Oh, and there is some kind of Homeland Security Mobile Command business outside the Union Square Hilton that gave me pause this afternoon.

If it makes you feel any better, it's been there for a few days: [link]

I don't understand people who aren't slaves to the routine. I ran into a coworker walking her dog on my way to work. She's part time, so maybe she's not coming in today, I don't know. But I know she lives around there, and I walk on that block pretty much every day within a span of about five minutes, and I have never seen her there before! Weird.

Maybe she's starting a new thing?

Maybe the dog is a free spirit.

I failed at my routine this morning. It's the first work day since early May where I didn't go in early to use the treadmill just because I didn't want to get out of bed yet. (I have missed a couple other days, including yesterday, because of early Dr appointments)

I suck.

I am starting to wonder if I am developing allergies. Twice this week I have been headachey, sneezy and miserable. But it doesn't feel like a regular headache. Maybe I will try some of the antihistamine I bought for the cat tonight. (It's people antihistamine...)

I would probably walk by people I work with in my neighborhood if I didn't expect to see them there.

And, frankly, if I did see some of them I'd hide and hope they didn't see me.

I am so tired. And I really need to talk to the groundskeeper(s) at the Chevy Chase Country Club. Maybe the Chief Justice is a member? I know his librarian, and I have reason to believe he's seen Sassafras' picture and thinks she's a cute dog.

You don't suck. You were tired. That's taking care of yourself, not sucking.

My drive in was an adventure--the storm that blew through here last night had winds up to 80 mph. I had some lights flickering during the peak of the storm, but no full power outage. On my commute, the first few miles all looked normal, but as soon as I crossed the railroad tracks, all you could see were tree branches down, leaves all over the place, and traffic lights out. Then, after I turned onto my usual road through the forest preserve to get to my office, it was dodge-'em time; I had to weave around all of the trees that had been completely uprooted and were lying in my lane. At the office, it was apparent that the power had gone out at some point overnight, because my computer had to be completely restarted.

Maybe the dog is a free spirit.

Maybe so!

I am now booking a flight for one meeting, and trying to think if there's anything else I could do in DC that day, or if I should just turn around and come back. Hmm.

IO9 has some astounding pictures of a naked woman swimming with beluga whales in arctic waters.