back east

just got back yesterday from a week away - in minneapolis and then in madison. the weekend in madison was the best part of the trip, of course. we didn't do too much that was exciting, but the weather was great and everything nice and chill. b was only working for one day, which is an improvement in that it was a smaller amount of time than during my last visit, but a horrifically higher percentage (50%) of my total visit.

because of traveling, i forgot to take my camera in my bag to work today. and this reminded me that it is imperative to occasionally forget to bring one's camera, in order to allow those situations that absolutely require a camera. today, cameraless, i saw the most beautiful sky at sunset over the national mall, as a dry cold front blew a wet warm one away - wispy red clouds against a clear blue sky. also saw a bizarre tableau just outside work - so bizarre i suspected it might be a social experiment: a wheelchair (upright, holding only an empty purple nalgene water bottle) next to a heap of wet, unfolded newspaper and a large 30" long teddy bear (facedown and partially wrapped in wet newspaper). all shoved up against a concrete barrier on the sidewalk on pennsylvania avenue, a few short blocks from the while house. somehow, the most shocking thing was that it stayed there all day.