DAY 69

Appleton, Wisconsin
June 23, 2009
Tue 10:51 AM

didn't post last night, it happens. making up for it this morning. just saw on CNN that there was a metro crash in DC, seven people confirmed dead, probably more. so sad, apparently the ntsb warned them about old train cars and wmata didn't listen to their advice, or didn't have the money to follow their advice. i don't know which is the correct answer. so sad, the metro is so great... and this is the worst crash in metrorail history, and on the second to involve any fatalities. i'm trying to figure out where the crash took place, the pictures show the trains above ground, so i don't think it's in dc proper, probably in virginia or maryland. looking at the pictures, and it's been awhile since i've been on the metro, but it looks like the red line. i used to take the red line a lot, the red line and the orange/blue lines (they overlap a good portion). i took the red line to a mall in maryland, and to church. i hope in the least that metro learns from this tragedy and makes the necessary changes to keep metro safe. i wish i could read where this took place, but i can't find it mentioned in any articles.

yesterday i finished watching season two of the West Wing... and the season finale is probably the best episode of the series. it's called two cathedrals even though i knew what was going to happen, it's still powerful. i think guy from that inside the actor's studio show, lipton, called it the greatest hour on television. i think, i can't remember for sure, he has a tendency to overexaggerate. anyway, its a great episode... the writing, the acting, the cinematography... it all comes together perfectly. and martin sheen does a great job, as he does in the entire series. how that man never won an emmy for his role as president josiah bartlet is just mind-boggling to me. regardless, it's great television. but, and anyone with any familiarity with dc could notice this, at the end the president's motorcade drives from the white house to the state department... but it drives past the national cathedral. the white house is within walking distance from the state department, and national cathedral is not even close to that area. it makes a dramatic point, but driving from the white house to the state deparment via the national cathedral, would be like me driving from appleton to milwaukee and going through green bay. just something i noticed.

oh, yeah, and i'm in appleton now. i won't be going through green bay, though. i came home earlier than intended because i'm going to the brewers-twins game tonight. i have some business to attend to in appleton, so here i am. i waited until seven pm to leave milwaukee yesterday, with no air in my car i wasn't going to drive in the afternoon with the sun directly beating on me. oh yeah, i'm a college grad... i probably wouldn't have thought of that a few months ago.

death toll is now up to nine... i can only hope it doesn't go higher. i was saying to my sister yesterday that if dc had palm trees it'd be my ideal city and i never would have left. that's probably not true... the not leaving part. but the ideal part, definitely. i want to go back there now, there or california. i still have my smartrip, the metro's smart card that you can keep putting money on indefinitely. and i think it has like $18 on it... my last trip i was in a hurry and when you scan your credit card it automatically puts 20 dollars on, and normally that's what i would do. but my last trip i wanted to set the amount lower, but i was in a hurry and didn't. besides, i knew i'd be back. it's on my dresser in my bedroom, ready to be taken at a moments notice on a trip to dc. such a great city, great city to live in, great city to visit, great city to get around in- curtosy of metro... just great.

lots to do, must go now.

salbrent