Back at it...

I finally made it into the office today. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who lives on a street that gets cleared really quick. In fact, as I was driving in this morning, the road crews were working on removing some of the giant piles of snow they'd created in their efforts to clear the roads.

Speaking of the road crews, cops, firefighters, National Guardsmen, EMS workers and everyone else who had to work during the past week to keep the rest of us safe, my hat is off to you. Thanks for everything you did and do to make the rest of our lives easier and safer.

That said, when I got into my office, I was one of two people there and the other guy left soon after I arrived. It was pretty weird to tell you the truth. Kind of like being in the beginning of my very own horror movie.

"Creak. Snap. Pop."

*Looks up* "Is anyone there???"

And that's pretty much where the movie ends since I made it home safe. Or did I...

Anyway, Tuesday I met the Disaffected Scanner Jockey downtown for some post-cabin feber* lunch. Along the way I took a picture or two. To make it even more fun I set the camera to Black & White. Not like you can tell the difference anyway with all the snow and the monochromatic nature of D.C.'s architecture.

Enjoy.

I generally like my pictures to be all clean and neat without a lot of distractions. But the one above kinda speaks to me. There's so, so much going on in this shot.

And you thought you had a hard time getting around in the snow.

I saw the guy in the picture above twice, once just outside the Metro exit and then here about a block away. I don't know his story, but I'm guessing everything he owns is in that plastic bag he's sitting on.

Sometimes, the best pictures happen by accident. This is what happens when you're standing in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue trying to take a picture.

A crime scene perhaps? Could this be the aftermath of some kind of snowman/snow woman domestic dispute? Snowmacide is never a pretty thing.

What? Me ironic? Nooooooo...

This, and it's mate on the other side of the Federal Trade Commission building, are two of my favorite statues in D.C. My brother once explained the horse represents trade and the man is doing his best to restrain it.

The littlest snow man. The lady in the background was feeding the squirrels.

The waves, they're so gnarly man.

Everyone have fun at work tomorrow.

*Yes, I meant to spell it "feber." Hell, everyone else on the Web is allowed to make up words, so why not me?

Snow, snow and what, oh yeah, more freakin' snow

A day off here and there is nice, but this is getting ridiculous. And now there's another storm heading our way getting ready to deliver another foot or so of snow.

I actually found myself wondering whether or not I could make it into my office tomorrow, just for a change in scenery. It actually wouldn't be that difficult, if I hadn't switched jobs last week (contractor -> government, yep, I'm a fed now) and in the process lost my parking space. Seems my former company (about which I have nothing but good things to say, they were really good to me) leased a bunch of spots in our complex and then assigned them to employees.

The government, on the other hand, which is the largest tenant in the complex, doesn't bother (and it makes you pay for the spot to boot). This means I now take the bus to work. Not that that's a bad thing, but the bus isn't running to my office and I don't feel like paying to park so I won't be going to my office tomorrow.

Anyway, on Saturday I took a walk down my street to see what I could see. What I saw were a lot of idiots driving on the streets while the very hardworking crews were trying to clear snow while it was still snowing. My hat is off to the crews who've been working overtime to clear our roads. If you see they as you're out and about, give them a thank you, they deserve it.

That said, the snow's still pretty and here's what Columbia Pike looked like on Saturday afternoon. First up is the iconic Bob & Edith's. It was open and packed and doing land office business.

Snow, icicles and neon make for an interesting combination, don't you think?

This was around...oh, noonish. You can see the snow was still gracing us with its presence. A lot of its presence. Also, take a close look at the window in the middle with the "Diner Open 24 Hours" sign. See that?

Well, if you can't, here's a close-up. A wave and a thumbs-up. Guess I wasn't the only one taking their picture during lunch.

A little bit down the road I came across these guys. Don't get me wrong, I love riding my bike, but even I wouldn't have taken this chance.

Snow + light (heat) = icicles!

Another joint doing its best to save us from our own cooking was the South Arlington location of the Lost Dog Cafe. I didn't get it in the picture, but just to the left they'd cut a path through the snow bank to make sure folks who saw the signs could make it in the door. The turkey ruben was egg-cell-ent!

Speaking of the crews clearing the roads, this is Columbia Pike around 2 p.m. on Saturday. Not too shabby.

Of course, this is one of the side streets. It still looked pretty much like this on Monday. You know, minus the mom and kid.

Finally, proof the snow did, indeed, stop. This is about 6:30 or so Saturday evening. That was the first clear sky I'd seen in about three days.

Hopefully one of these days the snow will finally stop. I really do want to get back to work. But until then I'll be ready with the camera.

I predict...

No, no, not a snow total, but accumulation nonetheless.

Mark my words, starting between the second and third week of November our area will experience a little baby boom.

Seriously, there's only so much TV you can watch and naps you can take. I've seen it after long troop deployments, hurricanes, blackouts and all the rest. People are trapped inside and nature will take it's course.

In short, there's a lot of sex going on this weekend. More than usual.

We'll check back on this in November and see if the area's birth stats show a little spike.

That said, I'm heading out in the weather. I'd thought about trying to get downtown, but the weather sucks a bit too much for that. So I'm going to take a walk around the 'hood and see what I can see.

Pictures at 11 (so to speak).

And it begins...

Well, it's snowing in Falls Church. Right on the 10 a.m. estimate I've been hearing for three days. That's some good predicting (TWSS).

I'm all set. Kinda like the guy in Highlander (the one who thought he could take out The Kurgan with a machine gun), I'm ready for the end of the world. As long as it happens this weekend, if not I'll have to go out for more supplies. I was out at the Teeter last night, and I saw a news story that said the Whole Paycheck on P had to close its doors and let people in like it was Studio 54, and judging by those crowds, well, golly, you'd think Bobby Lee was on his way north to Washington again.

Now all I have to wait for is the word the office is closing and we can leave. Then I can go wait for my bus. Sigh.

In the snow.

At least I have my camera.

Have to say it...

I gotta ask everyone this question: What the fuck is up with the whole world going nuts over Michael Jackson dying and getting planted?

Yes, he was a decent singer, but he was a singer who hadn't put out a song worth buying in more than a decade. He did nothing to change the world for the better and, basically, he was just a consumer of oxygen the rest of us could use. And he was a total nut job.

I do not understand some people's mania and worship of "stars." I can't think of a single person in movies, TV or music who's memorial service I'd go to. (Disclaimer: I once went to the memorial service for Charles Kuralt, but that was because he was a Carolina guy and it got me out of an afternoon's work painting dorms during the summer of '95.)

Also, aside from my blood relations and a small circle of friends, there isn't a single living being I'd shed one tear for if they died. I may be momentarily taken aback by the death of someone famous, or even not so famous if it's sufficiently gruesome. But, to tell you the absolute truth, if I don't know you I'm not going to lose a second's sleep over your shuffling off this mortal coil.

Hmm, maybe it's just me?