As if they don't beat us over the head with it enough.

As if they don't beat us over the head with it enough., originally uploaded by crau1971.

I was raving about this earlier. Those two wooden structures jut out of the front facade of the very modern, industrial complex looking building that houses the United States Department of Education. Little red schoolhouses. No other building in Washington has these cutesy little facades to distract us from the real mission; they all are what they are--cold hard policy.

The more I look at this picture, and think about those little schoolhouse entrances--an insincere, condescending attempt at being "teacherly"--the angrier I get. Because I think about the tax dollars that went to construct those, that DIDN'T go to educational programs in this country, or researchers to look into the actual effects of NCLB. I don't see these entrances as just structures designed to invite and welcome; I see these as proof of a government that allows us as a society to remain horribly misguided, reactionary, and out of touch. Where have we gone wrong as a society when children in sub-Saharan Africa can play tag with impunity, but American school children are banned because it's "too aggressive"? Seriously, someone answer this question for me.

End rant. I have actual educational work to do, and this travesty put forth by the USDOE is distracting me from my mission of ACTUALLY EDUCATING.

Everyone always says Washington is a circus.

Everyone always says Washington is a circus., originally uploaded by crau1971.

Which is one of the reasons I love this city so much; I always find something here to surprise me. I found this image (and several others) waiting for me Saturday morning, as I walked out of my hotel and strolled down to the National Mall. The morning news had said the official Cherry Blossom Parade was that morning, and I found a unique opportunity to see a celebratory Washington, not a power center Washington or political intrigue Washington. And to see all the bands, and floats, and balloons on 7th street, waiting in formation, it made me laugh, at the end of a week where I really needed the laugh.

My friend's party was lovely; she has a wonderful, large circle of friends, and I connected with one of her graduate school friends, and she and I spent a great deal of time talking with each other, and with Heather's fiance, who doesn't like huge crowds, but paradoxically, was thrilled to be a part of this big crowd. Much like me. As Heather said as I was leaving, "I always love it when my friends meet my other friends and everyone gets along." A better testament to the woman who brought us there, I think, than to our own personalities.

I head home today, a little tired, but glad to have been away.

PS: Note Bob the Builder enjoys looking at the Capitol dome, too. ;)

Washington Monument

Washington Monument, originally uploaded by crau1971.

I like the clouds in the background.

White Marble

Apparently, I picked quite a weekend to be here in Washington, DC. Not only am I here for a 40th birthday bash, which could be up to 80 people, it's the official cherry blossom weekend (pictures tomorrow, I promise), and the Pope is in town, or about to be so.

I love this city. I really do.