Earth Day on the Mall

Earth Day means a lot to me.  One, the River that I pass through each day either over bridge or under river tunnel and runs through the heart of the Nation's Capital has been called one of the most endangered rivers in America.  Polluted stormwater runoff, trash both commercial and residential, an antiquated sewer system and years and years of neglect have besieged and deluged this mucky, murky river, where I have made home -- a legacy that will certainly take a generation to remedy.

Two, in the past, some of the streets and sidewalks along my stomping grounds have become horrendous eyesores washed with trash and litter and there are not enough cans for people to do the right thing and to dispose of waste properly, in containers -- it's as easy as that.

So Earth Day at the Mall touched me personally in many ways.  Both the tree that my friend planted in historic Anacostia, yesterday and touring the EPA People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) National Sustainable Design Expo would be something that I will always remember.  As part of our weekly Sunday run, we had a chance to visit the Expo tent, and I almost jumped up in joy when I saw my alma mater (UF) showcasing their irrigation project in West Africa.  I was both pleased and very proud at that moment to be a an Earthian, Anacostian and a Gator.

After a couple of loops around the mall in another just perfect weather run -- overcast, mid-60s with not a puff of wind in sight, I had to divert to Arlington to take a mock LSAT test -- Uggh.

Then after the long, treacherous 4 hours of logic reasoning and scantron bubbling, I made my mecca to the Mall to catch the remainder of the Earthday Music Fest, complete with a giant main stage and two LED jumbotrons with crisp, clear video and sound.

It was great to see the Flaming Lips bringing their psychedelic rock to the Mall, and I enjoyed looking around and seeing a sea of people, young and old, awash in a sea of colors:  bright, rich sapphire; soothing ocean and bright azure, all trendy and eco-friendly.

Finally, I was so glad to be a part of Earth Day --the educational displays, the music, and speakers who discussed the environment and creating a green world.

Chronic Wrist Pain

Today, I visited an orthopedic surgeon at Bethesda.  She read my MRI chart and diagnosed that I may have a Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) tear.

This was not a surprise, since I've been experiencing chronic wrist pain for the last four years.  I've spent a lot of time with physical therapy and finally my occupational therapist recommended that I get an MRI.

The orthopedic surgeon recommends that I get a wrist arthroscopy (a pencil-sized instrument containing a miniature camera is inserted in my wrist).  The Surgeon will diagnose the problem and do some repair.

The earliest they can do this outpatient surgery is in early June. 

I'm trying to layoff from typing too much due to my tendonitis from overuse and I'm sure I will not be able to blog much immediately after my surgery.

Easter Egg Roll -- Rolling on

The air was chilly and the crowd was in the thousands.  Elated parents holding giddy young children decked for this special occasion wearing their Sunday best.

Young man barely old enough to walk strutting a beige three-piece suit with red, white and blue striped bow tie.  Young women in flowery Easter dresses, red, purple, yellow, white, waving goodbye to the winter and welcoming the beautiful spring air.

As I ran circles around the Ellipse and ran across the wide expanse of Lafayette Square, I could see parents and children lining up in the masses, part of the 30,000 people from 45 states and the District that flocked to the North Lawn -- now that's a stadium full of egg rollers.

What a treat and joy to see so many families with offsprings both in strollers and in high heels, proud to be Americans and excited about this rare opportunity to visit the White House grounds in President Obama's first Easter egg roll.

By now, I was rolling on and had past the ecstatic Egg Rollers to my right with musical performers and Easter Bunnies hopping and prancing. Ran steady down 16th towards Constitution until a DC traffic cop whistled me to stop.

I was in luck -- within minutes, the Presidential caravan with its heavy police escort whizzed by, the President waving to thousands of young ones and those young at heart, like me.

Easter Service and Inaugural Run

Easter Service at National Community Church with friends -- Pastor Mark spoke about Lazarus and how Jesus raised him from the dead. "Never put a comma where God puts a period and never put a period where God puts a comma."  The resurrection changed the punctuation mark. Death is not a period. It's a comma. It's not an end. It's a new beginning.

Skipped lunch @ Union Station.  Gotta save that digestive system for the run ahead, yes her inaugural run.

First no parking, bumper to bumper, was something goin' on? All the cherry blossoms had fallen, 

symbolic of life swept away.  Finally, this never happens to me fortune. While waiting impatiently in a slow crawl, the guy in front of me, all of a sudden decides to pull out.  I almost drove ahead, couldn't believe my eyes and finally instinct got the best of me, and I rolled right in, the best parking spot,  on primetime Constitution, minutes away from the Wall and Lincoln

We started our warm up for her inaugural run, a nice stroll along the Mall to the Lincoln Memorial to witness history in the making

We were once again in luck. The concert was just wrapping up.  We had made it to see the 70th anniversary of Marian Anderson's landmark concert in 1939. The opera singer had been turned away from performing at the DAR Constitution Hall near the White House because she was Black.

