sprite writes
broodings from the burrow

February 15, 2008


my d.c.: return watching parties
posted by soe 8:22 am

This was supposed to be last week’s My D.C. post, but, well, I didn’t get to it. But since this week was the Potomac Primary, it was just as accurate this week as last for the area.

A Crowd Gathers

I thought I’d highlight something I’d never given any thought to before I moved down here: election return watch parties. Sure, I’d heard of campaigns having parties to await poll returns, but I didn’t associate it with something mere mortals do.

But here in D.C., politics is sport and is followed by regular folks in the same way they follow the Redskins and the Nationals (and with more interest than the local NHL franchise). So when days like this Tuesday and last (the Potomac Primary and Super Tuesday) roll around, people trickle into bars as the polls close to follow “the big game.”

Howard Dean on Super Tuesday

D.C. is the only place I’ve been where CNN is just as likely to be on the bar tv as ESPN. Sweetpea, John, Susan, Rudi, and I headed to Sweetpea’s favorite local Cap Hill dive, Trusty’s to watch results trickle in. Half the tvs were tuned to CNN; the other half were divided between basketball and hockey games.

Mason Jars of Beer and Good NewsThe Guys

Rudi, Sweetpea, and Susan all own iPhones, so they quickly hopped online to pull down results as they were updated. We hung out for more than three hours, drinking beer from Mason Jars, snacking, reminiscing (we all met during Howard Dean’s failed presidential bid last time around), and forecasting how the campaigns would progress. Sarah and I knit. And all around the city, people were doing exactly the same thing.

Category: dc life. There is/are 2 Comments.

February 14, 2008


pink sky, slippery, and late night phone calls
posted by soe 8:54 am

Three beautiful things from earlier this birthday week:

1. I awake at 7 a.m. on Sunday to use the bathroom. The sky glows pink in an otherworldly kind of way.

2. Because the sidewalks are slick between my polling place and the Burrow, I am shuffling along slowly enough to notice the tiny icicles that have formed on awnings, signs, and fences.

3. Rebs calls at one a.m. to say that she and Rick have booked their flight to Guatemala City in two weeks to go pick up their son and bring him home for the first time. When I heard the phone ring, I just *knew* it was her calling with good news.

What’s beautiful in your world these days?

Category: three beautiful things. There is/are 4 Comments.

February 13, 2008


heading north
posted by soe 3:41 am

I apologize for the blog being so quiet, but I’ve been busy. I’ve been working late a lot recently, trying to get things done so I could head north for our annual meeting without cause for concern. I’m not sure I’ve succeeded, but most everything seems to be under control and I think everything I failed to finish can be worked on from Boston.

Anyone see a potential problem?

I’ve also been frantically trying to finish my cardigan. Yes, the sweater that was supposed to be done for my trip to Denver, then for Thanksgiving, then for Christmas, and finally for the end of January is not yet complete. I have a few more inches of never-ending seaming to finish on the left sleeve, button and neck bands to add, buttons to attach, and a few loose ends to weave in from the seaming process. Ultimately, I’ll also need to block the heck out of the darn thing because I failed to comprehend how the sweater was constructed and the body is far shorter than I’d like. (Like four inches too short. Yes, really.) Any suggestions on how to accomplish that are greatly appreciated.

I’m not packed. In fact, many of the clothes I’m planning to take with me are currently on the drying rack. Perhaps I ought not to have waited for the rainiest day of the year thus far to dry things on a deadline. The good thing is that I have picked out the books and knitting projects I’m taking with me.

On the knitting front we have:

  1. The Every Day Cardigan — nearly done and hardly any knitting left to do on it
  2. Mum’s Christmas Monkeys — I’m so ashamed! I meant to have these done by today, but I’ve stalled with half a sock to go. (Sorry Mum!) These must come off the needles before I leave Connecticut next week.
  3. Lucy’s Shawl — my first real lace project (hats and socks notwithstanding) and made of luscious New England alpaca. Perfect for knitting in Boston and Somers.

Think that’s enough for a weeklong trip?

For reading material, accompanying me will be Walden (the next classic on Karen’s and my list), the first volume of The Chronicles of Chrestomanci (per Jenn’s long-ago recommendation), and The Uncommon Reader (which I hope will make me laugh and forget about the indignity of having to work on one’s birthday).

I’ve queued up some posts to carry us through until I get back to my folks’ house where I will be able to write more freely.

(Oh, and if anyone is looking for me on Thursday, call my cellphone, as I’ll be working, but reachable. I think.)

Category: life -- uncategorized. There is/are 1 Comment.

February 11, 2008


lol
posted by soe 11:55 am

This comic made me laugh aloud yesterday when reading the funnies. Ah the joys of being an English major!

I offer it today to you who may not read Frazz on a regular basis.

Category: life -- uncategorized. There is/are 1 Comment.

February 9, 2008


cookie monster meets marcel proust
posted by soe 1:13 pm

Yes, yes, My D.C. is late again this week. It’s on its way, I promise.

In the meantime, though, I leave you with a new link to a favorite childhood character:

NPR: Cookie Monster: A Sweet, Sensual Id, Unfiltered.

Make sure you watch the watch the interview. It’s a classic.

Category: life -- uncategorized. There is/are Comments Off on cookie monster meets marcel proust.

February 7, 2008


look ma!, dog owner, and classic movie
posted by soe 3:12 pm

I think getting up early this week has screwed up my timing. All day yesterday I looked forward to today being Friday. Bummer. But it does mean that I haven’t yet missed posting about three beautiful things from my week:

1. A woman wearing a business suit with a knee-length skirt rides past at lunch-time on her unicycle.

2. The local news has been reporting about a Secret Service caravan yesterday for Dick Cheney to take his dog, Dave, to the vet for a routine checkup. I don’t generally lavish compliments on the Vice President, but I have to say I find it charming that he doesn’t parcel out that task to an underling.

3. WETA, our local PBS affiliate, shows classic movies every Saturday night. This week was A Letter to Three Wives, which Rudi and I enjoyed. Coming up later this month will be Rebel Without a Cause and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, neither of which I’ve seen.

What’s beautiful in your life?

Category: three beautiful things. There is/are Comments Off on look ma!, dog owner, and classic movie.