leaves a random weekend that i'll have to return for -- i need to check out higher ground's listings and shows in boston to see if there's a show i'd particularly like to catch -- or i'd love to come home and take a day trip up to burlington for some muddy's/waterfront action, now that it's nice and warm and i've had some time away from the burlington area and can appreciate it more!
ah ... spring. how i've missed it!
3.12.2003
hahahaha -- i think i'm attending my first alumni function for smc ... a "visions" reception being held in dc in early april. good ol' uncle marc will be present and nicosia will be speaking about the iraq situation. i figure hey, why not, right? so i'm all rsvped and all that fun stuff.
i'm also trying to get to a number of artistic-type events within the coming days ... i believe i'm going to go to see "book of days" at arena either tomorrow night or friday night (i'm planning on reviewing it and submitting my review to the citypaper on a freelance basis -- see if they accept it or provide any comments on my work), and then i'm pondering the idea of seeing mason jennings at the black cat saturday night. i think it's time for me to get to a show, and i've heard great things about mason jennings (and, in fact, i'm 99.99% sure i've downloaded some of his mp3s at one point or another and enjoyed them). so yay!
i know i'm jumping the gun a bit, but CONGRATS TO PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i'm also trying to get to a number of artistic-type events within the coming days ... i believe i'm going to go to see "book of days" at arena either tomorrow night or friday night (i'm planning on reviewing it and submitting my review to the citypaper on a freelance basis -- see if they accept it or provide any comments on my work), and then i'm pondering the idea of seeing mason jennings at the black cat saturday night. i think it's time for me to get to a show, and i've heard great things about mason jennings (and, in fact, i'm 99.99% sure i've downloaded some of his mp3s at one point or another and enjoyed them). so yay!
i know i'm jumping the gun a bit, but CONGRATS TO PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3.10.2003
ok, to those who have been wondering when the prime cherry blossom time will be (so you can come visit me like you know you'd love to do), have i got the answers for you! according to the authorities in this particular area of study, peak cherry blossom time will be april 8 - 14.
it's funny, i'm suddenly realizing that i'm going from the land of autumn foliage to the land of cherry blossom beauty. different seasons, but same urgency for the peak time! it tickles me.
talking with beth tonight reminded me of my dream last night, which i feel a need to post, as it tickled me as well ... all i remember is that i was playing roxie in "chicago" -- i bore as close a resemblence to renee zellweger as i really can -- wearing the short silver beaded costume and singing and all that. and i remember being so delighted that i had the adorably cute short blonde bob wave hair thing going on and knew that, since i'd have the role for awhile, i'd get to keep my hair looking that cute.
and i wonder why "all that jazz" was in my head all day ... hmm ...
alright, early workday tomorrow means bed for me tonight! lots of love to my dear little readers ...
it's funny, i'm suddenly realizing that i'm going from the land of autumn foliage to the land of cherry blossom beauty. different seasons, but same urgency for the peak time! it tickles me.
talking with beth tonight reminded me of my dream last night, which i feel a need to post, as it tickled me as well ... all i remember is that i was playing roxie in "chicago" -- i bore as close a resemblence to renee zellweger as i really can -- wearing the short silver beaded costume and singing and all that. and i remember being so delighted that i had the adorably cute short blonde bob wave hair thing going on and knew that, since i'd have the role for awhile, i'd get to keep my hair looking that cute.
and i wonder why "all that jazz" was in my head all day ... hmm ...
alright, early workday tomorrow means bed for me tonight! lots of love to my dear little readers ...
you know, i'm a girl with simple needs. for instance, i present this:
Victoria's List of Needs
(as of 3:34 p.m. on 3/10/3)
- the office to close early (yeah right)
- a nice, uncrowded subway car to ride home in
- a chance to excercise without feeling like i'm going against doctor's orders ;-)
- orlando bloom waiting for me when i get home
is that REALLY so much to ask? i didn't think so either.
it is one of the severest tests of friendship to tell your friend his faults. so to love a man that you cannot bear to see a stain upon him, and to speak painful truth through loving words, that is friendship.
--henry ward beecher
Victoria's List of Needs
(as of 3:34 p.m. on 3/10/3)
- the office to close early (yeah right)
- a nice, uncrowded subway car to ride home in
- a chance to excercise without feeling like i'm going against doctor's orders ;-)
- orlando bloom waiting for me when i get home
is that REALLY so much to ask? i didn't think so either.
it is one of the severest tests of friendship to tell your friend his faults. so to love a man that you cannot bear to see a stain upon him, and to speak painful truth through loving words, that is friendship.
