We're leaving for Italy in less than two weeks. And while I'm excited, I'm totally bogged down with everything that needs to get done before we even leave for the airport:
Figure out how/where to store our scooter/motorcycle
Set credit card travel notification
Make copy of ID passport page
Go to Verizon store and get our aircard set up to work overseas
Print and organize all travel documents and vouchers
Get walking directions from Tremini station in Rome to our hotel
Laundry
Meet with cat-sitters
Pick up a few little things like a small notebook for photo notes
Figure out airport travel (cab? drive and park in economy?)
Six cities... planes trains and automobiles... my head is spinning already.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
My Second Hurricane
Saturday marked my second hurricane since moving to DC in 2004 (my third hurricane total). It was uneventful. But I'm reminded of a quaint little news article that my college paper did after Isabel. Being the journalist's only source I am quoted rather extensively:
Isabel hits students' homes
By Jacob Harrison
Collegian Reporter
While the students of Hillsdale College were enjoying soft autumnal breezes last week, many of their families and friends were fleeing from their homes and fearing for their lives.
The core of Hurricane Isabel struck the Eastern Seaboard on Thursday, killing at least 37 people, bringing on flooding and destruction, and as jurisdictions in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina declared states of emergency, mass evacuations and losses touched the lives of several Hillsdale students.
The Virginia Beach area, where the James River meets the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic, was among the hardest hit regions and is home to several students, including freshman Jessica Chacko, who said though people from her area are not strangers to hurricanes, she and her family were surprised by Isabel's violence.
"This is the first time since I was in elementary school that the family has had to actually leave our home," she said.
The Chackos are from Suffolk and have a house on the edge of the James River basin. When the danger became clear, the family left. They stayed at a hospital in Churchland, where her father is a doctor.
Returning home, they found their house spared, unlike one neighbor, whose house was demolished by seven trees. Another neighbor, on the edge of the Nansomond River, lost half their property, as their land buckled and was swept away in the surge.
Senior Judson Alphin and his sister Leah, a freshman, are also from the area, as are many of their extended family members who live close to the coast. Judson had recent images of old neighborhood surf piers smashed by storm swells and ocean waves brought by winds flowing into hotel lobbies and down blacked-out streets.
"Many of the neighborhoods that I grew up around were more or less submerged by the rivers and the tidal surge," Judson said.
His grandparents were among the approximately 200,000 Virginians forced inland by the storm blast.
They escaped to a family farm 20 miles from shore, where 100 mph winds blew in windshields, tore the tops off the silos, smashed shelters and cut power to the whole region as the trees fell, snapping power and phone lines.
On Sunday 420,000 people in Hampton Roads remained without power, and Dominion Virginia Power, which had assembled the largest restoration force in its history, reported that it could take several weeks to fully restore. Surrounding rivers continued to rise for several days, causing crop, livestock and structural damage yet incalculable.
Judson said on Wednesday only a few gas stations had reopened and standing in line for ice remained a four-hour venture.
In Chesapeake, Va., tall pine trees fell in all directions, crushing houses and cars, blacking out the entire area in a tangled web of shredded electrical cable. Junior Christina Martinez said her home and mother were lucky to be near the hospital, so their power was restored after only 24 hours.
She said they faired far better than many neighbors, including the Fortenberrys-her pastor and his family-whose house was caved in by a tree.
Another family from her church also had their house destroyed by falling trees. Christina's mother, Cindy Martinez, provided shelter and aid to her neighbors.
Senior Erin McCormick, also from Chesapeake, said nearly all the secondary roads had been cut off by flooding and fallen trees, leaving only one navigable road into her neighborhood. McCormick's family was told power could remain off for up to three weeks. The family now drives to her grandparents' house to cook meals.
"In the streets, in every direction you look, there are pines down, and strewn out," McCormick said. "As a level two hurricane, everyone in the area was shocked by the damage it caused."
By Saturday, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., had been declared disaster areas, and President George W. Bush signed documents to release federal aid in response.
Bush inspected damage in Virginia, where 19 were killed, and held a briefing with the governors of several states, the Director of Federal Emergency Management Agency, Mike Brown, and Tom Ridge, of the Department of Homeland Security. Bush offered additional aid and praised FEMA employees for their continued around-the-clock emergency relief efforts.
