When in DC...

Here's the latest of the funny DC blogs...

Some are quite true, even.

My Least Favorite Date

I've always disliked this date, stretching back to 1993. It's always full of frustrations, whether work or personal  This year is the former. Let's only hope that April 20 comes quickly and smoothly this year.

RIP: Dick Clark

I just saw on Drudge Report that Dick Clark passed away.  Anyone who ever saw Dick Clark's Rocking Eve or American Band Stand, or ever watched an awards show like the Emmys or a gameshow like the $10,000 Pyramid, knows Dick Clark. And who could forget Bloopers and Practical Jokes (now, both he and Ed McMahon are gone)?  Heck, any American knew Dick Clark, the eternal teenager. He was a trailblazer in featuring all musicians from all genres, all races. Even after a stroke a few years back, he was always a welcome sight on television, mostly recently appearing last New Year's Eve. That date won't ever be the same without him.  RIP, Dick Clark.

SATC Later

Girls, a new HBO series, premiered Sunday to a lot of critical acclaim and buzz.  Apparently, it's Gen Y's Sex and the City.  It also happens to star several actresses who just so happen to have famous parents with industry connections (like Brian Williams).

I don't have HBO, so I'm not sure I'm going to be watching it anytime soon, other than on You Tube.  I'm a betweener, 10 years younger than the ladies of SATC and 10 years older (or more) than the Girls. So I can't really relate to either, though SATC (with the exception of Samantha) really was a Gen Xer show.  Certainly these issues are timeless--coming of age, supporting yourself, figuring out life in the city and relationships and careers and friendships.  I guess if you had this show for someone my age, you'd have Keri Russell, Reese Witherspoon, Candace Cameron, and Kate Winslet out there.  Not quite Sarah Jessica Parker, and not quite Gen Y.

As long as the writing is good, not to mention the acting, then people will watch, even if you don't fit neatly into the generation that it's speaking to. But it sure seems funny when you are caught in between. 

Scenes from a Weekend

Cocktail at Churchkey.  Cocktail at Boundary Road.
Burger at Big Board.
Chasing around. Run. Target. Jetta. Wine at Rustico.  And the Last Word cocktails.
And chilling out yesterday. A bad run followed by gardening and re-watching Walk the Line with the husband.  Not much activity, and not much was desired.

It'll be a few weeks before anything approaching a restful weekend occurs.

Daytime Campaign

This Daytime twitter campaign to save Days is awesome. I wish it could have been around in 1993, or 2003, or 2006...or any of the other firings.

Easter Weekend

I have been so busy that I haven't had time to write about Easter. Despite the Urgent Care back scare, it was a good weekend. Cooking crabcakes and grilling fish. Playing Apples to Apples and dominating!  Laughing and drinking lots of Irish Whiskey (well, some of us).  Hitting up Eastern Market.  Admiring the bookshelf.  Getting Joey stories.  Watching the Tigers comeback win. Sitting out on the roofdeck eating pizza.  All good times.  And it all is too short.

Inevitible?

The Detroit Tigers pulled out victory #1 today on Opening Day, despite Valverde's blow save. Though Verlander was sharp; two hitter. No runs allowed.  Wow. Way to respond after his MVP season!

Will they win their division? Or make it to the World Series? Or win it all? Time will tell. But the optimism is there, for once. And for Detroit's sake, I hope so. For all Tigers fan, after 28 years, are ready to win the ring.

On Judicial Independence

Obama spoke some ominous words yesterday to the Supreme Court in the wake of last week's Obamacare oral arguments. He stated, "I’d just remind conservative commentators that for years what we’ve heard is the biggest problem on the bench is judicial activism or a lack of judicial restraint — that an unelected group of people would somehow overturn a duly constituted and passed law,” Obama said. “Well, here’s a good example. And I’m pretty confident that this court will recognize that, and not take that step.”"

Well, someone needs to remind our Commander-in-Chief about his past career as a constitutional law professor. It's not just about the separation of powers, or checks and balances. Even Ruth Marcus found his remarks troubling.  I don't agree that all judges should be elected. But I do know that judicial independence is a concept that is our respected in our system of government, even if we disagree with the decisions that judges arrive at.  I didn't agree with Newt Gingrich's threats about it, and I certainly don't appreciate the undertone of our President.

Perhaps Obama should listen to Larry Tribe:

“The advantage of not being a lawyer is the ability to look outside the box,” Professor Tribe said. “The disadvantage is to be so woefully ignorant of what’s inside the box.  There are times, especially times of national panic,” Professor Tribe said, “when both of the elected branches are prepared to defy core constitutional protections of human rights and only a truly independent branch, one that has no need to worry about the election returns, can be counted on to hold the line and preserve our basic constitutional commitments.”

I don't know how the Court will decide the health care cases; I know what I believe about them. But I do know that ominously reminded the Court of its own unelected status isn't respecting judicial independence. Those justices were nominated by the (elected) President and confirmed by the (elected) Congress. Unless they are abdicating their responsibilities and now soberly deciding their decisions, there's no threat to be made.

20-Something Saturday

We had one of those random Saturdays, full of a little bit of moving, lots of margaritas, loud music, talking to old and new friends, and general laziness.  All followed by pizza. Steve said it reminded him of lots of Saturdays when he was in his 20s, when goofing off with friends, heavy alcohol consumption, and general feelings of uselessness were the marks of many a weekend. 

It's this strange bubble I feel myself in sometimes, when my late 30 something/early 40 something childless-friends make me feel a little less unsettled, and I am actually glad I can just do nothing for an afternoon. It's okay to do nothing when you are so constantly driven to accomplish something. It makes you feel a little less grown up, at least for a bit. And then Sunday comes and productivity and cleaning house and ironing clothes and getting ready for another work week is all that awaits.

But moments with friends, relaxing, joking around and blaring loud music...it made for a memorable Saturday, and a rare one which is also a memorable one, too.