Hains Point Loop- why is it closed?

This will likely mean nothing to the 3 or 4 people who might routinely read this blog, but if anyone out there on the world wide web knows why Hains Point is closed in the after 3PM every weekend and holiday all summer long, please shed some light. Is this just because it gets too crowded on the weekends? The makeshift gate extenders are going to keep walkers out as well, so I’m perplexed. I’ve been googling all morning and have come up empty. So, people on the interweb: Why is the Hains Point loop closed?!? It’s such a lovely little loop, and while I should get out there in the mornings rather than wait until the evening, sometimes I SLEEP IN on weekends, making this very unsavory. I can't be the only one who likes to ride her bike around in circles on a summer evening. What gives?

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Well, what do you know?

I got a letter the other day from the US Attorney’s Office (which, I admit, sparked a few moments of anxiety) informing me that a defendant in one of their open cases had confessed to robbing me. They explained that he had offered this confession as part of a plea agreement and was being charged with a couple accounts of 2nd degree robbery. As part of the agreement, he could not be prosecuted for the crimes that he committed against me, but I was encouraged to submit a “victim impact statement” to for the judge to consider prior to sentencing him for his other crimes. There was no specific mention in the letter of when or where the robbery occurred so as it was, I wasn’t sure exactly to which robbery this was referring. Was it the apartment break in? Bike theft #1? Bike theft #2? Perhaps one of three car break-in’s I’ve had prior to having my alarm installed? The only case I was pretty sure this wasn’t in reference to was my purse theft in Madrid (which, like DC, is a den of thieves!). Considering that bike theft #2 was the only one in which the thief was apprehended, I assumed that this was the case. But before creating my statement, I called the Attorney’s office for more information.

Well, what do you know? It was the guy who broke into my apartment (and stole two computers and a wedding band). I was shocked and delighted that they actually caught the guy! It is almost two years after the fact, but they actually caught him! Apparently he was caught escaping from some 4th floor balcony by a police officer passing by, and according to the attorney, he is quite a professional. His routine involved posing as an HVAC repair guy, complete with a fake van! (Okay, the van was real, the repair company logo on it was not).

I’m sure he’s caused significant heartache and financial loss for all of his victims, so I’m hoping that the judge won’t got too easy on him. I will now happily admit that the score of thieves who rob me in DC is Gina:1, DCPD: 1. Hooray!

What else is new in DC, you ask? Oh, you know, the usual. It has been hot as blazes here all week, with a slight break in the heat today at just 90 degrees. It is excellent popsicle weather, but that’s about it. Our house is a’buzz with air conditioning, yet our beautiful master bedroom with majestic vaulted ceilings and 4 fabulous south-facing windows remains very sweat-lodgy, which is neat. I’m thanking little baby Jesus that the Washington Sports Club down the street opened just in time, as it provides me with a highly air-conditioned environment in which to swim bike and run. Some day, maybe I’ll be able to ride my real bike* again….

But speaking of popsicles… I got a milkshake at Pot Belly today with my lunch because I’ve recently learned that in terms of wifely demerits, being 15 pounds overweight is no worse than squeezing the toothpaste from the bottom of the tube. At least according to this 1930’s husband and wife scoring system. Now all I have to do is stop being such a lazy sack of beans and make the effort to fix my hair and be perfumed and girdled before I start making breakfast every morning for my husband and by golly, I’d be a very superior wife indeed!

*Have I mentioned that I bought a big huge beach cruiser at Target to ferry me back and forth from the metro to my office? It is a beast and weighs about 50 pounds- possibly more with the rad chrome fenders and sweet basket I added. The bad news is that its upright seating position combined with my general dorkiness makes me look a lot like PeeWee Herman when I ride it to and from work. The good news is, it makes my road bike feel like a rocket!

Target: Women...Yogurt Edition

This is why I don't buy nice clothes.

I just spilled cold coffee, leftover from a meeting earlier today, down my pant leg.

It feels super, looks smart, and I smell like Yuban.

I'm looking forward to the coffee-induced chapped leg that I'll have by tonight.

Please watch.

Question of the Day

What's the deal with people/things that I like doing things that I don't like?!?

