Indulge me for a moment, if you don't mind

I'm super sad about the earthquake in Haiti. I've haven't said much about it via Twitter or whatever, largely because I don't know what to write that doesn't sound trite. Haiti has captured my imagination for years - I wrote my senior thesis on it, I sponsor a Compassion kid there...I might also stalk Creole interpreters for information when I have Haitian projects. I've never been, but that's not for lack of desire, it's just never been a place I could visit without a reasonable expectation of being kidnapped.

I'm also going to vent here for a minute:

Pat Robertson, you are a moron. What the hell 'pact with the devil' are you referring to, exactly? I will give you a freakin' earful about why Haiti has had such a hard time of things following the revolution, and a great big chunk of that fault lies with U.S. foreign policy. There are so many problems with this story that I can't even begin to address, but I'm angry. And you sir, should shut up.

News people: stop saying the 'island of Haiti.' Haiti is only a third of the island, the rest is the Dominican Republic. Why aren't we hearing anything about the DR? Surely there were some affected regions there, yes?

The whole thing is so tragic - as if Haiti weren't already one of the saddest places on earth. And yet, everyone I've met from there has been hopeful and well-educated and just wonderful. I hope they're all okay.

While watching a very odd Shakespeare production, something triggered this from deep in the recesses of my brain:

"Love goes toward love as school boys from their books; but love from love toward school with heavy looks."

Thanks, Mrs. Ballard. You were an awesome freshman English teacher.

It's a sign

Last night, just as I was in the midst of pleasant sleeping around midnight, I heard a horrible squeal of brakes and sounds of metal crunching. A lot of metal crunching. Right outside my open window. Car alarms went off, lights went on, doors started opening...I fumbled around for my as yet unpacked glasses and headed to the window. Apparently someone* crashed into about 6 PARKED cars in front of our house. It was a total mess - cars were turned sideways and all smooshed into each other in the parking spaces, people were freaking out and calling the police...pretty much what you'd imagine. I had some trouble falling back to sleep what with the many flashing lights from cop cars and later, the spotlight from a fire truck so they could assess the damage.

Today, it struck me as a smidge funny that all those very nice cars (the closest one to my window was a newish Audi) got whacked while my crappy old Saturn, which I would happily have lost in the wreckage for a newer model, was entirely spared. I'm taking it as a sign from God that it's going to be around for a while longer.

*Okay, probably a drunk driver, but who gets wasted on a Monday night? I'm choosing to believe (for now) that it was someone who had an as yet unknown medical issue and was uninjured in the whole incident.

Breaking through my update drought...

to tell you that Anne and Mike are getting married tomorrow!

What to wear was a challenge, so I went with a black dress (gasp! so not etiquette appropriate, and I so don't care), funky tights, and, if I do say so myself, awesome gray shoes. Perhaps photos to follow should I get motivated enough.

This marks a return to attending weddings in actual Virginia proper...such a novelty to be able to drive to this one (or ride along in people's cars, as the case may be).

And then my favorite German ever is coming to DC in just a few short days. Can't wait for the weekend to begin!

Yo yo yo

**Spoiler Alert! Photos of U2 concert included! If you want to remain surprised for your own show, look away!**

I went to the U2 concert last night. It rocked, as it should, given that they are the awesomest of Rock Stars.

Today, I am totally wiped out. And we're going to the Regina Spektor concert tonight (hellooooo coffee). Rather than attempt an explanation (I always sound like a swooning 13-year old in those despite my best efforts), I'm just going to post some pictures.

The Monster of a Set, in between the Muse and U2 sets.

From Drop Box

Our crew: Jean, Gina, Heather (hidden), and Sarah

From Drop Box

Smoke machines! Here we go...

From Drop Box

Yep, that's Bono in the spotlight and on the big screen.

From Drop Box

The screen is growing! Holy crap!

From Drop Box

"Sunday Bloody Sunday" (green in dedication to people of Iran)

From Drop Box

And then the lights and the music went nuts and we were overwhelmed by the AWESOMENESS that is (always) a U2 concert. Kick ass.

From Drop Box

The End.

My twenties, in summation

Graduated from college
Got a Master's degree
Went to London for a semester
Went to Paris for a summer
Went to Paris for a semester
Went to Bath for a summer
Got my first real job
Moved to Washington, DC
Visited Edinburgh, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Venice, Los Angeles, Monaco, New York, Lyons, Grenoble, Annecy, Valence, Cardiff, Dublin, Belfast, Berlin, Seattle, Las Vegas, Boston, Charleston and many, many others
Lived with Ebony for 3 years
Lived with Gina for 4 years
Drove a car from Texas to Virginia all by myself
Learned to drive in the snow (sort of)
Chopped off my long hair
Went to wedding after wedding in Texas
Was a bridesmaid twice (both times in red!)
Became an honorary aunt
Lived in at least 14 different houses/apartments (I shudder to think how many moves that was)
Learned to really speak French
Got my first credit card
Got my first loan
Signed my first lease
Taught myself to knit and crochet
Taught myself to cook (things other than cookies and pies and lemon squares, anyway)
Decided I like olives after all (the fancy ones, anyway)
Found a church and community to belong to without my family's help
Started a blog
Attended a Presidential inauguration
Met people representing approximately 70 countries

All in all, the 20's were great. Here's to the 30's: may they be just as wonderful!

Now THAT was a good weekend

This weekend was rather unusual in that I was both super productive and still felt like I got of good relaxing time. Things I did/enjoyed included:

• Goodwill shopping hunt for a headboard (fail), but found three very nice clothing pieces instead. DC has great Goodwill shopping - apparently there are lots of rich people who like to donate unworn expensive clothing. Meanwhile, $5 silk J. Crew skirt for me!
• Cleaned like there was no tomorrow - my room is almost uncluttered from all those little things that I can't quite figure out where they belong yet.
• Made a framed art thingy to go over my bed. Originally was going to buy a print or something like that, but decided to try and figure out something with stuff I already had. Am pretty pleased with the result. Some of the postcards have fun stories (bought the two German ones at a museum in Bonn, Ebony sent me the New York one right before she started grad school) and others are less interesting (bought a set at the Barnes and Noble in Falls Church), but at any rate a few of them will be inspirational as places I need to get to.
• Finally scraped the cracked and ugly college stickers off my car. Southwestern was missing like 4 letters, the longhorns were looking very sad...it was time.
• Went on a 5.6 mile hike (according to the guide book) with Kandi out at Thornton Gap on Skyline drive. Today pretty much every part of my body is a little achy, but well worth it.

I also managed to get in many a viewing of Supernanny, as the Style channel was running a marathon, and I do get sucked into that show despite my childlessness. It's so cathartic.

So Happy Labor Day to you! Hope yours was also lovely and all things you wanted it to be.