Recently my friend Jenn and I visited a traveling carnival in our DC suburb. We were on the prowl for a few good laughs and, of course, carny food. We found both, as well as a few good DC Carny Characters. … continue reading this entry.
The DC Conference Question Asker
A+B(C)+D = why you should listen to me…
Awhile back, I attended a small conference put on by the National Security Network and hosted by the Center for American Progress on the new report and policy recommendations based on the lessons learned from our (the US government’s) attempts at reconstruction and nation building in Iraq. (I don’t care if you don’t like the term nation building, that’s what we’re doing, or trying to do.) The panel was distinguished and included Stuart W. Bowen, Jr. the US Inspector General who recently released his report on the lessons learned from our reconstruction and stabilization efforts in Iraq, an officer of the International Crisis Group (one of my favorite international conflict monitoring NGOs), and a distinguished journalist who served as moderator.
The DC Job Hunt
How Can I Not Have a Job?!
As most of you know, I am job hunting. Ok, ok, fine, I am job scrounging. Whatever. In an attempt to cover my bases at the US Senate, I made a trip to the Senate Placement Office. This is a little-known office in the Senate Hart Building where any random job-seeker can schedule a walk-in appointment with a placement counselor to have their resume added to the database of applicants waiting for a Senate office to request a couple of resumes for an opening. I have since discovered the flaw in this system: offices do not hire from a random applicant pool. If you are well-connected, have the right type of experience, the right type of internship and the right type of luck, you may, possibly, god-willing, get an interview.
Thomas Jefferson: Back in Washington City
Jefferson Offers Advice to His Senate Progeny
Yesterday, I had the tremendous fortune to meet the 3rd President of the United States: Thomas Jefferson. He was wise, inspiring and had a sensible message on how today’s political leaders could and should rightly govern.
Saphira: The DC Belly
A BellyBash Perfomer
A few Fridays ago, for a friend’s early birthday celebration, I ventured to the Ballston area to attend a BellyBash. For those of you unfamiliar with the belly dancing community, a belly bash is a gathering of belly dancers – students, amateurs, and professionals – and their dopplegangers.
Aladdin’s eatery hosted the fête and guests ate traditional Lebanese food and of course celebrated with the perfect wine pairing while musicians played drums, tambourines and created the perfect sound with a keyboard synthesizer.
The tables were arranged in two long parallel lines to form one long corridor the professional belly bash performers used as a runway to gyrate and prance down.
Metro Door Rushers
Let’s Set the Scene
For those of you unfamiliar with the DC metro system, let me set the scene for you. On the metro, when the train is stopping, it slows smoothly, then before it stops completely, it gives a hard jerk. The jerk is followed by a complete stop, a cheerful ding, a woman’s voice assuring riders the doors will open shortly, and of course, the opening of the doors.
Note: The jerk is enough to make even steady riders lose their balance. I’ve seen young children courageoulsy saved by vigilant strangers – rescued from almost certain facial rugburn – as they stand before the final jerk without a cautious parent.
Shades on the Metro
My Future’s So Bright: I Gotta Wear Shades
As I was on my way home from work Thursday, I encountered a quizzical, yet not uncommon DC Character: the woman who wears very large, very dark sunglasses on the metro. I was struck by the choice of accessory mainly because the woman was on the metro, in a car, sitting as if she’d been on for several stops.
The Kentucky Character: An Introduction
The Blog
As my first attempt at hosting a blog, I have decided to document my DC living experience by recounting people I encounter who strike me as funny, peculiar, scary or in some other way, interesting. I also reserve the right to recount second-hand character accounts relayed by friends or acquaintances. However, I promise to never deviate from the “2-degree of separation” rule. Thus, you, as my readers can be relatively confident in the accuracy of the “character chronicles.”
DC Characters 