4th in the capital

Well, the 4th turned out to be pretty interesting here in DC (other than having to work my usual 7-3 shift). After I was done working, I decided to go down to the Mall before going to a co-worker's house for a bar-b-que. I headed out, forgetting about the 6-pack of beer in my backpack. When I tried to pass through the checkpoint, I was handcuffed and made to stand in a "quarantine" area for minor violations (which so happened to be next to all of the porta-potties...in the sun...hundreds of thousands of people...) while they ran a background check on me. An hour-and-a-half later, one six-pack of beer shorter and one $250 ticket "richer," I left for the bar-b-que...Ok, so I made all of that up...nothing happened, but boy would that be a good story (I especially liked the "quarantine area by the crappers" part). What I really did was read the signs that said "no glass, no alcohol" and decided to not go anywhere near the mall.

The picnic was lots of fun; lots of good food, free beer, etc. Besides 1 other guy, I was the youngest one there by about 6 years. I met all sorts of interesting people: one worked for the DOJ, one for the State Department...one guy was even working for a firm that was building/trying to lobby for hydrogen fuel cells! This other guy, I forget what he does for a living, was an amateur bee-keeper (sweet!).

After the cookout (and sans beer), I walked back to the mall and caught the fireworks show. I would recommend that everyone see it at least once-it was spectacular! The Washington Monument and the Mall were an excellent backdrop for the show.

I'm a little "brain-drained" today so, that's it for now...



-N