Example #1: http://wsucougars.cstv.com I went to the Cougar Athletics site today, because, apparently we're in the NCAA tournament, and I'd like to know more. You see, here in DC, it would seem that no one cares about or covers anything west of, oh, I'll say Fairfax Virginia. Once I'm at the site, I can't get rid of this annoying hovering pop-up-like ad for "tournament gear." (right, because I'm supposed to have both a home jersey AND an away jersey for game watching? Cripes.) I don't consider myself completely computer illiterate, so why is it so hard to get rid of this ad? It's blocking the site content and making me mad! Why Cougars, why?

Example #2: The deluge of e-mails from a Clinton family member (except, one the other day which was from Elton John) asking me to donate more money. I know it's a money raising game, but come ON. Can't we be gracious and just say thank you for what I've already given? Seriously getting a least 2 e-mails a day. These are almost getting to the point of ScarJo's "Please, vote for change" phone calls in terms of obnoxiousness. Why Hillary, why?

Question of the Day

Are there any Boeing Machinists out there who are capable of NOT using the phrase "bull crap" during national media interviews?


Follow-up question for tomorrow: Could someone --anyone-- with a vested interest in appealing the Air Force tanker contract to Airbus/Grumman please tell each and every Boeing Machinists to STOP speaking with media? I'm kind of thinking that they don't "sell" their ideas very well.

Bulb Watch 2008

I have officially gardened. I made an impulse buy at Costco this weekend- some bulbs. As in flower, not light. I was assuming that now is a good time to plant them, as they were for sale at Costco, and Costco is rad and wouldn't lead me astray, right??

Heck -if they don't bloom this year, there is always '09, yes?


I still need to prepare the dirt outside in the ground in order for it to support life, but last night, I planted some Begonia's in large pots. Some day, I hope to have these pots full of flowers on the front steps of my house. A girl can dream.

So, aside from playing classical music for and reading to my baby begonia bulbs, what can I do to make them flourish into productive members of my front porch? I'll be sure to post immediately if/when I see any signs of life.


I also pruned our rose bush. And when I say "pruned," I mean, "hacked away at."

Celebrities behaving badly

I was thumbing through my music collection to prepare for my 80's ski party this Saturday, and came to an old favorite- These Dreams by Heart. I was listening and thought to myself, "self, these vocals don't sound like the powerhouse that is Ann Wilson... is this Nancy?" so I went to the interweb to answer my question and came across something that really helped me wrap my mind around this whole BarackOmania thing that's going on. And by BarackOmania, I mean this fanatic cult following that has seemed to develop over Barack Obama. The recorded phone calls from Scarlett Johansson urging me to vote for change, the hipster celebrity montage videos, the trends of seemingly thoughtful and reasonable people throwing themselves to his cause in the manner of...born agains? Don't get me wrong, I think he's a good guy, but we are lucky enough at this point to have choices, and I don't think he is the best choice.

This video from Heart helped me understand. It reminded me that sometimes even good people can be lead into some seriously questionable decisions. I mean, you can't get much better than Heart. And the fact that the Wilson sisters made video # 1 helps me to keep perspective on the fact that some Generally Recognized as Cool Celebrities (GRACC) all participated in video #2, which- to be honest, seems like the precursor to a group cool-aid sipping session.

And I present Video #1. (enjoy!)


And video #2. (hopefully this will be funny some day too)



But perhaps the biggest lesson learned/reminder of the day is.... never forget that celebrities are just that.






On a side note: I think I'm going to use this as an excuse to stop watching Private Practice. It really wasn't all that good, and the Teevee rots your brain anyway. I'm probably going to still go see The Other Bolyn Girl though, because the book was such a fun read. But I'm going to have a problem getting over ScarJo. Thankfully, she plays opposite Natalie Portman, who should help me to enjoy the movie a bit more. The problem being that Miss Portman's character is going to be really hard to like.... What to do, what to do...

Happy Potomac Primary day!

I voted on my way into work rather than on my way home, so I could rock the "I Voted/ Yo Voté" sticker all day. There was an Obama volunteer outisde giving out donuts and she was like, "Thanks for voting! Do you want a donut?"


