That Missing Week

Dear Calendar Watchers:

Here's that missing week again, that week between Christmas and New Years. It's not really the new year, when everything starts over again, but it doesn't feel like the old year either. The kids aren't in school, the offices are half empty and the people left at work aren't doing much of it. A big holiday is coming up in a few days, but there aren't many preparations to make, as there were for Thanksgiving and Christmas. All we have to do is make sure that the champagne is chilled and the New Year's dish of herring, or baked beans, or black-eyed peas, or caviar, or whatever our particular tradition is, is ready. It doesn't take a week.

So I've made an early New Year's resolution to find a way to make this missing week unusually, particularly productive and useful, to find a special mission for it. I'm considering daily naps. You might consider writing to themail.

Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com

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Councilmembers Rated
Nicole Taylor, nicole.taylor@nasd.com

My question was a sincere one. I have lived in Alexandria for many years and recently moved back to DC. I'm not up to speed with the goings-on in city politics.

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Contributing to Make Washington a Better Place
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com

I'm sort of a newcomer to D.C. (only 13 years) so I'll never be a “native Washingtonian.” But, since I plan to live here the rest on my life, I am determined to help make this a better place for all of those who live here. Most of my work now is volunteer work. I have done some of that for John Ray and Bill Rice, in their campaigns, and have helped in the remodeling of both Turtle Park and Hardy Park playgrounds. My wife, now retired from teaching, has volunteered as the writing lab person at Wilson High School to help teach youngsters how to write.

I know that many of my postings are critical of the District, but my criticisms are well meaning and, generally, accompanied by how to make things better. Sometimes those ideas make some sense and, less frequently, they are responded to by those downtown. I have met with a few of the Council persons on occasion and found a few empty suits. Those wearing those suits might recognize themselves. I have also met some very talented and hard working Council persons (namely Kathy Patterson and Sharon Ambrose). Kathy, one time, even made a house call here to respond to one of my suggestions. Though we are in agreement on some of the major issues only most of the time, I'm very thankful to have Kathy Patterson representing Ward 3. She is a real plus on the Council for all of D.C.

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Councilmember Rated
Alan Abrams, awabrams@starpower.net

Although the jury is still out, Catania (an alternate board member) may be the only one with enough moxie to stand up to the commissars of WMATA. (Stay tuned to see what the outcome of a Takoma DC community effort to preserve open space — and defeat a proposed high density development deal -- at the Takoma Metro Station)

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Character of Washington, Part 2
Klaatu, klaatu@clark.net

And there's the other Washington, the Nation's Capital, the Marble Zone, the emerging Planetary Capital. That's the place that people come to see, most likely to marvel that this is the city that bids fair to rival the Forbidden City — or even Roma — when the children of a far future read their ancient histories of civilization and of empire. Me? I'm utterly inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, but I'm pleased as punch to be here, if only as a mere observer and sometimes gadfly, cheerfully trying to document things I just can't quite understand, not being a college man you know.

Sometimes I get in my old car and drive around town, mostly because there's just nothing like seeing the sun rise over the Capital Building, or the Cathedral coated in a blowing autumn mist, or the Potomac on a summer day or the congregations coming and going to the real hearts of Washington. Or I might watch the rush-hour throngs as they march from the stations, 99-percent of them mysterious clones wearing off-the-shelf from Hechts, all of the women and the relatively few men all moving through their trajectories from their mysterious origins to their mysterious ends. Money, power, fame, obscurity, and to me it's somehow the more obscure that are to me more real. The high and mighty can't talk classified to me, but I swear by the powers that the bums have their stories. So do the ladies that type up the briefs and so do the men that file 'em. Real people, real lives, none of that famous stuff you see on the news.... I'll never know the power and the glory, and so I like to talk to the old men, fishing in the River.

Sometimes I go to Adams-Morgan, or Dupont, or “U” Street, or “the new 14th Street,” or you might find me dressed in black at Catacomb on Saturday night. Or I could hang with the homeless hustlers, or walk into a yuppie bar and listen and learn, or repeat what I've heard to others and sometimes people are amazed, but more-often not: Washington is such a city that "Shorty Bighead down to the corner" is more of a political and media sophisticate than many degreed people out in the heartland. Words, this town is so much about words: but in the right words one will find knowledge, and knowledge may teach you truth, and while truth cannot free me from this place, it may better help me understand it so that I may spread the word to others: this place is gonna change, I can feel it. And it can! It will. Let's make it happen! Join Us. Shikata ga nai.

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Flo Kennedy
Joan Eisenstodt, jeisen@aol.com

Thanks for the tribute to Flo Kennedy. I had the privilege of meeting her in the early '70s and never forgot her. What an amazing and strong role model she was! Her actions spoke at least as loud as her words. She will be missed since there seems to be no replacement for her brand of civil rights activism -- and we coulda used her for all that has to happen next.

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Recycling Woes
Joan Eisenstodt, jeisen@aol.com

Christopher Koppel wrote about one of my favorite subjects . . . lack of recycling pick up. We find, on the Hill, that it is catch-as-catch-can. Some weeks it's all picked up, some weeks they leave some at some houses but not others. Try calling 645-8245 and ask for Bill, or call your Councilmember's office. That seemed to work for me.

