Today, I ran one mile, finished "The House on Mango Street" (Alexander Durrell's "Justine" was yesterday), worked at both of my jobs, and cooked lentils.
But I did not finish the Wednesday NYT crossword. Nor, in fact, did I come particularly close.
But Ellen's going to come visit this weekend! That's enough to take one's mind off the crossword.
Bowling Green is a place where the local NPR station will say, "Chance of showers this morning and afternoon" at 9 a.m., and by noon be issuing severe thunderstorm warnings across multiple counties.
But it's also a place where there is 80s Night at the Uptown (downtown) every Monday; my feet still hurt, but in a very happy way.
And a place where you run into a friend at the post office, who asks, "Did you ride your bike here? ...You're glistening!" and the man at the counter still flirts with you as you buy stamps.
I guess it's an okay place to be.
So, New York City. True art/museum nerd that I am, I arrived at the Met before it opened and didn't leave (except for a quick bagel out by the fountain) until it closed. Eight hours today, plus the four or so last time I was here, was just about right. Then I sat around in Central Park, people-watching and sketching until Bryant showed up.
Tonight Bryant and Todd and I actually found the fabulous Indian restaurant the grad students ate at on our trip last March at the recommendation of Angie's (local) sister. 95 cent mulligatawny, lights-out Indian happy birthday song, and chili pepper/Christmas/Halloween lights reflecting off hologram wallpaper: does it get any better?
Yesterday morning while I was waiting for the museums to open, I decided to walk to the Washington Monument.
It wasn't open at 8, so I walked to the WWII Memorial.
Then it was just another short walk to the Lincoln Memorial... here I am sweating in front of it.
Later, after the Hirschhorn, and before the Freer and Sackler Galleries, I went up the Washington Monument. Here's a view.
Tonight, we're in New York City.
Bryant's bird collection opened at 8:00, but the museums didn't open until 10:00, so I walked to the Capitol. It was hot.
Me, from the Capitol, with the Washington Monument growing out of my head. 
Statue of Grant, with a white squirrel in the foreground (really). I was distracted from getting the good squirrel shot by--I am not joking--a group of skipping stroller-pushers.
Andy Goldsworthy in the National Gallery! Rivers and Tides, anyone?
