Fridays, Jayhawks, & Survivor

So a few lamentations on Friday traffic in DC.  First, a recent study cited on Yahoo! Finance stated that DC's traffic increases 78% during the week from commuters and the like.  This was the highest increase in traffic from weekends amongst all cities surveyed.  Boston, I believe, was the second highest with about a 40% increase.  Fridays in DC, however, are great.  A commute that generally takes me over an hour can be done in no more than 45 minutes, door to door,  on Fridays.  Yet another great thing about Fridays! In case you're wondering why, it's because many government and management level staff working in DC take Friday off and make up for it by working longer hours during the week.  Additionally, many people telecommute.

Onto another matter.  I was at McFadden's, a local bar in Foggy Bottom, yesterday.  While chatting away and doing the 'hello' thing, I was gladly surprised to learn that a I was talking to a Jayhawk! Indeed I had into run into a Jayhawk without knowing or expecting it!  It was fantastic.  Seeing fellow Jayhawks in a land far, far away from Lawrence, Kansas, land of the mighty Jayhawks, is great - in fact, it's absolutely wonderful.  It makes me wonder if enemies on planet Earth would get along well on, say, planet Pluto if (or perhaps when) that happens.  Of course this isn't unique.  We all tend to be drawn to people with whom we have something in common, be it religion, ethnicity, race, gender, language, culture, nationality, etc.  People from the same states will bond together when they meet each other in distant lands.  The point: it's great to see Jayhawks anywhere and at any time.  Do say hi the next you see me around please!

On a final note, have you ever heard of die-hard 'Survivor' fans who listen to the show and not necessarily watch it?  A colleague just enlightened me with that piece of information. She, for some bizarre reason, can't get the picture on her television to work, but only her sound.  So, being the die-hard Survivor fan, she decided to listen to it since she couldn't watch it.  Perhaps a little too much! Although, if that were the case with Dr. UNH a.k.a. Mr. BOOYAH! , Cramer, I might do the same.   But, I haven't yet and that's key.

"Darn it!"

Have you ever had the "darn it" feeling when you hear that a celebrity is getting married or is married? It's as though you're banking on something happening between you and the celebrity! It's very silly, yet it seems as though there exists an element of hope many people, and that hope is dashed with such news breaks.

I know, for instance, of a couple people who are huge Kenny Chesney fans. When news broke that he was getting married, they were somewhat unhappy, and certainly saddened at least to some degree. Of course, it didn't necessarily ruin their day, but still had a split-second impact. Then, months later - as with most celebrity marriages - this one, too, ended. The reaction from these fans: "Yay!" Most absurd. But, perhaps not really.

It turns out that Terri Clark, a fine country singer whom I've watched live at the Grand Ole' Opry is married too. No surprise perhaps, but... darn it!

A beautiful morning experience

I woke up to the most beautiful morning yesterday. While difficult to describe in words as the view was absolutely breathe-taking, I'll make an attempt. Out of my high rise apartment, I woke up to a multi-colored a bright yellow horizon that gradually turned orange and then disappeared into the clear and cool bright blue sky. It was absolutely stunning... just wonderful!

More later.

And some more

I broke my 3rd glass in a month last weekend. Worse, I've managed to get a microscopic piece of glass in the my thumb in the clean up process. While it's not noticeable, I can certainly feel it! Does anyone know how to remove glass sharpnel from thumbs?

The dreary weather continues and I'll offer more thoughts on its impact on society inside the Beltway. The Metro needs a serious reformation. The buses are constantly late or, worse, they don't show up! This has happened on several occasions, but only when it rains. It's as though some rain angel comes down and takes the buses away! Although angels wouldn't make life hard, they'd add buses. Nevertheless, there's some gini that causes the Metrobuses to disappear when it rains. Any ideas why this happens? I often wonder if the head of the the WMATA is former FEMA director Brown's cousin or relative!

To the recent news about Ben S. Bernanke, the next Fed Chairman, I say this: an excellent decision.

Rain check!

This has to be quick, but a few thoughts about cold, rainy, windy and otherwise gray days - they build character. It's very interesting to watch people as they maneuver their way around in trying weather - as they dodge potholes of water and attempt to step strategically so as not to be splashed or otherwise ruin their morning wear. It brings the best in us, I think. It tries our patience as the cold wind sweeps across our faces in intermittent gushes, while the rain constantly follows in changing directions abruptly. Not only does this create a havoc for those with umbrellas but it poses a general challenge on the streets, which taken in perspective create a scene to be noted.

I also find that such fine autumn weather brings the best in people's accouterment and styles. Not only does one have to match more of their clothes with their belongings - umbrellas, bags, hats - but when you have to wear several layers of clothing and attempt to find the perfect fit of class and style amongst several combinations, it certainly works in bringing out one's creativity. Together, it seems that more people 'look' sharper and more professional, contrary to some hot summer days when sweat and stench loom amongst city dwellers. It's the mystery of the coat on people.

More to come...

The Capitol on a cold but clear winter evening. 

Still Life on the Washington Monument! 

Captured on the Potomac river across from the Jefferson Memorial on a beautiful Autumn evening (by a beautiful photographer!) 

A Turn Around

What a difference the bright yellow not-so-far away star, aptly named sun, makes to one's outlook on the world! Moreover, what a wonderful surprise to be awoken by a bright blue sky with a brilliantly radiating sun - quite a gift.

Evotional.com and theaterchurch.com are great.

-It is better to have an 80% plan 100% executed than a 100% plan 80% executed. -Paraphrased from the CEO of Pizza Hut as delivered by Pastor Mark. Definitely something to work on.

A run on the Mall and around Rock Creek Park is a definite this evening.

A cold rainy Autumn Saturday evening

I hardly watch baseball, but today's a little different - I'm actually watching the first game of the World Series - Sox v. Astros. I suppose the fact that I'm writing this means that I'm not giving the game my full and unwavering attention. Still, the fact that I have the game on and not CNN or some other news channel is a start. Plus, I've actually enjoyed watching it so far! I must say: Go White Sox! One of the better fan signs out there read: "Houston we have a problem... we are out of rocket fuel."

It's a rather dreary and gray Saturday. Certainly a great reason to stay in: thanks you tv for the World Series? What did people do hundreds of years ago? Many read, but at this time of the night, most were probably asleep as light was a luxury. How about those that didn't know how to read? No tv, no radio, no stereo, no internet, no electricity... we do have it easy these days.

Does there exist any technology to stop nail growth? I know there are mechanisms to halt or at least slow down hair growth. How about nail growth?