First Day

This is the front door into the office. Yup.

I just thought this was funny.

I down, 18 to go

Yesterday I was a bit of a tourist and went to visit the White House and the Natural History Museum (part of the Smithsonian). We fellows are going to try and arrange for a group tour of the White House (which has to be requested up to six months in advance) because, why not??? though I do think I'd keep expecting to see the characters from the West Wing. From the outside, it looks pretty much like you'd expect. Hard to get to at the moment and certainly gone are the days you could just drive by the outside (which I seem to remember doing once on a family trip).

I took a picture of the dinosaurs in the museum because..dinosaurs!! Actually I have to say, I liked their dino collection almost as much as the original (and still the best in my mind) exhibit at the old Museum of Man in Ottawa (that's what it was called! it was the 70s). I suppose because it was the collection of my childhood, it will always be the ultimate dinosaur display.

I have to say though the gems and minerals collection at the Smithsonian was really my favorite part. I am attracted to bright, shiny objects I guess.

Americans like flags

This is on the side of City Hall in Old Town (my hood). I don't think a Canadian flag exists that is this large. Anywhere. Apparently there is a farmers market here on Saturdays so I will have to check it out (though not this Saturday as I am working...)

Today I concurred the metro (subway). Well that is I used it. Funnily enough, my farecard got de-magnetized somehow (it was from my visit here in April so anything is possible) so I actually couldn't get out of the station until I looked pathetic at the station person, which seemed to work. Being kinda cute and uber Canadian polite has its advantages.

I met up with one of the other Fellows at Pentagon City to do a few things. Pentagon City is essentially Mississauga so my version of Hell. But there is a big mall there which can be handy and it was halfway between where the two of us are staying so...anyway, useful to know where it is and to avoid it if we can manage it in the future.

Tomorrow I'm thinking Target and then something potentially touristy before I meet up with all the other Fellows for a pre-first day beverage. I'm getting my sea-legs I think (or rather DC legs - ha! that was a funny....)

First Obama sighting!

Okay, so it was a cardboard cutout on King St. in Old Town Alexandria (I live on the fringe of Old Town about five minutes or so from the super touristy bit). But I had you going for a minute :-)

Yes Virginia!

I have arrived. I have a visa. I have legal entry into the United States of America. Weeeee!

I was told by Customs Guy - when being spoken to sternly about not losing my paperwork (for future reference, I have it all now of course...) that 10 of the 19 9-11 hijackers were on this same type of visa so they take the security very seriously. Okay then. I wanted to say that the most subversive thing I had planned on doing when in the US was promote the idea of universal health care, but I thought better of it.

The Philly airport is crap.

I had packed lightly as you know (four checked bags!! ugh!!! and big heavy over-weight ones at that - all of which remain packed at this moment, I am avoiding the unpacking having packed and repacked them about three times in the last 48 hours in a desperate (failed) effort to economize). And without the Christensen-Torr clan to assist me on the DC leg, I was worried that I was in for difficulty. However, the baggage gods took pity and they all a) arrived and b) fit on the trolley, so I was feeling pretty lucky.

I have roommates. I've not had a roommate-roommate since university so this is a HUGE adjustment for me which I am trying to be zen about. However, I have a really big room at the front of the house with four windows so I can always just spend my time in here if I want to avoid people. Though everyone seems very nice so far. Fingers crossed.

I made my first trek in my new hood to Trader Joe's tonight. This is a crunchy-granola grocery store that sells lots of vegetarian things but no kleenex. And wine. I love that they sell wine. I didn't buy any (ahem!) but likely will tomorrow since they are open (weird on Labour Day). Tomorrow I will also find the Metro station (subway) and figure out how that all works before I start at the KC on Thursday.

Now I am very tired and should open a suitcase or something...

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya...

Last few days have seen me pack up my office, my apartment and re-pack the too many suitcases for DC. My life fits into a 10 x 5 storage unit. One that's fortunately 8 ft high, though I'm dreading ever trying to get anything out of it. Dread.

I should qualify that my life is in one storage unit and strewn around the Torr's living room in Oakville. 4 suitcases is too many but I can't seem to shrink it. There are many seasons between now and next June. Of course when I was in France in my 20s for 3 months I took one backpack.

How things have changed...

Tomorrow we begin the adventure in earnest. Wish me luck folks.