We're Scaring The Away

In similar fashion to Field of Dreams' "Build it and they will come".  Washington, DC was experiencing: "Elect him and they will come".

Well it seems that the constantly changing security procedures, the driving and parking ban in DC, the threat of the possible collapse of the metro system, the threat of not enough bathrooms (I'm telling you Americans are motivated by toilet paper), inaccessibility to food and the threat of cold weather may be scaring people away from the inauguration. 

That was the latest this morning. 

Even if its like July 4th in DC - - that will be bad enough. 

Believe it or not, politicians and government employees were being really honest about what DC could be like if that many people converged on the city for the inauguration.  Maybe the honesty had something to do with Obama using "Honest" Abe's Bible for his swearing in.

Inauguration Mayhem

Well lets see, the dry run didn't go off without a hitch - - seems SOMEONE forgot to tell people the roads would be closed for the dry run. Seems that law enforcement, military, secret service and the other intel agencies haven't quite gotten the whole communication amongst themselves down yet. Well, actually - - they all knew the roads would be closed for the dry run, they just failed to inform the public. Which really makes me wonder, if the government isn't telling me the little things I need to know - - what BIG things aren't they telling me.

Oh gosh, maybe aliens do exist!

But anyway back to the inauguration mayhem. Unknown to the millions of estimated visitors, the rules keep changing. For some reason they do keep telling us locals the rule changes as they go. Granted, the people that really need to know about the rule changes are the outsiders coming in for this event. Oh, well, that will just add to our entertainment.

First, four metro parking lots were going to be closed for parking - - one was going to be reserved for metro employees, one for charter buses and the other two for I don't remember what. Well the charter bus lot - -- they've re-opened that to public parking because only 22 charter buses reserved spots. I'm wondering how many charters KNEW about the lot and KNEW they needed to make reservations before January 1st.

Then they announced last week that EVERY bridge from northern Virginia going into the District was going to be closed to motorized traffic. Gee, are they worried about the Confederacy rising again and us Virginians invading? Needless to say No.Va politicians complained and I think they changed the rules to now allow shuttle buses, taxis and limos over the bridges and into DC.

There is a driving perimeter and a pedestrian perimeter, or so I've heard. The driving perimeter is a mile or so away from the check points to get into the parade route and the National Mall. Personal vehicles are not permitted into the driving perimeter, only shuttle buses, taxi cabs and limos. So, the irony here is, the only people able to drive into the DC driving perimeter are foreign born, muslim men.

That quip was made by a morning DJ and relayed to me by one of my co-workers who thought it was the funniest, politically incorrect thing she had heard.

But in all seriousness, most of the 'for hire' drivers in the DC area are foreign born and muslim - - and often times they try to convert you during the cab ride. Or in my case they try to convert me but tell me in their culture, I'd be an old maid. And they wonder why I don't end up tipping them.

This morning, I then heard that the Secret Service was putting a cap on the number of people allowed through the check points. Apparently, the parade route can really only accommodate maybe 200,000 to 300,000 people. That will be interesting because they are estimating that between 2 to 4 MILLION people will be trying to get into DC to see the inauguration. So only about 10 percent of those people will be able to get positions on the parade route. The rest will be directed to the National Mall.

I heard some limit on the space on the National Mall at something like 2 million people - - o.k. that still leaves about 1 million people trying to get in to DC for a 'glimpse'. I'm thinking there are going to be some REALLY angry people. This will be very interesting.

BTW, there will be Jumbo-trons set-up all along the National Mall so that those who fit on that space will be able to see the parade and inauguration.

The estimated number of people coming for the event, should they all come, would be the largest number of people coming to DC for a single event in the history of our nation. The number of news media that are in DC to cover the event is the largest number of news media to ever cover a single event in DC in the history of our nation.

Honestly, everything seems to change on a daily basis so I'm pretty sure something I've written above isn't correct. But you know what, it doesn't really matter, because I won't be going into DC this whole weekend.

Should you be interested in the details. Here is a link to the Washington Post's Inauguration FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).

The First Warning Sign Should Have Been: "You look like a nice person"

O.k. I got in trouble at the museum today. Whoops.

