Flip Flop Watch, Day 5

Since last summer I have been conducting my own private survey- how far into the fall season will women wear flip flop sandals? Evidently there is no temperature limit because my most recent sighting of naked feet in flip flops was five days ago. Keep in mind that I live in northern Virginia where it's freezing cold!
What's up with girls? Too lazy to bend over to put on a pair of socks or closed-toe shoes? Clogs would be as convenient and a lot warmer. Do they feel the need to show how much money they spend on pedicures? Kyle thinks it's for the same reason girls starve themselve to look thin-other people's perceptions matter more than personal comfort.
As absurd as I think the winter wearing of flip flops to be, the watch continues. And I will admit that I feel triumphant when I spot a pair (the local high school girls can usually be counted on to keep my sightings within a week of each other).

Hilary or Barack??

Okay, the title alone should tell you who is writing this post. If you don't know, then you don't know us well enough to be reading our blog!

So far, I am ambivilant about my election choices. I am excited by the youth, energy, novelty, and enthusiasm of Barack Obama. But, as I heard one woman quoted, "You can't eat a speech."

Hilary has always left me a little cold; she's so stiff and restrained that she might crack. She's smart and talented but would she be in this position if her husband hadn't been a president? (Would George II have been president if George I hadn't preceded him?). I'm not into nepotism or dynasties.

BUT, I saw Hilary on 60 Minutes last night and she connected with me. She was warm and genuine. For the first time, I forgot she was Bill Clinton's wife and I liked her.

I think Barack was on the show, too but I missed the interview.

Am I a fickle voter? No. Will my vote pendulum swing again with the next interview? Probably. But I am excited about my voting choices. Unfortunately, as an independent, I can't vote in my state's primary so I have to leave it up to my fellow Americans ( I never liked group projects; I'm too independent and controlling!) to choose for me.

Elections may be messy and overpriced but I'll never let one go by without exercising my right (paid for with the blood and sacrifice of millions) to vote.

Terrorism hits home

Tim and I had an eye-opening experience on the Washington, DC metro yesterday. We were in our usual go-to-school mode- sitting on the metro, reading the paper, studying Polish, checking email, etc. Two stations before our stop, after the new passengers boarded and the train was accelerating, a man standing just inside the door, opened a book and began singing a religious song aloud. I briefly looked up and then returned to my book (A Tale of Two Cities- excellent!) because unusual behavior is the norm on the metro. Tim watched longer and then gently elbowed me and said, "What if he's singing a last, fanatical religious song before self-detonating? Does he look like he's wearing a bomb?"



This certainly got my attention! And he was right, sadly. Aren't we constantly reminded to be alert and cautious? Aren't we supposed to be constantly aware of our surroundings? Don't things happen when we least expect them? Am I safe from terrorism just because I live in the US?



I was startled as these sobering questions ran through my mind. But then I thought, what could I do and what would I do? There was no place to run and he was only four feet away from us. So, like any good Scarlett, I decided not to worry about it and returned to the French Revolution.

Happy Groundhog Day

Okay, Phil saw his shadow so we are to endure six more weeks of winter. Based on the kind of winter we have seen in Northern Virginia so far, this is not much of a curse. Maybe it's too early to judge because based on the weather trivia in today's Washington Post, February is the snowiest month in the US.

Tim and I are messing around with setting up this blog. We have enjoyed checking in to Ryan's blog so much that we thought family and friends might enjoy doing the same with us. Makes it a lot easier to keep everyone updated. We'll add photos as soon as we can.

But, we have to leave soon for a Punxatawney Phil party (the kids see yet again Mom making a yummy treat that they can't have because it's for a party!). Tomorrow we are having new acquaintences over to watch the Superbowl. They had the ODC position in Poland a few years ago and we are getting together to learn about living in Warsaw and what Tim can expect in his new job.