--henry ward beecher
3.09.2003
OH YEAH! almost forgot. last night, as i was drifting into buzzing slumber (the nice, floaty, wow-i'm-feeling-great-but-so-glad-i'm-not-duuurunk kind of slumber -- come on, you know what i'm talking about), i caught the "clocks" video on mtv. it's amazing what a year or so will do to make a lead singer look a hell of a lot more attractive -- chis martin was looking quite fantastic, in his brit-rock, lanky, blue-lights-flashing-behind-his-head manner. then again, he might have gotten some of his seemingly new swagger from dating gwenyth, but i digress. i was just really really impressed by him.
haha. ashton kutcher was just on mtv. keeeeeeelllllssssoooo (i promise i'll explain this at some point soon, i just lack the ambition to do it at the moment, so go with it.)
ok, now i really am going away.
haha. ashton kutcher was just on mtv. keeeeeeelllllssssoooo (i promise i'll explain this at some point soon, i just lack the ambition to do it at the moment, so go with it.)
ok, now i really am going away.
i swear i am going to start actually doing these on fridays, but i always forget. so, without further adieu, the friday five (only answered on...well...sunday...):
for march 7, 2003
1. what is the last song you heard?
howie day "sorry so sorry"
2. what were the last two movies you saw?
in the theaters? "chicago" most recently, then "lord of the rings: the two towers" -- but if we're going for last movies i saw all in all, it would be the a & e version of pride & prejudice and "almost famous" (for the ten billionth time, but i love it!)
3. what were the last three things you purchased?
as it is sunday, grocery day, my answers are all sorts of exciting. starting with the most recent and working my way back...
1) chicken with vegetables chinese takeout
2) apples (red & golden delicious)
3) a tomato
4. what four things do you need to do this weekend?
i'll answer this as far as what four things i needed to do this weekend and had as objectives.
1) get my drink on saturday night (accomplished)
2) introduce paul to the wonders of chipotle (accomplished)
3) grocery shopping (accomplished)
4) enjoy the sunshine and balmy weather (accomplished)
5. who are the last five people you talked to?
going from most recently:
1) beth
2) chloe
3) nicole
4) parentals (they're a two-for-one set)
5) becca
i suppose this might have been a bit more effective had i actually done the survey when i was supposed to ... but where's the fun in that, eh? ;-)
the sag awards tonight really surprised me -- i didn't expect the julianne moore shutout and thought nicole kidman would grab best actress (i need to see "the hours" -- note to self). i figured julianna moore would get supporting actress. the fact that the cast of "everybody loves raymond" won for comedy amazed me -- i had "will & grace" (justifiably, in my opinion) pegged for it. i'm psyched "six feet under" won for drama ensemble, even though i would obviously prefer my "west wing" cast ... chicago's going to just kill at the oscar's -- while it was clear before, it's all the more obvious now.
from what i'd been told, finding good chinese in the dc area is tricky, putting it lightly -- the city tends to have much better thai than chinese. apparently i've been really lucky -- my two chinese experiences have been killer. the first was back during actf, when rhiannon and i were going nuts with writers' block and wound up ordering at like 1 a.m. and sitting on the sidewalk outside our hotel, contentedly chowing down on our selections (i swear it was the greatest chicken lo mein ever -- but that might have had to do with the fact that we were doing everything we could to not do work ... it was a great experience nonetheless!). and then the place we ordered from tonight was fantastic -- i ordered the chicken with vegetables (carrots, onions, snow peas, baby corn, broccoli, green pepper and the like) with a light brown sauce, and i thought i'd died and gone to heaven -- PLUS they delivered within probably the span of fifteen minutes. we were in shock when the knock came at the door. bonus!
it's not hop sing, i acknowledge that -- but it's an apples/oranges type of thing. i doubt i'll ever order general's chicken down here, as hop sing cannot be topped in that area, but this was great. when the chinese craving comes along and you can find a more than adequate (quite delicious) way of satisfying said craving ... ah, bliss.
but now, i prepare for another work week. where did the weekend go, i ask? crikey ...
for march 7, 2003
1. what is the last song you heard?
howie day "sorry so sorry"
2. what were the last two movies you saw?
in the theaters? "chicago" most recently, then "lord of the rings: the two towers" -- but if we're going for last movies i saw all in all, it would be the a & e version of pride & prejudice and "almost famous" (for the ten billionth time, but i love it!)
