The "More" Child

[Flip on light switch.]

Hellooooo???  Anyone home?

[Blow away cobwebs.  Dust off couch.  Plump pillows.  Root around fridge.  Fire up computer.]

Yes, I’m back. And I can’t believe it’s been so long.  As I warned in my New Year’s post, this month was going to be particularly crazy.  Not only did the organization I work for participate in the inaugural parade, but we launched a new website on the same day. So here’s a quick rundown of what’s been happening “chez nous.”

• C. got her phase II braces.  She was *not* happy about it.  This orthodontist, she proclaimed, has a proclivity for keeping kids in braces for *years*–she had confirmed this with her friends.  She wanted a second opinion.  She wanted him to promise that they would be on for only two years.  Ultimately, she got the braces, and they’re barely noticeable.
• I scored a press pass for the Jan. 19 Inaugural Celebration Concert at the Lincoln Memorial.   There I was with my little digital camera, smooshed in amongst the professional photographers with their two foot long zoom lenses.  So cool to see all the artists–and the Obamas!–that close.  Best moment though, was after the concert, as the throngs were leaving the Mall area.  I ran into a small group of South African exchange students who spontaneously were singing and step dancing their way down the street.
• C. and her Girl Scout troop spent the night before the Inauguration in the Capitol, sleeping in a House Committee room.  On of the girls’ moms is committee staff and as official inauguration volunteers, they were to be on duty on the Mall at 4 a.m. passing out small flags to the crowds.  Much to C.’s chagrin, there was a delay in getting the group through security and the Boy Scouts had already handed out the flags, leaving them with little to do.  Oh yes, when it was over the Boy Scouts left the Girl Scouts to *clean up* the flags that were left behind.  Nice.
• Meanwhile, M. my husband and I slept in my office downtown to avoid potential Metro gridlock.  Have to say it was a little surreal to change into my jammies in the middle of my office (blinds closed).  We were up at 4:30 a.m. and I made my way to Pentagon City to meet our group for the parade staging.
• The whole experience of marching in the parade was amazing on so many levels.  Our first glimpse of the crowds thronging the Mall dumbfounded us.  We got so cold during the parade delay. (Luckily someone had the good sense to call for a “penguin huddle.” It really worked!)  And finally, to walk along Pennsylvania Avenue to sparse but enthusiastic crowds, culminating in a close up view of the Obamas as we went past the reviewing stand. Amazing.  The next day everyone in our office was still feeling bone cold, as well as sore from clenching our whole bodies for so many hours.
• Yes, the website launched and that’s going really well.
• This weekend we went skiing in Pennsylvania with another family and nearly froze our faces off.  It was so cold.  As in 10 degrees…not counting windchill. I think the cold of the parade experience has scarred me for life.
• Last night we went to an open house event for a school that is opening in MoCo this September.  Very interesting.
• Today was a snow day…and it’s looking good we could get another one tomorrow, because of ice.

In addition to neglecting this blog, I am also massively behind in MCPS GT advocacy efforts.  There have been two stories in the Post to stir the pot, some new MCPS revelations…just keeping up with the email on various lists of late is daunting.   But I’ll save all that for the next post.