So… it occurs to me that I’ve lived in D.C. for more than six years now, and there still remain a number of places that I’ve been meaning to visit all this time, but, for one reason or another, have not. Earlier this year, I crossed the Library of Congress off my list, but far too many still remain.
I feel like if I publicly announce what those things are I stand a shot of actually doing them. And maybe some of you will want to do them with me.
Here, in no particular order, are ten D.C.-area places I’d like to see or things I’d like to do:
Head up to Bengie’s for a triple feature on the nation’s largest drive-in screen.
Climb up to the top of the National Cathedral’s bell tower. (This one may have to wait until 2010, as it seems I’ve just missed this spring’s open tower event.)
I know, I know! There are posts to be written, photos and stories to be shared. (And, in that spirit, feel free to listen to this week’s episode of Wait… Wait… Don’t Tell Me! Susan bought tickets and invited Julia, Sarah, and me to accompany her to the recording. I’ll can’t begin to guess how they squinched it down to an hour, but I can guarantee you’ll laugh at their antics.)
In the meantime, today is Rudi’s birthday and for his special day I want to clean the house. It’s a small apartment, which is the problem really. Or perhaps that we have too much stuff. Or that I have inherited my grandfather’s strong New England roots that dictate that anything that stops working should not be thrown out but, should, instead be preserved for days ahead when you might be able to fix/reuse/creatively change said broken item into something that does work and is usable. And, yes, I am aware that attitude works much better in a house with an attic, basement, and/or garage than it does in a tiny urban apartment. So I’m about to get down to it.
So, I’ll see you tomorrow, when it will be okay to return to stories. I hope none of them include scary things I unearth in today’s archeological dig…
And, if you’ve time, please stop by Rudi‘s blog and wish him a happy birthday. He’ll need it if he returns home before I’m done wielding broom, trash bag, and dust rag.
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Happy birthday to American icon Pete Seeger, who turned 90 on Sunday.
I have been lucky enough to see Pete several times. While the concert before Barack Obama’s inauguration, when the shot above was taken, was amazing, nothing will ever compare to the concert of 2001. Pete was due to perform as part of a music and politics festival at Wesleyan the night of Sept. 11. Understandably, the concert was postponed, but two days later Pete drove to Connecticut and performed before a room of people still reeling from the week’s events. We were broken and numb, hurt and alone, but, somehow, Pete, with his spry step and his banjo and his unshakable belief in the healing powers of music and community, forced us to sing away our heartsickness and enabled us to start moving forward. I will be forever grateful for that evening of grace-filled togetherness.
And in that vein, I offer you some of Pete’s music. If you know the words, he’d be delighted to know you’re singing along.
John Gorka’s birthday cover of Pete Seeger’s “The Water Is Wide”:
Smithsonian Folkways’ Birthday tribute video in honor of Pete Seeger:
Pete Seeger leads all of Madison Square Garden in the singing of “Amazing Grace” at his 90th birthday party/concert Sunday:
Happy birthday, Pete!
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It seems to have been a 24-hour bug. My stomach has been okay since around dawn, although I admit I didn’t tax it with anything more strenuous than Coke during the day and soup and black tea this evening. Tomorrow morning I’ll be brave with some cinnamon toast. I may even go all out and add some milk to my tea!
I slept all day and had another nap after Rudi went out on his weekly evening ride. My body suggests it’s about ready to call it a day now that I’ve been up for six hours straight.
The only lasting repercussions there will be from this illness is from fainting. Since I became an adult, my body seems to react to throwing up by passing out. Heretofore, it’s been after being sick, but last night I lost consciousness en route to the bathroom. I’m not sure where I hit my face — on the bathroom door, the bookshelf next to it, or the floor — but I will have a noticeable gash above my lip for a few days. I’m going to think of it as giving me a bit of rakish charm. I hit my front teeth and my nose, as well, and while they’re a bit sore, I don’t seem to have given either any lasting damage, thank heavens. Rudi also thinks I’m lucky I didn’t pull the bookshelf over on myself, since he says that the number of books pulled out from the shelf suggests that I tried to catch myself on it. I just think I was looking for something to read while I was lying there on the floor…
Thank goodness it was just a 24-hour bug. Imagine the damage I could do if it lasted 48 hours!
Sunday night always seems to sneak up on me. I mean, wasn’t it just Friday? Or at least Saturday?
But if anything my weekend was full.
After some Friday night bike fixes from Rudi (who totally rocks for keeping my bike going), I headed out Saturday morning to join Julia for a charity ride up to Bethesda. Now, the ride left early from Capitol Hill, which is across town from where I live. In the crazy world that is my head, I had no problem getting over there in time to leave for a ride that started before I arrive at work on a normal day. Reality is reality, though, and Julia came up with an alternative meeting point for me so I could meet up with them en route. I overdid it a bit, given that my knees were still feeling last week’s ride (the problem — a seat post that was inclined to sink as I rode — has been fixed), but by 1 p.m. I was home, having ridden 24 miles. I’m not sure if that’s a record for me, but, if not, it has to be close.
After a shower, lunch, and a chat with my family, I headed back out, opting to take a beach towel over to Rose Park where I planned to read, listen to my iPod, and knit. I found some dappled shade, pulled up some grass, and promptly fell asleep listening to the sounds of a live band performing nearby. I’d wake periodically, shift to a new side, and fall back into slumber. Despite the three-hour doze, I still was able to fall asleep last night. Maybe there’s something to this fresh air and exercise idea after all…
Today I headed to the farmers’ market, where I was able to bring home, among other things, the first rhubarb of the season. Then, because it was still a ridiculous 90-something degree day, I opted to stay inside and take care of some of the niggling chores I’d been neglecting. I felt better for it and eventually headed back outside in the late afternoon to run to the library and Trader Joe’s before ending up at the garden.
The radishes are still tiny, but one might guess they were radishes now. The lettuce are small, but sincere. I thinned them both out by bringing home a small handful of greens to make doll-sized salads for Rudi and me. I watered everything and then planted a few more seeds — additional peas and beans and some carrots, which may or may not grow.
I chatted with Grey Kitten and Rudi’s mom (in separate conversations), ate an ice cream cone, and watched Four Weddings and a Funeral while knitting and drinking tea to round out the weekend.
So it went by fast, but I spent a lot of time outside in the sun. That has to count for something right? Next weekend is the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, so I expect the fresh air weekend trend to continue then!
