Go Cats!

Last night Peter & I had box seats for the NCAA playoffs. First Duke vs Belmont, and then UofA vs West Virginia. While the Wildcats lost we still had a great time and got to meet Wilbur in
person! Plus the executive suites are pretty cushy so at least we lost in style.

Disenfranchised

Most of you know that I lobby Congress daily. I lobby Congress as a paid representative on behalf of my clients, but I also lobby Congress as a private citizen. My primary choice of lobbying on behalf of my own interests is to write my Congressional delegation. I am on several 'action alert' networks that alert me when legislation on an issue I care about is moving. I instantly grab my pen (mightier than the sword) and write constituent letters to my Members. This worked well and was extremely satisfying when I lived in Arizona and then in Virginia. However, it has really lost its oomph since I've moved to DC.

I love DC. I love that it's the national capital. I love policy — and sometimes politics. I love the city. I love the brains of this city. And I love that everyone in this place knows politics. Walking through a restaurant the other day I overheard various conversations with words like 'obama' 'clinton' 'mccain' 'farm bill' 'reconciliation bill' etc. I love that almost every cab driver I've ever had has an opinion on all three branches of government and feels the need to share these opinions with me.

What I do not love is that now as a DC resident I have lost my voice as a personal citizen. My new representative is Eleanor Holmes Norton. She is a delegate to the House of Representatives and can vote in committee, can speak on the Floor but she cannot vote on the final passage of a bill. I have no voice in the Senate. I am without federal representation! I knew this would be the case when I moved to DC, but I didn’t expect it to bother me this much. Now when I get an ‘action alert’ I sigh and send a note to Eleanor knowing she can’t do much.

5th anniversary of the Iraq War

The view from my office today.

What a day!

After receiving four tickets from the District of Columbia for having out of state tags I figured it was probably about time to trek down to the DMV and register my cars and get my DC license. Because of an issue with P's immigration status this duty falls on me. I was told that if I go to the Georgetown DMV by 7:30 am (an hour before it opens) and line up I should be done by 10:00 am. BLAH!!! So I left my house at 7:15 drove to the DMV. I completely forgot that there is no left turn on
Wisconsin from M so I missed the DMV and was looking for a spot to turn around when I accidentally ran a red light. Too busy looking for a turn around spot. Anyhow, I ran it right in front of a police officer. I foolishly thought --I'm confused she'll likely go easy on me. WRONG!!! This was our convo:

Officer: (with attitude) What is your problem?

Me: (puts on kind and apologetic face) Oh I'm so sorry I missed the turn to the DMV and then didn't realize that lane (gesturing dramatically) was turn only, then I was in the middle of the intersection so I had to run the light to clear the intersection...

Officer: (rudely interrupts) And why did you go flying past me?!?!

Me: (completely confused because I didn't break 10mph and the limit is 30 mph) Ummm... I didn't realize I was speeding I'm very sor...

Officer: (rudely interrupts yet again) Clearly you are not aware of much!

Me: (speechless---rarely happens to me)

I got a ticket for red light running from Officer Grumpypants (while the ticket was rightfully deserved I was a bit put off by her manner). After my ticket I turned around and finally entered the garage for the DMV, parked the car, elevator into the mall and line up for the DMV. At about 7:50 the line wasn't too bad-- maybe 45 people. I settle down and happily read my book in line. After an hour I'm finally at the desk to get my number and the lady at the desk points out I don't have my social security card. I point out that the form I have says that only non-citizens must prove that they have a SSN. She tells me casually 'yeah, but I want to see everyones.' Okay, fair enough can't argue with that logic. I tell her I'd be happy to go home and get it but what about the line. She gives me a 'fastpass' (just like Disneyland!!!) so I can run home get my SSN and come back without the line. So I go back to the parking garage pay the $12 to get out of the garage, drive home get my social security card and drive back, park again trek back up, jump the line and get my number. Then I happily fill out my forms settle down with my book and wait for my number to be called.

Finally hoorah! My number is called and the DMV Man is the nicest DMV worker in the history of state, local and municipal employees! Unfortunately a computer glitch means I can't register my cars but I can get a DC license. So after six hours and $135 ($36 for the license, $12 for each time parking, and $75 for the ticket) I became a licensed driver in the District of Columbia!

I thought I rightfully deserved a good rant about the horrors of bureaucracy and my day. So when I finally reached P by phone I was intent on collecting some well deserved condolences about my day (he caught a plane to Denver at 5:00 am for a conference) I tell him 'My day was awful." He patiently listens then tells me...I'm in Shreveport, LA on a plane. I've been on the plane since 5:00am no food, no airport, nothing. He wasn't going to make it to his destination of Denver and wasn't able to make it home either!?!?! My bad day -- TRUMPED!

I did it!!!

Thank you to all of you who supported me. I am very appreciative! It was a great cause and a great time. I'll post the finish line picture and more information soon.

PS- My time was 3:22:24

You're Invited

In one week from today the triathlon will be over, and I will be exhausted. If you're interested in coming out to cheer me on next Saturday I would greatly appreciate it. I could use all of the moral support I can get! Let me know if you need directions/information.

Two Weeks

Two more weeks until the big day. I'm starting to feel very nervous! Two main questions are running through my mind: When do the roads re-open (I need to finish before the roads re-open) and will it really be humiliating to be the very last person to finish?

We had a mini-tri today. It was my first time swimming with my wetsuit. I discovered the wetsuit takes about 20 minutes to put on and 10 seconds to get off! I also discovered that the wetsuit creates the sensation that I am slowly suffocating to death. The wetsuit comes up around my neck and puts just enough pressure on my trachea to cause me to feel as though I may die at any moment. Apparently this sensation is completely normal and I just need to 'get used to it'. Windpipe crushing aside I did finish my mini-tri and felt pretty good. Slow, but good. Very very slow, but good.