3. what were the last three things you purchased?
as it is sunday, grocery day, my answers are all sorts of exciting. starting with the most recent and working my way back...
1) chicken with vegetables chinese takeout
2) apples (red & golden delicious)
3) a tomato
4. what four things do you need to do this weekend?
i'll answer this as far as what four things i needed to do this weekend and had as objectives.
1) get my drink on saturday night (accomplished)
2) introduce paul to the wonders of chipotle (accomplished)
3) grocery shopping (accomplished)
4) enjoy the sunshine and balmy weather (accomplished)
5. who are the last five people you talked to?
going from most recently:
1) beth
2) chloe
3) nicole
4) parentals (they're a two-for-one set)
5) becca
i suppose this might have been a bit more effective had i actually done the survey when i was supposed to ... but where's the fun in that, eh? ;-)
the sag awards tonight really surprised me -- i didn't expect the julianne moore shutout and thought nicole kidman would grab best actress (i need to see "the hours" -- note to self). i figured julianna moore would get supporting actress. the fact that the cast of "everybody loves raymond" won for comedy amazed me -- i had "will & grace" (justifiably, in my opinion) pegged for it. i'm psyched "six feet under" won for drama ensemble, even though i would obviously prefer my "west wing" cast ... chicago's going to just kill at the oscar's -- while it was clear before, it's all the more obvious now.
from what i'd been told, finding good chinese in the dc area is tricky, putting it lightly -- the city tends to have much better thai than chinese. apparently i've been really lucky -- my two chinese experiences have been killer. the first was back during actf, when rhiannon and i were going nuts with writers' block and wound up ordering at like 1 a.m. and sitting on the sidewalk outside our hotel, contentedly chowing down on our selections (i swear it was the greatest chicken lo mein ever -- but that might have had to do with the fact that we were doing everything we could to not do work ... it was a great experience nonetheless!). and then the place we ordered from tonight was fantastic -- i ordered the chicken with vegetables (carrots, onions, snow peas, baby corn, broccoli, green pepper and the like) with a light brown sauce, and i thought i'd died and gone to heaven -- PLUS they delivered within probably the span of fifteen minutes. we were in shock when the knock came at the door. bonus!
it's not hop sing, i acknowledge that -- but it's an apples/oranges type of thing. i doubt i'll ever order general's chicken down here, as hop sing cannot be topped in that area, but this was great. when the chinese craving comes along and you can find a more than adequate (quite delicious) way of satisfying said craving ... ah, bliss.
but now, i prepare for another work week. where did the weekend go, i ask? crikey ...
so i finally saw howie's "sorry so sorry" video on mtv.com and am just so amused.
first of all, i like the video more than i thought i would. and i don't necessarily think it's that i don't like the video -- i just can't get past the fact that howie now has music videos! it boggles the mind ... but nonetheless, i was thoroughly tickled to see that howie's wearing the same outfit he wore for the mhz taping/fairfax tori show (the black shirt i love and ... beth, take particular note ... the jeans! hehehe ... we're horrible. i love it).
this has just been a fabulous weekend. it's been sunny and warm for the past two days and i have adored walking around outside with my sunglasses on, warm breeze blowing the hair back from my face -- the whispers of approaching spring teasing me and adding to my sense of anticipation of delightful spring. it just makes things feel so happy -- everyone is smiling more, there's more of a bounce to people's steps and bodies and spirits are infused with positive energy. it's infectious and i cannot wait to be able to walk outdoors without a jacket, to sit in the sunshine during the days and wander the streets languidly during the warm and relaxing nights ...
but i digress. after a thoroughly delightful day and night last night, i've been relaxing today -- making phone calls, laughing with chloe about the evening's escapades (hello kelso) and doing the standard, run-of-the-mill sunday chores with above average enthusiasm. i was practically skipping up wisconsin (yes, it's wisconsin, not 355! TAKE THAT! haha) on my way to grocery shopping today. i'm silly.
i believe tonight includes the SAG awards, relaxing with chloe & nicole and take-out of the asian persuasion -- either chinese or thai. mmm ... what can i say? these kinds of days are the days everyone is supposed to have, at least from time to time. :-)
and now to the gym to burn off some energy!!!
first of all, i like the video more than i thought i would. and i don't necessarily think it's that i don't like the video -- i just can't get past the fact that howie now has music videos! it boggles the mind ... but nonetheless, i was thoroughly tickled to see that howie's wearing the same outfit he wore for the mhz taping/fairfax tori show (the black shirt i love and ... beth, take particular note ... the jeans! hehehe ... we're horrible. i love it).