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CLASSIFIEDS -- EVENTS AND CLASSES

New Year’s Eve Fiesta 2001 Party
Michael Karlan, michael@dcyoungpro.com

The D.C. Society of Young Professionals invites you to its New Year's Eve Fiesta 2001 Party. The turnout for our New Year's Eve Fiesta 2001 Party is about 2/3 singles and 1/3 couples. We rented out the entire Tequila Grill for the exclusive use of the D.C. Society of Young Professionals, so that we could host a party where everyone present feels comfortable meeting new people, and mixing and mingling in a private party atmosphere. The D.C. Society of Young Professionals exists to create a sense of community for young professionals in the D.C. area. Our New Year's Eve Fiesta 2001 Party is the new year's party to attend if you want to attend a new year's party with that sense of community. For more information, or to join our weekly E-mail list of events, E-mail michael@dcyoungpro.com, visit http://www.dcyoungpro.com, or call 686-6085.

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Ethical Society Events

Discover Your Myers-Briggs Type
Donald Spears, LifeWorks at Washington Ethical Society, WES@EthicalSociety.org

The MBTI workshop will help you understand four aspects of your personality in which you’ve made choices about how to approach life. Understanding these preferences will allow you to appreciate that some situations and relationships are naturally more appealing to you. In addition, you’ll come to know how others are different from you so that you can appreciate their strengths and see how they complement your approach to life. Date: Saturday, January 6, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $35. Sponsored by LifeWorks Adult Education at the Washington Ethical Society, 7750 16th Street, NW, 20012. To register, call LifeWorks at 882-6650 x21 or E-mail WES@EthicalSociety.org.

Daring to Dream
Don Montagna, WES Senior Leader, WES@EthicalSociety.org

Free talk by Don Montagna. A new year is an uncharted sea of possibilities. You cannot control the wind or the current of circumstances, but you can sail toward a chosen destination if you set your rudder. Thanks to your natural "reality-producing function of the mind," assuming that next year will be somewhat like the last, we can chart that familiar course. Instead, we can spend the cold, dark winter months of relative hibernation daring to dream about what would make our lives a more joyous and purposeful adventure. At this first Platform of each New Year, we pause to reflect on this theme question: As the story of my life unfolds in this next year, where would my heart’s desire lead me? Sunday, January 7, 11:00 a.m., Washington Ethical Society.

Life Planning
Mary Herman, LifeWorks at Washington Ethical Society, WES@EthicalSociety.org

What might make the rest of your life meaningful and enjoyable? How can you live with more joy and authenticity? By paying attention to the sources of vitality available in your life, consider your sense of purpose, your unique constellation of gifts, and how to express those energies in your community and in the world. Plant your dreams, experience your passion, and live from your highest self.

Dates: Tuesdays, January 9-30, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; 4 sessions – $80. Sponsored by LifeWorks Adult Education at the Washington Ethical Society. To register call LifeWorks at 882-6650 x21 or E-mail WES@EthicalSociety.org.

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CLASSIFIEDS -- FOR SALE

1986 Mazda 626 Turbo
Jerry Lorentz, ephor@juno.com

Runs well, looks good, moon roof, stick shift, 230,000 miles, original owner. $695.00. 237-0867.

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CLASSIFIEDS -- RECOMMENDATIONS

Donating Used Computers
Sara Cormeny, sara@paperlantern.com

The following organizations, individuals, and stores accept donated computers or buy used machines. Credit Sacha Cohen, a freelance writer in DC who wrote the article: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37762-2000Dec21.html. I'm also reproducing the list of organizations here, since it's hard to find them on the Washington Post Web site. Call or E-mail first to see if they can take your particular hardware.

Action Computing Solutions, 703-502-7986, 6041 Centreville Crest Lane., Centreville. This computer retail shop also accepts donations and “will take pretty much anything,” according to the owner.
Computer Reclamation Inc., 301-495-0280, 10759 Tucker St., Beltsville. Accepts Pentium 100 and higher PCs and Power Macs only; requests a $25 donation per computer.
Computer Renaissance, 703-823-5455, 265 S. Van Dorn St., Alexandria. Buys only Pentium 133 and higher PCs.
Computers 4 Students, 703-237-0222, P.O. Box 7084, Arlington. Accepts Pentium PCs and monitors larger than 15 inches as well as properly licensed software, all in working order.
Computers for Teachers/Capital, PC User Group, 301-762-9372. Accepts 486 or higher PCs in working condition but prefers Pentiums; accepts all peripherals as well. Doesn't take Macs.
Davis Memorial Goodwill Industries, 202-636-4225, Ext. 1245, 2200 South Dakota Ave. NE. Accepts all donations.
Lazarus Foundation, 410-740-0735, 10378 Eclipse Way, Columbia. Accepts only Pentium 75 or higher PCs.
Practical Computer Inc., 703-321-3003, 5407A Port Royal Road., Springfield. Sells computers on consignment; accepts only Pentiums or higher.
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro@his.com, 3905 N. Pershing Drive, No. 3, Arlington. Shapiro, an instructional-technology coordinator for two Arlington elementary schools, refurbishes used computers — 486 or higher PCs and Macs of any vintage — and channels them to the Hoffman-Boston Elementary School in Arlington.
Subtractions, 301-924-0605, 7202 Mink Hollow Rd., Highland, MD. Monitors cost $8 to 30 to drop off, depending on size, to cover handling costs. Non-monitor parts can be dropped off at 10630 Riggs Hill Rd., Unit V, Jessup.
WasteNot Recycling, 703-787-0200, 13852 Park Center Rd., Herndon. Accepts most computers, but call to check first

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