Last Thursday Isabel cut power to over 4 million households and businesses along the Atlantic coast. By Monday 1.5 million people were still in the dark, including approximately 290,000 customers in the Washington region alone, and 90,000 in North Carolina and along its ravaged Outer Banks.
In Washington, D.C., Hillsdale alumna Diana Havlin was at the edge of the hurricane's eye.
"It looks like an alien invasion is taking place," she said. "The heavens are furious-beautiful and simply furious."
She later reported that 77 mph winds had not just snapped trees in half but also had completely uprooted them, leaving pothole scars all over the land. The suburb of Alexandria, Va., had waist-deep water and debris floating through their streets.
Havlin said that although power is expected to be restored to Washington by Friday, thousands are still without power and inoperable traffic lights, ice shortages and looting are some of the many inconveniences still taxing local storm survivors.
http://www.hillsdalesites.org/collegian/127/127_03/features/feature92503isabelhits.htm
Isabel hits students' homes
By Jacob Harrison
Collegian Reporter
While the students of Hillsdale College were enjoying soft autumnal breezes last week, many of their families and friends were fleeing from their homes and fearing for their lives.
The core of Hurricane Isabel struck the Eastern Seaboard on Thursday, killing at least 37 people, bringing on flooding and destruction, and as jurisdictions in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina declared states of emergency, mass evacuations and losses touched the lives of several Hillsdale students.
The Virginia Beach area, where the James River meets the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic, was among the hardest hit regions and is home to several students, including freshman Jessica Chacko, who said though people from her area are not strangers to hurricanes, she and her family were surprised by Isabel's violence.
"This is the first time since I was in elementary school that the family has had to actually leave our home," she said.
The Chackos are from Suffolk and have a house on the edge of the James River basin. When the danger became clear, the family left. They stayed at a hospital in Churchland, where her father is a doctor.
Returning home, they found their house spared, unlike one neighbor, whose house was demolished by seven trees. Another neighbor, on the edge of the Nansomond River, lost half their property, as their land buckled and was swept away in the surge.
Senior Judson Alphin and his sister Leah, a freshman, are also from the area, as are many of their extended family members who live close to the coast. Judson had recent images of old neighborhood surf piers smashed by storm swells and ocean waves brought by winds flowing into hotel lobbies and down blacked-out streets.
"Many of the neighborhoods that I grew up around were more or less submerged by the rivers and the tidal surge," Judson said.
His grandparents were among the approximately 200,000 Virginians forced inland by the storm blast.
They escaped to a family farm 20 miles from shore, where 100 mph winds blew in windshields, tore the tops off the silos, smashed shelters and cut power to the whole region as the trees fell, snapping power and phone lines.
On Sunday 420,000 people in Hampton Roads remained without power, and Dominion Virginia Power, which had assembled the largest restoration force in its history, reported that it could take several weeks to fully restore. Surrounding rivers continued to rise for several days, causing crop, livestock and structural damage yet incalculable.
Judson said on Wednesday only a few gas stations had reopened and standing in line for ice remained a four-hour venture.
In Chesapeake, Va., tall pine trees fell in all directions, crushing houses and cars, blacking out the entire area in a tangled web of shredded electrical cable. Junior Christina Martinez said her home and mother were lucky to be near the hospital, so their power was restored after only 24 hours.
She said they faired far better than many neighbors, including the Fortenberrys-her pastor and his family-whose house was caved in by a tree.
Another family from her church also had their house destroyed by falling trees. Christina's mother, Cindy Martinez, provided shelter and aid to her neighbors.
Senior Erin McCormick, also from Chesapeake, said nearly all the secondary roads had been cut off by flooding and fallen trees, leaving only one navigable road into her neighborhood. McCormick's family was told power could remain off for up to three weeks. The family now drives to her grandparents' house to cook meals.
"In the streets, in every direction you look, there are pines down, and strewn out," McCormick said. "As a level two hurricane, everyone in the area was shocked by the damage it caused."
By Saturday, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., had been declared disaster areas, and President George W. Bush signed documents to release federal aid in response.
