Walking on a Saturday

After I finished up answering the un-ringing phone and entering the several packages into the log, I decided to walk home from work. Now, home is in Petworth and work is in Dupont. The walk is about 4 miles and for most people would be pretty easy even though much of it is uphill.

I did fine for the first 2 miles taking pictures and listening to Comfort Eagle until I got to Howard University on Georgia Avenue. And, well, the hills started and my choice of shoes became the apparent fail that it was. So, I stopped by the Banneker Rec Center and learned that DC Public Pools are free to DC residents. And me without my bathing suit.

Partially because my feet hurt and partially because I wanted to get home and get my swimming stuff before the pools closed for the day, I decided to hop on the 70 bus for the rest of the way. A few minutes later, I was walking into my house and tearing apart my closet looking for swimsuit so that I could run out the door down to the Upshur Park pool and get a bit of swimming in.

Working on a Saturday

I am sitting alone in a big building in Dupont Circle. Today, I am the receptionist. One of my many hats.

It's an easy job most Saturdays as the only sounds I hear, other than the music or movie coming from my computer, are the HVAC vents turning on and off and the noises from the streets below. Sometimes it's sirens and honking horns, sometimes it's the subway station bucket drummer trying to earn a buck.

Occasionally the phone rings, but more often than not I end up listening to a computer telling me that this employee or that needs to do something about his car lease or her mortgage. More often I sit here in silence, reading blogs or books or knitting on one of my many, many languishing projects.

While I am grateful for the opportunity to make some overtime, and actually volunteer for this, I am struck by the feeling that I could be doing something better with my day every time I am here.

I really like this cabinet from CB2. I think that if I could mount three or four horizontally at around chair rail height along the far wall of my bedroom, that they would make a great shelf/storage/headboard combo.

Summer Fruit Desserts from Cake Spy

Deliciousness!

My roommate has been making fruit pies all summer. They are fantastiche. I am thinking about going blackberry picking this weekend up in Frederick County. Perhaps a blackberry pie is in my future.

Michael Pollan in Seattle

This, I hesitate to say lecture, but I'm not sure what else to call it, was recorded in Seattle back in the early part of the year. I found it fascinating and actually ended up taking notes on it to read over later.

Mr. Pollan has become one of my favorite people and somewhat of a hero. If you've not read the Omnivore's Dilemma or seen Food, Inc., please do. It's changed the way that I think about the food industry and how I choose what to eat on a daily basis.

pub quizzes in DC

I've been trying to make th rounds of the various trivia nights in DC and the surrounding areas. So far I've been to Stetson's, the Looking Glass which is in my neighborhood and Nellie's. In the past I paricipated in the ones at Saphire, McGinty's and Madam's Organ.

NYTimes: Insured, but Bankrupted by Health Crises

From The New York Times:

Insured, but Bankrupted by Health Crises

By REED ABELSON

Some people counted as medically insured have coverage so meager that a medical crisis means financial calamity....

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/business/01meddebt.html

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