So I'm busy at work :)  I'm working on a binder that basically outlines what I do, for reference for anyone who wants or needs to know.  It should help (others) when I'm on vacation or get a new job or something.  It's kind of boring, but I've already written 4 pages of 'tasks' from the top of my head, so I think I'm doing fine.  I'm making references to other lists that don't exist or need to be updated, though- so I've got plenty to do.  I was commissioned to make it 'fun' (compared to a similar one used in the other half of our office in another building).  I'll look up clipart, and the font and format are still professional, but more 'fun.'  I like having a project that's all my own and gives me some creative leeway.  Reminds me of the time I made a red doghouse like Snoopy's for a window display when I was in retail.

I found Pandora (as in music, a self-proclaimed 'Music Genome Project') through a fellow tblogger.  I recommend it.  It's a sort of 'smart program' that adjusts it's 'box' so to speak, based on the feedback we give.  It's trying to play music similar to a band or song that you provide.  You can just listen as it rolls along, or give the thumbs up or down.  The catch is that you can only skip through so many songs per hour, but you can have up to 100 'stations' so that shouldn't be too much of a problem if you don't mind hopping around.  And it's free, unless you don't want ads.  yay music!

I saw the father/daughter duo again today.  She said: "You are warm, but I am your daughter."  and put her head on his shoulder.  For some reason, that struck me as rather profound, that despite everything, even if she's stuck in a humid, hot bus next to her sweating dad, she loves him enough to want to be close.  Reminded me of my grandparents.  My grandma just got back from a vacation and my grandpa was so happy to see her (I might be switching this part up) that even though she was hot and didn't want him to touch her, he couldn't help it, and she really didn't mind 'cause she loves him so much.  That's love right there- pushing aside dicomforts to be close/show you care for someone.

On a similar note, I went to The Mall in DC (a strip of land with monuments, not a shopping mall- still grates me the wrong way hearing it) yesterday afternoon, and was struck by how many big groups of people there were- whether high schoolers or families or whatnot.  There was definitely a sense of comradery going on, and I felt alone and out of place.  I proceeded to sulk for a bit until a later moment in a museum.  Because of the holiday and security issues and such, many entrances to The Mall were closed- you had to go through a security check and so it took a little longer than I expected to get to my destination- the Folk Life Festival.  When I got there, it was windy and in the 90s.  Tents were closing down, and I was confused- "it's supposed to be open 'til 9," I thought.  I wanted to see art. etc. and I was also hungry.  When I'm about 3 tents away from the Alberta food tent (hello, Ukrainian food!) I notice a dark cloud looming.  Rain doesn't scare me.  But then the police told everyone to 'seek shelter' and escorted us off The Mall, which proceeded to be closed.  The closest museum to where I was at was the National Museum of Natural History.  Awesome!!  Since there were so many of us cramming in, it took a little while, but that allowed some neighbors to finish their food, at least.  Another guy, a dad behind me, was rather annoying.  He urged his daughter to squeeze ahead as much as possible, and then wait for him.  Didn't make sense to me, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and guess that he didn't want her to get wet (didn't start 'til we were inside).  Once we got in, I escaped to the elevator in vain hope of getting some space (the crowds in general in DC weren't bad- not like I thought they would be, but the museum was crowded because of the evacuation).  There was already a couple there, but by the time it came, a crowd had formed.  The couple were actually the last two to get on, and if they weren't able to, I was going to say something to the people who had crowded them out- common courtesy is something I've thought about a lot lately.  So I started by seeing the Hope Diamond (pretty/shiny/blue but not as big as I'd thought).  Then I proceeded to the Minerals exhibit.  AMAZING!!  of any place to be if not at the Folk Life Festival, that would be my top choice.  minerals and rocks are so fascinating- I'd love to have a collection of them decorating my home.  and to see the signs begging: TOUCH ME... how could I resist?  There was one that had garnet infused in cylinder shapes in some sort of rock- very cool.  It was so much for my senses to handle, I didn't spend too much time on any one display or read too much about them.  I definitely have to go back (multiple times) to do so.  One quote that I read, though, that I'd like to share is: "... Atom gets trapped in the atomic structure, thus producing such a wide variety of colors, etc"  It was much more beautifully worded than that.  I tried to take a pic with my phone, but that didn't work so well.  Next time I go, I'll write it down.  It basically reminded me of oysters with their irritants (grit) and also of various people in various situations in which they have their own out-of-place atoms or grit, that sometimes turns into something so beautiful...  So as I'm shuffling through the exhibit, I get to an exit/entrance and see the elevator couple.  The guy smiles an "I acknowledge your existence" smile and I do back.  Even on a day when all I want is some sort of connection in the midst of the chaos, but can't expect it, I get it!  That brightened my mood and I was over my loneliness for the most part.  It turned into a day that I chatted with strangers- at the museum, at the food booth later on, at a bus stop late at night...  I think later on might have been 'cause I'd had some wine.  My inhibitions definitely weren't there.  I had to make myself stop talking or saying too much.  I'm grateful to live in a safe neighborhood- the main street has two polic cars side-by-side chit-chatting.  I normally feel safer when I see police, instead of thinking that they're there 'cause it's dangerous.  I was in such a friendly mood that it took some restraint to walk past them home instead of at least saying hi.  I imagined getting arrested for public intoxication- that kept me walking past.  I hadn't drunk much, though- it may have been more of a people-high.  I had a good time with friends and food.  Watching fireworks 360 from the roof was wonderful.  The main DC ones were huge and they did color schemes differently than I've seen before- having for example several red ones in a row.  There were some star-shaped ones as well.  Because of the humidity, the smoke hung in the air, so it was hard seeing those particular works, but there were smaller ones that I watched instead, so there very well could have been other-shaped works I missed.  I was also rather confused because the DC ones only lasted 20-something minutes (I believe, didn't check) while other ones seemed to last twice as long, if not more.  Wouldn't you think one of the 'top 10 places' to be for the 4th would have a longer show?  especially in the capitol of our country?  It was also different to experience because there wasn't music on the roof- and hardly any talking.  I wanted to (and did) cheer for the fireworks sometimes.  It was just so exciting and booming, how could you not?  I think it was definitely noticable that there weren't too many kids, either that, or people in general are more reserved out here?  In either case, the metro wasn't crowded badly either.  I took the rail part of the way (glad I did, too) and everyone got a seat if they wanted it.  Then the bus was free, because it was a shuttle and a holiday or something of the sort, but it stopped practically half-way through the route (only one stop from mine, but across a major road and 2.5 miles away) in a shady neighborhood, but 4 other people also got off and we waited 5 minutes or so for the bus that went further.  I met a guy who told me to avoid accounting at all costs and he seemed unfamiliar with the bus or at least the area- had no idea where he was, but he's from out-of-state, so that makes sense.  When I talked about my major, a couple I'd also talked with raised their eyebrows (they seemed to be new to this country based on their accent and clothes)- yay English.  So between sleeping in, making a nice breakfast, decorating, hanging out in the capitol and with friends and all the other adventures, all told, it was a great Independence Day.  What did you all do to celebrate?

"We'll have to begin by defining it."   "For all practical purposes, we'll have to lock people in a room in order to..."
----some great snatches from a meeting going on today

"The celebration was generally peaceful, with only a handful of arrests and no violence, Fear said."
----AP The Heat is on at July 4 Celebration in the Washington Post Express, 5 July, 2006.