Bush inspected damage in Virginia, where 19 were killed, and held a briefing with the governors of several states, the Director of Federal Emergency Management Agency, Mike Brown, and Tom Ridge, of the Department of Homeland Security. Bush offered additional aid and praised FEMA employees for their continued around-the-clock emergency relief efforts.
Last Thursday Isabel cut power to over 4 million households and businesses along the Atlantic coast. By Monday 1.5 million people were still in the dark, including approximately 290,000 customers in the Washington region alone, and 90,000 in North Carolina and along its ravaged Outer Banks.
In Washington, D.C., Hillsdale alumna Diana Havlin was at the edge of the hurricane's eye.
"It looks like an alien invasion is taking place," she said. "The heavens are furious-beautiful and simply furious."
She later reported that 77 mph winds had not just snapped trees in half but also had completely uprooted them, leaving pothole scars all over the land. The suburb of Alexandria, Va., had waist-deep water and debris floating through their streets.
Havlin said that although power is expected to be restored to Washington by Friday, thousands are still without power and inoperable traffic lights, ice shortages and looting are some of the many inconveniences still taxing local storm survivors.
http://www.hillsdalesites.org/collegian/127/127_03/features/feature92503isabelhits.htm
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Road Trip!
Using our GPS set to avoid highways and a great book about cross-country trips on two-land roads we set out for the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania for a couple days of relaxation before hunkering down for Hurrican Irene.
We decided to wing it with no advance lodging arrangements. Such ideas tend to be hit or miss. Our number one inn in Jim Thorpe, PA was full, the second two B&B stops were locked with "No Vacancy" signs posted. So, grudgingly, we booked a room the first night at the Hampton Inn. Not exactly quaint but doable.
After a couple of unintended detours and the snafu with respect to our room for the night, we were more than ready for a cocktail and nice meal. Not having the highest expectations for our drink order (the waitress thought that the "house" vodka I ordered for my martini was the liquor's brand name and didn't seem to understand the concept of a neat whiskey) we were pleasantly surprised at the drinks and fare at the little bar and grille next to the Hampton. It was a welcomed respite from a long day on the road and more than a little uncertaintly about where we would sleep.
We were blown away at the bill: my martini, a glass of wine, two pints of beer, two shots of whiskey, and two entrees for $45.10! Can you imagine. In DC such a tab would be at least twice that.
Jim Thorpe is a great mountain town nestled in the Lehigh Valley. It boasts 50+ miles of groomed trails (that intersect with the Appalachian), a haunted old jail, and a really cute open-air rail train that we took through the mountains and valleys.
The next day, fearing that the hurricane would come sooner that we hoped, we just headed south towards Gettysburg to try to minimize the final day's driving.
Once again we ended up at a Hampton Inn and, depressed at the lines accumulating outside the surburban Applebee's and Chili's, stopped in at a Mexican restaurant in York, PA for a(nother) surprisingly great meal. The beer was tall (32oz!), we paid $7.50 for a half-carafe of wine, enjoyed tableside-prepared guacamole (no jalapeno!) and delicious chicklen mole and soft tacos.
Back in DC now and awaiting the arrival of Irene. So far, anti-climactic. Just rain and a little bit of wind. We've had worse storms even recently but then again the worst isn't supposed to come through for another couple of hours.
Between an earthquake and a hurricane this week alone I'm hoping for some quieter weather to come!
We decided to wing it with no advance lodging arrangements. Such ideas tend to be hit or miss. Our number one inn in Jim Thorpe, PA was full, the second two B&B stops were locked with "No Vacancy" signs posted. So, grudgingly, we booked a room the first night at the Hampton Inn. Not exactly quaint but doable.
After a couple of unintended detours and the snafu with respect to our room for the night, we were more than ready for a cocktail and nice meal. Not having the highest expectations for our drink order (the waitress thought that the "house" vodka I ordered for my martini was the liquor's brand name and didn't seem to understand the concept of a neat whiskey) we were pleasantly surprised at the drinks and fare at the little bar and grille next to the Hampton. It was a welcomed respite from a long day on the road and more than a little uncertaintly about where we would sleep.
