;)

(confused? Read this post first...)

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(I need an Orange line to New Carrollton train. These are all Blue). :(

Updated - It took me 2 hours to get home. And I blame Metro -- They off loaded a blue and an orange (both going the opposite way I was) at Federal Center SW, then with the doors closed on the orange one they changed the destination from Vienna to New Carrollton (without TELLING anyone) and sent it in the direction I needed. If I had been able to be on that train, I could have caught my usual MARC train. This was all due to a train with mechanical difficulties at Clarendon. I really hope I am never in DC during a mass emergency... I would never get home :(

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Spotted this at New Carrollton!

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No handbags bought! Yay! (even though I saw a really cute L.A.M.B. bag....).

I got everything I set out to get!

Kate Spade -- They were not on the floor... in fact Towson only had 2 pairs left (which is why they they were no longer on the floor). One was a 6 - YAY!

Stuart Weitzman - All sold out of the grey flannel, but they did have a pair in Leopard Print (which I did not buy!) which I tried on for fit purposes. Somewhere had a Grey 6, so I ordered it and its being shipped to me!

Enzo Angiollini - the salesman had never even heard of these being available in black/white... but they had them in balck, which I tried on and loved.... so of course I ordeed them online!!

It was a success :-)

Topped off the day with a soft shell crab sandwhich for lunch!

Made myself sit down and tag all my photos in Flickr.

I have been pretty good in recent months, about tagging when I upload, but I had about 100 sitting out there from a while ago... that I never got around to.

This was actually easier than I thought... I probably shouldn't have put it on the list :)

Three years ago I had Fast Food (McDonald's !) every Friday for lunch (plus a possible FF lunch one weekend day), but I have been eating a lot at my agency's cafeteria (Crab Cakes! Pasta! Shrimp! Roast Turkey). Weekends I have usually been having a frozen pizza or enchiladas.

I have been riding MARC and Metrorail for approx 2.5 years (daily commute wise)... and this is the 2nd or 3rd time I have noticed MARC sends out these type of customer service announcements... (full text will be below) I get them because I am subscribed to the MARC Penn line email alerts.. as I am for orange Metro email alerts... and I have never gotten an apology ( or explanatory message). Not even after the terrible handling of the Orange line derailment many weeks ago (Metro was reporting a Major disruption due to mechanical difficulties..not even close to the real situation... and for a person that needs to transfer to another transportation system you need the most accurate info possible so you can start working on your plan B if needed, I was lucky that a coworker that drives had already left and heard the real story on the radio/WTOP and called) ... the one good thing to come out of that situation was I found this blog :)

MARC's apology/message -

A Message from the MTA Administrator

For the past six weeks on-time performance for MARC Train service has fallen far below what customers expect or deserve. During June Penn Line trains were on-time 81% of the time; Camden Line trains were on-time 63% of the time and Brunswick Line trains were on-time 63% of the time. Although some service disruptions are unavoidable, there were instances where we could have taken actions to reduce the anxiety, frustration and inconvenience that you and your family, friends and colleagues experienced. Specifically, service was disrupted for the following reasons:

• Rising summer temperatures put additional stress on equipment and tracks, increasing the likelihood of failure;
• A severe storm cut power to the track signals and blew down trees along the Brunswick Line, forcing us to cancel service;
• A fuel tanker overturned on I-95 in Baltimore City, causing fire authorities to close the Camden Line;
• Our fleet of diesel locomotives is nearly 40 years old, and despite a major overhaul 10 years ago is increasingly unreliable;
• Electric locomotives used on the Penn Line have been out of service for a scheduled overhaul, requiring us to use the older diesel locomotives instead and
• Persistent reliability problems with our newest electric locomotives.

We are taking immediate corrective steps to regain your confidence in us. I have directed MARC Operations to review and analyze each recent incident with Amtrak and CSX Transportation, and implement measures to reduce this risk of reoccurrences in the future.

Penn Line customers should know that MARC managers communicate with their counterparts at Amtrak on a daily basis to anticipate and address issues that cause service delays. We are also working closely with Amtrak to improve the reliability of the electric locomotives. An overhaul of our four AEM-7 electric locomotives is nearly complete with the first overhauled unit back in service in early August and the second in service by mid-August.

For customers of the Brunswick and Camden lines, you should know that CSX has recently relocated dispatchers from Jacksonville, Florida to Baltimore which should greatly improve the communication and reliability of the service.

As we have previously announced, MTA has awarded a contract for the replacement of the diesel locomotives, and 26 new units will arrive in Maryland at the rate of two a month beginning in early 2009. Maintenance on the existing units will be enhanced to keep them operating safely.

In the mean time, we will continue to provide real-time information about MARC service using our email notification system. You can also see the current location of any train at www.marctracker.com. To further enhance our communication we have initiated a project to replace the public address system at all stations.

