Almost There

Just one more week left!

Hard to believe that by this time next Saturday I'll be finished with my degree and back out in the real world again. Very mixed emotions though. I've had such a fantastic time and made some really great friends. But I'm ready to be done with assignments, exams, grades and the non-stop thinking. Also miss being able to unwind at the end of the day, and work on things around the house without feeling guilty that I'm blowing off school stuff.

A couple of weeks to wrap up at Special Collections after the 1st, then 12 weeks at The Henry Ford, which should be great. Could not pass on chance to work at THF though. Kinda' like Charlie and Chocolate Factory. Finally close out the student life with a week in DC for SAA and a bit of a reunion with family and friends. So, I'm easing back into the work world rather than going in at the deep end.

- Brian

ASB Day 5

Actually got a full 8 hour day of productive work today. Turned a revised draft of the guide over to my supervisor at the end of the day, so I'll find out in the morning if I'm as close to being finished as I think I am.

Both my supervisor, Deena, and the Library Director, Amanda, are Ohio State grads, so in their honor I'm planning on wearing my Michigan wear tomorrow. We have a SI Alumni sponsored mixer after work, so the M stuff will do double duty.

Our meeting at NARA is a go, with several folks from the NTL going along, so it'll be Library Day at College Park on Friday. Should be a good way to wrap up the week.

Managed to do a five-miler after work, making the full lap of the Mall. Should be able to get at least one more in on Friday and maybe Saturday morning before we leave town.

I realized before I started writing this that I hadn't taken any photos today. So, I've taken a couple tonight that illustrate the charm of the Harrington. The photo on the left shows how the bathroom door just clears the toilet, and actually has sort of a notch in the edge for clearance. Photo on the right shows same door hitting the seat. Nice.

Time to do some reading, and then catch a little Daily Show. Promise to be better with the pictures tomorrow.

- Brian

ASB Day 3 and 4

Missed posting yesterday (Monday). Got in kinda late after attending an after work mixer put on by our sponsors, and then being treated to dinner by one very generous sponsor. Thanks again Rob, Sean and Doug.

Spent a good part of the last two days getting situated at DOT. Meredith and I have been provided with an office, computers, a phone and ID badges. Quite a bit of effort on the part of DOT, DOT Library, and RITA NTL to support us for just one week. It is all very much appreciated.

My project to assemble an access guide for DOT inactive and archived records is coming together reasonably well. I met the RITA Records Manager today and expect to have a meeting with her Wednesday or Thursday. Deena, my supervisor, has scheduled a meeting with the person at NARA in College Park responsible for DOT records. Besides helping to answer questions specific to my project, we will apparently also get a tour the the NARA facilities. Bonus.

Today's get together was a lunch in Chinatown with our fellow students interning at NPR and at Georgetown Law Library, along with their supervisors and sponsors. BTW, NPR has some of the coolest business cards I have ever seen.


Rather bad picture of
the Chinatown Gate.

Went running on the mall after work with Lori Donovan, who has a great story about meeting Sean Connery at the Library of Congress. She may never wash her face again!


Always a welcome sign to return to your hotel
after dinner and find a fire truck and ambulance
outside.

Finished off the evening by watching Obama address Congress, and then listening to about 45min. of "Black Helicopter" traffic flying over and around our hotel after the speech ended. I guess the hotel is centrally located.

That's it for tonight. Need to get some sleep.

- Brian

ASB Day 2

Today (Sunday) was pretty relaxed. Checked out of one hotel and into the Harrington, my accommodations for the rest of the week. Took a walk and Metro ride over to DOT so I know where I'm going tomorrow.

There was supposed to be a group run at 4pm, but nobody showed. So, I went on my own monument run. About 90min, and a little over 6.5mi. Of course it wouldn't be a monument run if I didn't show you all the monuments. And no, I don't know what's up with the stupid expressions on my face.


Barack's House from the Ellipse.


World War II Memorial.


Reflecting Pool
(Got my only "Go Blue" here)
Wow, really stupid expression.


Honest Abe
(77 steps from bottom to top)


Jefferson Memorial, Take 1


Jefferson Memorial, Take 2


Washington Monument, from the Jefferson Monument


Washington Monument


The Capital


It wouldn't be an SI run without the National Archives.
(Got my only "Go Bucks" of the run right after this.)


The finish line, Hotel Harrington.

- Brian

SI ASB '09 - Off to DC

We left for DC on Saturday morning. Took about 10hrs to make the drive. Went through some really bad snow between Ann Arbor and Toledo. First 20miles of the Ohio Turnpike was pretty bad as well. Eventually, skies cleared and ended as a nice, sunny day.

Coffee? Check.


Not bad. You can actually see the car ahead.


Jasper catching some zzzz.


Ahh! Sunny skies.


A little refreshment after a good days work.

Stay tuned.

-Brian

More DC Web Cams

A few more DC webcams that were actually providing live feeds as of this morning:

Earthcam Capital Cam: Appears to be located on the side of the Capital Building opposite the Mall.

TrafficLand DC Traffic Cams: Links to multiple DC traffic cams located throughout the Mall and Capital area. The data for the TrafficLand page comes from the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, which has the same camera feeds located here.

- Brian

Inauguration Web Cam

This camera is located at The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian on The Mall very near the Capital (mmm, obviously).

- Brian