Delegated Authority

I hope everyone had an awesome of an Easter holiday as I did!

We spent the day at my parents house and had the pleasure of the company of: my brother Don & his wife, Irene, their daughter Ellen, her hubby Charlie and their 7 month old son, William, and also my brother-in-law Warren (my sister was in CA celebrating her granddaughters big #5 birthday!. . .  Happy Birthday, Clio!), and of course, my folks!  While that may sound like a lot of people to some of you, that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the Wray-Ryan clan.  So many loved ones could not come. . . but as usual, those of us who could make it, well, we partied enough for the whole family! 

If you have had the pleasure of meeting Paula, you’d know she is one of the most awesome cooks (or should I say “Chefs”) on the face of the planet!  You will never leave that house hungry, or have a meal you can’t boast about.  Yes.  She’s that good!  We also are lucky enough to usually bring home leftovers, because she always cooks for like 100 people, not wanting to take a chance that anyone should possibly not be totally stuffed to the gills when they leave!  Need I say more?  The food on Sunday was, of course, fantastic!

Another thing.  I like to talk.  No, I love to talk.  You ever notice that?  So one of the biggest things for me is making sure I get around to everyone and talk to everyone.  We just don’t get the chance to get together very often and I make a big effort to flit around and chat up everyone.  (I’m sure they wish I’d just shut up sometimes!  :)  What can I say?)  I usually end up leaving for the day wishing I had spent more time chatting with someone or another - not having enough time with everyone.  There is just never enough time.  I have 6 brothers and a sister (plus the requisite in-laws, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, etc.), [a little shout out here to Micki & Kelly, I am remembering you at the top of my great nieces list ] This Easter, thanks to Ellen & Charlie winging their way up from Baton Rouge, I got to spend some quality time with the newest addition to our family, their son William, who is 7 months old.  I think he & I hit it off pretty well!  I know I had a good time!

Recently, I have issues keeping up with my very own little family, since “the boys” are growing up and moving away at the speed of light.  My very own Justin couldn’t make it to this family occasion.  Its strange not to have my little clan not in tact on these kinds of days, but I guess that is just the process of family evolution.  

Either way, I had a great day on Sunday, enjoying every single minute I got to spend with my family and extended family, the food and the fun.  It just doesn’t get any better (bigger, yes!)

Life is, indeed, good!

More pictures here.

p.s. Irene. . . you aren’t in the big group picture. . .you’re the one taking it.  I figured since you are in so many other pictures in the set. . .  it would be okay.  Besides you took a great picture!  I knew you wouldn’t mind!

There was supposed to be a huge (10,000 people) Anti-War protest in Washington DC today.  It was supposed to be centered in and near McPherson Square - which just happens to be across the street from my office.  Notice how I keep saying “supposed”?  The 10,000 never showed.  I think, generously speaking, maybe 200 people?  Usually a whole lot less at any given time, tho.

We noticed about 3 specific demonstrations, around 9, 12 and 3 o’clock.  The noise would pick up, sirens, shouting, etc.  Within about 20 minutes or a half hour, it was all over and calmed down again.  We heard stories over the radio of about 30 people being arrested, but did not notice any violence or issues around where we were.

It rained but barely.  If you didnt have an umbrella, you would get a little wet, but not soaked.  It was warm, relatively speaking (55-68 throughout the day). . .

For this small town girl, I have to admit to being slightly excited about the whole thing. Silly, I know.  I am, however, very glad there was no violence (that I saw or heard about) and I got to see the First Amendment in action!

Check out the rest of my pictures here.

BTW- The streets were clear and traffic basically normal for my 5:30 commute home.  Now that’s amazing!

Same song, second verse? 

Today, late in the day, of course late enough to disrupt the afternoon commute- a suspicious package was found in Franklin Square. . . which is on the opposite side of my office from McPherson Square (the site of our last suspicious package just 2 days ago).