As MARC customers, you deserved better -- a lot better! We regret any inconvenience you have experienced and thank you for your continued support of MARC Train. Over the next several days MARC managers will be available at Union Station to monitor the service and answer your questions.

Paul J. Wiedefeld
Administrator

New movie opens Friday! (I'll be at Nordstrom....but I'll get to see it shortly!)

Update - according to the MTA the survey is experiencing technical difficulties and they are working on the problem.

are you a MARC Rider? Take the customer survey!

As part of my 101 in 1001 project I needed to pick a charity to donate the money collected for tasks not completed. I picked The Orphan Foundation of America. OFA's mission is to "Provide opportunities and resources for America's foster youth to pursue their education and succeed in life".

I knew I wanted to donate to an Educational or Human Services charity, but had no clue which one. I found them searching on Charity Navigator (this site is great it helps you see how charities spend their donations...optimally you would want to donate to a charity that has a very high percentage of Program Expenses ( ie over 90%) and minuscule Admin expenses).

Remember the 600 stores closing?

Here is the official list...

None of the stores I frequent are listed ... whew!

DC has 1 - 21ST & L STREET

The premise is this - Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days. So I was inspired by this website to give it a go!

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

My Start Date - July 19, 2008

End Date - April 16, 2011

Completed Tasks will look like this

My list -

1
Pick a Project Management certificate program and enroll
2
Replace Kitchen countertops
3
Have corner fireplace installed
4
Go to Las Vegas
5
See Pearl Jam in a foreign country
6
Create a will
7
Go to the doctor and have a physical
8
See a financial planner
9
Buy a new refrigerator
10
Clean out the clutter from my second bedroom
11
Buy a bed/futon for my second bedroom
12
Get my car retro-fitted with BlueTooth
13
Paint Master Bedroom
14
Buy a new mattress
15
Go to Chicago and see a taping of the Oprah show
16
Get my bike fixed!
17
Pay off my credit card!
18
Go vegetarian for a week
19
Go down 1 clothing size
20
No Starbucks for one week
21
Participate in a protest march
22
No fast food for one week
23
Put $5 in savings for each completed task, donate $10 for each task not completed at the end of 1,001 days to the Orphan Foundation of America
24
Take my niece to the National Zoo
25
Go to Australia
26
Go to Hawaii
27
Go to Africa on Safari
28
Successfully grow a Hydrangea
29
Go skiing
30
Replace mirror in second bathroom
31
Go go to an amusement park
32
Visit a vineyard
33
Spend a few days in the outer banks
34
Go to Boston
35
Participate in a cookie exchange
36
No chips for 1 week (Potato or nacho)
37
Go to the Opera
38
Go to the Ballet
39
replace light fixtures in second bathroom
40
Buy a jewelry cabinet
41
Get the carpets steam cleaned
42
Install Programmable thermostat
43
Install ceiling fan in sunroom
44
Appear on a reality show
45
Get rid of all clothes that I have not worn in over a year
46
Clean off old laptop and get rid of it
47
Sell old printer
48
Sell Baseball card collection
49
Go down 2 clothing sizes
50
Get a radical haircut (not same old boring part on the side)
51
Neatly paint my own toenails
52
Get eyebrows waxed and darkened
53
Go to dentist regularly
54
Refinance my condo into a 15 year mortgage
55
Start drinking V8 regularly to up my weekly serving of vegetables (3 times a week for one month)
56
Move all stock to 1 brokerage
57
Apply to be a notary
58
Go on a cruise
59
Go Skydiving
60
Go rock-wall climbing
61
Go out for sushi (Not California Rolls)
62
Brush Madison every day for 1 week
63
Trim Madison's nails once a week for a month. (5/5)
64
Get rid of all clothes that have holes in them
65
Go out for Afternoon Tea
66
Buy Burberry earmuffs
67
Go to AAFB and cheer when GW leaves office
68
Get a new piercing (nose or eyebrow)
69
Tag all my photos on Flickr
70
Learn how to use my Tiptronic transmission
71
Make pasta from scratch
72
Go Whale watching
73
Swim with Dolphins
74
Figure out how to play Craps - and play
75
Get a Wii
76
Try a sudoku puzzle
77
Ride on a motorcycle
78
Visit an active volcano
79
Get an Ezpass gadget for my car
80
Pay the toll for the next 5 cars that follow me thru the tunnel(0/5)
81
Take my mom to see a Broadway play
82
Find a new signature scent
83
Go to a Hockey game
84
See all 100 for AFI's top 100 movies (using 2007 list) - (28/100)
85
Secret -- If I do it I'll let you know what it was :-)
86
Make a new meal using cookbooks (or recipes from real simple) 4 times a month (5/128)
87
Donate Bone Marrow
88
Get the ceiling repainted in the kitchen/dining room
89
move to a more urban location
90
eat one salad a week (40/143)
91
Fly in a helicopter
92
Attend a UMBC alumni event
93
Buy a new iPod
94
Buy a mini-season ticket plan for Nationals
95
No beer for 1 week
96
Organize all clipped magazine articles
97
Learn how to make a ringtone on my mac, and get it to my BlackBerry
98
Pass on old Pearl Jam live shows on cassette tape
99
If I list something on ebay and it doesn't sell, throw away (or donate to charity)
100
Have a cable (or FIOS) outlet put into my kitchen
101
Go to a Professionals in the City event

