Sadie thoughts...

It's been awhile since I wrote about Sadie. Since then I've made improvements to our yard, deck and have taken a closer look at her medical records. Guess what? My Sadie was born in 1999. She's 10.
Doesn't look a day over 5.
We're very happy with each other.
If I could I'd take photos of me walking the ol' gal with my three boy-dogs, all at once. We're quite the motley crew walking around the neighborhood.
I think Sadie feels at home after a walk.
Don't you?

DC is the new Hollywood?

Earlier this week I'm listening to the commercial news radio station in Washington and lo' and behold, traffic was a mess.

No, it wasn't exploding manhole covers in Georgetown, water mane breaks, utility work, accidents, icy road conditions, that jammed traffic. It was road closers as film crews set up cranes, trailers, and heavy machinery.

Have you been watching the TV series "24"? So many images of DC and the White House.

Well, we do have a darn nice capital. And, now's the time to come and see the place, before the rest of the tourists come for spring break and before the Cherry Blossoms pop open, and destroy sinus from Richmond north through Baltimore.

Come while the museums are less crowded than in the summer months, and before the temperatures and humidity make being outside unbearable.

Or, just watch the best of the place in the movies and TV.

But, frankly, we do need your tourist dollars. And, compared to some places, DC is still a bargain of a vacation place to take the kids. So, come to DC.

See you soon!

Majesty and Mythology

This weekend, today and, I am guessing tomorrow, I'll be continuing to watch all I can, about the Inauguration, in beautiful HD TV. And, I'll continue to think about how great those images portray Washington, DC -- the center of perhaps the most influential democracy/republic this world has ever seen, and will likely, ever see.

I've lived in the DC area since 1989. I've never felt so much enthusiasm from visitors who I encounter who are coming to our area to celebrate the start of a new presidency. I don't know if it's all those high expectations that are polishing the images of DC that I, and viewers around the world, are seeing on TV.
But, dare I say that the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor and the National Mall have never looked so good?

Those words, majesty and mythology of what Washington is all about come to mind once again.

Let's hope that a year from now that spirit is still kicking around the corners and crevices of not only our capital city, but our nation.

Welcome to Washington for the Inauguration!

The photo is of the back of the guy who offered me his seat on the DC area's Metro rail system two nights ago. I got on the train at the busy Metro Center stop and moved into the center of the car, as instructed by the recording on the PA system. He saw me standing in the aisle, holding onto a rail to keep balance and offered me a seat.

Welcome to DC. It's a place where a lady is offered a seat on a train. The native's won't bite. So, be polite and patient and you'll have a most wonderful time!

Public Servant versus Politician -- Life Imitating Art

I just joined a social networking group by and for government workers and sub contractors. One blogger on this network wrote of his disgust of reporters characterizing politicians as public servants.

I wrote back to him:

I think I get what you’re saying: It's the difference between getting the job because of a popularity contest and getting to do the job because you meet critical requirements and have necessary skill sets to keep the wheels of your bureaucracy rolling.

I suppose what confuses people is that black-and-white filmed, Hollywood characterization of what it means to be elected to a government post--it's as if....
Jimmy Stewart's portrayal of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" meshes with the character of the community banker of "It's a Wonderful Life." We see these two characters as being tragic fraternal twins: Only these guys are fictitious.


But, what to make of the politicians who work hard, and grow into the idealist's view of politicians as public servants? What of Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Steny Hoyer, Barbara Milkulski and other politicians who I read a lot about and have heard about through the years? What of the politicians who ran for office after being appointed to government positions by Presidents and members of Congress, such as the Janet Reno, Carol Bellamy (who might blanche as being characterized as a politicians)

Sarah Palin made disparaging remarks about Obama for his experiences of personal growth while campaigning for President. Could it be that he was experiencing a metamorphoses of politician to public servant? Why wouldn't we want one of those as our commander-and-chief, or lawmaker?

I'm hoping that next Tuesday more of us in the public decide to become better putlic servants---only we'll call ourselves citizen.