this has just been a fabulous weekend. it's been sunny and warm for the past two days and i have adored walking around outside with my sunglasses on, warm breeze blowing the hair back from my face -- the whispers of approaching spring teasing me and adding to my sense of anticipation of delightful spring. it just makes things feel so happy -- everyone is smiling more, there's more of a bounce to people's steps and bodies and spirits are infused with positive energy. it's infectious and i cannot wait to be able to walk outdoors without a jacket, to sit in the sunshine during the days and wander the streets languidly during the warm and relaxing nights ...
but i digress. after a thoroughly delightful day and night last night, i've been relaxing today -- making phone calls, laughing with chloe about the evening's escapades (hello kelso) and doing the standard, run-of-the-mill sunday chores with above average enthusiasm. i was practically skipping up wisconsin (yes, it's wisconsin, not 355! TAKE THAT! haha) on my way to grocery shopping today. i'm silly.
i believe tonight includes the SAG awards, relaxing with chloe & nicole and take-out of the asian persuasion -- either chinese or thai. mmm ... what can i say? these kinds of days are the days everyone is supposed to have, at least from time to time. :-)
and now to the gym to burn off some energy!!!
bwahahahaha
nothing like the feeling of setting out for a night of debauchery and having debacuhury occur.
hehehehhehehe. i love the coming of springtime. what a lovely day, all in all. warm sunshine, chipotle, laughter, fun times in the evening and a fun night. i'm forgetting for teh moment the fact that it'll be colder again come monday. it's saturday night, it's warm, people are happy and i am happy. that's all that is important at the moment.
leaving love. leave love in return.
nothing like the feeling of setting out for a night of debauchery and having debacuhury occur.
hehehehhehehe. i love the coming of springtime. what a lovely day, all in all. warm sunshine, chipotle, laughter, fun times in the evening and a fun night. i'm forgetting for teh moment the fact that it'll be colder again come monday. it's saturday night, it's warm, people are happy and i am happy. that's all that is important at the moment.
leaving love. leave love in return.
3.07.2003
WHOOO HOOOO!
while the productions have not yet been announced (supposed to be today), the fact remains that there's a week set for ACTF action, kennedy center-style!
april 14-19 at the john f. kennedy center for the performing arts! there will be actors, there will be technicians, there will be designers and there will be CRITICS!!!!!!!!! i need to email dan and see if anyone from the old gang will be back -- not to mention that i need to email mark to make sure he'll be back! i definitely want to meet up with everyone -- only about a month and a half away! i imagine they'll hit up the shakespeare theatre again...they'd be seeing richard III, which is pretty snazzy...
i also signed up for volunteering at the shakespeare theatre free for all this summer and got a response from the person who heads that up promising to send me info in april about it and telling me to contact her with any questions and whatnot, so i'll probably give her a call next week to introduce myself. ok, so i'm going a little crazy with volunteering at the moment, but i also signed up as a potential usher at both the shakespeare theatre and arena stage. whoops! i don't know what it is, but i just feel this huge need right now to get back into the arts -- and the opportunities are there, in whatever capacity, so why not, right? :)
while the productions have not yet been announced (supposed to be today), the fact remains that there's a week set for ACTF action, kennedy center-style!
april 14-19 at the john f. kennedy center for the performing arts! there will be actors, there will be technicians, there will be designers and there will be CRITICS!!!!!!!!! i need to email dan and see if anyone from the old gang will be back -- not to mention that i need to email mark to make sure he'll be back! i definitely want to meet up with everyone -- only about a month and a half away! i imagine they'll hit up the shakespeare theatre again...they'd be seeing richard III, which is pretty snazzy...
i also signed up for volunteering at the shakespeare theatre free for all this summer and got a response from the person who heads that up promising to send me info in april about it and telling me to contact her with any questions and whatnot, so i'll probably give her a call next week to introduce myself. ok, so i'm going a little crazy with volunteering at the moment, but i also signed up as a potential usher at both the shakespeare theatre and arena stage. whoops! i don't know what it is, but i just feel this huge need right now to get back into the arts -- and the opportunities are there, in whatever capacity, so why not, right? :)
3.06.2003
in honor of yesterday's doctor appointment, i present this bit of humor.
