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Entry the Three Hundred and Forty Eighth03 September 2001 Home As I have gotten more involved with this ANC Task Force Committee, I have wanted to get more involved than I have been in the past, up to and including running for the two year term for the new Single Member District seat that will be created for next fall's election. What this would mean, however, is that I would have to live here in this apartment for at least the next three years, or that I'd have to find an apartment very close to this building - the new SMD is very geographically compact. So, I face turning this "temporary" apartment into one in which I will live for at least half a decade. I've been here two years now, and the additional three might end up turning into even longer than that. I've always looked at this one bedroom as someplace that was a stepping stone up to something more, and it will be, but it appears I'll be resting here a bit longer than planned. What this means, practically, is a big shift in my thinking about where I live. No longer is this simply the stepping stone, but it is, indeed, my home, and should reflect who and what I am. Which means I need to pay a tad more attention to the decorating and furnishing of this place. I mean, it's comfortable here, and I have sufficient furniture, but it still seems to have that "post-graduate student/dorm" look to it. Which was fine when I was escaping from The Ex, but no longer. I mean, milk crates were fine as bookshelves then, but I'd really like something a tad nicer in the place now. So, this is home, and it will be home for a while now, and it's time to take more of a look around, get things fixed, get stuff organized, and generally make this place much more a place where I want to stay, and in which I will feel comfortable. Archives |
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Entry the Three Hundred and Forty Ninth05 September 2001 Meetings 01/9/5 8:38 a.m. Couldn't seem to cool off enough to sleep well last night. Did get some rest, but perhaps not as much as I'd have preferred to get. Been having a difficult time getting a room reserved for the meeting our subcommittee is supposed to hold this evening. The constituent services folks have been less than helpful the past few days, perhaps due to the imminent move back to City Hall. The District, in one of our fiscal crises, had lost control over the building considered to be our City Hall. We've finally gotten it back and voicemail recordings indicate that the move is to take place this weekend. Still no excuse not to call a constituent, however, and the message I left last night left no doubt that I was pissed as all hell about it. Basically I told them that if I had to call a fourth time to get a room reserved I was going directly to the Councilmember with my complaints. Barring being able to reach my Councilmember, I'll call the Council Chair, the Chair of the Committee on Redistricting, and anyone else I can possibly get to annoy my own Councilmember. Do not annoy me, I will be a pain in the ass until I get the service owed to me. It especially galls me because I work in government and I would never let one of our customers hang like this, especially if they'd clearly stated that they had a deadline. Grrr. ... Does seem to be cooler here in the apartment tonight, so I'm hoping I'll get some rest tonight. Had the meeting, got the room, and we had to schedule something for Friday, which of course throws off my entire weekend. Shit. Thankfully the task force ends in a month when we have to make our final report (which is going to mean a ton of work the last week, I'm sure). This is out of the ordinary, I've gathered, from the normal spate of meetings for ANC stuff. I do enjoy it, but I like a tad more stability in my meeting times, especially when I schedule other things around it. I'll live, but will just be mildly annoyed when I stop to think about it. ;-) Archives |
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Entry the Three Hundred and Fiftieth06 September 2001 Cooler 01/9/6 9:00 a.m. I'm not ready for it to be cool in the mornings again. Normally the cool weather heralds comfortable nights where slacks are the norm and fashion changes back to long-sleeve shirts. That and running warms you quickly but leaves you comfortable in the process. It requires more of a mental preparation than I've had this year, though. We seem to have cooled down overnight over the holiday weekend, with no preparation for it whatsoever; we got into the weekend and suddenly daytime temps were only hitting the low 80s, with nights spiraling down into the 50s. A more orderly and less sudden transition to early autumn would have been appreciated. I enjoy the change of seasons, though I'll admit I prefer the heat of summer over the rest, so it will be nice to have the change in leaves, to run in the fall weekend morning races, to feel the air turn cooler, crisper. But let's wait until October or so for that, okay? ... Running late this morning because of my morning run. Made it a short one, but had gotten up late as well. I'll stay late to make up for