Yesterday I made the trek down to the International Spy Museum for what is beginning to feel like my annual fall tradition. This is the third August in a row that I have been. This time though, it was a special trip.

The current special exhibit, The Enemy Within, is being replaced and I had to see it one more time before it was gone.

It is a trip through terrorism, extremism, racism, hatred, violence, revolution, subterfuge, and sabotage in American history - both home-grown and foreign. The exhibit includes citizen acts against one another, acts against the government, and the reaction by both the American people and the government, as well as artifacts from different incidents. I have yet to find a better collection of historic facts relating to the ever evolving difficulty that is the balance between security and our way of life.

I disagree with some of the statements made in the video portion about today's world but I've seen it three times now - I must still like the exhibit...

Anyone who has the chance to see it before it goes off exhibit really should go. The museum is open until 8pm these days (last admission for the special exhibit only is 6:45) and the ticket is only $5!! But you better hurry, Sept 5 is your LAST CHANCE!

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So that BBQ we went to on Sat? Umm... SUCKED!

And poor Feisty D who flew into town, made time in her plans to see me after all this time, and had to endure the bizzare mash of events. She was just as beautiful and charming as I remembered her to be. What else could I expect from a Hot-lanta woman? Full of laughter and quick wit, she's still my kinda chick.

But the torture I put her through...

First off, it decided to rain the entire day. Weathermen said it would break by noon and then be scattered thunderstorms throughout the afternoon. The actual chain of events were more like constant gray with a precipitation range of slight drizzle to moderate rain. I was cold the entire freakin day. Even once I was inside I could not get my body to warm up. So later that evening I burrowed into the couch in a fleece and homer simpson slippers watching shows about tattoos. But I digress...

Originally this BBQ was scheduled for 6pm. It got moved to 3pm. We showed up at 3:30 and were the first to arrive. The host was still in her grubs from powerwashing the deck (in the rain?) and had no idea what to do with herself.
Strike One.

The "yard" or "back patio" was sort of sketchy. Within the privacy fence there was a small deck area, a small cement area, and a small 'grassy area' - mostly taken up by a very large home made dog house - that was also mostly a big mud pit ... including the area dug out under the house. The window screens were shredded by dog claws and the patio door was atrocious. It looked like a scene out of Cujo.
Strike Two.

The only other person there to begin with was the strong, silent type...minus the strong part... Not so great for conversation...

So we took a seat at the patio table (after laying plastic down on the nasty chairs) and tried to have a conversation over chips and salsa. The only problem? The wind kicked up a little and we suddenly noticed how much the backyard reeked of urine. It smelled as if the deck wood were soaked in it. It was revolting.
Strike Three.

Once other people started showing up and the food was being grilled it felt a little more like a fun get together. But then the guests started talking... Very clique-ish, upwardly mobile, young adult crowd with lots they felt the need to brag about. Um... no. Last time I checked a backyard BBQ was about having a few brews and telling great stories.
Strike Double Three.

D left early for the wedding she flew up for and I was out of there shortly there after. I think I'll 'accidentally' lose the next evite to that house...

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I was hoping to entertain you lovely loyal subjects today with my butterfly encounter from yesterday but there's just no time.

In just a few hours the lovely Miss Feisty D (not to be confused with the familiar Feisty Repartee) will be in town and we have A LOT of catching up to do. She and I went to Brown together 8 - that-seem-like-ages-past - years ago. I haven't seen her since she flew out to my house for Thanksgiving dinner in 1997.

And we have a BBQ to attend. So we'll see what kind of ruckous a little Cali girl and a Hot-lanta chick can cause together in DC today.

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I'm feeling a little lazy today... many errands have been run and many more tasks are yet to be completed... so no real blogging is to be had.

But since I've been messing with the fish tanks to welcome in a new guy, here's a pic of the type of fish I will be getting:

Go here to learn more about Jack Dempsey Cichlids, mostly because that's where I stole the picture from...

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1 I hear they're good fried...

Posted by: Ogre at August 22, 2005 07:47 AM (/k+l4)

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As I was walking past the park to my chiropractor's office today I noticed there were still a fair number of tourists in town. There were people enjoying lunch in the park and couples smiling to one another. I took a minute to look around at all of the windows and awnings I have walked past so often but never taken notice of. There was a bakery, a few restaurants, news stands, florists, tiny places to hit for lunch...all squirreled away in the office buildings of downtown DC. I saw a few places that seemed oddly out of place but interesting enough to try.

