Trip to DC

Yesterday I went to Washington, D.C. For the inauguration. Before you judge me (as many have done), let me tell you about my trip. I feel like I've gotten really concise about talking about it, as I told lots of people about the day at work today, but I think there was more than just the story of our trip.

The basic highlights: we arrived (via MARC train from Brunswick, MD) in Union Station at about 8:45. We were greeted in the station by officers with automatic weapons- something I have never seen before... We ventured into the day light, and after several attempts, headed around to the south side of the mall to get to our places (between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial) just about in time for the ceremony to start. After watching it on the big screen, we started back, going northwest around the White House (to avoid the parade route b/c you could not cross it), and got back to the station to wait an hour to get our train (which left at 4). And it was cold- I had on 4 layers and I bought a new down coat just for the day. But- I wasn't uncomfortable all day. We felt good. And it was crowded, but tolerable. Here is a photo of a street we started to walk up- but quickly turned around.

BUT- It was worth it. There was something about the day- the energy there- that I cannot really describe. Despite the madness- for the most part people were kind to one another. They were just so excited. And people were excited for different reasons- some despised our former president, some just want change, some were marveling in the historic moment of the day. But, I can honestly say that it was special to watch the ceremony- even from the distance that we were (we were very close to a jumbotron though)- with that crowd of people. I could just feel the historicness (is that a word) and the energy. And then walking back- just crowds of us walking through the center of the city streets- it was neat.

I am not certain that I will ever need to go to an inauguration again (but never say never), but I can say that it was worth it. It was a good day, a good adventure, and a great moment in history.

and we saw Dan Rather on the street AND got free Starbucks. that in itself is a successful day....

So what's the deal with.... blogs?

I'm going to take a brief caveat from my (currently short) series of blogs "things I'm not good at, #___" (there will be more) to do some reflecting on the idea of blogging. I was in the shower this evening, thinking about my blog and how I should probably write something in it again soon, and wondering which of the "things I'm not good at...." I should focus on this evening, when I got to thinking about my blog in general. And then i got to thinking that I'm not all together pleased with it. I mean, what is the point....

I started this blog as kind of a challenge from a friend. To prove to the world that there are things that single, non-parent people can write about. But I'm not sure that there are. I think about the blogs I read (some friends, some strangers) and they are parents or grandparents writing about the kids in their lives, people writing about family members with illness, missionaries, political activists, great writers or preachers. But what do I have going on? The ramblings of a single gal with nothing much more going on in her life than (what she feels is) good television. Is there really much more of me that the world needs to know about? I am not sure.

All this to say, I am not abandoning the blog just yet... but I'm just feeling a little more self centered than I'd like to be. I feel like through this blog that I (and maybe this is just the point of blogging) believe that my life is so important that the world must know. And I don't really believe that.

In the mean time, I'm going to keep thinking about those things that I'm not good at to share with the world.... I know you're waiting....

Things I'm not good at #1: Reading

So, in an effort to not make resolutions, but to constantly be improving upon myself, I think I might start compiling a list of things that I'm not good at (but that I want to improve) (and I know ending that phrase with "at" is improper, but it fits my motif). So, tonight i'm thinking specifically how I'm not good at reading, having just returned from a spontaneous trip to Borders. Some friends were going and I tagged along, hoping to pick up some new cds, but they didn't have any of the ones that I am looking for (as no stores in York county do), and so I was drawn to the sale table. It was buy 1 get 1 half off, and so I was suckered into 4. Two are new that i have wanted to read, and two are books that I have read, and that I loved, but thought if I bought them for myself I could gain some reading momentum anytime I wanted (the theory behind "reading momentum" is that you read a few easy-to-read, fun-filled books, and then once you're in the habit of reading easily and quickly- you can tackle some more challenging (ie: non-fiction) and get through those). I think it's a marvelous theory, and one that I desperately need.

As any blog reader of mine might notice, I like to watch TV. And I try to watch it selectively and with judgment, but I still watch more than I should. I never read. I have a hard enough time keeping up with my magazines, let alone books. I currently have a stack of books on my bed side table of 8 books. 3 are borrowed, 2 were gifts, and 3 I bought and just can't get through. 3 I have started and have book marks in them somewhere in the front half. It's pathetic. I want to be a well read person, but it's just so hard for me.

There are a lot of changes that I'd like to make in my life in 2009 (most I wanted to make in 2008, but we're just going to have to adjust), and reading more is one of them. So, tonight, in an effort to do that... I'm not going to turn on my tv, I will turn on my reading lamp, and see if I can get through a few more pages of the 8 on my stack. Make that 12, because I just bought 4...

We'll see how this goes.