Marian Anderson never wanted to be a Civil Rights icon -- all she ever wanted to do was sing, and on April 9, 1939, her dream came true in front of 75,000 on Easter Sunday.

The "President's Own" decked out in red and gold with those funny shoulder ropes.  

We climbed the steps to catch a better view until the National Park Service ranger stopped us cold.  

Minutes later, we tried again, this time we were able to proceed unapprehended.  We couldn't believe our eyes who we saw instead -- former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State, 

General Colin Powell, standing just inches in front of us.  

Gen Powell was in the ceremony to read portions of Lincoln's second inaugural address and to congratulate 200 immigrants who became new U.S. citizens at the event -- wow, what a great American honor, and not bad for our historic, inaugural run.

Then we pressed on with our memorable run along the Tidal Basin to watch the last remnants of the Cherry Blossoms and the 2009 Cherry Blossom Festival.  Though the blossoms had all by now fallen into the tidal basin and along the banks, we were still captivated by the beauty of it all, so entranced that we ran all around the basin and continued on past WW II, Washington and halfway towards the Capitol before we couldn't go on -- we were impressed and it exceeded our most ambitious expectations on this, her inaugural run of the season.

Fireworks and Finish Fest -- Capping DC's Gala Event

It's been a fabulous three weeks of Cherry blossoms and celebrations, DC's Gala event of the year.  Opening festival at the Building Museum, Parade, Street Fest, Anacostia Festival including a sneak preview to my community's first classic venue: Jazz N Soul on Shannon St.  And today, it all came to a glorious finale at the Prelude and Fireworks at Waterfront Park.  

The entertainment included performances by the US Army band and a local band--one of DC's best kept secrets, I'm sure -- that wowed the crowds and rocked the boats in their slips, "Sitting on the dock of the bay, watching the tide roll away."

It was comfortable, cozy and relaxing all in one.  Felt like family and festive at the same time.  For a while I thought we were taken away and transplanted to a friendly, small town in New England, or a Midwest village somewhere along the mighty Mississippi, or to a community somewhere in the Deep South where I had once called home.

Little kids bopping up and down in front of the stage, cute and innocent, made my heart want to dance.  The town drunk, doing the moon walk, excessive but innocuous, making a mockery of himself was a delight to watch and laugh at.

  Both the Capitol dome and Washington obelisk obstructed by the cherry tree lines and the nearby Arena Stage (can't wait till opening day next year) could no longer be seen glowing in the twilight.  Instead we could make out the city silhouette of the Roslyn skyline against the backdrop of a vibrant orange hue with a splash of pink and purple, colors that flooded the Tidal Basin and all around DC for the last few weeks that we were inundated by Japan's most gracious gift to America, the gift of life.

 Across the river, the 3.2 mile Potomac-jutting stretch of Hains Point, cars, bicycles, and inline skaters rolling side by side, passing a stretch of weekend fisherman as if they were riding together in a parade.  Then with no adieu, the fireworks exploded over the pink sky and the tip of Hains Point where the "Awakening" once called home was once again under attack.  

The pyrotechnic show was bright and beautiful, almost as colorful as the purple, pink and white sepals that lined the waters edge but now were being replaced by a fresh blush of green already budding for a new season of change.  

What a wonderful evening, capping the 2009 Cherry Blossom Festival, lots of memories to cherish and store away, and tomorrow we celebrate Easter and Jesus rising from the dead.

Chasing Cherry Blossoms and Finding the Meaning in Life

I came because the wood thrush called me: They were out in mass and perhaps for another day or two.  The bloom that blushes every spring and rings the Tidal Basin pink. Blindingly beautiful and then before you know, are blown away, like everything we own, not meant to last forever, not even for a lifetime or a season of change. Like the most pure virgin smile will certainly wrinkle or the undying lovethat may one day fade away, the majestic sakura as the baby blossoms fall.

  So I hit the road with weary feet, still trembling from last week's 26-miler, the one that wasn't meant to be, and now I tried to wipe away.  But my mind was fresh and my heart anew,  hungry to steal a glimpse of those pastel petals floating loftily with every puff or sprinkle. The ground, my Nikes covered in white like the foot of snow from the errant blizzard flight, imposed on us like a long-forgotten great uncle that blanketed this city just last month, if I remember right.  Other than that night, DC no longer knew pure white from the haze of snow except this fortnight, the cloud of bloom rising high and purple sepals raining nigh on the grass and foot paths something magical, idolic and ripe.