Strangely, it all reminded me of the time that SWG and Mrs. SWG were in town and I dragged them all over the Mall. They certainly hiked their way to dinner in Chinatown, asking all the while, "are we there yet?" at every corner. They were exhausted (and hungover) but troopers as I pressed forward to show them as much as I possibly could. (I'm an OCD organizer type...so sue me) Mrs. SWG had to be starving by this point (we all know that Eric was...men are always hungry). She had gotten a bagel earlier that morning for some breakfast but the cream cheese was damn near frozen...the poor dear. She was the sweetest gem all day though.

On days like today, I really miss those two. They notice the little things here and there and see value in what this city is often too busy to care about.

Posted by: Princess Cat at 09:19 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Part of the mandatory requirements for the cadaver course I took in high school (go read here if you don't know what I'm talking about) were two parents' nights. The first one had great repercussions leading me to believe you should always avoid doing your best work, unless you know that no one will find out it was you...

The night of the first presentation was what you would expect...rundown of the highlights, say some thank yous to the people who donated to us, give some awards to people that were especially helpful in fasciliating our program...but the best part was showing off our handywork.

My parents came in and checked out Lucy for a minute or two before Dad got too queasy to take it anymore. Guess he can deal with the dying, just not the dead. Apparently he damn near faints at the sight of blood too (not that there was any)... are we sure I'm related to him? Anyhow, Dad went next door to examine more pleasant sundries ... the cookies and punch ... while Mom jealously investigated our cadavers.

'You're getting a better gross anatomy class than I ever got in school!' she bitterly protested, while still somehow proud of me. Now you tell me that's not scary... a bunch of high school students get more up close and personal time with the inner workings of human anatomy than someone paid to actually care for your health and well-being? YIKES!

But just when I thought I could escape the night in triumph with something to hold not one but both of my parents ... reality set in...

There had been enough opportunity for a parent-teacher conference from which I was unknowingly absent. Being the loving, kind, caring, adoring instructor that she is, she talked up my talents. She told them how I stayed late, never let anything get in my way, and did fantastic detail work, carefully removing fat and connective tissue from muscles, nerves, veins, and arteries. At this point I imagine my parents looked at one another quizzically... this could not be their daughter she was speaking of... their daughter wouldn't load the dishwasher because the task was 'too icky.' She reassured them that nothing about Lucy was too icky for me....

And with my girly cover forever blown, I did the dishes from then on....

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I just got home from lunch with a potential new roommate.

The high points:
Crab cakes
Pitchers of beer

The iffy points:
Young'in
Frat Boy

I've been talking with a friend about moving into a four bedroom house with him, his roommate, and his friend (the guy I was just introduced to). That would make 2 guys, 2 girls...but we haven't found a house yet.

I'm eager to live with someone I can actually interact with and I'm sick of living under the back up cast for riverdance...but am I really eager enough to move in with a couple of frat boys that I could hardly hold a conversation with? Don't get me wrong...I have nothing against the guys whatsoever. It's just that they are much more interested in which restaurant to get drunk at or eat crabs at all day or if anyone has talked to a certain 'friend' lately than any other kind of conversation. I didn't have anything to add to the baseball conversation - I don't follow the sport more than on the very minor surface. I didn't go to their university so I'm not obsessed with it or that fraternity like they are. They would more be drinking buddies or the guys who threw a BBQ that I automatically get to go to because I live in the house.

*shrug*

I'll figure it out eventually, I'm sure.

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As you can see, I was remiss in my duty to provide an entertaining story of my life for you readers today. Why? It is a laundry list of events...

I was up until a wee hour of somewhere between 4 and 5 am last night and did not sleep in enough to compensate.

To begin the day, in the heat of an unforgiving sun, there was an adventure deep in the secret wooded seclusion where many trail was walked, a toy thrown, fetching to be had, an insect to flee, and a thorny scrub brush to be dealt with. Minor cuts and scrapes were received but no battle goes without its wounds.