it, so no loss, but it's mildly annoying. Not exactly a stress-free way to start the work day. Ah well. :-) Today is going to be a numbers and spreadsheets kind of day anyway, so it's not like I'm hugely motivated to be there early. ;-) Once the one spreadsheet has been designed it'll make life easier for this process next year when I'm not here, but designing it to be transparent will be a bitch today. ... Short summary 'cause I've got to get sleep now. I got home after making multiple copies of the big Ward Census map, ate, was chatting online and got invited down to join Doug and a friend to play Scrabble. Went down, we played two games, then off to bed with us. ;-) I'd not have thought Scrabble an aphrodisiac, but I suppose it was. Anyway, I'm off to get sleep, then up to work and off to my meeting tomorrow evening. Night! Archives |
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Entry the Three Hundred and Fifty First07 September 2001 A Slow Hand 01/9/7 8:37 a.m. I don't think I'd seen anyone actually flounce before, but the prostitute who lives in my building was definitely flouncing as she was walking back to the building past the bus stop this morning. Fascinating. I'm dragging the maps I had copied yesterday with me this morning, with the plan that I'll go directly to food and then the meeting this evening after work. The meeting will go better if I can get some work done on the maps beforehand, so that'll be the plan (I hope!) Last night's game of Scrabble was quite nice. We played two games, then curled up on the loveseat, then meandered back to sprawl out on the bed before gently beginning to explore. It was especially nice to start out so slowly and build up gradually to a very relaxed session. No immediate rush to orgasm, no hurry to complete anything, just a nice time seeing what made everyone tick. This is not to say that I don't enjoy a hot & heavy, intense session of very physical sex, far from it, but the change in pace was good, and fit the mood of the evening. The memory of hands lightly brushing over my skin still lingers this morning. *contented sigh* An experience to be savored, and perhaps explored again. Archives |
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Entry the Three Hundred and Fifty Second09 September 2001 A Slow Burn Managed to give myself a nice burn on my neck and upper arms today at Adams Morgan Day. :-) It was worth the time spent wandering around, though. Met Slide, the gentleman from Thursday's Scrabble game, and we wandered around together, checking out the booths and food and what not. The highlight of the experience had to be getting cruised by Ronald McDonald, though. LOL! That was such a trip. Did get a chance to see many of the folks from the Task Force while I was out, which was nice. I'm getting a better feel for the people and where they fit in and what not now, which I like. Came home, chatted some online, then decided to go for a run. The latest Runner's World magazine had a good article on heart rate training, showing how I've been trying too hard on my stuff, so I did a nice 30 min 5k while trying to stay within 65-75% of my max heart rate. That was tough! Took a while to build up to it, then staying below the 75% mark was tough to maintain. It was a good run, I don't feel too fatigued, so it was probably at just the right effort level. I'll have to be more vigilant at keeping to that, and try to improve it gradually. I've been overtraining, and it's showed in how I've not wanted to get out and run of late. After running I was chatting online and I met a lovely couple, we'll call them MP2, here in the neighborhood. They have an absolutely gorgeous house, and a sweet little dog. Went over for cocktails this evening after I got cleaned up, and really got along well with them. I look forward to chatting more with them. And now, is time for bed so I can try to bike in tomorrow morning! Archives |
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Entry the Three Hundred and Fifty Third12 September 2001 What a mess Well, three days since the last entry and the world in DC has turned upside down and is settling back down again. I must say, the thing that annoys me the most about this is the overuse of phrases that begin to lose their power through that same overuse. "Pearl Harbor," "like an atomic bomb," and "a day that will live in infamy" continue to be thrown around so frequently that I begin to wonder if they will go the way of "-gate" and the like on other public events - quoted, but annoying and without any real meaning past a bit of cliche. It would be sad that a moment like Pearl Harbor would be cheapened. Yes, there are some similarities, but this is not the same situation. Let it garner its own phrases and cultural references, don't borrow those of events which are not the same. And the music melody I heard in the locker room today after work as I changed into biking clothes to head home (not quickly enough!) with the multiple sound bites edited in over the music was just in horrendous taste. It's not the most intellectual radio station they play anyway, but c'mon! How asinine. Anyway. Went to work, after leaving