Reclaiming my Life

Approps is over.

Well, it's over for me at least. Well not really, but I'm going to cherish the pause. The labor-intensive, horrible, HACD part is over. Now, the poor Committee staff have to plow through all the requests and we have to listen to the Republicans pontificate about how evil earmarks are and how the Democrats are funding the most HORRIBLE things. Please, spare me. It's all just a bunch of crap. Earmarks are not worth the effort or the media attention. But don't get me started on the media. You'll have to excuse me, approps gave me a sinus infection. I blame the dirty little earmarks directly, and I'm just a little grumpy about the whole ordeal.

But to reclaiming my life. After the drugs kicked in to take care of the sinus infection, I decided I should become familiar once again with daylight. It is lovely.

I took my bike for a tune up and took it out for a spin today. I headed down the Mall, which would soon turn into possibly the worst idea I've ever had. I am not exaggerating. They were everywhere - tourists! It's so early in the season, I thought I could enjoy MY CITY before they invaded. They are like cicadas, but bigger!

It's not that I don't like people to come to Washington and see the sights - enjoying history and being a part of the great experiment we call democracy. But people PLEASE look where you are going. Seriously.

I know I sound bitter, but I have a torn up right hand because I swerved on my bike to miss a 4 year old and turfed it. I do not take responsibility for falling. I blame the kid. If only I didn't have such a large social conscious. So it hurts to type and that fact makes me bitter.

So touristas - pay attention. I know the Washington Monument is lovely, but for the love, look both ways - hell, either way, before you step ONTO a path and in front of oncoming traffic.

There was a guy on a recumbent bike I followed for a while. I felt a bond between he and I. It was us against the masses, and the masses were winning. I finally took an opportunity to pass him and break free from the fanny packs. As I passed him, I said, 'don't you ever just really want to run over them?!'

What do you think he said?