We were blown away at the bill: my martini, a glass of wine, two pints of beer, two shots of whiskey, and two entrees for $45.10! Can you imagine. In DC such a tab would be at least twice that.
Jim Thorpe is a great mountain town nestled in the Lehigh Valley. It boasts 50+ miles of groomed trails (that intersect with the Appalachian), a haunted old jail, and a really cute open-air rail train that we took through the mountains and valleys.
The next day, fearing that the hurricane would come sooner that we hoped, we just headed south towards Gettysburg to try to minimize the final day's driving.
Once again we ended up at a Hampton Inn and, depressed at the lines accumulating outside the surburban Applebee's and Chili's, stopped in at a Mexican restaurant in York, PA for a(nother) surprisingly great meal. The beer was tall (32oz!), we paid $7.50 for a half-carafe of wine, enjoyed tableside-prepared guacamole (no jalapeno!) and delicious chicklen mole and soft tacos.
Back in DC now and awaiting the arrival of Irene. So far, anti-climactic. Just rain and a little bit of wind. We've had worse storms even recently but then again the worst isn't supposed to come through for another couple of hours.
Between an earthquake and a hurricane this week alone I'm hoping for some quieter weather to come!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Earthquaaaake!
Wow, what a crazy day! I was just leaving work and standing next to my scooter on the roof of the parking garage when it (the scooter and the garage!) started swaying back and forth. The light posts were swaying and hitting the sides of the ramp! For a split second I thought it was from something heavy being dropped at the construction site across the street but then everyone came running out of the building and our phones started ringing.
I always thought an earthquake would be shaky but this was definitely sway-y. Kind of like standing in a canoe or on a very rickety suspension bridge.
After my own legs stopped shaking I started home. Of course traffic was a mess as everyone fled the city. The offices and museums were evacuated and the sidewalks were packed. As I got closer to home, the Capitol police were attempting to direct traffic but their signals were against the lights which made it very confusing.
I finally got home and found things mostly in their place. A few things had fallen off a shelf in my closet and the cats were nowhere to be found. I went for a walk around town with a girlfriend. Now I'm sipping wine and watching the traffic mess on TV like the smug urbanite that I am.
Anyway - as if there aren't enough dangers in the world - earthquakes on the east coast too!
I always thought an earthquake would be shaky but this was definitely sway-y. Kind of like standing in a canoe or on a very rickety suspension bridge.
After my own legs stopped shaking I started home. Of course traffic was a mess as everyone fled the city. The offices and museums were evacuated and the sidewalks were packed. As I got closer to home, the Capitol police were attempting to direct traffic but their signals were against the lights which made it very confusing.
I finally got home and found things mostly in their place. A few things had fallen off a shelf in my closet and the cats were nowhere to be found. I went for a walk around town with a girlfriend. Now I'm sipping wine and watching the traffic mess on TV like the smug urbanite that I am.
Anyway - as if there aren't enough dangers in the world - earthquakes on the east coast too!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Celebrity Sighting!
I saw Dennis Kucinich at the grocery store! Actually, I saw his wife first. You can't miss her: 6-feet tall with waist-length red hair. And Dennis is small and elfish, so together they are an unmissable couple.
I ran around to tell J about it and he had no idea who Dennis Kucinish was. Typical ;-)
I could tell he knew I recognized them but I kept my distance. A few people asked for photos, they used the self check-out, and went on their way. Dennis copped a feel on their way to the cart return... of all things, J noticed that. Typical :)
We were behind them exiting the parking garage - she was behind the wheel. They drive a Ford Escape hybrid with Ohio tags. Way to be environmentally conscious!
I ran around to tell J about it and he had no idea who Dennis Kucinish was. Typical ;-)
I could tell he knew I recognized them but I kept my distance. A few people asked for photos, they used the self check-out, and went on their way. Dennis copped a feel on their way to the cart return... of all things, J noticed that. Typical :)
We were behind them exiting the parking garage - she was behind the wheel. They drive a Ford Escape hybrid with Ohio tags. Way to be environmentally conscious!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Confessions
My mom is always asking me why I like to watch traumatic films. It's true - I like a film that leaves me shaking and empty. Not horror; I could care less about monsters and ghosts and blood and whatnot. I mean films about the human condition in all its awfulness, films about big evils and the small, everyday evils that people impart on each other, the ones that just slowly deaden the soul.