This time, no big bang, tho.  So not as much “fun”  :)  Whatever they found, obviously they were able to identify and diffuse the package without blowing it up!  The whole square was cordoned off for about an hour, holding up already frustrated commuters.*

Something tells me this is all working up to tomorrow’s Anti-War demonstration that is taking place from 7am to 6pm.  It will be centralized at McPherson Square (I’ll be right in the middle of it, again).  They are expecting 10,000 protestors and are expecting them to try to disrupt as many businesses as possible.  Its going to be a fun day!  One interesting thought I had on the way home, tho- it is supposed to rain, and rain hard, most of the day.  I wonder how that will affect the demonstration?

Check back tomorrow or Friday (depending on how late I get home tomorrow!) for an update on the anti-war demonstration.

*The bus I got to ride home today was 55 minutes late. . .  it was an “express”- that doesn’t stop in Annapolis on the way to Kent Island- and shaves off about 20 minutes of the ride home!  So the 440pm riders bad luck turned into MY good luck at 535!  I actually got home 15 minutes earlier than usual!  Yay me!�

Please think again! 

Its not all the fun and excitement that we see.  The animals are treated cruelly.  It has been proven and documented.  The only way to get them to stop is to NOT GO and NOT feed into their frenzy.  If you want to take your kids to a circus, go to cirque du soleil or something like that, where there’s fun and excitement and this kind of cruelty doesn’t exist.

http://www.wildlifeadvocacy.org/current/circus/index.php

From my Ethics law Prof:

“I do so enjoy giving full points for perfect projects!! Great work Kathryn. You have a superior understanding of how to find ethical rules and apply them to everyday situations.”

(Yay Me!)

This morning, about a block and a half from my office - the DC police had cordoned off several blocks due to finding a “suspicious package”. . .

About a half hour later, we heard a huge BOOM!

I guess they didn’t like the package.

They (a bomb squad?) had detonated the package and made the District safe for us all once again!

(if I can find an article about it in any of the papers tomorrow I’ll link to it. So far, no luck)

From my Consumer Law Prof:

“Wow - but then you must know that your answers for this assignment were really good.”

 

(I live and breathe for this stuff!)

Today riding the bus home I got to have the coolest conversation!  The bus was full, and I took a seat next to a very tall man (6′7″ come to find out).  Naturally, coming from a family of tall people, I struck up a conversation!

I found out that he is a graduate of the Naval Academy, and retired Navy Reservist.  To my absolute delight, I also found out that after 9-11 he was called to active duty and served as an NCIS agent for 2 years!  THAT IS SO COOL!!  I got to talk to an honest-to-goodness NCIS Agent!  (NCIS is one of my all time favorite tv shows!)  It was neat to find out how real life NCIS compares to tv NCIS.  He was even able to tell me some of the ways he served at the Pentagon when it was attacked on the 11th, clearing the rubble.  It was very moving. 

The NCIS stories were just plain cool!

William over at Poop and Boogies brought up an interesting fact today.  He called them “sun sneezes“.

Its when you sneeze when you look into the sunlight.  I do it.  I remember being much younger and saying I was “allergic” to the sun, because without fail, when the sun hits me right it the face, I sneeze.  Every.  Single.  Time.

Apparently its a real honest to goodness ailment that plagues fewer than 30% of the general population!  William did some reasearch and I don’t want to steal his thunder, so you need to go see his post for the info -

But for me- answer this - does this malady affect you?  Are you in the 30% or the 70%?

p.s.  You should all add Poop and Boogies to your daily reads.  Its a great blog!  http://poopandboogies.blogspot.com/

Instead of doing homework like I’m supposed to be doing, I decided to install my new scanner (all by myself, thank you very much!) and then I went hunting for some old photo’s to scan.

I found one that I have been meaning to send to my kids and my nephew and his family because I thought it was an awesome picture.  :)  It was taken in 1991 or maybe 1992. . . Jared (the little one) was only 2 or 3 at the oldest. . . and Patrick (cousin) was visiting us for a semester out of school.  My kids enjoyed those few months like no others, and I’m sure they remember them quite fondly, even today!

Check it out!

Wouldn’t you like to have a cousin that cool, too!