Alive and more alive part 2

Monday, I rode to work, and along the way, dropped off an application for an apartment that I saw Saturday in Georgetown. Riding makes me so happy. When I was a graduate student here a long time ago, I had a stint as a bicycle courier one summer. Easily the most exciting job I ever had. Since I was paid by the job, I went as quickly as I could (as did all couriers). It was very dangerous: in that short time working, maybe 10 weeks, I ran into a taxi and grazed a pedestrian. Cut my arm pretty badly hitting the taxi, but didn't get hurt or hurt the pedestrian I grazed.

I was much more of a hot dog then; but I still run red lights whenever no cars are coming on the cross street. I don't go down one-way streets the wrong way: that's something I never did.

So, back to the present. At lunch I rode to see another apartment, and then a quick ride home, and then back to work. Of course, I rode home.

How do I explain the feeling I have when I ride? It's freedom, it's speed, it's the wind in my face, it's a competition with myself. It's being part of the world. It's an expression of thankfulness for my continued good health. It's loving the world, and all its ups and downs and smooth roads and potholes. The head winds and tail winds. The smooth roads, the gravel, the alleys, the streets. Feeling the sun and the shade.

A day in the life

I woke up, got out of bed, but didn't drag a comb across my head. Not enough hair. I did go downstairs and had a cup, and then went to the Lollygag for the Cure. Each year, a group of friends all walk to celebrate life, and in memory of friends or loved ones lost to breast cancer. It is a huge event, more than 70,000 this year. We met up at 7:45 at the East Wing of the National Gallery - located here.

The morning started out completely gray, nearly foggy. It was muggy but not yet hot. The haze stayed around until about 9:00 or so when the sun finally burnt it all off. We walked 5 kilometers; Lisa T ran the course this year. You go Lisa!

It was 10 AM before we all finished: it was the lollygag for the cure, not the walk, not the race. Everyone was going to get together for noshing but I had to see an apartment in Georgetown at 10:30. I got there just as the guy was opening up the building (near 27th and Q NW), and all of the apartments were the best I've seen in terms of what I want. I got an application and need to fill it in this weekend.

From there I walked "home" (near 9th & S NW), and along the way, got breakfast at McFU, and saw another open house. This was a completely renovated building, really nice, but a little outside my price range. Went home and did some laundry, and by 2 PM went to two more open houses. One was a basement apartment in the Dupont Circle are, really nice, but it had many people looking at it. Still I will put in an application for that one as well - it really had everything I need.

The other apartment was similar, but updated and way overpriced, $600 per month higher. By now it was scorching hot. I went to Trader Joe's to get groceries, came home, made the bed, and took a nice long nap.

The weather in the day in the life: typical global warming Washington. It got up to 98F or 36. It was hot and I spent much of the day walking around in it. The high on Saturday matched the record that was set in 1999.

It was pretty sunny all day, once the haze burnt off. I was wearing a tank top so now I have this cute tank top sunburn.

After the nap, I woke up and remembered that there was a Cyndi Lauper and B-52s concert tonight at Constitution Hall. I checked craigslist, made a few calls, didn't reach anyone. By now it's 7:30 (the concert started at 6:30; the startup was Tegan & Sara, then Regina Spektor) and I doubt I'll get to see anything. I text the lord of the universe and he calls me. We're just catching up, talking about our days in the life, and I get a call on my mobile. One of the craigslist people called me back; he's at the concert and has the extra tickets still. V understands that I need to go: I'm there in time to see the B-52s and Cyndi. Fave lyrics:

B-52s: Roam ... "Around the world the trip begins with a kiss"

Cyndi: Girls Just Want to Have Fun ... "I want to be the one to walk in the sun"

They both played new stuff and classics. The True Colors Tour is the name of the event, and it's a fund raiser for the Human Rights Campaign. Cyndi looked incredible; Fred did too. The concert had an incredible ending. When Cyndi went offstage after her encore, everyone is still clapping and cheering and hooting. Then all of a sudden, this giant balloon comes out of one of the entryways near stage left, just a few feet from me. Then another, and another, and more, and soon there are twenty or more giant balloons all bouncing around the concert hall. It looked a little like this (photo from another concert), but there were DOZENS of them:




Everyone who performed then came out and sang "Everyday People" ... what a great show! Thanks to everyone who played! Thanks to the craigslist guy! You made my day!