Sad News

I was upset to read Chris' post this morning about the death of his MIL in a car accident. Such a freak occurrence, and I know it happens. But I think of how sudden it was, how unexpected, how utterly tragic and unnecessary.  It hits harder, as you grow older, knowing your parents won't be there forever. I feel far, far too young to have to deal with that, though I know dad was far younger than I am when his mom passed away.  Like Justice S' son-in-law, only 49ish? How sad. Six children have lost their dad.  I mean, I just don't understand how these things happen.  Especially when it is so sudden, and you really don't expect to get that call now. Especially when your parent is so healthy, seemingly. So sad, and my prayers and thoughts are with them this week.

Toe Bummed

I cannot begin to describe how frustrated I am by my probably broken toe. It's not that I had this unblemished record of never breaking a bone, but it was a stupid, clumsy way to do it (changing the thermostat!). I am trying to be patient, but I am going crazy at the thought of not working out. Perhaps I should just be good about trying out some yoga and biking, which I am horrible at, but I am bummed that I cannot run in this beautiful morning 60 degree weather. I am hopeful that it really is just a bad, bad bruise, but I also don't want to go to the doctor to confirm that because of my squeamishness. Ugh.

So it is not the end of the world of course, but I dramatically want to protest this somewhere. Hoping it heals very quickly and I can run again very, very soon.

Scary

1. John Steele Gordon wrote this column describing exactly what our debt is, how large it is and why, and how it is ballooning out of control.
2. My toe. I can't believe I ran into a couch and probably broke it. I am going through running withdrawals. Perhaps I can look at this as an opportunity to do some yoga and bike, which I am pathetic at.
3. What the media tried to represent with Irene. Yes, there are some areas facing devastating flooding. But the world continues to turn, and frankly, no pun intended, there coverage was overblown. But what covered poor Tucker Barnes, yes, that is scary.

Tucker Barnes and the Slime

This pretty much sums up the Hurricane Irene coverage. Nasty sludgey bacteria-infected foam.  EWW.

Hurricane Hype

First an earthquake, now a hurricane. As Irene makes it way up the east coast (now in the Carolinas), the media hype is at full steam.  Grocery stores are supposedly packed, and evacuations are being called for, even in New York. I hope Pepco can do its thing, and I hope that the storm tracks further to the East.  But what a week. I predict the climate change-ologists will be bitching about how this is all Republicans fault in no time.

I do pray that our friends in the Outer Banks, particularly Ocracoke, play it safe. For as much as the media is hyping this, it really is better to evacuate.

Bad Eats, Good Company

Tonic Restaurant wins the award for my least favorite place to have eaten in recent months. It did have close competition in the supremely overrated Tru Orleans, which was just panned by Tom Sietsema, and Smith Commons.  Both were overpriced. While the latter had better food, both were too trendy for their own good, and I'm not sure we are terribly eager to return.  At least I enjoyed Liz and Ann's company at Tonic.  The food was cheap, though the service was horrid and the menu confusing. I don't feel bad for over-tipping when it took about a half hour to get drinks and even longer to get fairly average food, even if it was only a summer pizza, veggie sandwich, and salad.

Though I have to say that Foggy Bottom area is changing, with a Sweetgreen and a Roti open already, and a Whole Foods about to open. I will definitely be checking that out in a couple of weeks.

The Great DC Earthquake

The DC area experienced a 5.8 earthquake today   Yes, we all overreacted.  Kind of like snowmaggeddon.

At first I thought it was a really loud truck. I looked out my window and I realized that it wasn't.  Then for a brief second I wondered if it was a bomb.  It was a beautiful day, mostly sunny and blue skies and so like a certain day in September in 2001.  Then of course, it registered that it was an earthquake. We left the office, stood outside chatting, and then we went back up and then we left.

Steve called as I was leaving from the office, and only then did I really let it register that it wasn't some kind of terrorist attack. Crazy how that resonates still.

But yeah, it was crazy.  But thankfully, no real damage and all is safe.

Detoxified Sunday

After a fun, but too boozey, Saturday enchilada party, we took it easy yesterday. We slept, we vegged on the couch, we did a light elliptical workout, and then we we sat on the couch.

It has been a while since I felt that hungover.  The only one I can remember was after the Eastern leadership meeting, and that was partially because of the early wake-up call.  So I detoxed yesterday and forego'ed my evening glass of wine and laid off meat. Though even if the only food to eat was some version of a veggie enchilada, I am not sure I could have done that, either. I was feeling pretty eh.

But work will pick up again, and things will become hectic once again. It is four long months to Jamaica, though honestly, look how fast this summer has gone. Is it really August 22? What have I done all summer? So maybe that vacation will be here long before we know it.

Back Home to Michigan

Jay Nordlinger just wrote about returning home to Michigan in a recent Detroit News column.

These paragraphs resonated, though really his entire column did:

When I was a kid, I would spend a chunk of each summer Up North, mostly with my grandparents. I remember the long drives on I-75 and M-33 and then hitting the back roads. There were no DVD players to pull my gaze or iPods to fill my ears — just a vision of green forests and the hypnotic hum of tires on asphalt. We always went the same way and I knew every curve and bump.
Toward the end of the trip, we'd go west for five or six miles on a straight stretch of blacktop. Then we'd turn right at a four-way intersection. This was the sign that we were just a few minutes away from lakes and creeks and trails and bug hunting and perch fishing and blueberry picking and all the things that made Up North so special, then and now.

"Up north" is a place I haven't been for far too long. It might be the nicest place in the country. In fact, Sleeping Bear Dunes was just rated the most beautiful spot in America.

If we have children some day,  I would love to take two weeks and rent a cottage by a lake, or stay near Traverse City, and visit those small shops and swim in those clear lakes. It's an idyllic place. I'm glad others recognize it, too.

Mid August Boredom

Things are slooow in the office, and I admit that my motivation is at a low point.  Earlier, I had really hoped that we would be on vacation right now. It's four months away until Jamaica, although the flights are booked.  We might take off early tomorrow and/or Friday, as Steve's latest paper is done. 

So here are five things keeping me somewhat occupied...

The new music blog.
Looking for good enchilada recipes.
Mark Steyn's new book, After America. 
Figuring out what we need to buy for the house
Trying not to snack too much...been very snackie lately.