Today is the inauguration of Obama's second term. In many ways, the re-election of Obama feels more meaningful than the first, because it was based on his record and was less symbolic, less idealistic. I'm still very displeased with many of his policies, but compared to Romney and the Republicans, of course, he's still a far better option. I had toyed with the idea of going down to DC precisely because it was more meaningful, and particularly because today is MLK Day. But, of course, I failed. I've not been to DC in years. I would like to go again, soon, but not to be just now.
Instead, however, I heeded what has become a tradition for MLK Day for some - turning today into a day of service in which you do some public good. Today there was a clean up on Franklin Avenue and, although we live a couple of blocks away from Franklin, I decided to help out. It was heartening to see a massive group of people doing it by the time I left at 11am, having worked for an hour. There were so many people, the work had mostly been done, and so I decided to do a little clearing up on my own block. I didn't do the entire block, but the little stretch I did looks decidedly better.
The majority of the ills of smoking are related to lung health and the actual smoking, of course, but it was striking (to me, at least) that the majority of things I picked up were cigarette butts or cigarette packets. But many soft drink bottles and sweet packets, too.
So now I can feel smug and at least some karmic balance for the very me-time weekend I've just spent - hiking in a glacier-influenced park on Saturday (hopefully some decent photos to come), local Japanese food on Saturday night (Gen! It is great!), then brunch at James and NFL Conference Championships while scoffing micheladas and a friend's homemade ragu yesterday. We're off for a museum trip today (part of my monthly objectives for January), then some jazz tonight.
Instead, however, I heeded what has become a tradition for MLK Day for some - turning today into a day of service in which you do some public good. Today there was a clean up on Franklin Avenue and, although we live a couple of blocks away from Franklin, I decided to help out. It was heartening to see a massive group of people doing it by the time I left at 11am, having worked for an hour. There were so many people, the work had mostly been done, and so I decided to do a little clearing up on my own block. I didn't do the entire block, but the little stretch I did looks decidedly better.
The majority of the ills of smoking are related to lung health and the actual smoking, of course, but it was striking (to me, at least) that the majority of things I picked up were cigarette butts or cigarette packets. But many soft drink bottles and sweet packets, too.
So now I can feel smug and at least some karmic balance for the very me-time weekend I've just spent - hiking in a glacier-influenced park on Saturday (hopefully some decent photos to come), local Japanese food on Saturday night (Gen! It is great!), then brunch at James and NFL Conference Championships while scoffing micheladas and a friend's homemade ragu yesterday. We're off for a museum trip today (part of my monthly objectives for January), then some jazz tonight.
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