As the Marines on duty put it, you can't always have a perfect day and today wasn't mine. In fact, today, one Marine said, I was living up to my hair color.

So this family walks up to me and says "Lets ask her, she looks like a nice person." and they ask if they an bring in a picnic lunch to eat in Leatherneck gallery.

Um, you know, I've never seen anyone do in two years. Does it cross my mind that the reason I've not seen that is because its not allowed....NOOOOOOO.

I say, well, I think it would be o.k. for you to bring it in but I think you should eat it up in the Mess Hall.

Answer is still wrong.

So needless to say when they tried to bring their little cooler in - -security stopped them. And I got the "Didn't they brief you on that"

Um, yah - - 2 years ago. I forgot. I apologized to everyone.

Then a woman asks where the classroom is. Well, they just started construction on Phase 1A, so this is what our classroom looks like right now.

Its kind of not there.

She was kind of upset because the web site says its family day today and there was a craft in the classroom and we should update our web page. Well, the classroom is out in one of the double wide trailers in the parking lot.

I didn't know this.

Now I do.

It was probably in my notes from our last docent meeting.

A Marine then asks me to get a wheel chair. I say, "Sure, where are they?"

He looks at me kind of funny and says, "Right behind you."

Duh-uh! I know this. I see the darn things there everyday I volunteer.

So anyway. I think that the brain snatchers have snatched my brain - - which would explain the horrible headache I have had since about 2 p.m. today.

Notes to Self

• Open your coca cola before putting on hand lotion
• When using the turtleneck that you are wearing to get a grip on the coca cola top you are opening, make sure the coca cola has had a chance to "calm down" from your run up five flights of steps you had with it.

Fortress Washington

Hate to disappoint any of you, but I will not be going into Washington DC for the inauguration. So if you were hoping for a local's first person account of the events, you won't be getting it here.

Ya see, I am working that day. I know, I know the federal government has been given that day off - - but we contractors don't get that day off, unless we take vacation. Now, I will take vacation in the middle of the winter if I'm going someplace warm were I can enjoy it.

Washington, DC is being turned into a closed city. A 'fortress' of sorts. Thousands of law enforcement, National Guard and Active Duty troops will be on the ready to control crowds. Four metro parking lots will be closed. One of them will be used for metro employee parking only, the other three will be for charter buses. Many of the roads in DC itself are going to be closed. Almost all the bridges from Virginia into DC will be closed to motorized traffic. If you want in, you are going to have to walk in and keep walking.

What if you want out? Sorry, you are stuck. You can't leave. One of my co-workers who lives in the District says she has to take the day off because she won't be able to get out of the city to make it in to work.

My parents asked me if I was going to rent my house out for the event. A lot of people are renting their apartments and homes out to inaugural visitors for HUGE sums of money. I'm talking HUGE sums of money. Like $20,000 for a week. Of course the home owner in those cases has also agreed to be your personal driver, cook all your meals and do all of your laundry. O.k. for $20,000 that's not bad. I had to remind my dad that I don't' live THAT close to DC. I'd be lucky to get $2000 for the week for my townhouse. If I got that, I'd be afraid the people would trash my house. And besides, where would the cats and I go.

The other reason I won't be going down town for the event. It will be cold.

Cold I tell you!

O.k. it won't be 20 below - - well it could be I think it was really cold like that for someone, like Reagan? I can't remember. I am not a cold weather person. Never was. I was born a Southern cold wimp despite the attempts of Ohio winters to condition me. Any pictures I would attempt to take while freezing my patuckus off would be all blurry so if I can't take any pictures, it has no fun potential for me. Take a tripod you say. Um, yah, after finding out that its an arrestable offense to set up a tripod on the side walk outside the White House gates, I'm not going to risk doing that at an event like this.

The other reason you won't find me down town -- the number of people. They estimate 3 to 5 million people will be converging on Washington, DC on January 20th. No thank you. I've experienced DC during spring break when it seems like every middle school in America has arrived in the nation's capital. No way am I going to brave crowds that big. Do you have any idea what 3 to 5 million people looks like?

Um, ya, neither do I, but its a lot of people.

A lot of businesses and restaurants are worried about how they are going to get staff in and food delivered for the hungry throngs. Remember the bridges are going to be closed as well as many roads.

