"Labor Day Schmabor Day, what a dumb day. To hire a jerk, to send him away, to celebrate Labor by playing all day." - Garfield Cartoon

Over Labor Day I took off from the District and headed back to Des Moines to see my boyfriend (of several years now). It was much-needed (avoid LDRs at all costs if possible) and we got to re-group, spend time together, and iron out plans for the future. A lot is TBD (the future usually is), but we're both excited for what comes next for us, together and individually.

I saw District 9 while there which was actually quite good. I need to read more on the Apartheid movement in South Africa, but the film was engaging, visually well-done, and also thought-provoking. Growing up we had very close friends from South Africa so it's always been a place I hoped to visit.

On the way to the Midwest I finished most of the September 2009 issue of The Atlantic and also finished Elizabeth Strout's Abide With Me. Her book, Olive Kitteridge, was given a strong recommendation in The Atlantic's summer reading list. Since I couldn't find this book, I checked out one of her other novels. It's set in Maine and touches on the life of a Lutheran minister's life and others in his community, how they deal with the realities of their situations, and how they cope with the decisions they make.

Up next this week: Catching up on work (trying to focus) and jumping into Atlas Shrugged.

Virgin Mobile Free Festival 2009

In one exhausting, feld swoop, I got to see Blink 182, Weezer, Girl Talk, Franz Ferdinand, Mates of State, St. Vincent, The Bravery, The National, Wale, Taking Back Sunday, Public Enemy, Jet, and The Hold Steady at the Virgin Mobile FreeFest... I got to see and hear a fair amount of them and have only a small spot of sunburn on my head to show for it. :) (Picture courtesy of Francis Chung - DCist.com)

Policy

Saturday night, the friends and I dressed up a little more than usual and headed to Policy for a friend of a friend's birthday, just 2 blocks South of U St. on 14th St. It was super crowded, a bit pricey, lots of people who wanted to be "seen", but I would go back. I really liked the decor; the walls had a lot of graffiti (as you can see in the picture) but it was accented with delicate chandeliers and good lighting. The U Street area in general is usual a safe bet for good bars. Bar Pilar, Alero, St. Ex, Ulah Bistro, Nellies... any of those are good weekend/happy hour choices. (Picture courtesy of Jodi Westrick)