Doug's place at 5-something this morning, heading home via Metro, then biking down to work. With the street closings in DC, I don't trust the bus routes quite yet to get me there in time. Biking to work seemed the most reasonable way to get in. And certainly the best for me, especially given the relative lack of traffic on the Parkway (less exhaust to breathe in!). It was a tad chilly this morning - I found myself wishing for longer tights instead of shorts as I started out, though of course shorts were much better for the commute home in the evening. I keep debating on my next bicycle purchase and that may have to be it - tights! ;-) Won't be needed quite yet, and if it's truly cold out, I have my fleece running tights, but it's nowhere near cool enough for that. Part of it is living where I do at the edge of the nice, cool park (as opposed to the nice, warmer downtown area). Work itself was quiet. Trying to get through things, yet try and keep up on news, too. It was difficult to get a ton of stuff done, but I did go in, and I did get some things done, so it wasn't a total waste. At least I didn't use up any of the leave I want to use as the year comes to a close. I've also hesitated to call the other Big Government Agency to which I've applied, as I suspect their folks are just as flustered. This reminds me, eerily, of the summer I was to start my internship and couldn't call the gentleman who hired me because he was swamped with the African Bombings. I want to see what's up, but I don't want to bug them overly given the circumstance. I'll try to call tomorrow - I think that'll be a better day than today would have been. Anyway, time for this boy to get some sleep now and get ready to face the mess that we'll have tomorrow. Archives |
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Entry the Three Hundred and Fifty Fourth13 September 2001 Traffic Now we've got bomb threats here in DC, which has necessitated a security perimeter around the White House and the Capitol. They've flown the Vice President off to Camp David. But more importantly to my life here in DC, they've closed multiple streets through which my bus must travel to get to work and home. Fuck. It took me almost two hours to get home on the bus this evening. I should have walked. I was not in a mood to go out and be social this evening, so I stayed in. Stayed in after I got home, changed, biked down to City Bikes for some supplies (a new pump and some tubes, in this case), then to the grocery store for things for dinner tomorrow (making Doug a birthday dinner!), then back home. Got home, unpacked groceries, cleaned the dishes and put them away, then made myself a drink and hopped online. When I got home this evening off the bus, I was greeted with a HUGE flag over the awning of my building. They must have just purchased it, because it's never out for other appropriate occasions, like the 4th of July or Flag Day in June. I just get so annoyed at these conspicuous displays of patriotism. They remind me of those people who feel that they have to talk about what wonderful Christians (or Jews, or Muslims, or Buddhists or whatever); the constant display of "look at how good a [whatever] I am!" is just weird. I suppose because I have some part in the investigation of these crimes since I do work for a Big Government Agency with a role in this I don't get the patriotic sentiment that will come out from people who wave the flag because they have nothing better to do and want to express some sort of support. It's just strange. And now I've rambled on enough. I need to get some sleep so I can bike in tomorrow. I don't care if it's raining tomorrow, I am still biking in. I have rain gear and I am NOT going to deal with a vehicle with these street closings. So biking it is, until this madness calms down. Archives |
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Entry the Three Hundred and Fifty Fifth16 September 2001 Weekend Let's see. Since last I wrote several things have happened:
A good weekend, overall, I must say. :-) Doug actually just left. He came over to snuggle some before we ended the weekend. I just walked him and my bike down to Metro, then rode home. Was good to see him again. His party yesterday was awesome - great mix of people, everyone got along just great, and the space was perfect for it. I sipped Jack and Coke all night, which did not leave me with a hangover (either from the caffeine or the alcohol) to my amazement and delight this morning. Was good to see the boys who showed up, most of whom I knew. We know each other's friends, and both groups approve of the others, so... :) Before that, we had the public hearing for the redistricting and after having several alternate plans presented and hearing some of the folks testify, afterwards I chatted with either side of the problem area and got them to agree to come to an understanding as a group this week (i.e., to actually talk to each other for once!) and then present that to the committee this Friday at our last meeting so the report can be done and over with in time to turn it in next week. Thank heavens! After the party, I wandered over with a friend to