Waiting for Irene

(Source: NASA picture, August 24.)

What to do? I keep checking the sky (from my window) and reading the latest updates online. This will be my first hurricane experience since I've lived here. So, it may sound weird, but I find waiting for Irene pretty exciting.

It's anticipation and 'not-knowing" at the same time. If you know what that feels.

Irene is BIG. Really big and spectacular and unpredictable. Here's how Irene looks like from the space station two days ago. Click on this BBC link.

DC's local economy :)

The amount of money spent to influence elections has been steadily climbing.

During the 2008 election cycle, more than $5.2 billion was spent by candidates, political parties and interest groups, according to data compiled by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics

In 2010 -- a year that did not include a presidential election -- $3.6 billion was spent. Of course, 2012 has the potential to break all records.

Only 0.04% of Americans give in excess of $200 to candidates, parties or political action committees -- and those donations account for 64.8% of all contributions.

Source: Starbucks boycotts DC on CNN Money.

What's for lunch at the Congress today?

The White House area in the foreground and the Capitol looming on the horizon.

Today the weather is gorgeous in Washington DC. We may not have this kind of a day until next spring. So my friend and I decided to do lunch with power view. But, of course! So, what's for lunch at the Congress today?

Living on the red line on a Good Friday

This morning, on my way to work, I noticed that the traffic was light on Wisconsin Avenue and the atmosphere was subdued in Friendship Heights metro. No rushing. No running. And I got a seat in the train! (What'a Friday treat.)

The Pakistani cook (I forgot his name) in the nearby Friendship Heights Gourmet Store told me that he’s taking a day off. “A lot of offices are closed today,” he said.

I said, “But there’s no holiday.”

He insisted there’s a holiday.

When I picked up my coffee in the cafeteria, I told T., the cashier, that it was quiet in the metro. “People must be taking long weekend,” I said.

“No, no, no,” she protested, “My metro was packed this morning.”

“Which metro,? I asked.

“Green line,” she said.

“I’m red,” I said.

“That’s a Jewish line. A lot of Jews live along the red line,” she muttered. “It’s the passover!”

I went back to my office wondering what she means; and wondering about how our lives and lifetstyles change as our metro line colors in the District change.

Happy Passover and Happy Easter to all.

PS. For your information, Mr. Obama’s residence is on the red, orange, and blue lines stops.

O-ba-ma! (January 20, 2009)

I was standing, tip-toeing, shivering, squatting, wiggling my toes (Are my toes still down there?), and squeezing myself with 5 other people from 5 different states on a planter with a 3 ft. diameter. Almost seven long, bitter, cold, hours, waiting for the 44th President to pass by on 10th and Penn. "What was it that made me do this crazy thing?" I thought.

That pretty sums up my experience of January 20, 2009.

I met a lot of happy, hopeful, interesting people from everywhere across the states and across the globe. I am moved by their stories on why they came. Two couples from Wilbur, Colorado ("a small town," they said) drove for 27 hours, through blizzards. Wow.

What was it that made me and millions of others brave the cold that day?

Hope.

“Mr. Obama carries with him the hopes of the planet.”

Source: KAL's cartoon from The Economist, Jan 15th 2009


"A crowd of 2m or more is making its way to Washington, DC, to witness the inauguration of Mr Obama. Billions more will watch it on television. All will do so in a spirit that has been missing for a while—one of optimism. This is not just because a presidency knocked sideways by the events of September 11th 2001, is ending. Next week’s inauguration also bears witness to America’s awesome power of self-renewal. Because he is young, handsome and intelligent, and also because as the child of a Kansan and a Kenyan he reconciles in his own person one of the world’s most hateful divisions, Mr Obama carries with him the hopes of the planet." (The Economist)

Expectations are very high but the burdens are too many for one man to bear. Click here to read the full article in this week's The Economist.

Obama-drama

"The world, it seems, is going to descend on the city on January 20, as well it should. The inauguration of Barack Obama, as the country’s 44th president, and its first black one, ought to justify that overused word, historic. "

I’m in the right place at the right time. Except for braving the cold, I can’t find a good excuse not to be there, if I can.

And besides, I love dramatic moments.

In the last few weeks, the District is being spruced up like a grand stage, all set for the unfolding drama. You can smell excitement on K street. You feel the buzz on Penn Ave. The mood is celebratory. It's inauguration countdown everywhere! Mayor Fenty announced that bars will be opened till 4 am on the 20th! Well, that is big news for a city that sleeps at 10 pm.

Yesterday, during lunch break, I walked around the White House and took these pictures. Abby sent me the picture of the blockage of LaFayette park. (Thanks, Abby!) As you can see, it's close to show time!