Alley Fire Wakeup Call

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As I recently wrote on DC Metblogs, this was the sight that greeted me Tuesday morning as I was awakened by the noise of fire truck sirens and fire alarms. As you can see, the new apartment commands a wonderful view of the alleyway, with the back doors and waste/loading docks of hotels, offices, and a power station highlighting the vista. Smoke pouring out of said power station was the source of the commotion, but within 30 minutes the fire alarm went silent, the smoke dissipated, and the fire men started packing up, so it couldn’t have been too serious.

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Mules and NPS caretakers in period costume along the C/O Canal in Georgetown.

(Mules.jpg uploaded by brownpau.)

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Looking up from the “garden” area of Mr Smith’s of Georgetown while waiting for half price burgers for lunch.

(View.jpg uploaded by brownpau.)

PATH Fire Delays Amtrak

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Update: Turns out this weblog entry is on the first page of search results for “PATH fire,” so it often gets visits when PATH fires happen. Check Google News, people.

Not a fun wait for the Amtrak train out of NJ tonight. Train status checks said “12 minutes late,” but at ETA, a sleeper train came to rest on the opposite side of the tracks, and the PA system announced cryptically that Northeast Corridor operations would experience further 15-20 minute delays “due to police activity.” At that moment, several police cars passed by, and I theorized that someone had been hit. Two waiting passengers mentioned hearing of a fire on the tracks, and a call to Amtrak (bypassing Julie) confirmed that the delays were due to a PATH train fire in the Newark rail yard tying up other train traffic at the station.

Fortunately it turned out our train had left Newark before the fire had started, and managed to skip the worst of the delays, finally arriving an hour late, and making up about thirty minutes of the delay en route. Travel bullet dodged.

I don’t know if one will be able to say the same for PATH tomorrow, though. PATH out of Newark might be troublesome.

Bridal Shower

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Amy’s bridal shower was yesterday, a cozy lunch in the church fellowship hall with friends and family at a table adorned with wheatgrass and daisies. Below you can see a cake made of towels and a straw with a little umbrella. Many household gifts were received, and I met Joe’s mom, who was happy to hear I use Firebug extensively. Small world. More photos here.

(Note: Yeah, I was there. It was an unconventional shower.)

Towel Cake Towel Cake (closeup)

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Dogwood Flowers

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Dogwood Tree Flowers

Dogwood tree in suburban New Jersey blooms with bright pink flowers. Pretty.

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On the train to New Jersey, sitting at the back of the quiet car, listening to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on audiobook.

(Door.jpg uploaded by brownpau.)

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Here’s what my office looks like. No windows other than the one by the door into the hallway, but there’s always my cam, and if I lean way over I can see a sliver of brick wall through the window of the office across the hall. The Japanese exhibit poster is the previous inhabitant’s.

(Office.jpg uploaded by brownpau.)

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I put a ‘Dharma Initiative Natural Island Spring Water’ label on my water bottle, but no one here gets it. Disclaimer: Do not drink if pregnant.

(LOSTwatr.jpg uploaded by brownpau.)