Secrets/Ziegfields (I can still faintly see the outline of the S/Z stamp on my hand) and watched the shows, drag and strip, and danced some. Managed to pick up a monster bruise on my right forearm somewhere or another. It's lovely to look at (not!), and a tad tender, but a small price to pay for a wonderful evening. Ran into a friend from online whom I'd not seen in ages, and chatted some with him a couple of times before we ran down to Nation to catch a cab with some lovely young'uns (big "X"s on their hands from being under 21) back to home. Brunch with RNJTM this afternoon once I got up and got going. Met his new man, who was tres cute, had wonderful food, then rode back home, talked with Doug, and asked him to come over here as I still needed to do massive work on the dishes and what not. Archives |
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Entry the Three Hundred and Fifty Sixth17 September 2001 Nightmare I saw my nightmare yesterday while snuggling on the couch with Doug. I was reading the local section of the paper and at the end, where the obituaries are, the lead obit was one entitled, "Martha Smith, 73; Budget Analyst." (not her real name or age here) I saw that and just had a fit, as "Budget Analyst" is my official title with the Big Government Agency (BGA), though I act as their attorney advisor. I just don't want to be in this position any longer. I wanted to call the other BGA to which I submitted several applications for attorney positions last month, but got swamped today. This is just a bad time for us, here at the end of the fiscal year, with all kinds of new political appointees coming on board and wanting to know this that and the other (New Appointee: "But we could buy those when I was in private practice!" Moi: "Yes, ma'am, but that was when you were in private practice. Welcome to the Federal Government."). Joy. I will call them tomorrow, though. I gotta get the heck out of here!!! And yes, I did have another bad day, and that's why this has come up again. :-) But hey, I got my laundry done this evening, so today wasn't totally wasted. Clean sheets! ;-) Archives |
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Entry the Three Hundred and Fifty Seventh23 September 2001 Dreadful I did something tonight that I've never, ever done before. I walked out of a play at intermission. True, I was with friends who wanted to leave, but this play, Agememnon and his Daughters was so terribly dreadful in its writing and execution that, had we been able to do so gracefully, I suspect we would have left earlier. It was an amalgamation of several Greek plays, attempting to make them all fit together. Unfortunately they took the term "chorus" in its literal, modern sense and there was actual singing going along with all of this. I think the four moments when it just hit rock bottom were: 1. When Agememnon, upon returning triumphant from Troy, essentially whined at his wife (who then killed him off stage) and had a kind of lisp going there; 2. When the "crimson" carpet was day-glo pink; 3. When the chorus was attempting to dance seductively and wasn't pulling it off; 4. When Kassandra had to sing and act Turkish and ended up looking like a drag queen attempting to do African dance. This was worse than watching a high school play. I can't imagine what the director was thinking this time around. No wonder the audience was only half full. We also saw several other people leaving at intermission with us. ... Other than the dreadful play I've had a wonderful weekend. The redistricting stuff is done (hooray!), I cooked a fabulous dinner of roasted butternut squash and onions over pasta with roasted garlicky asparagus on the side for Doug on Saturday, and Lawrence and I and a friend of his had a wonderful dinner, before the dreadful play. Stood on Lawrence's building's roof and watched the city over a glass of wine. It was eerie not seeing the planes coming into National. The one plane we did hear, but never saw, was most likely a fighter jet doing patrol over the District. Welcome to the new America. Archives |
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Entry the Three Hundred and Fifty Eighth25 September 2001 Backing off/Coming back 01/9/25 8:39 a.m. I feel as though I had backed off so many of my good habits this summer and now it's time to reclaim them. It's like I let them slip just a bit and now I'm waking up to the effects. I am seeming to get more sleep, though not quite as much as I like. I've got far too much sugar and fat in my diet for my health and my exercise schedule, while still fairly good, is more than a bit haphazard. My writing in here has certainly been random and unpredictable as well. I feel shamed when I see folks who do manage to have their life together when mine seems to be in such chaos, as if this is all merely a matter of will power and that I could do and have it all, if I could just knuckle down. It's simultaneously inspiring and annoying. Perhaps it is but the mere perception of failure that drives me so crazy, yet perception is frequently reality, no? Anyway, I have a few things I can do to help with at least some of my concerns, so let's begin, shall we? ... 