what a random day that was had yesterday ... but a good one, all in all. the randomness was/is a good thing -- much as going to the doctor is never fun (not exactly what i would select as a rockin way to spend a morning), there's such a statisfying feeling when you actually do go -- particularly when leaving the doctor's office. a feeling of satisfaction over getting checked out and feeling healthy and all that jazz. i was very fortunate to have a fantastic doctor -- i definitely want to keep him as my general practitioner (there's always that worry about having a negative experience with a new doctor and feeling uncomfortable) and whatnot ... so yay. i still hate doctors (well, going to them, not the doctors personally), but at least it wasn't as bad as it COULD have been.
the rest of the day was this odd sort of high-energy/low-energy afternoon. after walking to the office in the gorgeously balmy, spring-like weather yesterday provided (fear not, those still in the frozen north -- it's supposed to be nice and cold again tomorrow) and seeing the typical wednesday hustle and bustle on 1st st that i never experience, as i'm always at my desk, the phones were ringing steadily and i was trying to catch up, while most in the office were suffering from the "ohmigodwhatalongweekthishasalreadybeen" frustrations. it rubbed off on me a bit, but i also had a rush of "hi, i just got here for the day" energy that created an interesting little juxtaposition of adrenaline and fatigue. yes, i think everyone here is certainly looking forward to the weekend. yes indeed.
but i made it through, as i always do, and now i am happily realizing that it is thursday, which means it's almost friday, which means it's almost the weekend. revelrevel! i sense a nice, enjoyable weekend coming on, regardless of what events wind up on the radar ... i know that a chipotle introduction is in the works, which brings me joy, and there will certainly be some form of debauchery or another. not to mention i just found out that martin sexton is playing at the 9:30 club on april 7th, so i think i'm going to be able to have my introduction to all that is that club shortly before ben kweller hits the stage there on the 16th! all this, however, depends on whether i will be graced with the presence of one ms. rebecca during mid-april (WHICH I SINCERELY HOPE IS THE CASE!!!! not like i'm excited about the prospects or anything). that coupled with my tentative plans to be cultured with my roommate and see "book of days" at arena stage sometime next week makes me feel as if i'm finally taking my first steps into the dc arts scene (well, since becoming an area resident, anyway). and i have a family visit approaching in during the first weekend in april, during which we will be expanding the zone of familiar space when we take on baltimore for a red sox game at camden yards! (i suppose i should say an orioles game at camden, but let's face it -- you can take the girl out of new england, but you can't take new england out of the girl)
so let's see -- other randomness to report? not much -- just kind of getting through the week. first official performance review tomorrow morning, but i'm very confident, as i've already been told that i'm doing a great job. so that's about it -- now time to return to the phones, flags and scheduling duties that make up my day ... fun times in dc-land, i tell you...
not to mention that i know i have
what a random day that was had yesterday ... but a good one, all in all. the randomness was/is a good thing -- much as going to the doctor is never fun (not exactly what i would select as a rockin way to spend a morning), there's such a statisfying feeling when you actually do go -- particularly when leaving the doctor's office. a feeling of satisfaction over getting checked out and feeling healthy and all that jazz. i was very fortunate to have a fantastic doctor -- i definitely want to keep him as my general practitioner (there's always that worry about having a negative experience with a new doctor and feeling uncomfortable) and whatnot ... so yay. i still hate doctors (well, going to them, not the doctors personally), but at least it wasn't as bad as it COULD have been.
the rest of the day was this odd sort of high-energy/low-energy afternoon. after walking to the office in the gorgeously balmy, spring-like weather yesterday provided (fear not, those still in the frozen north -- it's supposed to be nice and cold again tomorrow) and seeing the typical wednesday hustle and bustle on 1st st that i never experience, as i'm always at my desk, the phones were ringing steadily and i was trying to catch up, while most in the office were suffering from the "ohmigodwhatalongweekthishasalreadybeen" frustrations. it rubbed off on me a bit, but i also had a rush of "hi, i just got here for the day" energy that created an interesting little juxtaposition of adrenaline and fatigue. yes, i think everyone here is certainly looking forward to the weekend. yes indeed.