After returning to the house it was time to attack the car. While bestowed upon me by the kindness of my grandmother and father, the unintentional gifts of dead skin, food crumbs, and animal hair had to go. Armed with wipes, ear plugs, and an overzealous mini vac, I sweated my ass off and cursed the properties black interior.

Next came the half assed garden planted by a roommate. With the lawn looking better I could no longer stand the unkempt appearance of his vegetables in front of the house. I ripped out weed after weed and then restaked the tomato plants that were bent and broken, showing no signs of love. Of course, there were casualties...but their demise was not in vain...green tomatoes were had for dinner.

Following a MUCH needed shower there was grocery shopping. Let me tell you...shopping to restock your pantry after not having done so for about a month can really take it out of you. But I am pleasantly surprised to have gotten home for under $100. Unfortunately that still averaged out to about $18/bag...

As if the unusual performance of actual work weren't enough... I decided to cook dinner instead of just pull together enough sustenance to make my stomach stop growling. Roast pork tenderloin, cheese risotto, and fried green tomatoes. I have never had fried green tomatoes before but I was assured by a genuine southern boy that they tasted just right. Sure, he may just be being nice but I do know a thing or two about how to cook... so they might not hold a candle to Paula Deen... but dammit I wasn't raised in the South so cut me some slack on my learning curve here.

Oh, and I had to program the new thermostat that's been up since Friday because my techno-tarded roommate apparently can't figure out how to fix anything...

Anyhow...it's been a full day... and I'm down for the count... see you tomorrow, my loves... a much more leisurely tomorrow...

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Well it didn't take long for San Diego government to screw up again...this time they are trying to use the new eminent domain ruling to take over Little Italy.

San Diego officials have designated this area of the city as "blighted," and according to the law the city has the authority to use its eminent domain powers for what supporters say is the good of the community.

They aren't trying to confiscate Little Italy for a roadway, or a train station, or even a park...none of it is to be general public use. They want to turn it over to a private firm known for building apartments/townhouses/condos/commercial space. I don't care if those developments are predicted to be good for the community in the long run. Stealing private property to be given to another private owner is just plain wrong, no matter how great you think it will be in the end. There are plenty of people with more money than sense in San Diego, get them to buy areas you want to develop. If the owners don't want to sell, I guess you're screwed. No exceptions. Period.

Go see for yourself the neighborhood they have deemed so unworthy...
A Day in Little Italy It's a unique area of town that San Diego would be worse off for having lost.

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As you can see, I'm back. Less obvious though is that I'm more enlightened for having gone...It's been an adventure, for sure. Much less drama this trip but an experience nonetheless.

First - There really isn't anything to do in Jackson, MS...
-the zoo takes about an hour
-the planetarium takes 30 mins (but it'll be the best nap you've ever had)
-the Old Capitol Museum of MS History takes about an hour
-the natural history museum takes about an hour and includes A LOT of river fish
-if you need something to do on Sunday...well, you're pretty much screwed

Second - They really do operate a little differently in Jackson, MS...
-the hotel cleaning crew didn't have towels on their carts...we just got the 'unused' towels from the rooms that had checked out... ew...
-food in the Jackson airport is of low quality (even by airport standards) but more expensive than any other airport I've ever been too

Family was family...plenty of rude behavior due to the cliques that we just can't seem to break but people tried to get along. Most people were enamored with the newest addition, born a year ago, so the rest of us didn't have to be quite so cute or social. The branch of the family driving from TX (thus part of why we had it in Jackson) decided not to show up...thus pissing off the rest of us who'd rather have been somewhere else instead of a conference room off the interstate... *shrug* ... We had beer and the captain to help us make it through.

I'm now known as the info collector, the organizer, and in charge of putting together the rest of the family tree. Hopefully that doesn't mean I'm in charge of the next reunion...

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I go away for a few days and I come home to talk of religious underwear and a spam attack... I'm not sure I know what to think... but two things are for sure...

...I'll be stripping this blog and de-spamming for the rest of the afternoon.

...and religious or not, you won't catch me in those mormon digs Eric was talking about - it's just not natural! I'm the kind of girl that believes in enjoying things to the fullest... nature included. I mean, mother nature didn't give us the gentle evening breeze for nothing... who am I to put a swatch of cotton in her way? Besides, I like the way it tickles... ;o)

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