The best sale of the season (@ Nordstrom) starts today! (it's been going on for about 2 weeks for Level 2 Fashion Rewards members ( of which I am one :P) , but I have been restraining myself and will not be going until my flex day next Friday. I have been very good and have not gone shopping (at a mall or online) in over a month! So watch out!

These are what I will be after -- Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman.

Then I saw these when I was getting my links... Enzo Angiolini

yay! Full show tomorrow night on VH1

Attention all Mid-Distance running failthful readers :P

I picked a brochure up at Starbucks this morning which is promoting the "The Human Race 10k"

Scheduled for Sunday August 31, 2008, looks to be in partnership with Nike.

Just do it!

( I of course will not be doing it... I am sticking to 5ks... and I think end of Aug may still be to humid for a run :P)

YAY!

This makes me laugh :P

So, in case you haven't noticed the Twitter Updates in the left column... I've signed up for Twitter!

Curious about Twitter?

Watch this!

So I went to the pool this morning...

But now its empty due to a fecal incident!

Apparently its the 4th one this summer...Eeek!

Updated - I should also add... this is how it happened. I had just gotten out of the pool 5 minutes ago.... Adult swim had just ended ( I knew this by the loud whistles)... I am reading my book... Then the loud whistles go off again...then the lifeguard yells "Everyone out of the Pool! We have had a Fecal Incident!".

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In Honor of 7/11...

Oddly enough... its also cow appreciation day!
Dress like a cow, and get a free meal at Chick-fil-a!

I didn't even make it into a train car today!!

(I am standing in the vestibule... right where 2 car trains connect together)

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@ the New Carrollton MARC station!

Eeek!
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So I called my mom about 20 minutes ago to let her know "Ringo Starr is going to be on Larry King tonight! " (Ringo is her fave Beatle).

Um... yeah... I just turned on CNN... about 10 minutes ago... Top story.. Christy Brinkley divorce... followed by the entire Madonna, A-Rod, Lenny Kravitz mess.... - I am sure my mom won't even stick around to see if Ringo appears for the last 30 minutes... she banned MTV from our house when I was 15 because of Madonna's "bad influence "!!!

Just another reason I am happy that I do not live in MoCo!!

So I been using Blogger for about 2 weeks after the big move from 360....and I think it is a much richer platform... most notably due to the ability to add widgets (especially the HTML/JAVA block, where you can add 3rd party code!).

I have found great stuff from this site ( like my stat counter and comments ratings).

I found the tag cloud code here .

If you have never heard of "Twilight" you probably will by December. I am reading the 1st book in the series now (its great... I can't put it down!) and the movie arrives in theaters 12/12/08

A Preview...

He played the west coast last spring... now dates announced for the east coast!

I'll be trying for Warner Theater tickets next week :)

Eeeek!

I hope one of them is not my local Federal Center SW one :)

After a great day in NYC (no rain!, Pinkberry!, and comfy shoes!) I was ready for MSGII.

I was unable to get tickets to this show under my member number, but my friend was able to. She joind about 3 years after me so has a slightly higher number... and we were not on the floor... but it was great... we were in the first "ring" about 12 rows back... right up against the stae... and since we were elevated and on an agle had a great view!

Pearl Jam did not disappoint. They opened with "Release" - this will always be my favorite opener... its what they opened with the first time I saw them live... and really heard them ;)

At one point walking around NYC my friend and I came across a hue Rat statue/blowup thing... I was like " They are playing 'Rats' tonight!" (actuallyI kinda almost screamed it... luckily since I was in NYC... no one thought I was out of the ordinary :P) - I should have taken a pic... but didn't... but PJ did play Rats!!! it was great.

It was a great setlist... I think this may be one of my top shows of all time (preceeded only by the epic State College 2003 show).

Ace Frehley came out near the end to play KISS' "Black Diamond" (which Mike and Matt sang on).

Also... I must have had some major Mojo workin' this night... because during the show I was hit on by a young guy from Philly - (seriously I think he was about 26 if he was lucky)... and outside MSG after the show I was hit on by a guy from Israel (who thought he was older then me ... but I clued him in that no he wasn't (he was only 32) ):P

philip glass: metamorphosis 2

This has been piped in before each show... a great way to open each gig!