but i made it through, as i always do, and now i am happily realizing that it is thursday, which means it's almost friday, which means it's almost the weekend. revelrevel! i sense a nice, enjoyable weekend coming on, regardless of what events wind up on the radar ... i know that a chipotle introduction is in the works, which brings me joy, and there will certainly be some form of debauchery or another. not to mention i just found out that martin sexton is playing at the 9:30 club on april 7th, so i think i'm going to be able to have my introduction to all that is that club shortly before ben kweller hits the stage there on the 16th! all this, however, depends on whether i will be graced with the presence of one ms. rebecca during mid-april (WHICH I SINCERELY HOPE IS THE CASE!!!! not like i'm excited about the prospects or anything). that coupled with my tentative plans to be cultured with my roommate and see "book of days" at arena stage sometime next week makes me feel as if i'm finally taking my first steps into the dc arts scene (well, since becoming an area resident, anyway). and i have a family visit approaching in during the first weekend in april, during which we will be expanding the zone of familiar space when we take on baltimore for a red sox game at camden yards! (i suppose i should say an orioles game at camden, but let's face it -- you can take the girl out of new england, but you can't take new england out of the girl)
so let's see -- other randomness to report? not much -- just kind of getting through the week. first official performance review tomorrow morning, but i'm very confident, as i've already been told that i'm doing a great job. so that's about it -- now time to return to the phones, flags and scheduling duties that make up my day ... fun times in dc-land, i tell you...
not to mention that i know i have
3.04.2003
i have a doctor's appointment tomorrow.
i hate doctors.
blech.
in other news, things are going alright -- busy busy busy, but can't complain too much. i'm talking with kevin this afternoon about my workload as of late, basically apologizing for not being able to do as much as i would like, but explaining that things are going nuts, trying to balance what is essentially two full-time jobs within the same nine-hour workday and, naturally, encountering difficulty when i try to maintain that balance (who would have thought, eh?)
but it's all good -- i'll get everything done, maintain my sanity, endure the doctor tomorrow and come out on top.
i'm going to try to make phone calls tonight to re-establish contact with the people in my life -- so expect calls!!! other than that, thanks for the love and i'm sending it right back, yo!
i hate doctors.
blech.
in other news, things are going alright -- busy busy busy, but can't complain too much. i'm talking with kevin this afternoon about my workload as of late, basically apologizing for not being able to do as much as i would like, but explaining that things are going nuts, trying to balance what is essentially two full-time jobs within the same nine-hour workday and, naturally, encountering difficulty when i try to maintain that balance (who would have thought, eh?)
but it's all good -- i'll get everything done, maintain my sanity, endure the doctor tomorrow and come out on top.
i'm going to try to make phone calls tonight to re-establish contact with the people in my life -- so expect calls!!! other than that, thanks for the love and i'm sending it right back, yo!
3.02.2003
i am home, having had a whirl-wind weekend adventure that took me...well...from albany to vermont, back to albany, back to vermont, around the southern vermont area visiting with friends and catching up and otherwise enjoying myself, then back to albany before coming back home.
yes, there appears, as far as my travelogue indicates, to be much love between myself and albany, eh? well, not necessarily so much, but it's all good.
my second-ever tori amos concert was absolutely, no-doubt-about-it, i'm-sitting-here-while-the-faerie-like-essence-of-tori-accompanied-by-the-beauty-of-a-real-glamourous-theatre-house fantastic. talk about a sensory experience -- granted i was tired and all from last week, but i just let the whole experience wash over me in warm waves of audio and visual bliss. *sigh*
it was beautiful and nice and warm (well, above freezing) in vermont this weekend and today was a glorious day in dc. walking up wisconsin for my grocery shopping, i enjoyed hearing music filter out onto the street from open car windows and various businesses, joggers braving the city streets and the puddles of almost-melted snow, everyone walking around with coats slightly unbuttoned, sunglasses on smiling faces -- what a wonderful welcome back.
that said, i am exhausted -- still trying to catch up from last week as well as trying to catch up from this weekend ... i am thrilled at the prospects of being in bed by 10:30 or 11 ... bliss!
leave some love, though!
yes, there appears, as far as my travelogue indicates, to be much love between myself and albany, eh? well, not necessarily so much, but it's all good.
my second-ever tori amos concert was absolutely, no-doubt-about-it, i'm-sitting-here-while-the-faerie-like-essence-of-tori-accompanied-by-the-beauty-of-a-real-glamourous-theatre-house fantastic. talk about a sensory experience -- granted i was tired and all from last week, but i just let the whole experience wash over me in warm waves of audio and visual bliss. *sigh*
it was beautiful and nice and warm (well, above freezing) in vermont this weekend and today was a glorious day in dc. walking up wisconsin for my grocery shopping, i enjoyed hearing music filter out onto the street from open car windows and various businesses, joggers braving the city streets and the puddles of almost-melted snow, everyone walking around with coats slightly unbuttoned, sunglasses on smiling faces -- what a wonderful welcome back.
that said, i am exhausted -- still trying to catch up from last week as well as trying to catch up from this weekend ... i am thrilled at the prospects of being in bed by 10:30 or 11 ... bliss!
leave some love, though!
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