Sounds sappy, but then again--I do like my black-and-white, classic movie channels.
Maybe life can imitate art?

They say change is the only constant...

I'm still trying to figure out why a change that I have little control over seems to disturb me so. A few minutes ago I learned that my local bank, Chevy Chase Bank, was going to be acquired by a national credit card and loan company that has annoyed me, nearly every day, by their credit card offers.

What is it about a familiar landmark, logo and the comfort of years of doing business with one company being bought out be a firm -- one that I considered preyed on vulnerable consumers and those with poor credit ratings?

Chevy Chase banks are everywhere I do business, shop, work, hangout. I like being able to deposit my money virtually anywhere I go in the Metro DC area.

I know what's in my wallet. I know what's in my neighborhood. The new Chevy Chase Bank I hope, will work hard to keep me as a customer. With all the consolidation of banks, so many firms want my deposits and business, it would be easy to close an account with them and open one with a competitor across the parking lot.

Forgotten War, most loved Veterans

I work part time at a radio reading service for the blind, which is staffed by volunteers, mostly retired folks, who read for a radio reading service, and a dial-in service, for the blind. They read local newspapers and magazines, report on theater and film reviews, local entertainment and arts functions. I can blog more about these folks later on.

A couple of days ago one volunteer walked in wearing a Korean War Veteran baseball cap. He told me a story after I chirped up, "Hey, my Dad served in Korea too!"

This gentleman made a point of telling me that last year, through the association he belongs to of the 2nd Infantry, he went back to South Korea. He's 80 years old. Fifty years after he fought in Korea he never really had a desire to return to that peninsula where some of the bloodiest battles U.S. soldiers ever participated in occured. He went on to explain that last year the price of the trip was very reasonable, and for just a few hundred dollars more, a trip to Beijing, China would be included--and his wife was very interested in going.

So, he went. And he had the most moving experiences of seeing a country that, when he left it, fifty odd years ago, was like Europe after the 2nd World War, with bombed out cities, and other ruins. Last year what he found in South Korea cities with modern roads that resemble the freeways and highways here in America. He also found highly emotional people, who treated him like the hero that he is. Schools, churches and businesses were alerted to the arrival of this veterans tour group. School children immediately assembled and sang their national anthem and the Star Spangled Banner for these vets. Young restauranteurs picked up the tab for the groups meals. Parish priests, with tears in their eyes proclaimed that South Korea wouldn't be the successful, healthy country that it is if it were not for the Americans.

Well, I went on the web to hunt for photos of Korean War vets, and found a shot of a group of soldiers. I could swear that the guy on the right side of the photo is my Dad. He and Mom have told me that his picture made it in the papers. He was part of a team of that helped deal with Dengue fever, which was epidemic in Korea during the war. Dad had a biology degree, and was transferred, after his tour with an infantry unit, to a medical unit or MASH unit. Very few soldiers went from infantry to a MASH unit. That's why he has both infantry combat rifle medal as well as a medical service medal, as well as pins and ribbons from the government of Korea, New York State and our Country (he was part of a company of Brooklyn boys!)

I've learned, as my father and I have both gotten older, and as I have become an adult woman, that he saw very grusome things in war. He had to dig in mortar launchers amongst the burnt ruins of Chinese soldiers. He was assigned to triage, move the soldiers who weren't going to make it from those who had a chance with medical treatment. As he plainly put it to me yesterday, as dryly as he could muster, "it was very real..." meaning, this wasn't just the movies. My Dad experienced things that others have written about, dramatized, and experienced nightmares about.

I'm proud of my Dad. I hope that one day soon he and Mom go to South Korea and see what happens when Americans intercede for the good of a country, and how this particular country is showing how grateful it is to Americans, and shows it every chance it can. No, not just the politicians and diplomats, but the people in the streets and the kids in the schools. I suspect this is every soldier's dream when they swear to serve to protect our constitution and to follow orders of a commander-and-chief: appreciation from regular people.