Wrath of the Whatever

It has been almost three full months since I updated this blog. I don't miss it. I do, however, feel a blog about the metro accident on the red line coming on.

Labels: metro

Yesterday, I picked up the Express, like I do every work day. It felt different and the first few pages looked different - but, in my pre-coffee state, I didn't think anything of it. It was not until I read the sidebar on the redesign that I really took notice of all the changes.

Normally, I'm not one to like changes to my morning habits - particularly my reading habits. This time, however, I gotta applaud the Express. The paper looks better. I know the Express made these changes to save money, but they were well thought out.

The smaller size is easier to shove into my bag. The text is crisper and easier to read (although as a 20-something, I don't mind the seemingly smaller font size). The colors are sharper and the layout is pleasing to the eye. The new Express seems to resemble a glossy magazine more than a daily paper.

Well done, Express - well done, indeed.

Just one eensy, weensy criticism... there were no staples in my Tuesday Express. Don't let this happen again.

Labels: metro, news

The walk to the metro this morning gave me the feeling that I was starring in my own zombie thriller. There. Was. No. One. Around. Creepy.

The traffic was incredibly light and it took me a long time to realize that, since it is President's Day, most of the DC area has a long weekend. Lucky people. (But I "Ha!" on you because your Tuesday is going to feel like a Monday.)

I'll take the empty sidewalks.

I'll take the empty metro trains.

I will, however, despair at the lack of the Washington Post Express paper. Why, oh cornerstone of newsprint, do you not run your metro paper on this day? Why? I walked around my metro entrance looking for your current events and entertainment news. No Express to be had. I did the same at my exit station. No Express to be found.

Not cool, man. You're thrown off my commuting a lunch groove. What am I supposed to do during lunch without the sudoku and crossword puzzle?

Labels: commuting, news

Fact 1: I work on the campus I attended as an undergrad. (That's forgivable because a staff benefit is free grad school.)

Fact 2: One of my staff members lives in my old dorm room. Which is quite the coincidental.

Fact 3: I moved out in May 2006.

The Weird: Said staff member just got a Christmas card for me. That's is very, very eerie.

As a side note, way to go Postal Service, it's only February.

Labels: WTF

I may develop an angry Pavlovian response to the beep of my cell phone soon.

This morning, my cell phone alerted me to a new text message. I rolled out of bed and went to grab my phone. Thinking that it felt rather early, I glanced at my clock. It was 5:00am. (Yeah. Early.) Saying "Eff that!," I climbed back under my comforter and went back to sleep. The beep went off a few more times, but I ignored it. When it actually came time to wake up, I checked my phone and found three new text messages.

Alert DC, I am beginning to loathe you.

I get it. There are a plethora of water main breaks this morning. It's friggin cold and the DC infrastructure is falling apart. But why must you send me these texts? Why? At 5:00am? I removed myself from all these communications.

Now I'm cranky and resentful.

So please Alert DC, for the sake of those who have to deal with me in the morning, just send me the messages I asked for. I just want to be alerted about happenings around my University of Employment and if a nuclear bomb is decimating the city.

Labels: angry, dc, weather, WTF

My glee over the Obama Inauguration has been extended today. I made Cake Wrecks.

Are you green with envy?

Labels: ha, inappropriate, random, WTF

I was on the National Mall today.

It was cold.

Actually, it was more freezing than cold.

And rather windy.

My feet froze.

My nose froze.

My hands froze.

I had to contend with tall people and taller hats.

I walked at least four miles to get around the parade route.

I shuffled up and down streets at a snail's pace.

I climbed over barriers

walls

and shrubs.

I did the wave with thousands of others.

I joked with my neighbors - strangers to me.

I shared stories and anecdotes and factoids.

I heard their stories and anecdotes and factoids.

I heard what a million mittened hands sound like in a round of applause.

A herd of galloping horses coming over a hill.

I heard what a wave of rolling cheers sounds like floating down a mile long stretch of open land.

I heard how loud a crowd can be.

And how silent.

I heard.

I saw.

I smiled

and cheered

and felt tingles roll down my spine.

I was not alone.

I was there.

Labels: dc, news, politics, walking, weather