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.