And I'm all: "Um, no- I'm a Dietitian. And I voted for Hillary. Peace out."


Okay- I didn't really say that, but after I got in my car and started driving away, I thought of how COOL it would have been if'n I DID.



(sorry, I just finished reading No Country for Old Men, so I'm feeling the need to use terms like "if'n" more often)

What will you do with your $600?

Word on the street is that red blooded, tax payin' 'mericans are getting tax rebates of $600 or so. Perhaps by June!

In keeping with the whole point of economic stimulus, we NEED to spend this cash-o-la! Hooray for spending!

So- I'm starting to think about what I'll spend mine on. How can I be most responsible and economically stimulating with this money?

Purchase a CSA farm share perhaps? Dine at locally owned restaurants and order domestic wines?

Yes, both good ideas.


But what about a weekend in Vancouver BC?? Perhaps a quick trip to Mexico?

On what will you spend yours?

The 'Hawks are Undefeatable...

Yes, please sing the above title to the tune of Robert Palmer's "Simply Irresistible." (you folks who remember that song on the radio get one gold star for living in Seattle in the late 80's. And listening to KUBE. Or was it KPLZ??)

It's that time of year again when people and radio DJ's in DC are saying things like "Seattle? Where is that? Do they even HAVE a football team?" with undertones of snottiness and some sort of lost legacy of football greatness.

Ever since a misguided trip to Hooters on Lake Union circa 2004, when I witnessed and entire family of Hawk people (seriously, even the baby was donning Blue regalia, and I think wearing a beak), I can attest that yes, Seattle DOES have a football team. Not only that, but crazy wacky football fans too. Am I one of them? I answer that with a resounding, "not necessarily." (I admit, I've never really cared much about professional football. Can you blame me though, I grew up in the era of Brian Bozworth.) BUT-- I sure as heck would cheer for the Seahawks more so that that OTHER football team that plays its home games in Seattle. Especially when they're playing the Red Skins. So on this occasion, I offer a hearty "Go Hawks!" to the team in the town that I love.

Here is a fun little article that I wanted to share from the Examiner. I like articles like this, that make it so easy to write off your opponents as total idiots. The comments about the rain and umbrella loss are almost too good to be true. So reminiscent of "But it was snowing! Whaaaa" that it makes my little heart flutter.

And what is this ihateseattle.com business? (No, I'm not even going to give him/her the gratification of a hyperlink.) A dumb little web page with only 4 inarticulate reasons to "hate Seattle"?!?! Please. Anyone worth reading could come up with a whole web SITE teeming with proper reasons to hate Seattle. Was this a lame attempt to copy whyihatedc.blogspot.com?

And I happen to like my Subaru very much. Jerkface.



PS- Is it just me, or does anyone else kind of feel icky when people refer to the Red Skins simply as "The 'Skins"?

Hi 2008! Let's have a fun year!

Happy New Year reader(s)! Why must blogging and exercising be things that I get really into for months at a time, then blissfully abandon? Don't answer that.

So it's 2008 which is just, well, awfully futuristic sounding to be the present year. But I'm dealing with it, and hoping that this year will have all of 07's pluck with a tad less of its yuck. Hell's bells, I should write for Sassy Magazine!

January 2008 not only marks the beginning of a new year, but also the beginning of my THIRD year in DC. Wherethehelldidthetimego?? I swear I just moved here. I'm still a hip and with-it Seattle type.... right? I know. I know that "hells no" is the only true way to answer that question, but I grasp at the possibility that I'm still a West coaster type (and by that, I mean all the good things about being a west coaster, none of the crap things). I still certainly feel like an east coast outsider. Not that DC is really "east coast" per say, but there sure are a lot of Pennsylvanians and New Jersey-ites around here. (I suppose the New Yorkers stay in New York?) But when I spend more than a few hours around Californians, or- dare I say, even Seattleites, I realize that... I'm not like them either. I'm not nearly politically correct enough or mercury-content-aware enough to fit in at their cocktail parties anymore. But I AM enjoying the Uptight Seattleite column in Seattle Weekly. It's probably been around forever, but I just started reading it.

Heck, maybe I just need to get over it and move to Eastern Washington.