It's a Weird Day

I repeated that over and over again yesterday. 

To start off, work felt excruciatingly slow and boring.  I already spent all of last week cleaning my desk and getting ridiculously organized.  Yesterday I spent as much time as I could helping coworkers with their accounting woes, though those projects lasted no more than 10 minutes.  I moved to personal things and posted two blog entries, then set up dental and doctor appointments. 

There was a torrential downpour in the middle of the afternoon.  Wind gusts were up to 50 mph. 

I left work around 5:30 pm and got home just after 7 pm--this is twice the normal length of commute.  There was a problem with the red line.  The thousands of people on the platform groaned and complained in unison.  After about 20 minutes of announcing bad news, most everyone made a break for the escalators and started walking home up the Rockville Pike.  I like where I live; it's peaceful and beautiful with the bonus of plenty of parking.  However, I think my next residence must be within a bus ride from work.  Metro, I love you, but you're bringing me down.   

The power was out in our neighborhood from about 2 pm to midnight.  FHE kept us cool for a little while with waterballoon volleyball and ice cream sandwiches.  The rest of the evening involved trips to Popeyes for dinner, then to Taco Bell and McDonalds for power charging and to stay cool and then finally to the Ladies of Dorchester's house to use internet. 

I slept on the couch because it was still too hot from the A/C being off for two people to sleep in my room. 


beck

The Millenium Trilogy

I need to find a friend who has read The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo.  And then I need them to read this article to laugh with about it.  [Thanks for sending it, Mel!]  http://www.newyorker.com/humor/2010/07/05/100705sh_shouts_ephron

I wouldn't call the Millenium Trilogy my new obsession, but it is very intriguing to me.  I read the first book at the recommendation of a Borders cashier and I was enthralled.  I bought The Girl Who Played with Fire and read it a couple weeks ago.  Now I might have to spend a few nights in Barnes & Noble reading The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest because I'm not sure I can wait until it comes out on paperback to buy and read it. 


                    [Sweden]                                          [U.S.]                                             [France]

Just a few quick facts:

• the original title is Män som hatar kvinnor, which translates as "Men Who Hate Women"
• over 20 million copies of The Girl with the Dragoon Tatoo have been sold worldwide
• the publication and sales of the author's trilogy have all occurred posthumously

Both books I've read so far have made me feel both scared out of my mind to walk alone and yet amazingly empowered. 

beck

Tolstoy's Book of Mormon

My mom sent me this article. I found myself just as fascinated as she was with the supposed story of how he received a Book of Mormon. I can't help but wonder what he really thought of our faith and if he actually took the time to read it.

Tolstoy's Book of Mormon a gift from Brigham Young's daughter MormonTimes.com

beck

KK + BC in DC: Part 1

My lovely sister Kakalina came to visit me.  It was a much needed visit.  I needed a sister to love, argue with and cuddle.  I felt more at home in DC than I have probably since Kristen came out last year. 

I also think I took more pictures during K's visit than I have during the last year put together.  So here's some of the fun. 

First things first, we made delicious California-shaped sugar cookies.  Let it be known that we also made these beautiful and tasty treats without a mixer.  FYI, Hill's Kitchen by Eastern Market sells cookie cutters of most of the 50 states. 

San Diego got ate up.  ^^^^

K loved the Kennedy Center just as much as I do.  I wish we would have had time to see a good performance.  Isn't the Opera House chandelier incredible? FYI, the KC sells a Christmas ornament in the design of this chandelier, of which my mother is a proud owner. 

The Benjamin Franklin reception room.  After many attempts I finally made it in.  And of course they were setting up for an event so we couldn't really go in and look at the room.  One day I'll really get to go in.

At the George Mason Memorial behin the Tidal Basin.  It seems that this memorial is a well-kept secret. Did you know George Mason actually penned much of the language used in the Declaration of Independence? George Mason penned the Virginia Declaration of Rights.  Read both and you will easily discover the similarities.  And yet Georgie sits in the shadow of Thomas Jefferson's prominent memorial on the Tidal Basin.

She's staring at a dead fish.  For real.  Check it out below.

K did not want me to take this picture. 

Or this one.

Or this one.

Or this one.

Oh but she wanted me to take this one.  Can't you tell?

beck

Beloved Grandmother

Today we celebrated the life of my Grannie. She lived 91 years.  I already miss her so much. 

My favorite part of the services today was the song "Lord Accept our True Devotion."

Lord, accept our true devotion.

Let thy Spirit whisper peace.

Swell our hearts with fond emotion,

And our joy in thee increase.

 Never leave us, never leave us.

Help us, Lord, to win the race.

Never leave us, never leave us.

Help us, Lord, to win the race.

Help us all to do thy bidding,

And our daily wants supply.

Give thy Holy Spirit’s guiding

Till we reach the goal on high.

Ever guard us, ever guard us,

Till we gain the victory.

Ever guard us, ever guard us,

Till we gain the victory.

May we, with the future dawning,

Day by day from sin be free,

That on resurrection morning

We may rise at peace with thee,

Ever praising, ever praising,

Thruout all eternity;

Ever praising, ever praising,

Thruout all eternity.

Text: Richard Alldridge, 1815–1896

beck

Man of the Hour

It's him or me that's what he said

But I can't choose between a vegan and a pot head

So I chose you because you're sweet

And you give me lots of lovin' and you eat meat

And that's how you became my only man of the hour

You never lie and you don't cheat

And you don't have any baggage tied to your forefeet

Do I deserve to be the one who will feed you breakfast, lunch and dinner

And take you to the park at dawn

Will you really be my only man of the hour?

I know you'll never bring me flowers

Flowers they will only die

And though we'll never take a shower together

I know you'll never make me cry

You never argue, you don't even talk

And I like the way you let me lead you

When we go outside and walk

Will you really be my only man of the hour?

My only man of the hour

--Norah Jones, "Man of the Hour"

LG got a fish.  Now she's a proud parent.  This song makes me want a dog.  Or a man.  I'd take a man too. 

beck

Favorites from the Weekend

This weekend brought a new roommate, the John Adams Memorial Foot Race, a jaunt down to Williamsburg, holding, feeding and changing Abigail, Sam's Blessing, wrestling Snow kids, and a couple episodes of Life. 

Here are my favorite photos from those events:

beck