Diversity of Buildings
Yesterday I did stop by
Jessica Lanza's fund raiser. I was superfashionably late because I had to sell a man an air conditioner. Thank you craigslist.
First thing I did when I got into the building was write a check. Yes, I live in Ward 5, and not in the Ward or ANC single member district that Ms. Lanza is in. However, I walk through it and work in it, and what happens in 2C impacts my life in 5C. And really there is so much development and lunch option goodness happening in 2C-03 that it should be represented by someone with more strength than a sock-puppet. Seriously, can Ms. Doris Brooks conduct a meeting or two without her puppet master pulling her strings and throwing his voice?
Anyway, after writing a check for political change, I went out on the patio of the condo building on the corner of 7th and H and gazed at the sights. What I really liked was the diversity of building styles jumbled up together representing different periods. There was the synagogue dome on 6th & I, with the brutalist
Wah-Luck House, and 555 Mass in the background. There was little homogeneity, and that's what made it so lovely. Looking over at
555 Mass I thought about all the people living there who came to stake their claim on downtown. With the older 19th and turn of the 20th century facades I thought of an earlier DC. And then the larger buildings set back that house the residents, hold the employees, and draw in the shoppers and diners who give life to the streets below.
And then I saw the lightening in the distance, and high tailed it out of there.
Labels: ANC, politics, weather
So Hawt
What is it, like 96 degrees outside?
It's 79 in the house. Oh, the
SpacePak A/C system works fine, it is just that I've gotten my Pepco bill. I know energy costs have gone up, and I can kiss the days of $30 electric bills goodbye, but really, $100! I can cut costs somewhere.
Seriously, it is so hot out my worms are running from my composter like it was a house on fire. It is truly a distressing sight to see globs of earthworms streaming out of the vent holes. All the moisture from this morning has left the composter and the worms were trying to leave as well, in droves.
It is so hot, I put an old window a/c unit out on the sidewalk late last night and now it is gone.
How many more months of this?
Labels: compost, weather
I called animal control
Wasn't the first time.
Around about 5 something in the morning, around about the time I wake up before the radio alarm comes on, I heard the low sorrowful howl of the dog across the alley. The howling didn't wake me up. He'd been howling long since before I went to bed. So I opened up the window and spoke to him, which quieted him for about 2 minutes, and went back to bed. When I opened the window I realized it was raining.
It isn't unusual for the people of the house across the alley to just leave their dog, a beige and chocolate husky of some sort, out side for the whole weekend, or several days on end. He sits on the deck, howling every time a siren wails. Howling at night. Howling in the rain. That rain we had a week or two ago, he was out in that. I don't know how his fur works but he never seems drenched. He could be going under the deck periodically, but most of the time he just paces on the deck staring at the kitchen door.
Regardless, I called the city 311 number, who then transferred me over to the 24 hour animal control number. Apparently, I wasn't the only one. I was told, I was the second person to call this morning about the dog.
Back during the flood watch, I called animal control and they did send someone out to check on the dog. By the time they showed up, it stopped raining and the dog was just sitting on the deck, all calm like. Nothing happened. I don't know what to expect when several neighbors call because his howling is so loud and so sad. He doesn't bark, but rather belts out a low deep 'arrooogh'.
UPDATE:Animal Control called me back and said there was a call 2 weeks ago about the dog. They checked it out, contacted the owners, and told them they needed a dog house for the dog. Today, there is a dog house under the deck, and so animal control seems to be satisfied with the situation. Unfortunately, the dog doesn't spend any time near or in his house.
Labels: animals, city services, weather
Wet, Wet, Wet
My cellar is very, very wet. Stay home from work wet. Throw down newspapers to soak up water, wet. When I called in saying I couldn't come in, I apparently wasn't the only one.
Ah, the joys of homeownership.
I have a sump pump. It probably should be replaced, as it 'hiccuped' leaving about 2-3 inches of water on the floor. It's failed me before. I worry that one day I'll lose power or the darned thing will just die and the ground will be rain soaked and I'll be totally screwed.
Luckily, most things in the cellar in are plastic bins. But there are other things. Plugged in things. Mechanical things. Wood furniture things that are getting wet.
It will probably get better when the rain stops.
Labels: weather
Go Outside. Now.
The man on the TV said it was 70F degrees out
I took a little walk about this morning and it was just wonderful. The sky is blue and it is barely sweater weather, more like two shirts weather. I went on a picture taking trip looking for 3rd floor additions in Shaw,
and found some. Also spotted families, dog walkers, doggies, hipsters, also getting out and enjoying the sunshine. If you're stuck inside an office, run out and just take15 minutes to bask in this lovely light.
