| GINOHNNEWS | |||||||
latest hmrs |
Free Peace
On Thursday night we should have gone to bed early - but didn't, and then I couldn't sleep (too much chocolate?) and then I got up at 5:45 -AM!!!- to get on the metro and meet Jenny at McPherson Square station. Why? She had a "harebrained" idea to hand out peace sign buttons to folks getting off the metro in the hopes that they would wear them around and show how they feel. So she ordered 1,000 of them - paid for out of her own pocket - and had me meet her there to help and provide moral support. We stood outside the station with little signs on that simply said, "FREE!" with two of the buttons attached. I stood with a few buttons in my open hand, a big baggie full of them in the other, smiling and asking people as they walked by, "Would you like a button?" I'd have to say that most people ignored us. But a good many took them. We did get a few negative reactions, but very few. An early and probably the worst case was a man who just said, "Kill Iraqis" as he walked by us. One lady came off the escalator and said to me, "Get a life!" She looked like a shorter, stouter, longer haired Laura Bush - I kid you not. But lots of people smiled and were happy to get them, asked for more than one for their kids or friends or co-workers. We moved on from that station to Metro Center fairly soon, since we thought it would be busier, and it was, and worked two of the exits during our 2 1/2 hour stint. I stopped asking people if they wanted any after that - it wasn't necessary- I just smiled. Jenny put a big sign on her backpack and we got people coming the other way from the street that way. A few people tried to give us donations which we refused. A lot of people thanked us for what we were doing. Jenny especially liked it when people, who have trained themselves to ignore solicitors and wouldn't look at us as they went by, then stopped and came back for a button or two when they realized what they saw. I wore my sign on the metro on the way home and gave away five more buttons on the train. John took the last five I had to work and gave them all away. We gave away 917 buttons that day - and I think we did a pretty good thing. Thanks and kudos to you, Jenny. Despite having less than three hours of sleep (I tried to nap when I got home from teaching that afternoon to no avail - I just skimmed the surface of sleep for two hours) we went to the New Deal that night - a band called Tinsmith was playing - and met up with Kory and Jenny for a beer. A lot of our Greenbelt friends were there so I had a good time schmoozing about. I was a bit loopy (but happy) from lack of sleep and beer. On Saturday I was pawing through some leaves in the back yard - going after the roots of more ivy - and I caught a puppy snake. A ring-necked racer or something - black with a yellow belly and ring around its neck. Only about 10 inches long. I just held him long enough to show John and try to get him to settle down, but he kept trying to get away so I let him go. Then we took a long hike w/Booda and Joey & his dogs. Joey showed us a spring in the woods but we don't know if the water is any good to drink. That night Gary came over and we went to the New Deal again for dinner. The Gliders were playing, but we sat in the back on the couch with Dorian, Amethyst and Susan and played the telephone game. I mentioned that I never get to play it (I don't think I'd played it since I was a kid) and we started right in. A lot of the phrases got through unchanged, but the longer we played the sillier it got and we had a laughing good time. Sunday was a housewarming and birthday party for Alex at his and Renee's house - newly dubbed The Conservatory. Lots of good food and folks, and dancing from 7 until 10. Everyone had a wonderful time (I think) and we're all really happy that the house is still owned by good friends. 
The Zuckermans are visiting the area and staying with us for a few days.
Today I took them to the National Arboretum and we had a wonderful
time. First stop was a koi pond where the koi are so voracious they
swarm up to you and try to nibble your fingers and don't mind if you
gently pet them. I fed them some pine nuts and raisins - I hope they
don't die. We saw the awesome Bonsai exhibit, some beautiful blooming
cherry blossom trees and such, but the fern garden had yet to sprout
this year. From there we braved the start of rush hour traffic to drive
downtown and take a short Waterfront walking tour of the Washington
Channel to Waterside Park. We passed The Sequoia - The Presidential
Yacht. I didn't know there was a presidential yacht so that was
interesting. You can rent it - check out the price on the web site.J: Which reminds me; Eric sent a couple guest HMRs. I like 'em! 25th Hour %-}
New York post-Towers: All of Hollywood dodges -- Except for Spike Lee. Daredevil :-| Comic book flick, blind To its doom: worse miscasting Than Michael Keaton! |
jaromir |
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