Doing a little driving

I drive the same route out of DC every day. Left out of the parking garage into an alley with a dump truck that says "Tenleytown Trash." How does an independent dump-truck company stay in business? Left on Kenyon into the heart of the never-ending construction. The same women every day holds the sign that says "slow." I wonder what it is like to know that you could be replaced by a bucket of sand. Why has she worn a turtleneck sweater everyday since the beginning of the summer? Left on 14th Street. Why do they even bother putting the "no left turn sign" up? Cruising past the new park on the left--which may or may not be named after Barack Obama--I wonder why it closed for a few weeks after its grand opening for what appeared to be a complete renovation. I am sure a consultant/former girlfriend of Marion Barry was involved. Next comes the gas station with the worst coffee in the world and Clifton Terrace. Rumor has it that the boys and girls from this apartment complex are beefing with some young'ens from another complex on Girard. What could the issue be? Do they even remember? Down the hill and approaching U street the traffic usually gets a little wacky. Bicyclists rocket down the hill past the McDonalds that was recently closed for a health code violation and traffic snarls as cars and buses navigate turning with pedestrians and no turn lane. Evasive manuevering and to the other side of U past the cleaning crews lining up for their shifts. Poorly timed lights lead to stopping at P and waiting only to stop again at Florida and contemplate a parrallel park & pit stop at Caribou Coffee. Florida passess and Thomas circle is ahead. A few mornings a week the ambitious and dedicated are running up the steps at the the National Christian Church. WTOP tells me that I-270 is backed-up and god help you if you are on I-95 heading into the city. Left on M street and two more Caribou coffees and one Edible Arrangements (gross?) later I cruise by Steph's work after a left on 19th. A quick exit and kiss from my passenger and its a right on K. Under a traffic circle, possibly running a light and left towards the Watergate. The homeless shanty town under the overpass is really impressive. It's not that its vast but rather that the small area appears to have several tents that are interconnected. I believe that one person has made their own personal mansion in this little space. Why do the cops never mess with this particular District denizen? Oh well, on the highway now crossing the Potomac. Rowers cut through the water on their early morning routine. I think back on my time rowing, realizing that no matter how little I miss it, some of the most surreal and serene moments I've experienced were on the water. With the Potomac behind me, the buildings of Rosslyn take up the view. All I know for sure about Rosslyn is that it is the Las Colinas of Northern Virginia and that it's best avoided.

How We Spend Our Time...

Have you ever thought about the amount of time you spend doing each activity of your daily life? I know it is a question I have pondered more frequently... mostly since realizing how much time of my life is now spent at work. Below is a link to an amazing graph illustrating how people over age 15 spent their time in 2008.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/07/31/business/20080801-metrics-graphic.html

It is especially cool to see how the graph changes as you click on different demographic breakouts.

Just a little food for thought :)

P.S.- is it the weekend yet??!!

Some Favorites....

Okay- so to get me through any slow day (in this case a Monday) I turn to one of my new favorite jams. Something about this song just makes me happy and energized- I also have a very fun desk dance that gets the blood moving. The band is called Passion Pit and while the song below (Sleepyhead) is my favorite- their whole new album is amazing.




Another fun find is this crazy wedding video- I am sure most of you have seen it by now since it was all over the place, but in case you haven't here it is. I love the idea of making the ceremony personal and more of a celebration.



Lots to do this week before my sister comes into town on Thursday! So excited... maybe my next post will be a full menu of options for visitors to choose from when they come visit Kev and I. Especially since I just found out that Em and Amber are coming in Oct- so excited about that as well!!

P.S.- I love secrets :)