Labels: houses, weather
Hypotherma and the homeless
It's still cold. Not as cold as the past couple of days, and hopefully it will be warming up later this week. But anyway, as a reminder to myself and y'all gotta put 1-800-535-7252 in the cell phone for the
Hypotherma Hotline to report people sleeping on the streets when the weather is below freezing, 32F.
Labels: weather
Clean off your sidewalk
Most of the slush has melted but....
Residents, Merchants: Please Remember to Shovel Your Sidewalks When
Posted by: "Lyons, Nancee (DPW)" Nancee.Lyons-at-dc.gov
Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:29 am (PST)
Residents, Businesses Urged To Clear Snow/Ice from Sidewalks, Entrances
DPW Encourages Citizens to Help Others Unable to Shovel
The Department of Public Works (DPW) urges District residents and businesses to clear their sidewalks, sidewalk entrances, nearby catch basin openings, and the area surrounding hydrants of snow, sleet and ice to prevent injury to pedestrians. DPW also asks businesses to make sure the handicap ramps located at intersections are clear of snow and ice.
"After a snowfall, we get many complaints from pedestrians who are having difficulty traveling because so many residents and business owners don't clear their sidewalks," said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr. "I want to remind residents that DC law requires all property owners to clear snow, sleet or ice from the walkways surrounding their property within the first eight hours of daylight
after a snow storm ends."
While DPW does not have the authority to issue tickets to residents for failure to remove snow from sidewalks, the agency can and will enforce this law with commercial property owners. The main goal however, says Howland, is to educate both residents and business owners about their responsibilities during a snow event and to encourage them to be good neighbors.
"When I was a kid, we made a little extra money shoveling snow and helped our elderly, ailing, and frail neighbors," Howland said. "It's important to establish and maintain a sense of community in our neighborhoods.
"Many communities have developed lists of those willing to shovel snow for neighbors who are unable to shovel on their own," Howland continued. "I encourage all communities to identify those in your neighborhood who are willing to provide this service so that our sidewalks are safe and passable for all."
For more information about how the District handles snow events, visit DPW at www.dpw.dc.gov on the Internet.
Nancee Lyons
Public Affairs Specialist
DC Department of Public Works
2000 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 671-2637
www.dpw.dc.gov
Of course, I don't pay the neighborhood kids or lawn guys for shoveling, I've seen the quality of their work.
Labels: weather
Gotta love this weather
I know it won't last, but at least the arugula perked up.
Yesterday I played in the yard pulling out weeds and getting my nails dirty. I also pondered my guerrilla gardening options, surveying the landscape and challenges of a particular lot. I think I will transplant a few of the weedy and aggressive things in my yard over to the place that I intend to, um, partially take over. I'm looking for things that can fend for themselves and survive the occasional city demanded mowing. I know of 2 or 3 plants that can do. Maybe as a lark, I might take a bunch of sunflower seeds and see what happens.
Labels: gardening, weather
Signs of Spring
The ice cream truck came down our street, playing that same tune, over and over, and over again.
The group of young men hanging on the drug dealing corner are becoming more of a sight. Guess it is time to put the DC Police non-emergency number in the new phone as 311 doesn't seem to work on the cell. 911 yes, 311 no.
Labels: crime, weather
Stayin warm and BACA meeting
First. My personal BACA meeting notes are over at the
super secret site. User: thismeeting PSW: neverhappened.
Second. It is 16F outside and I'm ok. Not happy but OK. My electric meter is spinning like a CD. It is spinning so fast I don't even want to think about it. The heated floor for the kitchen and 4 heater fans are keeping the house above freezing. Somewhere, there is a polar bear drowning because of me.
The two heater fans, are keeping the 1st floor at 63F. It did get up to 66F, but I was cooking with the gas oven and had the fans at full blast. I also tried to stop up any leaks I found. In recent days I have bought heavy curtains to block leakage around the windows. IKEA has some very ugly plaid curtains for sale at 19.99. Ugly but thick and warm. Maybe when it warms up and I develop a crush on a Austrian widower, I'll make clothes out of them.* I also made a wind break between the front door and the hallway. It helps a little.
