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!