An interesting piece of trivia I learned today - - the largest crowd for an inauguration was 1.2 million in 1965 for Lyndon Johnson. Yah, Lyndon Johnson.

Its 15 days and counting to all heck breaks out here in DC. I better go stock up on toilet paper just in case I can't get out of my house!

Friday the 13th and Full Moon all in One

You'd think that the Friday after a holiday would be really nice and quiet. It seemed like it would be that way. I got a really nice parking spot. Well, o.k., any space where I don't have to park across the street in the other building's satellite parking lot a quarter mile away is a good spot. Most of the government staff took the day off. So yep, quiet day. No calls, no instant messages.

Well, when I logged on it was a flood.

A flood I tell you!

I barely got my coca cola open before it began.

Non stop instant messages and phone calls, Oh MY!

Most people like to use IM. So I was typing my little fingers into stubs!

It was like Friday the 13th and the full moon all converged at the same time.

That is all I have to say about that.

Well, actually, I've typed my max number of words for the day.

Welcome 2009 -- Happy New Year Everyone!

Its amazing what a difference one night can make.

I mean, supposedly, at the crack of midnight, we all have a fresh clean slate. Out with the old, in with the new.New Year's Eve, I was 'celebrating' quietly with the cats listening to Old Time Radio on NPR। I love old time radio shows. The first show of the evening was the Jack Benny Show from December 31, 1939. Funny thing was, I had to adjust my FM antennae wire to get good reception, how nostalgic is that? Jello was the show's sponsor. I like how they incorporate the commercials into the shows back then. I could imagine my grand parents sitting around the big radio I now have in my living room, listening to this broadcast.

I was one of the last people to leave the office tonight। It was month end so some of the tech guys were still there. One of the guys asked me why I wasn't going out which led to...

"Have you ever tried Match।com? That's how I met my wife."

I rolled my eyes, "Yes, I've been on Match off and on now for the past 7-8 years।"

We had a 20 minute chat about dating and match.com. It was interesting to get a guys perspective. From his perspective, I've been successful because I've actually met people and gone out on dates. His perspective is the whole purpose of Match is to "introduce" people. My perspective is you are successful if you meet someone, get married and no longer have to use the service.

He told me to just keep with it। However, I told him I'm just getting tired of it - - its like constant job interviews, ya know. I'm tired of dating.

Ranger is curled up on the pillow next to me। I brushed him really well tonight. He loves to get his face brushed. Using a laser pen, I played with Scout and Stryker. Boy was that a good time.

So anyway...looking back on the goals I set out to achieve in 2008...

The Big Task Goal was to create a side garden the length of my house - - Completed। This spring is should look glorious with tulips and pansies.

Big Purchase - Bookshelves and Camera - - Completed there were a couple other items that have just been moved to the 2009 Big Purchase list। The bookshelves have helped with organization so much!

Financial Goal was to have at least 2 months of income in savings and pay off the credit card। I did at one point (July/August) have 2 months of income in savings and then September hit and it has been one thing after another. That savings account is getting horribly depleted. Paying the CC off - - didn't happen. Things were looking good this summer and well - - same fate as the savings account. So those will still be goals for 2009.

Fitness Goal was to lose 15-20 pounds -- I gained 10 pounds instead। I also wanted to train and run in a 5k this year, that also did not happen, in fact, I can't even run one mile now.

The new goals or old goals made new for 2009

Financial

• Two months of Income in Savings
  
• Pay off the Credit Card
  

Big Purchases

• New Basement sliding door (insulated so no drafts and I save more on heating and cooling)
  
• Wardrobe chest for bedroom (the cheap particle board one that I have is falling apart)
  
• New computer (may need sooner than later)

Tasks

• Tile the basement bathroom floor

Fitness Goals

• Goal weight is 135-140 pounds
  
• Able to run 3 miles
  
• Able to run continuously for 45 minutes
  
• Able to swim 1 mile
  
• Able to swim continuously for 45 minutes
  
• Improve body tone, strength and knee स्ताबिलिटी

Personal Enrichment Goals

• Take a photography class
  
• Visit at least one location on my domestic (Continental US) travel list

So here is to 2009! I am spending the day in PJs by a big fire working on my scrapbooks.