I have currently retired to the second floor where I am keeping one room warm with one little heater fan. It feels like 68F. When I do go to bed I'll keep the heater on and heat up my little bags of rice to keep the bed warm. I took some short grained rice, sewed it up in a old sleeve of a shirt I had torn apart, and made a little rice pillow. I heat up the pillow, about 1 minute per each cup of rice in it, in the microwave. Then I throw them (I made two) under the covers at the foot of the bed. They keep my feet toasty warm all night, and is still moderately warm in the morning when I wake up.
This is not an ideal situation, and I am going to hate to see my electric bill when it comes. I typically don't use a lot of electricity. Usually when I see my meter spinning fast I rush in the house trying to figure out what is hogging up the juice and turn it off. I hope Spring comes soon.
* Please tell me you did get the Sound of Music reference.
Labels: weather
Dang it, it's cold
My face froze.
That's what it felt like walking to the metro this morning. According to WAMU the weather with the wind chills feels like the teens or single digits.
In other weather related tales, from the Eckington Listserv:
The District of Columbia wants to help residents whose heat has been shut off, but it's having trouble finding them. That's because consumer protection laws prohibit utilities from turning over their addresses.
Without that key information, the city has been trying to pinpoint zip codes with a history of disconnections. Mayor Adrian Fenty has directed his staff to begin door-to-door visits of homes in those areas to let people know about utility assistance that's available from the government.
Terry Lynch, executive director of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations, says utilities told him that between 700 and 800 customers are likely without gas heat. Lynch made his inquiries after the death this month of 65-year-old Bessie Sanders. Her home caught fire because she had been burning candles after her utilities were shut off.
Information from: The (Washington) Examiner: http://www.dcexaminer.com
I don't have heat. Okay that's a lie. However, my furnace is still (after nearly a month) non-operational because of that blocked chimney thing. Don't worry, I discovered my basement maintains a temperature of about 50F no matter what I do. The "new" kitchen has electric radiant heat in the floor. When I'm home I just heat the room that I happen to be in, and not the whole house.
Usually when it gets cold I see the hotline number for the shelters for the homeless. I'm not seeing it but when it gets below freezing call the
Hypothermia Hotline at 1-800-535-7252 so those sleeping on the street will be offered a warmer alternative.
Labels: government, weather
2006 DC Flood
My basement is okay. Okay in the sense that I don't have to lift my ankle length skirts. There is water in there, but the dehumidifer is going and the sump pump is working so all is well. Once the rain stops the basement will be dryish in a day.
I do remember the August 2001 flood that destroyed several of my neighbors' basments. The water runoff joined the sewage in the ancient pipes and overflowed. Their toilets and drains in the basements backed up and cause a lot of damage as many of them had apartments and full fledged living quarters down there.
Of course, in 2001 I don't remember so much other stuff around town flooding. The National Archives downtown is closed, OPM has an unscheduled leave for today because so much has been disturbed downtown. I don't remember Metro having to close stations in 2001. All this is new and worrying.
As long as the electricity holds up I'll be fine.
Labels: weather
2006 DC Flood
My basement is okay. Okay in the sense that I don't have to lift my ankle length skirts. There is water in there, but the dehumidifer is going and the sump pump is working so all is well. Once the rain stops the basement will be dryish in a day.
I do remember the August 2001 flood that destroyed several of my neighbors' basments. The water runoff joined the sewage in the ancient pipes and overflowed. Their toilets and drains in the basements backed up and cause a lot of damage as many of them had apartments and full fledged living quarters down there.
Of course, in 2001 I don't remember so much other stuff around town flooding. The National Archives downtown is closed, OPM has an unscheduled leave for today because so much has been disturbed downtown. I don't remember Metro having to close stations in 2001. All this is new and worrying.
As long as the electricity holds up I'll be fine.
Labels: weather
Baby it's cold outside
Dang dagnabit it's cold.
You have to forgive me I am a native of the land of sunshine, shorts, and flip flops, Florida. I believe it is my right, my right I say, to walk around in sandals. The cold weather is infringing on that right and forcing me into restrictive sweaters and clunky boots.
Anyway I figure this is a good opportunity to inform you, my neighbors of some cold weather things. First, if you see a homeless person and it is under 32F (below freezing) call 800-535-7252 and someone will come around and try to get him/her into a shelter or at least provide the homeless person a blanket if they are too hardheaded and want to stay out in the cold. Second, at some point in the season we are going to get ice. You are responsible for the little stretch of sidewalk in front of your house, please salt your sidewalk so I won't slip, fall, and sue you. The Ghetto Giant has bags of salt and ice melt in the front of the store near the cashiers, pick up a bag so you'll have some when that first icy rain hits.
Labels: weather