As to the why of it, I have a hard time articulating but I found this snippet from the Confessions of St. Augustine that seems on point:
The theater enchanged me with images of my own miseries. Its plays added fuel to my fire. What makes someone want to be sad? Why behold doleful tragedies, vicariously experiencing what does not have to be suffered?
Yet the spectator wants to feel sorrow at the stories, and this very anguish is pleasure. This seems to be wretched insanity. As more false emotion is elicited by what happens on stage, there is less freedom for one's own true feelings.
How odd that when one suffers personally, it is called 'misery.' When it is vicarious, it is styled as a sort of mercy. How is it compassion to feel made-up emotions about imaginary acts?
The one who watches is not called on to help relieve pain, but only to grieve. More applause is given to the actor who can elicit more grief.
As to the why of it, I have a hard time articulating but I found this snippet from the Confessions of St. Augustine that seems on point:
The theater enchanged me with images of my own miseries. Its plays added fuel to my fire. What makes someone want to be sad? Why behold doleful tragedies, vicariously experiencing what does not have to be suffered?
Yet the spectator wants to feel sorrow at the stories, and this very anguish is pleasure. This seems to be wretched insanity. As more false emotion is elicited by what happens on stage, there is less freedom for one's own true feelings.
How odd that when one suffers personally, it is called 'misery.' When it is vicarious, it is styled as a sort of mercy. How is it compassion to feel made-up emotions about imaginary acts?
The one who watches is not called on to help relieve pain, but only to grieve. More applause is given to the actor who can elicit more grief.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Productive Afternoon
Getting things done feels so good. And since the fall is going to be quite hectic with lots of travel I can already feel my task-mastering and list-checking sides kicking into high gear.
Today after work I:
-Did laundry
-Practiced yoga
-Made a shopping list
-Got some personal papers clipped together that need to be mailed tomorrow
And it's not even 5pm!
It feels good to be in control of the little things in life.
Now if I can just figure out why blogger won't publish any of my posts. It will save, toggle back and forth between composition view and preview... but the "Publish Post" button goes nowhere.
Today after work I:
-Did laundry
-Practiced yoga
-Made a shopping list
-Got some personal papers clipped together that need to be mailed tomorrow
And it's not even 5pm!
It feels good to be in control of the little things in life.
Now if I can just figure out why blogger won't publish any of my posts. It will save, toggle back and forth between composition view and preview... but the "Publish Post" button goes nowhere.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Ebb and Flow
One of the great things and frustrating things about my life is my varied interests. Philosophy, religion, running, needlepoint, photography, Irish music, film, sign language, travel - one can't devote equal time to all and hope to get anywhere with any.
So, the ebb and flow is a reality. One simply can't do everything at once, in perpetuity.
Currently I've been catching up on a great TV series - Weeds. I've gone as far as I can on Netflix, and have moved on to reading. Photography remains in the background, in fact, I have on my calendar a wonderful opportunity to shoot a simultaneous moonrise and sunset with my favorite local photographer this coming Friday.
But lately I've been feeling the banjo calling. My poor banjo has been out of commission for a few reasons - shifts in sessions making playing out difficult, and playing out is a great motivator for practice. Also, my instrument is old (excuse me, vintage) and I feel frustrated by its stiff action and loose tuning. But I want to start playing more. So I will.
So, the ebb and flow is a reality. One simply can't do everything at once, in perpetuity.
Currently I've been catching up on a great TV series - Weeds. I've gone as far as I can on Netflix, and have moved on to reading. Photography remains in the background, in fact, I have on my calendar a wonderful opportunity to shoot a simultaneous moonrise and sunset with my favorite local photographer this coming Friday.
But lately I've been feeling the banjo calling. My poor banjo has been out of commission for a few reasons - shifts in sessions making playing out difficult, and playing out is a great motivator for practice. Also, my instrument is old (excuse me, vintage) and I feel frustrated by its stiff action and loose tuning. But I want to start playing more. So I will.
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