I ran with all the might I could muster but soon found myself frozen still in the light of the Pearly luster searching for the inner meaning and peace that had escaped me and hoping that this model of love and transience of life will stay indelibly etched in my enigma even if I have to chase them down before they all floated away.

Fell off my Tri

I fell off my bike today.  Did so because I got to my car and forgot the one thing I kept on reminding myself and promising that I would never do.  Yup, I forgot to declip.  Looked around to see if anyone saw me.  Glad this didn't happen earlier when I was in bumper to bumper traffic.  Somehow I think the tourists in their minivans and Silverados won't be less forgiving -- they might even mistake me for a road bump.

A friendly guy rode by and asked if I was alright.  Of course I was, I knew how to take a fall -- very gently and pretend nothing happened -- ouch, that road rash.

Then he commented on my bike -- Narna Javelin -- "Nice, he said."  He had a Fuji, so I thought his was nicer.

We then talked about the differences btwn a road and tri.  

The very first thing, he noticed were my wheels -- a lot smaller.  

"That makes me slower," he commented.

"Perhaps," but there's more you know.

Next, my top tube is shorter which makes the angle of my seat tube steeper (76 vice 73 degrees)

And of course, the best thing about my Tri bike -- my aerobars -- makes me more aerodynamic and saves my lower back for the subsequent run.

But it's only gives you the edge if you plan to run afterwards vice recovering like the rest of us normal people.

Sakura Matsuri

Today we visited the much anticipated Sakura Matsuri, Cherry Blossom Festival in downtown DC.  

We exited the metro at Archives, so we first visited the Navy Memorial to celebrate the "Year of the Seabees and Civil Engineer Corps"

Found the Seabee mascot, the fierce-looking bee complete with Tommy gun and tools, cute and the center of attention.

Then the Navy's Ceremonial Guard in unison poured water from the Seven Seas (Black, Caspian, Persian, Red, Mediterranean, Adriatic, Arabian) and the Great Lakes into the foundation to charge the fountains.  The fountains lit up and the audience cheered.

Enjoyed Navy Bean soup prepared by the White House Mess.  Then we walked next block to the Street Fest.  Truly enjoyed the music (J-POP, taiko drums), the culture, Japanese arts and craft, the food (udon, sashimi, calamari and chicken sate) and of course the Japanese beer garden.

Finally, a nice long walk around the Tidal Basin (Jefferson, FDR)  to walk off the big meal, then the WW II Memorial.  The sun shone brightly. Billowy clouds formed over the windswept waves, looking magical and majestic covering the peacefully idyllic Tidal Basin.  The cherry trees, flowery and low, were definitely at peak bloom and people appeared happy and elated all around.

Townhouse on top of the Hill -- 2356 Green St, SE

Here's a snapshot of the splendid and panoramic views that exist on the very top of the hill on Green Street.  Adjacent is wild, forested parkland belonging to the Dept of Interior and managed by the National Park Service.  If you trek over the hill, you will arrive on the other side of Fort Stanton and near the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum.

The magnificent view of the National Cathedral.

Historic ship, USS Barry and now a floating museum alongside the Navy Yard

The Washington Monument

The US Capitol can be seen from both the front and backyard

Hill East Blues

Today, I decided to launch my blog on my book project: "Hill East Blues": http://hilleastblues.blogspot.com/

Structure:
The book is over 60 chapters and the first 40 chapters will be uploaded over the next several weeks, while I work on completing the final 15 chapters through the rest of the year.

Meaning:
The blog is a portrait of life in Anacostia (and Congress Heights), both on the macro scale as well as the specific story of one household on idyllic but hectic Lebaum Street -- the micro.
This portrait is for the most part a narrative non-fiction and will be largely true to life (with the exception of some changed names and some anecdotes to illustrate a particular point).
It is tailored to Southeast DC (East of the River), meaning it wouldn't exist anywhere in any other major metropolitan city in America (such as Philly, LA, NYC, SF, Miami).
Though the title is "Hill East Blues", it is meaningful and not entirely tragic. It is uplifting and filled with hope.

How to Read it:
Since the Blog is updated in reverse chronological order, the best way to read this Blog is to select the Labels on the upper right hand menu for the specific Chapter that you want to read. In this case: Chapters I to V.

The Future:
As this blog gets populated with more chapters, I'll build real estate on Google and will likely market it on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites as well as interact with other blogs and bloggers.