01/9/25 5:49 p.m. Today just plain dragged on in an endless stream of boredom. Did my work, posted some to my LiveJournal, and generally tried not to fall asleep. Managed not to spend the afternoon snacking too badly, mostly by chewing on Altoids when I got hungry. At 3 calories a pop they're a tad better than the sugar I'd normally pop. Now I'm tired but I still have to ride down to Doug's once he gets home. Well, maybe I do. I think given the late hour of his arrival I need to just reschedule our regular night to Wednesday. ... I did reschedule, sort-of. I'm headed over there now (quarter 'til 9), to snuggle and what not. My own parents are not exactly being saints at the moment and I suspect two nights (we're on for tomorrow, too) of good snuggling are what are in order to help break out of some of this. I'm glad we don't yet live together as we are better (at the moment) with separate space, but at times like this it can be a royal pain in the ass. Oh well. ArchivesRan 30 min in RCP to relieve stress after work |
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Entry the Three Hundred and Fifty Ninth26 September 2001 Family Troubles 01/9/25 9:11 p.m. On my way to Doug's place at the moment, waiting for the Metro train. I don't know the proper word for what I am feeling with regards to my parents' current marital woes. Furious comes to mind, but is a bit too harsh. Pissed (in the American sense) comes close. Sadness is part of it, of course. I suppose I need to backtrack. Summary version is that Dad is having a mid-life crisis, probably partially because of depression over his parents' deaths within the last five years, and he's gotten an apartment. Mom, who is more than a bit of a harpy at times, is understandably upset. I've not had much communication with either of them since this began because I really don't know how to respond. I can't give them legal advice, and I can't respond objectively to their situation, either. Seeing your parents fight is never easy, and less so when they're acting like, well, spoiled brats. So yes, I am angry at them. In the meantime, Doug's dealing with his own family woes (read it there, I shan't summarize), plus it's the most stressful week of the year where I work. Whee! Talk about your fun combinations. Anyway, I'm here, so time to log off. ... 01/9/26 8:39 a.m. Let's hope the third train here at Doug's place is the charm. Two have gone by with pretty much no room to squeeze in. The next one sees me get pushy. ... Did get on the third train and into work okay. Made the squash dish again, used up the last of the squash. Watched the premier of Enterprise and liked it, save the opening music. Not much else this evening past doing some snuggling. Doug's still understandably upset with his family stuff, as am I with mine, so the down time with no expectations was a necessity. Archives |
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Entry the Three Hundred and Sixtieth30 September 2001 Last Day/Full Moon I probably wrote something on my Palm on Friday, but whatever. :) I have now officially spent more on clothing this month than I did the entire last six months. EEck! Went to the Pentagon City Mall with Lawrence this afternoon to help him find some dress clothes and ended up getting a lovely rugby shirt and a sweater at Eddie Bauer and the Gap, respectively. I think that's the first time I've ever bought anything at the Gap - I never find stuff there I like, but this was half price and slimming, so hey. ;-) I managed to overcaffeinate myself this morning. I had a craving for coffee, so I indulged it. I think what I have in my kitchen is decaf, and after two Venti-sized cups of the stuff, I'm convinced it must be that because otherwise I'd have been much, much worse off than I was this afternoon. As it was I didn't want to eat (caffeine diet) until dinner, which was relatively moderate for moi. This next week is going to be odd. I turn 29 on Wednesday (yay me), I have stuff planned several nights this week, I need to do laundry. Ugh! It's going to be nuts, but I think it's going to be fun, too. New clothes, get to wear a suit to work on my b-day (I'm presenting at Georgetown Law School on the internship program I did to get into my Big Government Agency), and likely cake in there somewhere. :) Gotta love it. Looking forward to meeting Doug and his friend MAB for lunch and dinner on Tuesday. Should be fun!! In the meantime, I have a repeat visitor scheduled for tomorrow evening. ;-) I think I may focus a tad more on some of the repeats that I know are fun and with whom I know I'll have a pleasant time. I've enjoyed my playing of late, but I think I need to pull back some from the unknown. I feel worn out by some the experiences and it's time to withdraw somewhat, while still maintaining my usual, um, generous nature. ;-) Oh, almost forgot, went and picked out a cat on Saturday with Brian down at the DC Animal Shelter. I have to call on Tuesday to speak with them about a home visit and hopefully on Saturday I'll be able to get my new kitten (either the 8 month old or the 1 year old). Keep your fingers crossed! Archives |
